Scrappy Sunday

Happy Sunday, friends! Today will be a bittersweet day for us--attending a funeral, and later taking care of more things to do before bunny arrives. We're also meeting with great friends in Brooklyn, and S is pumped about meeting their new cat (he really wants a cat. but i feel like a baby is a good start for now. ha!)

I have a new layout up with the Scarlet Lime February kit!

The blog theme this month was personal style, so I pretty much had fun and used a bunch of my favorite things (label stickers, doodling, flowers, etc) to pull together this layout. You can check out more on the Scarlet Lime blog right here!

Speaking of style, how would you sum up YOUR scrappy style/philosophy?

A trip down (scrappy) memory lane....

Hello friends! I hope this week has been treating you well. Mine has been filled with cooking, scrapbooking, catching up with friends, and trying to get my yearly budget organized, plus a bit of working thrown in for good measure:)

I have some oldie-but-goodie layouts that I've never shared with you, so here they are today!

This first layout was created for an Ella Publishing article based on a sketch by Donna Jannuzzi. I used my very first kit of all time, Studio Calico's Lawn Party kit from last May.

This next layout was created with Lawn Party (again--sigh, I loved that kit!) and some fun Elle's Studio goodies! The photo is from years and years ago, and is with one of my best friends from growing up.

This last layout was published in Scrapbook Trends earlier this (or I guess last!) year. It was my first magazine assignment and thus very intimidating, but I'm pleased with how it came out!

So tell me--what is YOUR favorite layout of yours lately? If you have it in a blog, link me up!

I hope you enjoyed the scrappy share! Happy end of the week, everyone:)

One Little Word...

I've been thinking about my One Little Word for a while. And in true Keshet form, I'm a little too wordy to settle on just one. So I've chosen a phrase.

Source

This year is going to bring a lot of changes, and if you know me, you know that change is not my specialty. I hope this phrase reminds me that figuring out how to manage life and motherhood will come over time, and I just need to focus on the day at hand. I also hope it reminds me to be present in each day because life moves SO, so quickly.

So here's to 2012....one day at a time.

Oh, that bunny....

I hope this isn't becoming one of those "hey look at my baby! look at it again!" kind of blogs. If it's been a bit baby-heavy lately, I apologize in advance. Let's just say, my life ain't so exciting otherwise the past few weeks.

I am 34 weeks pregnant right now and Bunny is weighing in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces! It's grown almost 2 full pounds since my last ultrasound, which explains why I've been so tired the past few weeks:)

Bunny was not such a fan of the ultrasound--at first, it was curled up in a ball and refused to unfurl itself (in its defense, the room was freezing). Then, when the technician turned on the 3D/4D feature, it stuck it's tongue out.

Nothing like a little attitude in the womb, right? I'm already nervous for the teenage years....

Write Click Scrapbook January

It's a new month, a new year, and time for another gallery over at Write. Click. Scrapbook!

I had fun finally getting to play with my Studio Calico December kit. Love the colors on this one!

The theme for this month was "today," so I decided to use an older photo as a catalyst to discuss what has changed.

The journaling reads: I can’t believe this photo is over 2 months' old—pregnancy is long, but it has gone by so quickly. I can’t wait to meet little bunny in just a few weeks! Love you, Mommy

I had so much fun putting together this layout. I'd been a bit "blah" about scrapbooking lately and bogged down in assignments, so getting to just play with pretty colors was refreshing. Check out the rest of the gallery this month right here.

In other news, I'm at almost 34 weeks, so this pregnancy is in the home stretch. Surprisingly, though, the anxiety has come back very strong this week. Note to self: Do not google "34 weeks pregnant stillbirth" on the Internet just for reassurance. It's a bad idea. If S "accidentally" turns off on our Internet service one of these days, you all know why:)

I hope 2012 is treating you well so far! What are YOU doing today?

2011 in Review

Now that 2011 is almost over, I figured I'd take you all with me for a trip down memory lane, remembering some highlights of this past year. Putting this post together made me realize how busy and eventful and miraculous of a year it has been!

We started off in January visiting Disney Land! It was hands-down, one of our best vacations ever. Something about Disney just makes me feel like a kid again, in the best way.

Can't miss the teacups....

Tagging along with our Disney trip, we also visited the new Harry Potter park, where I totally geeked out!

Loved the random owl guy.

We spent lots of fun time with family....

And I got to experience CHA for the first time, in Anaheim in January! It was so wonderful to be able to interact in person with so many online scrappy buddies. And it's funny how quickly you can pick up in real life!

I also became an official lawyer this year! And got a job I love. So, all good news on that front!

We spent Purim with some of my best friends growing up.

And just a few months later, after months of disappointment, THIS came along!

While still feeling nauseous and tired, I jetted off to Chicago for CHA Summer, spending more wonderful time with friends.

And a few months later, in September, we headed out to Key West!

We loved the sunshine, ocean, swimming, and frozen limeades:)

And best of all, I got to share the good news with all of you:)

Thank you for tagging along with me this year, and for all of the stories, kindness, and love you've shared with me. I never expected this little blog to lead to so much friendship and happiness, but it really has. Here's to a happy, healthy 2012 for all of you!

Festival of Lights

Well, Chanuka is a bit more than halfway over (I always get a little nostalgic when both sides of the menorah have candles), but I have a Chanuka post to share anyway.

For my Write. Click. Scrapbook project this month, I whipped up a little Chanuka decor.

I had fun creating the banner--I used blue and white (Chanuka colors), but added in some yellow and ledger to give it a lighter, more vintage feel. And because I can always use some ledger.

If you'll notice, this menorah is actually a leaning menorah, and therefore can't be used for candlelighting (all the candles are supposed to be level), but it does look pretty. I always wish I could just bend it a bit the other way!

A few Chanuka candles add some color....

I created this centerpiece using a sticker from Crafting Jewish Style--a great source for Jewish holiday-themed scrapbooking projects. (PS--I don't get money from CJS, I just like the products and people. Disclaimer over:))

Here are some fun Chanuka links around the scrappy web:

• Some fun Chanuka crafts and giveaways at CJS

• Chanuka scrapbook pages over at Scrapbooks, Etc.

• And a cute Chanuka take on the holiday cookie exchange

If you find any other fun projects, please link me up and I'm happy to add them here!

And before I go, I want to take a minute to think about the actual meaning of Chanuka. Amid the great food (latkes and jelly doughnuts, oh my! Although not too diabetic-friendly, so boo to that!) and fun menorah lighting and songs, I have to remind myself to step back and get to the point of it all.

The Chanuka story is about a battle between the Jews and Greeks, who were trying to prohibit the practice of Judaism. It celebrates that element of being Jewish that involves being different, doing something other the rest of the world, which is not hard to relate to during to the Christmas season. Being different isn't easy--it wasn't when I was the only kid with a dreidel taped to my desk in 4th grade, and it isn't always a comfortable feeling now. But it's part of our story, and so important. For a fun take on the rest of the Chanuka story, check out the classic Maccabeats video:)

And of course, the ultimate miracle of Chanuka is the oil that lasted for eight days and eight nights. As I said in my earlier post, I'm so in awe of the miracle of my own this year--I look down and just can't believe that after all the treatments, it finally worked. I still have to pinch myself sometimes.

What's been YOUR greatest miracle this season?