The one with the BLACK FRIDAY like no other

Hiya all. I know you are thinking, why is she writing a post about Black Friday this late? Well the truth is I wasn't sure how to go about sharing this day with you all. Let's just start with the pictures. ...

That would be my oldest daughter Jaden, in the ER, on black friday. She was shopping with her Papa at the home improvement store and the flat bed tipped over smashing her fingers. Luckily nothing else was hurt but her poor little fingers. We still don't have all the answers yet as to what exactly is wrong and how exactly we will go about fixing it, but we will be meeting with a surgeon on Monday, and we should know more then. 

But to be honest with you, this isn't the reason I am sharing with with you today...

The reason I am sharing this with you today is because I want to document the day I got to know my oldest daughter in a whole new way. This girl who has been by my side for the last 10 years, this little girl who until recently we would have to hold down to just get a routine shot in her arm, this little girl really surprised me on this Friday, November 23rd 2012. 

I walked into the ER not knowing what to expect, and what I saw was a whole a whole lot worse than what I imagined in my head. But you wouldn't know it by the expression on Jaden's face. She was all smiles. Not only was she all smiles, she had the nurses and doctors smiling in awe too. She was entertaining, graceful, charming and sweet. Now don't get me wrong, its not that I haven't seen this side of her before, just not under these circumstances. Here she was in a very scary situation, keeping it all together. Which my friends......, meant... I NEEDED TO KEEP IT TOGETHER TOO! I don't know how in the world I did it, but I did... barely. 

As I was signing her out of the ER with a HUGE bandage and brace on her finger, I get a phone call... from my husband saying he was in the United States again back from his year long deployment from Kuwait (he should be HOME with in a week) TALK about an emotional roller coaster.

Jaden still continues with the same spirit she had in the ER, amazing me with her strength. She thanks me as I bathe her, dress her etc, making sure not to let any water in her bandage, or snag it on a sleeve. I know this isn't an epic accident, but it is a serious one to us in this moment. 

Through all this I am just reminded how lucky I am to see her in this whole new light. 

Please keep Jaden in your thoughts & prayers, we should know more when we see the surgeon on Monday. Maybe even daddy will be here by then! 

Thank you!

The one with the layout lovin' 11.27

Hiya everyone!! I hope you were as inspired last week by the layout love post as I was.  I have said it before and I will say it again, the creativity in this community amazed me! Guess what I have more for you today and I hope you will be inspired once more!

I *sighed* out loud when I saw this adorable layout from Melanie.

The picture, that adorable tag with the polka dot strip, and yellow

can you say YELLOW HEART? So cute! 

Mumkaa is one of those artist I am always in awe over. I mean 

just look at this stunning page! The texture! The color!!! 

I could not love it more! Happiness is mumkaa! 

kymkt made this ADORABLE snow cone cut for the Cut It 

Out Class at Studio Calico. I LOVE how she paired it with bright

colors and a graphic B&W stripe. SO.STINKIN.CUTE!

Thanks for all the inspiration you provide ladies!

See you all next week for some LAYOUT LOVIN! 

The one with the sketch 11.26

Hiya everyone! How was your weekend? I hope it was just FABULOUS!!!! Thank you to EVERYONE for the support on the sketch!!! WOW that was so super sweet, I was feeling the love! And your pages were amazing, such a talented community out there! Before we get to this weeks, I would like to annouce the winner for last week!

Thank you so much for playing along Ann!

 I love your page and that super cute title work! Amazing job! 

I emailed you for your contact information to send happy mail! 

Now for this week's sketch!

I made this sketch based on my layout for Freckled Fawn 

My friends Adrienne and Shay are playing along again! They ARE THE BEST!!

If you would like to play along and have your chance at some happy mail, please link to your project by next Monday December 3rd. I can't wait to see what you create! 

Even though we just started this Monday sketch we will take a break for December as many in the community will be participating in December Daily, and I know it might be difficult to keep up on any scrapping above and beyond that! But we will bring the sketches back next year!! 2013! :) 

Have an amazing day! 

The one with news from daddy!

It has been a crazy couple of days, but we got amazing news last night that Jonathan is on U.S. soil! It will still be another 7-14 days until we see him, but it still feels like I can breathe a little easier.

I have more pictures to share but have to run for now! I will talk to you soon!

P.S. Thank you to those of you that have kept Jonathan in your thoughts & prayers! xox

The one with Wordless Wednesday!

source

The one with layout lovins

Hiya! How are you guys today? Thank you so much for all the positive feedback on the sketch yesterday! What fun! I can't wait to see what you are going to do with it!

There is something about the scrapbook community that always leaves me inspired. I am in awe of what YOU ladies can do with some paper & glue. Your creativity is never ending, and always surprising. I wanted to honor some projects I have seen in the galleries the past couple of weeks with some extra love! Will you join me?!

Table for 2, please

by portablemichelle 

There are so many things I love about this layout but let me tell you what really stole my heart.....the bold statement of putting that #2 front & center to SHINE! I also love that Michelle put that adorable speech bubble above the two which creates this super simple whimsy. I just adore this layout. 

Take Note 

by Marinette 

Okay, I am already breaking my own rules by adding a card to my layout love, but that is ok, right? I LOVE Marinette bold design here. The B&W is just stunning combined with all that typeography.

Family

by tessab

By looking at this layout would you ever imagine this is Tessa's first layout in the Studio Calico gallery? Yeah me either! Its epic! I adore how she used the packaging form the wood veneers.

 I can't wait to see more work from you in the gallery Tessa!

So there is what I have been loving lately! What about you? 

Link me up to some of your faves!

Talk to you soon! xox

P.S. The cute "stamp" I used to create the layout love image 

is from Designs by Lili, you must check out her adorable store!

The one with the sketch 11.19

Hiya everyone!! I hope you are having a FANTASIC Monday!!! My kids are off all week so I am SUPER excited, I love having them home from school! Late night movies and early morning jammies = AMAZING!

So I have a question for you today! Do you sketch? Do you plan out your layouts before you start them or do you just start pushing paper around until you love it? I subscribe to a kit club called Studio Calico which sends me a lovely box of inspiration each month! Usually it takes about a week from the time the kit is shipped to me until I receive it on my front door step, in that week I typically am planning in my head some possible layouts I might try with that particular kit. Lately I have even been sketching them out!  Maybe you have your kit already, or maybe you just need some inspiration to use the stash you already have on hand.. either way I would love to see what you create with this sketch if you decide to do so! I hope you all feel inspired to play along! If you want to play along, please link your project here by next Monday (November 26th) and I will send one person some HAPPY MAIL! Who doesn't love getting happy mail? I sure do!!

The hello is a place holder for my title, please feel free to use whatever applies in your layout or card. Also the hearts are just elements, replace them with buttons, sequins, butterflies.. whatever works!!

I decided to actually take this sketch into my cameo and cut out the "hello" for my layout. 

I love love love modern day scrapbooking!! 

I also asked a couple of my super talented friends to play along! They are also posting on their blogs so please feel free to stop by for even more inspiration!!

Shay

&

Adrienne

Thank you ladies! You are AMAZING and I just ADORE what you did with the sketch! 

I hope you feel inspired, and I can't wait to see what you com up with!! Remember to just

link your project by next MondaY! See you soon! xox