Sugar Anyone?

It wasn't my intention to scrap a page about my love of all things sweet. However, these photos and the title stickers lended themselves too well to it!

I used the sketch from Scrapbook Steals this week for the inspiration. I do wish that the layout would have photographed better though. The colors are off a bit...sorry for that!

I used an old Gossamer Blue kit that I have been hanging onto as well as a few other bits and pieces that I had laying around. 

Looking at these photos make be excited to attend the Scrapbook Steals Retreat again this year! I don't always get a ton of scrapbooking done but I sure love seeing my scrappy friends! Thanks for stopping by!

Scrap Happy~
Melissa

Summer!

Every year, I say that I amazed at how fast the summer is flying by. This year, I decided that I would just understand that the summer was going to move on full speed ahead and I would just enjoy the ride! It has been working well for me so far.

We've been busy doing things all summer long with some lazy days thrown in there as well. One of the things that I love is hanging out with our neighborhood friends. I created this layout for the Scrapbook Steals Sketch Challenge this week with a photo that I took last year. I adore spending time with these ladies! 

For the most part, I used Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine kit along with a couple of pieces of Bella Blvd. Scattered Sprinkles. These two collections may be some of my favorites of all time. I love a bright, bold palette! The trend right now seems to be leaning more toward pastels but give me some ROY G. BIV anytime and I am happy!

I am hoping that this last month of summer goes by s-l-o-w-l-y and that we are able to fit in all of the little things that we'd like to do! Hope that your summer ends on a high note! Thanks for stopping by!

Scrap Happy~

Melissa

Polka People

I loved the sketch over at Paper Camellia for July! Kristine Davidson is one of my favorite sketchers. I always seem to really like my layouts when I use one of her sketches. The July sketch proved to be a hit as well in my opinion! Here is what I created:

This was a conglomeration of several kits using mostly Teresa Collins Archived.

We had SO much fun the night we spent in Germany in Epcot. The polka music made it feel like coming home since that is what I listened to growing up! Everyone danced, we ate great food, and we simply enjoyed each others company. Family is the BEST!

Scrap Happy,
Melissa

Animal Adventure (Lilac #1)

Happy to be playing along with the first in the sketch series at Scrapbook Steals! I used bits and pieces of October Afternoon's Woodland Park collection as well as a bit from Pretty Little Studio Nature Walk collection.

I am working on finishing my Disney scrapbook from 2012! Then I can move on to the pictures from our 2015 trip! I adore Disney and I don't think I will have a problem creating layouts for a while! ;)

Thanks for stopping by today!
Until next time.

Scrap Happy,
Melissa

Book Talk

"Book Talk" is one of my favorite things to do.

Anywhere.

Any time.

I've discussed books while my daughter was having adenoid surgery.

I've discussed books with strangers on a plane/in airports.

I've discussed books with every teacher I've met. 

Etc.

Love them.

Today I am linking up with Narci on her Grace and Love blog and sharing my pick for a good read! 

I have struggled lately to find a book that keeps my attention long enough to finish it. This has never been a problem for me...ever! Maybe it's the to-do list in the back of my brain but it's been a genuine challenge! That's why I was SO happy to finish this book last night! To prove to myself there are books out there that I still love to read!

You may have read or heard of the book (now movie) Still Alice. Having read that book and really connecting with it, I was excited to see that Genova had another book out called Inside the O'Briens. This book follows a family who is coping with a Huntington's Disease diagnosis. Just as Still Alice follows the thoughts and feelings of various family members dealing with Alzheimer's, this book follows this family through Huntington's. 

Is it an easy-breezy beach read? No. But it was well worth the time spent reading it and I had a desire to get to the end to see what happened. A first for me for a while! 

If you read it, I would love to know what you think of the book overall! Feel free to leave a comment. I still love reading them, even if I am struggling with the perfect book! :) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time, 

Melissa

What's Up Wednesday?

Changing it up a little bit my friends. I haven't been crafting as much as I used to be, and now, when I do craft, I tend to just post on Instagram and call it a day. I am not sure why, but that is how I've been rolling lately.

I have been tossing around the idea of doing some fun, general lifestyle posts and seeing how that goes. I realize that may not fly with everyone but let's give it a try? Alright? :) Living on the edge these days.

At any rate, one of my favorite bloggers, Sheaffer from Pinterest Told Me To, (who actually got me following Shay from Mix and Match Mama) shared this fun little thing to do on the last Wednesday of each month and I thought I'd give it a go.

So, without further ado, here are the questions for What's Up Wednesday!

And the extra question for this month: 

"What are you buying/wanting for Mother's Day this year?"

1) What we're eating this week... 

     This week's menu looks like this:

          Monday: Tortellini with Italian Sausage Meat Sauce and garlic bread

          Tuesday: Chicken & Chorizo Salsa Skillet

          Wednesday: Slow Cooker Enchilada Orzo

          Thursday: Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken with rice

          Friday: Easy Pizza Casserole (recipe from Mix & Match Mama, above!)

          Saturday: Lasagna Bowl

          Sunday: Grill Out

I try to make fairly healthy food without a lot of fat, sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't. In full disclosure, I won't be eating all of this myself, but I like to make the rest of the family happy at dinner! 

2) What I am reminiscing about...

     My Grandpa has been on my mind a lot (January was his one year anniversary of going to his eternal home). My youngest is planning his garden for spring and planting his starter seeds. I have been thinking a lot about my Grandpa's garden and his raspberry bushes along with the kohlrabi that he grew and Grandma cooked up! Yum! Fortunately, my youngest is giving the kohlrabi another try this year in his garden. He drew up his plans for the garden recently (top). Looks good to me! I also found some garden planning of my Grandpa's (bottom) while cleaning out his garage recently. It was fun to put them side by side and see some similarities in their planning!

3) What I'm loving...
     This girl. I love her constant ability to make me laugh and remind me to stop and smell the roses from time to time. (The fact that she willingly brushes my hair is an added bonus!) 

4) What we've been up to...
     Life has been centered around the kids' activities for the most part. Soccer and track are the sports this time of year. I know that May will bring all kinds of craziness so I am trying to enjoy the "lull" of April while I can!

5) What I'm dreading...
     I wish I loved to cook as much as I like to bake. Then I wouldn't be dreading trying to think of healthy and easy lunches for the kids when they are home for summer vacation. I am trying to Pin things that they can make in an effort to teach some life skills this summer. My oldest has one more year at home before college so I really want to get kitchen skills firmly planted this summer! Mique from Thirty Handmade Days  (another blog I love) created this printable for kids' kitchen skills. We've got some work ahead! Ha!

6) What I'm working on...
     One word for you...simplicity. I have a major challenge with getting rid of things. There are two reasons for this: 1) If I can sell it and make some money on it, I will. 2) I am way too emotionally attached to stuff. I have been improving and slowly getting rid of various items but there is still a long way to go. Just the thought of it makes me uncomfortable. Maybe I should have put this one up in question #5! Lol!

7) What I'm excited about...
     I love, love, love having the kids home for summer. I love hearing their voices and just love their presence around the house. Except when they are making me crazy. Ha! We don't get out for summer vacation until June, but I am still excited!

8) What I'm watching/reading...
     I am not a big television or movie person. I watch tv while I run on the treadmill in the morning, that is really the only time I really watch a whole show. That being said, what I am watching and what I am reading are the same right now! :) I started watching Call the Midwife on Netflix and then realized it is also a book so I requested it at the Bookmobile! I am also reading The Art of Arranging Flowers. I sometimes read two books as one time. I also realized that Property Brothers is accessible on Netflix so I can get back to my HGTV addiction, which is what I used to watch when I ran before we dropped cable. 

9) What I'm listening to...
     I have discovered that James Taylor is just the perfect music for me. Amazon Prime Music has given me the chance to listen to him as well as my other JT love, Justin Timberlake. It's been fun to find various playlists on there to listen to some new music as well as old favorites. 

10) What I'm wearing...
     I am a bargain hunter. I will splurge sometimes (mostly thanks to Sheaffer from Pinterest Told Me To, as mentioned above) but for the most part, I buy what I like and fits my budget. Many times, I check the racks at Target to see what I can find. I've also found that Target clothes fit my body well. Some stores just do that. Loft fits my body but not always my budget! :) I'd been admiring this scarf for a while and found it on clearance this week! I also found this shirt (sweatshirt? Not sure!) and I love it. I wish I could order one in every color. I freeze in the winter. And I mean, lips turning blue, freeze. This is cozy, comfortable and has a modern cut to it. I love it. I wish that I had discovered it sooner since they are sold out of many colors. 

11) What I'm doing this weekend...
     My husband is playing cards with the guys Friday so the ladies and the kids are getting together for a "ladies-ish night." Saturday is soccer and maybe a date night for hubby and I. It has been way too long since we've done that and desperately need to! Sunday is church, family time and preparing for the week ahead! Nothing too exciting! 

12) What I'm looking forward to next month...
     May is always a busy time for us. We have several family birthdays, Mother's Day and end of the year activities. Picking just one would be impossible! I am definitely looking forward to warmer weather though. Even though this summer was not nearly as cold as last summer, the whispered warmth of spring is so lovely!

13) What else is new...
     I have an ongoing thing with my hair. Keep it long? Cut it short? Go lighter? Darker? I just don't know. As I get older, my grays have been happy to keep me well informed of their existence and my dark brown hair doesn't hide them as well. I am still working on what to do about that, without going to the hairdresser more often than my budget allows! Here's a pic of my hair length and current color. Any and all suggestions welcome! This is how it looks now.

14) Extra question: What are you buying/wanting for Mother's Day this year? 
     I typically buy my mom the hanging flower basket for her front porch for Mother's Day. I am debating if that is the best bet this year or if I should think up something new. She is not much of a "things" person so I am thinking that maybe some time spend together would be best. It is my favorite thing anyway! :) 

That does it for my very first "What's Up Wednesday" post! I hope that it was a fun little thing to do! I believe it will happen the last Wednesday of each month so plan to play along next time if you'd like!

Until next time...
Melissa

So Much Baby Love

I cannot resist a cute little baby. Ever. I will tell strangers how cute their babies are. I have no desire to have another of my own, but boy do I love snuggling others'. That I know, of course. I don't snuggle random babies. That would be weird. Anyway, here is the sweet little layout I made.

This is my cousin's little one who is actually a year already but he is just SO cute! I had to scrap him. And, I have been in love with this Ducks in a Row collection from October Afternoon for years, so being able to use it was such a treat!

I found the sketch over on the Paper Issues blog and knew it would go perfectly with these papers. I had to change it a little bit to fit my upper and lower borders (hence the hidden journaling) but tried to stay as true to the sketch as I could. 

A few hearts and a few sequins along with perfectly phrased stickers and it was done! Thanks for taking a look today! 

Scrap Happy~
Melissa