I'M BACK!!!!!!!

Well I guess my blog heading says it all....Do I really have time for this??? We had a super riduculous busy summer! School started, soccer consumed us, and we loved every minute of it! I can't believe the holidays are here!!! We are busy getting ready for both the Birth of Jesus and the arrival of Santa!! To help get you all in the spirit we have a little surprise for you, click on the link below and enjoy:*) Hope to be back sooner than later next time. Lisa

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1128870993

My Boys....

I have always referred to my children as "the boys" and often I include Joe in that group :*).

I am thrilled to be the only girl in the house so the label "the boys" just fits.

Today I realized that "the boys" are now one big boy and one young man!!

I sent them off to school today almost completely relaxed, with almost no anxiety, and a sense of pride in knowing that Joe and I have raised boys that teachers will be thrilled to have as students.

I dropped Joseph off at school, his first day of High School, he was excited and really looking forward to his new adventure. When the car door shut and I drove off, I glanced back to have a Mommy moment and watch my little boy walk away....the car behind me (obviously driven by the parent of a sophomore!) HONKED so i snapped out of it and drove off :*).

I walked Anthony to the "big kid"playground he was happy to have me there with him that was until he saw all his friends then he happily started chatting it up with them.

This afternoon I picked them both up and was greeted with smiling faces, they both had great days and are looking forward to a great school year.

Check out my Slide Show!

Beach Bums

We arrived at Avila Beach on Monday and had a really nice relaxing time. I read two books worked on my tan, and watched my boys run around and play football and soccer in the sand. We decided to extend our stay an additional two nights in San Luis Obispo. Mostly so we could relax from our relaxing stay in Avila. Joe is such a good Dad he runs around with the boys and hardly relaxes at all. Joe set up the camera timer and got this great shot of us at the beach. This is our 8th annual trip to the beach. the first summer we went Anthony learned to walk, and Joseph was started Kindergarten...This summer Anthony walks onto the "Big Kid Playground" as a 4th grader and Joseph starts High School !! where has the time gone!

I did manage to complete 12 pages while on vacation. Check out my new slide show. The pics in the layouts were taken by my friend Rebecca Olivera, she is awesome and available for hire!! Enjoy :*)

An Exciting Tournament

Joseph's Soccer Team SACYSL ARSENAL played a preseason tournament in Concord last weekend. It was only this teams second tournament and we came in 3rd place a really nice place to be seeing as we didn't place in the last tournament. This was a hard fought and deserving win. The last game came down to the wire... The game ended in a tie 0-0 and went to over-time, that also ended 0-0 so it went to penalty kicks. Joseph kicked 2nd in the line up and made it! I was so nervous I thought i would pass out if I wasn't so busy praying for him to make it i might have just passed out right there!! Finally after each team taking 7 shots each and making them all our goalie blocked their 8th goal and one of our players made his goal!! we finally after 120 minutes of intense soccer we WON!!!! Anthony and I were so happy for Joseph and Coach Joe. Anthony jumped the fence and ran over to congratulate them he was as happy as the players were. It made a very long and hot and expensive weekend worth it! I love soccer. I have really become quite a big soccer fan, but I especially enjoy watching my boys on the field and the sidelines :*)

AWESOME CONCERT

The Soul II Sould Concert was FABULOUS!!!! We had the best time. I enjoyed every single minute of the show. I sang every word to every song Tim performed and NEVER took my eyes off of him! Oh and his wife, Faith.... she was cute too!

I'm Back!

I'm back from my weekend getaway, and here to brag that I completed 41 pages!!!!!! I am so pleased! but I have to say that my friend Karen is the winner, with 45 completed pages!! a big round of applause for her :*). We had an incredibly fun time, the store in Rocklin, CA Green Tangerines is AWESOME 10,000 sq. ft. of scrapbook paradise! I hope to have time to post pics of some of my layouts soon. Tommorrow night I'm going to the Tim MGraw/Faith Hill Concert, this weekend we have a soccer tournament in Concord and Monday we leave for Pismo Beach for 4 relaxing days! So lots to look forward to and hopefully a few moments to scrap alittle more! Did I mention that I am redecorating my house in between the madness......
Someone help me from myself!!

I'm heading out of town !!

I am packing up and heading out of town...to the Green Tangerine! Okay so I'm not leaving until Friday and it's only Monday, but I am so EXCITTED!! I am going away for the weekend with my good friend Karen. We are going to the new scrapbook store in Rocklin, CA we are registered to scrap from 9 a.m. till midnight on Friday and Saturday!!! I have great expectations and hope that my next entry will be to brag about how many pages I completed! I will update my slide show with new pages when I return. So while I'm away I challenge all of you to do something "scrappy", a few pages, organize supplies, make a few cards using your scrapbook scraps, etc.

Check out my Slide Show!

Keep your Scrapping Chin Up!

We all know how much we love our scrapbooking hobby, but like most worthwhile things in life it also brings us alittle guilt! We should scrap more, take more pictures, take better pictures, journal more, scrap more and shop less......Well take a look back on your scrapbook hobby career, and be proud of what you have accomplished! My first scrapbook page was of my oldest Son Joseph's 1st Grade year. When I look back at that page I giggle at my basic techniques, yet I remember how impressed I was with myself and my "creative accomplishment". The last layout I completed was of my oldest Son Joseph's 7th Grade report card! 180 pages later I have scrapbooked his school and sports activities over the years with great pride in him and myself. Joseph starts High School in Sept. and it is my summer goal to be "caught up" before his first High School memory is taken and developed.

What is your summer scrapbooking goal? Set one for yourself, remember there is no due date in scrapbooking, just fun to be had, friends to share layouts with, and memories to be preserved!

I would love to hear your scrapbooking story and see your first and last layout. Email me at Berrygirl327@sbcglobal.net

IT'S HERE!!!!

The new Stampin Up! 2007-2008 Idea Book and Catalog has arrived! It is the first of two catalogs now being published, the next will be available in January. The book is beautiful! 208 pages of new merchandise! My personal favorite items reside between pages 170 and 183, darling two-sided papers, simply scrappin kits, new punches, and lots of chipboard! The catalog has a retail price of $9.95 but as always I'm willing to make a deal! Call me today so I can get a copy to you soon! I would love to demonstrate some of the new products to you and your friends if you are interested in hosting a workshop in your home. All this excitement is making me STAMPHAPPY !!!

Awesome Scrapbook Event

A friend of mine along with a group of her friends has started a online scrapbook website offering monthly kits. The first kit is now available and full of beautiful supplies! Check out thier website and read about thier vision to create beautiful projects and support worthy causes. Layout created with kits products!

www.scrapforacure.com

Three little words for you...

FLOSS YOUR TEETH!!

I had gum surgery for second stage gum disaese on friday, no fun at all! Though my periodondist was funny nothing could make the experience better. I have been in bed since friday sweating and nauseaus from the Vicodin they gave me. I couldn't eat anything and i'm here to tell you that a frosty from wendy's or a strawberry surfrider from jamba juice does not constitute "take with food" . So I have layed off the heavy duty drugs and seem to be surviving okay on extra strength tylenol. I managed to keep my hair appointment today...(what good are healthy gums if you're grey is showing through!) I have to go back on Friday to have the stitches removed which I'm sure will be no more fun than the first visit, so remember...

FLOSS YOUR TEETH!!

Our Soldier goes overseas......

My nephew Pvt. Manuel A. DaBranca III is in the United States Army and is being deployed to Korea. He is set to report there on June 28th (his 19th Birthday) and will be there for approximately one year. Our family is very proud of him and his dedication to serving our country. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he is away from home. Travel can be exciting and I hope that he has a wonderful experience overseas.

Okay so have another hobby

Some people might say I am obsessed.....with purses...well I'm not actually obesessed, some people have a fetish for certain things like shoes, clothes, purses, etc. I don't really think that's my thing. I would say that I am on a quest, a quest for the perfect purse, or as I like to call them a "bag". About a year ago I thought I was ready to invest in a really nice really expensive bag, so the quest began. I drove all those around me nuts with chatter about the perfect bag, one I saw, one I tried on, on I googled, etc. Only to never actually purchase the bag, it was never quite right.... For Christmas My boys bought me two bags hoping to satisfy me, well...for awhile maybe. The a trip to New York City popped up and Wow! I needed a few bags for the trip, three new ones to be exact. Well one fabulous trip to NYC and I am the proud new owner of 6 new bags!!! I am so thrilled and satisfied for the time being, busy changing bags to match every outfit even if it is onlu my standard outfit, capris and a t-shirt. "Bags" about the only thing I enjoy spending money on aside from scrappin & stampin stuff!

Well here it goes....

As the title of my Blog says, "Do I really have time for this", I would like to create a place for my little group of crafty friends to visit to find motivation to get more scrapping done! I hope to post pics of my completed projects, as well as challenges to get everyone else motivated to complete layouts of thier own. Let's see how it goes Lisa