Around Here

Falls cooler temperatures and the beautiful change in the Fall foliage signals a change in seasons and, unfortunately, a soccer season that is nearing its end.

Celebrating birthdays. Getting ready TODAY for Jonathan's 10th birthday. Always so exciting to celebrate birthdays around here. This is my birthday "season" since all my boys birthdays are in August and September.

Organizing mode. The change of seasons, especially Fall, seems to do this to me every year. My husband used to think I was pregnant whenever I started organizing (since the birth of my three boys in the Fall). I have a list of organizing spots around the house. This list never seems to get smaller or ever seems to be finished.

Currently have reorganized my scrapbook room, again. This time I ordered a pegboard. Hopefully this will be one of the last times I do a major scrapbook room makeover (probably not). I do love to organize.

Potato Harvest Break around here. After having started school in mid-August, the boys are off school for two weeks for harvest break which is ironic because almost no one picks potatoes around here anymore. It becomes a less expensive vacation for many as it is off season and less expensive to travel.

Cold season is upon us. I've been battling my yearly Fall cold, a little early this year. Hopefully this will be my one and only cold.

Juicing is what Michael does nearly every morning. I know I should also drink this juice, be healthier, and it would probably boost my immune system. Mental note to self: to take better care of my health and nutrition.

Wishing I lived closer to family. 6 hours is not a horrible drive, but it certainly makes for a long one. I would even be happy with a 4 hour drive. Wishing I could just jump over to my mom's or sister's for dinner or call her up and ask her out to lunch.

Reading Where We Belong, by Emily Griffin, picked this up while at the airport in Boston in transit from Minneapolis (Scrapfest2012 and Spraguefest 2012). Also read Something Borrowed, by Emily Griffin. These are an easy read, but I just love them.

Just bought some new designer jeans. Never would have bought them before, but they really do fit so much better than some of my other jeans. Loving these brands right now: Hudson, 7 for all mankind, and Paige jeans. I bought these at zappos.com with free shipping and returns. Love that.  The only problem with these designer jeans is that they are made for models legs. They are soooo very long... so they will need to be hemmed, but I think this is the way jeans are. If you find some that are perfect in the butt and thighs, but too long... get them hemmed. If they fit everywhere but the waist, get the waist hemmed. :)

Getting ready to celebrate a baby shower for my baby brother and his wife, their first... and it's a girl. It's been awhile since there has been a little baby in the family. So excited for that. Can't wait to hold a little one again. It makes me wish I had a little girl. Is 42 too late to have a baby? Probably. Life is so much easier now that the kids are somewhat independent. No bottles, no diapers, but most importantly no middle-of-the-night wake up calls. I'm relishing my full nights sleep.

Phew. It'll be a week since I've returned from Minneapolis, MN to attend Spraguefest 2012 and Scrapfest 2012. Literally, when I stepped foot into my home I hit the ground running. It was as if I had never left... only it looked like a crumb/paper/dish/clothing bomb went off in my home!

This is the entrance to my laundry room... (I was just too embarrassed to actually post a photo of my kitchen... not that I should be embarrassed, I didn't make the mess, right?) Nearly a weeks worth of clothing piling up for me while away. Although, I must give some credit to the DH for doing one load of towels (left unfolded and thrown into the basket), and one load of dishes (still in the dishwasher), and a load of dishes in the sink (unwashed). However, he did manage to work, get them to school on-time, pick them up and get them to where they needed to be for their sporting events, and had them fed. He made it all work! I love this man!

This was my first time ever to Scrapfest and my second to Spraguefest. I have to say that they were both a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Jessica Sprague and her team were as warm as ever and so sweet. They are always, always a pleasure to meet and learn from whether in the real world or online.

I have enjoyed both Spraguefests that I have attended and will certainly go to more in the future!

My roommates were the best! We had a great time and got along well! Representing Maine, Utah, Florida, and Minnesota. I couldn't have asked for nicer people... They were the sweetest.

First of all, Mall of America, really?! Where I live we have a one story mall that you can walk through, end-to-end, in probably 5 minutes. No kidding. Mall of America? I got lost. I could never figure out which direction I was walking and even forgot where we parked the car, the first day. There were so many vendors, scrappers, shoppers, etc. Truly a sight to see.

I was lucky enough to be able to get into most of the classes at Scrapfest that I was curious about. I was able to meet the lovely and animated Heidi Swapp, for the second time ever. She couldn't be sweeter!

The very talented and creative Tim Holtz. I love his products, but really had no idea how to use them... the "right" way. Now, after taking one of his classes, I have a pretty good idea of at least a smattering of different techniques I can put to use.

The very pretty, creative, and talented Maggie Holmes was my last class during my Scrapfest stay. Loved learning her layering techniques because this is so different from how I scrapbook. I dare say I may try some of her techniques on some of my scrapbook pages.

Did I mention to top the trip all off I went on a "bull ride" for the first time ever... It ended up being nerve wracking, but  a whole lot of fun!