too much sadness:(

Hey girls,

Its been a hectic week and to top it all of we had to have our kitty Maxie put to sleep yesterday:(

She's the one that I mentioned has been fighting kidney failure for a couple months now.

We took her into the vet cause she wasn't eating, or able to go potty; we also found her throwing up green bile. In the past couple months she's gone from almost 10 lbs in weight to 5.5 lbs yesterday:( 

The vet told us there isn't anything more we could do, her kidney values were tripled.

So she will be cremated and we will keep her here with us in our home.

Its sad without her cute lil face and sweet demeanor here.

My oldest son is so heartbroken by this too. 

He was sooo attached to her.

We will miss you so much lil miss Maxie ♥

I've been very sad thinking about my dad a lot lately too, I was praying so hard that this New Year would bring hope, peace and happiness to our family. So far its been very rough.

I am trying to go back to work full time as well. I cannot take this financial struggle anymore. 

I applied for a job at a school nearby my home as a Title 1 Instructional Assistant, which would require me to do tutoring with 2nd graders and most likely more work than just tutoring. It would be a school year position which would leave my summers free which would be GREAT!!

I am a bit worried about trying to take college classes and work more as well.

But I know its something I need to do.

So please cross your fingers for me!!

Noelle ♥

Cute kid... and more!

Hellloooo girls! I've been MIA the past few days to due a case of the flu with my oldest son, visiting literally hundreds of blogs for OWOH... so fun meeting new gals with the same interests as I... work, school, whew!

I've been wanting to share a funny store about my lil one Gage who is becoming a Mr. Martha Stewart...

Back in December I went into his bedroom and found all my fake poinsettias stuck in his tool bench in all the little holes!! LOL

Apparently he got an "itch" to jazz up his tool bench for the holiday season!

Too funny!

I asked what he did and he was so proud and said "Look mommy! I plant your flowers in my "woon" (means room)"!!!! What a character:)

Here is the decorating culprit swinging in the snow!!

Oh I love those boys!!

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This week begins the Book Fair at my oldest son's school which I am helping at and then on Sunday he makes his First Reconciliation!! Time is flying with that boy!! Gavin will make his First Communion in May ♥

I cannot believe that school will be over in just a few short months!

But hey, bring on the SUMMER!!!

Cause momma needs a tan!

Thats about all folks!

If you are one of my regular bloggin buds and have not yet entered my One World One Heart giveaway, PLEASE DO SO!! :) AND GO CHECK OUT THE OTHER 500 PLUS GIVEAWAYS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD TOO! You can click on the Magic Carpet Ride button on my side bar.

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Love you all,

Noelle ♥

One World, One Heart 2010 Giveaway

Hello friends and new friends to be!
I have decided to hop on the band wagon and host a giveaway for this years One World, One Heart giveaway! I have loved blog hopping the past 2 years and see all the fabulous giveaways held around the world for this event ♥


I chose my giveaway items to be scrapbooking related because that is my #1 hobby!
As a mother of 2 darling boys and a newly married woman, I realize how important it is to "preserve" your memories! I chose to do so in scrapbook albums ♥


So enough chit chat...
lets get down to business!! (lol)


Here is what ONE lucky winner will receive from my 1st OWOH giveaway...

A set of 5 Martha Stewart Opaque Markers; in spring colors...

A Creative Memories Nature's Whisper Paper Album Kit...

it comes with...

A lovely blue paper album with 14 double sided sheets of paper binded inside,

12 double sided photo mats,

1 sheet of clear title stickers,

1 sheet of epoxy stickers,

1 sheet of die cut shapes and

1 envelope.

The colors are BEAUTIFUL and very springy...

blues, greens, yellows with lovely flowers, butterflies and more!

And the winner also receives...

...a handmade card and a handmade gift card holder,

created by me!!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, don't forget to include your EMAIL so I can notify you on Feb. 15th when I pick my LUCKY WINNER and YOU MUST have an ACTIVE blog!!

** If you like my blog, become a follower~ I love NEW FRIENDS!!**

Best of luck to you all!!

X0,

Noelle ♥

Thanks so much to all the wonderful gals that have entered my OWOH giveaway!!! 

Pre-Wedding Scrapbook

Last weekend I hosted a crop a my home and invited friends to come and Crop for a Cause!

I took donations to Hospice House here in South Bend where my dad was for 2 days prior to his passing. Hospice also came into my grandparents home and helped care for both of them at their time of illness.

I asked my hubby to take care of the boys that day so I could have some time to reflect and work on a new album I wanted to start.

I call it my Pre-Wedding album because it holds pictures of my bridal shower, bachelorette party and other important events like when I found my dress, the girls dresses, our invite, etc.

So here are a few pages I got accomplished at my crop and I must say I was SO THRILLED to be scrapping in a girly album!! All of my scrapbooks but one, have been for my boys... so lots of BLUE:)

This time...

I added pinks, flowers and lots of girly fun!!

The front page of the album shows my shower invite in the top left corner and some details from the shower (decor that is)...

This is the left side of a 2 page layout featuring more decor at the shower, all done by my mom!

I love that leaf sticker border and the scarecrow!

2nd page of layout...

Time to open presents...

I did 2 pages showing my shower games...

we played the Purse Game where guests had to look for specific items in their purses for points.

And the other game was Piece of Cake where the guests had to guess what type of cake went with the riddle...

Love this cake sticker ♥

Cute lil bride to be sticker as well!

This page is not finished because I want to enlarger the pic of the mini wedding cakes that my mom made for all of the gals at the shower; but I wanted to show this darling paper!! It came in a set from Target!

This is a page of me and a few of my girlfriends that were at the shower!

Doesn't it scream girliness? haha:)

I love the pink and brown together!

The brown flowers on the left border came from my Creative Memories Scallop Punch;

its such a cute one!

Here is a silly layout of my mom and I goofing around at the shower.

(Gah, I look so fat in these pics!)

The wedding cake stickers are very glittery and cute!!

Here is my FAVE layout that tells the story of how I found "THE DRESS"!

I used a wine colored paper and cream to coordinate with the colors of my dress.

I used the Martha Stewart Doily Punch to create the lace looking edge around my journal box.

Pretty wedding dress sticker I used too.

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Well thats all I've gotten so far in that album...

pretty simple compared to some very extravagant scrapbookers I've come across.

If I had the time, I'd do all those fancy things on my pages but I don't.

Hope you've enjoyed my pre-wedding pages:)

Have a great Sunday!!

Noelle ♥

Cat RANT }:-(

Ok... first off I will say that I am in PMS mode and am slightly more cranky this "time of month"!

Sooo... forgive that may sound like a looney toon on this post;)

Cats!

Cute, cuddly...

SMELLY!

If I could give up one household chore it would be...

Cleaning the LITTER BOXES!!

YUCKKK!

In my house, this little comic is NOT true!

Our cats throw the litter everywhere!!!

It drives me CRAZY!

I often say that the cats are messier than the kids,

and I have 2 lil boys that can be REALLY messy!

Please tell me I am not the only one that feels this way?

Please!?

I don't rant much on my blog about things that make me bonkers but today I've just had enough with the cat litter box issues!

Does your cat sit there and stare at you when you are cleaning their box out?

One of mine does and I feel like she's mocking me! LOL

Like "Haha, look a YOU having to clean up MY pee and poop!"

(OMG! I have lost it haven't I??)

I mean, what would life be like if my cats could be potty trained?

Or if I give them one of these...

A kitty house potty, would they keep it tidier?

I guess if this is the only thing that annoys me in life right now,

it must not be too bad? Right? Right!!

I mean they are cute...

And we DO love them...

But please, stop throwing LITTER EVERYWHERE!!!

(I hope you all do come back to my blog after this off the way post!! Its part humor and frustration!)

Love,

Noelle ♥

(Crazy (cat) mom)

New Blog Header!!

Just quick hello this morning!!

Check out my new LOVE themed header jazzed up from my darling ad super talented friend Katie!!!

Go visit her today to see the ADORABLE craft she made using some bottles of Starbucks Frappachino's!

TGIF!!

~Noelle ♥

Mini Wedding Album!!

Awhile back my sweet gal Tina from Mommy Scraps a Lot posted a new item in her Etsy shop...

an accordian style wedding scrapbook!

It was so pretty; so I ordered it and she even personalized it a bit for us!!

It came fully embellished so all I had to do was adhere the photos... easy as pie!

So here is the first little album of wedding pics of my hubby & I ♥

The front cover... the wedding cake sticker is soo pretty...

click on the pics to see the details ♥

My fave wedding photo...

we looked SO GLAM!

another fave...

my mom, my hubby and me...

us and my father in law (kinda blurry... sorry, my camera sucks!!)

another angle of my fave pic!

Look at the cute stickers!

so pretty!!

the paper and the pretty corner embellishment on this page is so lovely!

♥ sweet kisses ♥

Here is a shot of the whole album standing up...

And the back view...

Its so perfect... thanks so much Tina!!

Oh you can see my new Valentine placemats from the other love of my life...

TARGET!!! Aren't they cute?

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I'm gonna be a bad girl now and give a sneak peek to Mishele (click on her name to see her blog- her home is gorgeous, warm and french country... oooh la la, mi amor!!) of her sweet swap package she will be receiving soon from me... Dolly who's hosting the swap said to post no pics till the 14th but I just have too!!

Ok, now thats all I can share for now!!

~~Got any big plans for this weekend?~~

I've got TONS of school work so I may be a bit MIA!!

Love to you all,

Noelle ♥

So Stinkin' Proud!! ♥

Have you ever wanted to create something crafty just straight out of your own head with no inspiration from anyone else??

I did and it came out sooo cute (at least I think so!).

Here it is...

Ta-da! My 1st Vintage Valentine Inspired Creation ♥

Some close-ups...

The back side...

isn't that paper the cutest?

It came from Hobby Lobby and was like $0.85 a sheet!

This is a sweet cupcake pick that I used; just cut the toothpick part off!

All my supplies I used...

The paper is glued to a flat wooden "block" for lack of a better term!

I used mod-podge to seal it, then added a paper rosette behind the lace paper heart to raise it up a bit.

Hot glued the little boy pick to that, then hot glued to prima flowers, ribbons and buttons on.

Also used a little sanding piece to smooth the edges of the scrapbook paper to the block!!

And wa-la!!

So, do you like it??

Wanna win one?

I'm going to create another later this week and this will be my lil Valentine giveaway!!

More details to come soon ♥

Love ya all~

Noelle ♥