Toujours Là

A quick warning - this post is about miscarriage, so if you are sensitive to this subject, you may wish to skip reading it.

My previous post led up to this one, and gave a peek of this LO.

This is the first time I have ever scrapped a photo of myself, but the LO is not truly about me. I created it as a tribute to our sweet angel, who would have been coming home to live with us this week, had God not had other plans.

The journaling on this LO consists of the lyrics to a beautifully melodic French lullaby, sung by Quebec children's entertainer Annie Brocoli. I played this for all of my children before they were born, and it seemed so fitting that I use it on this LO. Here are the (roughly) translated lyrics:

Toujours Là

Always There

I'll always be there
so very close to you
when you cannot fall asleep
I'll always be there
so very close to you
and I will take you in my arms
Sleep well, my sweet
I hold you by the hand
and your eyes close slowly
I love you so much.


Within the bookplate are the words: Sleep well, beautiful love.

On one of the swirls it says: Until we meet.

The journaling tag under the photo is for my personal journaling. I thought the ATB pp, which says "You're Missed" was a good match to the LO.

Supplies: pp by BG, ATB and Fancy Pants, Maya Rd swirls, stamps by TT (alpha) and Gelatins (wings and little bird), Li'l Davis bookplate, Prima flower, AL Foofala chipboard alphas "LA", HS chipboard heart, brads by Bazzill and Gary M. Burlin, ribbon by BG and misc.

This LO is quite special to me. Thanks so much for looking.

For our Sweet Angel

A quick warning - this post is about miscarriage, so if you are sensitive to this subject, you may wish to skip reading it.

Around Labour Day last year, our little family was hit with a big surprise. Ironically, after all of our struggles with infertility, out of nowhere, I was pregnant! Once the shock wore off, we became completely absorbed in the wonder and joy of this incredible gift.

But our miracle was short lived. Our sweet angel's tiny heart stopped beating. We were devastated. The kids had to grapple with understanding what had happened, and in the midst of it all, we lost Stephen's grandmother 5 days later. It was a difficult autumn.

Had the world turned differently, we would be bringing a little baby home to our house this week. I try not to think about it, but it stings.

Two days before we found out our angel had no heartbeat, I had Stephen take some photos of me pregnant. This photo shoot resulted in what is truly the only photo I have of me pregnant, since I didn't start scrapping until after the girls were born. Right after he took the pic, I uploaded it and ordered several hard copies for my friends and family. But by the time the photos came back from the printers, it was all over. So I still have 10 copies of that photo; me so happy and so hopeful.

I have always felt that one day, I would scrapbook that photo. I needed to scrap that photo.

So this week, I began. There is a French lullaby sung by Quebec children's entertainer Annie Brocoli called Toujours La (I'll Always Be There). I began playing it for the kids before they were born, and I have always found it sweet, yet haunting at the same time. While I was setting up the page, the song just pulled me in, and it just seemed right to create my LO around it.

Being the night owl that I am, I finished the LO in the middle of the night last night. Fitting, I think - cathartic in a way - that I finished it this very week.

So now that you have read this far (and thank you for bearing with me, by the way), I give you a little peek of what I finished in the wee hours. Over the weekend, when I have better natural light to photograph the entire LO, I will post it, and finish this story.

Mini Crop at My House!

This weekend I brought the kids along with me when I dropped in to Scrapalicious to drop off my April DT kit creations, and I let them each select a few pieces of paper from the fantastic sale selection. We then went home and had our own little crop!

I love when the kids want to scrap with me, and both girls are developing their own sense of style, and really want to put together their own compositions. I'm really just there for help with lettering and adhesives!

Evan participated too, but was a bit camera shy this week. The girls, however, where quite proud of their pages, and wanted to show them off.

Aren't they adorable!

Where I wish I was tonight!

Most who have met me in person will admit that I can be a bit of a nut! Well, I am - in more ways than one! Fans of the most spectacular musical event known to man, Drum & Bugle Corps, are affectionaltely referred to as drum corps "nuts". And I am one!

Whether you love feeling the loud, raw beat resonate through you at a crowded, live rock show, or whether your sensibilities are best satisfied through the perfection of an exquisite ballet, there is truly something for you to love about drum corps.

There is a great annual event happening tonight at select movie theatres all over the US. It's a movie, played simultaneously at 236 theatres across the country, featuring 8 surprise selections from the greatest drum corps shows of all time. Sadly, there is no venue in Canada.

Check out the movie trailer here: Classic Countdown if you would like to get a quick taste of what this "nut" friend of yours is talking about. (Takes a sec to load - so you have to be patient - it's worth it!)

This annual event has a bit of a cult following, and I would love to be there! Drum corps "nuts" will be sharing their common passion for music and motion, guessing at what show will be presented next, remembering their own marching days, and just drinking in the excitement and the experience.

I'm there in spirit!

My DNA Sample!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Isn't this awesome! It's my Visual DNA. Denise at scraptivity posted the link to this cool site, and I had fun checking it out. Thanks, Denise!

I felt that these statements about me were very realistic:
- You can see the little masterpieces in everyday life
- You can be a touch sentimental (come on - just a touch! Are you sure?!)
- You never have enough rest - either you're too busy, exhausted or perhaps just a little lazy! (I don't know about the lazy part!)
- Your snooze [button] is your best friend, and at times your worst enemy!

But this one:
- You've got to grips on downloading and your MP3 is at hand. (OK, in what lifetime? Maybe once the kids are grown I will find the time for this one!)

It's definitely not spot-on, but it did make me chuckle. Click here to create your own.

Have fun!

12 Years Ago Today

On the first Sunday of April in 1995, I left Vancouver on a flight bound for a dismally grey Toronto, where I knew almost no one, because I had been transfered by the company I worked for.

I was determined to stay not a day longer than the required two years, hating every minute in this ugly, too-large, smoggy city and transfer as soon as I could back to the breathtaking, beautiful oasis of Vancouver.

What I didn't count on was that 18 days later, April 21st 1995, I would meet the man of my dreams. And the rest, they say, is history.

And I wouldn't change it for the world!

My Scrapalicious April DT LOs!

Well, here they are - the creations I came up with from my April DT kit from Scrapalicious.ca.
These Imaginisce papers and Fancy Pants chipboard were awesome to work with. I love, love, love the way the scrolly chipboard frame turned out on Talk to Me from Heaven. I mixed 3 colours of MM/HS paint to match the flowers in the pp. This LO also features a number of Heidi Swapp alphabets, MME die cut, Daisy D and BG metal bookplates and MM brads.

Ever have one of those LOs that just came together exactly the way you envisioned, even if you didn't have the complete idea fleshed out when you started? This LO came together this way for me. I have to say, this is probably one of my favourite LOs ever. I think the sentiment adds to that feeling.

Not a Spectator Sport was fun to create. This one is about how Evan's soccer night last summer was as important an event for Vanessa as it was for Evan. Getting ready and "playing" at soccer was the highlight of her week. BTW, that is Evan with the soccer ball in the background of the photo.

In addition to the Imaginisce papers and Fancy Pants chipboard previously mentioned, this LO also features Heidi Swapp and Pressed Petals Chip Chatter letters and American Crafts brads, and MM paint.

This Our Room altered canvas wall hanging is perfect for the rooms my girls share. The Divas Only at the bottom right corner is also very much the attitude the display a lot of the time! They are going to enjoy shopping together when they are older!

This project again features pp from the Let's Pretend Collection from Imaginisce, Fancy Pants chipboard, prima flowers, Heidi Swapp chipboard and Ranger Stickles, as well as various ribbons, all from Scrapalicious.

The pp I used in the background of Guardian Angel is probably my favourite piece of the Imaginisce Let's Pretend collection. I thought it was a great match to this photo. I also used TT French Quarter stamps (one of my very favourites!) and Heidi Swapp letters, prima flowers and MM brads on this LO.

Journaling on this one talks about how we were scheduled to attend an adult-only family wedding last August, but our babysitter no showed on us, so we had no choice but dress up the kids at the last minute and bring them along. Because the grounds were open to a large forest and there were ponds and bridges around, the kids need to be watched closely, and Babcha obliged. Little did we know that we would lose her just two months later. Now she watches over our little ones from Heaven.

A cool thing about the subtitle - wAtch OVEr us - The initials A, V and E are my kid's first initials, and they appear in that order, left to right, in the photo. the O in green is for Babcha's name, Olga. Kinda cool, huh!

I still have one more item in the works with these papers, so stay tuned! TFL!

A Face-Off and a Pepperoni Pedicure?

Well, we've been busy on the home front! Evan's hockey team has been in a tournament, and he's at the tail end of it now. He played centre for a recent game and was quite excited about it. Since this is his first year playing hockey, he is quite honoured when he gets to face off! He also had an assist in his last game, which helped his team to win!

When the guys are away, the girls will play! The girls love having a "girl weekend" with me, so we do this whenever we are without the guys on the weekend. The girls enjoyed a luxurious bath using mommy's bubble baths and oils, then fragrant lotion and "perfume" afterward, followed by a pedicure. I think they loved my peppermint foot lotion the most!

When Daddy came home, the girls were most excited to tell him that they had blow dried their own hair, and that they had a pedicure.

Vanessa was jumping up and down. "Smell my feet, smell my feet! Don't you love the smell of pepperoni!"


Hmmmmm, not my favourite spa treatment, how about you?!

Nick is Nifty at 90!

I can't believe that my Uncle Nick has hit such a fantastic milestone - his 90th birthday!

Come on, look at this man! Would you have guessed his age? He certainly looks fantastic, and is full of life too. In this photo, he is dancing with his cousin, our Aunt Lil at my brother Chris and his wife Lisa's wedding in 2006.

I guess we are blessed with youthful-appearance genes, since both my Mom and my Dad's side of the family look young for their age. Is that why everyone thinks I'm still in my 20s - despite the wrinkles?

If my Dad were still living, I think he would have loved to traveled down to California to celebrate your 90th birthday with you, Uncle Nick. Wishing you many more years of health, happiness and laughter.

Want to Sneak a Peek?

Here is a quick peek at what will be coming soon - some designs from my Scrapalicious April DT kit. The papers from Imaginisce's Let's Pretend collection are so versatile and fun to work with, and you probably already know that I am a huge fan of Fancy Pants big board chipboard, so I've been having a blast!

Stay tuned - more will be coming soon...

Click.....Click..Click

Click.....Click...That's the sound of my camera shutter - a sound I will soon be hearing a lot of, as I start my journey to better photos through ScrapAbility - an awesome new Canadian Online Scrapbooking and Photography Class site.

Three super-great gals and awesome scrap friends Patti, Elia and Jen B just launched their new website on April 11th, after tons of late nights, dedication and hard work. If you haven't checked it out yet, you have to take a peek here, and of course, they also have a blog!

I signed up for their first photography class, which is being taught by Patti Miller - who is not only one of the nicest gals ever, but she is also uber talented. Check out Patti Miller Photography.

Do I sound excited? I am! Not only am I looking forward to playing with my camera, but am bubbling over with good wishes for these gals, and I wish them heaps and heaps of success!

On the Topic of Gr8 New Stuff...

If you haven't already, you've got to check out Just Cre8, an awesome new Canadian scrapping kit club which offers the ability to "Cre8" your own kit each month, customizing the size as well as the price to suit your needs. A cool concept!

And today is a "gre8" day to check out the site, as their Design Team announcement is due. I know that a number of very talented scrappers have their hat in the ring for this team, so it's bound to be super "cre8ive"!

Just launched at the end of March by the very talented Sue, together with her designers Kat and digital guru Tammy, Just Cre8's first kit looks like a blast, and the May kit will be previewed on April 15th - coming so soon! Can't wait to see it.

Each month, the kit will also feature Skribblz Art, Kat's adhesive backed vinyl creations, in scrapbook-page sized portions!

Although I have yet to meet these three gals in person, we have "hung out" on scrapping boards together for almost two years now, and all three are extremely talented scrappers and inspirational, supportive gals. I can't wait to see this new venture take off! Congrats on the "gre8" work, Sue and team!

I've been tagged!

Well, I've been blogging for almost a month now, and it was bound to happen. I've been tagged by Jen R! Here's the scoop...

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! OK, here goes:

1)I was in the New Years Day Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena California on January 1st 1982. I know, I’m dating myself! (Our receptionist at work, Candice, wasn’t even born yet)!!

2)When the 2 new elevators at the CN Tower opened in 1997, I was the first civilian (non-construction crew) passenger to ride to the top and back in Elevator #8. I was even ahead of then-mayor Barbara Hall and the official red ribbon cutting ceremony! I wish I had photos of this!

3)I was fortunate enough to have spent a decade working in some of the most luxurious hotels in Canada. During this time, I rubbed elbows with many well-known celebrities; far too many to mention. A few favourites include talking to John Travolta at 1AM as he called from the cockpit of the plane he was piloting, walking Pierre Eliott Trudeau to his room (twice) – he was so kind and humble - and teaching Diana Ross how to play exercise videos on her VCR. I have to scrap some of these experiences one day (before I forget them!)

4)As some of you already know, yes, I can play the accordion. And yes, the song is right – if you admit that you can play the accordion, you’ll never make it in a Rock ‘n’ Roll band!

5)My first job as a teenager was at McDonald’s – and I have never tired of the food.

6)I’m a drum corps nut! If you know what this means – super cool – message me! If you don’t, you don’t know what you’re missing.

7)I have a strange habit of using the term “pax” as the abbreviation for “# of people”. Officially, it’s the abbreviation for “passengers”, but we used it all the time in the hotel industry to refer to “guests”. I catch myself using it in notes to my co-workers (referring to # of employees), and even when filling in birthday party registration forms (referring to # of kids coming to the party!). No one ever understands what it means, so now you know!

OK, so now the fun part. Since Jen already tagged two of the other gals I know that are bloggers, I am tagging: Howard & Trish, Angela, Heather, Kimmie, Tara C, Lori and Marjorie! I’m looking forward to reading your lists!

Angela ROCKS!

Check out the new banner in my header. Isn't it completely awesome?! A friend from a number of scrapbooking boards, Angela, helped me out by creating it for me, and it's absolutely perfect!

Thank you so much Angela. You ROCK!

The Truth about Easter Cookies!

Well, after the lesson we learned last year, we didn't bother making Easter cookies this year. We coloured eggs instead, which the kids really enjoyed! Photos will follow at a later time.

Here's a LO which offers a peek at last year's Easter creations.

Journaling says: Perhaps you thought they were too pretty to eat? Maybe after all the fun of decorating, and after all gummies, icing and jujubes you ate, you were simply too full to eat! Whatever the reason, and despite all the fun we had decorating these Easter cookies, literally none of them were eaten. It's too bad, because they certainly looked yummy.

Features prism cardstock, Daisy D's and MME pp, Heidi Swapp chipboard alphas, gelatins stamps, and Li'l Davis Designs chipboard accents.

Happy Easter everyone!

Bizarre Scientific Phenomenon

Please tell me....how exactly does an ear infection KNOW that it is a long weekend?!!

And once the ear infection decides on the worse possible time to show itself, how exactly does it ALWAYS find MY children??

Poor Alicia was clingy and sad all day with a sore, leaky ear - and of course, being Easter weekend, everything is closed. And the nights - let's just say sleep has been a rarity this weekend.

Here she is being my little photographer's helper as I was trying to photograph my DT kit earlier. She does seem a bit better today, so we may skip a trip to the doctor, but sheesh - ear infections and long weekends don't sem to exist without one another in this house!

Let's Pretend...

Even if I tried, I don't think I could pretend NOT to be totally in love with my Scrapalicious April DT kit! Featuring the vibrant Let's Pretend collection from Imaginisce, this kit is bursting with colour and fun.

I already have a few ideas in mind for it, and can't wait to get started! Check back soon!

My MIA CD ROM...

As you may know, I am a proud auntie. This is my adorable nephew Jared. Isn't he sweet? Can you believe that he is now turning two! Isn't he growing like crazy? Look how big he's getting!

Wait a moment...I know what you're thinking!

This photo is of a baby, not a growing toddler! Where's that darling pic of Jared charging around the house, shouting out words, holding up two chubby toddler fingers, all excited about his birthday?

My answer? Hmmmm....that's a good question. Those photos are on a CD ROM that is - one day - coming my way. Has it left his house yet, H&T? We're all waiting for it - particularly me - I want to scrapbook him!

I wish we lived closer together so that I could see Jared more often. Our kids remember him well from our trip out west last year, however they still think of him as a baby -- can he walk yet? Is he talking? Can he eat ice cream? It would be great if they could all play together.

So, Happy Birthday to a stunningly handsome nephew and cousin. Our gift is on it's way to you and should arrive shortly. And hopefully, I'll be posting some up to date scrapbook pages of this sweet boy sometime in the very near future (hint hint, H&T)!

Bubbling over with Birthday Wishes!

We seem to be bubbling over with birthdays at this time of year! Two important people in out lives share a birthday today, and we want to send birthday wishes their way.

This is our friend Nicole. I've known Nicole for as long as I've known Stephen, so I can't imagine life in Ontario without her. When it comes to kids activities and ailments, outings and parenting, Nicole seems to have heard, done and seen it all! She always has ideas and advice ready, and is usually the social convener and organizer amongst our group of girls.

She's a talented designer in her professional life, so she really needs to spend more time scrapbooking, 'cause she'd be good at it (hint, hint!)

Nicole is having a bit of a milestone birthday today (won't say which one)! Have a super day Nicole!

There's nothing like spending a full day in meetings to make your birthday special, huh Danny!

We'll be thinking about you all day, and don't worry, there will be a chance later to toast your special day!

Thanks for all you do for us, Danny! We really appreciate how thoughtful you are and how hard you work, both in the office and at home. The kids absolutely adore you to pieces, too!

So, here's to a wonderful birthday, and many many more!

Sweet Feet!

The girls love everything about their pre-ballet class. Their teacher, Miss Marianne, is wonderful and provides just the right balance of fun and discipline for her tiny dancers.

Today was their class's recital, and it was absolutely adorable! My favourite part of the day had to be the sweet peek at the bottom of Alicia's ballet slippers during "Splish Splash I was Taking a Bath!".

Are those feet sweet or what?

Both girls danced wonderfully today, had a blast, and were totally proud of themselves. Isn't that what it's all about?

I was definitely a proud and happy Mom!