Does Brodey Look Smart(ER)?

Haha! The first thing Brodey wanted to do when he saw me in my glasses was to try them on himself! No surprise there! He looks so cute in them! I hope he never has to wear them, but he still looks handsome!

What did the hot dog say when he won the race?
I'm the weiner! I'm the weiner!!
That's what I was saying today when I got an e-mail letting me know I won a drawing on Kimber Mcgray's blog!! I am SO excited! It's an awesome end to my interesting week! LOL (I borrowed the photo of the goodies from her blog.)

Hopefully we will have a nice and quiest weekend. SO much more so than last. I don't want to go anywhere I don't have to! I really hope my mother-in-law gets to come. I would love to have a little uninterrupted scrap time!


If you happen to be in Edmond on July 16th come by Just 4 Keeps and take my stamp class! That's the layout we will be doing! I can't even tell you how much fun I have teaching this class! We are using Autumn Leaves stamps and Technique Tuesday Tiles! FUN TIMES!!!

You are probably like why in the world is she posting in the afternoon? She usually posts at midnight! LOL Well I'm afraid Eric is going to come home any minute and make me get dressed and go somewhere! We'll see if I get that movie I was promised this weekend! It might end up being on Pay Per View....fine by me! :)
Have an awesome Friday night!
LUV APRIL

Do I Look Smart(ER)?

I finally got my new glasses today! I almost passed out....HAHAHAHA!! I had to say that! LOL Of course I had to take a pic of me in them...trying to look smart. I think I look a little clueless instead, but I'm not taking another one! They are only for reading, though. That's fine with me!

I got Brodey's shirt today from Ollie Kate. It is ADORABLE. I let him open it and he was all excited about it. He had to wear it all day and refused to take it off until he and Eric went swimming tonight. Hopefully he will forget about it until I get it washed!

Every morning at the same time the kitty cats are waiting on us to go outside. Today they were waiting on my AND they were hungry. The raccoon figured out that the kitty food was on the table. I guess that just didn't cut it, because it also dumped out a 40 lb sack of bird seed. Yes it was more than half full. It took forever to clean that up. So I made Eric promise to put it up so we wouldn't have a repeat tonight. Do you think he actually remembered? HA!
Tonight he looks outside and he's like "OH! The mommy raccoon brought a baby with her!"
I'm still mad at her for dumping the sack of seed and I'm like "Oh fabulous. You put up the bird seed...right?"
Silence.
"Does that mean no you didn't put up the seed?"
He says "Um yeah."
I bring him the dust pan and broom. Not so cute now, right? WRONG!
He's like "So do you not have any cat food left?"
I'm like "NO."
"I like them to come."
"So you like to clean up after them and buy them food?"
"Well I like to watch them."
I'm like "Okay. I'm not cleaning up after them again."
He says "Fine."
So the raccoons and I have called a truce for now. They can come if Eric cleans up after them. Somehow I don't think that will happen.

Everyone disses Wal-Mart, but I've always been a fan. One stop shopping baby! LOL I grew up in Holdenville (population 5,000) and all we had was Wal-Mart. Now I live in Tahlequah and all we have is Wal-Mart. When I wear this necklace, no one believes I got it there! (The dress is from Old Navy) I think it's so cute! You never know what you will find there! ;)
I got a call in for a layout today from Memory Makers. They are doing this in-store pamphlet about organizing your scrap space. It sounds pretty cool! I love the layout I did, so I'm pretty excited! I'm just not sure when it will be out.
Yesterday when we went to Shawnee my mom bought Brodey a new movie. It's Tarzan. The Disney one. We watched it today and I cried at the end. Haha! I forgot how good it is!
Speaking of movies!!! Jen sent me the link today for the new Harry Potter movie. Gosh it looks so good. It's like Christmas watching it and hearing the music gives me goose bumps. It's awesome and I can't wait.
I think Eric and I might actually go to a movie tomorrow night. You are as shocked as I am, I know. If you have any suggestions, send 'em my way. I'm so out of the loop. There was a time when we had seen every movie out PLUS every new release at Blockbuster. Those were the pre-Brodey days!
Well it's late and I better go to bed!
Sleep tight!
LUV APRIL

Never a Dull Moment

I could never describe my life as dull. Sometimes I wish it were so, but then my blog would be pretty dull too. That's no fun.
I used to ask my mom for a wig for Christmas. I never got one, but I came pretty close today. It was supposed to be a routine visit to the hairdresser. (And no I didn't pass out...HA!) I've been going to the same hairdresser for 17 years. He is the best. I don't have to tell him what to do. He has talked me out of horrible haircuts and into awesome ones. I used to photograph his family when I had the studio. I love him to death.
This visit he was supposed to put the color on my roots. We switch and do that and the foil every other time. So he starts putting the color on my roots and it starts to burn like crazy.
I'm like "Mike. It burns."
He's like "Oh don't be a wimp." I'm thinking okay I won't be a wimp. It burns worse.
"Mike it really burns."
He says "Really? Like how bad?"
I'm like "Like REALLY bad. Like it's never burned like this before."
He feels my scalp and says "April hurry rinse her off." (April is his assistant.)
I RUN over to the shampoo bowl and start yelling for April to "RINSE IT OFF!!!!! RINSE IT OFF!!!!" I was freaking out. It felt like knives in my scalp. I'm sitting there thinking after the month I've had it wouldn't surprise me if my hair fell out and I actually did get my wigs for Christmas.
So April gets it rinsed off, I have to sit there with some stuff on my scalp, and he checks it out. No hair loss and no burns...thank goodness. What was funny is that in that 30 second time period it actually colored my hair. I usually have to sit there for about 30 MINUTES. I was like awesome! It didn't make it blonde enough for my taste, but thinking of what COULD have happened...it was fine!
We think what happened is that I swimmed last night and I didn't get all the chemicals out of my hair from the pool water. Maybe stress...but I think that's a stretch. I won't even think about getting in the pool before my next hair appointment!
Well that's enough excitement for me. I'm taking my sore scalp to bed. Hopefully tomorrow will prove less eventful.
LUV APRIL

Oh P.S. If you tried to log in as a customer on the Uppercase Living site and it asked for your info, don't worry! I'm the only person that will get that! You know I won't bug you...unless I do already! Hahahaha!!!

Comic Relief

When ya gotta dance, ya gotta dance! Even in the booth at the Mexican restaurant!
Brodey has no shame. I have to say I'm glad. I have pretty much always been that way and Eric is the exact opposite. Eric wouldn't dance at a DANCE. I don't think Brodey will be that way. He will break it down anywhere if he has a good beat! LOL I really needed some comic relief.

We went to Tulsa last night to see what vehicles the dealerships had. I'm not sure what I want now. I just want something that isn't a rental car. Eric took me out to eat to put me in a better mood. It actually worked. We ate at Los Cabos next to Bass Pro. It's SO GOOD! I'm so glad I bought that little camera to keep in my purse! I wouldn't have those hilarious pics otherwise!


I'm REALLY trying to be positive. It's hard to not revert back to being angry with whomever did it and not feeling paranoid. I have been triple checking the locks on the doors. It's silly now that I type it out. It happened all the way in Holdenville, but it still makes you feel violated. See I'm getting all negative again. I just need to stop it and hope the police find out who did it.
When we got home last night the comic relief continued, although at first Eric DID NOT think it was funny. I had been cleaning out the whirlpool tub (hate those stupid things, by the way) and was in the last stage when I had to leave yeterday. I had left the rinse water in there to finish when I got home. Well I was letting the tub fill back up while I was washing my face and in came Eric thinking he would just take over the situation.
"The water only needs to be right over the jets. Good grief."
I just roll my eyes like usual and let him think whatever he wants.
So I said "Fine. I'm done cleaning it I just need to rinse it again. I think it needs a little more water, though."
Eric the know it all says "NO it's fine."
I'm like okay! So I go over and turn the jets on and water goes EVERYWHERE. It shot into Brodey's face and made him cry. It got all over the walls and window. Eric got soaked. I was so wet that my mascara was running down my face, water was in my ear, and my tank top was SOAKED. Of course Eric yells for me to turn it back off. So I go to turn it off and get even more soaked. As soon as I got it turned off I sat down in the floor and laughed so hard I was crying. It was like a total mix of emotions. It hadn't felt so good to laugh that hard in ages. This weekend had me so tense that it was the best feeling to just let go and laugh it out!
Poor Brodey finally calmed down. My hair was soaked and Eric was mad. I made HIM clean the water up. Guess he won't make comments about the water level the next time I clean it out! Hahaha!!!
One of the only good things to come out of this weekend was Erin showing me her Uppercase Living catalog. She held an open house for a friend of her's and the second I opened the catalog I was HOOKED. I mean hooked. Have you ever used a rub-on and thought man I'd like to supersize that and put it on my wall!?!?! I HAVE!
It's these awesome wall images that are similar to rub-ons. You can put them on just about any surface and they just peel off when you don't want them anymore! I have been trying to figure out what to do with my huge walls that are bare, and this is it! I actually loved it so much I'm selling it! You should check it out. On the right side of my blog there's a link. You have to enter in the ID And TOKEN that I have listed. Pretty soon we will have websites. I'm so excited about this. This came at the perfect time for me. A welcome distraction and hopefully a way for me to meet new people here! If you like what you see, send me an e-mail at massadmomma@yahoo.com!
Well hopefully things will get back to normal soon. I go get my hair done tomorrow! So excited! My parents will meet me and Brodey and I will have a good day!
I'm off to start dinner! Maybe we will swim when Eric gets home! Have a great evening!!
LUV APRIL

Good Time...Bad Times

What a weekend. What a weekend.
I have been looking forward to this weekend since I scheduled to teach back in June. I taught two classes Saturday at Just 4 Keeps in Edmond. I LOVE to teach. LOVE IT. So besides getting to do that, I also got to crop with all my Edmond girls! It was a blast as usual! No layouts done, but it doesn't matter! I can't even put into words how good it was to spend time with everyone. I didn't even leave until 11pm! FUN!
Eric, Rene, and Brodey went to Holdenville while I was in Edmond so we could go to the lake this weekend. So instead of driving back to Tahlequah, I drove to Holdenville. I didn't get to the lake until about 12:45 or 1. We all played horseshoes and went to bed.
We get up the next morning around 10 and we are messing around outside. Eric happens to look over and notice my car is gone. Of course at first we think no way it has to be a joke. So we went and woke up Tyler (Ally's boyfriend) and asked him if he put the car anywhere. He was like NO! WHY!?! We were like oh my gosh. My car is gone. It's really gone. I, of course, start crying. I LOVE my car. LOVE it. I picked it out and I love it. Well I guess I should say loved it. (I'm actually getting emotional typing aobut it.)
We called the police and they came out so we could report it. While we were making out the report the officer got a call in that someone had found it...and it was burned. I'm freaking out "like burnt?!?! What do you mean burnt!?!? Why would someone do that?!?! Are you sure it's MY car??!?!" Someone had found it somewhere way out and so Eric, Tyler, and Ally went to look. There was no way I could go. No way I wanted to see the car I loved so much like that. So I went to Eric's mom's. I called Ally after a while and asked her about it and she was like "oh my gosh April. It's gone. It's all burned up. Someone burned it up and threw beer cans all in it. I'm so sorry." I can't even understand why someone would do that. It's just so dumb. People have no respect for others.
We have been going to the lake for years and nothing like this has happened to us. We had some beer, watermelons, and food stolen several weeks ago and once we had a homeade porta-potty stolen. (That was before we had a camper LOL) This stuff happens to other people. I guess it was just wrong place wrong time. It's just so stupid to me. I can't even imgaine what would make someone do that other than some kind of substance. Someome said that in town someone's vehicle was vandalized and a car at Wewoka lake was stolen and burned. Who knows if it was the same person, but they need to find a hobby.
I was totally looking forward to this weekend. The first part was awesome, and the second part not so much. Jen was like "see you should have stayed the night!" I sure should have! I'm just so glad I didn't really have anything in there. There were a few movies, toys, and stuff but that's it. THANK GOSH I stopped by Eric's and dumped out my scrap stuff from teaching. The inside of my car gets dusty at the lake and I didn't want my stuff yucky. Oh my I shudder to think if that stuff had been in there!! I'll take dusty over burned any day!
The next vehicle I get will NOT be anything anyone wants to steal. No BMW's. I'm stuck in a stinking rental car because someone wanted to be stupid. Okay I'm done being negative. I've had a headache since yesterday and I need to go make dinner. Sorry this post was so down. Hopefully tomorrow will be more entertaining or uplifting! LOL
Good night!
LUV APRIL

Summer Hair & a New Camera

Summer has never been a good hair season for me. Not that it looks really bad, it's just that I have super thick hair and when I blow dry it the bathroom turns into a sauna. So you can imagine my excitement when I figured out the easiest hairdo for me EVER.
A few weeks ago I was at the lake and I ran to Eric's and took a shower. Eric was rushing me so I just got out of the shower, didn't even comb out my hair, put in some leave-in conditioner, and put it up in a high ponytail that you don't pull all the way through. That was it. I slept in it like that and didn't touch it until the next morning.
After breakfast the next morning I took it down. It wasn't 100% dry so I just left it down to dry. Madyson (Eric's sister) comes in the kitchen and says "oh I love your hair." I was like "haha sure." She said "No really! You didn't do that on purpose?" I walk over and look in the mirror and it's all wavy and actually looked really good! I couldn't believe it turned out like that from just putting it up overnight! The next day I thought I'd try it again just to see if it was a fluke. It wasn't! I did the same thing and got that same results! It's so nice to be able to swim with Bro and not worry about blow drying it. The pic I took today isn't the best, but I don't care! I have the easiest hairdo in the world! LOL
Oh by the way, I got a new camera! It's the one in the pic of my hair. I was SO EXCITED! I have been wanting a little point and shoot for a long time. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my 20D, but it just feels a little silly to pull it out at a restaurant with that big flash and say "CHEESE!" Hahaha! This new camera fits right in my purse and it is so much fun!

I have a couple of obsessions right now. The first is pretty harmless. It's water with lemon. We have an awesome ice machine in our house and it makes the best ice! Throw a lemon in there and you have the perfect summertime drink! Don't worry, though! I haven't given up my Diet Coke! ;)
My other obsession is Esty. MAN I love that place! I bought the coolest address stamp HERE, a cool shirt for Brodey HERE, and a chic little camera strap for me HERE! I'm an online shopaholic and the post lady hates me! LOL She has to ring up at our gate and I have to let her in to bring me packages. But hey! I told her she could leave them in the mailbox, but she said no! :)
The raccoon came back yesterday. She, yes SHE, was eating all the kitty food. I was watching her through another window and noticed she has some very large tattas. She's nursing some baby raccoons some where so she can fill up on the kitty food any time she wants!
Well I better go start getting my class kits ready! Tomorrow will be a scrappy filled day at J4K! I'm so excited! I'm headed to Holdenville afterwards so I won't be blogging until Monday!
Have a safe and awesome weekend!
LUV APRIL

I have Fabulous Friends!

Today was a lonely day. I have days where I REALLY REALLY miss my friends. I get sort of down and miss living in Edmond. I love my home here, but I miss everyone and going to Just 4 Keeps.
To perk me up I'm posting the new book by Memory Makers called Fabulous Friends. That's the book and this is my layout in it:

Those are my friends from high school. I've known most since before preschool. I MISS THEM!!! I miss everyone! :( But posting about it has made me feel better!!
I can't wait until Saturday! I get to finally see everyone! I am teaching two classes at J4K and I am going to stick around and crop! SO SO excited! I never get any layouts done, but who cares! I'm there to visit! I scrap at home by my lonesome! Haha!

The other day when I went to the eye doctor, we went to see Eric at work! Brodey had a lot of fun! Eric cleaned his teeth and he got to clean his own! He LOVED that! None of the girls could believe he sat still long enough or would even open his mouth! We even got x-rays of his teeth! So cute! He is always looking at our teeth with his flashlight. I took a pic of him polishing his own!


LOL He did a pretty good job, too!
SO CUTE!!!
I found the most awesome blog through other blogs. (Sorry I can't remember which one!) I'm sure I'm behind on this, but I just had to share! Bloesem Kids is the coolest site I've found in a while! I already bought something from an Etsy shop I found on there. I'll post that tomorrow! You have to check it out! So fun!


Well the raccoon came back last night! Luckily he hasn't found the kitten's food on the table! We are going to wait up for him again tonight. It's fun watching him eat. He can totally see us at the door, but he doesn't even care. The cats will not even come out until he is gone! It's funny!

Well the boys just got out of the pool and I better go rinse Brodey off! Tomorrow is Friday! YEAH!!!! I can't wait for the weekend!
NITE!
LUV APRIL

It's a suuuuunny day!

That's Brodey's new line. "It's a suuuunny day!" He throws his hands up and draws out that uhh sound! It's hilarious!
That's exactly what he said today when we walked outside to go get the mail. He also followed it up with "Momma it's HOT!" I said "yes it is, baby!" He also dressed himself, I might add. Notice the boots, hat, and shades. So funny!
I got a new sewing machine recently and I am a sewin' FOOL! I think I have sewn on the last six layouts I have done. Yes SIX! I'm on a kick! Bro has a tv now in the scrap room and man is it helpful! I get so much done! He actually fell asleep in there last night watching The Jungle Book. I catch myself singing along with it! I still love that movie!
Well I'm going to head to bed. If I can find what Brodey did with the flashlight I might do some late night reading! :)
Until tomorrow!
LUV APRIL

We have a new cat.......HA!

I was about to go to sleep tonight and I walk by one of the windows and see that! LOL My first thought was gosh that's a big raccoon! I grew up in the country and have seen my fair share, and this was a big one! I'm whispering to Eric to look and trying to sneek to get my camera at the same time. He, or I guess maybe she, totally cleaned out the continuous feeder! It was so funny. Eric's genius self tried to open the door to get a better pic and he/she ran off. As soon as she was gone here come the cats! So much for defending their territory! LOL That raccoon was bigger than both my kitty cats!
Well enough fun for tonight. I'm headed to bed. I finally feel like my old self again after the date with the floor yesterday. :)
Nite!
LUV APRIL

Hello Floor!

I called my mom today and asked "Why can't I just do something normal? Like just go to the eye doctor?" She just laughed and said "I don't know. What happened?" Ha!
The last time I had an eye exam was in 1999. Pathetic, I know. Eric went with me and when the dr put the drops in my body freaked and I almost passed out. I didn't, though! I kept control, but I came pretty close. I can't say that for today.
I got there without a hitch and got back in the room. I warned the dr of what had happened at my last eye exam and he said okay! I had Brodey in my lap and I go through all the exam and then he puts the drops in my eyes. I was nervous from last time, but I was determined not to let it get to me. The drops made my eyes feel weird and that's when my body started reacting. I told the dr I was feeling a little creepy, but I was okay. He did the lights in my eyes and right after he did that I felt REALLY creepy. I said "Oh no I feel it" and it all went black.
I started to come to. I could hear them talking and I realized I was lying on the floor. The poor receptionist was holding my legs up and the dr was holding a wet washcloth over my eyes. When I could talk the first thing I said was "did I drop Brodey?" They said "no no they took him up front." I said "I'm so sorry." I was so embarrased. I DO NOT get embarrased easily, but this did it. I was wearing a dress and THANK GOD I had shaved my legs this morning! LOL
They made me eat some crackers and drink some water and I felt good enough to get up. I sat back down in the chair and within a few seconds I felt it again. He had to put me BACK on the floor until I felt better. Finally I got up and he told me he was watching me after the lights in my eyes and my pupils were HUGE. He said my head just went back and he grabbed Brodey and yelled for the girls up front. They took him while he and another girl got me to the floor. He said I'm the 4th person for that to happen to. That made me feel better!
It's 7pm and I still feel like crap. I feel all nauseous and creepy. NOT a good day. On top of that, I got Eric lunch while I was in town and proceeded to spill my Diet Coke all over myself. There had to be icing on the top of this wonderful cake, right?
Why can't I just have normal days? Go to the dr without a hitch? Cause then I wouldn't have anything to talk about on this blog! HAHAHAHAHA!
LOVE APRIL

Silly Kitty!

That is Brodey's new "best friend." Hehe! This has to be the sweetest kitty every and the silliest! She sleeps in the oddest places! This is the only photo I've been able to capture so far. I didn't even get her sleeping because she heard me. She was actually sleeping in my window basket. I looked out to check on her and there she was. I had to take a pic! She also loves to sleep in the empty hanging basket I have in the shelf on the back porch, under the wicker side table, and on Bro's swingset. She is so funny and Brodey loves her to death.
She was a stray that showed up at Meme and Doc's house. They couldn't keep her because they said they are too old to be tripping over a little kitty. So they sent her to Brodey! He couldn't love her any more!
I actually think the other kitty is starting to like her. They didn't get along at first, but she's warming up to her.

This kitty cat was born here and when we moved here Ashley ,the previous owner, took her to the people down the rode. Ashely said she cried when she took her because she had lived here all her life. :( When she told me that I said "oh she'll come back." And she did! I'm so glad! She is such a good kitty!
Well Eric is due back some time this afternoon. His fishing trip went well. I decided to stay here instead of go to Holdenville. I'm glad because I have actually gotten stuff done! No layouts...but Bro has to go to sleep some time! Hahaha!
Have an awesome Sunday!
LUV APRIL

Bruises and busted lips...

Bruises, busted lips, and skinned elbows is what I have. Thanks to this:

We call it the taco and no that isn't us. LOL It's a photo of the tube we got from www.sportsstuff.com. It's SO MUCH FUN but gosh it's dangerous! It's s triple rider so of couse we had to load it down! The problem is that it tears up your knees and elbows! Mom literally went and bought us elbow pads this week at Wal-Mart.
We also coulsn't resist hooking it up to the back of the boat with Big Bertha(the super big two person tube). Eric is saying all along "this is a bad idea...this is a bad idea..." He was on the taco with me and Danielle. Danielle's boyfriend, Jacob, was on Big Bertha. My dad swings us around and takes us over waves so big they are capping over. I swear you could surf on them. We hit the first wave and my butt pops up and as we came down my mouth slams into Danielle's fist. You can imagine the blood going everywhere. I bail off the back thinking that no one knows I'm hurt and Eric comes after me. Blood was going everywhere and all I could think of was "I don't want stitches...I don't want stitches..." Eric gets me onto the boat and we realize I that I don't need stitches and my lip is busted all the heck. So of course I jump off the back of the boat and climb right back on. Poor Danielle's hand was cut from my tooth. She was fine! Haha! It was so much fun!
What I love most about the taco is that Brodey can ride. It's so much fun! When dad goes slow he can stand up and crawl around on it. (With me holding onto him, of couse.) Fun times at the lake!


This is one of my DT Layouts for Just 4 Keeps this month. At the lake on the 4th. That was actually last year. Bro has grown so much. I don't realize it until I compare photos or look at him now. Such a little man now! :(
Well I'm going to go (hopefully) work on some layouts. Eric is going to fish with Brandon and Keith this weekend. Bro and I just might head to the lake again! Haha! ;)
Have a good weekend!
LUV APRIL

New Habit

Okay I haven't been a good girl at updating my blog. :) I'm sorry and I'm going to try and do better!
We have been so busy this last month. Graduations, birthdays, holidays, sicknesses, you name it! I'm so glad all that's over PLUS I'm finally getting settled in here! I'm starting to know where things are and not be walking around in circles. We all love it here! I especially do because there is always something for Eric to do outside with Brodey. That leaves me to my scrappy room! I'm finally getting that space organized too! It majorly needs a clean up right now, though, becaue I just finished my class and design team layouts. I'll post those on the 1st.
Brodey and I took our annual 4th of July t-shirt photos. I took them myself with the self timer. LOL It was like okay push the button...run after Brodey...make him laugh...try not to smile so big. All that in 10 seconds. Haha! I couldn't find our t-shirts at Old Navy so I actually had to order them online. That's okay as long as I get the photos! Who knows how long he will continue this tradition with me, but I'm taking advantage while he's too young to protest. Hehe!
Well I better go. Starting today I'm going to make a new habit of posting daily. Let's see how well I do! ;)
LUV APE

Where have I been?

I'm sure anyone that reads this blog is wondering where in the world I am? Well I am comewhere inbetween Tahlequah and Muskogee, Oklahoma! We moved and we LOVE it here! I miss all my friends terribly, but I get to go back and teach class at Just 4 Keeps once a month!
This will be a short post, but I won't be a stranger again! I just wanted to let everyone know I didn't fall off the face of the Earth! Hehe!
I'll be back soon with pictures!
LOVE APRIL

Eggshells

I've been absent from the blog for a long time. I've been so busy with moving that I haven't had much online time for myself. I haven't had time to scan my usually message boards. I haven't even had time to scrapbook. But when I do I just go along. Merrily creating whatever comes to my mind. If a magazine happens to like it, they publish it. That's it. That's great.

When I first started scrapbooking I didn't understand why in the world people made their own embellishments. Why would you do that when there are all these wonderful things you can buy? Once I started getting more comfortable with the hobby, I realized what I loved about it. It was every hobby I had ever loved rolled into one. It was photography. It was decorating a page instead of a wall. It was arts and crafts.

I have always loved arts and craft. Making things with my hands. Getting dirty. Coming up with something beautiful out of nothing. Maybe out of something you would throw away. Like eggshells. That is what I love about scrapbooking. It is the ultimate hobby for me. Everything I enjoy doing rolled into one.

When I got the closed call for creating a project using eggshells from Creating Keepsakes, I was instantly intrigued. I was instantly challenged. I love having a product and asking myself what all I can do with it. Anyone who has spent any amount of cropping time around me knows this. This is also why I love Creating Keepsakes. They aren't afraid to think differently and creativly. They understand there is more than one way to use something. Even eggshells.

I accepted the challenge thinking what a fun way to use all those eggs you have leftover from Easter! I experimented with them and came up with a few fun things. Creating Keepsakes happened to like one of them so it got published. Then last week while I was packing some people on a website got all crazy over eggshells. Who knew people could get so fired up about eggshells?

Why NOT turn trash into treasure? Why NOT offer an alternative way of creating? Granted, it may not be for everyone, but it's for someone. When I first started I would have overlooked it, but now I think what fun it would be. What FUN it would be to make my own little something. What FUN it would be to get my hands dirty making something on my own. That's what it's all about for me. FUN. I don't scrapbook for anyone else but myself. I do what pleases me. If a magazine happens to like what I have done that's all the better. But I do realize it's not for everyone and that's fine with me. But you know what? No matter how crazy people get about eggshells, I'll still be creating and I'll still be putting it out there for people to love. Or hate. It may not be for everyone, but it's for ME and by golly I have FUN doing it.

This is why I love Oklahoma.

There is a blowing snow advisory and a tornado watch at the same time in Oklahoma right now. Yesterday is was 80 degrees and today it's 35. And THAT is why I love Oklahoma! :)
I went up to Just 4 Keeps today to bug my BFF Jennifer. I get home and she IM's me that the new March Creating Keepsakes came in. WHAT!?!?! That figures! Brodey's asleep so no new mag for me until he wakes up. GOSH BRODEY! LOL I have a tip in this issue in the Tips and Tricks section. It's THE best tip for anyone that does heat embossing. I won't tell you what it is! You'll just have to get the March issue of CK! ;) Hehe!
I think the terrible two's have started. Brodey has taken to whining about everything lately. Then if he doesn't get his way, he throws himself down on the floor and fake cries. For me, whining is like nails on a chalkboard. So needless to say I'm about to lose it with him. Hopefully this will pass.
I have been realizing lately how fast Brodey's growing. All of his pants (that not a month ago were too long) are now high waters. He looks pretty ridiculous. But he's just gonna have to look that way until Spring because I'm not buying new pants this late in the season!
Well I'm off to TRY to put Brodey in bed so I can get something done. Fingers crossed....
LOVE APRIL

Well look what the wind blew in.

The wind blew in some very pretty snow yesterday. There were some huge flakes and it was all pretty and good until the temperature took a huge DIP. Then all the snow that was on the ground turned to ice. Fun. I had to take a fax to Eric's office and (of course) had to stop by J4K. I went to turn into my neighborhood and well...I didn't. My wheels locked up and I just kept sliding right passed it. LOL Pretty funny and a little scary. Poor Eric couldn't get up the driveway when he came home. He said there were a ton of people off the interstate upside down and in ditches. Once again I AM READY FOR SPRING!!! Hahaha!
Even though I'm ready for spring I can't even believe it's February already. It seems like it was just Christmas!
My Technique Tuesday class for J4K this month is a lot of fun. The stamps are really cool, too! I posted the layout above. In the class we will make the little circle accents. I love teaching the Technique Tuesday classes! I always have a good time!
Well Brodey is begging for grapes. The boy is obsessed with grapes. Better than candy I guess. ;)
LUV APRIL

Ooooklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plains...

My gosh it's windy today! It started out so nice at almost 60 degrees and now it's STLL windy but it's 35 degrees. I'm ready for spring!
I can't tell you how excited I am to have a normal house again! The painters just left and all they have left to do is paint my bedroom ceiling, closet, and the toilet room. My house flooded a year ago and it's just now fixed. BUT it's fixed and I'm so happy!
If you love the Pagemaps website look for me in the February one! I created a layout for them using a sketch. It was so much fun and the sketch is awesome!
All the sneak peeks for CHA are getting me excited for the new lines to make it to Just 4 Keeps! I know Jen has already started ordering! I have the best LSS ever!
Okay well I gotta go now. I know this was a quick post, but Brodey actually fell asleep by himself in the recliner and he's waking up!
Bye!
LUV APRIL

Brodey is 2!!!! Boo hoo hoo!!

My little bitty baby is 2 today! Well not until 5:08...but STILL!!! I am so sad! He has grown up so fast!
We are headed to my parent's today for a party and Eric's parents tomorrow for another party. We are going to be on sugar overload! I LOVE IT! LOL
I gotta go!!! Have a wonderful weekend!
LUV APRIL

I'M STILL ALIVE!!!!

I'm still alive! I promise!!! I feel like such a bum! It's been a month since I posted last! I've been SO BUSY!!!
I'm almost done with my Christas shopping! Last year my resolution was to buy gifts early...didn't happen! Mom and Ally came up yesterday and we went to Penn Square. What a nightmare. I waited in line at Victoria's Secret forEVER. Then the poor girl's computers were down and she had to phone in all three of my gift cards SEPERATLY. I felt bad for the workers.
I've been scrappin my little heart out! I've been doing some assignment work for Creating Keepsakes and it's kept me busy! I'll have several things in the magazine this spring. I can't wait!
Brodey cracks me up. The little boy has his quirks!
He can't stand it if he has boogies in his nose. It drives him nuts.
He says hi to his shadow. "Hi Shadow."
He blows kisses to the ladies that check us out at Wal-Mart.
He loves to put on my socks. By the time he gets them all the way up they look like thigh highs.
He knows when we drive past our neighborhood, when we pull into the shopping center were Just 4 Keeps is, and when we go almost anywhere to eat.
He knows the UPS store man by name.
He can't stand poop in his diaper and he has to stand up, be still, and hide when he does it.
I LOVE MY LITTLE MAN!!!! And this little man will be 2 on Janaury 12th. My gosh.
LUV APRIL

Quickie!

Okay! This is a quickie post!
Halloween was great! Brodey was such a big boy and went up to the door and knocked and said "Treat Treat!" He was so proud! He looked hilarious in his dragon costume! He even had a dragon growl!! LOL
I'll post more pics later. I'm getting error messages now! Geez!
I gotta run! Busy busy!
LUV APRIL

Mommy. Tooth. Hurt. Bad.

SO SAD!!!! This is what Brodey said to me yesterday after a totally sleepless night! Poor guy! He's teething his second molar and it's all swollen! When he eats he sticks the food in his cheek until it's soft and then he eats it! :( Motrin has been a big help! Hopefully it'll break through soon!
Can't wait for Halloween! I'm doing a photo shoot at Just 4 Keeps on Saturday and they are launching the new Creative Cafe! Lots of fun stuff goin' on!
Brodey has become a little chatterbox! He can pretty much say whatever he wants to. He can combine almost any word he wants into five word sentences. It's so amazing to think about how much brain effort it takes to do that! He's growing up so fast! Today we went to the mall and I bought him some warm pj's. They are so cute! They are green and have bats all over them. After I washed them tonight I was putting them on him and he raises up his legs and says "Mommy! Cool!" Well I think he's pretty cool!
I have so many scrappy projects I need to get done. I have to do Design Team stuff, class stuff, and I would love to get some layouts done for a few calls that sound fun!
If you have the November Creating Keepsakes I'm in it!!! It's my first how-to article so I'm pretty excited! The layout is called "First Days of Fall." Look for me!!! Hehe!!
Well I better go to sleep! Hopefully tonight will be a better night for my poor little man!
Goodnight!
LOVE APRIL

Rainbow BRIGHT!

Hahaha! I LOVE sending in photos to the weather stations! They just showed the photo above on the 5:00 news! This is the third time for that but it's so much fun! Rick Mitchell on channel 5 said "Wow what a great picture, April! Thanks for sending that in!" LOL
We had some pretty severe storms today! It hailed and rainy super hard! Right after it moved through, this beautiful rainbow showed up! It was a total complete DOUBLE rainbow! We were too close to it so I couldn't get the whole thing in my photo, but it turned out pretty neat anyway! I just love rainbows!
It was a pretty exciting day for me today! I picked up the new Fast and Fabulous idea book by Scrapbook Trends!!! I have two cards in it! SO excited about that!
Even more exciting is I also got the December Creating Keepsakes! I have another layout in there for Christmas! It's so special to me! The photos on the layout is our Christmas pajama photo from last year! My brother, my sister, and Brodey are all in the photo with me! SO special!!! I can't wait for my sister to see it! She will probably say she looks bad....oh sure! She never looks bad! ;)
Well I'm off to start dinner! It was pizza last night so I better cook something decent tonight! I went to Just 4 Keeps and bought all the new Basic Grey holiday stuff! Hehee!
Have a great night!
LOVE APRIL

Orr in Moore!

We went to the Orr Family Farm in Moore Friday for the second year in a row! It was more fun than last year! Brodey had a blast! He rode the horses, fed the animals, did the hayride, rode the carousel, and picked his own pumpkin! And I have 75 pictures to prove it! Haha! I edited three so far!!
Eric is telling me to go get ready. We are going to the RV show today. Hehe. Eric wants an RV so we are going to go check them out. We go to the lake almost every weekend in the summer and it would be nice to have one. So I guess I'll go get dressed. :)
LUV APRIL

Thanks Trisha

I read this on Trisha's blog and she read it on Karen Russell's blog. LOL It made me cry because I can totally relate! Thanks Trisha!

I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?"

I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?"

I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going ... she's going ... she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just returned from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean.

My unwashed hair was pulled up in a clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

(1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
(2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
(3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
(4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?

No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

God Bless You as you build your Cathedrals!

-Author Unknown

HOLY MOLY

Oh wow I am SO excited! I hung out at my fave scrapbook store (Just 4 Keeps) for about an hour BRODEY FREE (which rarely happens) and came home and ate dinner. Well I came over to the computer to check my e-mail and WOW!!! Simple Scrapbooks requested a layout for the March/April issue! I was jumping up and down like a fool while Eric was laughing at me! It's been a goal of mine to get into Simple Scrapbooks so you can imagine how stoked I was!!! MADE MY DAY!
I just had to share my happiness! :)
LOVE APRIL

One Page at a Time DT Search!!!!

TRUST ME!!! You want to work for this online store! The kits are awesome and the owner is SO nice! I've worked with them for almost a year now and they ROCK!
Go HERE to find out more!

The great state fair of.....OKLAHOMA!

We haven't been in years! It was so much fun! We went with Eric's mom and dad, his brothers and their girlfriends. We ate so much! I had fried Oreos, fried Snickers, cinnamon rolls, crepes, fresh lemonade, chicken on a stick, and who knows what else! This is the only photo I've edited from the fair. I have a ton more. I have some funny ones and of Brodey riding this great big slide with all of us! We also rode the big observation thing that's about 300 feet up in the air several times. Brodey loved that! I don't think he's going to be afraid of heights! ;) It was a great time!
I have to get my kits ready today because I teach a layout class tomorrow at Just 4 Keeps. I LOVE the layout so it'll be a fun class! The link is HERE!
Well I'm off to feed Brodey breakfast! Have an awesome Friday!!!
LOVE APRIL

New pic.....of ME!!!!

I hardly ever have any pics of me! We were sitting out on the front porch today watching Brodey play and Eric took a pic of me! Hehehe! It's so rare that anyone takes a pic of me that I had to take advantage! So that's why there is a random photo of me posted! Thanks Eric!!! ;)
LOVE APRIL

I gotta say...

Okay! I gotta say two thing!
First is I am so lucky to have such an awesome local scrapbook store! If I hadn't read the Edmond Outlook in August of last year, I wouldn't have the awesome friends I do, I wouldn't scrapbook as much as I do, and I wouldn't be published! I LOVE J4K!!! We had a blast this weekend at the birthday bash! I got to take pics and it was a blast!!! My knees haven't been sore from taking pictures in 5 years! Fun times!
Second, I HAVE to share THIS with you!!! You HAVE to check out that prize pack!! One Page at a Time is famous for their awesome prize packs!!! You should totally give that contest a try!
Kathy at J4K took the pic above! I had on her birthday hat and she took it with her camera! CUTE!! Hehe!
Okay I'm off to bead! My eyes are killing me! I've edited pics for the last 24 hours and they need a break!
Have a rockin' Monday!!!!
LOVE APRIL

Happy!

New scrapbook goodies makes me HAPPY!!! LOL Yes it's that easy! ;)
The new Fancy Pants goodies arrived at J4K yesterday! AWESOME!!! Crocheted flowers, decorative pins, felt, awesome paper, new stamps.....what more can a girl ask for?!?!?!
Well I can tell you!!! My One Page at a Time kit! That's what! It arrived yesterday too! CUTE Sassafrass Lass skull paper! PLUS they had acrylic skull stamps made to match and they are so dang cute! I can't wait to play with that!
I finished a couple of layouts last night with the Fancy Pants stuff! I posted them above! You can actually stamp on the felt! I used Stazon, but I'm not sure if any other ink works as well.
This is a quick post! I have to go get ready to take photos today at the Just 4 Keeps birthday bash! Come by and see me if you live in the area! They are having a sale too!
Well I'm off! Have a great weekend!
LOVE APRIL

Who IS this little boy!?!?!?!

Can you even believe how old he looks!?!?! I gave in and took him for a haircut yesterday and they chopped off most of his curls! CRY!!! He looks so much older it doesn't seem possible!
I took these today in the garage. My parents brought up some old backdrops from when I had the studio and there was a fresh roll of white paper! I HAD to play!!
I take photos this Saturday at Just 4 Keeps! It's their big birthday bash! It's gonna be fun!!
Well I gotta go! Brodey just woke up from his nap! DARN! LOL
Later!
LUV APRIL

So long summer!

Wow! Everyone is back to school! My sister, cousin, and brother-in-law's girlfriend all started college for the first time this last week! Everyone is still alive! LOL Maybe a little overwelmed, but still alive!
I am so excited! My friend, Trisha, and I are both going to have layouts published in the Scrapbook Trends Wedding Idea Book! Trisha is on the design team with me at Just 4 Keeps! I am SO excited about that!!!
I took this photo today with Brodey! I rarely get photos of us together that are not taken by myself, so I really love this one!!! (Even though it's not perfectly in focus hehehe)
Brodey and I had a great week! We went to Texas and stayed with my cousin for a few days! It was so nice to get to see them!! Brodey had such a good time playing with Will and McKennah! He loves to play with the big kids! ;)
Tomorrow I am scrapping no matter what!!! LOL Last weekend I finished one page so I am going to make up for lost time tomorrow! I am locking myself in my office and not coming out until my mother-in-law leaves tomorrow night! Hehe!
Well I'm off to bed now! I have to rest for my scrappy day tomorrow!
Sleep well!
LOVE APRIL

Oh Baby!

Yeah! So excited! I just had three layouts requested for the Memory Makers Oh Baby Idea Book! I LOVE the layouts they requested so I'm extra excited!!! What a great start to the day!
Wednesday I got to take photos of my friend's babies! It was a blast and they turned out fantastic! Every time I take photos I think back to the days when I had the studio and I miss it! But I'll do that again someday! Until then I'll take photos here and there!
We had a great day yesterday! My cousin Kerry and her kiddos are up from Texas! We met them and my Aunt Karen in Shawnee yesterday and went to the mall! SO FUN!!! The kids have grown so much and Brodey LOVED playing with them!
I took the photos the other day when Brodey and I went outside to water the plants! He looks so darn cute in that hat! Too bad that lawn mower doesn't work! ;)
MIL comes tonight!!! WOOHOO!!!! That means I can get to scrappin'! I have class layouts to do and DT work to do! So MAYBE I can squeeze in a fun layout! LOL
Well I'm off to feed Brodey some breakfast!
Have a wonderful Friday!
LOVE APRIL

Where does it go?

Where does the time go? For the last couple of weeks I keep looking at Brodey and seeing what a little boy he is becomming. It's so sad to me. I'm excited for the future and seeing him growing up, but I miss my baby.
He grows up in little ways every day. Water used to be "wawee" but now is "wawder." Love you used to be "wudgee" but now is "lodge you." Little changes like that keep reminding me that he is, in fact, growing up. Because of this, I'm so glad I scrapbook! Instead of relying on my memory, I can go back in time for a few minutes while I read over my layouts. I am so lucky that I am a scrapper!
LOVE APRIL

WOW!

WOW! I haven't posted in forever! I've pretty much stayed busy! Brodey is a HANDFUL these days! He is a regular toddler! He pee-pees in his potty, talks nonstop, is obsessed with the Backyardigans, and loves to get in trouble! He is the perfect toddler and keeps me perfectly busy!
The only time I get to scrap is on the weekends when MIL takes pity on me and comes to spend the night! I've been scrapping like a mad woman! I can't post the layouts, though, as they are for publication calls.
I will be in the December issue of Creating Keepsakes! Look for my layout there!!! SO excited!
We've been trying to take advantage of what summer is left! June was a waste because of all the rain. Brodey loves to go to the lake! It's so much fun to take him and watch him play while I remember what fun I had when I was little there!
As soon as the calls are over I'll start posting layouts again! I really love the ones I have done and not been able to post!!! The weekend doesn't come fast enough for me! I want to scrap every day! Hehehe!
Okay I'm off to bed now! Hopefully I'll start posting again!! I miss it!
LOVE APRIL

We just get better with age...

Too much stinkin' fun! My 10 year reunion was too damn fun! All the planning was totally worth it! We will probably do it again next year! LOL The link to the pics is HERE! They are wild! I posted a couple in this post. I haven't even started to edit the 4th of July photos. We all got sick the day after and I was supposed to go visit my cousin, Kerry, for her birthday this week but my aunt has the shingles. So we've been at home recovering. As soon as I get them edited I'll post them!
I haven't posted any layouts in forever it seems. I've done some, but I haven't posted any online. I've been submitting them for publication and I'm waiting until the calls go out to post.
I mailed off my Congrats cards for the Scrapbook Trends new book. I can't wait for it to come out! I think it will be a good one!
Brodey is a year and a half today. Where in the world does the time go? I stamped his feet last year on a piece of cardstock and I'm going to have to do it again tonight.
Well I'm off to cook dinner! Have a wonderful evening!!!!
LUV APRIL

Too busy!

Gosh I've been too busy this last week! This week is going to be even worse!
First, I got REALLY REALLY good news and I'll be in a certain BIG scrapbook magazine in November! I can't way anything else until then, but it's really cool!!! I've been trying to get that prepared and mailed! Lots of effort in mailing this one!
My 10 year reunion is this weekend. I've been working on it and planning it for a very long time. I'm ready for it to be here!!!
I have been working on design team layouts because I won't be here next weekend! AH!!! It doesn't sound like much, but when you factor in 17 month old it gets tricky!
My sisiter is coming up today and spending the night. My parents are coming tomorrow to get the large furniture out of her bedroom. So sad. It's been okay since her stuff has been here to remind me of her, but now it's all going away! BOOHOO!!!!
Well I'm going to go try to get into the shower and I'm off to the post office!!
Have a wonderful day!
LUV APRIL