For each ecstatic instant. . .

I haven't scrapped in over a week and I have some very needy craft supplies calling my name. There will definitely be some time set aside this weekend to jump into that pile of crafty goodness.

I made the layout above about our first trip to the Corn Maze at Queens Farm. It was hilarious watching Sarah run around the maze, collecting pieces of our map, and generally having a great time getting lost. It took us over a half an hour to get out, and that was with cheating. There are some great mazes about an hour from here that seem really challenging. I think we may have to go for those next year. Although you do get a little freaked out when you realize you've been going in circles and have no clue how the heck to get out. And that's also about the time you realize you shouldn't have had that last cup of apple cider :P

The other image shows the super simple, super fast invites I made for my daughter's fifth birthday party. I used Helen Dardik's awesome birthday line with Creative Imaginations and whipped up something cute that Sarah could help me make. We covered the envelopes with the balloon pattern and then did some layering on the invite with coordinating cardstock and stickers. Of course, I was very tempted to stick on some pop dots and ink, but I refrained. It was hard. But I did it. She needs to give them out to her friends before I rip them open and glitter them up :D

Quote of the Day: poem by Emily Dickinson

Quick Share for the fam...

Just a few photos for our trip to Mill Neck Manor. So many more to still waiting to be edited before I can order the yearly family photo book. So much to do, so little time!

Favorte Sarah quotes of the week:

After telling her we were bringing chocolate cookies for snack, Sarah responded with a very boisterous: "Oh ya! We're gonna rock out like rock stars!" No clue where she gets it from, lol!

Last night, after waking up at 2am to "hang out" until about 3am, Sarah responded with this after I asked her if we could try to get some sleep: "Finally, mom. I could really use some shut eye." Oy....like I was the one keeping her up!

Oh, totally. Totes Magotes.

Weekend in review:
1. Fab dinner party with friends. Awesome recipes, tons of laughs, can't wait to do it again.
2. Read almost all of Olive Kitteridge and am loving it. Devouring every word.
3. Edited family photo shoot at Mill Neck Manor.
4. Ordered Xmas cards - go me!!
5. Made and decorated Halloween cookies for Sarah's class snack at school today.
6. Cleaned the entire house (which is a wreck again..how does that happen)
7. Stressed about the H1N1 vaccine, talked to everyone about it and still have no clue whether to have Sarah get it or not. grrrrrr
8. Photographed all my layouts, in bad lighting mind you. Hence this post ;)

If you try to stop us, or vamp out in any way, I'll stake you without even thinking twice about it!

Thanks so much, everyone, for the warm welcome back!! One thing I love most about the crafting community is how sweet everyone is. It really is like coming home :D

The weather around here turned suddenly cool and rainy....and I'm loving every moment. There's nothing like spending the day in bed, nestled with my dd, watching a movie and crafting. We watched crappy movies and ate way too much junk food. Love.

Sarah made her first scrapbook! I think I was a little more into it than she was, but I'm hoping it'll grow on her. She's not really the "crafty" type yet. She prefers building forts with daddy and sword fighting. Did I mention she's a tomboy?? Ya. For Halloween she's going as a night in shining armor. I'm going to try and sneak a bow on there somewhere so people will know she's a girl, lol. She did ask for a Barbie for her birthday, though. Of course, it had to be the Three Muskateers Barbie with the sword. We love that she's not the typical girly-girl. Especially since I've never been the "typical" anything in my life....like momma like daughter!

I made the Halloween countdown calendar using a bunch of new goodies from Dream Street. Tracy Whitney designed a halloween line called Superstition that I just fell in love with! I'm itching to do another Halloween project. Perhaps a banner or a minibook after all the trick or treating is done.

In big Sarah news, she read her first word today all on her own! She's been sounding out words and "reading" familiar books with basic site words and charaters with our help for a couple months. But today, I watched her look at a word on a sticker, sound out all the letters, put them together a couple times and finally come out with the word: Love. It was one of those moments I never ever want to forget. What a wonderful word to start her reading life with! :D

Movie Quote: Lost Boys

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes....

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments on my last post!! It was an utter joy to read those kind words from all of you :D I dare say that I have started scrapbooking/creating again...and it feels great!! I'm finding the joy I once loved in this hobby. Plus, I'm enjoying all the new releases I haven't gotten to play with yet! I'm a little rusty so I'm starting out simple.....and loving it.

What's been going on in my life? Well, that's a longer story. A MUCH longer story. You just never know what life is going to hand you. But I've learned that relishing in every moment is what matters most. More on that at another time.

So, to anyone still checking in on the blog, thanks for keepin' the faith! I'm back and thrilled to be scrapping for fun again :D

Hugs,
Alexis

Last post for a while....

Sorry I've been away for so long! Life has pretty much put my plans into a blender, pureed them, and spit them back out into my lap. I'm on a whole new track and I'm loving the fresh outlook it's brought to my life :D Things are finally starting to make sense in my life and that is so exciting!

First off, I'll be going back to teaching in the fall! I'll be teaching a fourth grade gifted class. There are no words to describe how excited I am. Since I found out, I've been planning curriculum, reading great children's literature and stocking up on the neccessities - classroom stuff, work clothes, work shoes...ya know, any reason to go shopping :P Plus, it feels great to know I'll be making my own money and no longer need to "ask" for things. Although dh is wonderful at providing Sarah and I with everything we need, it'll be great to know I can get it myself from now on and contribute to the house bills, as well.

Secondly, I will no longer be scrapping as a "job" any longer. It was a hard decision to make but I'm happy with it. I know there will be limited time to spend with my family once I start teaching. I want to be able to spend every moment with them and scrap when I want to, instead of scrapping for a deadline. I'll miss the push to create and the wonderful teammates I've had on various teams, but I know this is the best decision for us. Plus, I think I'll finally be able to enjoy scrapping again. The pressure to create awesome stuff every month was kind of getting to me. Sometimes, I want to just throw a layout together and not worry about balance and proportion and colors. So, this decision will provide me with the opportunity to get back to the "fun" of scrapping...when I have the time, that is!

Here is my last project I created with the Label Tulip Project kit, which I created!! And, it's sold out!! WOO HOO!! I also helped create the main kit this month, which also sold out. Nothing like going out with a bang! It just warms my heart to know that so many people are enjoying and scrapping with the products that I hand picked simply because I loved them so much! If you picked up either of the kits, have a blast with them!

Book Review: The Spare Wife

If you haven't joined Mothertalk, you should definitely check it out! Among other things, they do these great book blog tours where every reads the same novel and then reviews it. This month I was lucky enough to be included in the tour! I was assigned to read The Spare Wife by Alex Witchel. Here's my review::

I was immediately drawn to this book for two reasons. First, it takes place in my hometown of NYC. Secondly, I was in the mood for a dose of some interesting chick lit. On the up side, I enjoyed the way the book delved into the underbelly of Manhattan's A-listers. The gossip, the backstabbing, and the "sleep you way to the top" overtures definitely kept me reading. I did, however, find the incredible attention to detail somewhat distracting in such a purposefully superficial novel. A few times I found I needed to push myself to actually finish the book, which was disappointing. Some chapters failed to move the story forward. But once I got passed them, I found myself wanting see how the characters were scheming in the next chapter.

The heroine, Ponce, a gorgeous model turned widowed lawyer was an asset to the novel. Her scheming two-faced nature as well as her secret life were interesting and fun to read about. But my favorite character was Shawsie. She actually seemed real and relate able. I hated Babette, which the reader is supposed to, so kudos to the author for evoking the very emotion I'm sure was intended. Most of the other characters in comparison, although interesting, fell a little flat.

Overall, I enjoyed the book for just what it was. A quick departure from everyday life into a life I normally only watch on tv shows. I found myself laughing many times at the stabs to the NYC 'elite' and recommend it as a fun beach read.

Thanks Mothertalk for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour!