The Paustenbaughs

Pause

I've said this before and now I wanted to turn it into a layout in honor of Mother's Day.  I would love a pause button to pause time right now.  I love the ages of my girls and the place our family is in right now. 

I try to get out from behind the camera every once in a while because I want to be in those photos too!  We had this taken while in Indiana visiting family and I treasure it so much.  I'm so proud to be their mom and hope each day I am doing the best job I can.

I love this heart background from Silhouette.  A great way to add embellishment without lots of embellishments!

Today is filled with zoo animals and first graders for a field trip.  Hope I don't get anyone confused and bring home a baby panda instead!

May PageMaps

I have worked with PageMaps in the past and just love them so I was stoked when the Write.Click.Scrapbook team was asked to take part in this month's PageMaps sketches! The new sketches are all up now so head on over to take a look at the team's layouts!

This is the sketch I worked with:

I stuck pretty closely with the sketch and it came together pretty quickly!

I wasn't so sure about using the larger iPhone photo, but it ended up working.  I really wanted to document this change in my life recently because it was HUGE!  I've had horrible eyesight since I was 11 years old and was dependent on glasses and contacts to see anything beyond a foot in front of my face. 

I finally broke down in February and had Lasik surgery and it is the absolute best thing I could have done!  And like everyone I have talked to who also had it done, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner!  Love it and love waking up and not blindly feeling around for my glasses!

Thanks for stopping by!

New Favorite Daily Routine

Since August we have had lots of new family dynamics with Terry working over 2 hours away.  Lots of "just girl" time and lots of missing the lone man of the house.  He's a very involved dad and husband so when he's away it really is a huge missing piece in our family.

We added a new daily routine that the girls love and look forward to every Monday through Thursday: Skype. When the computer starts ringing, they run to it so they can see him face to face, read stories, and share the trick of the day.

It's a special time for them and we are beyond thankful for modern technology!  Of course we are also going to be beyond thankful when we get him in person each evening in 2 weeks instead of via a computer screen. 

It also gets us ready for the many skype calls we'll be making once we move and get to chat with the Grandmas and Grandpas. 

I made this for this month's Write.Click.Scrapbook gallery, where we are featuring the every day moments.  This is one of my favorite subjects of the gallery and love what the team comes up with! I just picked up some new My Mind's Eye and couldn't wait to use some of it.  Lots of great goodies from this line.

Thank you for all your kind words yesterday.  I really appreciate it and it definitely helps get through the next couple of weeks of goodbyes.

Thirty Nine

My thirties have been very good to me and today I'm embarking in my last year in this decade.  

I don't get worked up about age and have no problem with the big 4-0.  Quite actually, I think I'll embrace it.  I have come into my own in my 30's, although let's not kid ourselves, because there is still much to be done!

 

As seen on the Ormolu blog

This last year of my 30's is going to be an excellent one and I can't wait! I'll visit more countries in this last year than in my entire existence combined and I'm itching to start traveling.  I'm also taking this time for me and my family.  No working and focusing on the things I'm loving right now.

 

So today I'm off to do a little birthday shopping and this evening the girls and I will head over for some yummy cupcakes.  I have a slight cupcake addiction and today I'm feeding it!

Have a great day-I'm off to have a great one myself!

She Grows

She's lost her lisp when she pronounces her "S's".

She's reading chapter books.

She's learning to make her own breakfast in the mornings.

She's outgrown those oh so lovely fits we had grown accostumed to.

She's fixing her hair and getting it just so in the mornings.

She's growing up.

A little too fast for us, but becoming such an amazing little girl.

We are loving this time with her and watching her learn so many things each day.

Trying to teach her how to navigate life, friendships and school.

She is still completely stubborn as a mule, but we know in time this will serve her well.

She certainly doesn't take "beef" from anyone!

Layout as seen on the Pebbles blog

 

Have a fantastic Monday!!

Numbers, Numbers Everywhere

I have a new layout up for the Ormolu Blog today using numbers in our life right now. I did a layout like this a few years ago about the numerology in our lives at the moment, and since our lives change what seems like every week I thought it was time to do one again.  Let's just say I got a wee bit crazy here and it went a little out of control.  I'm just warning you!

See? I told you so!

It started out innocent enough with some simple color blocking, then well, let's just say I may have had a manic moment and things got a little out of control here! 

Anyway, this is our life right now in numbers.  In 2 years these will all be different once again and this is why I actually used the "one of a kind" flapper as well.  I wouldn't trade this one of a kind life for anything.  Yes, even in the midst of super stressful moves, I am still in it for the love of it.  I may not know what to do when these numbers one day stay the same for many years.

On a totally side note, I think I need a thousand of these Studio Calico letters now.  I misted them lightly with Schoolhouse and love the contrast.

Have a good Thursday!

Easter Cards and a Giveaway

 First, I am so, so sorry I didn't get to this sooner!  I totally meant to, but with getting ready to travel and the actual traveling, it slipped my mind. 

The winner of the Studio Calico Kit is Amy Coose!!

Congrats Amy!

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 Don't forget that it's not long until the Ella Publishing Spring Training 2012 event!  April 23rd will be here before you know it!  If you head over now you can use the code SPRINGTIME10 to save 10% right now!

There's a great line up of instructors to help get you in shape in time for National Scrapbooking Day in May!

But today for one lucky winner I get to give away one spot in the upcoming class!  Just leave me a comment below and I'll draw a winner on Friday!

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Speaking of Ella Publishing, I never heard from the original winner of the Stamping Secrets eBook, so I'm going to try again!

This time the winner is Teka Cochonneau!  Just email me at tcpaustenbaugh (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll send you the pdf.

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 And FINALLY it's Easter week on the Pebbles blog and I had 2 cards up on the blog yesterday.  Still not the expert card maker, but feeling better about doing them.

Have a happy, happy Wednesday!

Twine Love

I have noticed for quite some time that there are very, very few layouts and projects that I have absolutely no twine on them.  I may or may not have a slight addiction to twine of all colors.  It's always one of my finishing touches on a project and I should probably take stock in it at this point!

I made a layout for the Ormolu blog last week and instead of the twine being a finishing touch, I made it the center the project-literally and figuratively!

I finally got my Studio Calico "&" mask out and used it after all this time.  After I misted, I was going to stitch around it, but instead decided to go the easy route and wrap twine around it.  The shop has some great twine colors and I went with black on this one to contrast against the yellow mist.

I always like to see the changes in the girls from the first to the last day of school and it is amazing to see literally how much they've grown and changed in just 9 short months.  The hair, the height, the grown up looks just amaze me!  One thing that hasn't changed? The absolute glee on Ella's face going into and coming out of kindergarten.  Never a dull moment with that one!

Have a great Monday!

Holiday Mini

I have a giveaway for this very kit if you scroll down to the bottom of the post!

This month at Write.Click.Scrapbook it's been mini month for all of March.  This week we are focusing on a Studio Calico kit.  Today is my turn and I made a mini about our recent (ish) trip to the Bahamas over our Christmas vacation.  I started with the smaller Studio Calico journaling kit/album and went from there!

I love these Pink Paislee mistables!  I was unsure at first, but they are so versatile with a little mist.  I've started hoarding some of them!

I'm so glad to finally get this mini album together!  It normally takes me a year to put one of these together, and I only wish I were kidding!

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And now for the best part?  I'm going to give away a Daydream Believer Kit to a lucky winner!  I subscribe to Studio Calico and thought I would need the extra to put this together and come to find out with my stash and small album I had plenty of leftovers!

Leave me a comment by Friday 4 pm and I'll draw a winner.  It will be mailed out Easter weekend.

Final Mini

I wanted to share the final pages of my mini album I made for the gallery this month at write.click.scrapbook  I have another one I'll be sharing later this week.  Much shorter, but was still fun to put together!

After our trip to the mountains, we almost always stop by for a day of fun at Hershey Park.  The girls love that place and again we had a great time despite it feeling like 200 degrees while we were there!

I thought this roller coaster paper from Studio Calico was perfect for this trip.  I punched out little cars from a Creative Memories punch to use as the coaster cars.

When Maya and Ella were visiting my parents we had to pay homage to Pittsburgh and Heinz Field on our way back to Virginia.  It was an absolute great getaway before Terry started his new job away from us and of course he was in his element at his "roots"!

The last stop on our summer tour was traveling down to Williasmburg to see Terry and save him a trip all the way back home for at least one weekend.  The girls and I entertained ourselves at Jamestown for a day and absolutely loved it!

And a trip to Williamsburg isn't complete without a day at Busch Gardens.  We can never pass this up, especially when it's free for us to go!

Thank you so much for stopping by and letting me share my album!  I want to put one more section of our fun at home then I'll be able to call it complete!