little gi

time to turn the freak switch to 11!!!!

only
three
days
left.......

SO happy there is snow on the ground this year....LOVE it...it just feels like Christmas to me...we may even get to take a sleigh ride tomorrow afternoon w/ a friend's family & his horses.....how freakin cool is THAT!!! 

& make sure you check out my girl, becs, & her photograpy tutorial over on Scrap In Style...SO AWESOME!!!! & just in time for the big day....i'm so psyched to maybe actually get pictures this year of the mayhem...& hopefully lots of the family....i always tend to get a bit caught up in the brandy alexanders & catch phrase...LOL

Happy Saturday before CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

gi

what a wonderful way to spend a saturday afternoon...

with these wonderful women crafting with the lovely charlotte lyons at one of my favorite spots in the universe, tinsel trading..
SO SO SOOOOO fun...
we all made little felt ornaments & chit chatted & shared & laughed & had a really enjoyable afternoon...
we kept remarking to each other that we need to do this sort of thing more often...maybe include some wine & cheese...great things happen when women get together & share...& when you add crafting to the mix, it is something wonderful indeed :) 

the picture above was taken by terri ventura...who has my heart forever because she thought i was still in my 20s...lol....she also is one heck of an artist!  she had the coolest handmade bag & portfolios made w/ vintage magazine clippings...seriously awesome stuff...i can't wait to take a class from her too one of these days

charlotte mentioned that she may be doing another class in the new year...CANNOT wait! 
i just love that feeling you get after spending some time flexing the old crafting muscles...
it is relaxing but energizing all at once...LOVE it :)

& in other exciting news...i'm the guest designer at tarisota this month!!!!
i was completely floored when tamar asked me....i have admired her, her collections & her Design Team for ages....every month i run to see what they've come up with...so needless to say i did an irish jig in my kitchen when i received the e-mail...here is a bit of what i've completed thus far...i'm still working with the HUGE collection...TONS of goodies in there

this is the cover to my christmas journal that i'm doing with shimelle....
LOVING this class...her prompts are wonderful & really are helping me stop & savor this holiday season...
i'm thinking i want to continue doing this in the new year...
the stopping & the savoring....
life is speeding by way too fast..like for instance tater climbed into bed with me last night & i could not get over how she is now a little kid...my little baby tater is gone forever...

i'm liking reconnecting with the present & drinking it in a bit more
hope you can do a bit of that today too!!!

happy day!!!

xxxooxoxoxo

gi

jingle all the way....

i'm LOVING shimelle's journal your christmas class...LOVING it...

i've got my journal, i've done each prompt so far (don't fall off of your chair, there's only been 2...lol)
i'm bound & determined to celebrate this christmas
each & every bit of it...
every last jingle bell & brandy alexander :)

here is my page from day 1...it is my "manifesto"...my intentions & desires for this exercise...
what a fabulous idea!  just put it out there right up front...shoot for the stars...lay it on the line...

i'm using an altered vintage book a la kerry lynn yeary...it makes me happy b/c when i open it each day i get to think of my sweet, sweet friend...it is like having a bit of her california sunshine here in snowy new york with me...

& speaking of snow...we got 2 inches here this morning

& it is continuing through the night...geez that makes me even MORE excited for christmas...the kids are bouncing off the walls they can hardly contain themselves...i'm thinking we may have a snow day tomorrow with icy roads...we may just get our letters off to santa :)

& another thing that is super D duper cool is that i'm the guest designer at tarisota this month!!!
i did a jig when tamar asked me...i've admired her website & style & amazing team for so long...to be included this month really is such an honor for me....so i've been playing with the gorgeous berryluscious collection all weekend...SO wonderful

hope your weekend was wonderful too!!!

happy monday!!!!

xoxoxox

gi

a quickie b/c i have to share this link....

these are FELT....i'm totally freaking out....you can find them on this blog that i just found through charlotte lyons' blog ...i couldn't wait to share them with the universe...they are just unbelievable & on the bella dia blog you'll find tons of lovely stuff & lots of tutorials...gotta love it when amazing artists share their knowledge...that truly is good stuff

& dude...if you check out charlotte's blog you will find my silly grin on there with my collage project from her wonderful class that i took this past weekend at silver bella...seriously...freaking F.U.N.!!!!!!!!!

& i'm going to have to do the whole silver bella wrap up post a bit later when the kiddos aren't loosing there ever lovin' minds...THAT is going to be a long & lovely one...b/c my mind is still churning with the inspiration from that event...& the AMAZING time i had from touchdown in omaha till lift off....got to see my gorgeous buddies, becky and becca, and my kindred spirit, kerry lynn...it was so awesome, every once in a while i had to squeal to ker "THIS IS SO FUN!!!!"...really...i know it sounds cheesy, but i think i'm a changed gal for the better b/c of this experience..

so until we meet again during tater's nap :)

happy tuesday!!!!

xoxoxoxo

gi

back for a sec....

i'm in a whirlwind right now...

just got back from marco island & the butson wedding...SO FUN!!!!!!!
here is the gorgeous bride & groom :)

was really bad at taking pictures during the weekend tho...too busy enjoying myself :)
& oooh we did....collected so many gorgeous shells from the beach of the gulf of mexico...actually sat w/ mike on our balcony and drank a whole pot of coffee in the morning while staring out at the beach....danced the entire night....drank delicious pina coladas....walked on the beach at 1am (coming back from the beach bar, of course ;)....laughed SO hard with such good friends....cried happy tears because my heart burst with pride...caught up with family that we don't get to see enough because we are all spread out all over the country...ate delicious food but didn't get to finish it b/c we were too busy dancing...witnessed 2 glorious sunsets right on the edge of the gulf...and lots lots more :)


i know this pic is totally blurry...& i'm a bit sad that i didn't get one good pic of mike & i all dolled up in our fancy schmancy clothes...but there ya go...we were too busy enjoying every second (& pina coladas :)
like i said...it was such a good time...such wonderful memories...i love weddings :)

and now i have lots to do before i head off again to silver bella with my girl kerry...
who, by the way, is this month's guest designer at hambly!!!!!!!!!  whooo hoooo!!!!  can't wait to toast with her in omaha w/ some champagne...make sure to check out her gallery over on there...UNBELIEVABLE!!!

i've got lots of scrapping to do before i leave on thursday morning...just got autumn bliss from SIS...hello! glimmer mist!!!

and if you have a free minute be sure to check out becca's blog...she is running an auction to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation...lots of wonderful stuff...i've donated my "a new day canvas" to the cause...

happy bidding!!!!

so have a happy tuesday!!!!!!

xoxoxoxo

gi

we all are significant...

& i was reminded of that today...

i know we still have a ways to go before Christmas...but i couldn't resist...

& if you are anything like me...make sure there are plenty of tissues nearby :)

i was completely wrong when i thought....

that when the kids started school i'd have more time to do stuff...like scrap....and blog....and do stuff...

because life has been absolutely crazy and shows no signs of slowing down...now i know what the whole "mom taxi" thing is about!  lol!!  because i totally feel like i've driven the equivalent in the circumference of the earth these past couple of weeks from cheerleading and games...to speech therapy and then to lunch with friends...to target and to the farmers' market and then to the local grocery market....to a playdate at the park and to doctors' appointments...to the post office and then to the bank....to target again :) and to the outlet mall.....to meetings here and there...to bbqs and pool parties....a christening and a retirement party....to model's to find kate new crocs (she has grown out of her pink ones)...to the city a bunch of times for different parties....& oh yeah!  & we also went to the aquarium!!  whew!!! 

i definitely need to get the whole getting up before the kids thing down....lol!! 

so....needless to say i have some catching up to do....

yesterday was my father-in-law's birthday!!  so happy birthday!!!!!  & i was totally thinking of him when i made my layout this week for onelittleword....i have been looking through old pictures ever since kerry launched her favorite moments challenge and pulled this one out the other day...it was taken at my in laws vow renewal ceremony & celebration last august...and it happens to be one of my fave pics & the memories from that night are also some of my favorites....i was never so proud to be a kennedy than on that day...it totally fills my heart up just thinking about it...

 

& i've been tagged by my girl sarah....dude...she is like my inspirational maven....LOVE HER!!!  i've gotta take my pics tomorrow for that one...so super cool & then i'll be sure to pass it on :)  & just thinking that tag would be THE COOLEST layout or mini book come to think of it....hmmm.....told you that sarah is an inspiration!!

& i was so happy to be able to chat w/ my other main girlie, kerry, tonight...she is knee deep in preparing for her upcoming classes in norway that i got a little scoop on & let me tell you....those Norwegians are LUCKY!!!!!!  she's posted a few sneak peeks on her blog & the product alone is freakin' marvelous!    but the thing that is gonna make those classes THE BEST is getting to meet kerry & talk to her & listen to her...kerry is one of those people who has such a fresh outlook on stuff....i know my life is definitely richer for knowing her :)

ok...if i'm ever going to get to sleep i've gotta wrap this up!  lol!!

so...hope you have been having a happy week!!!

xoxoxoxoox

gi

i am beyond proud....

this little girl cheered in her first game

she was a little nervous
and a little overwhelmed when we got to the field & she saw all the hoopla that surrounds these games
(funniest thing ever when the little tiny boys came running out onto the field to the sounds of the opening theme to Monday Night Football da da da daaaaaa  ba dah ba dah....da da da daaaaaaaa)

but she got out there...picked up those pom poms & cheered her little heart out
she yawned a lot too...LOL!!  but she cheered her little kelly heart out.

it is clear, however, that her favorite part of cheerleading is the water breaks....& tater took that as her opportunity to go & fawn all over her big sister the cheerleader, give her high fives & go hey del-eee....hey!!!!

& in addition to cheering in her first game ever...kelly also learned to swim this weekend!!! 
YEP!!!  no swimmies...no floaties....just goggles :)

my little cheerleader mermaid.....

i'm still trying to come to grips that my precious little girl is headed off to first grade on wednesday....

how in the world did it happen so fast???

hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!!

happy monday!!

xoxoxox

gi

EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!

did you see!!!???!!!!

i am this week's guest design team member over at pencil lines!!!!

i was totally freaked out doing this....you see...i adore that site...i mean really...these women are unbelievably talented and always have me going oooh & ahhhh over their art...i've never left that place not inspired...but it isn't just that...i've gotten to know a few of the DT members a bit & think they are just wonderful....they really happen to be such a great group of women...i would love to have a happy hour with them all....THAT would be a blast...hmmm...hopefully one day!!!

so when they asked me to do the guest spot i was jumping up and down totally freaking out....but then when it came to doing a sketch & a layout i had total stage fright.  i mean...these gals BRING IT...and when i saw what they did with my sketch i just about fell outta my chair...absolutely amazing stuff...you've gotta see!!!

in other news around here...tater is talking up a storm!  tonight she came up to me during dinner & said "wat me jump mommy!"...sooooo cute!!!  she is also calling "wait...me!" all the time after ryan & kelly...you know it is funny...all day i was thinking about how much she is talking & i had her little voice in my head...now as i sit here typing this i can't remember half of her cute conversation...tomorrow i'm going to definitely record more....& break out the video camera...i always want to be able to cue up this fun stuff...i know all too soon she will be hoping on the bus to first grade like someone else here in this house!!!

which brings me to kells bells....i cannot believe she is going to first grade next week....today we got some of her school supplies (i know...last minute!) and she was getting really excited....ryan kept trying to get a bunch of supplies too & she kept telling him "ryan...you see...i'm going to first grade....i need this stuff....when you go to first grade you'll get all of this stuff too!!"....she is so funny!  such a big sister...
ryan is really going to miss her this year i think...those 2 are totally attached at the hip....they play (& squabble) all day together...yeah...i definitely am breaking out the journal tomorrow to record lots of this stuff....this is the good stuff....

happy monday!!!!!!

xoxoxxoxo

gi

some of my most favoritest women....

kerry & sarah have started something amazing....it will be sure to add inspiration to my life....i know this will help me to keep my head out of my ass & LOOK and SEE the beauty that is around me....the beauty that i am so lucky to be blessed with every day...and it will definitely make me smile everyday because i love them both so much

so take a look :)

here ---------------------------------->   hers and mine

happy tuesday!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

gi