Where does the time go??

Seriously, where the heck does it go? Must be with Alice in Wonderland!! Lol!! I am so wrapped up in getting ready to move that I am lucky my brain is even working at all and then again maybe it isn't! I finally finished my niece Shelbie's wedding invitations and will post a picture sometime this evening of them. Right now I am in the process of taking all of my kits that I have gotten from all the different kit clubs that I have belonged to in the past apart and seperating the stuff by manufacturer!! Big Big job!! Let me tell you!! Lol!! If you had any idea of how many kits I had you would sit down and cry with me!! I literally never need to shop again for anything remotely related to scrappin'!! But, I still have the need, what the heck!! I am going to have to learn to just buy a little here and a little there and use up what I have or I pity my nieces when their Aunt Tracy passes away!! I will be talked about like the crazy cat lady!! Lol!! Oh well, life is short and I gotta do what I gotta do right?! Anyway, maybe down the road once we are settled in New York sometime in July I will start doing some blog candy giveaways from my overly abundant stash!! That could be fun right? That is if I can part with any of my pretties!! Lol!! We will see! Thanks for stoppin' by!, Tracy

Sunday!!

Today is my 23rd wedding anniversary!! How fast time flies!! I mean literally!! Lol!! I am just amazed that we still got it for each other as much as we do! I always thought when I was a teenager about how do people stay with each other for so long (at that time long to me was more then a year! LMAO!!)! I guess you could say now I know! Anyway, we are going out for a nice dinner later in the evening and just have some us time together. But, right now I am heading off to my LSS Hannah's and getting me some more paint, Claudine's to be exact!! Thank you Nan for turning me onto it!! I am hooked, line and sinker!! I love the richness of the colors and of course the semi-glass of them as well! Awesome paints and let me tell you they go a long way so one jar is gonna last you forever!! Very economical in my book!! I have been making some pretties using this paint and I will post some pics as soon as I get them finished so that you can all see! Have a great Sunday my friend, Tracy

Check Out This Blog!

I came across this blog of Wendy's about a year ago when I joined a Pazzles Inspiration group on Yahoo. She is a very talented lady and I enjoy checking out her work on a regular basis!! Right now she is doing her first Blog Giveaway so you will definitely have to go over there and check it out!! She is doing a giveaway for a Score-Pal!! Very awesome!! Here is the link: http://www.papertherapy-wendy.blogspot.com/ Thanks for stopping by, Tracy

Shakin' off the CobWebs!!!!

Wowzer!! It sure has been awhile since I have done some house keeping on my blog and because I don't like excuses I am not going to give you any!! So there! Lol!! Hmmm.....let's see, what have I been doing since my last post? I have been working on a new venture in my life and will hopefully be able to post some info about it soon but right now it is still in the works and very time consuming. Might not be so exciting for you but for me it is!! Oh yeah, I also got a gentle nudge from my buddy Amy to join Facebook and I gave in without a fight and signed up! I am just amazed at how many of my peeps were already over there!! I thought no way does a 40 somthing ol'lady need a Facebook account but I guess as always I was wrong!! There is just way too much stuff over there and the way you can keep up to date with everyone on a daily basis is just mind blowing to me!! So if you can't find me you now know where to look!! Lol!! It is seriously addicting!! Then of course there is my favorite thing to do of all time and that is just surf the net and check out all my friends blogs! I must tell you that today I was doing just that and landed on Vicki's blog and followed a link to a link to a link and laughed my you know what off at this video that I stumbled upon!! OMG!! I just couldn't stop laughing!! Thank you Vicki for putting the link to the Evolution of the Wedding Dance on your blog because it sure made my day!! I will now share with you all the video that I stumbled upon while checking out the link from Vicki's!! Totally hilarious and such a trip down memory lane!! Hope you enjoyed it!!, Tracy

Happy New Year!!

Long time no see!! So today is the day I decided it was time to play catch up on everything I have been putting off including my poor neglected blog!! Lol! I still need to find my new header for it and get that changed, but all in good time right!?! First off I wanted to tell all my awesome friends and scrappin' buddies that I had the best time last night getting to see all of you after a long time of no see!! I miss you guys all the time so when we can all get together and scrap it sure does mean the world to me!! Love you all!! By the way, as usual, I did not get anything done!! I know, big shocker!! NOT!! Lol!!! I have not posted any scrappy stuff lately and I thought that since I made my Christmas gifts this year I would show you the one I made for my precious Mom. I made her a calendar for this new year and thought that I would not only guide her through the new year but would also take her on a walk down memory lane! I trip through her past per say. I bought the Basic Grey 2009 Calendar kit even though there has been many not so good reviews of it and found out to my great happiness that I was extremely glad I bought it! I never just do the kit as is anyway so if you take it that way when buying kits you can totally enjoy it and make it your own! A lot of people were disappointed by the contents of the kit and the quality. I am pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. I just wish there had been more rub-ons for the special days but I made do with my own handwriting. So without further ado here it is: As you can see from the picks I totally blinged it up baby!! You know me and my bling....there is never enough!! Lol!! I am very proud to say that Mom loves it and has it hanging on her wall as we speak! Ok, I think I have updated enough for today and will leave some stuff for next time so that I have something to post! Lol!! As always, Thank you so much for stopping by, Tracy

Just Had to Share!!

I just totally love this!! Had to share it so you all could laugh with me during this very stressful holiday season!! Happy Holidays!!, Tracy

Studio Pics & Scrappy Holiday Stuff

I hope this post finds everyone doing awesome this Holiday Season!!! I am recovering from a night of scrappin' at Archiver's on Friday with all my Scrappy Girls!! I had fun getting to see, chat and scrap with Cricket, Amy, Michelle and Jeanie!! Love you Girls!! Plus we made a new friend at our table,which also happens to be a Michelle, who is new to the area!! What a nice addition she was to our group and she fit in with us perfectly!! I, needless to say, did not get anything done!! Lol!! Why? I don't really know except everything was working against me even the dang automatic doors!! Lol!! Those that were there, especially Amy, know the challenges I faced and that I did not face them very well!! Lol!! But at least I finally got a plan for what I want to do with my Christmas cards this year by the time the crop was over at 11pm! Here is a pic of my proto-type which I still need to fine tune (which may mean the finished product may look entirely different!! lol!): I used the cute little penguin from the Hero Arts Clear Design set "Jolly Christmas"! At first I did not buy this set because I just didn't like the frog on it but needless to say I watched Amy play with her set and just had to have them!! Amy always does that to me!! Lol!! I will post pics of the finished design once I get them all the way I want the cards to look so stay posted!! Now onto my scrap space/studio pics. First off, I have been organizing and rearranging this studio for so long it seemed like I would never be happy with it. Then all of a sudden the day before Thanksgiving I had a brainstorm about my space and decided to put it into action imediately! My hubby was not too thrilled about it but hey he did put his all into helping me anyway!! Lol!! I had this really huge computer desk that just took up so much space and it really only held the computer and printer! Big huge waste of space in this tiny space that I have so I told hubby I wanted it out of here!! He just looked at me with this "aaaaa you said what?!" look on his face and I said "yes, you heard me and I am not going to change my mind"!! So the poor man proceeded to help me haul everything out of my room so that he could tear apart the computer desk. It took him most of the day but once the job was done of tearing that huge desk down and hauling it all to the basement I was in 7th heaven! I had such a huge empty canvas to put my room back together the way I wanted and would be the most productive for me!! I was sooo excited that you wouldn't believe it!! Here are the photos for your viewing pleasure and please keep in mind that the pics are taken while I was working on it so not everything was all put away but pretty darn close: I still need to label all of my canvas bins and other storage stuff with what is in them and then I will be finished!! Finally!! Hope you enjoy the pics! Thanks for stoppin' by!, Tracy

Where does the time go?

At this time of the year it sure seems to just zip on by!!! I have been busy making home-made gifts this year and hopefully I will actually get some Christmas cards done in time for mailing! If you actually get one this year you will know that I got some finished!! Ha!! I have been burning the midnight oil trying to get my "Stories in Hand" project put together. This was and is such a cool class from Jessica Sprague.com and let me tell you it sure is a romp down memory lane!! So if you missed out on this class you really missed out! I also went and go my hair highlighted and low lighted in 3 different colors and I must say that I am totally happy with the finished product for the first time in a long time! Totally stepped outside the box for me with the color and had fun! The bottom layers of my hair are all a deep Merlot in color which is kinda fun. I finally sat down today and finished a layout that I had started at the Heart and Soul weekend crop which was a while ago. I know, I know, I am still the slowest scrapper in the WORLD!! Lol!! Anyway here it is: Not the best picture of the layout but someday this girly is going to take a class for her fancy camera and then watch out!! LOL!! The photos will be so WOW that I won't know what to do with myself!! HA!!! I have also been working on my studio again and have totally moved stuff around and actually got rid of my huge computer desk! Yes, I had the hubby chop it into small pieces and haul it out of here! I just couldn't take the lack of space anymore!! Those of you that have been in my space will see that in the picture of my scrap table that I have my computer on it! I am so far totally loving it!! Especially while I am working on my "Stories in Hand" class! Makes it so easy to do!! Once I have the room finished, which could be awhile with Christmas and all, I will post some finished photos. I have a long haul ahead of me so hopefully I will get the room finally where I will be happy in it! Oh the struggles of organization in this wonderful world of scrapbooking!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Black Friday!! Tracy

A Different Christmas Poem

I am starting to get into the Holiday spirit but I still can't help but think of my military friends overseas and their families who are left behind celebrating the holidays without their loved one. I remember all too well the day that the fateful phone call came and Terry was selected to go. We had one day to prepare and I think I spent most of that day crying. Thinking about all he was going to miss at home and all the changes that were going to go on while he was gone and how terribly I was going to miss him. Instead as all good military spouses know I sucked it up and told him that I would be okay and that he needed to do this for our country. The country he loves so very much and the very reason he joined the armed forces, to serve and protect! He has always been one to take care of others and look out for them! He would be going for 12 months which could be extended, of course, into more. That night the crying had finally stopped and we spent some last minute time together talking and laughing about things that we had been through in our 17 years as a military family together and about what the future held. Needless to say no sleep was to be had that night with our emotions running high and the stress of the situation at hand. Around 5:30am I got myself showered and dressed to take my hubby to the Station for the last time. He would be getting picked up under high security and flown to his destination in the Middle East at 7am. We drove in silence to the Station trying to prepare for our goodbyes which for us is "till I see you again". I kissed him and held him tight and then let him go.....one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life!! I drove home in tears, having to pull over a few times because I couldn't see. I told myself that I needed to be a big girl and suck it up but dang it, it hurt! I thought of all the thousands of military spouses and family that had and were going through this very same thing! I sent a prayer out to comfort them and help them to not feel so alone because at that moment I felt completely and utterly alone. Even though I knew I was far from being alone! I made it home finally and as I was shutting the garage door down I could hear the phone ringing! Who could it be? I rushed inside to grab it quick and who was on the other end but Terry!! At first all I could think was "Baby, please don't make this any harder"! He sounded really shook up and proceeded to tell me that a young man without a family, who had all the qualifications that Terry had, had actually requested to go in Terry's place!!!! OMG!!! What the heck!!! I was totally blown away!! This young man was someone we had never even met in our military career and he wanted to go in place of my husband and the powers that be had decided that he could go instead!!! Talk about an emotional roller coaster!! Too many of my fellow spouses have not had such luck as we did that day and I think about them every day and the sacrifice they make on a daily basis!! I want to thank that young man from the bottom of my heart and let him know that a day doesn't go by that I don't remember him and prayer for him! To all the men and women of our armed forces who give up literally everything to protect and serve a country they love I thank you!! I know first hand that it takes a really special individual to do what they do!!! So, without further ado this poem is for you!!! "A Different Christmas Poem" The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. “What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts. To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said, "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night. "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ', And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile." Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home.. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us." PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN 30th Naval Construction Regiment OIC, Logistics Cell One Al Taqqadum, Iraq Happy Holidays, Tracy

A Weekend Away is...........

Priceless in my book!!! The weekend crop in Lake Geneva at The Cove was awesome!! We had so much fun and got to totally space out without any responsibilities and just scrapbook!! I can't wait to do it again!! I got to hang with my awesome Girls and just chill!! Here is a pic of us on our first night away at the resteraunt in the hotel. From left to right: Me, Carla, Amy, Cathy, Cricket, Pat (sitting). I went with the thought in mind that if I finished one layout I would be happy (remember I am the slowest scrapper alive! Lol!!) and by golly that is what I accomplished!! Lol!! I have another one almost finished just need to attach the journaling strips and can call it done. I worked with my latest kit from "Create My Keepsake" which is their November kit. Totally love this kit so of course I got all the add-ons and let me tell you I will be using this kit for awhile because it is totally loaded with goodies!! Here is the layout I finished of my great niece Navarina in her kindergarten pic from 1997! Hopefully in the next couple of days I will have the other layout finished and can then post it. This weekend, on Saturday the 15th, I have an all day crop for SIS at Craft Fancy in Illinois which will be a blast!! I get to see my Girls again and chill with some good food and lots of chatting!! I hope to accomplish a project that I got in my last Scarlet Lime Kit that involves a frame!! That should be a challenge and if I get it done there will be a post with pics! Projects always seem to take me forever and ever. I am bound and determined this one will only take a day dang it!! Lol!! We will see!! And on top of it Craft Fancy is an awesome store with lots of goodies to buy so hopefully I don't shop the whole time! Well that is enough for tonight. Thanks for stoppin' by, Tracy