Extra...Extra...Read All About It!

Extra...Extra... Read All About It! There is a new paper girl in town!

My darling and talented and crazy and creative friend Margie

has partnered with Advantus to create her OWN signature paper line.

The Girls' Paperie by Margie

will make its debut at CHA winter in a few weeks!

The good news is... You all can be getting her fabulous paper SOON!

I have seen the product and it is so amazing!

Margie is a girly girl and loves the whole vintage vibe.

Her stuff is so great!

I am excited and proud of her for this! She has had a crazy year in the scrapbook industry, and this is the beginning to one of her biggest dreams. It is going to be BIG! She is AMAZINGLY talented... but more importantly- A heck of a lot of fun to be around!

She and her girls, Brooke and Megan, also have a monthly kit club, The Girl's Loft, that have the greatest scrapbooking kits... check them out!

CONGRATS... Margie!

Happy Day... Meggie!

My Baby is 8!

Where has the time gone?

It seems like just barely she was so little she fit in a regular Christmas stocking.

Meggie turned 8 yesterday... What a fun day... I mean weekend!

I worry that having a birthday in December it just gets lost in the jumble...
so... we partied hearty!

Any good birthday starts with breakfast in bed...

Her order? Ham sandwich, orange slices, and apple juice.

At school it was her VIP day... I took a poster ( shown below) and we had cupcakes. She looked so cute... she even wore a tiara in her hair. The school kids were amazed at that.

(oh... opps no picture of the school thing... crazy day)

I try to decorate the table area special for birthdays

Meg's balloon bouquet had cheetah (duh), turquoise, and pink balloons & a great big #8.

We had Mitch's football banquet so...

we had Chloe and Paige Beus come over and hang out.

We got pizza and the "older" girls entertained Meg.

She was thrilled... they had a spa birthday just for her. Complete with a facial, pedicure, manicure, and body glitter.

Meg was in HEAVEN.

( yeah... totally forgot to get a picture of the three of them)

After the banquet we all came back to our house for cake and ice cream.

Last weekend Meg, Kai, Kelli and I went to The Princess and the Frog. We all went to the Gateway for a little dinner, shopping movie birthday celebration.

It was so much fun!

Like I said... It seems like just a moment ago she was 4 lbs. 11 oz. and snuggled in a Christmas stocking. She knows she's the best stocking stuffer ever!

I am so glad to have a daughter. She is a little sassafrass that keeps us all on our toes.

Our family wasn't complete without her.

Happy Birthday...Meg

2009 Christmas Decorations...

Here are my decorations for the season....

I am a little sad that they are only up for 4-5 weeks. I love when my house is all decorated for Christmas... the lights, and garlands, and GLITTER!This is my new wreath... I try to get one thing new each year... this year I splurged on a fab wreath from Modern Display. It doesn't really have anything Christmas in it... maybe I will leave it up all year.

This is a close up of my tree showing a few of my favorite things... Reindeer and trees.
I love my tree this year! I only have 3-5 of any one great ornaments. It is like an I SPY... I just see new things everytime I sit and look at it.

This is my mantle... all lit up!

This year I decorated the top of my armoire... and I really liked the way it turned out!

Really and truly... Christmas Decorations are such a huge part of my holiday season... I don't even need to Christmas morning haul to have a Merry Christmas... I wish my kids were on board with this. Mitch doesn't get as jazzed over garland as I do.....

December 3 & 4... Holidays in Hand!

So...I know I am a slacker and it is past the 3 & 4th, but oh well...

It was so fun to do December 3rd... it was all about what brings me joy.

I love Christmas Decorations...

I love the way they look and although they take forever to put up... I LOVE THEM!
December 4th was all about a significant piece of Christmas decor... how fitting, because the day before talked about how much I love Christmas decorations.
I love to get Christmas Decorations... it is fun to have something new, but then it is really fun the next year to get it out and remember the person and the occasion in which you got it.
It is very much like the Jelly-of-the-month club... It is the gift that keeps on giving.

Holidays in Hand... December 2nd

Here is my 2nd day of December...

I LOVED this prompt... what it made me think of, remember & strive to do.

I took away the idea of having a welcoming, warm home...

This is what I did...

I remembered how my home growing up was always the place to be...

My mom made it very comfortable for everyone.

There was always fun going on and treats to be had!

The best part of this prompt was the article Welcome Home...For the Holidays

It was such an amazing article that really put a few things into perspective for me.

I am one that likes beautiful Christmas decorations and my house to be totally trigged, but this article showed that you don't have to have everything perfect to have a warm and welcoming home... in fact, it is just the opposite... If it is a welcoming place to be...everything seems to be perfect.

For my project or what I "did"... I focused on a project that I had been wanting to do-

A garland for my front door.

I figured something beautiful would make my home seem more welcoming.
( and I just wanted to get it done and checked off the list...whatever- it worked out)

I changed things up a little... my photo isn't of something necessarily warm...but hopefully something inviting and welcoming.

I have loved that this little project has given new perspective on the Holidays.

Holidays in Hand... December 1st!

As I was searching for something to help me jump start the holidays and focus more on the Christmas Season and less on Christmas morning, I found a Jessica Sprague free class- Holidays in Hand.
Each day there is a place to do something, make something, write a memory and take a picture.
I am going to do this for my December portion of my project 365...
Caylor won't be home tonight so we cheated a bit and did our December 1st party last night...
Here is my Holiday in Hand page for December 1st.

My good friend, Tonia, introduced me to the idea of celebrating the beginning of the December by giving everyone in the family something they can use throughout the month,

I gave Mitch and Jacks some cute beanies for when we go outside... to see the lights, ice skating, etc... Meggie got the new Fancy Nancy Christmas book... I am sure we will read it many many times this month. Caylor got some Starbucks bucks so he can get a hot chocolate on his way to work.

I even took an invitation to their schools and left it at the office.

Mitch was totally embarrassed... Jacks and Meg thought it was cool.

We had a nice sit-down dinner (at the table- NOT the bar) and even played a game as a family.

I will post one of my HiH pages every few days...

1 down and 30 to go... so far so good!

The blur...

Where to start?

The past two weeks have been a blur...

I have so much to tell and am so excited about my new holiday project...

Let me give it to you in a nutshell.

I...

took a brush class from my new graphic artist idol, Rhonna Farrer.

Decorated 9 Christmas trees.

Had family pictures... well kindof. (my family not too cooperative)

Partied like a rock star with Viv in SLC.

Partied like a rock star with Viv in St. George.

Stayed at an amazing cabin with "just the girls" for a night.

Had Thanksgiving with 35 of the craziest/greatest people on the Earth.

Surprised some people with a little holiday boost.

Started a new project to help with the holidays.

Made 2 aprons.

Went to Ninja Assassins. ( why? Don't ask)

Dined with great friends...twice.

Laughed until my stomach hurt.

Stayed up way too late... woke up way too early.

Drank more diet Pepsi than is ever necessary...or needed!

Probably gained 15 lbs.

I will share more details and pics soon...

p.s. Thanks for all your great suggestions for my holiday tradition builder...

Let the Games begins...

Well... It has begun! The annual quest for the perfect Christmas!

Yikes! I don't love the countdown, the stress, the chaos of Christmas.

I am starting to decorate my house this week so it will be done when we return from Thanksgiving... I love to do it and how it turns out. My tree really brings me holiday joy.

I want this season to be about JOY!

Saturday Caylor and I went to the mall to do a few returns and pick up a few things...

We had the greatest lunch in a darling little ski restaurant and just sat there

watching it snow...

We talked about what we wanted for this holiday season-

I said that I wanted it to me more about the Christmas season instead

CHRISTMAS MORNING...

I don't want to be a recession scrooge... but it won't be the elaborate Christmases of the past.

I am doing a free online class with Jessica Sprague... Holidays in Hand and

she linked her site to this wonderful little chunk of Christmas Wisdom.

Organized Christmas...

So... to all my 5 friends in the blogosphere...

What do you do to make the Christmas season more memorable for your family?

I want my kids to remember events and feelings rather than presents and junk.

Help me... I have got a few ideas, but need your help.

Twilight Party... Tonia Style!

She has done it again!

Thrown a party that will be talked about and remembered for all time...

(or until she throws another)

Tonia celebrated the release of New Moon by throwing a Twilight shin dig.

It was one that Stephanie Meyer would have been lucky to attend!

It was a PJ party and everyone wore some kind of Twilight themes jammies...

Tonia was sporting the "Vampire Couture"...

She is so dang creative...even her PJ's? rocked!

A week or so she dropped by the invitation...

Yes... A countdown until the New Moon release date!

On the date of Tonia's festivities... there was little reminder!

So CUTE!

It was a celebration for friends and their daughters that love Twilight!

( I am a mean mom... it was a school night and Tonia lives far from me so... Meg didn't get to go... she didn't even know it was an option. Great! There goes my mother of the year award!)

I really didn't want to have to think of some fabulous idea for twilight PJ's... when she really has never even seen the movie... enough explaining- SHE DIDN'T GO!

Tonia had fabulous games, Twilight/ New Moon trivia, her tables were AMAZING...

and she even had Italian Food in honor of Bella's Mushroom Ravioli!
Tonia expressed how she loves to throw parties and this was our holiday gift from her... it came from the heart and ALL of the preparations were a labor of love.
She is AMAZING... I am lucky to be her friend!

SPARK!

Wow! Where to begin?

This past weekend was SPARK...

An Amazing weekend revolving around..

Creativity

Women

Friends... some old, but mostly new

Beauty

Creative Play

Chocolate

Fabulousness

It was held at This is the Place Monument...

and it really was "THE PLACE"!

Everything was decorated so beautifully... the classes and vendors were amazing!

The friendship sparks flew and I met creative women from all over the country!

I was so glad that I had the opportunity to attend...

It was a creative journey for me.

I learned new things... met great people... looked inside myself...

had a FABULOUS TIME!

These are a few pictures I stole from Elizabeth Kartchner and Margie Aslett...

This weekend I really appreciated the ability and the love I have for everything creative...
Can I do somethings...yes...
Can I do all things...NO... and that is how I will continue to learn and improve!
Thanks to Margie Aslett, Rhonna Farrer, Elizabeth Kartchner, & Jefra Linn for an amazing event!
Can't wait for next year!

Eagles are #1!

When I first had Mitch, Caylor was still playing college football and I thought it was so cute to have a boy... "someday he'll play football too... in a long long time"

Well time has flown! FAST!

Mitch's team played in the championship football MINIBOWL game on Saturday night.

Mitch looks so much like Caylor it almost freaks me out. Their mannerisms and body movements are SO MUCH ALIKE... especially in his football uniform. I am taken back in time!

The game was so much fun and exciting...It was worth missing trick or treat!

The Eagles won 7-0!

The team we beat was the only loss we had during the regular season...and they beat us really bad- 20-0.

Mitch played Quarterback and did a great job.

He really didn't want to play QB, but ended up leading the team this year!

We were so proud of him! I can't believe he is so big and next year he will be in high school! Where has the time gone?
I have to give a shout out to Caylor's parents, Carlyle and Barbara... they get the award for the #1 fans. They live in St. George, but have come up the past three weekends to watch the games. It helps that Barb works for SkyWest, but it is still a huge sacrifice for them to make. Last weekend they missed the flights and had to drive up Saturday afternoon and then drive home again on Sunday afternoon. Carlyle was so excited for Mitch and was so proud of him! Their effort really meant alot to Mitch and Caylor.

Mitch is sad for football to be over... he doesn't play basketball so both he and Jacks are now just waiting and praying for snow so the next season can begin. Bring on the snowboards!

NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

After 3 Halloween parties, 1 witches brew, 2 costumes and 17 Halloween glitter cups...
I am done with Halloween.
So.. for one last time this year....
BWA-HAHAHA!

Have a Fabulous All Hallows Eve...

Fabulous Fall Friday... School Halloween Craziness!

Fabulous Fall Friday is almost finished with Halloween...

But-

No Halloween season would be complete without the School Halloween Frenzy!

It is the end of the quarter so my kids don't have school today -October 30...

So the Halloween celebrations took place yesterday...

I think our school is one of the last ones that allow costumes and has a great big parade.

The first year we were at this school we weren't living in our new house yet, it was still being built...so I didn't know how big of a deal the Halloween Parade was.

I had to take my kids to school everyday and on this particular Halloween I was so glad that Meg and I were actually ready and not in our PJ's , for when we saw the entire town going into the school we did what most lemmings do and followed.

Holy Cow... THE ENTIRE TOWN turns out for this shin-dig!

Now... I am a little more street smart an get there EARLY to get a front row chair.

All of the classes parade through all the other classes and then come for the main event in the gym. They walk through posing for pictures and showing off their costume.

I am amazed at some of the costumes... SO CUTE!

Okay.. so some of the pictures are off...but I am just keeping you on your toes.

Have you ever talked to me... I talk fast and change subjects quickly...

This post is like a conversation... so keep up!

This is Meggie minus her hat during her class party that followed the parade.

I made plenty of glitter cups for teachers and friends... and the Gardner Village witches fest...
so here is a random picture thrown in for good measure!

Jacks rocked the nerd costume. Complete with power wedgie, toilet paper streaming behind him and a kick me sign.

Jackson is in 6th grade and every year as a rite of passage the 6th graders are the last ones to parade through the gym... the lights go out and they music and fog begins.

They all do the thriller dance with glow in the dark necklaces.

It is a fun tradition...Jacks was so excited to do it.

This is Jackson and his fat girlfriend Breck... Okay Jacks isn't a nerd and Breck isn't a fat cheerleader... this is one of Jackson's best friends.

This is miss Sassafrass witchy Meg... It is kindof a blurry picture because she was strutting her Halloween self. Her skirt just flipped and flipped as she walked the catwalk -er I mean...parade. I loved her costume. I thought she was the cutest witch at the school... ( Okay... so I am a little biased)

I was in charge of Meg's class party. I wanted to do something a little more original than decorating a cookie... the teacher also wanted to refrain from that mess.

I tried to think and think... finally I went to my Creative Think Tank: Caylor and Tonia.

Tonia had done a "FEAR FACTOR" party before and I liked the sound of that.

Caylor came in handy when we were thinking of gross things the little goblins could do...

Here is an outline of the party.

I split the class into three teams and they went to four different "stations of fear"

Station 1:

Eating Brains

They all sat up to a plate of brains.

(otherwise known as green spaghetti noodles with lime jello chunks)

Station 2:

The goldfish swap

They moved real live goldfish from one bucket to another across the room.

The fear factor really kicked in on this one because they got one point for carrying in in their hands and 2 points for carrying it in their mouth.

I boy carried it in his mouth 2 times for his team.

Station 3:

The scary death defying drop

They had to stand on their desk and fold their arms over their chest and fall backwards into the arms of their team... Like a trust fall ONLY they were really scary because they were all dressed in costumes.

Station4:

NASTY jelly beans.

I got the BeanDoozeled jelly bellys...

They got a point for every bean they ate..

one kid ate 15.

There are 10 different colors... 20 different flavors.

so you could either get juicy pear OR BOOGER...they look the same.

The kids loved this game... some ( Meg) wouldn't even try one...

Then we had some witches brew ( apple juice and dry ice)

and a dirt cupcake... complete with worms and spiders and dirt clods.
It was a fun party...

But boy... am I glad there is no school today and the annual School Halloween Frenzy is over for another year... I can put my cauldron away and stop buying dry ice for a season.

Fabulous Fall Friday... Witches' Brew

Bubble..Bubble..Toil and Trouble!

Last night Tonia and I held our 2nd Annual Witches' Brew..

So much fun!

Great costumes, food, prizes, and friends!

Here are just a few quick pics... I will post more about the Witches' Brew AND the Gardner Village Witches Night Out later in the weekend...

Me with my bubbly brew...


Kristi, Marla, Tonia and I ... witchy witchy witchy!

Just a quick snap of the treats! YUMMY!

It was so fun! I really appreciate all the effort that people made to get all witched up and come! It really has turned into one of the most fun traditions of the Halloween Season!

You all need to have your own witches night out... invite your friends, grab your black hat and celebrate All Hallows Eve! It is such a great time!

Fabulous Fall Friday... Which Witch is Which?

In anticipation of going to Garner's Village's Witchfest tonight and having our annual witches party next week...this post is all about Glam Witches...

My sister in law Mindy and her girls... My cousin Jami and her daughter all came from Southern Utah to celebrate fall with a Wacky Witches Weekend!

We have laughed and glittered and shopped and are all going to see the witches at Gardner Village.

We had to have fabulous witch costumes for the girls...

So... I got out the ribbon and feathers and glitter and... instant mini-glam!

This is a cheap little hat from Hobby Lobby with a few feathers, a messy bow, and a few gems...

Madi and Kally are going to be purple witches... so sassy cute!

Meg and Shay are going to be outrageous orange babes...

This is Meggie's hat... just a basic black hat with few feathers and ribbon...and don't forget the blinged out spider!

Meg has a black petticoat skirt for her costume, but the other girls didn't have anything witchy to wear...

We made three little Halloween TU-TUs... so cute and so dang easy.
The inspiration for everything witchy this season started with these amazing witch shoes for Meg. They look large in the picture, but they are just her size.
I glittered the heel and the buckle... she loves them.
She wanted to wear them to school the other day.
I told her to wait until Halloween...
We are going to watch Hocus Pocus... visit a witches house... and cast a spell or two.
Have a bewitching weekend...
BWA-HAHA!