MrsMommyCEO

My Space

I recently began cleaning out our upstairs play room (not to be confused with the downstairs playroom)... because who needs two playrooms? I realized that it was a room full of stuff that no one used or even touched, it was storage.

So I completely gutted the room. Two trash bags, 4 donation bags, and some shifting around later and I had an empty room on my hands that was SCREAMING to be mine!

Now normally I would be enthusiastic to run out and buy things to fill this room in exactly the way I wanted, but I realized that I would be better off to use what I have here and just make do... which I really feel good about.

Yesterday I finally put my plan into action to paint two random kitchen cabinets that we had in the basement. I believe they were a hand-me-down from my mother in law who got them on clearance. But we never used them anywhere because they didn't have a top. I painted those and as luck would have it, picked up a cheap piece of counter top at Home Depot that is exactly the right size!

So now I have storage and work space, for about $60 (cost of paint, counter top, and liquid nails). I'm so excited!

I've been working on the room slowly, trying to not to become so absorbed in it, that I neglect everything else. It's really coming together! I have my desk for work, my new counter and some cabinets for all the crafting I have plans to do, and a reading corner.

Honestly, the reading corner is what motivated me more than anything. I've been searching for a quiet nook in the house where I could retreat when I needed some time away from the activity and the noise and now I've got it. I again used an old wicker chair that had been floating around the house, with no home, and an antique student desk which was collecting dust in the boys room. My little corner is cozy and warm, tucked away and I cannot wait to start using it.
 
Keep in mind, this is undecorated at this point. I'm trying to get all the big stuff situated first and then I have plans to recover this chair and make new pillows!

One last shot from the doorway....

Inspiration

I am so thankful for the Internet... of course I am, I spend 75% of my day attached to my computer. In all seriousness, I'm grateful for the people that have had a chance to touch my life without even knowing it and it's my hope that just maybe I am able to touch someone else's life in the same way.

I'm an avid blog reader and I'm always on the hunt for new ones. A few months ago I stumbled across Janet Phillips' blog and I instantly fell in love with her. She inspired me creatively, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually. The thing is, I've never said anything to her, I've never sent her an email or even commented on her blog. But honestly, her blog is one of my absolute favorites. I admire her creativity immensely, for she is truly talented as a designer, as a scrapper, and a photographer. I admire her as a parent, because from everything that she has said about her experiences with her children, I always get the feeling that she is very grounded, focused on what is truly important and that she takes the time to enjoy the small stuff. And probably most importantly, she has inspired my faith.

I have been a Christian all my life but I have struggled with how to literally practice my religion. It's one thing to believe, to tell people that you are a Christian, but it is another thing to show them, to let your life and your actions speak for themselves. I was instantly struck by how Janet seemed to do this effortlessly... her faith is as much a part of her life as breathing. It's incredible to listen to her stories and to draw from them, so that I can learn to spread my faith through my whole life.

I admire her honesty, that she is not afraid to talk about her faith so openly. In the world we live in, I think that we are constantly on guard against offending others with our religion, worried that we will put them off in some way. However, she has an attitude that I am trying to adopt myself... that her faith is as much a part of her as that fact that she has two hands. It just is, and she doesn't apologize for it or seem in any way hesitant to talk about how she truly feels and I believe that is beautiful and amazing!

I'm sure the chances of her reading this are very slim, but I needed to voice how very much she has touched my life and also, how grateful I am that God has given us such wonderful opportunities to know others, no matter how far away they are!

Everybody loves cookies...

 I am so excited to be the fetured LO in this week's cookie decorating challenge! Missy has gernerously made my Sticky layout into a fabulous cookie...

Don't you want to go play? Visit the Cookie Decorating Challenge to download your template!

Lazy Days of Summer

It seems that summer is finally here and I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying it. The kids and I are just kicking back and relaxing and it's been so wonderful.

I've also managed to accomplish a few things, like finishing the tile in the downstairs bathroom and painting the back door, so that feels really good too! I don't know why it's so much different having Wesley home, but it just is. I want to say that life is less scheduled, but that's not true at all because I am a clock person all year round. I live my life on a schedule, so we are always still on it, even with him home. I think it may be just that there is less on my schedule. Mornings are less hectic because there isn't a rush to get everyone breakfast, get lunch made and bookbag packed. Afternoons are better because naptime isn't interupted by having to get Wesley off the bus, there is no homework, and I'm able to start dinner later because bedtime isn't quite so strict. It's just a nice change of pace and I feel like I'm almost more productive because I feel like I have so much free time.

The boys have also been enjoying the pool as much as they can and I completely forgot last week that I had promised to share a few pics...
 
And I really need to teach my husband how to use my camera. I completely forgot that it was set on manual settings and had him take photos... you have no idea how many blurry shots I have. He's so intimidated by my camera, I'm amazed he even picked it up in the first place!

Logan absolutely loved the water and I can't wait until I can take him back in. The water temp drop signifigantly with the rain we've had and it was too cold to take him in this passed weekend. I hope it's up again soon because he was just too cute!

Not much else to report! Here's a few new pages though...

Using Eva Kipler's new Happy Dance!

 
Using Surf's Up by Zoe Pearn, Mini Hangy Alpha Thingy and Sunshine Playtime by Traci Reed

 
Using Country Fair by Dani Mogstad

Celebration of Life Charity Kit!

This is a wonderful cause and an AMAZING kit! I had such a blast using it and it's so jammed packed, I know I can use it again and again...

Published!

I got published!

You can find my Serenity layout in the April 2008 issue of Bella Scraps Magazine! Full Credits found HERE!

Organizing and Scrapping...

I've spent the better part of this week meticulously organizing my digiscrap stuff. It's a huge task, but honestly, what's the point in having s much if it's not even useable because you can't find it?

I'm totally sold on ACDSee, which allows you to tag and sort your items for easy use. You also have the freedom to customize the organizational system completely, which I think is wonderfully versatile!

A few pages... FULL Credits HERE

I've caught the bug...

I'm been a digiscrap lover for years. I've always oooh'ed and aaaaah'ed at the kits and couldn't resist purcahsing them.... knowing that I had never done even a page of digital scrapbooking.

A friend, a fellow kit hoarder also, finally broke down and decided that she had to start using her purchases. I love her talent and her designs and I was a bit envious of her hobby. The more she talked and the more she loved it, I began to itch to try my hand at is as well.

After being in graphic design for 3 years, I already know what I'm doing technically, it's just learning to implement ideas and push my creativity in a new direction.

I've fallen in love with this hobby almost overnight. I love the reward that I get, in doing something that is just for me, something I can enjoy so much. But also, I love that I'm creating something that my children can have for the future.