Contest winner--announced and more...

Last night I went to bed semi early so I could get up at 1am to watch the royal wedding!! I was SOOOOO excited that I dvr'd it and set three alarms on my phone! LOL

Unfortunately, I forgot that I had set my phone on silent and I was soooo tired...that I didn't wake up until 7am!!!! I totally missed it live!
So this morning everyone came to my room and we watched the whole thing together!!!
I cried like a big baby!!!! It was so sweet!!!
Favorites from the wedding: two kisses from castle, Prince Harry looking back at Kate, the big smile on Prince William when he saw her for the first time, their carriage ride, and all the people there sooooo happy!!

We have a winner for the naming of the mixed medium booklet contest!!!
LINDSEY ALVES!!!!
Although we didn't use the exact name Lindsey posted...we were inspired by it and came up with something really close!!! THANKS Lindsey!!!
Please contact Angela at info@basicallybareonline.com. She's going to be sending you a prize!!

Shout out to my friend Katrina Hunt---I think you are fabulous!!!!
Hugs,
Suzy West

The best job ever!

I have the best job!

It is a job that I didn't go to school for, so I couldn't even do an internship to prepare for the real thing!
I'm not sure how well I do, but let me tell you...I love my job!
My title: MOM aka mommy
This year has been interesting. My kids have gone through a lot of change and even though year wise...it's not a bold difference...they are different.
To my little gir...I'm her mommy
She's tender and sweet! She warms my heart with her hugs and sweet "I love you's".
To my teenage boy...I'm his mom
Even though he's pretty quiet and keeps to himself...He is so sweet!!! Everytime he gives me that sweet smile I just melt! I love that he's not embarrassed to give me a kiss in front of his friends and tell me he love's me.
To my married daughter...I'm her mother
I love that she is not only a great mother and wife...she's smart and has continued going to school because she wants to help make a better life for her family.
I don't get paid to be a mom...but as I see my kids play together or give each other hugs...that is all the payment I need! I love the time that we spend together!!! I'm lucky to be their mom!!!!
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you.
Hugs, Suzy West

Easter 2011

It was great having the kids together! They had so much fun!
These two are so sweet!!
They have all grown up together. This warms my heart.
First year that Tristan really got into the egg hunt! He had a blast!
All the kids looking for hidden eggs! The goal was to find the ones filled with money!LOL

We are still looking at the names from the contest!!! I will be posting a winner on May 1st!!!

Hugs
Suzy West

Love days like these...

Sometimes I don't know where my brain is.LOL. I had planned to visit two friends with Sierra today. NORMALLY...I would drive to their house, but today was different. For some reason, I thought we should both RIDE our bikes there.

That's okay if you ride a lot...guess when the last time I was on a bike? Well I couldn't tell you the date...all I know is that it was over 20 years ago!
Yes, 20 years! LOL
So I sit here typing...with a pillow under my bum...because I'm in PAIN!! LOL
Alrighty, let's forget about the pain for a moment.
Sierra and I talked about a lot of different things as we rode to our first destination. There, we had a great time giggling about different things with my friend Janice. We had delicious strawberry shortcake, hung out in her amazingly beautiful house and backyard, and looked at family pictures. LOVED my time there. So did Sierra.
We left and headed out to visit my other friend, Diane.
She and I laughed and laughed over funny stories while Sierra had a blast playing with the tiny kittens and her two sons. Had a blast!!!
Sierra and I took off for home and pretty much rode home standing up as our bums were killing us. LOL
It doesn't matter the pain, I'd do it again!! It was an awesome day! I had a great time with friends and my little girl!! What a blessing!!
Hugs,
Suzy West

I can't believe I'm saying it...It's official...

We have set the date for Sierra's surgery!!

It's scary to think my little baby girl will be having surgery but truth be told..it's much needed.
Her little 56lb body has been through a lot!
I still remember being in the hospital two weeks after she was born because she couldn't come home. They couldn't figure out why she was so jaundice and why her levels wouldn't change. They called in a hematologist and she asked me if anyone in our family had a blood disorder. At first I couldn't think of anyone...because I was only thinking of my side...DUH...it takes two people to make her and my husband had Hereditary Sphero Cytosis. The "A-HA" statement from the dr. said it all...my baby had the same condition.
So through out the years, Sierra has had to deal with losing blood cells, feeling tired, and turning yellow.
This is going to help her. She is still going to have some issues to deal with but it's going to be better.
So today...we found out that she's also going to have her gall bladder taken out. Because of her condition it's a given that she's going to have gall stones UNLESS they take it out.
We set a date for June 14th but found out that it was her last day of school, so we changed it for Friday, June 17th. She's set for 10:30am.
I believe in the power of prayer and have a ton of faith. We would appreciate your prayers as well!!!
Thanks for listening and thinking of my little Sierra.
Hugs
Suzy West

Random shots

I've been taking lots of pictures with my iphone. I've added even more photo apps since my last post.

Here is a set of pictures of me TRYING to take pictures of Jeremy...but as you can see...or not see..he didn't let me. LOL

This is another new app that I got. I love this feature. This is Sierra at the Earth Day event.

Here is a picture of me in London.

Can you tell? I love the color green!! I didn't realize how many green color items I had.

I was asked to scan my signature last week to add to packaging for a new product that I created, so much fun!!!

This is a shot of my favorite nail color right now. LOVE IT!!!
Thanks for checking out my blog!!
Hugs
Suzy West

Sierra--setting the date

I am so lucky to
call Sierra my daughter.
She is such a sweet little
girl with a beautiful
innocence about her.
I told her today
that I was meeting with
her surgeon on Monday.
She looked at me and
sweetly said, "I trust
whatever decisions
you make for my life."
It took everything
I had to not cry.
We are going to set
the date with the surgeon
on Monday. I'm not sure
if I want it to be done
sooner or later. Things to
think about before Monday.
Thanks for listening.
Hugs,
Suzy West

Some of my favorite APPS for my Iphone

I'm often asked what my favorite apps are. So I'm going to share some of my favorites.
These are all FREE for Iphone.

1. EVERLATER--this is an awesome travel journal. You can add photos, rate where you stay, restaurants you eat at, and write stories so you remember what you see and do on your trip.

2. Check Please--This is great when you eat out. Especially with friends and you are splitting the bill. It breaks it up and asks you what percentage tip you want to give your server.

3. OPI--I LOVE this app! If you love OPI nail polishes you will too. You can see how the nail polish will look on your hand. You can make "the hand" lighter or darker. It has EVERY single color!

4. Old Photo Pro--This app makes any picture look old and distressed. This picture is beautiful in color but I love the way it looked when I used this app!

5. Photosynth--this is a new one. Just learned about it today. You can stand in one place and move your camera and it takes panoramic pictures of an entire area. It's awesome!!

6. Instagram--Just started using this one. It's kinda like the old photo pro but it has more options. Here's an example

7. Skobbler--it's a free navigation program. I use this a lot!

8. Moron Free--this is a fun game that test how "smart" you are.

9. xfinity tv--lets you record a TV show from where ever you are!!! Although I haven't done this, you can watch the show on your phone.

10. Skype--I love that I can see and talk to loved ones from where ever I'm at.

Okay so those are my favorites!!! Please tell me about some of yours!!

Hugs
Suzy West

5 things I'm grateful for this week

I am feeling so grateful this week and wanted to share with you 5 things
that have made me smile.

1. My children--I love them so much!!! I want them to know they can always depend on me and I will always be there!
2. Scrapbooking--I'm so grateful for this beautiful craft!
3. My camera--I love my camera! I love that I can capture a moment...a feeling...in one single shot!!
4. Religion--I love going to church every Sunday (when I'm not traveling, LOL) and having the opportunity to feel close to my Heavenly Father in his home.
5. My car--I'm lucky that I can always depend on my sweet van to get me from point a to point b.

That's what I'm grateful for this week!

If you didn't see the post below...check it out...there's a contest!!! I'd love for you to participate.

Hugs
Suzy West

To create (CONTEST)

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

I feel very lucky to work with some of the most creative people in the craft industry.

This week has been a really fun one for me. I've been working on some really cool projects for teaching all over the country and working on products for future releases!

Sometimes it takes me a while to come up with something and other times it just comes to me.

Today I created something really cool!! I can't wait to see what others do with it when it's released!!!

**Sorry...my blog was acting up.<

Contest!!!!!!
Help me name my album!!!
I am looking for same letter named book!!

For example: Terrifically Tabbed or Krafty Kreations.

You have from now until Saturday to post as many times as you want.
If your name is selected, you will receive my new album and yummy new embellishments.

Thanks!!

Loving our little fur balls!

Our little fur babies had a rough last week.

Angel and I took all our dogs to get vaccinated on Sunday. My little guy Gravy and Angel's fur babies did really good but Biscuit freaked out a little! I posted the pictures of the dogs when they got "the surgery" on Thursday. We were told they needed to have the cone of shame on for TWO weeks!! They don't like having them on at all!!! They also need to be seperated so they have been extra sad. Sierra has been giving each one a lot of love so they are not so unhappy! Today she decided to work on a scrapbook for the dogs and asked if I would take pictures of them. Here they are. Here is Biscuit

...and this is Gravy

I'm hoping that they will be able to get their cones taken off early and will heal fast so they can be together!! I think we will all be a lot happier! Thanks for looking!!! Suzy

Photo shoot

This morning I asked Sierra if I could take some pictures of her and reluctantly she said, "yes". I told her we'd go out after and she started getting a little excited!! LOL

Here are a few that I took of her. We lasted all of 30 minutes because she said she was cold.

Thanks for looking!! Hugs, Suzy West

A busy week

It's been one heck of a week!!! Here are some pictures of what I've been up to!!

I've been out twice this week with Angel buying up all kinds of fun items for Tanner's birthday party! This year he's chosen Buzz Lightyear for his theme. We went shopping for clothes and this was one of his favorite outfits that HE put together!!

He is so adorable!

Tonight I went to the Sharks game!!! Thank you Julia for the ticket!! The seats were awesome and the energy was amazing!! I finished creating another class for the GASC show!! This will be taught in both Texas and Virginia!! My two doggies got neutered!! This was NOT fun!!!! Poor little things have been so sad! They need to have the cone of shames on for TWO weeks! They had their surgeries yesterday and Angel's dog had his surgery today!

Tomorrow I will getting my scrap on at Our Paper Place!!! I was asked to teach at Treasured Memories again so I will be working on new projects!! can't wait!!! Thanks for reading my blog!! :) hugs, Suzy West

Thanks for the prayers! A video of my sweet uncle

I would like to thank everyone that has been praying for my uncle.
My heart has felt so heavy ever since I heard that he fell and has been having seizures. It's been even more sad to hear that he feels like it's time to go too.
That's the first time I've ever heard him say anything like that.
I know he's lived a long life and can't be selfish and expect him to go on if his wishes are to go home to heaven and to be with his wife. I just want him to go peacefully.
Just a few weeks ago I head the honor to attend his 103 birthday party and recorded him.
He couldn't hear what I was asking him at first he's so cute.

Thanks for letting me share!!!
Hugs, Suzy West

A day to remember, a new projects, and post your blogs!!

Last night was such fun!! I went to a crop at Our Paper Place. The new store that Sarah De Guzman owns very close to my house!! I finished creating this project that I'll be teaching at the Great American Scrapbook Convention in both Chantilly, VA and Arlington, TX. I got to work with Echo Park, Clear Scraps, and Epiphany Crafts!!

I'm teaching this class and other ones as well! If you are planning on attending, hope you can make it to one of my classes. I'm also the MC at the Arlington, TX show!!!! Come and get your scrap on with me!!!

The day before I left on my trip I attended my uncle's 103rd birthday party!

It was such a wonderful event full of memories and love!!

I'm grateful to have a lot of great pictures with him!!! Here are just some!!

Last, I'd like to thank everyone who has contacted me about the future DT call. I'll be finding out a little more soon and will start putting out a call soon! Please continue to send me your blog info!! Please post them here so I can have one spot to look. Have a wonderful day!!! hugs, Suzy West

projects, a saying, and a future dt call!!

Hi all!!! I wanted to show you some projects that I've created lately!! I made this first one using the beautiful For The Record by Echo Park!! The lovely album is by Clear Scraps!! I love the scallops!! I will be teaching it in Texas at the Great American Scrapbook Convention!!

The other day I made this layout using the NEW Websters Pages!! Love this line!! If you are in the San Francisco bay area, you can find it at Our Paper Place.

I wanted to share this with you!!

When I saw this saying it became my favorite quote!

As you know I'm working on a lot of really cool projects right now with some amazing manufactures!! I can't say yet what's up but I will soon!! For one of my new adventures, I will be looking for designers all over the world!!! So let me know if you are looking...I'm going to be doing a call but I'll probably be hand picking some as well!!

Hugs, Suzy West

The face of a busy girl!!

See this face?

It's the face of a girl that has been on overdrive since I've been home from London! I've been blessed to have a lot of opportunities come my way and it's been hard deciding which ones I can and can not do due to lack of time. From now until CHA Summer I'm going to be swamped with certain amount of projects and then from summer to winter there will be more. All in all...there's some exciting things in the works!! You'll hear about it soon! Hugs, Suzy West

this guy right here...

drives me nuts!!!!!

BUT...there is no one else I'd rather be with! Paul and I have been together for so long and honestly...there have been many times where we thought we'd strangle each other...but as our wedding song says, "After All that we've been through It all comes down to me and you I guess it's meant to be Forever you and me, after all."

He's the one!!! I love him and I can't picture my life with out him.