I had some time to scrap over the weekend and made this layout with Lily Bee's Hello Sunshine Collection.

Supplies Used: Cardstock by Bazzill. Patterned Paper, Flower, Rub-On, and Chipboard pieces : Lily Bee Designs. Journal Strip: Studio Calico. Kraft Envelope: Maya Road. Black Alpha Stickers: K&Company. Yellow Alpha Stickers: Dear Lizzy by American Crafts. Red Alphas: October Afternoon.

For this layout, I basically cut the papers in strips and adhered them to the cardstock. I felt as if it needed something more to pull it together so I added some stitching here and there. I have to say, I love the contrast of a black and white photo with the bright, cheery colors of this collection. This is one of my recent favorite photos of Jordan. It just perfectly captures her joyful spirit.

In other fun scrapbooking related news, it was just "announced" this weekend that I will be the guest designer for A Million Memories for the Month of July! I am SUPER excited and can't wait!

I hope your week is off to a great start!!! Thanks for stopping by!

Our Spontaneous Weekend Get-Away

One of Todd's goals for the summer is to visit small Indiana towns for weekend family getaways.

As this past weekend approached, all of our weekend plans were canceled or postponed, so we decided this was our perfect (and maybe only) opportunity to get out of dodge and head to the "country".

Nashville, Indiana was our destination of choice. If you are from Indiana you know exactly what I am talking about. It is a quaint, charming town with antique shopping, wine tasting, and even theatre shows. It's very popular in the fall due the spectacular foliage display, but I think it's just as fun in the summer months.

We had fun shopping.

Eating ice cream to cool off...

AND chocolate covered marshmallows.

Visiting toy shops, Christmas Shops, and Pizzaria's.

catching a ride on dad's shoulders.

And scoping out spots we want to visit next time... Story Inn.

and Melchoir Marionette Theatre. We were walking along downtown Nashville, and I about died when I looked between two buildings and saw this small children's theatre tucked away in the alley. We missed the show by an hour and I am tempted to say I would drive back some Saturday for my kids to see this little outdoor puppet show. I think this is one of those things a child would never forget. It just looked magical and extra special.

It's was such a nice weekend- we stayed overnight in a hotel. Which is always interesting with two small children. :) But it was fun and a nice, quick getaway for our little family, and was the perfect way to spend Father's Day.

Elle's Studio June Gallery

Today the June Gallery went live at Elle's Studio! And, this marks the end of my design team term at Elle's. I have loved every minute of it! Elle is great to work with and I really enjoyed the girls on the team. They are all fabulous designers and friends. It's been a great six months, and it went by WAY too fast!

"Your Week"

The first time I saw the "This Week Note Tags" the idea for this layout came to mind.

Our schedule became very busy in January when we enrolled Jonah in an afternoon preschool to help him with his speech delay, IN ADDITION to the morning preschool he was attending.

Once we discovered he was behind in speech development we wanted to do everything possible to help him catch up before it was time for kindergarten. Going to a morning AND afternoon preschool is a lot for a four year old little boy, but he excelled, and I am so proud of him. I created this layout to be somewhat of a "Week in the Life" for Jonah as it pertains to school. The pictures are of him and both teachers on the last day of school, Jonah in the car (we did alot of this- ha!) and the little smiley face he came home with every day... miss seeing that little smiley face. :)

Elle's Studio Supplies Used: This Week Note Tags, Pieces of Life Notetags, Digital Download Woodgrain Tags. Other Products: Wood grain paper (background) K&Company. Cardstock: Bazzill. Pencil and Scantron Patterened Paper: October Afternoon. Flowers: Sassafras. "J" and "2": Girls Paperie. Butterfly Punch: Martha Stewart. Twine: Coats and Clarks. Paint: Making Memories. Red Alphabet Stickers: October Afternoon. Yellow and Green Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts. Black Alphabet Stickers: K&Company. Ruler Ribbon: Ribbon Trends (hobby lobby). Staples: Supply Store. Pen: American Crafts. Pencil: Bic.

"Little Besties"

I have really enjoyed watching Jordan develop a close friendship with my dear friend's little girl. They are only a month apart in age and enjoy alot of the same things.

Elle's Studio Supplies Used: Digital Download Woodgrain Tags, Sweet Summer Mini Papers , Sweet Summer Scallop Circle Tags, Vintage Picnic Flashcards. Other Products Used: Cardstock: Bazzill. Patterned Paper: October Afternoon, Girls Paperie. Flower: Prima. "2" and "Besties" Chipboard: Girls Paperie. Circle Alphas: Jenni Bowlin. Butterfly Punch: Martha Stewart. Pears: Hero Arts. Distress Ink: Tim Holtz. Pen: American Crafts.

"Bon Voyage" Card

Elle's Studio Supplies Used: Sweet Summer Mini Papers, Digital Download Woodgrain Tags. Other Products Used: Patterned Paper: Girls Paperie. "Bon" Letters: Girls Paperie. "Voyage" Letters: October Afternoon. Airplane: Studio Calico. Twin: Coates and Clark.

Can you tell I just love that Woodgrain Digital Download?? I used it on every project! ha! Make sure you check out all the amazing downloads available in the shop. It's so cost-effective to be able to re-print!

Make sure you check out the June Gallery and see all the inspiration! And Elle, thanks again for this wonderful opportunity! xoxo.

Winners!

CD- comment 9 Jennifer Walls
Book- comment 7 Colleen
Book- comment 11 Stephanie

Congrats! Send me your info at (jlhufford at conneragency dot com) and I will send out your goodies! :)

Growing Lovely and a Lily Bee Contest

Happy Thursday!

I am over at the Lily Bee blog today. Make sure you stop by and check it out. I included a few more pictures and details on how I made this layout below.

ALSO, Lily Bee is doing a FUN giveaway on Facebook! We want to get to 1600 friends who LIKE Lily Bee Design in the next week on our Facebook Page, SO here's the incentive for you to invite your friends. We've teamed up with Jill over at A Million Little Things and are giving away a $25.00 Gift Certificate to her store.

Simply have your friends who LIKE Lily Bee leave us your name over on the Facebook Page and you will automatically be entered to win. The more friends you send over the more chances you have to win.

Good Luck and Send your friends!

Children's CD and Book Giveaway!!

I am so excited to be giving away three products that we have in our home and use on a daily basis!!

The first giveaway is Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies CD.

Randall Goodgame is a critically acclaimed American singer/songwriter, some-time worship pastor and lover of silliness. He has released 6 solo recordings, and has written many songs for other artists, including 17 songs for the award winning band Caedmon's Call. Additionally, Randall has written several songs for "Veggie Tales" with Andrew Peterson.

A few years ago, Randall Goodgame and Andrew Peterson collaborated to write and produce their very first Children's Album, "Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies". Slugs and Bugs is a zany children's album featuring silly songs and sweet lullabies with an overall message to children that God loves them.

Slugs and Bugs is currently on tour and may be playing in town near you! Slugs and Bugs Live is approximately 1 hour, with live music, animated video, and background musical tracks that extend through all the songs.

There are fun interactive moments, and also teaching moments during the program. Some of the material is ridiculously silly, and some of it is deeply meaningful and gospel centered. Slugs and Bugs Live is a super great time, and Randall leaves the kids (and maybe the parents!) with a deepening awareness of the presence of Jesus in their lives.

Randall is a friend of ours. He sang "Jerusalem" from his Hymnal Album at our wedding as we lit our unity candle (it's the sixth track on the music feed here). Really, you should hear it. The lyrics bring me to tears . "I am Jerusalem, I am the Temple of the Lord. Holy of Holies, the Lord dwells within. Lord God Almighty, Maker of Men." I would love for you to have his music in your home.

Randall is giving away a copy of his "Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies" CD to one lucky winner! (P.S. Stop by Stephanie's blog today by 11pm EST if you want another chance to win a copy of Slugs and Bugs!!)

The Second giveaway is two Children's books, "A Warm Summers Day" and "The Next Summers Day" by Dirk Webb.

Dirk Webb is a friend of many characters both real and imaginary. He would love to introduce you to some of his friends found in the pages of his new book illustrated by the high school students of Liberty Christian School. Characters such as Brewster the Rooster, Burl the Squirrel and Willie the Billy Goat will leave you amused and inspired.

Of all the hundreds of books we own, Jonah and Jordan repeatedly ask us to read short stories from Dirks books. They love "Dorsey the Horsey" in particular and I know they enjoy the pictures illustrated by Liberty Christian Students.

Dirk is giving away SIGNED copies of both "A Warm Summers Night" and "The Next Summer's Day".

That's THREE different winners in all!

Leave a comment here by Friday Night 10 pm Eastern for your chance to win one of these great prizes!

Weekend Random Thoughts

Weekend seem to come and go so fast around here these days! We had a wonderful full weekend... here are a few random thoughts running through my head right now...

1. Friday night Todd and I had our first "dinner on the deck". We have a deck outside of the master bedroom. We have always enjoyed having late dinners on the deck and always called it our "alfresco lifestyle" - this was mainly before kids, of course. I am bound and determined to bring alfresco back. So we had our first deck night... and jonah joined us. He was such a trooper and layed on a cushion on the lounge chair....

which brings me to #2....

2. Jonah wants to sleep outside all the time now. He calls it "his little bed outside" HA! He actually took a nap outside on the deck off the kitchen today. really cute.

Jordan joined him for a little bit, but she didn't last. She eventually went to her room to nap but jonah stayed outside.

3. Saturday night we went to a wedding of two very dear life-long family friends. And what is funny is that these two families didn't know each other... until my mom helped introduced/set up the bride and groom. It was such a blessing to go to this wedding and see a wedding of a sweet couple- both of who i have known all my life. Wow.

4. I am finishing up my last gallery for Elle's Studio!! I can't believe how fast these six months have gone! I have loved every minute of it. I am sad it's almost over, but excited to find out about the new design team!!

5. My friend Stephanie is giving away one of Randall Goodgame's "Slugs and Bugs" CDs. Go leave her a comment for your chance to win. Randall's music is wonderful, and this CD is wonderful. We love it-- and I mean all of us!!! It's rare to find a children's CD that adults love too :) And this CD has a wonderful message. I'll be giving one away later this week !!

6. Something is wrong with my foot. This is going to sound very strange (which is why I included this in my "random" post)... but i stepped on a dog hair and it stuck me like a needle. I tried to pull it out and part of it broke off on the bottom my foot (sick); it's pretty deep and i can't find it . And it's painful. Do you hear what i am saying? THERE IS A DOG HAIR STUCK INSIDE MY FOOT. How does that happen to someone??? Well, i am not surprised b/c I always have had the strangest things happen to my foot. So now it hurts when i walk. I am HOBBLING OVER A DOG HAIR, PEOPLE. I am trying to decide what to do... do i call the doctor? Now THAT will be an interesting phone call for sure. i think i should take this as a sign that i don't vacuum enough, huh??? gah.

7. My most recent Google (after googling "dog hair in foot" of course) : "how to get ink off a computer screen". I am not naming names, but someone colored all over my screen with a pen. I'll give you one guess who did such a thing..............

Hope you had a great weekend!!

around here...

around here we are just enjoying the summer schedule... enjoying it, AND getting used to it. After such a crazy spring semester with two preschools and running around from here to there, it's strange to have... nothing.

Well, okay, the kids start Summer Day Camp at Preschool every Wednesday. And Jonah has a speech class on Tuesdays. And we will start swim lessons next week. So... okay not really nothing, just a change in schedule. But it's been nice.

We've spent time at the pool, time outside playing, lots of walks. Todd and I are working on the yard, getting the house back in order; I have scrapping projects I am working on.... lots of good stuff.

OH and just a quick picture/story. Last saturday night we went to a hibatchi grill close to our house for dinner. It was the kids' first time at such a place... they were amazed, and scared at times! It was hilarious watching their reactions.

The flame and Jordan's reaction- ha!!!!!

Just wanted to pop in quickly with an update! I have a fun children's-themed giveaway to post soon and other fun stuff. Stay tuned!!! :)

my dad....

was the one who introduced me to Jesus when I was a little girl.

was the one who taught me that my sister and brother would be my best friends... always.

was the one who would "back flip" annie, ben, and I, in the pool on a warm summer evening.

was the one who provided our ritualistic saturday morning breakfast... "nonies". (donuts)

was the one who led me in the sinners prayer.

was the one I ran to when I was scared.

was the one who drilled us on the "Books of the Bible" on the way to church.

was the one who provided the perfect example of what to look for in my future husband.

was the one who threatened to kick my ass if I squandered away my college experience at Purdue.

was the one who emailed me horrendously errored documents to proof-read and correct while I worked at Conner Insurance Agency.

was the one who taught me to "leave and cleave"

along side my mother, he is the one who lives a Christ centered marriage.

is the one who lives by the phrase "the older I get, the less I listen what what people say... instead, I watch what they do."

he and my mom were the ones who supported Todd and I when we were uncertain of God's Plan for our firstborn.

is the one (of the many) who supported me and loved me during my battle with anxiety and post-partum depression

is the one who loves his grandchildren with all of his heart

is the one who i want to be like "when I grow up".


Happy Birthday Dad!!!

I love you more than you will ever know.

Fun at Elle's Studio

If you haven't stopped by Elle's Studio Lately, you MUST. GO. NOW. !! Elle just released a line of Digital Downloads in her shop. And I am loving ALL of them. They are a GREAT way to save money. Purchase it once, and reuse and reprint over and over. I just printed some on cardstock and they are beautiful. Here are some of my favorites:

I will definitely be making this 4th of July Banner... adorable!

These are adorable, huh? Go check out the rest of the collection!

Second, yesterday Elle posted the June challenge....

For this challenge, Daniela made an adorable teachers gift card, earring and pillow sachet here. So cute! Make sure you enter this contest for a chance to win $30 to the Elle's Studio Shop. You can get ALOT of goodies for $30!!!

And finally, if you haven't heard, Elle's Studio is having their Design Team Call right now for the second half of 2010 (July- December)!! I have loved every minute of being on this design team and so sad our term is almost up! This is a WONDERFUL team to be on and Elle is GREAT to work with and work for :) Definitely consider this opportunity and apply! The application deadline is coming up- June 10th! Here are all the details.

Hope you are having a great week! YAY for a short week and a weekend right around the corner! We are still trying to get into the groove of our summer schedule!!!