the.amanda.sewell

You know the kind that leave you so tired and like you are just barely hanging in there. I am just not sleeping well at night at all, who knew a big tummy would get in the way so much? Thank goodness Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money are not on this week. I need the rest. I have been having weird episodes of seeing spots. It has only happened twice and is remedied by resting. I think my body is trying to tell me to slow down, I just wish my body realized that it is only a month till my new little guy will be here. I have definitely reached the nesting phase of this pregnancy, I feel the need to organize and clean everything. First it started with the last couple boxes that were lingering in my bedroom that had not been unpacked, then I started to organize our under the stairs closet (still in progress) and my stamp studio (still in progress) and at the end of the day everyday, I am just pooped. Even though the office is not clean yet though, I decided today would be a fun ...

You knew I would do it. I might as well document what we are doing with our time every weekend these days. I just love watching the kids play soccer, it is hilarious and fun!!! This week we had to be there at 8:45 am for pictures. EEK! No sleep for the pregnant mommy on Saturday morning anymore. *pouts* I went to McDonalds to get some breakfast (they love egg mcmuffins - meat free) for the kids and bought hot cocoa there and my review is that it was good, but HOLY COW!!! $2.15 for a small cup of cocoa is SO pricey!!! WOW!!!! I know, I know, you're thinking cocoa in AZ, but it is getting chilly here . . . Autumn *may* have arrived. Does it make me a bad mommy that when I saw my little girl with her first little soccer boo boo I could not resist whipping out the camera to catch the moment before cuddling her and telling her it was alright? It does, doesn't it? DOH! Her face said it all -- these 4-6 year old soccer players are too tough!!! E *might* be a girly girl. ...

Sorry I am so late in getting this post up today. I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I had a Dr. appt. this morning and everything is going well -- I am 34 weeks along now which is exciting and scary as heck at the same time! I will be brief because I need to get this up and then head to take E to ballet and then I will be back for the release party !!! This card is a square card inkspired by the mojo Monday sketch on Poetic Artistry . I have had ideas for this sketch floating around in my head all week, but in the end, it came out being a baby thank you card (with only 6 weeks left, I know I will use this one for sure). Stamps : B is for Baby (Hanna Stamps), Much Appreciated (SU!) Paper : Night of Navy (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah), Old Olive (SU!), Blue Stripe (DieCuts With a View) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Sewing Machine, White thread, navy buttons, star red line double sided adhesive stars (Jody's shares), clear emboss...

This set is just perfect for this time of year. I know I have been suffering with the sniffles as have my kids. Poor Hanna, she is sick too -- I always hate it when I have to lay in bed and recover from my illness. So as a treat -- this card comes with some jelly beans in an old pill container (rinsed and made cute) for the perfect feel better combination. The layout was inkspired by the sketch challenge today on Splitcoast. Stamps : Get Well Soon (Hanna Stamps) Paper : Bountiful (Creative Memories), Pristine: Pretty Posies (Paper Salon), Vibrant Pink (Prism Papers), Solar Crest White (Neenah) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Copic markers, Word Window Punch (SU!), Sewing machine, white thread, skinny white grosgrain ribbon, circle punch - 1 3/8 (SU!)

I always love all the sketches and challenges you can find on Monday! Usually on Monday I am dragging in a big way. This week was no exception -- somehow the kids and I all have a bad cold and cough. It has been keeping me up at night (well, that and the icky poo contractions I have been having). Anyway, it is great to have some inkspiration when you need it. And now I would like to introduce to you Laundry Sophie & Couch Riley Moose! YAY! How fun that you are getting MORE Riley stamps this month! They are SO darn fun!!! I first decided to cover the Papertake Weekly Challenge and the Ismaki challenge . One was a gorgeous sketch with an option to use eyelets (which I did not do because I could not find the silver ones I wanted) and the other was to add sparkle to your card. It's hard to see, but the Sophie image is colored with copic markers and then I added some sparkle by using my luminarte Twinkling H2O's (Blushing caramel, and pale porcelin). I used some di...

It's that time again . . . Don't you just LOVE Hanna Stamps Preview week???? Today Hanna is going back in time, to a time much more funky and psychedelic than now!!! Oh my goodness, the sets from Hanna Stamps this month are just TOO much fun! Be sure to check back every day for more previews!!! I love this set and I bet you will too! I was channeling my inner flower child (or Austin Powers if you prefer) when I was creating these samples -- lots of bold bright colors. It was super fun! Groovy baby!!! Stamps : Hippy Chick (Hanna Stamps), Feeling Groovy (Verve Visual) Paper : Orchid Opulence (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine, Versamark Accessories : Copic Ciao Markers, clear embossing powder (SU!), Nestabilities (scalloped and plain ovals), cuttlebug machine, sewing machine, black thread, assorted prima flowers, black brads (The Paper Studio), White Inkssentials Gel Pen, black polka dot organdy ribbon And now for a little ...

What's something fun to do in a small town on a Saturday morning? SOCCER! Today marked the first game of the soccer season here in AZ for us. The weather has finally cooled off enough to play (now that we have made it to NOVEMBER) and the kids enjoyed their first game. I think it was around 80 degrees this morning at 9:30 am! I am SO not looking forward to getting up and getting kids ready in time for the 8:30 am games we have on the schedule. EEEK! We barely made it in time to this one. It was hot sitting in the sun, but super fun to watch my little soccer monsters. Since J had never played before, it was fun to see his overjoyed face while he was running on the field. This league does not have goalies and does not keep track of score, so for the most part it was really laid back and fun! All the teams are Star Wars based names, so today they played against "The Force." I took this first picture of my family (E, Dad - Asst. Coach, and J) after the game enjoying...

Okay, I want to see everyone's fun costume pics! Please post links in the comments section of this post! I hope you all had a wonderfully fun and super sugary Halloween!!! And now, here is a bit of the Halloween fun we had last night!! I worked hard during the day to get some chili made (I could have sworn I shared this one before - I'll have to look back through some posts -- it is yummy), pumpkin rolls made, and some sugar cookies (the easiest and super yummiest recipe -- reminds me of the ones at Paradise Bakery) with the glossy frosting made. (Click on any of the words above for the recipe I used). I was totally exhausted at the end of the night, but all the cookies, bread and chili I made got eaten, so I guess that is a good thing!!! White Chili 1 lb boneless chicken, cubed 1 medium onion 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 tbsp canola oil 3 cans Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained 1 can chicken broth 2 - 4 oz. cans diced green chilies 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp oreg...