if not now...when?: reflections made me do it!

last weekend, my friends susan and karen held their annual scrapbook retreat reflections in newport beach. i was fortunate to be able to be on hand to help out by being a TA and a general runner-arounder-and-get-stuff-doner. true to the bar that they set at their inaugural event last year, the did a fabulous job again this year. they really pay attention to details and to the happiness and comfort of their guests. the amount of work that goes into an event like this is astounding, and i am happy that it was so successful for them! :)

i was able to help out in the classes of a couple of their instructors, kelly goree and kelly purkey. both of these girls just really ooze talent. you know i'm not one to suck up to someone because they are well known in the scrapbook industry or anything, so believe me when i say from the heart that there is a heap of talent and creativitity going on there. they both inspired me to go home and do some scrapping, and that's just what i did!

i've been doing some traveling in the past month, so i have an abundance of photos to scrap. hopefully, i will stay on this creative streak!

this one is based on a studio calico sketch, and it is sarah with her little best bud at her birthday party.

i was fortunate enough to take a trip with some friends to victoria, BC last month, and let me tell you, the flowers up there were outstanding. i took sooooo many pictures, it will be a challenge to be able to display or share them all. i thought this layout would be a good little sample.

i found this layout i did recently that i don't think i have shared. my sweet babies.

hmmm, that is a little crooked, and look, they actually look like they love each other here!! ;) that's what my journaling was about - for them to remember these times when they are getting along. otherwise they might go through life thinking that they just want to rip each others throats out... lol!

mother's day was very sweet around here this year. i got a couple of books from my amazon wish list (love those things!!) - pioneer woman cooks and blogging your bliss. looks like i have some reading to do, and maybe some cooking, too. PW's book is beautifully put together and photographed - very colorful, just like her cooking tutorials on her blog. love those crash hot potatoes!! and if you haven't heard of blogging your bliss, you really should check out tara frey's blog. beee-u-tiful!!

my best gifts, however, came from the heart. really deep down in the heart. like this.