"Pay it Forward" -- spring cleaning

My friend Linda runs a Children's Christmas program. Basically, she accepts sponsored gifts and money, and in return provides gifts for mom and dad -- bought by children for just $2. Isn't that a great idea! You can read about it HERE!

She's asking for donations....... so, while you're doing your spring cleaning, keep her in mind! I know I've got some items around my house that I have no need of. Maybe it's a gift that you know you will never use. Maybe you're a crafty person with some items you can donate. She would so appreciate it, and I'm sure you'll bring joy to lots of children. They are so excited to be able to buy gifts for their moms and dads.

today.....

Outside my window... it's dark. Snow is blowing around a bit.

I am thankful... I am able to stay at home with my children.

I am thinking... I should go wash up and get into pjs -- American Idol is coming on soon.

From the kitchen... I see the light on over the stove. Some dishes are left on the counter-top, but I will get to those in the morning.

I am wearing... brown cords and a long-sleved shirt.

I am reading... Someone to Take Care of Me (can't remember the author)

I am hoping... that I can stay away from sweets and junk for a month! Starting a liver cleanse tomorrow.

I am hearing... tv from the family room.

I am working on.... making my list of prizes to get in the mail.

Around the house... the only light on are here and in the kitchen. Everyone is sitting in the dark, watching tv or playing a game.

One of my favorite things... watching "The Office" :-)

A few plans for the rest of the week... get some scrapbook layouts done on Saturday

a few reminders

Blog Hop for Lovebug Scrapbooking coming up next Saturday. If you're interested in taking part, check this link!

Challenge Monday at Sisterhood of Scrap is HERE! You could win a gift certificate from The Paper Passion.

I've updated my cooking blog. Don't forget Make It Monday! New theme will be posted on Monday.

Update on resolutions

Time for an update on my resolutions post. Let's see how I am doing :-)

SCRAPPY:
~ submit at least 2 layouts per month -- Didn't submit any in January

~ scrap at least 3 layouts per week -- I did 27 layouts last month. Challenged to get 29 done for February.

~ organize all my photos, both printed and digital -- Printed off some photos, but didn't do any organizing.

~ I would like to post more on my blog. I think this is going okay -- could be better, though.


PERSONAL:

~ Definitely to lose some weight, probably 25-30 lbs. Haven't even started yet. UGH!

~ Walk at least 4 days a week. Nope, hasn't happened.

~ Keep up with my devotional in the mornings. Currently I'm following a blog that gives the readings for each day, and also some thoughts about the readings. It's called "For the Love of God". Did great for about 11 days, then I ran out of printer paper. I know I could have followed online, but.... yeah, that was my excuse. Gotta get back on this!

~ Spend more time reading to my children. Did very well :-) We're almost finished "Understood Betsy".

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So, there you go -- not too well, I guess.

Very busy week so far....

I have just not had time for scrapping! Hopefully that's not a sign of what's to come this summer!

Getting my oldest boy ready for camp -- he's leaving early Sunday morning for Glider Camp in Nova Scotia. He'll be gone for 6 weeks!! What will we ever do without him ;-) I'm sure he'll have fun and will certainly learn a lot!

I've also got 3 cakes to do this weekend -- have to fit them in somewhere :-)

Just a quick post...

I've been so busy spring-cleaning :-) It's a big house! Working on the kitchen today.

Anyway, I wanted to say I am stopping with posting my "365 Photos" project. I am still taking pictures, I just will be posting them on my Facebook instead. I'll keep my blog for more scrappy things.

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Also, don't forget to drop by Sisterhood of Scrap. We've got a crop going on all week with lots of prizes to be given away!

Blog Candy for an awesome cause!

Yesterday, September 21st, was World Alzheimer’s Day. We have recently been dealing with this awful disease. Devin's grandfather has it. It is heartbreaking to see how it has changed his grandfather so much.

When we visited Ontario this summer, we were able to visit with Grandpa. The first day, he just cried and prayed. We don't know if he recognized us at all, but we think he might have known Devin. He and Devin would spend lots of time praying together, so seeing Devin might have brought on the praying during our visit.

The next day, he spoke a bit to us, but would often seem to be "with us" one minute and then gone the next. On the third day we had a much better visit. Grandpa was joking around with us (his usual self) and spoke quite a bit directly to us. It was a really great time and we got lots of video and photos. Wonderful memories that will hold us until (if) we see Grandpa again.

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Carolyn King recently released a stamp set through Gina K Designs called Whimsical Autumn, which benefits the Alzheimer's Association. She is offering an awesome prize through her blog for all the caregivers of Alzheimer patients.

This is from her blog, "In celebration of World Alzheimer’s Day, we are reaching out to some amazing people who deserve to be thanked. ….the caregivers. Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is HARD work and an often thankless job. There are so many people who help and so—I am asking you to make a card for a caretaker of a person affected with Alzheimer’s. "

So, make a card and send it out. In sending a card, you can enter your name for a prize worth over $1000!! You only have until Friday at 8pm.

If you don't know someone personally to send your card to, mail or drop it off it at a local seniors' home. My card is going to Aunt Peggy, who spends hours and hours of her time helping to care for Grandpa, her dad.

Here is a pic of my card. It's from a Basic Grey Card Class. I love the papers and the colors!

Like my new look???

I found this fabulous website with some 'simply fabulous blogger templates' I love so many of them, so I'll be changing looks every so often.

Made By Lena

What do you do in your spare time??

I don't usually have anyone ask me that -- they can usually see that with homeschooling four children, I would not have much spare time. And ...... they would be right :-) I do, however, need to take SOME time for myself.

Most of my "me" time is spent scrapbooking. It's a hobby I was introduced to by my sister -- a confirmed scrap-addict! I love making scrapbook pages and am gradually filling my albums. My family and I enjoy looking though the albums and reliving the memories. It's awesome! I am also on a design team for Scrapbook Heaven. That means I am sent some product and have an assignment to complete a certain amount of layouts per month in return for the product. This work has a deadline, so some of my personal scrapping might need to be set aside to get this done first.

I like to make time to scrap with friends and introduce them to the fun of putting their photos on paper to be looked at by family. We recently had an all-day crop and it was a blast!

I also bake and decorate cakes in my spare time. This is a hobby my Aunt Rosalyn taught me many years ago. Between my sister and I, we have many shaped cake pans, but the majority of the cakes I do are slab cakes. I have so much fun coming up with ideas for these. Some of the more girlie ones I can treat as a scrapping page :-) and decorate them with doodles and flowers.

Most times I print off a coloring sheet and draw it right on the cake. Lots of fun! Here's one I did for a 50's party and another for a young Webkinz fan.

Cake decorating helps me with my first hobby as the money I make goes to my scrapbooking fund :-)

Another hobby I enjoy is photography. I am still learning, but and enjoying so much getting out and enjoying nature. This one also ties in with our homeschooling. We have been studying birds for several months now, and we recently bought a new camera so we could zoom in and get some shots of our bird friends.

This is not the best photo (our grass is still not green) but I wanted you to see Mr and Mrs Evening Grosbeak. They are beautiful birds and so shy. They don't come around very often and we can't get real close to them.

Our pesky squirrel friend -- he sure is cute, though!

In addition to these hobbies, I love cooking/baking and this is something I am teaching my children as well. I have two that really enjoy being in the kitchen and two that need a little push :-) We are all trying to come up with a plan for some menus and some meals that are healthy and tasty. I started a cooking blog, just so I could copy my recipes out somewhere (I figured online was as good a place as any!). I've been neglecting it lately though

I also LOVE reading books and usually have 1 or 2 on the go at any time. I just finished a set of four books by Brandilyn Collins - Hidden Faces Series. Not my typical reading but I enjoyed it. Time for another trip to the library!

When spring finally arrives (big sigh!) I will get outside to do some gardening, an interest encouraged my my mom. She teaches me what she knows about planting. The beds haven't been touched since last fall, so I'm sure I'll have some serious work to do soon!

So, there you have it -- my "spare time" in one post :-) Hope you enjoyed reading about me!

National Scrapbooking Day crop

My sister and I, along with a friend, decided to plan something for National Scrapbooking Day :-) Scrapbooking is getting more popular in our area, so hopefully this will go over well.

It's going to be on May 3rd from 10am-4pm, here in Springdale. We have the use of the dining hall of Living Waters church -- lots of long tables, also a kitchen area and living room area. It will be nice and comfy!

..... anyway, come and bring a friend! Bring your own scrapbook supplies. There will be prizes throughout the day and as well, we'll have patterned paper and cardstock (and maybe other embellishments) that you can buy. We will have diecut systems available for you (ex. Sizzix, Cuttlebug)

Cost is only $10 for the day!! Snacks will be provided and we'll be ordering in lunch (that'll be extra).

Hope to see you there!

Another busy week

I've been busy much of last week and this with our Anniversary crop at Sisterhood of Scrap. Plus, I been cleaning my grandmother's apartment (she's now moved to a retirement home) and spring-cleaning my house -- that's a HUGE job! Thankfully, my kids are willing to help :-)

The snow is almost melted from our lawn, and I can see crocuses and tulips just startng to sprout. Hopefully in the next week or so, they will have bloomed. Come on, Spring!!

booboo

Timothy bumped into Jessica yesterday and split open his eyebrow. Nothing too serious, though I did take him to the doctor. He ended up getting one stitch. Actually, the doctor put one in, didn't like the look of it so he removed it and tried again.

I don't think it's too bad that our family has come this far and only one stitch among all of us :-)

It's a "marble-icious" kind of day :-)

I took a walk with my two younger children today. The sun was shining and even though we still have snow here in Newfoundland (and lots of snowbanks still!) the kids wanted to take their bicycles. They are as anxious for spring to come as I am.

We are able to see some MUD! I was excited to see that. Benjamin wondered why I would be excited about mud. This time of year just brings me back to my childhood. We'd be waiting for a spot of ground -- a small spot would do -- and we'd be out making a marble hole to play in. I remember sticking the heel of my boot in the softening earth and spinning around until I had a nice big hole made. Then we'd share out our marbles. Good times, for sure!

I don't see too many kids playing marbles anymore. Too many other things to occupy their time, I guess. We certainly had fun with it though!

guest dt spot

I was so excited to be asked to fill a one-month guest dt spot at Lovebug Scrapbooking!! When I first started scrapbooking, this was the first forum I joined :-) And I am still there!

I am awaiting my kit for April and will post my creations later in the week.

7 Random Facts About Me

I was tagged by Jean at Welcome to my Craft World. I don't usually like to tag others -- mostly because I don't know enough bloggers!), so.... if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged! Leave me a link to your post and I'll visit your site.

1. I graduated from high school with honors.
2. I considered being a surgeon when I was younger.
3. I loved being pregnant.
4. I am the second oldest of 6 siblings.
5. I can touch my tongue to my nose.
6. I have my ear pierced.
7. I can only snap my fingers on my left hand.

Sorry,

bad poster again :-( Can't believe it's been so long since I posted on my blog. I've been busy!

My grandmother was sick and I was visiting her every day. Then, trying to get focused on schoolwork, falling behind and trying to catch up again. This week the public schools are out for holidays but we were supposed to be finishing up Term 2. Well, things happened and we were busy for a couple days this week with guests. I think this week is pretty well done with! I'll catch up next week.

Since I last posted, I've started receiving my first ever scrapbooking subscription. It's from Lovebug Scrapbooking -- my first ever scrapbooking forum that I joined. I love it there! Great kits! I've done some scrapping with the February kit. Try to post them when I can get a good day to photograph them.

bad poster

I haven't posted in a few days. Just been busy with school stuff and some dt work for Scrapbook Heaven. Tomorrow I'll be able to post what I've been working on :-)

our weather

The weather this past 2 days has been really great! We could actually call it warm :-) Yesterday was windy s well as warm, so out snow really took a huge cut! Now I hear we're supposed to get more snow on the weekend.

It would be nice if this was the start of spring and the snow would be gone soon, but here in Newfoundland we know that just isn't so :-( We are sure to get lots more snow before it starts going away for good.

Anyway, sunny weather just makes me feel better!

feeling down

I'm having kind-of a down day. Maybe blogging about it will make me feel better :-)

School hasn't been the best with oldest son again this week. I just wish he would have some initiative! Everyone says it's an "age thing" and it will pass. I certainly hope so, because I have 3 more to go through the same thing! UGGH! I need patience and understanding.

I am frustrated with buying food for this household of mine! Hundreds of dollars a month and there's still nothing to eat! We are trying to eat healthier and boy, is it expensive! It's so much easier to buy the pre-packaged foods for lunches, isn't it?

NOTE: I just signed up at Saving Dinner for some of their menus. I like how they have the shopping lists and nutritional information included. Signed up for a 3-month subscription. Let's see how it goes.

I sometimes feel "useless" in my home, even though I know I am always busy with something -- cleaning, cooking, shopping, teaching -- you get the idea. I think it's not so much feeling useless, but feeling unappreciated. I don't see what good I am doing in all the chores I do because it just gets dirty again. Food gets eaten. Dishes get messed again. Anyway, that's the rut I am in today.

Then I get stuck in the school thing again -- wonder if I am benefiting my kids by homeschooling them .... wonder if they are learning anything .... wonder if they will choose a good career when they get older ..... wonder if they'll be happy......

Gotta change my attitude, I guess. I should go get some lunch seeing how it is almost 3 pm and I haven't eaten yet.

I've been TAGGED!

I'm it! I've been tagged by Jenelle!

Here are the rules:

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.

2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).

3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.

4. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details.)

My middle name: Penney

P - pleasant
E - efficient
N -nice
N -nostangic
E -encouraging
Y -youthful

If you read this post, consider yourself TAGGED! :-)