Time to create!

I believe it should be mandatory to take some time out of our busy days just to do something we like. I usually fail in doing what I am recommending, but today I demanded some time for myself to work on some pictures I had sitting on my desk for few months. The pictures were taken in October when we all went up to Chico to visit Grandma and Grandpa for our yearly appointment with the pumpkin patch. Lucas wasn't walking yet, and Greg had him in the backpack carrier for the entire time.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.
Here is complete chaos, broken wrapping paper all over the room, empty boxes (and related twisties, don't you hate those things?) everywhere, and LOTS, LOTS of JOY! 

The Big 1!!!!!!

I don't need to say anything more. Happy Birthday Luki Luki!!! 

All Decked Out

The house is ready! It took a lot of work last week-end, but we are ready for Santa'a arrival. The kids had such a great time decorating the tree and getting all the Christmas stuff out of the boxes.
Now, if we just had the time (and the energy!) to shop for all those presents, that would really make us ready. Oh well, we will get it done a way or another!

Studio Friday: MY FAVOURITE COLOUR COMBOS!

This week topic at Studio Friday is all about color:
"Let's throw in our favourite colours this week and spruce things up! So many great colours to choose your favourites from, hehe"

I am definitely a BROWN kind of person. If someone asked me which one is my favorite color, I can tell you that my answer would never be in a million years BROWN. But in the reality I am a BROWN kind of person. I have tons of brown in my clothes and I always gravitate toward brown if I am creating something. I guess that what I can say is that I like brown IF it is combined with other colors and they usually are GREENS or PALE YELLOWS. Yes, this definition is more like me: I love brown/green/yellow combinations. Check it out!

Guess who is walking?

Yes, our Lucas has ventured into the unknown and has taken his first steps!!! Can you tell he is really proud of himself? Way to go big boy!!!!! 

Just another day

I still can't believe that Ryan is old enough to go to preschool. Every morning he grabs his little lunchbox and gets out of the house with Greg to go to Applebee. And he does all this with a big smile on his face. Last month I took a few picture of him leaving the house and this past week-end I had few minutes to make a page. I challenged myself in using some old supplies and this is what I came up with. It is simple, nothing special, but at least the memories are preserved.

 

It has been quiet around here

Someone may wonder why it has been so quiet around here during these past Holidays.Well, we spent a lot of time driving around to go see family, and that alone made us pretty busy. Alex was in Disneyland and we missed him like crazy, but he is back now and told us everything about his fun trip. I have made a collage of few pictures we took last Saturday in Lincoln. It was a beautiful day; Ryan went fishing in the pond and even caught some fish. He was very excited about that (and daddy did not catch anything!). Big thanks to Uncle Dan for all the fun! I have managed to work on some pages but I did not have time to scan anything, hopefully I will post them soon.
Have a great Monday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

Happy Birthday big boy! Ryan is turning 4 today!!

 

First Time on a Bike

Lucas went for his first bike ride today! And as you can see, he loved going around with daddy. He fought the helmet a little but forgot about it relatively fast and then it was FUN all the way!
For once, I wish I had my videocamera rather than my Rebel because Lucas was making this funny noise all the time, like if he was in a car and he was driving. It would have been really cool to capture it.
We just got the seat and it already seems kind of small for him, hopefully it will last a few months. Ryan is getting the trailer bike for his birthday (this Tuesday he will be 4!), so then daddy is all set to carry the little ones around. I know someone may think..what about mommy, why doesn't she help at all? Let's say I have some balance issues with the bike, so it is safer if I carry only myself around.....and let's leave it at that!

AEzine Challenge: Stamp Goodness

"This week the challenge is to embrace that wonderful imperfection inherent in using stamps. Sound like a big challenge? It is. If you are like me, sometimes it has to be laid out right in front of you for it to have any impact.

Here's a little more direction: create a layout that uses at least three different stamps - one geometric, one text, and one organic (swirl, artsy, etc.). If you make a mistake, work with it or leave it. Chances are, no one will ever notice except you - everyone else will see it as a totally cool artsy use of stamps. Embrace that!"

I am always a little chicken when time comes to use stamps on my pages, so this challenge was a good one for me. As expeceted, I am not too convinced about the result, but as Ali says:IT'S OK. So I decided to accept the final product and roll with it.

Catching up

Since I was not a scrapbooker when my other kids were born, I don't have many pages of their first year of life. But from the moment Lucas was born I decided to make one page each month during his first year of life to keep track of his milestones and growth. He is almost 11 months old and even though I am no keeping up the pace, (I have only 8 pages completed), I am doing OK. I don't scrap chronologically, but rather I follow the inspiration that the pictures create in me the day I want to create. Today I made a page about his 7 month. Thanks for looking! 

It's all over!

Another Halloween has passed, November is here and in few more weeks it is going to be Christmas. Where did the year go, I wonder ?
Well, the kids had a great time and were completely wiped out last night . Ryan was hilarious because he kept his Spiderman mask on for a good part of the trick or treating and kept felling and stumbling over everything. I was able to convince him to take it off after he stumbled on a newspaper.Lucas (our little leopard) was an angel all evening and even if he did not get any candy, he definitely helped his brothers checking them out, once we got back home. Alex is getting so big! He was dressed up as a Grim Reaper, but I barely saw him because he went running around with his friends and there was no way we could keep up with them, so we saw them back at home at the end of the evening. It's all over. The decorations are gone already and now it is time to think about Thanksigiving.

We are ready!

The pumpkins are carved, the candles have been tested, the costumes are out and everything is ready for the big day. Tomorrow is Halloween and the kids are so excited! There are going to be parades during the day time for both Alex and Ryan, but they ar ereally looking forward to tomorrow evening when is trick-or-treating time.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone! 

AEzine Challenge : Creative Confidence

"This week I want you to create something that celebrates your own creativity. Even if it is simply writing the statement "I am creative" and sticking it on your mirror that is excellent. If you want to take it a step further put together a layout titled "I am creative" and talk about how you feel about your level of creative confidence. This is not a layout you have to share if you don't want - but sometimes letting our fears out in the open is the first and best step in overcoming them."

The best reflection of my creativity is my messy (very messy!) desk. It is very rare to find it clean, and usually if it is clean, it is a sad sign. If it t is that way I am going through some dry spell in terms of creativity. Most of the time I can barely find my scissors on it and, even though a part of me feels extremely annoyed by the overwhelming pile of stuff precariously piled on my desk, the best part of me feels at ease and very much at peace, because it means I am working on something and therefore I am being alive. So my celebration of creativity is expressed in this page, be yourself, be ART.

AEzine Challenge : Follow-Up to Photos

When it comes to scrapbooking styles, I particularly like Ali Edwards style. Ali is a very immediate, no frills artist, and this aspect is very attractive to me. On her blog, she has a weekly newsletter full of interesting facts that I strongly reccomend. Also, in her newsletter you will find weekly challenges.

"This week your challenge is to try the photo gathering technique listed above. This is one of my most favorite ways to get multiple photos on a layout".

Although I read the newsletter every week, I rarely have the chance to work on a page for the challenge. This week I had to try because I love to play with Adobe Photoshop to create collages of pictures. Here is my page that shows Lucas learning to stand up and attempting to find independance.

Creating (when you can!)

I was able to work on a page in the last 2 days. Yes, you read correctly, it took me two days because there is no way that I can sit at my desk and work uninterrupted for even one hour in this house!!! Lucas seems to hate for me to work at my desk and he grabs to my legs and whines (not fun!!), so when I have five minutes I try to work on one page. I find the process very distrupting, because at times I have some ideas on how to put some elements together but I am forced to stop. Often when I go back the idea is gone and I have to start again. Oh well, that is just the way it is for now! This is Lucas about one month ago (9 Months). I love his big eyes! 

Missing in Action

I know I have been silent, way too silent! I promise I will post something meaningful soon. Life is busier than ever and I don't get to do much for myself including scrapping or sitting at the computer for pleasure. Lucas got down with the fever yesterday and had to stay home today. Greg is at home with him while I am at work working on the budget for next year. I have just heard that Ryan felt bad at preschool and Grge had to go pick him up as well. Talking about CRAZY LIFE!
I will be back soon , hopefully I will be much more peaceful!!

Fall is in the air!

It is fall in California! It started this past week-end and it hit us with all its force. We were at a birthday party in the park and at around 5:30PM, while the kids were playing, a chilly breeze started to fill the air. Sweaters and sweatshirts came out of nowhere and the rest is history.
I don't know about you, but I love the beginning of fall. I love beginnings in general and when we are talking about seasons, my favorite beginnings are fall and summer. I always look forward to the beginning of summer, when finally I can go out and feel the strong sun on my skin, needing nothing more than a thin layer of clothing. It is so liberating after months of layers. But I feel as much joy when fall starts. The soft feeling of a sweater on your skin, that chill in the air that makes you want to go home and spend time inside. After the long days of summer it is a welcome change. I also love changing my wardrobe in the closet and while I put away my summer dresses, I already feel the anticipation of seeing them again in few months. Another reason why I love fall is due to its colors. I am completely at peace with dark greens, browns and the reddish tones of the fall, they make me happy and serene. I know soon enough I will miss the summer and the bright blue skies, but this morning, as I seat at my desk, drinking my hot tea and feeling the chill in the air, I am completely embracing the change. Have a wonderful fall day everyone! 

Studio Friday:TOOT YOUR OWN HORN... LOUD!

" Studio Friday, for me, is a network of Artist from all over the world. It's a fabulous way to communicate with and learn from artists of all backgrounds. With this being said, I would love to see a showcase of what YOUR art is. Are you a scrapbooker? A clay artist? Are you a collage artist or a photographer? Do you paint or work in the fibre arts of Knitting, sewing or enbroidery? Are you a gardener a botanist or an eclectic artist of many trades? I'd love to see a piece that you have created that you are most proud of. SHOW off your STUFF!!"

I don't consider myself an artist by any mean. I have always associated the word artist with someone very creative, highly imaginative and capable of creating something that leaves a mark. I am definitely not. I am a scientist, and in my mind, by definition, a scientist and an artist live in 2 completely separate words!! In the lab we stick to the facts, there is no room for creative interpretation and we can't make things up no matter how pretty we think they would be (although you have no idea how many times that would make my life easier!).
But I enjoy beautiful things, the aesthetic value of a complete product. So, I try to create pages that tell the story of my family and hopefully they are not too hurtful to the eye!

The little dude!!

Look at those big eyes!! Isn't he adorable? I am posting these pictures because they were taken before I cut his bangs and completely destroyed his good looks! I am going to have to scrap one or two of these pictures because I think his face is too cute! Lucas is now crawling and pulling humself up on everything he can find around the house (even alive objects like his brothers!). Iknow I have been complaining a lot recently about the huge workload that these 3 kids create for mom and dad and how insanely tired we feel all the time, but when they look at you with those eyes, can anyone still feel the pain? I DON'T ANYMORE
Have a great day everyone!
 

The joy of scraplifting

I have so many pictures that I would like to scrap, but as usual not enough time. They keep accumulating on my desk with little hope of finding their resting place. So this week-end I thought about scraplifting a page, thinking that maybe I could get more accomplished in the little time I had. The page that I used as inspiration is from Joanna Bolick and I liked it because it is simple and well presented. So I gave it a try! Well, not only it worked wonderfully, but it was such a liberating experience!!! I did not have to think about much, just find the elements necessary to put the page together and ...voila', the page was completed! I am going to scraplift a lot more often from now on, what a relaxing way to get pages done!Here is Joanna's page:

Home in the evening

Here they are, definitely helping mom and daddy, wouldn't you say?
While Greg and I are running around getting dinner ready or cleaning the kitchen when dinner is over, my boys are doing this...who wouldn't want to have their life?? Not a worry in the world. I remember those time, but when I was living that life I thought I had it so tough! Aren't kids clueless?
I have played around with the picture because it was not very clear, so I sharpened and then I used soft focus to give it softer edges. I like the result.
I hope everyone is enjoying their family time this evening. Cheers! 

Studio Friday: A Floral Treat

" I was thinking, all the ladies work so hard in their studios: maybe it's time we all treat ourselves to a lovely boquet of flowers for our creative spaces? Maybe some fragrant, or colourful buds to make us happy? Let's treat ourselves this Friday, and buy a nice arrangement of flowers for our studios!"

Gone are the days hubby was coming home with a surprise bouquet of flowers! That is not completely true, but they are certainly much more rare. The last bouquet was from a group of online friends after they heard about my mom's cancer. That was such a sweet gesture! It was greatly appreciated. For my everyday life though, these are my flower treats and they bring a smile to my face as well. Have a good day everyone!! 

What is it going to take?

I don't know why I can't shed the last 10 pounds of my pregnancy weight. I am running 3 miles, 3 times/week. I also do weights and resistance training. I eat so many vegetables that I am believe I am going to turn green one of these days and still.. my weight is changing ever so slowly!!!
And Lucas is almost 9 months. My philosophy has always been ...9 months to put the weight on and 9 months to lose it. Well, there goes my beautiful theory!
This is a Botero painting and it says it all about the way I feel today!
Cheers 

I did it again!!!

I don't know if it will always take me a 3 day week-end to scrap, but amazingly enough I have completed a page this past week-end. I am still working on Lucas first year album and I am incredibly behind. He is almost 9 months and I probably have pages of his first 4 months. Oh well, my dear boy, one day you will have a record of your growth, and hopefully that will be before you turn 18 (but I won't make any promises!). So this past week-end I took a few hours for myself (this is not completely true, given that Lucas was crawling under my chair and Ryan interrupted me more times than I can recall) and made a page about him being 8 months old. Don't know if I like it, but at least it's done.
PS: I really dislike my scanner because it leaves that horrible line on scanned pictures (I know you can see it, so don't lie!!!) 

Studio Friday: Artist's Block

"You've heard of 'writer's block'. Well as an artist, I sometimes suffer from "Artist's block". What is this you ask? It's when you sit and sit and can't come up with anything. This can go on for hours, days, weeks even months sometimes.
I want to know how you break free of Artist's block! "

I feel I live in a perennial artist's block interrupted by few moments of artistic inspiration!!
Anyway, when I can't sit down at my desk and create something I have three main solutions: I read, I go shopping and last but not least... I spend real quality time outside with my wonderful family. One of these usually does the trick!!!