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!

Ugh!!!

I'm sick... again.

I just finished a round of antibiotics last week for bronchitis. I haven't been feeling well ever since I got sick with that, but I thought I was on the mend. Then Friday, my left ear started hurting. By yesterday, I thought I had an ear infection. Even had the speech therapist at work look in my ear... she thought it looked a little red.

So, I made an appointment to see my doctor for today. By the time I left work (at my second PT job...), I had a splitting headache and a fever of 100.0. I came home and went to bed.

This morning, I wake up, and I have the worst sore throat.... and still a fever. So, I called work... no home health visits for me today. Then I looked at my throat. My right tonsil is truly the worst thing I have ever seen! My doctor was sure I had strep, but was shocked to see the negative test results! So, I *simply* have tosillitis... and I will be out of work for the rest of the week.

Working PRN, I don't make money unless I work. But, I reallly don't want to make my patients sick, either!

Woo Hoo!!!!

I have a free download of digital papers I have created over on Scrapncircle. The collection is called Mango Tango.

Take a peek, download, and create!!!!

Want to hear something crazy?

Well, anyone who knows me will eventually hear about my crazy dreams. I have some that come true... Some that are flat out wacky.... And I even had the same dream as my best friend at the time on the same night as her in high school!!!

Anyway, I had a dream a couple of months ago that I won a scrapbooking contest. Not just any contest, but one where a scrapping celeb came to my home and hand delivered a check for 10,000 dollars. I won't say which celeb it was....

When she got to my house, I realized she had some need for physical therapy, and I started discussing her needs with her! (that's just like me to want to help someone with their functional limitations....)

Anyway, I thought it was crazy to dream something like that because 1. The chances of me winning a contest of that nature are next to none, 2. I was truly worried that my dream meant that scrapbooking has really consumed me, and 3. No such contest exists....

UNTIL NOW!!!

http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/contests/files/contest.148.html

Why must I be tortured like this? LOL!!! I don't think I have enough energy to enter such a big contest again this year... but I will always wonder if that dream would come true!

If at first you don't succeed....

Try, try again!!!!

So, I must be a glutten for punishment, because I just submitted an entry to the 3 Bugs in a Rug DT. I took my time with the "proud" layout and clock, but whipped out the last one in one night. I like them all, though!!! Fun stuff with bright colors!

The photo in the "cute" layout was by my friend Tisha McCuiston!

The clock was from the Dollar Tree. It was completely flat, so I knew it would be fairly easy to alter. My inspiration for the center octagon was a patio umbrella (I had been browsing through a Crate and Barrell catalog!) It was the only way I could think of to get the "circle" in the middle as I had envisioned.

And I am stuck on handcut titles!!! The poor scrapper's die cut machine, if you will!!! But I have tons of fonts, can make the title exactly to size, and it's just fun to use my Honey Bee scissors!!!

Although I thought I'd lost the scissors for about a week.... they were buried under the chaos on my scrap desk!!! Guess it's time to organize again!!

SLEEP... NEED SLEEP!!!!

Ok, having an 8 month old is fun... except for her keeping me up at night!!! I was so tired last monday while reviewing some paperwork for my new job that my manager suggested we cut it short for the day!!! How embarrassing!!!

However, I think I found the culprit... one of my baby's top teeth just broke through this morning. I had given her Tylenol a few times, but it never seemed to help. Now I'm going to just give it to her around the clock to keep her pain under control. I hope it helps her!

I also think she is starting to have dreams at night. This is about the age that her big sister started having them.

Well, I hope I can get some sleep soon!!! I used to stay up late to scrapbook a couple of nights a week, and I just haven't had it in me. I have plenty of inspiration, it's just that I need the sleep so much!!!!

I started a new job yesterday!

I will be doing Home Health for the largest non-profit healthcare provider in my area. I will be working with one of my best friends in my field.

This week is all orientation, so, not too bad... just a bit on the ho-hum side. Wish me luck... tomorrow I must watch videos all day BY MYSELF!!! I hope I don't sleep through them!!

I'm kinda looking forward to home health. I have done rehab for so long, and it will really be nice to complete the big picture. I practice so many functional things with my patients in "perfect" settings (i.e., hospitals....) that this will really lend new light to what truly matters in rehab! I have performed many home evaluations prior to a patient returning home, but this will really stretch my creativity with problem solving. We all know I love to be creative!

It's amazing...

... how fast kids grow!!!

Just in this past week, my baby, who is 7 months old, has started to crawl on her hands and knees, pull to stand very well, and drink from a sippy cup without help. It's so funny to watch her pull to stand. She looks at me and squeals with delight!

My 4 year old has begun to draw pictures of real things, even with a story to go with the picture! AND she has learned to tie a knot! She is so proud of herself!!!!

Before I know it, they will be teenagers, I'm sure.

Have you seen these papers?

I recently discovered the patterned papers by Captured Elements. I really love their stuff!! Very artsy and different. You can find them at http://www.capturedelements.com/ .Check them out!

Another display board!

For Scrap Artz. This one uses papers and canvas from Trace Industries. Love how these colors complement this photo of my dh's grandfather, mother, aunt, and uncle in the 1940's! I was trying to create the feel of a quilt without being so obvious about it!

Exciting news!!!

I have just been asked to join the DT over at Scrappin Chicks. What a wonderful place!!! The girls on the MB are so friendly, and the store has all the latest and greatest stuff!!! http://www.scrappinchicks.com/

I also found these awesome stamps at Big Lots today. I nearly fainted when I saw the paisley one, because I just bought it in December for $12. They are made by PSX. I got 2 of the paisley ones as RAKS for some friends!

Ode to Pub Calls...

A Huge THANK YOU to the creators of Pub Calls. I so appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to helping the scrapping community keep updated with all of the latest calls and becoming my primary resource for this information.

If you haven't bookmarked this site yet, here's the link:
http://pubcalls.blogspot.com/

You guys ROCK!!!!

My first display board for Scrap Artz!!!!

Here is first board for the store. I love these Daisy D's papers!! They were so much fun to work with! Again, my friend Tisha provided a wonderful photo for me of my baby girl. I did one other one, but am not posting it since the photo is not of one of my babies! Thanks for looking!

A Trail of Paper...

As promised, here are my designs with this month's sponsor product for Scrapncircle.... A Trail of Paper by Holly Hooven!! Photo for the white layout by Tisha McCuiston Photography.

Whew....

What a month!!!

I had an emotional couple of weeks with the whole pregnancy issue... I really was pregnant, but ended up miscarrying about a week after the OB appointment. The test was negative in the office because the embryo was no longer viable... but I'm OK with it. It took me a while to get over the fatigue of the whole thing...

In other news, I decided to enter HOF after all. I know... I am a glutten for punishment! But I did it anyway! It was a valuable experience, whatever the outcome may be.

I also discovered a new scrapbook store just north of Richmond called ScrapArtz. http://www.scrapartzweb.com/ It's a wonderful place!!! And I am now on their DT! I'll be teaching classes as well beginning in March. I'm so excited for this opportunity!!

Also, my friend Holly has a new venture. She is creating papers, and they are wonderful!!! Check out her website: http://www.atrailofpaper.com/ Really great stuff!!! Can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!!!

I get to work with her papers for Scrapncircle this month!!! I promise to post when I'm done!

Tag... I'm it!!!!

I was just thinking the other day that no one has ever "tagged" me before, so, Thanks, Tisha!!!!
Here goes....

Four jobs you have had in your life?
*Physical Therapist (I specialize in geriatric inpatient rehab)
*Retail sales
*Bank (operations support)
*TCBY yogurt goddess!! (ok, that may be stretching it a bit...)

Four Movies you would watch over and over:
*The Sound of Music
*When Harry Met Sally
*Pretty Woman
*That Thing You Do

Four Places You've Lived:
*Newport News, VA
*Farmville, VA
*Richmond, VA
(Wow... am I boring or what? I've only lived in 3 places!)

Four TV Shows you love to watch:
*ER
*American Idol
*Anything Rachel Ray
*the Today Show

Four sites I visit daily:
www.scrapncircle.com
Twopeas in a bucket
Pink Martini Designs
That's about it!

Four of my favorite foods:
*French toast
*Feta cheese (American feta, though!)
*ice cream
*Coke!

Four places I would rather be right now:
OBX, NC
St. John, USVI
NYC
San Francisco

Four bloggers I am tagging:
Ummm... I'll have to edit this later....

Well, I guess it wasn't meant to be after all....

I went to see my OB on Friday, and, lo and behold, I am not pregnant. I was upset for a couple of days that I was pregnant so soon after having my last baby, but was getting used to the idea. It took me about a day to get over NOT being pregnant!!!

I am relieved now, but I was a little sad at first and VERY confused. How can you have a home test that is so positive, but have a negative office and blood test. It's a mystery to me! Unless I had a true false positive, which is extremely rare, the best explaination I could come up with based on internet research is that I had a "chemical pregnancy." You can conceive and produce HcG, but actually miscarry before any development actually happens. I was certainly feeling sick enough to be pregnant!!! (and that was prior to finding out that I was.)

So, life is back to normal.

The most upsetting thing to me about how our lives would change with having another baby so soon is that I would lose the chance to really bond with the middle child. She certainly deserves as much one on one attention as I can give her....... and I would have really missed that.