1993

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years...

I love the 90s! 

bad day

I've had a bad day today. 

One of those days where I either want to curl up into the fetal position in my closet or eat my weight in cookie dough. 

Got to take the good with the bad, right?

Tomorrow will be better...

Summer in Utah 2013

Finally finished this album from our adventures in Utah this summer. I just put the pictures in these templates, did a little journaling, a few elements and done. I took a lot of pictures so it's nice to have them somewhat organized. It was an especially awesome summer and we had a lot of fun. The only bummer part of it was my 20 year high school reunion was cancelled :( How lame is that?! I did however get together with some close friends that I haven't seen in a long time so that was awesome.

{Supplies}

Paper and templates- Crystal Wilkerson

Word elements- Ali Edwards, Designer Digitals, Kara Dudley

seven

Happy 7th Birthday Heston!

We are so grateful for this kid. He's been mellow and chill since he was a baby. So mellow and chill that it worried me. But no, that is just his little personality, he just goes with the flow. I admire his determination and how hard he works in school...and this kid can swing a golf club! :) 

We love you Heston! 

I think H looks like Aaron...with brown eyes :)

fourteen

Happy 14th Birthday Braden!

Of course, I love this boy. He's my eldest son and I'm his mom so of course I love him. However, I have to say that I really LIKE this boy. He laughs at my jokes, and I laugh at his. He keeps it real and lets me know, in a polite way, when I need to stop and take some deep breaths. I'm not afraid to admit when I am wrong and I apologize. He does the same.

 I enjoy his company. He's a great young man and I'm honored to be his mom.

 We were poor college students and I had a coupon so I went to JCPenney and had these pictures taken. It was a huge sacrifice at the time but I'm so glad we had these taken!

 

This is us at age 14 :) 

 

give it your all

back to life, back to reality...

Just typed the title to this post and now I have to include the song because I can't get it out of my head :)

I still love this song! I've already accepted the fact that when I'm an old lady, I will listen to and talk about the "classic music of the 90s" :)

We are back from our month long vacation in Utah. It's always great to catch up with family and friends! I love Arizona but I am a Utah girl at heart. Braden starts high school tomorrow and we need to get him a few more things. The kids and I go back on Monday. Our new campus isn't quite ready so our start date was pushed back a few days. Lots of exciting changes this year...should be a fun year!

 

golf buddies

 

I just love this picture of Hes and Aaron!

 

Paige is 11 today!

Happy 11th Birthday Paige!!

She is such a sweetheart and helps me so much with all kinds of things. She has so many talents and I love her positive outlook on life.

Love you Paige!

SYTYCD time!

Summer is here and guess what time it is?

I'm so excited that the top 20 have been chosen and we can get on with the competition. There are 4 dancers that are my favorites:

Malece! We have to cheer for the Utah girl!

Mariah! I love Hip Hop and she's from Chandler!

Aaron! Love the name and love that he's a tap dancer!

If I had to chose my favorite, it would be...

Jasmine Harper! She's a powerful dancer and I love that she's tall :)
My favorite dance tonight was the jazz dance by Aaron and Jasmine. So excited for this season!

99 lessons

I read this today on Positively Positive and it's full of "A-ha" moments!

  

 99 Lessons for Living a Life You Won't Regret  By Bassam Tarazi

1. No adult ever mentally feels grown up.
2. You will always doubt yourself, get used to it.
3. Permission has already been granted to you. You just have to take it.
4. The timing will never be as perfect as you want it to be.
5. You won’t know what you’re doing when you start doing what you think you want to do.
6. So choose to make every decision the right decision, even if something doesn’t go your way.
7. Because success is a mindset.
8. But success is also dangerous. The more you have, the less support people think you need.

9. There’s no such thing as making it, only making it further than where you were yesterday.

10. Starting a business means you’ll have less free time, not more. A lot less.
11. If you can’t figure out how to market yourself in this world, you’ll always be paddling upstream.
12. Everything is selling. But now we’re selling ideas and opinions, not only gadgets.
13. Older does not equal smarter.
14. Not everyone has experience, but everyone can have initiative.
15. The best skill to have is one that is rare and useful.
16. If you knew how much work it would take to get your dream job, most of you would run for the hills.
17. And anyway, it’s only a “dream” job until you get it. Then it’s reality. And reality has its ups and downs.
18. You choose what kind of mood you want to be in when you wake up.
19. Don’t hang up the phone angry with your mother.
20. Foster the relationship with your siblings. You’ll live with them a lot longer than any other family member.
21. A strong handshake and solid eye contact will change your life for the better.
22. Image is everything, at first. Don’t pretend that it’s not. Being well dressed and decently groomed is a form of politeness.
23. There are no re-deals in life. The faster you accept that, the sooner you can excel at playing whatever hand you have.
24. So often, what we say inspires us also makes us feel inferior and paralyzed. The trick is to find the inspiration that stirs action. Otherwise, it’s not inspiration; it’s comparison.
25. Aspirations are wants based heavily on outside factors. Goals are wants based solely on your efforts.
26. For all those instances you think you just can’t do it, maybe you just should do it.
27. You live up to your own expectations.
28. Ignorance is bliss, but it’s not allowed to vote. If you don’t want to be informed, don’t complain.
29. Speaking of complaining, it’s easier than succeeding. Be careful what you whine about.
30. Owning memories beats owning “things” every time.
31. Except maybe if that thing reminds you of that memory every time you look at it.
32. Don’t be afraid to be broke. Be afraid to stay broke.
33. Helping others is noble, but be sure to take care of yourself too. It’s not selfish if it’s growth.
34. Embrace the suck. Your story is in the grit beneath your fingernails.
35. Because in the end, it’ll be the stories you tell and the people you tell them to.
36. Great days = (luck) x (a bunch of average days). Let the great days take care of themselves.
37. Stress = reality not matching your expectations. It’s harder to change reality than your expectations.
38. Fear is a choice, not a mathematical constant.
39. We often don’t want to accomplish our goals; we just want to be liked by our friends.
40. Independence isn’t free. The more you have of it, the more you’re paralyzed by it.
41. We do care what people think.
42. Don’t change the world, change the moment.
43. Don’t strive to be the best. Strive to be your best. “The best” is insanity.
44. Death by research is no way to die. Start already.
45. In five years, you’ll be wrong. Start already.
46. Successful people finish shit. Finish already.
47. Don’t go the extra mile until you go the last mile. Finish already.
48. If you can put yourself in the shoes of an outsider, you win.
49. Passions are your selfish desires. Purpose creates value for other people. Do something for other people and figure out how to tie your passions into it.
50. Because how you treat people is more important than what you do.

51. In fact, don’t treat others how you want to be treated, treat others how THEY want to be treated.

52. While you’re at it, you’ll need to figure out how to pay your vulnerability tax.
53. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’ll always be that dumb.
54. Exercise. No seriously, get off your ass.
55. But if you’re only going to the gym because your friend is going, it’s not going to work for you.
56. You are not right just because you speak. Give people a choice and a chance.
57. Follow up or die.
58. Know when to let go.
59. Keep your digital self fed, but don’t let him/her rule the show.
60. Create more.
61. Tweet less.
62. Craft first, community second.
63. It’s not who you know. It’s who you know once you know what you need to know.
64. Emotions are contagious. You are in control of what you are spreading and what you are susceptible to.
65. Stop apologizing for not knowing. Everyone was a rookie once.
66. All that evil needs to flourish is for good people to see nothing—and get paid for it.
67. What makes people happier is other people.
68. Have longer dinners with friends.
69. Happiness isn’t reached; it’s tended to.
70. Take that trip you’ve been thinking about. (See #4)
71. If you only have a backpack, board the plane last. No sense in standing in line or sitting on a cramped plane for longer than you have to.
72. Perspective is one simple thing that can make you more likable.
73. If tuk tuk drivers speak English too well, don’t trust them.
74. Partying is worth it while you’re in it, tragic when you miss it, regrettable the morning after, epic the day after that.
75. Party your ass off every now and then, but wake up sober on Saturday more often than not.
76. There is no such thing as “the one.” You don’t have time to meet all the candidates.
77. Marriage and commitment is not about riding off into the sunset together; it’s about jumping in a foxhole together.
78. Ladies, you hold all the cards. Own that.
79. Guys, less gawking at ladies, more hellos.
80. No one is thinking of creative ways to give you money.
81. A service business is convincing someone you know more than them about something they value and getting them to pay you for that knowledge.
82. Know the answer to “What are you working on, and how can I help?”
83. When it comes to a potential new customer, nothing is nothing until it’s something.
84. No one’s going to steal your idea.
85. You’re not stuck in traffic. You ARE traffic.
86. When you give someone change, don’t put the coins on top of the bills. This drives people crazy.
87. You have to enjoy the process somehow.
88. Sadly, we spend most of our time worrying about what the people who don’t ever think about us think about us.
89. Do something you hate. It’ll make you appreciate the things you love more.
90. Build something you can point at.
91. Efficiency runs businesses; inefficiency starts them.
92. You don’t make money from a blog; you make money from a business.
93. Piss someone off. You can’t market to everyone.
94. You can’t outmuscle being tired. Go to sleep.

95. You can’t outlogic your goals. You have to understand emotion.

96. Having no social awareness will be catastrophic for your career.
97. Rinse the sponge out after you use it. People don’t like smelling mold on their hands.
98. Have a hobby that entails you actually learning something new.
99. The world owes you nothing. It gave you life. Let’s consider that “paid in full.”

2010 Year in Review

I've scrapbooked more in the last 3 weeks than I have in months! Summer has been kind to me :) It is so nice to have a break from everything...I look forward to having a break as much as the kids.

I went pretty low key with this album. I originally had patterned paper in the boxes and all kinds of embellishments and I just didn't like it. Down the road, I plan to make copies of these year in review albums for each of the kids. I'm seriously thinking of doing a digital version of  Project Life...it looks really fun.

 {Supplies}

Templates- Splendid Fiins (Jessica Sprague- no longer available)

Just Linens No. 15

Ali Edwards Brushes- Designer Digitals

Shabby Shoppe Clementine Kit