Scrapbook Trends Fast and Fabulous Idea book

It's friday!! looking forward to going to the Ida Night parade tomorrow night.....My friend JJ has a float in there...with a big pair of scissors on it...it's so cool!! and look forward to seeing it......this will be our 3rd year going!! The only bad part is that it is usually freezing!!!!! But it's really beautiful...seeing like 100 floats all decorated with christmas lights.....Got my copy of Scrapbook Trends "fast and fabulous" idea book........such a great book lots of cool layouts....I really liked this one....hee,hee!!!! this was a layout I did for the design team at Scrappy Chic, so it was kinda cool to get it picked up....and you can pick up this issue at the store too..

I scrapped 2 more pages......one of Gitta in the turkey pan....


and this one of Tonee' with her always beautiful self pics......and I just seen that she put a few more on my camera....so looking forward to scrappin' those too....

My neice Destiny, is turning 6....this sunday......so i am going to a birthday party for her on sunday.......

And I think something got into my chickens last night.....alot of feathers around the coop.......and I think we're missing a few.....I could tell something was digging around the edges of the coop...so I am going to have to put something around the bottom to keep lil creatures from sneaking in there........

601 great scrapbook Ideas

I ain't gonna lie...I am pretty excited to be in this book....I just got my copy...and it's so awesome!!Tons of talented scrappers......and check out the cover....Do you see sommers cute lil freckle face on the 6....!!! I was so excited to see her face on the cover......this one on the top of the page of sommer and her freckles
and another one of sommer on the bottom of the page

and you know I love this one of me and ed...

and this one of my mom with my cute lil nephew...

and I did a simple page last night a 6x12....all I had from my birthday this year...was these tini tiny pics....but at least I got a page..with them..

Project Runway....tonight!!!!

can't wait....I think my favorite on the show besides Tim gunn who I love!!!!

is Steven he's just yummy....to look at , but as far as work...I think I like Victorya.....and as far as entertaining...Elisa...with the spit mark...gotta love that!!!

Oh Christmas tree....(you stink)

Well we got the tree up....and it used to get me all feeling gushy inside....and happy...but when it went up...I felt nothing...!!! It sucks...!! How long is life going to suck???? I want to be in the christmas mood...this was our favorite Holidays...we never had lots of money, but we always tried to give the girls a good christmas....I just can't imagine how christmas will be this year.....but the tree is up....Mikey..just would'nt leave the snow globe alone......he loved it!! and did'nt attack the tree like I thought he would....
I did 2 more pages......

both pictures on these pages were printed on the lil' printer at scrappy chic....(which by the way...I want it so bad) after I found out it prints these mini pics that I love!! But if you haven't played around with the printer you should it's so easy...and you can crop and turn the pics black and white...and make tiny prints...too...

Somerset Memories Toot X 3!!!

I am so happy that my clear acrylic album....got picked up to be published in somerset memories....plus 2 layouts...!! Loved making that album..plus it has all my favorite pics of the girls in it...hung out with jeniece yesterday...and did one page at her place.....

took sommer with me.....and her and bree watched "hairspray" my mom bought the dvd for Sommer and in the last 24hours I have watched it 3 times!!!!!!!!!! I am so over this movie!! But she loves it...knows all the songs...and dances....!!

Find out who your friends are....

Yesterday was such an awesome escape.....spent the entire day at Scrappy Chic surrounded by friends........who kept me laughing, and scrappin'......and I love each and every one of ya!!! Got to crop with Denise,Miki,Sandi,Alison,Jeniece......plus ran into 2 online friends....Kim aka"Scrappy Mom from MI" from scrapbook.com & Nicole aka"Brains32192"from 2 peas....so that was cool to see them....and even Kathy stopped in for a visit....So we cropped till about 11:30pm? last night....and on the way out this was on the front seat.....surprise?!! Ms...Jeniece bought it for me...It's kind of a joke in our scrappin' circle about how rough my cutting board looks....I have the making memories one...but I completely rubbed off all the numbers.....and it just looks like its on it's last cut....but so thankful...to have this new one....thanks girl!! and I only got 2 pages done......this first one is of me and jeniece at the hair salon....looking like a hot mess....as alison would say!

and this one of Mikey eating a banana....he looks like he has fangs!!!
Well we are thinking of putting up the christmas tree this weekend....maybe after church tomorrow....we will see...how it goes....

Happy thanksgiving!!!

Look what showed up at my door last night.....gail from the carleton rotary dropped it off....We are so thankful.!! that they thought of us during this time...and I can smell that delicious ham cooking right now.....Mom and Tonee' have taken over the cooking....and I am not going to get in the way.....I have to say I miss the sound of Ed trying to sneak some stuffing out....out of the pan....he would all of a suddent disapear...but then you would hear the foil....in the kitchen....or the deviled eggs would slowly disappear off the plate!!and besides that big "ham" cooking..look what else we're cooking today.....it's "Gitta" he's so crazy...even though I wanted to spank his butt for ruining a pan....again his cuteness saves him......so instead of being mad...I grabbed the camera...he made me laugh!!!
we don't see too...many of these catapillars anymore...I think cause the chickens roam the yard...and probably eat them all....but this little guy was at my front door....I think they're so cute.........

Ready to get this thanksgiving going...and looking forward to croppin' tomorrow at Scrappy Chic.....sounds like lots of friends will be there....

bad night!!

I don't know if it's just the fact that I haven't seen Ed in almost 4 weeks!!! or the fact that tomorrow is thanksgiving, and I don't feel like celebrating, I had no clue on how to do sommers math homework(oh my gosh that stuff is hard) or the kids giving me their christmas lists........but I could'nt sleep ....and pretty much cried myself to sleep last night....I just want one more night with him....just one more....but I finally feel asleep....but everybody says their are going to be nights like that.......but I hope not too..many! My mom came across this old pic of all of us at the J.A.R. christmas party....had to be 1990 or 1991....its Ed, me, mom & dad.....and the bosses....We look so young...and my hair is lovely!! ha,ha.....and its nice to remember when mom and dad were still together...... and i did another page.....but this is it till the friday crop...cause I packed up the supplies....love this pic of lil mikey on the backporch in his p.j's!!

Tonight is project Runway.....so looking forward to that..plus Mom is coming out....to get ready for thanksgiving....tomorrow is thanksgiving....but it just doesn't feel like it...

Crazy Crop

Ran up to scrappy chic yesterday with jeniece to drop off my DT layouts....and she dropped off her class sample of a Christmas 2 page 12x12 layout class that's she teaching....if you stop in the store check it out...it's so cute!!! Also found out that she signed us both up for the "crazy crop" on friday....so I am looking forward to that....plus when I got home...My girls had cleaned the house, and I didn't even have to ask........these girls shock me sometimes............love 'em!!here are a couple of layouts that I got done.......this is one of Ed and lil Mikey....

and this one was inspired by one of jenieces layouts that she took all these mini pics of fall stuff....and the journaling is on the back of this one....just talked about how "life as we know it" will never be the same...and how these pics remind me of that..like the wreath from the funeral, the wood I helped him stack for the winter, and the pumpkins that never got carved
and this last one is of us on our anniversary last year (12/28) the pics blurry cause sommer took it....
I can't believe that thanksgiving is just a couple days away...doesn't feel like it at all.....

cemetery visit

I got another envelope full of cards on saturday....(thanks sandi for putting them all together and sending them to me) and thank you to all the scrappers from Tallyscrapper!! Who sent them.....I also had some from some ladies on 2peas...and scrapbook.com!! just beautiful cards......I am not so talented in the card making area...but I really appreciate all the time...put into them....My dads 62nd birthday was on thursday.....We were not the happiest group to be around...but we knew we needed to celebrate dad....but Ed was so obviously not there...but we all tried to put on a smile and celebrate dads day...
Last night me and Sommer went over jenieces to watch a movie.....it was so fun...and they have such a big family...I'm not used to that...but they were great...and we always feel right at home over their house..
and when I woke up this morning Ed's sleep apnea machine was running.....my head tells me one of the cats did it....but hey....
me and Sommer headed to the cemetery....and I did take pics....(just a pre-warning), it's kinda a normal sight for our family...Ed worked part time at a cemetery...and sommer would actually go and help out sometimes..so she's probably more comfortable here than most kids.....he actually built and worked the cremators at the cemetery too....another job he loved...and he was good at it..
This cemetery is just so beautiful....it's small and it has a white picket fence........

and the fall colors are just breathtaking.....there are leaves everywhere......

and then as we turn I see my reality....it's been 2 weeks since we were here....and I thought it would be easier...but it's not...although I find comfort knowing that I already have a spot next to him.....all I can think of right now is..that

I can't believe you're in there

I can't believe I will never touch you again

We won't ever be grandparents together

you won't walk our girls down the isle

or see sommer in her cap and gown

we won't ever talk at night...or snuggle in your big arms..and you tell me everything is going to be alright..

that's what I want most right now...

no more laughter.....no more,no more.....

it's not fair....I want my old boring....life back!!!

but that's not going to happen....

cause this is my reality!!!

strength...strength....strength

LIVE LIFE

One of the ladies at tallyscrapper "tally ho" brought this to my attention.....the last layout that was....requested to be pubbed in scrapbook trends was titled "LIVE LIFE".......and the first one requested was "HIGHSCHOOL SWEETHEART" so..high school sweetheart live life....that's beautiful...... Yesterday Carla treated me to a night out croppin' at Scrappy Chic......it was great to get out and see everybody....plus she also surprised me with some new heidi swapp block stickers......the red ones.....I used below...thanks Carla..!!! and I actually got 2 layouts done....and wait ladies...Carla got 2 pages done too....which if you know Carla that's pretty awesome! ha,ha!

Hoping to spend time with my girls today.......and we will probably go to church in the morning......and then swing over to the cemetery...we pass it on the way home.....I think I may take a few pics....it's just so beautiful there...white picket fence....all the fall leaves....deer prints...in the dirt...the river across the street...where he would fish....
Last night driving home.......the weirdest thing made me cry....of all things.....a meijer gas station??? When I would work at the store...or after croppin' he would always call and ask me to pick up some powerades....from the gas station for work......he was so easy to please...made happy by the little things....He loved his big screen tv, his riding lawn mower......and his chickens......If all those things were good ...he was fine....So now I will treasure his big tv, love those chickens....and try and learn how to start that lawnmower next summer....thanks everybody who just listens to me babble.......

Somerset Memories dec/jan issue

got my free copy of Somerset Memories yesterday...really beautiful...and lots of michiganders in there too....Mine is on page 71 at the bottom....I remember doing this page at scrappy chic...when the new travel line from making memories came out.........
When Sommer got home from school yesterday she wanted to scrapbook, she was excited cause Carla sent home some supplies with me for her..........and she loves Carla...so she thought that was pretty cool!! So I got one page done..it's for the design team at Scrappy Chic.......Sommer also signed up over at scrapbook.com she's so funny...

The beautiful flowers from the funeral...were dying and I couldn't bare to throw them out......so I just tossed them around the back yard.......it felt good...

and I have to share a story about my "lazy" cats.....every fall when it starts to get cold...we get hit with mice...but that shouldn't be a big deal because we have 3 cats??? Nope they're fed to good.....cause they do nothing....so I went and bought some mouse traps.......but now the cats are waiting till the trap snaps then go and steal the mouse....that's cheating and sad...

jeniece came over last night to watch the premiere of Project Runway.....it was awesome...and there are alot of unique characters.....but I think that most of them are already so successful....but I am so glad its back on.....

another scrapbook trends toot...

Can't believe I got another page picked up from scrapbook trends....I joked with jeniece that they must have lost our email address cause it has been ahwile since we heard from them......this layout is gonna be in the same article "simple style" but in the march issue.....Yesterday I babysat my neice and nephew....and we were outside..taking pics....of all the beautiful leaves.....and I noticed the bird houses that ed had hung a few months ago...."ohio in one tree and michigan in the other" it just breaks my heart...I don't know how I am supposed to just go on with life....?? this isn't how life was supposed to be.......

Lil Mikey....out in the chicken coop...thinkin' this old bowl is a hat.....

Ed loved this boy so much....I don't know if it was the fact he never got a boy....it sometimes had a grandchild feel....we would spoil him rotten and send him home...and lil mikey loved his uncle ed too....he would be the first one mikey would go running too.....It's so sad...that he won't even remember him......Me and ed used to compete on trying to get the baby to say uncle ed or aunt stac first.....So ed decided to make up a ryme for my name " aunt stac clown face" and now the whole family uses it...and if you knew ed....that's so him....I used to tell him that if that baby starts calling me "aunt stac clown face" I am going to scream.....but now I would love it....

I did finish one page for the design team at scrappy chic....so the supplies are finally out of the van and in the house.....i used the 7 gypsies supplies....the colors are gorgeous..and the big numbers are from KI memories...

Oh yeah...and project runway starts tonight...that is my all time favorite show!!!

and tomorrow is my dad's birthday.....and hunting season starts.....which Ed would've been all about..

Scrapbook Trends Toot..........

Yesterday I got an email from Scrapbook Trends requesting my layout " highschool sweethearts" Wow!! If that's not a sign.....from Ed...but I am so excited that this page is going to be pubbed.......its going to be in the february issue, in a new article called "simple style" by Tammi Morrill, after getting the email...I just had this urge to scrap..... I also wanted to thank Sandi for sending me some happy mail!! such cute goodies......... and here is some stuff for the design team I need to work on.....beautiful 7 gypsies.......
and some sassafrass lass.....really cute papers...

and this is the page i did.......nothing extraordinary.....but I was glad to see the old me....in my style....I don't know if I was afraid...my scrappin' would be different.....but this is pics of the girls at our weekend crop last month....there were cameras flashing everywhere.

If you know us...you know that we are the queen and king of Rent a center.....well today they're coming to get our living room set.....just can't afford that payment right now.....so I am a little worried how its going to feel to have it loaded up....and taken away...Sommer will be at school..which is good...not that we were sentimentaly attached to the couch...but it's just another reminder that things are different...and that dad's not coming home.....

Is it monday already???

Yesterday....I ventured out to Scrappy chic.....to pick up some design team stuff......it was'nt easy going there...knowing you're going to see people......who you have'nt seen since before Ed died.....and when we got there it was packed...they were having a big sale going on.......but I wanted to thank "the friday night croppin' girls" who gave me a card.....they all signed...and they did a collection for me and the girls..........Maggie gave it to me...in the store.....I thought I was being strong...until she gave me the card....then I started to lose it.....Just wasn't expecting that....and it still amazes me....all the caring people out there..But thank you so much ladies....I hope you know how much it meant to me.... This picture is on our fridge...one of my favs......such a happy day.....getting our daughter graduated.......I miss you....babe!! I have been tagged by renee so here it goes...

.1. If you could have $100 worth of scrapbook paper or assorted embellishments, which would you choose? I would go with the embellishments.......love embellishments

2. If you had to choose between using only stamps or rub-ons ? No question it would be rubons...I am not a big fan of stamps...I do have some...but rubons are easier

.3. If you knew how to do both awesome cards and layouts, but could only do one for a year which would you do?layouts!!! I stink at cards...

4. Would you rather own a scrapbooking store or have your own scrapping room at home (can't have both, lol)since I already have a scrapbook room.....so I would take the store....and then have a table set up at all times for me to scrapbook at the store

5. And then last but not least, what is your current cardmaking or scrapping style? I never know about this question...but when other people describe my style....they usually say simple? ?? I don't know...I just love pattern paper,layers,black and white pics.......

so I hope to get a couple pages done for the DT...we will see....

Mom came out saturday.....it was great having her here....plus she had to show me her new tat...she got a cross with Eds name in it....( now how many mother in laws get their son-in-laws name tattoo'ed on them??), then sunday....Dad came over and brought homemade chicken noodle soup......it was so good...and perfect weather for it!! I am so lucky to have such....awesome parents.....And my parents are divorced...but I have to say it was very comforting having them both over here....

they tricked me....

Last night I went to the crop......little did I know that they had a plan...JJ instead of charging a crop fee....had everyone donate to me and the girls....and there was even a little kid...who emptied his piggy bank....to give to us...(okay deep breaths....deep breaths.) I don't know how I will ever thank everyone....for all they've done....whether the donations...or just dropping a card in the mail....or a quick email to let me know that you're thinking and praying for us.....but I will thank each and everyone of you.....just might take me...a little time....
besides the donations......everybody cooked an awesome meal...we had smoked turkey...and all the fixin's.......I think all the scrappy chic peeps...were surprised to see all home cooked....food!! everything was delicious.....it was just a sweet thing....to do...but that's JJ.......I have the best friends ever........and I know Ed loved JJ too......if I would even think of missin' one of JJ's crops....he would tell me....you better not miss a crop....JJ is a true friend.....she is always there for you....and he was right........
Mom is coming out tonight......and I am so glad ....needing a mom fix....right now.....!!!!!!!!!!

yesterday I found myself reading all my old blog posts......it's weird to look back a month or 2 ago.....and just look at our pics.....and realize that we had no idea how our lifes were about to change.....I don't even recognize myself.......she's a different person.....

Scrapbook Trends

Last night I got 2 emails requesting layouts for the Scrapbook Trends Embellish it book.........2 weeks ago....I would've been freakin' out...its been awhile since I got one of these emails from Scrapbook Trends..but they just made me cry...because the first thing I would do...would've been to turn to Ed and say " I got another one pubbed !!Babe" and in his true Scrubby-ness he would act like....he cared...hee,hee!! but he wasn't there.......this reminds me ...of the first pub I had....and when he first seen my name...he was so proud to see his name "Compher" he just kept pointing at the name....saying yep...that's my woman...!! I miss him so much........the good thing is that one of the pages...picked up...has him on it!!!...........

Well I made it through parent teacher conferences last night.......when I first went in the school.....I felt like I couldn't breath....just another one of those moments.....that I realize....that I am on my own....but she got all A's and one B.....and they all said she's doing great....!!

Going to go hang out with some friends......bringing some scrappy chic peeps....together with my CM peeps....to go to a crop....JJ is having a smoked Turkey dinner, it will be great to go hang with some adults.....

have you ever thought of scrapbooking?

yesterday I got some papers from the funeral home about the steps of grieving.....and on the last page in the bottom corner was this lil' article... have I ever considered scrapbooking?? I feel like this was sent from Ed himself....I have been struggling with the idea of scrapbooking, it's only been 2 weeks since I scrapped...but in my world that is a life time....I don't usually go a full 24 hours without some form of scrapbooking......but I just can't imagine...doing it!! I think it will feel good to get the first page overwith.......I feel guilty even thinkin' about it.....

dang you .....justice league!!

I thought I was doing so good yesterday....Tonee' had a dentist appt...., and he said sorry about your dad...and then we had to stop at the pharmacy....and Tonee' said mom those ladies are asking if I am your daughter....I wanted to just quietly sneak out the back.....but I had to go face the looks.....and I did okay...no break down..just felt like I could'nt breath...But what broke my heart tonight was something so small....at night laying in bed watching tv.....we have lil' timers on the tv...to remind you of your favorite shows coming on....and the timer popped up.....and it was for justice league......a cartoon he watched every night....I would always tease him about....!! I couldn't stop watching it.....because I knew he would've been watching it... In this past week my oldest....has a peirced lip...and a new tattoo....her girlfriends took her out...and paid for it....I could do without the peircing...but she's 18...and its a tiny stud...but the tattoo...is beautiful.....

Maybe just because its my hubbys name...but it looks beautiful to me...... I also found out that my brother is getting married.....to Michelle the mother of my gorgeous nephew!! Sommer is doing great in school....she is all caught up.....parent teacher conferences are tomorrow....not really looking forward to that...but I want to stay in close contact with her teachers even more now.....

Could'nt do this without all of you.......................love ya