little gi

the newest kennedy to join the clan...

everyone say hello to our new soft & furry pal.....Zandel's Civil Disobdnz...AKA...Ryatt:

we now have 2 "ry" boys:

as you an see...he is the absolute sweetest!  he reminds us of Tuck in so many ways, but he definitely has his own personality.  he is in LOVE w/ the kids & they are in love with him.  we knew kelly would love a new dog, but kate & ryan are such dog snobs...they only loved Tuck...they never wanted anything to do w/ any other dog...but much to our surprise, they both LOVE Ryatt.  & we feel like he was heaven sent...he just fits with our family so perfectly, we are so thankful that we found him.  kate has taken to calling him "ry-ry" as opposed to calling her brother "ry" & she would give him treats all day if it was up to her.   but she draws the line when he tries to lick her...she puts that little finger right in his face & wags it at him while she scolds "no, no, no, no, no!!"...cutest thing ever!

hope you all are having a happy monday!!!

xoxoxox & some slobbery ryatt kisses!!!

gi

A WINNER!!!!!!!!!

is..............

it's not easy being green

whoooooo hooooo!!!!

CONGRATS!!!!!  i'll contact you so you can get your loot!!!

now we all can't wait to see what you create!

thanks everyone for playing!

happy wednesday!  xoxoxoxo gi

puttin' the flex on the mini...

patty's flex challenge for last week was to create a mini album to record moments throughout the year...every month you can add to it & at the end of the year you would have a great little book full of sweet memories that may have otherwise gone forgotten.....LOVE this idea!

since i got an awesome package the other day from my secret bunny, jen, that included an awesome chipboard flower shaped album & i was staring at my eye candy and jenni bowlin kits that were full of some really pretty new daisy d's paper & to top it all off i have a mound of gorgeous trims and ribbons sent to me by my 2peas happy mail girls....i could not wait to start on this project.

but since this challenge was put up, i learned about another friend from 2peas who is dealing with the unimaginable.  Jen Gallacher's son, Joey, has cancer...and unfortunately it is terminal.  A fund has been established in order to provide aid to the Gallacher family help with medical expenses and to help "lighten their burden as they live our their worst nightmare".  you can donate directly to this fund HERE   In addition to the fund, there is going to be an ebay auction including handmade items and scrapbooking products.  All proceeds from these auctions will also go to the fund which is given to the family.

so as i was making this album, i kept thinking of the Gallacher family and how i want so badly to help...do something...just do anything to help....

so i am donating this album to the ebay auction.   

i'll keep you guys posted on more details on the auction & please continue to keep the Gallacher family in your prayers.

happy wednesday!

xoxoxo gi

it's almost time!!!!

here is a sneak peek of the RAK....as you can see there are a bunch of scenic route kraft pp, american crafts pp & some hambly  in addition i've thrown in 10 Heidi Swapp huge playing cards, a journal, an alterable box full of buttons, some really cool file folders, some MM paint & glitter, some bling (of course) and some really cool post it notes i found somewhere. 

i'll be drawing a name tonight at 9pm...EST.

if you want to be in the running, just leave me a comment on the post below a RAK...paying it forward.

i also am throwing in some of the Hambly Urban Chic Frams in White....but it wouldn't fit in the collage...LOL!!

happy wednesday!!

xoxoxo gi

a RAK...paying it forward...

thanks everyone for sending your kind words & hugs & prayers. 
it was a tough weekend getting used to not having tuck around.  although he wasn't extremely active in his older years, his absence is really felt. 

& we really were so lucky to have him in our lives.  i know you all would probably say this @ your own animal friend, & i'm completely biased...but Tucker was really the best.   we are looking to open our hearts to another doggie buddy, but know that there will always be a special place there for Tuck...he really is irreplaceable.   

& i got to thinking....

i have been wanting to do this for quite a while & this seems to be the perfect time.  in order to try in just a itty bitty small way to pay forward all of the loyalty & love & tons of slobbery kisses over the years that Tucker gave us....i am going to do a RAK (random act of kindness) for all of you....

the RAK will include some of the new hambly, some kraft scenic route, some of my favorite bling & a couple of fun things that i've picked up along the way.  i'll pick a name from the comments left on today's blog.   so if you want to be included in the big sweepstakes (LOL!!), just leave me a comment & i'll choose a name on wednesday... & if you want to include a special memory of your special animal buddy, that would be cool too! :)

hope you all have the happiest of mondays!!!

xoxoxo gi

We are all Heartbroken...

Tucker died last night

he was our best friend...
we all loved him so much...
and we miss him dearly...
and the house is way too quiet with out him...

not to mention, there is a huge hole in our hearts.

inspiration....

ok....seriously...

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

thank you so much for sending me some smiles yesterday...
and lots of hugs...
and lots of commiseration...
and encouragement....
and letting me know that i'm not the only one...
and that i'm not alone...

i have all of you...and that makes me so deliriously thankful...

and INSPIRED!!!!

seriously....

jo anne (one of my SIS girl gang) e-mailed me & told me to hold onto the good things & use this....use these challenges as inspiration for my art...and she is sooooo right.
b/c i am so hell bent on making sure that i'm honest....
making sure that i just don't paint the pretty pictures....
because in reality life IS full of lots of pretty pictures, but there are lots of not so pretty ones...
and BOTH are important....
it is through the challenges that we learn so much...
that we learn to see beauty...
to embrace love...
to strive...and to seek...and to be thankful...and to be humble....
and to have FAITH....
i was reading jody's (another SIS buddy) blog today and she is able to articulate it sooooo perfectly...

Faith doesn't ask that we like the things that happen to us.  Faith doesn't mean I can't feel angry or question why.  It doesn't mean life will look and be perfect.  Faith only requires that I believe.

isn't that PERFECT!!!!!

& jody has been through so much...so much more than i can ever even imagine....
and i am brought to tears thinking how much she inspires me....

and THIS is what i want to make sure i use when i create...
THIS is what is important to me...
and what i want my kids to know about me...

and THIS is why i cannot wait to get cookin' w/ my papers and glue and paints and ribbons tonight...

i am using this....
i am INSPIRED!

THANK YOU!!!!

happy thursday!!

xoxoxoxo gi

  

it's gonna be....

one of those days....

i've gotta remember not to loose it....
remember to be patient....
try to be kind....
be the grown up.....
quit whining about the gloomy weather...
stop requiring myself to be Martha Stewart....
not get frustrated @ the amount of crunched Life cereal on my floor...
stop complaining that i haven't gotten to create anything in 3 days...

although i've had 2 VERY long days, mike's haven't been cakewalks either (he hasn't gotten to see the kids in 2 days b/c of OT & getting home at almost midnight)

i need to be:
THANKFUL
& SMILE....
& PRAY...

& ENJOY

happy wednesday to all of you :)

xoxoxo gi

a few of my bestest mates....

are my aussie girls....

i love these girls...they are some of the sweetest bunch i have ever met & make me want to hop on the next plane to brisbane so i can hang out with them and chat and eat tim tams till our bellies ache....

thank GOD for the blog world & e-mail & yahoo messenger (if i can get it working again...) so that we could meet & get to know each other....they give me so much support & encouragement & laughs & inspiration & smiles....i just LOVE THESE GIRLS!!!

and they also are freakin' talented!!!

check out Lee's latest work with lime tart (& yes that is me featured in one of her projects...i'm so honored!)

here is the little page spread from her little book of fabulousness:

& then there is Petrina or "p" as i call her....p is one of the girls behind aussie scrapjacks  and now she is getting pubbed by For Keeps Mag in Oz....Yeah P!!!!!!  & if that wasn't enough...she has started making her own screen prints.  she sent me a little taste...& omg....AMAZING!!!  seriously...gorgeous upon gorgeous!!!

& then there is Janine, who basic grey can't get enough of (no wonder!) and is going to be starting up her own on-line classes soon...(hello!!????  i'm gonna be first in line for that!!!), now she also just got word that TWO of her layouts are going to be in a special edition of Simple Scrapbooks this fall....CONGRATS JANINE!!!

& those are just a few of my awesome mates down under....there is also jess, siany, bek, n'gaire, lis, lisa and there are so many more...aussie gals rule!!!

so happy tuesday my aussie gals!!!  & happy monday to the rest of us ;)

xoxoxoxo gi

deck of me....week 14

emily's challenge  this week was birds...

we've been having lots of our feathered friends visiting lately....& once this nor'easter gets out of the way...maybe Spring will really come & we'll hear them chirping again....

hope everyone had a great weekend! 

gi xoxo