Just a Quick Update

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to post a quick update from my post on Tuesday. I mentioned that Unity would be doing a HHH today and I was hoping to get something done for then...well, the Unity crew is over at CHA with limited internet access so HHH will resume next week...bad for those looking for some inspiration but good for little old me that wasn't able to get her layout done in time anyway. Doing these challenges and posts really gets me to make the time to scrap...if I didn't have housework, taxi mom duties, mountains of laundry and all the other endless chores I would scrap the day away! But giving me one more week just means the page will be even better (or maybe I can do 2...what an idea.)

Don't forget the CTMH August SOTM blog hop tomorrow! Can't wait.

Tracy

I'm Back!

Hey everyone!

I am back and in more ways than one. We just got home this past weekend from a super fantabulous week in Maine. Well, the weather wasn't super but the memories, family time and relaxation was great! I am now caught back up on laundry...the house is almost back in order and I am crafting away this afternoon!

I wanted to do a quick post to let you know some great crafty inspiration that will be coming up this week....no, I will not be posting live from CHA (maybe someday), but there is some great inpsiration to be had this week on the bloggos.

Thursday - First, Unity Stamp Co. will have their weekly blog hop on Thursday where the DT stuns us with their talent. You can hop along Thursday morning here.

Friday - Then Friday morning the Unity customers get their chance to shine during HHH - to check out who is participating you can start here. If I can get my act together, I hope to participate with a great layout that has been in the works for a while now...I just need to finish it up!

Saturday - I will be joining 63 amazing CTMH consultants in a blog hop on Saturday August 1! We will be featuring the August Stamp of the Month - It's Your Day, a wonderful collection of images and sayings to celebrate the special celebrations in your life (birthdays that is!). All products will be CTMH, so if you have some in your stash - this is the place to be...grab some coffee and join us in the wee hours of the morning as all posts should be live by 12:01 am MT...2:01 am EST...(that special time when the house is quiet, no one is up and you can actually have some YOU time!). You will be able to start the hop with Jena and then continue on from there. I will post the list on my blog Saturday in case you get stuck along the way!

Sunday - I hope to have another card posted to take part in a color challenge over at My Favorite things. I am pretty sure I have some papers in my stash this week that Dawn has posted and I have been wanting to participate in one of these for a while now.

So I must get busy....lots of work, and so little time!

Enjoy -

Tracy

PS - If you are the praying type of person, I am asking you to please say a prayer or a thought for McKMama and her family. I stumbled upon this blog one day from a link on I blog that I follow. This wonderful woman's 8 month old son (who is a miracle baby in more than one way) is fighting for his life and really could use any good thoughts, Karma and prayers we could send his way!

Have a Bright Day!

Hey!

It is HHH (Hip Hop Hangover) over at the Unity Stamp Co. blog and I am happy to share with you a little card I made using the Shine On! stamp set. If you get a chance, check out the Unity blog today for other great creations featuring Unity Customers.

The Shine On! set is just so cute. I wasn't sure I was going to like the blue ribbon I used on the card because my initial thought was red...but I am happy with how it turned out. One thing I learned is that I need to go ribbon shopping! The more cards I make, the more I learn that I just need ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon (and I have buckets full as it is). I actually saved this piece from something I had purchased recently thinking I could use it. The card is also used from mostly all scraps...the only full sheet I had to cut was the pretty background paper.

I had originally planned on doing a layout last night to share with you, but those plans fell through. First because it was Pizza & a Movie night in our house...and well, we watched Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone (for the 100th time), but there is something about those movies that make me want to watch. I had even picked out my own movie to watch while I scrapped but I will have to pop that in this weekend. The other reason I didn't do the original layout is because I had a stamp in mind, only to find out that I don't own it...yet, but I have everything else all set...so once I do, I can create and share. I will have to find something else to scrap tonight. Good thing my latest copy of CK came yesterday so I can flip through it tonight for inspiration while the kids are at Tae Kwan Do.

Have a great weekend - it is supposed to be warm and sunny here, finally after the rain and cool weather, although I am not complaining about the cool weather - I will take mid 70s over 90+ any day, well unless I am at the beach then mid 80s to 90 is good. We will be joining family tomorrow at my aunts house on Otis Reservoir for a wonderful party and fabulous fireworks.

The Deets: Stamps - Unity Shine On! ; Paper - CTMH Silhoutte Creative Basics; Ink - CTMH; Other - Ribbon Misc, Foam Squares.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!

I am so blessed to live in America. To be a military wife and daughter and to have served in the military myself. I am proud to be raising 2 children to respect their country and those who have served and are serving. To show respect for the flag and the symbols of this great country. They may not understand the whys right now, but they will appreciate it (just as I did) when they get older. I love seeing my hubby leave for work in his uniform every morning...not only because I love a man in uniform (and my hubby looks darn good in his) but because I am so proud of the fact that he is going to work to do what he does for our country, our children and our Freedom. I love the sound of jet noise...we live right near the base and I loved sitting outside this morning with my coffee listening to the sounds of the F-15s taking off to perform flyovers for various celebrations in the area. I stop and pause every time I hear one overhead...almost everyday...that is the sweet sound of Freedom...the beauty of America.

We will be heading over to a friends house for a BBQ this afternoon. We enjoyed our local fireworks display last evening. Despite a passing shower towards the end, they were awe inspiring. I packed a picnic and we enjoyed the evening with some friends. Bob and I even got in an exhausting game of monkey in the middle with the kids! It was fun and reminded me that I need to let go and live a little more often.

I hope you all enjoy your day. I thank each and every military member for their service and each and every military family for your service and support. By the way...my personal hero is the one in the pic above on the right....got to love that guy.

God Bless America,

Have a Sweet Day!

Hey there!

Just wanted to do a quick post to share this fun card I made tonight for the sketch challenge over at Split Coast Stampers. You can see the sketch here. These fun cupcake stamps came from a set I won a few weeks ago during the Unity Stamp Co.'s Hip Hop Thursday.

I was also able to create this entire card out of my scrap bins. I have been having so much fun making cards lately using only scraps....and cutting into cardstock for the bases when needed. This was the first challenge that I participated in over at SCS, but I will be coming back for more....it was so much fun and I was able to find some me time in my craft room. Looking forward to some scrappin' time this weekend.

If I don't post again before the Holiday - have a safe and blessed 4th of July!

Tracy

Here are the card deets:

Stamps: Unity - Mix Up of Cuteness

Paper: CTMH - Cranberry, Desert Sand, White Daisy, Silhouette (patterned)

Accessories: Buttons, Ribbon, Sparkles, Glitter, Foam Squares

Tools: 2" Circle Punch (Fiskars)

2.6 Down and Counting!

So last week I posted that I wasn't sure how my weigh in was going to turn out on Saturday, but lo and behold I stepped on that scale 2.6 lbs lighter (18.4 total)! It is amazing how a loss can change your attitude immensely...I went shopping, yep, I did. I have not bought new clothes in, oh I don't know, years. Sure I have picked up a shirt or a pair of jeans, but never more than 1 or 2 things - just to get me through. My summer wardrobe was seriously limited to 2 pairs of shorts and 1 pair of capris...plus about 7 shirts, most of which were stained or ripped. Seriously, I felt really bad when I went out and was really self conscious all the time. So after my successful weigh in, I went over to Kohl's which always has great sales and is in the same plaza as my WW center and I went shopping. I really only went in for some new workout clothes and 1 or 2 pairs of shorts...but I walked out with so much more. Not only do I have some more clothes to carry me through the summer in style - I have a new attitude and outlook on this weight loss thing. Yep, I do still have the guilt that prevented me from buying anything in the first place...you know the we only have so much money to spend why waste it on clothes that won't fit me next year...guilt? But, I feel SO much better about myself and I think that is what really counts.

Looking back - really I don't know what was different about this week that gave me that great loss. I expected one the week before and had a gain, so really maybe everything just works out eventually. I know I was right on target for the most part last week, so it goes to show that if you follow the program faithfully (not with your own rules) it does work. So that is what I am doing know...no cheating myself, and I hope to be at goal and shopping for a whole new wardrobe soon.

There will be no weigh in this weekend because it is the 4th - but I plan on stepping on that scale on the 11th even lighter but maybe this time I should celebrate with a smoothie when I get home instead of a shopping trip (oh - until I hit goal - then look out Mall - here I come!)

Don't forget it is Hip Hop Thursday over at Unity - I am filled up with inspiration and ideas and off to my studio for some me time while the kids play at the neighbors!

Tootles -
Tracy