I FINALLY found time...

to scrapbook at Maple Memories!! Funny how when you own a retreat designed to help women find TIME to get away, you find yourself with less of it! HA! :) I really DO love my "job" and all the wonderful women that enter our doors. We are so blessed by each of you.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to spend a wonderful weekend at the house with some of my friends. I got more than my "normal" number of layouts completed and had lots of fun, so it was a success!! My friend, Jodi, got 66 pages done...WOW!! Here are a few of mine that I thought I would share with you.

I often receive comments about how "beautiful" my youngest daughter is, which makes me beam because I know that she is just as beautiful on the inside! This layout is my way of telling her exactly that and hopefully it will serve as a reminder as she gets older.

BEAUTY

more than just a pretty face.



Scrapbooking tip: I used letters in coordinating prints. They blended in a little to much, making it difficult to read, so I outlined each letter in a brown pen. They now stand out much more. Also, I leave journal boxes, but don't typically journal at crops or retreats. I save that for later, at home, when I don't need to get all of my stuff out...just a marker!

TORNADO SLIDE

I had fun finding paper that tied in the many colors of the tornado slide. Take a look at the picture on the far left, where my daughter is coming down the slide. The blue paint is chipped and worn. I loved how the patterned paper on the right carried that same effect on the edges.

SNOWBOARDING FUN

I'm a color matcher. I get giddy when I find paper that matches the kids clothing! Or even, like only a scrapbooking addict like me would understand, when I find CLOTHING that matches that cute paper I've had tucked away for so long! HA!!

I used a chipboard snowflake and covered it in stickles. Carried the shiny effect onto the 2nd page by adding some blingy swirls!! I LOVE THOSE SWIRLS!! So pretty.


i love you.

The lettering says, "I want to remember (on the left page) the way we felt about each other on this day (on the right)." Like most siblings, my kids fight...ALOT. I wish they didn't, but it's life. Sometimes, I even forget that there are times that they don't fight. This is why I am so grateful to have pictures...PROOF that they really DO love each other!!!

I have 3 kids. I do albums for each of them. Crazy, I know. But, I do. Every once in a while, I "copy" a layout. The picture on the right is my "girl" version and the one on the right is the "boy" layout. Hers has more texture, flowers, bling. His uses more "earthy, boy-like" colors AND it compares him to a SUPER HERO...what more could a big brother ask for!!??
HAPPY SCRAPPING!!!

Bone Marrow Donation

I registered today. The online registration is pretty easy. Think about it.

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The Transformation - Part 2

I hope that you enjoyed looking at the before and after pictures yesterday. Here are a few more.

BLUE ROOM BEFORE:

BLUE ROOM AFTER:

GREEN ROOM BEFORE:

GREEN ROOM AFTER:

PURPLE ROOM BEFORE:

PURPLE ROOM AFTER:



LIVING ROOM IN BASEMENT BEFORE:

LIVING ROOM IN BASEMENT AFTER:

I hope you are enjoying these! It's been fun for me to go back and see how far we have come!! My favorite transformations are coming soon...I just need to get some better "after" pictures.

The Transformation - Part 1

One of the most common questions we get asked is, "How much work did you have to do to fix up the house?" So, we thought we would share some pictures of the transformation of Maple Memories. There are LOTS of pictures...more than I have time to upload tonight...so check back tomorrow for more.

UPSTAIRS RELAXATION ROOM BEFORE:

UPSTAIRS RELAXATION ROOM AFTER:

YELLOW ROOM BEFORE:

YELLOW ROOM AFTER:

There is a quote on the wall of each of the bedrooms. The yellow room says, "We do not remember the days. We remember the moments."

Friday Feature - Steph Cooks PW!

My friend, Steph, has started a wonderful new blog called "Steph Cooks PW!" I have not ever picked up The Pioneer Woman cookbook (*GASP*), but those of you that share Stephs addiction (and I know there are LOTS of you out there) should check out her blog. She is inspiring me to want to try these recipes. She is the mom of 4 absolutely adorable children and she loves to cook. How do you do that!? My picky middle child has made me detest it, but Steph "critics" are making me laugh AND have me actually thinking about getting back into the kitchen!

She confesses: "I have an addiction...and it involves The Pioneer Woman! I love her and I love her recipes. I also love to hear from others who have tried them too. So feel free to check back often as I cook my way through her recipes. I cook for the 5 critics I live with, and they let me know what they think."

Steph has devised a "5 Star Rating System", each member of the family gives the recipe a frowny or a smiley face depending on what they thought about it. Here are 4 of her "critics", with her husband being the 5th.

Told you they were adorable! So, go check out Steph's blog and see what you can cook up for dinner! I've been craving PF Chang's lettuce wraps lately, and then what did I find when I pop over to visit Steph!!?? Mmmmm...and they got 5 stars!

Indoor Beach Party

I was looking through old pictures on my computer last night and came across this one from several years ago. Look how little everyone looks. *Sniff, Sniff*

This was such a fun memory that I thought I'd share it with my blog friends! It was January in Minnesota. Cold, Snowy...we were getting cabin fever. So, we decided to have a "Beach Dinner". I put down beach towels on the floor and made octopus hotdogs served over mac and cheese. The kids wore goggles. Too cute!!

Sorry, this was before my blogging days, so I don't have a million pictures of the event! However, I did find this if you want VERY DETAILED instructions on how to cut a hotdog in the shape of an octupus! I would have just said, "slice it so that it has 8 arms" but I'm glad someone else has taken the time to give you the best hotdog cutting instructions I have ever seen!! ;)

*This zoomed-in cropped section of the picture above makes me so grateful for my new camera!

Hats, Mittens, and Scarves...Oh, My!

Please tell me that I'm not the only one that finds hats, coats, mittens, and scarves all over the floor in the winter!! AND none of the mittens matching of course!! ;) See!!?? A basket of "lost" mittens. Really!!? Where are the others!!?? I'm sure they are hanging out with the "lost" socks having a big party somewhere!

Well, I'd finally had enough!! So, I came up with this...

and I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like it!! An over the door mesh shoe organizer with lots of pockets to put all that stuff that never seems to find a home. No more digging. Everything is sorted. Mittens paired. Each family member has their own row. The kids on the bottom so they can get their own things AND (hopefully) put them away. Adults on the top, so the kids CAN'T reach them. I'm loving it!

How do you organize your winter gear?