So Who Went Out...

So, time to fess up!  Who was crazy enough to participate in the time honored tradition we like to call "Black Friday"?

I must admit I was awake at 5:00 a.m., but only to use the bathroom and then climb back into bed for another couple hours.

Last year I took Adam out with me for some early morning shopping and was so appalled by all the pushing and crabbing that I vowed to NEVER be foolish enough to go out early again.  I did hit a few spots late in the afternoon and was still able to come away with some GREAT DEALS.  So the old adage "the early bird catches the worm" isn't always true. 

Well, if you ended up being one of the brave souls that concurred the madness - God bless you and I hope you were able to find exactly what you were after.

Meet "Sky"

I don't know about Thanksgiving Day at your house but at our house it is never a dull occasion.  There always promises to be some type of drama or excitement.  Well, this year proved to be no exception.

Earlier in the day we adopted this precious puppy from a good friend of ours.  Say hello to "Sky".

We chose Sky for the name because of her crystal blue eyes - they're sky blue.  She is a beautiful mix of cattle dog & husky (hence the blue eyes).

Well, I hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving Day and ate plenty of goodies.  Stay safe and I will chat with you again real soon. 

1st Place

I was finally able to finish a layout with the photos of Ethan and Matthew's first Cub Scout pack meeting. They got to share the 1st Place award for most popcorn sold in the pack.  I'm so proud of them!

Thanksgiving Sale

The entire store is 40% off the week @ 4 Scrappy Sisters.  

Come check out all our new arrivals and monthly kits.

Spend $50.00 or more and get free shipping!

4 Scrappy Sisters Store

My New Flavor

I discovered this spectacular coffee while at one of my son's football games this season.  On that particular night it was bitterly cold - a night that made you so desperate you'd even drink the concession stand coffee to stay warm.  Well, to my utter shock the coffee was out of this world delicious.  I even made a special trip back to the stand just to get the brand name.  Come to find out it's a seasonal blend sold at our local BJ's wholesale store.  Needless to say, the next morning I was at the wholesale store with 3 huge cans in my cart!  

I must also add, their cans are each a work of art - I love that!  I've post a link to the manufacturer so, if anything, you can look at the cans themselves.

Harmony Bay - Autumn Spice

"My New Flavor"

First Place!

What an exciting Monday night we had - our first Cub Scout Pack meeting!  Both Ethan and Matthew shared the first place award for greatest popcorn sales in Pack 507.  They were both elated, not so much by the wonderful gift cards to Bass Pro Shop, but more by the fact that they now won the right to "pie" one of the leaders.  Well, Ethan pondered his choice for several minutes and then decided the best candidate would be...Dad!  Take a look at this most joyous occasion...  

I must admit, that was my favorite part of the evening as well!

Ponder This...

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success.

Autumn Is Here

Finally!  I absolutely love autumn; the cool, crisp nights, apple picking, High School football games, hayrides, and especially the deep rich colors of the falling leaves!  I was able to capture a few amazing pictures of the spectacular Virginia foliage, as I was driving into work the other day.  I was so thrilled with them that I just had to spend Saturday morning scrapping them.  I used the gorgeous November #3 kit from Transparent Touches & Tag.  They complemented the photos perfectly.

I also made this fall vase & tag using the November #3 kit (except: orange ribbon and flowers).  The "vase" is actually an old coffee pod cylinder we no longer use. 

Happy Autumn Everyone!

A Few New Creations...

...well, almost new.  These are two layouts I did back in October.  

It's hard for me to believe that my Adam is old enough to attend his very first Homecoming dance :)  Wow, where oh where does the time go?

And then there's Matthew...what a silly, silly boy!  He loves my new sunglasses.  Honestly, they don't look that BIG on me :)

All Heaven Rejoices

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17

This was Ethan's chosen scripture for his baptism service; what a powerful statement of God's eternal love for each and every one of us.

I can't wait to get a moment to scrap this blessed occasion, but until such time I just had to share these special photos with you all.

Ethan, baptized into the family of Christ October 19, 2008.

River Weekend

I can't thank my friend enough for inviting our entire family down to the river for the weekend.  We had such an incredible time swimming, boating, fishing, eating and just plain chillin' out!  I actually jumped off the end of the pier - crazy the things you'll do when pressured by friends :)

I must say, God's splendor is never seen much greater than in a sunrise or sunset on the Potomac River.

Thanks Bob - xoxoxo 

  

~ Remembering ~

This is a layout I created just recently.  The photo features my daddy as he spends the afternoon fishing at the local pond.  Little did we know how powerful and special this photo would later become.  He passed away very suddenly about two weeks after this was taken.

Look at how peaceful he is...almost as if he knew his days were few and therefore trying his best to take in all the beauty he could.  I miss you daddy, xoxo.

God Bless.

Just Slip, Slidin' Away

Have you ever just gotten so sick of the pool that you just decided to pull out the old slip-n-slide.  Well, that was us just the other day.  And to be totally honest, I think the boys had just as much fun...

  

  

Not only did they have a real blast slip, slidin' the afternoon away, but I was able to get some really fun photos ----->

A Few New Creations...

Wow, summer break is now half over and my scrap time this season has been little to non :( but I was able to carve out a few hours last week to make the following layouts...

This is my oldest son Jacob

Me...a closer look

The second layout feature products found in the 4 Scrappy Sisters August kit which goes on sale the 20th of July.

ME...A Closer Look

The photo challenge at 4 Scrappy Sisters this week called for a "self portrait."   This was a bit of a stretch for me, seeing I'm not really big on photos of myself.  Well to my surprise I was able to capture two fairly decent shot of myself.

  

It's Been So Busy Around Here

Last week was truly a blur.  Between baseball games, practices, birthday and vendoring, I feel completely out of touch with reality!  

Well yes last week, April 10th to be exact, was my 38th birthday.  My hubby surprised me with dinner, cake, cards and presents - what a good man.  He gave me this gorgeous neckless called "Tears of Christ", very special.  Then he took all the boys to pick out cards and presents for me.  It was an awesome day, I felt really special.

In the midst of last weeks 100 yard dash, I was able to carve out a few creative minutes.  Take a look at these cards I made using the

4 Scrappy Sisters March Full Size kit.  There is only 1 kit left in the store so if your interested run quickly.  Side note:  today, April 15th, is the last day of our "Tax Relief Sale".  

Chat again really soon!

      

Envelope Album

I've spent the last 2 or 3 days working on this envelope album.  I've decided that I'm going to offer it as a class at our next 2 weekend scrapbook retreats.  I can't tell you how easy and fun it was to create - and believe me when I say the possibilities here are truly endless.

    

For this envelope album I created a pocket for each one of my boys + one for hubby.  I then interviewed each one of them.  I had a list of about 10-12 questions and then narrowed it down a bit for the album.  Then I put together a small group of photos for each one and tucked them in the envelope pocket with their Q& A's pasted on the outside.  It really turned out great if I can say so myself.

      

Thanks for looking and I'll be chatting again soon.

The Little Things

Okay, this just goes to prove it's the little things

 in life that really make me happy.  I was over at the bank recently, when the teller sells me an offer I just couldn't pass up.  "If you complete this brief credit application today we'll give you one of these FREE."  "Sure, why not," I said, and now I'm the proud owner of this awesome little radio/cooler combination - what a great idea!  We can so use this at the 101 baseball games we attend each spring. 

The radio part is am/fm with a built in antenna.  Plus it has an earphone jack and a plug for your ipod.  So now all I have to do is attach the ipod and it'll play through the speaker...ingenious idea I tell ya.  It's all about the little things in life...the little things.

Chat again soon.

The Best Idea Book EVER!

I'm the kinda person who is always on the search for amazing new idea books. Well this one is the BEST I'VE EVER SEEN! 

You all know already how much I love Becky Fleck and PageMaps, well her long awaited 

idea book has been published and reached my doorstep yesterday afternoon!! 

It is literally FILLED with all new sketches and example layouts. But the most ingenious part of the book is that she has condensed the sketches into travel 4x6 laminated cards that detach from the back and fit into this cute little box (also in the back of the book). 

Now when your at home you've got the book to refer to but when you travel to crops all you need to grab is this little 4x6 box full of sturdy, laminated idea cards. They have a sketch on one side and an example layout of the other - BRILLIANT, I tell ya, just BRILLIANT. The book is filled with sketches for all size scrappers; 12x12 single, 12x12 double, 8.5x11 single, 8.5x11 double, 8.5x11 landscape, 8.5x11 portrait...it unbelievable. The book itself is hardback with a spiral binding on the inside, which makes it so easy to flip through all the yummy pages! 
I truly think if I could marry this book I would.  

Chat again really soon! 

Busy Weekend!

4 Scrappy Sisters spent the weekend vendoring a scrapbook retreat with Scrappin Retreat.  We had a great time, met a lot of fun scrappers, scrapped a little ourselves and sold some of our stock - heck I really don't think it gets much better than that :)

~ Here's a look at what I was able to accomplish this weekend ~

---------------------------->  One Proud Mama  <----------------------------

I just have to share a very proud mama moment with you.  Take a look at this - my son Jacob (Jake as they call him on the ball field).  

Jake's No Hitter

Can you see me beaming from ear to ear!

I hope your weekend was filled with great joy.  Chat again real soon!