Random Scraps

Dec/Jan Cricut Magazine Monthly Challenge

2012-02-05T18:33:00.010-05:00

Here is my project for the monthly challenge for the Cricut Circle Magazine. We could create any project we wanted to, but we had to use Cricut Craft Room, the free online design tool offered by Cricut.com. So for this challenge I used 2 different carts to cut designs for a history fair project display board. You will never guess what carts I found these images on... Go ahead try and guess... (I'll wait.)

Disney Classic for the artist palette
Nate's ABC's for the paint brushes and paint pot

Yep! Totally not the carts I would have expected to find cuts like these on. Just goes to show that being a Cricut cart collector pays off. You just never know what cart is going to have the perfect cut for a project you are working. :)

Shaker card for Cricut Weekly Challenge #41

2011-09-29T22:41:00.004-05:00

This week's challenge was to create an interactive card. Cricut Cart used to make this card: Elegant Edges. Paper, cardstock & ribbon: Joann's. Spangles: Target $ spot. Stamps: Studio G. Acetate for Shaker: Plastic Cricut cart packaging. Pop dots: Scotch foam tape.

Best part of this challenge: I love how this turned out. Even if it looks nothing like what I planned. Worst part: Apparently when I am sick, I can not convert EST to MST in my head and missed the deadline to submit it. :( Oh well! You win some and you loose some.

I saw my banner!

2011-09-22T19:30:00.004-05:00

On Jinger Adams's facebook page... They are getting ready to judge the contest. Winners will be announced on HSN on Sept 26th.

HSN Cricut Banner Challenge

2011-09-21T10:59:00.004-05:00

Ok so I've known about this contest/challenge for a while now. But in typical me fashion, I waited until the very last minute to get started on my entries. < I probably shouldn't admit this. > Yes I said entries. I was going to make two banners for this challenge, a paper one and a fabric one. Unfortunately when you wait until the last minute to start a project, things don't always go as planned. Sometimes things like kids, pets, laundry, dinner, Internet, sleep, etc... take time away from crafting. So although I planned, sketched and designed out two entries, I only had time to make one. But I love the one I made and it's all good.

For today I am just posting a quick peak of my banner. Once the contest is over I will post more details, etc. I created most of it using Cricut Craftroom, which I LOVE! (Yes I could have used my gypsy, but that screen is hard on my eyes.) CCR and I are fast becoming BFF's. Where have you been all my life CCR?

Now my cable company and I not so much. They came to "fix" a cable tv problem we were having and all was fine and dandy until 20 minutes after the Mr. Cable man left. My ENTIRE house went out. NO cable tv - ok, I can live without that, NO phone - same, I can live without that, BUT NO INTERNET - NOT A GOOD THING! I am joined at the hip to my Internet. And CCR needs internet. UGH!!!

Long story short, I was able to get Mr Cable man to return and he did get everything back up and working but ummm there were a few tense moments there. Like... I screwed up this piece of my banner and I need to re-cut it, and while I have the cartridge I have no idea what size I cut it CCR. I can guesstimate it, but I know it wasn't a nice round number. It was something like 4.875 or 5.097... And my Expression only does whole numbers. So ya! It was touch and go there for a while.

But my plan all came together. :) Now this isn't the greatest picture. It have something to do with me taking it at 3am with my cell phone and it being inside with wonderful fluorescent lights blaring. But a girl does what she's gotta do. p.s. Don't you just love my beach towel backdrop that I hung from one of the kids old science fair project boards using clothespins. Not very pretty, but if nothing else working at 3am teaches you to be inventive.

Details...

2011-09-16T00:50:00.005-05:00

There is nothing like waiting until the last minute to work on a project. And that is definitely true for this weeks Cricut Circle Challenge. The challenge this week(#40) was to create a card using this sketch along with two cricut cuts. And well since I just got my MS All Occasion cart, that was the cart I choose to use. I used the balloons from page 39 and the word "celebrate" from page 57. I altered both images using Cricut Craft Room. I stretched them both out a bit to make them long and skinny. After all who wouldn't like to be tall and skinny.

I will tell you, think I love CCR more than I love my Gypsy. Yes it gets a little cranky every now and then, but it's so much easier to see what you are doing. And well for someone like me who can barely see with their glasses on that is a huge bonus. Now that's not saying I don't love my gypsy, cause I do. :)

As to what papers I used for this project, no clue. Ok well that's not entirely true. I do know all the cardstock is from Joann's. But the confetti paper and the birthday cake paper were both from my scrap bin. So your guess is as good as mine. How about this? It's old, "old" paper. :) Add in some pop dots, a Signo white pen, some crochet thread and some ink and there you have it. Later it's after 2am and I'm going to be worthless tomorrow. But at least I made the deadline. :)

p.s. If you are wondering where the card is, well it's in the previous post. Blogger got an update or something and I'm not driving myself crazy trying to combine posts. It is, what it is. ;)

Birthday Card using MS All Occasion Cake Art

2011-09-16T00:34:00.006-05:00

Patience, pays off.

2011-09-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

As does checking in at your favorite msg boards on a regular basis. So I have been wanting the MS All Occasion Cake Cartridge for quite some time now. But it was one of the elusive harder to find/get carts. You know the ones that you can only get in xyz bundle when you buy a xyz special edition machine. I think this one was exclusive to a MS Cricut cake machine bundle, yada yada.

Anyway.. It has some great borders on it. Think all those famous MS punches that have a way of jumping into my cart when I am at Michael's. And it was never for sale at a reasonable price, aka $20 or less (that is my self imposed limit on carts I want, but don't necessarily "need" for a particular project.) And then one day this past week low and behold a fellow Cricut Circle member posted about some sale MS carts she found on HSN. So off I go to check it out figuring that now that the info it has hit the msg board they are going to be sold out. But wait, they aren't! So long story short, guess what I am holding in my hot little hands. Yep one very pretty MS All Occasions Cake Cart. Thank you msg board friends! You are so good, at enabling me. Although I will admit I am weak and easily swayed by a really good deal on scrapbooking pretties.

Yay! I finally have access to Cricut Craft Room.

2011-09-02T10:26:00.000-05:00

And in just in time to play along with the challenge post on the Cricut Craft Blog. I have to say the challenge was the perfect way for me to learn/figure out how to use the program. I must say I am liking what I am seeing so far. Yes it still has bugs, yes it still hangs my computer and yes it can be painfully slow, but it's a definite improvement to Design Studio. It still has quite a way to go, but then again it is still in BETA testing mode. So I am hopeful...

I used George to make the box, (rounded square, stars and phrase) since I've read there are some problems with various carts and CCR. I wasn't taking any chances a different cart wouldn't work. And I did grumble when CCR had to update my Expression and then it wouldn't cut and kept giving me error messages and telling me the cart wasn't loaded when it was. But we finally made nice with each other and there you have it. Way to go PC!

And just in case you want to see what my screen looked like before I sent the file to the cutter, here you go!

Comfort Food...

2011-07-14T18:25:00.000-05:00

Rice a Roni ...the San Francisco treat. I grew up on this stuff. It was my mom's base for an all in one dish. I never really paid any attention to exactly how she made it. All I remember is it started with one or maybe it was 2 boxes of Rice a Roni. She then added a lot more rice. White, I think? But I don't really know. I just know she made a lot of it. And I loved the leftovers, cold right out of the fridge. It was good the first day, but it was better cold the second day.

To the Rice a Roni she'd add some chopped up chicken. Might have been leftover chicken, but I don't really know. And a big bag of frozen peas. Now the peas I remember, because they were my favorite part. Yes. I liked and still do like peas. I was a strange kid. What can I say? All I remember is that there were never enough peas in this dish. And when she wasn't looking I would pick out and eat as many peas as I could. Cold peas, rice and chicken doesn't sound very yummy, but I loved the stuff. Couldn't wait for it to get cold. It would be my midnight snack and then breakfast the next day. Now I'm sure she must have added some additional spices (salt at the very least) or something, but I couldn't tell you what.

Fast forward numerous years and I make this for my hubby. He hates peas. Ok lets be honest. He hates all veggies. So, just like I do for the kids, I make his w/o the peas. Just rice and chicken and he grudgingly eats it. He ONLY likes white rice. Yep, plain white rice. UGH!!!! Ok, I get it's food from my childhood, so it means more to me than it does to him. But give me a break, what's not to like about salty (his fav) rice and chicken. But I digress...

So, my hubby is traveling for work. Two of my three kids, the picky ones, are not home and it's just me and my son. He loves peas (especially the ones in sauce) and he likes Rice a Roni. Chicken is ok, he'd prefer a good steak. But it's lunch time and I'm hungry and he is too. I open the fridge and spy leftover chicken breasts. I look in the pantry and spy the sad lonely box of Rice a Roni. The one I can never make w/o certain people grumbling. Hummm.... they aren't here. A quick check to make sure I have peas. And a lunch plan is conceived.

My ds looks at me and says what are you cooking. I cringe slightly. Knowing full well I plan to put peas and chicken in the Rice a Roni. We almost never ever eat it and most certainly not the way I plan to make it today. (See above - picky eaters.) But my picker eaters aren't home. I calmly say Rice a Roni. He says Yes! I love that stuff! with so much enthusiasm I feel guilty knowing I plan to "ruin" it. I silently pray he's ok with it. Twenty minutes later it's ready. I say, I put peas in it. He says, I love peas, especially the ones with sauce! (God I love this kid!) I say no sauce, he shrugs. Then, he eats two bowls full as do I. A bit later, he asks what we are having for dinner. I say the leftovers. Now of course there is just one tiny problem... there may not be any leftovers for dinner. I love cold Rice a Roni and lunch was a long time ago...

It's always something...

2011-07-07T21:29:00.000-05:00

So I spent yesterday at the vet. We had reached the end of the line with him. Cat 100, Patience -0-. It's been a long time coming.... 7 1/2 years. And too many dog beds, backpacks, baskets of clean laundry, newspaper bins, throw pillows, comforters, etc to count. Not to mention my two white upholstered spinney chairs. God how I loved those chairs! They spun and rocked and where just so cool. But I digress. His latest... Hubby's dry cleaning, several dress shirts and 3 suits.

So I explained it all to the vet. I feel like my hands are tied. We can't do this anymore. He can't become an outside cat. It cost me $1000 the one time he opened the front door and we didn't catch him right away. Cat fight + declawed cat = big vet bill + $ to change door hardware so cat can't open it anymore. Darn smart cat. Can't tell you how many times he's set off the alarm system trying to open doors.

So they test him. They know, I've used this last ditch effort before. Last time. Last time, he was fine and we just regrouped and went into prevention mode. It got better for a while. But we got lax. There is only so much prevention mode you can do before someone makes a mistake or forgets or is in a hurry. It's been a long 7 1/2 years and instead of getting better it's getting worse. We are done. But we wanted to give him the benefit of doubt. We needed to know we did everything we could. So I explained... Long story short, if there isn't something wrong... urinary tract infection, bladder infection, etc. We are done.

Well be careful what you ask for. The results are back. He is a type 2 diabetic with possible hyperthyroidism. He needs insulin shots 2x a day and a high protein special diet. He needs to eat before/after each shot. Life just got a whole lot more complicated. We go tomorrow to see just how complicated.

Mom, wherever you are, I know you are laughing. You were right. I should have become a vet.

Rome 2010

2011-06-01T12:49:00.001-05:00

There were lots of impressive and memorable things that we saw in Rome this year. But this was by far my favorite... The Top Achiever's Lunch. We toured the Prince's Palace and then walked into this gorgeous dining hall for a white glove lunch. This photo doesn't even do it justice.

It's been 17 years...

2011-05-29T10:04:00.000-05:00

Since the diagnosis... Meningioma.
I reflect this time every year.
It was Memorial Day weekend.
I couldn't bend or feel my pinkie and hadn't been able to for a while.
I thought it was carpal tunnel.
It didn't hurt or really bother me but, I was starting to have trouble typing.
I was a computer programmer. Being able to type helps. :)
Still, I only mentioned it in passing, as is this normal?
It was an after thought, really. My appt was already over.
I was 7 months pregnant.
There were 4 or 5 different teams of doctors in the OR.
It was a teaching hospital.
I was an unusual case. Pregnant + Meningioma + No Symptoms = Unusual
I saw more doctors, and residents, and nurses than I could count.
You would have thought the door to my room was a turn style.
I lost sensation and fine motor control in my left hand.
My son was born 2 weeks late, 2 1/2 months later.
I have a wicked scar, aka bald spot.
Neurosurgeons aren't the best hairdressers or hairstyle planners.
I was lucky.

50% off Michael's Coupon

2011-05-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

Did you say Chandelier?

2011-05-27T09:08:00.000-05:00

What chandelier? Oh, that one... the one that almost knocked you unconscious! Well that's why you should NOT be standing underneath or even near a chandelier. It could fall. Ok, it might fall. OH!! All right, all already! It did fall. Out of nowhere. Luckily you were able to deflect it. Even luckier you weren't hurt. Not even by the flying glass that went everywhere. And surprisingly enough there are only a few scratches on my table. NO scratches or cuts on you. And the tile ceramic floor tile escaped unharmed. Note to self: Do not vacuum the floor just before a chandelier is going to fall. You will have to do it all over again! And you will have to do an even better job than you did the first time. Little bits of shattered glass from the chandelier and light bulbs will go not only into the kitchen and living room, but they will even make it to the dining room. Enough said. Do not stand under or by chandeliers, that my friends is your PSA for the day.

No more junk...

2011-05-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

I need to stop lying to myself. No more telling myself I am buying the ____ (insert junkie snack of your choice here) for the kids. The truth is... If I buy it, I will eat it.

I may not eat all of it, but I will do my best to eat my fair share of it. It doesn't matter that I'm not crazy about the spicy chips or the sour gummy worms, etc, etc. If I buy them, and they are sitting there, and I'm looking for a snack, I still manage to eat them. Yes children, your mother has no will power. There I said it. I've taken the first step. Right?! So my dear children, as the stash of junk is depleted it will not be replaced. I am sorry, but it is for your own good. OK, my own good too!

Saturation...

2011-05-22T12:12:00.004-05:00

You know you have reached saturation when you pass up a garage sale at one of your favorite haunts. I miss the anticipation of never knowing what you will find. The rush of a really good deal. Finding that perfect something that you didn't know you needed until you saw it. I wish I would have gone. But know that it's good that I didn't. The temptation would have been to much to resist. I would have found stuff that I "needed"....LOL! Don't worry I haven't given them up altogether! I just need to get better organized so that I can see and use what I have. Then I'll be able to justify doing some shopping. :)

Wrap it Up Cheat Sheet

2011-05-21T11:57:00.004-05:00

I really liked this cheat sheet posted on-line and wanted a safe place to put it so I could find it again. I like how the images are divided into their ten themes rather than just listed willy nilly, like they are on the back of the cart box. So I am saving a copy here for me and for anyone else that might find this useful. :)

Dog Free Zone...,

2011-05-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

Well it's been about a month now that we have had a dog free zone. And well my cats are loving it! Who knew that if you wanted friendly lap cats all you had to do was send the dogs on vacation? Seriously! I went from seeing the cats only when I put out food or shook the treat bag to having 1 serious lap cat (ok she was always a serious lap cat, but even more so now), 2 semi-lap cats and one that I now see more than once a day. And my dogs? They are loving life. They moved up in the world. They got couch privileges, daily play time and probably most important to them free belly rubs. The only down side no table scraps. And I bet that means no clean out the fridge snacks. Not a bad trade off if you are a dog. Plus they do have visiting privileges, much to my cats' dismay.

I will tell you I am still getting used it. It's weird to get home and not have to tell one of the kids to let them out to go potty. Plus every afternoon around 2 pm, I still go to let them out. And as much as it annoyed me, I find it weird to have someone knock and not have them bark. Add to that the pool cleaner guy totally scared the daylights out of me the other day. That would never have happened before. The dogs would have been sounding the alarm the second he pulled up to the curb. And I still can't used to scrapping all the table scraps into the trash. I catch myself almost everyday getting ready to say put that in dogs' bowl. It's feels almost sinful now when I clean out my fridge. All the yummy bits hitting the trash. The hamburger that everyone was too full to eat and then no one wanted leftover. The last few spoonfuls of rice or the leftover gravy now get washed down the sink. But I know that they are happy and obviously my kitties are too. It was a win/win all around especially for their new owners. Who are really enjoying them and teaching them new tricks. Like how to sit still to have leash put on and to speak if you want a doggy treat.

I think they are coming for a visit this weekend... ps. Above is a picture of Maggie. I don't have any cute pics of Mitzi on this computer.

Celebrations, Celebrations, Celebrations...and lots of rambling.

2011-05-19T09:43:00.000-05:00

May is a busy, busy month around here. But if you are a kid it is sweet - sugary sweet heaven. It's the month where is seems like every other day we are celebrating someone's birthday. We have 8 - count them 8 birthdays/celebrations in May...
my youngest daughter's
my hubby's
mine - woo hoo!
my mother in law's
my father in law's
the kids' cousin (who also happens to have a b-day on the exact same day as my daughters)
my in laws anniversary
Then throw in mother's day just for good measure, because we haven't had enough cake my then and you have one serious sweet tooth.

So what's the point of this post? Well I was going to post pics of last night's dinner celebration, but ummm I forgot to take any. Bad, scrapbooker. Hey I was too busy trying all the yummy food we ordered for dinner. And then sampling all the yummy desserts. So we went to Bar Louie for happy hour. We had just about one of every thing.... Calamari, Buffalo Chicken, Sliders, Pretzel Sticks, Shrimp Skewers, Veggie Pizza, Mexican Soup, Pot Stickers, etc... Then we hit the desserts, Death by Choc Brownie (not it's real name - but very yummy), Banana Pudding (not so good), and some kind of Choc Marshmellow Smore Thing (just ok imo) but my kids had no problem eating them. My favorite of the night was the veggie pizza. It was right up my alley. Lots of broccoli, onions, peppers, mushrooms, with just a tiny bit of cheese. Doing a little happy dance. I love it when I find something I really like out.

Oh so where was I? Oh yes we were celebrating my in-laws birthday's and their anniversary. And I forgot to take pics (I even made sure I brought the camera - ugh!). So the week before when we were out (see previous post) my mother in law was talking about restaurants and how she really want to go to Bern's Steak house. So me (feeling all sneaky and on top of things) immediately text my hubby, while we were out to dinner with them! I know bad table manners. But hey, I would have forgotten if I didn't text or write it down or something. Gift idea your parents = Bern's gift cert. Now let me just say this was really not so terrible as hubby forgot his phone at home (While the Orioles were ON! I think he did it on purpose. i.e No will power. He would have had to watch them. But that is just between me and you.) so I knew he wouldn't get the text until later. And long story short... that is what "WE" got them. Ok well that is what "hubby" got them as he had to do all the leg work of actually getting the gift certificate AND the card. Yes he went there and me being the nice wife I am I let it slide. ;)

Hummm... first real post in I don't know how long and all I am doing is rambling on and on and on. God Bless You! if you have read this far. Not really sure what the point of this post was. I guess maybe a jumping off point for journaling a layout w/o any pictures. Humm... may I can take a pic of my cell phone with the text message on it. Sounds like a plan. Got to go! Got to get the camera before I delete the text message from my phone. Have great one!

Did you hear?

2011-05-18T10:01:00.001-05:00

There's a new Cricut Blog come to town. The new OFFICIAL Cricut Blog is being launched today! Check it all out here... Cricut Blog.

Cantina Laredo

2011-05-11T15:47:00.000-05:00

We have relatives in town that we haven't seen in forever. Hi Kevin & Joan! Luckily we live in a vacation state, so they are here vacationing. We are meeting them at Cantina Laredo for dinner. Not exactly FL cuisine. But I love, love, love their guacamole!

Happpy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T13:09:00.002-05:00

There's no place like home.

2011-04-16T13:50:00.005-05:00

OK something else is wrong with my blog. I can't get my paragraphs to stay as paragraphs and it all becomes on long blog of text. Sorry. So sorry! I don't know how to fix this... I'm back in town. And let me tell you while traveling for pleasure is fun. Doing so for business is not quite so fun. And well combining the two just makes one truly appreciate coming home. I don't know how my dh does it. We were gone for almost two weeks with 3 timezone changes and well my body doesn't know if it's coming or going. 3 days later and I still can't sleep at night and I'm tired all day. I will tell you I am almost through the laundry but forget about the rest of the house. It will have to wait. It's all I can do to think about cooking dinner. I'm so over eating out/take out food. I want real food plain and simple. But I really don't feel like cooking it. Tired, bone acking tired. Hopefully I will be back to normal soon. I really don't mind cooking and prefer cooking at home to eating out. Food I like, prepared how I like it. It's the simple things that make me happy. :) And for more randomness because I'm lucky if I can string together a complete thought... My kitties do indeed love me. Alright I sort of knew that, but didn't realize just how much they love me. And they "really" did miss me. In fact my standoff-ish cat, Midge who I thought mearly just tolerated me came running, yes running to see me when she realized I was home. And my snuggly one, Roxy will not let me out of her sight. She had a fit when I closed the bathroom door and she couldn't get in. I was our of her sight for less than 5 minutes. Crazy I tell you. Now my kids on the other hand, it was all they could do, to give me a hug. But I kind of expected that. They are teenagers of course. Although my girls certainly made up for it when I gave them their souvenirs. While not quite their exact words, my one dd said something to the effect of mom you pick the best souvenirs, so much better than dad. :) I just love that comment. It was said with true feeling before she actually realized what she was saying and thought to censor it for some teenage wise crack. Murano glass heart necklaces from Sorrento, Italy are apparently better than t-shirts. :) (Although I did buy my son a t-shirt. He loves t-shirts as proven by the fact that he wore it to school the next day. Although Europeans are tiny people I bought him an XXL and he told me it was too small. ) Anyway, Shhh don't tell my 2 dd's that their necklaces were cheaper than t-shirts. ;) Or that I bought them because I wanted something that might actually last and get used by them. The ever practical mom in me. Plus they were just sooooo pretty and unique. Maybe that's why I bought 6 of them. Dh didn't care he just wanted to get out of the store... Small colorful sparkly glass I could have spent all afternoon in there. I'm easy to please. I walked right past the leather purses and custom shoe booths. But pretty glass jewerly called my name. Ok I've got to try and get something done before I take a nap. :) I really need a nap...

Poor Unloved Blog

2011-03-18T11:54:00.002-05:00

I spent quite a bit of time setting you up and customizing you. But then I forgot about you and stopped updating you. I stopped by today while looking for something only to find that half of your customizations no longer work. I no longer remember how or have the time to fix them. So I deleted them. And I assigned you a boring blogger template. I know it's not pretty or fancy or anything but it's a lot better than a bunch of photobucket will no longer display your image blobs and error msgs and such. I am sorry. I will fix you and get back to updating you, just not today. Soon, I hope...

Comin up for air...

2010-07-30T09:00:00.003-05:00

I just finished Karen Moning's Highlander series. Series as in seven books long. Good sized ones at probably 500 pages each . In guess what? 4 days!!!! I have the best husband in the world! He let me just sit in my favorite corner and read! With occasional breaks for food of course, OK and some laundry. But still. And my kids, well they love when mom's nose in buried in a book. She forgets to tell them to do stuff like clean their rooms, vacuum etc... Anyway, What a great series! I loved it almost as much as her Dreamfever series.

What I liked, no make that LOVED BEST about the Highlander series was that although the story continued on in each book, there were no serious cliff hangers. You know where you are absolutely dying to know what happens next. So in theory I could have (if I really wanted to) finished one book and done something around the house w/o dying to know what happened next. That was so not the case in the Dreamfever series. I barely set one book down before I picked up the next one. Good, but not so good. Actually if I would have realized that the fever series ended in a cliff hanger, I wouldn't have read it. I thought at the time that the series was complete. I hate being left in the lurch in a book series and try to only read series that are complete. And with that said I am waiting for the release of Shadowfever. Bummer that it doesn't come out until Jan 2011. Anyway, Got to go! I've got a 2 week's worth chores waiting for me. But it was worth it! :)

Fixed it

2010-07-24T10:19:00.002-05:00

I don't know when or how it happened, but I ended up with an annoying "photo has been removed" message screwing up all my blog posts. It took me a while to figure out what was causing it. It turned out to be something with my background. I didn't know how to fix it, so I took it as the universe's way of telling me it was time for a new background.

I was kind of excited though. It gave me an excuse to play around with the new backgrounds offered by Basic Grey. But unfortunately, I couldn't figure them out. Bummer! So my new background is from Shabby Blogs. They are free and SB make it super simple to just copy, paste and drop in the new background. Basic Grey not so much. BG backgrounds are jpg files, which I'm sure work if you know what you are doing, but I don't. I need someone to hold my hand and walk me through the process and Shabby Blogs does just that. Thanks SB! :)

Marshmallow Catapult

2010-06-27T22:42:00.006-05:00

We made these this weekend. And well all I can say is FUN FUN FUN! But DO NOT make them in the evening, while it is raining outside. The catapultees (Is that even a word? Catapult shooters maybe?) will want to use them ASAP and well like I said do not make them when the kids can't take them outside.

Now if you happen to have two dogs like mine, that like marshmallows, this may not be a problem. But I don't recommend marshmallows for dogs. Now my dogs did eat a few, and they don't seem to have been harmed by them. But I still wouldn't recommend it. p.s. I limited the kids to only 2-3 marshmallows each in the house to make sure they retrieved the ones they shot. Before the dogs got them. ;) But the dogs are quick and they caught on to the game pretty fast.

So we made these catapults. It was pretty easy. All you need are 2 pencils, a milk or Gatorade cap, 2 rubber bands, scissors, 1/2 a pipe cleaner, scotch tape and an empty tissue box. Oh and of course a bag of large marshmallows. For me the hardest part was waiting until I had 4 empty tissue boxes - one for each of us, 'cause well, mom wanted to play too. And well it always helps to have a demo model to learn form and make mistakes on. :)

The assembly of them took about 30 minutes. Ok probably closer to 10 minutes per catapult, but I was putting mine together and helping everyone else at the same time. It does help to have a buddy when you need to tie the pencils together, but other than that it was easy peazy.

And the fun and laughter than ensued was totally worth having marshmallows shot all over my house. Ok I made them keep it downstairs, so the war stayed mostly on the tile. Think kids chasing each other shooting marshmallows, while dogs chase kids and bark. Kids collapsing on the chairs from laughter or returning to the kitchen to made adjustments and then testing them on mom. We easily spent 2 hours messing around with these things and both my girls took theirs to their room for safe keeping for more fun tomorrow.

My son killed his. Actually he declared them lame because they don't exactly shoot straight, more like they shoot down, but if you tilt the front up you can get some decent distance. Hey it's a tissue box, pencils and rubber bands. It's not high tech. The girls and I still had fun and killed a couple of hours with them. Directions for them are here.

Back in town.

2010-06-11T12:44:00.002-05:00

OK I've actually been back in town for a few days already. But it's taken me this long to fully recover from the weekend Cause for Paws Crop. Yes I stayed up waaaayyyy toooo late. And then woke up way to early to do it all again the next day etc., etc. By the end I was running on pure caffeine, aka coffee! You know that caffeine/coffee addiction that I had beaten? Well it's back! And I'm seriously paying the price.

All in all though, it was a great fun filled weekend with lots of good friends - both old and new, adorable make and takes, and great classes. Although I only took one class - they all looked amazing! If I didn't have other projects I wanted to work on, I could easily have taken them all! Way to cute!

And the food... Well, if you like going out to dinner you would have loved the meals!!! Each one was a catered sit down meal with a yummy dessert included. I think the choc choc bar cookie whatever it was on the last day was my favorite dessert. Although the mega sized choc chip cookie was a close second. It took me all weekend to eat that bad boy! :)

If you missed this crop, you missed a seriously good time. It included two movies which we watch via a HUGE TV sound system. Then there was the live auction with a wide range of items to bid on. A beautiful picture, a computer, on-line classes, purses, etc... A karaoke contest and of course raffle prizes. I think there were like 50 or so raffle prizes. Some really cute stuff, stamps, software, camera stuff, etc., you name it. Not to mention lots of door prizes to be won. I think everyone won a little something.

The crop room was open 24 hours - so if you could run on little to no sleep you could essentially crop for like 72 hours straight. I know because one night I closed the crop room at something like 3 or 4am. Not a smart move on my part, because I was hurting the next day. Hence my renewed caffeine addiction.

Anyway the next crop is schedule for Jan 2011. So mark you calendars and start saving your pennies if you need to. It's a not to be missed fun filled adventure. And the best part, all the $ paid and raised go to help the animal shelter. What could be better! :) Later!

Cause for the Paws Crop

2010-06-03T08:14:00.005-05:00

Woo Hoo! I'm currently packing the car and getting ready for a girlfriends weekend away. We are all headed to Sebring for the annual Cause for the Paws Crop. It's a fund raiser crop where the total $ raised goes to help the local animal shelter. What could be better than that? Cropping for the weekend and helping my beloved furry friends! I mean it's not like a have a cat or two or three or even a dog times two, not to mention the snake and bearded dragon. Yeah! We just have a "few" pets. Anyway, the crop doesn't officially start until tomorrow so if you are game and want a last minute getaway give the Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring a call or check out the Cause for the Paws blog here. They might be able to squeeze you in. ;)

My kids? Oh ya! They are doing the happy dance. Daddy is running the show for the weekend. You know what that means... take out (Mc Donald's, pizza, buffalo wings and Chinese) is on the menu. Yes I did stock the house with fresh fruit, veggies and other nutritious food. But most of that will probably not be touched with a ten foot pole. Why do I have to be the food police? Oh well not going to worry about it. I tried. Anyway... Gotta go. Stuff to pack...

p.s. Happy Belated Birthday Pop Pop!

Lots of May B-day's

2010-05-22T12:52:00.002-05:00

As I was scrolling through my blog today I noticed that it seems like all I ever post about are b-days. Sorry about that, but May is just one BIG b-day month for my family. :) Stay tuned because guess what tomorrow is? Yep another b-day! Want to try and guess whose b-day is tomorrow? Leave me a comment. I'll be back tomorrow with the answer....

Happy B-day Grammy!

2010-05-16T14:58:00.003-05:00

Today is my dh's mom's birthday and well I just couldn't let it pass w/o wishing her a very Happy Birthday! So Happy Birthday one very special Grammy! We love you more than you know!

Currently Obsessed with...

2010-05-02T20:35:00.004-05:00

Waffles. I've finally got them down pat. For a while there they were tasting like bland cardboard and I was ready to give up on them. Then they where too eggy. I don't like eggs. Really, not at all! I can eat them, and I do every once in a while, but I really don't like them. And then miracle of miracles, I read somewhere to add sugar and vanilla to the boxed mix and Voila! Perfection! Yes I know you can easily make waffles from scratch - but I can't be bothered. It's easier to just doctor the boxed mix. Seriously! Especially when I am only half awake to begin with. :)

Here's the secret...
Add a teaspoon full of sugar to the boxed mix for each 1 cup of mix and 1/4 tsp vanilla per 2 cups of mix. Cook for 4 minutes on the George Foreman. Top w/ powdered sugar, strawberries and whipped cream, and a few choc chips. Although I seriously doubt I should call them breakfast. They taste more like dessert. YUMMY!

Sorry no pictures. We were too busy eating them to take a pic. Maybe next time!

Happy Birthday Honey!

2010-05-01T10:42:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to the man that rocks my world! You are my one and only! Love you! :)

Happy Birthday Princess!

2010-04-27T22:02:00.003-05:00

Today in honor of dd's birthday we made rainbow cupcakes for school tomorrow. I'd seen the recipe posted on someones blog. (Sorry I don't remember whose.) Anyway, I made a mental note that my kids would probably think they were pretty cool. And well with the crazy busy week I've been having I need to pull out some WOW! for tomorrow is dd's birthday and well, it is looking pretty sad. As in she really only has one token present to open tomorrow morning, and it's a pretty cheesy one at that. Don't worry! She won't lack for presents - it's just that they are all things she needs to pick out. Aka... new clothes, a new bike (she's out grown her old one), etc. And well it just didn't happen. We never made it out shopping. She's ok with it. As she told me, "Mom, it's ok. I'm not four anymore you know." And I know she really is ok with it, but still. I have serious mommy guilt. So that's where the cupcakes come in. Mommy guilt. And add to the fact that this afternoon I realized this will be that last time I bake cupcakes or brownies to send to school for my baby's birthdays. No one brings in cupcakes and brownies for their class in middle school. Sniff, sniff. So I wanted this last year to be memorable and something different, something over the top. Ok maybe not over the top. That's stretching it, but at least something cool and unique and different.

An aside here. I am not Betty Crocker. Not even close. But I can whip up a box mix like nobody's business. And well years ago I learned a secret. So long as it's fresh. As in just made and it looks good - aka it's fun. Aka it uses three or more of these choc icing, sprinkles, mini M&M's or mini choc chips, the kids will love it. Seriously! In fact I even had a mom one day flag me down after I dropped my kids off at school to get my secret brownie recipe. Apparently her son told her I made the best brownies he'd ever had. And apparently he'd been in my son's class a few years and had sampled my brownies on more than one occasion. Yup! My box mix. The best brownies ever! It's all in the presentation! ;) She didn't believe me when I said it's a box mix. But shh... The secret.... shhh.... you can't tell anyone...

Make a box fudge brownie mix. Top with choc icing then liberally cover in sprinkles. Then add mini m&m's and a handful or two of mini choc chips. What's not to love? Choc, sprinkles and m&m's. Those are my favs. Aren't they yours?

Alright back to the cupcake recipe...
I used, are you ready for this? A box mix. Betty Crocker? Duncan Hines? Not sure whose. It was a red box if that helps. The recipe said to use a 19 1/2 ounce mix. Mine was 18 or so ounces. Mine was vanilla because I bought it to make cookies. But that's another story. Anyway the recipe said white. Vanilla is close enough to white in my book. So that's where you start with a box mix. I had to make 27 cupcakes. So I used two mixes. I only ended up with 32 cupcakes total. But I hate! HATE! As in despise the mom's who bring in whimpy cupcakes that barely even reach the top of the cupcake wrapper. Why bother? Spring for the extra box of cake mix. Seriously it's like $2. I seriously don't know how you can get 24 cupcakes out of 1 box of cake mix. I never have. And honestly, I only got 32 because we all wanted to try them. 27 for school and 5 for quality control taste testing. I usually only get 15 from a box. Anyway, Where was I? Oh ya! Recipe:

Rainbow Cupcakes
1 white or vanilla cake mix - approx 18-19oz.
3 eggs
1 cup of water
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
food coloring (They recommended gel food coloring? They said it gave a brighter color. I didn't have any. So I used liquid food coloring. You know in the little bottles. They come 4 to a pack for like $3)

So you mix up your cake mix as per the box directions. My mix actually called for 1 1/4 cups of water. But I left out the last 1/4 cup. I probably should have used it. But I was thinking I was adding liquid food coloring and I didn't want it to be too runny. But I ended up not needing that much. So, once your batter is mixed, divide it evenly into several bowls. One of each color you plan to make. I made blue, green, yellow, red and orange. Like I said, I used liquid food coloring.
1 tsp for blue
1 tsp for green
1 tsp for yellow
orange is 2 parts red and three parts yellow. I used 1/2 tsp red and 3/4 tsp yellow.
1 1/2 -2 tsp red. I started with 1 tsp red, but it wasn't red red. So I added another 1/4 tsp and it still needed more. My red was then almost empty so I just added whatever was left in the bottle.

Now comes the tricky part. Filling your cupcake liners. I used a regular tsp and just sort of spooned one scoop of each color of batter into the cupcake liners. Some got a little more of the color and some got a little less. It wasn't an exact science. But I will tell you that even using just one tsp full of batter of each color really filled my cupcake liners. And that sometimes the one tsp full of batter didn't totally cover the color underneath. You sort of have to spread the batter out with your spoon and even then you will still have some color peek through. It's fine don't worry about it. Ok I didn't worry about it. After a while I just wanted to be done. :)

Bake according to package directions. I did 350 degrees for 15 minutes. When cool icing with vanilla frosting and top with rainbow sprinkles! Enjoy!

p.s. I saw where someone used those choc melts (like from J's or M's) and melted little choc rainbows to put on top of the cupcakes. I wanted to try it, but all I had were red and green choc melts. Oh well next time!

The review: My kids thought the plain baked cupcakes straight from the oven where ugly. The other comment was they look like xmas cupcakes. I had a bunch that had green bubble up to the surface and mix with color I put on top - red. Red and green look like xmas. Makes sense to me. Then I iced them and added sprinkles - well the kids added the sprinkles. Then we ate them. OMG! They were so veryyyy veryyy yummy! And oh so pretty! My kids were truely impressed. How do I know? My other dd said that she was making them and bringing them to middle school next year for her friends for her birthday. Yep! That's the highest compliment you can get. A middle schooler's approval. And yes, they were that cool! If I do say so myself.

Going Mia...

2010-04-14T16:11:00.002-05:00

I'll be MIA for a while. Two books in the Vampire Dairies that I put on hold forever ago at the library - just came in. Add to that, that the photography book I requested is in and well all my spare time in going to be spent reading. (And helping/supervising kids do school projects. Three are due at the end of this month. YIKES! )

But - Oh happy day! This momma loves a good book and I have three. Yay!

Later!

Future Film Makers Beware...

2010-04-07T08:58:00.005-05:00

My dd's are hard at work filming the next box office smash hit... The Eggy Video's. Here is a sneak peek...

Working it...

2010-04-06T15:09:00.000-05:00

My treadmill and I are really getting to know each other. I don't know if we'll ever be best friends, but for now we are learning to get along. It sits in the corner in of my living room and taunts me on days when I ignore it. Do you know how hard it is to enjoy your favorite TV show lounging on the couch when there is a treadmill lounging just a few feet away from the TV? I will tell it it's much easier, if you've worn the treadmill out for the day, by putting in several miles on it. And so the accountability continues...
Monday 2.6 miles 3.7 mph 45 mins
tues 4 miles 3.7 mph 60+ mins
weds 5 miles 3.8 mph .5 incline 80+ mins
thurs 4 miles, .5 incline 60+ mins
fri - rest
sat - rest (ok I was lazy and really just skipped)
sun 4.25 miles .5 incline
mon 6.25 miles .5 incline (watched a movie approx 1.5 hours)
tues 6 miles .5 incline most of it at 3.9 mph (watched another movie)

I will say that adding the small incline definitely makes walking harder. And I was actually shocked today that I was able to do 6 miles without feeling like I was going to die. Yes I was tired, but it was a good tired not an OMG is it over yet tired. Sadly I haven't lost a single pound. But then again with Easter and all the candy and cake other stuff that's be around I'm not the least bit surprised there. On the plus side though I haven't gained a pound either. So I am good with it. Later!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T09:27:00.002-05:00

A man is driving along a highway and sees a rabbit jump out across the middle of the road. He swerves to avoid hitting it, but unfortunately the rabbit jumps right in front of the car. The driver, a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulls over and gets out to see what has become of the rabbit. Much to his dismay, the rabbit is the Easter Bunny, and he is DEAD.

The driver feels so awful that he begins to cry. A beautiful blonde woman driving down the highway, sees the man crying on the side of the road and pulls over. She steps out of the car and asks the man what's wrong. "I feel terrible!" he explains. "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny with my car and KILLED HIM!" She runs to her car and pulls out a spray can. She walks over to the limp, dead Easter Bunny, bends down, and sprays the contents onto him.

The Easter Bunny jumps up, waves its paw at the two of them and hops off down the road. Ten feet away he stops, turns around and waves again. He hops down the road another 10 feet, turns and waves, hops another ten feet, turns and waves, and repeats this again and again and again and again, until he hops out of sight.

The man is astonished. He runs over to the woman and demands, "What is in that can? What did you spray
on the Easter Bunny?!?" The woman turns the can around so the man can read the label. It says...

(Are you ready for this?)

(You know you're gonna be sorry...)

(Last chance!)

(Okay, here it is...)

It says:
Hair Spray
Restores life to dead hair,
and adds permanent wave.

Happy Easter!!!

Fluff Post - Accountability...

2010-03-26T10:55:00.000-05:00

You can skip reading this, seriously. It is a total fluff post. I am only doing it to keep myself accountable to myself. I figure if I make myself admit that I slacked off on my walking/running publicly then I am more likely to do it even when I really don't feel like it.
Thurs - skipped
friday 3.5 miles
sat - skipped (I deep into a cheap and cheesy novel that I just couldn't put down. But I finished it. :) )
sun - skipped (And then I made the mistake of starting another one. Don't I ever learn? LOL)
mon - 3.5 miles
tuesday 3.25 (did day 1 of couch to 5k - why did I start this?)
weds 3.0 (probably should have rested but didn't) Treated myself to a new book - Dark Visions - It's almost 750 pages. I probably shouldn't start it, but I did.
thurs 2.75 miles (ok - really should have rested - it was all I could do to walk at a brisk pace 3.5. And I wanted to stop less than 1/2 a mile in. But I toughed it out - just at a slower pace.) Rewarded myself by spending the day reading. Almost done with Dark Visions. Proud of myself. I even put the book down and went to bed at a reasonable hour. I was asleep before midnight. Shocking I know!
fri - rest day (Judging by yesterday I think I need a rest day.) Finished Dark Visions this morning. And now onto doing some vigorous cleaning and other chores which I've ignored. But no treadmill today - feels weird though to be skipping it. What's up with that?

Walk a Thon

2010-03-17T12:16:00.000-05:00

So this past Saturday I did the Walk on Thon with my dds. It was for a good cause and dd#1 gets credit towards National Junior Honor Society. I think hey, it's a win, win. We get out get, get some fresh air and a little exercise. I mean seriously it's only 5K which is roughly 3 miles. Ok anybody can do that. And we do and I come home tired and a bit sore. Ok that's to be expected. We got up at 6am way earlier than usual for this night owl. Only too discover a few hours later just how sore and tired I really am. I take two Advil and veg for the rest of the day. Those plans I had for Saturday, I write them off. I am beat. I blame it on the fact I went to bed wayyyy to late the night before.

Sunday morning I get up and limp/drag myself to the kitchen to get some much needed Advil. Apparently I'm not in as good of shape as I thought I was. And after the blood starts flowing I feel better. Still a bit achy but I stretch it out and the day whizzes by. But it makes realize that I am out of shape. Apparently going up and down the stairs countless times a day does not count as exercise or at least not as enough exercise. I kind of knew that, but was in denial. And so my treadmill and are getting better acquainted.

Sat - 3 miles at the walk a thon

Sun - rest

Monday 2 miles on the treadmill

Tuesday 2.6 miles

Weds - approx 3 miles possibly more - but I kept hitting the off button instead of the speed button - watching tv while on the treadmill will do that to you.

My goal for right now is to figure out how to run/jog on the treadmill. I am a speed walker by nature. I can easily walk 4 miles an hour. (Well ok 3.8 is comfortable 4.0 requires a bit of effort. ) But I really like it when the little difficulty meter on the treadmill has 3 lines instead of two. And that doesn't happen unless I push it to 4.3 mph and I have a hard time walking that fast. Probably because you are supposed to be jogging by then. But I am jogging challenged. I can't figure out how to jog and breathe and after about 1-2 minutes I am so winded it's all I can do to walk 3 mph. So that's my short term/long term? goal for right now. To be able to do 3 bars on the treadmill for several minutes without feeling like a winded fool. Oh and fitting back into my skinny jeans would be nice side benefit too. ;)

Still around, just been busy...

2010-03-11T09:57:00.000-05:00

Still here, just busy...

Sorting through old pictures. It's hard, really hard. I start to work on them and then I put them off.

Went to a 3 day weekend crop that I really needed. Didn't get much done. Aside from a little shopping and chatting, snacking, etc. But I love the little I did do. A few really fussy, fussy cut layouts. These seem to be my current "thing". I will share once I find the perfect pictures to put on them.

Dd was/has been sick on and off for the entire month of Feb. So I been busy taking her for xrays, blood work, sonograms etc.. while they try and figure it out. Of course as is the case in all sickness, once you go to the Dr you are fine. And so is the case with dd. She has not been sick one day since I took her to the Dr. Why is that? But we still had the tests done anyway, just in case it was/is something serious...

My other dd made National Junior Honor Society and her and I have been busy with all that includes, induction, meetings, volunteering etc.

Dh's travel schedule hasn't let up and if I didn't know better I'd say he was a jack in the box. In, out, in, out, home, gone, home again, gone again. So very thankful though that he has a good job. So I'm not complaining. The kids and I have found our rhythm and while dinner might be a little sketchy sometimes (strawberries, pound cake and ice cream or pancakes and eggs, etc...). It's all good.

Currently obsessed with Cafe World. Can only play the silly game on my laptop, but I am obsessed with catching up to my one friend who is several levels ahead of me. Why? Oh, why do I play these silly games? :)

Alright I'm out of time. Got so this will have to do as a brief update. Later!

Rest in peace mom.

2010-02-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

The call came in the wee hours of the morning. 4:30-5:00 not really sure. I wasn't prepared... even though I knew it was coming. Rest in peace mom. Hope all your four legged friends are there to greet you. I know that would make you happy...

p.s. Happy Valentines Day!

Getting my scrap on...

2010-02-12T15:13:00.001-05:00

OK I've done some scrappy shopping and found some new things that I "needed". I bought some valentiney red paper that well, just called to me. They said buy me! buy me! and I did. That they were on sale, so makes it all the better. It meant I could indulge myself and buy two or more of each one. Why? Well because I was buying it just because I liked it. And well w/o a plan I never know which ones I'll "need" two or more of. And well at 50%, I feel I can indulge myself and splurge on those few extra papers, just in case I "really" need them.

Then a few days later there was a LSS garage sale. And you just know I had to go. I love me a good garage sale. Actually I don't know if there is such a thing as a bad garage sale. Granted some are better than others, but even at the not so hot ones I usually find a few things I "need". And well this one was no exception, especially since I'm getting my scrap back on and feeling the creative juices again. I didn't buy a lot, just a few stamps and same papers, oh and a few bits and pieces of misc stuff that I really didn't need. Some stuff caught my eye, but I passed on it. I mean did I seriously "need" another stamp set or two? Yes apparently I did because the next day I found myself making my way back to the garage sale. Not the best strategy in the world for one of a kind things are garage sale prices.

Anyway I've got some new fun projects and layouts planned in my head. Now all I have to do is to get them on paper. Can't wait to start working on them.

I'm Back...

2010-02-05T10:06:00.000-05:00

Wow it's been a while since I've been on here. I guess I really needed the break. But I am ready to make my come back. I haven't scrapped or played in what feels like forever, but I'm starting to feel the itch in my fingers. The need to be creative. Paper or fabric? Fabric or paper? Both I think! I have quite a nice stash of both paper and fabric projects to pick from. But it's sort of scary, well not really scary, more a bit overwhelming. I haven't scrapped/played just for "myself" in a while. Where do I want to start? Do I want to start by working on something brand new or do I want to finish up some already started projects? Humm... it sure would feel good to finish up all the started layouts/projects I have sitting around, but then again playing with new stuff is so much fun!!! Hummm... I think I'm going to start by going shopping. SHOCKING! I know. But well the store that started my scrapping obsession moved a wee bit ago, and I haven't been there yet to check out their new digs. And well since they are now my closest LSS I think I owe them a visit. ;)

Not feeling the mojo

2009-12-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

Even simple scrap pages aren't happening here. I'm just not feeling the mojo. It could be the holidays. So much to do, so little time. I want to get it all done and of course I'm anal and want to do it all myself. Over the years I've simplified and learned to say no to doing things that I don't totally love. But still, it's hard. And spending a day or two working on scrapbook pages by myself just isn't as much fun as taking the kids shopping or making cookies or watching them wrap gifts. So, it's OK Mr Mojo. You can take a well deserved vacation. Just make sure you are home by Jan 1st. A little elf told momma that Santa's got some fun scrappy stuff in his bag for her. ;)

Or it could just be that my clans been sick and they have managed to pass that bug on to me. Not really sure. But I'm still alive and kicking and won't go down w/o a fight. My kids however to find it quite funny that mom's sick to the point that she can't talk. Yep! I'm w/o a voice - or rather it is so excruciating to talk that I've been silenced. Even whispering hurts, forget about normal talking or god forbid yelling.

So we have been playing charades. Mom points at the dog. It means either let the dogs out, feed the dog or give them some water. Mom points at your shoes - it either means put them away or put them on. Pointing at the fridge and making pouring motions could mean pour the milk for dinner or who drank all my ice tea. Mom banging on the counter - could mean look at me or right now! depending on whether or not you listened the first time. I will tell you that dinner time has been ALOT quieter. I never knew how much I talked during dinner until I couldn't do it.

Oh well. It is what it is. Just wanted to let you know I didn't forget about you...

I'm Quitting...

2009-11-20T11:59:00.000-05:00

I re-evaluated Scrapbooking and I'M QUITTING. Yes, I'm done scrap-booking. Shocked! Don't be. It's OK. REALLY!! And I'm OK with it. I've gotten it wrong.  I learned a hard, cold, but very valuable lesson and got a much needed wake up call.
Last week I was given a box of photos. Old photos. Very old photos. Some more than 50+ years old. Family photos. And there are not a lot of them. And the few there are, are so old, and faded so badly you can barely recognize the people in them. And then only if you look really close and carefully at the pictures.

Someone got to them before me and tried to look at them and in doing so ruined many of them. Many of them were stuck to each other. When they were pulled apart most ripped or tore and many now have large chunks missing. And do you know what? Even damaged the photos that show the people and their homes are the ones that mean the most to me. Unfortunately those are the ones that are damaged the most.

The pictures of the places we went, the things we saw held up better. Why? I don't know. Maybe because they aren't quite as old. But honestly, I could really care less about them. It's the people and the everyday things in the photos that matter the most to me. You know the ancient TV in the background, the crazy fireplace, the old coffee table, the dog that snuck in, the dishes on the counter, the mural hanging in the kitchen etc. The things I've been cropping out of my pictures. The things I thought were distractions...

I've gotten scrap-booking wrong. It's not about the pretty paper or the fancy flowers or the cool rub ons. It's all about the who, what, when, where, and why.  A simple date on an old film envelope thrilled me. A name on the back of a photo had me exclaiming with joy. And the one badly damaged "scrapbook" type album I did find had me jumping up and down. It had pictures on PLAIN black construction paper with photo corners holding them on. And I was thrilled... especially on the few pages someone thought to tape notebook paper to them and added a date and sometimes a name. That little info was pure gold! And that was the ONLY embellishment or decoration on the entire page. Many of the pages were just black paper with photos stuck on. That was it! Nothing else! And I was fine with it. All I cared about were the pictures. I didn't even care about the old b-day cards, I found tucked in the pages every once in a while.

It has made me re-evaluate scrap-booking. And I have to say I am done. In 10, 20 or 30 years no one is going to care about the pretty paper I used or the cool technique I applied to the page. Or how drop dead gorgeous those prima flowers are. They are only going to care about the people in the pictures and maybe a little bit about the stuff in the pictures with the people.  I found a picture of my brother's first car. It was in the background of another pic - just sort pf sticking out like an old thumb. So glad no one cropped it out. The same is true of the brief glances into my parents first house. I have vague memories of the layout, but that is it. Who would have thought those things would be important?

Yes I've gotten scrap-booking wrong. In 25+ years my kids won't care about the pictures of the animals we saw at the zoo, or how pretty their b-day cake was, or the cool art exhibits we took them too. The only pictures that will matter are the ones showing the people.  Yes the people, doing simple everyday things. Even if those people look silly or have mustard in their hair. I know. I just received a box of pictures from my childhood. I could care less about the picture I colored when I was five or the award I received. But I love all the pictures I found of the people - even the ones where half the heads were cut off.  They were better than nothing! So GLAD no one threw those away. I know I would have. Yes, I only exclaimed over the pictures of people, my parents, their friends and relatives.   The paper or envelope that held the pictures was meaningless to me. And so I say...

Good bye $ scrapbook paper, goodbye prima flowers, goodbye fancy stamps and rub ons... I am moving on... I found what really matters and it isn't you. I am done with fussy, fancy scrapbook pages that sometimes take days to put together. I'm going back to the basics. Black cardstock, pictures and lots of journaling listing all the people's names along with dates clearly labeled because in 25+ years I won't be able to remember either. I just had a very hard and very real course in what truly matters in your photo albums and fancy paper and embellishments are not it. Bring on the black card-stock and photo corners. It's truly the pictures and the people in them that matter most. :)

Sometimes you just need to LOL

2009-11-16T09:31:00.000-05:00

LOL = Laugh out Loud.

Yes sometimes you just need to laugh out loud (LOL). It's good for the soul. Go ahead and try it. What? You can't just laugh out loud on command. Neither can I. That's why when a really good forwarded joke hits my inbox I save it. In time it will get forgotten as "new" e-mails arrive and then a few weeks later when I'm cleaning out my in-box, I'll find it and it's good for another round of laughs. This is one of "those" e-mails. I had me laughing the first time around and I laughed just as hard the second time. Enjoy! :)

WHY WOMEN SHOULDN'T TAKE MEN SHOPPING
After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target.

Dear Mrs. Samuel,
Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Samuel, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.
9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were..
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'
And last, but not least:
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.' One of the clerks passed out.
If you don't share this with 12 of your dearest friends, your property taxes will go up, your stocks will go down, and your middle will spread. (How's that for a curse?!?) What? It's already come true? Then share it anyway--you've got nothin' to lose!

Catching up...

2009-11-15T10:54:00.001-05:00

I'm tired. I got home late from the crop, hot tired but feeling refreshed. Catching up with the girls and meeting and making new friends is always fun. It refreshes the soul. And well throw a little bit of creativity in there and it's all good stuff.

Dee out did herself with yummy food from Mario's and Moe's. And everyone chipped in to surprise her with a b-day cake and a gift card. I think she was truly surprised. :) That's what's so great about scrap-booking all the wonderful people you meet that become your life long friends. The classes on Saturday were amazing. Everyone had a full class and the creativity was flowing. I had six in my class and the extra kits I bagged were sold out by the end of the night. If you want a kit but didn't get one let Dee know asap. There is very little of the paper I used in my class left. Click picture to see it bigger. :)

I have company coming this afternoon, so I have to get moving on all the chores and stuff I let slide yesterday. Have a great day!

Sneak Peak #3

2009-11-13T16:14:00.000-05:00

OK this is a first, it's 4 pm and my car is 95% pack for the crop tomorrow. Yes! 95% packed for a crop that doesn't happen until tomorrow. Sooo not like me! Usually I am running around lat the last minute digging through my scrap room trying to figure out what I am going to work on. But this time instead of turning my disaster of a scrap room into an even bigger disaster, I am taking an already pack bag. I think???? It has two or three unfinished layouts in it. I'm really not even sure and you know what it doesn't even matter. I packed my tool tote and my sewing machine and it is what it is. If I am missing something I'll just have to make do w/o it. I figure between talking, shopping eating and teaching I'm not going to get a whole lot done anyway, so I'm not stress out over it. I ALWAYS over pack for crops. So this time I'm going with the less is more theory and if I have to buy me new paper or something, poor me. ;)

And with that said are you ready for the last sneak? I won't be home tomorrow am to post it. I'll be at the store - so I might as well share it now. I'd wait but I don't know if I'll be able to get Internet access from Dee's - I kind of doubt it, so rather than crossing my fingers and praying I'm going with the sure fire plan. ;) Enjoy! And if you want a kit give Dee's a call and we'll get one put together for you. See you tomorrow!

Sneak Peak Day 2

2009-11-13T09:28:00.000-05:00

The crop at Dee's starts to day at 3pm. Are you ready? Is your car packed? Pictures printed? Pages planned? No? What are you talking about? How can you not be ready?

Well don't feel to bad, I'm not ready either! Everything is still scattered all over my dining room table and kitchen counter. But shhh, don't tell anybody. That's just between you and me. ;)

I am however ready to share sneak peak #2 of the class I'm teaching Saturday. :) And yes the picture is tiny. Like I said yesterday, it's just a sneak peak. Hope to see you Saturday! Until then have a great day!

Sneak Peak...

2009-11-12T11:56:00.001-05:00

Hope you are coming to Dee's B-day crop. If you are this is the class I am teaching. We are making a banner that says Joy! Today's sneak peak is the letter "J". And that's the kitten my kids got for Xmas last year. Her name is Bitty, because she was such a tiny little thing when we got her and because we all couldn't agree on a name. So I ended up calling her Itty Bitty for a few weeks. And well it stuck. I know pretty bad for a name. I wanted to call her Bella. I still sometimes do. But she doesn't answer to it.

p.s. Yes I know it's tinie tiny. That because it's a sneak peak.

Editted to add... the colors are a bit off now that I'm looking at it. That J is red not black.

Facebook

2009-11-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

Help!! I've been captured by the facebook vortex and I don't know when I will see the light of day. Ugh! Why did my "friends" have to get me hooked on "Fish World" and "Zoo World". If you are looking for me, try facebook. Yes I'm addicted - bad!

I've already beaten Fish World. I hit level 30 this morning. Granted not all of my tanks are as pretty as they can be - but $ generating fish don't need pretty digs. Now my sharks have nice digs, but then again they are sharks!!! ;)

And every day I learn something new about Zoo World and how to better my game. I can't decide if I should quit now or not. I mean I've lost the last few days of my life to this silly game and if I keep playing I'm going to loose even more time. Ugh! But on the bright side, I have lots of new friends. :) If you are willing to be one of my many zookeepers, friend me. I still have lots of animals that need zookeepers.

Vampire Diaries...

2009-11-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

Adding more books to my read list...
Night World #1 - a good read. nothing super special. I would have liked it better if stories were more of a continuous thing rather than stand alones that are related. I still have Night World #2 & 3 out from the library, but I'm not sure I'm going to read them. It will depend on...

Vampire Diaries #1 & #2
Vampire Diaries #3 & #4
I just finished the second or is that fourth book in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Probably why my sixth sense is so finely tuned. ;) I saw that there is another book to this series that she wrote about ten years after the last one in this series. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on it. The library has it, but the wait list is like 40 people deep. I may have to hit the book store for this one. Not sure though. It got some really mixed reviews. Still thinking about it though.

Anyway if I can't get my hands on that one for a while I have a new series picked out....
Mortal Instruments. It sounds kind of spooky, scary, with just the right amount of paranormal mixed in. Two different review sites can't be wrong. 4 1/2 stars on both. I'm almost hoping the library doesn't have it today. My house has been slightly, ok a bit more than slightly, neglected lately. Plus dh gets home .... wouldn't be a good thing if I was engrossed in not just another book - but another book series.

A forgetful day...

2009-11-03T22:33:00.000-05:00

Ever have one of those days when you have all these great plans, but nothing goes as you planned. Not a bad day, but just a day where nothing goes as planned. Well that was today. It was all just little things, subtle little things....
me forgetting to make coffee...
forgetting to pack lunches the night before ...
dd#1 forgetting her cell phone...
dd#2 leaving her lunch in the car ...
the cat snuggled up on my lap (she never does that!)...
rainy dreary grey outside....
etc...
little things... nothing big, major or even important by themselves....
maybe I've just been reading to many supernatural books... but with dh out of town... when I added them up ... I couldn't shake the feeling the universe was telling me to stay close to home.... I listened. Even w/o milk, bread and bananas... I listened.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T23:14:00.000-05:00

Picture - Circa 2005

Sewing and reading

2009-10-30T09:50:00.000-05:00

Reading and sewing. I finished Tempted weds night. Yep one day after I bought it. I would have finished it the same day, but well my dd's science fair project got in the way. ;) It was good, but... Warning Spoilers ahead....

But the ending just totally and completely $@#!. Yes I get that it's a series, and that they want me to buy the next book (who knows when that one will come out?) but come on now! How can you end the book with Heath dieing and Zoey being basically dead? and in the Otherworld? And I don't care that Kalona went over the cliff. You know he isn't dead. He'll be back. And what about Nyx Reincarnated? You know she is not going to just disappear. Ugh! Sorry for ranting. I was just expecting this book to sum everything up and be the conclusion of the story. I should have know better. The previous book didn't end much better than this one. I'm so disappointed and frustrated. I wanted the conclusion to the story and didn't get it. So while the book was good. I am bummed that once again I am left hanging without an ending...

I don't know, I think I'm done with the House of Night series. I don't like cliff hanger endings and this series has done that to me twice now. OK more than twice, but at least those times I had the next book in the series so I could continue reading. Maybe the best solution is to table this series until P.C. Cast finishes it. I'd hate to do that, but with so many other books to choose from I see no reason to deal with cliff hanger endings. Or authors who are all about stretching out the story to make more book $ales. Seriously this book was teenie tiny. The author could have easily have given us another 200 pages and finished it. But she choose not to. :( Yes. Sadly, I am done with this series. I don't do or like cliff hanger endings. If your book is good with a strong story and interesting characters I'll buy the next one even if you end the story in a satisfying way. Stringing me along to try to get me to buy the next book just pisses me off and costs you $. I'm done.

In other news, dd #1's costume is coming along nicely.
pattern cut out - check.
pants sewn - check
pants hemmed - check.
waist adjusted - check
finishing touches - aka sticks attached - umm not yet.
OK so the last part is the biggie. The part that will take the most time. And it is not done yet. But hey I did my part. The rest of it is up to her. 1 day until Halloween...

Tempted

2009-10-28T08:15:00.004-05:00

Tempted is in the house. But I'm only a few pages in. :( Darn science fair projects - yuck!

But on the bright side while I was in the bookstore I also picked 2 of the Vampire Diary books. And apparently I did good in picking them. Dd#2 has already made off with BOTH of them! I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I've also got dd#1 trying to steal Tempted. And dd#2 claiming she gets it second. UGH! I bought them. Don't I get to read them?

Fighting over books. Isn't it grand? Totally worth even single second and then some I spent taking my kids to story time, to the library, reading to them and dragging them to the bookstore. Wouldn't change a thing. Totally worth it! - Even it it means I get to read my books last. ;)

I knew I should have brought home more books and I would have except instead I settled for putting them on hold at the library. I wanted them. I wanted them really bad, as in I even called dd and had her check the library website to see if the library offered them. They do. But they are all checked out. So I settled for putting them on hold. Thankfully the wait list is short. And tomorrow is Weds - library day. Yay! Momma needs a novel or two to hold her until her dds are done with HER books.

Work completed on Halloween costume #2 - minimal. Dd #1 was uninterested in working on it. She gathered some sticks and that was it.
Fabric washed - check.
Fabric ironed - check.
pattern ironed and trimmed - check
pattern cut out - nada... and so we wait...
4 Days until Halloween and counting... should be interesting...

Goodreads

2009-10-27T09:57:00.000-05:00

I've been looking for a way to keep track of the books I've read. I think it would make an interesting layout. And so with that in mind I've been playing around with Goodreads. Sure wish my library card listed all the books I've checked out over the course of the year. It would help to jog my memory of whether or not I read xyz book. Listing the ones I bought is pretty easy - well sort of. Lots of times I loan them out and well unfortunately they don't always get returned. I'm just as much to blame as my kids. They love sharing their faves with their friends as much as I do. Anyway I think Goodreads is a good way to start my yearly list. If you want to check it out for yourself click here. If you know a better free on-line book tracker, PLEASE let me know. Off to the book store, Tempted is due to be released today. :)

One down, one to go...

2009-10-26T08:18:00.002-05:00

Well with less than a week until Halloween I am happy - oh so very happy! I have one Halloween costume done and one left to go. And quite honestly I am doing the Happy dance. Why? Well even though I love dd #2's costume, it was far more complicated than I originally thought. And it took a lot longer than I thought it would (but isn't that always the case). But I did it! It's finished. Every last thing...
Bodice lined - Check
Double Ruffle layered and gathered - check.
Zipper added - I even centered it and everything - BIG check! This was the hardest and scariest part for me.
Hemmed - check
Frilly trim added to the sleeves - check
Frilly trim added to the hem - check.
Fits dd - Check. It's actually a little big - but I did that on purpose so she could wear it longer.
But best of all...
She loves it! I jokingly said so are you wearing it to school tomorrow and she immediately said, Can I?

Boys and their toys...

2009-10-25T16:24:00.000-05:00

Nothing make a 15 year boy happier than a new video game. Nothing makes this parent happier than saving some $ on said video game, especially a newly released MUST HAVE or I'm going to die video game. There are several such games on ds' must have list. And being the mean cold hearted parents that Rich and I are we have refused to allow ds to get another video game until report cards come out - that's less than 2 weeks for those of you w/o kids in school. And it's killing ds. He assures me that his report card will pass muster. I.e. it will be all A's & possibly a B maybe two. He is capable of straight A's. He knows it and I know it. So he's in a holding pattern. If he gets straight A's - no problem one of the games will be his. If he gets a B or maybe 2 he'll still see a new video game - but game time will be limited.

Oh back to my point, Best Buy has video games on sale. Buy 2 get a third video game free. We went this afternoon and picked up 3 of his must have games. They are sitting on the counter, in shrink wrap, waiting, waiting for report cards or until he has saved enough allowance to buy them from me at the sale price. Yes it's a mean thing to do. But this momma likes saving $ and well my ds' allowance will only go so far. So I bought them while they were on sale knowing he'll get them all eventually. ;) If things go as planned, ds will have two new games in less than two weeks. One for good grades and one from his allowance. And he'll even have a little $ left over to put in the bank. I might even get to put the last one away as a Xmas present. Although truthfully that's doubtful. This boys breathes video games, he'll do his best to weasel it out of me. And knowing him, he probably will. Still, Gotta love a good sale. Thanks Best Buy, your timing couldn't have been better! :)

Bead Show

2009-10-24T22:20:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for something fun and different and creative to-do tomorrow you might be interested in the Bead Show. Yes, I said bead show not scrapbooking show. My oldest dd would like to be a glass blower or something like that when she grows up and we went to check out all the fabulous handmade glass beads. A glass blower has to start somewhere. :) Now I have never ever been to a bead show so I don't know how this one compares to other beads shows, but for our purpose, it was perfect. Big enough to see some variety, but small enough that we saw everything in an afternoon w/o being to overwhelmed. And we met some really nice helpful people too.

Dd went with a shopping list of sorts and for the most part she stuck to it. Actually she would have been really good except that mom (good old mom) had to stop at this one booth and check out this one tinie tiny little bin of glass beads. OMG! We spent the next hour looking through the bin. They were beautiful and each one we picked up we liked better than the last one. I was thinking I'd let her get one or two just because they were so pretty. We were clueless as to what she could/would make out of them. But then mom had a brain storm of an idea. ;) And we were soon actively looking for beads and not just standing there oohing and aahing. Bad mommy, bad, bad mommy!

Long story short, we ended up getting 14 of said beads. And trust me narrowing down our choices to just 14 was hard. Thankfully dd and I were both hungry and tired or we might still be there trying to decide. Anyway, those 14 beads will become 6 or maybe 7 pair of earrings. So while the $2 a pop per bead seemed kind of $ to me. $4 for a pair of earrings seems pretty reasonable to me. Or at least that's how I'm justifying it.

The bead show is at:
Clarion Hotel

12635 South Cleveland Avenue
Fort Myers, Florida 33907
http://www.thedownthestreetbeadshow.com/

Dentist

2009-10-20T12:32:00.000-05:00

And the word for the day is... dentist. Yup! If you know me you know how much I dread going to the dentist. I called on Monday to make an appointment. Thinking perhaps one day next week. But the nice people that they are they fit me in on weds. I was like well, OK, if you are sure. Then the gal called me back and fit me in today. Seriously! I guess they know me too well. Give me a bit of time to think about the appointment and I'm likely to cancel it. And so with no wiggle room I had no choice but to go this morning. And so I went. And now I'm regretting it. Seriously. Don't know if it's stress - must be - it probably is - but who knows - all I know, is that now all my teeth hurt. Not just the one that was feeling a wee bit funny. I could have lived with it for quite a while longer, but well the root canal I needed last time was so much fun - I didn't want to wait to long. Yes I'm a baby and I'm not afraid to admit it. Off to take a nap, I'm exhausted from my fun filled morning at the dentist...

Added two more to my list...

2009-10-19T11:51:00.000-05:00

I've been on a roll lately, adding two more books to my read list. Bride by Command by Linda Jones - I needed a good lazy Saturday afternoon read. And Bliss by Lauren Myracle - Actually Bliss wasn't really on my reading list it was on my youngest dd's list and I "borrowed" it from her. I wanted to screen it before I let her read it. Something about having the word Bliss as the title written in blood gave me pause. You think? It's OK though. It's meant more as a middle school read, dealing with girls and cliques and boyfriends with a bit of weird sci-fi paranormal thrown it. But nothing that will give dd nightmares. Not a great book, but it's an OK read and not worth fighting about. Besides I know for a fact that six of the books she put on her reading list and requested from the library are in and waiting for me to pick up. I'm betting one of those will bump this one right out of it's spot. (wink)

Yes I know I've become singularly obsessed with books lately. Sorry about that. My hobbies tend to cycle. And reading and sewing have been go to hobbies of mine far longer than scrapbooking. GASP! I know! But it's true!

I think I am going to start to keep track of how many books I read in a year. It will be kind of interesting to see what the final number is. Wish I could go back to the beginning of the year ... I know sometimes I go months w/o reading any books and then all of a sudden I get on a roll. My kids have to make so many AR points every quarter and I am always amazed to see how many books they read. For example one of my dd's is just 3 points shy of 100 AR points - she's going to make though. Big party, special privileges etc are good motivators etc. And she is my non-reader. So it leaves me wondering how many books do I read?

What about you are you a reader?

Just finished

2009-10-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

Adding two more books to my completed listed. I just finish a Dark Curse and then because I needed something to read while dd was at guitar lessons I read Wicked Intentions. I liked a Dark Curse. It's part of a series and I liked the mix of spells and magic, the characters, etc. I did think it's ending was a tad weak and kind of rushed. All this build up about the villain and then nothing. What is the point of giving us all this background info on him and then he is nowhere to be found in the end? I do get it. It's a series so the author had to save something for the next book, but still. All in all though, it was a good read and I added it's brother/sister books to my possible reading list. Wicked Intentions however, was just OK in my opinion. It was a quick afternoon read that served it's purpose. Nothing special with a plot that was way to predictable. I kept expecting more, only it never happened. And the author's whole attempt at adding politics to the book. Why even bother with that whole idea and then not see it through. Again, not terrible, just not great.

Fontcapture...

2009-10-15T13:09:00.000-05:00

When I first started scrapbooking, I refused to use my own handwriting on my pages. Not because I hated it. Yes it was messy and uneven and all that, but mostly because I didn't want to spend several hours working on a scrapbook page, to ruin it with an ink smudge, misspelled word etc. And so I typed all my journaling and collected hundreds if not thousands of fonts along the way to use for my journaling. But I wasn't really happy being tied to journaling on the computer. And my friends started to tell me how important it was to have your own handwriting on the page. I poo pooed them and continued typing my journaling.

But then something changed. I'm not sure what, but I slowly realized having all these font at my disposal was making journaling even harder. I would spend far to much time trying to pick the perfect font for my journaling. Writing and often rewriting my journaling trying forever to get it just right. Only to discover that after I thought that it was perfect that it didn't fit the space I left for it. Yes it made my layout neater and left them looking crisp and clean but it also left them feeling cold. And forget about doing even simple journaling at a crop. I was tied to my computer and printer. And I didn't like it. Not one little bit. And so this caterpillar slowly began out of desperation to transform into a butterfly by first writing just the important stuff on layouts dates or names. And well from there I just kind of bloomed slowly writing more and more on my layouts. Nowadays it is rare for me to type any kind of journaling. I found a new freedom in putting pen to paper. Do I sometimes make mistakes? You bet! Do I sometimes misspell words? Yup! But more importantly I am getting the story down. Does it always fit into the space I've left for it? No! But you know what? I have the whole back of my layout to write on if I need it.

But, a part of me still sometimes misses the clean linear lines of a simple layout with clean typed journaling. And well rather than using some unknown strangers handwriting on my layout I've found a site that will turn my own handwriting in to a font for free. Check it out here. I can't wait to try it out myself. I have the form sitting on my desk...

Tempted...

2009-10-13T22:42:00.000-05:00

So on Sunday I'm in the bookstore browsing. Ya right! Shh! I can hear you all Snickering. Look, I really did go in there to browse.  All right so I also had a 40% off coupon that was burning a hole in my pocket.  I was just hoping to find the new "Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Dog Days". But alas it wasn't out yet. FYI - it was released today.  So while I am looking for said book and checking out the clearance section, both of my dd's are hard at work finding WebKinz they just have to have.  Um mm.... no.  You don't need anymore stuffed animals. Yada, yada. OK, we work out a compromise and I go to check out. I found an awesome present for the kids' cousins who are coming to visit for Xmas. I'd tell you but ... It's a secret.

Anyway, So I am paying for said books and WebKinz when DD #1 says, "Look Mom!" I say I know, I know, it's not out yet. I just asked. Thinking she spotted the Diary OAWK signs that are everywhere. (We had to buy the last one the day it came out.) She says, No, MOM! Look at the poster behind the lady. Now I can't really see said poster and I kind of poo poo her. "Yes, I know." Then she says, "No, mom. Look! Look at the POSTER! I can't believe TEMPTED comes out OCT 27th." Huh? OK, now I realize I don't know what she is talking about and give her my full attention. What? She says, "Tempted, mom! Look at the poster! and rolls her eyes. "You know, The House of Night series." What!? Really! OMG! Doing a little happy dance here. I loved this series. As in I bought the entire series one day after reading the first book...even the hardcovers.  I'm so excited! When does it come out? Oct 27! OK, I start mentally calculating how many days away that is and trying to figure out what my dh's schedule might be that week.  Still doing the happy dance, I come home and put it on hold at the library, but we are 13th on the list. I know, 13th! Ugh! I'll never be able to wait that long...

But the story continues... So tonight, I'm making dinner and the conversation turns to books, and then to Tempted specifically. I mention that I put the book on hold at the library and dd #1 (who knows me better than I know myself) says I thought you'd just buy it. I say I probably will. Then she says well I get to read it first.  At which point I look at her like she's crazy and say, "Oh no you don't. I'm reading it first." At which point dd#2 says I get it second and now I have both dd's arguing with me over who gets to read the book and when. Luckily my dh is a great peace maker and a solution is grudgingly agreed to. I get to read it first . Being a parent is has some advantages...

However, when I was teaching my kids to read, I never in a million years thought I'd have to fight them to get to read a book first. And you know what? It's great problem to have. I love sharing a good book with my kids. Even if it means I no longer get first dibs on said book. :)

So what book are you desperately waiting for?

p.s. Burned, The next book in the House of Night series comes out May 6, 2010 - On my birthday!

Up to my ears

2009-10-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

Up to my ears in fabric. My dd's and I hit the fabric stores this weekend and oh my we went a little crazy. My sewing machine is currently buried under the stack of projects we bought. I know I should have used some restraint, but it was just so fun seeing my girls get excited about making a project. And well the sales were pretty good too. Stacked on my sewing table I now have 2 pairs of pajamas, a silver glittery shimmery shirt, a silky green print dress, a fire breathing dragon, a paisley dragon, a gauzy pink shirt/dress fabric, two fleece blankets and a yard and a quarter of had to have fabric that needs an inspiration. Oh my, I may not see the light of day until next summer. And that's not even counting the projects I bought patterns for, but resisted buying fabric for. I could be in trouble... I still have Halloween costumes to finish. Scrapping or sewing, sewing or scrapping, clearly there is not enough time in the day for all I want to do.

5 Good things...

2009-10-06T16:37:00.006-05:00

So I was making my way through my google reader bookmarks when I came upon this freebie. I knew the instant that I saw it that it had great potential. Scrapbooking potential is what I thought. So I clicked on the link to check out the freebie. That's when I read the post about the freebie. What a great idea! And so easy just click, print and fold. I doubt fun and inspiring dinner conversation will be this easy, but hey it's worth a try right? My kids might surprise me... ya right.

The only thing surprising about my kids is how half a package of cookies (aka 12 cookies) can disappear in less than 20 minutes with only 2 kids home and when no child ate more than 2 cookies each. Or so they claim. I don't think so. Something just doesn't add up... 24 cookies in a package - 12 that are left means 12 cookies were eaten. 12 cookies - 4 cookies eaten by 2 kids leaves 8 cookies that just got up and walked away... here cookie, cookie, cookie...

Sunsplash deal...

2009-10-06T07:41:00.004-05:00

FYI - Sun Splash waterpark is cutting admission to $5 per person for the final two weekends of its 2009 season. The park will offer the deal on October 10-11 and October 17-18. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Big Lots Coupon

2009-10-05T09:01:00.000-05:00

Almost forgot there is a Big Lots coupon good Oct 5 - Oct 10th. I don't know if you are like me, but I can always find something in there that I need. If you want to receive future coupons go to their website and sign up for their Buzz club. It's free and you'll get the coupons e-mailed to you.

The week just flew by...

2009-10-05T08:51:00.000-05:00

The week just flew by... I'm not quite sure how it went so fast. It was like I blinked and it was Monday morning again. Oh I know how it happened. I spent the whole week running around. Weds ... guitar lessons, followed by our weekly visit to the library. I couldn't postpone that as we had books due. Thursday was scrapping at Dee's and creating this weeks Cheap Date. It's cute in a pumpkiny kind of way. :) A mix of new and old papers with a hallo-weeny theme to it. Stop by Dee's to check it out. Friday was garage sale day. Oh my! oh my! I did find some really good deals!

Saturday was back to Dee's for a designer meeting to go over some stuff for the b-day crop. Then some errands and then I headed back to Dee's to start planning my class for the B-day crop. The projects are still top secret - classified info... but I will tell you I'm going to use the Graphic 45 Christmas line. Sunday was a do nothing kind of morning. Then I took my girls out for a late breakfast early lunch, hit a garage sale or two and then ended our afternoon adventures doing some make and takes with Nikki Sivils. All in all a fun weekend that went by way to fast and left me with a house in desperate need of cleaning and a laundry that is about to explode.

The only sad part is that it's been a week since I did anything with my dd's Halloween costume. I cut the fabric and assembled 2/3 of the outfit and all it really needs are a zipper (kind of scary - It's been a while since I put one of those in.) and for me to finish the ruffles and hem. UGH! And my dh is traveling this week. I went from football widow to business meeting widow, but on the plus side I can serve breakfast for dinner. :) There is always a silver lining. Cheers! My washer and dryer are calling me.

Earwax on a Swab

2009-09-30T15:37:00.002-05:00

Sounds gross doesn't it? It even looks gross. But if you look closely you can see it's really just mini marshmallows and butterscotch. Although when I serve this to my kids I think I might use creamy peanut butter or maybe caramel instead. I can't take credit for it. I found it at Saucy. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Typepad Security Screw up

2009-09-30T07:29:00.003-05:00

If you have a Typepad blog you might be interested in this thread over at the message board two peas in a bucket. It's all about how Typepad transferred ownership of a person's blog to someone else with out even contact the original owner to verify that it was OK.

Goodbye Scenic Route

2009-09-27T07:37:00.005-05:00

If you love Scenic Route, and who doesn't love Scenic Route? You had better stock up on them now. Seriously. Scenic Route announced Friday that they are holding a liquidation sale in preparation for shutting down the company. So sad, but unfortunately true. I wish it wasn't, but in these economic times, it is totally understandable. If you are interested in their liquidation sale check out their web store here.

......In other news .....

In other news if you are in Florida and shop at the scrapbook store K2. The store has been sold. Yes! It's always good news when a scrapbook store gets to remain open instead of closing. And while I don't shop at K2. I think I visited it once while one vacation. I am happy for the local girls. They will still continue to have a LSS. From what I read, the 50% off sale will continue until Sept 30. Then come Oct 1, the new owners Jessica & Kathy will take over. That's all I know. If you want more info call or stop by the store.

Books, Books and more books...

2009-09-26T08:14:00.006-05:00

For someone who reads as much I do you would think that I'd have a favorite author or two. But I don't. I read whatever catches my fancy. Sometimes it's the art work on the cover, the description on the back, every once in a while a title will catch my eye, and other times I can be drawn in by the words on the spine. Yep I am an equal opportunity reader. And my favorite haunt is my local library. Yes library. Crazy I know. It's not because I don't love bookstores. I do! But I can't afford to frequent them. I can walk out of the library with a stack of books for free, where as the same trip to the book store can cause serious $ damage to my wallet.

Here's what I've read recently...

The Host by S. Meyer.
This one was on my summer reading list, but I never got around to it. It sat on the shelf all summer. Unloved. Don't really know why. It just didn't call my name after I brought it home. I finally sat down to start it. I felt I had too because I bought it, as in paid $ for it. If I hadn't bought it I probably would have returned it unread. But... I'm glad I bought it. It was a "really" book. Great story, totally worth reading. When I finished it I was kicking myself for letting it sit unloved for so long.

The Murder Game By C. Feehan
I picked this one up at my library. It is the seventh book in a series. And I was really hesitant about starting another series, especially one with seven books in it. (I'm still being haunted by the Outlander series. ) But this one sounded really really good. Ghostwalkers, psychic ability, etc.. totally up my alley. So I said what the h___ I'll look for the first one. My library didn't have the first one. So I when I added the book to my bag it was a maybe read. It sounded to good to put back. And I caved and read it! I know w/o even reading the first six books in the series. The shame of it all! But...
It didn't disappoint. It was a really good quick read. I had it done by dinner time. It read like a stand alone book. No blatant references to previous books story lines. And starting with the seventh book didn't seem to affect the story. Don't know if I'll read the other six in this series or not but I definitely liked this one.

Lord of the Legends By S. Krinard -
I loved this book! I read it in an afternoon. If you like stories about unicorns and the like from the land of make believe set in current times you will like this one. Arion is the Unicorn King. He is cursed and sent to Earth as a human. The whole love story is about what he must do to once again become a unicorn. I finished this book far to quickly. Shame it's not part of a series.

The magic knot by H. C. Taylor
This is another story about the land of make believe. This one has fairies and magic knots. Add in a love romance, some Tarot cards, a bad boy on a motorcycle and a stiff accountant and you have your typical feel good romance novel with a bit of fantasy thrown in. A good rainy day afternoon read. Nothing special, but not bad.

And that's what I've been doing instead of blogging or scrapbooking. I know the shame of it. But I've been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, and it's still my go to rainy day addiction. And we certainly have been having our fair share of rain lately. :)

Happy Anniversary

2009-09-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Anniversary Honey! Thanks for 17 wonderful years! 17 years! Wow, time sure has flown by. But then again I guess it does when you're having fun.

I Love you! Can't wait to see what the next 17 years bring us. ;)

Still around...

2009-09-22T18:56:00.002-05:00

No I haven't forgotten about my blog. I've actually started 3 or 4 posts, but I get about half way through writing them and something else calls... kids, dinner, laundry, homework, etc... and then I never get around to finishing them. Like...

*** Like what do you think about Becky Higgens leaving CK?

*** Or how about Emilie Ahern leaving The Scrap Review?

*** Or where were you on 9/11? Yes it has been a while since I posted.

*** Or like today I'm about half way through this post...I wanted to tell you about the wonderful class I took by Kelly Goree.

But alas my kids want me to come watch TV with them. And well, they are my priority. Sorry there's not much to this post but I figure at this point in time it's better than nothing. I promise I'll fit a real post in sometime soon.

In the mean time what are you going to be for Halloween? My next few weeks are going to be spent sewing, crafting, and creating Halloween costumes for my kids. And well honestly I could use some ideas.

Back to the airport

2009-09-08T10:44:00.004-05:00

I just finished dropping my brother off at the airport for the third time this month. He is going back to NJ this time to bring my mom back with him. She can't fly by herself. In fact, he is basically picking her up from the hospital and taking her straight to the airport to fly her back with him. From there we are driving her straight to the nursing home. At least that is the plan. It's hard. Very very hard. It's scary. We are both apprehensive. But my dad can no longer manage the care she needs. And neither of us feel we can give her the round the clock care she needs. That leaves my dad alone, by himself in NJ. The house still needs to be cleaned up and sold, and then he is moving here as well. Change it is never ever easy...

3 hours and $65 later

2009-08-31T16:20:00.004-05:00

The inside of my refrigerator is clean. Yup you read that right $65. Why $65? Well, that is how much it costs to replace the glass top of the vegetable bin in my fridge. You see for some unknown reason G.E. decided to make the top of the veggie bin be just a piece of glass that sits on top of it. As in it it not attached by anything. And you can't or won't realize this until it is too late. And thus when you go to take the whole entire bin out, instead of just wiping it down like you usually do, since it is not attached to anything, it will fall onto the tile floor and shatter into a million little pieces before you even realize what happened. And that my dear friends is how I spent my afternoon. Cleaning up broken veggie bin glass.

Serves me right for deciding to do some cleaning instead of scrapping. I mean really what was I thinking? If I scrapped instead, I'd be $65 richer and my biggest worry would be cleaning up bits of paper, paint and ink.

So tell me, what stupid thing have you done lately?

Like Ships passing in the night

2009-08-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Heading out of town. Not exactly excited about it. Dealing with aging parents is never easy. Dealing with ones who are in way over their head is not fun. Dealing with one who has some dementia, doesn't like change, and refuses to admit she is sick and can no longer take care of herself is even less fun. She's been in and out of the hospital. In and out of rehab care, stroke, can't really walk anymore, heart problems, diabetes that can't be controlled, etc.

My brother went up to start the process a few weeks ago. But things being the way they are, things didn't go as planned and the little progress he was making came to a stand still and then all progress was lost. So we are going together.

One of them is finally ready to accept the truth and do what needs to be done. The other not so much. The dementia doesn't help. It's hard on everyone. Hopefully we can make the right decisions, the right choices. Good ones that let us help them.

Couldn't have come at a worse time. The kids are just going back to school. Dh is traveling here there and everywhere. Not a great time for me to be needing to travel as well. He and I are going to be like ships passing in the night for a while. He'll fly in. I'll fly out. I'll fly in. He'll fly out. Ugh! Oh well, it is what is it. We'll make the best of it.

Good thoughts and prayers would be appreciated

First Day of High School

2009-08-24T22:06:00.004-05:00

When? Just when? Did I get old enough to have a High Schooler? And why, oh why does the bus have to come so early? Seriously high school starts at 7:15am! My first day of school pics of my high schooler were all taken in the dark! Seriously dark, like in even with the outside lights on you can barely see anything. I tried, but I'm thinking we might have to have a "staged" first day of school pic. I mean really, Ds left for the bus around 6:15am, and it was still pitch black out. My dd's were both still in bed. So much for the group shot before they all go off to school. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Guess what?! My tired mommy brain that is so not used to having to get up at 5:45am(hello -night owl here), totally FORGOT to take pictures of dd#2 in her fifth grade classroom this year! That's right I missed the last classroom shot of my last baby! Sniff, sniff! She is my last baby in Elementary School. This was my last year to get that first day of school picture in the classroom. (My dh has sided with the kids and banned me and my camera from following them into middle school.) And I totally and completely forgot all about taking classroom pictures of dd#2.

I took pictures of dd#2 out front (in my pj's - sorry neighbors!) And then drove her to school (~1 mile) in my pj's WITHOUT the CAMERA! I actually left the camera home. On purpose! Not, as in, I forgot it. No, I set in down inside, said OK, we are done, and told her to get in the car. As I pulled into the school parking lot, I realized what I had done, but by then it was too late. The camera was home and even I, wouldn't humiliate my dd by walking her into school in my pj's.

I am totally beside myself. I can't believe, I just completely up and forgot! Every single year I walk them into their classroom and make them pose for at least one shot in their classroom on the first day of school. And they grumble and complain, and I try and trick them into smiling, etc. But no. Not this year...

It's not like I wasn't up in time. I had plenty of time to shower, etc. I just forgot. My brain had a spasm and it totally slipped my mind. I cooked her breakfast (eggs and bacon), threw in a load of laundry, did the dishes etc. I "knew" something was off, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I thought it was just that I was up sooo very early. Nope. That wasn't it. I'm so so sorry princess! I know that you weren't really the least bit disappointed, but I am... :(

It gets better though. My pics of dd#1 are outside in the morning light. But... wait for it.... is she smiling with her bright new Hurley backpack. No, na, that would be your typical back to school pic. No dd#1's pic is of her trying to carefully search under the bushes for the snake I startled when I almost set her backpack down on top of it. Last year, she had found this teenie tiny little snake with a red ring around it's neck (it looked more like a worm than a snake) that was fairly friendly, and that she desperately wanted to keep for a pet. I even vaguely thought about it. Like I said it was VERY small. But we couldn't get it to eat so she let it go.

Anyway back to the story, so I startled a snake. A snake that looked just like that one. And dd#1 being dd#1, saw it. And in the one second it was visible identified it as the same kind as the one I wouldn't let her keep. And that was it. She was off in search of catching it. I think she called it her baby! She was convinced it was the same snake I made her let go. And she did her best to try and track it down. But unfortunately failed. I should clarify, she only failed because she was dressed for school and "knew" she couldn't crawl in under the brushes after it. Not w/o getting her brand new school clothes a mess and incurring my wrath, otherwise she would have found it, of that I'm sure. And I'd be trying to hand feed crickets to a snake right now. (Pic is of the snake she wanted to keep.)

So how was your first day back to school? Anything exciting happen to you on the way to school?

Happy 13th Birthday Baby Girl!

2009-08-21T13:43:00.006-05:00

Yep today my baby girl turned 13. She's officially a teenager. Although if you asked me I would have sworn she already was a teenager. She 's got it all going on, middle school, friends, cell phone, attitude ;) etc. But we love you anyway baby girl! :)

B-day presents this year were tough. You didn't know what you wanted. So we had to brain storm... Anyway, here's some of the stuff you got for your b-day... Animal Crossing (of course). You have been obsessed with your sister's game for quite a while, so we got you one of your own. You also got, a couple of board games (Out of Sight, Blockus 3-D), dangly earrings (most things sparkly and dangly are usually winners), a couple of Wenkinz - you don't really play them on-line you just like to collect the stuffed animals, and a tub of Bubber. Yes Bubber. I brought it back from CHA. It's not in craft stores yet. And you just thought that, that was the cat's pajamas - that you had it before everyone else. It's made by the makers of Moon Sand and it was the one present that I knew you would love the minute I saw it. So I had to get it. Although not giving it to you and keeping it a secret for the last 3 weeks has been killing me! But, the look on your face when you opened it was precious. You were like what is this? But then after you got it out of the container, you were thrilled!

It's still early in the day, so I'm not quite sure what you favorite present is yet. But so far, I think it's a tie between the Bubber and getting to go on a cruise with your best friend. Yes a cruise. Hummm.... I think we spoiled you rotten.

Got to run, I still have to get the ingredients to make the cake you finally decided on. You only changed you mind on the kind of cake you wanted for your b-day this year about ten times. And well since today is the day. This one is the winner, (see August 12th post at Bake at 350) by default, because it's the last one that caught your eye. If tomorrow was your b-day, I'd probably be making something else. But I have no complaints with this one. It looks fabulous and sounds fairly easy to make. Anyway Publix here I come...

Love you bunches baby girl! Happy 13th Birthday!

Random Ramblings...

2009-08-15T07:45:00.003-05:00

In just six short hours my home will be invaded by teenage boys. How come I am up getting everything ready and my ds is still sound asleep in his bed?

My dd's are headed to the beach this morning. I know this not really news worthy info. But I'm still reeling from the fact that dd #1 nearly bit my head off this morning. Clearly she takes after her mom and is not a morning person.

Speaking of which, why does school have to start so early in the day? I hate having to make everyone (myself included) tow the line and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Uh! School, bah humbug! That means my days of staying up until the wee hours of the morning are almost at an end.

In other news, did you know that Prima has a new blog? Check it out here...

Also check out the cool handles on this project. Made from a binder clip. Such a cool idea! Directions can be found here.

And I'm loving these cool envelopes made using the Cricut. Sometimes I wish I had a Cricut. The cut file for them can be found here.

OK that's it for today, my to do list is calling...

The computer ate my homework...

2009-08-14T22:48:00.004-05:00

OK well, not really. But it did eat the blog post that I had written. It was cute, it was clever, it was funny, and now it is gone. And well since it's late and I don't feel like starting over, (my party prep list is too long) I'm going to share a link to some very cool lists with you. Click here for the never ending to do list. But also check out the blog topic list, the grocery list and honey do list. In case you couldn't tell, I like lists. ;) And well if lists aren't your thing, maybe some of the recipes or other cool freebies will excite you. Me, I'm a total list maker. In fact, I put things on my list, just so I can cross them off. Nothing makes me happier than a completed to do list. :)

Happy 15th B-day Handsome!

2009-08-12T18:52:00.003-05:00

I hope it was a good one. I know you spent it doing your favorite things ... playing video games and hanging out. We were going to take you out to dinner but when given your choice of getting an extra video game or going out, you choose another video game. No surprise there! So you got Prototype and GTA 4 for your b-day. Although I'm not so sure about the GTA 4, your dad's to blame on that one. I'm thinking your going to have to pick something else. Sorry! :(

Dinner of your choice... no surprise there ... steak, NY strip w/ the works (Cuban bread, roasted sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, green beans, watermelon, salad, etc). Not to mention the 7lb, yes 7lb! Double Chocolate cake Grammy brought over. It was enough cake to feed an army and we still have 1/4 of it left 5 days later. Ummm, hummm, not to shabby for your 15th b-day.

And just think the real party is this weekend. Yep... I must be crazy. 9 of your closest friends have been invited for a sleepover. (Ben, Travis, Andy, Daniel, Nick, Devon, Jake, Ryan & Zack) Or should I say a stay up all night party, because I know that's what is really going to happen. Sleep, yeah right! You aren't fooling me. :)

CHA Birthday Crop

2009-08-07T19:31:00.003-05:00

My son's b-day is the weekend of Dee's big CHA-Birthday crop. It always presents problems for me, because as much as I want to be at the store cropping, I also want to be home to celebrating with my first born. So this year I hemmed, and hawed, and waited until the absolute last minute to decide what I was going to do. I finally decided that I really, really, wanted to go to at least a bit of Dee's big CHA crop, even if I couldn't stay and crop for the whole weekend. And well let me tell you, even though I was only there for Friday night, I think Dee totally and completely out did herself!

Our goodie bags had numerous lines of fun new just released papers - Teresa Collins, Dream Street, Webster's Pages, Doodle Bug, and a few more lines I can't think of right this minute. And if that wasn't enough, she then gave away full packages of Prima flowers, packages of new America Crafts Thickers, all the sample paper she got from CHA, etc, etc. And I was only there for Friday! She still had piles of stuff to giveaway on Sat & Sun. Wish I could have been there...

ZAR saved the day

2009-08-07T07:57:00.004-05:00

The back story...
I have an old digital camera as in 3.1 mega pixels. It still works just fine. But there is a decent delay between button push and picture captured. So your pictures don't always come out how you planned unless you planned for the 5 second delay when you composed your shot. As in if said subject moves forget it. But it is digital so you can just take another pic. Hence, I rarely use it anymore, but every once in a blue moon I do. So...

I've sort of let it become the kids camera - unofficially. The turtle they saved from the road is on there. The baby snake my dd found and I refused to let her keep is on there, about 100 pics of dd#2's stuffed animals are on there, along with pics of our various pets doing nothing much other than trying to look cute for said kid. But it's kind of fun and interesting to see what my kids take pictures of. And so I keep it around. Plus it has good/great scrapbooking material on it even if the pictures on it aren't always great. It's life through my kids eyes and the stories that go with the pictures usually are good - at least from my kids perspective.

So fast forward... my son asks if he can use the camera. I say sure. My dd's have been using for 2-3 years now. 2-3 years without having any problems. Turn camera on take pictures and when they are done put it back on the charger. Seriously my 10 year old has been using it since she was 7 or 8. Ds is almost 15. He should have no problem. Ummm. NO! He is a guy and all guys like to tinker. He manages to delete all the pictures on the camera. 2 years worth of pictures! Irreplaceable pictures!

But he doesn't exactly tell me he did this. He just casually mentions that the camera had no pictures on it. HUH?! I know that I haven't pulled pulled pics from the camera in forever. I know my girls have used it fairly recently. Granted most of what is on the camera isn't important, but I do have about 10 pictures on it that are IRREPLACEABLE! They are the last pictures I have of the kids and their great grandmother, taken just a few months before she died. I am beyond upset. Those few pictures can never ever be replaced. They aren't great pics. But they are the very last ones I have of the kids and her. UGH! Now what? Breathe.... Breathe..... Maybe they can be restored???? Can they be restored???? I have no idea what he did. And he is claiming innocence. Ya, right.

I remember reading a post on one of my yahoo groups. The gals on there offering suggestions of possible programs to use to retrieve deleted camera pictures. Someone else had posted about a similar situation. I know from "MY" programming days the data is still on there if nothing has written over it. Maybe, if he didn't reformat the card I can pull it back. Usually all that happens when the card is erased is the pointer that points to the data has been cleared. Maybe I can get the pics back. I'm at least going to try my best. Crossing my fingers, I look at possible programs I might be able to use...

So I try freeware program number one. I download it and install it and get an error. It's an older freeware program - but it has awesome reviews. No luck. I remove it and reload it thinking well maybe something didn't install right. Nope. Not happening. I'm running Vista and my guess is that since it was written before Vista and it's not Vista compatible. OK remove program again and look around for something else to try.

Try program number 2. This is the first program I was going to try, but didn't. It's not exactly freeware. It started as freeware, but now is for sale. Humm... I download the free trail. There is a note on the site that says the part of the program I need to use is still freeware, but that you must download the whole program. OK I'm game. Free trail or not I am desperate. Besides a free trail usually means I get to use it for 30 days or so for free. I only need to use it for 1 day. So I load it.

More problems. Computer and camera card aren't talking again. UGH! (See previous post.) Mess around with that, and get that working. Try again. Batt-a-bing. Batt-a-boom. It at least loads fine. It's a little confusing, some options I'm not really sure about, but I go with the program's defaults and pray. Something is happening. Wait. Wait a bit more. Look at that. It did something. Did it work? I think it worked! It says I have 282 files that it can restore. OK. I'm game. I click restore them all and cross my fingers.

5 Minutes later and I have my pictures back!!!! My pictures are all back. YES!!!! I now have 272 pictures of stupid silly stuff like cat butts and dogs licking themselves. And stuffed animals wearing sunglasses. But I also have my 10 IRREPLACEABLE picture of Nana and the kids!!! They are now loaded safely (hopefully - crossing my fingers) on the hard drive of my computer. Thank you so very, very, VERY much ZAR! Your program rocks!!!

And if this should ever happen to you here is the link to their site. Bookmark it. Seriously. Because you never know... ZAR - Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery
http://www.z-a-recovery.com/digital-image-recovery.htm

And that was how I spent my evening.

Success!

2009-08-05T10:05:00.003-05:00

My computer and camera are talking to each other again. Anyway here are the latouts I did at Dee's last night. A complete record for me, 3 layouts in one night and they all have photos and journaling. I started a fourth but ran out of time and mojo. My apologies that the pics of them aren't the greatest - some terrible flash bounce back. It was too dark to take them w/o using the flash.

It's 6:15am. Why am I awake?

2009-08-05T07:02:00.001-05:00

Seriously, why am I awake? Not just a little bit awake either, but wide awake. I mean am not, NOT even a teenie tiny little bit a morning person. I am a night owl. I have ALWAYS been a night owl. Need a friend at 1 am. I'm your gal. Need someone to take you to the airport at 5 am. Call someone else. Seriously, you'd be better off walking than asking me to take you. I don't do mornings. Never, ever, if I can help it. Really! I mean, I can, if I really, really, REALLY, have to... But it's not pleasant, and it is most definitely a struggle.

I am your late night 1 o'clock in the morning kind of girl. Like last night. I spent the evening scrapping until around midnight only to come home and end up watching the end of a truly terrible movie. You'd think I'd turn it off and head to bed. No. No, of course not. Instead I stayed up and watched the end it. Granted, part of it was dh's fault. He is a morning person. He is usually out cold by 10pm. But last night? No! I walk in the door and to my surprise all the lights in the house are on! And he is awake! Watching TV! Gotta love it. He stayed up for me. He stayed up waiting for me to get home. He's such a sweetie! I love him! Of course it helped that said terrible movie starred a very scantily clad 1995 Alyssa Milano. But that's OK. It was me he was waiting for up. ;)

Anyway I have layouts to post. But they are going to have to wait, as dh couldn't get my new computer to talk to either one of my camera cards. And I'm not having nay luck myself. I don't get it. They talked just fine on Friday. And now today they refuse to even acknowledge each other. Jeepers, creepers! Who knew that computers and cameras could get in a tiff? I put the camera card in the drive and the computer pretends it's not there. Humphf! What's up with that? It's always something or another. Well, I guess I should get something done this morning since I'm up so early... even if it isn't getting my layouts uploaded.

Back from the CHA Supercraft Craft Show...

2009-08-03T09:03:00.007-05:00

So I got back late Saturday night as in 1am-ish. And well Sunday was pretty much a do nothing kind of day. I would have slept in, but alas my kitties missed me and were having no part of letting me sleep. Seriously my one little, "Bitty" alternated between giving me kisses and head butting my pillow until I got out of bed. Yep, the same little stinker who gave me the cold shoulder Saturday night, had forgiven me by Sunday morning.

Anyway, back to the show. So how was the Super show? It was good. Ok, ok it was great. But I think my the awesome girls I went with had a lot to do with that. :) Thanks Erica and Amber for a great weekend. We laughed and talked and shopped until our sides hurt, our shoulders drooped and legs gave out. Erica had on her high tech exercise arm band that does everything except walk for you and it hit 8000 steps in no time.

The shopping and there was shopping was mostly local stores selling either current product or manufactures selling leftover stuff from previous seasons. The Heidi Swapp booth had some amazing bargains and I admit I did spend some $ there. $1 packages of bling and her older stamps. Kind of hard to pass up. I also spend some $ in the Clear Scraps booth. I bought me some cute word albums. Other than that I was pretty good.

The make and takes were amazing. And the lines for the coolest make and takes were long. Lots of the make and takes were involved and were taking people anywhere from 20-30 mins to complete. Add a make and take line 5-10 people deep and it you were waiting over two hours in line. I wasn't up for waiting that long. So yes I passed on some very cool make and takes.

I did wait over an hour to make a sparkly jewelry charm using a product similar to what is used for acrylic nails. It was a clear liquid that you set with a UV light. Lots of jewelry options with this stuff, and tons of scrapbooking options. But the UV light was $35. I'm thinking I can do pretty much the same thing with glossy accents and while the results might not be exactly the same, it will do for me.

I also waited around 1 hour to make a stenciled t-shirt. This booth was really hot. And the only reason my wait was ONLY 1 hour was because as soon as the show floor opened on Saturday I raced to the booth. Several other people had the same idea though as I still had 3 people ahead of me. We used an adhesive backed stencil and special paints to basically screen paint a t-shirt. This one was very fun and the results were amazing. The product is due in stores around November one that I will be keeping an eye out for.

But my favorite make and takes were the jewelery ones. IMHO they were worth the hour plus wait. I made a very pretty pink bracelet and a blue-ish green butterfly necklace. There were other jewelry make and takes but it was impossible to see and make everything. Like I said the lines were long and the wait for them even longer. But all in all, I had a good time.

If you went to the Super show what did you think? Was it worth it to you? Would you go again if there is a next time?

Loving me some Stampendous

2009-07-27T21:30:00.006-05:00

Every good designer/scrapbooker should have an assistant or cohort and I've been trying for several years to recruit/convert/convince/plead/bribe one or both of my dd's to be mine. And for several years I have been failing. Neither one of my two dd's are really interested in scrapbooking or card making or altered art or sewing or bead making, etc... Now that's not to say that they won't occasionally hit my stash and play with my "toys", borrow a few paints, need some beads or swipe a few stickers. Trust me they both will do that. It's just that they have not been bitten my the crafty bug. Their eyes don't glaze over when they see a cute stamp, some pretty paper or fun fabric. I know! How can they be my girls?

Seriously it's not from lack of exposure to all things crafty. When my youngest dd was 4, one of the other kid's parents in the pre-school class thought the teacher cut out my dd's project for her because she was that good with scissors. Yes I started them crafting the second they could sit-up. And do you know what? That same dd told her Kindergarten teacher that she HATED to color. And the teacher asked me do you know that your dd doesn't like to color? Ummmm, no. I actually told the teacher taht couldn't be true as my house was overflowing with craft supplies. But when I thought about it, I realized, she was right. My dd didn't color and I didn't really notice because, well, I don't like to color either. So I was quite happy to do other crafty stuff with her.

So anyway what does all this have to do with Stampendous? Well my oldest dd loves to play with glitter, flock and embossing powder. You know all the $ powdery stuff that you use to make cards, etc. I had dragged dd to a make and take demo day one day last year and to her surprise she actually had fun playing with all the stuff. Enough so, that she actually came home and asked to played with some of my stuff afterwards. And I let her. DD and her best friend and my other dd and her best friend literally covered my entire kitchen in embossing powder and UTEE making paper beads and other fun stuff. I think they just liked playing with the heat gun. But they were careful and everyone had a great time.

So when I mentioned, like I always do, an upcoming class that I was thinking about, and then mentioned embossing powder in the same sentence, dd's ears perked up. And I jumped at the opportunity to invite her to come with me. So dd and I attended a class taught by Fran Seiford the owner of Stampendous. And while I'm not really a card maker, I'm card challenged actually. The samples that Fran brought and showed us how to make were amazing. And my dd loved playing with all the flock and glitter. And she loved the new mirror stickers and the rich velvet stickers and the glittery embossing powder, etc. And so I'm loving Stampendous right now. They make flock and glitter, and flock and glitter makes my dd happy. Yes, I'm still hoping that she might get bitten by the bug one of these days. I'm not seriously counting on it, but I can hope can't I? Now if Stampendous would just switch from monkey themed stamps to frog themed stamps I know that would impress my dd. And then my chances would most definitely improve - at least a wee bit. ;) Although I don't know if you could flock a frog, they aren't really fuzzy... hummmm... Cats can be fuzzy, I wonder... Oh dd #2, would you like to see mommy's cool new stuff?

Another Double Dee...

2009-07-23T23:07:00.005-05:00

Yes Honey, I confess, I spent the day scrapping. I didn't do any laundry, or much of anything else that I "should" have done - aside from feeding my kids. You can ask them. I cooked them a nice healthy dinner of London Broil, fries, watermelon and strawberries. But other than that nada.

I wish I could say I got a boat load of pages done, but alas I did not. I did however have a bunch of fun digging through my stash and reminiscing as I looked at old pictures. (That is code for, I never got around to printing the pictures I was going to use on my Double Dee and therefore had to punt - oops!) So I needed to find some inspiration, and I did finally find a few pictures that spoke to me. So, yes my Double Dee is done.

This layout was a stretch for me. When you see it you'll understand. I didn't plan on scrapping it. If I had I would have asked around for a better picture or two. And yet somehow the picture I used just seems fitting. I found it mixed in with a bunch of other pics. I don't remember printing it. And even if I did, I didn't print it to use it the way that I did. But it still works for me. I mean that's how I remember her, as part of our group, so using a group picture seems kind of fitting. I don't know. Maybe I should have waited and used a better pic, but then if I had waited, I probably would never have scrapped it. So since this one just spoke to me I scrapped it.

Anyway, as far as layouts go, I think it's an awesome layout. If you want to see it, I'll be dropping it off at Dee's sometime in the late late afternoon Friday. I used some Fancy Pants, Prima, Dream Street and Jillibean Papers on it. A wee bit of chipboard, a piece of wire, and some Caboodle flowers too. There's a decent amount of layering, along with some paper piecing, and some fancy paper cutting, showing you how you can get the most bang for your buck out of one sheet of paper. I like it! But what's even more amazing is my oldest dd likes it! If it snows tomorrow you'll know why. ;)

PS. Remember Dee's Cash and Carry sale is ending this weekend. Now is the time to stock up! It doesn't get much better than 40% off. :)

Summer reading list...

2009-07-22T22:38:00.010-05:00

I finally finished the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Today I returned the fifth and final book of this LONG series to the library. The Fiery Cross' almost 1500 pages took me over 2 weeks to read! I know so not me. I usually devour books, rarely stopping between them and then I usually mourn the end of the series. But not this one. I am happy to be done with it. The books really dragged for me. I finished them based on principle. Everyone kept telling my how great they were, well I wouldn't call them great - ok -but that is about it. IMO they are way to wordy wasting chapters upon chapters on events and daily happenings that have no real bearing on the story. It was almost like the author set herself a goal of making each book be over xyz number of pages and was h--- bent on getting there. Each book in the series just moved slower and slower and the last one had was no real story line to it at all. Anyway I am proud of myself for sticking to it. I have the satisfaction of knowing how the story ends, but I wouldn't recommend them. And I'd never ever re-read them.

In other news, my youngest dd and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The movie was great! I did scream at one part of the movie, causing my dd to say mooommmm! - in that grown-up voice of hers - the one that she uses when she thinks I'm over reacting, etc. I can't really compare it to the book as this is one series that I ~shudder~ never finished. I ran out of patience waiting for the next installment in the series and stopped at book 4. They were just too spread out and I was having trouble remembering all the minor characters. I did love the ones I read! And they are all on my list of books to be re-read - now that I can machine gun read them one right after the other - cheese. :) Yes I read books even if I know what is going to happen and have seen the movie. The book is ALWAYS better than the movie.

So what good books have you read this summer? Or what books are on your reading list? I have The Host on mine, and I am waiting for few others that are on hold at the library. One is another vampire series, can't think of the name of it. I think it's Ever... something or another.

Double Dee Time

2009-07-17T15:04:00.004-05:00

I dropped off my Double Dee layout at the store earlier this week. It uses some really fun felt flowers that were all hand die cut and some pretty blue Prima flowers. You get an entire set of memories complete alphas, plenty to use on other layouts. In fact, I barely made a dent in the ones I used. A few brads for the center of the flowers and 6 pieces of Dream Street 's Clubhouse patterned papers. And when you are done there's even enough scraps left over that if you add a piece of cardstock you could easily create another layout. So stop by Dee's to check it out. I even heard that she is having a cash and carry sale this weekend - most everything in the store is 40% off. How can you beat that?

CK Media - Sold!

2009-07-07T17:19:00.003-05:00

Have you heard the news?!!!! CK Media has been sold! The new owners laid off lots of higher ups as the company didn't need two CEO's etc. Should be interesting to see how it all shakes out. If you want to read more about it check out 2 peas or scrapbook update. Both sites have links and articles on them.

In other news, my main computer is dead - ok maybe not dead but it has some major issues. Like no matter what I do I can't get a picture on my monitor. It's not the monitor, or the cable or the power cord. I've pulled it all apart and re-assembled it. Swapped out everything I could with the kids computer, but nothing. It's going to need to go to the shop. Ugh! It could be a video card or the power source or who knows what. Hopefully it won't cost too much $$ to have it fixed. So I am without a computer until that happens.

Other than that, I am working like a mad man/woman. Still setting priorities... The last few days have been spent preparing and getting my balcony and lanai cleared of "stuff" so that I can clean up the mess. You know kitty litter, dust, dirt, spiders and just the general yuck that comes from having a house that backs up to trees. Seriously my back yard is like 5 feet of grass and then trees - we back a preserve. But So far so good. The pressure washer only died once on me and thankfully restarted with a wee bit of a rest. So my balcony is clean. Yippee! It desperately needed it. Now all I have to do is wait for it to dry and move the furniture and stuff back. Tomorrow is the lanai, that will take me to the rest of the week. Oh oh why did I get a white pool cage. Oh I know why because at our last house it wasn't a big deal keeping it clean ,we had neighbors behind us. But living with trees behind us guarantees that a week after I get it sort of white it will be going green again.

I know not a very exciting post, but I figured it was better than talking about Michael Jackson as so many people seem to be doing. Chow! Kids are hungry and I don't have much of a dinner plan.

still here...

2009-06-30T13:20:00.003-05:00

been super busy, been out of town, home, then back again, cell phone keeps dying - not wanting to spend the $ to get a new one, forgot my computer, hotel Internet is sporadic if at all, dh is traveling, kids are on summer vacation, laundry is overflowing, house is a wreck, dust bunnies taking over, etc etc

setting priorities, a real post sometime soon...

Back from the Boxer Crop

2009-06-17T10:45:00.003-05:00

I'm back in town. I left early Friday morning to head to Tampa for the Boxer Rescue Crop. It was a fundraiser being held at the Tampa Art Institute to benefit the Boxer Rescue Organization. And it was a complete and total blast! I went to crop (but didn't even complete one layout - shhhh don't tell my dh!) Next time I'll just go and take some of the culinary classes. The culinary classes they offered were amazing. Check out that carved watermelon! Everyone who took one totally raved about them.

I didn't take any but I had fun anyway. And it was oh so relaxing. It was just what I needed, even though I didn't know it at the time. Lots of talking, eating, laughing and hanging out with friends. It was a perfect weekend getaway.

I'm still playing catch up after being gone for the weekend. I've got laundry done and mostly put away. Already been to Publix - 3 times. Yes once Sunday for a quick dinner, and then back on Monday. And then again on Tuesday. Having a house full of kids sleepover Monday and Tuesday will do that to you.

Today is general cleaning (vacuuming, etc ), guitar lessons, a trip to the library and planning for Orlando. There's more on the list, but I'm trying to keep it real...to much to do and not enough time...

Working on updating but....

2009-06-10T18:10:00.003-05:00

I've been swamped. Dh has been out of town for business for the last two weeks. I've been left in charge of holding down the fort and between end of school stuff, kids graduation parties, award ceremonies, music lessons, birthday parties, choir awards, and just the general everyday stuff that has to get done I've been swamped. No time for blogging let alone scrapping. But I see light at the end of the tunnel... unfortunately now it's my turn to head out of town... stay tuned I've got several posts planned.... just haven't had the time to write them...soon I promise.

Wisdom from the Peanut Gallery...

2009-06-05T13:47:00.006-05:00

I found this on-line today...

You don't have to actually answer these questions. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. And these are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies...
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials...the most money...or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.

8th Grade Graduation Day

2009-06-04T16:43:00.004-05:00

My son's 8th grade graduation was yesterday. Did I just say 8th grade graduation? Wow! Where did the time go!

Due to space and size constraints the graduation ceremony was split into 2 parts, with half the class graduating at 6pm and the other half of the class at 7:30pm. IMHO doing that was really cheesy as it meant that we didn't get to see half of ds's friends graduate. And that we didn't get to see the awards that they won and to cheer them on. Yes I understand why they did it. It just seems to me they could have come up with a better solution. I mean seriously, when the kids graduated from elementary school they held the ceremony at the High School. Seems to me they could have done the same thing for 8th grade classes.

Anyway, we sat in the first row. And seeing the smiles on all the the kids faces was amazing. They were so proud of themselves. It was wonderful to watch them beam as their name was called and they walked on stage. You would think I'd have great pictures to show for it. I mean getting their early and sitting in the front row, but I do not. As each row of students was called they held them until the next row was called and as my son walked up on stage the entire previous row were sent to their seats, walking directly in front of me. Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to stage a pic or two of him.

But I think the best part of the whole ceremony was watching the individual kids singled out for special awards. It was so fun seeing their shocked expressions as they realized that yes they were being honored for a particular subject. I watched several of my sons friends get awards and then imagine my surprise when my own son was singled out for a Science Award. I did get a picture of that! :) And then just when I thought we were about done they gave out special Principle Awards. I'm not sure what the students had to do to qualify for those but I am proud to say my son won one of those too. WAY TO GO HANDSOME! WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU!