Sketchy Saturday @ Cookin' up Creations 11/26/2011

My turn to post the challenge at Cookin' up Creations, and I decided to base my Saturday Sketch Challenge on "Ingredients", and my one ingredient was "one" picture!

Reunited

Well yesterday I made it into my scrap room and actually completed a layout from start to finish....that sooo never happens with me! I have to admit, there are days when being unemployed is rather nice, and if I want to spend the day scrapping I can...provided I can pull myself away from the computer.

Reunited is a very personal layout for me....it's all about our move to Pennsylvania and all of the things that had to happen/change in order for the move to even take place....there is lots of journaling, that I printed out and attached to the back of the layout.

Journaling on the front reads:
Three very long weeks
anticipation building
waving and running towards me
tears of joy - reunited again!

The journaling on the back reads:
Three weeks is what it all boils down too…every three weeks we get to see one another. Today was that day! Mommy hasn’t hugged you or seen you in three weeks and today we were driving to Fredericksburg, Virginia to meet your daddy half way and to pick you up for the week…a five hour trip (holiday weekend/one way) turned into over seven hours. It took us over two and a half hours just to go the final thirty-five miles…but the anticipation of seeing your cute little smile and squeezing you tightly was soooo very worth it. You and your dad had arrived about an hour prior to us and when we pulled into the rest area and I saw you waving and running towards me, I had tears rolling down my face. I was soooo happy at that very moment! I love you Garrett! And I missed you soooo much!

July 1st, 2011 – Fredericksburg, VA

Layout of the Week - August 31, 2011

Well, as you all know, I own the scrapbooking website Cookin' up Creations, so I never in a million years figured I would every have a layout chosen as Layout of the Week. How exciting that was for me to see that yesterday. Thanks Tamara for picking my "Whoo'd of Thought?" Layout....such great compliments too! You can check them out here!

First Day of Fifth Grade

Well it's offical - Garrett is a fifth grader. I can hardly believe it myself. Lots of changes for him this year! New kid at a new school, changing classes, and riding the bus....breaks this mommas heart. I was able to get a few pictures of him this morning before we took him to school, and then just one (as I wasn't allowed to walk him to class - as he is a 5th grader, and it wouldn't be "cool") as he was getting out of the car. He'll be riding the bus home this afternoon (another first for him) so I'll be outside with the camera. I will admit that I had a tear or two in my eyes this morning as I wanted to be there for him....but like Shawn says, he's ten years old. I truly do hope that he has a great day and his wonderful personality shines through and he'll have some new friends in no time at all.

Whoo'd of Thought?

Earlier this month I went to another Stampin' up Club meeting. I have to admit that I am soooo not a card maker, but enjoy going and hanging out with the ladies and making a card or two that I can use for the Birthday Club at Cookin' up Creations. Sadly I was always sending store bought cards, but now I'm able to send handmade ones! Go Tammy!

At each club meeting, you can either make two cards, or one card and one layout...this month, I wanted to do the layout as I thought the owls were absolutely adorable. Beth knows that I'm a slow scrapper and typically need more than an hour or two to do my layouts, so I usually wind up taking my stuff home and finishing it!

Last night, I finally got around to finishing that said layout, and would like to share it with you all (or at least with whoever still actually reads my blog).

Journaling reads: Seriously G - Whoo’d have thought that going to the grocery store could be such a relaxing experience? Not I that’s for sure, but you definitely always find yourself riding in the cart, just enjoying
the ride. Food Lion – Hope Mills, NC August 6th, 2009

And since I'm the oddball and scrap 8-1/2 x 11, the layout had to be adjusted for me....so I kinda had free reign! Plus I have to use patterned paper, I just have too. :) The others did this layout...

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out!

Where oh Where...

.........has the time gone.

It's been forever since I've actually sat down and posted to my blog. No excuses really, just a serious slacker. I probably suffered a bit of depression there for a little bit too right after the move to Pennsylvania. I had to leave G-man in North Carolina for the summer due to a new parenting arrangement in order to even make this move, and I had to go weeks and weeks without seeing my baby...thank goodness for cell phones, Facebook, and Skype!

Now the Little Man is finally here and starting his first day of fifth grade tomorrow at a new school....as the "new kid". Wish him luck!

This about sums it up....

I'm thinking when we made the move last month from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, we brought the 100+ degree temperatures with us, as last week it was a total scorcher around here.....uuughhh!

Candy

We finally had the opportunity to visit the Country Cupboard Restaurant today to have lunch. Unexpectedly, you were given a wooden nickel to take to the candy counter to pick out a few pieces for yourself. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania – March 16th, 2011

Oh Mummy!

This year you were a mummy for Halloween.. It was the absolute coolest costume that I think you have had up til now. You made it a point to play the “mummy” part very well, and even went around dragging your leg behind in true zombie form with lots of moans and groans too. We went trick or treating with your friends Nick & Libby, and then the next day we got all dressed up again and headed to the mall. Even though this was a great costume, we had glue stuck in your hair and legs & arms for days after. Shame on Mommy for using spray glue to hold you all together!
Halloween – October 2010

10 yr Check-up & Physical - Double Digits

Well even though Little Man has been 10 for over a month now, we had to wait for "the next available" appointment for his physical - April 6th, and finally the day arrived!

The appointment went well....Can't believe how much he's grown! I mean seriously, he finally made it past the 54lb mark and weighed in at 60.6lbs! How cool is that. And speaking of growth, my little man is fast approaching my height!He's up to 53-1/4" inches tall now! Wow is all I can say....My baby isn't much of a baby anymore...

...except when it come to needles...as you can see, even the prick of a finger is an ordeal, but he gets it naturally. Both his dad and I have "needle phobia"...poor G. I tried to take a good picture today, but his dad went along for the visit, and kinda gave G a hard time, so between the tears from the needle, and his dad making fun of him, this is what I got....oh well, it's still scrable!

Scrapbooking Giveaway!!

Nicole is offering a chance to win a cute scrapbooking kit on her Scrap Me This blog . Go on over and check it out! The deadline for entering is April 30.

Do YOU have What it Takes?

Our first ever CROP CHEF competition begins Thursday, March 31 on the Cookin' Up Creations forum. This is a non-elimination challenge! Entrants earn points through their participation; and the person with the most points at the end of the competition will be named CROP CHEF!

A new challenge will be posted every Thursday and Monday morning from March 31 through April 18. Each challenge will include a list of ingredients and technique that must be included in your layout. The Thursday challenges will be due on Monday evening; and the Monday challenges, on Thursday evening. Forum members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites. The top two favorites will get extra points; but EVERYONE receives participation points, and there will be other fun ways to earn extra points.

So ...do YOU have what it takes??? Get ready to COOK UP SOME GOODNESS! The first challenge will be issued Thursday, March 31!

I'm sooooo excited!

Shawn and I have been discussing getting a smart phone for me for awhile now. Honestly there really isn't any need for one, other than the fact that they are so COOL, and they can do soooo much more than my LG Shine can do...

Well, he called me tonight from work and asked me if I wanted one....and I said heck yeah I do! So as of this evening, I am the proud new owner of a HTC HD2....still reading the manual, but loving it so far!

Stirrin' up a L'il Love Blog Hop Winner....

is going to be Tracy Suzanne...

Tracy Suzanne said...
Hi Tammy. I've been looking at several of your beautiful pages. They are so pretty. I love the lime and pink together with the Beatles song! You kids are adorable. Thanks for sharing. I'm a new GFC follower as tonasun.

Hugs...Tracy :)
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com

February 5, 2011 12:00 AM

Congratulations Tracy....

Please contact me at the Cookin' up Creations website with your address, and I'll get your RAK right out to you!

Also, let me just say thank you to all of you for all of the wonderful comments that have been left on my blog, and for becoming a follower of not only my blog, but of the Cookin' up Creations blog as well!.

Stirrin' Up a Li'l Love Blog Hop

Hello my fellow Blog Hoppers! Glad you decided to join us, and Welcome to my Blog!

My blog is your sixth (6th) stop on the “Stirrin' Up a Li'l Love at Cookin' Up Creations” Blog Hop! If you are following the links from the beginning of the hop, you should have come from Jo's Blog.

If not, and you wish to participate in the blog hop, please start at the Cookin' Up Creations blog here.

Today, I am excited to share with you a layout that I did of my two beautiful children Jackie & Garrett. Each day these two bring me much happiness and joy, and I am very proud to be their mother!



Since we're focusing on the "love" theme this month I felt like it was only appropriate that I focus on the love these two share for one another....even though they rarely see each other these days (the age difference and all), when the two of them are together, the are quite inseparable. Not to mention, I'm a huge fan of the Beatles, and so are both my children....and this particular song just happened to be playing while I was scrapping....so guess what? Yep, you guessed it....it wound up being my song title! Hope you'll be inspired by my layout to create a "love themed" layout of your own, and use a Song Title as YOUR layout title!

Your next stop on the blog hop will be Barb's Blog. Be sure to leave a comment here, and on each stop on the blog hop. Then, make sure you finish up at the Cookin' Up Creations forum and post that you have completed the hop. Your name will be entered into a drawing for a fabulous prize!

We're also hosting a weekend crop from Friday, February 4 through Sunday, February 6 on the forum – hope you will join in the fun!

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of the hop!

In addition to the blog hop prize, I am also offering a RAK of my own! To be entered into my drawing, just become a follower of my blog AND the Cookin' up Creations blog.

Then leave me a comment here to let me know that you did so. I will then draw a winner on Monday February the 7th after work, and post the name here on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of the hop!

Cookin' up Creations Blog Hop

It seems only fitting that since I own the site I should include my blog in the upcoming Blog Hop coming this week....



More details to come!

Snow Much Fun

Got to get some scrapping time in today! Layout #4 of my 2011 Goal of 52 Layouts in 52 Weeks.....



Journaling reads: Outside enjoying a little "snow fun" for like the first? second? third time today?
December 26, 2010

Track #10

So I scrapped another layout this weekend. My 2011 goal is one a week and so far, I'm right on track!

Track #10



Journaling reads:
Ever since Shawn burnt us a CD with some of our current favorite songs on it, you want to hear track #10 constantly. The song is “All the Right Moves” by One Republic and you first heard it on Band Hero and “loved it” before it ever began to get radio play. Well now, it gets played “everyday”, over and over again for as many times as Mommy can stand to listen to it before changing it. Another favorite on this CD is “Fireflies” by Owl City.
April 15th, 2010

Picture #4 - January 4th, 2011 (Tuesday)

Back to School

Took these pictures of Little man as I was dropping him off at school this morning. Christmas break is over and he is officially half way through his 4th grade year (year round school)....he wasn't thrilled about going back, but he didn't give me any trouble either....

Picture #3 - January 3rd, 2011 (Monday)

Today was a family day! Yay! Gotta love those. Garrett hadn't gone back to school yet, I had the day off from work, and Shawn also had they day off! Those days rarely ever happen anymore....

Most of the day was just spent completely lounging around the house, and then we went to Golden Corral for dinner....afterwards we made a stop at the Game Stop to let Garrett spend his Game Stop Gift Card ....he got an X-Box 360 for Chirstmas this year (too add to his other game systems)....

Game of Choice tonight was - Army of Two / 40th Day

Picture #2 - January 2nd, 2011

Jackie came over today....I miss her terribly, but have to realize that she is an adult now, and out on her own, and that I should be thankful for the time that we do have together....

Anyhoo, her, I and Garrett all went to lunch at Zaxby's, and then came home...where the three of us all sat around the dining room table with our laptops and George (the bird - (more on him later)) hung out.



*Jackie & Darla

Todays picture is of Jackie and her new baby Darla - a Jack Russell puppy. She has a huge, huge heart when it comes to animals and helping them out. Darla is a pound rescue puppy that had ringworms early on, and is now perfectly healthy & happy....

Picture #1 - January 1st, 2011

My brother Gene recently retired from the Navy - actually last week sometime. He & his family are in the process of moving back here to North Carolina. On Saturday the whole family came over. I had to run some errands, and my nephew Riley wanted to stay with me. Keep in mind I haven't seen this child in over three years, but regardless, he wanted to stay. I had Garrett for a little while today as well, and the two of them played together nicely. Next time, Little Miss Rayne gets to stay with me. It really was a good day, and it reminded me of just how much I truly do miss my family being around.....


*Riley & Garrett



*Riley

Project 365 Picture a Day in 2011

Well I think I made it half way through the year in 2009, and didn't even dare to attempt it in 2010. This year, the goal is to do it, and finish it. That's the goal. Period.

Another Layout to Share with You.

Well unfortunately all of you know that once I started my website over a year and a half ago, my blogging & scrapbooking took a back seat. Hopefully with the New Year and a few personal resolutions that I've made, that will all change soon...wish me luck!

Anywoo, I offered to post one of the Blue Plate Special Challenges on the website this past Saturday for Sketchy Saturday. Sandy Liles provided me with the sketch and I created my layout of G-man out in the snow the day after Christmas! It was definitely a fun sketch to use, and I can see myself using it again!