Petrol Head

After cleaning & organizing my scrap space (finally!) I sat down the other night and created this layout.

created with Studio Calico's 'Spencers' scrapbook kit

We have seat licenses to the new racetrack in Austin, which we mainly purchased because of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. We're both kind of obsessed with F1. One of our goals in life is to make it to the Monaco GP, but for now, we'll have to settle with Texas.

Simon is lovingly referred to as, 'petrol head,' which (if you're not from the UK) just means someone who really likes cars and or racing. At the speedway, we ran into this guy who created an amazingly detailed Ferrari F1 car hat, the same car that  Fernando Alonso drives. We had to stop and get a picture with him. If there was a bigger 'petrol head' than Simon, I think this guy is the one.

Thanks for stopping by!

Elle's Studio Serendipity Layouts

Hi there! It's better late than never to share something, right? So, today I'm sharing my Elle's Studio Serendipity layouts that I created for the CHA winter show. If you haven't checked out this collection yet, it is perfect for scrapping your spring photos!

In the first layout, Cherish, I used one of my favorite photos of Simon and I from our trip to the UK last August. We had just found out that we were pregnant & the layout talks about how wonderful & exciting life was for the two of us at this point.

On this layout, I used the Serendipity tiny tags (the #2 tag),  Serendipity 3" circles, Serendipity 'Lil Snippets Labels ('so happy with you'), Serendipity tidbits, Serendipity collection paper, and Serendipity pennants. I love that my title was printed directly on the patterned paper so that I didn't have to come up with one! It fit the photo perfectly.



The next layout, One Happy Princess, shows my goddaughter, Emily, having so much fun at her 4th birthday party. I love the look of complete joy on her face. I also love the Serendipity collection paper that I used on this layout. Those flowers are perfect for cutting out & I loved to put a little jem or brad in the center of each one. I also used the Serendipity tiny tags ('remember this' and flowers) and Serendipity 3" circles ('simply adorable'). This layout makes me so happy.


Confession, was my favorite layout that I created for CHA. First, the Serendipity collection paper that I used for the background is amazing. To add a bit of color to the background & give your eye a resting place on such a busy background, I created a mask with a piece of scrap paper that followed the same lines of the zig zag and masked and sprayed the collection paper with a spray mist. I then went over the edge of the misted zig zag with my sewing machine using a pink thread. The photo I used was taken at Olympic Park in London this summer. The wall that I was sitting under read, "She said, 'To hell with them.' She changed the world," and my journaling talks about how I struggle with my confidence sometimes. Besides the collection paper, I also used the Serendipity large & medium journaling tags, Serendipity pennants, Serendipity 'Lil Snippets- Happiness, Serendipity 'Lil Snippets- Labels and Serendipity tidbits.

There you have it, better late than never! Have you used Serendipity? If so, link me up on the comments!

Thoughts on Mother's Day

This Mother's Day is so incredibly special to me. For the past few years, it's been a day of sadness for us while we were dealing with infertility. It was a day that I just wanted to stay in bed, feeling sorry for us and thinking about all of the reasons why we should have the opportunity to be parents. This year it is bittersweet, as I couldn't call my grandma and tell her 'happy mother's day.' For the past three years, I didn't think that I would ever be celebrating on Mother's Day, and it nearly didn't happen this year. Now by the grace of God, we have our family together and we are at home.



Lizzy came home on the 23rd of April, a day after my 30th birthday. What an amazing birthday present it was. Since then, we've been trying to figure out our routine, have been going back to the hospital for doctor's appointments, and since the beginning of May, have been enjoying having Nana & Papaw (my mom and dad) here with us, which hasn't left me with much time to blog. I guess this is something else I'm going to have to fit into our routine.



This week, real life begins. Life that involves Simon leaving the house at 6am and Lizzy, Toby & I to figure things out on our own until he comes home around 5pm. Life that involves going through what we need and what we can live without so that we can finally buy the furniture we want and get the house finished. Life that involves Simon leaving for weeks at a time on business & sitting in class late on weekends to finish off his MBA, missing both of his girls. As many challenges as we are going to face in this season of our lives, I am thankful for everything we've been given. I'm thankful for real life, and the chance to struggle through it & celebrate it with the people I love the most.

'Onwards & Upwards' Blog Hop

If you're following the 'Onwards & Upwards' blog hop and you've arrived from Rinda's site, welcome!

I loved the 'Onwards & Upwards' theme & instead of doing something literal, I used the theme in the subject of my layout & my journaling. I turned 30 last month (*gasp*) and instead of being depressed about it, I feel like it's a new start for me. 

Journaling reads: "Wow. I can't believe that I am 30. For most of my adulthood I've been dreading that number, but now, I'm happy that it's here. It feels like a new start for me. It's the beginning of my journey into motherhood & a time to put aside the pain that I dealt with the past few years. At 30, I feel like I have everything I've ever wanted- my sweet girl, loving husband, beautiful home, and I am so lucky. 30 is the start of something amazing."

So for me, 30 is moving on from some hard things I've been dealing with & starting new. Life is looking pretty good.

If you're following along the master hop list on Jennifer's blog, your next stop along the hop is Louise. Make sure to leave a comment on all of the stops along the way & leave a comment on Jennifer's blog for a chance to win a great prize package of Glitz Designs Color Me Happy and Simple Stories 24/7, worth over $25!



Good luck & thanks for stopping by!

She's coming home!

I am so excited to tell you that Tuesday, Lizzy is coming home!

I was amazed when her doctor brought up discharge on Monday, I almost couldn't believe my ears. I knew we were close, but it was still a crazy moment. I can't believe that after three months in the hospital, we are finally going to live like a normal family (or at least one who has to go to the pediatrician a lot!)

So, at three months old, Lizzy:

Weighs 5 lbs. 8.5 oz.
Eats anywhere between 60-70ml of breast milk per feed (she's a little piggy now!)
Is currently off of oxygen and on room air. We will see how she does over the weekend to decide whether she goes home on oxygen or not.
Had no signs of ROP during her last eye exam. We will have frequent eye exams.
Has started to cry when she is hungry, just like a normal baby!
Has pretty much grown out of her preemie clothes. Mommy needs to get a newborn wardrobe!
Loves to be cuddled!

Thank you for all of your prayers & support! We are so excited.

 

Guesting at Shimelle.com!

I am so excited to tell you that I am guest blogging over at Shimelle.com today about one of my most favorite scrapbook supplies- tags- and different ways to use them on paper projects!

Since I picked scrapbooking back up in 2008, Shimelle has been a huge inspiration to me, so this is a bit of a big deal! So, go check out 'Five Ideas for Using Tags' over at Shimelle.com!

To my Grandma

To the woman who got us off the bus every day after school.

To the woman who was proud of my brother and I for every little achievement.

To the woman who taught me how to swim.

To the woman who gave me a bible and took my brother and I to church every Sunday.

To the woman who could make me angrier more than anyone else.

To the woman who used to wear size 6 red heels on Sunday.

To the woman who only wore lipstick and powder.

To the woman who loved azaleas in the spring.

To the woman who wrote a letter to me every week in college.

To the woman who drove me to piano lessons every Wednesday for seven years.

To the woman who sent me to the United Kingdom when I was eighteen so that I could live an experience outside of the US.

To the woman who was so excited about becoming a great-grandmother, but never had the chance to meet her great-granddaughter.

To the woman who paid off my credit card debt in college and made me promise that I would never use a credit card like that again. (I never did, Grandma.)

To the woman with the quickest temper of anyone I know.

To the woman who loved so fiercely.

To the woman who loved God.

To the woman who sent me card for every single holiday, even when she could barely sign her name.

To the woman who volunteered at my elementary school for twenty years.

To the woman who had to balance her checkbook down to the last penny.

To the woman who made me who I am today.

I will miss hearing your voice every day and I love you so much.

Love, your Granddaughter.



Wanda Miner
January 4, 1931- April 6th, 2013