This Just In...

Due to some issues with the ScrapMatter's site over the weekend, they're extending our 40% off personal use, and 30% off Commerical Use sale through Monday, May 3rd.

And as planned, the sale will continue through the rest of the week at 30% Personal Use, 20% Commerical Use Tues thru Thur 5/4 - 5/6!

Take advantage of this extended sale to grab those goodies that you weren't able to grab this weekend!! Happy Scrapping!!

Happy {Inter} National Scrapbooking Day from ScrapMatters!!!

Hi all!!

Welcome to your next stop on the ScrapMatters [inter]National Scrapbooking Day blog train. This train has stops ALL OVER THE WORLD and is absolutely HUGE!!! You have probably just come from the Krista's blog. That's the stop before this one. And now you've arrived in beautiful Northern British Columbia!

Our NSD mega-collab at SM this weekend is called "Moments that Matter" and the whole theme of our celebration is all about those moments in our lives that really matter. At each stop you'll find a story about a Moment that Matters along with a freebie!! There are TONS of stops on this blog train, so you can pick up a LOT of goodies!!

So the 'moment that matters' I've chosen to share is with you. . . the birth of my first child!

My first pregnancy was a dream pregnancy. I was never sick, I barely gained any weight (I actually was able to wear my normal wardrobe throughout my entire prenancy!), and I didn't have any crazy cravings...I know...you all hate me! But really, I had a wonderful pregnancy.

So throughout my dream pregnancy my doctor never once had any worries with me or my child, medically. That is until a week and a half before it (and I say it, because we chose not to find out the gender) was born. At that time I went for one of my very last weekly checkups. My doctor was a little worried because I had a large weight fluctuation between the two weeks (I honestly thought that the doctor's scale was a little off the week before, but they didn't believe me). So it sent them in a little bit of a tizzy...and my doctor then decided to mention that he was a little worried that I wasn't very big. Not the coolest thing to say to someone who is 37 1/2 weeks pregnant. So anyway, he sent me off for an emergency ultrasound.

I spent 5 hours in that ultrasound office, with the nurses speaking in hushed tones...then sending me off for fetal stress tests, then bringing me back to recheck...and calling the doctor in and speaking in more hushed tones. What the doctor finally told me was that he was worried that he thought that one of my baby's arteries in the heart was closing prematurely....which meant that my baby could go in to heart failure. I needed to get that baby out as soon as possible. I asked the doctor if my baby would be okay once it was delivered and all he could tell me was "I can't say for sure." SERIOUSLY?! After a dream pregnancy...a week and a half left and this doctor tells me that my baby may go in to heart failure, so I need to be induced, and he isn't sure whether or not it will help?!

So needless to say, I start panicking and majorly stressing. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this was the day before Thanksgiving...and he wanted me to deliver in a bigger hospital that had a NICU, in case something did go wrong with my baby's heart. So that meant that my regular OB wouldn't be able to deliver me...new hospital, new doctor, emergency induction, possible heart failure...this was all wrong!!

Well, after a few hours of labour, one well placed epidural and hours of stressing...I had delivered a perfectly healthy baby girl...with absolutely NO heart problems!! It was the most amazing and stressful moment in my life...but I will never forget when they placed her in my arms and said that she was perfectly healthy.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing one of my moments that matter. Here is your freebie you've patiently waited for!! Click image to download...

This link will be active until midnight Thursday night 5/6. Then all these blog train goodies are getting gathered up and put into the store!

Your next stop is...

Amber L's (jeffsamber) blog.

Remember, if you ever get lost along the way, you can always start over at the ScrapMatter's Blog

Be sure to stop by ScrapMatters this weekend for amazing sales, challenges and chats. It's going to be amazing!! Just check out the ads below!!

And of top of all the amazing things going on for {i}NSD...we are also hosting the 3rd Annual Queen of Scrap challenge!! These participants are absolutely LO cranking machines!! Stop by the forums for more details...

A New Year...A New Beginning

Well, what can I say...so much has happened...changed, in my life in the last 2 months (has it really only been 2 months?!). I have a new home, a new country, a new climate, a new job (or at least I will once I get licensed)...a new family structure. Let's see...how do I really fill you, whoever you are, in on my life? My husband and I have been having a rough go of our relationship for the past 3-4 years. And I am not placing entire blame on him, but this is not where I wanted to be or how I wanted our relationship to be at this time...this was his choice, and I could do nothing more than to accept it and try to move on. On December 9th, my world was rocked, my safe little life was shaken to the core...and as I went about my life in the days following, I realized that it was not going to ever go back to the way it was before. That was the day that my husband of 9 years, my partner of 13, decided that he needed to "step away" from our life together, try to make sense of his life and then decide if he truly wanted to be a part of our family, in the sense that we need him to be, again. Now, I need to say that we both have not been happy together in a very long time. But we were finally in marriage counselling, he finally had the help he needed to become a more understanding, less angry, more loving person...and now...when we finally had these tools to work with...he decided to leave. I was so angry, hurt, confused...I didn't, and still don't quite understand how he could just decide to leave me...leave the kids. I have since tried to come to terms with his decision...he just wants us to be happy, and if that is apart...then it has to be apart, and only time will tell if it will be with us together in the end. In the end...I just want to be with him, I love him, I miss him...I just want to be with him. Of course I want us to be happy, but I truly think that we can work on that and come out together in the end...he just needs to be open to that possibility.

Needless to say the kiddos are having a rough time dealing with this. And I feel so bad for them, I want to take away their pain, make it all better for them. It kills me to see their tears, hear their cries of anguish, and answer their unending questions about why daddy can't live with them in Canada. But I've been told by our counsellor that I need to acknowledge their feelings. I can't just try to make everything better and take away their pain...they need to live through this and come out on the other end. Take for instance tonight, they really wanted to talk to dad...but it was too late and he wasn't available. So I had to acknowledge the fact that they were all really sad and missing their dad, then I reassured them that Dad will call as soon as he can and that he still loves them...they were heartbroken, falling asleep with tears in their eyes. It kills me...every time. Sweet Pea asked me today if we could pack up tonight and drive back to our "regular home" because she misses daddy. I tried to explain to her that we couldn't go back to that home, that daddy wasn't there, that other people were living there...but she just wanted to go back where she knew that dad was, or at least where he used to be. It is so hard to not try to make them feel better...I mean, that's what mom's do!! They take away their kid's pain...but in this case, I can't...and it is so very hard to see them hurting this much.

So here I am, living back at home with my parents ( I am SO thankful to have such a supporting family!). I can't even work as a PT because I'm not licensed in Canada - a process which could take up to 6-8 months. I feel like the biggest loser, the biggest idiot, the biggest leech...I can't even provide for my kiddos...but it can only get better right? Despite all of this, I am actually looking forward to "doing it on my own." For so long I have been so dependent on Mike, not because he asked or wanted me to be, but because it was just so much easier to ask him what he wanted or how he wanted it done, rather than dealing with his anger after the fact. I am looking forward to rediscovering how truly amazing I can be...I miss the person everyone knew as Natasha Johnson...what happened to her when I became Natasha Cruz? How did I let myself get so lost that I don't even know where to start to find her again? I am looking forward to having my own first place and decorating it the way that I want it decorated, to buying my own first vehicle, to knowing exactly what I have in the bank and not having to worry about whether or not my card will be accepted...to proving to myself that I am a damn good mom.

I have taken on a challenge from a post on Ali Edwards blog about your one special word for the year. To quote her:

"Essentially the idea is to choose a word (or let it choose you) that has the potential to make an impact on your life.
Maybe you want to invite something or maybe you are hoping to subtract something. Maybe your word will be practical or hopeful or creative or fanciful. Maybe you need a big word, something in-your-face that will challenge you everyday. Maybe you need something smaller and quieter that will whisper gentle tidings as you make your way throughout the year."

My word for 2010 is happiness

I am looking forward to a year filled with happiness...it is something that I have been dearly missing for quite a while. It is my goal this year to rediscover me...the real me...to find out what makes me truly happy...and then do it!! I have been putting my desires and goals and happiness on the back burner for too many years...I am too important to do that anymore. My kiddos, and me for that matter, need to see that being happy is a good thing, that doing things that make you happy is good for the soul...that no matter what happens after all of this drama plays out...that as long as I am happy, as long as we are happy...that it will be okay.

And so, with that...here is to a new beginning...one filled with love and support and most of all...happiness.

Can I Say...

that I still hate math!! Sorry mom...but it still drives me bonkers!! I know my mom is cringing right now...she was a high school math teacher when I was going to school. I can remember endless nights of me sitting beside my mom, in tears, trying to figure out my math homework...getting so frustrated because she made it seem so easy and it was SO stinkin hard for me!! And now...after spending the last 2 1/2 hours working with Pumpkin on 7 pages of her grade 3 math homework (which...I found stuffed in her bag the night before it was due) I am having very realistic flashbacks...I hope that I am explaining this to her the right way. I hope that I'm not making it totally complicated for her. I hope that I'm at least making it a little easier to understand. But sometimes I can't help but get totally and utterly frustrated with her. I'd say about 2 weeks ago I almost lost it with rounding...I mean, really...rounding to the nearest tenth or hundredth? Doesn't sound too hard, does it? I mean the whole, if the number after is 5 or above, you round up...easy peasy!! Well let me just tell you...it is NOT easy peasy to someone who is just learning that. I can't tell you how many times I had to remind her of that rule...and then explain to her that she doesn't actually round up that number after...I mean, problem after problem I had to remind her!! And I became so frustrated that we had to take a break...I just couldn't understand how she couldn't remember that simple rule from one problem to the next. I thought that this would be one LONG year of math. (By the way...my mom thinks that we are being WAY too hard on her...this coming from the woman who drove me to tears almost every single night...I guess she's learned better...and from the looks of things, I haven't...yet). But then tonight...she was just breezing through the rounding...I was SO freaking proud of her!! I mean, my heart swelled...literally swelled!! She is so smart...she just rushes through things and has no confidence in herself...but then again, I can remember being in that position; with your mother sitting over you, wondering if you are writing down the right number...checking her face, desperately seeking that look of satisfaction, and hoping that it's not disappointment...I vividly recall that. And I have to remind myself that I hated being in that position...I don't know about everyone else, but for me it's so easy to fall into that role - the one my mom played; leaning over her shoulder, getting frustrated when she doesn't get it the hundredth time...and I have to take a step back and remind myself that being in her position sucks...and maybe, just maybe, she needs that hundred and oneth time to remember that stupid rule.

I love you so much Pumpkin!! You are so smart and you totally ROCK!! And don't you forget that!!

Anyway, you know that I can't let a post pass without something scrapping related being mentioned. So first of all...I wanted to inform the whole 2 people (if I'm lucky) who read this blog that ScrapMatters is starting up it's Daily Download again!! Beginning Oct 1, you can stop by the SM forums and download a piece of this amazing kit...for FREE!! Check out the ad below:

And, for all you thrill seekers...there's a Speed Scrap this weekend...you totally need to check it out!! It is SO much fun!!

And not only do you have tonnes of fun...but you get this amazing prize...just for finishing it!!

Aren't our designers just awesomely generous?!

And now on to my latest LOs. This first one has some pictures of my Pumpkin in a pumpkin patch 3 years ago when she was in kindergarten...I can't believe how young she looks. Wow...how quickly times flies!! I used Chelle's Creations Midnight Crow kit for this...love the colours in here!

And this next one is a pic of my kiddos with their friends. We took this at the Monterey Bay Aquarium...I totally love this picture...and I LOVE this LO!! I just loved using Britt-ish Designs "Fish Are Friends" kit...it worked perfectly!!

Anyway, that's all for now...I'm off to dream about rounding!!

Fabulous Collabs

Hey everyone...I know, I know...you can get up off the floor..it's really me popping in here before a month's end since my last post!! But I just had to pop in here and blog about some fabulous collaborations that I have had the amazing opportunity to work with before they were released to the public (man I love being on creative teams)!!

First off, let me show you a little sneaky peaky of Fei-fei's Stuff's collab with the one and only Liz from Paislee Press!!

Doesn't that just look amazing?! The colours are so me right now (I'm totally in love with greys and yellows), I just loved playing with this kit. And here is a LO I made with it...

You totally need to pick this one up!! Also, make sure you stop by Shaui's and Liz's blogs for a chance to win this beauty on Sept 17th!!

So, if that last collab wasn't enough...TaylorMade Designs also did a collaboration with Paislee Press!! And the result...was just a fabulous!!

Seriously...I have been in heaven these past 2 weeks working with these amazing collaborations with Paislee Press...have I mentioned that I TOTALLY LOVE Paislee Press?! Anyway, here is a LO I made with this beautiful kit

But not to worry...I have been hard at work with my ScrapMatters CT!! I'll just show you a couple of LO's I've done recently with the amazing kits found at ScrapMatters!!

I made this LO using Sahlin Studio's beautiful Blessed kit

Awwww...Aren't my little kiddos just amazingly sweet?! I love these pictures of them, they are all 1 day old here and wrapped up in their hospital blankets with the little knitted toques (for those of you who are unfortunate enough to not be from Canada...a toque is equivalent to a beanie) on their head.

Next I made this LO using Erica Zane's Underwater Escape

This is from our latest trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium...and yes, that is a Great White!! Isn't it totally amazing...and scary?! They recently acquired this little girl when she was accidently caught in Southern California. It isn't too often that a Great White is kept successfully in captivity, but the Monterey Bay Aquarium has this incredible knack for being able to do this and release them successfully as well. I was so excited, probably more so than the kiddos...but hopefully they will look back on this LO and remember that they were this close to a Great White and didn't get bitten!! ;)

So other than that...we've been caught up in the world of youth soccer!! And I would have posted some pics of my kiddos playing...but...my little Monkey was looking at my pics on my camera, and accidently deleted all of them. Now, I was upset...but actually, it didn't bother me too long. And for anyone who knows me at all....knows I love my pictures. But it really bothered Monkey...he was upstairs crying under his blanket. I went upstairs and told him it was alright, but he was convinced that he had erased all the pictures...including his baby pictures. Poor kiddo, thought that he had erased all the pictures that I had ever taken...bless his soul!! So anyway...I'll be back next week to post some pictures of this weekend's soccer games.

A Day For My Little Sister...

So I'm back down in California, have been for about 3 weeks. And I already, totally miss my family...okay...I actually started missing them the minute I passed through the border patrol into the US. It was so nice to have the whole family together...even if it was for just a few days. I wish that we could do this more often, and not just because someone is celebrating something, I wish that it could be on a day to day basis. It's not the big celebrations that I miss, it's the little everyday things...like going shopping with my sisters or hanging out with them after one of my mom's delicious dinners. Man, I miss my family!!

So, you're asking what the big celebration that caused us all to be together this summer? Well, my little sister got married...yup, she married her cowboy/chef/border collie breeder and trainer. Now, if that isn't a catch...I don't know what is!! I was able to take some pictures of them before the big day, I had this grand idea to take some pictures of them and make a guest book with the pictures where people could sign the pages...and I have to admit...it turned out AWESOME!!! Anyway, here are a couple of my fave pics from the photo shoot.

I just love the cabin they are leaning against...and I have to say that Joel built this cabin himself (a fact he is VERY proud of!)

I love my sister's smile here. She is so happy with him, so of course, I'm happy for them!!

I told you he was a border collie breeder!! SO jealous of her right now!!

And here is the beautiful spot where they had their ceremony. It was in a field on the ranch where Joel works overlooking this lake. Just beautiful!!

So anyway, the first night I flew in to town I had to go to Rachel's bachelorette party...and I have to admit that Erika (my youngest sister) did a very good job in setting it up. We all had a blast, and most importantly, Rachel had a great time too! I can't post any pictures from that night, because, well...this is a kid friendly blog!!

Then the rest of the week before Rachel's wedding was spent getting all the last minute little details taken care of. And let's just say that there was more than one time that Erika and I were ready to throw in the towel!! But it was all to see this smile on my sister's face...

And can I say how stinkin' cute my kiddos were!?! I love their little angel wings! Funny story about Monkey...he was over on the guys' side during the ceremony, with no one that he knew. So when Rachel came up with my parents and the Father walked forward...Monkey went right up there with him. Yup, he was just standing right there beside the Father as he started the ceremony. Too cute!!

So, here's the whole wedding party...I have to admit...we're a pretty good looking bunch, eh?!

And here's one of my family. I wish that my grandma (my Dad's mom) could have been there, but she just wasn't physically able to make it up to the wedding site.

I just wish all the best for these two!! I love them so much!

So, not only was their ceremony site beautiful, but then they had their reception on the lawn of this beautiful lake. They had an awesome wine tasting and hor d'oeuvre hour(s)...did I mention that Joel was a chef...therefore, half of his friends were chefs too...and they catered the reception?! Yah....deliciousness!!

This picture means SO much to me. It just looks like a group of people talking...but the important thing is that they are talking. This is my dad, his sister and her daughter...and my family back home has been fighting with them for years. Some stupid family feud...it totally sucks, and it completely destroyed our family. We used to hang out all the time, and now, until this day, we barely talked to each other. It was so amazing to be together and having fun...I hope that this is a sign of good times to come...I really miss hanging out with them.

So, here are a couple of pictures of me and the men that made my day during Rachel's wedding...

This is my cousin Jared, from the same family that we're supposedly feuding with...although, we have both managed to stay out of the fight and still remain pretty close. Although, we haven't seen each other in years...it was so good to see him again! I can't wait until he comes down to visit me in California!! And yes...that's me...I was there, and looking pretty darn good...I have to admit!! ;)

This was my "date" for the night. Markus is the groomsman that escorted me down the aisle. He was totally funny, and cracked me up the whole night.

Of course, my dad...handsome man, isn't he?

My "little man" totally stole the spotlight on the dance floor!! He was so cute! Stayed with us until past midnight!!

And last, but certainly not least, the most important guy in my life...

That's it for now...man, that took me a long time to upload and arrange all those pictures!! I'll stop by later to catch you up on the kiddos going back to school, soccer games and our other day to day lives!!

Until next time...

Happy Birthday SM!! Blog Train Freebie Alert!!

Hello everyone and welcome to the ScrapMatters Birthday Bash Blog Train!!

Well, it's that time of year again, it is ScrapMatter's 2nd birthday and do we have a great weekend in store for all of you!! Just check out the ad below!! We have chats, tons of speed scraps and of course a huge sale!!

And on top of all this, we also have this amazing blog train!!

One of my favorite summer time activities growing up was camping with my family and friends. Now, I grew up in Central British Columbia so there was always somewhere to go camping and fishing. And to tell you the truth, that's one of the biggest things that I miss now that I live down in California. Now, I'm sure that there are plenty of places to go camping down here, but it's just not the same. I mean, I'm talking about deciding to go camping and then heading out a few hours later and being able to find a perfect spot on a gorgeous lake. And for the most part, there weren't very many people around. The same can't be said around here, if you want a great campsite, you pretty much have to book it months in advance...and there's always people around. I miss being able to get away from people and just being able to spend quality time with my family and friends.

But now that I do live along the beautiful Monterey Peninsula I have to admit that I have a new barbecue tradition that is quickly becoming a favorite. And that is throwing a barbecue on Carmel beach. I was first introduced to this wonderful outing through my co-workers and the parties that they throw on the beach, and my family has quickly integrated this into our holidays. In fact, we threw my son's latest birthday party on the beach, and it was amazing. I mean, how could you really go wrong with the gorgeous blue Pacific Ocean, white sandy beaches, a great barbecue and friends to share it with? If you haven't tried it yet, and you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend it!!

Anyway, enough babbling about my favorite summer and barbecue memories. I know that you are all here for the blog train. If you happened to come across my little blog through the SM blog train, you should have come from Melanie's blog. So without further ado, here is the freebie I came up with for all of you!

Here is the link for Our Favorite Spot word art.

And here is the link for the Perfect Day word art.

**I'm not sure why the previews look so odd on my 4shared account, but I assure you they are just like they look on the preview shown above.**

Okay, so I hope you enjoy these little goodies...make sure you follow this blog train all the way to the end because the CT and Design Team have some amazing goodies for you!!

Your next stop on the train is Stefanie!!

If you get lost, you can always start over at Andrea's blog.

Enjoy this wonderful weekend that SM has in store for you and make sure you stop by the store to take advantage of the wonderful sales, speed scraps and chats we have in store for you!!