MrsMommyCEO

Digi to Paper?

Yes, I have a fascination with paper scrapping. What really intrigues me is paper scrapped mini albums, more so than paper scrapped layouts. I've drooled over them in books and magazines for a very long time and then, I finally got the push that I needed.

Ali Edwards, who I am a HUGE fan of, is doing a step-by-step December Daily Album on her blog. It's an album that you put together before December and then each day, you have a place ready for journaling and photos. I love this idea, as I've always wanted to do something that better chronicles our real everyday lives. But I found that as I browsed through all her photos, I wasn't being digitally inspired. I really had the strong urge to try to do the album in paper, which only small digital enhancements (such as journal tags and titles).

So I finally took the plunge today and sat down to order my supplies. She recommends using what you have in your stash, but as I have never paper scrapped, I do not have anything on hand. Thankfully, through my small attempts at hybrid scrapping, I do have a lot of the tools I'll need, just not the actual papers, embellishments and such.

I'm quite excited to give this a shot and I'm posting about it here, so you all can hold me accountable!

Inspired by Shawna...

I was sitting here just now feeling really down. It's been a long day, a day in the middle of a very long week. I'm tired, I'm coming down with a cold, I'm stressed out about work, about my ever growing to-do lists, about the 4 baskets of laundry sitting next to me, and about the ever approaching holiday season.

In my depressed state, I clicked to my bloglines for some mindless reading and was completely inspired and moved by Shawna's truthful tuesday post. Her words, her thoughts and feelings all echo mine very deeply. We are kindred spirits in many ways, both being work at home mommies to little boys, who struggle with depression.

I love this paragraph...

Just like everything else in this life… you have to accept sometimes the things you can’t change… I can’t stop time, I can’t have as much energy/patience/focus to chronicle it all like really wish I could…. I DON’T make pancakes as much as my little crew of clowns might wish I did.  I’m probably always going to be behind on the laundry, scrambling some to meet the next deadline…. but also…. I’m proud, I mean really proud, of who I am. I’m strong, strong enough to juggle and walk the wire do the dance that it takes to raise a family of six, strong enough to say no sometimes, strong enough to go out and run 3 miles at the end of a really crappy day… more than anything I am proud that, since that first bout of depression 3 years ago, I’ve been strong enough to face and fight my demons every day…. You know what else, I am feeling more myself than I have ever been before.  My kids - they are healthy, and happy and smart (that is for another post though), and most of all, they are really really loved…

I feel the same way... I'm fighting my demons everyday and I finally feel like more days that not, I win. I get up each morning and I try to make the effort to step closer to the person that I truly want to be and I'm really proud of that. Of course I have bad days, today for instance, but reading this reminded me (and I REALLY needed the reminder) that one bad day isn't the end of the world. I can get up tomorrow and it can be a new day, with hope and promise and I need only make the effort to reach for it.

Lately, more than anything else, I feel overwhelmed. Most days I feel like my head is so full that it will literally explode. I walk around making list after list in my head... things that need done NOW, things that need done soon, things that I want to do, things that need cleaned. And I carry those lists around with me constantly and I need to stop doing that. I think that in carrying around so much baggage all day long, I'm missing out on the things that are right in front of me... and at the end of the day, what matters more, my lists or my memories?

I'm proud of how far I've come on my journey of living with anxiety/depression. Accepting the fact that this is something that I will live with forever, and pushing to not survive it, but to THRIVE inspite of it is a huge first step. I pray every day that God will give me the strength to grow, that He will literally help me to accept the things I cannot change, give me the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Thanks again Shawna... you are wonderful inspiration!

One year ago today...

I was blessed to give birth to my third little boy... a little boy that I had spent 9 anxiety packed months waiting for, praying for, and loving with all my heart. And in that instance, that first moment that I saw him, heard him cry, saw him breathe, he eclipsed every expectation that I had. He was perfect... and now, a year later, I still think the exact same thing.

Logan Robert was born on October 27th (10 days before his due date) at 7:25 am, weighing 6 pounds and measuring 19 3/4 inches long.

 

And of course, I fell in love with you instantly...

 

We spent our days in the hospital snuggled up together. The doctors and nurses all teased me, because every time they came in, you were sleeping on my chest. But honestly, I didn't care what they said, I had waited 9 long months for these moments and I was soaking them in as much as I could.

You were a beautiful newborn and you did everything well... except sleep. We spent almost all of our time together, snuggled up on the couch or in my bed. These are some of my favorite memories of your first few months, because you were very calming to me. Whenever I got upset or anxious, I needed only to hold you and I would feel better. You have that influence on me still, and I'm so thankful for that. You still love to snuggle, to curl your head under my chin, suck your thumb and cuddle. It is very sweet and I love that periodically through the day, you'll come toddling towards me just for a quick snuggle. I helps me as much as I think it helps you because it reminds me to stop what I'm doing and enjoy the wonderful things that are going on around me. I'm never too busy to give hugs and cuddles and I love that you make me stop and do the things that truly matter. 

You loved to watch your brothers play and you were captivated with them when they would talk to you and show you toys. And they absolutely adore you. Both Wesley and Nathan look for you as soon as they wake up and you are the last person they give kisses to before they go to sleep. I was worried that they would be more jealous, but it seems that they have fallen under your spell just as Mommy has.

 

Oh how delightful you are! I describe you that way often, and it really is the best word to use. You are happy, you are joyous and content. You love to laugh, to play, to tease, and to cuddle. You are the purest joy that I have ever known and the things that you have taught me are amazing. I have always believed that God blesses us with certain things for certain reasons and you have proved this theory to me ten times over. You have taught me patience and more importantly you have helped me to deepen my faith, something that I am so truly grateful to you for.

 

I have found this last year, that I have truly enjoyed each moment. I have been in no hurry for you to reach each new milestone, but I'm proud of you and I'm right there cheering you on as you do. Each moment that we share together, all the memories that we make... I will cherish them always. Being a mommy for the third time, I see the things that I have missed over the years with your brothers. I see the moments where, as a new mommy, I was too worried, to uptight and anxious, and I didn't get to enjoy the little things. This time around I have taken the time to do that and it is truly wonderful!

 

What I often find interesting about you, is that I do not yet know who you will most take after. Your brothers have definite characteristics from both me and you Dad. Wesley has my OCD tendencies and my over-achieving nature. Nathan takes more after Daddy in his love for joking and laughter (but he does have my shyness). I'm not sure about you yet and I like that, I like that you may not firmly be like either of us... you will be YOU!

 

I love you always my sweet baby and I wish for nothing but that best that life has to offer. I pray that you will be strong and wise, that you will be kind and fair, that you will love and be loved, and that you will grow and learn and change every single day.

 

And do not have forget to HAVE FUN and BE YOU!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet baby boy! I love you always and forever and I thank you for everything that you have taught me, for all the love and the joy that you have brought to my life, you are amazing and I am so very very blessed!

Holy Sports Overload Batman!

In general, I'm a sports fan... my passion is obviously football but I appreciate a good game in any sport. Being an Eagles fan, it's unavoidable that you are going to come across a lot of Phillies talk... it's the big story on the local sports shows, talk radio, and pretty much everywhere else you look. So while I'm not a real big baseball fan, who in Philly isn't rooting for the Phillies? Right? (The answer would be my husband, the Mets fan, LOL!)

So far today, we've watch the Flyers win in overtime... now we are back and forth between the Phillies and PSU/OSU... and of course I'm scrapping while I'm watching.

Tomorrow we head down to Eagles game bright and early, trying to avoid the World Series mess that parking and traffic will be... getting in will be difficult but getting back out with be an absolute nightmare. Our stadiums (football, baseball, basketball, and hockey) are all situated together, so when there are games at the same time or even close to one and other, it's a bit of a mess... but being that this is not just a game, it's the World Series, it will be quite another matter all together.

But enough about sports, because I'm sure that's what all my scrapping buddies want to read about... I've been on a bit of a roll the passed few days so I have lots of new pages to share!

 
Using Winter Wishes by Zoe Pearn

 
Using Mod Squad by Cori Gammon

 
Using Itsy Bitsy by Lauren Grier

 
Using Preppy Autumn by Traci Reed

 
Using My Way or the Highway by Lauren Grier and Shawna Clingerman

 
Using Sugar Maple by Cori Gammon

A Worthy Cause...

I am always happy and willing to support those in need. Today my friend Jamie brought to my attention a wonderfully organized silent auction to benefit a very sick baby girl and her family.

You can read more information on little Zoe and here story HERE.

And I'm thrilled that I could help in some way, so we are auctioning off a $150 gift card to Sweet Baby Designs!

Please spread the word if you are as touched by this little girl and her family as I was.

Friday Scrappin

So I've been working hard towards my goal of NOT layering (specically not layering with paper strips). One of the easiest ways that I've found to achieve this is to step outside of the normal scrap supplies that I work with. My favorite right now is Kasia, because I find that her kits really stretch my creativity...

 
Using Dancing Elephants

   
Using Autumn's Kiss

 
Using Dear Diary

I'm happier with these pages than I've been with any in quite a while... I also think that is partially because I didn't browse the galleries before creating them, so they are just me, my take on these kits without trying to be like anyone else.

And of course, I've added a few new things to my wishlist that I want to share...
 
Full of Wonder NEW today at Weeds and Wildflowers! I've seen so many gorgeous pages in the galleries with this one that I just have to try it for myself!

 
Beary Sweet NEW at Shabby Pickle today! I'm such a sucker for red lately, so this is right up my alley!

Hope you all have a wonderful Friday!

I'm challenging myself...

I was looking through my gallery recently and suddenly all my layouts were screaming at me... "Photo left side.... layering... AHHHH" and I realized how similar they all look!

So my challenge to myself is to NOT layer in my next 10 layouts. I like to try to stretch myself creatively and I feel like this is a good way to step out of my comfort zone.

So how about some Tuesday favorites while I'm here....

I adore these button stacks by Rachel Young, who is not selling at ScrapArtist!

This collab at Scrap Orchard is just to adorable!

And a new release by Kasia at Shabby Pickle!

Happy Tuesday All!

I've been bitten by the...

organizing bug! I swear, I don't know what's gotten into me. To quote my sister today, as I was dusting under my DH's desk, "You've got to be on something"!

I spent the weekend re-organizing all my photos. I've decided to take a more chronological approach to scrapbooking, simply because I've found that I'm HORRIBLE at making actual albums... so I'm following one of my scrap idols and my friend Vanessa and switching to Shutterfly books. Being the OCD person that I am, I can't print randomly, so I have to have books for each month (or a couple months) but they have to be in order!

**Editted to add: They are all spoken for!*** What this also means is that I'm going to do a little RAK... I've got 5 American Crafts Modern 8x8 D-Ring Albums that are just collecting dust in my office. I have Green, Red, Pink, Navy and Brown.... so I'm giving them away, first come first serve and please let me know a few color choices. All you have to do is email me at jacbernardo@gmail.com with your address and it will be on the way to you! I've also got extra packs of page protectors, so I will throw some of those in with each album.

And this falls in line with the other organizational project that I took on this week... my office. I swear, I am stretching every square inch out of that room that is absolutely possible. At this point, I'm going to have to start hanging things from the ceiling because I've got so much crammed in there. My business is run out of my home and we've turned what would have been a den, into an office. It houses three desks, a minimum of 3 computers, sometimes 4, 4 printers and oodles and oodles of shelves. We also keep all our shipping material there (except the excess inventory that is stored in the basement) and right now we are stocked for the holidays, so the room is ready to explode with boxes, envelopes, and packing paper! I spent Sunday sorting through my desk, setting up two new cabinets with baskets and bins (because I LOVE bins) and just generally throwing things away. It feels amazing and I alwas find that I'm so much more creative when I have a clean desk.

I have fit in a bit of scrapping though...
 
Using Rustic Charm by ScrapKitchen

 
Using Absolute Cherry Crush by Lauren Grier, Shawna Clingerman and Penny Springmann

 
Using Hawaiian Sunset by Zoe Pearn

 
Using Pink Elephants and All That by Shawna Clingerman

Lots of scrapping...

I've finally had a bit of scrapping mojo lately, so I've been trying to take advantage...

 
Using Autumn Blossoms by Amanda Heimann and Pineapple Plantation

 
Using Saturday in San Diego by Eva Kipler and Sara Amarie

   
Using Boo 2 You by Cori Gammon, Fuzzy Knitted Alpha by Zoe Pearn, and Dressed up dots by Robin Carlton

And a new page for my IWYTK album... Fall in Love...
 
Using Autumn Blossoms by Amanda Heimann and Pineapple Plantation

Fly Eagles Fly....

Or crash... whatever. I'm thinking of changing the lyrics.

Around here, you'll hear the Eagles fight song about as often as you hear anything else. My youngest son LOVES music, so I sing to him often... just normal baby songs like rock-a-bye baby or the wheels on the bus... and of course, the Eagles fight song. That might give you a taste of how fanatical we are about the Birds.

Today's game was painful.... there wasn't a fan in the Linc that wasn't shaking their head in disgust by the end... and I think there were very few that actually made it to the end. We left with 2 minutes left because my husband was hoarse from screaming and about to have a heart attack.

But win or lose, we love them and we'll go into every game optomistic and hopeful. And as I said to my husband, purchasing these season tickets was something that I agonized over. Insanely expensive and of course I was anxious about leaving the kids with my mom for the entire day (not that she would do a bad job, but that it would be really asking a lot!) But now that we are into the season, I absolutely love it. I count down the days until the home games and I'm just like a little kid at Christmas the night before... I love the atmosphere, the energy, and I also love the time that my husband and I get to spend together.

So after a long day, I felt like a little scrapping was in order to pick up my spirits...
 
Using An Ecclectic Fall by Kasia and Everday Titles by ali Edwards 

I have a bunch of photos of Logan in this position and I realized that I've never scrapped one. He loves to stand at the front door and look outside. He also loves when I go to the other side and smash my face against the glass, but I don't think that would make such a lovely photo... LOL!

Happy Sunday All and I feel like I should jump on the bandwagon with my 7 year old son and say GO PHILLIES! LOL!