Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Everyday Storyteller 2 Book Giveaway Blog Hop



Everyday Storyteller 2 is a brand new idea book offering more than 100 tips, tricks and techniques for scrapbooking. Go behind the scenes with 33 of your favorite memory keepers to see how they capture moments, tell stories and document their best memories. Sign up for the VIP list HERE to be the first to know when the book is released and receive an exclusive discount.”

Giveaway Instructions
“Each book contributor participating in the blog hop is giving away an eBook copy of Everyday Storyteller 2. Use this entry link  or click the graphic below to complete your entry form. You must enter by 11:59pm PDT on April 30, 2013 to be eligible. You may enter from each stop. Winners will be contacted directly as well as posted at everydaystoryteller.com on May 1, 2013.”

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Blog Hop List
Have fun hopping!  MK

Monday, April 29, 2013

Cocoa Daisy May Record Label Kit Revealed

Hey y'all did you check out the May 2013 Cocoa Daisy Kit Record Label? If not you should! You can see the kit and add-ons HERE .


I ended up working with all the kits and here is what I created.

I have a few more projects I'm working on and will share them when I'm done.
Be sure to come back tomorrow there will be a Giveaway! ~mk

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Record Label Sneaks



Take a look at the Cocoa Daisy May Kit Record Label.
Here are my sneaks
     
Reveal Night
Join the Cocoa Daisy ladies for Reveal Night fun and chatter on the message board at 8pm EST.
Bring your play list and let us know what music you’re listening to.  
Kits and add-ons go on sale to subscribers April 28th at 9 PM EST. Our general public purchase date will be the 1st of May at 12 midnight.
Not a subscriber? It’s easy to join and you won’t ever miss out on the main kit. We don’t want you to miss out!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Friday 5 Mav Style

1. Mav's favorite sayings: comin soon dvd & blu ray, You fired(i get this one when he gets mad at me), I not take anymore, yes, peez, Mom, Redbox? Mom, you, me redbox. He also has a couple words that are for 18+ years but like I had to tell Teagan the other day "Hey they are words and I'm glad he has words" yes I know that is bad but seriously when you have a child with barely any words when he says it's "bullshit mom" to leave home to go 15-20minute drive to pick up sisters at school I tend to agree that indeed it is bullshit. I also have to add I have never got a note home saying Mav has used naughty words so it's all good. Dude it's life, it's too short, and there are so many other things I have to worry about. Yes, I'll take you bad mom awards.
2. Mav's clothing choices: Athletic pants-the kind with elastic or PJ pants, T-shirts, Nike shoes(we found the perfect ones in the womens section and he loves them. it's really hard to find shoes that fit correctly because his feet still aren't perfect even after reconstructive surgery.), hoodies, shorts.
3. Mav's movies: Cars, Thomas & Friends, Winnie the Pooh ( I found the Merry Pooh Year on EBAY woohoo), Bear in the Big Blue House, and anything new at the REDBOX. He knows that Redbox releases new DVD's on Tuesdays so that is all I hear about on Tuesday after he's off the bus. 
4. Mav's favorite peeps: Momma allow I have been on and of his shit list since I cut my long hair years ago, GMA oh this woman is Mav's favorite by far! Gpa he thinks he's pretty awesome, Baby(Avery), Teagan they've always been tight because of their close age but they also go in spurts where they can't stand each other, Daddy he's been all over Mr.K lately.  He also likes some high school boys that he goes up to at recess(in our town elementary-high school are on 1 campus. seriously small town.the girls go a town over but will be changing in the fall).


5. Mav's Favorite things to do: watch movies, jump on the trampoline, sit and get into all of the cool stuff in moms scrap room, drive his sisters batty, play with trains, being outside, riding the bus, taking pictures, eating french fries and drinking coke, playing on his ipad and snuggling with the pups.
Happy Friday! ~MK

Thursday, April 25, 2013

This one time... it was like senior prom

So I've made the analogy before about something feeling like the nerdy girl getting asked to the prom by the football quarterback...well last time it was the junior prom and in the end the quarterback dumped the nerdy girl with no warning, no phone call, no email, nothing just a laugh on Monday morning in the halls. She was heart broke sitting on the stairs in tears wondering why? didn't she know it was too good to be true? how did she fall for it? didn't she know better? I guess she didn't but  she did learn a lot from it!

SO a year later her nerdiness is back with a big smile on her face ready to announce that she got another fabulous offer and she's on cloud 9.


 

I'm still pinching myself about being part of October Afternoon's Design Team! It's totally real not a dream I have a bruise on my arm from the pinch and I am totally awake :) I have loved their products for awhile and I'm so excited to work with the fabulous ladies on the Design Team.
Thank you to all that sent their love and congrats yesterday when you saw the announcement!! Y'all are awesome and so supportive! 
~MK

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

this one time... on the Cocoa Daisy Blog

Today you'll finally get a peek at where I create. I will be sharing my scrap space on the Cocoa Daisy Blog. I did create a video but it's long and yappy(my first time) and I've decided to ditch it for now plus I've changed a few things but can't share the changes because I have projects that can't be shared yet laying out.
~MK

PS. let me know if you have any questions. 


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

This one time... right now

I haven't done one of these posts in awhile I think so what the heck lets do it today(plural because it's me and Bitty Bitch who's at my feet).

Wearing: Comfy Gap long sleeve t-shit, gaucho crop pants, old navy black sandals.
Hair: rocking a small beehive with a headband.
Listening to: Jessie Ware
Drinking: Diet Coke
Working on: Cocoa Daisy May Design Team stuff
Excited about: Some news I'll share soon
Planning: A trip to somewhere AWESOME
Favorite color: loving green & navy blue
Trying: Art journaling
Feeling: Tired with a side of grumpy
Watching: it rain out my window
Loving: My friends! Oh do I have some good ones! Lucky girl!
Wondering: about all sorts of things.I don't think my brain ever shuts off.
Favorite TV show: it's a tie Big Bang Theory & Two Broke Girls
Talking to: Bitty Bitch at the moment(y'all know Bitty Bitch is our old ass female Jack Russell who stinks to high hell).
Wanting: to loose some weight. ahh the Doctor put me on meds to help with some different issues, while they have helped they have also made me gain some weight which wasn't needed.
Natural or painted Nails: painted black with 2 green ones.
Last thing bought: some scrapbook stuff(even though I didn't need it)
List or no list: List of course
Photo or Video: Photo! Video I'm still trying to master but my voice recorded blah!
PC or Mac: Mac---shocker i know. Just switched over.
Canon or Nikon: Canon thanks to Gma & Gpa
Steak or Chicken: Chicken
Laughing about: the little crazy things that happen in this family
Joining: Nothing
Routine Yes or No: Kinda
Messy or clean: clean scrapper but messy scraproom
Love it or hate it: depends but mostly love it except Indian food YUCKO!
Capitol or lower case: lower case
make up yes or no: ugh nope have you seen me lately? I think I've only wore makeup once in the last year and that is because I got a lil makeover in Cali one day.
Romance or Comedy: Comedy
Plane or Train: Plane
Smiling about: the little smile face pot Sharmaine sent me for my birthday.
Eating: Healthier
Looking at: This

ok think the list is long enough for now and you're probably bored HA.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

this one time...she started an art journal

shocker right? I started with a few goodies last night. This will be interesting since I don't consider myself artsy so this should be fun! more info to come. I do have to say it's all thanks to some super fab inspirational friends I have!

Hope y'all had a great weekend. ~MK

PS. Danee I know you've probably fallen off chair in shock but pick yourself up, give a gal any tips and is there any products you suggest? Thanks!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

this one time... I had a link to the Everyday Storyteller 2 video

Have you seen it? You've gotta go check out the  Everyday Storyteller 2 sneak video! While you’re there don’t forget to get on the (free) VIP list to get an invite to the virtual launch party!
I'm still pinching myself because I’m so excited to be a part of this book, it's filled with inspiration by some amazing and talented ladies!I know y'all are going to love it!


I hope y'all have a great weekend! I plan to scrap some Saturday and then next week I'll be sharing my scrapspace on the Cocoa Daisy Blog and here on my blog too. ~MK

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

this one time... i have to say thank you

I'm sorry announcing the giveaway winner wasn't posted this weekend like I planned so I hope it's ok with y'all to go ahead and say all you supportive ladies that posted the kind words last week will each be receiving necklace or bracelet your choice from me. Or if you would rather have scrapbook items I can send those too.

 Brat
 j.leija
 Kim
 Lisa
 Crystal @ Serving Joyfully
 Summer Aiello
 em
 Sharmaine Kruijver
 Lisa

 Here are some photos of the necklaces and bracelets i create.





 



Your necklace or bracelet can be personalized so if there is a color you love, a theme, an initial, whatever you can think of that might make you smile let me know in an email with your name and addy.  Please send me an email via the contact tab under the blog title HERE.

Again thank you for all your kind words of support and letting me share this part of our life with you!! I have some really long posts that I will put on the blog later this week. Hopefully i can downsize them so your eyes don't hurt from all the reading.  xo~MK

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

this one time...Spring Break Staycation in photos

in no order and to be honest our days kinda meshed all together til last Saturday
catching up on school work after being sick for 2 weeks
nice weather well nice enough to be outside for a bit
he loved being able to get some fresh air and jump after being sick
ChuckECheese fun
relaxin on the comfy couch built for 5 plus 2 pups
more ChuckECheese: just the 2 girls, Mr.K & I had a couple days to get out while Mav went with Gma & Gpa for a few days. It was good for all.
Saturday morning we went junking. The only thing I found was a button and it's not this one.
  
Friday Night we saw the Croods. Girls liked it and so did Mr.K I was ready to go home.
We went to A&W for dinner one night. The girls love rootbeer floats
 
This was Friday on our way to Gma & Gpa's farm. See the Happy Dude in the backseat? He was so ready to go see Gma. I think he gets sick of his sisters bickering and loves the peace & quiet.   
Lots of puppy cuddles all week long.
 an all nighter
movie watching
 a few Mav moments
words lots of words
sleeping in and eating pastries for breakfast
 
a fun package from one of our fav British families

 me working and singing
finally got out my real camera instead of the phone to take some photos while we were all outside. 
All in all I think our Spring Break Staycation was pretty good. Relaxing & being at home
 
Will be back with more about Autism this week and hopefully a few new things to share & show you.

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

This one time... he has repetitive behavior


Let me start this post out with this: As many of you know my Mav has Autism. I've wrote about Mav here on my blog many times then I took a step back thinking maybe I shouldn't share my private life on here because what if some one...Then I thought I can't let someone that doesn't know me stop me from sharing Mav's story because the more people that know about Autism the better this world and life will be for Mav. So all this month I will share a little bit of what life is like living with Autism. 

Repetitive Behavior

This is one thing that we have dealt with since before the word Autism popped up. Mav's intense repetitive behavior was one of the first things that had me thinking there is something different about my child.

The information below was borrowed from Wikipedia. I did change the word Autistic to the individuals with Autism. I don't like to call Mav my Autistic child for me it would be like introducing your child who has cancer as hey here's my cancer child. You just wouldn't do that. I know you may be rolling your eyes but that's you not me. It might not be a big difference for you but it is for me. When talking with others I do usually correct the wording so when a friend says "so Mav is Autistic what's that like?" I will answer with "Yes, Mav has Autism and it's hard as Hell!" I am honest, I am real, and I am living this life.

Repetitive behavior

Individuals with Autism display many forms of repetitive or restricted behavior, which the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R)[36] categorizes as follows.
  • Stereotypy is repetitive movement, such as hand flapping, head rolling, or body rocking.
  • Compulsive behavior is intended and appears to follow rules, such as arranging objects in stacks or lines.
  • Sameness is resistance to change; for example, insisting that the furniture not be moved or refusing to be interrupted.
  • Ritualistic behavior involves an unvarying pattern of daily activities, such as an unchanging menu or a dressing ritual. This is closely associated with sameness and an independent validation has suggested combining the two factors.[36]
  • Restricted behavior is limited in focus, interest, or activity, such as preoccupation with a single television program, toy, or game.
  • Self-injury includes movements that injure or can injure the person, such as eye poking, skin picking, hand biting, and head banging.[4] A 2007 study reported that self-injury at some point affected about 30% of children with ASD.[29]

No single repetitive or self-injurious behavior seems to be specific to autism, but only autism appears to have an elevated pattern of occurrence and severity of these behaviors.[37]


Stereotypy Mav style: he does rock, pace, and has a repetitive thing he does all the time. It's just a Mav thing and hard to describe and put into words. He did have the hand flapping for awhile but it soon moved on to other things.

Compulsive behavior Mav Style: he always arranges his items he totes around by color if for some reason they mix all hell breaks loose and we quickly get it fixed. He lines everything up always has. At 18 months he would sit in front of the recliner with his cars of trains lining them up over and over again. Even now he still lines everything up. He stacks his blocks the same way. 

Sameness Mav Style: Sweet Jesus this child loves his things the SAME WAY!! He notices EVERYTHING! seriously the bus driver no longer needed a bus with the wheelchair door so she asked for a bus with all seats thinking nobody would care well guess what Mav cared. He stopped short of the step knowing the number was wrong so he had a throw down, got on the bus noticed there was no place for wheelchairs so he was a lil pissed, he noticed that his name tag was at the right seat but not in the same spot. THe bus driver said it was crazy everything he noticed and had a fit about. Here at home he notices things but doesn't have as big of a fit he usually goes in silent i'll take it at my own pace then let you know its ok later mode. Like when we added the boxer twins to the fam he took no interest and wouldn't even acknowledge them for a week. He notices when my hair gets cut and has been pissed off ever since I got it cut short like 5 years ago. He loves long hair and I went short not cool!

Ritualistic behavior Mav Style: we have a routine we follow everyday during the school year and if it changes slightly he is upset. He knows how many minutes he has in the show, what will be put on him first when I dress him, how long he has to watch toons & eat his poptart before the bus is suppose to be here. During the summer he gives me a break and the routine varies a little bit but it takes awhile to get it ok'd with him so for a few days-weeks you can guarantee that there will be throw down the world is ending attitude from the dude. His eating habits could fall under this too because he mostly eats things that are white in color and mostly bread like products( waffles, sandwiches, fries, pizza rolls, cookies, apples, pop tarts, chicken nuggets etc) absolutely NO NOODLES! He rarely eats meat or  veggies unless you count pizza sauce, ketchup and french fries. He's not big into fruit either only watermelon and apples. He can eat the same things days on end. He does switch it up every few months just because I make him switch it up. 

Restricted behavior Mav Style: I call this Mav cycles because he usually has 3-4 things that he is restricted to every 3-4 months then he changes. Let me try to explain right now the Mav Cycle is carrying around a bag with thomas the train & friends(you bettter believe that he knows their names, color, size,  how many fit in the bag and if one is missing), he is on a Winnie the Pooh movie binge(If anyone knows where I can find Winnie the Pooh A Very Merry Pooh Year DVD please help a sister out this is making me crazy), he has a ball he carries around the yard, and he likes play station.  His next cycle will more than likely be carrying around a bag of wooden spools or stamps, Thomas movies, Jumping all day with a few minutes in the sand box, playing on his iPad.  It's crazy how after a few cycles we begin over with the first one again like everything is all new. Sometimes I love to see a cycle come back other times I want to pull my hair out. 

Self-injury Mav Style: I'm gonna be real honest with this one it scares the shit out of me when it happens and thank goodness it doesn't happen often. This is something I think about too as the years go by and he grows how this might change. He is a big dude already and I know he will be bigger than me some day.How will I stop the behavior what will I be able to do so he doesn't hurt himself? 
When he was littler he would throw himself to the ground or hit his head on stuff but he doesn't do that now. He will throw himself occasionally but it's over something major. He will pinch, hit, scratch and bite himself but this isn't a daily or even a weekly thing. When he had to have reconstructive foot surgery in 2011 it was so hard to watch him put himself in pain because he didn't know how to deal with the pain of his feet. I hate to see him in pain and will do anything in my power so that he doesn't injure himself even if that means I get the teeth or fist. He does get aggressive but I guess if you were stuck in a box and couldn't express in words what you wanted, needed, or were thinking you'd get pissed and aggressive too I know I would. Sometimes I think that aggression isn't him it comes from something else because after the fact he will get upset and tell you sorry. He doesn't like to hurt you or himself.

Don't forget the giveaway in the post below. Have a great day! ~MK

PS.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the BEST GMA in the WHOLE WORLD!! 71 looks fab on you!

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Today is World Autism Day

Facts about Autism

Did you know ...
  • Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys
  • Autism prevalence figures are growing
  • Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
  • Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
  • Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
  • Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism
  • There is no medical detection or cure for autism
National Institutes of Health Funds Allocation
  • Total 2012 NIH budget: $30.86 billion
  • Of this, only $169 million goes directly to autism research. This represents 0.55% of total NIH funding.
make a difference for Mav and others like him learn more about Autism HERE. I will be sharing our journey with Autism here on the blog all month long too. 

I'll share different things we'll be doing this month like going to Build A Bear. It's become a tradition for our family to go make one of these special bears.

Tonight and for the rest of the month our house will be lit up blue. We have the blue bulbs for our porch lights and have been doing this the last couple years. we have gotten questions from those who have seen our house and they always think its cool once we've explained the reason why we do it.


If you've read this leave a comment letting me know you did, if you've shared it with friends let me know that, if your life has been changed by Autism share it. I want to do a giveaway starting today running til Saturday April 6th. If you leave a comment you will be entered to win a personalized necklace created by me and if you're a paper crafter I'll send some of those goodies your way too.
So what are you waiting for? Leave a comment you just might be the winner.

This One Time... HI

Hello Friends! I hope you're doing well. I've decided once again to give this whole blogging thing a go in hopes that I'll ...