Here By Grace

Another Contest??

Why of course!! Why not?  I'm really working on not always being a bridesmaid and being a bride, so I know I've gotta get out there and try! You know the saying," You can't win it, if you ain't in it!" (LOL!) So I guess I'll keep trying until I get it!

Here are my two entries into the Card Positioning Systems Blog Contest. I did two very different cards, but they are based on the same sketch. Well, I'm gonna go to bed now. It's been a loooooooong day! Take Care and Be Blessed!

Graduation #2!!

So this was the funniest, cutest graduation I've ever been to in my life! My son is such a little character! He was sooo excited about this day- until he actually walked into his school. Then he lost all of his enthusiasm and he almost his cool, but somehow he pulled himself together and had a blast!   He was voted the best(really the loudest!LOL!) singer and the best dancer in his class too!

I enjoyed myself looking at how much fun Michael was having! I couldn't help remembering back 2 years ago to the day I was told he was educationally autistic. I can't help but remember how he couldn't even be around other people without screaming and crying uncontrollably. I also remember we could not understand one word he spoke. And I can't help but remember myself crying and asking God to be merciful on my baby. Well, all I can say is God is a good God and I still believe in miracles!

Here are some lyouts I did for Scrap-Tastic. The first one, "Silly Me" features me doing my version of America's Next Top Model (ha ha!) I used Prima papers and flowers and some Rhonna Farrer's flourish stamps.  The next one, "Fabulous" features my daughter Brittany along with Basic Grey papers and some Prima bling. The stamped journaling circle is from Close To My Heart.  The last one is my favorite featuring my Michael with Scenic Route papers and chipboard, Close To My Heart stamps, Making Memories clips, American Crafts Roosevelt letter stickers, and stars cut with Cricut's Celebrations cartridge.  Well, that's all! Take care and be blessed!

Traveling at the Speed of Sound!

It seems like I've been traveling at the speed of sound here lately! With the kids graduations, D.A.R.E graduation at school, report cards, packing up my classroom, design team stuff, etc., I don't know which way I'm going! The good thing is everything will slow down in 7 days. And then, I'm officially on SUMMER VACATION!!!WHOOOHOOO!! I'm counting the minutes as they pass!(LOL!)

I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to vote for me in the Paper Crafts Card Idol Contest.  I only got as far as the top 10, but I'm totally fine with that.  I guess it's like I said, I'm always a bridesmaid and never a bride! But just wait, one day I'm gonna win something! You just watch me!(LOL!) Anyway, there are some wonderfully talented ladies still competing and you should go over and give them your vote. I do have a favorite too.  I've got to tell you that Valerie Salmon is rocking that contest! Good luck to you girl!

Well, I did a few dt layouts for CreativeXpress and I really like them! This one features my friend Tisha's niece and some of that tasty My Mind's Eye paper. The assignment was to lift the fabulously talented  Liana Suwandi.  Wow is she one fantastic scrapper! You can check out her gallery at CreativeXpress.

This next layout is a photo swap assignment. How fun this one was! I got this wonderful photo of this beautiful little girl from Liana.  I just love the assignments we get each month. Thanks Natalie! Anyway, we also had to use 3 main colors so I have chosen yellow, pink, and brown. That patterned paper is Daisy D's, the rub-ons are Basic Grey, and the flowers are my favorite flowers to use from Making Memories. That's all for today! Well, take care and Be Blessed!

Graduation #1!

So I have not one, but two children graduating this year! Brittany graduated from High School tonight (yeaaaa!!) and Michael will graduate from Pre-School, (yes, I said pre-school!) next week!  I never thought I would have children who were 12 years apart, but it just shows you that you should never say never!! At any rate, I'm sooo excited about them both!  Here are a few photos from Brittany's graduation tonight! The last one is a photo of my mom, Brittany, and me! Isn't she the cutest?!   Take care and Be Blessed!

I Made The Cut!!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who gave me their vote in the Paper Crafts Idol Card Contest! I made it into the top 10 finalists and I'm too excited! Now I have to make a birthday card with an envelope for the next round.  That sounds pretty easy, but it's the stuff that seems easy that's often the hardest, you know? Well, here it is.  The papers are Basic Grey's Lilykate Collection, chipboard frame is Basic Grey too! The flower is Prima, large eyelets are by Provo Craft, buttons are Foofala, the stick pin is by Boxer Scrapbooks, and the ribbon is by JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts. I hope you like it so much that you vote for me this week!

I've had so many people e-mail me asking me about my weight loss, I thought I'd post my story, so here it is:

I hadn't been feeling good, and I couldn't lose weight. I had gone to every weight loss program around. You name it, I'd been to it.  All I ever would lose was about 12lbs and no more. After about 4 months, I would always get frustrated and quit.  As soon as I stopped the programs the weight was back in like a week!(LOL!)  Well, after about 5 years of my weight constantly creeping up, and losing my brother to complications from Diabetes and high blood pressure, I finally decided to take a trip to the doctor. She told me that in addition to me weighing an obscene amount of weight, I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes, and my blood pressure was sky-high!  So, after a lot of feeling sorry for myself and a lot of tears,  I went to a Diabetes Counselor to learn about what I could and couldn't eat, went on Metformin (a medicine to lower blood sugar) and had to be tried out on about 3 different kinds of blood pressure medicine before we found the right one.  Within a month I lost 12lbs. Then I started eating bad again cause I thought I had it together!(Ha!)  After seeing things fall apart, I soon realized I needed to do this change for the rest of my life,(duh!) so back to doing what the doctor told me to do. The weight's been coming off ever since! The loss has been about 2 lbs a week and I've lost 43 lbs as of today! I'm gonna  lose 60 more too!  I feel much better and I have so much more energy.  It really is unbelievable! I've struggled with my weight my entire life!  Now, I feel like the struggle is over.  I will never go back to eating like that again!  I still have a lot to lose, but when I think about what I've gained as far as the quality of life, nothing compares to it.  I'll give you one example: I recently traveled to Salt Lake City by airplane.  Now, I've have flown a lot over the past 4 years and I always needed a seat extender because the regular seat belt wouldn't fit around me. (You talking about embarassment!) Anyway, I hadn't given it another thought when I got on the plane a few weeks ago, and I asked for an seat extender when I boarded.  Well, to my delight and extreme surprise, I didn't need one!  I even had room to "tighten up" in the regular belt!  Let me tell you how elated I was! I didn't neet a plane to get to SLC, I could've just flown there on my own newly sprouted wings!! Like I said, I will NEVER go back to my old ways of eating. See, like so many women, I always take care of everyone else. I always left myself to take care of last, but I've recently had a change of heart.   Not only will I take care of my family, but sometimes I will put myself first on the list!

Take care and Be Blessed!

I've Been Tagged!!

So a couple of weeks ago, my girl Regina tagged me!  I've never been tagged before so this is kinda fun!  Anyway, I'm supposed to share 7 random facts about myself, so here they are!

1. Before I was a teacher, I was a licensed hair stylist! I can still do a mean cut, color, and perm/relaxer too! (LOL!)

2.  I don't watch the news much because it makes me sad and I cry.  Especially if there is a terrible story about something happening to children.  I just can't take it!

3.  When I was little, I was extremely quiet and shy.  Absolutely no one believes that because  now I am sooooo loud, crazy and and outgoing! My mother often comments that she wonders what happened to make me go from good to bad!(LOL!

4. I've lost 40 pounds in the last 6 months by counting my fat and carbs, and limiting sweets.  I've still got 60 more to go, but I'm gonna do it!

5.  I am my parent's youngest child and their only daughter, which means I'm extremely spoiled by everyone!

6.  I love to sing and dance in the car, the grocery store, and anywhere else that might embarrass my children!(LOL!)

7.  I dream about things that are going to happen weeks ahead of them actually happening! (really, I do!)  I've always had the ability to know what's going to happen in the future.  I uaually mention things to other people when I dream them, so they know I'm telling the truth!  Sometimes it can be terrifying!

Okay, there are some random facts about me! I'm gonna tag a few folks later!

Here is my Project Tuesday project I did for Scrap-Tastic. This is a message board I altered for my daughter, the ever-so popular Brittany!  Since I seem to be her personal secretary these days, I thought it would be a good idea to make her something I could post all of her messages on when she's not home.  I remember being that popular about 25 years ago! My how time changes things!(LOL!) Take Care and Be Blessed!

My Weekend Project!

So, here is what I've been working on all weekend. It's my round 2 entry for the PaperCrafts Card Idol Contest! Yep! I made it past the first round! I was really worried about that round because have you seen all of the incredible designers in this contest? I'm thinking I'm gonna have to pull a rabbit out of my hat to win this one!(LOL!) The challenge this week was to create a "shaped" Mother's Day card.  I must admit that this was truly a challenge for me, but I like what I ended up with!  I was trying to think of the things that my mom really takes pride in and I came up with: shoes, clothes, jewelry, family, the arts, and her home.  If I didn't like the house idea, I was gonna go for a crown because she is truly a diva! (LOL!) Anyway, I really appreciate everyone who voted for me in the last round! So,uhmmm... do you think you could do it again??! Please? (LOL!) If you go here, you can click on the Gallery Idol Contest and vote starting Monday at noon until Thursday.  Okay, I've got a ton of laundry to do, so I'm gonna go be domestic!  I'm sending hugs out to you and everyone you love. Take care and Be Blessed!!

2 More!

So here are 2 layouts I did at the crop last weekend.   On both layouts I used papers from My Mind's Eye.  I am soooo in love with this line of papers! Can you tell??! (LOL!) Anyway, the first one features one of my favorite photos of little Miss Tatum, and the second layout features my one and only son, Michael! I'm not too chatty today, so I'm gonna say goodbye now!  Take care and Be Blessed!

Where Do I Begin?

Okay, there are soooo many things that have been going on in this crazy life, I don't know where to begin!

Well, I just got back from the CreativeXpress Crop in Salt Lake City,Utah  and I had the best time ever!! I got to meet soooo many wonderful people while I was there! It was just amazing! I also got a few things done that  I'll post later.  I'll go more into detail about the trip then too because I'm just exhausted from the late hours, the time change, and the traveling. Let's just say that I won't be doing any flights with long layovers anymore if I can help it! Arrrrg!  I did manage to make use of my time while I was in Denver's airport.  During the crop, I found out I had been chosen as one of the top 20 in the PaperCrafts Card Idol contest! I made 2 cards while I was at the crop, but I didn't really like them. (what is it with me and these Idol contests? LOL!) Anyway, I made another card while I was at the airport! I found out that it had to be uploaded a few hours after I got back to St. Louis, so I was really rushed! Talk about pressure?!!  I really like the card I submitted because it's very different from the other entrys, but that may be the thing that get's me eliminated, ya know? The other entrys are gorgeous!  Oh well,  there's always gonna be another contest, but if you are interested in voting for me, (and I do need votes!) just go here: PaperCrafts Card Idol Contest .  If you click on "Cast your vote", a survey will come up.  That's what you click on to get to the ballot. Find robynw and vote away! (LOL!) 

Well, it is 2:30 AM and I have to go to work in the morning, so I'm gonna end this post and post again tomorrow.  Here are 2 layouts I did for CreativeXpress. One is a feminine layout that was to have no title or journaling and use 3 photos. The other is an ephemera layout I did that is very close to my heart because it features my grandfather who I never knew.  Well, I hope all is well with you and everyone you love. Take care, and Be Blessed!