Thursday, April 21, 2011

Counting my blessings....

Well, I don't even know where to begin...
well as most of you know, I live in Jacksonville, NC
and this past Saturday, they were calling for nasty
thunderstorms and tornadoes.  I think I watched the
news channel pretty much most of the afternoon, just
keeping an eye on where they were hitting...well, most
of the day, they were mainly north of us...at about 7:15pm
you could see the storm cell on the tv showing that a storm
was coming our way and just about all of these storms were
producing tornadoes!!  The hubby and kids were outside playing
football in the cul-de-sac, so I yelled to them, that a storm was coming
this way and about 10 minutes later, they all came in...it was starting
to rain.  The storm was coming into J'ville and they were calling for it
to hit the Piney Green area around 7:45pm...so we headed into the
bedroom closet and I just sat in there with the two kiddos.  Of course,
you could hear the storm, rain coming down along with lightning...we lost
power and of course hubby being from Iowa, was outside watching the storms,
basically listening for anything...he came running in, threw the mattress over the kids and I and
told us to stay down....the storm passed, we were still out of power and had no idea
if any tornadoes had hit anywhere...well they had, apparently right in some neighborhoods
right off of Piney Green.  So the storm had passed and we never heard anything else come our
way that evening, so we played a good ol' game of Charades with the kids in the dark and then
watched a movie on our laptop(thank goodness it was charged already).
Well, come to find out on Sunday morning, once power came back on...the tornado
first touched down on Camp Lejeune, Tarawa Terrace I and destroyed some of the
base housing before jumping across Hwy. 24 and then destroying a trailer park and then
onto the neighborhoods by my house.  The destruction is about 2 minutes from my house, but
at work on Monday, a bldg. inspector came in with his tornado path map...

Apparently, that tornado was alot closer then I had originally thought...My house is on the left hand side, in that neighborhood, I live in the culdesac...this is about a mile from where I live...Unbelievable.



I'm so thankful that we
are fine, but so many others in my community are homeless and have lost everything...so sad.

On to other news,
I was recently asked to be a contributor to one of my friends
scrapping blogs "What's Scrapping"....I just love all the inspiration you
can find over there...You need to come and check it out...
Today is a NEW Ad Challenge that is up and its an awesome one...
and Michelle is giving away an awesome prize, so get to it ladies....

"Wherever you go, go with all your Heart"
















Here is my recent layout that I did for the Survivor challenges that
are going on over at Tallyscrapper...and what a doosey, this challenge
was that TracyP gave us...
  • Were mid way through Survivor ladies! Give yourself a pat on the back!
    I am anticipating the release of the latest Pirates movie next month. In honor of my admiration for Capt Jack Sparrow use a Bird on your LO.
  • I have been rofl at Charlie Sheen! Other peoples Drama is way more funnier than your own.So incorporate one of these into your title.My top 10 Charlie Sheen Catchphrases, Tweets Or Sheenisms:  I went with "Duh Winning"
  • And use this sketch as Inspiration:


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here is my layout for this challenge...
"Duh Winning"


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Also, a Sketch Challenge is UP over at "What's Scrapping"
using one of Our Guest Designer's, Shawn's Sketches from her site "Nuts About Sketches"...

"At the Beach"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And Don't forget the gorgeous May KIT from Tallyscrapper is UP for Pre-Sale right now
and I just got this kit in the mail and its fabulous ladies, a MUST have...

  Thanks for stopping by my blog....
Have a blessed week!!!
~Laurajean

Friday, April 15, 2011

"That's How we Roll" May KIT from Tallyscrapper!!!

The gorgeous"That's how we Roll" May Kit from Tallyscrapper is UP for
Pre-Order NOW....It packed full of NEW Collections
from CHA....Echo Park"For the Record" and Cosmo
Cricket "Upcycle", Studio Calico , gorgeous ribbons, clothespins
and little hangers, bingo pcs...YOU do not want to miss out on this beautiful
kit!!!!




















Here on over and get YOURS today!!!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!!
Have a Blessed Weekend,
Laurajean

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

LOVE days like this!!!!

What a wonderful weekend we had...Sunday,
we decided to head to the beach and just relax...
it didn't start out beautiful at all, but by the end of the
day, it was absolutely gorgeous...had some crab legs,
shrimp at Molly's at the Sheraton on the beach and
the kids just enjoyed the sun and sand. I didn't think
they would get in the water, it was only in the 70's that day, but
boy was I wrong...





It was a great day....couple more shots that I
got of the kiddos..



They are actually being nice to one another, I'm shocked...lol ;)

Don't ask, I have no idea what he was doing...
he just likes to play in the sand.

My two boys...
Dad and Danielle 

these are the best kind of days...with the family and having fun.

Also, check out sketch#115 from "the Scrappiest" 
Here is my layout using this Sketch...
"Can we say Attitude"


And last but not least, the Pre-Orders for the fabulous MAY Kit from Tallyscrapper
are up and you do NOT want to miss out on this kit, it is absolutely fabulous...
take a look...


you can also buy the Add-On Paper Kit for ONLY $4.00 when you buy the May KIT. 
Hurry and get yours before they are GONE!!!
Thanks for stopping by my blog...
Have a Blessed week.
~Laurajean

Monday, April 4, 2011

Wow, what a Fun-Filled Crazy Weekend!!!

It sure has been busy in my neighborhood lately,
kids going in every direction, soccer practices, games,
basketball banquets, working at my fun new job, hubby retiring
from the Marine Corps...busy, busy!!
Well, Friday night was Danielle's Basketball Banquet, she
was really excited.  This is her last year playing Middle School
Basketball, most of her teammates are going to different High
Schools, so this was bitter-sweet for her.  But in the end, they
all had a wonderful time and are all such great girls and she has
got some great coaches...


Danielle and Coach Blunt(her favorite Coach)
Danielle and Coach Galhaus
I just love this Basketball Banquets,
Coach Blunt always makes the girls dress up
for the banquet, which is nice for mom,
because otherwise, Danielle wouldn't ever
put a dress on to save her life. 
But doesn't she look just gorgeous!!!

Most of the Girls Basketball Team, LadyBears(7th & 8th Graders)
Danielle got "Most Rebounds" for the season and of course 
her Basketball Trophy.  So proud of her.
Danielle and one of her bestie 7th grader friends, Dana.
And of course, Danielle and her bff, Monica...I swear, I wonder about
these girls sometimes, so goofy :)
And here is Kaleb, right before we got to the banquet, not a happy camper...did NOT want to be going...LOVE his expression...(can't wait to use this photo on a layout)

I also got abit of scrapping done over the weekend....
I did this layout "Love" for the current "The Scrappiest" Sketch 114

I also got my challenge done for the Survivor challenges that are going
on over at Tallyscrapper.  I got sent to Redemption Island this week and what
are HARD challenge that Pinky issued us....WOW
  • 12x12 size layout
  • 4 Pattern Papers and ONLY 4
  • 3 Cardstock Papers
  • 2 Circles
  • No buttons
  • Use a CD on your layout so where
  • Spritz
  • 6 flowers
  • and 20 or more crystals or gems on your layout
Now isn't that a heck of a challenge, but I got it done....


Thanks for stopping by my blog, leave a comment, love to hear your
comments.
Have a Blessed week!!
~Laurajean

Friday, April 1, 2011

Tallyscrapper's "Light It Up Blue" Autism Cyber Crop and the gorgeous April KIT

Welcome to Tallyscrapper's first "Light It Up Blue" Cyber Crop.




When Christine aka Scrappgal came to Tally asking to help raise awareness for Autism, of course, we jumped at the opportunity to help her out. So we are going to have a fun-filled "Light it UP Blue" Cyber Crop with lots of fun challenges, games and Prizes. All the fun starts on Friday, April 1st and will run through Sunday, April 10, 2011. But we are going a step further to help with this great charity. We are asking for everyone to help Christine out and reach her goal of raising $150.00+ for Autism Speaks. Pinky has offered to handle all of the donations, by putting the donation button in the store and its just $5.00 to donate to this fabulous charity. 100% of proceeds will go to the "Light It Up Blue" Autism Charity. Of course, you can donate as much as you like, just click on the "Autism Speaks" here and it will take you to the donation page, at Tallyscrapper
Hope you come by and play with us and help raise awareness for this fabulous charity!!!

Also, the APRIL Kit "Blooms and Wings" is up for sale today at Tallyscrapper TODAY!!!!

Check out a couple of projects that I just finished with this gorgeous KIT...
 
"Kindred Hearts"




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I also made this Flower Journal.  "...I always take photos of all of my plants each year and well alot of the plants that I planted last year don't come back up, so this is a great way to keep track of what I want to plant year to year. I still have alot of stuff to do on the inside pages, but I think you can get the jiff of it ;)
 
"My Flower Journal"



Hurry and get your "Blooms and Wings" April Kit before they are all gone today....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks for stopping by my blog...
~Laurajean