Hey?! Turns out I LOVE to Scrapbook!?

It's true... it's really true!

I hadn't Scrapbooked - as in paper and scissors - in AGES it seems!? Since probably February!? I was able to order the "Wisteria" line by Basic Grey for my client - can't WAIT to see it all in person! However, since I ordered it last week - I knew I would need to print out my own photo's and get officially caught up again! It's a little deal I have made with God... I love the business - but never wanted it to take off so much so that I didn't have time or joy in scrapping my own stuff! So - I printed out photo's from March through my recent California trip last week and got busy! I 'kitted' everything Thursday afternoon, and made a birthday card (using a SparkPeople Bday SWAP Shape!) and I was able to finish 5 LOs at my Scrap Happy crop... Friday was my online chat/crop and I was able to finish up the other 7! Oh yeah! I am all caught up, baby! ...And as an added bonus - it turns out that I really DO love Scrapbooking! I mean - I really do still love it! (Believe me - this is good news to me! LOL!)

Here is what I did:


A Speed Scrap Challenge:


and my own pages:

























So - while my 'little one' was away at a friends' b'day party - one of her youth group leaders' came to pay Kayelyn back for tee-peeing her car. Only - Kaye's 'vandalism' was rather impromptu and lacking - while Vals' - well - not so much?!






After that, Dave and I went out for dinner... it was a GORGEOUS night in Yakima... it had been super hot all day and the sun was out... a few clouds in the sky - a slight breeze - perfect weather for outdoor dining! So we drove downtown looking for someplace to eat outside and impulsively decided on Santiago's... nachos and a beer - mmm - not so Spark friendly - but I had 'room' in my ranges and it just sounded good!





So - we sat down, placed our order, and it began to sprinkle. OK - fine... a little rain is not a big deal... and so we moved to sit under the netting... and then came the DOWNPOUR! I am talking torrential rain!? It only lasted for maybe 15 minutes or so... but we had to move inside... when it cleared, we bravely moved back out and thoroughly enjoyed a great dinner outside together... definitely made a memory there!

This morning we went for a jog, walked to Starbucks and enjoyed our morning coffee with the rest of Yakima in the sunshine! Nice! Hope you are all enjoying your weekends and have stirred up that love for scrapping too!

Now that I am all caught up - I can get back to designing for Hoorray (until that Basic Grey box arrives anyway!) Work, work, work! Good to know I really do still love it!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Quick & Lazy Update!

Hey there everyone... I am back! Had an AMAZING time in Cali!

I am still catching my breath and processing... and haven't created one thing since before I left! I will get back into the swing of things this week! I have my monthly Crop on Thursday - so I will HAVE to print out some photo's and play a bit at least once this week!

I have picked the line I am going with for my client - so I will be ordering supplies for her album, and working on creating more LOs/Papers for Hoorray.com as well!

I am off to enjoy some sunshine and am taking the lazy way out... I am cut and pasting my update from another blog to fill you in on the writers conference! One of the things I did in preparation was to enter their Writers Contest... the theme was simply the Kingdom of God. I did not win - but included it in my update below! Enjoy and Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~


There is a stirring in the Body of Christ.... a growing hunger for more power to be manifest in our lives! In order for this to happen we must learn to flow with God’s Love. Jesus has given us the keys to unlock the Kingdom of God. He has equipped us for every good work which He prepared beforehand for us to walk in – to accomplish with Him – to bring glory to the Father! God has given us the keys that, if we would use them they would enable us to operate in two realms right here, and right now! We have been offered a gift to receive the kingdom, and all that it represents. We have the ability to tap into heavenly realms while operating in earthly realms. The keys, and the Kingdom as Jesus said, really ARE at hand, if we’re willing!

We’re being drawn ever closer to the heart of the Father and are called to release the Kingdom of God into every area of our lives. We’re being called to do this by letting His Love spill out and over in greater levels. As I was praying with the Lord, asking Him about this move of God, He assured me that the Kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world! He said that in the earthly realms, much of life really is like that famous line in the Godfather: “It’s not personal – it’s just business.” However, in the Kingdom of God – it’s not business, it’s just personal! Our God is, first and foremost, a personal God! He is relational and desires to have friendship with us. When we rise up in our intimacy with the Lord, He calls us closer to His heart and shows us the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is not business, it is PERSONAL! Our God desires fellowship and intimacy. When we grow in our friendship with God, He helps us to unlock the realities of Heaven and causes us to see our Authority to pull them from one realm into the other! Look at the story of Mary and Martha. Mary understood that God is Personal, while Martha was all about the Business. Of course the ‘business’ needs to get done, however how much more powerfully and effectively is it done when we do it WITH the Lord, out of intimacy? I have no doubt that if Martha would have also chosen the ‘better part’ of intimacy, the Lord would have accomplished the work that was at hand. In fact, I’m pretty sure that He would’ve rolled his sleeves up and pitched in because He loves to do that! He loves to partner with us in Kingdom work!

In the kingdoms of this earth, ‘business’ is almost expected to be ruthless and cruel. It’s how we get ahead; how we get things done. But when we operate out of the Kingdom of God, Love is our compass and being personal is at the heart of everything we do! As Meg Ryans’ character in You’ve Got Mail said in response to that Godfather quote, “And what's so wrong with being personal, anyway? Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.”

The keys to the Kingdom are Righteousness, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17), and how can we live these out if they are not first built on Love? When we begin to operate in the Love of the Father and freely give it out, we begin to see the Kingdom of God at hand. We begin to see lives changed, hearts healed, minds transformed; we begin to see heaven on earth. We have the joy and honor of tapping into the Kingdom of God for any situation we face right here in the earth, and grabbing hold of the heart of the Father. The next move of God I believe will be the combining of two realms, walking into the kingdoms of this world, and tearing the veil to reveal the Kingdom of our God. Many have stated that this move will be a releasing of the Love of God, and is that not what we all need: a personal revelation that the Kingdom is at hand, for you and for me? It’s not business – it’s personal, because what we really need; what we simply must have, is an ever increasing measure of His abiding love and His abounding grace to fill us to overflowing, and to spill out onto others to reveal His Kingdom and bring glory to the Father!

I just returned from a week at Bethel church in Redding, California! It was amazing... God sent me to a Writer's Conference and all of my favorite authors were there... and as a bonus, it was held at Bethel church! Bethel has this unique atmosphere... you can actually tangibly FEEL the Father's Heart beating for you there! There is a strong sense of community and love... they really DO live in the Kingdom there... and I really DO pray that just by being there, I received an impartation... the Kingdom of God is not business, it's PERSONAL... because HE is personal - and He is especially fond of you!

I actually did something...

I did actually do something scrap-related... sort of!? Well - it counts, but it's mostly thanks to a SparkPeople Cricuteers Spring Shapes SWAP - otherwise - well... at this point, I would have just bought something?! Yes - it's true... that is how sad it is?! I am really just that busy!?

Here are a few cards I made this week:




I also worked on an entry for the Writer's Conference contest... I can't believe it is only a week away already!? I am so excited! Not only do I get to hear some of my favorite authors speak, but I will get to experience my first ever Writer's conference... plus I am so excited to just be able to attend the church that this conference is being held at... then there is the whole Road Trip with a girlfriend part too! The only bad part is I will have to miss my first official Conference Call with the company I am now working with... I am really bummed about that one. It IS possible for me to still try to connect - but it will all depend on the time they decide on and where I will be at in the Writer's schedule!

I have been spending a LOT of time on the computer lately - but it sure doesn't feel like I am accomplishing much... I know I am - but it's the learning part before I get to create part that makes it tough to see progress for me! I also have been working on finding papers/supplies to coordinate for my new clients' photo's! And boy does she have photo's!? I am still trying to cut some out!?

I've been trying to press through this plateau - I am sure you are all just about as sick of hearing about it, as I am of being stuck IN it?! I lost 2#s this week... so one more pound I will have hit the 75 pound loss mark! It's just taking SO stinkin' long to get there?!

Oh - yes, and the other thing this week that has captured my attention is my baby is turning 14?! Oh yeah... it's true! She is AWESOME... God made her to be Awesome and she is stepping into all that He has for her... tonight, as I type - she is having a sleep over that is surprisingly quiet (uh-oh?!) and we're planning on hitting a matinee tomorrow with all her peeps! She totally rocks and we'll be celebrating for days and weeks... it's true - the tradition continues!
I hope to actually SCRAP something soon... even digi-style... just something?! I miss it... maybe I just need some inspiration... what have YOU been working on lately!?

Scrap Happy and Be Blessed!
~Karrilee~

How did YOU celebrate National Scrapbook Day?

Wow - how did I let so much time go by without an update - and how did you all not leave me smack for it?! LOL!? I read Frenchies last comment and it was like a "Thanks! I needed that!" slap in the face - in the most friendly way possible - of course!

I have not forgotten about you all... I have been super busy with life and business - and yet have somehow managed to not really Create much lately!? Last Sunday I was in my first ever 5K... I can't tell you how amazing this is to me... I would have NEVER thought I would even WANT to do something like this?! I did not run the whole time - maybe a little less than half really - but I set a personal goal for myself and crossed the finish line (running!) and made my goal time... so I was a happy happy girl! I have also recently purchased a Heart Rate Monitor... so I am hoping this little gem of a watch will help me to FINALLY overcome this plateau I hve been stuck at for I think over a month again!? Yikes?!
So - here is me with my sis before the race! Fun... we will definitely participate in more to come... and I was a little surprised to find I have hidden within me a tad little bit of a competitive spirit?! Who knew?! (Shut up Darcie?! LOL!?) I am now planning on actually training a bit to increase my running times... I usually don't run for much longer than a few minutes at a time... but I pushed myself past that in the race - and so now I know I CAN!

Anyway - between fitness stuff, and Bible studies, preparing for a writers conference in a couple pf weeks, Spring finally showing up - and this new opportunity with an online photo company... I have been going in all different directions! I did sign my contract with this company but I have not yet begun working... once I do - I will let you know where you can find my designs, I promise! I have had fun creating some birthday designs lately and playing with my PSE software! (Thanks again, Vi! You ROCK!)

I DID get my newest clients' Wedding photo's - stacks and stacks of them! So - while I didn't do any Layouts yesterday - I did celebrate Nat'l Scrapbook Day by sorting through photo's and gettign an idea of what needs to be ordered for her album, and I made some birthday and Mother's Day cards as well... I will upload some photo's soon! I have a few photo's I can print out to scrap old school... but I haven't gotten around to that yet - so you will be happy to know that I am not 'all caught up' technically... you know once I print them though - I will be! I am just waiting until I have more than 4 pages to do! LOL!

Anyway how did YOU celebrate NSD? Did you do anything special? Did you hit any sales - online or in person? Did you get together with friends and scrapbook? Let me know what fun was had by you and your friends!!!

I am hoping to get my photo's printed and some actual scrappin' done soon! Once I pick a line of paper and supplies - I will order for my client and will want to really get my own stuff caught up again before I work on her stuff... so I will have something new soon(ish!) to upload soon! Of course, I have my daughters' b'day next week, a new bible study starting up in a week, a trip to CA coming in two weeks (which will hopefully stir me up to write), my neices' graduation coming up, our trip to DC/PA at the end of June which includes my Scrapbook Retreat with fellow Sparkers... I can't WAIT! But - once I get something CREATED... I will upload, I promise!!!

Until then...
Scrap Happy, people! Life is good!
~Karrilee~

Learning a new trick...

Well - I have been wanting to learn how to design digital kits for a little while - but hadn't dabbled much in it. Then, thanks to God and Vi - I won Photo Shop Elements 7.0 - a perfect excuse to learn this program and see what I could design on my own! I have played with Digi Scrapping and love it! I have a lot of kits I have downloaded off the net and love them... all for personal use and most were free! But I am an artist and while designing the pages for clients is still my passion - to be able to design the materials TOO is just too fun!

I was contacted by a company looking for scrapbook designers and so that, along with the new software to learn, really put a fire in me this week to set aside some learning time to see what I could come up with! Not sure what will come of the possible new venture - but I am loving this new aspect of scrapping - even if I just do it for myself and a few clients!

Here is a layout that I came up with this weekend... it is pretty basic I know... not a lot of stuff going on - but everything on there, I made! I designed the papers, made the brads, drew the clipart, etc! So - for my first ever design project, what do ya think?

I personally love it! I see a few things now that I uploaded it to tweak - but overall - for my first attempt - I am happy with it! I can't wait to play more! But alas, today is Easter - and we are off to spend the day with family... just wanted to update you with a little something to let ya know I am still alive and well!

Happy Easter! He is Risen!
~Karrilee~

"- from you... I learned it from watching you, Bucket!"

OK - so I know that you are all wondering why these layouts seem strangely familiar even though I just made these LOs last night... well - it's because I did a Digi or two using these photo's!? Yeah - well - I learned this little trick from a friend in Boise... who shall remain nameless... and we won't mention the photo's of her cuties that were seen over and over and OVER... at least my LOs differ in that ONE is DIGI and lives in my computer, and ONE is old school and lives in my Family Album now?!

Still... I had a great day yesterday - a walk with my sister in the morning... which is not only bringing a bit more daylight... but sunshine and warmth as well! Yeah - I am a fan of that! I loathe those mornings when I can see my breath and not feel my legs... so Spring is better! After that I spent my Thursday afternoon as I do every Thursday afternoon - with my friend Lori - chatting and praying over coffee for hours and hours and hours! Oh - you think I am joking... but I am not! In fact, my daughter can attest that I am not joking because almost every Thursday I am rushing to pick her up on time because we couldn't stop talking!? Always a great afternoon! THEN - we went to develop some photo's that she took at school of her and her friends... and I came home to pre-plan my LOs and pack up my scrap supplies! After a quick dinner (Subway! Yum!) I was off to Scrap Happy - the monthly Crop I host! We had 10 people there... which is great because the past few months it had been me and one or two other gals... still fine - but more funner with a larger crowd! I managed to complete 4 pages and am once again all caught up!? Here is what I worked on:




(Yeah - those Friends' photo's were taken, printed, and scrapped within a matter of hours?! Is that wrong?!) I was hoping to get a few cards done as well... but maybe this afternoon!? We'll see?! We have my SIL and her two boys in town this week - they live in Nashville and so we rarely get to see them in person! We met up for lunch today at one of our old meeting/feeding places - a local burger joint which we love because of the 'special fry sauce'! Yum! Now - it helped that I weighed in today and hit the 70 pounds gone mark today - so I was not about to blow it - but I survived Burger Ranch with little to no damage done! Nice! Sad that Ruthie had to introduce me to her babies (again)... I guess last time was almost two years ago... but still!? Hopefully by after dinner they will be more comfy around all of us strangers!

So - all the family gatherings in the next week - and a few more gatherings in the near future - I am sure I will have some photo's to play with SOON! I can not, however, promise to not reuse them in Digi-land AND kickin' it old school! I DO have a meeting next Wednesday evening with a client - so hopefully I will have some fun wedding photo's to play with soon!

OK - off to work on some birthday cards...
Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

I am alive and well... just lazy, apparently?!

Hello... hello! How have you all been?! I know - it's been FOREVER since I last posted... you would think I was Chuck (or Tracy maybe?!) with my lack of updating! I don't even really have any kind of good excuse?! I haven't been busy with work (rats?!) or with anything super exciting really... just every day life stuff!

I was able to go and scrapbook with a friend last week... I had nothing to do and she had literally 1000s and 1000s of photo's from her recent trip to Disneyland - so I got to play with her photo's and make a couple of pages. Oh how I wish I would have remembered to bring my camera so I can show you how cute they turned out - but you'll just have to take my word for it! I played with Tinker bell photo's... so fun! My little one is not so little anymore and we never did make the trip to Mickey's world - so I have never actually played with Disneyland pix! I didn't have access to all the things I would normally have on hand when scrapping my own things - but still - she did have some fun stuff and we had a great time! She used to scrapbook - but with FOUR little ones, she just sort of fell out of the habit. So our little get together was great to get her creative juices flowing again and now she is once again excited about scrapping! She is even talking about coming to my once a month Crop next week!

I did make a couple of cards (Shaker style - thanks to Denice!) and I cut out some Cricut Spring shapes for a SWAP on my Cricut SparkPeople Team... here they are:

I am hoping to print out some photo's over the weekend so I have something to work on next week - but if I don't, I know Michelle will have plenty for me to play with!? LOL!

I have been reading a bit lately - (which partially explains my absence here, I am sure!?) I read books back to back and so sometimes some of them get sort of lost in the shuffle... I just finished Maeve Binchy's newest book - it was good... I read Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman and can't believe how it ended and am now wondering how long I really have to WAIT for Book Two?! Patrick is a friend of the family in a round about way... he and my Uncle are very close. In fact, it was my Uncle and another co-worker who really encouraged Patrick to submit a chronicle he wrote for his kids to be published, and that turned into his first award winning series, The Land of Elyon. Anyway - we love his books - children's/young adult fiction. This new series - Skeleton Creek - is part book, and part video - which is so cutting edge/hi tech it's really going to catch on! My Uncle who used to, as they say, 'work in the business' filmed the video portions.... surely he has Book Two already, right?! LOL?! Maybe we can score an early copy?! I doubt it - I am sure he is under some sort of contract or something... I am just not good at reading series until they are done and I can devour them all in one sitting?! I also read a couple of Jentezen Franklin books, and am reading "Eat This, Not That", and a few others that are NOT library books?!

I have also been busy with SparkPeople... I have hit yet another plateau! I am still stuck at a total weight loss of 67pounds. This is great, I know... but I am not done yet so the plateau is frustrating! I will press through though! I have been busy trying to promote our Local Team... I finally talked with a local tv reporter and he is planning on coming out to our Team Walk on Saturday and maybe joining us on Tuesday for a Team Lunch as well... he is working on a feature story about health and fitness in our area! We recently were voted the 8th Fattest City in America! Nice?! Are you serious?! It was NOT a very scientific study - but still?! This is not the publicity we want... drugs, gangs, and obesity! There's a nice little tourist package for ya?! So - hopefully we will get some tv time for our local team! We have lost over 860 pounds and most of us joined in 2008! (We have 68 members but only about 2/3 or less are still active!)

I host a study in my home on Mondays as we go through Bill Johnsons' The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind. On Tuesdays I meet with a friend and we are going over the Book of Psalms and praying together. On Thursdays, I walk with my sister and then meet up with another friend for some visiting and prayer time. On Fridays I ATTEMPT to keep open for a weekly Online Chat with my fellow Spark Scrappers. In addition to those things - I have every day life stuff like cleaning house, doing laundry, grocery shopping, workouts 6 days a week and oh yeah - being a wife and Mom! Anyway - these are the things that have been taking up my time... life is good; I am truly blessed.

I will end by sharing this... I got a new workout DVD from SparkPeople.com It is the new Coach Nicole's Cardio Blast DVD. This consists of six 10 minute workouts. Oh - she starts out SOooooo super cute... a bit perky, but isn't that how those workout video instructors are supposed to be, right?! I was REALLY excited about the 80s Blast Aerobics section - and it was fun, but NO 80s music?! Just classic Jane Fonda/Let's Get Physical Aerobic moves... I was a bit disappointed. Then I can't even remember what was next - but after whatever THAT was - comes the Jump Rope section. I don't own a jump rope - but Coach Nicole assures me this is ok... yeah - it is ok - because if I had one I am SURE I would have used it as a weapon!? Halfway through my knees were ticked off at me and my lower back was asking, "What the @#%%?" I haven't JUMPED since - well - I can't even think of when I actually JUMPED!? I mean - sure the occasional Jumping jack on the past year or so... but only occasional. I would go as far as to admit that even when I have gone to concerts in the past several years - when they all do that stand and jump/mosh pit thing - I would actually just give my calves a nice workout and sort of bounce... never actually having to defy gravity at all. I liked it that way... my chest was happy - and apparently, my knees LOVED this idea WAY MORE than the idea of jumping Rope?! So - I barely make it through the ten minute workout! (I know - shut up!?) and we are on to the next section. Dare to guess what that one was titled? Oh yeah - it's called "Hop To It!" Um - how is this different than jumping rope?! Well - let me tell ya - my left knee especially will tell you boldly that there is no real difference?! Hopping (back and forth, and side to side... scissors, hopping on one foot, etc.) is much the same as jumping rope - only harder?! Coach Nicole is sweating... Good! I am so glad that she is sweating... and even sort of losing her breath... this will make it easier for me to knock her over and hurt her! LOL! I finally gave in and resorted back to a march instead of continuing to inflict pain to my knees... the last section is called BOOTCamp Cardio - I kid you not?! Whew?! I DID make it through... and I managed to do most of it - but crawling up the stairs was quite a feat! I woke up this morning at 2am with my knee screaming bad words at me... well - to be fair, I think we were both yelling at Nicole! I am oh so pleased to announce that my knees are feeling much better today... I did NOT brave another round of Cardio Blast today but opted for some Pilates instead... maybe tomorrow I will attempt it again... maybe?! I wonder if Coach Nicole will start out Oh so cute next time, or if she will still look a little like the devil to me?!

So - Scrap Happy...

Spark On...

and remember, Coach Nicole is not REALLY the devil...

sometimes people just LOOK like they are the enemy - but we can overcome!

~Karrilee~

Custom Card...

OK - here is a SUPER quick post - I know, I know - it doesn't even really COUNT as an Update... but I got a super fast Custom order for a card late last night... and it needs to be off in the mail in a few minutes to get it to the client in time!

So - the info I got from the client was it is for a male birthday... (It DOES say Birthday Greetings inside!); his favorite colors are blue and orange; he loves his Harley, to go camping, and she mentioned maybe wanting clean lines on the card... so - this is what I came up with... what do ya think?!

The Transparency idea actually came from my friend Denice... she totally rocks and I LOVED the idea... and then, after printing it twice I realized that I do not have the correct type of Transparency for my printer... so I went with it anyway and I love the alcohol ink-style look it took on... I am hoping the client will love it! Off to the post office... I will post a 'real' update soon!

~Karrilee~

Birthday Cards, Cut-n-Paste LOs, and some Digi Fun...

OK - a real quick update...

Last night was my monthly Crop - we had a few new people show up and that was great... I managed to get a LO done and start on a couple of cards as well as FINALLY paging through a stack of Scrap Mags that I just hadn't gotten to yet?! I STILL haven't READ them mind you - but at least I have folded pages to go back to later!? LOL!? I hate to even type it out but I wonder sometimes if I really NEED so many subscriptions?! I have only kept two for this year... and plan on letting one of those run out as well...

Anyway - these are the latest projects I have worked on:

Now... on to a bit of Digi-Fun:

This weeks Challenge on my Scrap To Lose Team is to use 6 photo's on a LO, or use Red or Pink... so - ya know - the over acheiver that I tend to be included all three!

You KNOW my list of Random Things that I loved about Valentine's Day was SCREAMING to be Digified!!!

I was able to use a bit of my SWAP gift from Amy and part of the RAK I won from Christina too... thanks again girls! So fun!!!

Now - once again... I am all caught up... and still waiting for my latest client to get her Wedding photos to me so I can pick paper and place an order...

Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

14 Things I LOVED about February 14th...

I had an amazing day yesterday - not because I was lavished with diamonds and furs and pampered with perfumes and a massage... because I wasn't... not even close?! But that is okay because my day was amazing because I simply happen to live a very charmed life and was able to enjoy those special moments in time when you want to freeze frame things and file the photographic memory away in your heart. I had MANY of those yesterday - but I will just share a random list of 14 things that I LOVED about Valentine's Day ('09):

1. Sleeping in with my Honey on a Saturday - a rare treat somehow for us?!

2. Waking up to Flowers!

3. Going out for a Romantic Breakfast!

4. Being able to open my Valentine SWAP Gift from a fellow Sparker! (Thanks again Amy!)

5. My Favorite RED Lipstick! (I rarely wear red - but I LOVE this new color!)

6. Going for a brisk walk with my Honey in the afternoon! (Even though I DID get hit by a car... and I am not joking!!! Like - as in - my physical person - hit by a car!?)

7. Laughing with friends & getting Valentine's Wishes via mail and internet!

8. Listening to Dave play through his Set!

9. Watching Mama Mia with my daughter all snuggled up on the couch!

10. Scored on the Fortunes - my daughter and I both got great 'fortunes' with our Chinese dinner:

11. Finding (once again!) the PERFECT card from my hubby! He simply has the knack for picking out the best cards and left me a card after he took off to work!!!

12. Going Shopping with Kayelyn - and shopping off of the same rack! Nice!

13. Meeting a personal goal! I bought a new pair of jeans yesterday...

Maybe you couldn't tell from that photo... but look closer:
Yep - those are a size 13/14! My goal since Jan 1 was to fit into a Size 14 on Feb 14th! I didn't share this with anyone until last week because I am really not a big 'numbers' person but I was SO so happy to be able to pull on these jeans and LOVE them (and be able to breathe in them too!) I am even on my TOM - so I was a bit leery of going shopping - but I scored!!!

...and lastly, # 14. I had someone leave me a comment on my SparkPage saying that my new Profile Pictures look like Drew Barrymore...

Now, of course - I just don't see it - but still - Nice!!!

I hope you had a great day yesterday too! I may not be the most prosperous person I know financially speaking - but I am RICH in the blessings of God and I know that I am living a charmed life! Thanks to Sparks - and all of you - now, there is just no holding me back!

Spark On & Scrap Happy!

I am starting to believe that we really can do ANYTHING!!!

~Karrilee~

P.S. - I was just enjoying a bit of Blog Stalking and found that my dear sweet friend Pam has tagged me... this is the Award that I won:

This award comes with a few simple rules: I have to say one nice thing about the man in my life, list six best things in my life, and then pass this award on to only five other bloggers. Well - I think my above post really covers this whole thing and then some - and I am passing on tagging more bloggers... but please feel free to take this post and make it your own!!!

~K~

My First "Official Race"!

Wow... what a difference a year makes! I am praying that I will be saying that exact same thing next year too! Today I entered and finished my first ever official Frosty Four Miler race! Now - the fact that I even entered is huge... so not anything I would have ever thought that I could do - or want to do?! However, this year I walked the route with my sister... we crossed the finish line at 1:07 so that means we walked a 16.75 minute mile (four of them?!). Next year, I am hoping to jog or run parts of it and beat our time! Still - we were not the last to cross the finish line - but more importantly than that - we crossed the finish line! That in itself is testimony of the changes that we have both made in the past year!

We met up with a fellow-Sparker and got this photo:

Polly did great - beat her goal of coming in at under 45 minutes! I had a few other friends who were there and ran it as well... Kim and I were just thrilled that the dreaded 'hill' that every runner was murmuring about was not as intimidating as we thought it would be. In fact, it is less of a hill than the route we take on a weekly basis around our house! Nice surprise!

Last month, through Spark - I joined a Bootcamp... it was a month commitment to do a video series 7 days a week plus cardio... I made it through and ended up losing 6 pounds and 5 inches overall. So -I am feeling on track and focused on reaching more short term goals! Nice!

I am still all caught up - but I did do a custom birthday card and a few fun Digi's on Friday while chatting it up with my fellow Scrap2Lose Sparkers! Here's what I was working on:

So - that's all I have tonight... I just finished the second of three Monk novels I have from the library and I am ready to dig in to the next one!!! Making some hot tea and snuggling with a book now...

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~