So with all this free time.............

what is a girl to do?? Well stamp of course!! I found out that AmyR was doing a call for designers for ATS so I figured why not?? Maybe an expert grass drawer is what they need! ;) I also happen to have gotten my stamping mojo back so I had projects galore to share!! This Changito card is my favorite and it has been living in my head for awhile now so it is nice to finally get him into the jungle where he belongs!!

My Max also turned 6 this Summer but waited to celebrate his birthday with the boys in his Grade 1 class. A Glow in the Dark Mini Golf place opened nearby and we are going to check it out. They provided invitations but I couldn't use those!! But I did cut a piece of them off cuz I thought it made a nice Designer paper look. I wanted the invites to look like they were glowing in the dark so I went for a bright on black sort of look. I think they are really cool and better than that Max loves them!!

Tomorrow I start upgrading from pet groomer to being able to do "fancy styles" and stuff! I am all nervous in my tummy just like I used to get before school started. And freaked out that I am not going to be good enough!! I always get like this. I hate the process, but love where I am going! I can't wait till the next twelve weeks are over. It's going to be a long three months!! I'll feel better in a day or two once I get the feel of things, but right now I am like "Mellie, why do you want to do this again??" I guess I better head to bed and try to sleep (rolls eyes).

First Day Back at School

So this is it!! The first day of school. Can you hear the quiet in my house?? Nah, I guess not. We were off to a great start this morning (not) with a thunderclap being what woke my kids at 7 am. Two crying kids that didn't want to leave the house did not bode well for being on time but we did it!! I'm a bit sad cuz summer is over and my babies are off to grade one!! I like Kindergarten when they are home with me every other day. Just enough of a break to do your own thing but lots of time with the kids!! I am however really excited to focus on my grooming and stamping!! I'm just thankful that my kids go to such an awesome school that I can send them out the door with no worries!! :) Nik of course insisted on a silly picture too! He'll be thrilled to see himself on the web!!

RAK'ed

So I am FINALLY all ready for the first day of school! YAY!! I was sure I was never going to be done labeling all those supplies. So in the middle of this chore, right when I was needing a break the mailman brought me a letter from Helen. She sent me not one but two rak's. My friend Helen is VERY talented, she does all kinds of paper crafts. She sent me one of her beautiful Spirelli cards. Here are the two cards she sent me. Now wouldn't that brighten up just about any one's day??

One more day till school starts...........

Do I sound excited?? I'm not really. I haven't even BEGUN to label my kids school supplies. I figure it is going to be an all day project. I really like school supplies and I enjoy doing the labeling, I just didn't get to it soon enough this year. I am one of those mom's that label each and every individual crayon in the 64 crayon box -yep! That's where I'll be till 2am! LOL!! What I did actually manage this year was to make covers for my kids notebooks! The three older ones needed notebooks for school so last night when I was at Jenn's I threw together 4 quick covers. And I CASED Lauren Meader's lunch box cards so when my kids open their lunch kit on the first day of school they will have a card with a note in it from me and Kevin. I'm feeling really good about that. My babies Max and Summer will be in Grade One. I'm a bit traumatized, I liked having them around every second day. Even tho Max is only 6 weeks younger than Summer, I see him as the family "baby". Probably cuz Summer is so mature. I really don't want to let him go. He was the last one I gave birth to and I feel really close to him. Yesterday we were snuggling on my bed and I told him I changed my mind, I wasn't gonna let him go to first grade cuz I wanted him to stay home with me. Wanna know what he said?? He said "I have to go to first grade or I won't be able to get a good job" ROTFLMBO!! You can see what I drill into their heads at a young age huh?? And Bailey my oldest, the one who made me a Mom, he is going to Grade 6. Yeah, I can't even think about that -boggles my mind. Where did the years go?? OK I suppose I have procrastinated long enough. Wish me neat printing!! :)

Alexa's birthday!!

So I went to my UL's house tonight to stamp. We don't get to do that very often but her DH and boys were at the lake so we managed to grab a few hours! I was on a mission tonight to complete a card for Alexa's birthday that I was struggling with all afternoon and use my Umbrelli stamp. Well I accomplished both!! Alexa is a delightful soon to be 8 year old girl who has had a stamp set designed in her honor to raise money for cancer research. You can read all about it here. I love how this turned out it is so girly and pink!! :) Everyone sort of has a stamping thing, some people love Butterflies and others like anything floral, I have realised that I love umbrellas! I am obsessed with stamps with umbrellas and I am not sure why. Here is my first umbrelli card. I also am waiting on the new spring shower set from My favorite things that has an umbrella in it too!! Can't wait!!

Im Mellie da Marcos

So, I spent the evening with Jenn last night and managed to finally put some ink to my new stamp order. I have been dying to use SU's new In Colors as well as my Bugz!! This is my first card. It is a Sketch Challenge from Splitcoast and I am really pleased with how it turned out!! As for the drama with my sister, there is always one thing that makes me feel better ............. RETAIL THERAPY!! Now granted, I haven't gone and got them yet but just knowing that I am going to makes me all giddy!! What could it be that isn't stamps that gets me all excited?? Can you guess from the title?? SHOES!! That's right I love shoes. Particularly the high heeled impractical kind that a mom of 6 that grooms dogs for a living doesn't have much occasion to wear. I made Kevin promise that if I died young and before him and hadn't yet owned a pair of Mahnalo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos, that he would buy me a pair to be buried in. And we already own our plots and are going to be cremated so how bizarre -but whatever! It made me feel better to know at one point they would grace my feet. Well in an effort to cheer me up Kevin said I could get my hair done and get a new outfit for the wedding next year so....................... that's when I realized I need to get me some new shoes. Who can feel bad about not being your sister's bridesmaid when you have $500 shoes on your feet?? I can't wait!! This might be the best thing that ever happened to me! *GRIN* (Talk about making Lemonaid out of Lemons!!) And we are taking ballroom dancing lessons. Yes, that's right we are HUGE Dancing with the Stars fans. Been watching since Season 1. Drew and Cheryl are our faves!! Kevin even splurged and got us table/dance floor side seats when they came to Winnipeg!! We could have reached out and touched them it was SOOO cool!! And Kevin really is a fan too!! It's funny that we have the hots for the exact same team!! I always thought Nick Lachey was cute but Drew........SIGH, you get the idea!! And I can't blame him for wanting Cheryl, she's drop dead gorgeous too!! Hugs to you all!