It is all good

Lucas broke a rash just after the fever finally went down. Poor thing was so tired, he slept the whole day on Monday. I started to get worried, I knew it couldn’t be anything serious, but better safe than sorry, right? So I went to the doctor for the third time in a week, ack! Again he just sent me home, nothing to worry, blah blah blah. I think we are done now, no one is allowed to get sick until next year!!! Seriously! Crazy last two months! I am hoping spring doesn’t bring allergies, I am looking forward to being out and about again!

Ok, suuuuper belated celebration layout for Lucas’ tenth month:



Credits: designs from a VERY talented Brazilian designer who will start selling this weekend. I didn’t ask her if I could tell where, so I will keep it secret for now :) but will provide links and lots of enabling very soon!!!

Super quick update

After our little trip to the hospital Lucas still had difficulty breathing for another day, but since then I had medication we didn’t go back to see a doctor. Then Mateus got sick, same thing, same medication. You can imagine I didn’t get much sleep and very little scrapping got done (nevermind housework). On Friday both kids were breathing much better but Lucas spiked a 39.5C temp which Panadol didn’t tame. I suspected an infection, but by Saturday afternoon the doctors' office was closed and we had to go to the hospital again (did I mention I hate hospitals?). Once more the doctor sent us home, this time just with Panadol. He said it is normal for a cold to cause fever and the temperature to stay stable even with medication. I am happy he doesn’t have an infection but frustrated there is nothing I can do... Today we had a busy day with a friend’s daughter’s christening and lunch, let’s say Lucas didn’t like going out being unwell. I am starting to think that, he may have a cold, but this fever was also worsened by teething.... we will see. At least both kids are breathing well now :) Cup half full, cup half full.

Sorry for the pictureless post, I’ll make up to you when my little one is better :)

ETA. I already made it up to you with a slideshow on the side with my latest pages :) forgot to add it to my blog with all the crazyness hehehe but now it is there! Hope you like it :)

Just keep blogging, Just keep blogging, Just keep blogging

[pardon the enormous post]

Oh, wow, has it been that long since I blogged? I mean, when I talked about winning DDE contest it was old news already. Funny is that I only thought about writing this post because I blogged at the Hawt mama’s blog and Girl Talk blog today. It is not a lack of stuff to blog about, but lack of time and willingness to do it :) There is sooooooo much to blog about I don’t even know where to start.

I think, the most important topic of all, talking about my dear Lucas, who is turning 10 months today. Time is just flying with me at home with the kids, I don’t like to imagine how it would have been like if I was working. I normally take pictures and scrap a day like this but, unfortunately, we had to “celebrate” with his first trip to the hospital. He is so sick, poor little fella, and has trouble settling down because a head cold set off a nasty case of bronchitis. I hope he gets better soon and doesn’t follow his brother’s footsteps with a case of asthma.

Onto scrapping news
This cute layout I did for the Lifts with a Twist challenge:

was featured by Susan on the blog, and then picked as Layout of the week of the week at Designer Digitals, which you might know is one of my top top top digiscrapping destinations, I even like to call it home!

I failed to announce I have joined Dúnia’s creative team. Dúnia is another very talented Brazilian designer. Here is the first layout I did with her designs:

and these cute epoxi circles I used in this layout are are also from her:

8 things about me
Ana Calabresi has tagged me to talk about 8 things people don’t know about me... I just had to scrap it, right? LOL

1. Odeio batom, saia e salto alto (I hate lipsticks, skirts and high heels)
2. Eu dou mais valor ao que os outros pensam do que minha própria opnião (I value what other people think more than my own opnion)
3. Adoro jogos de computador, sou viciada e perco a idéia de tempo quando estou jogando(I love computer games, I am addicted and lose track of time when I am playing)
4. Era péssima aluna nas escola primária, mas uma des melhores na faculdade (I was a terrible student at school and one of the best in college)
5. Eu tenho gosto musical muito variado - gosto de Heavy Metal (I have a very ecletic musical taste - enjoy Heavy Metal)
6. Não consigo parar de comer enquanto a comida não acaba (I can't stop eating until it is all finished)
7. Às vezes pago pra ficar em casa do que fazer qualquer coisa na rua (Sometimes I’ll pay to stay at home than do anything outdoors)
8. Sou a rainha dos projetos inacabados (I am the queen of unfinished projects)


Digital Scrapbooking Magazine
and last, but not least, this layout is going to be published at the Feb/March 08 issue of DSM. I am sooooo totally excited about this, but since I can only really see it next year, I will hold boasting about it til then LOL

Summer's End Contest

If I had a big stash of stuff by Gina Cabrera, it just got bigger!!! I won a 50 dollar shopping spree at her Summer's End Contest. Here is the announcement. How cool is that? I was great to finally get some products I loved but could not afford. I noticed I had ALL the mini kits LOL, I was just missing some big kits. Now I just wished I had more hours on the day so I could use it all :)
Ok, I can't leave this post pictureless, so here is my layout again:

Journaling
When I looked at you for the first time as the father of my child, I fell in love again! Michelle, September 2003

Credits
DDE_School_Zone_Mini_Kit_Essential – by Gina Cabrera
DDE_Bare_Essentials_Mini_Kit_Essential – by Gina Cabrera

Songbird Avenue new kit - Faded Saphire

I absolutely love what Songbird Avenue is all about: scrapping for a cause! In August all the proceeds went to the Make a Wish Foundation! Robin Carlton was the Guest Designer in the “Dreamsicle” kit. It was sooooo pretty!!!but it is gonne now! The kits are up for just one month so you HAVE to buy on that month or you will miss out. We can't have that right? :) So I am here to give you a heads up on the September kit: “Faded Sapphire”! Carrie Stephens is the guest Designer and have got an amazing kit:

Janet Phillips has contributed a beautiful 12×12 template which is also included in the kit!

This month they are sponsoring Love Without Boundaries, an amazing charity full of volunteers who spend their free time and their own money to help orphaned children in China receive vital surgeries. Please take a look at their website and hear their amazing stories! They also have a blog and you can stay up to date on the children’s lives and the awesome people who help them.

The kit is only $8 and is available at their store. Also, have a look at their inspiration gallery! Their creative team has created some amazing layouts! Hey, no need to thank me ;)

Happy Father's Day

Alex got three father's day this year, American, Brazilian and Australian... hahahaha
Anyway, even though I did this for him for the first one, and we had a nice lunch for the second one, I thought the third one would be a good excuse to tell him how much I appreciate what he does for the kids :)

I created the layout inspired by this week’s challenge at the hawtest blog there is. The challenge is to write a letter to a loved one, perfect timing right?

Journaling
I wanted to let you know how happy I am to have you as the father of our children. Hopefully you will know by now how much I love you, but I think you don't know how much I appreciate everything you do for the kids, and how proud I am of you. You are the perfect dad. Sure, you don't give them attention all the time; after all, you need to work and some time for yourself too. But you sure make up for the lost time whenever you can. I have never seen such magic between father and son that you have with these kids. You can make them giggle just looking at them. You have this supernatural power of soothing them and putting them to sleep (which I can't). You can be strong when needed but you also melt when they ask the right questions. You take the time to care for them, take them out to have fun, play games, just... make them happy. You have a special bond with them, which will only grow stronger. You are an amazing father. Thank you for always being there for us.
Love you always, the mother of your children, your wife, Michelle

Credits
Traci Reed’s papers, heart, paint, frame, doodle – Faded Tee kit
Amanda Heimann’s ribbon – Bowtied
Ashley Olson’s calendar – All Star kit
Katie Hadfield staples – Messy Staples Neutrals

Challenges!!!

Me and my addiction to challenges, I just love them! It is the best way for me to do stand alone pages, otherwise I only want to do double pages for albums and, although I LOVE my albums, I don’t elaborate so much on the pages, it gets “too much” if I do.

So, today I got a layout picked as the random winner at the Digidare. I love it, and the funny thing is that I also did it for the blog birthday challenges at Catscrap. Here it is:



Now, let me tell you I have LOVED a lot of things from Catscrap for the longest time, I used to visit Birgit’s private blog and I always keep up with what is happening at the store, I was stocked when Joana joined, because she rocks and she is Brazilian ;) BUT I never even registered there. You know why? Because I knew when I did I would start buying like crazy (and I cant afford that LOL) That is what happened with the Lilypad (remember I also won a contest there?). Back to Catscrap, I knew I lost the battle when I saw the challenges on their blog... that was it, I was off to shop and PLAY. I had so much fun! The layouts are completely different from the stuff I normally do, I think, well, it feels that way. I think the creative team there is SOOO amazing!!! Here are the other two layouts I did for their challenges:






Writing this post, I just noticed I neglected to tell you I won a U$50 GC to Christina Renee Designs. OMG OMG OMG right? LOL I was stocked!!!! Remember I did 7 layouts in one week for her challenges?
Well, I didn't win anything for those LOL but later she had a hide and seek challenge that was loads of fun! I created this layout for her challenge AND our August challenge over at the Scrapblog. I love combining challenges ;)

Good thing I participated, I had already spent tons at her store but it is soooooooo good to know if she releases something new I CAN HAVE IT with no guilt LOL

Well, last but not least, here is a layout I did for a challenge at Digital Designs Essentials, owned by Gina Cabrera. I LOVE their stuff! And this was a great excuse to use my stash ;)