anyone still out there?

 hello to anyone still out there....my last post was september 2012!! yes, it's been THAT long. and after tonight, i remembered why i hate blogging. or blogger in general. pictures takes SO LONG to upload. anyone else have that issue? maybe i upload too many??? 75% of the pictures i uploaded actually ended up here....the other 25%---- who knows! but you know what? i loved not blogging. let's catch up, shall we?
i've been enjoying the boys. right before the school year, i stopped working. but i'm not sure if anyone calls my 2 days of working previously, work. i made that choice because brybry started kindergarten in september 2012. he goes from 8-11:23am. then brandon goes from 8:15-2:29. not much time in between. i also wanted to be there for the boys for homework and other activities. i took on being the room mom for bryan's class. it's been fun planning their class parties and adding crafts in the mix :)
brandon's a big 3rd grader now!

 the boys also played soccer in the fall. the picture below is bryan in action. he really improved from last year. we got lucky and had the same great coach from last season. he has a great family. i stepped up and was co-soccer mom.

 he played hard annnnnnd, sometimes....played rock, paper, scissors with his team mate DURING the game! LOL

 here is brandon. he played well this season also. he mostly enjoyed socializing out there.

 bryan getting an award during the 1st award ceremony of the school year.

 luckily, the boys wanted to wear the same exact costume as the year before so it's a win-win for me. no need to shop for new ones and saved some money! brandon (as ash from pokemon) with his 3rd grade teacher (she was a zebra).

 bryan was pikachu (from pokemon). they aren't allowed to wear masks so it just looks like he's wearing a yellow suit.

 we were lucky to get the same kinder teacher that brandon had. bryan adores her.

 a picture from their fall feast. bryan in his pilgrim wear.

 and brandon at his fall feast.

 so brandon told me he was "too old" to take pictures with santa this past year. i was sad to hear this but i didn't force him. bryan happily said he still wanted to take pictures with santa.

we had our 1st annual holiday boutique at school. i sold some of my cards and handmade gifts. after giving 10% back to the school, i ended up making a little over $200 and had a few custom orders too. it was fun. i shared a table with a mom friend. she handmakes jewelry. we had a good time hanging out most of the day at school.

here are pictures i took of some of the cards. i was working right down to the wire and failed to get pictures of the clipboards. those puppies did real well! i didn't sell everything but most everything :)

thanks so much for letting me share old pictures from last year! i will try to blog a little more crafty pics soon! and i have to say thank you for checking in on me ;)

card sets

hello--again! told you i post sporatically! this is my 2nd post of the day so don't forget to check the post below!

i always admire my bloggie friend, anita's card sets that she makes and always looking for new ideas for teacher gifts and such. we decided that once a month (around the middle of the month), we'd challenge ourselves to make some sets and post. then we'd have enough to give as presents to the teachers when the time came & we wouldn't have to crank them out last minute.here is a set all packaged, ready for gift giving. very clean and simple. a set of 6 cards for everyday use.i have to admit that i made these back in december but i never posted the individual cards. i have a set done but haven't taken pics of them.

thanks for looking! please feel free to join in with us monthly, link up your set (or previous sets) to share in the comments section. please stop by anita's blog to check her's out! you won't be disappointed!

BTW, can you LMK what is your favorite kraft colored cardstock? i used recollections here but not completely happy with it. i'd love to hear what peep's favorites are. and if you wouldn't mind, i'd love to get a swatch before buying so anyone out there want to send me a swatch in exchange for something?? (thanks)

the OC fair & making simple flower embellishments

a few weeks ago, we went to the OC fair at night. it was also that night that we adopted a beta fish. someone had left or forgotten their fish prize and left it on the waiting areas outside. maybe they couldn't or didn't want to bring in to the concert. some lady saw us passing by and kindly asked if my boys would like a fish and of course, the boys answered yes in unison! [happy to say, "marlin" is still alive & swimming!]

we did not ride any rides BUT we did have some fair food. 1st stop---here for a ginormous turkey leg. i find fair food extremely over-priced.... $9.75 for the turkey leg. but can't complain....it was yummy and fed the 4 of us!

we also had some funnel cake before we left. delish!

little brybry ended up hogging the turkey leg that was as big as his head!i remember my dad taking me on a slide similar to this one at our state fair YEARS ago. look at all the yummy colors! fun!we stumbled across a literacy for children booth while at the fair. this nice girl read them a story and told the boys after she finished the story, they could then pick out a book to take home. there were new & used books and of course, the boys BOTH picked old, used books! maybe they take after their mama who likes old vintage stuff!

here is a card from a set i recently made. i don't have a lot of play moolah so making

my embellishments are a must sometimes. theses flowers ones were easy peasy. self explanatory....for you non-crafters, LMK if you want me to send you instructions. they were made from a vintage music sheet book.
here is the set of 4 cards i made. just changed up the color in the center of the flower.

speaking of vintage, can anyone help me out with finding an old (vintage) flower frog? i have been looking for over a year now at places like thrift shops and the goodwill. no luck. we don't have too many garage sales in my area either. i am looking for a tarnished green one or a silver one....not too big. something under $10. i would pay you for shipping too. thanks!

BTW, don't forget to enter for chicken poop!! see here.

my other favorite monkeys

teacher appreciation week was this week. monday, we gave brandon's teacher flowers. tuesday, he wrote her a note of thanks. he wrote the whole thing himself on a card he drew. i was feeling to sick to make one so i made him do it! wednesday, we gave her a giftcard to one of her favorite restaurants. thursday, we donated some school supplies. friday, we gave her a handmade card and included another giftcard. i finally felt better to make her a card along with some others to give to the support staff and principal. we chose yogurtland giftcards to put in there. incidently, yogurtland's giftcards are scratch n' sniff!

just another changito card. this monkey is to cute.......reminds me of my 2! have a great weekend all!

halloween pics

here are some pictures from halloween night. i put bryan in the stroller (no use chasing him all night) and brandon walked. not as many homes gving out candy this year--recession??!! bryan was especially quiet 1/2 hr into trick or treating in the stroller so i checked on him. sneaky little boy had ripped opened a piece of chocolate and was sucking on it. no wonder he was content! i asked brandon if he would give some candy to his little brother since i didn't roll the stroller up to people's doorsteps. brandon's reply: "no, mine! i'm doing all the work!" little does he know, i brought a bulk of the candy to work already!

every year, we take a drive to mima's house after trick or treating. she wanted to see them in their ranger costumes. i can let you guess who diana & karen are dressed as. but if anyone can correctly guess who andrew is dressed as, i will send YOU a little prize! (how does he come up with these things?!) mima, like evey year, gives us each a healthy treat--an apple!! yum! and yes.........brandon did put 2 apples where boobies would be...........where does he learn these things??!!

here is another card set i made using 1 image (changito thank u) and 2 pieces of card stock--1 solid and 1 printed. makes for a fast set. i just varied where i place the ribbon & the layout.