Carolina girls swap

So a few months ago I found an awesome group of peeps that love to get together and stamp once and month. This month's swap theme is "Button and Bows". Now when you hear that what do you think of? I thought pink with lots of fluffy ribbon. But I could not think of anything. So since I had just made those Chocolate boxes for Nang's shower, I decided..what the heck, stick with that! So here they are!

I used SU's So Saffron cardstock with Light Brown grosgrain ribbon. I also used Heidi Grace's Glitter and Printed flowers just to add to the front of the boxes. Each box is stuffed with Caramel, White Mint and Cocoa Chocolates. They came out alright. They aren't totally in the "button and bows" but I hope they work for Saturday!

Happy Monday!

So today Ryan FINALLY went back to work. Trust me it was a tough 30 days! They say the thing that ruins Navy marriages are Leave days and Shore Duties! I know a lot of wives feel that I am horrible that I love my husband to go away. But it is not that I like him to go away..I just sometimes need to be reminded why I married him. Because as of today...I am not really seeing it! But today he is back at work and it has already been a better day. Dinner is in the crock pot. I living room is clean..I do still need to hit the dining room and kitchen..but it is progress! When Ry isn't home I think I am totally productive. Like I said before...if I see him lying on the couch, why not cuddle in next to him right? Anyway..I am nearing the 500 mark SO I am suppose to come with some "sprinkles". I think that is going to be what I call my blog candy. Now normally I hate hate blog candy..why you ask..well cause it is as if I am begging people to come and check out my blog. So that's not what it is going to be. I am going to come up with a way to reward everyone that comes by! Well send me a suggestion or two! I am going to be stampin today..with ry out of the house...and the day being cooler, I will let the girls outside to play!!!
See yah soon!
xoxo
ronee

*On to the next party*

That is what is Ryan said yesterday. So we get home from Trysha's birthday party and we open presents..and then I tell Ry..oh I gotta finish Nang's baby shower favors. He smiles at me and laughs..."On to the next party!" Which is funny...because that is sorta true! BUT I LOVE PROJECTS! I think when I have projects it actually makes me stamp. I guess I really sometimes just need a reason to stamp. Without reasons..sometimes I am just not motivated! So..here they are! I always seem to put this pressure on myself that it has to be a "WOW" project. I was going to be lazy and just purchase a favor kit from Target...cute little tins that you could just fill with mints or whatever, but when I actually started to make the favors..I just was not happy with anything. So yesterday, on adventure with Lauren and Kate, we stopped in at Target Summerville...they happen to have Ghiradelli Chocolate on CLEARANCE! Some how in Target those small red signs call out to me. So Nang like those squares so my wheels started turning. So TADA, these are ChiChi Allen's Ghirardelli Chocolate Square Boxes. I used Cool Caribbean card stock, tear tear, as the base for the box. If you would like to see the tutorial on this box you can visit it here at Chichi's blog "Dreams Come True". I still have not figured out to how add links to this blog yet, sorry! I have been on this personalized bit, so I pulled out SU!'s Big Deal Alpha and made everyone's name. I hope I didn't forget anyone. If I did, I went with a few that say thanks! I also used American Craft reversible ribbon. I LOVE ribbon! Not as much as Jody..but I think I am catching up to her quickly! Anyway..I need to finish wrapping prizes and printing out my game! But it's going to be a great day! I love Nang..she is SO cute! She is having her first baby and it's a boy. Now technically this is their first child...but she has played an important role in raising her nephews! We miss you Ali, Marco and Rico!!! Oh yea their parents too!!!
Okay I gotta run...Sorry the pictures are a bit dark..I took them last night at about 11!
xoxo
ronee

Our baby turns 4

Today is Trysha's birthday! We had a great time..we headed out to the movie theater for a viewing of Surf's Up! It was so much fun! Trysha loves to hear about the day she was born. It is so funny. I think all my children like to hear stories of what happened when they were younger! It makes me laugh. But it is hard to believe that Trysha is already four!!!

My AM vent

Well it's Friday and of course..in true Ronee spirit I have left a lot of things to the last day! I have no real excuse except that when Ry is home it seems like life just sorta stops! Seriously..like right now..what is he doing..lying down on the couch..which makes me want to lie down on the couch next to him. Heck the breakfast dishes! Not to mention the vacuuming my home needs. But he works hard..when he is actually working..so I have given him a real break this leave period. Sleeping in, no errands..one or two things to do around our house..BUT I have left him with the girls a billion times..while I go on stampin adventures. It is funny though..leave or not..I would have left Ry if I could. I think it is an investment in future underways. For those of you not Navy or just not familiar with underway periods, it is when your husband gets on a boat and sails away...for undisclosed amounts of time. Price of the Navy. I actually am a weirdo and like the underway period. Not that I don't love my husband. Because in the weird get away from me way..I love Ry to death..but underway periods remind me what I love about him. It works for us..maybe not for others..but when he is gone..we have to talk..via email, letters, even phone calls. Though I hate those crazy 2 am phone calls from some foreign port with those full or emotion "I love you". I know you Navy wives know! Anyway..underway always rebuilds Ryan and mine relationship! BUT the man has not been on a boat..or underway for almost five years! Let's say not the ideal situations for me! They say I should learn to embrace that he is home. Of course as soon as I get around to that..Ry will be assigned to a boat..and the three year sea tour will start. BUT then Ryan got picked up for Engineering Duty Officer. Of course my husband gets selected for something that he will never get underway for! AARRGGH! But it's okay..it's Grad School. In a field he wanted! So if I have to have him at home..at least it is in a job he loves! Hopefully in Cali. But after this year..if we choose to cash in our EDO option..Ryan will only have one more sea tour. Another silly part to us...Hawaii isn't some place we really want to go back to. I know..insane right? What Hawaii girl doesn't want to go home? This one. I'd love to go home and visit. But I don't want to live there. It gets so comfortable. If we move back right now..my daddy is retired..and it would be perfect. Daddy would love to run around and get the girls to this and that. Tyra would be playing basketball for a program that I LOVE..with coaches that I TRUST. Traysea and Nanea would have the chance to grow up in Hawaii. The down side...everything in Hawaii is the same. But I would love lunch with Mayumi...Saturday clinic..basketball games! ALL OF IT! Okay..I am going to stop before I start to cry. Anyway..I should go already..enough sitting around...right..those breakfast dishes are starting to call my name!
Love you guys
xoxo
ronee

Coaster box that I made at Michelle's

So as promised here are the pictures of the coaster box we made at Michelle's house the other day! Gail brought the coasters and all the paper. Isn't the K and Company paper pretty gorgeous?
Look how awesome it is inside. It's divided! I can't remember off who's blog we got that idea from...but it was a pretty awesome thought! Then at stamp camp the last time Kim's friend Wendy came up with the idea of pushing in the bottom coaster to stabilize the entire box. It is pretty awesome!

Then as a final touch she brought the template on how to lace up the sides. I used raffia. I thought it matched the box pretty well. Plus I love raffia. I think it might be my island roots!
I love it. I think that I am going to make a few of these..for what I don't know yet..but I can't just let the coasters I bought sit around and take up space! Gail has a bind it all..I think we should have to go over there and play with it a bit!
See you soon Gail Owens!

*Party favors*

So today I was a good wife and didn't go to the scrapbook store...it was again with the must create before you get more things! SO today I created. Trysha's party is Saturday so I needed to get those party favors finished. Thanks to my wonderful friend Felicia, she mentioned to me that Target has these favor boxes in the dollar bin that might be perfect. So I head there, after I take the kids to Chuckie's...target is across the parking lot...and bought them all. I was figuring it was better to have too many, then not enough! Because I was going to make the popcorn boxes from the circut's tags and more. After racking my brain for two days..this is what my final project looks like!

Aren't they cute! They make the window sill in my craft room look so cute! I decided to stay with the monogram theme and put them on the favor boxes. I decided to use SU's retired set "Tall Tales". I love this alphabet! I also used the Happy Birthday from SU's Eat Cake set. I love that set.
I know they are a bit girlie, but it is Trysha's birthday. The boys will have to deal with the cute primas! I can't wait till this weekend!