Here's one of my latest digi creations (completely using Audrey Neal's "Birdbrain" collection designed exclusively for SIStv). I love the look on Eva's face. It is one of utter contentment. After Dustin and Emily marry in August, Dustin will be adopting Eva. He has proven to be a truly wonderful daddy to her and she adores him. This just melts my heart because a wonderful daddy is something every little (and big) girl needs... And, of course, if you can read between the lines, then you'll realize that little Eva will also become our sorta "legal", if not blood, granddaughter. Oh. The JOY. I've been telling people that if I could pick from all the little girls in the whole wide world one to be my granddaughter, Eva would be the ONE! :) And I'm not taking that privilege away from anyone - all children should have two sets of grandparents and thus far, she has only had one. A fantabulous one set, but only one. :)

Today I head out of town for my annual Ladies LYFE conference. This will be my 21st time to attend. It's a great time of fun girl-talk and getting to know each other, the food is good, it's a beautiful campus and the workshops are usually good and thought-provoking. But my favorite thing is the "LYFE" hours - two on Friday and two on Saturday. There's usually a chosen keynote speaker for the year who brings excellent bible teaching and application. And there's wonderful singing of choruses together - always beautiful. And there's always some gorgeous special music performed. And there always fun and laughter. It's a great time and I look forward to it every year.

I'm off to pack and get ready and maybe even squeeze in some scrapping time...

(Credits: Scalloped Mask - Jen Caputo; Acrylic Alphabet - Audrey Neal (Iconic for SIStv - coming soon); all the rest is Flea Market designed by Jenna Beam (shabbymissjenn.com) for SIStv) (Click on photo for a larger view.)

I'm baaaack! Back from Wisconsin and back to blogging here much more regularly. I've decided to quit the 365 Challenge. I've just been so behind - on everything - lately, and I keep wanting to digi scrap, but was feeling the pressure to catch up on the challenge first. So, I just decided to let that go. It is my choice as to what I do and, while I do like to stick to my committments, I'm not above giving them up if they prove to be too much. And that's just what I'd been feeling. So now I'll be posting on this blog a lot more regularly. Maybe changing some things up a little...

I had a "great" visit with Mom when I went back a couple weeks ago. No, it's not "great" that she's in the situation she's in, but we still managed to have a great visit, anyway, and even managed some good laughs. The highlights of her days are mail, meals, Skinny Cow low-sugar ice cream cones and VISITS. I'm really glad I went back. Mom has a looonnnngggg road of recovery before her, even still, now a month after her fall. She's having a hard time accepting that, understandably. But I think she'll be more "content" - well as content as you can be in her situation, if she will accept it. Unfortunately, since she can't get up on her injured leg yet, good old Medicare won't pay for rehab on the "good" leg and arms, etc. That's really stupid because she totally needs to be building strength in that good leg for when she DOES get up on her feet. DUH.

She did have a dr.'s appointment last Thursday and they x-rayed for the 1st time since the surgery. Mom was hoping (albeit unrealistically - sorry, Mom) that he would say she could lose the leg brace and start getting up - but no - she'll be status quo for 3 more weeks when they will x-ray again and re-assess. I still highly doubt that she'll be getting up then either. But, they DID say it was beginning to heal. Obviously, WE all know that the danger in getting up too soon is that the whole reconstruction that they rigged up will be weakened or, worse, come apart. And THEN what? So, hard as it may be, she must be patient.

In other news, my 2nd tutorial at SIS went live last week. You can see it here. And it features the cute little banners shown in the two projects just below and also in the Romance page with Dustin and Emily, a little further down the blog. "Smash up" is just SIStv's fun little term for hybrid - where digital and paper scrapping are blended, or, smashed up. :)


My next tut will go live on June 2nd. I'm going to teach how to make your own transparencies. If you're just totally overwhelmed with excitement, sorry, you'll just have to wait! ;)

I am having SO much fun getting my "compensations" and complimentary collections from SIStv and then making stuff up. In fact, I just got the latest one a few minutes ago and there's a digi kit that will go with it as well. I think I'm going to make a set of cards...

Matthew & Martha called Saturday while they were in the midst of a yard sale. They're getting rid of stuff so they don't have to move it. We've been talking about them coming back to PA for a long time now, but the reality of it is beginning to sink in. Actually, it's that I'm allowing myself to really believe it and I am getting exCITED! I can barely contain myself! I'm SO looking forward to having BOTH of my "kids" around. Oh, the JOY!

And Dustin and Emily's plans are coming along for the wedding. They're starting to plan the invitations. I'm going to help, but I think it's a good thing that Deborah's a scrapper, too, because my summer is gearing up to be pretty darn busy!

We all had a great time last weekend when we went to Knoebel's Grove to celebrate Eva's 4th birthday. I think I feel a mini-book coming, because we got some cute photos and it was a day to remember. It was quite chilly and looked like it was going to pour down rain the entire time, but - it DIDN'T - and we had a ball.

Chris is out golfing with Jack today. I play my last monthly pinochle tonight in the little group I nosed my way into with Chris's sister, Kellie. It's REALLY fun. We take off for the summer - sort of. We don't play pinochle, but we will get together once a month still to go out to eat somewhere. How great is that? :)

I'm off to get to "work" - scrapping, that is! You know, I'm living my dream right now. When I quit work a year ago, it was my dream to be somehow scrapbooking "professionally" within the year - and being on a design team definitely counts! I'm SO happy!

I'm getting ready to head back to Madison today to visit my mom with her newly and badly broken leg. Her first dr.'s appt. after her surgery will be Friday, so I'll be glad to be able to go to that with her.

Just thought I'd post of few of the projects I've been working on lately. As a member of the DT at SIStv, and specializing in digi/hybrid, I get their "Style Phyle" collections as well as the coordinating digi collection for the month. This month's SP is "Jim and Pam" with an office theme featuring these fun goodies. The digi coordinate, File 13 by Audrey Neal, should be available in the boutique later this week. (I was able to get Audrey's collection ahead of the release). So hybrid - or, as we like to call it at SIStv, "smashup", is the blending of digi and paper scrapping.

Here's a few hybrid projects I've completed lately with the products mentioned above:

The lined paper was printed on the computer and the whole little banner thingy was made on the computer and then printed out and attached to the twine. I'll actually be doing my next tutorial on how to make those banners.

I love how this little book turned out! All the background papers were printed on the computer and then cut out and adhered to chipboard. And I also printed out some labels, tickets and transparent items - all from the File 13 collection. The rest of the labels and stickers and rubber bands and other fun goodies are from the Jim and Pam collection.

This is just a little notebook I purchased at Borders and covered with another line available at SIStv called "The Sophisticate". Gorgeous stuff. I printed the "L" backwards on the back of a piece of patterened paper and then cut it out and adhered it to chipboard, to pop it off the page a little. And I cut out one of the flowers from a different sheet of paper from the line and popped that off the page a little, too. Love how it turned out.

As always, you can get a larger picture if you click your mouse on the photo itself.

Well, thanks for lookin' at all my goodies. I've got to go finish packing now!

Good grief! I just noticed how long it's been since I posted on this blog! I have been one busy gal! Even though I had a great trip to my mom's, there's always so much catching up to do after being away for a week.

AND, I had my very first tutorial due at SIStv when I got back. So I had to get that together. Here's a link to the tutorial. I love the little project that I made and I thought the "tut" turned out well - for my first time ever! ;)

While at mom's I began my 3rd digi scrapping class here. Oh, wow, these classes are FANtastic! They are really challenging, full of new information and techniques. I love that I'll have access to the classes forever, because I will definitely need to do them a few times. There were 4 classes this time and this week was the final one. It's been difficult squeezing them in to everything else going on in my life right now. But SO worth it! Here are the fruits of my labors, in order of completion: (btw, these pages are designed by Jessica Sprague, not myself. If only! But, I DID put them together! And I'd like to give credit to the following people for their digital elements within each layout: JSprague, MWise, JWilson, KPertiet, LindaGB, LGrieveson, NRJanitz, MTerasawa, AAspnes, LSanford and ARockwell.)

(Just click on the layout photo and the whole thing will get nice and big....)

Yep, that's a lot of work. And SO fun!

So - the downside to life right now is that fact that just a week after we were at my mom's, she feel and broke the bejeebers out of her femur - the biggest bone she could break. And she didn't break it just once. She has what is called an "accordian" fracture. Meaning, picture the folds of an accordian - and that's what she did down almost the whole length of her thigh. This meant a 5+ hour surgery for repairs and now about 3 months of utter immobility of the leg in order for the fractures to mend. THEN, after that has healed sufficiently, only then will she begin rehab and trying to walk again. It breaks my heart, truly. I just don't know how much more crap she can take. But take it, she does. And she's had an amazingly good attitude. God love her...

So, in light of that, I've decided to go back out for a week. My dear brothers and sister have rallied around as well, for which I am (and SHE is) SO grateful. This will mean the world to her. I'm heading back next week (solo) and so am now madly working on my next tutorial (and all the projects that go with it) and am trying to get some other projects done, because I AM supposed to be regularly uploading stuff to the website! :) (It's dreadful work, but SOMEbody has to do it!) :) Nope, I'm NOT tired of scrapbooking yet. In fact, I'm SO stoked - I only wish there were more hours in the day!

Having said that, I promised my "boss" lady that I would actually READ the new design team manual that she took the time to put together and send everyone! :) I'm off!

How I spent my weekend: Friday - flying in to Madison, WI and huggin' on my Mom; Saturday - getting to see my sister and her hubs at my Mom's (more huggin'), spending the day chatting and catching up and then enjoying a fabulous pigfest of steak at Delaney's Restaurant; Sunday - a quiet morning, then seeing off my sister (and her hubs), then to downtown Mad Town for a symphony (wonderful), then a take out (or bring in) supper from Applebee's. Mom and I highly enjoyed our Oriental Chicken salads... yum! We topped off Sunday night with Part I of Masterpiece Classics' Sense and Sensibility. This is a new and very beautiful version that I may end up loving even more than the Ang Lee one.

This a.m. (which is almost over) we're sleeping in, going slow and letting the day unfold as it may. I'm starting a digi class this afternoon - my 3rd from Jessica Sprague. Can't wait for that. It will give Mom a little snooze time. There's been a lot of activity - much more than she's used to - today she can just rest up.

This week also holds a visit (for me) to Archiver's as well as some of the great clothing stores in the area and a trip to Mariner's Inn for dinner. Yummmm!

I'm feeling just a tad of angst being away from not only my own computer, but also my scrap room. I'm just really feeling the urge lately to scrap away. (Ha! What else is new?) Plus, my new job as a design team member has now officially begun and I really need to be present at SIStv which is always a little harder when I'm not home, even though I do, obviously, have computer/internet access here. Well, I'm going to do my best and be in both worlds at once!

We have news! Dustin and Emily are engaged! The wedding is being planned for Labor Day weekend. Again, it will be as small a wedding as possible, and outdoors (Lord willing!). So, here I am, in wedding planning mode again. Even though the wedding is NOT at our house this time, the bride's parents just happen to be one of our bestest friends! And even though Deborah is a floral designer, a caterer and an event planner extraordinaire, I will, just by the nature of our friendship, be involved in the planning!

I know I haven't been keeping up with this blog too much lately. I mostly wanted to keep the card shower for Lois at the top of the page. The deadline for that was yesterday, so I'm going to take that off the site now. But also, I do blog daily at the other site listed at the top of the page...

Spring is trying to, um, spring. The geese have flown south, the birds are back - including the robins - and we get the occasionally warmish day. But the warm is coming slowly. I have no doubt that it will come though...

Oh! And THIS very morning I was able to get back into the hot tub for the first time since early winter! It was a looooonnngggg process of ordering (the right) part(s), but, finally, we are back in business. So, there's one thing I can enjoy about the still chilly temps. It was not even 30 degrees outside when I got in this morning and it was so darn lovely! I am SO thrilled to have it back. I missed it tremendously.

I spent today getting the house ready for an Easter dinner we are hosting tomorrow. Yes, just hosting - NOT cooking. YAY! Deborah had invited us and the kids and the Orr's over for Easter dinner at her house, except she just doesn't have the room, so I offered to have it up here. So, while we're in church tomorrow a.m., she (and Emily) will be up here cooking away and we'll be able to come home to the smell of turkey roasting in the oven and all the good stuff that goes with that. (Yes, Emily requested a "Thanksgiving" meal... yum!). We'll have 11 at our table and it will be great!

Tonight we're going to see a movie I've been dying to see - "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". It's an indie movie, which explains why it didn't come to our local generic theater. But the wonderful Community Arts Center in Williamsport shows the indie movies that no one else has (which are also my favorites) and I love them for that... I just hope there's no random shootings in the city while we're heading to our cars like there was last time - about an hour after we were in the city. But that's another story.

Easter blessings to all. I hope we don't forget that this holiday isn't about bunnys and eggs. And bunnys don't even lay eggs anyway, so what's up with that?

I challenge you! I challenge you to do just a little something that will brighten someone's day in a big way. If you click the link underneath the "A Card for Lois" icon to the right ---> you will go to the blog of a fellow "Fashionista" at SIStv. She can explain in more detail, but in a nutshell, she has a friend who has terminal cancer and she wants to just bring joy into her life in at least a small way. So she has started this campaign where she has set a goal to get 100 people to make and send a card to her friend that is dying. There will be a drawing on her blog on March 20th out of all the people who particpate and there will be prizes. Now if you're not a scrapbooker, you might not care about the prizes that much. (You could always give them to ME if you'd get chosen!) ;) But, whether you're a scrapbooker or not, making a card can be a simple little thing. It doesn't have to be as fancy as mine at all. You can just take a piece of stiff paper, fold it in half and decorate it. If you're so inclined, you can take a photo of it and upload it to the gallery of cards on Wilna's blog (link at right). So check it out and consider doing this easy thing to make someone else's day brighter. For a terminal cancer patient, this can be unbelievably uplifting and encouraging... God bless you.

See that girl right there? She is one happy girl! Her dreams are coming true! Because here's the deal... She has just accomplished one of the most desired goals of a die-hard scrap artist. And that is to be part of the design team for a scrapbooking website or manufacturer. In this case, I'm talking about my beloved ScrapInStyleTV, a community that I've been a part of practically since the day of it's inception. If you haven't guessed already - that girl is ME! Yes, ME! Woooo hoooo! I am one of 18 women chosen. Two of those women will be in a community leadership position more than a design team position. Twelve women will be part of the "regular" I guess you could say (and that is not a diminuative term by any means) design team and four of us - myself included - will be the first digi/hybrid design team. Digi/hybrid is a combination of digital and paper scrapbooking. I'm sure many examples will be posted on my blog in the months to come! :) I think it's awesome that this will be "my" area because I really do love digital scrapping and hybrid scrapping is kind of the up-and-coming trend right now. I love that I'm getting in on the ground floor of it at SIStv. And I love that this was an area in which I hoped to stretch and grow this year.

It's been a process of about 6 weeks or so. And the announcement was made official today, though I've known since Sunday night. I found out when I got online, appropriately enough, right after the Oscars. Because I sure do feel like I've won an Oscar! I do want to clarify that while I do think my scrapping skillz are fairly mad, I know I'm not the most talented scrapper on the website. I do feel that a good part of the reason I was chosen was because of my consistent presence on the site and the volume of my communications with others on the site. (And maybe, it's kinda cool to have an "old head" on the team - something that is rare in the industry. I think it's cool, anyway and am happy to represent!)

By the way, on this particular website, we are called "Fashionistas", so when you hear that term, I'm referring to the design team. So I'm ready to put on my seat belt and buckle up for a challenging, scary, fabulous, fun ride! Wooooo HOOOO!

Yes, Matthew, I DO have to plaster your photo all over both my blogs! Because it's your 30th birthday! Woo hoo! Thirty years. Does it seem that long to you? It does and it doesn't to me. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that we were lovin' on all this adorable cuteness:

You were so cute that one time we were out eating breakfast and this older gentleman came over to us and gave us a dollar on his way out. Either that or we just looked incredibly broke. Either way, you mean the world to us and I don't think having you come and stay with us will change that one bit. If all the teenage crap didn't make us love you less, it ain't gonna happen now! ;)

So, have a GREAT 30th birthday, Matthew. I'm looking forward to seeing the way God will direct and bless you in your future. It may seem a bit uncertain what the future holds for you at this point, but I know for sure that God has a plan and a purpose for you and Martha and I can't tell you how excited we are to be able to not only support you, but to walk right next to you through it all! Hugs and smooches! :)

Snow and ice. Ice and snow. And that's how it goes. We were so happy to get rid of the skating rink that was our driveway last week. And then we got this Sunday a.m. Yesterday morning when I got up, it was about -2 degrees. Today we're in the beginning stages of yet another storm that is supposed to add another 3-6 inches, but then it's supposed to dump freezing rain on top of it all. Too bad. That just ruins it.... Oh, well. That IS winter and it just makes spring ALL the sweeter! (Yes, I said that mainly for the benefit of you Rimrockers!) :)

The hot tub is still out of commission. I'm so sad about that. That IS one of the lovely benefits of having all this cold crappy weather. The "ahhhhh" factor of stepping into the hot tub is definitely at it's height in these conditions. Crap.

I'm presently working on my Round 3 project for the SIStv design team application process. This time we are to create a project that could be used on a webisode. One of the fun things about SIStv (and, hence, the "tv") is that there are weekly (or so) webisodes that feature either an interview with a scrapping superstar, or projects with instructions or just other fun stuff. So we are to create a project with instructions that could (and may) potentially end up as a webisode.

I'm so in love with my project I can't stand it. It's actually a little project that I've had sitting on my shelf for a long time and I'm so happy to be able to finally get to it. I had fun yesterday taking photos of the process as I was going along. Those photos, along with a great shot of the final product, is what will be emailed for my submission. And that's due this coming Sunday. So, if I would get off the computer, I could get in there and finish up! :) And, of course, I'll post photos on here after the deadline...

Okay, and check this out! Yes! The track lighting is 99% finished. Apparently Chris needs to replace one light, but other than snapping the new one in, this project is DONE! There's a track like that on all three of the beams that sort of make a "U" over the whole couch. And they're on sliders, so you can control the amount of light. Yay! I can't tell you how great it is to sit on the couch and be able to see to read from any point! As much as I love this couch, this has been the one downfall - the inability to put good lighting where you need it... Chris says he's done doing projects now. Pft! Right!

I'm off to GET BUSY! :)

My head is just spinning these last 24 hours. I found out last evening that I've made on to Round 3 of "Project Fashionista". Just above, I've linked to the mini book that I submitted in answer to "create a project telling us why you want to be a Fashionista".

What in the heck is a Fashionista you might ask. That's okay. I know not that many people read this blog on a regular basis, but if you did, you'd know. But just to refresh, you might know that I hang out extensively at my favorite scrapping website, SIStv. While it is a website for scrapbookers, it features the "theme" of fashion. Hence, the design team for this website, those talented and personable people who are the creative and mentoring guru's, are called "Fashionistas". So fun. Every week, one of their responsibilities is to choose - from the 100's of posts to the website gallery, a "cream of the crop" selection. A special gallery is set up to display these weekly picks - it's called the 'catwalk". (See the theme, here?) I have been SO honored to be chosen for the catwalk about 4 times.

Now, as mentioned in my last post, a call has gone out to those members of the site interested in becoming Fashionistas. As is normal in the scrapbooking website/design team world, the time has come to change up the team. I'm sure there were about 2000 or so submissions (which was basically just saying that you wanted to go for it and linking up some layouts from your portfolio). Out of those submissions, about 100 were chosen to go on to "Round 2". I was one of those chosen. We were all given the above-mentioned assignment and, as mentioned, that is a link to my Round 2 submission, above.

The fabulous news is that out of those 100 submissions, about 40 were chosen to move on to the next Round - AND I WAS ONE OF THEM! I'm beyond thrilled. Nervous, even. I know that we are not being judged JUST on our scrapping "talent". (Thank heavens.) I'm an okay scrapper, but there are some trying for this that are just UBER-talents. Artists in the truest sense. I can't begin to compete with that. But, what I DO have going for me is that I totally love and believe in the site, what it stands for, its vision, etc. I am very present on the site and have been since it's inception. And - possibly my strongest point - I stand pretty much alone in my age range.

So, as I said. I found this news out last night. The reality of it sobering (not that I wasn't sober, but, you know...) and even a little scary. What if I can't deliver? But then again, I am SO up to the task of pushing and challenging myself. And, after all, this is an extremely loving and positive community. So, I'll keep you posted. I don't know what's next, but I'm sure we'll find out soon!

Woo hoooooo! :)

That's a digi I did for the 365 Challenge (------>over there------->). I like it. (That's Lori Barnhurst's "Forgotten Sunset" kit {Little Dreamer Desings}). I really like the colors and I like the photos my new camera is taking... Oh, and that goofy layout below. It made it onto the catwalk (i.e. "noteables") at SIStv this week. I think that's my fourth (or 5th?) layout that's made it. I so love that website. Right now I'm in the process of applying to be on their design team (a.k.a. a "Fashionista"). That would be an amazing accomplishment and I'm certainly not gonna hold my breath. My only hope is that the choice(s) won't be made on talent alone, but also on how supportive one is of the site (which I majorly am) and how active you are on the site (which I majorly am). And, the other card I can play pretty much exclusively amongst the other UBER talented applicants is that I'm pretty much alone in my age category on the site - and still scrapping in such a way as to make the catwalk from time to time! :)

I'm off to post my 365 for the day. Later!

Yeah. I know. I'm a DORK! But I'm in good company! (Of course, it's entirely possible that two of them up there inherited it from ME.) Oh well. At least I'm a happy dork! This page was soooo fun to make and it was especially great getting my hands on paper and glue again.

The day started with a few light flurries, but now it's sunny and that always makes me feel more energetic - well, at least in the winter, anyway! It's in the 20's today - better than the single digits and 10's of last week. Although it remains pretty cozy and comfy inside. BUT - this has been some GORgeous hot tub weather. (Yes NOW is peak season for hot-tubbing!) The "hot tub guy" came yesterday and is going to phone today with the hopefully not too shocking price of the new part we need to order. I don't know why Chris is even having him call first. Is there even an option that we won't pay whatever it takes to get that thing fixed? Get real! I just hope the pipes, etc. don't freeze up. He's got some lamps on full time under there to prevent just that. So whatever $$ we're saving by not heating that water right now is being eaten up by warming the pipes. I just want my hot tub back! Waaa waaaa!

Well, it's banking day and I sure as heck better get started on it!

Wheels! The boy has wheels! Woo hoo! We're SO excited for Dustin. It means FREEDOM in so many ways. Most importantly, it means freedom in his search for a job and freedom in where to work. Hallelujah! This means everything right now. It will be exciting to see where God will lead... And, okay if that's just a "hard labor" job. He just. needs. a. job. Now. Period.

I've been playing with my new camera a little bit. Reading the manual (ugh) and trying this and that. I have SO much to learn and this will now become my personal challenge this year. To get so good at understanding how my camera works, that I can just fly through the different settings, knowing exactly where I'm going with it. That's a good challenge. I think a lot of people may get cameras - even "point and shoot" cameras - and are satisfied with just being able to snap off a photo and never get familiar with all the different settings. I really want to learn my camera...

I'm feeling the effects of a "new" cold. Hate that. Hate the way it makes me feel. (I don't suppose there are very many people that actually enjoy that, though, huh?) I gave up going to the movies last night with Deborah. Dang. I wanted to see that movie, too. (Atonement). Maybe I can get Tina to go with me next week... Today, Dustin and Chris and I are going to see "Cloverfield". We're going to a matinee because Chris wants to see it right away, but without a theatre full of obnoxious teenagers. I know what he means. Sometimes they think it's funny to make stupid comments (loudly) throughout the movie. I don't mind avoiding that myself. Though I do want to mention that, in general, I really enjoy teenagers. :)

So, in keeping with wanting to cook more, and because I had all the fresh ingredients, and even though I feel crappy, I still rallied around and just made some Potato Leek soup for later. I figured I'd feel more like it now than after the movie AND I recruited Chris's help - for a lot of the prep work and clean up, of course! Credit for the wonderful tasting soup will still go to ME! :) AND, in an effort to continue on my "healthy up the lifestyle" goal for the year, I will NOT be partaking in snacks at the movie (especially since we'll have the lovely soup afterwards - not that that would have ever stopped me before...).

We have snow again. About 2-3 inches. It's supposed to snow a little bit each day for the next week or so - and stay quite cold. Okay. If it can look like it does right now most of the time, then I don't care. There's nothing like that beautiful fresh white snow against the deep, clear blue sky in the winter. Love it!

Off to create...(I'm not that sick!)

Good morning! It's a good day! Light snow outside (after losing ALL of our snow last week). I'm doing pretty good at not going to bed tooooo late, so I have more time in the morning. I'm starting my morning with my devotions/quiet time again. What a difference (in ME) that makes. And now, I find myself almost all "caught up" on some scrapping/journaling projects, so I am SO ready to get in my little room and CREATE!

Don't forget, one of my projects for this year is to do a daily photo, usually with a little journaling, and a weekly digi page to go along... That can be found at the link on the right, which I have conveniently place right here, too: 2008-366-52-12. I'm really enjoying that, but it's about to get WAY more fun...

...because - yesterday I picked up my new Digi SLR Camera. Woo hoo! I never thought I'd be saying that at this point in time! After this post, I will be taking it out of the box, reading the manual, and then will take my first photos with it. I'm SO excited!!

I had the BESTEST surprise yesterday, too! There's this company called Hambly and they make, among other things, the MOST delicious and out-of-the-ordinary papers and especially transparent overlays which are extremely beautiful and fun to use on scrapbook pages. They also have a blog here and they run the occasional give-away where all you need to do is leave a comment on their blog and, if they draw your name, you win FREE delicious stuff. I'm sure you've guessed by now that MY name was among three that were chosen for January. So I can expect a lovely box of goodies to arrive in my mail soon. (Hopefully, the mail lady will not bend the box in an effort to get it to fit in my mailbox like she did the first time I ordered some precious Hambly...UGH! I took my angry self and the bent box to the main post office guy and he was equally disgusted, sooooooo, hopefully this was passed on to the appropriate ignoramus.)

In other good news, we were able to help Dustin pick out a vehicle yesterday and I think that will be finalized Wednesday. I'll post a picture when it all transpires. I just can't wait to see how this purchase will benefit his life! And we're also so excited that our beloved Rimrockers will be making a similar venture over the next few days/weeks. Happy, happy! :)

Well, I'm off to go get camera drunk! :D

This is it. My official list of goals for 2008. And, with this post, this is the LAST time I'm going to scrap/journal/blog about it! I did this page for the 365 Challenge. You can visit my new "other" blog, 2008-366-52-12 by clicking there or anytime at the link on the right. (No, that's not a blurry picture of me there, it's an "artistically altered" picture. I look better that way.)

Not that weather is my life, but, my oh my, how things have changed since my last post on this blog! The temps have risen to the point where it was 50 overnight even. How do you like THAT you Rimrockers? Today it's expected to hit 60-something. Woooo hoooo. Now I am under no delusion that this is here to stay. But, I sure will enjoy it while I can! :) And the BEST part of all? Our driveway (and most of our entire little side of the mountain) is completely freed of snow. So, we're starting from scratch. Interesting. Well, at least the UPS guy can get down here this week to deliver a few purchases from the scrapping shows on QVC. (You didn't see that, Chris....). There was a brief mention of a big storm coming in Sunday, so we'll see where that leads. But for now, it's SPRINGtime! :)

I'm doing okay with those goals up there. It's actually good that I've posted them so much, because then I can keep reviewing them. My main problem is that all I want to do is scrap. Whether it's on the computer or in my lovely little haven of a scrap room, I'm consumed. But I also did work out that rough daily schedule that I plan on mostly sticking to (hey, nothing is written in cement in my life - bring on the spontenaity!). One of the main things I need to do that will effect just about everything else on that list is get to bed before midnight. Because when I go up to bed at 2 or 2:30 a.m., you know I ain't gettin' up in the morning until 10. Yeah, 10 seems to be the time, no matter when I go to bed in the wee hours. But, although I love foolin' around on the computer in the wee hours like that (which is all I'm doing - certainly not at all a productive venture), I love getting up early even more. Early as in 7 or 8 a.m. at the latest. I love the mornings. I really do love early morning - like 6 a.m., but I'd have to go to bed (and sleep) at, like 10 p.m. for that to happen. And I just can't sleep at that hour...

I am slowly getting rid of the junk food in the house. Some is going in me, most in the trash. I have to continue on that path. Some stuff that I don't think I'll snitch has been relegated to Chris's office. Just having to go in there is deterrent enough for me.... Next, we have to sit down and start planning some meals again. And when I get groceries and start cooking better meals, that's where the big change will come. Though, I have been eating more fruit. The going to bed at midnight, again, will also prevent the munching at the computer in the wee hours, too. See? Gotta get to bed earlier!

The walking isn't going so great since I'm having toe issues. And now an old ankle injury (on the other foot) has been rearing its ugly head. But I'm not giving up. I hope to get up to get the mail today. Thank goodness for a long driveway. If I can at least walk that, that will be something! And a dog would help, too. Then we'd have to take it out for a walk. It's surprising to me how often that conversation has come up lately. (Thanks, Taco). When I'm weak, Chris is strong and when he's weak, I'm strong. I think we both agree that, as much as he loves corgi's, they're too big and heavy to have with our leather couches and not as portable as a smaller dog would be. I'd want something we could take everywhere with us. We've agreed that IF we're going to get a dog - which, at this point we're NOT - we would rescue one from the shelter because then we'd be able to see what it's little personality is like ahead of time. We're not into surprises that much anymore...

Gotta get going here. There's scrapping and playing and reading and walking to be done!

Yep. That's the harsh reality. And especially since we just got back from AZ, where the temps weren't exactly tropical, but the 50's we had seem almost tropical now! The thing is, it wasn't that cold before we left. We'd had a little snow, but none of these super cold temps yet. Ah well. The only compensation is that it's gorgeous with the snow and the blue, blue sunny sky. This is when you get to wear sweaters and your pretty new scarves and make soup and hunker down under the cozy blankie with a good book.

Well, none of that for me today, though. I'm glad I tackled our virtual MOUNTAIN of receipts from the holidays yesterday and got that banking done. It was brutal, but in the words of Tim Gunn (Project Runway), I was able to "make it work". :) Today I have the church banking before me and I have to go up to Williamsport for a haircut. Afterwards, I do sense there will be some hunkering time, but it will be in front of the tube because there's 3 hours worth of scrapbooking "stuff" on QVC this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. NOT that I need to buy a thing. I actually doubt that I will. But I still love to look at it all and they do tips and demos and stuff. I just find it fun. And a good thing to do on a cold day.

Hey, I've started a new blog project. I've taken on a challenge where you take a photo a day, do a little journaling about the day's prompt and then scrap a page a week and do a journaling summary once a month. I'm doing the whole bit digitally. Why not? Here's the link to my new blog - which, obviously, I WILL be updating every day. You can also get to it from the link list at the right on this page.

I'm off to cut and hunker!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Barlow clan! There we all are in Jerome, Arizona last week. The temps were a tad chilly but the skies and our dispositions were sunny and we just had a ball together.

And now, welcome 2008! Oh, how I love a new year! Here are some of my goals for the year:
- healthy up my lifestyle
- get back to a more productive routine
- put some of my creativity to both purposeful and productive use
- prepare for the arrival of Matthew and Martha to the eastern half of the USA!

Perhaps my word for the year will be: productive! :)

A short review of the year 2007:
- the loss of my dear father-in-law, Chris's dad on January 25th
- a big surprise for my Mom's 80th birthday, including me, in person on May 13 and 14
- the wedding of Matthew and Martha on June 8
- big projects accomplished around the house due to aforementioned wedding
- Dustin moved closer - only 10 minutes away!
- a Thanksgiving trip to Madison for Chris and I
- a Christmas trip to Arizona for Chris and I and, surprise, Dustin, too!

I'm excited about beginning some on-going "creative" projects as well. I'm going to do what's known as an "ATC" or Artist Trading Card once a week using a deck of - yes, 52 - cards; I'm going to participate in 365 which consists of taking a photo each day (365), scrapping a page a week from said photos (52) and journaling once a month (12) about the experience. I'm going to get caught up on my "This is Me" journal as well. I plan to take at least one more digi scrapbooking class and I'd like to do a digi page a week, or at least 2 a month. Finally, I'm going to start taking action on seeing if I can earn some money from my scrapping somehow, which, if I would get some projects comissioned, would blow the rest of the plan out of the water. Hey, nothing's written in cement in my life!

So, though there are some changes planned for the future, I'm sure my life will remain simple. Because I just like it that way! Hope all your hopes and dreams for 2008 become reality for you as well!

I just got this fabulous digital kit by Katie Pertiet over at designerdigitals.com and couldn't wait to pull out some of my (many) "vintage" photos to scrap. I guess I'm old enough to be considered vintage at this point! :) The photo is, I believe, at our house in Ohio and, obviously, pre-Dave. That's Barb and I (I'm on the right) in the nurse get-up and seated are John and Sue. There's nothing like being a kid at Christmas time. I wish I could get back that feeling of wonder and magic that you have when you're little. Now, at 55 years of age, I only get it in little mini-bursts of nostalgia that hit during a favorite carol, or while I'm looking at my lit tree with all the lights off or while I'm watching a favorite Christmas movie...

We had a beautiful snow all day yesterday. We ended up with about 5-6 inches. Not too bad, but still so pretty. All the areas schools and etc. were closed. That's another thing I don't remember happening as a kid. We had tons of snow in Illinois, where I did most of my school years. But I don't recall the school closing because of it - except for once. I do remember one time that my Mom just insisted that we wear boots to school that day. Pft. NOT cool. Wouldn't be caught dead in those clunkers. So I didn't listen. Apparently, she knew something that I didn't. We had a huge snow that day - and this time I do remember getting out early, but I had to trudge home from the bus - a long block - in regular shoes - in a good 8-plus inches of snow. It could have even been more because our driveway wasn't plowed and I remember it being really hard to walk through... The moral of the story is, kiddies, ALWAYS listen to your mother! :) My feet were soaked and frozen by the time I got home...

Tonight we're heading up to Williamsport to Franco's for dinner with Bob and Kellie. I usually end up getting their wonderful ginger/tamari grilled salmon. Yum - I can taste it now. After dinner, we're going to the Wmspt. Chamber Choir and Orchestra concert. We've been doing this for several years and it's always so wonderful. Gorgeous music to get you in the holiday mood.

We're pretty much set for our trip to AZ. I still have to do one more thing with M&M's album, which I'm going to do in just a minute. And then all I really have to do is wrap up a few more gifts and get everything ready to mail. I'm mostly done with that, too. It seems like there are little loose ends to tie up - forEVER!

Well, they're calling for yet another Saturday into Sunday snow "event" tomorrow. It looks like church could be in trouble again. Ouch. (I say this as the treasurer...) And we were going to have our "family business" meeting afterwards - which has been cancelled twice before now. We'll have to see what happens, but it doesn't look good at this point.

One thing I'm SO grateful for is that it looks like clear sailing for driving to H-burg Tuesday night and flying away Wednesday a.m. Whew! I don't care what it's like when we get back (I shouldn't say that...) but I just want to GET there with no trouble. I can't wait!

Off to tie up loose ends! :)

My latest digi. I wanted to use the newest ad challenge template by Katie Pertiet from this great web site. I decided to stick yet another picture of M&M in there... I'm going to be doing some more winter photos that I haven't scrapped yet. There's another one of them I want to scrap - so brace yourselves! :)

Well, today I did my absolutely LAST bit of Christmas shopping. You know how you just have odds and ends, seemingly forever... SO. I'm DONE! Now I must finish up a few little projects (for which I did the shopping). I can do that tomorrow.

We had a really fun little program at church last night. A Christmas "extravaganza". Well, I don't know if you could quite call it that, but those teens ROCKED it. There is some amazing talent amongst them. And one of them was ill and she just bit it and truly did a fantastic job. You would have never known she was ill if you didn't already know - which I did... I sang my "classic" Mary, Did You Know. I was going to have Matt accompany me on the guitar, but he didn't make it (which I was prepared for). But Emily played the piano whilst I played the guitar and it turned out well. Surprisingly well, actually. Because when I first started practicing it a couple weeks ago, my voice was NOT up to par. I was beginning to think my solo days were over. (Now, I'm not talking GREAT here - just my norm...) But it's amazing what you can do if you just practice!

A horrible thing happened on the way to church though. I wanted to get there at 6 p.m. (a half hour early) and we left a tad late as it was. It had been raining and freezing, so stuff was icy. I wasn't sure about the road, though, so I was being cautious anyway. And a dog - like a chocolate lab type - ran right in front of me. I hit the brakes as much as I dared not knowing if the road was slick or not. But, dangit. I hit that dog. Sigh. It was a horrible thud and I was just sick. Chris jumped out and went looking for it and a neighbor even came out, too. They spent about 10-15 minutes and couldn't find anything but it's choke collar. The neighbor said they weren't familiar with that dog at all. It was very hard to get my composure back and then I ended up getting to church with about 5 minutes to get set up and all. No practicing. Afterwards a couple people that I told about it totally made me feel better by telling me about the dogs they'd hit and the dogs they had that had been hit - without ever hurthing them! I was really surprised by that. But I did feel a little better. Because I know I didn't kill it instantly or anything. Ugh. I hope it's okay...

Well, after finishing up my projects tomorrow, there's a few household things to do and a few Christmas events to attend and then my attention will be turned to getting things packed for our trip to AZ. In fact, we've already begun getting a few things around. I'm going to clear the dining room table and continute along that vein and even start putting a few clothes/outfits together. Just so I don't have to think about it at the last minute...

So off to bed with me to dream about Christmas present!

Yes, I can say we have officially begun winter around here! I found this template at designerdigitals.com (by Kellie Mize) and knew immediately that I wanted to use it to showcase how beautiful winter can be around here. I only need to walk out my door to see all of this! I don't mind winter cold as long as there's snow to make it beautiful. Although these photos are of winters past, we do have snow on the ground now. It's snowed twice already, so, hopefully, we'll actually have it around this year. Global warming? Pft! Not around here!

Just wanted to share the layout. I'm off to spend another day scrapping wedding photos. I only have three more 2-page layouts to do! Woohoo! I've been gathering an assortment of cool winter/Christmas projects, but at this point I think they're going to have to wait until next year...too busy now!

Hi, Mom! :) That's her in the sweater and me in the t-shirt. She was cold (at 75 degrees) and I was hot...

Had a really nice Thanksgiving holiday in Madison with my Mom. She was doing better as far as her shoulder problems, surgery, etc. We were able to go out a couple times. My sister and my two brothers and their families were able to come over the weekend as well. It was really so great to see everyone. I only wish it wasn't so seldom.

And for ALL the media HYPE, our travels on the two busiest (flying) travel days of the year were GREAT. No lines, the flights weren't overbooked, AND we got the exit rows on 3 of the 4 legs of flights and the 4th we sat at the front, just behind 1st class (the closest we'll ever get to it, I'm sure) and still had extra leg room there. I'm tellin' ya - that extra leg room makes all the difference in the comfort of flying. Okay, a few less inches of junk in the trunk would help, too, but, I'm just sayin'...

We're having a gorgeous, albeit chilly, November day here in PA. Day before yesterday, our well pump just stopped. So we've been without running water since then. So enjoyable - NOT! So today, the "well guy" has been here - since 9 a.m. and it's now 3:30 p.m. - fixing it. The fix is turning out to be an entire pump replacement. We had the option of putting a new motor on our existing pump which is already 14 years over the life expectancy, OR just putting in an entire new pump. The guy said that pumps CAN last up to 35-40 years. Well, now our new pump should outlive us and then it will be the next owner's problem!

I'm done with all my banking. We have Praise Team tonight and it's too late in the day to start a new layout in my wedding scrapbook. So I think I'm going to hop in the hot tub and get warm and then crash before Praise Team practice tonight!

I'm off!

Ooops! Can you hear the sound of a tree falling when - you're asleep?

Apparently not, because we didn't hear it. Well, Chris thinks he heard something, but there wasn't a lot of noise... This is the result of all that VERY wet snow we had. Just snapped that little tree which fell onto the roof of our front porch. No damage - except to the tree, of course. It could have been worse.

It's just gorgeous out there this morning. Chris and Dustin had to take the truck to the shop this a.m. and they ended up taking a back road because power lines were down on the other road they would have taken. Chris said trees/branches were down all over. Yes, a wet snow is very pretty, but can do a lot of damage. Especially when there are still so many leaves still on the trees. We were really surprised while running errands up in Williamsport last Friday, how many of the trees still had all they're pretty fall leaves still on. And that just makes the branches hold the snow more and then they're even heavier.

I think I am fully accepting that it's November now! With that, I'm off to scrap!

My latest digi. I've been wanting to scrap this photo. I used an "action" on it and made it pretty cool looking, I think. And so now the big dilemma is - do I scrap digi or paper? For this I went digi because I was really dying to scrap it, but digi took so much less time and didn't make a mess at all! :) Oh, but I have some real paper in my room that I'm dying to use. I guess I also don't feel like I can really afford to scrap anything but the wedding album right now. (Which, I'm loving, btw.)

It has literally been snowing all day. We woke up to a slight coating and thought it would either warm up enough to turn to rain or just stop altogether. Well, it did neither! And now, we have several inches and they're calling for 4-7 inches in the higher elevations. Well, we probably already have 4, soooo. Dustin is actually spending the night because he had the truck (for work) and came here after work so he and Chris could take it to the shop to get some work done. But he said the roads were so bad that he's going to spend the night and they're going to go in the a.m.

We had SUCH a nice visit with Jorge and Aime Rodriquez, missionaries to Mexico. They also have a "jr." Jorge, which they call, suprisingly, "Junior"! He's a little doll. And they were just great and wonderful guests. Sometimes I get a little antsy thinking about all the work there is to do when you have someone (strangers, especially) spend the night and eat two meals with you. But it wasn't bad. My problem is I'm just not used to doing either cleaniing or cooking on a regular basis - yet! My house is CLEAN now (as opposed to just tidy) and I LOVE it that way! It always just takes such a load off my mind. And the meals were easy and no big deal at all. So, all in all, I'm so glad we did this and they were just great to have.

This will be a crazy week. Tomorrow I MUST get another 2-page spread done - and duplicated. Tomorrow night I have cards with Kellie and the "group". I do love that. We play pinochle (sp?) and it's just challenging enough and fun! Then Tuesday I must do our banking and the church banking AND pack because we head down to H-burg Tuesday evening to fly to Madison Wednesday. I'm starting to get that merry-go-round feeling. Because I just can't quite grasp that it's Thanksgiving THIS week! And then Thursday will come and it will BE Thanksgiving and I'll be only just getting there instead of anticipating it all this time... It's a weird feeling. Like I just can't quite get onto the merry-go-round.... But, it will all happen regardless.

Maybe I'll blog from Madison.... Off and running!

My last digi lesson page. If you click on it, you can read the journaling that's in smaller print. With this last lesson, I can say that all my desires for learning digi techniques were met. It was so great and I'm so happy to know this stuff. And my knowledge of Photoshop Elements 5 has just skyrocketed. That makes me happy. I hate it when I can't figure out a program. So, now, I don't have TIME to make any digi pages for a while...

Because I'm working on THE scrapbook. You know, the edding-way un-way for the ids-kay? AND, did I mention that I'm making my own self a duplicate copy? So I'm deeeeepppp into scrapping world in my little room. And now it's to the point where I have to make so many pages per week in order to get it done. So, every spare minute is in there. Okay, and a few on here, too. I love it. There's no where else I'd rather be doing...

We're hosting a young missionary family this weekend. It's a young couple with a 1 year old and they'll be staying overnight Saturday and having dinner with us Saturday and Sunday. I'm really so happy to be opening our home for this kind of thing. PLUS, our house is getting cleaned this week! Now, to plan some kid-friendly - and easy - meals. Maybe good old spaghetti or something for Sunday. That's so quick and easy and everyone likes it. And maybe some kind of soup and bread and cheese for Saturday evening.

I'm so excited (I'm embarassed to say) that Project Runway starts toNIGHT! In about 35 minutes, in fact. I don't know why, but I just love this show. I guess it's the whole "Survivor" mentality, but, also, because these are up and coming designers trying to make the big time, we get to see their creative processes and some really cool stuff they make. And some not so cool and rather amusing stuff. Of course, someone gets kicked off every week if they don't make the grade. LOVE it! :)

I'm off. Gotta make hotel reservations down by the H-burg airport for next week. I can NOT believe Thanksgiving is next week! Wow! Okay, I guess it's early this year. But I'm still trying to get used to the fact that it's November! At least I can say just about ALL of my Christmas shopping for Chris is DONE! And almost all of our shopping for the kids, too as well as stocking stuff. We're in pretty good shape!

Ho ho ho!

Can't believe I'm blogging TWO days in a row! Wow! Well, I discovered something pretty fun and amazing today when I logged in to SIStv. That digi page that I worked so long and hard on yesterday - the two-page layout at the bottom of yesterday's post? It made the catwalk today! This will be the 3rd time my work has made the catwalk. (Catwalk = the design teams' favorite layouts of the week - out of hundreds and hundreds. SUCH an honor.) I'm flabbergasted - and feeling a little guilty because, after all, I didn't really design that page. It was the same page that everyone in my class made. I did recolor some of the elements and make a unique green page and added an extra brush here and there. And, of course, all the photos and words are all mine. But, still, a little tinge of guilt going on there.

And, in other news, Matthew sent us a new song that he composed. It's so cool. I just love his music. I'm going to try to put a link in on the right ----------> so, if there's one there, I succeeded. If not, I'll figure it out another day.

Goodnight!

Ahh, free time. Gotta love it! But I used my time pretty wisely today. After I got up and went downstairs I called Chris up from the cave, er, I mean, basement (he'd been down there several hours already) and invited him to join me in a 10-minute clean up of the disaster area otherwise referred to as our kitchen. Now, this is BEFORE I've even had a drop of coffee, mind you. I tell ya. I took one Advil pm (not two) and 3 regular Ibuprofen last night when I went to bed (at 2 p.m.-ish) as I was feeling a bit achy, and I had the BEST night's sleep EVAH. It's been a long long time since I've had such a good sleep.

So, anyway. Back to the kitchen. We got it cleaned up and I had my breakfast as I had my quiet/devotional time, which has also been sorely lacking lately. It was wonderful. I'm reading this - a recommendation from The Boy (aka Dustin). It's deep. And it's got some new thoughts. I love both and I especially love both in the very same book! :) I'm highlighting and re-reading sentences. I highly recommend it.

After that, I got started on my new Monday digi-scrap lesson. I soooooo love this class. It involves some of my favorite things - scrapping, the computer and learning new stuff. This was a loooooonngggg lesson today, though. I stopped after a little while and walked up to the mailbox, taking photos here and there. Haven't looked at 'em yet, though, so I don't know how they turned out. Hopefully, there will be MUCH more of that action! (both the walking AND the taking of more photos...). Came back and Chris and I re-arranged the front porch since there's like, 13 thousand chairs on there. I remember when we used to wish for more seating. Anyway, Chris had already cleared off the frost-bitten plants (though, I must say, those dang ferns are still going strong, which you'll see in the end result photos coming up from my lesson today) and so we moved the bench and re-arranged all the seating so it didn't look so lop-sided and crowded. MUCH better!

THEN I came back in and worked for a loooonnnng time on that lesson! Somewhere in there when my stomach began lurching in pain, I heated up some leftovers. There was no dinner planned because Chris was going to help Emily (and, therefore, Dustin) move to an apartment just a few steps from Dustin's. Go figure! :) And me? I actually volunteered, yes V-O-L-U-N-T-E-E-R-E-D to babysit Eva while they were all moving. Well, you know, it's awfully darn hard to move with a little one under foot. So I reserved some time in the evening for that, not really sure if my services would be needed. Plus, we had tentatively been planning on going to a movie with Deborah and Gary, so I figured I had already given up my evening scrapping time anyway (even though I have quite a few projects I'm PRESENTly (as in presents) working on.... And, after all, Emily did move some stuff and was very appreciative of my offer. Okay, part of the reason I offered was just because I missed little Eva. She's just so adorable. And so, I had her for only a couple hours and they flew by and she was just perfect. How could she not be? :)

All that to say that I never finished my lesson - due to a rather FULL day for someone with so much free time - until after Eva went back home, which was after 9 p.m. We had fun, though and I'm glad I did it.

I'm even MORE glad that I did finally finish this layout. There was a LOT to it - and it's a 2 page layout - a little trickier to post, but here it is anyway... I'll post the double and the single pages.

Ta ta!