Slacker posting apology

We all have one of these right? That first post that you write when you haven't updated in a loooonnngggggg while, and you keep putting it off because you don't want to admit defeat? *Sigh*

The best way to overcome that fear is jump in and start writing again. It's been a long road between that Disney trip and today. Yes, the trip was AWESOME, but just two days before we came home things starting to go awry with Grandpa Bob. You see, we take care of the hub's Grandpa, we're his only family. Shortly after we got home, the strokes happened. Then it was a whirlwind of hospitals, specialists, picking a nursing home, moving units in the home, more hospitals, more strokes and oh yeah, the holidays and a little event I've been working on for two years, the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl. Where we are with Grandpa Bob today:


Credits: Connected through Caregiving, Ties that Bind Add-On: Father & Son by SuzyQ Scraps and Template by Little Green Frog Designs (now at Scrap Orchard!)

This layout is part of a program I'm participating in this year - Project Love, Me by SuzyQ Scraps. I'm still loving being a part of her CT, and I've got to play with some awesome products over the last six months.

Things are picking up at Mousescrappers - I will be hosting a scraplift challenge starting tomorrow! They've also started a design challenge that I'm going to participate in, and it's a great way to build your Disney-inspired stash and support the site as well.

So welcome back if you've been around here before, and if not, welcome to my scrapbook journey! I'd love to have you follow along. I'll be back tomorrow (post is already done!) with details on the scraplift challenge, hope to see you around!

25 days to Disney!

According to my DisneyParks.com home page we are just 25 days from arriving at Disney! We booked so late last trip that this one seems to be sneaking up on us. I'm very much looking forward to a getaway with my little family.

In honor of our 25 days to go I've put together a list of 25 moments we can't wait to experience on this trip:

25. Walking into the Magic Kingdom. Nothing like the first glimpse of the castle!

(There has got to be a better way to get that photo without so many rear-ends in it)

24. Dinner with the Princesses. Every girl wants to be a princess, right?
23. Using Touring Plans, and the Lines App for the iPhone to plan our day and manage our wait times. I still need to buy it - maybe on Friday I can get that done.
22. Staying on property and specifically staying at Port Orleans Riverside – can’t wait to take C fishing and for a surrey ride.
21. Stopping along the way to meet characters – hope to find Captain Hook!
20. Visiting Animal Kingdom – we didn’t get there on the last trip.
19. Breakfast at the Tusker House, love Donald and Daisy and can’t wait to get our photos taken with them.
18. Pin collecting – I mean buying!


17. We hope to attending the Halloween party, i.e. MNSSHP (Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party)! Still debating if Connor would make it to at least 10 without being a crazy baby.
16. Having more time at Epcot, I really want to ride the Mexico ride.
15. Lunch at the Plaza on Main Street.
14. Visiting without C – so happy to have Mom and Dad there a few days to help out.
13. Toy Story Mania! (see #14)
12. Star Tours!! (see #14)
11. Seeing Mickey and Minnie in the new Town Square Theater.
10. Wishes and/or Fantasmic, and being able to stay since C will already be in bed (there's #14 again!)
9. Parades! Would love to see the one at Hollywood Studios.
8. Lunch at Hollywood Vine since it’s Disney Jr. with Handy Manny, Leo and June from Little Einsteins and the Hubs favorite - Oso.
7. Seeing the Beast’s Castle under construction in Fantasyland.
6. Yuengling beer on tap.
5. Riding the monorail, although we might give the ferry a try (but I prefer the monorail!)
4. A Mickey ice cream bar for Connor.
3. Photopass photos and Magic Shots, including ordering the photopass before hand to save $50.00.
2. Getting new plushies for Connor to go with Mickey and Minnie!
1. And most of all, spending time with my little family and making memories that last forever.

What do you look forward to on your trips? Any tips for traveling with a two year old?

Freebie Template - Mousescrappers Challenge #83

I'm excited to be hosting another challenge at Mousescrappers over the next two weeks. This is my first template challenge to host, and I modeled the template after a recent layout I did of Connor visiting the big semi at the State Fair:

CREDITS: {Stash-Builders} Simple Paper Alphas 1 and Vroom Zoom Chugga Choo Collab by SuzyQ Scraps

I then re-scrapped this layout for the 2010 Disney trip book (just three more pages to go!) using the same template and adding a few elements and not deleting the photo bar on the side. I really liked how this turned out:

CREDITS: Magical Vacation by Tracy Howard (retired) and {Stash Builders} Project 365 Date Stamps 1 by SuzyQ Stamps

It goes to show that some of the tips from the Topsy Turvy Templates e-book can help! I used some of those ideas in using the same template and coming up with two different layouts. I think next time I'll rotate it 90 degrees and see how that turns out.

Join us over at Mousescrappers through September 30th to download the template below. It's available in PSD, TIF and PNG files right now. PAGE files will be available later this week. Link me up to your creations - I can't wait to see how you use The Big Tilt template.

Topsy Turvy Templates - Suzy's first e-book!

I'm thrilled to announce a new project from SuzyQ Scraps that I had the pleasure of being involved in. Over at Scrap Orchard she just released her first e-book, Topsy Turvy Templates. Have you ever wanted to know how to use templates more often? I always see those templates in the stores and wonder how they get turned into to the designs I see in the galleries. This book shares tips and tricks on how to take four templates and use them dozens of different ways. Here's three layouts I had published in the book:

CREDITS: A Life Expressed...{Simply} by SuzyQ Scraps. Template (modified) by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs.

CREDITS: A Life Expressed...{Joyfully} by SuzyQ Scraps. Template (modified) by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs.

CREDITS: A Life Expressed...{Peacefully} by SuzyQ Scraps. Template (modified) by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs.

The e-book includes 11 ideas for modifying templates and includes over 45 scrapbooking tips PLUS a set of 4 exclusive templates from Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs. It's on sales this week for just $7.99 (regular price $9.99).



Head over to the Orchard and check it out. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Will you pick this up? Would you buy an e-book like this? Link me up to some layouts that inspire you to stretch your stash.

The never-ending Disney book

I have just a few pages to go! I've been motivated to get these digital scrapbooking layouts done this week. My Persnickety Prints cart is ready, just waiting on four more layouts! Here's two I've finished up this week.

CREDITS, MEETING MICKEY: My Happy Place by Captivated Visions and Litabells and Stitch Hiccups #1 by SuzyQ Scraps

CREDITS, MY PINS: It's Magical the Kit and Alpha from Just Plain Fun, both from Britt-ish Designs. Template by Wyld Peas Designs.

I really enjoy the layout about the pins. I've been a big fan of pin collection (not trading!) since my trip in 1999. It was then that they had rolled out the pins for the millennium celebration. Somewhere in a box I have about 20 pins from that trip. For the 2010 visit I had to limit myself and had a plan. I wanted one for each park we visited on the trip, a Mickey head, and one of Mickey and Minnie. I don't like the ones that open up or go crazy, but I do like the vintage Mickey ones. I could spend hours browsing the pins! I enjoy the pins so much, and I'm glad Connor got his Lighting McQueen lanyard and pins on his first visit, given his in-utero name. I'm a collector - not a trader - because I couldn't bear the thought of parting with my favorites.

What's your favorite souvenir from Disney? Are you a collector? Don't even get me started on Vinylmations and the hubs obsession! Share with me - do you have a layout to link up? Can't wait to hear your stories.

Moving On

I've said it before, but digital scrapbooking is my therapy. I gravitate toward it to remember the good times, the bad times and the silly times in between. One of Sandy's daughters posted this thought today: Strange how life just keeps moving on. Isn't that true? But I suppose that is what we are here for.

So, moving onto the happier parts of this blog. I had a lot of fun with Suzy's new kit, A Taste of Autumn. I can't wait to dig in and play some more with this kit!

Taste of Autumn, the Bundle

I scrapped a fun photo from last year - with no journaling (quite rare for me!) and my first ever all journaling layout.

CREDITS: Taste of Autumn {the Kit} by SuzyQ Scraps

CREDITS: Taste of Autumn {the Add-On} and Taste of Autumn {the Clusters} both by SuzyQ Scraps.

Fall is just around the corner. It's back up to 90 degrees tomorrow here in the midwest then falling back to the 70s from there. I'm ready for football weather! Although I'm staying away from any conversations about our Indianapolis Colts...we're a bit of a fair-weather state.

Speaking of fall, we are just 31 days away from Disney! I should probably start the countdown now. The book is almost done, I have some pages to share later this week.

If you'd like to scrap those 2010 fall memories or get ready for 2011, pick up Taste of Autumn through Wednesday 9/14 for 20% off! Visit Suzy's store in the market here.

Life and Love

Sorry for the lack of updates or layouts, but I've been pretty occupied with the day job over the last two weeks. We made it through the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway as a family, and Connor loved his first trip to the track during a 'real' race. I have some fun photos to share over the next few days.

In other news, things starting to return to normal Monday night, then the text finally came from my boss, E, that his wife was succumbing to a lengthy battle with breast cancer. In just a few hours she was gone. I just returned from the visitation tonight and I'm so proud to call Hendricks County my home. I saw hundreds of people tonight, and I've taken over 100 phone calls in two days from people expressing their condolences. SS raised an amazing family, and spent over 40 years with her soul mate. I only hope I can be so fortunate in my years. Her kids - MB, KT, B and J are amazing. The inlaws and the grandkids also loved her beyond belief. I've heard of miracles, but I'm watching them unfold in front of me right now.

Please pray for this family in the coming weeks. They were so lucky to have SS in their life, and to share in her love. I'm grateful I got to know her over the last nine years.

Rest in Peace Sandy Sue. Your legacy will go far beyond tonight - and with generations to come. I hope you are up there sorting out these wild Brazil, Indiana connections right now - I'll need a detailed explanation when I get there. Say hi to my friends and family, and know that your love will continue on and on.