I'm back but not for long!

My weekend in Utah with Becky was lovely. We got to do a whole lot of catching up. We don't get to chat much during baseball season because she is swamped with work and travel. I will get to spend the next two weekends with her though! She has meetings in New York City next weekend and she invited me to tag along. I am beyond excited. Although I am a Boston girl, I have NEVER been to New York. So much to see! I am leaving Thursday morning and will be home on Sunday night. I even managed to score tickets to a Yankee game for us on Saturday night. All season I was thinking of how I was going to beg, borrow and steal to see a game in the Bronx before they tore the stadium down at the end of the season. Well, this just fell into my lap and it was an offer I couldn't refuse.

Be sure to tell me your favorite NYC spots if you have been there!

Hugs,
~L

Wednesday...

I was hoping to get a bunch of things crossed off my to do list on this Wednesday aka Anti-Procrastination day. Not going to happen. Gotta get ready for my class tomorrow. I have eight gals coming so it should be lots of fun! I've had a great response to the idea of me teaching again so I've planned another class for Thursday night, August 7th. If you would like to get on my email list for all of the class details, let me know! Drop me an email (lorirenn@msn.com).

On Friday I am running away from home, well just for a couple of days. Going to meet my BFF Becky down in Salt Lake. Can't wait! I love the drive all by myself, listening to great tunes and having lots of time to think! I think I will have to make a little stop in Twin Falls on Friday to that adorable scrapbook store, Scrappin' Girlfriends! Love that place!

Here are a couple of Valentine's Day cards I made last night while watching the Sox whip the Mariners (again, woo hoo!) Valentine's cards are my fave and I make them all year long! And of course, another layout of beautiful Clara.

 

 

 

Thanks for looking!

nate's first publication!

I just got my August issue of Scrapbook Trends. I was so excited to see the layout I did of Nate at Whidbey Island last summer. It is his first solo publication. I think he kind of likes it, what do you think? :0)

 

 

 

I had a very girlie afternoon today! My neighbor girls, Lexi and Livvy came over and we watched High School Musical and scrapped. They could not believe that I had never seen it (I have all boys!). It was very cute and they sang every word to every song for me! I worked on another Clara layout. I better do a couple more layouts of Miles so he doesn't think I like her better!

The wind is a whippin'...

here this mornin'! Now I know what Jann feels like out in Idaho Falls! The thunder is cracking and we are about to have a downpour. I finished this layout up this morning of cutie Clara. OMG... she is just the cutest thing I've ever seen! Hope this brightens your day!

 

Thanks for stoppin' by!
~Lori

Summer Class

Hello All!
My friends have been needling me to teach a class before the summer is over. Well, I am putting one together, last minute for this Thursday, July 24th from 4-6. We will be doing a Fourth of July layout and two sparkly, glittery cards. If you are local and interested in coming, email me at lorirenn@msn.com

It will be fun!

2 silly birds...

 

I took these pictures of Nick and Nate playing in the trees at my inlaws house on Whidbey Island a couple of weeks ago. I just love their innocence and sweet smiles. To capture it on film is great because then when they really piss me off and make me want to beat them I can look at these pictures and love them again, LOL!

Happy Friday my peeps!

xo,
Lori

more baby layouts...

I got the chance to take care of the twins the other day and I got some cute pictures of them. I couldn't resist dressing Miles up in Red Sox gear! Clara just gets prettier every single day. Love these babies!

 

 

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Chicks & Picks

 

 

 

Music cleanses the understanding;
inspires it, and lifts it into a realm, which it would not reach if it were left to itself.
~Henry Ward Beecher

Chicks & Picks music festival will be striking a chord in the Treasure Valley August 2nd. The first annual Chicks & Picks showcase will feature female singer/songwriters of all ages. The event will be held at Wood River Cellars (formerly Eagle Knoll Winery) and exhibit the deep wealth of musical talent represented in Idaho. Each artist will command the stage with her performance of two to five original tunes.

This year’s event will feature up and coming artists Anna Sali, BlazenKelly, Desirae Bronson, Erica Flom former national fiddle champion and many undiscovered gems.
Join us August 2nd from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM for this celebration of women in music. Chicks & Picks seeks to be an annual event uniting the community and echoing melodies for years to come.

The performers are having a contest to sell the most tickets so I told my favorite performer, Anna, that I'd pass the word along for her! If you are local here in Idaho and are interested in tickets (only $10) email me at lorirenn@msn.com.

I will be attending for sure! Music and wine, two of my faves!! :0)

Stuff To Share...

Thanks to all of you for your funny little clips you shared with me today. Laughter is so good for the soul! Here is a picture of another canvas I did. I just love playing with a mix of paint, paper and funky stuff like tassels. Denise saw some canvases at a boutique with tassels hanging from it and that totally inspired me. The card is one I made for Denise just to say thanks for being there! We vent to each other more than any two people in the universe! I used some Key Lime Shimmerz Paint on the Bazzill Chipboard arrow. I love that stuff!

 

 

Before I went on vacation I was tagged with five questions by the fabulous Leslie Ashe. The Red Sox are off tonight so I'm sitting in my scrap room playing and I figured I would get these answered!

1) What were you doing ten years ago? I was 30 years old, living in Sandy, Utah. I was a stay at home mom with 2 little boys who were 4 and 2 and quite a handful. I hung out all of the time with my dear friend Heidi and her two little girls. I worked out like a maniac and weighed 40 pounds less than I weigh now! I scrapbooked every day. (At least that much hasn't changed!)

2) What are 5 things on your to do list today? Well, today I made it a point to not have a to do list today but I did do some laundry for Joe who is going on a trip Saturday. I listened to some new music on my iPod by Tristan Prettyman and Marie Digby. I blogged twice. I submitted some scrapbook layouts for pub. I sat out in my front yard watching people fly kites in the cul de sac and spotted my neighbors girls for backhandsprings. Looked at scrapbooks with Nick, read Veggie Tales books with Nate while he sat on the potty, listened to Joe do his Arnold impression. Talked to my Daddy for a while. Made a giant homemade chicken pot pie for dinner. None of these things were planned, just random stuff all day. :0)

3) What snacks do you enjoy? I am a major foodie so I'd have to say just about everything but my faves are homemade salsa and guac, trail mix, milk chocolate, fruit of every kind and ice cream (pistachio!).

4) What would you do if you were a millionaire? Fill my gas tank.

5) What places have you lived? I grew up in Stoughton, MA then moved to Irvine, CA on a whim when I turned 20. Kirk and I were married and bought our first little house in Huntington Beach, CA. He then got a job transfer to Illinois and we settled in Naperville. We lived there 2 years and he got transferred to SLC and we bought a house in Sandy, UT. The company then moved to AZ (after 2 years!) and we lived in Gilbert for 5 years. The company then moved here to Idaho where we have lived for 3 years. About a year ago, Kirk quit his job because it was moving to Minneapolis and he is still looking for a job that will keep us here. Here is home. Our own "Private Idaho". We hope to stay! I've been fortunate enough to meet amazing friends along the way who I try my best to always keep in touch with!

Now I will tag...
Kelly G, Michelle R, Marci K, Jann S, and Marie B!

My Angel Mum...

 

 

 

I had the great pleasure of listening to my favorite local singer, Anna Sali last night. I love her music. She is a brilliant songwriter and singer and a beautiful person. One of her songs, Things I Never Said, always makes me cry. I talked to her last night and told her why. She writes in her song:

I'm gonna tell you now that I love you.
And I'm gonna say it with my last breath.
'Til my heart beats no more,
May I never regret things I never said.

I told my mother everyday that I loved her. She knew exactly how I felt. I will never regret that. I live by that rule now and tell the important people in my life how much I love them constantly. No regrets.

My mom passed away three years ago. She was way too young. I recently got an email from an old friend of hers, a person I never met. She searched me on the internet and found my blog. She told me my mom was the nicest human being she ever met. That about sums it up. I miss her everyday of my life. I'm scared that someday I will forget the sound of her laugh. I used to call her everyday and tell her something funny just to hear her great laugh. I still want to do that when the kids say something hilarious!

Do me a favor, leave me a note about something funny. Something your kids did or you did or whatever! Make me laugh! Make everyone who reads this laugh. Just be careful not to spit coffee on your computer screen (Renee!) or have diet coke come out of your nose.

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. - e.e. cummings

p.s. i love you.

Stress Relief!

Being back from vacation means being back to reality, real life, real stress. I've been super duper stressed about this job thing, a family member and the looming anniversary of my mom's death. Yesterday I sat in my scrap room all day in my sweats and created. It relieves stress big time! I made this canvas as an anniversary present for my husband. He is my rock, always so calm and so positive. I really am blessed to have him. He puts everything in such a postive light.

 

 

 

 

This is a thin canvas, about 12x16. I painted it with shimmery gold paint, stamped it with Making Memories foam stamps and added ribbon (Making Memories and Doodlebug), bling (Prima) and chipboard letters (Heidi Swapp). The big honking, gold, glittery butterfly is from a little artist boutique here in my little hometown (very artsy-fartsy). You would all make fun of me if you heard me say that with my Boston accent! The butterfly is a bit much and over the top but I love it! I got some tassel fringe at Wal-Mart. They have some cool stuff in their sewing section. Oh, and the frame is one of many I picked up from the close out pile at Quality Art. That place is an artist's paradise!

Leave me some love (I really need it!) and let me know what you think of my crazy over the top creation. Kirk loves it and he never says much about my work!

Happy Wednesday. Be Stress-Free!!

xo,
L

more photos...

from our trip! don't these just scream summer? nick, nate, joe and finally my sweet little niece, Marlies!

 

 

 

 

I've got so much to blog about. So much going on. I'll make a pot of coffee, collect my thoughts and be back a little later. Thanks for stoppin' by!

trying again...

The pics in the last post show as a red "x" for some so here goes again!

 

 

 

 

Hey Y'all!!

We are home sweet home from summer camp on Whidbey Island! So much to catch up on! Here's a few shots of the hundreds that are just dying to be scrapped!

 

 

 

 

I missed my computer!!

xo,
L