Fave Finds

Good Morning! With the start of a new season, I usually sit down and set goals. The goal this year is to have a good work-life balance. I do have a pretty awesome one right now but there are a few things that I would still like to tweak. Mainly the amount of time I spent on the computer and on my devices. I would much rather spend that time with my family, reading, knitting and scrapbooking! With that goal in mind...
- emails will take a little longer to get a reply...I am going to try to check it twice a day, before and after my day job.
- the iPhone...ugh...I'm just as bad as my kids. No hard plans but I leave it on my nightstand as much as possible. So if message or text me, I may not reply right away.
- this blog will still get updated but not as frequently. I'm thinking posts on Monday, Wednesday, Fridays and some Sundays. I may post more often if there are things to share but otherwise, I'm sticking to that schedule.

Now that I've gotten that out, a Friday post...something different from the Fave Five and Nailed It posts...Fave Finds. Just a compilation of things that I've found on pinterest or the web that I think are cool and want to share with you.

a business card stamp - genius

loving the idea of fruit and yogurt parfaits for breakfast

this is contender for this year's X'mas card except it looks like a TON of die-cutting

gorgeous & colorful sheets from IKEA

anchor set-up how-to = no more drifting when we're out fishing

beautiful FREE digi + printable back-to-school cards from Simple As That blog 

quote and print - just perfect

want to try this Crock Pot Beef Carnitas recipe

Another freebie - a cut file for the silhouette plus a DIY mist tutorial

Pinterest Fave Five

On the last Friday of the month, I post five of my favorite pins. I then attempt them during the following weeks and share with you my "Nailed It" moments.

This Weekend Brunch Casserole combines all of my boys' faves...crescent rolls, sausage and cheese.

 And this sketch, created by Cheryl Even...going to have to put it to use. It is totally my style - linear and clean.

And this...what a brilliant idea. Will have to see if I can fit a tube of Neosporin in with the bandaids. Perfect for camping and for the beach.

 This cowl...looks like a super easy pattern and a quick knit. It's never too early to start on X'mas gifts and/or winter wear, right?

And last but not least, I find that I love the 30 day fitness challenges that abound on pinterest. This one looks like a good one to try for the month of August. Join me?

Flashback Friday

Another new feature on my blog...flashback friday. This is when I'll post about past events or old layouts or anything I feel like reminiscing about. 

I'll start off my first flashback friday by going all the way back to the beginning of my business. All the way back to 2005 - because I found these pictures and also I get asked how long I've been doing this - to my very first open house. Look at the products I carried...I've come a long way from 4 trimmers, 3 albums, a few rub-ons, and just 3 panels of pegboard. I started by signing on as a consultant with a company called "I Remember When" and never looked back.

They closed their doors in 2009 and I went off on my own and have been since then. So how many years have I been in this business?...9 years total, 5 years on my own. I am happy to say I love this job of mine and am looking forward to many many more, after I take the summer off ;) 

Around Here

Wanting this beautiful roll top desk

 Learning to play this cool game as a family

Working on my least favorite part of running my business...taxes.  Also procrastinating by planning the week's menu.

And working on kits with my apprentice/helper.

He's multi-tasking here...and now we know why mom has to QC the kits.

Off to a Weekend Crop!

Happy Friday! The car is all packed up, the house is all set...just need to post this and I'm off :) Hopefully I'll see some of you at Theresa's crop. If you'd like to stop in and say hello and do a spot of shopping, feel free to drop by. I'm at the Doubletree Inn in Westboro.

First off, some layouts I put together while at an all day event last weekend.A new page kit.And a challenge for you. I want to see your winter layouts. Post a link in the comments or email me (sluvs2skrap@yahoo.com) your .jpg file.

Fun Friday

It's Friday! I'm thinking it should be a fun day...a day to share interesting links, projects that inspire, challeges and ideas. I will also post a pic of my work from my resolution to scrap something each week. So here goes...

This week's Friday share is a link to a website called CRAFT CRITIQUE . Spot a new product, wondering if it's really what it says it is or if it's not worth the money, hop over to Craft Critique and they might have tried it and shared the pros and cons.

And my share is this layout of me and my boys hiking. The pictures tell some of the story but it's the STORY that is the most important part of the layout. My account of what happened, revisiting a short trail we used to hike when they were little, the boys running ahead and then almost stumbling over a snake, them sticking close after the encounter and us taking a wrong turn. Sigh! A learning experience ;)
products used: Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy line, Bazzill cardstock and my handy dandy Sharpie ultra fine point.