True XoXo

another month, another fun challenge!

Take a look! The girls had a blast with this one - it inspired us all in different ways, and that's what I love about the xoxo girls!

Here is my idea - pretty literal, are you shocked? =)

Be inspired, create, enter for a chance to win a gdt spot with the True XoXo Scrapbooking  Blog !

the ...

Facebook post heard 'round the world:

**we've got snow!**

I love it. Our entire family loves it. The first snowfall is a day of celebration around here!


Not enough to get pics yet, but the puppy is barking like mad at the flakes! So silly!

Take a tour!

...of my brand-newly finished scraproom. (= This post has been a long-time coming. With the subtraction of the desk that came with the house and the addition of a large table desk and upright bookshelves, the room is complete ~ clean and organized, too!

Here we go!
((lots of pics here; bear with me if you're slow-loading))
Almost no one rings my doorbell, so please, just a quick knock, walk in the front door and turn left.
Go down the hallway, passed the coat closet and here is the view:

Now I'll take you from behind the door, on the left and clockwise around the room.

the rest of the left wall.

facing wall, left side:

facing wall, right side - workspace!

right wall,

my favorite storage find ~ bought @ Michael's, each with coupon:

inside wall; ahhh, the unexpected happy desk setup.

Today might have been one of the 100 most happiest days of my life; my husband called this, the "office", the scraproom. Can you believe it?! Well, he might have called it the *crap*room, but it was close enough!! lol!

Thanks for visiting! I'm hoping this room will inspire LOTS of craftiness to come... and maybe even a few unprompted blog posts!

Friday Freebie!

at Webster's Pages.

Look at this amazing giveaway!
Are you kidding me?

Feather flowers, I can't say it enough... drool!!










click:
http://websterspages.typepad.com/webstershome/2011/10/wanna-win-websters-staff-favorites.html

My scraproom is completed, clean and organized. Now I could surely use some new stuff to stock it...

True XoXo's 1st ever Blog Hop!

Hey Lipstick Chicks & fans! How is the journey? The team is just uber-talented and I am so proud to be a part of it.

If you're here today, you are XoXo blog-hoppin' and you should have come from Marie's blog. Marie won a guest design team spot last month and was invited to stay on for an extra month just to hop with us! If you just happened to stop by here today, please join us at the beginning at True XoXo's Scrapbooking Blog here! You could win your own gdt spot and lots of other prizes along the way. See the XoXo blog for details!

I was challenged by Marie to create my own embellishments or alter embellishments I have, with one handmade fabric flower! Had an MM Idol flashback there...

So I started a red and pink layout and finished with a little cd album for my McKenna. She wanted something to bring into school to show how she did her Pasta Pumpkin Project and the idea came to light when I was trying to think of a protected way to send the project - enter the cd case!

Hope this did Marie's challenge even a bit of justice! McKenna loves it!

xxxx

Thanks for stopping by! I'm going to send you off to Lisa Watson's blog now - or, if you like to copy & paste:
http://mypictures2pages.blogspot.com/2011/10/xoxo-blog-hop-authentique-and-rak.html
California roll, anyone? My mouth waters every time I read her post!

Thanks for coming. Don't forget about the ongoing monthly challenge also going on now. Check the True XoXo scrapbooking blog for more information!

p.s. xoxo

Lots of stuff going on!!

...especially at True XoXo!!

Only 3 days left to enter our random drawing to be October's guest designer!
Check it out here!

• Your next challenge starts right now! 'Like' our True XoXo Scrapbooking Blog page on Facebook for an opportunity to be our first guest designer - our designer for October. Winner will be randomly chosen (this month only) and will be announced Sept. 15th! Then she'll have two weeks to create a page along with our design team.
• If you've already 'liked' the page, you just gotta tell us here.
• Like there and comment here to be eligible to win!
• 
  

Then there is November's guest designer challenge - use any design team's layout as inspiration, link us up! 

Check that out here!

New look, new layouts, new challenges - check it out!!

http://truexoxogirls.blogspot.com

We will never forget.

Shortly after 9/11/01, I was blessed to be part of a production of Godspell, where I was introduced to this song. Every year on 9/11, I share its lyrics. 

BEAUTIFUL CITY by Stephen Schwartz

( sung by Jesus )

Out of the ruins and rubble
Out of the smoke
Out of our night of struggle
Can we see a ray of hope?
One pale thin ray reaching for the day

We can build a beautiful city
Yes, we can; Yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Not a city of angels
But we can build a city of man

We may not reach the ending
But we can start
Slowly but truly mending
Brick by brick, heart by heart
Now, maybe now
We start learning how

We can build a beautiful city
Yes, we can; Yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Not a city of angels
But we can build a city of man

When your trust is all but shattered
When your faith is all but killed
You can give up, bitter and battered
Or you can slowly start to build

A beautiful city
Yes, we can; Yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Not a city of angels
But finally a city of man.

The Lipstick Chicks are back!

I mean, I have several updates - even some layouts! But take this for now and I'll be back after the kids are off to school next week. Have fun, tally ho!

http://truexoxogirls.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-21-were-back.html

New look, new layouts, new fun!! And we're off!

Don't forget about our current 'like' and comment challenge going on now! You have to Sept. 15th to 'like' our True XoXo Scrapbooking Blog page AND comment on the Aug. 31st post ( http://truexoxogirls.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-true-xoxo.html ) 
to be eligible to become a gdt member for October.

This month our team was inspired by the colors of their own or a favorite blog. Now it's your turn! How will you be inspired?
go to:

http://truexoxogirls.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-21-were-back.html

((Fine print:

The idea is to find inspiration, or scraplift, any of these layouts. Color, design, subject or wording - you may find inspiration in any or all of these. Enter as many times as you like.

• Show your layout on your blog, and link its specific post in the comments section. -or-
• Put your layout in your favorite gallery if you don't have a blog, post in comments. -or-
• or Mister Linky is working below - yay!!

We'd love to know what inspired you, if you have time to write a little about that.

Layouts are due Sept. 30th, midnight your time.
The team will vote on their favorite and the winner will be announced September 5th.
Winner will be our November guest design team member; she will be invited to hang with us in our super secret True XoXo design team Facebook group during October, find out how XoXo designers get their inspiration and will have a layout posted for November blog entry.))

Goodbye, ScrapRoom...

See ya in a week or so.


In case you're wondering what happens around here this time of year... we're gearing up for our free vbs, which we call SummerQuest - I have the delightful opportunity to co-lead a week again this year. We've been prepping and planning for months, but it's always the last week that brings so much work, leaving little time for anything else at all. 


This year, I did learn to leave evenings and a weekend day with family - Tuesday evening we caught fireflies. Thursday we saw Cars 2 with friends. Friday/last night, we had our 2nd annual 4th-of-July party at Pop's shop with neighbors, family and friends. And today, the official day off, we're on our way to my mom's neighbors' house for some Fourth fun the Latin way: loud music, clowns, free ice cream truch, swimming, bouncing, volleyball, a live band, dancing, red, white, blue and LOTS of good food. Later tonight is more fireworks (I can't get enough) on the boat with my parents. 


Tomorrow marks the start to SummerQuest, 75 or so volunteers show up to learn, run thru and setup for this week's - Backstage with the Bible by the Go Fish Guys. After using one of their songs to lead Sunday large group this year, I stumbled upon and fell in love with their music and vbs's. 


Monday morning, 225 little ones show up on GraceOC's campus to live, learn and love Jesus. Prayers welcome! 


So I gladly say goodbye to the scraproom for a full week, can't say I'll miss ya. 


Oh! that's a LSS sneak peek. (= Full post on Sunday over there. 

Little Shop of Sketches - winner!

Didja see? Didja?

Take me to Little Shop of Sketches!

June: A pic a day with my friend Bri - PAUSE!

Well, it turns out that if I put my camera in the shop for some cleaning and repair, it's a bit like cutting off my right arm. {Well, it is two days short of a MONTH, I guess I'm entitled to be a bit fidgety.} All mojo, all vision, all inspiration seems like it's on hold. I guess I'll either try again in July (or 1/2 July, 2nd 1/2 August) or pick this up in September. Look at me, planning!


In the meantime, I would love to spend my time scrapbooking the pictures I actually do have. In between year-end festivities and planning our church's vbs, I wish there was more time!


If you have the time, hop on over to xoxo - there is a new lift up for June and still time to enter!


This month's prize is a subscription to Scrapbooks Etc., magazine...courtesy of our diva donor, Charvonna Stackhouse!


p.s. I miss my camera. 
xoxo

June: A pic a day with my friend Bri ~ day 1 & 2

June 1

Posting a self-portrait. a late-in-the-day pic of me with no makeup, late in the day is kinda scary. Sorry about that, lol!

June 2My favorite shoes? $10 at Target, about 2 years ago. Not too crazy stylish or extraordinary, but the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned!
(Will install pic in a few...)

June: A pic a day with my friend Bri

My friend Bri (who has long surpassed me in talent and popularity, haha!) is doing a fun 30-day Photo Fun project and I thought this was perfect for me to do alongside her in June. June is so so so busy I honestly don't have time to stop and smell the roses.Well, this way maybe I can at least take pictures of them. Wanna play?


I'll post my pics the day after, so stay tuned!!


xoxo

A blog a day in May ~ Camera Woes

Well, it wasn't quite a blog a day in May, but it was close and more than I've ever done I think! Happy June, everyone!

Dear Camera:


I miss you. Please come back safely. You're scheduled to return tomorrow, but I haven't heard anything to back that up. I feel a bit depressed without you here. If I could pray for a camera, I would. Please come back to me soon, delivered like new (or new) by the Geek Squad - thank goodness for Premium Insurance!


xoxo
Yours in clicking,
Lindsey

A blog a day in May ~ Hate?

Okay, I have to do it. I'm sorry, but if this is my journal, I have to write it down to get it off my shoulders.


**pulls over soap box, steps up**


Why hate? What good does it do?


I watched part of an afternoon talk show (which I so rarely ever do) and was kind of appalled. Now, the content was horrible. The situation worse. I understand this. However, Talk Show Host decided, instead of even fathoming forgiveness, to harbor the hatred. To fuel the fight of the haters. To provide details in accusation of the admitted felon, challenging with direct eye contact. The look in the hateful guests' eyes said it all. Decades later, there was no forgiveness, no healing. 


Yes, I understand how horrific it must have been. I understand that some people just aren't capable of forgiving, or so they think. (I can't empathize or appreciate, but I can understand.) But why should the hate be sensationalized? Is this what people want to watch? 


Disgusted, I came to a conclusion that I can live with. 


Hate doesn't heal. Hate won't ever heal. Hate only harbors hate. That hate may lay within a heart for a lifetime. Forgiveness, however difficult it may be, forgiveness opens doors to healing. So why waste time hating?


**shoves soap box back into the corner**


Thanks. TTYL.

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you
Luke 6:27

A blog a day in May ~ Creative Memories

I'm a fan.

I spent the evening at a friend's house watching a Creative Memories presentation and I have to say: Wow! They've come a long way. The products are updated. The paper is pretty. The digital is really, well, dummy-proof! Sorry... 'user friendly' better? 


((Not to mention it's always fun looking for the work of the uber-talented Nicole Martel in the pages of the catalogs!))


I didn't get much - I got another pack of PicFolio photo pages for the Disney album I've yet to start. No it's okay! I just got the first set of pages a few days ago. Some really cute stuff, I tell ya! 


It was fun going back to where it all began, I'm a fan!

A blog a day in May ~ Waiting

I have nothing exciting to bring to the table today.
I've been too distracted for the last few days waiting for a response. You don't need details, you just need to know that waiting is just about killing me. And no, I'm not waiting for the nd of the world. Waiting for good, waiting for bad; honestly, I really don't know. I'm just praying it out. So, I Googled 'waiting' and this is what I came up with.

No lie. This blogpost was interrupted right now; the email I've been waiting on just arrived with the answer. I had to stop, pray and will read in just a minute. Here we go.
Waiting (the movie)
Waiting or The Waiting - Wikipedia
a couple more about the movie
Waiting the Book

Clearly, I'm not going to find anything helpful this way. Let's try Googling 'waiting Scripture'.
Waiting on the Lord - Bible.org
--- aaah, here it is:
Psa. 27:14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psa. 37:9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

Psalm 62:5 Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives me confidence. 
Isaiah 30:18 For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed. 
and the kicker:
Psalm 130:5 I rely on the Lord, I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word. 6 I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.
some more:
Lamentations 3:25 The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. 
Galatians 6:9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. 


Don't even need to go back to the Google page. Thanks, God.
Father God, thank you for being here for me, thank you for bringing me answers. Please prepare and guard my heart for what I'm about to hear. Let my thoughts, actions and feelings be in Your glory and in Your glory only. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A blog a day in May ~ purple + pink = ?

I think I have a problem. 
I love purple and pink.
Is that a problem?
I'm pretty sure I know from where it stems. I distinctly remember small arguments with my mom over color choices. Those were in the days of dressing in royal purple + bright yellow. Hot pink with teal trim + floral leggings + teal socks, headband. 
But of all the colors I wanted, she never let me have pink + purple.
So here we are decades later and my mom buys an outfit for my daughter: a purple shirt with pink flowers and purple leggings with pink trim to match.
But...? But...!
Now I collect. Can you collect for revenge?
My favorite sweatshirt I found upstate last summer - it's light pink with light purple writing on it. Just the other day I found a brighter purple sweatshirt with bright pink trim.
Yesterday, I was going through my scrapbook paper looking for teal, pink and yellow and I found at least 4 sheets of pink and purple patterned paper. 
Funny, right? 
I think a layout is on the horizon - there's even a crop challenge at Cocoa Daisy about what you're wearing now. Take a look!

A blog a day in May ~ Little Shop of Sketches

How cute is this site?! Got an email today with this sketch in it, so I thought I'd see if I could work it out. Here goes!

Little Shop of Sketches
Sketch #82








just dandy by Lindsey Krauss. Supplies: Paper: Pebbles, Inc., My Little Shoebox, Cardstock: ,Rhinestones: Recollections, Bazzill, Rub-on: Bazzill, Alphabet: My Little Shoebox, Flowers: Prima Inc., other, Brads: Recollections.

A blog a day in May ~ Not Guilty

*bang*bang*bang*
Hey! Sooooo... I missed a few days. But ya know what? For the first time in my life, there are no apologies, no exceptions asked, no guilt whatsoever. It's been fun blogging - more like journaling - to clear my head. And with a day or two missed, it feels fine. Especially since I heard there were blogger bugs this weekend anyway...
*bang*bang*bang*
Hey ScrapStreet gals!
Hey True xoxo chicks!
Hey there Cocoa Daisies!
I know people are reading, even if they're not commenting. For some reason, though, a search must lead many, many people to a post I once titled "Live Your Life with Arms Wide Open" - guess many do a search about living that way. I can tell you how!
*bang*bang*bang*
Anyhow, Friday was nuts with the whole family home. Saturday was crazy with a 9am T-ball game, 12pm birthday party, 2pm baseball game and 5:30 wedding. Sunday? Well, Sunday I did absolutely nothing. I actually sat on the sofa catching up on the dvr for about 70% of the day. It was wonderful. (=
*bang*bang*bang*
Today, as you can tell from all the noise, my husband is working on the finished basement downstairs and I've been dilly dallying in my scraproom all day. Started a layout, hoping to finish. Will post tomorrow.
*bang*bang*bang*
*bang*bang*bang*
Aw, man. Got ear plugs?

A blog a day in May ~ Achoo!

Allergy season is indeed upon us. Matthew's getting hit the hardest in this house, poor guy. Itchy eyes, cough, constantly runny nose. 








Apparently I thought it a good idea to buy tissues on sale. Good tissues, ugly boxes. Our downstairs green & orange bathroom's tissue box needed a major makeover, so, well, I did!


McKenna now wants a purple one and I'm sure Matthew will put an order in soon as well.

 God Bless You!

A blog a day in May ~ Jump!

about the girl

This is my McKenna. Girl after my own heart. Interested in the girly part of life just enough to get by (nails painted - but usually yellow, hair down "like a big girl" - because she doesn't want it burshed, lip gloss occasionally, sparkley shoes but only if they're sneakers and hardly ever a dress to be seen). Much more at interest are: dirt. fun. dirt. school. playing outside. dirt. watching a little Disney channel. dirt. soccer, t-ball, swimming for sure. then dirt. I was that kind of girl, too. I did wear dresses though. In the dirt.

about the photo

On the day I was blessed to serve and hear Tammy Trent at GraceOC's Women's Conference, ten yards of brown mulch was delivered to our driveway. After baseball, the kids and Doug spent all day passing out this mulch into the garden that spans the front of the house and through the driveway. Apparently, jumping and playing in it weren't optional. Apparently, shoes were. At this point, it was senseless to get mad over a pair of socks and it was much more conducive to grab the camera and play. After some in-the-pile shots, I got down as low as I could to add drama to her flight and height. I love everything about her - the hair, the arms, the pointed toes (yay!), the fearlessness. 

My girl. 

A blog a day in May ~ The day after

Sometimes the day after the main event is better than the day of. Maybe it's the feeling of expectations unmet, maybe it's feeling like you didn't do it well enough for someone else. Who knows.

But my day after was the best. With husband home, there was less stress of the daily stuff and even a little more "me" time. Entire family up by 7:15am. Everyone helping out this morning. Husband drove carpool to school today. Pedi's with a friend to start my day. Lots of outside sunshine. Husband cleaned inside and out of both cars and outside of the camping trailer. Deck cover went up, clean cushions on chairs, 2 of 3 meals outside. Husband even cooked dinner. Not sure where the day went but there was lots of light so it doesn't even matter, or I don't really care!
It was a good day. Strange prose in this post, but today was a good day.

A blog a day in May ~ Mother

Happy Mother's Day.
xoxo

A blog a day in May ~ Paula's Italian Pasta Salad

Personally, I don't like anything with dressings or mayo, but when I agreed to make pasta salad for 40 people at a baby shower and Paula Deen had this recipe on the same day, I thought it was pretty much a message sent from above that this will do, without needing a taste test.


So 3 pounds of bow-tie pasta is cooking alongside 1 lb of baby bow-tie pasta (nice touch, eh? for the baby shower?) 

Paula's Italian Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1 pound bow tie pasta
• 1 cup store-bought balsamic vinaigrettedressing
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 2/3 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 1/2 diced green bell pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Grated Parmesan, for topping

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the pasta cook it according to package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinaigrette, mayonnaise, and sugar.

Drain the pasta well, transfer to a large serving bowl, and let cool. Add the tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, green pepper, salt, to taste, and the black pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the cheese, toss lightly, and serve.

Enjoy!

A blog a day in May ~ Two in a day

...not blogs, but the other day I got two layouts done in one day and best of all, both layouts were just for me! 

No requirements, no dt work, no "work" involved at all.

Although, I did get a little inspiration from Faith Sisters' speed scrap for the digi.

Oh, that's funny - I just realized that I never took a picture of the paper page. Priorities, I guess!


Here it is ~

We Like Skype by Lindsey Krauss. Supplies: Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle, Transparency: Hambly Prints, Letters: American Crafts, Making Memories, Flower: Prima, Inc., Buttons: BasicGrey

Rhinestones: Kaiser Scrapbook, Other: cream cardstock, square push pin, tiny button.




Digital page:
down & dirty by Lindsey Krauss. Credits: (papers, tags, clip)
 Green Grove Mini Kit by Dora Phillips for ScrapStreet.com,(tie & ribbon) Artistic Fall by e-scapeandscrap, (fonts) Rage Italic, Baby Kruffy.