MOVED!

I have switched sites! You can now find me here!

www.briannenevill.com

Thanks!

-B

Spring...

I LOVE the arrival of Spring. Here in Oklahoma it's not much a gradual change like it was back in Michigan. Let's compare the two:

Michigan:
You get months of snow...
A few days of warmth...
A few more weeks of snow...
A few days of warmth...
A day of snow...
Warmth...

Oklahoma:
A few months of cold weather...
One good freeze...
60 degree weather...
70 degree weather...
Summer...


Its very odd has taken some getting used to. I can honestly, 100%, say that I do not miss the snow. I miss the white at Christmas, but I do not miss the snow at all. Sorry to all my snow-bunny friends but I would not trade you. (Here I sit saying that and we will probably get PCS'd to Alaska now.)

Its finally getting warm here and we all want to be outside more, which is a mixed blessing. More time outside = less time scrapping. It's ok, I will have plenty of time for that soon.



ScrapStreet Star starts this coming Saturday (March 22nd)!! If you are interested in some friendly scrapping competition, join us here: Rules & Info. Check out all of the audition round entries here: Audition Gallery

COLOR of my life

Color:

I LOVE color! My life totally revolves around this and music. And to be perfectly honest, I believe that both go hand in hand. When I hear music, I SEE colors. Soft and slow music makes me envision blues and greens, while fast, upbeat music pours reds, yellows and oranges into my subconscience!

Just like the pop of color off a picture...I adore layouts or pictures that are almost entirely black and white with one HUGE burst of color. Doesn't it just SING to you?!

Tagged:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment on their blog, so that their readers can visit yours. Janneke tagged me. (Tag her as much as you want!!!! :) )

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share 7 Random facts about yourself on your blog.

4. Tag 7 random people at the bottom of your post, linking to their blog. Let each person know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven Random Facts about Brianne:

1. I love chocolate. Almost in any form.

2. My favorite color is cobalt blue. Not just any blue, but COBALT blue.

3. I really want a little girl to dress in pink and put pigtails in her hair.

4. I am 5'10".

5. My middle name is Elizabeth.

6. At one time, I had 8 piercings. (4 in one ear, 3 in another and one in my tongue)

7. My favorite number is 7.

(I am breaking number 4 because everyone that I know who has a blog has been tagged ::giggle::)

Week in Review:

This week was long. Totally slipping on my diet but Weight Watchers is tomorrow morning and hopefully I can renew focus.

Diana and Ary are coming over tomorrow for a playdate with Matthew and I. Should be an AWESOME time! We are planning on taking TONS of pictures to use for the ScrapStreet.com Star Contest. We did this same contest last year but I almost feel like we have grown so much in the past year that we actually have a shot! Should be some "fierce" competition and a whole lot of inspiration for future layouts! If you get a chance, check out the audition gallery and you will see what I mean!

News:

-We found out recently that our next home will very likely be Fort Riley, KS. Can you say..."ut, oh, Toto?"

-Matthew has sprouted about 2 inches in the last two months and most of his clothes are almost too short for him but too big around the waist.

-Momma has taken his inches and added them to her waistline (not quite but it feels like it).

-Daddy will be away from us from June of this year until almost the end of November due to training. ::cry::

-Max refuses to be potty trained.

-Mojo thinks its funny.

-I have done a few layouts that I absolutely LOVE recently but cannot show you due to publishing :)

That is about all I have for now. This post has been brought to you by the letters "H" and "S" and also, the number "7". Thanks to Janneke who pointed out that I was continuing to depress people with my previous post (you were right LOL!). Now I leave you with some inspiring words from those who parted before us but left us with knowledge to live by:

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." - Helen Keller

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill


Have a great weekend and remember to keep your eyes open for the possibility in anything. Remember this, God never takes something from us unless he is opening your hands for something better.

-Brianne

Failure

fail /feɪl/
–verb (used without object)
to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved; to lose strength or vigor; become weak; to be unsuccessful in the performance or completion of.

I am trying SO hard not to become this word. I do not want to feel like a failure anymore. There are so many aspects of my life that seem to be taking this word as their motto, and to be honest, its starting to piss me off.

One failure after another becomes a wet blanket. I am starting to feel the weight of it. I am trying to picture myself as a duck...letting the failures roll off my feathers but damn, if they don't stick like oil! Pardon my language but it needs to come out.

In the last 25 days I have worked my tush off. Applications for design teams, guest designers, and two contests. All of which have turned into great big oil dropplets. All of the design teams wanted someone with prior design team experience (despite what their pubcalls listings had stated). How can I get DT experience if no one will take someone with NO experience?! It doesn't make any sense to me. I knew I would be opening myself up to hurt participating in two contests as well, but I had to try. Maybe I am a masochist that way?

Ok here we go...out with the bad, making room for the good.

I have to make my own successes. Period. Lets brainstorm here...what can I succeed in without relying soley on others...

Focus:

-Weight loss.

-Orginization of my life

-Saving

Three areas right off the top of my head. So lets get to it.

Motivation:

-Self gratification

-healthier

-wealthier

Power Phrases:

"My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny." Elaine Maxwell

"Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes." John Dewey

"Do not waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." - Robert F Kennedy

Also, new template for a new me. White. Pure and clean. Need to start fresh.

Ok enough boring inner monologue....

Here are a few layouts that I did recently for your enjoyment!

Monday morning comes early and with it, success. Lets make each moment count and focus on our blessings rather than our shortcomings, right? Right!

In honor of March coming, and with it, St. Patrick's Day...let me leave you with an Irish Prayer, from one Irish lass to you...

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

-Brianne

Here You Go Mom! :)

More post to follow....in the middle of a couple layouts but wanted to make sure I got this up for my Mom!

Weighing in...FOCUS!

Ok, been putting it off since the beginning of December. Holiday break is officially over for my diet. No more slacking. I need to get focused again. I have not gained any of the weight back from the loss, but the scale has not budged either. So here we go, day one starts tomorrow. Ya'll ready to keep tabs on me?? GOOD!

Picture a day starts tomorrow as well. I LOVE what Ali Edwards does with hers. Its so inspiring to me! Check out her pictures if you get a chance!



The weekend was awesome! We (Rich, Matthew and I) got to see my Dad and his new wife!! They were going to be about 5 hours north of us, in Springfield, MO on Friday and Saturday so we decided to pack up and visit them. I have not seen my Dad in almost 2 years! I miss him and my mom SO much. Words cannot even describe how much. Living this far away from family is really rough when you have a young child. I want my son to know my family but its almost impossible to do over a phone or the internet. I will put up more pictures from the trip on my Flickr tomorrow.

I have finished a couple of my Courses over at ScrapStreet.com. FINALLY. I now have only 6 more to get done before the 22nd. Haha.

Ok my quote for today....

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

BELIEVE in yourself and great things WILL happen!

-Brianne

Deal with it.

This image sums up the last couple weeks for me. Stress comes from ALL different directions. I admit, I am pretty good at dealing with it, but man, does it leave me TIRED. Do you ever get that way? And I always feel like I want to get SO much done but there are just not enough hours in a day. The day starts off great and I am getting so much accomplished, but sometimes I feel like the little to-do fairy peeks in on me and sees I am just dealing with things too well....so she dumps more into my lap LOL!!

My son has now combined the use of the word "mine" with attitude. It was cute at first, now its just annoying. And both of my parents think its hilarious that I am getting paid back for the way I was when I was a child. HA HA. Pfft! One minute my son is all cute, giggling and laughing with me, next minute, the horns appear and he is carrying the poor kitty around the house screaming at the top of his lungs. I swear.....this must come from his dad's side of the family >:) Poor Mojo kitty just takes it like a champ too.

Scrapping has been crazy for me lately too! I have finally decided to try out for a couple DT's. This is very exciting for me and terrifying at the same time. I have always just scrapped for myself and now I am really putting myself out there. I know I can do it if I just get the chance, its just that one chance I need....know what I mean? The butterflies in my stomach tell me something is going to happen, but the impatient Bri pops out and she wants it NOW! Hahaha.

I also have 8 layouts due to ScrapStreet by the 22nd and am only half done with two. The rest are already sketched out, but I am finding that after my son goes to bed (my normal scrapping time) I have about a million other little things that are still lingering from our move. I am going to really buckle down and finish most of them next week and next weekend. Wish me luck!!

Ok on to my quote for the day. This one is very fitting for me...

"Patience can't be acquired overnight. It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it." - Eknath Easwaran

I hope tomorrow goes by fast, yet you have enough time to accomplish all that is on your list!

-Brianne

Create.

cre·ate /kriˈeɪt/ - verb, -at·ed, -at·ing, adjective

1. to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.
2. to evolve from one's own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.
3. to be the cause or occasion of; give rise to.

4. to cause to happen; bring about; arrange, as by intention or design.

As scrapbookers we are ALWAYS creating. I LOVE how OLW (One Little Word) has chosen this word as their word for the week. The word itself is inspiring to me!

Think of how many things you have created in your lifetime! I, myself, still sit and stare, amazed at my son and the fact that I had a part in creating him! I look at my layouts and feel content in the idea that I am creating something that my family will enjoy for years to come.

As Designing Diva's we create SO many things! Think of how many times an idea of yours has snowballed and caused others to create! The world is FILLED with creations that have come from other's ideas and those who have taken another's idea and tweaked it to create, yet ANOTHER "thing" for lack of a better word.

**Your topic this week is "Create". Take this word and make it your own.

**Your objective is actually two-part.

1. Create something and submit it to OLW using their word "Create" by February 8th. Everyone deserves to have their work looked at and to possibly create more ideas in others! Upload your "creation" and then link your image in your reply comment on their "Create" post.

2. I created the word "CREATE" yesterday out of my paper scraps and mod-podged them to wooden letters. (I did this in an effort to, not only fill a blank space on my scraproom wall, but to remind myself that the word is only the TIP of the iceberg in what I am capable of!) I have a list of all the manufacturers that I used for this project and the list is 27 deep! Reply to this post with the number of all that you can find and shoot me an email at mojostar710@hotmaill.com with your list of names. The person with the most correct will receive a RAK from me containing a lot of these manufacturers!

Ok I am off to clean my house, but before I go, let me leave you with two thoughts that will hopefully "create" some mojo for you....

“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." -George Bernard Shaw

Let it go.

That is my mantra for today. I have to repeat it lately. Soo many things bogging down my brain and my emotions.


2 year old craziness

Rich leaving for 6 months starting in May

Dislike of my work enviroment

My home is not completely put away

I want to lose more weight

etc

etc

etc



Seems as if the list never ends.





Matthew helped me decorate a few valentines cookies last night. He did SUCH an awesome job! He focused so hard on decorating them all until he ate one :) SO cute to watch. I will upload all the photos to my family gallery soon!




Inspiration today came from these colors. The layout I am working on right now actually has pink in it. PINK! Craziness.



Ok enough from me. Let me leave you with this thought:

Fast recovery

Even when you are thoroughly committed to staying positively focused, life can get in the way. Though you may have the best of intentions, there will be times when you veer off course as a result of your own actions.
When that happens, don't beat yourself up about it. Just recognize it, accept it, learn from it, and get moving again in a positive direction. Winners and losers will both stumble. The difference is, winners have learned to quickly get back up. If you make a mistake, or lose your temper, or allow yourself to become distracted, it's normal and natural, and not the end of the world. Though it is painful when you've disappointed yourself, you have the opportunity to make something positive out of that pain. It is indeed a good thing to realize that what you have just done was not the best choice. For now you can move forward with a renewed and stronger determination. When you know you've stumbled, decide to recover quickly. Soon you'll be moving ahead even faster than before.
-- Ralph Marston

Scrap Strong!

-B

Season for Scrapping Contests!

It's that time again! (YAY!) Beginning of the year always marks the time for contests and DT calls. I am SO excited!

ScrapStreet.com is starting an 8 week contest called Dine n' Dash. It is going to ROCK! Here are the details:

Game will start on Friday, Feb 1 when the link to the first course will be given. You have until then to earn your apron and the right to play. Check out that thread for more details.

How to play: Each course containes a scrap challenge and then a question or riddle to lead you to the next part of the kitchen. Take as much time as you want on each challenge, but make sure you have your entire meal uploaded before the final dinner bell goes off at 6pm on Friday, Feb 22. You can solve all the riddles first and look at all the challenges--upload them in any order--run your kitchen however you like (you are the chef after all).

Winner: Who will determine the winner? The cooks themselves. A special voting area will be set up where each course will be voted on by ONLY the contestants. Each course will have a different number of votes, just to spice it up a bit. Votes from each course will be added together and the Master Scrapping Chef crowned on Sunday, Feb 24th.

Prize: He or She will win all of the goodies in the CHA bag. Michmc will be attending CHA and grabbing lots of makentakes, freebies, yummies of all kinds. Prize value? Who knows, but I have never left CHA disappointed with my haul. (in case of an all digi winner, digi person will be given a gift certificate to a fave online store and the top paper scrapper wins the bag instead).

Are you ready to get cooking? Slap on your blinkie and head to the earn your apron challenge.

What are you waiting for? GET signed UP!

Week Four....

Phew! Week Four is finally here in a contest I have been in at ScrappinwithGrace.com. Don't get me wrong, I have loved every MINUTE of it, but its been draining. With having to think and plan out every layout, based on criteria no less, and moving, I am wore out. If you get a chance, check out their site. They are a GREAT bunch of gals with a lot of talent! The above picture is my round 4 entry. I also have yet to do my two cards for the extra credit, but I will get to those tomorrow.

We are about 98% moved in. We still have a few items over at our old place (cleaning supplies mostly) and a few storage containers to put in our storage room in the new house. I love new places and making it our own, but I dislike the little, itty bitty, details of it all. ESPECIALLY the unexpected costs.

We raked the yard today and Matthew was a BIG help! He LOVES to play outside. The weather is wearing on me though. It was 20 degrees two days ago and then today is 60 and sunny. Go figure?

Ok well its late here and I have thoroughly drained my creativity for the evening. Hugs, kisses, and sweet scrappin' dreams!

Hurry up and wait!

"So close, but so far away

Everything that you've always dreamed of

Close enough for you to taste, but you just can't touch

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet

Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it

You know you can if you get the chance

In your face as the door keeps slamming

Now you're feeling more and more frustrated

And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting"

PERFECT lyrics for how I am feeling today. Its a great song by Jordin Sparks (One Step at a Time) I am being so impatient about moving forward! How did this happen!? I was always one to fear the unknown, didn't like change and NOW look at me?! I marry a military man and now I am all about change. I LOVE moving! Isn't that sick? We just recently moved from off-post to on-post and I LOVE my new house! Its all new and I feel really good about it. Its different and it creates all sorts of new creative energy for me. Now let's see what I can do with it...

Yesterday we added a member to our family. His name is Mojo and he is a 9 week old Siamese kitten. In one night this little cat became part of our family. He sits with Rich and I at night in our office and loves to play with my ribbon box. His playfulness makes me smile and giggle. He is EXACTLY what our little family was missing.

Hopefully we can finish everything left over from the move this weekend. Our backyard looks like a forest in the fall. Its covered ENTIRELY by leaves and branches. You'd think they would have cleaned that up before we moved in...

Here is wishing everyone a MOJO filled weekend!

CREATE SOMETHING!

Changes and Mantras

Phew! 2007 is gone and 2008 has come in with a BANG! This is my year. I know it. It has to be. Do you ever feel that push inside of you to become who you are really meant to be? I do. Its a REALLY strong feeling too.

CK had a really great article in their January issue discussing personal mantra's. Its a personal "purpose statement - the underlying premind that drives why you scrapbook" as Brittany Beattie so perfectly stated. How would you describe your goals, ambitions, and wants in one single, SHORT statement? I have been doing a lot of thinking on this lately. Jessica Sprague (one of my FAVORITE designers) actually had two. "My life is my story" and a more directional one, "Create a Masterpiece". Jennifer McGuire stated hers was to "Freeze Time". I have been trying to really nail down what mine would be and I am running into a wall, creatively speaking. Mine always seem to long. I think it would really be, "Break through and become who you are meant to be!" I feel that a lot of my problem is the fear that my work won't be accepted but I need to stop focusing on what others will think of my work all the time! I would LOVE to become part of a team and really become known in the industry for my work and my passion but I think sometimes I lose sight of why we really DO scrap. So I am going to list a few goals for myself, right here and now, to start my final personal mantra:

1. Let Go!
2. Spread your passion
3. Don't fear the unknown and unpredictable
4. Keep that smile!

Here is wishing everyone a GREAT Friday! May your mojo kick into full gear and may you create something INSPIRING!

This is a MUST SEE for Moms...

If you haven't seen this before, PLS PLS PLS watch it now. Even if you are not a Mom yet, you will respect your Mom even more after watching it.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/223/popup/index.php?cl=4274384

NEW SHOES!

Don't you just LOVE getting new shoes? I do. Especially new, white runners! I love the way white shoes make your legs look slimmer. They make me feel sporty, yet femine. I love bouncing around the house in them. I guess actually using them should be a part of loving them but once they are used for that purpose, they sort of lose their "newness".

So this infamous baby shower I have been planning is this coming Saturday. Yes, thats right, a week from today. Guess how much housework I have done to get ready for it? YES! Thats right! NONE! Yay me! Tomorrow will be a big day to get my house cleaned up to "officer level" cleanliness. Its going to be a huge job. At least Rich has agreed to help me with it. Little does he know how much I really want to do. Don't get me wrong, my house isn't attrousious, but its definitely far from guest ready. We finally bought a new spot-bot to replace the one we left after our last move. Its only taken us 10+ months to get one.

Does anyone else out there have a two year old? Mine is starting to drive me INSANE. His favorite word is "no". Ok, I know that people warned me about this but HOLY COW, I was so not prepared for it. Matthew has turned into some little evil spawn. He is talking back, doing naughty things on purpose, and copying me at SO the wrong time. It was funny at first and now its just irritating. How much can you really punish a 2 yr old? They just don't quite understand it yet. SOMEONE HELP ME :) Don't get me wrong here, I LOVE my child with ALL of my heart but the spawn is making me pull my hair out.

I also finally put up a rail system in my scrap room. Took me long enough. Along with a rail picture frame that my friend, Amy, bought me for my birthday back in July. I will have to post some pictures soon.

Well I am out of here. Need my sleep in order to clean and deal with spawn-child tomorrow.


-B

It has been way too long!

I have not posted in forever. If you are anything like me, sometimes the scrapping mojo comes in waves. This summer was LOW TIDE :)

I am totally focused again on my scrapping and am having the BEST time. Diana and I went to two crops in September. The first one, hosted by the Mad Scrappers of Lawton, was in the beginning of the month. They always put on the GREATEST crop! Thank you again ladies! You are the best!

The second was a ScrapPink crop hosted by Scrapbook N'Such of Wichita Falls. Diana and I have been to a handful of their crops down in Burkburnett. We always get a lot done and its a good break from the family :)

What am I working on? Good question. I am finishing a few layouts and altered items and working on a few things for a couple of mags. This is going to be my year, I can feel it!

Watch out world, here I come!

Weary Wednesday

Its been a long three days. Matthew is teething something fierce and has been running a fever for a few days. He has been SO cranky and unmanageable. I always feel so helpless when he hurts and I cannot fix it.

I found out some EXCELLENT news yesterday, in addition to my awesome news earlier this week. It will be a week or two before I can share it but its so great!

Tired tonight. Just completely wore out. I also think Mo took Jo on a vacation and they don't want to come back. We will see where the night takes me.

Been watching Army Wives. This is a GREAT show! Watch it! Its on Lifetime.

Over and out!

-B