Napa(Valley)

Happy Thursday! I can't believe that October is pretty much done and we are almost at the end of the year! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I am starting mine tomorrow, whaaaaaat...yep!

Each Studio Calico Reveal seems to come quicker and quicker, these are the layouts I made with the Napa Valley (main)and Santa Cruz (add-on) kits.I love it and can't wait to start creating with the December kit!

I was so in love with the Sassafras Annual Paper Whimsies, I had to find a way to include more than one on a layout so I thought it would be the perfect way to document the months I went on trips this year. The Making Memories butterflies are my second favorite thing for this kit mixed with the Mister Hue Calico Cream Mist and Adirondack Pigment ink in snowcap!

As you can see I was loving my circles and the grid stamp from the santa cruz add-on a lot this month! This add on sold out quickly but the stamp will be available again in December in limited quantities. I also love the Basic Grey Embark pattern paper to death, really regretting not buying more pattern paper.Also used Mr. Huey Mist in Apple Jack.

I had to document our first sprinkles experience, photos taken on my iphone. I made this layout with items only from the main kit, napa valley. The small alpha is so cute, can see using it a lot on small projects. I love stamps, I need to find a better way to organize them, I have them scattered every where on my desk and bookshelf.

I love these photo booth pics of jamaica with her camera. Circle, paint mist and stamp overload here but it is just the way I like it, messier the better for me. The KI Memories alphas are kickin' too, I want more of those asap!
lots or of new and restocked stamps in the shop, the jett numbers are my favorite!

So that is my gallery for this month, as promised today is giveaway day! I was in a rush this am and do not have a picture to post, but promise it will be awesome stuff, check back on previous giveaways, here, here and here to catch a glimpse of previous goodies!

leave a comment about whatever you like and I will choose a winner tomorrow!
xo

mantramantra

my mantras or sayings that get said at least twice a day. i am sure there are more to list but you know some things just become a seam or branded in the vocab so those are harder to gleam. kapeesh!
Napa Valley goes on sale tonight at midnight EST! You know this is one of my most favorite kits ever ever!  Something tells me that this one is going to sell out quickly! I can't wait to see the gallery in the morning, I can never stay up to see them at midnight.
xo

doing it right

photo post of my super quick jaunt to America's mecca:it was fun,photos flowing,good eats,cursing the G train and it was  totally what I needed. I am addicted to this city, mentally already planning my next trip! I'm in the midst of trying to do my digi dare and it is killin' me, urgh! Hoping to share it tomorrow and I am doing a giveaway on Thursday so watch out for it! Where has this year gone, feels like yesterday we were knee deep in snow and now it is almost November! whaaaaaaaaaaat!

we all have a story, can't wait to use this photo in everything!

you know our love for the pb, this trip was no different.


love these chairs, so many great things to take pictures of. I love how each time I go, I find a bit more about the city. I loved exploring brooklyn! It's funny that the leaves here seem to be at their peak and the leaves in the bk are just starting to turn. We met the super sweet Kara in BK for brunch.


My traveling partner in crime, we have met up three times this year, so cool!:) epic sp fail, blame it on my short arms, but we are rocking the big shades!

quote painted on a wall in the ace;so true and sums of my life view perfectly!
xo

he's a 10

happy friday, it is an extra special day here today because this little guy is 10 today! By his accounts this has been the best birthday ever but he says that every year and it always makes me smile inside. I can't believe it has been a decade since he was born! I can't imagine a day without either of them. I hope you all have a great weekend!
+
one more napa valley sneak! :)

xo

fall:sum of three

we are finally experiencing fall weather and it totally has me cold and in the mood for the following:

 

-a faux fur coat, i neeeeeeeeeeed one! I haven't had any luck finding a vintage one but this one here has caught my eye.

-(sterlingstyle) almost every christmas as a child I would make fudge from scratch ( and other cakes and pies that we would would deliver to friends and family) with my mom, she taught me how to bake and who I am totally grateful for her patience in the kitchen because I love to cook for my family and carry on that tradition. s2 love pumpkin, so I know this will be a hit with them! I can't wait to try this recipe for a fall treat and then quickly share with my  coworkers, friends and neighbors as I am sure it will be hard to stop eating!

-most favorite purchase of fall yet, gray F21 hoodie! I've worn it for the last week almost every day as some sort of layer, what can I say I am a creature of habit!

xo

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ps.... i had another sneak but accidentally erased it off of my phone, iay! :(

its about that time

I had a great day with my family celebrating my birthday yesterday. Thank you to everyone who left me messages, super sweet and thoughtful! :) I had the day off and just chilled and hung out with my sister while s2 were in school, the day went by way to quick but I was able to squeeze in a few parking wars that I had dvr'ed, yeAH! I love that show, the parking attendants take a lot from the public and they are so f-u-n-n-y. You know my favorites are the eccentric ones, like hairspray (her nickname) and the guy that looks like pauly-d (but better) of course! The show is pure comedy, I don't get how these people get so irrate when they are breaking the law,  ok  moving on! :)

have some scraps and sneaks to share! Jamaica added a new list prompt, so I jumped on it quickly! I don't have natgeo in my yard like jed :), but I do have some bat crazy squirrels!  These little animals, at least the ones in my yard, are crazy. They go back and forth in the yard looking for their nuts all day long in my flower bed, on my deck or garden, not to mention they go thru my recycles, it is crazy endless cycle! My obsession with the Studio Calico chevron stamp lives on...

I have three sneaks to share today of the  layouts i've made so far with the november studio calico kit-napa valley. Listen to me when I say this kit is so easy and fun to work with, it is my most favorite kit to date! I am on my fourth layout and I am sure I  will have a fifth one before the week is out!.

On this layout I only used products from the main kit, napa valley-lots of circle and stamp love going on with my layouts this month, you know my love for them both!

On the next two layouts I mixed products from the main kit and the add on 2-santa cruz.Can you guess what my favorite item is???

Yep, food pretty much rules the gallery for the month, we are foodies! I can't believe it took me so long to scrap this awesome place. Can you tell I pretty much want to marry Mr Huey in calico cream!
xo

sum of three

feel like i have been falling off of the blogging trail lately, life is busy and this always gets bumped down on the list of priorities. so in my efforts to be a better blogger, i am going to try to make things easy, simple and fun! Don't be surprised if  you see this style post as a weekly occurrence, three photos that sums of my thoughts. I saw this here and loved it, sorry no originality on my part. :) Sometimes the photos will be mine, sometimes others but the words always from my soul. enjoy!



jaanet

sup laney
can't wait to go to NYC, finally in the fall...next weekend can't come quick enough, it's raining here today and it is a cold rain,which I am loving because it will make the leaves turn faster, perfect weather to fall asleep to and my favorite-the fall layers! I love feeling cuddled up without being hot because it isn't cold enough for the puffer but with my hoodie and faux leather bomber I am straight. :) I love quotes and I have always loved this one, circle gets the square!
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Day Three -Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Life is a gift,I have always lived my life for me but something that changed my perspective on life was becoming a mother. It opened my heart and mind up so much more, it really is hard to put into to words but from the time both s2 were born it seemed as if they were always here. It is almost hard to remember the space in between when they were not here. Saadiq was born one year after I graduated from college and Synai three years after. I can say that being pregnant and having babies really made me appreciate the beauty of life from the beginning as you watch your own babies grow and the bond that forms instantly is beautiful. I LOVE being a mommy-time truly does fly and once you are a mother your life does shift.  I want to provide the best for them and to live to see them grow and god willing be alive until they are grown. I want to be able to live until my children are grown, that is a daily prayer of mine.

shake it up!

wheeee, had a great long weekend! I was able to finally catch up on all of my shows that I missed during the week (loved gA)! Now I am totally confused as to what day it is, ready for the rest of the week and totally enjoying the last few days of Indian summer, the rest of the week is going to be a rainfest...booo! :( Thank you all for the super duper sweet comments about my somerset pub, you really are the kindest!

So happy to finally be able to share this layout, it is my take on this week's sunday sketch . I loved Tina's pola double pager in this month's gallery! I have so many pictures on my phone, it is kinda insane, mostly taken with my favorite pic app-shakeitphoto! These are a few of many that have been living on my phone and just made the jump to my computer. I am seriously still in love with the homefront line (it's a oldie but goodie for me), half circles, mist and paint per the usual! :)
xo

where i stand

dare 170 is up and a dare entry qualifies (the first 15) for our 3rd round of swaps, courtesy of ms. T!
can't wait to try this recipe tomorrow...two favs: mushrooms, cheese and pasta, ok three=yum yum!
so looking forward to mixing up papers and scrapping with the november kit that I received wednesday-it is calling my name!!
plan to enjoy the long weekend to the fullest,enjoy the weather, fall-ify the house and maybe have a pumpkin spice latte or two!
xo
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day two-something you hate about yourself
I really do not like the word hate and seldom use it in my vocab but one thing that I dislike about myself is my tendency not to address issues that bother me when they occur. I think this comes from wanting not to hurt others or to make a big deal out of something.  I am a true libra and always try to keep balance even when I am out of balance by others' actions and it just makes me feel negative, hurt or angry at myself.  It is something that I've really tried to work on this year. Everyday is a process. :)

the gravy not the essence

About five months ago I submitted a few projects to Somerset Memories and they were picked up but I had no idea that one of them would land on the cover!I was floored when Jana sent me the email but I had no idea which layout they used but I was tickled pink to to be on the cover, never in a million years did I think this would happen or even thought about it. Submitting to calls do not come naturally for me, i just create for me first and submit when I have the time or initiative.  The current autumn issue is on sale now at Borders and AC Moore too.

This really is a great issue of the magazine, one of my favorite artists, Dina is in it as well! If you have followed my blog for a while, you know about my love of minis and one of my favorites is featured in an article in which I explain in detail how I created the album and my inspiration behind it.

ETA: Somerset Memories like Scrapbook Trends has a general submission where you can submit projects that fall outside of their current call section, that is what I submit to.



Thank you for reading and I hope you are having a fantastic day! One more day until the weekend!! I hear we are supposed to have fabulous weather in the DMV this weekend, perfect fall football weather!
xo

letting go...

i am so proud of him and his team, they are 6-0 for the season so far! when I started blogging four years ago he was five years old and begging me to play football but I wouldn't let him because I had this fear of him getting hurt and just being fearful of the unknown! I am so glad I let go of that fear last year, he truly loves the sport. I love watching him play and talking about football to him and sharing our passion as fans of the skins! It was the first step for me as mother of learning to let go. I am sure this is the first or many, saying prayers now.... :).



day 01-something you love about yourself
So this is is my first entry for my thirty days of truths and this should be an easy one but it is difficult for me put into words. I think this is the case whenever you have to talk about yourself.  One of the things that I love about myself is my strength. I feel that through all my life experiences, some very difficult and painful have made me a stronger person today. No matter what the obstacle is I always try to find a learning experience from it. I learned from a very early age that if you do not find the strength to move on that you can stay in a negative place without results or learn from it and rise above the negativity.

I think that having the ability to adapt to these situations has helped me a lot over the years especially in raising a family, being a better parent, sibling and friend. I am proud of my strength and that it is possible because of my beliefs and faith.

studio calico's new blog

Happy Sunday!  The Studio Calico blog has a new home! Come check out the new diggs and enter a chance to win some goodies!

plus give aways and a special promotion on the Studio Calico site. Sale ends at midnight!

in's and out's

in's
october, we love this month,saadiq and I share a birthday week this year
30 days of truth's
layers and fall weather
boots
pumpkin muffins

stamps, loving them a lot lately
eating healthier and feeling great

shimmer eyeshadow, galapagos by NARS is a current love
the basics
weekend walks


out's

negative thinking
Indian summer...i think and hope.
no foundation, been rocking just concealer and powder lately
excess

have a joyous weekend!xo