5 years ago...

...tonight we were running around trying to finish up last minute details before everyone started arriving. I had my hair done, picked up the cake and extra flowers for the table vases. I made white chocolate snowflakes and had all the food laid out and the wine chilling.

At 2 minutes to midnight in 2005, Robbie and I exchanged our vows in front of our friends and family. We pulled everything off in 31 days and even though there are things I would change if I could the only thing that matters is that 5 years ago...I married my best friend!

2005


2010


Happy New Year Everyone, may the new year bring you all the luck, love, health and happiness that you can hold in your heart.

No More

The holidays are over and I am posting my last layout for the year. I can't believe that we are pretty much finished with the year...it wasn't too long ago that people were freaking out about the whole Y2K thing...and here we are at the end of the decade.

I am still working on my December Daily and have my last few pics to post. All my pics have been taken and I am still working on getting them in the album. I haven't done any layouts this month at all. I did do some crafting but that was all. A month of veg really. Really when I think about it, a month of being sick, having hives, Christmas and all that entails...I didn't really have time to scrap. On top of all this...our main computer died so we are down to my laptop who can be slow, slow, slow.

This is my latest layout for Sassy Lil' Sketcheses. Cherie did a great job this month on the sketch.



No More


Journaling reads: Its been 7 months since I gave up diet coke and coffee. Sure I save a ton of money by drinking water and tea but its getting cold and some days tea isn't enough.

I used Pink Paislee Office Lingo Scalloped Paper, Bazzill Just the Edge Cardstock, Graphic 45 PP, Ribbon, Bling Heart mounted on Kraft Bazzill. Letters are Thickers.

This month if you upload your layout on the SLS blog by January 5th to be eligible to win a prize from this months sponsors :)

Paper:


Digital:

December Daily - Days 12-19

I am almost there! Although I admit that while I have last weeks photos printed and ready to be cut and put in the album...its not done. This week was not so good to say the least.

December 12, 2010


A Rausin Family Christmas. This year we had it at James and Ashley's new house. It was really, really good this year. We always do BBQ for the food since we are in between the turkey and ham holidays.

December 13, 2010


Frost. I love the morning light when it hits the frosty spots and makes the ground look like it is full of diamonds. This is also the 1st day of the cold from hell. I started out not so bad and went down hill within 4 hours of being at work.

December 14, 2010
No photo day. I was dying...literally. I should have taken a pic of Kelsey Seybold while I was there but between the runny/stuffy nose and being hopped up on cold medication...I wasn't thinking straight.

December 15, 2010


Newman in puppy jail. He was on a roll that day for some reason. He spent more time in the crate than out. I made it at work 2 hours today. I guess there was a reason that the dr. wrote me a no work paper for today.

December 16, 2010




At work Christmas Party. I made my bow on my present out of a magazine page. We didn't draw names this year...we played the "Right, Left" game instead. It was all fun and games until someone got a present they didn't like. The food was good. This all might have been because it was the 1st day that I could really taste food. I made it all day but was wore out by the time 5pm rolled around.

December 17, 2010


OMG...this was my view when I left at lunch to get a tea. I have never seen a sign like this or a website. I think the little donkey to the left is a nice touch :)

December 18, 2010


There is a Mormon church not too far from the house and they always have flowers. I think this one is amazing and a nice sight to see. A little pink peeking out through all the green, gold and red leaves.

December 19, 2010


This is not just a bowl of cat food. This is Robert's bowl. He is 13 and he is missing. We have went through the house and can't find him anywhere. He is an inside cat and has no claws. Its been 2 days and I have no clue how he could have gotten out. Cross your fingers he finds his way home.

December - Days 5-11 plus some decorations

I am keeping up! These are my next 7 days and they have already been sent off to have printed so I can add them to my album. This day by day thing works. I am also including a few decorations that I have made for this year. I haven't been scrapping but I have been crafting. My Cricut and my hot glue gun has gotten a work out!

December 5, 2010


My new tree. Its nekkid in this pic but this tree has a story already. We go to Louisiana after Thanksgiving dinner to gamble. The deal this time was that if we came home with enough money I was going to Micheal's to get get a new tree 1/2 off on Black Friday. We did and we got home at 3:30am and I was at Micheal's at 6am for my tree. Found the tag and went and paid in cash. $124.50 plus tax. Went to get the tree and they were out. They were going to refund me until they found out I paid cash. So...my tree was upgraded to the $350 tree for the same $124.50 price. 7.5ft with lights already on it.

December 6, 2010


Super cold and I wasn't getting out of the truck. Hello Venti Hot Chocolate :)

December 7, 2010


There is something about the morning sky in the fall and winter. The colors are amazing and I love driving to and from work during this time.

December 8, 2010


Dinner out with no kids. Need I say more. We have designated Wednesdays as our "date night"

December 9, 2010


Amber at work. She loves her job! I think they work her a lot for still going to school but she seems to be handling it okay.

December 10, 2010


I love, love, love working the 7-4 shifts on Fridays. I like beating the traffic home and spending more time with the girls and Robbie. Its blurred because as much as I love everyone reading my blog...I have a thing about the phones now that I am on them so much during the day that I don't want to talk to anyone on the phone.

December 11, 2010


We totally kicked it old school with the wrapped door. Our neighborhood does contest and we decided to do the door as a huge present...you know like the teachers did back in Elementary school? I won't win but it was fun and looks good at night.

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These are some of my decorations that I have made over the last couple of weeks:

Snowman Top Hat


Snowman Ornament:


Painted Wood Snowflake:


The tag for the front door:


Angel


And lastly I will leave you with a pic of my completed house that is on display for the thousands of people who drive by...(my address on the mailbox has been blurred)

December - Days 1-4

I have told myself for the last 2 years that I was going to do a December Daily that Ali Edwards leads and last year I started it and walk away with just the paper cut. This year I am determined to do it. No excuses at all. I need to do this.

When she first came out with the December Daily postings on her blog this year I started looking at album options. Then I ran across the bones of my album that I started last year and decided that I could do this one day at a time. Small pictures, not a lot of fluff and to just tell my story. Like most scrappers, my idea for my album came to me in the middle of the night-I knew then that I was on my way.

I started my journey at Archivers and found a Christmas Countdown paper from Imaginisce. One sheet and that was all for the Christmas stuff. I went home. Baby Steps...slow and steady takes the race as Dave Ramsey says. I am sure that Dave Ramsey didn't mean that for scrapbooking but I know if I go 90 to nothing I will give up.

I went back to Archivers to kill some time while Robbie was at his work on a Saturday and I spent $30 on some distress ink, stickles, a silver pen, a few Christmas embellishments and 7 sheets of Christmas paper. I went home and put my stuff down and watched TV.

I had originally decided on a 12x12 gate fold album that I would make myself with my Bind-it-All. Needless to say...I messed it up so many times that I walked away only to come back that night and cut my chipboard in half and start again. Finally after an hour of cutting and punching I had my 6x12 gate fold album on its way. 2 days of gluing my paper on my covers and putting something heavy on them so they were flat instead of bowed. Putting the album together and adding the binding. It was finally together.

Time to take the pictures. I decided that I wasn't going to carry my Nikon with me for 25 days since it was almost Nikon-napped at the park when I was taking Amber and Kyle pics in November. I am using my phone and the vintage setting. I am having them printed at Walgreens on a 8x10 collage print so I can get the size I want the photos all in one.

December has been crazy...it started off with a BANG and has gotten better but then again tomorrow is Monday and it requires me to leave the house. Who knows what is coming next because when you see me...my new tag line should be...you see drama.

Here they are in all their glory:
Day 1


Poinsettias at Chick-Fil-A because it was that kind of day and I didn't feel like cooking. I love that CFA puts real flowers on the table.

Day 2




Robbie drove me to work and it was cold. Down in the low 40's (yes, cold for Texas) and the 1st shot is a small bayou on the way to work. The 2nd photo is a building downtown. We had to go to the bank.

Day 3


I almost forgot to take the pic. This is the evening sky when I stopped at the library on the way home from work to pick up Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner and The Scarpetta Collection by Patricia Cornwell. I know...what a combo I have checked out there.

Day 4




Robbie putting up the Christmas lights and what my house looks like all lit up. I think I am going to decorate the front door this year and put lights around the doors as well. Nothing fancy...just not feeling the wreaths.

Another Year

This month for My Sketch World the sketch was just perfect for me. I could use just one photo! LOL

This layout took me so long to make for some reason. I completely listened to a P!nk, and Radney Foster CD and still wasn't finished. It wasn't that hard to do but I just couldn't get it to go faster.



Another Year?


Journaling reads: This question can be taken two ways really..."oh my! another year - where did it go?" or "will we be here another year or will we have to move?" I hate this question. We will have to see about...

I used Bon Bon Bazzill, Crate Paper Prudence Die Cut Paper, Bella Blvd. Pack your Bags. My ornaments were cut from Diamond Bazzill and glittered with gold and white glitter, green fiber, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink and my letters are Thickers (shocker I know :) )

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I would also like to say that this is my last layout for Lucy at My Sketch World. I am leaving 2 months early due to life - work life mostly. Scrapping hasn't been coming that easy to me and what I have been posting lately has been made for a few weeks and up to a month in advance. Thank you Lucy for letting me be apart of your team - everyone is just great to work with!

Becoming Me

This week for Who's That Girl the theme is "Becoming Me". There are many people who helped shape who you are, from family to teachers to children. Your challenge is to document the impact someone in your life has had on you. It can be something as simple as the freckles you inherited from your uncle to the way a teacher changed your life.

Ms. Brown


Journaling reads: (Ms. Brown) took over my class when the teach I had took a position as an assistant principal. I was 16 or 17 years old - very lost and very angry. Ms. Brown was a lifesaver. I never thought in a million years a teacher would be my saving grace. She was unlike anyone else I had ever met that was an adult - I could trust her with my secrets and she would listen to me. Never judging anything that came out of my mouth and gently guiding in a better direction without being pushy. Back then I didn't realize how lucky I was to have someone like her to lean on. I am so thankful for her. She still teaches the last time I checked and there is no telling how many others she been there for over the years.

I used Kraft and Sunshine Bazzill, Stickles to add some sparkle to my stars, a black Zig Pen. Letters are by Pink Paislee.

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I would also like to add that this will be my last layout for Jessica at WTG. Its been a great year and I have some great layouts about myself to put in the album. I would like to say a great big Thank You Jessica for keeping me on for so long and pushing me outside my comfort zone sometimes.

Young Love

I am going to be playing catch up this next week so be on the lookout for new post every couple of days.

This month on Sassy Lil' Sketches Cherie came out with a great sketch for us to play with! I pulled more pics of Amber and Kyle from when I took their photos not too long ago. The colors are great in the photos and they look so happy together. I can't wait to get winter photos. I think I am going to find a really cool place to take them that is out of the ordinary from the normal day to day.

Here is the sketch:


Young Love:


No journaling this time. I let the pics tell the story.

I used Ivy Bazzill, Basic Grey Origins PP and Chipboard Embellishment Stickers, Bazzill Just the Edge Butterflies, a beautiful flower that I received from a secret sister swap, the white dots are from my Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen (honestly the best ever...you HAVE to get one). Letters are Thickers in Charcoal Foam.

November Sponsers:

Paper Sponser:


Digital Sponser:


You have until December 5th to upload your November 28th Sassy layout or any of the November sketches inspired layouts when you play along with us this month to have a chance of winning a prize. Just link your layout to Mr. Linky on the Sassy Blog and you are on your way!

The Color Purple

This week for Who's that Girl we were to scrap about something that speaks to us. Something that is in the form of a book, movie or a song.

I chose the movie by Alice Walker "The Color Purple". I have seen this movie probably 100 times and I love it each and every time.

The Color Purple


Journaling reads: I have seen this movie countless times and every time I see it I realize something new. This movie taught me about karma and how it always comes back around. Undying love and loyalty between family & friends. How to live your life and make the best of what you have and you will be taken care of by God. I love the music - a mix of gospel and jazz - it all compliments the story. I always feel like I can do anything after I see this movie. 2010

I used Kraft and Purple Bazzill, The photo is from deviantART, Fancy Pants Celebrate PP, Cats Eye Chalk in Lavender, Bling, Prima Flower and my letters were cut with my Cricut in the font Tear Drop.

Hippity Hop Blog Hop

So yesterday I got a little overzealous at work and posted the link to the beginning of the Blog Hop at Sassy Lil' Sketches. I have to say that I have been brain dead pretty much the last month when it comes to things and I knew that I needed to post the info and of course I was trying to be stealthy at the same time and I posted in the wrong place and I have gotten the "Where is your layout" questions. So I rushed home last night and did my layout so I could get it posted.

So if you haven't started hopping yet...get busy! Here is the info that you will need :)

The hops starts at Sassy Lil' Sketches! You'll need to visit each of the blogs to complete your layout! You will get an element at each of the 5 blogs. Using the elements create a layout or card and post it to all 5 blogs for a chance to win up to 5 times.

Good luck and Happy creating!

Here is the sketch that we started with:


Working on a Snow Day:




Sassy Lil' Sketches: The Sketch
ScrapFit: The bling clusters
Crop Suey: I inked my photo corners and my Thickers
Scrap Tiffany: Maya Rd. Crochet Wave Trim
Cuttlebug Spot: My snowflakes are textured and are almost all different.

I used White, Swimming Pool, Navy, Glass Slipper and Handsome Bazzill. Misc. PP from my stash, Silver Ink, Blue Lagoon Cat's Eye Chalk, Snowflake Die Cuts, Snowflake buttons, Bling, "Let it Snow" Journal Spot, Maya Rd. Turquoise Crochet Wave Trim and Stickles. Letters are Cosmo Cricket and White Foam Thickers.

My Boys

I haven't done about page about my boys. You know my boys with 4 legs. hehe! Lucy at My Sketch World came up with a great sketch for us this month that was perfect for my pics of the boys.

Here is the layout:


My Boys:


Journaling reads: The 3 of you are exactly like children. Robert (the cat in Build-a-Bear glasses) is independent. Cosmo (top dog-in more ways than one) is the mama's boy and Newman (the baby of the family) is the attention hog. You are my boys and I love you all the same.

I used Black, Purple, Brown, Green and White Cardstock, SEI Park Buddies and Kittys Place PP, Karen Foster Brads, Masking Tape, and Paint. Letters are The Paper Studio and Foam Thickers.

The Switch

You know how sometimes you just know what you want and you are dead set on it until something or someone comes along and presents something "better"? That is the theme of this months Sassy Lil Sketches layout.

My oldest daughter for as long as I can remember has been an Texas A&M girl. She didn't waiver as far as I know and she is now at A&M doing what she told me she wanted to go to college for since she was in the 6th or 7th grade.

On the other hand...

My younger two daughters are Texas Longhorn fans. Amber wanted to go to UT and get her Bachelors of Business and then go to Culinary School to be a pastry chef. She eventually wants her own pastry shop that specializes in gourmet cupcakes. Samantha on the other hand is a die hard UT fan so much so that she wants to be a Veterinarian. You see in Texas, A&M College Station is where the Vet School is. Samantha wants to get her degree at UT (at this point, I am not sure for what) and then transfer out of state to go to LSU so she can attend their veterinary program so that she won't have to go to A&M. Oklahoma is out of the question too (they are UT's rivals) Now granted...she's 15 and it might change but I am not holding my breath.

Cherie created the perfect sketch for us this month. Amber had just went to a football game with Kyle at A&M. My "orange" girl came back "maroon"

Here is the sketch:


The Switch:


Journaling reads: Your 1st college football game. You agreed to go even though you are "Team Longhorn" just to be with Kyle. Your exact words before the game was "I don't even look good in maroon". We drop you off and when we pick you up again - you were wearing the Aggies shirt he bought for you & now you wanted to go to A&M! Score: A&M 27 and Florida 21 -2010

I used White Bazzill, 7 Gypsies and Daisy Buckets PP, White Ric Rac, Ribbon, Sticko Football Stickers and her ticket from the game. Letters are by Jenni Bowlin.
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