Nikki Sivils Design Team

To apply for Nikki's Design team i had to submitt a LO using her products I used the Willow Bee Collection. This was an old picture of the boys, but one i really love.

She also asked that we make a project other than a LO using her product. I made this cute cupcake sign using one of her chipbard pieces and My Sweet Cherry Pie line of paper.


And the last thing we had to submit was a LO about ourself. I have only recently started scrapping about myself and i am enjoying it. I think it is really important for my boys and later my grandchildren to know about ME. I also have learned that it is important to tell the full story through my scrapping, not just the happy parts.

Random....

Last weekend i flew to Washington DC to see my Dad. About 3 weeks ago his partner, Linda, for the last 15 years past away. My parents were married for 30 years and when they got a divorce it was a surprise to my brother, sister and I and was not accepted very well. We are a tight group and having something disrupt that was difficult. I have always been very close to my Dad and that relationship was tested during the years that followed the divorce. I felt very torn about maintaining my relationship with Dad, i felt a little like i was betraying my Mom by continuing a relationship with him and definately if i had a relationship with Linda. What i finally decided was that i would take whatever relationship i could have with my Dad, not knowing what he was doing and my children not knowing him at all was not an option for me. It's not perfect, no relationship is, but it works for us. I grew to appreciate that Linda made my Dad happy and that he loved her. It made it much easier to accept her. I learned something about my dad that i didn't know during the last month of Linda's life. He was responsible for taking care of her every need while she was home. He did it. He did it with patience, and tender care and genuine love. I never saw this side of him. I am sorry for the circumstance that allowed me to see it, but i am also grateful for the opportunity to see a part of this man that i didn't know was there.

I didn't fly alone. Linda's daughter Carie flew out with me. I have spent time with Carie before, but not alone and not for a long period of time. We got to know each other and we are very similar in personality. We have become good friends and it is a friendship that i look forward to nurturing and letting it grow. Daddy's closest friend from here went out as well and that was a welcome distraction to the task at hand of cleaning out Linda's things and getting Dad in a position to move. Linda's Daughter, Tiffany, came in from Denver. Together we were able to get things cleaned out, packed up, sorted through and donated. It was a job. Tears were shed, memories were shared and some closure was achieved. I am looking forward to my Dad moving closer to home. He will never move back to Springfield, but he plans to move within driving distance. I want my children to be able to know him better and at least have the opportunity to develop a relationship with him.

SO Excited!!!

I am so excited to share that i have been choosen to be a part of Nikki Sivils design team!!! Nikki called me on Thursday to share the news. I was driving to St Louis to fly to DC to see my Dad and it totally caught me off guard and made my day. Can't wait to get started. Check out Nikki's blog and all the talent that her design team has to offer. If you are local you can purchase her products at Scrapbook Generation.

It's Allabout the Princess....

I have had the cover for this mini done for about 3 weeks and hadn't had time to put it all together...last night i sat down and did it and i love it!! The album is by Nikki Sivils and so is the PP. She makes these great mini paper pads that are the perfect size for her albums, makes trimming easy and there isn't so much waste.

I painted my toesnails this morning....looking forward to flip flop weather!! ALmost 80 today, YEAH!

Some Layouts....

The weather outside is awful....what happened to Spring? The wind has blown so hard the past two days. I am ready for the promised warm weather of this week!!! Yucky weather does mean a good excuse to stay in and bake and scrapbook. Yesterday I made fried pies, blueberry and cherry, really GOOD!! Taylor could barely wait for them to cool before eating another. Last night i made cherry limeade cupcakes. I thought they were a little too "limey" but the taste testers said they were perfect. I will post pictures as soon as Kate gets some taken.

Farmer's Market starts Thursday night in Republic, so I am trying to get my table setup figured out and decide what i am going to bake to take and how much i should take the first night. I don't anticipate it being very busy until the produce starts to come on. I am excited to see how it all goes!!

Here are a few LO's. I love the All American Girl LO. I couldn't get it turned around but i posted it anyway, it's one of my favorite right now. Reese is so fun to scrap. I also love the one of Papa's hand and Reese's little hand, I have had that picture on my desk forever trying to figure out what to do with it. I wanted the focus to stay on the picture, but to tell the story. The one of the little girl in the black and white photo is me when i was about 5.

Have a great day....and think hard about Spring, if we all do maybe it will get here faster!!!!

Spring

It was really nice today. The sun was shinning and i had the back door open. Warm weather is on it's way. I can't wait!!!

Cupcakes!

A new adventure...most of you that know me know that i have always wanted to have my own bakery. I love to be in the kitchen and baking things to share with family and friends. Why not turn that love into a business. Starting small and from my house i have been selling my baked goodies, eventually i hope it turns into more, but for now i am having a great time. The boys are loving being the taste testers for my gourmet cupcakes. I am sharing a few pictures of some of the flavors i have made so far. Katie too the pictures and did an amazing job as usual.