Keeping Calm & Carrying On

Reflecting on the 20's

Today I'm 30 years old. It was so sweet to wake up to a text message exactly at 7:30am from my mother, "Happy 30th Birthday. You were born at 7:30am. Love u!

I know I haven't been around this blog too much as of recent. This time of year is always incredibly hectic at Bella Blvd. Add the everydays of life and Christmas to the mix and it's very hard for me to keep up. But, today, although I don't have any photos to share, I want to reflect on my 20s.

I'm not exactly sure what to expect from this new "decade" of my life. My 20s have been the best, most awesome years so far and I'm a bit scared to expect anything greater for my future. Not sure if that makes sense...but when I think about my 20s I've accomplished, travels, and made some of the most amazing friends. 

IN MY TWENTIES...

I had the best birthday (21 years old) I've ever had. It definitely goes down in my records.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I reconnected with Steven and we started dating, for real.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I traveled and studied abroad during college. This adventure led to one of the most valued friendships I have today, my bestie Morgie was my roommate in Italia and the rest is history.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I graduated from college, with honors.

IN MY TWENTIES...

my boyfriend gave up everything and moved to Texas with me for my very first job in Dallas

IN MY TWENTIES...

I experienced love and the true meaning of it.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I started my own company. Blood, sweat and tears. I have never worked so many hours in my entire life. I have never loved some "THING" more than I love my career. 

IN  MY TWENTIES...

I became an Auntie two more times, and a Godmother one more time.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I have traveled the world both for work and for love. From Brazil to Italy, Texas, Puerto Rico, Arizona, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, and so much more. Travel has become a part of who I am and what I love.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I married the love of my life and the man of my dreams.

I am truly blessed in so many ways and I'm just not exactly sure what God has in store for the rest of my life, but if I died today, at 30, I would be eternally grateful for this life and all the wonderful people in it. IN MY TWENTIES my family endured an incredibly tragic and heart breaking loss, and have come out of it as a strong clan of believers with rock hard faith. I know that no matter what God will bring me through it. I'm looking forward to an evening celebrating with my love, and a weekend celebrating with my friends. While I'm leary of the 30s I'm confident I'll survive :)

A Little Bit of This & That

 

Sometimes I take a break from only using Bella and enjoy some mixing and matching of other products with my designs too. For this layout I wanted to create my own color combination, seeing that the photograph is mostly neutral with lots of black and gray. I used the pop of purple in Madelyn's winter hat to inspire my starting point.

 

The layout has a lot of random different embellishments and sticker letters too, including Doodlebug, Bella Blvd and Crochet Hearts, die-cuts, washi tapes, stickers & a Teresa Collins stick pin too :)

 

I just loved this Christmas Card photo of my nieces and nephew back in 2011 that I had to make a page for my albums.

 

Has is snowed where you live yet? We haven't had any decent snowfall, but I'm sure it will come anyday now. December is notorious around here for old man winter blowing in with a few storms and the frigid cold. 

Twelve.

(Photo Credit)

Happy Twelfth birthday Madelyn Grace! You are beautiful, smart, organized, athletic, artistic and perfect the way you are. Lucky for us we got to spend the weekend together, and I hope today is full of happy surprises (some chickens maybe!), chocolate sweets and birthday treats!

I love you so very much.

This One's For You, Chris

Today as I run my marathon (I'm planning this post ahead because I honestly don't know how I'll be feeling come the end of the marathon), I will be thinking of my brother-in-law, Chris. When the run gets painful and hard I'll be glancing up to the skies and praying for strength. Honestly, I've been doing that during my entire training the past 4 months.  

Today I've pulled a brief time-lapse of some of my favorite photos of Chris and Angela's family story. It all started for them in high school...check out this prom picture! I remember Chris in high school....they were inseparable. Seriously. He was a football stud and Angela was one of the prettiest girls in school. Wherever Chris was, there was "Angie". And vice versa. With just a moment of silence I can remember them like this as if it was yesterday.

everyone always said he looked just like Zack Morris from Saved By the Bell, especially after he died/frosted his hair blonde :)

Do you see the resemblance? :) Thought I'd find a way to make those of you reading smile :)

Today we remember Chris as he celebrates his third heavenly birthday. On this day day three years ago we lost Chris. So many people lost him, not just me and not just his children & my sister. It's especially important on days like this to remember all the people's lives Chris touched just by simply knowing them, being a friend, lending a helping hand and more.

(Chris's Story shared here. /// Blog Post here talking about Chris's First heavenly birthday. /// Blog Post here of his Second heavenly birthday)

Then Anabelle came along. She was quite the surprise to Chris & Angela and our whole family, but definitely one of the best things that happened to them. Quickly they learned how to be mom and dad and stuck through everything together. And who wouldn't love those ringlet curls and adorable dimples! Anabelle made me an Auntie for the very first time!

Shortly after Chris & Angela got married came Madelyn, or Maddie, or Lynnie-baby like I still call her (and I really need to stop because she's in sixth grade already--but I can't help it.) The two girls were rock-stars at dance and gymnastics. Chris and Angela sat through several gymnastics meets and father/daughter dance nights :) Madelyn actually still belongs to M&M Gymnastics...and I'm sure Angela hasn't thrown away that old school video camera quite yet ;)

And last but not least came Carson Christopher, with his daddy's last name as his middle! Finally....a boy! I remember the day Carson was born, I was at the pumpkin farm with Anabelle on a class field trip. Chris & Ang hadn't found out if it was a girl or boy, and so we were all waiting to see and to hear! "It's a Carson," Chris exclaimed at the hospital with a huge smile across his face. Gosh, I remember this like yesterday too!

Chris's passing was very tragic and sudden. I'm sure I can speak for my entire family when I say that it has been the hardest, most toughest thing to experience. I will remember October 6, 2010 forever just as it was yesterday also. The kids are getting so big, and growing up into their own little beings. They've coped and recovered so well and our entire family does the best we can to keep Chris's memory alive through stories and photos that we each hold in our hearts. I think enough time has passed that Angela won't mind me sharing this sweet handwritten letter that Anabelle wrote to Chris and put in his casket the day of the burial.

Obviously, this is just a copy, but it was so sweet when Anabelle asked me for some scrapbooking paper because she wanted to make a scrapbook page for Dad. The letter above is actually adhered to a piece of scrapbooking paper and has a photo of her when she was little, some stickers and embellishments too. It was so sweet that we had to make a copy of it.

No one writes a book on how life is "supposed to" go-on after losses like this. Each of us in our family is coping in our own ways and remembers Chris in our own ways. For me, I tear up so often watching the kids in sports, seeing them experience something (like Homecoming) for the first time and I can't help but feel so proud for Chris. During the past two years I've enjoyed runs to and from the cemetery where Chris's body is laid. Only a few miles from my house, makes for a beautiful, peaceful and thoughtful morning run that I've enjoyed so many times in just a couple short years already. I'm so thankful that the cemetery is nearby as it's a gentle reminder even when just driving by. So, today, as I run my second marathon I'll be looking up and thinking of him just the same. We all love you Chris and wish you were still here with us.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading everything. If you've lost someone you love recently I am so very sorry for your loss and can relate to your deep, deep pain and the void you are trying to fill someway, somehow. 

Throwback Thursday:1980s

I'm not going to lie when I say this feature is definitely one of my favorites. Looking through old photos is so fun (and funny). I love Nicky's face in the one above (she's on the far left). Check out the massive bangs all of us girls had, thanks mom! (PS-I'm the one in the pink polka dots of course!)

That's me and my older sister Angela, and here we are again below. I just love that curly afro and crooked smile, don't you?! And something about that teddy bear is a little bit freaky, don't you think?

Baptized in Love: Single Page Layout

I'm really groovin' on photo enlargements lately. It has 2 great purposes for me. 1: It helps me narrow down my most favorite photo, which means I mean printing less and keeping events to either single or double page layouts. And 2: It makes scrapbooking simple with enlargements!

For the title I used my Designer Washi Tape as a background before adding my sticker alphas. Do you remember these sticker alphabets? They were my very first with Bella Blvd, and named "Carla."

A feather, a Doodlepop (Doodlebug), a Crochet Heart and rhinestone cross later, and wha-la. Finito!

The Cutest Thing of My Life: 6 yr old Football

He's been wanting to play for years already! He hears stories about his dad and how awesome of a football player he was at WISCO and he wants to play too! And now, it's finally his turn.

It's a very serious game you know (insert eye brow lift and snarky sarcastic smile!) But it's nearly impossible to hold back smiles and chuckles at these six year old all decked out in full pads with their short attention spans and tiny little butts (yes I said it!).

I mean, seriously, isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen?! They're so little, and just learning. Carson is No. #1 (just like uncle Steve) and plays running-back on the offensive side of the ball. The first play of the game this weekend he ran for a touchdown :) Such a proud auntie I am.

Plus, you just gotta know that dad is up there smiling and laughing in heaven, watching down and proud. We all are. It's just the beginning for this little man.

It cracks me up because they all look like bobble heads out there...because the helmets are so darn heavy that the weight of the helmet leads them along :) They can't wait to pull them off when the come to the sidelines...just for it to take 2-3 minutes to have a coach help them secure it back on! Such a riot. 

While at this age, they "don't keep score", they definitely won!

Then there's Brad. Brad is Carson's soon-to-be step-brother. He's no. 2 and plays on the defensive side of the ball. And, as predicted....the kid has no fear. After struggling a bit with the slow-page game of baseball during little league, Brad has definitely found his sport.

No matter where the ball was, there was brad. A "tackle machine" they are calling him :) And, you've got to give some respect to the dads and coaches out there. Patience is worth a million dollars at this age. On the sidelines you hear the coaches say, "Hey...(insert kids name here), do you want to go out there and play quarterback where you throw the ball?"

kid: shakes his head, "no."

Coach: Do you want to go out there and play lineman and tackle someone.

Kid: shakes his head, "no."

Or what about the dad/coach that says, "Okay on the way home we are stopping at the store and buying you a bunch of dresses because you're acting like a girl."

What is it about these dads that are so competitive at such a young age. lol. It's all in good fun I suppose. Joe (Brad's Dad) is coaching too. (Above). I wanted to capture some photos of him with the boys as well.

I know I rarely swear, but I can't help myself. Just look at these two little shits! I just love them!

Actual Game: Saturday, Sept. 14th. Haban Field, Stertevant. And...so, very appropriate that each game is out in Sturtevant. A drive that reminds us to take a moment and remember Chris as we pass the Ryan Road exit while we make our way to watch his little gu follow in his footsteps as a running-back. 

First Swim: A Bella Blvd Layout

Gosh, Lauren is so teeny tiny in these pictures it makes me "ooh" and "ahh". She's 2.5 now and getting so big. All the more reason to scrapbook it all as time passes so quickly!

My Sand & Surf products are the basis for this layout. Uncle Steven and Dan took her into the pool @ Riverbend for her very first swim at only 3 months old! 

I love a little washi tape on any layout, and the Bella Blvd Punch Dot Designer Tape was just the perfect poop of color for the layout.

For the title I layered a chipboard border underneath the Sienna Pickle Juice Chip alphas, after distressing them with brown ink (of course;). 

The Sand & Surf collection is still available from Bella Blvd. The collection includes patterned papers, stickers, Stick pin Flags, Designer Tapes and more!

For more ideas with the Sand & Surf collection, visit the Idea Gallery here. 

She's off to College: Josie

My sweet cousin Josie has officially started college. She's at Indiana University where I'm sure she's going to fit right in and make a ton of friends, but I can't help but already be missing her.

I feel so blessed that she was still home to be a big part of our wedding day and will always remember how much fun us girls had during the wedding planning.

And exactly one day after our wedding, May 19th, 2013 Josie graduated high school! It was a whirlwind of a weekend, that's for sure but I'm so glad Steven and I had the chance to see her walk across the stage! Josie is such a creative and unique young woman, a bit after my own heart that I can't wait to see what is next for her!

I know Indiana will be good to her, and that these years will be some of the best of her life...so until she's finished with college, I'll change wait to see her on the in between (holidays).

Congrats Josie! We love you.

Hidden Springs: Single Page Layout

Another 12" enlargement is the base for this layout. I absolutely love this photo of Steven and Carson in the paddle boat up at my parent's lakehouse. My parents own a home in Neshkoro on Hidden Springs lake. It's rustic and beautiful and incredibly quiet and relaxing.

We don't get there as often as I'd like...it's a good 2 hour drive from home so when we go we want to be there for the entire weekend. We don't get any internet or cell service, so it's incredibly relaxing and forces us to enjoy the nature around us, each other and a good campfire or two! The large sticker letters spelling "hidden springs" are some Basic Grey alphas from my stash. I mixed and matched a lot of greens and products from my stash for this layout.

I wanted to keep it pretty monochromatic with earth tones.

This weekend I hope we'll be camping again....as it's supposed to be nice out. What are you up to this Labor Day weekend?

Flashback Friday: Sister Style

Not much to say about this photo of Angela (my older sis) and I except:

mullet.  afro.  curly hair.  handmade clothes from Nana.  bangs & ruffled socks.

Thanks for the Good Times & great fashion mom-Love you!! Happy Friday!

Six Flags Recap

Before you think or ask any questions let me just answer for you: Yes I carried my small Canon Powershot (pocket camera) with me at Six Flags :) Didn't take the best pictures but definitely some to remember the day by. On Tuesday (Aug. 13) we picked up the kids and headed to Six Flags in Illinois-about an hour drive.

We snapped a lot of selfies as the roller coaster trains climbed the initial biggest hills.

It was great to spend more time with Josie before she heads off to college in Indiana this year. 

And this little guy is finally tall enough to ride a lot of the coasters. It was Carson's first trip to Six Flags and he was totally fearless! He went on some kiddie coasters, and then (because I think he wanted to be brave like Uncle Steve) didn't have any fear getting on the huge wooden coaster, American Eagle. He did the Viper too, and even the Demon with loops! They were his first "real" coasters...and his faces were awesome! It was worth it just to experience that with him!

We were spoiled with park junk foot including cotton candy (my personal fave) and slushies as be as Carson's head :) lol. This photo below is so bad.....but the only one I got of the kids together while we were waiting in line. Note--Josie's sporting the $5 Batman cape that Carson won on the sledgehammer game :) ha! good times.

Carson chose to ride with Steven on the majority of the coasters (surprise, surprise!)

And I honestly could.not.believe that the Giant Drop (below) allowed Carson on. I couldn't believe the he made the cut-off for the height requirement. It's truly the only ride in the park that still makes me so incredibly nervous that my heart beats so fast. Carson was up for it....and so, there I was ..... so worried for the little man.....I didn't want him to do it! LOL-I'm not even his mom and I was so scared for him. Us girls went first, and then waited and watched Carson & Steven to ride. The Giant Drop simply takes you all the way to the top......and then you just sit up there, waiting for your heart and stomach to drop.

There's Carson and Steven on their way up. See how little Carson's legs are?! I couldn't believe he could ride!!! And how focused he is!? I for sure thought he would have a melt down once they reached the top, with no turning back and fully expected him to be crying upon landing....

But nope! His face was PRICELESS! Hilarious and funny. It was a huge smile with his eyes brows into his forehead. So great. So proud of him! It was a great day at the park....even if it was only 70 degrees in the middle of August....???

Six Flags Today & A Layout

Today Steven and I are enjoying a day with the kiddos at Six Flags in Illinois. When was the last time you rode a roller coaster? The give me butterflies and make me nervous much more now that they ever used to...something about growing up I guess :)

In 2011 We took the kids to Six Flags and then to Hurricane Harbor water park the following day. I just finished this layout from that adventure and thought it was perfect to share today!

I don't carry my camera with me on roller coasters, much less at water parks....so I was lucky to have a stranger snag one shot that day! It was hot, I remember buying ice cream and it melted way too fast and was just a disaster! 

The Layout features a little bit of Bella Blvd Daily Chevies papers (black star, giant yellow chevron) and lots of Feathers and Crochet Hearts too! I mixed it up with American Crafts Thickers and October Afternoon paper an stickers also.

I wanted to Feathers to be more subtle and be a pop of color off the black background. I tucked them underneath the patterns so just the edges were sticking out!

Making memories with my nieces, nephew and cousin are what the good times are all about. I loved that on our wedding video Anabelle said that one of her favorite memories with Steven & I was the time we took them to Six Flags. I knew we had to do it again....so that's where you'll find us today! This time...Carson's tall enough & brave enough to ride and come along!

Awesomeness: A Bella Blvd Play Date Layout

Today over at Bella Blvd one of my CHA projects is being featured. I created this two-page layout for the booth display with my new Play Date Collection (See the entire Collection Reveal Here).

I love how the Button Market buttons mix and match so well with all my new lines too! Is this row of them just delicious?!

This is the left-side of a 2-page coordinating layout. In addition to the Play Date products, I Incorporated the buttons, Designer Washi Tapes, High Five Sophisticates Alphabet stickers and Paper Pieces die-cuts from the new Christmas Countdown collection too!

The coordinating right-hand page has a complimentary vertical design, with close-up photos of my nieces and nephew.

Here's a look at the complete layout. There's more detail shots and info on my layout over at Bella Blvd today.

 And guess what??  This new Play Date Collection is now shipping and available to all Bella Blvd's retail stores! Be sure to request it today!

For more Play Date ideas & inspiration check out the Play Date Idea Gallery here.

Squeak Squeak: A Puppy Layout

A Couple Instagram photos of our little rascal I wanted to create a page with. This little pup is like our child...he's so spoiled, and we just love him to pieces.

I drew the colors of paper to use from the pop of red in the one photograph of Mio's "squeak squeak" toys: Where's Waldo. (That's his favorite one)

I purchased this fun printed craft bags at a local stationery shop a few months back. I thought the neatrals were perfect for this layout.

My sticker letters are compliments of Doodlebug.

I printed my journaling on a piece of white cardstock and trimmed it to tuck inside the bag.

Yes, we are one of those crazy dog couples :) until we have babies :)