Laura Vegas

so you all know alyssa, right? she's cute if i say so myself. sure, sometimes she gives me these totally cheesy smiles. like this one here … taken at sarah's birthday party in june.

and she has the most perfect smile … with all these perfectly lined up teeth that her dad paid a pretty penny for. lol! she wore the braces for a year and a half. and she got them off a year ago. and she has worn her retainers every night without any complaining … she's very responsible about it. but then she had these 2 teeth that decided to grow in … before the baby teeth could fall out.

how's that for a close-up? now, keep in mind … this photo was over 2 months ago. so see those 2 teeth coming out her gums? what are they called … eye teeth, fangs?!?! well, her left one wasn't too bad … and the baby tooth fell out last week. but the right one (on your left) … it was totally grown in and protruding out the gums. above where it should be … because the other tooth was still there. and the baby tooth wasn't even that loose … and had no wiggle room to even try and get out. and then … she had to stop wearing her top retainer about a month ago … because it wouldn't go in. then the top middle teeth .. they were starting to seperate. so between us and the orthodontist … we finally decided the tooth had to come out.

so yesterday, i took her in to the dentist after school. the dude checks out the tooth and decides that it really has no room to work itself out on it's own. so we figure we'll just freeze the gum area and get the tooth out. there really was no root left … so it shouldn't hurt too much … that's what he told us at least. so he put some stuff on the gum … no shots or anything … just some stuff that he squirted on. and then he waited for it to do it's job numbing up the area. 

now … i have to tell you … i get the heebie-jeebies just watching kids wiggle loose teeth. it just creeps me out … and i hate to watch. and i hate the dentist. not personally … because they're very nice people. but i hate what they do there. even when i go for check-ups … i have my hands in my pockets the entire time i'm there … with my fists clenched as tight as they can. and i tend to hold my breath a lot when they're working on me … sometimes they stop and remind me to breathe.

so anyways … enough about me … and back to my girl. so she's numb. and the dentist pulls out this big metal tool … and grabs a hold of the tooth and starts pulling. what the heck?!?! alyssa was holding on to the chair for dear life … and you could definately tell that it wasn't completely pain-free. and he yanked … and then yanked some more. and it did come out. the tooth was out … and there was a good amount of blood. not gushing or anything … but some blood. he cotton balled her up … and we were done.

and what was her mother doing during that 47 seconds of tooth-pulling? was she by her daughters side, holding her hand, and giving her support and reassurance? NO, SHE WAS NOT. she was in the corner of the room, with her hands over her mouth in horror, eyes totally shut (but ever so slightly peeking out) … stunned by what was being done right in front of her … and trying really hard to stay focused and not pass out. seriously people! i was of no use to my little girl … how bad of a mom am i?!?! lol! when she called her dad last night … she told him that he should have taken her instead. lol!  

i was asked to share a photo tip over on the MM blog for today. took me forever to decide on one … but finally came up with what i thought was a fun one. it's something i do all the time lately. you can read more about it HERE.

i thought i would share a few more photos here with the same idea.

i know, i've shared this one before. but it's one of my favorites of nikolas … so i have to share it again!

i might have shared this one of miranda too … but i still think it's adorable. all those pretties hanging from her neck … and her blanket that was never too far away.

not a great composition or anything … but then again, i wasn't looking when i took this. and i really like it. because she's hanging on my leg and reaching up for the camera … and she looks so excited … like she really thinks she can get it!

took this one of nikolas yesterday … while standing on the table again. and his eyes … love them! and yes, he really is THAT cute! i drive him crazy … because i squeeze and hug on him every time he walks by!

nikolas and his sippy cup. each kid gets their own color cup here … and that's the one they use all the time. unless they steal from one another … which happens ALL the time. and he always tips his head way back when he drinks … so it actually makes more sense to take the photo from above him.

this technically doesn't look like an "from-up-above" photo. but i WAS standing on the table … and i WAS looking down. so that counts, right? plus, she actually looked at the camera for once without me even asking.

i thought this one of haley was cute. i found her admiring herself in this pooh-bear mirror. and i didn't want to distract her by trying to take her picture. so i casually walked by with my camera in the air (not looking of course) … and this is what i got. not bad. and notice her pretty fingernails? her aunt amy painted them for her this weekend. well, one finger didn't have the polish on anymore. so haley kept finding play phones and calling amy … and saying "amy fix" while holding up her one finger right in front of her face (as if amy could see her). so cute!

and just know one thing. if you decide to go around and stand on tables trying to get some photos of your toddlers … chances are pretty good that the toddlers will decide to imitate you. lol! i'm confusing the poor kids … because i'm always telling them NOT to climb on the furniture! and yet laura? she can do whatever the heck she wants … as long as she gets a few good shots! lol! those are my sock-covered feet (i HAVE to wear socks in the house … just one of my quirks) … and nikolas trying to get up there with me. unfortunately for him … his legs are just a little too short!

i got an email from heather a few weeks ago … asking if i would like to be her guest designer for the scrapbook bakery again. i had so much fun last february playing with her kit … so i jumped at the chance to do it again for september. the kit is called "seeing spots" … and it is an awesome kit!

this kit is so full of good stuff! and i love the colors … the black and white just really made all the other colors "pop". i'm a huge fan of adding some black and white elements to my pages … just makes everything else stand out. i had so much fun playing with this … i had my projects done in 2 days, start to finish. even heather was amazed at how quick i was done … since usually i'm never done until the last possible minute. lol! and just so you know how far this kit will stretch … the only thing i added to these projects from my own stash was 2 sheets of white cardstock, a few mini brads, and a little 1 inch piece of green dot paper (to back one of the buttons). everything else is from the kit. and i have extras leftover too.

btw … this is the school layout that i mentioned a while back. about alyssa starting 7th grade. with a photo from back in march. and no .. we still have not taken our first-day-of-school photos. lol! crud … just noticed that i put "2007" on there … and it's 2008! trust me … i make more mistakes than i ever let on too. lol! will have to fix that!

these were just random photos that i had laying around. i have this big envelope of photos of alyssa from her first 6 years or so … that i was going to do something with ages ago and never got around too. so i just pulled some random ones out to make this. and excuse the big hair … i've always had big, curly hair. lol!

heather had suggested an altered binder of some sort for the project … since it's september and school time. i loved the idea. and not just because i love people telling me exactly what to make when it comes to projects … but that is totally true, because i consider myself extremely "project-challenged". lol! but i loved the idea because i have all sorts of white binders … where i keep scrapbook assignments, paperwork, emails, articles, all my published work, inspirational pages, etc. and i have always meant to make the binders pretty. but i never did. so this was a start. and that "plan ahead, work, and do not procrastinate" … LOVE IT! the girls saw that and said "that was totally meant for you" … because they know that i can be a procrastinator. although it didn't come like that (as they thought) … those are all rub-on letters. i don't think i've ever sat and rubbed-on that long of a phrase. lol! i'm a lazy scrapper, if you didn't know … so halfway through, i wondered why i did it! but it paid off … and i think it looks cool! and i'm proud to say that since then … i've altered 3 more of my binders!  

so make sure and go check out the kit … you can see it HERE! and while you're there … make sure and check out these pop-dots. i am seriously addicted to pop-dots … i use them on everything. i know it's hard to see the dimension sometimes in a photo. but that first layout … that large black scalloped strip on the bottom of the page, the flower and chipboard circle, the photo corners … they're all pop-dotted. that second layout … that entire photo collage and the journaling card … they're all pop-dotted. the yellow and the black polka dot papers on the cards … all pop-dotted. and these were some great pop-dots … nice big size and super strong … and no fighting to get the little backings off. and such a great price.

so thanks again to heather … for asking me to play with such a fun kit! loved it! 

so this layout is based on the layout that i shared yesterday. this is the layout that i started for one project … then wasn't thrilled with it. so i decided to use it for a different project. then i stuck photos on it … and i decided that i really liked it again and was going to use it for the first project. but in the end … am not using it for either project. lol! i love this layout … just wasn't a perfect fit for what i'm needing to do.

  

i just love these photos of haley …. and they printed so perfectly. i love when the color comes out just like i edited it too … one reason that i love to print my photos myself! you know when i order these photos from the online spot (which i need to do for her mom) … they won't look anything like that. lol! the three photos going down … i just printed those out individually and then matted them on the white cardstock. i don't have a wide-format printer to print 12 inches.

i have a mix of collections going on here for the papers. it's all making memories .. but it's a little animal crackers, a little falala … and a lot of the new shimmer paper that will be coming out soon (i think october). some fun flowers and some brads of course. and those title letters … and flowers … and the little tabs … what are those you ask? those were made using the slice! yes, i am lucky enough that i have had a slice to play with for a while … and i love it! it's due to come out in october … so keep your eyes out for it!

this is a layout that i finished a few weeks ago … but it's been in hiding all this time. i loved the design … and had planned on using it for something else. so i did … but still went back and forth on that one … not sure if i was going to use it for what i wanted to use it for. i know … so general and vaque … sorry. i think i just like how i make myself sound so top-secret … when i'm really NOT! needless to say … i decided against using the second layout for what it was going to be for. so now … i can share them both!

i had picked up a few sheets of this basic grey pattern paper a while back … and just wanted to use them. the entire reason i started this layout …. sticktly to use fun product. lol! and then i had the fun buttons and brads to match … had to use those. and the letters … i've had those forever and never use them. so i did. and this is what came out of all that fun product.

i know … for a minute there, you thought i was going to share both layouts. i did make it sound that way, didn't i? lol! i still have to journal the other one … so i'll share it tomorrow.

supplies:
pattern paper, buttons, brads - basic grey
mini silver brads, clip, tag – making memories
plastic letters – heidi swapp
rubon – deja views

i was so honored to have been nominated for this little award the other day … two times actually. first from molly … my scrapping friend from hawaii, who is extremly talented and i love the detail on her layouts. and second from jennifer … one of my favorite scrapbookers ever, with amazing talent … that i can now call a friend. so, now it's my turn.

The rules for the award are – (1) The winner can put the logo on their blog. (2) Link the person you received your award from. (3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs. (4) Put links of those on yours. (5) Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated.

1. shaunte wadley – seriously, this girl cracks me up. on any given day, at any given time … you will laugh your tush off reading her blog. i am also jealous of how much she gets done … why can't i scrap like that under pressure. 

2. sasha farina -  pure eye candy on her blog … she has the most beautiful layouts. love her style so, so much. and she's from singapore … which i think it kind of cool. 

3. doris sander - she always has the funnest layouts … so colorful and cute. and she also has the cutest little boy. she's also pretty funny!

4. karen russell – amazing photographer … just love how she captures life as it's happening. and she's also teaching the most amazing online photo class … that i am going to learn so much from as soon as i can catch up.

5. keisha campbell - super talented scrapper … she just blows me away every time she posts new projects. and she lives in china … which i also think is pretty cool.

6. maggie holmes - i so wish i could take photos like her … simply gorgeous photography skills. and an amazing scrapbooker as well … love her style!

7. robyn werlich – another of my most favorite scrapbookers. her layouts always amaze me … such beautiful details that i could spend all day looking at. and a super sweet person … always so helpful.

i'm sure there are more … i have so many blogs that i love to read on a daily basis. that's why i have such a hard time doing these … because i don't want to leave anyone out. lol! anyways … those are a few of my most favorites. so make sure and check them out … if you havn't already!   

i've been working on lots of projects right now. and i've been digging around for photos to use … and they have to match what i'm working on of course. and i also like to play fair. so when i had already used some photos of alyssa on one project, and a photo of both the girls on another project … i figured the next one had to have photos of sarah. but i couldn't find any that matched what i was working on. so we took these tonight.

love that she was willing to do these photos for me … it didn't take much convincing or bribing. lol! i had my color request in … and she brought down a stack of shirts that she thought would work. i had said blue … and she had blue … but not the right shade of blue. she didn't get why it wasn't ok … after all, it WAS blue. so i showed her the papers i had already picked out … and then she understood. so we went with black … because this shirt is adorable!

i felt bad … because she found the cutest capri jeans to wear … and her silver sparkley shoes. but we were only in the backyard … and our backyard is NOT for full body shots. and it was still early in the evening … and we still had almost all full sun. i had her standing in about a 2 foot section of grass where there was some nice, open shade … she was literally IN the plants along the side of the yard. i even trimmed a few brances that were showing … because they had purple flowers (there is no purple on my project!). i'm sure the plant looks all wonky now. and i was actually standing as far back as i could … almost behind the shed … where i'm sure there might have been a few lizards hanging out with me. lol!

 

all of 5 minutes … and we were done. simple as that. the girls have finally learned … that if they just give me what i want and do as i say … we'll be done in the blink of an eye! when we have more time … then we'll try and get more creative and venture into a new location. but for now … when under pressure … the backyard works!

and i have some awards to hand out … some blogging awards that i need to pass on. i have been lucky enough to receive a few … and i'm feeling so bad that it's taking me this long to play along. so i'll do that tomorrow!

if you happen to pick up a copy of the scrapbooks etc idea book, page planner … then you might have seen this layout.

i was really excited when i got this layout picked up … because it was my take on a layout by my all-time favorite scrapbooker, erin clarkson. i pretty much did a direct lift on her page design … and i love how it turned out. although i secretly wish i would have cut that pink paper just a tad bigger for my photo collage to go on. lol! not a big deal … just something that my eye keeps looking at!

and bear with me … trying to clean up the blog a little. proud to say i made that banner myself … even if i don't know what i'm doing and it may or may not look good. lol! and it's cutting off on the side. the same thing happened to me the last time i tried to put up a new banner … and it frustrated me to no end … and then ended up being something so simple to fix. so for now, it's staying … and i'll fart around with it later tonight! i also went through the last year and a half of my blog … and updated all my "out for publications". i had a lot that i had forgotten to add back in … so i think they're all up to date now. and have also fixed a ton of links. trying to figure out what else i need to update or clean up … any ideas?!?! lol!  

i hate posting without something to show you … photos, layouts … just something to look at! and since i have no new layouts that i can share with you right now … i thought i would dig out some older layouts just for fun. if you've ever browsed way, way back in my albums in the sidebar … you may have seen these. but i just poked around my actual blog postings from way, way back when … and didn't find these shared. keep in mind … these are from exactly 2 years ago … i scrapped them back in august of 2006!

 

funny note … i have scrapped these photos of alyssa on 3 seperate layouts! that's how i used to do things … doesn't make much sense to me now. lol! but i had done a layout for an online design team thing … and then i scrapped them for a class i was teaching … and then i scrapped this layout here when i was trying for the scenic route design team (which i did NOT make, obviously). the large circle … traced a big bowl for that. the pen-drawn outline of the circle … i still like to do the pen thing now and then. and those cut out circles from the pattern paper … with gems in the centers … those are all pop-dotted like crazy. loved my pop-dots way back then too!

these photos of sarah crack me up! these were taken on her first birthday … and i didn't scrap them until 6 years later. and that was 2 years ago … and she is 9 years old now. did that all add up right? lol! this was one of those layouts where i had the design all thought out and got them embellishments perfectly placed like i wanted … and then had no idea where to add my journaling to where it looked good to me. i do that all the time!

these are another set of photos that i have scrapped at least 3-4 times! in color … in black and white … you name it! but they're great photos, right? lol! i was really proud of myself for using those clay letters and the little chipboard number … back then i used to think all that stuff was "too special" to actually use. so it was a big step for me to use them! and look at my number three reason to smile … because she's a "wingnut"! we use the term "wingnut" ALLLLLL the time around here!

and you know what? i made these layouts a full 2 years ago … and i still love them! i think they still represent the style that i have today. although notice all the inking … i never could scrap without inking the heck out of everything. lol! i'm not so fond of the ink anymore … gave that up quite a while ago! hope you enjoyed taking this trip down memory lane with me?!?! i found some other layouts tucked away that i don't think i've ever shared … so maybe i'll post those tomorrow. but rest assured … i am working on new stuff too! 

i was wanting to update the blog today. but i feel like i have nothing to blog about. no layouts that i can share … at least, not right now. i have a few photos … but they're on the external harddrive already and i'm too lazy to hook it up today. i have a few deep, meaningful posts i've been wanting to do … but not feeling like typing up a big thing right now. so how about some randomness?!?!

• i love that the girls are back in school … just like being back on a schedule of sorts. but i do miss having them around during the day. the little ones miss them too. they have come to terms with the fact that i'm back to being their sole entertainment for the entire day … and also the only one here to take care of their every need. not sure how we all feel about this. lol! but i do put on quite a show each day for them … i do not dissapoint!
• soccer is back. the girls both started practices a few weeks ago. and we already have our first games this weekend … earlier than most years. this is the 6th year for both of them. alyssa is on under-12's … her team is "the heartbreakers". sarah is on under-10's … and her team is "the soccer chicks". both of them are red this year … so at least they match. lol! they practice on the same nights … but not the same fields. so we split up … joe takes one and i take the other. and they don't start till 6:00 … which is actually nice, because i don't have to pack up any daycare kids this time!
• the girls also start awana's at the church this week. awana's only goes up to the 6th grade. so alyssa is really too old now. but they do have a LIT program … which is "leaders in training". there were only 5 girls chosen from the 7th grade to participate … and alyssa was one of them! so she'll be in there … helping out the adult leaders and working with the kids in the classrooms. so proud of her!
• totally random … but the girls havn't been swimming in almost 2 weeks now. that is crazy! but my parents are on vacation … so i guess the girls just don't think we can go use the pool. which we totally can if we want. one time, we took the girls over to swim … and alyssa got so worried that people would think we were breaking in. lol! which makes no sense … because the neighbors know us … and because we have a key!
• insert big pause here … like a 5 minute pause … trying to think of more random stuff!
• i have all of 8 emails in my inbox right now. nothing that i havn't read … just things i need to save. but this worries me … because i always have about 20 in there. lol! i should just rest assured that i am productive and caught up. but i also worry that maybe i deleted some that i shouldn't have. lol! i know … i worry too much.
• this weekend … i threw away about 400 crayons and markers. seriously! i couldn't take it anymore. we had crayons and markers all over this house … drawers, pencil boxes, pouches, you name it. most are broken, dried up, and old. and really … why would we possibly need 8 of each color?!?! so i tossed them all … without any hesitation … without any guilt. i have 2 pencil boxes in this house right now … each with a 24-count box of crayons and a handful of markers. that is really all we need … no one colors that much around here!
• i also purged a ton more stuff. went through every nook and cranny of sarah's room … she's known for stashing things in places they don't belong. and we tossed so much stuff. i even made joe clean out his 2 little drawers he has in the kitchen. the dude had cheese packets from the pizza joint in his drawer … we don't even use that cheese. lol! receipts from back in 96' … and little scraps of papers that said "milk" or "bread" on them. lol!
• i've been scrapped a ton lately. feels good … have loved what i've been coming up with. i started this one layout for a certain project … and then didn't like it as much as i thought i would. so i decided it would be for a different project instead. but then i actually printed some photos for it tonight (yes, i designed an entire layout without any photos … that's how i roll sometimes!). as soon as i put the photos on … it totally "popped" … and now i'm thinking it's perfect for the original project. lol! i know you have no idea what i'm talking about … just go with me here! anyways .. i'll share what i can … as soon as i can.

and that is going to be it. because it's just about 10:00pm … and i told myself i would shut down the computer at 10:00! the season premiere of "the hills" was on tonight … and i can't wait to watch. one of my guilty reality-show pleasures! and then i'll make up for it by watching a truely awesome, touching show … "army wives". it makes me cry every single week.