THE QUEEN OF QUIRK

christmas gifts

This year, as I'm sure many of you can relate to, we're on a budget. I wanted to come up with something that was personal and heartfelt but that wasn't going to be too time consuming. We have houseguests from now until the first week of January and I didn't want to be holed up in my office or out running a ton of errands.

Then inspiration struck me. My gift this year will be a handwritten letter to my loved ones and dear friends.

It seems so simple but once I started writing, I couldn't stop. And, boy, let me tell you. My hands ACHE. I can't believe we used to write and write and write so much in high school. I have boxes of letters from my girlfriends and old boyfriends and I remember how special I felt every single time I got a note. I'll take a handwritten letter over a text or email any day.

I almost cried writing the first letter. Anyone who really knows me will tell you that I put on a big front. The minute I start talking about how I feel about someone I love I will break down and cry. Colin teases me about long-distance commercials and their apparent affect on me. ;)

I'm going to finish up my letters and then get them in the mail along with a photo of our family. I am so excited about this, it's kind of ridiculous. :)

I hope your holiday gift giving plans are going well. Any other simple, budget-friendly ideas?

journaling cards

I heartily congratulate any of you who can stick to scrapbooking every year with all those amazing concepts from the likes of Ali Edwards and Becky Higgins.

I am not one of those girls. ;)

I have a very hard time doing things daily... other than eating and other necessities. This coming year, though, I really do want to tackle a weekly scrapbooking project. So, I've made some journaling cards to make it easier for me and I thought you'd like to use them as well. :)

There are tons of word art brushes and I've included journaling lines as well. Each card come in jpeg, psd and png format. So you can easily print the sheets out (which are made using my new Bare BRanches kit) or you can customize them using your favorite papers!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Monday! I meant to post a little something on Thanksgiving but the day(s) just got away from me. I hope everyone had a blessed and love-filled holiday weekend! :)

js.com holiday sale!!

The annual jessicasprague.com holiday sale is back and the savings are even better this year! Save 20-35% off products throughout the store! You don't want to miss out on these incredible deals. Everything in my store is heavily discounted and the best part? This sale goes on until the end of the year!

Don't miss out! And remember: all my new products for December will be 35% off immediately! :)

OBW: reindeer games

Thanksgiving is coming up fast and Christmas is just around the corner! Can you believe it!?? To get us all in the holiday mood I've got a fun and festive holiday kit up for grabs in my shop today for One Buck Wednesday. Yay!

reindeer games paper pack    reindeer games accent pack

This is a seriously incredible deal! You definitely don't want to miss this!

My father in law arrives today and then we'll start getting in gear for Thanksgiving! I'm so excited to cook and get some turkey and stuffing in my tummy! Yum! I've got to head out to the airport, take pumpkin cupcakes to 3 girlies' classes and then play hostess (and that's just today!) so I won't be around as much but I'm hoping I can squeeze some designing and blogging in. ;)

let the baking begin

Tomorrow all 3 girlies have Thanksgiving feasts at school and it's gotten to the point where I cannot volunteer for one class without getting some pretty pouty sulks from the other two. So, when I volunteered to make my awesome pumpkin spice cake for one class I knew I was going to end up making 3.

Thank goodness I love baking! :)

I was feeling a little overwhelmed but in the end it all came together pretty well. I have enough pumpkin puree in my pantry to crank out quite a few treats, though, now. I can't remember the last time I purchased 5 cans of the stuff!

I hope your Tuesday is fantastic and don't forget to stop by tomorrow to find out what's up for One Buck Wednesday in my shop! :)

bare branches

I love Mondays! There are always so many lovely new products at js.com! I'm super happy to have a new kit up in my shop today as well. I've revamped and completely overhauled an older kit of mine just in time for this lovely fall weather. It's one of my favorite kits (and seasons!) so I thought it only appropriate.

bare branches full kit

You can also purchase the paper pack and accent pack separately if you like!

bare branches paper pack

bare branches accent pack

I love this time of year. Dry, crisp days and beautiful piles of golden leaves on every path that are just begging to be run through!

11.11.11 recap

We had such an amazing anniversary party.

With a once-in-a-lifetime date (like, say, your 11th wedding anniversary on 11.11.11) we just had to celebrate in a big way!

We went with a twenties theme and our friends do not dissapoint!

me with my good friend nicole who took all the photos

We played a dating game and our score was abysmal but our friends had a good laugh while we tried (miserably) to recount minute details of the last 12+ years of knowing each other! ;)

I barely had to lift a finger. All our friends pitched in with the food, the wine and their costumes were out of this world and Colin and I felt so lucky all night long to be surrounded by so much love and laughter.

After the game, the champagne started flowing and we toasted our 11th anniversary at 11:11 pm.

The party lasted well into the 12th year ;) and we feel so blessed to be in the place we are now.

One of the questions was:

"What was the happiest day of your life together?"

We both answered: "TODAY"

And then I promptly burst into tears and made everyone uncomfortable. Nobody likes to see the hostess cry. Even if they are happy tears. ;)

december daily 2011

I've decided to try and do another December Daily album this year. I tried it a couple of years ago but never got past posting the photos on my blog. While I still, technically, did it, this year I want to have a physical album in my hand.

However, this year, we are on a strict budget. With an international move on the horizon in the next 9 months, we are buckling down hardcore and watching every penny. We've moved to a different country 3 times now and international moves practically break the bank. So, what's a girl to do but go through her precious scrap stash and gather all the necessary supplies?? Thank goodness I purchased some very Christmas-y products over the past couple of years that I can now put to good use. Going through the attic has never been so fun!

So, I found this mini album kit that I bought in 2008 from Ali Edwards...yeah you heard me. 2008. That is RIDICULOUS. And I also purchased a December Daily album for 2008 and I still have that lying around!! I love to have amazing products in my stash and I'm a sucker for red, but I just never touched the stuff after I bought it. Shame on me!

Before, I made a 3-ring album but this year I wanted to have a book. I don't have access to US sized albums here in Germany so the only thing I bought was an album and page protectors. Hopefully I'll have some pictures and some organizational stuff done soon.

 

OBW : scrap canvas - stacked

I've got a fun little template up for grabs for One Buck Wednesday in my shop! :)

scrap canvas - stacked

Be sure to stop by my shop at jessicasprague.com to snag this great deal! :) Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

mia 9.0

My kids are getting so much older and it is totally freaking me out.

I still feel like I'm 20. I just don't feel like I've grown up or that I'm mature enough to have a 10, 9 and 5 year old!!

In preparation for this post I was going through all our old photos, looking for ones of Mia around her birthday each year. I got so choked up it was a bit embarrassing. I'm sure all the mommies out there understand. With all 3 of them in school this year I'm really feeling the separation anxiety (a feeling I swore I'd never experience because I would be too busy reveling in my freedom!). But I truly am feeling it and it hurts. Sure I have lots of time and I can now focus my full attention on working during the day but this is just the first step of many that will lead them away from us and closer to independence. Sigh.

Mia is an amazing little kid. Her art skills are seriously enviable and she has the best personality and quite the budding wit. She's an awesome 3rd grader and we just love her to pieces. She brings laughter and wackiness (and quite a little dose of attitude) into our lives but we wouldn't have her any other way.

So, without further ado, "Mia through the years".

just a couple of weeks old  nov2002

1st bday bavaria2003

2nd bday darmstadt2004

3rd bday 2005 (and my kicka** barbie cake!)

4th bday + big girl haircut

5th bday england2007

6th bday frankfurt2009

at grandma & grandpa's house summer 2010

picknicking in our hometown summer2011

the birthday girl nov15-2011

For her birthday she asked for a stuffed kitty and puppy and for a "surprise". So we bought her a pint-sized guitar, a new outfit, some monogrammed pencils and a Monster High toy. She's so easy it's ridiculous! For her birthday dinner she asked for sushi. She thinks we're just going to chill at home and make it but, in fact, we're taking her into Frankfurt to get some. I think she's going to be thrilled.

Happy birthday Moo-ma-loo. We love you and we wish you every happiness.