I just had to post this...

I just had to post this picture...it is one of my favorites.

Randomness...

So...I have been swamped with this...finally my thank you cards for the wedding arrived and lucky they have because I think it is honestly going to take me two weeks to thank all of the amazing guests we had attend our wedding! My goal is to have these done and mailed out before December 01...and I am pretty optimistic I will meet that goal, however I don't think I have done this much writing since my university days! It has been such a rewarding process though, and a wonderful trip down memory lane considering I still don't recollect about 95% of the day itself. It is still a blur, and something that at times really does make me sad. It is so nice to read all of the cards and everyones well wishes and sweet words of wisdom and praise.

On another note...last weekend I threw myself into creative mode and finished my December Daily album, as seen on Ali Edwards blog. I am so happy to have it ready and am eagerly awaiting December 01/2008 so I can start recording all of the big and little moments this December has to offer. I know I will be so thankful that I did this project and will be one of the greatest gifts I can give myself. Thank you Ali for some amazing inspiration once again!

I want to remember this

LOVE this quote

So, while surfing some of my favorite scrapbooking blogs, I came across the following quote on Ali Edwards blog. Honestly, if this quote does not hit home I do not know what will...it is so true in regards to so many of the things that I feel so passionately about in my life. Sometimes a person does not know exactly how to express themselves, however this quote completely sums up the way I feel about alot of things and the choices I make and decisions I have made in regards to how I live and want to continue living my life by. Marilyn Thomsen : And while it takes courage to achieve greatness, it takes more courage to find fulfillment in being ordinary. For the joys that last have little relationship to achievement, to standing one step higher on the victory platform. What is the adventure in being ordinary? It is daring to love just for the pleasure of giving it away. It is venturing to give new life and to nurture it to maturity. It is working hard for the pure joy of being tired at the end of the day. It is caring and sharing and giving and loving… Thanks Ali!

One of those days...

Have you ever just had "one of those days"? Well, today was my turn. Honestly, I do not know what was going on, but from the moment I stepped foot out my door and headed to work...I knew things were not going to go my way. There was nothing in particular that was wrong, it was just a day where I wasn't feeling "it" at all and really did not know how I was going to get through a full day at work having to feel the way I was. But then...things got better. My husband surprised me with flowers this afternoon and of course that sealed the deal for things to start heading on a better track. All of a sudden I just regained my focus and it was like "wake up girl! Let it go and just be happy and thankful". And it wasn't the flowers that did it, but just the sheer fact of being reminded that no matter what...there are always people out there that care for you, and need you, and are here to cheer you on. We all can have our days, but in reality...those days really are not that bad...especially when a person is surrounded by so many good "little" things in life. Thank you Matthew for reminding me of this, and making me more aware today of so many things. Reason #589 of why I love you and why I promise to be even more grateful and thankful for you in my life everyday.

Random Thoughts & A Palm Tree

Since I woke up this morning to snow, and I am getting ready for bed as it is snowing...I figured it would be most fitting to put up this picture of a palm tree so it could take me back to some blue skies and sweet sunshine! How I long for the sun!!! This past week has been so dreary, grey and cloudy that I was forced to go and buy myself a light therapy lamp for my desk at work. The SADD symptoms are definitly trying to force thier way through and I am trying my best to fight back with all my might. Me and winter do not get along so much! However, looking at this picture does bring me back and truly makes me feel so happy. My mom and dad came over for supper tonight, and it was great to just have a spontaneous visit. Sometimes those are definitly the best visits to have. I am not really much of a planner, so when things just fall into place at times, I definitly do not mind. My dad is heading to California for a week on a golfing trip so it was nice to visit and bid him a fond farewell to sunshine and golf courses while we sit here under grey skies and snow covered ground! I am really looking forward to the weekend, and do not have much planned. A baby shower on Saturday and that is about it. Maybe I will be able to get some scrapping in here or there. We will see!

Today I am Grateful & Saying A Prayer

Today I am grateful... 1.) For the amazing relationship I have with my husband. I love how we can talk about anything and everything. I am thankful for our friendship. He is the #1 in my life. 2.) For music. 3.) To have arrived home safe and sound after going to Edmonton today. Also...I had came home to some unsettling news. I am saying a prayer for that certain someone. Let us all remember to be thankful for the power of prayer.

What I've Been Up To...

So just when I thought that all my creativity was out the door...I got this huge need to create something and "ta-da!" this is what has become of it. I finally have finished not one, not two...but three layouts! Crazy, I know! I guess a big thing that I try to remind myself of is that to just try and "let it go"...whatever it may be. It's so hard not to get caught up in the "trendiness" of this hobby. There are so many products out there and gadgets and things to buy that sometimes it almost paralyzes a person. I know that is how I get. And really, it is all about the photos in the end anyway. It is important to try and not get so lost in all of the hoopla. I really believe less is more, and when too much "stuff" gets in the way of this incredible hobby, it makes me sad. No one should ever feel insecure or incompetent about what or how they create. I think the individuality in everyones creations are what make scrapbooking so unique. No two layouts or projects will EVER be the same...so why so much insecurity? I know I am definitly guilty of that at times and constantly have to remind myself to not get discouraged or dissatisfied by my work from the things I read and see. I love scrapbooking books and magazines...I could read them for hours. But sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in the desire of "perfection" and I too can get frusterated that my stuff doesn't look like that. But then I shake my head....OF COURSE it is not going to look like that...it is not my stuff! Anyway...just thought I would share some of my latest creations!

Girl Time & Perogies!

Reflecting on this past weekend, it was one of those times where I was time-machined back to high school...or maybe even closer to college days! And sometimes, that is really nice when it happens. Hannan came and spent the night with me and it was so nice to have some quality time together with no distraction. The weather was pretty lousy as well so it forced us to just be content and sit inside gabbing and visiting endlessly. We played around on photoshop (she so graciously taught me so photo tricks!), ordered pizza, went and bought chips and ice cream and watched movies until the wee hours. One memorable moment would have had to have been around 7:30 that night, the power went off (due to the massive wind storm) so we were forced to sit around in candlelight for about an hour where we peeled potatoes for our big batch of perogies we were planning to spend Sunday making! At least it was an effective way to kill time!

On Sunday, we made about 800 perogies from scratch that ended up turning out so delicious! For our first time ever doing the whole entire process by ourselves (dough and all) we were quite proud, and needless to say very tired by the end of the day. But it was all worth it. And on another note...I think...I just may have found my scrap mojo again! On Saturday I spent some time scrapbooking and completed a few layouts! However we will seeif it keeps up as I have been struggling with my creativity lately but it just might be finding it's way back to me. I am optimistic! It's funny how creativity and the desire to be creative flows in waves and mine has been definitly at a standstill for awhile. However, of course Ali Edwards is always a huge help, and her blog is so full of fun and meaningful projects. Currently she is posting about a 25 days of Christmas album that is to be completed and ready for documenting the holiday season! I think I may just attempt this one! I am just going to try to stay on this creativity wave flowing my way! We will see how it all goes!

Wednesday Already!

Like everyone else...I find myself sitting here wondering where time has literally gone. Life can be such a whirlwind and just when you think you have it all under control and within grasp, you realize that it is the furthest thing within reach. For instance, the wedding and honeymoon are long gone, Matt and I have been married for over a month, it's insane!!! I guess that is why I always try to maintain a perspective and continuously remind myself to "treasure each and every day". This week has been busy, like usual, with work and everything else that follows. An added bonus on Monday (which by the way was a great way to kick off the week) was that my photographer finally got in touch with me and gave me access to our online gallery. He did an amazing job, and I am so pleased with my pictures. It is a total representation of how our day unfolded. What I find really neat is that in some pictures, I can remember exactly how I was feeling at that moment when he was taking it. Other pictures, on the other hand I do not even remember him taking! How insane is that! In any case...thank god for photos! Today was neat in that I met up with Cindy and the girls to do a spontaneous photo session after work. It was so much fun and the pictures that I was able to capture are really some of my best. I cannot wait to see and hear Cindy's reactions. But with kids that cute it really is somewhat of a sure thing anyway. Last but not least, on my mind is that I really need to start finding some balance and putting some plans into action. I have been finding myself a little under motivated lately, which I hate, and I really need to jump start some things. Even with my scrapbooking I have been feeling a lull and am just waiting for some inspiration to slap me in the face! I know it will come (probably when I have NO time of course) but nevertheless I am patiently waiting. Let's just say right about now I definitly have my hands full with projects just waiting to get started. I have never been bombarded with so many pictures as I am right now. Maybe that is part of the problem! In any case, I think I will just start small and wait to see what happens!