this totally made my day, i mean my week,,, no, no, no, it made my month,,, naw, scratch that, this made my year!!! *loves*
love, ally

the undies have been replaced,,, and since missy emily was curious about my art and how its displayed throughout mi casa i thought i share this,,, right, smack dab above our bed :-D not sure where the undies will be placed now,,, but i know theyll find a perfect home,,,

~peace~

im the luckiest girl in the whole wide world!!!
{thanks mom & dad} ~ love you!!!
{thanks hubby} ~ love you!!!
have a great weekend!!!
~xoxo~

so as i mentioned yesterday,,, i am lucky and stoked like crazy to be the guest designer for the scrapmojo blog this challenge,,, straight from their blog ~ here is the challenge,, followed by my take,,, *never, never land*,,,
I use to watch peter pan when I was a little girl and dream of being Wendy. I wanted so much for Peter and the Lost Boys to be real. Sadly they weren't. There is so much to that story that I love and I thought what a great scrapbook page those things would make. That is our challenge to you. Use ANYTHING from Peter Pan that YOU love. We do mean anything. For the second part of the challenge use a frame some where some how on your page.
okay, seriously i had no clue that pirate ship would take sooooo long, but totally worth it. fun stuff going on here,,, have a great day!!!
~xoxo

stoked. so i really wanted to get a inner wrist tattoo ~ and i really, really wanted it to be in elsies handwriting,,,, i was totally inspired when i saw this tattoo. i had wanted *create* on my inner wrist once elanie mentioned that she had one {hey ~ sometimes if i hear a great idea ~ i have to join in ~ cant help it ~ its true}. i warned her. :-D so me trying *not* to be a total copy cat, i asked elsie is she wouldnt mind writing a new word for me. you know so i could kinda be a little original,,, i loved the idea of having the word *dream* tatted on my inner wrist,,, but i still really wanted *create*. im so excited that elsie took the time to write this and post it on her flickr, but i had to have *create*. i just had to. thanks for the inspiration chicks!!!!!i soooo pleased. i love it like crazy!!!!
*create*
i love you elsie :-D
~xoxo~

so i signed up for elsies and rachels online class PRETTY *so excited* and they had a little entry interview. kinda fun, thought i would share,,,

*Name, location
ally serrato ~ san diego, cali
*What was the last crafty thing you worked on?
scrapbooking. like,,, a few seconds before i got on the computer. lately i have been working on my scrapbook journal and my baby brothers scrapbook, {he is in the navy} aww,, cute baby brother <3>

*How much time do you get to spend making

such a good question. i dont know. i bet if i counted the hours i would be happy because i think its a lot!! or maybe not,, maybe like 12 to 16 to 20 {a really good week} hours.

*What is your favorite medium to work in, or what are your 'go to' materials?

paper {scrapbooking}, paint, felt, fabric, ribbons, glitter, buttons,, {am i off track???}

*When did you realize you were a crafter?

i have been on a sewing machine for as long as i can remember. my mom always had hers out, so i would sneak on and play around and make goodies. not to mention making *friendship* bracelets {DMC floss} as a young child over and over and over,,, honestly, for as long as i can remember, i have been a crafter. always finding new goodies to play with,,,

*What would your dream studio would look like?

i actually have a great space. my problem is organization. i need it so bad. i buy goodies faster than i use them {i know its a problem}, but like i said, i love my space. i just need it cleaner and organized!! help!! ;-D

*Something you'd like to learn this year?

anything. im open {which means, nothing is coming to mind},,,, really, though, im open,,,,

*Have you ever been in/attended a craft show?

does CHA count?? then yes, i have been to a craft fair, last year. {hi elsie, we met}!! im going again this year. excited, but totally gonna miss you elsie!!!

*What are your favorite spring color combos?

ohh, i like elsie answers,,, i love pinks, aqua, orange, fuchsia, the whites are rad. i like my colors really bright and fun!!!

*Favorite new music?

i am crazy about reggae lately. i cant get enough of it and im trying to get a good artist suggestion. anybody have a good reggae artist suggestion for me?? ,,,anyway, i love reggae. lots!! *Favorite place for inspiration in your town?

ha!! my town?? it doesnt have much. not even a grocery store.

if it has to be in my town, then id have to say my laptop!!

sad, i know. there is nothing out here {valley center}.

bates nut farm is a great spot for photos, does that count??

*Which projects are you most looking forward to?

totally the apron. you had me at hello with that one.

i had to sign up, i totally felt like i missed out last time

around,,, so excited!!! oohhh,, and the picnic blanket.

fun!! i want to sew more this year,,

thanks ladies!! so excited!!! you both inspire me like crazy!!

,,,and there you go,,, i am very excited about this project!!!

~loves~

this, is why i had to have both paintings from elsie. my side of the bed, and hubbs side of the bed. life is beautiful!!

have a great weekend!!! i updated my esty shoppie shop yesterday, but my lattest kit sold already,,,, i have a very lovely, and faithful girly that likes my goodies. thank you so very much nely!! youre the very best!! xoxo but, there is one more of the first layout kit left. its kinda cuteeeee,,!,!,!,,!!!,,,!,!,!,!,,!!!

~ciao~

ummm,,, sorry. i might have a *little* something to do with this post. sorry. really. i am. but after reading all of these comments, {although i still feel bad}, inside I AM DYYYYYYYYYINGGGGG,,,,,,, is my post man here with my package{s} yet??? eeeeeeekkkk!!!!!!!!
~loves~

Dr. Seuss:
You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

ahhh,,,, dreamy thoughts,,,

i havent had a *long* post in a while,,, im totally due. i *finally* finished my class sample for ever after. a thanksgiving mini album. *10 reasons to bee thankful*. the sample will be at the store later on today {closer to the early evening}. call to reserve a spot in the class or a kit. my kits always come with 4X6 color photos that making putting these babies together a pleasant breeze,,,,, you can stop by the store to see more of this album, or just call to save a spot {sorry, i know i already said that},,, (760)433-9313 oh yeah ~ class is thursday the 20th ~ {man thats coming right up} whoa,,,, oh yeah, where was i?!?! class is thursday the 20th at 6:30.

speaking of classes, have you signed up for my card class at pink pineapple?? class is this sunday at 2:00. call to reserve your spot (760)598-2222
i havent busted out a piece of my lately, so here is a picture i took of myself {of course}. showing some love for my baby brother in florida....
i bought a few of these from elsies etsy shop. they are ACEO(art card, editions and originals) cards. i love them. they are pretty tiny, so i was trying to think how i was going to display them and this is what i have come up with,,,,,
the cards are 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 ~ pretty small. i put a small piece of bright pink felt into the frame to mount the little cards. i love the way it turned out,,, im trying to find the perfect spot to put these guys {do i always say that??} but for now, this is how stinking cute they look!!

love elsie stuff!!!
alright, next, and finally. one of my very favorite scrapbook stores is closing their doors. today. for good. i was very saddened by the news, but on the same token i cant blame mel. we know that she definitely gave the store her very best shot, and what else can you ask for?? the store had been an amazing inspiration to me throughout the years. it is mel, after all, that encouraged me to teach in the very first place. i will always be grateful to her for opening my eyes to a whole 'nother side of the scrapbooking world. the store has gone through a lot of change, and i was happy to be a part of their {and finally her} support team. i will truly miss this store and the special feeling that i felt whenever i walked through those doors. what did they always say "come as friends, leave as family". i have to admit, i dont blame mel for her decision. i admire her strength to keep the store rolling as long as it did, and i admire her decision to step back and do what she needs to do and what she feels she does best. being a mom. we are all {almost all} moms and each and every one of us know that our family especially our children come very, very first. period. now that mels family is continuing to grow, well {again} i cant blame her. i would show the same level of respect to my family, and i think we all would. mel, thank you for all of your spunk, love and support. i am here to support you and proud of the decisions that you have made. you are an amazing person, and i will forever be thankful for your friendship.... so as this chapter closes, another will surely open up,,,, ill stay tuned,,,, ;-) p.s. thanks for showing me elsie!!!!
alright, enough said, im gonna go watch kung fu panda with my kids!!!
~xoxoxoxo~

alright, so i know i had mentioned that i wanted to take my new elsie purchases with me on my trip to chicago, but i knew they werent going to be here in time?? well, between you and i, i kinda really, really, really, really thought that they would be here by today,,,,, they werent. i was so set on picturing myself carrying this bag on the air plane that contains one of the journals that i had purchased from her. bummer.

i have been working on my scrapbook journal. i loves it!!! i like the way its looking, but im trying not to *stress* over the way the pages look. my goal is *words* (or better yet emotions) and photos. all i want each page to contain is hambly, hambly, hambly, thickers and hambly rub ons. i just completed this one, kinda thinking about the trip i have coming up. i have never left my children, and gone someplace without them and or ricardo. should be interesting, i know im going to miss them.

notice the layout is pretty much just like the other one i posted?!?! its okay, i like it. im sure you will see it again. clean. simple. hambly. and another layout for my scrapbook journal. this photo also features my ever so trusty, amazing iphone. im in heaven!!! i love it!!!
this layout lays over the back side of the layout below, the music notes fit just perfect. like i said, the journal is moving right along. i wont ~ however be posting all of the layouts. im sure youll understand why,,,, ;-).

well, i will be back sunday night. peace out!!!!
dont mind my fresh from yoga look ~ oh and my new tattoo (???) its from a vending machine. not real, but it sure is pretty. maybe ill get one in chicago!!!
~miss me~

if i knew what was good for me ~ i would be cleaning my house ~ and not updating my blog. who really likes to do whats good for them?? just a really quick post,,,,
ever after now has a *few* of these kits in stock. take a day, and document every tid bit of it. 6:37 ~ coffee, 7:14 ~ breakfast etc,,,,, its a fun little project.

next. alright, so you got me ~ i am a bit over the top for the creations elsie comes up with. i cant help it. i just adore her child like love and look on life. here is painting of hers that i got about a month ago. still dont have the perfect spot for it. but i will. im really, really starting to think more and more about this thursday ~ when i head off the chicago. i wish my journal that i ordered {also from elsie} would be here on time, but i doubt it. i guess it hasnt even shipped yet,,,, bummer dude. speaking of journals, im thinking that i need to keep one. i have been thinking that, and since she came out with these, i knew it was time. i am very inspired as of late to pay more attention to myself and my feelings. sometimes *we* get so wrapped up in life, we forget to stop and think about what really matters. maybe daniels spill into the fireplace might have had something to do with these thoughts. who knows. maybe ill have more to say later...
but since my elsie journal isnt here yet, i thought i would start right away on a scrapbooking journal. because we all know mama loves taking pictures of herself, i might as well use those in a scrapbook, journal format. here is a layout i threw together really, really, really fast this morning. maybe you remember this same picture. i had it in my blog a little bit ago {cant find the link},,,,,
i love it. clean. simple. hambly. alright, i have taken up waaaay too much of my own time!!!~peace~

the dude is *rockin*. thank you to everyone that left love below, had a thought with us, or wished us well. thank you. kids are amazing uh?? the little man went to sea world with my mother in law, sofia and my brother in law. they had a blast. its like he never got hurt. i have to admit the girl that painted daniels face did a waaaayy better job than the chick at the wild animal park.... right?!?!?!

they are so cute!! i know, i know, spoken like a true mother!!!

so the night of the dudes big fall, elsie had a release on her etsy shop. so before he fell, and before we spent the evening in the emergency room, mama got some new goodies!!! this is one of the paintings hubbs got for me, ahem, yes, its an ORIGINAL!!!! so excited!!!i liked her because

one)she is red.

two)she is blonde.

three)i like her words.

four)i looove the tattoo!!!

~night~

its has been waaay to long since my last etsy purchase ~ so this mornin' i set my timer and got right up in the business at elises etsy shop ~ check out with i couldnt resist,,,,i couldnt decide, so i got both!!! hey i have always been *alice in wonderland* growing up so that just works out perfectly and we all know mama cant resist pirates ~ or peter pan for that matter,,,,,
and just because i have had my eye on this girly girl for a little,,,, i like cupcakes!!!

have a good friday!!!!

~peace~