One Crazy, Beautiful Day at a Time

Reflections of me...

 

Have you ever been broadsided by a “past” you?  I have not really changed all that much (ok so a few lbs and now I speak my mind…too much!) but was recently reminded of who/how I was in high school.  I was not able to attend my 10 year class reunion this past summer due to my husband’s training schedule and attending summer CHA so I have been really out of the loop for hmmm about 10 years now.  A full decade! *sigh* Has it really been THAT long?! 

Anyway, back to my run-in with HS Brianne (and I swear I didn't always have that stupid look on my face while cheering...at least I don't think I did).  Do you Facebook?  I do.  And apparently I was not doing it all that well.  After a couple months of pestering my husband to sign up, he finally did…and ended up with double the amount of friends I had in one single weekend!  This from the man who can sit in front of his computer for hours on end and would rather text then talk to people on the phone.  UGH!  SO I asked him who all of these “unknowns” were.  He said they were people he went to high school with. *DING* Hello! I completely forgot about high school!  Living so far from my home state has really put on a mental block I guess so I did a search for people that went to my school with my graduating year and VOILA almost all of them appear right before my eyes.  Oodles of my long lost friends HOORAY!  I must have spent hours this weekend looking through pictures and reading stories on their sites and blogs.  I feel I have gained YEARS back that I have missed.  Their smiling faces and the cutest pictures of their families gave me such a feeling of joy!  You all are SO awesome and I am SO glad to be back in touch with all of you! (Oh and if you think the above photo is bad, just wait until I get the chance to scan in more from cheerleading and the dance team MUHAHAHAHA!)

Speaking of the word “JOY”, this year I will have a power word.  You know how some people use quotes to live by or possibly a special bible verse?  I am going to use a power word.  In 2009, JOY will be my driving force behind my life.

I want to enJOY life more and not stress so much.

I want to bring JOY to others through my actions and my work.

I want to continue to surround myself with people that exude JOY! (Summer CHA BABY!)

And most of all, I want to make a JOYful noise whenever I possibly can. This meaning more posts, submitting my work, and just being a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.

So to celebrate this upcoming JOY-filled year, I am giving away a small JOY basket to one lucky poster! All you have to do is respond to this post with something that brings you JOY, something you enJOY, or something that just plain makes you smile.  I will draw randomly from the names on December 31^st! And just because I can, here is a small peek at what you will enJOY:

 

  YAY! Isn't it just "bittersweet"?

 Ok on to new work!  YAY! NEW WORK! I know, I am a dork but I am TOTALLY ok with that! Here are a few items that were published in Scrapstreet’s December issue.  If you haven’t gotten a chance to check it out yet, you can do so here: December.

Here is a mini-album I made for my hybrid article:

 

 

 

A special layout for one of my closest friends, Dora:

Ok, well that is it from me tonight! Make sure to post a response to put yourself in the running for a yummy basket, filled with goodies just in time for some early Valentines creations!

Smooches!

-Brianne

Posting Hiatus

(Rich is home! YAY!)  

Gah how the time has flown.

Not really on a hiatus, although it seems like one.  I just haven't had a whole lot of time to sit and post lately.  Going to make a much stronger effort to do so very soon.

Rich drove in on Wednesday afternoon around 11am.  Left El Paso at 1 am that morning and drove straight through.  He got to sleep for a few hours and then got up to eat dinner with us and spend some time together.  Little did we know that Matthew would wake up at 10 pm with a stomach bug that kept us all awake through Thursday morning around 7 pm when we got back from the ER.  Yes, that's right, the ER.  Matthew couldn't even hold down sips of water after 8 hours of non-stop sicky so we took him in :(  Poor little guy.  Totally bounced back to normal now but it was a rough couple of days.

Got my hair cut and colored yesterday!  YAY! It has been way too long! 

Just finished up a special gift to a family member.  I cannot WAIT to send it off.  They have no idea it's coming so hopefully it will get there for the family Christmas gift exchange.

Ok need to go lay out tomorrows clothes.  Will hopefully post more tomorrow with new projects!

Love you all!

-B

Gingerbread Men!

Grandma and Grandpa Nevill sent Matthew a gingerbread man kit for his birthday and today was the perfect evening to decorate them!

 

  

It was so much fun!  Regardless I had one hyper little boy after we were done but it was totally worth it.  To check out the rest of the photos, you can go to picasa and see our web album here: Gingerbread men

Tomorrow is my little man's 3rd birthday!  3 years old.  Wow.  Its amazing how fast time flys!  I cannot wait to see his face when he opens up his gifts!

Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

Smootches!

-Brianne

Holiday time catch-up!

Wow it has been a crazy couple of weeks!

Rich came home on the 26th of November and was home until the 30th.  Was unbelieveable!  Had such a good time with him here.  Tried to stay away from the computer as much as possible (hence the gaps in posts) while he was home.  He will be coming home again for Christmas break on the 17th of December (10 days!!!!!!).  Having him here just makes my life feel complete.  I feel more creative when he is around and my mind doesn't feel so blocked by the million other things I need to get done.  Its like time slows down yet the days pass too quickly.  

Christmas time is my most FAVORITE time of the year!  I love the spirit of Christmas and the way the atmosphere changes.  Everyone is a little nicer even though their pockets are lighter and every where you look, happy little lights are blinking and Santa's are smiling.

Oh that reminds me!  Matthew had his picture taken with Santa last weekend while Daddy was home!

He is growing up so fast!  Went right up to the big guy, sat on his lap, and told him exactly what he wanted for Christmas (which is this HUGE recycle truck made by Tonka - already hidden away LOL!).  Matthew's birthday is coming up this week as well.  On Wednesday the 10th my little man will be 3!!!  He looks so much older than 3 :(

One of my good friends from work is moving this week.  Her last day was this past Friday.  I am going to miss her SO much.

 

She and her husband had originally moved here for his training (Army).  He has since gotten out of the Army and are now moving to NH where he will work for a major retailer as a branch manager.  Its really tough being an Army wife and having to leave friends or having them leave you.  I hope to stay in close touch with her as we have SOOOO much in common.  I have never met another person that has some of the same crazy quirks I do.  I will miss you SOOO much Micah!!!!

As I was cleaning my house today, I found a little present under the couch from my cat.  Mojo cannot fit under the couch but he apparently hides things under there.  Check out this stash of "toys" I found:

  I have also been really busy with making our family Christmas cards (which were mailed out on Saturday YAY!), magazine deadlines, Christmas cards for friends, Christmas cards for work, and Matthew's upcoming birthday party.  So much so that I hardly have time to scrap for myself... which is very frustrating.  Here are a few pieces I have finished in the past few weeks:

 

  

    

Well thats about all from me today.  Hope everyone has a great week!

Smootches!

-Brianne