Super Cute Easter Layouts!

Hey chicks! I wanted to blog today but didn't have any good ideas till I opened an email from scrapbooksetc.com and was like... YES!! That is an awesome website that you can subscribe to for a free e-newsletter; AND... right now they are offering half off their yearly magazine subscription which ends up being under $20!

I loved the first layout idea above in which you cut your pics to make an egg shape on the page- too cute!! I am going to have to do this in one of my boys books for an Easter layout:)

The layout above shows pics of this girl from different years, which is a good idea; to help you see how your child has changed:( I also like how they laid out the photos too.

Ugh, this pinwheel page is just precious!! Isn't it? I love how they coordinated different papers along the top as a border, then added or made a pinwheel too! I also love how they used different photos of the boy playing with his pinwheel- in a row like that; then added the bigger photo at the bottom!!

These eggs are cute with the buttons added above!! Again, laying out the pics in a row like that is a really cool thing to do on your pages. I always seem to scatter mine about; but I am definitely going to have to try this idea:)

I really like the layering of the border strips and flowers on this layout above; also look at those chipboard letters!!! Chipboard has become my new BFF!! Just wish it wasn't so expensive!! I also love how they typed out the "journaling" on this page; sometimes I don't like how my writing looks when I journal.

This giant TAG looking page is way cool! I like how they did the pics and colored papers in blocks and columns. There is lots of different colors/patterns you can play with and its not too over stimulating!

Hope I gave you all some inspiration today:) I can't wait till this weekend to take all the fun easter photos and hopefully get a chance to scrap them soon!!

Hugs,
Noelle ♥

I want a BUTTON!

Ok girls! I must know... where do you all make these buttons at that people can add to their blogs about your own blog? Everyone has one and I want one too!! (pouting, with my hands on my hips!! lol) Any ideas to share???

Thanks!!

Noelle ♥

More Aquarium Pics/GIVEAWAYS!!

I am showing a few more pics today from our trip to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Look at this coral above; its so colorful and there are so many types of it and different textures!

I thought these fish were interesting because they were together in a group just "sitting" around. I rarely have seen fish do this; were they sleeping?

Some big ones; wish I could remember names!

This WAS COOL! This is a sting-ray that was pressed up on the glass; click on the pic for a closer view. It looks like eyes and a mouth on the left side; the "mouth" would open and close- you could also see the gills moving as it breathed. It looks like a little face doesn't it??

Here's another that swam right up to the glass when I was taking pics!!
I think these fish have it in for me!!

This crazy man was in the enormous tank feeding the fish with nothing covering his hands!!! Ewwwww! The sting-rays kept swarming around him as he fed them; and the one looked like it nipped at his hand!!! I could NEVER do that!

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Give-Aways GALORE this week....

Check out the BLOG CANDY that Jennifer from Phoenix Crafts is giving away! You can click on her name to go to her blog and enter for a chance to win this bunch of scrapbooking goodies! Her drawing ends on Easter!!

Holy Macaroni!! Melissa at Keepsakes by Melissa, is giving away a CUTTLEBUG!! You can use this machine to create die-cuts for scrapbooking, card-making, etc!
Hurry though, 2 days left- her drawing ends on 4/10!

And my sweet BRENDA from Country Romance for the Heart is having a darling give-away too! Look at these Adorable cupcake items!! Her drawing for the winner will be on Tues. April 14th! So hurry on over to see her too:)

Hope you all have a Wonderful Wednesday!!

♥ Noelle ♥

Freaky Fish @ Shedd!!

OMG! Isn't this the ugliest, freaky and scary fish that you have ever seen? I don't remember what his name was; but I went to take a pic and he swam right up to the window like he was plotting to kill me!!! YIKES! Look at those teeth and the big mean eyes! Thank goodness that Gage didn't see him 'cause he would have been scared:( I have got tons more pics to share but I thought I'd just do this one today. I am home ALL ALONE and want to savor the quiet, along with getting some much needed housework done!

Love ya girls!
Noelle ♥

I'm Baaaaack!

Hey girlfriends!

I am back from our Chicago trip and BRRRRR... it was COLD there! We attempted to go to the Shedd Aquarium on Sunday but the line was half a mile long outside of the building in the freezing cold wind!! So we skipped it and went over to the Field Museum- which was AWESOME! You will literally need to spend an ENTIRE day there to see it all:) We got back to the hotel and ordered pizza then went to the pool- a heated one, thank goodness!

Today, (Monday) we ate at Rainforest Cafe for lunch then we only had to wait in the quarter mile long line in the cold to get into the Shedd Aquarium and it was so COOL too:) The boys loved seeing all of the fish! I got some great pics that I will be posting over the next couple days! It was so nice to get away:) Wish we could do it more often!!

Hugs,
Noelle ♥

Scrapbook Sunday: A Day Early:)

Hi there! I am a day early for this but wanting to get my post in before we took off on our little road trip! Oooh, speaking of scrapbooking... I did some shopping at a local scrapbook store tonight and oooooh-weeeee; I got some cute stuff! Man, it really adds up$$! I told my best friend that I didn't want any kitchen tools or towels for my bridal shower but a nice big gift card to the scrapbooking store would be WONDERFUL:) She looked at me crazy then laughed... does that mean she won't do it???? LOL Anyway, along with Easter; I found a layout I did in my Gavins album from April 2005 when he was... 3? Geeez, times a-flyin' with him!!

He was hugely into Thomas the Train and the Easter bunny (a.k.a. Daddy this year) went BONKERS on buying Thomas things for him!! Gavin was so thrilled though, can't you tell??

Ok, now this layout is with pics from the Egg Hunt at my future in-laws house. See how Gavin has his Meijer bag to hold his eggs?? LOL (Refer to the previous post for my rant on this!! ) Look at the crazy dog, Meka rolling around in the grass behind him!! She was such a good dog; they had to put her down a couple years ago:( The chick in the pic on the right is my future sis-in-law, Amie who is also a good friend and bridesmaid in our wedding!

Well, thats it for this week's Scrapbook Sunday with me.... BUT check out my other gals and their Scrapbook Sunday posts!!

Holly at Girls at Heart

Katie at Katie's Nesting Spot

Vickie at Vickie's Scrapbooking and Tidbits

ANYONE ELSE want to join?? Please leave me a comment if you do:)

Have a great day!
♥ Noelle ♥

What are your Easter Traditions?

What are your Easter Traditions that you have with your family now, or in the past?

Usually on the day before Easter we color and decorate eggs with the boys; I love to do this! Last year, Brian wanted to hide those real eggs in the house for the boys to find, lol! I was so worried that we wouldn't find them all and then a rotten smell would appear a couple days later- but thank goodness, they found them all!! This year we are going to do a little egg hunt outside on our yard with the boys; I got the eggs bought and candy to go inside!! We also usually take them to see the Easter bunny too. I want to do this today with them, if we are able to get out of the house in time:) The "BUNNY" puts their baskets outside of their rooms so the boys see them when they wake up in the morning.

We also go to my future mother-in-laws home for lunch and another egg hunt! Her "bunny" hides eggs that have $$ inside of them (well, coins) but that is SO exciting for the kids! Although, she gives the kids plastic grocery bags to put their eggs in, instead of Easter baskets:( Thats the picky mom in me talking right now, lol!! Maybe I'll visit the GW and pick up some cheap Easter baskets for the kids to have this year- would that drive her crazy?? LOL I know she means well:)

I think that I will sneak my SCRAPBOOK SUNDAY post in tonite, since we are leaving tomorrow morning.

Have a wonderful day girls ♥

~Noelle~