Amber Ulmer

Excitement!

This is the cover of ISSUE #1!!! Out TODAY!!!!
So honored to be apart of this team!! Way to go Celine for living your dreams hunny bun!!!

Celine gave me the Issue #0 at CHA and I'm telling you it's not like any other scrapbooking inspiration mag out there! So it's only available in French right now... but who knows... maybe several different languages later!

Please if you have any questions, email Celine... c.navarro@greenfrogstudioeditions.com

Just wanted to post this today!
Back to resting... Til next week probably!
xo

Thank You

Thank you everyone for your eating suggestions. Im definitely going to try some of them.

In the mean time, Im taking a break from blogging for a lil while until I get some energy back. I need to focus my attention elsewhere and worrying about keeping up w/blogging is driving me a lil nuts.

I will update this week w/a belly shot probably... and that maybe all I update w/in the weeks to come until Im out of nasty first trimester...

Til Next Time.

xo

Still Here...

Im still here... tired... nausea...anxious. But Im still here.

The next word is up at OLW. Such a great word! Come play with us! This is my layout. Had to use some Sassafras for this... :)

Some Sass... some lace... some splattered glimmer mist... some stitching. The end. I love how it turned out. The colors make me so happy!

Not a whole lot to update... just waiting... trying to eat... even though the thought of food... especially...m.e.a.t makes me gag... last nite I had baked potato w/sourcream and chives and corn on the cob... I could even think about eating anything else. I still haven't "gotten sick" but this is enough for me... Im just hit with waves of nausea throughout the day. I got some gingerale... the kind that actually contains ginger... they sell it in the health food section of Kroger. It's really good! Peppermints are really helping me too. I wish I could have a constant peppermint in my mouth all day.

Oh, my Fashionista Challenge went up at the INSPIRE BLOG. A very simple one! Come try it!

Josh is so wonderful. He is cooking... helping clean... being very supportive... and encouraging. So perfect. He's going to be such an incredible daddy!

Well, gotta get back to work. Going to try and stomach my PB&J sandwich for lunch... speaking of... Do you have any recommendations for easy lunches to bring to work? No TV dinner things... so loaded w/sodium... I have had my full of spinach salad... I am thinking about getting some soups... but those can be high in sodium too... So...other than the obvoius "left overs"... what are some suggestions on things I can make for lunch?

Thanks!!!

xo

Beautiful Friends

 So when I went to CHA, I had the pleasure of meeting some of my sweet fashionista girls... some for the first time... some for the 2nd and 3rd time. I love them so much.

Just a few snapshots from the weekend. More to come later.

So, also...I did a lil maternity session for Jody Ferlaak while we were there. It was so fun! This is my fave... The rest are up HERE

Jody is an amazing woman. It was so great spending some time with her.

So, my morning sickness snuck in this week... Pretty much off and on nausea all day... Just trying to keep something on my stomach at all times to help.

Nothing scrappy to share... honestly, I have no mojo... what so ever. All I want to do is lay on the couch... read a pregnancy book... and go to bed. Which is what I've been doing lately. Just taking care of myself and not worrying about much else.

I started prenatal yoga last nite... very interesting. I got a DVD at Target. Now, w/my background in gymnastics and cheerleading, I expected to be a little more flexible... but it's been a while so Im slowly going to start improving my flexibility and doing prenatal yoga through out my pregnancy. It felt really good to do it actually. I enjoyed it. Just definitely something you have to train you mind and body with... so Im going to practice. My joints are definitely a lot looser and stuff. It's hard to hold a position for a long time b/c it gets weaker a lot faster. So crazy to experience all this body changing stuff.

Well, back to work. My blogging will probably be pretty sporadic so bare with me.

6 weeks...

I am 6 weeks. Nervous. Anxious. Constantly praying for the lil baby the size of a lentil bean that is growing inside of me. Awaiting my first appt in 3 weeks w/my nurse-midwife at Vanderbilt.

Only slightly nauseated in the mornings... it usually wears off after I have some breakfast... fruit and stuff. Josh brought me a smoothie king this morning... so good!

Our friends Jessica and Matthew delivered their sweet Elias 3 weeks ago and we were able to take some sweet photos of him. This one is my favorite so far. We finally got him to sleep a lil bit and got a lil grin out of him.

I suppose maybe next week I'll start my weekly tummy shots. Of course, Im not showing yet... just some bloat but it will start the process. I imagine I might show quicker since I am rather tiny in the middle so I am going to start now. It's going to be so incredible to actually start to see the signs of a lil baby in there... it's still so un-real.

We had a nice weekend. I worked Saturday and came home and took a much needed nap. Then went to visit Elias and came home and went to bed. Sunday, I slept in for a bit since I had to get up early for work on Saturday while Josh went to church. I cleaned the 95% of the house on Sunday morning... it was great. Dusted, vacuumed, mopped the kitchen floor, did laundry and dishes. It was so great! Now the house smells and feels so fresh and so clean clean. I love a clean house. It's my favorite. Other than clean sheets... Clean sheets are really my most favorite thing ever. Totally random.

Well, back to work.

Oh... and if you don't know already... over at SIS there is a HUGE BASEMENT SALE!! 50-75% off!! Vintage grab bags... collections... LOTS more!

xo

Scrappies

Thank you for all the suggestions on the wraps!! Definitely narrowing down the list of options!

Have some scrappies to share... OLW and LUXE stuff.

Our next word went up yesterday at OLW.

Amazingly generous sponsor, MAMBI. Such great stuff!!! It's fun playing w/it now b/c that is what I started out using when I was in highschool so it's fun to play with the products again b/c they have changed SO much!

My sweet Rhi. I love her and miss her so.

And a LUXE layout... my lil Harley Man. He won't be the baby much longer! The frame is one of LUXE's new releases! So fun!

I had a 1/2 day yesterday and Josh and I went and did some lil shopping and looking at all the fun baby stuff...and we snapped a few photos. During this time, we will be taking LOTS of photos of this whole process...*Old Navy*

 

*Target Item*

*Target Item*

Ya, we bought the lil onsies and the shoes... both are pretty gender generic. Our first lil baby purchases. I know it's early and ppl are probably going... what is she doing buying things so soon... well...so what. Sorry. Im a tad moody this morning. Those mood swings are SO not fun. We are just so excited.

I'm still feeling ok. Just tired... moody... a lil uneasy stomach in the morning. Having a hard time getting my yogurt w/granola and strawberries down. Any other suggestions for breakfasts? I can't drink milk so I don't eat cereal much. Im thinking Im going to try some wheat bagels w/peanut butter (high in protein) and some fruit for breakfast. Eggs make me wanna vomit so please... don't suggest eggs. The smell of syrup this morning in Josh's oatmeal was disgusting me... so probably not pancakes but we will see... right now.. that sounds kinda good... Im hungry. I need to eat my nectarine.

I take lots of snacks to work. I eat a piece of fruit around 9:30-10 am, then lunch at 12 or so, then peanut butter crackers at like 2 and then dinner at 5-6 and some more fruit scattered throughout the day too. Grapes are my recent fave... and blueberries... oh and PINEAPPLE! And add some trail mix in there too. Im eating basically the way I've always eating just a lil more fruits than I used to... which I'm loving so much!

Well, back to work.

Oh... in the midst of all the baby madness, I still have yet to get some photos from CHA to share but I snagged this one from Kimberly Garofolo's blog. I just love this girl so much. We could've talked for like.. days on end. And Of course, we hung out in the most fabulous booth and I just loved every bit and piece in this place... I just want it all!

xo

The Journey Has Begun...

So it has begun! We are still pretty much pinching ourselves daily. This weekend we tried to let it soak it that we are having a baby. Still not sunk in yet. Once we hear the heartbeat Im sure that will change. So I am 5 weeks along this week.

No morning sickness yet. Just very tired. I caught a cold too. I think that is pretty normal since my body is working like double overtime producing so many cells. Im drinking LOTS of OJ to try and kick this cold. Staying away from the meds of course.  Getting as much rest as I can. It's so hard to actually have to listen to my body now when it's tired instead of just pushing through to get things done. It's so nice to just nap when I need to. Going to bed early is great. Making sure I get 8 hrs of sleep.

So I am really excited about this... I have always admired Rachel Denbow's quilts that she makes. So I asked her if she could make one for our baby! It will look similar to this, but some of the prints will be solids. Im thinking I'll have between 4-6 Heather Bailey fabrics and some coordinating solids mixed in. Im thinking of the Pop Garden & bijoux collection. It's just gorgeous! The quilt will look similar to this design but w/the Heather Bailey fabrics and some solids. (photos of Rachel's Flickr)

Something else I've been eyeing for a while now is a wrap instead of a carrier. The MetroMamma looks great. Do any of you have experience w/a wrap? I love the idea of NO buckles and annoying straps. This just seems so natural and form-fitting.

We also spent last nite looking for baby names. Our lists are pretty even as far as the amount of names if we have a girl and the amount of names if we have a boy. Im sure that list will just GROW like crazy too the next 8 months. If you have any fun... a lil quiky... unique names, feel free to leave us some suggestions! I love hearing babynames!

I signed up for babycenter. It's incredible! I love that site... Josh loves it too. That is where we have looked for babynames... and lots of other things. He loves looking at what is going on w/our baby this week. It's so cute seeing him so excited like this.

Well, g/g get back to work!

xo

 

Thank You

HUGE thank you.... to everyone who left us some love about our exciting news! We are so elated! It's still so hard to believe. So if you could send up TONS of prayers for a healthy first trimester. It's a scary time and lots of things are going through my head so please just pray for peace. It's so incredible.

So, just like every new expectant mom, I want some book/website suggestions. My mom (Annie) picked up "What to Expect when Your Expecting" so I'm really enjoying that. I am going to get a subscription to Fit Pregnancy magazine. Im really enjoying the current issue.

So... any books/website you Mom's would recommend?

I have some layouts to share from the new SIStv Classic Collection! I added the bits of color like the glimmer mist and paint.

This is my sweet friend, Bailey.

This layout makes me so happy. It's photos of Kim and I during the Sisversary Karaoke.

And this is just a lil hanging thing I made w/the grungeboard.

Well, I gotta get back to work.

I'll be keeping a online journal of sorts for family that is out of town and such regarding my pregnancy and the process. Belly shots and things to come!

xo

We Are....

Yup... We are pregnant!!
Just got home from CHA to this exciting news!
I wasn't feeling myself at CHA and I just had a feeling,  so I took one test last nite and another this morning! Both positive! So I have an appt tomorrow morning for the whole blood test and stuff!
Families are so excited... Friends are so excited!
I will post some photos from CHA once I calm myself down enough to sit still and edit them!
So ya... there you have it... incredible news for us...

Please send up lots of prayers!
xo

On a Jet Plane... well almost

Woo Hoo! Im so ready for a vaca! Chicago here I come!

The next word is up at OLW. Karla's word! It was awesome!

Here is my layout. I used the new "It's About Time" line from Luxe that is a CHA release.

Seriously... if the three of us lived closer, we would be inseparable. Totally. We inspire eachother, challenge eachother, & care for eachother. It's an incredible relationship.

I wanna talk about a current trend that is so hot right now...fabric!

When I did my camera strap tutorial this month, it totally opened my eyes to all the fun things you can do with fabric. Last Wednesday, Rhi' Webbie went up at SIS...  a little zipper pouch! And today Martha's webbie went up! Fabric Yo Yo's!!! I am so in love w/vintagey fabric right now! I hope hope I get to go to some fabric stores in Chicago! I need sme fun retro vintagey fabrics!

Well, I can FINALLY share this! I've been keeping it a secret for MONTHS.... I am so excited about this adventure!

 

I was asked by the incredible Celine Navarro to be apart of this!

This is the snippet from her blog about this...

Like most of the scrapbook artists, you often buy scrapbook magazines, but you're not really satisfied with them? So, get confortable and read this...

I am honored and pleased to announce you the creation of the company S.A.R.L. GREEN FROG STUDIO EDITIONS, company that will publish on August 20th {entreARTistes} magazine which will become, I'm sure, THE French reference as of scrapbook and mixed media magazine.

Since 2 years, {entreARTistes} the event, that I host and organize with my friend Karine Cazenave-Tapie, travel all over Europe and seduced many of you. Through the pages of this {entreARTistes}magazine, you will find what you liked during the events.

In every issue, you willl find projects created by famous and talented scrapbook artists all over the world, reports on events thourghout Europe and the globe, tips to turn your photographs into art, sketches, challenges, galeries and other NEW columns in France.

Created for new and advanced scrapbook artists, {entreARTistes} magazine will make everyone happy! You will find through 88 pages much inspiration and techniques. With {entreARTistes}magazine, discover the real concept of a scrapbook magazine : you're not even reading a magazine, you're actually taking a class everyday!

For now, we will only do this magazine in French...but who knows?

Discover on August 20th, and for just 6,50euros per issue, the French Scrapbook magazine you'll all be waiting for !

Well, back to work!

xo

Oh, Who will I see at CHA?!