Slowly... slowly...

Trying to get back into it and finding it hard to do.
I need to seriously set aside some time for myself but I am finding it challenging.

But I have been feeling artistic lately and yet when I sit down at the table - I don't love the results at all!

Need some inspiration.
See something awesome you think will help me - please send me a link in my comments?!
Please?!

Happy Easter everyone!

Back in the saddle

It's been awhile. I haven't been crafty this summer because well, we were too busy making memories than preserving them - but now that the end of summer is here it seems to be all coming back to me.
Like riding a bike.
Which we did lots of this summer.

I got a new toy yesterday. I can't wait to share some of the fantastic projects sure to come from it's awesomeness.

Photos are coming as soon as I upload.

Plus my little princess has shown a desire to sew - and since I have no skill in that area we have been searching online for super super easy projects and she is on her 2nd of the day already! She is already planning some special handmade Christmas gifts.

As for my own hobby - I have not done much scrapping this summer - just a few layouts for a summer weekly challenge (I took the pictures faithfully but am still way behind on the layouts! I am going to try and finish it though.) I have made a few cards and just one or two layouts. I did manage an entire pregnancy 6 x 6.5 inch albums (tons of pages) for my youngest sister who is expecting a baby next March. That was a 7hour solitary scrapfest but I was really pleased with the outcome. Pics for that coming soon too!

I can feel the creativity coming on back!

I found Michelle's blog recently - Totally cute! Awesome candy! Adorable kids! Fun etsy offerings. Check her out!!! I don't usually put my name in for blog candy - but if you saw this generous offering, you wouldn't be able to resist either.

http://dizzienoodleheartscrafting.blogspot.com

She also sent me this little cutie! The Lovely Blog award - check it out to the right --->

Thanks so much Michelle!
Now... gotta go and browse Etsy!

YMBD Saturday Scraplift Challenge - June 13th

Check out the link on the widget to the right!
What a great inspiration layout from Julie...

Here is my take!
And check out their 92 days of summer photo/scrap challenge running from June to Sept. It is certainly keeping my mojo running and just all around making my summer great capturing our fun family moments and documenting them for those cold winter months in the future!

Anyhoo... here's my interpretation! Thanks for looking...

Crop for the Cure 2009 - Whew! What a day!!!

The mom and I cropped our buns (numb buns by the end of the day) off at the very awesome Crop for the Cure 2009 in St. Jacobs, Ontario.
Here are some of my Disney layouts that I managed to finish this day!

Blog Candy

Check out this awesome blog candy offered by Michelle from YMBD to celebrate her birthday.
How much does this little package Rock!?



Check out her blog here

Those Disney embellies would be perfecto right about now!!!

Had a great scrappy weekend with the mom. Went to the Crop for a Cure charity event which raised $2200 for breast cancer research we'll all have you know! It was 9am to 9pm and we made it. Our backs were a bit sore (and butts too) but the time flew by like it was nothing!!

Mom and I were kind of on an island of our own with no one across from us directly. There were ladies on either side of us but they were all in little crowds of friends and chatting amongst themselves. We were able to quietly sit and work away just briefly chatting with our neighbours and with relatively no drama.

The event was really well organized - a big high-five to Tracey, Dodie and the gang -we all came away with just TONS of goodies.
Especially Mo who won some door prizes including the grand prize which she very generously gave back so it could be re-drawn. LOVE that Mo!

Got me a lovely camera strap from Michelle's new etsy shop (which I will link up tomorrow!!) and scrapped my buns off!

Tomorrow it is back on the exercise wagon and eating right regime! Got summer coming with all it's bathing suit beauty (YIPES!) and a wedding reception with some FAB-U-LOUS peeps in September so I gotsta be fabulous enough myself to attend!

Loading up some pics tomorrow God willing...
xo

Kiss Me My Prince!

See???
Today the pics worked!
I am using Mozilla. Maybe here I have found my problem. Doh!
We'll see!!!
The YMBD Saturday Scraplift challenge from May 30th...

Dear Blog,

I really hate that I can't post pictures on you most of the time. I would really be sad if I had to start over with a new blog account - but I will my friend, I will if I must!

A couple of weeks ago, you let me post some pics. Today after 2 reboots and many curse words you blocked me. What gives?

Please see fit to get yourself some help would ya? Because I have tried everything and I just don't get it!

Yours respectfully,
K.

Back from Disney...

Now I guess we have to start the countdown to our next vacation in Grand Bend end of July. But in the meanstwhile - I will be able to scrap the most incredible wicked vacay ever. You know Disney amazed. The weather was terrible - but we rocked our ponchos hard and made the best of it.
Whaddayagonna do? You paid - you gotta go and be happy.
And we did.
And it was great.

May God Bless you Walt. You created the start of something magical. And magical people keep that alive. Way to go good buddy.

It was a scrappy little weekend. Here are my projects - all done and featuring YMBD projects this time. A card for our beloved translator and friend in our department at work - Georges, Happy Birthday to you our dear man. A card for my Mommy because she is best Mom ever, like the card says. It ain't no lie. And a LO for the Saturday Blog Scraplift Challenge - Susan left a wicked example. Mine is a bit of a take on it I admit, more like inspired by than lifted but I hope that's ok.

Today Gabby and I also bought a beautiful red rose bush in honour of my mother in law who passed away many years ago. Sadly, I never had the chance to meet her. I know in my heart she watches over us and is an amazing spirit. She had to be to raise such an incredible son. xox Maria Fatima xox

Not sure why the pics are working this weekend and they weren't last weekend - but here you go anyway. Somehow it just worked... Much love to y'all!

Happy Mothers Day to all of you!

It is about an hour left until it's officially Mothers Day. Daughter fell asleep on the couch. Son is her daughter's bed. Husband went to bed an hour ago. So it's just me, and I am sitting here just wondering... How the heck am I going to get my daughter to bed? I simply can't carry her anymore. Neither can I leave her down here all night - in the basement rec room. She would wake up nervous all alone I am sure.

Eight and a half years since I first became a mom. Where did all that time go? And this coming week my son turns six. Man time does really and truly fly.

Bless all you moms out there. You are all incredible, magical, wonderous beings.
Hope you are treated to some magic tomorrow as you deserve. Cause really, what's better than a painted rock or some macaroni jewels. Can't think of thing to be honest.

Happy day to you! xoxo

Thanks YMBD

Attention: YMBD Forum and DT
Thank you for bringing my mojo back.
I appreciate it.

Signed,
The management.
xo

ONLINE Crop Alert

In honour of National Scrapbooking Day (I know, awesome right!?) there is an online crop this weekend at YMBD... The link is on my sidebar - go and check out the wicked challenges.
And there are great things happening for cancer during this crop too! Check it out!

I haven't scrapped a single thing since my DT term ended on the Scrapping Turtle. I think I made one card because I needed one for my little cousin - but that's it! It's sad kind of... Gonna try and get inspired this weekend.

Peace y'all!

Because I believe in adoption...

And because, I think - I read this and it just made sense to me to post it.

It's been great and Waiting for Tomato-Godot

It seems like Waiting for Godot but we know in this tale - we will get to see the title character. They've been talking about it forever it seems with all of us and reading strategies online, having procedures, and trying old wives remedies to induce labour however, our Tomato (my sister's baby-in-bump) is still not here. Due last Sunday but hanging on tight in that uterus. I cannot wait... I imagine my sister cannot either.
This Sunday, almost for sure, we will meet the baby - if not sooner. As long as 23 or so more Kdub women don't spontaneously go into labour this weekend and there is still space in the hospital, we should be all good in the 'hood.
What a miraculous thing - I can hardly stand it!!

March Break has been a blur. We have managed to all get along - and do lots but not much either. Here's a recap just for posterity's sake:
-Played Mousetrap and Battleship, Lite Brite, DS, 20 questions, quiz and Webkinz
-We Wii'd
-Watched movies galore - Beverley Hills Chihuahua was the fave so far!
-Walked and Skip-It'ed to Laura and Cam's past the duck pond where we tooks pictures and poked sticks in the ice
-baked cookies - peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip - yummo!
-Cooked yummy dinners
-A trip to Toys R Us, Dollarama
-Brunch at Angels Diner and a first time trip to the Beat goes On - what a great store!
-Lunch at Burger King with Laura and Tierney
-Karate class for G
-I had some overdue mom-time at the salon
-Drove to Guelph and had a long lunch with Daddy in the middle of his work day (so fun) at Turtle Jacks
-A trip to the Belgian nursery to buy a Primula, some cucumber and pea seeds and sniff that great dirt smell
-A fantastic fun trip to "Your Kitchener Market" and to the portuguese bakery for some amazing bread and our favourite custard tarts...
-a very small amount of scrapping - (one layout)
There is more - but that is good for now...
Hope you had an amazing week as well...

Mom stuff and a Mason Jar obsession

Seriously - should I contact the Mason jar company and tell them of my problem...
If you have ever checked out my 21 days blog you will see my sic (that's a good thing) spice and baking cupboard.

But scrappy stuff - all my ribbon... I have all my flowers and brads and doodads in masons too - tucked away in drawers. Any hoo...


Now it's PARENTING with mason jars...
Here's the pic:


Now I will explain the story - the kids were killing me starting off March break with the bickering -- isn't that a great word by the way? So my sister Laura came up the starts of this idea and I finished her thought and got started right away Saturday morning.

I gave each kid a jar and foamy stickers. Told them to put their name on it and make it their own.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the table - I made these too. I was trying to come up with a nice word that would be the counterpart to Brat starting with a C - Charm isn't quite right - but we've moved on from that already.

Here's how it works.
The Brat jar has loads of buttons.
If you whine, hit, cry, tattletail (another great word) talk-back, say No to Mommy or Daddy etc. you get a button from the Brat jar put in the jar with your name. To get the Brat button out of your jar - you have to do a chore around the house without complaining.
If at the end of the day your jar is empty of buttons - you get to pick an activity for the family the following day. If you have buttons - you miss a turn in picking the fun activities. You see, this way - they aren't being punished all of March Break - but they aren't fighting all the time either. See? Fraggin' genious right? And I have managed to incorporate Mason jars in yet another crazy way. You know, I really should get an honourary title at the Corporation. - Chief Non-Pickling Officer. Maybe I will call them tomorrow.

My last DT reveal at the Scrapping Turtle... We received this great line from PDQ papers and honestly - they are gorgeous!

Had me some fun with this stuff - I even bought an extra sheet of each sheet so I could continue to play!!



My altered cracker box!

This blog is toast...

Honestly - I have tried every trick I have been sent. I have gone through the blogger database and reviewed all the tips, suggestions. Thank you to all of you who sent me helpful tips. Thanks to Bonnie - who somehow managed to make the tips work for her?? So bizarre - I appreciate you all trying to help.
Gotta figure out what to do next. I would be sad to see all this good stuff disappear... And I can't imagine re-creating it all...
Ack... Stay tuned y'all...

Maybe I have to start a new pretty fresh one, with no mistakes in it. No mistakes in it yet.

Have a great night!

Some scrappy stuff

It has been ages since I posted some scrappy stuff...
So here are the most recent reveal projects from my DT work at the Scrapping Turtle... It is winding down to the final two months of my 2nd term there and I will be a little sad when it is all over.

Here are my projects from this month featuring the awesome October Afternoon Night Light paper line. I absolutely loved this paper - I am going to buy some more!!

(( Gimme a minute - pics are not working. Argh this blog!
I think I need to start a new one... which stinks!))

Thanks Dee! What a sweet thing - Dee picked me and some other girls cause she thinks our blogs are cool! You rock girl and back at ya!!

Guys - I can see some beautiful comments from you in my moderation section - but no matter how many different ways I update the settings in the comments area - I just cannot figure out how to publish them. Nothing happens. The box checks and then nothing.

Any suggestions - I love hearing from everyone and wish you could see the nice things my good friends have written!

Help!

Do you feel relieved?
I am starting to.
The high is so fantastic and amazing - this Christmas insanity. I love it.
And I hate it too. I always put a lot of pressure on the gifts that I purchase for others. I want them to be great and thoughtful as well as useful and yet reflect all my feelings for the person I am giving them to.

Wow.
That's is a lot to ask of a small package wrapped in paper - or reuseable shopping bags with tissue such as the case might be.

Have I mentioned yet where we are going, the four of us Silvas in 141 sleeps?
I'll give you a hint.
It's magical.
There is a mouse.
And Buzz and Troy and Gabriella and some Goofy guy.

Dave surprised Gabby, Rui and I with the most incredible present I could ever imagine. Nothing can top this one!! NOTHING! 4 tickets to nirvana!
I might have the best husband in the entire world. I know some of you would disagree but I think I am going to finally let him know he has earned his self-given nickname "Mr. Perfect". I secretly have always thought he is perfect but I try not to let him get too big of an ego. Doesn't do anyone any good know what I mean?
I think I will tell him.
Tomorrow maybe.

Christmas Shopping Success

Christmas shopping is hard.
Nope.
My mom had the greatest idea to go to the Southworks mall in Cambridge. Never been.
I wouldn't say there is tons of things to buy there for the people on my list - but -the deals we did find were spectacular! Great trip, great company (thanks Mom and Gab), great coffee on the way home and I can't wait to eat off our new kitchen dishes. You wouldn't believe me if I told you the steal of a deal we got. So I won't tell ya!
(Winks!)
Come over for cookies sometime - we'll show you in person!

Kate tagged me the other day and since I finally have a minute to sit - I will finally answer!! Kate has a rocking blog here:
http://kate-burns.blogspot.com/ also found in my blogroll at right!
So I need to list seven random or weird facts about myself...
1. I am allergic to evergreen trees, well more specifically the sap - I have an asthmatic reaction to it if I ever get too close for too long - or God forbid get that stuff on my skin. It's especially eventful during this festive season. God bless the artificial Christmas tree... for me at least.
2. I am a vegetarian. If it could make a baby, walk, fly or swim I won't eat it. I won't eat other things if meat has been on my plate. I won't eat gelatin because they make it from animals which eliminates most yogurt (which I love) and I only eat free run organic eggs. Not really weird I don't think - Ok, how about this - I am a vegetarian with lactose intolerance. Ha! What the heck do I eat you ask? Somehow - still lots!
3. I know you will find this hard to believe by looking at me (note sarcasm please) - but despite my last name, I am not Portuguese. But my dh is - and I can cook Portuguese cuisine with the best of them! (And then I won't eat it because it is all meat-based mostly ha ha ha!)
4. My kids are my life. Not so unusual. They are my morning, noon and night, my Christmas, Easter and all the days in between. And they are both fantastic awesome people who I love as friends too. I would do absolutely anything, anytime, anyplace to make them happy and I make no apologies for that.
5. I want to be an author. My dream unfulfilled. To date at least.
6. I have never been to Europe and have only been on 2 plane trips in my whole life both to the Carribean. I would love to spend a whole month or even a whole year (with dh and kids) in England or Scotland or Ireland. Either way - I would be in my glory!
7. My fave colour is orange, my fave food is veggie sushi (and lots of it please) and my fave pastime other than scrapping is reading. And it's been ages since I scrapped (Booooooo!)

That's it - I now tag Kathy P., Jenn M, Tammy B., Amanda N. and Deanne Burton. Let's see when they find this!! Mwah ha ha ha!

I don't know if he said it first but it's still just great!

Robin Sharma (who is an author and speaker who I love!) says:

"The smallest action is always better than the noblest intention."

Right?!

Check him out if you ever think of it - he's fantastic and SOOOO positive! Loves life. Reminds me of important things.

Read:
The Greatness Guide (1 and 2)
The Monk who sold his Ferrari.
or his blogs at: http://www.robinsharma.com/scripts/ic_blog.php

My friend Jenn, marbles and good deeds!

My friend Jenn posted the story on her blog about the man who used marbles to keep track of good deeds he did for his neighbours and for his family because he realized a little later in life that his priorities of work over family were a little mixed up. Instead of continuing - the man fixed it by working hard to be with his family going forward instead of reflecting back with regret.

We use these marbles and these little slips of paper to recognize the nice things we do for our family and for our community. It is our way of remembering goodness in our days and focusing on positive activities and goodness... These marbles are the centre thing on our mantlepiece. They aren't fancy but they are all about what matters to us.



Thanks for the reminder Jenn! Great story!
Want to read it - go here:
http://thinkingwell-jenn.blogspot.com/2008/11/3900-saturdays.html

Jenn has the most incredible amazing blog about being positive! Love everything about that idea Jenn! Way to go girl!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Found this link on Kelly's blog...

http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/
Started reading.
Missed 20 minutes of housework and finishing LO duties for DT.
Need to go back and read the rest.
Becoming a fan!

If you haven't already - check out my new non-craft blog... A new 21-day challenge is starting tomorrow!

Click the button to the right!

Turtle Soup Anniversary!

This weekend is a Turtle-versary Crop over at the Scrapping Turtle!



In this post you will find some of the samples from my posted challenges. But there are so many more and some incredible work by the DT over at the Soup.
Check it out and play along if you will!



I may actually make this soup this weekend. I have made one very similar but not this recipe exactly...!! Do you think I should have tried it first before I spent time scrapping it?

NAH! Not my style!

DT Reveal for November

This month I get to play with the new Christmas line from American Crafts for the design team! I am having trouble getting a layout done (have to dig out some pix from Christmases past first) but I am totally digging all the altered items that are popping in my head!

Here is the reveal of the first one...
Check out Turtle Soup on the 1st and 15th of each month for the whole DT reveals!



And I cannot get enough of these prima poinsettas!!!

I have a story to tell but it has a pre-story. A few weeks ago my son Rui was in the shower and he noticed that we had Axe bodywash in there. My husband's and he says to me - "Hey Mom! If I use that stuff girls will fall all over me. Can I have some?" Come ON! Is that marketing at its very best or what? The advertising campaigns even work on 5 year olds!! So you gotta give him some Axe then doncha? They we (me and my daughter) pretended to fall all over him the rest of the day every time we got close enough for a sniff.

Fast forward to yesterday - we were going to go have dinner at my sister and b-i-l's house, (always a great time) but Rui needed a shower or bath. You know boys - they stink sometimes and not in a good way.



So he runs upstairs and tells his dad he needs a shower. In he goes. Well I don't hear much from them for a few minutes except laughing and sillyness and all of a sudden there he is - all dressed up and ready for the party. And what does he say?
"Hey Mom - smell my neck!"
Isn't the little brat wearing my husband's cologne!? And he was STRUTTING!
Monster. So we fell all over him for another day. Man this kid is going to have an ego the size of the CN Tower. I guess that is as it should be.

Sick Day

So Gabby is ill and has a super froggy voice! So what better thing to do with a kid who feels yucky than a costume montage..

She tried on her Halloween costume for me and it's the cutest thing! If that hat isn't spectacular, I tell you - I don't know what is! Hey, at least she is smiling!























Hee hee hee...

You know what I think, I think there are not enough faux feathers in today's fashion industry. Let's do something about it everyone! Find a feather - wear it like a brooch. We're starting a new trend here people!

Sorry what?!

I can't hear you... my new shoes are too fantastic!





Shut UP right?!
But you can see in that second picture - I need help deciding on a critical point... do I criss-cross or no?
Please post your vote in the comments for me would ya?!

Want a sketch challenge?

Try this on for size:


Simple but satisfactory I think! Hey challenge yourself this - no pics of people in it! Give that a whirl if you want to... Or not... Up to you!

Here's my interpretation:


If you try out this LO - please let me know by posting a comment here!
You can find this sketch challenge and a variety of other amazing challenges at the Scrapping Turtle Message Board - http://www.turtlesoup.scrappingturtle.com

GO and check it out!

October Scrapping Turtle Design Team Reveal

Here are my October Projects! Whew! With gorgeous papers from Pebbles Inc - who could go wrong! I was IN LOVE with this Legacy collection from this company. Double-sided delectable deliciousness...

I love my pumpkin that I freehand paper pierced without a plan! I think it turned out really well!



And not just any boy - MY boy. Love this face and a picture taken by Dave instead of me! SHOCKING! I let someone use my camera... Never happens... I think good ole Dave did a smashing job getting this shot!



How about a little synchronized sillyness? Gabby and Poppy showing off in the summertime at Kathi and Jim's. Once she figured this trick out - you couldn't stop her!





Ordinary fridge magnets? Don't be fooled my friends...

The new baby in the family...

Introducing my Mom's new baby "Chip" aka Chipshot in keeping with the golf-related-pet-names-thing we have going on in the family already with current furbeasts Bogey and Mulligan...
This guy is Mom's tiny 3 pound purse-dweller adopted from the local Humane Society. He's a 5 year old chihuahua and I have yet to hear a peep out of him - so he is not noisy at all. The only problem I can see other than he not afraid of my dog growling at him- and that we seem to only be able to speak to him in the style of the Yo Quiero Taco Bell dog -- is that he can walk right under the fence gate at my house and escape down the road. We may need a leash for this little stinker until he realizes that we are all HIS people now.

Better than chips! More meat-free goodness...

I was inspired by a recipe I saw on a cooking show - however, if I am being honest, I was doing a million other things when it was on and I was not paying close attention.

Here is my recipe for Black Pepper Lime Chick Pea Snacks - Inspired by Rachel Ray but not exactly her instructions I am sure. Sorry Rachel.

Here is what I did:

Drain and dry can of chick peas.
Put about 1 tbsp of olive oil in a skillet or teflon frying pan.
Add the chick peas, some sea salt (about a tsp-ish) tons of black pepper and sprinkle some lime juice over top. About a tbsp of lime juice depending on your taste. These will turn all crispy and since there isn't too much oil - it's not too terrible for you.

After you turn off the heat - add about 2 tbsp of romano or parmesan (not the powdered stuff - fresh if you got it) and it will melt into the beans, stir it around quickly so it melts but doesn't burn and then dump in a bowl and snacky-snacky. We put these in some homemade squash soup - but after that we were eating them for a treat whilst playing Texas Hold Em!
If you can't or don't eat dairy -- leave out the cheese and these are still awesome.

Dancing in the rain... What is better than that?