a little something

I made a little something for my mom. A little mini album out of cardboard. Before you think "CARDBOARD"??? Why cardboard? Because. Yes it's a scrapbook! And I made it for my mom since I know she will appreciate the whole idea. I knew beforehand that she would be the perfect person to make one of these for. And you know what she said when I first told her about it "Cool" Not why cardboard or a hesitation. Just complete support. My mom rules! It's a 5 page mini album about the first time Alden got to hold Lucy and touch her in the NICU. I love the photos from it. It's made from Making Memories Patterned Paper, Heidi Swapp foam stamps , some Scraptivity brads, some acrylic paint, a cool font called Prissy Fat Boys and various ribbons. It was so fun. And seriously cost effective! :)

I went to a crop today - my first one really. I am a loner scrapper. Really don't live near a lot of scrappers that I know. I got two pages done plus this mini album for mom plus most of another mini album from our summer Whitefish trip with the Steed family. So even though there was a lot of creative memories kind of scrapping going on around me.... I got some good stuff accomplished!

And I got some awesome photos of the kids the last few days too so I'll be posting them soon too. But now... i'm off to bed!!!

Did I mention

that I LOVE Winners? Homesense. It has the BEST stuff there. Piles and piles of cute things at good prices. I went there on this past Saturday and when I walked in I remembered why I avoid shopping places. There are soooo many things to buy. It's a good thing that we are very serious about moving home this summer or I would have come home with a lot more than I did. I wandered around the store for probably 15 - 20 minutes. Caring more than the one thing I went in for. Then I put everything back except the one great find that I went in for in the first place. These. K&Company 8.5x8.x5 Linen Boxed Scrapbooks. They had them in Red (beautiful bright lovely red), Blue (bright), green (apple) and off white. I hummed and hawed about which color to buy.... and if I should get one of the 6x6 ones too. The price? $19 for the 8.5. And only $14 for the 6x6. Oh I wanted them all. Along with many other things in the store. I would even go as far as to say I coveted them. Yep. I reasoned down to the off white since I don't know what color our next living room will be. I am sooo happy with the one I got. And one of the albums is already mostly full. :) (I might go back for another one - they would make GREAT Christmas presents... if I start filling them now!) At the bottom is the photo of all the colors available from K&Company. Aren't they soooo cute??? What a find!

Sketch and new page

Each month a Scraptivity DT member draws a sketch and then three DT members make a page from it for the create section you can find it here. Feburary was my month to draw and therefore make a page using this month's kit with my sketch. Here it is. A page about my little sister Kelly. I love this photo of my little sister. I have a copy that sits on the my scrapbook table right in my bedroom so that I see it pretty much every day. It is small - but I blew it up for this. She was on a hike with some friends and someone took this photo of her on a mountain top. I love it.
I wrote this journaling one night rather quickly and wanted to put it in my scrapbook I am slowly doing about Kelly and I saw this picture in my room that night and knew they had to go together on a page. So here it is.

The journaing says: "I realized something today. I’m starting to forget. To forget the way your hair hung around your face. How light your freckles were getting as you got older. The blueness of your eyes. It’s fading. I wanted to smell vanilla. The smell of you. To see if it would bring memories back. The every day memories that keep you around me.
I saw someone and she made me think of you. I’m not sure why. She didn’t look like you. She didn’t talk like you. I can’t place my finger on why she made me think of you. Is that evidence that those every day moments are slipping away? I wish I could freeze them. The memories. The heart to hearts and late night talks. Me and you. Our bond. Something I’ve looked for in relationships ever since you died. How I judge others. Every thing is compared to you. Replaying things in my head. But between those replayed memories, the spaces are getting bigger. It’s only been five years. But those spaces are growing and that scares me. I want to keep you. If you can’t be in my life, I want you still in my head. In my heart. To be able to call up memories in a second. And remember distinctly what you wore and how you said it. How you had your hair. God saw it fit to take you home. And I have come to accept that. But even though your not here, I still need you."

A few days late....

but I wanted to say a happy Valentine's Day. We had a little V-Day party for Alden and invited his friends over to decorate cupcakes and trade valentines. We did it last year at one of the other kid's houses, and this year we hosted. It is just a simple party to celebrate love. Although more than one of the kids asked who's birthday it was. :) (Did you notice the blonde girl making a "scary" face? Emma wanted to have a scary face in the photo. :)
















We also got a nice little V-Day gift in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Steed. Some treats and Canadian Olympic socks. Alden wanted to wear Regan's around..... and he was dancing in them. Love this kid!






















Also wanted to post a page I did about my wonderful Husband Regan. So many things go on in other people's lives, affairs, fighting, abuse. And I am so glad that I know nothing about how any of that would be. We are so happily married. That is such a big blessing in my life. I am still not sure what made me so lucky to end up with such a good solid guy. He is so good to me. And I am thankful. Every day I am thankful. I love this photo of Regan from our wedding. (Regan wanted to know why I used this photo again.... but he won't ever let me take more of him.) What a handsome guy I have. (No wonder I have beautiful children!) Seriously isn't he sooooo handsome! Hope you had a great V-Day!


























And a little photo of Alden playing in the snow. He has his dad's blue eyes!

4 Months already

Lucy is 4 months old now. I can't believe she is that old already! We had her 4 month check up and looks like she not only looks like Alden but is built like him too. She is 14 pounds and 6 ounces (around the 60th percentile) and 26.5 inches (off the charts for height). Tall and skinny. That's our kids. I took some great 4 month shots that I really liked. She is going great. And sleeping for like 8 -9 hours a night. Some nights longer. That makes her even cuter. :)

upset tummy

So two days ago Alden tells his daddy that he has an "upset tummy" and that he needs a band-aid on it. The next morning when he got up the first thing he asked for was his band-aid. (still on his tummy.) He wanted to see it. :) Reminds me of that Shel Silverstein poem band-aids everywhere.
And before you comment -although he is sucking in his tummy..... yes he is skinny. Skinny and funny.
R

a few things to share...

1. I have been doing my art journal online class (through shimelle.com) and I haven't shared any of my art yet. It is so fun to just be free in doing the art. I don't care if no one else likes it. Cause it's just about me. About what I feel. And I feel way less pressure in doing it. And I love that! So here are my first three weeks of enteries. (well the home one is just a side note on the week number 2. So I did that one too. I have one more to do today (already have my idea in my head) and then I will be all caught up for the next assignment on Monday. Cool.

Each week she sends you a pdf of your assignment and she is an amazing writer. She gives you a topic to create about. The first one was to introduce myself. The second was what have you always been. The third one was where do you wish you were. And the fourth is about corners in your life. Seriously Shimelle has amazing writing and the assignments are so cool that they get you to think about things. About who you are and where you have come from. I love it!



2. I have decided that Alden needs more exposure. More time with other kids. To see things and experience things. So this week I started doing that. On Tuesday we went to the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. They have the coolest exhibit right now about bugs. Huge bugs that move. And seriously mosquitos are SO GROSS. They had a huge moving one that showed you how they suck your blood. SICK. Of course Alden thought it was SO COOL. We went with a couple friends and that made it fun for all of us.





























3. Yesterday we went to the fire station. They just let the kids go in and sit in the trucks. Pretend to drive them. Alden was in heaven! It was so much fun. And he brought his best friend Fraser so that made it great too.
I got lots of photos of him. Not tons of great ones (he was too excited to stop and let me take his picture.) But it was so fun. We'll be back for sure.

















4. Today I get to go get a manicure. Regan won one through a conference he went to for work. (And he doesn't want to use it. :) ) So I am going to get my nails done. Kinda funny. The only other time I have had one was for my wedding. So it should be cool. I'd rather get a massage... but it was non transferable. Oh well. I'll enjoy this too.

Have a great day.
R

you know what Feb 1st means....

a new kit at Scraptivity. This kit is great. The stamps are so cool. They are buttons and stitching. How cool is that! The patterend paper from DasiyD is so feminie and vintagey. (If that's a word.)
So here are my kit layouts so far.....
Check out the layouts done by the rest of the DT at Scraptivity
They did awesome work this month!!! ( As usual!)

Have a great day.
R

More fonts!

I design fonts for Scraptivity. I love doing it. It is so fun. I have some more ideas and some already started. I love seeing them on the site..... it's just cool.
So go check them out here.
R

Sunday Best

I have realized I love to take my kids photos on Sundays.
Cause they just look so stinking cute.
This one of Alden is my new favorite of him.
I am blessed with good kids. (And they're cute too!)
Think about what you are blessed with today.
R

tag i'm it...

I got tagged by the fabulous Rebecca Cooper.... with a new game. So here it goes:
The rules for this particular tagging are as follows:
Remove the blog name in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place.
Then add yourself to the bottom slot.

Courtney
Leah
Amy
Rebecca
Rhonda

Then you get to select five people to pass the love on to.
Here you go ladies!!!

Tammy
Cate
HeatherM
Carm
Jodi


Here are the questions.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

1996. Hmmmm. My first year away from home. Living in Lethbridge. Delivering pizza for Dominos. (Yep gooooood tips.) Attending Lethbridge Community College. (To use the word attending loosely! )

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Just finding out I was pregnant with our dear little Lucy.

Five snacks you enjoy (in no particular order, as all snacks are created equal):

1. Concerto Cookies (by Presidents Choice.) milk chocolate on top of a buttermilk cookie. Um hello. Perfection.
2. Really lately anything with chocolate and i enjoy it. mmmm. chocolate.
3. My new favorite bedtime snack is a BLT on a toasted bagel. (Good thing I am breastfeeding and burning lots of calories with that kind of bedtime snack!!!) Regan made one for me one night and it's my new favorite thing!
4. bananas
5. a good glass of 1% milk. (although in Nova Scotia it costs so stinking much that it's hard to enjoy it!!!)

Five songs to which you KNOW all the lyrics:

1. Bob the Builder theme song
2. If you're happy and you know it
3. Wonderwall by Oasis
4. Smile
5.More than words by Extreme - can you say classic!!

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Pay off our house. And buy a new one in Alberta to move to.
2. Go to France.
3. Buy a new mini van. (the saturn is on it's last leg.)
4. Buy scrapbooking supplies and art supplies.
5. Pay off my student loans

Five bad habits:

1. Totally a worrier.
2. I think I complain a bit too much.
3. seriously forgetful.
4. I need some patience.
5. Not putting the right priorities first.

Five things you like doing:

1. reading
2. scrapbooking
3. photography
4. sewing
5. spending time with my family

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get again:

1. Heidi Swapp rub ons.
2. the 80's white leather boots that I wanted when I was a kid. (and I did get them and I did wear them(in the 80's) - but only once. Tramatic experience thanks to my brother.)
3. a saturn
4. ?
5. ?

Five favorite toys:

1. photoshop
2. my computer
3. iChat
4. my bosch
5. My sewing machine

Check this out

One of my brothers, Brad, is taking a class in University about web design - at least I know that is part of it. Don't think that is what the whole class is about... any way, he made this website about my family and their art. It's pretty cool. Check it out. I've got some talented family!!

Running the Race

My friend Heather had a great post this morning. A happy list. And she asked what makes us happy.


So here goes my happy list:

• This photo of Alden makes me happy.
His first day in a suit jacket to church last week. Isn't he the cutest!!
What a little preppy boy we have. He just generally makes me happy.


• Getting good feedback on my gallery at Scraptivity makes me happy. What can I say, I like the self esteem boost. :)


• I'm taking an online art class from Shimelle and doing my projects for that is making me happy lately. Creating. I love it. And it is really teaching me about myself.


• I love that Lucy is sleeping now for
6 - 7 hours a night.
That certainly makes me happy.
She is such a happy baby now. And that makes me happy.

• Regan is applying for jobs out in Alberta already... even though we don't know about medical school yet. And that makes me happy. So no matter which it is - job or med school here or here we will be back in alberta soon. We are on the same page. Going home. And he feels good about it. That makes me happy!

• I just got the upcoming February kit from Scraptivity. And it is sooo nice. It makes me very happy. And want to create.



• I finished this page yesterday and it was a day that really made me happy. Lucy came home from the hospital. We were together as a family. That is happiness.


Lots more things.... but today. These are making me happy.

i've been tagged

by Heather.... so here goes

Four jobs you have had in your life
ironing (I used to iron for this couple in high school)
Sandwhich Artist :) Subway
Tour Guide at Nikka Yuko Japenese Gardens (I wore a Yukata and wooden shoes)
Graphic Artist at a Newspaper

Four movies you would watch over and over
Return to Me
Sabrina (the original)
Where the Heart is
13 Going on 30

Four places you have lived
Vanderhoof, BC
Hill Spring, AB
Lethbridge, AB
Eastern Passage, NS

Four TV shows you love to watch
Gilmore Girls
LOST
ER
Numb3rs

Four places you have been on vacation
Camping in BC
Whitefish Montana

Four of my favorite foods
Crepes with fresh fruit mmmmmmm
Avacados
BLT on a bagel
a good smoothie

Four websites I visit daily
www.Scraptivity.com
2Peas
various Blogs
www.allrecipes.com

Four places I would rather be right now
Sleeping
Living in Alberta
I like being right here with my family

I am tagging....
Cate

A little room in my life for digi

Well I was playing around in Photoshop tonight. I started out fixing up some photos.... but then ended up making some digital scrapbook pages. Fun to try. Cool to just let my imagination go to WHATEVER I want. I can draw it or make it. Any color. Any pattern. The sky's the limit. Now that is cool. So freeing. Here are my two creations tonight. I'm sure I'll make them with paper one day... but it was fun to create everything on the page for once.

c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-i-o-n!!!!

Last night we had 26 people over. Yep 26. I cooked a large meal for all of them. Ukrainian Christmas. It was wonderful. The silly thing is I didn't take ONE picture. With doing the dinner and having a small baby.... didn't have time. I didn't even feel like I got to mingle. That's okay. Don't sweat it. But the point of the holiday is to share. To give to our friends. An important part of the tradition of holding Ukrainian Christmas, both for my Grandparents and parents, was that the meal was a gift of gratitude. The time spent preparing was an expression of gratitude to all their friends. It was their way of saying thank you for your friendship. That is a huge part of the tradition for my husband and me. And I love doing it. I love that it is something cool in my family. Something that my mother, my grandmother and my great grandmother did. How cool! I didn't take any pictures, but I did get a small 8x8 scrapbook album done explaining the traditions and the point. It has some of the traditional recipe's that my great grandmother taught my grandma, and so forth down til me. It has very few photos - just some really old ones. And it is extremely simple. Perfect. It's about the message that is in it. A way for people who attend and my children to know of the way all this started. Now THAT is why I scrapbook.
As for the menu, it consisted of
12 main dishes:
1. mashed potatos
2. dressing
3. cranberries
4. fruit salad
5. kneddily
6. cabbage rolls
7. wheat
8. perogis
9. boscht
10. corn
11. buns
12. gravy

7 Meats:
1. Turkey
2. Ham
3. Kubasaw
4. Shrimp
5. Meatballs
6. Roast Beef
7. Chicken Wings

7 Desserts:
1. Rocky Road Brownies
2. Chocolate Pie
3. Christine's Apple Cheesecake Torte
4. Steed Family Chocolates
5. Lemon Loaf
6. Diane's Pumpkin Roll
7. Babka

And yes.... we have left overs. :)

Goals, resolutions, the new year

Here is a close up of my planner that I got coiled. Which was tricky. Staples said they couldn't go thru the chipboard that I used to make the cover.... So I bought an exacto knife and stood at the counter at Staples for 30 minutes cutting out each hole on the cover so they could coil it. And yes it was worth it. The holes should have been bigger... But it is made. Next year's will be even better.
I wanted to make my own cause it is just plain cool to make something from scratch but also so that I could include my goals for the year. I thought about them a lot. And prayed about them too. As I did this I came up with a list of 5 categories - different than I have in the past. Regan says they are just fancy... it's the scrapbooker coming out in me. But I'm fine with that.

They are
• sense of order
•• create beauty
•• enjoy life
•• stretch and grow
•• awake my spiritual self.
All my changes, things i want to do fall within these 5.
Yeah, they sound good and cutesy.... but reading them encourages me and makes me want to do better. And isn't that the point!
So who knows what is coming this year... hopefully a big move across the country, maybe medical school for Regan....
just hopefully i am doing better on all the things i can control.

well happy new year!

2006. That seems crazy. But here it is. I have been thinking a lot about my new years resolutiosn. I always make them. This year I am trying a new approach. A way of life approach. A way to improve myself. Starting the new year with a fresh slate. But I'll post more about that later.
I wanted to show what I've been working on. I made these two pretty journals. Decorative journals from scratch. I got these awesome three books from Donna Downey that I just love love love. (Thanks Mom!) And I am now a DD groupie! I wanna take her online class SO BAD - but just not fesible. Not right now. I'll just have to use her books as a spring board and come up with my own things. I am getting my day planner coiled today and I ahve already used my to do list keeper. I am a list maniac. Regan always bugs me about it. But I am sure he finds it completely endearing. (At least I hope so.) :) After it gets coiled I post more photos of it... but here is the inside of the to do list keeper. (I can keep changing the pad of paper so the outside holder gets used lots and lots. Now how cool is that!