Friday, 21 April 2017

Hello Thursday: Stories and Photos | #weekinthelife2017

What is Week in the Life?:// Week In the Life is a project created by Ali Edwards where by you document a snapshot in time. Capturing mundane details of your everyday and perhaps your not so mundane moments.  This is my story and my photos for #weekinthelife2017. To see my #weekinthelife2016 stories and photos you can check out it here: #weekinthelife2016 

My house is in shambles.
My computer is slowing down because there's no more space on it.
The overwhelm continues.
But like yesterday, today we are going to see icebergs.... right after I go to the dentist for a regular teeth cleaning. That's the plan anyway.


I did manage to wake a good hour before Jane hopped out of bed.  When she came downstairs Rooney the Dog followed.  Three of us cuddled on the couch for a half an hour.  It's so fun to watch Jane connect with the dog.  Rooney adores her and its because of the attention Jane gives her these days.  I wonder where she gets her "ohhhh, you are such a good Rooney Dog.  You are okay. You are okay.  Just breath Rooney." Then I realize it's me. She's me. She may not look like me but she's for certain me.


Once Jack got up, both kids began building a City.  This room is just off the porch and is constantly look like an explosion happened.  But if you look closely you can see that there are little figurines placed carefully inside plastic containers, which are then placed inside a truck or an Octonaut pad. You will see like-minded toys lined up together ready to 'Save the Day'.  Today, Jane was working on an airport for Jack's lego helicopter... which looks nothing like a helicopter.

This room sends chills up my spine with all its unorganization and disarray but it's also like a piece of art.  I just wish I could walk through to grab a coat off their cubby hooks.  Here I am remembering that some day they won't be playing with toys and to just let them play... turning a blind eye.


My teeth are clean and it's time to make the 35 minute drive to Ferryland where the massive iceberg is floating.  We planned to take in the drive, check out the ice and grab some fish and chips on the way back.


The photos will never do these icebergs justice but the size of them were unlike any I have seen before.  I am disappointed in my myself that I couldn't find my fancy long distance camera lens.  But that's life at the moment.  The kids thought they were cool but they thought the rocky beach was even cooler.  Beach rocks are pretty cool... so soft and round.  Perfect. The beach was not quiet. You could heard the beach rocks rolling into the beach.  So cool.


It was not warm so we didn't stay long.  Next stop was Riverside Convenience and it was busy.  In a moment of Mom intuition I grabed the post-it notes I had brought to make my grocery list in the car into the restaurant, as well as some markers to help the kids pass away some time.  

This. This my friends... is the most impressive drawing I have ever seen by Jack.  This is Ryan.  He carefully placed a dot smack in the middle of the circle to make his nose. He raised the post it up in his hands and looked at Ryan with one eye. "Yup. That definitely looks like Dad."  Yeah kid.  It sure does.


Tonight would prove to be something new for us. Jane has one of her friends sleep over. This is definitely not unusual but it is the first time that Natalie would sleep over.  It just so happens that her brother is Jack's bestie also. We swapped kids for sleepovers.

Here's the kicker.. Jack has never slept over anywhere besides family and is very much a lover of his own bed.  "I am not sleeping over Mom.  I just want to stay a couple days." He says.  Makes sense Buddy. We assumed we'd be picking him up at some point but we didn't expect any problems and we were right. Soon the boys were filled with candy and popcorn. By 10 o'clock, William drifted off to sleep while Jack was still playing with toys.  Finally he says, "Can I go to my house now?"  God love him.  He's so predictable but I am so proud that he got that far.

I can't even deal with their cuteness.


Jane and Natalie on the other hand are busy playing with toys and practising gymnastics. When Natalie found out that the boys were enjoying candy and popcorn, she said "That's not fair Mom! We've only had healthy snacks!" Like a sucker, I gave in to the pressure. But honestly, stove top popcorn is my snack of choice despite my chips picture yesterday.


The girls fell asleep around 11pm and I spent the next two hours in a state of chaos.


I stayed up too late tonight. I'll pay for that tomorrow.

Goodnight Thursday,
Cathy

To see all my 2017 Week in the Life stories and photos, you can click here to see them together: #witl2017

they said polka dots! | #tgifc104


Polka dots.
They said POLKA DOTS!
I looooveeeeee polka dots!!


This background was created using the Stampin' Up! Happy Celebrations stamp set. Now seriously.. I don't know why I haven't used that circle stamp before.  You'll soon see me polka-dotting the town!

After I created the background, I had an extra water coloured flower and die cuts that I popped onto this card. It was coloured using melon mambo refill ink and an aquapainter.


Its the perfect card to give for mother's day... if only I could find this card after I photographed it.
Shucks.

So this week, join me and the TGIF Challenge Design Team in playing with polka dots.
Have a wonderful Friday!
Cathy

Thursday, 20 April 2017

Hello Wednesday: Stories + Photos | #weekinthelife2017

What is Week in the Life?:// Week In the Life is a project created by Ali Edwards where by you document a snapshot in time. Capturing mundane details of your everyday and perhaps your not so mundane moments.  This is my story and my photos for #weekinthelife2017. To see my #weekinthelife2016 stories and photos you can check out it here: #weekinthelife2016 

Wednesday was not a good time.

I had intended to be up at 5am to finish up some noon work deadlines but instead I opened my eyes at 6:55am and scrambled to throw on some clothes. I flung my hair up into a bun and grabbed breakfast on the way to my parents home office.  While trying to meet the lunch time deadline I was handling crisis after crisis.  The phone doesn't ring at 5am so that would have make a world of difference to me in meeting that deadline.  Instead I spent the remainder of the day as a whirling dirvish.

As I scrambed to find what in this house would be worthy of finding the insides of my belly, I tossed at least a half dozen tin cans whose expiry dates was long overdue.  Needless to say lunch was mediocre.  Trying to get a moment to breath, my lunch nearly went tits up when I noticed my toe peeking out of my sock.


Damn it.  That was the Earth's way of telling me to take care of my toes.  A couple weeks ago Jack told me " Whoa Mama, your make-up on your toes need to be fixed." Kudos kid.  I know.


After lunch I had 100 things in my head that needed to be done... I drove down to our local scrapbooking store called the Paperie to pick up a card kit for a class I am teaching on Saturday.  I am so not ready but 'on the fly' is my jam...


Lesson Learned Number 1:// Constant State of Overwhelm
This project is making me realize that I am feeling the 'constant state of overwhelm'.  I've got to do a better job at managing my time and perhaps setting more realistic deadlines... Perhaps this might be the lesson of this #weekinthelife project.  I realize that I should say 'no' more often but I don't want to. Maybe more realistic deadlines is the key for me to find balance.  (Does balance exist?) I also have the sense that I always have to be doing things with my family.  If we have a morning or afternoon free, I always feel a tug to tick something off the adventure list rather than play a game of hide and go seek... but we do play that too.  

Well. I'll be.  Do you see that? That's the sun?  It peeked out for about a solid 3 minutes yesterday afternoon.  I'll take it.  At least it gave me reason to wear my new sunglasses I purchased in Toronto last week.


Jeanette was in the store today and as always she was a great distraction from my to do list.

When I walked into my home I immediately saw the dreaded Girl Guide cookies that sit in my porch. I have no idea who to sell those cookies to.  I've asked too much already so I am trying to get Jane to do the dirty work.  I must remember to take time out to help Jane go around the neighbourhood.

Do you want to buy a box of Girl Guide cookies? #argh


I parked myself on the couch while I waited for the boys to come home.  They had went for a drive to Signal Hill before dropping Jane off to gymnastics and were also responsible for supper plans. The big guy entered the house and exclaimed "I found the flavor you were looking for!?" and plopped a family size bag of Lays chips on my lap.  The little guy brings me two toilet paper rolls to use as my spy goggles.  One for me. One for him.



Needless to say there wasn't much rest after that.  Lots of rushing to and from gymnastics, work and baths. Ryan went off to coaching while the house continues to look like its in shambles.

 At 10:45pm I slowly got myself off the couch to go up to bed.  To my surprise, this guy was still up... surrounded by his toys.  He popped his head up and pointed to a small spot near his pillow "I still gotta place to sleep up there.."  In other words, its not too many toys in his bed.  We couldn't get angry. I helped him clear up his toys, placed him under the covers in his little coccoon and turned out the light. Off to sleep he went.  He was tired.


He's so funny, I can't even stand it.  He's very particular and I don't think that my controlling ways are going to help him develop.  I don't believe that my 'rules' are good for him all the time. He likes things just his way.  I'd never let Jane have stickers on the wall or toys in her bed.  It's almost like its his way to soothe himself.  I can't explain it.  The doctor told us that he's simply sensitive and we have to remember that... This is me trying to do that.

Goodnight Jack and Goodnight Wednesday.
Cathy

To see all my 2017 Week in the Life stories and photos, you can click here to see them together: #witl2017

Oh So Succulents | Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop




It's a stamp set I'd never buy until I used it.
But now I can't get enough.
I even went out and bought a succulents after playing with this.
Go figure.

After stamping multiples of each stamp image on watercolor paper, I began to colour the leaves and berries with ink using my aquapainter and Stampin' Write markers. 

I clustered and clustered and clustered some more.
Until I was happy with all those clusters.


Color Combination
Pear Pizzazz + Wisteria Wonder + Sweet Sugarplum + Marina Mist


I began to play with the stamps on a card front to create the card above.  While the water colouring set, I pulled out some embellishments that could work with this card.  Of course, the best thing about Stampin' Up! is that they create products that co-ordinate with each other. I pulled out the Succulent Garden Paper, as well as the Vintage Lace Ribbon and gold sequin trim. I've been using the trims and ribbons like I would paper lately so its creating beautiful textures on my cards.


#adttricksandtips:// Use the Stampin' White Chalk Marker to add white marks after colouring images such as flowers, balloons, and faces.


But if you are like me at all, I'll argue black and blue white you until we agree that simple is always best.... all you need is a great stamp set.


Keep hopping along to see what my friend Dani did while creating with the Oh So Succulents!




Wednesday, 19 April 2017

Hello Tuesday: Stories + Photos | #weekinthelife2017

What is Week in the Life?:// Week In the Life is a project created by Ali Edwards where by you document a snapshot in time. Capturing mundane details of your everyday and perhaps your not so mundane moments.  This is my story and my photos for #weekinthelife2017. To see my #weekinthelife2016 stories and photos you can check out it here: #weekinthelife2016 and #weekinthelife2015

On this Tuesday morning, I snuck out of my room to try not to wake anyone. I had plenty of work that I wanted to finish before the elephant herd woke up.  The morning quiet is glorious and I love starting my morning with it. I wish I could get up the first time my alarm goes off at 6am... or even at 6:30am but I simply have a hard time not closing my eyes again.  I believe the Miracle Morning is amazing and I have noticed when I incoporate parts of it in my morning routine, I am simply a better all around human. A better mother. A better wife. A better worker.  A better me.


I pass Jane's room but stopped to take a snap as I love the fact that Rooney the Dog sleeps with her every night.  Jane is my morning owl and I literally walk on my tippy toes to make sure she remains in dreamland even just for 20 minutes.


Eventually Jane wakes up but I am out the door by 8am.  The dog is typically up last but she's gotten used to morning walks and she was expecting one again this morning.  I took one look at the ice glazed patio to make that decision.  However, I couldn't help but feel bad that I hadn't for most of the day.  It's hard to resist that nine year old puppy dog face.


It was a long work day.  I stayed at my parents home office until 7pm missing the speghetti supper that the rest of my family enjoyed together. This is a typical Tuesday when it's payroll week.  The sad part is the calls of work were still not done and I had a long night ahead of me to finish it all.


I was working hard when I almost forgot to create my blog post for the Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Display Stampers.  It's a 10 day hop and quite frankly is a lot of work... but so was creating the 20 projects. 


To my surprise I was greeted with speghetti and meatballs along with a cold glass of wine upon my arrival.  My husband is really good like that.  He knows there's a lot of work to be done so helps out as much as he can.  Although Ryan was happy to see me walk through the front door, the kids were having their iPad time and didn't notice me right away. It's not unusual to see these sights after supper in my house.


What's also normal is Jane doing flips or gymnastics - today she was perfecting a skill she saw Simone do on YouTube.  She works very hard at the gymnastics and spends a lot of time at the gym. Nine hours a week to be exact. She's six and it feels like a lot.  But she rarely complains and she loves the sport, as well as her gym friends. As long as she is happy I can only assume that I am making the right decisions for her. But sometimes I do wonder if its all a little too much for this age.  We are greateful for the five days off but she's ready to go back now. 


By 8:30, Ryan and I were ready to tackle bed time...
Something that went super duper well.
*eye roll*

Jane is really good at going to sleep but often needs a push to get her to her room.  Mean while, the other guy, Jack, hates bed time and plays with toys all night long. Eventually he curls up and goes to sleep but not after a fight after we turn off the light. This kid.  He's a character.  I can't quite keep up with his imagination and how his brain works.  He's so uninterested in learning his letters or holding a pencil but he blows me out of the water when he explains to me what a narwhale eats or how he's built a zipline off a monkey tower.


Seriously though... that helmet.  He loves it so much.  I don't think I'll ever get rid of the helmet. Not ever. What's even funnier is Rooney staying out of his way waiting for Jane to come to bed.

Good night Tuesday.
Cathy

To see all my 2017 Week in the Life stories and photos, you can click here to see them together: #witl2017

A branch and some flowers | Display Stamping Blog Hop Day Seven


It's DAY SEVEN on the Display Stamper Blog Hop!
What's that?
Check out DAY ONE to catch up!

These sneak peeks showcase products that are not on the Stampin' Up! website until June 1st so make sure you continue to have your wish list handy.

Need a wish list?




All of these projects are created using the Colorful Seasons stamp set and co-ordinating dies.  Amongst the suite, there are plenty of flower stamps and die cuts.  There is also the branch die cut that you can see above.  You can also see a stamped branch below.

In the design below, the stamp is created so that it lays perfectly into the branch as if they are overlapping.  It took me some time to realize that this is what was happening but when it did happen it was like the skies opened up and the sun burst through... OK, it was probably the moon as it must have been 2 or 3 in the morning.



These so many ways you can use this stamp set and dies that its hard to explain.  Like the title, it covers all the seasons and as such it might very well be the most versatile set you'd ever own.

Finally, I have a bonus third project for you.  This was not created from the stamps above but it certain co-ordinates.  The floral pattern comes from the Color Theory Memories and More card pack. Of course, the stamped "Thank You" derives from the Big Giant Greetings stamp set.


And because that Thank You is so loud and proud - I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you for popping by my blog every day.  I hope you are inspired to create!

Dani is up next so keep hopping along to see what she has to show us today.

Did you come here late?



Are you lost? Did the blog links break? Catch up using the blog links below.

Tuesday, 18 April 2017

Feels Like Winter | Display Stamping Blog Hop Day Six


It's DAY SIX on the Display Stamper Blog Hop!
What's that?
Check out DAY ONE to catch up!

These sneak peeks showcase products that are not on the Stampin' Up! website until June 1st so make sure you continue to have your wish list handy.

Need a wish list?




These projects feel just about right as Newfoundland hit record low temperatures today.

I woke up to ice on the patio... and one excited dog whom I refused to take for a walk this morning.  I have some making up to do with her.

This top project was the last sample I had made and it was 5:30am.  I was to go to bed for an hour... then get the kids ready for school and then back to bed.  That didn't work out.  When I arrived in Toronto that night, I was a Zombie.

But I'll tell you this.  All nighters filled with crafting aren't too bad.

Despite it all, Life is a beautiful thing.


All of the projects in today's post were created from the Colorful Seasons stamp set and co-ordinating die set. On both projects you can see that I again incorporated the glitter pool party ribbon without a bow... Am I bow-averse? Maybe.

However, the navy background is a cut up Memories and More 4x6" card.  As the title is aptly named, the cards in the Memories and More card kits are not just for pocket scrapping.  I've used them for many projects unrelated to memory keeping.


Because the weather is a bit of a drag, the above shows another project from the Colorful Seasons stamp set.  The background is the Color Theory paper stack - however, I am totally in love with the sentiments and the skinny washi. Add that to your wish list.

This is day 6 and there's still 5 days of projects - Let's see what Dani has today! 

Did you come here late?

Are you lost? Did the blog links break? Catch up using the blog links below.