tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86642072011-12-27T18:17:16.230-06:00"The point is not that they lived happily ever after. The point is that they truly lived." Life - Liberty - Love - Homeschooling - ScrapbookingSarahnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-89992390957319474592011-12-18T15:58:00.000-06:002011-12-18T15:58:58.252-06:00

When I was just out of college, I worked for The Salvation Army, in a low-level, basically insignificant position, for about 14 months. While I hated the job, and was positively terrible at it, while I was there, I fell in love with the organization who's mission is encompassed in the phrase "Heart to God, Hand to Man". See, The Salvation Army takes Jesus' parables in Matthew 25 very seriously.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-24403535537687749782011-10-17T17:57:00.000-05:002011-10-17T17:57:46.647-05:00

This boy has so many nicknames--because he's so loved. :) Grantlers, Little G, and my personal selection, CBiT...the Cutest Boy in Texas. This layout started out during a 2peas challenge to use apples but I got bogged down and didn't finish it before the challenge closed. Oh well. I did manage to use some of the beloved Scenic Route Paper from the stash. :) Hope you are having a magnificent

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-72730851362006036992011-10-02T23:30:00.001-05:002011-10-02T23:31:17.752-05:00

It looks like an ornament punch...but it's many things actually. Tonight, with a slight modification, it becomes an acorn for my *nuts about you* card. --Sarah

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-9138042635084028652011-09-19T15:58:00.000-05:002011-09-19T15:58:35.309-05:00

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-45777281422103975462011-09-08T08:49:00.000-05:002011-09-08T08:49:56.182-05:00

Inspiration for scrapbooking is all around us. Check out this fabulous font *and* a phrase that would make an excellent title for a page...straight from the pages of the newest Land's End clothing catalog! You can find a free version of a very similar font right here. And what a lovely color scheme shown on the cover of this Pier One Imports catalog! The colors of the chair are just begging to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-61863689381155090092011-08-29T10:27:00.000-05:002011-08-29T10:27:46.111-05:00

I am convinced that being born and raised in the South and being raised in a minister's home (or more accurately *homes*) predestined me to be a foodie. There was just no escaping it. Foodie--one who indulges in all aspects of food-ism and food-ology, from shopping for, preparing, eating, photographing, writing about and taking pleasure in providing it for others...yep, that's me. Some of my

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-5935201721342277292011-07-27T18:55:00.000-05:002011-07-27T18:55:32.525-05:00

Another of the layouts that I mostly finished at my weekend retreat... I'm particularly happy with this page, because it used several items I've been holding onto indefinately--the alphabet stickers from Basic Grey and of course, the (beloved) Scenic Route paper. I'm so hooked on the white pen...making lines and adding tiny touches of white to patterned paper...it's one of those inexpensive

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-2941478185925242762011-07-24T21:15:00.004-05:002011-07-25T19:00:00.690-05:00

Stop the presses...there's a blogger in the house. :) I've had some awesome scrapbooking adventures lately--the most recent was just this weekend. I attended a small scrapbooking retreat with a friend in the booming metropolis of Centerville, TN. You know it's not a scrapbooking retreat in the woods until you've driven on a single-lane, dirt road, near the babbling brook and in sight of a few

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-66380227493670531622011-03-23T17:41:00.001-05:002011-03-23T17:50:28.586-05:00

So last week was G's Spring Break aka my favorite week of the year. We have several big events coming up--Joal's returning to Africa, replacing the atrocious carpet in our house with beautiful wood floors, and a trip to Texas when school's out, so in an effort to conserve dollars, we decided to forego the usual spring break vacation trip. That is, until I realized that Joal was going to be

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-171908922606888932011-03-23T16:47:00.000-05:002011-03-23T16:47:28.675-05:00

So not too long ago I signed up to become a Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator. To keep the Stampin' Up! gig separate from my regular blog stuff, I have a new blog... http://stampyourstory.blogspot.com/ You know what to do! :) --Sarah

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-43200985869030797482011-03-13T19:30:00.004-05:002011-03-14T21:56:52.974-05:00

I've been a scrapbooking crazy-woman lately. The cruise scrapbook is well under way and I am so excited about it. The idea for this page from the 2008 cruise to Grand Cayman came to me as I was browsing the Crate & Barrel site and saw these plates! Inspiration comes from many places, yes! And then right after I started it, this weekly challenge was put out by one of the Garden Girls at Two Peas--

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-6602872531087338332011-03-01T20:29:00.001-06:002011-03-01T20:34:56.848-06:00

Listography Assignment #2 -- Movies I Could (and Do) Watch Over and Over Ahh this is an easy one. I'm very selective about the movies I watch and for me to watch something more than once...well, if I do you can bet I really like it. We are fortunate to live very close to a great place called McKay's Used Music and Books. It's a magical place for buying and occasionally selling used media of all

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-64228806671229925242011-02-20T14:26:00.001-06:002011-02-20T14:30:40.306-06:00

We just got home from a cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship (our 5th) and on each of the past cruises, there has been an offering of a scrapbooking class on the sea day. It's extremely basic and there's not actually any teaching...one of the activities staff people (not a scrapbooker) lays out some supplies (gluesticks, markers, colored papers, punches and decorative scissors) and says "go to town".

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-71623405211555750952011-01-14T09:23:00.000-06:002011-01-14T09:23:15.088-06:00

So I've become  a stalker an avid reader of Mary MacAskill's Very Mary Blog of late -- her clean and colorful style really draws me in and makes me want to scrapbook -- she's known as the vellum queen and you know I love vellum -- and she makes cards and takes cool pictures -- and I enjoy her writing style. One of the things she has done recently is to begin using lists on her blog -- and I

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-60953216786371195322011-01-13T16:24:00.000-06:002011-01-13T16:24:25.418-06:00

No not the stinky anti-mosquito candles...the paper. K&Co makes a line of summery fun paper called Citronella and I loving it! See the whole line here. While we are snowed in here in Middle Tennessee, I've been scrapbooking some summertime pictures, in a lame attempt to stay warm do something besides eat. Here's my latest page: That gently swishy blue paper with the waves comes from the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-38755203539412538262010-12-21T16:42:00.000-06:002010-12-21T16:42:25.941-06:00

One of my favorite tools in the modern scrapbooker's arsenal is a variety of paper punches. For my non-scrapbooking friends, the concept is the same as a standard hole punch, only the shape is something other than a circle...and it can be bigger or small than a standard hole punch. There are thousands of shapes to choose from and many styles. Here's one I've been using lately: The shape of the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-68656188982393505952010-12-20T01:48:00.000-06:002010-12-20T01:48:37.758-06:00

Sunday evenings at the ranch have been alternating lately between Movie Nights and Craft Nights. Tonight was of the Craft variety and this is what the boys and I made: We had a good time. (I dred the day my boys decide crafting with me isn't so "cool". I try not to think about it.) I stole borrowed this idea from one of the scout leaders, who had the scouts make ornaments like this one to take

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-87595892967836670372010-12-17T23:33:00.001-06:002010-12-17T23:46:59.104-06:00

I said goodbye to WalMart many years ago after a continually frustrating relationship, and trasferred my shopping loyalty to Target. And bless their hearts, Target went and built a new location not too long ago, that is right close to my house. So a funny thing happened on the way out of Target tonight... This evening I did a little bit of shopping for the peeps in my house of the Christmas

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-22746829376472947652010-12-15T12:01:00.000-06:002010-12-15T12:01:36.556-06:00

So a few nights ago Grey (who is 7) disappeared into his room for a while to do some writing, something that makes my heart so very happy. Above is the product of his writing session. I love that he asked Santa about "Mrs. Claws"... Santa Claus kinda takes a minor role in our Christmas...our presents are from each other, but Santa leaves the items in the stockings. On years when Joal's not

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-9099540779556705942010-12-14T18:23:00.002-06:002010-12-14T21:31:24.486-06:00

So Julian and I went on a crazy adventure today...a food adventure...that's the best kind right? A few weeks ago, I read on Facebook about a new thing that's come to Nashville--The Grilled Cheeserie--a gourmet food truck! The concept of a food truck (great specialty food sold all over the city) fascinated me and hello--grilled cheese--can't go wrong there. I knew Juju would go along for the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-15562088022036423712010-12-13T13:05:00.000-06:002010-12-13T13:05:09.305-06:00

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-5632626125346903452010-12-12T23:36:00.001-06:002010-12-12T23:43:55.033-06:00

So it's snowing in Middle Tennessee, which means life as we know it stops and we are stuck in the house, until all 62 snowflakes have melted off. For me, that means watching movies to keep my sanity. Last evening, before the flakes started falling, I hit the Blockbuster kiosk at the mother ship Publix for 2 movies...one for the boys and one for me to watch after the boys went to bed. I selected (

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-4894319095325397082010-12-05T23:21:00.001-06:002010-12-06T08:11:45.641-06:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year...I have been blessed with an extra-ordinary dose of happy this Christmas and that has made decorating so much more fun. We have a long-standing tradition of getting a way-too-large fresh cut Christmas tree...the smell alone makes up for the fact that it will be a big horrendous mess to deal with in January. Every year I consider purchasing a silk tree--

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-45235268837314529312010-12-02T23:00:00.000-06:002010-12-02T23:00:42.675-06:00

The woven backs of these red leather chairs really caught my eye. They were very sturdy and would have been so cool in my rec room. There was just the small matter of getting them into the trunk of an Altima for the ride home. :) Somebody's back porch is mourning the loss of it's beloved, time-worn chair. The one with at least 6 coats of paint. Clearly not an antique, but a cool crafty

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-33414979666314662302010-11-30T23:24:00.000-06:002010-11-30T23:24:42.055-06:00

Compliments...are a funny thing...and a topic that I would love to write a book on someday, because so few people actually get it. Few people know how to give truly good, make-another-person-feel-grand compliments. For the record, "you've lost weight" is not a compliment. It's commentary. "You look awesome!" is a compliment. Never say to a woman, "that dress is amazing." That is not a compliment

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-54199093049103445062010-11-29T11:25:00.000-06:002010-11-29T11:25:39.103-06:00

If ever there was an appropriately-named store, it's this one. Antiqueland. Plain and simple...it rocks. Here are some of my favorite images from my time there.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-58309389574961241852010-11-12T20:18:00.000-06:002010-11-12T20:18:39.350-06:00

So I'm just going to make a list...of the six things I've been meaning to blog about lately. One To all my friends who have birthdays in October, (and there are sooo many of you) I'm sorry I missed your birthdays. I have no excuse. October just got away from me and I didn't get any cards made (or even bought) or mailed. So sorry. Please know that you are still loved...and not forgotten. Two

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-53760106690481308792010-09-28T18:01:00.005-05:002010-09-28T20:15:11.665-05:00

Consider yourself warned. I am about to make full use of the "it's my blog, I'll scream if I want to" clause. I detest the annual magazine fundraiser that our school conducts. Wait. Detest may not actually be a strong enough term to adequately describe how much I loathe this concept, but my thesaurus us downstairs, so detest and loathe will have to do. Grey is 7 and in the second grade. He

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-7812239701353417122010-09-28T01:32:00.001-05:002010-09-28T02:09:18.236-05:00

This, my friends, is the most dreadful fireplace and if completely removing it from my living room was an option, I would do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I have to live with it...so I'm on a mission to make it over. We don't use the fireplace. Never have. No plans to in the future. It's completely "for looks". Afterall, you can't have a 1970's American Ranch-style home without a fireplace.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-2840662456315610742010-09-26T15:02:00.001-05:002010-09-26T15:18:28.583-05:00

Canning Jars Mason Jars Pickle Jars Ball Jars Tea Jars Whatever you want to call them, I love them. Nothing says "down home" like sweet iced tea in a Mason jar. Nothing says "old fashioned" like a vintage button collection in a Mason jar. Nothing says "yum" like homemade pickles canned in a glass jar. Nothing makes you suck in the sides of your mouth like a dill pickle the size of Rhode Island

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-72636777108991136752010-09-23T10:15:00.002-05:002010-09-23T11:19:04.615-05:00

Two Saturdays ago, I took a little road trip over to Precious Scraps in the booming metropolis of Dover, Tennessee. Dover, population about 2000, and home to one very nice scrapbook store. For those of you who might not know, the greater Nashville area, especially the west side of town, is severely lacking in scrapbook stores...we have exactly zero, much to my dismay, so, whenever I want a

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-50909957995948889022010-09-22T16:41:00.001-05:002010-09-22T16:50:54.312-05:00

Stamping...I've loved the idea of stamping for a really long time but haven't always been an active stamper, per se. Funny how that works. Stamping certainly goes hand in hand with scrapbooking. I'm working the rust and cobwebs out from the blogging joints...so if I seem a little lost, you know why. I'm out of practice. The creative side of me is languishing. Sadly. I purchased this curling

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-17646704292175747722010-04-25T23:15:00.002-05:002010-04-26T00:00:21.284-05:00

So in my duel roles as the resident wedding-know-it-all in my family and the sister of the groom-to-be, I've been reading wedding blogs like a mad woman lately. I can't imagine how much more complicated my own wedding would likely have been had I had such unfettered access to fantastic ideas and inspiration as the Internet holds these days. Seriously, Joal got off lucky on that account, as he

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-2515452635720292512010-04-22T10:12:00.003-05:002010-04-22T10:24:12.211-05:00

I'm on a kraft paper background kick...this year. Kraft paper for me is like white for many people...it's just so easy. Kraft and white...love it. The boy is my sister's child...and he's adorable. The clouds and stars are from a Martha Stewart Bubble Quote sticker pack purchased at twopeas...the letters are very old vintage rub ons from Reminisce that I picked up at the scrapbook outlet store in

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-73717237788453882202010-04-21T18:19:00.002-05:002010-04-22T09:57:45.888-05:00

 This is the storage shed/fort that graces my backyard. It came with the house and was a major selling point for some members of our family. :) Since the last time we (and by we, I mean Joal and some of his buddies) painted it, Uncle Daniel built and installed the new (dependable) ladder. As you might imagine, going up the ladder and hanging out in the fort, is not something I do very often, or

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-11025257739112089482010-04-15T23:45:00.001-05:002010-04-15T23:48:32.645-05:00

My dad says life is seldom pure and I agree. The thought gives me pause and I seek out the memory of the last time I felt one of those moments of rare purity. I can think of two. Nothing recent comes to mind, which bothers me. Last May, Joal and I took a real vacation, alone, to Bar Harbor, Maine. Four days. No sons in sight. No work in sight. Nothing. Just Joal and Sarah. Two people who have

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-84272563401006904952010-04-12T14:18:00.001-05:002010-04-12T15:01:13.770-05:00

This is the facing page (with the journaling) for the previously posted Sophia page. Do you know how long it's been since I completed a two-page spread? Long long time. Vellum...so very easy to use and so much overlooked these days. :) And one more card... In other news, back in October, my friend Leigh Ann and I made a little trek down to EMI Scrapbooking to take a couple of card-making

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-82134806995440323182010-04-11T12:19:00.002-05:002010-04-11T12:21:57.102-05:00

Sophia the Cat came to live with us at Christams. We have never had a pet before but Sophia has quickly become part of our family. She's a beautiful cat--very regal and appropriately stoic. She sleeps alot during the day but at night, she plays. Since I'm a nightowl as well, I get to enjoy her playfulness more than the guys. We roll the ball, toss the socks around and she talks to me. It's pretty

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-32525997302173160652010-04-09T22:17:00.001-05:002010-04-09T22:18:47.661-05:00

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-47394780451657614322010-04-02T00:43:00.001-05:002010-04-02T00:45:50.257-05:00

So, I have recently been admiring the blog of Paper Crafts Magazine girl Kim Kesti, but oddly enough, mostly for the saga of her quilting. She's doing these quilts with circles...which I have found fascinating. Mixing patterns randomly challenges me, but I like the circles... Kim Kesti's Blog.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-63371712555864374392010-03-30T10:19:00.001-05:002010-03-30T10:23:50.301-05:00

Joal and I spent the first weekend in March together on a trip to San Antonio with many of his colleagues. If you've been around a while, you might remember that we have been on several cruises, courtesy of NWYC and Joal's dilligent work. This year, instead of a cruise, he earned us a spot on the land-lovers trip to San Antonio. One of the highlights of the trip (for me) was a quick trip to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-65089027172407928262010-03-15T16:57:00.004-05:002010-03-30T09:50:21.173-05:00

Our family has been members of Samaritan Ministries, a faith-based, medical needs sharing co-operative for almost ten years. We sought out this alternative to traditional medical insurance after the highly-rated, big name medical insurance company we had been insured by for more than three years *illegally* dumped all its client in the state of Tennessee without informing us. The big insurance

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-48862496903443032862010-02-23T11:16:00.000-06:002010-02-23T11:16:40.759-06:00

Stampin Up offers a fabulous dies known as the Top Note. I am so loving this die!

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-84904833555879475692010-02-23T11:11:00.000-06:002010-02-23T11:11:11.162-06:00

6-Get a Blog and Keep it Updated! This is absolutely not an optional thing. If you can type an email, you can keep a blog updated. With stores across America dropping out of the retail scene constantly, keeping in touch with your clients regularly is vital. Blogs are so very easy...if your store doesn't have one, you are missing out. 7-Monitor the major scrap sites. Your on-line presence must

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-39729548978467596252010-02-13T23:36:00.000-06:002010-02-13T23:36:24.276-06:00

Here and there, from time to time, I visit random scrapbooking supply retailers all over this state and a few other states as well. I love scrapbook stores, especially independant ones. I love the charm and character that I find in most of them. I enjoy browsing--checking out supplies and art and soaking up the creative energy. Unless there is none...and then I just get sad. I should first

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-57257956878139091982010-02-11T13:24:00.000-06:002010-02-11T13:24:09.719-06:00

I'm blogging. No excuses...no long drawn out promises never to neglect my blogspot again...let's just jump right in, shall we? *This* masterpiece is what I found when I downloaded the pictures off my camera today. Lovely, huh. Boys. Oh yes, he took it himself. In scrapbooking news, I received the most fabulous tidbit of news last Friday evening. Club Scrap has resumed selling

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-5650780629773501812009-12-03T14:34:00.004-06:002009-12-03T15:43:50.195-06:00

So, no, I have not completely abandoned the blog, but I confess to severe neglect. No real reason, other than I am suffering thru a bout of "too many gray winter days the do not lend me much upishness" otherwise known as "I'm kinda bored."Joal travels quite often for work and his preferred airline is Southwest. Fortunately, Southwest *doesn't* go thru Atlanta, and does go to most of the places

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-62121813283109375012009-11-16T21:30:00.004-06:002009-11-16T21:39:47.500-06:00

These are some of the cards Anita and I made at the Stampin' Up Stamp-a-Stack class last week--some with some minor modifications...because I just can't copy something 100%. :) It was a fantastic class...

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-8472640614853033712009-10-27T12:41:00.002-05:002009-10-27T12:49:17.483-05:00

Years ago, Martha Stewart poured some pretty blue glitter on a foam pumpkin and created a whole new kind of elegant fall magic. At least in my mind. :) I seriously fell into deep like with glittered pumpkins and have never looked back.The A Muse Lounge Challenge for the month of October is to stamp out whatever October means to you...for me, nothing says October more than blue glittered pumpkins.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-9125344062623161562009-10-27T10:57:00.004-05:002009-10-27T11:10:55.292-05:00

Look what I pulled out of the Mixed Paper Bin at the Recycling Center over the weekend! Isn't it a beauty? Better Homes and Gardens from March 1968!! It even has that vintage magazine smell. :)Check out some of the advertisements inside:It's rainey and damp here...but this made me smile. Tomorrow the recipes section.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-86688751657357886242009-10-20T16:06:00.003-05:002009-10-25T20:18:22.898-05:00

I enjoyed attending 2 A Muse Art Stamps classes this weekend where this was one of the cards we completed. Note the use of Fabrique Applique aka puffy paint (leftover from the days of embellished and painted t-shirts and sweatshirts--hello 1985) on the snowballs. How fun is that?This tag was a project from the tag class that I modified a little, making him into a card, with Stickles. :) Glittery

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-41440996979749856532009-10-09T13:47:00.000-05:002009-10-09T21:32:29.870-05:00

Things are slow these days...blogwise. I've been busy doing all the little projects that had accumulated on my "wish I had time to do this" list while I was getting the cruise scrapbook done.I have organized stamps--meaning that all the clear photopolymer stamps are now housed in clear CD cases. Watch for more stamping to come to my little blog--mainly because I need to use the stamps I like to

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-34509770945854182702009-10-04T23:41:00.002-05:002009-10-04T23:48:17.952-05:00

This is what a girl does to celebrate her newly organized ribbon. I've been saying "I want to do that project" for months, after seeing a fellow pea create a similar display of buttons under glass. Blues and browns of all shades...these are a few of my favorites. :)Speaking of buttons, have you seen this blog called *BUTTONFloozies*? It's shh-weet. Don't miss out.Happy Monday morning!--Sarah

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-91610366915459261052009-10-04T18:18:00.005-05:002009-10-04T18:47:52.023-05:00

It took until almost 4am, but the ribbon has been redeemed! Around 1:15 am, I realized that Capri Sun boxes could be cut in half and make the *perfect* holders for rolls of ribbon. As it just so happened, there were 8 empty Capri Sun boxes in my area, waiting to be recycled. (It's a long story.) So, I chopped them all in half and used them. Four boxes will fit in a large Iris Cart drawers, which

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-6269236174912332432009-10-03T18:11:00.006-05:002009-10-04T01:28:49.108-05:00

"Chaos" has to be the only word appropriate for describing the current state of my ribbon storage. It's unruly and outrageous. And something has to change.How did I ever let it get this bad?Help!!In other news, sometimes it all just comes together. Don't ya love it when that happens? Case in point: When Joal and I were in Bar Harbor, I found a book called *Best of Bar Harbor*. It's basically a

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-86755352399820227482009-09-27T23:21:00.000-05:002009-09-27T23:22:44.875-05:00

Go see this if all things ribbon, you like. Road trip, anyone?

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-13291026540577769792009-09-20T18:58:00.001-05:002009-09-20T19:09:42.698-05:00

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-20176631596447393692009-09-16T00:28:00.004-05:002009-09-16T00:39:00.258-05:00

One of the finest video artists creating on Youtube today is Kristina Werner. Seriously, her stuff is top notch. She puts out a feature each week on her blog called Make a Card Monday--this week however, was not a card, but a card idea sketch keeper. Above is my version.Note: I didn't have a stapler handy so I used a thick thread to "sew" the pages together in two places. This paper is from

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-57874218553111637372009-09-15T12:22:00.001-05:002009-09-15T12:28:07.212-05:00

When Good Men Cry OutSeptember 14, 2009On Friday night Congressman Joe Wilson from South Carolina cried out against one more in a long line of lies that President Obama has told the American people. The president said that the proposed "Obama Care" would not cover illegal aliens. However, the congressman knew very well that without any enforcement mechanism in the bill (which he had actually read

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-89299974847408478072009-09-14T18:32:00.002-05:002009-09-14T18:33:34.921-05:00

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-88980874711864135552009-09-13T11:39:00.006-05:002009-09-13T11:51:26.773-05:00

I am in deep like with A Muse Art Stamps. They are simple and clean and so very easy to use. My mom's mom, Bobbie, had a fan just like this...it was old and black and heavy. I remember it distinctly (which is saying something) so you can see why I was drawn to this particular stamp.A Muse is hosting a challenge right now called the No Coloring Zone challenge--participants create without using the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-35413798520064488702009-09-04T20:48:00.004-05:002009-09-04T20:50:36.970-05:00

Found some paper to love today...because of course, I don't ever get tired of new paper. :) I'm not usually drawn to stacks...but this one is yummy. And it was half-price. Gotta love that.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-59029130952393850442009-08-29T14:56:00.001-05:002009-08-29T14:59:25.448-05:00

We pray for your safety and your continued success. Godspeed Discovery.http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts128/index.html

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-39548299445915581432009-08-25T14:00:00.006-05:002009-08-27T14:09:10.861-05:00

(Click on each image for a larger, readable image.)Article from Creating Keepsakes, August 2009. Written by Lori Anderson. shown with publisher's permission, (c) 2009

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-68753875669939947382009-08-24T16:23:00.004-05:002009-08-24T16:29:54.676-05:00

The month of August is almost gone and I forgot to mention that two of my layouts were used in the stamping department of the August issue of the online magazine at http://www.scrapbooking.com/.You can see it here.Nothing ground-breaking...just a little basic stamping.It seems to me that layouts and pages about teenage boys are disproportionally unrepresented (is that a phrase?) in the scrap

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-7657773522725706912009-08-04T00:06:00.002-05:002009-08-04T00:12:30.577-05:00

With this my 1000th post, I would like to take a moment to mention that my father now has a blog:http://pilgrimministries.blogspot.com/Dad writes a weekly email about spiritual things and I have convinced/persuaded/bullied/coerced him into putting it out in blog form as well.If you get the email format from him (called P@ss It On), don't worry. You will still be receiving the email. That won't

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-78798958847871804642009-07-22T17:20:00.002-05:002009-07-22T17:42:15.051-05:00

On principle, I hate reality television, mostly because it's oxymoronic. But, I do like to fast forward my way through Design Star every now and again. So now that there's a new season airing, I thought I might offer up a few thoughts on this designer's dining room. The graphic walls/floor design is cool, or cold, rather, but interesting. I wouldn't have done it in the dining room, and I wouldn't

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-74048639358365308282009-07-21T21:09:00.004-05:002009-07-21T21:59:49.928-05:00

Guess what?I did something tonight that I have never done before.I. cooked. fresh. fish.Fresh fish = fish purchased today at the fish counter and wrapped in paper. Not frozen. Fish that didn't come out of a box or a can.Just so we are clear.Yes, me.Fresh fish. Be impressed.I did it. I overcame my fear of cooking fish.With a little help from Bobby Flay and this episode of Boy Meets Grill.On the

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-84863221447876256312009-07-19T21:49:00.002-05:002009-07-19T21:58:05.796-05:00

Below is the Note Daniel posted on Facebook:A year ago today at roughly 9:15 my brother was shot in the neck by an insurgent in Afghanistan. I have tried to write this update a half dozen times and not been able to get it done. I don’t know how to sum up this last year. My heart is heavy. It is not out of desperation or hopelessness I think it is more out of a since of enormity of what has been

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-31110864505462420892009-07-19T21:23:00.003-05:002009-07-19T21:42:31.371-05:00

On the occasion of the "one year mark" of Andy's wounding, I thought I'd answer the oft-asked question of "How is he doing?" I never know quite how to answer that question. I know people want to hear "he's doing good" so we can all move on but I don't say that. Maybe it's still too early for the new definition of "doing good" to be clear yet. Every day presents new challenges and life is at a

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-3798254878475271402009-07-06T23:43:00.003-05:002009-07-07T00:22:15.286-05:00

I do still scrapbook, believe it or not. :) Summertime and the usual post-vacation let down is kickin' my ya know...I just can't seem to get out of the funk lately. I'm thinking I might retitle my blog "I need a brownie." LOL! I had 2 items ready to post here--2 layouts that utilized some of the ever growing (exponentially) stamp collection at my house. I posted them at 2peas and within a day

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-14642746386631684632009-06-22T13:15:00.000-05:002009-06-22T13:45:23.905-05:00

The first day of our time in Bar Harbor we lunched at this sweet little local sandwich place--Michelle's Brown Bag Cafe. It was quite the busy spot, even for the off-season, so we took that as a good sign. While we waited in line Joal decided to try the Maine Handcrafter Root Beer. He later said it was stout and stuck with him for a long time.We ordered the gourmet Tuna Salad and it was a total

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-9623471081839526512009-06-20T02:34:00.003-05:002009-06-20T02:56:16.438-05:00

Would it be ok if I just schmere this stuff all over everything? It's called Waterfall Stickles. And I am so hooked. I've decided life just looks better when covered in Waterfall glitter! I think it would make good eye shadow too. My fingers are already covered in it. I could just swoosh a little across my eyelids. It dries fast.It's the perfect accent for my cruise project...in conjunction with

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-50075250901681272252009-06-18T23:46:00.004-05:002009-06-19T00:07:41.424-05:00

So, as a southern girl, I had never had a tried and true Lobster Roll. As the little sign at the corner cafe said "it's alot of lobster, on a roll, with just enough mayo to keep it all together. And yes, it's good."It was served with a pickle and Cape Cod chips.It was good. I'm glad I tried it. Probably won't do it again as it was a little pricey and for that kind of money, well, I'd rather have

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-86975848148288867822009-06-16T22:36:00.002-05:002009-06-16T22:39:15.613-05:00

The Chicken BarnMy father-in-law told me about this place...I think it probably deserves it's own weekend. Unfortunately this is exactly not the kind of place that is condusive to spending time with my husband. This is pretty much his idea of t-o-r-t-u-r-e.Next trip.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-46780856510299406362009-06-12T16:45:00.003-05:002009-06-12T16:50:09.674-05:00

This card is just so detailed and delightful...can't help but smile. It's created by *forevercatchingup* and can be found here at twopeas.This layout inspired my this week...I am all about the waves. See it and other views here at twopeas.As if Fridays weren't fabulous enough already. :)Take a look...

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-56499430472046586132009-06-10T18:29:00.000-05:002009-06-10T18:29:38.268-05:00

That's all.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-24758860890110800482009-06-10T00:03:00.004-05:002009-06-10T00:31:25.144-05:00

I wrote the title to this post and then realized you are probably thinking that all I did on my vacation was shop. Ha! Not true. We did nature things, and we ate at fantastic seafood, and we enjoyed our trip alone immensely...but yes, I did do some seriously fun shopping.One of the things about Bar Harbor that I find incredibly appealing is that there are no major chain stores...no major chain

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-35120552299807532502009-06-09T19:23:00.002-05:002009-06-09T19:26:51.264-05:00

The boys and I take many trips to Lowes during the summer...and I reward myself by taking the camera along. I got this picture on our first trip of this summer--can't wait to print it.Daisies are my favorite flowers...big ones like this, and small simple white ones...I love them all. To me, there is just no comparison.Enjoy.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-18177248724249476852009-06-08T10:35:00.000-05:002009-06-08T10:36:26.149-05:00

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-54245368303268448312009-06-07T21:40:00.004-05:002009-06-07T22:20:47.977-05:00

While Joal and I were in Bar Harbor, he discovered a store called Fabricate while on his first morning walk around town. We ate breakfast at the Cottage Street Bakery & Deli--our first indulgence into the world of blueberry pancakes and blueberry-topped french toast that is so very popular in Maine. It was a calm and perfectly delightful meal, not only because we were the only patrons present at

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-33826057963152885092009-06-07T15:00:00.001-05:002009-06-07T15:10:35.758-05:00

Popa and Gramma have a cat named Sophia. Whom Julian fell in love with.Seriously.He was so gentle and sweet with her.He spent so much time quietly petting her.Watching her.Calling out her name when she wasn't around.He bugged her a bit.She swatted him.He laughed.And learned where not to touch her.She was so forgiving.He needed alot of forgiveness.She brought him such tranquility. I bet you see

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-46792939324479424232009-05-26T21:44:00.003-05:002009-05-26T21:47:46.818-05:00

Ever since our trip to Uncle Andy's G has been lobbying for a fish tank and some fish. He can be somewhat convincing so it appears that we will be enlarging our family in the midst of June.Tonight he and I visited the local pet store and I admit, I fell in love with a couple of little slimies called Kissing Gourami, aka "kissing fish". We'll have to have a few of these... :)I hope they get along

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-65300587976637100752009-05-21T21:42:00.002-05:002009-05-21T21:53:49.697-05:00

I have ordered a book--Kitchen Memories by Anne Snape Parsons and Alexandra Greeley. I can not wait for it to arrive. When I read the commentary, I knew I would love it.Memories of grandmother's cooking are warm, inviting, sustaining and comforting, but most people have not taken the time to preserve their family's favorite recipes. As a result, many treasured recipes are lost to the fast-food

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-63086293871212044202009-05-11T12:21:00.000-05:002009-05-11T12:21:39.822-05:00

Wood County Texas, specifically Holly Lake and Hawkins, honored our boy with a very nice Texas Bar B Que dinner on Saturday evening.More shortly.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-47472706273800138322009-05-06T18:08:00.002-05:002009-05-06T18:16:38.090-05:00

Cory took this picture of Andy at church...I thought I would share it...flashy fashionista sunglasses aside. :) I have the pleasure of leaving on Friday to go to Tyler for a dinner on Saturday night honoring Andy in his former hometown of Hawkins, TX. Andy's first gig as a volunteer fireman was at the Holly Lake Fire Department, near Hawkins. Those folks seem to think quite highly of him..LOL!

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-55738475728245732692009-05-04T01:15:00.003-05:002009-05-04T01:33:54.494-05:00

I get asked about scrapbooking by a variety of people and one of the most popular questions is "how do you ever catch up?" (and variations of such.)The answer is very, very simple--I don't.Not to be snarky, but getting "caught up" is not even a goal. I would surely be sunk if it were. This is my hobby--something I do because I enjoy the process. If there was a bunch of pressure to make some kind

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-20960159327211881852009-04-30T19:43:00.000-05:002009-04-30T19:44:38.706-05:00

Check out this lovely piece of work!

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-21962714251466615002009-04-23T09:30:00.002-05:002009-04-23T09:34:48.837-05:00

So if you've known me for any length of time, you probably know that I love to tear paper. Paper tearing is, hands down, my favorite scrapbooking technique. It's easy, the tools are handy, and you really can't mess it up.So, when I find a great piece of work that features paper tearing...I get a little too giddy. With that in mnd, you have to go see this layout--------->>>> SNUGGLE by *Paula*

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-38089562761992109572009-04-23T09:17:00.003-05:002009-04-23T09:21:36.595-05:00

Will the booties be pink or blue? :)(Made with the QK REV Stocking die...slightly modified.)

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-70957350283920273092009-04-21T11:39:00.004-05:002009-04-21T11:52:46.210-05:00

I did a little bit of shopping on our trip to Texas and found this rockin' stamp set by Inkadinkado! My life is filled with rockers so it was an absolute necessity. :)I had never used the Inkadinkado polymer stamps before...but I am very impressed. They are super high quality, easy to remove from the liner and make a very crisp impression. I can't wait to use them again.Happy Tuesday.--Sarah

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-58299588601549001302009-04-02T21:32:00.002-05:002009-04-02T21:46:04.777-05:00

As promised, the monthly update on Andy--he's making a way. As Daddy says "there's a new normal in town" and it seems Andy is finding his way to the new normal. He's been getting his apartment set up to his liking and was very happy to have finally acquired the Mossy Oak camo bedding set for his room. I spoke to him on Monday night as he was driving home from a day trip to Dallas with an Army

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-87214918207061443942009-04-01T17:15:00.002-05:002009-04-01T17:31:55.661-05:00

G had a holiday from school today (teacher conference day) so we decided to go to the Zoo. It was awesome! And the best part--thy came home very tired. LOL!Sunshine is so glorious. We all just drank it in.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-48038929765154353052009-03-31T10:28:00.002-05:002009-03-31T10:31:36.625-05:00

I suppose that when you drive 58,000 miles a year for work, you are bound to have more than your fair share of run-ins with the highway patrol, right. :) Yesterday was Joal's day for a ticket in podunkville TN.So here's to you, babe.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-42664592790934642692009-03-27T11:59:00.004-05:002009-03-27T12:28:09.237-05:00

Cute-sy stuff really isn't my thing, except around Easter. I bought the lamb stamp at Michaels for a dollar (Studio G) because it reminded me of the logo of the children's ministry at our church. I thought perhaps I would use it in G's school scrapbook for the year he attended pre-k at our church. I had visions of lambs for baby cards, lambs for Easter and spring cards, lambs with flockng, lambs

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-81546979063927466362009-03-25T13:42:00.003-05:002009-03-25T13:54:27.799-05:00

Hey, guess what?I actually do still scrapbook.Really. A few weeks ago Melly from 2peas emailed me and asked if I was interested in making a couple of layouts using some free goodies--how could I say no to that? One of the items she sent along for me to work with was the Travel Mat Stack from Die Cuts with a View. I've never used Mat Stacks before but was impressed with the cardstock weight of

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-7447314013810706372009-03-24T20:39:00.004-05:002009-03-24T20:47:58.095-05:00

I don't end up on this side of the camera very often--but I like this shot. It reminds me of the wind in my hair (obviously), the endless sound of gentle waves, the hum of the ship, and the occasional spray of sea water across my face. It reminds me of the warmth of the sun and the smell of the sea. It reminds me of laughter and love.

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-64335058201137855302009-03-24T15:46:00.003-05:002009-03-24T16:21:09.885-05:00

Brothersby Dean BrodyHave you heard this song?If not, beware.It'll getcha."Sometimes freedom makes it hard to live,It takes things from you that you don't wanna give."

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-89628763556852433742009-03-20T14:01:00.004-05:002009-03-20T14:25:24.375-05:00

So something happened to me not too long ago that made me realize I should be more grateful for those of you who take the time to read my little blog. I haven't said it lately--but I am grateful. Thankful--very very thankful for people who read what I write. If you weren't reading, what would be the point?So thank you, for sharing a bit of your day with me, whether I know it or not.Those are

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8664207.post-1538801049420350682009-03-20T10:15:00.002-05:002009-03-20T10:17:15.451-05:00

Happy First Day of Spring.Did you see the Google omage to celebrate?It's fantastic.I wish I could have Eric Carle come decorate my house!

Sarahnoreply@blogger.com2