My Pink Jubilee

Pinterest Projects

2011-12-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

As you guys know, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pinterest. I needed a simple project to use as a gift card holder and this project was just perfect! My kids like to give a little something to just about everyone at their school. So, I got a lot of Sonic gift cards and let them give to whoever they want. Their favorites seem to be, the music teacher, the art teacher, the nurse, just to name a few. I had each kid sign a note and slip it inside the glycerin bags stamped Merry Christmas. I only used paper and ribbon from my scrap box, nothing new purchased! Had fun doing it!! Hugs

Giving Thanks

2011-11-28T20:22:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! We celebrated Roman's birthday on friday at CEC and he had a blast!!! He is such a sweet boy. Then the whole family watched U of H beat SMU. We are ranked #6 in the nation now!!! We are going to Saturday's game against So. Miss. Sunday, we left for the beach. We stayed for 4 days and YES the kids actually swam!!!! It was 83 degrees!!!

Loved being able to spend Thanksgiving with my sweet mom, my brother and his 3 kids and Veronica. So happy that we all live so close to each other now. Thankful :)

Halloween At My House....Spooky Fun!

2011-11-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would post a few pics of my house decorated for Halloween. My kids really got into it this year. The orange lanterns on the stairs are taken out on halloween night and hung from our trees. It was nice to have them ready to go. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. How can you not love all of that orange and black :) Hugs

You are Six Sweet Boy!!!!

2011-11-18T07:46:00.000-08:00

Today is my sweet little Roman's birthday!!! How can that be???? Just yesterday, I brought you home, wrapped in a tiny little hospital blanket. You are the funniest in our family, kind with a gentle spirit, messy, an athlete, an animal lover, honest.....everything a mom could want in a little boy. I Love You Lima Bean!!!

My Little Referee

2011-11-17T18:12:00.000-08:00

Reagan got the opportunity to referee Roman's last soccer game of the fall season. She did a great job and really enjoyed herself! She wants to try and and ref in the spring as well. She always has big plans. I love her Spirit!!!

My little girl is 10.....Shut Up!!!

2011-11-15T16:30:00.000-08:00

OMG, I mean really, double digits!! My girl?? No way. She is soooo sweet but growing up WAY to fast. She has been the joy of our lives for 10 years. It has been so much fun and never a dull moment!! She wanted a Halloween themed Birthday Party so we had a little mini party at the house and then hopped in the car and headed for Fun Tiki and some Go Cart fun!!! She invited her cute friends Natalie and Alexa from soccer. They are speed demons in those carts!!!! We had so much fun. Enjoy the Pics!!

An Artful Extravaganza

2011-10-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

An extravaganza of the senses!! I travelled to Utah with 2 of my best friends, Christa and Keely. We headed of for some great shopping as soon as our wheels touched the tarmac. Then off to dinner at Sundance with Penelope, Keely's friend. A great meal, good friends and a little wine :)

We woke up to a beautiful day and we were ready to create!! And create we did. Margie is just AMAZING and she put together a wonderful event in which every single thing was thought of down to the last detail. She surrounded herself with very talented and amazing people work so hard. And believe me, you could see the love and all that hard work from the second you arrived. We had music, laughter and everything was just so visually stimulating. How could you not feel creative in such a place!!

I love, LOVE, LOVED the teachers!!! I mean, I sewed for God sake, and TOTALLY ROCKED IT!!! Loved the SHE canvas class so much....it was really freeing to let go and just paint!!! Made a cute necklace, felted soap, carved a stamp and made a junk journal. Still wearing my cute pair of earrings. Enjoyed meeting every single teacher, sooooo talented!!

The event size was small and it was just the best. Visiting with the other girls attending, chatting with the teachers, sharing personal stories, just being able to catch Margie in the hall for a hug. Just priceless. I never had to race for a seat or be the first in line for anything. I could just ease on through, really enjoying the moment.

I plan to be there next year and I hope to see all of you there again. Hugs

Pinterest Fun

2011-09-19T22:27:00.001-07:00

Hi, I'm Timi and I'm addicted to Pinterest. I LOVE to pin and pin and add new boards. I love to see what my friends are pinning and what their loves and interests are. Well, today I finally pulled up my boards and made something!!! I am so happy that these boards really are my inspiration to try something new. It was easy and fun.

So, my kids are forever leaving their junk on the back stairs. ALL OVER THE STAIRS. Someone pinned a picture of cute baskets that they had placed on their own stairs for their children to carry upstairs at night and put their thing away. She put name tags on them and they were just so stinking cute. So here are a few pictures of my version. Roman said "mom, you are the best artist I have ever seen". The sweetest boy ever!!!!! Hugs

Day One of School!!!

2011-08-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

The kids had an awesome first day of school. Roman woke up VERY nervous about the whole thing but eased into it. Reagan suggested they wear matching shirts and I have to admit, Roman was very thrilled to be wearing the same thing as Reagan. They also looked stinking CUTE!!! Roman starts Kinder this year while Reagan goes to 4th Grade. Big years for both kids!!! Here's to a year full of friends and fun. Hugs.

New Teacher Gifts

2011-08-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

For the past 3 years, I have have been on the PTO board or very active in the PTO. It has been fulfilling but VERY tiring. This year I am taking a break. It feels amazing to be able to breathe. So I decided to throw together some little gifties for the kids new teachers. I put some "smartie" candies in pink bags and tied on a pencil, gomu erasers, B&BW hand sanitizer and a cute little nail file. I have never had the time to make something in years past because of t-shirt sales and other PTO duties. It felt great to create something for these special people in my kids lives!!! Hugs

Bring On The Tooth Fairy!!!!!

2011-08-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well he did it !! He lost a tooth !! I am the one that pulled it out but he was so cute and danced around the room. Bring on the first day of school !!

We Love This Girl

2011-08-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

Halle came to the beach with us this weekend and she is ABSOLUTELY the sweetest girl ever!!!! I wish Reagan had a dozen more friends just like her. She is polite, but speaks her mind. And she is so tolerant of little Roman. She just lets him tag along without missing a beat. We took her to Schlitterbahn and it was her first trip. Those kids about wore me out. Shannon, you raised her right, you should be proud.

20 Days

2011-07-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

We have had the BEST jumpstart to our summer.....20 straight days at the beach house!!!!! We had so much fun and entertained some fun guests while we were there. We watched Jaws together for the first time, found two sand dollars, went to schlitterbahn 5 times, baked in the sun with Tanya, celebrated 2 birthdays (Slade and MiMi), made homemade ice cream, went to the movies, napped in the hammocks and frankly just RELAXED!!!!! I was fantastic!! Enjoy the Pictures!!! Hugs

A Little Surgery For A Little Boy

2011-06-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

My sweet little boy needed a little surgery on his tongue to help him with his speech. Today was the day. He was was such a brave little boy. He was a little hungry!!! There were two very funny moments that I have to share. The first was when the nurse came to take him back for surgery. We had told him all about the nitrous oxide, how you breathe it in and it makes you sleepy and when you wake up it is all over. Well, as she is walking him down the hall he is saying "I will not breathe it, I will not breathe it". Jerad and I laughed our butts off. The second funny was when he woke up and was a little mean from the anesthesia. He is crying a little and then looks his nurse straight in the eye and says "I want every wire off of me right this minute". Again, Jerad and I laughed because that is soooo not Roman. He is the sweetest boy ever. He took a nap, built Legos and is now watching a movie with his dad. It has been a very long day.

I am grateful for my healthy children and hospitals to make them well again when they are in hurting.

Kinder Registration

2011-06-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

I registered Roman for Kindergarten a few weeks ago. He was just the cutest darn thing in his Wilder shirt and Backpack. He was so excited. He completed preschool last thursday and said to me "Mom, I can't wait to start Wilder tomorrow". I had a little explaining to do, but he soon understood that he will have a few months to wait for that. Hugs

Is there A More Beautiful Place On Earth???

2011-05-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

I don't think so!!!! I flew to beautiful Colorado to see my BFF Tanya. We have waited so long for a little R & R together. I got to see their beautifully renovated house AND it even snowed while I was there!!!! As a BONUS, Ann and Geoff just HAPPENED to be in Colorado for a wedding!!!! We stopped at a Starbucks and visited with both of them for an hour. Geoff took this great shot of the three of us!!!! We went to a beautiful Spa with hot springs, and were just flat out pampered. We drank a few beverages and believe it or not, WE SCRAPPED !!!! It was so much fun, our room was a mess with scraps, glue, chips and salsa. I cut out some die cut shapes at By Design and bought some cute papers, ribbons and things. Then, we sat in Tanya's scrap room and drug out all of her bling, paint and ribbon. Let's just say, we had PLENTY of supplies. The amazing thing is, she will be back in Texas in 2 weeks!!!!! So here are a few picks, I love you Tanya!!!

Beach Fun

2011-05-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

On a whim, we decided to head to the beach after Roman's baseball game. We were only there for 24 hours but boy was it RELAXING. I am so happy we have a place were we can escape and just decompress. It was actually a little chilly but that did not stop the kids, no way!!!! Love the photos I got!!! The kids will be brown little bugs by the end of the summer. Hugs

Spring Break Pics

2011-05-10T06:57:00.000-07:00

We had such a nice time during spring break vacation this year. We went to San Antonio for four days and hung out by the pool and at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It was a blast!!!! We stayed at the Omni and they actually take you to and from the park, so Jerad did not have to worry about traffic or anything. It was just a nice little get away and it is nice when you can actually "get away". Roman has asked to see the photos from Six Flags so here they are. Hugs

Look who came to visit :)

2011-05-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Onstad family!!!!! I could not believe we got them back in Houston so quickly. The Houston Dynamo were scheduled to play DC United, Pat's new team. So, they wanted to honor Pat after the game. Becky and the kids were able to come back for the game. But she didn't come empty handed, she brought back United jerseys for the kids!!!!! I could not believe how well the kids got along. It was obvious how much they have missed each other!!!! Pat even got to stay in Houston for a night and fly back with the family. Here are a few pics from the weekend. Hugs

TAKS Testing Today

2011-04-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of TAKS testing here in Texas. Reagan has lived in fear of this day for a long, long time. I got her to bed early (7:30) and gave her a good breakfast (hard boiled egg, bagel with cream cheese and bacon). But I really wanted to send her off to school knowing that we love and support her. I wanted her to know she is prepared. I wanted her to trust her instincts and go with her gut. I wanted her to know SHE ROCKS. So, Jerad and I made a few signs and hung them up in our breakfast area. SHE LOVED IT. She left on top of the world and ready to go. It was a good morning :) Hugs.

Happy Easter Sunday!!!!

2011-04-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

What a BEAUTIFUL morning here in Houston Texas!!!! It was a very nice day for an egg hunt :)

My kids love the hunt for the eggs in hopes of finding the GOLDEN EGG. I woke up at 5:00AM to hide the eggs and then went back to bed. Sweet little Roman came down about 6:30 and said he had picked out his upstairs window and saw a few eggs. He asked if he could look at his basket which I had filled with a bunny, legos, baseball cards and some chocolate. Then he woke Reagan up and the hunt was on. Even Oliver got in on the madness. I got some good shots of him. The sun was nice this time of morning. I hope you all had a fantastic day with church, family and friends. Happy Easter All. Hugs

Jones Family Easter

2011-04-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated Easter with my brother, his fiance' and his three kids. My mom put the whole thing together, provided the place to hide and hunt the eggs and provided pizza after. Now who could pass that up!!!!! I thought I would repay her with photos from the day and I think they turned out really cute. These cousins are like brothers and sister, and bicker back and forth. It is so funny to watch. We went back to place so the kids could swim and it was just a great day all around. Family is so important to me!!! I want to take advantage of the amazing fact that we all live live about 5 miles from each other. I am so greatful. Hugs

Spazz Out with the Spazmatics

2011-04-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

I LOVE the Spazmatics!!!! I mean they just make you want to dance, and dance and dance some more. Mandie, Susan and I took Becky out before she moved to DC. We started with Pappasito's and finished up with the Spazmatics. We never stopped dancing. It was a great night with great girlfriends. I soooo love Geoffrey!!!!! Thank God for Girls Night Out. Hugs

Rodeo Roundup!!!

2011-04-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

WOW, long time no post :) I am trying to play catch and will try hard to stay up to date here.

My kids LOVE the rodeo as most of you know. Both of the kids school celebrate with a day of western wear and fun. At Roman's school, I have contributed to the "rodeo" by making the stick horses. My mom helps and it takes about a month from start to finish. It is alot of work but the sweet kids thank me for weeks after the rodeo. So Sweet.

Reagan is just such a cowgirl at heart. She looks so cute in her cowgirl attire. So grown up and just beautiful, inside and out!!!! good to be back, Hugs.

A Day of Love

2011-02-13T21:37:00.000-08:00

I am up late getting ready for Valentines Day tomorrow. I just LOVE this day!!!! I mean pink EVERYWHERE, and those oh so cute little hearts. It just makes me smile. If you saw my last post, you will notice that it is one of Reagan's favorite holidays as well. Tomorrow, she and Roman will exchange Valentines with all f there friends. So fun!!!

I always do a little something for the kids and Jerad as well. This year I am following Willette's Joy of Love project for February and I decided to do something she suggested, which is a CD of love songs for your Loved One. I had to fight the urge to hot glue a big pink flower right on that plastic CD cover but settled on the ribbon :) He can slide that right off and it will be something he can tuck into his console. Lots of Love to all of you!!! Hugs

Like Mother Like Daughter

2011-02-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

I look at these photos and I just grin from ear to ear!!!! Reagan {9} needed to decorate a box to hold her valentines from schoolmates. The box I gave her was already really cute....pink with the words "Get Flirty" on it. BUT, no. She insisted on painting the box purple. Then she proceeded to go through my scrapbook stash to find the PERFECT letters for her name, a BIG pink flower and yes even some tulle {now you KNOW we are related right?} Then she placed it all on the box, in exactly the right spot. I glued it down with a glue gun. Didn't it turn out cute!!!!! I mean really, are we related or what!!!!! I am sure everyone at school rolled their eyes when they saw it :) Hugs

Cute Little Christmas Goodies

2011-02-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

Thought I would post some pictures of the cute little gifts we gave to some special people at Reagan's school. I always like to do something small for the VERY SPECIAL people that Reagan loves at her school. This year, I gave $5.00 Sonic Gift Cards and attached them to Coke bottles with a little note, a little ribbon and a little bling. I mean who wouldn't like a little bling on their coke, right? Hugs

Dad's Day at Beehive

2011-02-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, the dads were honored at Beehive, Roman's school. He made an invitation and gave it to Jerad.....so sweet. They had breakfast for the dads and then just did some projects and fun specifically designed for the kids and their dads. Roman was so excited and Jerad had a good time. Hugs

Joy of Love: Day 01

2011-02-01T19:20:00.000-08:00

I am following Kelly Willette's class The Joy of Love. It is a one month class focusing on a loved one in your family. It can be a child, husband, dog, cat, you name it. It focuses on a loved one and documents them through photos. I am choosing to focus on Jerad. He is rarely the focus of my photos and that is something I regret. Todays photo focuses on "What he does". One of the things he loves to do is cook for our family. Here are a few shots, day 01. Hugs

Revenge of the Nerds.....UIL Style

2011-01-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

WOW, what an event. Wilder Elementary ROCKED UIL!!!! we won first place over all for the second year in a row. An amazing feat!!!!! These kids were amazing and are just so darn smart!!!!! They came prepared and spoke, counted, spelled, listened and wrote creatively......and then they had a party on the gym floor!!!!

Reagan entered Music Memory, something that is really outside of her comfort zone. She worked so hard building up to the event. She took home a medal for 4th place!!!!! I have never been so proud of her. She was really proud of herself and is already talking about next year.

I love that her school celebrates the brain power these kids bring to the table. And celebrate they do. With parades, parties and pats on the back. Thank you Mrs. Bruce for celebrating the nerd in all of us. Hugs.

UIL Competition......IS TOMORROW!!!!!

2011-01-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

YIKES. I can not believe it is time again for UIL. Reagan is competing again. This time she will take on Music Memory. She is doing so well and is quite good at it. So, send positive thoughts her way tomorrow around noon. My hope for her is that she just do her best and feel good about her effort. They are having a "jeans day" today to celebrate the UIL participants. She is just so stinking cute.

I have to throw in a photo of Roman as well. This photo was taken last week at Beehive. They were celebrating Dads with a fun filled morning full of activities. Roman has baseball tryouts tomorrow morning. It is going to be a BUSY day. Hugs.

Such a BIG Day!!!

2011-01-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

Reagan has been begging me for about 4 years to allow her to get her ears pierced. I just did not really feel like she was ready for the responsibility. But, about 3 months ago, we were talking about something and It just hit me, SHE IS READY!!!! So, we surprised her with earrings under the Christmas tree. Two days later, she went in and got them pierced. Just like that, all grown up. Hugs.

It's a Brand New Day!!!!!

2011-01-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!!!!! Everything seems fresh and new on January 1st of a new year, right? ESPECIALLY on 1/1/11 !!!!!! We spent the weekend at the beach house and it was very cold {Texas cold}. We popped firecrackers, watched movies and put puzzles together. We never left the island!!!! I took photos of New Years Eve and a walk on the beach New Years Day. I look at these photos and crack up at how tolerant my family is about picture taking. And you gotta love a man who will wear a pink crown, right?

I am committed to managing my time better this year. My free time is valuable and I am going to be a little more protective of it. I am already starting to scale back and it feels really, really good. I am also going to nurture and cultivate my friendships this year. I have needed my friends this past year more than ever before, and they came through for me. I love each and everyone of you. Here's to a FABULOUS 2011. Hugs.

Saying Goodbye

2011-01-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

I just suck at saying goodbye. I hate it. But last week, we got a group of friends together to say goodbye to Pat Onstad. He is the best goalkeeper in MLS history and helped the Houston Dynamo win back to back MLS titles in 2006 and 2007. He is an intelligent, giant of a man with a biting sense of humor. He recruited Reagan to soccer, a game she has grown to love and is quite good at. We have watched him play the game he loves for the past three years and it won't be the same looking out onto that field, into that sea of orange and not seeing #18. He encouraged me to run the half marathon, and always believed I would finish, which I did!!!

He is an amazing father to Peyton, Owen and Abby. A loving husband to Becky. A great friend to all who have had the pleasure of spending an all too brief bit of time with he and his family. HE WILL BE MISSED. He will go in a new direction and coach for DC United. They have no idea what they are getting. He will be an amazing coach.

I just wish it didn't include a move. Even though I have prepared for this day, it is hard. I can hardly look at Becky without choking up. But I have a few more months before I have to say goodbye to Becky and the kids. I vow to enjoy every day with Becky and her kids until they leave. Here are a few photos of the goodbye party and book I gave Pat. YOU'LL NEVER BEAT PAT ONSTAD.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way.

2010-12-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!! I hope each of you have had a JOYOUS holiday season. The Forrest family has been busy for the past week, getting together with special friends and family. I LOVE this time of the year!!!!! It just feels my heart with happiness. The kids received a trampoline for Christmas (I have to admit I am a little nervous), Reagan is getting her ears pierced, Roman has enough Legos to cover a city block. I got new perfume, a fancy pair of sunglasses and of coarse my imac. Jerad got a weight machine, boots and gift cards. I am including some photos from the month of December, working up to the big day. Merry Christmas to each of you, HUGS.

This Must Be Just Like Living In Paradise

2010-12-11T12:33:00.000-08:00

I can smell the suntan oil from here. Jerad and I just spent 5 days in Mexico and it was fantastic. We wanted a relaxing get away and man did we get it. We stayed at the El Dorado Royale Cassitas Resort. It was an all adult, all inclusive resort near Playa Del Carmen. Beautiful blue water and hot, hot sunshine. We slept late, took naps and had a few adult beverages {wink}.

We stayed in the cassita section of the hotel which was really private and separate from the main hotel. We stayed in a little "hut" which was about 8 steps from the beach. Our room had a hot tub, a bath tub AND an outdoor shower. We used the outdoor shower everyday. So Cool!!!

There were about 20 pools and the one near us snaked around to our back patio. I got such a tan. Jerad too. We are already planning our next trip. Now, bring on Christmas. Hugs

Girls Houston Getaway 2010

2010-11-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!! Could it be as fun as last year? Would we all get along? Could we stay busy? Ummmm, SHUT UP, of coarse we could and we did. I never dreamed we could have so much fun, or laugh soooooo hard. I will never see a carnival again without thinking of each of you :) Shiner Cheer, pappasitos margaritas and pink punk cosmos were a BIG BIG hit. Three projects from the FABULOUS Janet Hopkins. Late nights, Texas BarBQ, and more shopping than the average person can stand. Keely shouting "Just one more picture and that's it". Shari, giving Reagan the most AMAZING quilt I have EVER seen, made from her baby clothes. Oh and you are the queen of mixology. Susan, knocking people down for her morning Starbucks :) Carolyn, you just can't make that stuff up. Really!!!!! Ann, can I be honest? You made our group complete. Thanks for taking that leap of faith. So glad you came. Christa is a shitty friend but other than that, YOU ROCK Christa :) I love each of you more than you will ever know. Tanya, I missed you my BFF terribly. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!!!!

PS. Don't take a chance on getting sober :) Enjoy the pics. PSS....check out the lady behind Ann in the first picture. She is NOT feeling it :) Hugs

Kit Of The Month Pages

2010-10-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I was up this month for Kit of The Month at By Design Scrapbbook and these are the pages I came up with. Had a great time doing them. Felt good to work with paper. My friend Janet Hopkins will be coming to Houston to teach and 6 of my VERY BEST GIRLFRIENDS will be here to take classes with me. I am just giddy thinking about it!!!! Have a good week, Hugs.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

2010-10-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Time for our yearly trip to the pumpkin patch!!!! I love doing this and my kids tolerate it very well. They sit still for all of the photos and LOVE to search for that perfect pumpkin. So much fun to watch them circle the pumpkins and examine the stem. The color has to be just right and you can only buy what you can carry. My mom goes with us every year and then takes us out to lunch. It is a tradition I look forward to every year. What is your favorite Halloween/Fall tradition? Hugs

My Baseball Boy

2010-10-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

Roman is playing T-Ball with the Pearland Dad's Club. He is having soooo much fun!!! He really loves the sport. He is happy to practice and he LOVES game day. He and the other kids are taking turns trying all of the positions. On Saturday, he was asked to try catcher. He stopped the ball and even got someone out at homeplate!!!!! He hit the ball twice and "drove" in a run :) It is so much fun to watch them play. He even got the GAME BALL at the end of the game. One of the other moms took these photos for me. Aren't they GREAT. Hugs

Rock On Jonas Brothers :)

2010-09-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

OK, so Reagan thinks they rock :) ACTUALLY, they put on a great show and we got to see it live.

So, this is how it happened. My friend Christa lives in Arizona, BUT her uncle is THE man at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands. Sooooooo, while we were in Anaheim for the race, Christa mentions that she has two extra tickets for the Jonas Brothers on Saturday September 11Th. She was in town for the Dave Mathews Concert (I could write another long post about Christa's love for Dave) and can you believe no other adult family members wanted to see the Jonas Brothers. Reagan and I jumped at the chance.

We went to meet Emily and Christa for dinner and were almost at the restaurant when Christa called and said, "It we get there in 10 minutes we can meet the Jonas Brothers". WHAT!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! So we got there, walked in and got to meet the brothers. They were so cute and super sweet to Emily and Reagan. I thought Reagan was going to faint. Then, on to our seats, FRONT ROW, SHUT UP!!!!! An AMAZING night. Thank you Emily for letting my girl hang with a super cute teenager. She still talks about you. Christa, What a fun night. I am so lucky to call you my friend. SHUT UP, WE ARE SO CUTE!!!! {Wink} Uncle Jerry, you made one little girls dream come true. She will NEVER EVER forget it. Damn, how am I ever going to top that!!!! Hugs

A Few Funny Pics

2010-09-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

I took 400 photos while at Disney for the race. Wanted to post some of my favorite pics. Tonight I am going to upload photos so Ann, Christa, Shannon and Tanya can enjoy them as well. Hugs

I Did It!!!!

2010-09-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

It was ALOT harder than I thought it would be, but I made it, 13.1 miles!!!! And you know the crazy thing, I am ready to do it again. I never thought I would say that. I was AMAZED at how great I felt immediately after the race. My legs were tired but no blisters, aches or pains.

My time was 3 hours 24 minutes, which was a little slow for me. BUT, considering that I ran the entire race WITHOUT music, I think that was pretty good. As we were lining up with 15,000 of our closest friends, my earbuds must have slipped off of my neck. What a freaking nightmare!!!!! I really use my music as a pacer for my time so not having that did slow me down. Oh, and did I mention that I had to stop and pee not once but TWICE. I mean really, that cost me a little time as well.

Loved spending time with Tanya, Ann, Shannon and Christa. These girls are AMAZING. We all finished the race and got the most awesome medals. THEN, we played at Disneyland for several days. So much laughing, shopping, drinking....GOOD TIMES. And I get to see all these women again in November here in Houston. Life is good. Hugs.

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

2010-09-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

Well, tomorrow is the big day. I leave for California for my race. I pick up Shannon in Arizona and then Tanya will meet us in California. Ann and Christa arrive on Saturday.

I am so ready. My body and spirit are ready to go. I have waited a LONG time for this race.

The 5 of us have been right there for each other through the entire training process.

I have all my gear packed, tutu's packed, journals, and Disney charms. I am including a photo of the journals.

Once I get to the hotel tomorrow, I will post a link for viewing the race. Thanks to all of you for your love and constant support. Hugs

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Starting the Summer With Tanya

2010-07-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

Tanya, my BFF, came to Texas for a 3 week visit in June. I was shocked at how much I have missed her. She looks great and we spent some time together at her beach house. The kids really surprised me. When they were young, they were FORCED together because Tanya and I spent so much time together. Now, they are older and live in separate states but just fall right in line with each other. Just like "peas and carrots" you know what I mean. Reagan has cried several times wanting to see Wells again. I told Jerad last night that I am taking the kids to Colorado for spring break. Wells and Logan have promised to help the kids learn to ski. It should be fun!!!! Here are some of the beach photos.

BTW......many of you have asked about my photo border, like the ones in this post. Believe it or not, the photos are taken with my iPhone using an App called Hipstamatic. It is cool because you can switch film or change your camera lens to give you a variety of effects. The lens in these photos is the "John S" lens and the film is Kodot film. They are my favorite. Hugs

2 posts in 2 days....WOW!!!!

2010-07-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

wanted to post some photos of the projects I did for By Design Kit of The Month Le Bistro Rose. The paper had a decidedly patriotic look to it so I went in the July 4th direction. This was a project we started at Creative Escape last year so I took it further and added the great papers and embellishments I had in the kit. I also used lots of stamping which adds so much. I had this exact project in my mind back at Creative Escape. It played out well I think. Let me know if you have questions. Hugs

Five Girls and a TuTu

2010-07-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

Yikes it has been a while. Needed a creative outlet today so I decided to make a TuTu. Why a TuTu you ask. Well, you know I am running a half marathon in September right? Well, I wanted to do something crazy, but who can really run a half marathon in a TuTu? Well NOT ME. My friends running with me know I like to do crazy stuff (like crowns at CE). So they were not surprised when I started throwing around the word TuTu. I am sure they were all rolling their eyes though :) So, Shannon got us into the big pasta party blowout the night before the race and guess what, we are wearing TuTu's and little crystal crowns. HEAVEN. Yards and yards of pink tulle is any girls dream right? So, I had to figure out how to make one. I really think it turned out OK, what do you think. Big Pink Fluffy Hugs Everyone :)

Dancing Machine

2010-06-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was Reagan's end of the year dance in Galveston at the Opera House. It has been beautifully restored after Hurricane Ike. The girls worked so HARD but the final product was AMAZING. BTW, the production was The Wizard of Oz. You know how much I love it. Hugs

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

September 5th, 2010

2010-05-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

I have something really BIG to share. Many of you know I have been walking and running for the past 5 months. It was a personal goal I set for myself back in December, to get my butt moving and to see where it took me.

I did some soul searching and decided I needed a running event to keep me on track and motivated. I was talking back and forth with some girlfriends about it when I received an email from my GF Shannon. This is what it said...."OK, if you are interested, what about this being a girls trip to Disneyland with a 1/2 Marathon thrown in the middle".

I received on February 20th at 5:51 PM and the rest as they say is history. In the process of training, I have lost 65 pounds and suffered an injury....Thank God it wasn't fractured :) SEE PHOTO.

So, I counted and I have 96 days until the big event. I ran 4 miles today and am really pushing to get back to my pre-injury running schedule. So, let me hear from you. I want and need your encouragement. CAN NOT WAIT to cross that finish line with my girlfriends. Hugs

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A class With Friends :)

2010-05-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, my friend Janet Hopkins taught classes at my favorite scrapbook store in the world, By Design Scrapbook Boutique . I had not signed up for the classes ahead of time because of all the crazyness that is the end of school. You all know what I mean, right? Anyway, I went to the store just to say hi and to catch up with she and Tracy. Guess what, on a whim, i just stayed and took a class. Had no tools with me, Tracy let me borrow (Thanks Tracy). Plus, I sat by my design team friends Teri and Linda and they have EVERY supply ever made :) I LOVED the project and plan to give it to Reagan's Math and Science teacher. This is her first year to teach.

I continue to be amazed every time I sit in a Janet Hopkins class. She challenges and intrigues me more than any instructor I have ever had. She uses the most interesting, everyday items in her projects and turns them in to works of art. Taking a class with her is like scrapping with your BFF. So, thanks Janet. You made my day!! If you ever have a chance to take a class from her, DO IT. Oh, By the way, all the papers are available for download through House Of 3.

I also, met a blog friend in Class. She inspired me to Blog, so thanks for that Nancy :)
Hugs

Living In The Moment

2010-05-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

I am REALLY trying to be more present. Enjoying EVERY moment, right then, right there. Not just hearing my children, but really listening to each word they say. I have been leading the kind of life that is moving way to fast, stirring the crazy pot if you know what I mean. Today, Reagan asked me to eat lunch with her at school. I went, and here are a few pics of the fun time we had together. Enjoying each other, enjoying the moment :)

Soccer Mania

2010-04-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Just a cute photo of Saturdays game. Roman scored a goal and seemed to have a good time. It is a fun way to spend our Saturday mornings :)

Hugs

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Few Pages

2010-04-15T09:10:00.001-07:00

Hi all. A few weeks back, I did a few pages for By Design. I used some of the new papers she had in the store. The colors just screamed summer to me. Look closely at the blue paper behind Reagan's photo.

The butterflies are embossed on the paper and I sanded them to make them pop off the page....loved playing with it.

Have a super Thursday everyone...HUGS

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just A Test

2010-04-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
I want to test a new app on my iPhone to see if I can post to my Blog with photos...so here goes!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Park Trail Ln,Houston,United States

I'm BACK :)

2010-04-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

One of my dearest friends gave me a gentle reminder a few weeks back to UPDATE MY BLOG {thanks Keely}....I can NOT believe it has been soooooo long since I have blogged.....So, I am happy to be back :)

I am going to start with a Rodeo entry :) If you know my family, you know how much my kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the rodeo. It just cracks me up. Jerad volunteers on a Rodeo Committee so it is a family affair. This year, we were lucky enough to get tickets to see The Jonas Brothers, The Black Eyed Peas AND Demi Lovato/Justin Bieber. The kids were just pumped about seeing the acts they really wanted to see. We had so much fun at the concerts dancing and sing at the top of our lungs. The kids rode all the rides and played lots of carnival games. It was just a total blast for them.

One really awesome thing happened. A while back, I got an email from Shannon Fortunato. She wanted directions for a project I had done for The Pink Store so I mailed them to her. Well, I literally bumped into her cute little girl at the rodeo carnival. What is crazy is she recognized me from my blog.....isn't that funny!!!! She was just adorable and so was her entire family. We chatted for a minute, but after you walked away Shannon, I wondered if you had made the beautiful necklace you were wearing? I LOVED it. She has a fun blog that you can find HERE and you can take a look at the cute things she makes.

Will post some project pics in the next few days.

Glad to be back :) HUGS

Le Bistro Rose Project

2010-02-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

Warning....this will be a lengthy post. I just finished 2 projects for the By Design Scrapbook Boutique kit of the month "Le Bistro Rose" {see link to the side}. I wanted to do something special for Jerad for Fathers Day and have had an idea in the back of my mind for a while. I wanted to do a journal of appreciation for all that is good about him and our relationship. Sometimes you just need to be reminded. I want to remember one act a day that brings me happiness, so he will know that I am celebrating those small, kind gestures everyday. The green envelope in the front of the book will contain a hand written note to him explaining the meaning behind the book and also express how much he means to me. You know, I always like to give you projects complete with photos and the whole nine yards. But this is such a personal gift I wanted the finished project to be just for his eyes only, KWIM?

So, I stated the Janet Hopkins way and made my own journal from a discarded book. ALL of the items used in the book come from the Kit of the Month package, with the exception of the envelopes that you see in the book. We all have some of those lying around right? I also added my own letters. Nothing fancy, just part of my stash that I have in my scrapbook room.

Also, notice that I used the black and white grid circle paper for the page that I also made. Notice that on the back of this paper is a BEAUTIFUL butterfly. I wanted to use this in my book, so I cut the butterfly out into a nice square and then replaced it with the mint green paper in the kit. I cut the butterfly paper {yellow with butterflies} up and used the on this page as well as through out the book. I picked the butterflies with some blue and green coloring for the 12 x 12 page and that made the green paper look just fine.

I also LOVE the white paper in the kit that has all the sayings and quotes on it. So I covered the inside of my journal with it and then used a blue highlighter to "highlight" the quotes that I really liked. So that is the blue lines that you see on the inside cover. A simple way to make it meaning ful to you. I also had a strip of that paper remaining so I cut out some of the sayings that I liked and put them about the photos on my 12 x 12 page. The book is STUFFED with pages. I wanted to show you that ONE kit can make a beautiful completed book, a 12 x 12 page AND you still have things left over. It is a great deal. There are only a few kits remaining so go get one NOW. Hugs

Tanya's Circle Journal

2010-02-06T05:40:00.001-08:00

Just finished the first Circle Journal to come my way. It was Tanya's journal and her theme was "Guilty Pleasures". LOVED working on it. Including my photos through the process. The stamps I used were Heidi Swapp Stamps. The Pink Heart is her sign in card....SO CREATIVE. I am working on projects for the Le Bistro Rose "Kit of the Month", so, should have some more pics soon. Hugs

Adventures With My Girl

2010-02-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a busy 2010. Reagan has been especially busy with a school musical Suessical and UIL competition. The musical was just adorable and I was really proud of my girl. She really had a good time. (Notice the glitter in her hair). UIL was just sooooo much fun. Teachers help coach the kids who make the team. Reagan made two teams, Storytelling and Creative Writing. She competed against 30 other kids from 13 other schools. SHE WON A METAL IN CREATIVE WRITING !!!! I was just soooooo proud of her. She took 9th place out of 30. Enjoy the photos. Hugs.

A New Circle

2010-01-17T11:28:00.000-08:00

Most of you know I usually take part every year in a Circle Journal with friends. Well this year is no different. I just mailed mine out for its first stop in Sparta Michigan. I took an unusual approach this year and decided that I wanted my book to be more of an inspirational journal. I really feel that this year has the potential to be a fabulous, break-out year for me. I am working on elements in my own life that can be strengthened, revised, improved or simply tossed out.
Here is my idea for this journal. I want it to be a place for inspiration, laughter, frank discussion and motivation.…whatever makes you happy, sad, silly or mad.

So, with that in mind I came up with my title, "The Vagina Monologues". I thought the title fit our little group of girlfriends, KWIM? Besides, it just makes me laugh...and made Jerad roll his eyes. Here are some photos of my book, ready to be shipped. I can truly say, I am VERY excited to get this one back :) Hugs

Twilight Candles

2010-01-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hi all.....I have been away for too long :)
I will try to do better about posting, OK? I wanted to post a photo or two of the cute candles I made for some sweet ladies at Reagan's school. I got the idea from Heidi Swapp who made some of the cutest Christmas candles from House of 3. Anyway, these ladies LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all things Twilight and most of the are Team Edward. So, I made some Twilight candles just for them. They turned out cute didn't they? Hugs

A Merry Little Christmas

2009-12-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have been OFFLINE for the month of December :)
We had a really busy month. Jerad took me to New Orleans for a quick 3 day get away. I will post some photos of that trip later. Then we had to finish up school for the kids before the holiday. Rush here, rush there, you ALL know what I mean right? We spent the holiday here with my brother and Kara and their three kids. They were so cute. What a blessing family is. We are off to the beach this week to work on the house for summer. Will leave you with a few pics from the holiday. Hugs

Baby It's Cold Outside :)

2009-12-04T19:47:00.000-08:00

Today, we had a miracle in Houston.....It SNOWED, and snowed, and snowed. We got about 3 inches of the fluffy white stuff. I let Reagan and Roman stay home to enjoy the entire chilly experience. They loved it!!! Tomight, it is supposed to get down to 25 degrees so we are wrapped up tight here at home. Shannon, I am including some pics of your buddy Oliver :) Hugs

So Much To Be Thankful For

2009-11-27T20:37:00.000-08:00

What a week we have had here at the Forrest Household. On Monday evening, Roman had a bizarre incident at the dinner table. During the meal, he suddenly grabbed his throat in pain. He screamed and cried out that something was stuck in his throat. He vomited several times but still felt something in his throat. After talking with our friend Adam, we drove him To Memorial Hospital Southeast. Adam was waiting there when we arrived and they took him straight back. After a careful examination, Roman went for xrays. What they found in those xrays was just a mother's worst nightmare. He had a metal type wire in his throat!!!!! I mean really, i wanted to faint.

They recommended we transport him to Hermann Hospital in Houston. They took him by ambulance and I must say he loved that :)

After arriving there, they had to decide who would be best suited to operate on Roman. Once they decided who would operate, we were sent up to our room to wait for surgery. He was taken into surgery at 9:00 AM and about an hour later, they brought out the wire to show us. It was a wire from the grill brush that we use to clean the grill before we cook. That one inch piece of wire cost my baby so much pain.

He came through with flying colors. The Hermann Hospital family was just fantastic. Our experience there was truly amazing and I CAN NOT thank Adam for sending us in the right direction. These photos were taken with my iphone. Hugs

2 Birthdays and a Party

2009-11-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

Both of my cuties had a birthday within the last month. Reagan turned 8 and Roman turned 4. I just can not believe how grown up they both are. They had a joint birthday party at the Houston Zoo. It was so much fun and the kids really liked having their party together. It was so much easier for me, that much is for sure :) BTW, the BEAUTIFUL flowers were for Reagan from sweet Peyton. He is so special to Reagan. Hugs

It's All About Me Girls Weekend

2009-11-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

It has been a LONG time since my last post :( It has been SUCH a busy few weeks, all leading up to a Fabulous 5 days with my girlfriends from all around the USA......Shannon from Arizona, Keely from Chicago, Shari from Michigan, Susan from New York, Christa from Arizona, Carolyn from Maine and of coarse Tanya from Colorado. The fun included the Nutcracker Market, The Pink Store, Pappasita's Margaritas, Sam Moon, A Christmas Carol, Discovery Green, The Presidents' heads, and LOTS and LOTS of girl time. We were missing three good girlfriends, Teri, Cindy and Ann.....It is never the same without you girls :(

It was such a fun. I love these girls. They mean the world to me. We slept late, drank good wine, and just enjoyed each others company. We laughed until we cried. I can't wait until we can get together again. Hugs

Lotsa Pasta and Fun :)

2009-10-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Last saturday, our Wilder PTO hosted a Pasta Supper and Faculty Follies. We had SUCH a great turnout. So many volunteers showed up to help, that the night went off without a hitch. Mandie Perryman headed the event and she is just a dynamo. But the most amazing thing was the faculty. I was FLOORED by what they put together. They totally took the whole thing seriously, with well thought out skits, songs and jokes. The kids just cracked up and screamed at the top of their lungs. I am not sure when I have had more fun. Hey, let's do it again next year :) HUGS

Happy Birthday Adam

2009-10-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

We went out with friends to celebrate Adam's Birthday. NO KIDS, just adults, good food and a live band. What more can you ask for right? Here are some of the photos from the night. Hugs

Pumpkin Madness :)

2009-10-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

Mom and I took the kids to a church in the Houston area that brings in thousands of pumpkins and then sells them as a fundraiser. We raced to get there before the rain and we got about 5 minutes of photos without the wet stuff. But the kids had fun anyway. After the photos, I took the kids to see Toy Story 1 and 2. They really loved that :) HUGS

Beckham Breezes Into Houston

2009-10-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

Yep, he was here yesterday. Reagan was so excited and there was tons of EXCITEMENT in the air. Roman, not as impressed. He fell asleep during the game, I am not kidding. It was a sellout and the place was packed. Pat (Onstad) played really well but we just couldn't score. Game ended in a tie. Becky was such a good friend to give us tickets AGAIN. We enjoyed them so much. I have to say though, David Beckham looked totally scruffy and was STILL looking hot :) HUGS

More Classes in Dallas

2009-10-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

It was a BUSY 48 hours. I need to be in bed but wanted to leave with more photos of the weekend. Heidi taught more classes on friday at the Hilton Garden Inn while the By Design Retreat was in FULL swing :) I spent my day working with Jessica designing an upcoming class for BD. Then, Tracy, Heidi, Beverly and I hoped in the car and drove to Dallas for more classes. Heidi anf Janet both taught a class on Saturday and they were both AMAZING. Loved them :) It was great seeing Janet again and meeting her sweet new daughter Blakely for the first time. Good Times :)

Hello Heidi, Welcome Back :)

2009-10-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

She's Back !!! And her projects are just fantastic. I love how her mind works. Her projects are just filled with with little compartments, journaling spots and hidden treasures. She has encouraged me, through her projects and sessions, to explore and expand upon the small joys in everyday life. A life worth documenting and remembering.

Embrace your small joy today, Hugs

He is 45 :)

2009-10-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Jerad's birthday and I really surprised him this year. I enlisted the help of his boss Eric, and he told Jerad he was needed to work in the office on Friday, his actual birthday. This was not true of coarse, but I had to make sure Jerad did not schedule any important appointments or meetings for Friday. So, we woke up, and during cake and presents, I said, "BTW, you will not be going in to work today, we will be celebrating you all day!" He was stunned and so excited.

We started at the Apple store where I told him he could pick anything he wanted. He picked the Apple ipod Touch 64 GB and it is just amazing. Then off to Mark's, on of his favorite restaurants in Houston. Lastly, a 2 hour massage at one of his favorite places......sooooo relaxing. Happy Birthday Baby !!!!!

Today, BACK TO REALITY :)

Happy Anniversary Pat and Becky

2009-10-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

It was Dynamo Sunday today and Reagan and I were able to go enjoy the game with Becky, Peyton, Owen, Abby, Nikki, Carter and Coach Adam (Reagan's fabulous coach-she won't let me call him just Adam). I also got to see my cute friend Lisa C. She is the one waving in the photo. Jerad went to see the Texans play.

This past week was Becky and Pat's 10 year anniversary. S000000, during the half time break, a photo of Becky and Pat flashes on the BIG score board with this sweet message from Pat to Becky. Then a photo of the entire family is flashed as well. I mean it was an AMAZING moment, really romantic KWIM? Only thing is, BECKY was in the bathroom with her three kids......SHE MISSED THE ENTIRE THING. I took photos of it which you will see above. The good thing was this, after the game was over and Pat (green jersey) was leaving the field, they flashed it all again and said "Happy Anniversary Pat and Becky". She got to see it this time :)

So Happy Anniversary my friends :) BTW, the Dynamo clinched a spot in the playoffs today :)
Go Orange !!! Hugs

It's October and that means HALLOWEEN

2009-10-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Most of you know how much I LOVE Halloween. I spent the morning yesterday putting all of my Halloween stash out. I had so much fun doing it :) When the kids came home from school, they went WILD over it all. Even Jerad said he loved it. So I thought I would post some photos of the finished product. Hope you like it :) HUGS

Soccer Pics

2009-09-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Well, last Saturday was our first soccer Saturday. Roman is playing this year so we have two games instead of one. Reagan played first and she is so comfortable on that field. She had a great game, at least one goal and an assist (i can't keep up, so she says there were more). She has a new coach this year and he has been so good for her. He is just such a good teacher and helps them really play towards their strengths, KWIM? He has already made her a better player.

Roman was just so funny on Saturday. He looked great in his uniform. He sat patiently by as Reagan player her game at 9. He was up at 10. It was pretty hot by then and his little cheeks just turned beet red. He scored a goal early on and was soooooo excited by it. We were shocked and went crazy. He ran down the field giving us a thumbs up. So cute. Enjoy your evening. HUGS

CE Projects

2009-09-26T22:03:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time at the "post ce crop" tonight at By Design. Seriously, I love cropping with these women. We all get along beautifully. And talented, OMG, the things these women make are so impressive. I finished 4 projects tonight. Heidi's, Marah's, Lynette's and Debbie's. Added pages to Debbie's and some color to Lynette's. Put a larger flower on Heidi"s (big shocher right?) No photos yet but very happy with the way they turned out. HUGS

Papa John's Teacher Delivery Night.......A BIG HIT

2009-09-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

WOW, what a FUN night. Amanda Perryman, our PTO Fundraising coordinator put together the greatest event with our local Papa John's. Everyone from our school Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary, who phoned in a delivery order tonight, had their pizza delivered by a teacher!!!! Imagine how cool that must have been for those kids :) Papa John's gratiously donated 20% of the order totals AND we got to keep ALL tips. I was a volunteer driver and I can not remember when I have had so much fun. I was able to meet several teachers that I had not previously met. A fun time was had by all. I will post later and tell you what was raised for the PTO.....Thank You Amanda.....Thank You Papa John's......and THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to our volunteers who drove, our FABULOUS teachers who delivered and all of you Wilder families who ordered pizza......HUGS

Dynamo......On Fire Tonight :)

2009-09-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

We went to the Houston Dynamo game tonight and it was Fabulous!!!!! We won 3-2. Things are really getting tight toward the end of the season and every game is extremely important. They needed a win and they got one. Had a blast with Becky, Peyton, Owen, Abby, Adam, Nikki, and Carter. Snapped some photos and thought I would post them. Hope everyone is having a GREAT weekend......HUGS

It was a "Dean" day :)

2009-09-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

What a fun day I had today. My friend Becky told me Paula Dean was going to be in town for an appearance at Dillards to promote her new furniture line. She asked if I wanted to go and have a cook book signed. I said sure, let's go !!! Reagan received a Paula Dean kids cookbook for her birthday last year so I thought I would have it signed. When I told Reagan earlier in the week that I would be going, she cried when I told her I would not let her skip school to go see Paula. Reagan loves to cook as many of you know. So, I decided to take an idea from a good friend (thanks Keely) and take a cut out of Reagan so she could be there in spirit :)

Paula is just adorable, REALLY....I could have listened to her all day. She spoke to the crowd for about 20 minutes, answered questions from the crowd and THEN she signed books. When I got up to her in line, she insisted on taking a photo with "Reagan". So sweet of her. She was as cute and sweet as I thought she would be. Fun Day, thanks Becky.......HUGS

Next Up, Lemon Meringue!!!!

2009-09-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished my pages for the next Le Bistro Rose kit of the month Lemon Meringue!!! I really enjoy the whole process of being given a variety of product and told to work exclusively with them. It really stretches me creatively. I loved using the new Smooch Ink on the pearl accent strips. It gave it a shell like finish, COOL. Also, used the Distressed stickles to give that sugary finish to accents. I just love the way the pink inner tube pops in the photo from the beach. Go to www.lebistrorosescrapbookkits.typepad.com to see more of the goodies you will receive in the kit. HUGS

My Circle Journal

2009-09-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your patience as I took a few weeks off. CE really took a lot out of me and I needed a break. As many of you know, I participated in a Circle Journal again this year. A circle journal is a special journal or book that is sent amongst friends, each adding their individual pages. I received my book at CE and was just thrilled with the final product. I am posting photos of the journal. I included a the "sign in" cards where the girls told about themselves and left their favorite drink recipe. Also, notice the cute pages my friend Shannon did. The first has the bird on it, then you pull up the brad and the page folds up to reveal the answers. So innovative and adorable!!! LOVE all the creativity. HUGS

This is the part I HATE.....saying goodbye :(

2009-08-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

well, the fun is over and the wait starts for next year :)
What a wonderful time we all had, REALLY FUN. I ate will Tracy and Cheryl at the closing ceremony and they got to experience the craziness of our little group of friends (wink). I have to admit i cried like a baby when we dropped Tanya off at the airport. She reminded me over and over that is only 2 months until she returns to Houston for a girls weekend. This is always the hardest part, saying goodbye. I have to say thanks to the countless number of people who made this weekend so much fun, Hollywood, Michelle A., Esther, The Midland Posse, Tara, Tiesha, Tove, Cassaundra, Barbara, Carrie, Pixie, Beverly, Gloria, HoHo, Josiane, Karen T, Peggy, Nancy, Debbie, Margie, Tracy, Cheryl, Lisa, Sandra, Leslie, Kathryn, Kyoko, JLo, Angie, Carol S., and Catherine A. I looked for your smiling faces everyday and you didn't disappoint :)

It was a blast meeting so many of you who were new to the event this year. I look forward to getting to know you better on the board.

Lastly, My girlfriends who give noe meaning to the word GIRLPOWER. Tanya, Shannon, Shari, Keely, Susan L., Christa and Ann, I could not imagine CE without you. You made my trip unforgettable. You ALL better be in Houston in November.

And remember, what happens in Arizona, stays in Arizona :) HUGS

Saturday Night.....It's over......What a blast !!!!!!

2009-08-29T22:53:00.000-07:00

A second day of fabulous classes. I just want to say what a FABULOUS slate of teachers and projects we had this year. I didn't think we could get any better than yesterday but today ROCKED. Tim was first up.....so inspirational, I can never get enough of him. Carol was up next and WOW, who would have thought that a "pyramid" could be so inspirational :) Loved her. Paula and Deb were just so inspirational, I love 7 gypsies products. Heather's little book was so cute with such fun colors. Heidi's lamp sold in the auction for $8,200 and Tim's sold for an INCREDIBLE $29,000 dollars. It was amazing !! Enjoy the photos !!!!!