Don't give up!

I haven't posted in about 20 days......don't give up on me yet! :) Life has just been sooooo overwhelmingly busy that I haven't had the time to upload photos or sit and really write. Zach turned 5 on Valentine's Day -insert pics here- and everyone and their family thought it would be a good idea to go to Downtown Disney that day! See we celebrated with a Build a Bear party.
I worked the Scrapbook Expo on Friday and attended on Saturday & Sunday with my girlfriend. (before the bday party!) My Grandma was back in the hospital that weekend and it was really scary. She needed a blood transfusion of 3 units and is having problems with her colon. She's having a colonoscopy this week.
We went to Big Bear Friday-Monday. What a wonderful time we had! Austin learned to snowboard, Zach took ski lessons and I was the shuttle! We had the best cabin and so much fun! -insert snow pics here!-
This week is crazy busy because I have a big crop at work on Saturday and now it's crunch time. Gotta kit, get food, order food and many more things to do for it. If you're coming I'm really excited for our meals! Yummy stuff!
Ryan is going to a Lakers game tomorrow night and Friday night I'm doing a little shopping and then going to go see Confessions of a Shopoholic! I'm not a reader......but when that series originally came out, I read three of the books! Now with some encouragement I'm going to take a stab at reading Twilight again. I tried while in Maui, but I just couldn't get into it. Sorry....lost my train of thought! Any ways......gotta run. So much to do and I have my workout class in 2hrs! I promise I'll post some pics soon!

Willpower

I wanted to share that this new year is going to be a test of my willpower. I started back on the exercise routine the 1st of January and every time I either go to my class or the gym it takes all my willpower to go and not cop out. I'm always glad when it's done and it's been so worth it with the results! I weighed myself the beginning of January and then just the other day and I lost 5 pounds! Plus I've been losing inches. With the working out I decided I really need to change certain aspects of my eating, another willpower challenge. I love carbs! Pasta, bread, potatoes.....anything starchy I'll eat it. But as I've gotten older (especially this last year) I've noticed that the weight doesn't drop off like it used to. So I've been cutting back on the carbs and when I have been shopping or going to eat some, I'm choosing whole wheat/grain or brown rice or skipping the bread and going straight for a salad. Really hard for me.
Another test of my willpower came from an idea from a friend of mine in my MOMS club. She mentioned that a friend of hers went a WHOLE YEAR without buying any clothes for herself and her family! She's challenging herself do it and I hopped right on board. I LOVE to shop, shop, shop. But truth of the matter.....I own a ton of clothes and so did my kids. So I'm vowing not to buy anything unless it's absolutely a necessity. I'm going to do this for 6 months and see how I do. I did buy Austin new tennis shoes and a pack of new socks, but those are a necessity! When the warmer months come I know the boys will need shorts because they have grown since I last bought them shorts. Yesterday I went to Target and that tested my willpower big time. I had to walk through the clothing area......it felt really good not to just grab something just because it was on sale.
Now the next area of my will power needs some tweaking. My scrapbook shopping. Last year I put myself on a budget and did awesome. That is until about October. I bought the Cricut and went to the Scrapbook Expo all in the same day. Bad, bad, bad. Ever since then I've been waaaaaay off my budget and can't seem to get back on my game. I already spent my WHOLE MONTHS BUDGET on Feb. 1st at an all day crop. Which I wasn't planning on doing. So how am I going to bounce back the rest of this month? The Scrapbook Expo is in a week and I'm helping work it on Friday. Ugh. I need a serious intervention. :)

So those are my tests of my will power. If you see me and I look wound up, you'll know why!

Tuesday

I can't believe it's already February! This year is going by so quick and it's only been one month! Last week Ryan was in Arizona, and I was juggling going to CHA and the kids schedules. So glad Austin had Friday off so I could relax a bit. But that didn't happen because I crammed our day with things to do! First I got my nails done and then we went to Disneyland, but I think so did everyone else in Orange County. Our school district was out, who else? I heard about 4 others were too. Needless to say, the lines were long and with it being so HOT it wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped.

Saturday I taught the Mommy & Me class at work. 50 people came!!! And I brought Zachary. Boy did I have my hands full, but it was a lot of fun. Austin had his football banquet at the same exact time so I totally missed that. Sunday I met up with a couple of girlfriends at a different scrapbook store for a Superbowl themed crop. It was a lot fun not having to be the hostess and I picked up some great ideas! I didn't get much accomplished, but here are some layouts from Sunday and from another time. (I'm almost 2yrs behind, so these shots are from July 2007!)

Zach is still snoozing!!! Kind of weird and quiet, so I think I'll go get dressed now :)

Busy, Crazy Weekend

That is how this weekend was. It just seemed like every minute I was doing something or planning to do something in a few minutes. Friday started off early.....I went to the gym at 8:30 a.m. to get my cardio done and out of the way. Then I was multi-tasking cleaning and getting dressed. CHA started this weekend and I knew I wouldn't be around, so I needed things to be cleaned up. So after that task, off to pick up cupcakes, party favors and movie tickets. The party was fun and the movie was cute. I was exhausted by the end of the night.

Saturday I was up even earlier and at the gym by 7:30. My mind was buzzing with the days plans. Hair appt @ 11:30......Creative Imagination show 3pm......Teresa's class 6pm.....finished with dinner at 10pm.

Sunday.....Austin's Birthday.....Happy 11th!!! Up and out of the house before anyone was awake. The show had some really nice releases. I walked the floor with Candice, Heather, and Jenn. Such great ladies and a fun time. I left at 4:30 to meet up with the family at Disneyland, but found I had no more energy for the day and we were home by 7pm and I was in bed by 9pm.

Monday....another show day. Not too much browsing, but a lot of brain storming on new great product to bring in. Tomorrow I go again and will be placing a lot of orders! I'm looking forward to the new Cosmo Cricket, Doodlebug and many more! Check out the Red Bee's blog...we got a new release in already!

A new show

Have you seen this? The Principal's Office. I found it over the holiday break and just find it so amusing. Now that I'm "older" it amazes me to think what we tried to get away with in High School. Though I think the kids featured here are a little more......creative? Check it out, it's pretty funny. The one episode that really pushes it, is "Ain't Nothin Wrong......Is There? Enjoy!

Thursdsay

I've been letting too much time lapse between posts, sorry.
The upcoming week is going to be a busy one in our house. We're celebrating Austin's 11th birthday Friday night at JoJo's Pizza and then heading over to the movie theater to see Mall Cop! He invited 6 friends, 5 of which can come!
Saturday kicks off the week with the winter trade show for scrapbooking, CHA. I really enjoy going, but wonder how it will be with economic slow down in the country? The industry has been hit softly. I've heard of layoffs and sales our down, but I'm hoping this one will be just as much fun as previous years. Our first event is with Creative Imaginations and their big release is Star Wars! They are supposed to have special guests at their preshow party.....hopefully I can get a picture with them. My boys are going to die...wish I could take them to see the Stars Wars characters. Then we have Teresa Collins coming to our store to teach later that night. The class has been sold out for sometime! Sunday is Austin's birthday.....which he's spending at Disneyland with dad and brother and I will be at the show and then head over to Disney to have dinner with them. The show goes until Wednesday, but this year Ryan has to leave for Arizona Tuesday so I had to do some juggling of babysitters. Which I totally appreciate! Then Saturday I'm helping teach our Mommy & me class.....which is SOLD OUT! Sunday is the Superbowl and I'm going scrapbooking with friends all day to a Superbowl crop! I cannot wait....should be a fun time! I can't believe I got out of having to be home for the Superbowl. :)
I'm still going to my group training classes. I can see some definition in my arms! I have muscles!!! I do plan on continuing in February. She's so tough which I totally need.
Off to pay bills and then to get Zachary from school.

Allergies

So that is why my eye is so irritated~allergies! So if you see me over the course of the next couple of days, I'm not wearing eye make-up! *GASP!* Today at the supermarket I wanted to wear my sunglasses while I was shopping.....but I thought that might come off egotistical. I just hate the way it looks. Ok weather....I've had enough now. My skin is so dry and now an eye probelm. Let's blow some of that cold winter air over to the west coast!

Randomness

I woke up this morning and my eye was super irritated and red. I thought, "ok, let me just scrub my make-up off and all will be well." I was right, the redness went away and it didn't hurt as much and I wore no make-up, hoping that might be the culprit. But now at the end of the night, it's red again and hurts. I know where I caught it.....the gym. It never fails that when I haven't been in awhile I contract something from there. Twice I've gotten the flu and I know it's from people not wiping the machines down! arrrgh...... So tomorrow I will go to the doctors to confirm this eye problem.

Speaking of the gym......I love my class. Ok.....I don't "love" it, but my teacher really keeps it interesting. My legs might be shaking and I'm thinking there's no way I can do ONE MORE REP, but Suezi just knows how to push you in the right way. It's at the Brea Community Center and it's a group training class that goes month to month. I think I'll sign up for February.

Weekend Wrap up

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend with this warm weather! I don't like that it turned warm. I was sooooo loving the cold. I loved wearing a scarf and jacket and boots. It just seems right as opposed to 80 degree weather! I was just reading Annie's blog and I just feel the need to talk about her post. She over heard a comment that one lady said to another about being a SAHM and said, " I KNOW you don't have too much time on your hands." Why is it that people assume that since you stay home you have all the time in the world? I feel like I'm always running out of time and trying do stuff around the house before I take time for me. Getting away on a Friday night to scrapbook is just about the only "me" time I get. Yeah I have about 3.5 hours in the morning 3 times a week, but I spend 1.5 at the gym, an hour getting showered and dressed and then I'm trying to eat lunch, make beds and pick up before I make the rounds of picking up the boys. I love staying home being the "mom." I really don't think unless you've done it, you can make such a snide comment. Ok....enough about my rant.

Saturday Austin, Zachary and I spent HOURS organizing their toys. Since Christmas it had been mass chaos in their room. Now everything is back in their place and the new toys are incorporated within. Ryan was at traffic school all day, so we went on a date later that night. Dinner at BJ's and a movie. We saw Valkyrie. I thought it was a really good movie and Tom Cruise did a great job. It was totally sold out!

Today we worked on doing laundry....this is such a task since we live in an apartment. And Austin went to his dad's for the day. I feel bad for my ex, he might be losing his job Feb 1st. Not only does he have child support to pay me, he has his 2nd ex to pay. Not to mention he's worried about losing his house. So scary. We are tightening up our belts, because we don't know how long we'll be without this income. I just pray the economy turns around.

So with that depressing note.....have a good night!

Yogurtland in Brea!!!

I can't hardly believe it! I saw a new store front where my Starubucks closed down a few months ago. For those of you that haven't tried it, it's a must! Yogurtland.....it's the best!

And to boot.....to posts in a single day!

Thursday

I'm out of my funk. My body was so sore. I used muscles that probably hadn't been used since I was a teenager. Yeah I exercise, but I don't really do strength training. I had my 2nd class yesterday and the instructor got a lot of flack for working us so hard. Thank goodness she has a great sense of humor. She's this 5 foot nothing English lady who is in the most amazing shape! Not to mention she's a grandmother! So class #2 was hard, but I'm not nearly as sore. So I think I'll stick with it ;)

I had my Quickutz Club last night. I just love these night. It's like having 15 of your friends over to scrapbook. Our group has almost been together for an entire year and I love it so much. So I thought today I would share our project we did last night. We made 4 "Thank You" cards. I figured with the holidays having just passed everyone might need to send one out.

Here are 2 layouts I did last week. I just love the bright colors! I'm so far behind, these are from Fourth of July 2007!

We have some birthdays coming up this month.....Austin will be 11 on January 25th and Zachary will be 5 on February 14th. And throw in a couple of crops, CHA ,OC Expo and a weekend in Big Bear. We have a busy next couple of months!

Have a great day.

New Year...

I haven't blogged because we've been keeping really busy. Ryan went back to work today and the kids both to school. I haven't thought much about blogging other than pitching the whole thing. It just seems like so much work sometimes. Posting pictures, linking other sites, what to talk about? Do you ever feel that way about blogging? I probably can sum up our holiday time with a list, but just seems like too much work right now. Though we did have a wonderful holiday and I thoroughly loved that we all got to spend almost 2 weeks together. But I am always so happy to have my house back to "normal" when everyone shoves off. Maybe I'm out of practice for blogging....and I am so sore today and a bit cranky. I took a group training class today at the gym. I can't believe I paid for this. I have 7 more sessions and go twice a week. I'm mad at myself for falling off the exercise wagon. A couple of years ago you couldn't stop me. I gained 6lbs this holiday....I vowed to myself to get back to that mode of where I want and need exercise as to loathing it. Did you watch Oprah today about her weight gain? I so could relate. I thought, "I'm hungry all the time too!" Though I don't have a thyroid issue. So enough about weight and what's bugging me....here's a list of our holiday.

1.Saw 4 Christmases

2.Baked a lot of cookies!

3. Ryan's birthday

4. My sister arrives

5. Christmas

6. Wii & Wii fit

7. too many toys!

8. Hitting the sales the day after Christmas

9. iphone

10. Lunch at Ruby's

11. Visit my Grandfather

12. Alanna leaves

13. Saw Bedtime Stories-so cute!

14. Shop all day at Macy's with my mom

15. New Year's Eve

16. New Year's Day spent at my parents

17. Pedicure with my mom

18. Scrapbook all day with friends

19. Costco, grocery store-getting ready for back to school

20. Date night-Yes Man, Starbucks & Chili's

21. Work day for me

So there you have it! And a pic to boot!

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! And Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends and family!

Snow

I know we've been having some crazy cold weather, but this is something else.....

My Grandpa Dado lives in Phelan....it's just past Victorville on the way to Vegas. He's lived there for years and has never ever had snow. Well, the other night he got 3 feet of snow! I just wanted to share these photos he sent. This is front gate to drive in to his property, that his dog "Buddy" in the second picture and I believe the last one is his backyard and more property. Crazy stuff!

Moments from the last weeks

I have been extremely busy with different holiday ongoings so I haven't shared many photos. But today I uploaded to empty out my memory card because we are spending the day at Disneyland today! This is my favorite time of year to go! There is something so magical about Disneyland during the holiday season. We are meeting my mom at her work at 1pm and then we're off for the day and night! I expect it to be very, very cold (40 degrees tonight!) so I plan to bring jackets, gloves, hats and scarves for us all. If I had a thermos, I'd bring hot chocolate!

Here are some snap shots of the last couple of weeks. We had a MOMS club kid party, decorated our tree, my birthday, holiday craft day with Santa at my mother in laws work, Red Bee Holiday dinner, Birthday dinner with family and Zachary's holiday program. Blogger doesn't seem to want to upload any more photos! I guess that a sign to get off now!

Disney Photo Contest

I'm sitting here reading my Sunday paper and I stumbled across this article;

The theme parks here in north Orange County are like a playground for me as a professional photographer — unique architecture, fancy-shmancy light displays and strange happenings everywhere you look.
Now, we have a challenge for you amateur and pro photographers:
We’re going to publish five holiday-themed photos – taken by you and chosen by our photographers — in The Orange County Register print edition during the week of Jan. 4.
Interested?
Send us your favorite holiday-themed photo from Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney or any of the Disney Resort hotels in Anaheim.
We’ll put all of them all in the above slide show as you submit them. The winning five will make print in the Register.
Send entries to: atownsend@ocregister.com
Put “HOLIDAY PHOTO CONTEST” in all capital letters in the subject line. Please include your first and last name, age, phone number and the city where you live in the e-mail. Attach the photos in JPEG format.
The limit is two photos per entrant.

Now I know I have many friends who have Disney passes and love to take pictures! So I thought I'd share this. Who knows? Maybe one of my friends will win it! Here's the website link, which I never even knew existed but now will be bookmarking it for future reading.
www.arounddisney.com

Dec 11th

I have pictures to share....just haven't uploaded them. I wanted to share this that my friend emailed me. It's too funny for us scrapbookers!

Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree. I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me. Could it be cardstock or chipboard or lace? Or a Cricut, I said, with a smile on my face. And that's when I heard him, "Hi Santa, " I said "You know....good little girls should be in their beds." "I know I should Santa, and now I've got caught. But I was just so excited To see what you brought." "Well, let's take a look in this room where you work. He shook his head quickly, And left with a jerk. I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear. "You've got enough crap, I'll see you next year!"

Tomorrow I turn 37! I can't believe it. It doesn't seem like I'm that "old." Kind of surreal. No definite plans yet. Probably dinner with the kids and maybe a movie. Isn't there normally a whole slue of kids movies out this time of year? I could only find two; Bolt (which we already saw) and Madagascar. Was thinking maybe just to meet Ryan at the Spectrum. Gives us more options for dinner and stuff to do.

Happy Friday!

Dec9th

Happy birthday Alanna! My sister turns 28 today. Hopefully she'll spend it with friends.

I missed posting days 5-8. :( So here's a recap:

Dec 5th-visit with Santa

Dec 6th-went out to breakfast, went and picked out a Christmas tree and then later that night I went to a cookie party.

No pictures on the 7th. I worked all day and just forgot.

Dec 8th-it was Gingerbread Boy day at preschool! Zach made a cookie, a notepad and colored a picture. Were still working on our tree. Today were going to our MOMS club kids Holiday party. Have a great Tuesday!

Dec 4th

Day 4 and I'm on a roll! Today I spent the day at Pinecone Press with our rep and some other store owners. It was a fun filled day of make & takes and lunch! Pinecone was so generous with the kits we made. They were debtuting their "Love" line and it is so stink'in cute! Plus it filled my head with great ideas for make & takes for the store! Here's a little peek.

Tomorrow I'm taking the boys to go see Santa, so I told them that they should work on their lists. Check out Zachary's writing. It just amazes me how fast they learn their letters.

Day 2

Today was chilly----today as in Tuesday. I know, already behind! Had our usual park day, but it was celebrated with a enormous chocolate cake for the December birthdays! And I'm a December birthday! How fun is that? Poor Zach was confused all day. He kept giving me stickers as presents thinking that today was my birthday. I took a picture, but it's on my cell phone and I need to upload the software to the new pc in order to share it. So that one will have to come later.

Tonight (again, still Tuesday) I had the boys wear their holiday jammies. I love these pants that Zach has on. It makes him look like one of Santa's helpers!

Today-Wednesday-I have no pictures. I already blew it. :( Maybe I'll color one. I did spend the morning shopping for gifts and the evening with my QK Club. Tomorrow I'm going to a workshop all day. It's all Valentine/Love themed stuff. I guess that's how you have to be when thinking of projects and product.....always two or three seasons ahead! I am planning on taking my camera for sure! Have a great day!