{things i love} thursdays

inspired by a newly discovered Flickr group, i'm going to start a series on my blog called: things i love thursdays. first i will be bringing you a mosaic of my current Flickr faves. i am addicted to this place, and am always finding some brilliant inspiration.
here is my mosaic for this week: (click on the links below to see these shots close up. they're worth a click!)

1. Untitled, 2. ., 3. Hitched., 4. Untitled, 5. the sun, 6. :D, 7. Nikki and Scott, 8. Self-acceptance (365/342), 9. family, 10. valentine :], 11. “The eye sees a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination awake.”, 12. day three hundred thirty nine. from the bottom of my sole(s)., 13. love, 14. ... can make this world seem right, 15. ., 16. being brave eeeeeeek

next i'd like to share with you a fantastic (and addicting) site called Polyvore. my blogger friend holly linked it up on her blog this morning (check out her creations...they're FAB!!) and i had to take a look. this is the outfit i 'designed.' i call it: Purple Rain. a fun mix of orange, purple, and gray. <3 luv luv! what do you {love} today??
link me up!!
<3

the things in my world...

things are spinning.
its a marry-go-round i just want off of.
but instead i take a few steps to the middle, stretch out my arms, slowly stand and realize i can still see the world around me if i just look.

so its been awhile since i really wrote about anything from "real life." its been nice to just be wrapped up in the goodness that is my "online life." scrapping and friends and photography.
but there are some major things going on right now...

• we owe the IRS money from our taxes this year. lets just say it was a major "shaina blond moment" that lasted a year and is costing us BIG TIME now.
• my brother michael is in the hospital in seattle. he's been living with a rare genetic disease called Goodpasture's syndrome, and things are getting worse. right now he's on steroids, going through a therapy called plasmophoresis and is on chemo. my dad is over there with him now. its a tense and trying time for my family. i'm really worried about him...especially now that he's going to be a dad. (yup, i'm gonna be an aunt!) i'm hoping he has some positive results from the treatment. we should know more by the end of the week.
• money sucks. well, the lack of money sucks. enough said.
  
• chris and i are working our way through a rough patch. its been a hard month... but i am falling more in love with him as i see him react and love and forgive. i couldn't imagine my life without him, and don't want to.
  
• we have two cars that we can't sell, but they don't run. we dont' drive them or insure them, so cuz we couldn't aford it we've let the tabs expire. turns out that a huge no-no in our tiny town. if we don't get current tabs on them by thursday they're towing them. :(
  
• i'm feeling like i keep messing everything up.
  

but i have a feeling things are on the way to recovery...
i've acknowledged my failings. i have found forgiveness.
i am still loved.

there are positives in life to. things that are good:

• this weekend is abi's bridal shower. its going to be a BLAST!! pool party. how cool is that idea??
  
• this season of American Idol is going to rock!! megan is my favorite. :D who do you like??
• a sister from the hall brought us a whole box of meat and veggies today from her freezer. our congregation has been so kind and supportive of us. they're so giving and caring. sometimes their love blows me away.
  
• my brother micah makes me smile. i love him so much.
  
• chris is my best friend.
  

so what are your positives in life right now?? i'd love to hear.
i hope the sun is shining wherever you are...
<3

have you seen this before??

POLA-DROID

the fabulous Jen used it this week to make her mini for the dares. take a look at it here.

so today i decided to play around with it a bit. here are some fun poladroids i created.
LOVE THIS!!



go give it a try. you know you want to. :D

and while you're checking things out online...stop by THe CrEaTive TyPe blog. us typists decided we needed a face-lift and i volunteered. go check out the blog re-design i did over there. let us know what you think..and try out the challenge!!

enjoy your weekend friends!!

just the other day...

for work i got to travel, and it was seriously the perfect day for it.
the sun was out and it felt like spring.
so i sync'd my phone up to our car, got my music playing, my sunglasses on, and went for a mini-roadtrip.
so nice.




and then just this morning i noticed the first crocuses of spring blooming just outside our door.
i'm so excited for spring...
and the sunshine.

happy spring everyone!!

welcome march

can you believe it? its the third month of the year 2009 already! where does the time go??

so what do i do for my first blog post of this (hopefully) wonderful month??
SHARE!!

first of all, i want to link you up with some fantastic blogs i *heart* .

• The Marriage Mix : blog founder and fantastic writer: cara harjes. she is an amazing writer...tells it like we all know it is. she is real, and this blog is worth checking out and adding you your list of reads. its for anyone that is married, was married, is thinking about marriage, wishes they were married, is having trouble with their marriage, or is happily married. its just about life.
  i'm in awe of her and her writing.
• heARTful of HOPE : one of my dearest blog-friends, jamie, has been battling not only with the economy (like all of us) but also with a recent MS diagnosis. but she is so brave, inspiring, and full of life. and also a genius!! to help keep her family from forclosure, overwhelming medical bills, and the anxieties of life she's started this new blog and has been creating works of art to sell on ebay! check her listings HERE. for just a few dollars you could help out this much deserving family and have an original piece of art!
  she is worth it. <3
• {create*loves} : holly girl is such a creative wonder! she's always got something beautiful to share, and just did a month of sketch challenges. so much fun! i *heart* her. :

and here are some of my most recent layouts. i'm on a roll! welcome back mojo!!

this layout is for the most recent word-up over at OLW: "see" and i totally stole that quote from AW. but what can i say?? i think it fits. :)

my dear friend amanda. these pics were just after we met. i found them the other day and just needed to scrap them. i miss her so bad! and i used some hambly. luv!

i just love this picture of dad, kj, and i. missing him a lot lately...

and guess what else?? its new prompt time over at THe CrEatiVe TyPe!!

its a fun one, and we've got an awesome guest designer. you're not gonna want to miss this!
"In Stitches"
here is my layout:

that's all for now...
i hope everyone has a great march!
<3