Happy March

Can you believe it is March 1st?  Wow!  The first two months of the year have really flown by.  2011 has been good so far but the tough parts are coming.  James will be away for training most of March and then preparing for an inspection that may have him working late for a bit.  Then yet another (hopefully the last) deployment later in the year.  We have some good things mixed in like a couple of trips including a nice long one in June.  On top of all if this we are still trying to figure out where in the USA we want to settle down once James retires from the Air Force next year. 

Enough about life!  Here is a layout I made just last week.  I was inspired by the incredibly talented Elizabeth Kartchner to create this page.  I like it minus the overly pink journaling block.  I tried to tame it with stickles but it didn't help.  The bright pink just stands out against the peachy colors on the page.  I snapped the photo of Lolo back in November but just had it printed off last month.  The title is from an older Jessica Andrews song called "I Wish For You" and I have always wanted to do a layout using it. 

That is all I have today!  I hope you have a fantastic Tuesday!

Five for Friday - What I Am Loving This Week

Here are a few things I am loving on this week:

1.  Have you heard about Pinterest?  It is a free virtual bulletin board.  As you are browsing on the net you can save photos to your board.  I am extra excited about being able to save all the great things I find to one place.  No more trying to remember where I saw "that idea".  Right now the site is in beta testing and is by invitation only.  If you are interested leave me a comment and I will send you an invite. 

2. Any General Hospital fans out there?  Of course if you have been reading my blog for a while you know I am a long time fan.  The story line is finally picking up and James Franco returns today! EEEEEEK!  I am so excited.  It is really fun when Franco is back!

3.  I need to get this For The Record line from Echo Park!  I love everything about it.  The colors and patterns are beautiful.  I must convince my husband that I may simply die without it!

4.  Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies straight from the freezing are the best.  Fortunately they are only sold once a year and we only bought one box.  I was a good mommy and shared with the girls and James. 

5.  We have had a pretty harmonious week here and I love that.  Things have just kinda flowed on at a decent pace and we all have gotten along fairly well.  Really, this is a huge feat for me as I usually let little things bother me more than they should and that tends to make me and everyone else grumpy.  I hope this harmonious way of life continues on here as James gets ready for 3+ weeks of training away from home including a trip back to the States.  I am just a bit jealous that he is going back, even if it is for training.  We haven't been back stateside in 2 years and I really, really miss it.

That's my five things for this week!  I hope you have a great weekend and don't forget to leave me a comment if you are interested in an invitation to Pinterest.  I will need your email to send the invite unless you are one of my Facebook friends because I think I can send the invite straight from there.

I Love Surprises!

Last night while Aubrey was supposed to be in bed she was drawing/writing instead.  I love finding her art all over the place but this one melted my heart.  She drew every thing on the page, even the lines for her letters, and I went into Photoshop to add the names of her stick people.  I adore the cute daddy drawing.  I am proud that she has picked up on her letters so quickly. Finally, she even added my friend Sara to the drawing...how sweet! 

I love seeing Aubrey's skills develop and her sweet personality shine!

My Dolls

Have I mentioned how much I love Club CK's 1-Hour Challenges?  Because I really, really do!  I made this page for a challenge back in December.  I am so thankful for these challenges as I actually get layouts completed.  I find I need a kick in the rear to get layouts done sometimes. 

The photo was taken last spring at the Keukenhof Gardens in Holland.  The have a new theme every year and last year it was "From Russia with Love".  When we came upon these large matryoshka dolls I knew it would make for a cute photo.  It is seriously one of my most favorite photos of the girls and me!

I used Bazzill cardstock for the base.  The patterned paper and chipboard embellishments are from Cosmo Cricket's Pixie-Licious line.  The black felt stickers are from American Crafts and the purple ricrak is from Maya Road.  The pink and purple bling is from Kaisercraft.  I used a Fiskars border punch for the journaling spot and on the blue patterned paper below the photo.

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Five for Friday

Happy Friday!  Thanks for joining me for another exciting edition of Five for Friday.  Lets get things started.

1.  I am so out of touch with new music these days.  I only listen to the radio when I am in the car while running errands locally.  If we are on a road trip we listen to our iPods.  So, tell me, what is your favorite new-ish song?  Pop, rock, country...it doesn't matter.  I just want to know what is rocking your socks right now.

2.  The girls have birthdays coming up...Aubrey in 4 weeks and Lolo's in 6 weeks.  I am going to try my hand at these Hello Kitty cake pops.  I have never made cake pops before so I might have to make a practice batch soon.  I am working on putting together some sort of celebration for them.

3.   Loving this idea over on the Dear Lizzy blog!  I bet your little princess would love to make her own  magic wand.  I am going to help the girls make these as soon as I get some yarn.  My girls love making  crafts and I love helping them be creative.  Wow!  I used love alot in this paragraph. 

4.  Aubrey has become quite the encourager this week.  She has been giving Lolo lots of hugs and saying "I am proud of you"!  Let me tell you that it melts my heart to see Aubrey being so sweet to her sister and encouraging her in the potty training effort. 

5.  I am glad it is Friday!  This week has had a few low moments and I am ready to enjoy the long weekend with my family. On a positive note if things keep breaking it is less stuff to get rid of when we move back to the States next year.   I should be thankful for the chance to purge things early.

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Scrappy Winner Is........

Thanks to everyone who played along and visited my blog for a chance to win this giveaway.  I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
I consulted with the trusty random.org and they suggested that I pick number 14.  That would be Ellen!  Ellen, I will send you a PM through Club CK to get your info.

Thanks again everyone!  I hope you have a great Thursday!

Since no post is really complete unless there is a photo I am leaving you with the yummiest cupcakes ever!

***SCRAPPY GIVEAWAY***

I can't believe I have been blogging for 2 years!  I started this blog so I could share my photos and scrappy projects with my family and friends who were not on Facebook.  I had no idea that I would actually enjoy blogging and find it to be a bit therapeutic at times.   I certainly never thought that 2 years later I would still be blogging. 

In honor of my blogging anniversary I am hosting a giveaway!  That's right!  It is my blogiversary but you can win the gift.  How about an Echo Park Little Girl paper pack?  I am so in love with this line.  The colors are so bright and cheery.  Even if you don't have a little girl to scrapbook imagine all the great cards or layouts you can make for/about your friends....birthdays, miss you, encouragement, baby showers, etc.

If you want to be entered to win here is what you need to do...First, leave me a comment!  Any comment will do.  For a second entry become a follower of my blog and enter a second comment.  If you are already a follower leave an extra comment telling me you are.  So, you can enter twice.  This is going to be a short turn around....No entries after midnight PST, Wednesday, February 16th.  I will select a winner Thursday morning.  Good luck!!!

P.S. - If you are reading this on Facebook please be sure to visit my blog to enter by clicking on this link:  http://scrappingandtraveling.blogspot.com/