She did it!

Micaila got her Reading Medal! With a LOT of help from Daddy, and lesser help from Mommy & Grampy! LOL Now she needs to remember to go to the Principal and count to 100 so she can get her Math Medal. She's been refusing to do that for over 3 months now because she wanted her reading one first. She and her classmate, Emma, both go their medals on Thursday, and were declared co-students of the week!

I meant to share a photo, but ummm... I forgot to upload it to Photobucket, and I'm at work so it'll have to wait.

I do have 3 LOs to share though...

Title: Garnet

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Something New Kit by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick.
Photos by my dad.
Fonts: Bilbo-hand-fine

This is the male cougar at our local zoo. ;)
_______________________

Title: Once Upon a Time

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Heart's Desire Kit by Ladybug Graphix available at Digital Scrap Garden.
Photo by my dad. (desaturated)
Fonts: assign; Artistamp Medium
_______________________

Title: @ home

Credits:
**All items available in the February Grab Bag**
Background from the Very Dirty Girl Paper Pack by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
Overlay from the On The Edge Overlay Pack by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
Mask for shape behind photos from the Photo Masks II Set by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
Paper used with mask from the Very Dirty Boy Paper Pack by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
Frame from the Grunged Frames Set by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
"@" from the Oopsies Alpha by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
"home" from the Through Thick and Thin Alpha by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
Photos by me.
Fonts: Arrus BT

The ribbon around her neck is the Reading Medal which she has worn around the house for two nights in a row! LOL
_______________________

I called in sick to work yesterday. I VERY seldom do this. In fact, I think I've called in sick twice in the 2 years I've been working this job. I'd been fighting this headcold all week, and each day seemed to feel a little worse. I figured since I can't call in sick on Saturday ( no one else works), and I felt like doo on Friday morning I'd better take the day to try to get better. Dad stayed so I didn't have to worry about Brenden, and I ended up taking about a 4 hr nap in the middle of the day. I do feel better today than I have since Tuesday - despite being wide awake from 3am-5:30am this morning...

I need to type up a mailing list so I'm off again! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

A few things...

Not a whole lot to say today. I've got a bad head cold goin' on so I've been slacking. I actually got some sleep last night though - thanks to Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom! LOL I tried NyQuil the night before and was wide awake an hour later...

Anyway - I've got two LOs to share, and some CT news from Julie...

Title: One Fine Day

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Crushed Plums Addon Kit by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Plain Digital Wrapper.
Photo by me.
Fonts: Calligraph421 BT
___________________________

Title: Cowboy Love

Credits:
Frame cluster and love clip from the Love Me Tender Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Background from the A Papered Life 02 - Bo Ho Chic Diva by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Word art from the Love Words Set by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Petals and stitches from the Petals O Plenty Set by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Photos by me.
Fonts: Captain Howdy; Bryony
___________________________

And then there's Julie's news...

She's been accepted to the Quickutz Sillouette Design Team!!! I'm super-happy for her,... and a little saddened. She's been a friend since long before my (or her) digiland foray, and now she's returning to her paper roots. I'm so glad she's gotten this awesome opportunity as she truly loves paper scrapping! Unfortunately it means she won't have enough time to continue designing for digital scrapping. I'll pass along info on her retirement sale as soon as it becomes available. CONGRATS, Julie!!!

:)

Blogthing and some LOs...

You Are a Maverick

You're a restless rebel with an unpredictable nature. Bright but unbridled, you tend to seek out wild experiences over new ideas. People are frustrated by your great potential, but you love your unconventional life. You're a heartbreaker. People get attached to you, and then you're gone. Your strength: Your thirst for adventure Your weakness: Not taking time for slow pleasures Your power color: Hot pink Your power symbol: Figure eight Your power month: March

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

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

I finished the rest of the pages for Jaylin's Badge Album. Now to get them printed and the album put together! :)










Credits:
Papers and elements from the Super Safari Kit by Connie Prince, DigiDiva Designs.
Template from Badge Album Set 2 Templates by Jill D-Zines.
Photos by my dad.
Fonts: 1942 report

Gotta' leave earlt today due to vehicle issues and an appt at the endochronologist... Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

Another Monday rolls around...

And, this week's off to an auspicious beginning... Mike went off the road on the way in to work yesterday - not a huge deal especially as a good samaritan stopped and pulled him out. BUT, they managed to hook the brake line when they did, and by the time he got to work he'd lost about 90% of his brake fluid according to him. So Mom had to bring him home last night, and today he's got my van. I called the mechanic, and he'll try to do a rush job as soon as Mike gets it to him, but that probably won't be 'til after noon as Mike's now running his contract due to his boss being in training for the new contract. I'm guessing tomorrow we'll be carpooling. I have a dr appt at 9:10, and he has a meeting at 9.

I need to call the company that holds his student loans too 'cause his deferment got denied for one of two reasons - not really sure which because we received letters for both reasons - TWICE. I'd gotten the deferment income limit amount from one of their reps, and Mike qualified by about $50 so I'm not sure what the issue is. Oh - and it took me a month to get the info to them because they kept telling me to fax it, and then stated they didn't receive it...

But, moving on...

Friday night we went to a birthday party for one of Micaila's classmates. It was at the ice arena in Watertown. The kids had never been ice skating as we're NOT winter people, and I have weak ankles so that I can't even stand on the things. Both kids had no issue there. By the end of the evening they were walking on the skates as easy as they do their normal shoes! Brenden was just thrilled that he'd been "invited" - which wasn't technically true, but I wasn't going to burst his bubble. Olivia's mom made sure that he was included so that was that.




I managed to convince her to give one run without the "training wheels", but my hand was still needed. I'm out there in my boots btw. LOL


His problem wasn't that he fell - it was that he had a LOT of trouble getting up! LOL I have sore spots on both forearms from helping him.

On Saturday the kids and I went to Texas Roadhouse with Dad for his birthday. Other than the LO which I framed I didn't have anything to give him, and he said dinner there was all he wanted... I did rat him out to the waiter though!


(Micaila took this one.)


(Had to edit out a little boy who was walking by.)


Dad with our waiter.

Yesterday we just hung out here. I meant to blog, but quite frankly - the longer I was upright the more I felt like I was going to hurl my cookies! Don't know what's up. I don't feel quite as bad today, but not good either - and it's weird - the longer I'm awake the better I feel. I told Dad this morning that if I didn't know better I'd think I hadn't taken my Zyrtec in a week. Friday morning I woke up with a NASTY headache. I took some acetimenophin when I got to work, but even after the headache let up the sinus pressure continued. Saturday wasn't too bad. Yesterday it was the sinus pressure, the sneezing, the headache, the naseua, and dizziness. All of which kept vying for the top spot in p.i.t.a.-land, and continued until dinner. Today I've got all of it again but in a less violent form - it's just enough to bug me, but not keep me down. It would almost be easier if I could just say I'm sick and be done...

I realized yesterday I'd forgotten to do the Question of the Week last Sunday... Here's the one for this week:
What things, people, or activities give you peace of mind and restore you?

I'm gonna answer this short and simple - Scrapping, reading, snuggle time with the kids. I don't think a large windfall of money would hurt, but I'm not waiting for that to happen...

I've got one LO and 5 pages from a badge album to share today, and then I'm off to get some stuff done...

Title: That Grin

Credits:
Black paper, light blue paper, and glitter/glue splotches from the Farbkleckse Paper Pack by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick.
White paper and other elements from the With My Eyes Kit by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick.
Photo by me.
Fonts: 1942 report; 2Peas Goofball; Hammerkeys

LO completes the Feb 1st Lifts With A Twist Challenge.
_____________________________

Badge album for Jaylin:





Credits:
Papers and elements from the Super Safari Kit by Connie Prince, DigiDiva Designs.
Template from Badge Album Set 2 Templates by Jill D-Zines.
Photos by my dad.
Fonts: 1942 report

I'll have at least 5 more pages for this before I'm done. I'd like to wrap it up today, but we'll see how the day goes! LOL

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

Happy (early) Birthday and a sale...

Tomorrow is Dad's 62nd birthday! I have an early birthday present for him...


Credits:
Paper and elements from the Symphony Kit by Kiki Halbert Designs available 2/22/09 at Scrapbook-Elements.
Photo by me. (kids extracted)
Fonts: Enview; CK Tea Party

This will be going into a frame for him. :)
____________________________

I also have 2 other LOs to share...

Title: Believe

Credits:
Paper and elements from the Believe Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Photo Mask from Instamatic Portrait01 by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Photo by me.
Fonts: English111 Adagio BT
____________________________

Title: the strength of a man

Credits:
Wing cluster from the Take Flight Set by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Papers and other elements from the Retro Manly Man Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Scripts run on photo: Lighten Up and Soft Sepia by Heather Manning Designs. (scripts run then layer set at 79% opacity over original.)
Photo by my dad.
Fonts: CK Scratchy
____________________________

Oh! Were you still waiting for the information on the sale??? LOL To celebrate Dad's birthday I have 62% off my entire store at Digital Scrap Garden! The sale is today through midnight on the 22nd so be sure to stop by this weekend!

Gotta' run 'cause I'm at work!

:)

Photo session!

The kids are getting their pictures taken at work today! Dad's been talking about getting a "cowboy" session done pretty much since Brenden was born 'cause he's Grampa's Little Cowboy... Costumes are at work, hobby horses are going with us, and Grampa was trying to find some six shooters last night... This may prove to be a really cheesy sitting!! LOL

I've got 3 LOs to share 'cause I'm cheating a little by sharing the one with stuff that isn't available until tonight, but maybe that will make you want to stalk the store??? :D

Title: My Happy Girl

Credits:
Papers, alpha, and elements from the With My Eyes Kit by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick. (as of tonight)
Photos by me.
Fonts: PIG; Nyala
_____________________________

Title: Fun Lazy Day

Credits:
Paper and elements from the Retro Jungle Kit by Kiki Halbert Designs available at Scrapbook-Elements.
Photo by my BFF, Kam.
Fonts: Vintage Typewriter
_____________________________

Title: Moonlight Serenade

Credits:
Papers and elements from The Love Affair Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Photos by me.
Fonts: FG Cathie's Hand
_____________________________

Gotta' run! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

Sleep... please!

I know at some point in my life I will actually manage to get through an entire 8 hours without waking up - by myself or by others... I was awake 7 times by 4am, and at 5am gave up. So far I've: gathered garbage and put it outside, put away the clean dishes, washed the dirty dishes, folded and sorted 3 loads of laundry, put 1 load into the dryer, put 1 load into the washer, realized there's another load in the hamper, uploaded my 4th LO from yesterday to the web, completed about 75% of 1 LO for today, and gotten Brenden dressed.

I've also got this burning pain going on in my right shoulder any time I reach, stretch or lift something. I'm thinking it may be a pinched nerve... Just not sure how it would have come to be.

And, speaking of pain, apparently the nerves in my ear are finally regenerating 'cause for the last few days if you touch my left ear it stings/hurts depending on the amount of pressure when you touch it. I hadn't had an issues in the area for a while now so I have to assume that's the issue. The pain when I start eating has also (finally) toned down to a once in a while issue rather than an every time I eat issue.

I completed 4 LOs yesterday in between other to-do items. I can only share 2 this morning though because 1 can't be posted until tomorrow night as the product isn't available yet, and the other was Saucy Wenches in yesterday's post. :)

Title: Giant Swallowtail

Credits:
Frame cluster with tattered paper from the Fresh Start Clusters pack by Connie Prince, DigiDiva Designs.
Papers, stitching, and tag from the Desperately Seeking Spring Kit by Connie Prince, DigiDiva Designs.
Photo by my dad.
Fonts: Windsong
______________________________

Title: Morning Chores

Credits:
Metal clip from Clip EZ01 by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Paper and other elements from the Winter Chic Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Photo by me.
Fonts: MA Smiles
______________________________

That means with the 8x8 albums at work, the paper LOs from Friday, and my digital LOs I've completed 111 pages so far this year with #112 in the works! YIKES!!

I have to run to try to finish that LO I'm working on, eat breakfast, take my meds, and grab a shower before work! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

:)

Busy, busy, busy...

So I went to a paper scrapping crop Friday night. Just a small one at the LSS that they hold every other Friday. It ended up just being me and the two owners for the night because one woman who'd signed up was sick and called, and the other didn't show. That's ok. It made for a fun night with plenty of room for the 3 of us to spread our *stuff* out!

I finally finished Kol's album. Of course when I bought the kit on clearance I thought it was a 12x12 album based on the box, and didn't actually read it... I'd ordered about 100 prints from the Bristol race he and our cousin, Tam, went to last year to put into the album. When I went to put it together it was 6x6! LOL Again - that's ok. A LOT of the photos were repetitious, but then it's NASCAR - how many DIFFERENT photos can you take?! What really baffled me is that he's a HUGE Jimmy Johnson fan - has been for years. But, the only photo of Jimmy's stuff in the set was a shot of the trailer outside the track... So I have a 48 album with 48 elements/paper... and no 48!! LOL I left space everywhere for him or Tam to journal about the day 'cause I have no clue what went on.

Here's a couple of the pages...


The inside cover and Kol with Tam...


Pit stops I believe...

I also completed 11-4x6 layouts for a photo album book. The problem with creating scrapbooks from photo albums is that album pages are only designed to hold something slightly thicker than a photo. This particular album is suuposed to hold 52 photos, but when you add the slightly thicker layout to it I'm going to need to cut half the pages from the album so it will close. Here's a few of those...







I also completed a VERY simplistic 12x12 for a sketch challenge at the store. I doubt it will win 'cause I'm really out of practice with my paper scrapping... LOL You can see it here though if you want. I think you'll recognize the subject. It's a LO about his propensity to grab Momma's camera...

Moving on to digital scrapping I managed to finish this LO after work on Saturday...

Title: Morning Meal

Credits:
Paper, frame, staple, tape, flower cluster, and ribbons from the Wrought With Love Kit by Tracy King of Urban Dragon Digital Art.
Date circles and markers from the Project 365 Embellishments, Part 2 by Nicole Seitler of Sugarplum Paperie. (recolored)
Photo by me.
Fonts: Patient Paige

It was originally supposed to be for a challenge Tracy hosts over at SBE, but I kind of used the wrong kit! LOL The challenge requires products entirely from SBE, but since I was 3/4 done when I realized my mistake I just used what I had. My favorite elements is date elements so she's working on a pack for me, but this kit is sold from ScrapDish instead of SBE anyway. Sometimes I am so blond! LOL
_________________________________

I completed 4 more LO yesterday..

Title: Project365 - Week 6

Credits:
Background, brackets, Sticker, flowers and border from the Hodge Podge #3 set by Gina Marie Huff of Weeds & Wildflowers.
Photos by me.
Fonts: Phont Phreak's Handwriting
_________________________________

Title: Project365 - Week 6

Credits:
Day stickers, "7" sticker, and layered tag from the Life 365 BIY Monthly Summary by Gina Marie Huff of Weeds & Wildflowers.
Brackets, border, and flowers from the Hodge Podge #3 set by Gina Marie Huff of Weeds & Wildflowers.
WA from the Life Wildflowers Wordart Freebie by Gina Marie Huff, Heidi Williams, & Patricia Christensen of Weeds & Wildflowers.
Background from the Always My Heart Add-on by Carjazi Scraps.
Photos by me.
Fonts: PIG; Prissy Frat Boy

I needed to catch up my P365! W&W has a gig going where if you use at least 75% their product, and are up-to-date every 2 weeks Gina gives a pack of goodies to you! Works to keep me motivated! LOL
_________________________________

Title: Live Creatively

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Creative Chaos Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Photos by me
Fonts: Samantha
_________________________________

Title: A Sister's Love

Credits:
Pin from the Don't Pin Me Down Pack by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra.
Paper and all other elements by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra, from the So Divinely In Love Collab.
Photo by ?. (Faces blurred out for privacy - page was created for friends.)
Fonts: Jane Austen

Friends from high school just had their second daughter sometime within the last week or so. I don't have a specific date yet. I created this using a photo posted by them on Facebook.
_________________________________

Then I finished 1 more so far this morning using Wenchie-Poo's newest kit Saucy...

Title: Saucy Wenches

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Saucy Kit by Designs by Kristine.
Photo by ?.
Fonts: Teasure Map Deadhand; Vintage Typewriter

You can find that kit here.
_________________________________

Well, I've got some bills to pay, lunch to make, garbage to gather, and about 6 more CT LOs to complete so I'm running away again! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

My Photo Mosaic

I found the directions for this on Heidi of W&W Blog... Answer the questions below, and use your answer to do a search on Flickr here. Then grab the URL from any photo on the 1st page of your search returns and plug it into the Mosaic Maker here. Choose a format for your mosaic, and viola!

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your nickname.


My Answers:
1. Cate
2. Taco Salad
3. Cazenovia (College had to be left off to get pictures of anything other than Orientation activities)
4. Blue
5. Vin Diesel
6. Dirty Girlscout
7. Hawaii
8. Chocolate (anything! LOL)
9. An artist
10. My kids
11. Strong
12. Slash




My mosaic credits:
1. For Cate*, 2. taco salad, meet Flickr. Flickr, meet taco salad., 3. Afternoon Clouds, Lake Cazenovia, 4. On Holiday., 5. Vin Diesel 2, 6. dirty girlscout, 7. Sunset Beach, 8. 14th August 2007 / Day 226, 9. 14th August 2007 / Day 226, 10. bless from above, 11. Sumatran Tiger ; bathing, 12. my idol

Oops! I just realized the URL for my artist answer didn't paste over correctly... Oh well, I've wasted enough time with this for the morning. I'll go back and fix it some other time. :)

--

...

Title: Valentine Time

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Passionately Pink Kit by Princess Lala of Divine Digital.
Photo by my dad.
Fonts: MC Sweetie Hearts; Note This
__________________________________

Title: Jaylin - Love U Cutie

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Desperately Seeking Spring Kit by Connie Prince, DigiDiva Designs.
Photo by my dad.
Fonts: Note This

---

Back to the grind...

So Nora didn't call or stop by, but Blayne did catch me on IM. Between him chatting with me and him chatting with Dad we "talked" for about 2 hrs. Jaylin is getting SOOOOO big! Glad we have webcams. :D

I did finish most of my list - all except for packaging anything for either store, my P365 - week6 LO, or the 25 things about me list.

But, on top of my original list I also had to call my fuel oil company to straighten out the mess they'd made of my account. Back at the beginning of Dec they double-charged my credit card for a delivery. They "fixed" it by refunding the full amount and then charging the half amount a 3rd time... Then proceeded to leave the "credit" on my account so that they didn't charge my cc for the delivery on xmas eve. When I called to arrange for a delivery on my birthday they caught on to the fact that they hadn't charged the previous delivery... and STILL hadn't gotten it straightened out. I need a delivery this week so I had to make them fix it so I could put Mike's card onto the account for the new delivery because I'm too close to my limit for another delivery to go on my card... It's fixed now, but jeez...

Then I had to call the cable company because I noticed a $13.99 charge for "Howard TV on Demand" on our bill and we don't use ANY on Demand options... When I get the rep she states this has been on our bill since NOV 23rd!!! It was automatically re-occuring every month, and I hadn't noticed it!!! Apparently Brenden must have hit buttons on the remote at some point to "order" the service, and despite the fact that we've been with them for ohhhh - 6 yrs - with no on Demand charges no one thought that was odd??? The rep did manage to remove the charges for this bill and the last one so that's $30 I don't have to pay, but the original one couldn't be removed. Now to take the time to figure out how to set parental controls on that stupid remote which doesn't work well to begin with so he can't do it again.

I also got the taxes done so that money should be in our account within the next 14 days. At which point I can pay off both cc accounts, and MAYBE get the laptop I've been hoping for...

The LOs I finished since Sunday morning's post...

Title: my toes

Credits:
Papers from The Grunged Dot Paper Pack by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra available at Divine Digital.
"Statement" paper from the Paper Strips 01 Pack by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra available at Divine Digital.
Tabs from the Ribbon Tabs 01 Pack by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra available at Divine Digital.
Alpha and bracket from the Trashabet Set by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra available at Divine Digital.
Photo by me.
Fonts: FG Cheryl
___________________________

Title: Wherever you go...

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Heart's Desire Kit by Ladybug Graphix available at Digital Scrap Garden.
Photo by Olan Mills.
Fonts: CK Heritage
___________________________

Title: Feb 3rd

Credits:
Papers and glue/paint/glitter splotches from the Farbkleckse Paper Pack by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick.
Frame, mask, acrylic dateline, reversed staple, stitched tag, and heart sticker from the My 365 Days Element Pack by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick.
Photo by me.
Fonts: CK Mou Saha
___________________________

Title: My Love Grows

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Our Love Grows Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra available at Divine Digital.
Photo by my dad.
Fonts: CK S.W.A.K.; Epoxy History
___________________________

Title: Valentine for Miss Scheer

Credits:
Paper and elements from the My Heart Belongs Kit by Royanna Fritschmann, Studio Ra available at Divine Digital.
Photo by Great Lakes Photography. (Faces smudged out for privacy.)
Fonts: CK Typist

Gotta' run! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)