Be Creative

Renewed and refreshed

I'm blogging over on the Authentique blog today. Emily and both created mini albums with the new "Renew" line and they are both posted HERE if you want to take a peek at hers too.

I stacked the file folders together, punched holes in the folds and threaded with twine.

Then I filled all the pages with my favorite photos of my daughter Niguel.

Then I went nuts with all the embellishements... the Renew line has great punch outs and stickers.

I added my favorite seam binding, buttons, twine hearts, rhinestones and ink. I even busted out some old stamp sets and my date stamp. One of the things I loved about the newest Authentique papers is that there is a quote printed on the bar code strip. Being a quote lover I cut that right off and added it to my album. You'll see that trick pop up again!

Hope you enjoyed a look in to my mini album. Looking back I am remembering so many great memories and events my girl had last year. Man she's growing up!

Smiles, see you tomorrow!

A Favorite Post

Looking back at some older blog posts the other day and found this one... Please link up and see just what a 12 year old has to share about life!

24 Rules For Life

What's Up

December is flying by... The holidays have added a little extra stress with trying to make sure I cross things off the gift list and getting the holiday cards out and also added a little peace with the decorations and Christmas music and the excitement.

I always enjoy this time of the year as I can look back on all the experiences and memories and all that has been accomplished. Also I love looking forward to the new year... i've already started to plan!

Hope your holidays are coming along and full of blessings!

Thankful for Thanksgiving

and the break we had from school and work. We took the time to take the girls to Yosemite... and as if it isn't beautiful enough the weather was sunny and perfect and there were no crowds!

We enjoyed some teenage antics... this is what they call "mystic"

and this is what they call "T-rex"

Teenagers are weird and funny and I love mine!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Vacation

This summer we vacationed in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, I never got around to sharing any of those photos. So here they are... we are just about to set off on a trip to share the beauty of the Western Sierras with our girlies this fall.

These photos are edited with filters that for a project that I just finished up for CHA, looking forward to being able to share that with you in late January.

Looking back on these pictures makes me want to pack up my car and get on the road! What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

Boo!

Here's My Halloween recap... It was a new kind of Halloween for us. Niguel didn't dress up, Kylah went to a friends. We went out to dinner, the hardware store and the office supply store. Different but good. We did  manage to carve pumpkins, I love carving pumpkins with the girls.

Can you believe how much they have grown up? I know I can't!

Homecoming

My girlie went to her first homecoming last weekend. I thought i'd share a few photos real quick.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Raising up

I've been thinking so much about what it is taking to raise up these two girlies of mine. I talked with Kylah the other day... after she had been mad at me for not letting her do something. I shared with her how hard it is to watch them grow and make mistakes and to carry out discipline. She's at that stage where she just wants me to leave her alone and stay out of her business. Sorry girl... that's just not the way it is in our house! I try to let them work a few things out on their own but to my own fault... i'm a little all up in their business. I tried to explain to her that I could just feed her and provide her with clothes to wear. That would be easy! That's not what i'm trying to accomplish here. I'm raising up good girls, with morals, that are kind, who know what's right and wrong, who live and breathe the golden rule. Girls that go after what they want and raise up others with them along the way. Girls that are self starters with common sense who will be good wives and loving moms. That is the hard part, thats the part that takes all the work and I'm sure when she's all grown up she'll understand. Till then...

Week two and a half

We are starting our second full week of school. It's been interesting transitioning to having a hign schooler. For the first time I have kids in different schools across town from eachother. Thank goodness for good friends to help and a hubby with a flexible schedule!

This weekend we were all really tired. And it was REALLY hot. And REALLY hot...oh, did I say that twice? Thats how HOT it is... We stayed in most of the weekend and rested... girls worked ahead on a few assignments and I worked on kits... so many new ones coming out.

Kylah changed so much the last month of summer. When I looked through my lens this first day of school I dropped my camera back down and took a good long look at my baby girl. First off there are no more glasses, and we are more than half way done with braces (for both girls), legs are longer, and her whole face thinned out and there are other new parts (we won't mention those on the blog), her humor is different. I'm always hoping that Kylah will mature a little, now I'm stopped in my tracks putting on the brakes hard!

Niguel... what can I say about my "on the ball girl". This summer we had so many long talks about friends and what it means to be a good friend and how some people have to "learn" to be good friends. We talked for hours about staying strong and resting and doing things to help her combat her perfectionism. She has a demanding schedule this year and pretty much her high school career is plotted out for her already should she choose to stay this course. It will take both of us to keep the momentum, and as long as we both don't melt down on the same day we'll probably be OK.

So many people have told me that the girls look more alike than ever before. I've taken a lot of time this summer to sit back and watch them, and listen. To see their sisterhood developing and their friendship coming to life. They fight, they get annoyed, they laugh like crazy, play jokes on eachother and I think they just may come out of this childhood thing as sisters and good friends.

I'll keep you posted as the year unfolds... hope your Tuesday is shaping up to be one amazing day!

Around here

School starts today... Here's a glimps!

All the clothes are laundered and hung, the pantry is stocked with healthy school friendly food, back packs are washed up and packed up with fresh new supplies, girlies were in bed on time and rested this morning. And this my friends is the last time this school year all those things will happen simultaneously. Heck, it's taken me 13 weeks to make this happen!

oh, and someone is sad... really, really sad!

And this mommy is having a first class breakdown. Distracting myself today with crafting, time to chat and catch up with friends, shipping orders and dusting the above floor!

Did I say crafting? Tags from the September Kit

Look out 8th and 9th grade here we come!