Click it up a notch

Click it up a notch is hosting a challenge for your best photo taken in January. I took pretty many pictures this month {due to my photo a day challenge} but not too many where taken outside {too cold}.

This was my favorite photo taken in January.

Lots of Layouts

Current Studio Calico sketch challenge...

  one of today's creations inspired by the sketch....I'm thrilled how this turned out...I love the colors....love the ink splatter...love the background paper....loved looking back at these older pics of Casey

photo of the day....day 11 picture

I've been on a little roll the last few days making layouts, so I snapped a photo of my current album filling up!

a layout inspired by a previous sketch from Studio Calico...unfortunately didn't enter in time

layout from today...again some older pictures of the girls...makes me smile

I think this is my current favorite...Absolutely LOVE these colors together...and the photo just cracks me up

This was inspired by a recent layout from Stephanie Howell...love visiting her blog

 Thanks for visiting!

photo, layouts, and a challenge...oh my!

my photo for the day {jan 04}...Alexis was jamming!

 a fun layout....it's hard to remember when Mikayla was this small...

another fun layout...I just love the rafia on this layout...it was perfect to use with the chickens and collecting eggs

One of the current challenges at Moxie Fab is to use map pattern paper on a project...here is the info...Moxie Fab World

I actually had a couple of ideas I wanted to do...here is one...maybe I'll get the rest done for the challenge



Back to school...

Today the kids {three of them anyway} went back to school...Mikayla was the only one that was really happy about it.

This picture just cracks me up....she's writing her spelling words...what is with that face...haha!

 Yesterday, I snapped my new Vera {thank you mom} and my 2012 calendar! We're ready for another busy year!

2012 challenge

So I have wanted to try the project life for at least the last two years....I'm going to try it this year.

For those of you who are thinking "what is she talking about....what's this project life she mentions?"...

I plan to take at least one photo every single day of the year....it may be a gallery perfect shot, a blurry shot of the kids running, or a pile of laundry that I'm facing for the day...whatever I'm inspired to photo that day, that moment

Then the second part of the challenge....scrapbook that photo...no it will not be a full sheet for each photo....each week will be on a two page layout.

So I'm off...here is my photo for Jan 01....Joe playing on his ipad

And one of Alexis that I wanted to share

These are both taken with my phone.

Completely random thoughts....

*i'm hooked on watching the food network lately {very unusual for me, because I don't really enjoy working anywhere near the kitchen}

*Alexis thought it was cool to cook like the chefs on tv...and I thought it was cool too

 *my sleep schedule is all screwed up from black friday...some days it really sucks working retail

*i'm excited to get the Christmas decorations up...hopefully throughout the week it will be completed

 *feeling a little relief that we started our Christmas shopping....we have a very LONG way to go, but it's started!

*current favorite app on phone....Slice It!

*really disappointed that i have not been taking many pictures lately...I didn't even get pictures of the girls in their halloween costumes...that makes me mad {at myself}

 *current book I'm reading...The memory keepers daughter (just started, but it's very good so far)

*I'm really discouraged with my work situation right now...very few hours...usually weekend...and the pay is TERRIBLE...but I do love to talk to the guests...that's my favorite part {besides the discount}

 *loving our new living room furniture...it was so very long overdue

*some days it's hard to believe that my girls are 5 and 8 already....I absolutely love to watch them grow and we laugh together so much

 {did you notice she is squeezing the orange...just like on tv...I love it}

*secretly hoping that one of the girls goes to votech for culinary training...i mother can wish can't she

*i'd love to treat myself and my girls to a peppermint hot chocolate from starbucks tomorrow...yum

 *most days i feel like a detective catching my stepdaughters in "untruths"...i just don't remember this stage when I was a young teen...{i take the lies very personally}

*current weekend plans...birthday party with family and friends for Mikayla's 8th and Samantha's 14th {14 already....hard to believe it's almost 10 years}

 *feeling very blessed that Joe is a very hard worker and a very smart worker

*i'm completely amazed with how many hours my hubby has worked this past weekend and with very LITTLE sleep....don't know how you keep going...thank you for working so hard for us

 *thankful that my girls made some great memories with their Oma this weekend...rode horses, parade, etc.....priceless to me that they are so loved

*will start to pray that my girls do not grow with the feeling I have, that I'm not good enough...there is always someone better...I want them to be strong, confident young women who can see their personal strengths

 *need to get organized and plan to host a bible study next year...i'm really looking forward to doing another Beth Moore study...i miss her emotional teachings...she really puts a spark in my walk with God!

*looking forward to volunteering at the elem. school this week...math tutoring

 *it seems like a little, unimportant thing....but I love to see my girls doing things with their daddy....just hanging out and talking...raking the nuts in the yard...playing soccer in the back yard...I just love to see them bonding

*i really, really dislike the elem. school grading system....1, 2, 3, or 4...why did we have to change the good old way of percentages and A, B, C, D, or F...I know I'm not alone with this feeling

 *i need to make more time to craft just for myself....looking forward to a crop event in January

*yesterday when I drove to Bethel to pick up the girls at Oma's...I cried because I miss my dad, he was such an amazing man and i wish my girls and husband could have met him...it will be 15 years next month

*i'm looking forward to a family vacation next year...i just want to go away and do some site seeing...something new, something to make my girls' eyes light up

*if you happen to read this, Joe...I love you and be safe at work!

I am a DAILY blog visitor on Studio Calico blog...I love to see the ideas the designers share and I love the modern, funky style of their products.

The blog posts a weekly sketch challenge and I usually don't get around to using the sketch much less get it posted in time. But this week is a new change...

Here is the Oct. 23rd Sunday Sketch....

and my layout...