Just me My Soldier and our 4 little chicks

Garment District

I wanted to share my layouts from Studio Calico's phenomenal March kit, Garment District.

The kit perfectly combines vintage elements with a modern twist.

I was in love from the moment I saw it, although I didn't have much time to play with it this month. =)

It sold out quickly, but if you contact April and Scarlet at info@studiocalico.com

and let them know which add-on you would be interested in purchasing, they might re-order one or all of them.

Life is good.

J is eating and sleeping LOTS.

It's hard to say which one he is doing more. Hee!!

That's good. I want him to be content and to feel safe.

That's the main goal. 

This is all about what he wants to do. Lots of boy movies and napping and delicious food and beer. And grinning at eachother like idiots who can't believe our good fortune. heee!

So he naps. And I clean.

And look forward to tomorrow when we head off on our date.

And I soak up every second of him being here.

Of his hand holding mine, and the way he smells.

Of his sweet smile and the way he is with the girls.

Savoring the sweet feeling of not having to worry,

not having to look out the window every time i hear car doors slam.

The gift of knowing where he is and that he is okay.

And trying not to think about a week from tomorrow when he leaves.

Like I said, life is so very good. We are blessed.

Love to you all.

xoxo

daddy date and march reveal

so these two are off on a daddy date.

build a bear and lunch.

harper was too cute all day.

she kept saying is it time for daddy date??

and the smile on her face was too sweet for words.

no doubt they are having a wonderful time as we speak.

this weekend i get MY date.

the girls are going to stay with my mom and dad and we are off to austin for

two nights. yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

i also wanted to remind y'all that tomorrow night is the march kit reveal

at studio calico.

i can't tell you how much i LOVED this kit. make sure you don't miss out!

have a beautiful day-

xo

just playing and playing and playing

playing with paints, jumping on the trampoline, reading books,

playing dress up,

learning soccer

and having a fantastic vacation.

that's what these 2 weeks are...vacation. no rules, no routine, just fun.

harper is having a ball and sadie is rather obsessed w/ J.

she follows him around, stares at him adoringly, and rests her head on him and gazes at him.

we are making sure to remind H regularly that this is just for a little bit

and then daddy has to go back to work for a while.

i took her up to the bank to cash a check a few days ago,

and when we got back she looked at the house and said

"is daddy still in dere??". i dread the day i have to say no,

but i also know we will be just fine.

we've done 7 1/2 months, we can easily do four more!

J is off on a run right now and shortly we will take harper to ballet,

i know he is going to melt when he watches her dance. she's too cute i tell you.

i also know all my friends are eager to meet him, and i think he will be very flustered by all the attention. HEE!!

love to you all!

xo

hallelujah!!

after waiting and waiting and waiting

for what seemed to be an eternity:

  

he walked out the doors!!!

harper jumped up and down,

mommy did the ugly cry,

(and i mean UGLY...check out the picture)

and sadie "met" daddy all over again.

and we were four again.

so now our soldier sleeps...he flew for about 2 or 3 days straight!!

and we wait. we are NOT being very patient. 

we might accidentally on purpose be dropping things kind of loudly.

HEE!!!

love to you all!

xoxo

everything is ready

refrigerator so full of food and drinks that you can barely close it? check.

champagne? check.

clean house? check.

outfits laid out? check.

bag packed for the girls? check.

yellow ribbons and banner up? check.

eyebrows waxed? check.

camera batteries charged? check.

now all we need is J!

we are off to get him at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning.

you probably won't see much of me over the next 2 weeks.

i might pop in with a photo or update, or a "WE GOT HIM!" (i have a feeling he will have a bit of sleep to catch up on at first) but that's about it.

love you all, thanks so much for your love and encouragement

xo

p.s. if you get a chance, check out Chris's blog. She's doing a fun giveaway!

waiting...........

not

so patiently.

It's so odd to have Jimmy things showing up. Purchasing his soap,

two toothbrushes, a second coffee cup just waiting (yes i will make him drink out of the girlie coffee cup, teehee).

he left yesterday, but it's a long journey. 

lots of stops, and possible back logs, and lots of waiting.

we are thinking we will all be together at the end of this week

or early next week.

so the waiting game begins.

i have no idea where he is...

lots of frantic eating and stomach hurting over here.

so excited,

also scared...travel in afghanistan scares me half to death.

just trying to stay busy. cleaning, pacing, checking my email and phone obsessively,

and i need to scrap. i have several more SC march layouts do do and you KNOW i ain't scrapping when he is home.

;)

sidenote: if you get a chance, check out the October Afternoon Blog 

throughout the day today. there is lots of fun stuff going on!!

okay. off to spaz some more.

i'm leaving you with a layout from the new Simple..

my first assigment with them for an article by the fantastic Elizabeth Dillow.

They were wonderful to work with, so sad they have folded.

they were a group of such truly talented people with big hearts. =(

have a beautiful, blessed day!

xo

s

winners!

91-I'll be glad to pay for postage even though I am in AZ. Happy Valentine day! (((hugs))) to your family and your soldier oversea!

POSTED BY: LORI DAMEFF | FEBRUARY 14, 2009 AT 11:27 AM

34-My Valentine isn't here either, but my little one is. We have plans to go out after his nap and lunch. That lined pink paper is yummy!

Can't wait to see what SC is up to this month.

POSTED BY: DANIELA | FEBRUARY 14, 2009 AT 08:33 AM

251-hi Stephanie ooo would love a give away enjoy your valentines day with the tiny two xxx

POSTED BY: LOUISE CHESTER | FEBRUARY 15, 2009 AT 12:43 PM

49-Oh my goodness!

Those sneaks are GORGEOUS! I can't wait for the full reveal. And that stamp...that must be part of the "SC set" that I heard about.
Thanks for sharing!

POSTED BY: SOPHIA | FEBRUARY 14, 2009 AT 08:58 AM

email your info to me at stephaniehowell8@gmail.com

congrats!!

now i'm off to watch the bachelor!!

xo

s

ack!!!

my heart is hurting.

oooohhhhhhhhhhhh my heart!!

p.s. don't forget the giveaway below, it ends tonight 8 pm est.

will you be my valentine?

happy valentine's day, friends!

i love valentines day, because i'm a romantic.

i am! i love love.

and plus i love pink, red, hearts and glitter.

i just do. i know you are shocked. heee!

my valentine isn't here, but that doesn't keep me from celebrating!

i'll be spending today with my two little valentines.

or "bough-times" if you will, ala harper.

i'm sure it will be verrrrrrrrrrrrry romantic.

and by romantic i mean full of playing, reading, and snot. (yes, still. lovely.)

i'm going to share a little giveaway, to spread the love,

but first i want to share my studio calico march sneaks.

as i previously mentioned, this kit is very me.

vintage with an edge, or modage if you will. modern vintage.

the entire team just adores it.

i mean the name is garment district...sigh.

yes that is a stamp. i know. i used a stamp. the world will stop turning

and hell will freeze over soon. teehee!

i will hopefully have more to share soon. i've only done 2 layouts so far 

and both with the main kit only. hopefully i will have time to play this weekend.

now on to the giveaways.

i did yet another purge of my scrap room last week.

at this point i really only have the basics left in my scrap room.

studio calico and OA stuff,

adhesives, punches, pens,

labels, ribbons, and alphabet stickers.

not much of a paper stash any more. and i'm fine with that.

it was going to waste. and quite frankly, it's ridiculous and wasteful how much i had accumulated over time.

granted, lots of it was given to me, not purchased...but still.

i don't need it.

it's built up over the years and i'm tired of it. it keeps me from being creative.

i know some of you could really put it to use. 

i've donated lots to harper's school

and also other places here in town.

and there is still plenty left.

here is my "give-away cabinet":

i wasn't kidding, huh?

so here's the deal.

i am going to keep this drawing open until monday evening.

i will pick four winners. you will receive a lil' box from me if i draw your name.

internationals are welcome, but only if you are willing to pay your postage. 

i'm sorry...i wish i could afford doing giveaways all the time and sending them to whoever wins, but it adds up.

wish i didn't have to ask, but it's a fair trade. =)

leave a comment here and i will draw a winner monday evening.

have a beautiful, blessed weekend.

xo

s

a lovey dovey one

hey y'all!

hope your week went well and that you are ready for the weekend!

i wanted to send you an early happy valentine's day!

um, mine's going to be verrrrry romantic. it will probably involve craftiness and tv. good times indeed, hee!!

i did a layout this morning with some thoughts i wanted to get down on paper for the girlies:

Journaling reads: Just like any classic, timeless love story, ours has its ups and downs.  There are many days that I don't know what I'm doing, days where I have to go in the bathroom, close the door, cry for a minute, and then count to ten and come out.

There are days when I feel so overwhelmed and incapable of this job. Honestly. 

But there are so many more ups than downs.  So many blessings and so very much love.

The two of you have taught me how to love, how to be selfless, how to give.  I don't even know what I did before you came along, Harper. You made me a mama. You changed my world. Wholly.

And sweet Sadie, you changed us all. I am so in love with my sweet chickies.  The kind of love that hurts my heart. I thank the good Lord for you, girls.

paper- narratives, making memories, sassafras

frame- making memories

label behind frame- jenni bowlin

button/twine- vintage

letters- american crafts, making memories

okay, well that's about it. be looking for a giveaway this weekend.

xoxo

s

p.s. i have to add this picture. it's on the LO, but you need a bigger version. ummmm please look at sadie's face! heeeeeee!

brings to mind another photo from the past: