Happy New Decade

Wow! Just came to the realization that not only is a new year upon us but so is a new decade: Twenty-ten! I am so ready for it. Seems like the perfect time for a fresh start. Thank you to all who stop by my blog from time to time. I hope the new year is the start of wonderful things for all of you. Happy New Year!

I hope you were paying attention when I told you to check out the newest designers at My Life and Scrap, Samceline and One of a Kind Designs. For the above layout of my son, I used A Taste of Christmas with And One More X-mas kit both by Samceline (both are 50% off right now). To save some time I also used Bubblescrap's Cheery Template.

Today's Freebie

A Freebie Alpha from Samceline. Don't forget to check out her big sale too!

Christmas at Grandpas

Come on everyone happy dance with me! I have been scrapping. How I managed to find the time I am not sure. Life has been hectic and crazy but that is when I need my scrapping time the most. Like many, my Christmas was made up of a bunch of mini segments. The following layouts are all from Christmas at my dad's (aka my superman). Everything was created with Veronica Sprigg's Cranberries N Cream kit. - can you tell I love it. For the last one I also used the Valley Girl Template from Kate Designs.

Look its me! Yep actually got some photos of me this year. I adore my niece. She was the highlight of Christmas at my dad's. We played and cuddled all day long. Ah, girl time - so sweet.

I can tell you there is no guy out there who can quite measure up to my dad. He can do anything!

Random shots of the day. My brother in the top left corner, my boys, my niece, my dad's wife, and my sister-in-law.

Waiting for the new year

I think this is the first time ever that I can say that I am glad the holidays are over. I did enjoy the holidays and speeding time with family. This year just felt more like work and I am ready for a new year.

There is some exciting news at My Life and Scrap. We have two new designers joining the team. Welcome to Samceline and One of a Kind Designs Studio. Both are having 50% off sales to celebrate.

Today's Freebie

A mini-kit from One of a Kind Design Studio

Out from Behind the Camera

Sugar Cookies

Created with Sir Scrapalot's Winter Wishes available at Polkadot Plum

Wow, sugar cookies are a lot of work. I will push harder to go with oreos for Santa next year.

For Christmas, I really tried to focus on being part of the moment and not just the lady behind the camera. I did really enjoy the day. I was incredibly proud of my oldest boys. They were very appreciative of every gift they got. The youngest is only 6 and he struggled to be thankful for anything that wasn't Pokemon related but he too made me proud with each Thank-you he said and thank goodness, a day of good behavior. I do have to admit though one of my biggest thrills was downloading my pictures from the day, now I have everything I need to start scrapping some memories.

My Life and Scrap has some great sales going on for the next few days.

A great Freebie kit from Samceline.

Be sure to check out her other great holiday kits too.

Christmas Blog Train

My Christmas shopping is done and I have a day to spare - what was I stressing about! I made the sugar cookie dough and tomorrow we will get real cookies made for Santa (not the oreos that I tried to get my son to agree to). I think that he feels like this is his last chance to make a good impression on Santa and with the year he's had he can use all of the extra points that he can get.

Make sure you take some time out for yourself during the busy holidays and jump on the My Life and Scrap's blog Train. The fun all starts on 12/24. Start out at the MLAS blog and start collecting all of the goodies.

Oreos for Santa

I swear that I had the Christmas spirit for a day (It was Sunday from about 11am to 11pm) but it is gone again. Been tracking the last gift package that needs to be delivered. It shipped on the 14th and was expected to arrive yesterday. Well it seems it is taking the scenic route to get here. It is now showing that is should arrive on the 30th!!! Do they not realize this will throw off the whole balance of gifts for my boys? Yes, I will be forced to make a dreaded last minute stop to find filler gifts for two of my sons. Add this to the fact that I will be putting in a 12 hour day tomorrow at work and my youngest had a slight melt down when I suggested leaving oreos for Santa instead of decorated sugar cookies. I need an extra day. Lets take a vote to observe Christmas on the 26th this year.

Today's Freebie

Today's freebie was created with the Elegant Christmas Collabs at My Life and Scrap.

Mystery Lift

All kinds of new challenges are going on at My Life and Scrap. I always have fun with the Mystery Lift. Come try it out.

Template Challenge

Don't miss out on this month's Template Challenge at My Life and Scrap. This month you not only earn a free template and points to use towards free kits but you will also get a free word art. Ah, free - one of my favorite words as my pocketbook feels the pain of the holidays.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa-

Please I just want a few extra hours added to my day, preferably between the hours of 9 and 11Pm. This is the time that the kids are in bed and I play super mom, trying to get everything done.

I am so tired!! Too many nights of staying up late wrapping gifts. There just are not enough hours in the day and that is doubly true during the holidays. I did have to jump on line for a quick minute to let you know about some of the fun happening going on at My Life and Scrap.

39 for the first time....

39 years old - yep it's my birthday! What a terrible age to be. I don't actually mind being 39 -mark your calendars for a melt down this time next year though. The thing that is bad about being 39 is that no one is really 39. Its the age that everyone tends to get stuck at. So of course no one will believe me when I say I'm 39. They will automatically think I am older and that I am lying about my age. Maybe I will just get stuck at 38- hmm.

Today's Freebie

I have a quick page Freebie for you created with the

Quiet Nature Collab Kit at My Life and Scrap.

Don't forget that @Jacquie has her entire store 50% off to celebrate her grand opening. She creates wonderful word art so be sure to check out her store.

Snow, Snow Go Away

Hello! Where have all of you "Oh the snow is so pretty" people been as I have to dig out of my driveway every morning? Now those of you who don't get snow may not know this but snow doesn't just fall from the sky and look pretty. NO! It likes to blow around. I am pretty sure the snow piled up against by garage door when I got home tonight was the same snow that was was shoveled away this morning. Any one what to make a bet as to whether it will be back in the morning?

Today's Freebie

I have a Quick Page Freebie for you created with the

Home Is Where The Heart is Collab from My Life and Scrap.

Who made Mother Nature mad?

Mother Nature was in a bad mood last night. This picture is of a tree in my front yard. We ONLY got 18 inches of snow but the drifts are crazy deep. The driveway was cleared a few hours ago but it is again covered and drifting. It all looks pretty and you'd think it would be fun to play in but the wind chill is making it -20 degrees fahrenheit. It is a good day to stay in with some hot cocoa and scrap - oh, yeah but school was canceled so that won't be happening.

Today's Freebie

@ Jacquie has joined My Life and Scrap. She has the cutest word art kits (I love the Chocolate set). All of her word arts are 50% off this week. It is the perfect time to get acquainted with this talented lady. As part of her opening celebration she is giving away this quick page freebie pack.

My Christmas Funk Continues.

Rebecca was kind enough to give me the OK to use her fabulous Holiday Delights kit to give my blog a holiday look. I believe this is my all time favorite Christmas kit. Everything is so rich and elegant.

However, my Christmas funk continues. I am using all the same measurements as I always have but I can't get rid of the empty bars on the sides of my blog. I had to make adjustments to my design to get it to look even this good.

I'm afraid to start any holiday baking, I'll probably burn the house down.

Today's Freebie

This cluster freebie was created with Rucola's Miss Metal Kit.

Remember Rucola is celebrating her grand opening with 50% off everything in her store through Sunday.

Have you seen my missing tree???

What are the things you do to bring the Christmas spirit into your homes? Mine is missing this year and I am normally a Christmas junkie. It started with the missing tree - I kid you not. Still can't quite figure out how a 7 ft tree with a sheet over it that goes into the same corner of the storage room every year can disappear. Some how mine did. I am taking that as a sign that I need to take a step back from the holiday takeover that normally happens to my home.

I normally put up two full size trees and 5 smaller ones. Plus I have a insane amount of garland and decorations. So far the only thing that has gone up is one of the big trees. The sad thing is the kids haven't even questioned where everything else is. Who did I go through all of the work for? So is it more stress than its all worth or will something be missing Christmas morning if I call my decorating duties done.

Today's Freebie

Michelle put together these great freebie quick pages for you using Rucola's Hard Feelings kit.

All of Rucola's designs are 50% off this week as part of her grand opening at My Life and Scrap.

Rucola's Grand Opening

The My Life and Scrap team continues to grow. The newest addition is the designer, Rucola. She creates papers with great texture. Perfect for blend junkies such as myself.

I created the above layout using Rucola's Flames of Fall Woody Kit and Flames of Fall Freebie. As part of Rucola's grand opening celebration I have her Flames of Fall Freebie for you. Grab it and be sure to stop by Rucola's store from more goodies.

Flames of Fall Freebie from Rucola.