I have some exciting news!
As of this morning- I am an AUNT (again!)
My darling baby sister, Ginnie had my first nephew!!
Philip LaMonica IV is a HEALTHY baby weighing in at 7lbs 14 oz!
I am so excited!!
I can't wait to see them both next month back in Florida!

Congrats Ginnie, Phil & Emma on the new addition to your family!!
I love you!!

I am so excited!!
One of my scrappy hang outs--Moments to Remember, has chosen one of my
recent layouts as their pick of the week!!
They have my page featured on their home page & blog!
What an honor!! Thanks guys!
Check it out if you get a chance!

PS!! They are currently having a DT call- You can still apply! I would love to see you there :)

Well I am coming to the close of WEEK 6 of the "Last Scrap Addict Standing" Contest. I am in the final 8 left... and the competition is getting harder and harder! This week's challenge was based off a page the owner of the site created (Susannah).
I took these pictures of Annie last week while she was "Diva-ing" around the house. You can't see- but she was wearing my shoes and had bracelets on too!! She is definitely a "Girly Girl"!!

I hope you and your family are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Kids Scrapbook Party-- HUGE Success!!

Wow!! I can't believe that it has been almost a week since I posted!! It has been a busy time for sure! This week is my kid's last week of school. Last Friday night was Julianna's dance recital- talk about a good picture opportunity!!! Watching her dance made me cry & realize that my little girl was rapidly growing up!!! Saturday night was her Scrapbook "going away" Party for her and her 10 "BEST" friends! It was a HUGE success! Thanks so much to everyone who gave me suggestions & ideas for the games! The girls had a BLAST and there was a lot of scrapping going on!! See the pics below!
(Julianna is in the maroon shirt wearing the "Queen of the Crop" crown in the first pic)

Despite all the partying going on..... I did have a little time to get some scrapping done! I made this page for the Week 5 quote challenge of the "Last Scrap Addict Standing" Contest on the Addicted Scrappers message board. I took this picture last week one morning when Matt, Annie and I went out to breakfast. (the other kids were in school!) I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this picture of them kissing- so sweet!!!

That is all for now..... I hope to get some scrapping done this week, but with Summer hot on my heels, I think I might have to cut back on my scrappy time!! The kids have 2 days left of school and then I think we will being spending most days outside!

Have a wonderful week to all my scrapbooking friends~ and thanks as always for visiting my blog and leaving me your love! I always appreciate the comments!!!

Going out on a limb....

Now that the weather is nicer (most of the time anyway!) I have been taking more outdoor pics! I am especially trying to get lots of pictures of Anabelle doing everyday things- it has hit me pretty hard that she is quickly growing out of the baby stage and I miss her already! I want to make sure I can capture as many precious things about her as possible!!
Here are a few of the pages I have made this week about her. I have been using up my scrap kits mostly- trying to use up some of this stuff instead of always buying new!!

"Enjoy the Little Things" featuring the "Dream Street" kit from Scrapbook Sussies
Anabelle was exploring the tulip and I could not resist getting a couple shots- It was perfect because the flower was the same color as her dress!! (I love it when that happens!!)
This kit is adorable- a little "cutesy" for me- but I always like a good challenge!!
I used LOTS of glimmer mist on here- that is my new fun technique and I can't be stopped!!!

OK this page is priceless to me! I completed it using the "Sweet Spring" kit from
Life Preservers Club.

They have a monthly sketch contest and I made this page based on the sketch for April. I love this new line from Fancy Pants Designs!! It is so whimsical and fun! ...perfect for pictures of your baby putting on LIPSTICK!!! (lol)
The journaling on this page reads:
"I suddenly realized it was quiet.... I turned around expecting the worst, and there you were; putting on LIPSTICK
Some moms would cry, some moms would yell, but I just grabbed my camera & prayed for a good shot! May 2008"

Ok- this last page was kindof an experiment..... I got a bunch of new Prima products during NSD weekend and I decided to play around. I always admire the crazy collages that some other scrappers put on their pages. I am always amazed that they can take random things that have NOTHING to do with anything on the page, and put them on there and it looks GREAT! So I did a little of that on this page. I am still undecided about whether or not I like the results- but I LOVE the colors at least!!!
Journaling reads:
"Anabelle Grace It is bittersweet watching you grow up! I want to see who you will become- but I miss my baby! May 2008"

Sunday Night

I hope all you moms had a FABULOUS day today on Mother's Day!

I submitted several pages to magazines today for page calls. I am keeping my fingers crossed... I have never had a page published in all the years I have been scrapping!! Maybe I will get a call...
In the meantime, have a great night everyone :)


ps- I added a hit counter to my blog today-- just wondering how many people are visiting!

Happy Mother's Day

For those of you who are great moms, those who plan to be great moms and those who have great moms......

REAL MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn’t come out of shag carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask ' why me? ' and get their answer when a little
voice says, ' because I love you best. '
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years
or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE
My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE
My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE
My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE
Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE
Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE
That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE
Well, she might know a little bit about it.

35 YEARS OF AGE
Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE
Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE
Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart, the place her love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows,
And the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Simon's Birds

My kids constantly amaze me! My 8 year old son Simon, came home from school yesterday with a "Mother's Day Present" for me.I have a confession- I LOVE LOVE LOVE my homemade gifts from my children- but I don't usually get "excited" when I know I am about to receive one. I know that is so "mean mom" of me- and I would never share that secret with them!! But anyway- he pulls out this little origami type bird that he made in art. I was blown away! It was gorgeous & perfect for my next scrapbook page!! I could not believe my little boy had made such a creation! So in honor of Simon's bird- I made the following page:

(ps- thanks to Nicole at IBSS & SD4U for the great "sketch" I used for the page!)

So... what are you doing on this beautiful May Saturday? Are you enjoying the great Spring weather? Are you home scrapping- like me? Hopefully you are enjoying whatever you are doing!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mommys!!!

MOthEr's DaY MIni AlBuM

Happy Mother's Day.... IN a few days!
Still stumped on your mother's day gift?
Here is an idea that was inspired by a thread on the
Itty Bitty Scrap Shack message board.
I made a mini album asking the question
"What Makes An Amazing Grandma?"
I have 4 kids, and I devoted 2 pages to each of them.
On one side we put a recent B & W photo of them, and on the other, they answered the question & wrote a little personal note to their "memama".
Anabelle (my 20 mth old) obviously can't write, so I typed up a poem about grandmas & used it for her page. This could also work for a child that isn't school age yet, or you could write out the thoughts of a toddler for them.
I tied a coordinating ribbon around the book & attached a little charm.
See pics below!!

Thanks for looking... now get scrapping!!

More pages from NSD....

Here are some more pages I got done during National Scrapbook Day (weekend)
I had a blast at my weekend crop in Grand Forks- but I also participated in online challenges on NSD. I am very Happy to report that I got several pages & a mini album done this weekend!!

The above page, "The Lunchbox" features my sister & some of our good friends on one of our many lunch dates! I used Glimmer Mist on the flowers in this LO & the May Kit "Simply Timeless" from the kit club: Scrapbook Deals 4 You

The above page, "Annie" was made for a Sketch challenge. I rotated the sketch 90 degrees & used these great summery colors!

"Divas" was a challenge to make a page in under 30 mins using only 5 products... I cheated a little bit!! But I did get the page done quickly, & I really like the result!

"Sweet Girl" features my beautiful baby girl- Anabelle. I just love these pictures of her!!
The challenge was to use: Die cut letters, buttons & lace on a LO.

"Simon" is my middle son- and I just love these pictures of him when he was 4!! I love the colors & the star theme of this paper & embellies from Reminisce.
This page was based on a 3x3x3 challenge:
3 pattern papers, 3 photos, 3 different embellishments

EXCITING NEWS!!!

I am very EXCITED to announce that I have been chosen to be on the
Design Team for the
ITTY BITTY SCRAP SHACK!!!
I can't wait to start working with them- they have a great group of talented designers & some amazing kits!!
This is an amazing opportunity for me- and I am so thankful to be chosen!!
Check them out when you get a chance!

National Scrapbook Day!!

Happy National Scrapbook Day!!

I am SOOOO Excited! This day is a holiday JUST for US- Scrapbookers!
Are you making the most of today? Are you cropping?

I have been a part of the "NSD Crop" on the Itty Bitty Scrap Shack all day today- they are having HOURLY challenges, and I am doing my best to keep up!

Here are some of my projects so far:

the above page was made for an "ad inspired" challenge- I used the ad as a sketch!

This one was called Black & White Challenge with a Twist- You could only use B&W with one accent color.

More Layouts & Altered items will be posted later after I take pictures and upload!
Happy Scrapping!!