Whew!!!

I thought I had lost my blogger access....

My computer lost my cookie (now, doesn't that sound interesting!!) But I finally was able to access it to post!!! (I am blonde, you know!!!)

So, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I have been tagged by Stephanie, so I will try to post this very soon!!!

December projects!

Here are my December projects for Scrapncircle!! Jeri sent me the super cute Kaliedoscope papers from My Mind's Eye. It was fun to play with them!!! You will recognize the first photo... it is in the last post! The other photo was taken with my old Panasonic Lumix! TFL!

My new camera!

It's sad how "stuff" can make you feel soooo happy... but my new camera really does!!! I finally saved enough money to buy a Canon Rebel XTi. I'm still learning, but it's way better than my point and shoot... don't tell my old Panasonic that I said that!!!

Here's a couple of pics from the XTi... using an oldie but goodie lens that I'm test driving from a very dear friend of mine. It's shot in AV mode, f4.o, natural light; the lens is a 70-210mm f4, originally produced in 1987 and discontinued in 1990. Comments appreciated!

Merry Christmas!

I made these trees from styrofoam cones, various patterned papers (from Gin-X, Provo Craft, and Scissor Sisters), ribbon, a few QK dies, and a large tag punch. I used the punch to make all of the "branches," inking the edges, and rolling each tag around a pencil. I attatched them to the cone with low temp hot glue.

I thought it may be time to get into the Christmas spirit!

Oh.... and if you pull up beside me at an intersection... I'm the crazy one with Handel's Messiah blasting on my car stereo!!! (my parents would be so proud to know how much their fondness for traditional Christmas music has rubbed off on me! After all, I can only take so much of "Feliz Navidad" and "I Want a Hippopotomas for Christmas"!! Although I am enjoying Michael Buble's version of "Let it Snow")

Hope you are almost done with your shopping so that you can enjoy the season a bit!

Scrapncircle November Projects

Jeri sent us some wonderful goodies from Wild Asparagus by My Mind's Eye to play with. I really had fun making these pages!!!

I'm ready to play with the big girls!!!

After months of saving and numerous serious discussions with my dh about how much it will cost to get one, I finally purchased a real dSLR!!! A Canon Rebel XTi.

It's silly to think about how happy "stuff" makes us... but I am VERY happy I finally have a real camera! I love my film SLR dearly (and it has sentimental value, since it was a gift from my father), but it can't keep up in the digital world!

I'm so nervous about using it that I haven't even really taken it out of the box to put the kit lens on it! It arrived on Tuesday. I tried out a couple of lenses at Richmond Camera today... trying to decide a reasonable one to purchase. And I got a 2 GB memory card on Thursday. So, I'm ready to start shooting, I think.

My dear friend Tisha is going to work with me on how to make the most out of this camera. I can't wait...

Well, we survived...

Our annual trip to the Outer Banks this year for Thanksgiving was punctuated by a most powerful Nor'easter that blew through ALL night Tuesday and well into Wednesday morning! We're talkin' about 60+ mph winds that just wouldn't quit! My girls were awakened at 4:30 Wednesday morning (does that time actually happen twice a day? LOL!!!) when their night light went out!!!! We were without power for several hours and cable for a few days, but we fared pretty well, all things considered. Some water damage to the house we were in from the wind literally blowing water into the house!

I have some pictures of what is now left of the dunes on the beach... the view of the waves crashing into the parking lot of the beach access area across the street from the house we were staying in... and one of the many sets of steps leading to nowhere after they were detatched from their beach walkways. I will post later!

Otherwise, we had a nice, relaxing time. I did lots of thrift store shopping, especially for items I can use in my scraproom. I'll have to post pics of those, too!

It is nice to go on vacation... but it's even nicer to be home!

Yipppeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

I came home to an e-mail from Scrapbook Trends for a request for the April, 2007 issue!!! Yay!!!!!!!!! It will be my first time in their publication!

Fish!

Thought I would post something scrapbook related for a change... since I have become political in my old age!!! LOL!!!

I created this layout of my dh for a challenge over at Scraplovers during their birthday bash cyberchat! The challenge was to use only cardstock! Letter stickers were also allowed! These are by American Crafts. TFL!

I got the new John Mayer album, Continuim, as a birthday gift from my dh. This is the first song on that CD. Keep in mind that my birthday coincides with the week of 9/11. So, when I first heard this song, it was a beacon of hope.... it made me realize that I was not the only one frustrated by the system.

I just listened to this song again after not hearing it for a while, and now it plays like a victory song for me.... hoping that the change has begun, that we can bring our troops home, and that we can work on healing our great nation.

-----------------------------

Waiting On The World To Change

me and all my friends
we're all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there's no way we ever could

now we see everything that's going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don't have the means
to rise above and beat it

so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's hard to beat the system
when we're standing at a distance
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change

now if we had the power
to bring our neighbors home from war
they would have never missed a Christmas
no more ribbons on their door

and when you trust your television
what you get is what you got
cause when they own the information,
oh they can bend it all they want

that's why we're waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's not that we don't care,
we just know that the fight ain't fair
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

and we're still waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

one day our generation
is gonna rule the population
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

The winds of change....

Ahhh!!! Today is a good day!!! I didn't expect voter turnout to be sooo overwhelming. Nor did I expect the shift in the political landscape of our country that occurred yesterday. But I'm glad it did!!

I'm kind of proud of how we, the people, all went out, voted, and told our government what we needed them to hear. I don't think this election was truly about specific issues. It was about telling Bush that the status quo isn't good enough.

It's not about left vs. right, liberal vs. conservative, or morals vs. immorality, as some may believe. It's about CHANGE.

So, if you voted, be proud that you let your voice be heard... whatever that voice was!!!

I voted!!!

I did make time to vote today on my way home from work.

I actually enjoy the political process and fulfilling my "civic duty." I got that goosebumpy feeling when I hit the big "submit vote" button on the computer screen of my voting kiosk. I don't think my choices will win, but at least my voice will be heard!

At my voting station, they had so many voters that they ran out of stickers!!! That is amazing! a 65% turnout in Virginia!!!

So, did you vote today?

Woooohooooo!!!!!

I have a TOOOT!!!!

I have been invited to join the creative team at Scraplovers.com!!!! Yay!!!!

This is a SUPER group to chat with... and lots of talent over there!!! You should really go and visit... I have added the link to the sidebar.

My term begins January 2007. Yay!!! Again, I am soooo excited for this opportunity!!!!

Looking for something scrappy to do this weekend?

Come over and visit me at Scrapncircle all weekend for our crop.... or at Scrappinchicks tomorrow night for the chat, and all day Saturday for our crop! I will reveal a sketch for Scrapncircle and a sketch and an ad for Scrappinchicks!!! So come on by and say hello!

I never thought this day would come!!!

But I got an e-mail today from Simple Scrapbooks magazine! They have requested a layout for the March/April 2007 issue!!!! I am floored!!! It's a layout about my older dd fishing... and one of my favorites!!! Yay!

OMG!! I actually won something!

I hardly ever enter contests, but I did enter the September layout one at Scraplovers.com! And I actually won!!! Woohoo!!! So excited! http://store.scraplovers.com/index.html

It was a contest using Piggy Tales papers! This is my layout!

KI Album

I just thought I would finally post these layouts... well, 4 of the 6, anyway.

Surprise! A post about scrapbooking!

Well, I guess it's time to move on from my worries about our big world and focus on something far more trivial for a change....

This is a point I have pondered for quite a while now: the social (or, perhaps, not so social) aspects of the scrapbooking industry.

If you are in pursuit of design work, do you ever feel as though you are in school again? I kind of feel like I am "rushing" a sorority when I try out for a DT, especially for an online team. You go to such great lengths to create great designs.... and for online teams, for them to get to know you... and in the end, for me, anyway, there is rejection (well, I've only tried out for 2 so far.) The teams I am on have invited me without "trying out." Sometimes it's all in who you know. That's how I became a designer for Scrappinchicks and Scrapncircle!!! (so maybe I should consider myself lucky?!)

The sorority feel is in the air at CHA... I have been snubbed by some who I thought were so great from their online personalities... and pleasantly surprised to find that some others were NOT as their online personas conveyed! And yet others were just as I had expected (good and bad!!) Of course, I won't tell about the bad...

Anyway, why can't we be nice in this industry? Behave like women, not girls.... and that has NOTHING to do with the DT calls. I have just seen friends hurt in this business, and it just really SUCKS!!!

I can't pretend that snubbing and rejection doesn't sting... but I am still happy with my creations and with ME.

And you know what? I already have my sisterhood of scrapbooking friends... our own sorority, if you will.... and I love them dearly!!!

In rememberance...

I am posting this in honor of those who perished one year ago tomorrow. I am posting this for all of us who still mourn that time where we lost our "innocence" as a nation..... for those who lost loved ones... for those who feared they had lost someone.... for everyone who has to explain to their children where they were on that horrible day.

I'm sorry to be so sullen with my blog these days, but 9/11 weighs heavily on my mind this time of year.

I actually completed this layout last year. I had to edit so much of what I wanted to say to get it all to fit on the page. I could have hidden the journaling, but I wanted to force the viewer to see what I had to say.

The photos were taken of Ground Zero on a trip to NYC that I made with my dh in October 2003.

Journaling reads:
Where were you on the morning of 9/11? One day, my girls will ask me that question. Where was I? I was at the hospital where I practiced PT. I remember that morning--one of those beautiful, crisp, late summer days that remind you that fall is near. I walked onto the rehab unit and took note of how pretty the sun's rays looked as they flooded the hall with light. And I remember thinking that something was going to happen that day that would change me for the rest of my life. I had only been at work for about 20 minutes when I heard about the first plane hitting one of the twin towers of the WTC in NYC. A few of us found a TV and watched the news coverage, including live pictures of the second jet hitting the other tower. Absolutely horrifying! As we all know, the news became progressively worse. I frantically called family members to make sure everyone was OK, including my father who worked on an army base and my husband who worked in one of the tallest buildings in Richmond. We prepared for survivors at the hospital that never came. The events of that day turned my world upside down. I was 5 months pregnant with my first daughter, and it was the week of my 27th birthday. I found little joy in celebrating either. When we visited NYC in October of 2003, I knew that Ground Zero was a place I had to see for myself. Then it was real. There is an ability to remain detached from it all until you see it with your own eyes... the vacancy in the skyline, the makeshift memorials that aren't supposed to be there anymore, the miracle of a cross found in the debris of the WTC, and the collective solemn reverence of all the visitors to that place where so many perished.

It's that time of year again!

I love September! It's my favorite weather month. And it's my birthday month! Love late summer/early fall. The angle of the sun changes, and you start to feel the onset of crisp nights and pleasanly warm days. Love it! Today was the first day I noticed that this year. It struck me as the light shone through the window of our upstairs hallway.

It was the same feeling I felt on the morning of 9-11-2001. I noticed the angle of the sun had changed as I was walking onto the floor of the hospital where I worked. The light was flooding the hallway from one of the patient rooms. Beautiful morning light... I will never think of that good feeling without the bittersweet thought of that day again.

It just makes my heart sink to think about how my most favorite time of year is now tainted with the memories of that awful time. As we approach the 5 year anniversary, I realize that it's really not getting easier to deal with. It doesn't consume me... but it's there. Every day, it's there. And I can' t believe how much this disaster affected me even though I don't personally know anyone who perished that day... I only witnessed their murders. It brings me back to the "what can I do to change the world" ideas... and again, I come up with nothing. I can only hold my babies and try my best to protect them.... that's all I know how to do.

Oh, well... again....

I'm kind of tired of posting things like this!!! I have seen more than my fair share of rejection this week.... the worst being no call for the KI Memories contest... I know my chances were slim, but it still hit me the hardest of any other contest yet. It was as if I were in high school and a boy I had a crush on walked right passed me and ignored me... ahhh... but I guess I'll get over it.

However, I am very excited for my dear friend Tisha McCuiston, who DID get a call!!!! Yay, Tisha!!! I'm pulling for you to be the grand prize winner!!!

A toot of a different sort...

I had a patient come back to me and tell me something wonderful. Some advice that I gave her actually made a big difference in her life. I was working in one of the outpatient neuro clinics a couple of weeks ago and met a rather young woman that had suffered a stroke. She was doing fairly well physically, but was still having trouble falling up her stairs to her home. She had no trouble on normal stairs which are closed in the back, but hers were open, and she tended to place her foot straight on through the back of the step and fall. So, my suggestion to her was to buy some of the anti-skid strips from Lowes or Home Depot and place those on the step to reinforce the visual end to the step. And you know, it actually worked!!! I was so happy to see her again yesterday and have her tell me that. Yay!!!! It's such a good feeling to know that I helped someone.

Isn't she lovely?

Anna loves to try on things... like her daddy's sunglasses... I caught her in some good light holding his glasses... isn't she cute?

Whew!!!!

I just finished my album for the KI Memories contest... now I have to make copies and get it in the mail!!!

What kind of radio listener are you?

So, I 'm on my way to work. Do I:
A: Be socially responsible and listen to NPR... so I can keep up with what is really going on in the world?
B: Indulge my inner teenager and listen to old 80's and 90's rock on the mediocre appeals to those approaching middle age station?
or C: Be totally irreverant and listen to the DC 101 shock jock?

Well, this morning I was irreverant.... yesterday I indulged my inner teenager... but this afternoon I was socially responsible!

My dh has XM radio, which is nice (especially the Lucy station!!), but I kind of miss local radio... I somehow feel very connected to my community by listening to local radio. Anyone else ever thought about this?

Here's a new layout!

I had to scrap this photo Tisha took of me with Anna.... it speaks volumes about this stage in Anna's life!!! Thanks, Tisha, for such great material to work with!!

Bazzill, ribbon (Michaels), leather photo corners and flowers (Making Memories), letter stickers (American Crafts).

Calling all designers!!!

Here's a great opportunity!!! Scrapncircle is looking for a few new DT members!!!

Scrap N Circle (www.scrapncircle.com) is looking for 5 Design Team members and 1 Coordinator! We are looking for individuals who are willing to be active members on our forums and our gallery. You will complete projects using the products sent. This will be a 6 month term.

DT Requirements are as follows:
Post a minimum of 4 new tops a week.
Reply to other topics created by members.
Comment in our gallery! We all like to hear praise about our work.
Projects to be completed are at least 2 NEW layouts monthly with products.
Create an altered project every other month. We will have 3 members do this every other month.
Advertise for us wherever and whenever you can, if another board allows you to post a blinkie please do.

DT Coordinator Requirements are as follows:
Set up a list for our DT members, such as dates challenges are to posted.
Help put together contests for the following month
Help send emails to manufacturers for sponsorship if need be.
Communicate well with Design Team and Members or our forums...and most of all
Keep our DT motivated!!!

IF you think you have what it takes to be on our design Team please send 3 examples of your work, along with the following questions answered, to scrappinhero@comcast.net

1) Name, Address, Phone
2) Please tell us what other boards you are active on.
3) Do you belong to other Design Teams?(this does not affect your chances of being chosen)
4) How long have you been scrapping?
5) Do you enjoy altered crafts, if so what item do you enjoy to alter MOST?
6) Why do you feel you would make a great member of our Design Team?
7) Tell us a bit more about yourself.

There's a great group over there!!! I have been on their DT since the fall of 2004... this site is like home to me!!! Jeri just re-opened the store (very exciting!), and we have had several great sponsors in the past few months!!!

So, check it out!

www.scrapncircle.com

I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHA was a blast!!! I had so much fun bonding with my girlfriends Tisha, Tabitha, and Shannon! I had never met Shannon before, but we had talked on the computer and phone... but it was as if I had known her my whole life!! And, of course, Tisha and Tabitha are local to me, but I never get to see them enough!! We also met Jenn from Scrappinchicks!

We even got into town to see the city (thanks to Shannon... so glad she drove down to meet us!!). We went to Windy City Scrapbooks (awesome store!!!), Margie's Candies (still the best hot fudge EVER!!), the Navy Pier (the pic of Tisha is from the ride!), and did some shopping downtown, including the American Girl store. I can't wait until both of my girls are old enough to make that trip! Shannon dropped us off in town after the pier, and Tisha, Tabitha, and I rode the El back to Rosemont!

Anyway, I met so many fabulous people!!! The pea gathering was fun! I even got to crash the CK reception with Tisha (who was actually invited!). And I loved walking the floor! Did some ordering for Scrappinchicks, but mostly just oooohhhhed and aaahhhhed over all the beautiful new scrapbook supplies! And networked!!!

So, I'm happy to have gone, but even happier to be home now. I really missed my babies!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

My baby turned one today! We had her party last Sunday... nothing too big and overwhelming, just our close family.

She sure did enjoy her cake!

I feel guilty that I am so lucky...

Truly, I do mean this. I must take the time to thank God a few times a week for allowing me to be born in America. Not only that I am American, but that I live relatively comfortably, that I have a good husband, good family, and two beautiful children.

I feel guilty sometimes to have all of this. Proud, but guilty. Why, you ask, should I feel guilty?

When I look at what is going on in the rest of the world, I do feel guilty. I am conflicted. I live my life in my own little world, full of my family, career, hobbies... and then I look at all that is happening in the real world... the big picture. It's disturbing.

How can I go about my day to day activities and pretend like there is nothing happening in the Middle East? in Africa? in Indonesia? in North Korea? or any third world or developing nation? Again, feeling guilty that America is the cause for much of the unrest in the Middle East.... I know I did not make the choice to invade Iraq, but I am a part of the nation that did.

I recently watched part of Farenheit 9/11. I had to turn it off. I literally bawled my eyes out for nearly an hour after I did... it was awful seeing what happened to innocent children... I couldn't help but think of my own and how tortured I would be if anything happened to my babies! And to see how our troops have been forced to cope with the stress of war... ugh!!! So glad my husband does not have to fight over there and that I don't have a son old enough to do so. That documentary is a brilliant piece of propoganda. It had the desired effect of making me feel angry, disturbed, and extremely guilty....

I'm having nightmares, too... since before seeing the documentary, I have had recurring dreams that my country has been taken over by terrorists. Women have no rights, even being told what to eat and wear. And we are not allowed true contact with our children... I always wake up from these and have difficulty falling back to sleep.

Yet, here I am, still self-absorbed and living my life in my own little world. How do I react to what is happening? What can I do? I don't think I can change foreign policy!

I wrote a letter to former President Bush (when he was in office... I was in high school.) I actually coplimented the way he had managed the Desert Storm conflict in Iraq, comparing him to such great presidents as Jimmy Carter with specific references to foreign policies. Do you know what I got back? A form letter that had NOTHING to do with what I had written about. That was enough to disinterest me from spending 3 days writing such a monumental document and sending it off the the circular file ever again!!! It really burst my idealistic bubble to know that my letter did not deserve a true response.

I have a friend who lives in Israel. She actually has dual citizenship both in America and Israel. She lives there with her husband and 4 children. I worry about her. I asked her when she told everyone she was moving over there if she was afraid, and she said no. Well, now I am afraid for her.

I am tired of seeing images of death and destruction on TV.... and don't know what I can do to stop the chaos in this world.

So, I guess I will continue to live in my happy world, as most of us do, and pretend that these conflicts don't exist... except when I pray at night. And I will continue to hold my children close... and hopefully, I will figure out a way to change the world eventually....

Such a little diva!!!

This behavior started in the womb... I actually have an ultrasound picture with her hand resting on her forehead as if to say, "Enough pictures already... I need to rest!!!"

And this is how Anna relaxes in the pool. Without fail this summer, she has whined to lie on the raft every time we have gone swimming. We attended a BBQ in my in-laws neighborhood, which we attend every year every July 4th, and one of their neigbhors has a pool. It wasn't long after Anna got comfortable on the raft that she drifted off to sleep. I had to take a snapshot!

Wooohooooooo!!!

The top 30 finalists (including the 3 winners and 5 HM's) in the Junkitz Designer Draft were posted yesterday!!! I was THRILLED to be among the 22 finalists. Sure, I didn't win a spot on the DT, but I feel like a winner just being a finalist!!

So, thanks, Stacey and team, for making me feel like a winner!!! YAY!!!!

A 2 pager!!!

I shocked myself with this, really.... I used to do all 2 page layouts, but have pretty much done only one pagers for quite some time now! But last night, when inspiration struck, I could only think of 2 pages!!! I knew I had to scrap these pics of my dd playing in the sprinkler!!

I used Kelly Panacci for Sandylion patterned papers, Gin-X coaster flowers, Doodlebug letter stickers, and buttons by Doodlebug and Foo-fa-la. Sorry about the crummy scan... it was very lumpy!!!

In other news, Anna has quite taken to this whole walking thing. After much practice since she began taking steps at 10 months, it has finally become her preferred mode of transportation (that is, if Momma isn't carrying her!!!)

Whew!!

I received an e-mail from Debbie Hill with Junkitz to let me know that they did receive my entry!! (thank you for doing that!!!) Now I can return to my regular nail-biting with the rest of the entrants!!!

****

Here's a layout I just just did with the April kit for Scrappinchicks. Papers are by A2Z. The sketch for this layout is posted on Scrappinchicks as part of our cybercrop we had on June 25th. TFL!!!

In other news, I am absolutely CRUSHED that I did not receive a confirmation e-mail from my Junkitz Designer Draft entry.... I just read on 2peas that we were supposed to get one, and the web site confirmed it. So, I may have done all of that work for nothing!!!! I have e-mailed them, so, hopefully I will hear something tomorrow... keep your fingers crossed that they got my entry please!!!

Ahh... the young ones are oh so wise...

So, I took my older dd (who is 4 1/2) to the mall the other day so I could shop, and she could play. We strolled through Express, and my dd saw the shorts on these models here hanging up on the rack.

"Mommy!!! Look!!! They have Anna size shorts here!!!"(Anna is, of course, her 11 month old baby sister!!!) Yes, they do have Anna size shorts, Kendall. Yes, they do!!!

She had me cracking up!!! *sigh* My body USED to be the right type to fit the clothes in that store!!!

The Dares!!!

I finally did one!!!

"Are You My Mother?"

Journaling reads:
*Anna, when you were born, I thought it took the nurses forever to bring you to me. When your sister was born, I held her and nursed her right away. But since you were born by c-section, the doctors and nurses had all kinds of things they had to do to me before I could hold you. *I often wonder what you must have been thinking about during that time, wondering yourself if all of the people holding you and doing things to you were your mother. The doctor held you, your daddy held you, several nurses held you, and I think even a grandma or two all held you before I did. Were you asking yourself if they were your mother?*I was grateful for that moment about 3 hours after you were born when I was finally able to hold you. For I am here, I will always be here, and I am indeed your mother. And I love you very much.

Supplies: Patterned paper (KI Memories), Cardstock (Bazzill), Ink (Colorbox), Staples (Target), Transparency (Apollo), Ribbon (recycled from a baby gift), Rub-on letters (Making Memories), Embroidery floss (DMC).

OK, I have to admit.... I cheated. I had done this layout a couple of months ago, but it totally fit this dare of using a book title for your layout title. And it's one of my favorites that I've ever done!

The ladies who do "The Dares" are amazing, and they have inspired a whole new aspect of scrapping challenges!!! Thanks for your inspiration, ladies!!!

Identity reality...

I wouldn't call it a crisis... more of a realization. I cleaned out my underwear drawer today. I know, not such an interesting topic, but it had to be done!!! And I got rid of everything I could wear pre-baby #1, saying good-bye to all of those pretty things I used to fit into! Very sad... but I was running out of room in that drawer. And since, well, let's face it, the newer models are larger in more than one aspect, I really needed that space!

I kept hanging on to those old pieces thinking that I'll fit into them again one day!!! But IF (and WHEN) that ever happens, all of the elastic will have dry-rotted anyway!!!

The other piece to this realization.... I disposed of all of my maternity underwear. I have officially given up on the fleeting thought that I might have another child someday!

This is a good thing, though, since I did partially replenish my undergarment wardrobe at Victoria's Secret yesterday. (you know they are having a sale, right?) My dh balanced the checkbook last night. He was very curious to find out what I had spent $$$ on in that store!!! It was all very necessary, I assured him. As my younger dd approaches her first birthday (next month), and my nursing days are *almost* over, I needed new bras! Ones that don't open in the front or have huge front hooks that show through my clothes!!! Ahhhh.... I see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Hopefully soon I will start feeling more like a wife, and less like a mother. I love being a mother, but my dh would much prefer to have at least part of his wife back!!

Sorry, but there won't be any pictures about this!!!! And, if you made it this far, thanks for reading my story!!!

I'm throwing my hat in the ring....

For the Junkitz DT contest again. I have 2 dream teams.... Junkitz and KI Memories. Yes, there are many fabulous manufacturers out there who have wonderful products, but of the biggies, these are the two whose products I use most.

Anyway, I sent my entry already... and I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!! I know I have lots of talented competition!!!

Otherwise, I haven't done much in the way of submitting!!!

Form vs. Function

What a conundrum. I remember being asked to compare form and function in my AP English class in high school.... I struggled with the concept then, trying to figure out why the comparison was important in the first place.

Then it hit me... my "eureka" moment... FORM is what makes FUNCTION enjoyable (or not!). It is what drives creativity, innovation, and opinion. For example, you have a chair. A place to park yourself and take a rest. The chair could be simple, wooden, and hard... or it could be the latest and greatest Lazy Boy ever (same function, but which sounds more comfortable to you?).

The same is true for the art of scrapbooking... most of us started with our interest in photography. We could have settled for storing our photos in albums, or we could put them in a book with memorabilia and some words about the pictures... the advent of the scrapbook!!! And then, as we know, the concept morphed into its own artform! Same function.... displaying photos... but better form. The evolution of this artform has been fun to watch. I, at least, continue to play with form... better photos, new ideas, more mixed media... it is FORM that drives ART.

Just a few more pictures from our trip!!! The first and last images are again using Amy Howe's conversion!

Beach Flowers!!!

While on vacation on the Outer Banks, we stayed in a house on the Village golf course. The landscaping was gorgeous, with lots of beautiful flowers to capture!! Here are a few. I used the color conversion that Amy Howe shared in the May Basic Grey newletter for these.

Updates!!!

I have updated my links on my sidebar... I've added a few more blogs (most you know, I'm sure!) and a new website. I believe the ad inspiration site was started by a pea, but for the life of me, I can't remember who (someone please help me here!). Anyway, it's a great source of inspiration (as its name suggests!!).

Also, I've updated my links to both Tisha's and Tabitha's blogs. Tisha's is now linked to her photography web site, and Tabitha's is now being hosted by Scrap That Moment, a new e-zine she is now designing for. Yay, Tabitha!! (so happy for her!!!)

Enjoy!

This is a sad day....

OK, I can't be the only one who will sincerely miss Katie Couric on the Today Show. I will miss seeing her every morning!

I have so many memories of significant events attached to her delivery of the news, including the tragedy of 9/11.

I will follow her to CBS, though, now that Tom Brokaw is no longer host of the NBC Nighly News.

Anyone watch her farewell show this morning? I almost cried at the end... but I'm glad I got to see it!

Somewhere over the rainbow....

This was a spectacular site on my vacation to the Outer Banks!!! This rainbow was SO HUGE!!! As I left the Avalon Pier to drop off my older dd to go fishing with her dad, I spotted it. It was hard to miss!!! It was so large that it seemed like you were driving straight into it at the end of the beach road. And even more so on the bypass road.

As I drove further down toward the house we were staying in, you could see the full arch of the rainbow, as well as a second arch!!! Yes, a double rainbow!!!

Of course, I didn't have a camera by my side that time.... so the only spectacular images are in my mind. By the time I got to the house, the sun had nearly set, and this was all that was left.

I'm cheating...

On my mascara!!!

I am a tried and true Maybelline Great Lash user.... but I am easily swayed by the latest and greatest mascaras advertised. But I always go back to my favorite.

You see, I am hugely challenged in the eyelash department. In addition to them being blonde, they are not so long or full.... thus the need to wear it pretty much any time I leave the house!

So, my latest purchase is the new Cover Girl mascara... the one with the new purple brush. We'll see how great it works.... but, shhhhhhhhh.... don't tell my pink and green friend!!!!

It's good to be home!

I have been at the beach this past week (on the Outer Banks of NC, to be exact!).

We had a super great time... my baby simply adores the beach, just like her big sister!!

I will post photos soon!!!

Isn't it nice to have good friends?

I'm feeling very blessed these days. Actually, I have been feeling blessed for a while now... it all started in my (very) late 20's, after the birth of my first daughter. I realized that none of my "girlfriends" were MY friends. They were spouses of my husband's friends. Sure, I had friends from work, but we only hung out occasionally. I'm talking about a friend you could call up at any time for any reason.... someone who understands you and you understand them. Sure, I have a wonderful husband, but he's no substitute for a girlfriend!

Now that I am in my *early* 30's, I finally have it. A circle of friends I really love to hang out with, who lift me up, who tell it like it is, and who motivate me to be a better person myself.

My mom always told me that life would get better when I was older (as she tried to convince me that it was really worth struggling through those awful teenage years!). I wish I had known then how right she was!

How did I meet my wonderful circle of friends? Well, I had just become interested in scrapbooking, and had discovered my local scrapbook store. Encouraged by some cyberfriends on the Simple Scrapbooks magazine message board, I signed up for a crop on National Scrapbook Day in 2004. I met my two best friends there! And it all evolved from that one day... and if I hadn't had the courage to go to a crop where I didn't know a soul, I would have never found these wonderful friendships!

So, to all my friends, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for making me such a happy girl!

Easter Dress

Paper Salon flower stamps, Lil' Davis "Time Capsule" foam letter stamps, Hero Arts letter stamps, May Arts ribbon and slide, Making Memories brad, Bazzill, and various inks (Ranger and Colorbox).

I don't believe it!!!

For the second night in a row, my baby girl has gone down without a fuss!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!! What is interesting is that both nights she has gone to bed at the same time as her big sister, who shares a room with her! Yay for big sister setting a good example!!!

I'm so proud!

In other news, we had to take the baby to the doctor today. She cut her finger on one of her very age appropriate toys. I was so sad!!! I got a somewhat frantic call from my mil at work.... who had been called by the babysitter. So, I left work early to meet them at the doctor. The doctor was just going to clean it up and stick a band-aid on it, but when she saw what a little drama queen the baby is, she decided to dermabond it so it would stop bleeding and wouldn't require a bandage!

Then I got to go to the doctor this afternoon myself. My little girls have passed a cold to me, and now I have bronchitis AGAIN!!!! I swear that I do not smoke... really, I don't!!!! Just have a touch of asthma...

So, more meds for me. Ugh.

I hope to finish a new layout soon!!

I should be working...

But I am totally consumed by my computer!!! You know how it is... you log on "just to check your e-mail," then just to check on a couple of message boards... then an hour rolls by... and you realize you may have been able to complete a page in that time!!!

Check out what my dd drew tonight. It's on the back of a menu from our favorite little Italian restaurant. I think the grease spots from the parmesean cheese and the tomato sauce glob really add something special to her art, don't you? LOL!!! (I never thought I would be such a regular in a restaurant that the owners and regular wait staff would know me by name OR bring me my favorite drink without me ordering, but that is what has happened to us at Gino's!!!) Anyway, she was so proud of her picture of peas... I had to post it on 2peas, of course!!

I have to share these...

Because they are SO cute!!! My friend Jamie makes them. They're called Beverage Beacons, and, kinda like those wine glass tags you can get, they let you know whose drink is whose. But these will work on any cup/can/glass. This is, of course, her scrapbooking set. I am ordering a set for crops!!!

Here's a link to her website:

http://www.beveragebeacons.com/index.htm

Another new one...

Anna is my new muse!! I actually thought of the journaling first, then had to find a picture of her "playing" one of her musical instruments that wasn't blurry!!! Man, it's hard to catch a good shot of an active child with a point and shoot camera!

Patterned paper by Christina Cole for Provo Craft, Bazzill cardstock, foam stamp by Teresa Collins for Junkitz, and American Crafts letter stickers.

New layout!

Here's a new one I did as part of our Friday night chat and challenge on Scrappinchicks! Amy challenged us to use an arrow on a layout, and here's what I came up with. The arrow motif was inspired by the Radio Flyer logo (older style). I used Junkitz papers, ribbon from my stash, and Bazzill. I love Junkitz!

Yay!!!

I actually scrapped today. Not only that, but I had such a difficult time locating my American Crafts letter stickers for this layout that I had to *gulp* CLEAN my scrap desk!!! Yes, there is a desk under my mountain of paper and scraps!!!

Hey, I even have room to scrap a 2 page layout if I want to!!! That's progress!!!

This was a quick one I did based on an idea I woke up with yesterday! KI Memories patterned papers, American Crafts stickers, and Bazzill. It morphed a bit from my original idea, but I still like it! Photo by Tisha McCuiston.

Woohoo!!!

I'm very excited that one of my layouts from my DT work for Scrappinchicks has been requested by Cantata Books!!! Sounds like they have a great concept in mind for a new baby book!!! YAY!!! I'm not a 2 hit wonder! It was great fun putting up one of those "out for pub" signs!

Sometimes you want to go...

Where everybody knows your name! And you walk in, and there's at least one friend to greet you by name ("Norm!!!") OK, so it's not your neighborhood bar, but your local scrapbook store.

Does this happen to anyone else, or is it just me? I rarely go into either one of my lss's and not know someone! Have we scrappers reached the equivalent to the neighborhood bar with our frequent visits to the lss? It's true... I love to go there and hang out, especially if I run into a friend. And, while I don't get the cocktail or glass of wine I may order at the bar, I am satisfied by wandering the aisles and filling my mind with inspiration (and maybe getting a little retail therapy!)

Conincidentally, I did just this very thing on Sunday... went to my lss, saw a lady I go to church with shopping with her daughter, and I bought one of the hottest books right now... Cathy Z's new Clean and Simple book. I have just skimmed the book so far, but it is wonderful!!! I'm normally not the type to buy an idea book, but I did want this one!

This is my angel...

Yes, this is the little darling who has been the source of the sleep problem for everyone else in the house!!!

Do you think she's destined to be a scrapper? She always finds any ribbon I have (never let her play with it unsupervised, of course!) and loves to rip paper!

Today is a better day...

I decided that it was time to teach the baby how to fall asleep on her own so that everyone else in the house could finally get some sleep, too!!! She is 9 months old, and has never slept through the night!

It's been a difficult journey so far, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We started Thursday night. It took her 49 minutes to fall asleep in her crib, and my dh decided he needed to stay in her room with her for the second half of this process. She cried hysterically, made herself sick, and every time I checked on her, the crying got worse. After she finally went to sleep, she stayed asleep until 3:45. Of course, my dh had to rescue her. UGH!!! So it was like starting all over again to get her to sleep!!! It took another hour for her to fall asleep again. I put her back in her crib and patted her to sleep. She woke up again at 6ish.

Took her for her 9 month checkup Friday. The nurse practitioner told me to put her down, and don't go back in the room unless I know she is in serious distress. So, that's what we did. It took her an hour and 10 minutes to fall asleep, but that was on her own. She woke up at 4ish, but put herself back to sleep without too much difficulty.

This morning, I put her down for a nap when she began to rub her eyes and yawn.... she was asleep in 15 minutes, again without much difficulty.

And in addition, she didn't nurse in the middle of the night for 2 nights in a row!!! I hope this means the end of middle of the night feedings!!!

We have been especially blessed to have my older dd staying with my in-laws for the entire weekend so we could do this "training." She comes home during the day, and I took her out for lunch and flower shopping just the 2 of us yesterday... I want her to know that she's still special, you know?

I hope now I can get more than 3 hours of sleep on a routine basis!!!

Looks like I'm going!!!

To CHA!!! Yay!!!! I'll be going with both Tisha and Scrappinchicks. Now I just have to work on getting the baby weaned...

The last show I went to was Winter '05 in Atlanta. I had a blast! I went with the DT from Scrapncircle. I was also about 4 months pregnant!

The first day of the show in the first 5 minutes I met Donna D and Cathy Z! They were checking their coats!!! Both were SO NICE!!! I also met Faye Morrow Bell, Tim Coffey, Kathy P (from Sandylion), and Heidi Swapp! Very fun to meet scrapping celebs!

It was almost overstimulating to see all of those wonderful products in one place! And with any design ambitions I had in their infancy, it was a hugely valuable learning experience. I will never expect to make a living scrapbooking, but I would like to design for a manufacturer one day... but only one, really, because I don't think I would have time to devote to much more! I would want to give it my all, you know?

As far as my "real job" goes, I'm a little stressed out. I just started doing home health, and, let me tell you, it's a bit of medical knowledge and, at times, a TON of social work skills! I have a patient now who is in a horrible living situation. Not really cognitively intact enough to manage her basic needs, and between her physical problems and her husband's, they are truly unsafe to live on their own. I have done what I can, have referred the family to a social worker, have talked to a family member about how important it is that they find a more reasonable place to live (like an assisted living), and that's all I can do. The social worker decided that adult protective services should not be called. I pray that it was the right decision....

I'm managing 3 PRN PT positions right now. I think it may be time to drop one! I have my plate full between the nursing home and home health. I hate to give up working at the home, because so many of the residents there I care so much about.... I have been there for 3 years!!! And I never wanted to do long term care! And I think I'm starting to get the hang of home health. But, it's a lot of paperwork!

My other stress this week.... I had to take one of my cats to see the veterinary opthamologist. I didn't even know there was such a thing... but I am grateful there is! Tigger has an eye condition called eosinophilic conjuctivitis, which is an abnormal immune respose, causing the body to attack the cornea. We've been dealing with this for almost 2 months, off and on. The vet finally made the referral to the opthamologist. Looks like I will be giving Tigger steroid drops for 6 months! I also will give him oral steroids for almost a month. Poor kitty! He's been isolating himself for a while now from the pain/sensitivity to light. I hope this treatment works!

And, last but not least, this is the week we have chosen to Ferberize our 9 month old! We start Thursday night. It worked for her older sister, so we'll see how it goes! I hate to do this to her, but we MUST get some sleep in this house! Big sister is excited, because she gets to spend the weekend with Grandma! God bless my mother in law! She is a gem, indeed! Everyone should be so lucky to have such an amazing woman and friend in their lives!

Well, I guess that's all I have to say for now!

Is there a secret?

To dealing with a 4 year old? I knew about the terrible twos... which really wearn't so terrible... but no one warned me about the awful, horrible fours!!!!

Overnight, my dd has turned into a most disrespectful, bossy child... and she tries to hurt her baby sister!!! I have already taken two toys away today, given time outs, and I'm at my wits end!!!!

Please tell me this will end soon!!!

Feeling beachy...

Today is a blah, rainy day here... thought I would post a beachy layout to cheer me up!!! This was my very first published page... it appeared in the NYOBC Summertime book by Pinecone Press. Papers are by NRN designs, plus a couple from KI Memories. I had the papers for over a year before I used them... and I even bought them at the little scrapbook store on the Outer Banks, where the picture was taken!

Will my baby ever sleep?

I am so tired. I had about 4 hours (not continuous!) sleep last night, and about 3 hours the night before. My 9 month old simply will not sleep at night!!!

As much as I don't want to put her through it, I think it's time to try the Ferber method with her. It worked for her big sister, but we waited until she was almost 18 months old. I've got to do something, though!!

Anyone have any advice?

Just thought I'd post this...

This was my second ever pub'd layout. It appeared in the Feb/March issue of Scrapbook Answers, one of my favorite magazines! I loved how much space they gave my layout! It was a great experience working with them!

I made this layout because of a challenge from my mentor on 2peas, Corinne Dellis. Thanks, Corinne!

More Junkitz!

I love these papers and buttons! Still some of my favorite products, even if they didn't choose me for their DT!

Yes, I know I used the same photo for each of these projects! They are both displays for Scrap Artz, although the frame will come home with me!