2Day's Shared Memories

Ah, yep I said it! D-I-E-T!! I, now more than ever, am in need of improving my lifestyle not just for me and my health but for my children. I have found that with all the emotional and mental turmoil of 2009 that I have gained a significant amount of weight. I don't want to be a yo-yo dieter, I don't want to lose than gain. Instead I am turning to whoever wants to listen and input. I want to make permanent changes that in the process of learning I will be able to lose weight...and the key is to keep it OFF! So, I am asking...what have you or will you be doing in 2010 to work on your lifestyle??

On another subject, I said I would let you know how our 'little' family reunion went...it was amazing!! And although I am exhausted, I am truly happy that my family all got together and had such a wonderful time.

whether you celebrate or not you know that the holidays are upon us. Traditions are carried on or new ones are made and you don't have to celebrate to create memories, right?? I love the holidays. Our family get togethers, having fun, playing games and exchanging gifts of course. This year is extra special...we're having a little family reunion this weekend. I say little because there are a few members who are far away and can't join us, but little is still just under 30 people! Yes, I have a large family. We're going to have so much fun I can't wait to share everything with you, dear reader. I am making sure to take pictures along the way and I hope to soon return to creating my scrapbook pages on a more regular basis.

So here's to wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season!!

Let me know what your traditions are...I'd love to hear them!!

Karma: Although there are people out there that will argue what I am about to say but 'I Love Karma'!! Yes I believe it can work both ways...either for good or not. You might call it something else like, "What goes around comes around" whatever, it's all the same to me. I have spent most of 2009 repairing, mending and replacing a lot of 'wrongs' in my life and I have been rewarded. My family and I are healthy (so thankfully). I have been blessed with a new job that I absolutely love and the best part is I have been reunited (virtually) with many old friends and colleagues. I have so much to read, write and learn still that I find I am often distracted by my own thoughts. Silly, isn't it?!?!
Good Food: So if there is someone out there who is looking to add a little spice to their dishes or you just want to try something new. I've tried both of these recipes and they were both HUGE HITS in this house.
Crispy Southwest Lasagna
Santa Fe Chicken Chili

It' been a hard year and to top it all off...I found out my youngest needs to be Gluten Free. This is a whole new world. To anyone who doesn't have food allergies/intolerance's...Be Thankful! I can't believe how expensive "special" dietary products are. I am, however, so grateful that there are so many people out there who have chosen to share their trials and triumphs. I am still learning so much but in the process I am finding out that going Gluten free is going to be better for my whole family, not just the little one. I have started reading The Gluten Connection and reviewing many endless blogs and websites. One of my favorite blogs is the Gluten Free Goddess, I have tried a few of her recipes and my whole family has loved them! I am, however, looking for more recipe sites. I want to try other recipes! If you've tried any that you like...please share.

All joking aside and without any 'original' excuses I return to the blog. In my absence, I have found that many things in life can provide dead ends, pot holes, speed bumps or detours on the road we all think we are on. Most of the time we drive too quickly and end up at a dead end without even knowing how we got there only to reflect and realize that we missed our turn. It's at this point that we are forced to turn around, drive slower and pay attention.

With that said, I have spent much of this year adjusting to my new life...one as a single mom. It's had it's ups and downs to say the least but I'd have to say that the kids have never been happier.

This next year I plan to focus on me! Wow, me, really?!?! Some would say that I am selfish or that I won't be a good mom and I have struggled with whether or not to feel guilty but in the end I know that I cannot, no matter how hard I try, be a good mother if I am not well. So it is with you, lucky readers, that I plan to not only share my thoughts but links, recipes and new found adventures on my road to a new me. I hope that you will begin to share your thoughts, ideas and stories with me too!

So say goodbye to 2009 and HELLO 2010!!!

Sorry for neglecting to post for a few days, here is tonights speedscrap at DSM:


and here is the participation prize:

and the participation prize is:

This is going to be great for everyone...there are two, yes TWO, speedscraps at DSM today!!

The first:


and the participation prize is:


The second:


and the participation prize is:

Here is tonight's participation prize:

And here is tonight's participation prize:

There is another great template challenge at DSM this month, check it out here. This is What I came up with...



I used This Old House Kit by Mandy Made, here is a preview of this beautiful kit which contains 12 papers and 33 elements and it's available at the Digi Scrapbook Mania Shop.

Here is a preview of the Participation Prize if you join in on the fun at DSM:

Hello everyone...Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone has a FUN and SAFE holiday weekend. I won't have any new firework photos to show off but we are doing other things instead...hopefully I can sit down and do some LO's soon. I have been so busy with work I haven't participated in very much in the digital world. I have also started reading Twilight...my daughter insisted! It's okay so far and I can see why teenagers go bananas!

You know I just don't know which is harder, starting a new job or running your household once you've gotten home. It's been a roller coaster week! I'm completely exhausted...I didn't think I would be this tired but I am. It's going to take some getting used to, especially now that the kids aren't going to be as tired because it's summer. Speaking of which, on a positive note, I love all the different free activities for summer!! We just went to the Starlight Parade last Saturday...the kids had a great time. Other FREE things to do this summer:

2009 Beaverton School District FREE LUNCH PROGRAM
2009 Regal Cinemas FREE FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL

As I find other things to do for free I will post them.

that it's the end of the school year, the beginning of summer and 2009 is half gone already!! Although I am looking forward to the nicer weather that we have during the summer months...it gives us a chance to get outside! What are your plans this summer? We plan on going to parades, festivals, lakes, swimming, hiking and camping. On top of everything else, I got a new job!! I started today...for those of you looking - your time will come! For those of you lucky enough to not be a part of this horrible job market - feel forever grateful! It's tough out there and the longer you are out of work the harder it is to get a job. Anyhow, I have to get moving over to my favorite forum...it's Speed Scrap time!! Check out the new schedule I just posted...you should really join us, we have such a great time! You'll really LOL & anyone who is home with you will think you've lost your mind!

Gosh, I thought I had just posted yesterday...but, no, I was wrong again! Well, I'm finally starting a new job on Monday...yipee! I'm so excited!! I will be able to keep up with this better & finally get a schedule I can live with & do what I need to. As for scrapbooking layouts, I didn't get as many done as I would have liked but I did get some cute ones done. I'm putting my things together in an online album.

News about Digi Scrapbook Mania!!!

We are moving to a NEW FORUM on June 1st! Please join us! We have so much fun....

Well, I don't even know where to begin. I start a blog and then drop it and I think I ran...somebody whip me into shape. Speaking of which, I got a wild hair up (you know where) and decided that I was going to try and workout the other day...oohh, bad idea! I didn't realize I was so out of shape! I couldn't even walk the next day...I need help and motivation to try it again but I really don't want to not walk again. Although, my kids did enjoy the fact that I couldn't keep up with them to save my life. On another note, I did survive a field trip to the Children's Museum with my daughters kindergarten class and her schools Annual Carnival.
Anywho, are you keeping up with the Scrapbooking Challenges over at Digi Scrapbook Mania?? I know I'm not...boy do I have some catching up to do. I also updated the schedule for their Speed Scrap times. If you have another site that you would like to see their schedule or have anything you'd like me to add just leave me a note!

So I ended up making two layouts today...my kids actually behaved long enough for me to do so! The first one was made for the Speed Scrap tonight, it's my niece who has such a personality at a really young age. The second is my grandparents, my daughter actually took this picture. I thought this was a great moment that she captured.

Wow, I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by already! Wasn't it just January?? Today is Kayley's 6th Birthday. This morning I took her to school and her class sang Happy Birthday then we had cookies and apple juice...she was soooo embarrassed, it was really cute. Kindergartners are the cutest kids ever, they all said 'Thank you Kayley's mom' when they were done. (Gosh, what would it be like to be so innocent again??) Anyway, I will post pictures as soon as I can get them loaded on my computer.

I'm off to go see the challenge of the day over at Digi Scrapbook Mania, you should join me!

Head on over to Digi Scrapbook Mania where a different challenge will be posted everyday!!

I created these layouts today for challenges over at Digi Scrapbook Mania

I'm new to blogging and still an amateur at scrapbooking but I want (and need) a way for my thoughts to escape me. I have many, many passions in life and am learning everyday. My children keep me very busy and sometimes completely overwhelmed but I would be incomplete without them. I plan on posting about different things all the time...so feel free to share your thoughts!