A new beginning.........................

that's a good way to think of the year 2008!! So many ways to start fresh & I'm looking forward to a new year, though 2007 seems to have flown by. My girls are getting too big too fast & I so want to stop time. Amazing how time makes one realize this. One thing I want to start this year is a journal. I want to periodically, or when the mood strikes, sit down & write my thoughts, things my girls say or do & just life in general. I always say I'm going to do this & just haven't.............how many things have I missed getting down in pen? Things that I know they would love to know when they are older? This is at the top of my list this year.

I've been scrapping again. Since Sunday, I've completed 7 layouts. Nothing fancy, just getting in the groove again, after all my Christmas decor & cards I've been doing over the past couple of months. Feels good & I'm finally breaking into some monthly kits that have been collecting dust. Here are a few things I've done using supplies sponsored by Just Let Me Scrapbook:

TFL & have a safe New Year!!

Are you ready?

I hope everyone is ready. We are..................or are we? We actually started celebrating our Christmases Saturday night. I spent the entire day cleaning & cooking, while my girls went with Grammie to the movies (thanks:) I've never wrapped 14 presents as fast as I did that afternoon. My family arrived around 6:00ish & we spent good time together eating, opening presents & sitting around talking while the kids played.

Sunday we woke to Camryn running a fever of 103!!! Poor girlie. We actually contemplated taking her to church anyway & letting her sit with us in the "big church," until she threw up all over our bed. Unfortunately, I had to take off my pretty Christmas outfit & stay home with her. She continued to run fever, but quit getting sick around 4:00ish, so we took her to the in-laws for Christmas. We forgot 2 presents at home, a stocking & one gift in the back of our truck!! Did I say we were ready? We ended up having to leave abruptly because Camryn wasn't feeling well. We got her home to a fever of 103 again!!!

She seems to be back to her normal self this morning, though she woke at 5:15 AM to another 103 fever, I'm hoping all this will subside as the day continues. We've nothing planned today. The girls are playing with gifts they've already received, I'm realizing I forgot to wrap one gift for Ashlyn (I didn't say I was ready did I?), I'm drinking my coffee, Daddy is already hard at work & I'm actually going to scrap today & I can't wait. I might not even shower *gasp*

And.................................Just Let Me Scrapbook has a sale that ends today. Use the code below for some scrapping goodness to arrive at your door after Christmas!!

Sensational 30% Off Sale!
Stock up for after Christmas!

Use the code CMAS30 for a 30% discount through Monday, Dec. 24!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

Good News!!

I have some good news to share & believe me, I'm totally excited, but after spending 1/2 a day on the phone trying to make group hotel reservations for 50 dancers & being told we cannot be guaranteed rooms with double-beds sorta put a damper on my exciting news. Not because of the bed situation, but mainly because I've had to spend 1/2 the day (seriously) on the phone with these people and it got nothing resolved.

Anyhoo...................I got a card picked up by Cards magazine for their May 2008 issue!! Totally elated about this & actually had to track down the recipient of the card & ask if I could have it back:) It's a good day!!!

Are we there yet?

And no.................I'm not actually on a trip or taking one..................it's the overwhelming feeling I've had for the past 3-weeks that doesn't seem to want to go away.

Seems to be the "norm" this holiday season. Just about everyone I have talked to has felt completely overwhelmed with a feeling of getting nothing accomplished.

For those that may not know me, I'm a very organized person. My lists have lists & I run circles around my circles. It's my nature & I can't seem to be much different........................until this year?

1) Was it all the blogs I visited where I saw all the beautiful Christmas decorations I just felt I "had" to make?
2) Or was it the Christmas cards I started making about 6-weeks ago & still only got 20 made? 3) Maybe it was the Thanksgiving trip I took which threw our "usual" Christmas tree shopping & putting up to the next weekend?
4) Or still maybe it's the dance team Ashlyn is now on which consumes my every breathing moment?
5) It couldn't possibly be that hubby seems to be in the same state of overwhelmedness & hasn't helped me w/anything this year? Na.......couldn't possibly be that!!

Whatever it is, I took some time one night to veg with some scrapbook magazines. While rereading my Simple Scrapbooks issue, Stacey Julian had written some profound words that hit home: She "simply" stated that maybe she was overwhelmed with all the things she felt she needed to get done, that made her happy, but didn't necessarily mean anything to anyone else." Pretty simple hu?

That's me in a nutshell. I'm willing to bet no one cares, or even notices, I made 20 Christmas cards, I took my girls Christmas picture, I altered 3 foam Christmas trees, made an Advent calendar, a present wreath, ornaments AND miscellaneous birthday cards in between. NOPE!!! I do all these things because it brings me pleasure. I love trying something new, finishing it & then reveling in it's "doneness."

Maybe next year I won't make a danged thing. I bet someone notices then? Have a very blessed Tuesday.......I'm not making anything:)

Don't forget.....................

Today is the last day for Just Let Me Scrapbook's 40% off sale. This includes EVERYTHING!!! Even sale items. Where else can you take 40% off your ENTIRE purchase?

She also restocked new KI Memories Pop Culture & October Afternoon. RUN!!!!!
Sensational 40% Off Sale! Stuff Your Own Stocking! Use the code SYOS40 through Sunday, December 16 to take advantage of this GREAT sale!

xoxo, Mary Beth