The Scrapping Rican

Sneak a peek...

so proud that I completed a layout lickity split.  I have never eva, completed a layout in one hour or less.  I guess Lisa did send me some much needed mojo last night. Thank you Gluestickgirl, you so rock. 

So here is a sneak.  It is my layout for Scrapping the Music and the challenge and layout goes up tonight.  So check in to see the slideshow for last week's challenge as well as the inspiration layouts by our fabulous design team for the coming week.  I can say, I love being on the team. The girls there are very friendly and fun and I'm very freaking lucky to get to play alongside them. 

So you are saying, that chick always incorporates florals into her layouts.  Well that is true, for the most part I do, with the exception of male/boy layouts (see prior week).  I'm gonna tell you this, Jessi can concur, I own so many florals, mainly from Prima.  Damn you Prima--you keep putting out rocking florals, makes any scrapper salivate.  So blame Prima!  So now I try to layer as many florals as I can get away with. Thinking that someday I'll eventually use all my stash. 

What you can't tell is that the bottom aqua floral, I glittered the edges with that wonderful Doodlebug glitter in Swimming Pool.  Very, very pretty and subtle.  Love it!

In family matters, this gorgeous little boy has been very sick.  I hope he kicks this virus soon. It's taking it's toll on his daddy who has been watching his little boy like a hawk.  Daddy is sick too, but does not listen to his wifey that he needs to take it easy. 

Gonna run, still more to do on the elusive mini. Ha.  I promise, I promise, I'll complete it.  I shall return later.  Happy Sunday friends.

Enjoy your day,

A.

Ten Questions?....

and answers.  That is the title of the mini-book I've been working on the past two weeks.  This is the assignment for a challenge posted by Barb over at the SC ("Studio Calico").  I'm almost done and it is due tomorrow.  For now I wanted to share a picture of the cover.

Yes, I know, I'm slow.  Too many distractions in my life right now.  Mainly everyone is sick with fevers, and well it has not been a pretty picture for over a week now.  I guess my turn is coming as I been feeling a little ill myself. 

I hope to finish off this mini and post the book in its entirety sometime tomorrow.  Gonna sign off now and get back to work. 

That storm is a brewin and let's pray for those families in it's path.  That they be safe. 

Peace,

A.

1st Day Jitters....

My baby started his first day of school today.  He started 1st Grade!  First Grade? 

F-I-R-S-T  G-R-A-D-E!!!   Aye caramba. 

This is Mr. Sleepyhead this morning.

He looks like an innocent little angel, when he fact at times can be a little devil, just like his mama. 

We all know, that it is all about the backpack and the treasures it holds inside.

On route to his classroom.  Funny thing is he actually went to the wrong room.  We had to track him down to set him back on course.  Good thing we were around. 

His first locker.

Because she is so beautiful, even when she's sick. 

So today, I'm happy to report, that I did get a little teary-eyed but overall I was cool, calm and collected.  Nothing like last year.

Night friends.

A.

I've hit the motherload....

you see this box?  Well it was stuffed full!

and this was inside:

it keeps going....

and going. 

Oh my, what a lucky gal am I.  This was my prize for winning Waleska's RAK last week.  Thank you so much, what a truly generous give-away.  I have many plans for this stuff.

Now the new challenge is up at Scrapping the Music.  Here is my entry for this week. 

You should check out the slideshow for last week's challenge.  We had a gorgeous mini-book entry and a wall hanging, along with some very beautiful layouts.

So the kids and the hubby are back from their overnight at the inlaws.  Well Joshua was there the whole week, being spoiled of course.  They (in-laws) are a hard act to follow, so I'll just let them keep that job, of spoiling the kids that is.  I'm just the mean mommy who make them pick up their messes, takes baths, brush their teeth and smother them with too many hugs and kisses.  The joys/ills of motherhood.

Bella is still sick.  Still with a fever that peaks and falls and so we are still on constant watch.  The doctor informed us that it's a "summer virus" which translates to they don't know what the "f" is wrong with her so they'll just throw the word "virus" as her ailment. 

Tomorrow is Joshua's 1st day of school, first grade...exciting times.  I will be there, all smiles and toting my camera.  Who am I kidding?  I'm going to be one hot mess if last year was any indication.  Oh pray for me.

Night friends.

A.

Hey, hey, hey, it's the weekend - Hurray!...

dude, seriously been working on my mini-album for Barb's challenge at SC.  I have till the end of the month, and it's slowly coming.  Gosh I move at snail's pace when I scrap.  I want to hurry up and finish it so I can get started on the other projects that are about to come due, mainly the two lovely circle journals I have. 

So I did finally finish Eclipse and have started Breaking Dawn. 

I also took a break to watch two movies:

 

How come no one told me to rent this movie sooner? It is absolutely fantastic!  I love Morgan Freeman and he does not disappoint.  By the end of the movie both Brandon and I were in tears.  Great laughs and big ole crocodile tears I'm telling ya. 

I watched this movie tonight:

Neither loved it, nor hated it.  I did enjoy the eye candy and loved Jill Scott's character.  I related to her but more so with the character, Angela.  She was keeping it real!  I'll say this, if I was married to Jill Scott's husband in the movie, he would be one dead m-fer for sho.  Ha.

Little girl (Bella) has been sick for the last two days with a fever.  She's been keeping us up as she is very uncomfortable.  Took her to see the doctor today and what we have been doing is right on target.  Hope this passes as I hate seeing her so miserable. 

Well off to bed I go.  See ya later. 

A.

A Happy, Happy Birthday recap....

sometimes, when you hand over the camera you risk the chance of your pictures not being that great.  In my case, that is exactly what happened.  I love my husband, but his photographic skills, not so much.  So I apologize in advance for the blurry photos, but I feel it important to document the occasion just the same.  You see our darling little daughter turned three and she felt it was a very special and happy, happy birthday indeed.

Snuggling with the big bro.

Strike a pose.

Loving my cake.

That was truly delicious.

Pure and utter joy!

Cute little friends to share in the delight.

Trying out some stuff.

Wiped out!

Sometimes, I am a bone head....

I have no idea why I completely forgot to mention this wonderful piece of information and I hope she can find it in her heart to forgive me.  But I wanted to share with everyone early on that Kristii Lockart is the August Guest Designer for Scrapping the Music.  She was originally slotted to be our November Guest Designer but unfortunately the original August Guest Designer could not do it, so Kristii happily stepped in. I'm very grateful to her. 

So I invite and encourage you all to check out STM and see Kristii's layouts as well as the other talented designers on the team, and check out the challenge for this week.  It is such a lovely song and I'm sure you can find some inspiration and contribute a layout or two.

In other news, I just found out I won something!  Let me tell you, I've never won anything in my life so I'm freaking excited that I won this prize, because it is truly generous.  Even though I bombarded the site with so many comments, I hope people at least found them to be amusing.  I can't wait to receive my box of goodies.  Nice way to start off the week. 

Isabella's birthday party was a huge success.  Thank you for all the birthday wishes via comments and emails.  I will post pics later on.  Understand that mommy & daddy are still recuperating from all the hard work, but I will say there is one happy little girl enjoying all her birthday goodness.

Finally let's say a prayer for the folks in Florida.  The storm is a brewing and I pray for everyone's safety.

A.

Somewhere, in a land far, far away....

a beautiful little princess turned 3!

Happy Birthday Princess Isabella Noelle!

Tumbling Tumbleweeds....

that is what my kids looked like on Saturday.  Joshua's best friend Phoenix turned six and his party was held at this gymnastic center.  We love that place and had Joshua's birthday party there several years back.  To be quite honest I think the adults had as just much fun or even more than the kids.  Here are some pics:

Daddy & Daughter Love

Cheering My Daughter On

Joshua & Phoenix in the Foam Pit

Joshua Has Skillz

And So Does His Sis

 

Swing High, Swing Low

And when it was all said and done, we said let them eat cake!  And so they did.

Oh My

Well goodnight everyone.  More festivities to follow as Isabella is turning 3!

A.

I so wanted to be....

with these beautiful girls today, but alas I put everyone else's needs first before my own.  Sorry for the wierd post, been in a foul mood today.  I'm extremely tired and emotionally drained.  I've had a headache all day and I want the dark cloud and string of bad luck that has been latched on to me for the past 2 1/2 years to go away. 

Getting ready and gearing up for tomorrow.  It is the day that my beautiful daughter was born. She will be turning 3.  She has been looking forward to her "happy birthday" for many months now and that is what I'm busting my ass to do.  To make sure her birthday tomorrow is indeed very happy.

A.