The tale of the semi-absentee blogger...

Sorry. I haven't been very regular lately. We're adjusting to yet another change in schedules and duties at home... Mike is now working 11am-9pm M-F which means I'm dealing with the home "stuff" after work. Dad made dinner last night, and is planning to tonight so that helps 'cause to be honest I have NEVER been a homebody - dishes, cleaning, cooking - NOT my fortes. Now that's not to say I can't handle them, and in some cases handle them well - I just HATE them with a passion! LOL If I have a choice between spending an hour on my pc/laptop creating or an hour cleaning the house the creating will normally win.

I have managed to get 11 - 45 gal trash bags of clothing out of the house and donated to the local mission in the last month. I have another 1/2 a bag currently sorted and am hoping to get at least 5 done more this weekend. I'm kind of on a purging binge. Hello, my name is Cate, and I'm a packrat. Yes, truly. My grandparents kept many things, my parents kept many more things, and I have a difficult time getting rid of stuff myself. I look at those homes in magazines, and laugh - nice, but no kids there! There are things I keep in the hopes that I will one day fit into them again because I loved the way they looked when I could wear them... There are things I keep because the kid(s) looked so darn cute and I hate the thought of never seeing them in it again... There are things I keep because it is perfectly usable so why should I throw it out?... There are things I keep because I know they are worth money if I could find the right place to try to sell them... And, that's not including the collections... movies, books by certain authors, my seriously diminished salt & pepper collection (most of it was stolen), my paper scrapping supplies (which I use about 3 times a year), etc... Do you get the picture??

I also need to sort through the kids books and toys - again... Please tell me other people have the seemingly never ending cycle of purge and get more in that department. We gave their Little People sets to their Aunt Cindy for when she has kid(s), and donated their mega blocks to Micaila's classroom because they decided they were too old for mega blocks and wanted Legos. I think we have enough stuffed animals to populate an entire zoo. But, in that area I hate to think of giving up any of their Care Bears or Popples - yes, I said Popples. Grampy got a bunch for Micaila's 1st birthday or 2nd Xmas off eBay 'cause at the time she was enthralled with them, and we're talking original 1980's not newer ones.

Anyway, between the change in schedule, the purging, the end-of-the-month CT and designer duties, and the fact that my co-worker is ooto for this week and next I'm a little tired, and haven't really had the energy to try to post before leaving home in the morning. I'm so tired I completely forgot my sister's anniversary last week...

I did manage to remember my baby brother's birthday yesterday, and have Micaila call before she left for school which completely made his day 'cause she actually TALKED to him! LOL She normally gets on the phone, and then refuses to say more than a word or two. He'd gotten some bs news from his boos a few days earlier, and was understandably upset so I'm glad something brightened his day. He works in an office much like mine - boss, receptionist, and him - that's it. He's been salaried both times he's worked for this guy, and STILL puts in 60-80 hrs most weeks. He was just informed that very shortly he will be on wages AND cut to no more than 30 hrs per week. His roommate (and our cousin) Tam was let go a few weeks ago so things are getting pretty tight. They're looking at moving out west - UT, AZ, or TX maybe...

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On to scrapping items... I have 5 LOs to share. I also created 2 more QPs for Connie, and finished my part of the collab for WenchdGrafix since my last post so it's not like I'm not doing anything - just nothing I feel like blogging about without other context! LOL

Title: Bowl Like There's No Tomorrow


Credits:
Paper and elements from the Extraordinary Day Kit by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick.
Photos by me & Micaila.
Fonts: Typewriter from hell; Note This
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Title: What a pretty Spring blossom


Credits:
Papers and elements from the Hippity Hoppity Kit by Connie Prince; DigiDiva Designs.
Photo mask from Photo Masks 1 by Connie Prince; DigiDiva Designs.
Photo by my sil, Marcy.
Fonts: Hypewriter
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Title: as tall as a...

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Jungle Fever Collab by JanaM Designs and Dawn Inskip available at The DigiChick.
Photos by my dad.
Fonts: Heavy Heap
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Title: Peacocks at Hogle Zoo

Credits:
Papers and elements from the Jungle Fever Collab by JanaM Designs and Dawn Inskip available at The DigiChick.
Photos by my dad.
Fonts: Good Foot
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Title: Evening Magic

Credits:
Papers, mask, and elements from the Extraordinary Day Kit by JanaM Designs available at The DigiChick.
Template #57 by me.
Photo by me.
Fonts: Pea Jamie*B*
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That's a lot of Jana's stuff - like I said wrapping up CT work. I've been lucky enough to Guest for her for two months. :) Today just happens to be her birthday as well, and if you like her stuff don't miss stopping by her store at TDC 'cause she's got a little something for you! :D

Gotta' run 'cause I'm at work which is why it's been 2 hrs since I started this post... Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

Sigh... It's February...

I guess it's time to take down the xmas tree! LOL To be honest I've thought about doing it the last 2 or 3 weekends, but it always seems to be Tuesday morning before I remember again! And, after reviewing the bank account this morning I guess I need to get the taxes done today if possible as well... Not to mention vaccuum, put away Micaila birthday presents, finish two loads of laundry and do a 3rd, do two more loads of dishes, get Priority boxes to send out packages to Kam and my FIL, get the kids to put away toys, 1-3 LOs, and maybe knock the snowbanks over into the yard (our 5 ft high mailbox is almost completely covered). I've all ready done 1 load of dishes, gotten the garbage together and outdoors, gotten Micaila off to school (1/2 day today), and put a Netflix movie into the mailbox for return.

Micaila kept complaining she was tired "'cause [she] kept waking up when [she's] supposed to be asleep" this morning. She did wake up 2 or 3 times during the night last night for some reason - not nightmares though. I told her I had the same issue, and could we take a nap when she got home from school?? To be honest though, in my case I was up 'til almost 10pm trying to catch up my weekly P365 LOs because W&W has this awesome thing going where you can get free stuff for keeping up to date on it. Of course, what I missed in the details is that the LOs are supposed to be comprised of at least 75% W&W product... which I could have done if I'd realized it. So now I need to get my monthly summary done asap so I can qualify for this week's goodie. LOL
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I got my access for my Feb guest spot for JanaM yesterday! She's got a terrific grab bag coming out Wednesday, but I can't show you anything 'til then! LOL
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Digital Scrap Garden has the February Collab up!! Misty Romance is chock full of goodies and so very pretty! You can either purchase it for only $8.95 or get it free with a $10 purchase in the store!

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I think tomorrow I'll try to get a review of a bunch of Valentines kits from my CTs 'cause there some REALLY awesome ones floating out there!
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Title: It's...

Credits:
Background and elements from the Accouterment Junque Kit by Studio Ra of Divine Digital.
Decorated notecard from Short Supply Too Kit by Studio Ra of Divine Digital.
Photo by me. (Extracted and altered. One layer had script 50s Again by Heather Manning Designs run on it, and then eyes, lips, and hair erased out.)
Fonts: 1942 report; FG Cheryl
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Title: Project365 - Week 3

Credits:
Papers, circle frame, stitches, paint splotch, reversed staple, and journal tag from the Trouble Maker Kit by Flergs via The Daily Digi #1. (Used glitter as overlay on frame.)
Flower and reversed brad from the Vintage Linens Kit by Shabby Miss Jenn via The Daily Digi #1.
Acrylic frame and epoxy splatter from the Daily Digi #1 Kit by Vera Lim. (One altered to fit one photo instead of two.)
"Week No." and "captured" stickers from the Project 365 Element Pack by Dawn Inskip.
"3" from the 2fer Alpha by Blythe Evans.
Photos by me.
Fonts: FG Cheryl
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Title: Project365 - Week 4

Credits:
Background from the Tough Stuff Mini Kit by Nicole Seitler of Sugarplum Paperie.
Snowflake from the Holiday Glitz by Nicole Seitler of Sugarplum Paperie.
Word art, grunge frame, notecard, date marker and dateline from the Project 365 Set by Nicole Seitler of Sugarplum Paperie.
Photos by me.
Fonts: FG Cheryl
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Title: Project365 - Week 5

Credits:
Paper, frame cluster, and staples from the Life Beautiful Kit by Studio Ra of Divine Digital.
Checklist, dates, and marker from Project 365 Part2 Element Pack by Nicole Seitler of Sugarplum Paperie.
Photos by me.
Fonts: FG Cheryl

Gotta' go get some of my list checked off! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

A blogthing and a LO...

You Are a Discount Shopper

You love to get things as cheaply as possible. You live for sales. It's partially because you like to save money, but it's also because you like the thrill of finding a fabulous deal. Of all the types, you tend to shop frequently but rarely by. You keep an eye on prices. Brand names are not that important to you. You know how to have style without collecting designer tags.

What
Kind of Shopper Are You?

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Title: Embrace {change}

Credits:
Photo mask from Photo Fit by Sweetmade.
Background from Papers Pack in Sept 08 Grab Bag by Flergs.
Kraft flower from the Shapes Pack in Sept 08 Grab Bag by Flergs.
Rub-on flower from the Spring Fling Mini Kit by Carjazi Scraps.
"E" from the My Heart Pearl Alpha by Carjazi Scraps.
"mbrace" from the Gemstone Alpha by Carjazi Scraps.
Calendar and date marker from the Project 365 Element Pack by Dawn Inskip.
Photo by me.
Fonts: Vintage Typewriter VTKS 36

LO completes the One Little Word Challenge #43.
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Gotta' run to get a shower and get to work. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

:)

A LO and reminder...

Title: pause

Credits:
WA from the Prject 365 Element Kit by Dawn Inskip.
Background from the Mochamint Muffin Paper Pack by Carjazi Scraps.
Stitching and brown floral sticker from the Gwen Kit by lauraskathi.
Cherish Sticker and clipped flower from the Party Hat Kit by Nicole Seitler of Sugarplum Paperie.
Heart rub-on and staple cluster from the La Vita E Bella Kit by Vera Lim.
Photo corner from the Drops of Jupiter Kit by Bella Gypsy.
Script run on back photo: 50s Again by Heather Manning Designs.
Photo by me.
Fonts: uncletypewriter; Willing Race

LO completes the 1/12/09 Hodge Podge Word Challenge.
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Don't forget my 24-hour sales going on at both stores today! See yesterday's post for details!

Thanks to all those who've sent well wishes so far!

:)