Don't Miss Free Font Friday!

Don't miss the chance to download a free font each Friday from Creating Keepsake's website!

This week is Hearts

I will have some layouts coming soon!  Who is scrapping this weekend???

Menu Planning- Week after Thanksgiving

I desperately need to:
- Get the Baby Weight off
- Get better at managing things all at once

So, here's my little attempt at both in getting back to menu planning.  Here's the week.  It's not heavy in "using Thanksgiving leftovers" but we dined on those all weekend, so I think that's ok.

I found this pin and wanted to try out some of her ideas.  I made her chicken taco wraps for lunches this week and have everything ready to do the egg burritos for breakfasts too.

Source: smithlive.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Monday: Crock Pot Roast as french dip sandwich
Tuesday: Lemon Chicken with Rice
Wednesday: San Fracisco Pork Chops
Thursday: Slow Cooker Lasagna
Friday: Honey Sesame Chicken with Rice
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Monday:  BBQ Pineapple Pulled Pork

I think we'll be set!  And a lot of these are crock pot friendly or make ahead which will make an easier transition back to a "normal" week. 

Anyone else ready with a real menu plan this week???

Awesome, Versatile Vintage Digi Christmas Kit!

So, I'm a busy mom, wife, Thanksgiving hostess with the mostest and Sr Director with Thirty-One Gifts, and let's face it, it's a busy time of year for any one of those titles!  Naturally, something I have EVERY INTENTION of delivering on in a timely fashion, didn't happen.  So, please GO CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME KIT by Jopke Designs.  She's an incredible European designer.  I love how versatile this particular kit is- Jingle Tingle use it for Christmas, every day, one of those inspirational quote images, you name it!  Sadly, I can't get a preview to work but I promise, it's awesome!

Great!  Now that you're back, here's what I did with it and a template from Scrapping With Liz.  Head on over to 2Peas and leave me some love there or here.  I'm not particular. ;)

Putting Up the Tree

Is Pinterest your thing?

Source: twopeasinabucket.com via Amy on Pinterest

Want more awesome deals?  Check out my Fan Page for great deals on my best Thirty-One customers!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope your Thanksgiving was great!

Grin!

First, I have to say that I am LOVING the new look over at TwoPeasinaBucket!  If you haven't stopped over, be sure to check it out!

I am still working on getting myself caught up on my albums.  I was so excited to win this kit from Karla Dudley though that I had to stop and just scrap my most recent pics of my baby girl.  Almost 10 months old already.  Time flies.

So, check out the kit, my layout & don't forget to leave some love.   Link me up to a recent layout of yours and I'll return the favor!

Grin

Have a great day!

Do You Do Challenges? And Do You Like Freebies?

So, I know that templates usually are my crutch when I'm trying to work through a large project quickly.  And I'm generally working through these projects because:
1- Shutterfly is offering an awesome sale or
2- My kids are asking "mommy, where's my book like brother has...?"  and Mommy Guilt sinks in.
3- CT deadlines for my awesome digi designers ;)

I said I've recently found a friend who is helping me get back on the scrapping wagon too and she sent me the link to the Make It Snappy Challenge over on Scrap Orchard tonight.  Low and behold, I did a page.

And funnier, I used a kit that I downloaded last Nov but never got around to unzipping.  *sigh*

So, here's my latest:
Happy Girl

I really do have some big projects that I want to finish up.  Who knows what will be the biggest motivator for me to get it done, so they say.  

I'm curious though, what motivates you???
Need some additional motivation?  Here's an awesome freebie from Dianne Rigdon Designs!  Click on the Mystery Tab on her Fan Page. :)  Don't know how long it will be up, so grab it while you can. 

Have an awesome week!

Scrapping Again! Whoo Hoo!

Using a few new and free kits, here's my layout with some recent pictures of my daughter:
So Big! (click for credits)

And finally, using the new Crafty ART Snippets #3 by Jopke, this page celebrating my husband finishing the Air Force Marathon, his first ever, under 4 hours!

Bucket List

I have no desire to run a marathon, I admit.  

A half is about all I ever intend to do...  Unless there's a zombie apocalypse of course...

Roll Up!

There are days that my house feels like a three ring circus without even heading out to the big top!

I love the new, bright, happy kit Roll Up! from Edeline Marta over at TwoPeasinaBucket!  Featuring all the things you think of when you think CIRCUS, but still practical for every day scrapping.

 Here's what I created with it.  We were selected to host a Fisher Price House Party and here's one of the toys that was included with our party box!

Three Rings!

 

Since I have been getting back to scrapping, which is good because I am VERY behind, I took advantage of a Facebook Freebie from Bella Gypsy and a template The Space Between Vol 4 from EH Studios.  Word Art is by Britt Ish Designs.

Shabby Sheek Sistas

 

 What have you scrapped lately?  Hook me up to your favorite recent layout and I'll leave you some love!

Scrapping has returned!!!

My girlfriend returned from California and we are now having a weekly scrapping date!  I am so excited to be getting moving again.  So without further ado, here are some pages!!!

Using the new kit Homeroom by Dianne Rigdon Designs at TwoPeasinaBucket.

First Week of School

And then You are my Sunshine (I know, cheesy, but seriously, she is) using Shine by Karen Funk Designs at Design House Digital.

So, what do you think?  What are you hoping to make time for this week???

Till next time!

A week of real food

We all get lazy sometimes, right?  I know I do.  I try to do things I know are good for my family but sometimes I fall behind.  News flash- I'm human.  
Notice my lack of menu planning posts lately?

Yeah...

A while back, I Liked 100 Days of Real Food on Facebook.  But, I didn't really do much else than that, I admit.

I have had some recurrent minor medical issues for about a year now and while I was seeing my doula in follow up after my daughter's birth, she commented on something else that would be an external sign of an internal imbalance in my skin.  And I got to thinking...

I am believer that it's all connected.  And I knew I wasn't in balance from what I was putting in to my body to what I was doing with my body (exercise) and maybe it was just time to draw the line in the sand.  She suggested a cleanse which I like the sound of what it could deliver, but not really practical for a nursing mom who hates veggies and fruits in raw form and pretty much lives on carbs, protein and fats (and craves sugar).

So, this 10 Days of Real Food looked like a good starting point.  The goal is to get away from processed foods.  Nothing with more than 5 ingredients.  No artificial crap.

We started with her 1st week menu, with some modifications (egg salad is a no go in my house as well as the gumbo.  But, with list in hand, our family of 5 headed to the small farmers market in our town.  We finished up our grocery shopping at Earth Fare.

While it's a bit too early for real results, I have noticed:

• My sugar cravings are there but already much less than the first 2 days.  And I'm still adding sucanat to my coffee in the mornings, I confess so that probably helps.
• My kids are eating more.  They're not eating and liking everything I put in front of them, but what they do and don't eat is surprising me.  It's not what I assumed it would be.
• I am eating less.  Mostly because the stuff I am craving is stuff I can't have so I don't eat anything.  So far, hasn't been significant- I just wait a bit and then find something I do like.
• The bill was less than I thought it was going to be because she focuses on her blog of doing this on a budget.  And the basic nature of many recipes is appealing to my family and to our lifestyle.

So far, we've made and liked:

Squash Peanut Soup

Zucchini Muffins

Whole Wheat Tortillas

Modified Fajitas (made with some ground chuck and green pepper- not all vegetarian as the menu calls for)
Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes

Almond Crusted Tilapia (kids loved this)

So, I'm curious.  Are you trying to get away from the processed stuff?  If so, what's been the hardest thing to give up?

Personally, all the Facebook updates about Pumpkin Spice Lattes are killing me a little inside.  *sigh*

Our first week of school

I kept meaning to get around to writing this post earlier but just didn't over the long weekend.  So, please forgive me!

First, thank you for the words of encouragement on my previous post about homeschooling the kids! It was very sweet to get some positivity that day!


Second, the week went well!  There were ups and downs of course.  I have been searching the "interwebs" to find good posts about staying organized with Sonlight as there are a lot of materials.  But, I find that it is helping my kids by not using the same material for a long time.  A little of this, a little of that.



Our day looks like this:
Breakfast with Daddy
Get dressed 
Get water bottles filled and go upstairs for school
Review calendar, verse and song
Re-aloud time while they color a picture
Language Arts for E
Science
Math
Done!

The kids still love and are fascinated by their school caddies and all they contain.  I'm ordering zipper pouches for their pencils with their names on them so these can stay on the shelf during book activity time.

I imagine that I will start supplementing with more activities but so far, I like how compact we can keep this.  And how flexible it can be.  We may end up moving school time to after lunch especially as my baby goes towards 1 good nap/day.  It's a bit harder to get anything accomplish with her glued to my side, I admit.  But, so far, so good.

Gymnastics starts up for the kids this week too which will be a HUGE plus I think!  

Do you blog about your adventures in Homeschooling?  If so, hook me up!  Have a great week!