Who Give's a Scrap!

Trying new things

2007-03-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

First I have to tell you all about a wonderful new website I have happened upon. It is called Heart in Hand Scraps. I am so loving it there. The owner is such a wonderful person. So if you get a minute you must stop by and check out her site.

Also I have quit teaching for awhile. Things have been crazy so it was better health wise for me to be home until life gets back to normal and under control. But I do have something really cool in the works I can hardly wait to announce. So keep checking back for the big announcement.

Lastly I thought I would upload a few photos of my latest LO's. I even attempted my very first sketch. It is so nice to be finally catching up with everyone.

Finally an Update for the New Year!!!!!

2007-03-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

Okay I know it has been forever since I updated my blog but a ton has happened. Of course I had the puppies which thankfully all sold and were gone before Christmas. Then we had the holidays and before I knew it, we were celebrating Valentine's Day. So yes I am a very BAD Blogger. The family is doing well. Devan played her first season of basketball and did okay. The league is kind of lax but at least she tried it. We are now in T-ball and Softball season. I always dread softball season because of all the politcs involved. Well I hope all is well and I will defintiely be back to update more on Monday.

PUPPIES

2006-11-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

Well Tanna had her puppies on Friday night. I was about seven days too early in my estimation so of course I was not prepared. Especially coming home from dinner to one already born. Anyhow she had ten total. Four black females, two yellow females, one yellow male and two white males (who are the total replica's of Dakota). Her birth went great. All puppies were born alive and in a timely manner. Then the second night we lost the smallest black female and on the fourth night we lost another black female. But the others are all thriving well. They are the cutest electric gate ever. I have a goal in mind that when all are sold I want to purchase an electric gate, LOL. It also helps keep me from getting overly attached. I am including a photo of the puppies (all of them) at a day old and a photo I took today which was five days old. Hope you all enjoy!

Scrapbook Answers

2006-10-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

Got this from one of my email groups. I am so sad!
For those of you who sub or were considering subbing to this magazine, read the following. I just found out about this on a message board....sad! I really like this magazine!
I really wish it was a rumor. It's a very sad day for us at Scrapbook Answers. If you want to let people on the message board know, you are welcome to post this reply, including my name.
We found out today that our company, Future Inc., is closing Scrapbook Answers. Unfortunately, it was a decision that was arrived at based on the overall company's financial situation and recent changes in the overall company business strategy. It's not in any way a result or reflection of Scrapbook Answers' success or our reception in the market. Scrapbook Answers has been as successful as we had hoped, meeting all newsstand sales goals since our launch, and growing our subscriber base in the first year much faster than we anticipated. Not to mention the fact that Scrapbook Answers is a wonderful, useful, good-looking magazine that our readers adore. Sadly, this means that November 2006 marks the last issue of Scrapbook Answers. As you can imagine, it was a very sad, really terrible, day here at the office. All of the SBA editors and art team poured their hearts into this magazine, not to mention working so hard to make it the absolute best publication we possibly could. We couldn't have done it without the wonderful groundswell of reader support and positive reception.
Leslie Ayers
There's also a number you can call to get a refund on your unused subscription: 1-888-721-7387

Some photos

2006-10-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been gone. Been busy and also have been dealing with some bad news I recieved the other day. But I wanted to share these photos of the kids. The first one is Caden kicking the ball for a goal and the second is Devan riding her dirt bike. I hope you all enjoy!

New Layout

2006-10-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

Just completed this Layout. I did this as an example for the final Scraptathalon challenge for the safe. The LO challenge was to create a LO using another LO as your inspiration. I used the LO on the cover of this months CK. I really like the clean and simple lines of it all. I just added my own spin to it by changing it up to match what I wanted to do. I used the new Scenic Route paper line Cape Cod for the papers. This is also a new one for me as I really played with color on this one. I used colors together I never would have used before. It was alot of fun.

Daily dose of man

2006-09-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

Okay saw this picture and just had to share!

Okay no logic here

2006-09-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

Alright I saw this photo and just had to post it. It would be a great pic but they go and ruin it by putting the hairiest butt right towards the beginning of the line up. What is up with that, LOL!

It doesn't take much.....

2006-09-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

To make me happy. It really is mostly the little things. Today I just had to take a picture of my beautifully manicured feet and my newest pair of shoes. Don't you just love them! How could a girl resist these shoes. They are so fun and so me. They represent me in a few different ways. First of all okay they are shoes. Those that know me well know of my obsession with shoes. Second of all they have a bow. I LOVE BOWS! Not sure what it is about them but they just make me happy. I think that is why I like ribbon so much. I can make really fun boys and knots on my Layouts. Then they are made of jean material. I love jeans. They are always so comfy and yummy feeling. Then of course there is the the cool stitching. I think this makes the whole look of the shoe. Not to mention they are slide on with a small heel. What more could a girl want. One really cool pair of shoes and a great pedicure!

Question Tuesday

2006-09-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Okay I was bad I didn't get a chance to post question Tuesday last week. So here it is today as promised:

1. Are you a football or sports fan?
Yes I am an avid sports fan. I think the only sports I do not enjoy watching is baseball and golf. I love football, soccer and dirt bike related sports. It always makes me happy and giddy to watch sports especially in person.
2. Do you have a favorite team?
My favorite pro football team is the Minnesota Vikings. I have been a fan of theirs my whole life. Every fall I pull out all my favorite purple and yellow gear and cheer them on!
3. Do you or your children play any sports?
Being married to an ex pro racer my children are naturally into playing sports. Devan loves to play softball and soccer along with racing. Caden loves playing soccer and little league. He just got his first dirt bike a few months ago. Greg plays mens league softball (which I choose to stay home for, LOL) and races occassionally. If we had an adult soccer league I would play it. I love love love soccer. I used to play waterpolo as a teen and I loved that.

Okay Diva's now it is your turn to answer these questions.

Just a funny photo

2006-09-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Greg and I went to Santa Cruz for a night to celebrate our anniversary. Our room had one of those great jaccuzzi tubs in it. I went and got some bubble bath and poured some in. It was so funny because we are sitting in there and it kept filling higher and higher with bubbles. I must have poured too much bubble bath in, with the mixture of the jets. We were dying in there. Unfortunately he would not let me take the picture with him in it, but I still had to take the picture of the bath. This is after the water was out, LOL. So you can only imagine what it was like full.

The Big Announcement~

2006-09-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well the day has come for me to make my big announcement. I will be taking over as new owner of my most favorite site in the whole world, www.thememorysafe.com. The owner had to change the name of her business when she moved to Maine. She and I will still work closely on things as she is one of my most favorite people in the world and I will still design for her new venture. I hope those of my firends who have yet to join the safe will do so. The change over of ownership commences on October 15th. The other great part of the news is a good friend of mine Dee will be helping me take over the ownership of the site. She is awesome and I know you will all love her. We have some fun new things in store for all of you and I hope to see you all around!

Some great journaling blocks to share

2006-09-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

My good friend Dee and Scrap partner in crime just created these wonderful journlaling blocks and so graciously allowed me to share them with you all. If you want me to email them to you I will so you can print out and use on your pages. Dee is a super artist and has wonderful talent. I hope you all enjoy these journaling blocks. I personally think she did a phenomenal job on them! If you choose to have me send them to you, my email addy is motobarbie@aol.com. They can be downloaded and printed as is. They should take a whole 8 1/2 by 11 size paper.

Still ever so crazy here

2006-09-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

Well wow is all I have to say. I who usually posts at least every day hasn't posted in almost a week. Things are still crazy. Not sure what I was thinking when I made that choice to go back to work, LOL. Actually it will begin settling down once I have my credentials and certificates all clear. It is crazy in California all the hoops they make you jump through. But it is all good. I am actually loving most every minute of it. It will be great. I am also planning on finishing a couple of degrees while I am at it. I think I want to teach High School Lit when all is said and done. But only God knows what is in store for me, so we shall see. Well I just wanted to check in and say hi. I have some pictures I will be posting next week. Oh and the big announcement will be any day I promise!

Wow things are going crazy here

2006-09-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

Seems like life is on overload. This year I made the decision to go back to work part time. Now that Caden is in school it is time for me to do something with my education etc. But going back to work means lots of changes. I had to go buy new clothes, you know the kind grown ups wear, LOL. Getting the house together was another big one. I need to be able to have it easy to take care of since I won't be around as much. I also had to slow my load down with extra curricular activities including the building of my new center. Which is still in the works but will move at a slower pace. So today I get the call from my new boss that myself and four others need to go to Stockton for all these certification classes the state now requires. Okay sure no problem, oh wait Houston we do have a problem. I have kids. I just can't go and do as I please. Well wouldn't you know it, the great perk to working for our school district. They had that problem solved. My kids get to attend the after school program free of charge. Now I am not exactly thrilled that the kids will be in day care but I am thrilled that it is free and it alleviated one worry from my mind, WHEW!!!!! But here is the bummer part I will be in my classes until 9:30pm, BLECH! But it is only for two days and it won't kill me. My family will just need to adjust. I am so excited to be able to finally get out and do something. It will mean a little bit more spending money (we all know where that will be spent, LOL). It will mean I will finally get to use my education again. It also means I will get to go back to school and finally finish my degree. I told Greg the other day that I think I want to teach High School Lit. So I am looking to entering the credential program in the spring. Woo-hoo All this and I also gearing up for the really big announcement. I am so excited it is killing me that I can't tell you yet. But I promise it won't be much longer. Here is to a great day for all of you!

Somedays......

2006-09-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

There is just not much to say. Or do you ever have that need to just ramble on about nothing in particular? Today is one of those days for me. I was trying to think of something really awesome to post but nothing came to mind. I am gearing up for the big announcement. I can barely stifle the excitement from being able to tell you all. I start subbing on Friday and that should be fun. A great way to use some of my free time. I notice I spend more time at my computer with the kids gone. I am so not Susie home maker. What a name, have you ever thought about that expression "Susie Homemaker"? It is one of those expresions that does not make much sense. Where did it come from. Was there a Susie out there who was an exceptional homemaker. Why isn't it Martha homemeaker. People are always saying "I am no Martha Stewart"! So why "Susie homemaker"? You know I think I might just do a google search and see what comes up. Okay so I just googled "susie Homemaker" and no particular definition showed up. Hmm if anyone reads my blog and can give me the origin for this expression I will send you a small RAK. I am not of course curious. So enough rambling for one day. I wish you all a great day and hopefully within the next few days I will be able to make my really big announcement!

Question Tuesday

2006-09-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

Okay I took this from another friend. This is the list of things you have done or not done in your life. Kind of like a life's to do list. Just copy and paste ot your blog and add in your answers. Have fun Diva's:

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink......Yes 02. Swam with wild dolphins.........No, but I definitely want to
03. Climbed a mountain ........ Not really a full mountain but close 04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive.... no...
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid......how cool would that be? 06. Held a tarantula....Yes, but didn't like it!
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone... yes
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it.........Yes
09. Hugged a tree....yes
10. Bungee jumped........no I am deathly afraid of heights
11. Visited Paris.....No
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea....No. there was no lightening on our cruise
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise.....yes
14. Seen the Northern Lights......Hmmm
15. Gone to a huge sports game....Yes several
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa.........nope
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables.........Yes when my mom made me do it younger
18. Touched an iceberg....no
19. Slept under the stars.......Yes
20. Changed a baby's diaper....Too many, LOL
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon....No, once again the height thing
22. Watched a meteor shower....yes
23. Gotten drunk on champagne......ROFL, yes I have
24. Given more than you can afford to charity.......Yes
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope....yes
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment ....Yes, LOL
27. Had a food fight......Yes and got in really big trouble
28. Bet on a winning horse..........yes
29. Asked out a stranger..........Yes
30. Had a snowball fight.....Yes
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can...Yes
32. Held a lamb...Yes
33. Seen an eclipse....Yes
34. Ridden a roller coaster...Yes
35. Hit a home run....No, I can't stand baseball, LOL
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking...Yep
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day.,....ROFL, no
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment....Yes
39. Had two hard drives for your computer...Yes
40. Visited all 10 provinces or all 50 states....No
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk....Yes and it sucks
42. Had amazing friends....Sure Do
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country....Yes
44. Watched wild whales.....Yes
45. Stolen a sign ... Yes
46. Backpacked in Europe....Yes
47. Taken a road-trip...Yes
48. Gone rock climbing....Yes
49. Midnight walk on the beach...Yes
50. Gone sky diving....No, height thing yet AGAIN!
51. Visited Ireland...No
52. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love ...No
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them....Yes
54. Visited Japan...No
55. Milked a cow...Yes
56. Alphabetized your cds....Yes
57. Pretended to be a superhero...Yes
58. Sung karaoke...Yes, LOL really badly too
59. Lounged around in bed all day...Yes
60. Posed nude in front of strangers ....Yes, LOL (I was really drunk)
61. Gone scuba diving... No but I want to
62. Kissed in the rain.....yes
63. Played in the mud.....yes
64. Played in the rain... yes
65. Gone to a drive-in theater...Yes
66. Visited the Great Wall of China...No
67. Started a business......Yes
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken....Yes
69. Toured ancient sites ...No
70. Taken a martial arts class....Yes
71. Played D&D for 6 hours straight....No
72. Gotten married....Yes
73. Been in a movie....Does home movies count, LOL
74. Crashed a party...Yes
75. Gotten divorced....No not yet at least
76. Gone without food for 5 days....no
77. Made cookies from scratch....Yes
78. Won first prize in a costume contest....No
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice...No
80. Gotten a tattoo...Yes I have two
81. Rafted the Dead River...No
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"....ROFL, No
83. Got flowers for no reason....yes
84. Performed on stage....Yes
85. Been to Las Vegas...Yes
86. Recorded music...no
87. Eaten shark...yes
88. Had a one-night stand...Yes
89. Gone to Thailand....no
90. Bought a house...yes
91. Been in a combat zone...no
92. Buried one of your parents ....no
93. Been on a cruise ship...yes
94. Spoken more than one language fluently ....not fluently But spoke German fairly well
95. Performed in aisles at Rocky Horror...no
96. Raised children....Still in the process
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour ...no
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars....no
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country....no
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over ...Yes
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge...Yes, I think we had to in grade school
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking...Yes
103. Had plastic surgery...no
104. Survived an illness that you shouldn't have survived ....Yes
105. Wrote articles for a large publication...No
106. Lost over 100 pounds...No
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback? no
108. Piloted an airplane...no
109. Petted a stingray ....yes
110. Broken someones heart... yes
111. Helped an animal give birth ...yes
112. Won money on a T.V. game show...no
113. Broken a bone,....no
114. Gone on an African photo safari...no
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced...Yes
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol...No
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild....no
118. Ridden a horse... yep!
119. Had major surgery..yes a few times
120. Had a snake as a pet...no
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon...No
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours...Yes
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states....no
124. Visited all 7 continents...no
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days...no
126. Eaten kangaroo meat ....no
127. Eaten sushi...Yes I love it
128. Had your picture in the newspaper..yes
129. Changed someones mind about something you care deeply about...yes
130. Gone back to school....yes
131. Para sailed...no
132. Petted a cockroach...EWWW
33. Eaten fried green tomatoes..Yes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey..... Yes
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read their books....No
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating....EWWW
137. Skipped all your school reunions.....yes
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language...yes
139. Been elected to public office....no
140. Written your own computer language...no
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream.....no
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care...no
143. Built your own PC from parts ....no
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you...no
145. Had a booth at a street fair...Yes
146: Dyed your hair...yes
147: Been a DJ...no
148: Shaved your head ..no
149: Caused a car accident...No
150: Saved someones life...Not sure

Very Busy weekend

2006-09-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Wow what a busy non stop weekend I had. I love those weekends where you just keep moving and I love it when I am motivated to get things done, don't you? So it all started with my great Bunco night. What an awesome way to start off my weekend. I love my Bunco girls. I so look forward to the second Friday of each month. Then if it couldn't get better my best friend sice I was 14 came out also. She wanted to watch the kids play soccer. So she joined in the Bunco fun too.
So Saturday we wake up bright and early to be at the soccer field by 7:30 am. Yes it was a bit hard since we were up late the night before but we managed. My team played fairly well and lost 3-2. But I was proud of them. Win or lose I love these kids. Then off to breakfast. After breakfast I ran into Longs because it was my 11th anniversary. I had forgotten to get Greg a card, LOL. I don't know why I bother to make even that effort because I knew he hadn't gotten one for me. HEck I wasn't even sure he remembered. From there we ran home between games. Then my best friend who is orginazational freak of the century and I started working on getting Devan's pig sty she called a room put back in order and organized! Of course we had to stop because we had to be at the field for Caden's game by 12:00pm. So off we went. Caden played a great game and scored two of the six goals. His team won as usual. It is so funny to watch these little guys play. Then back home we headed to finish working on Devan's room and straighten up because I invited another family over for dinner. On Friday I once again visited the famous Mexican market in Lodi for a big Mexican Fiesta. We got Devan's room done and off to Caden's we went. His was much easier since he is much neater than Devan, LOL. Between the two rooms I filled five large garbage bags with old toys, garbage, and clothes that no longer fit the kids. In fact Debbie took home two large bags full of clothes home to her little cousin a couple years younger then Devan. So her mom was completely stoked. Especially since most of them were had only been worn a couple of times and a few things still had tags. Man does it feel good to purge. Once we finished Caden's room we decided to rest and have fun with my other friends. So we cooked dinner and ate a yummy meal along with Watermelon Martini's YUM! We headed to bed fairly early since it had been such a long day. The next day we got up and started on my room. Whew that was a good feeling since my room is the catch all for everything. I managed to get everything bagged up for donations. I also managed to get my kitchen done. So today I will be working on creating a whole new scrapbook area. Another friend wanted to come over and help so she could get all my hand me downs, LOL. Well I posted the final pics of the kids room. I think it is obvious whose room is whose, LOL. I just noticed in the picture of Caden's though it looks like I missed a cob web or two next to his bed, LOL. I hope you all have a great day.
Last but not least I want to post that my prayers and thoughts go out to everyone who lost a loved one in 9/11 and those fighting over in Iraq! Today is a day to not be forgotten!

That time again.....

2006-09-08T11:44:00.000-07:00

For my Monthly

Night. I so look forward to htis night with the girls. It is the one night I know every month is going to take place. It is always a blast with my Girls!

Back to school quotes

2006-09-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

Decided to share some quotes for those upcoming back to school pages. Oh and be sure to keep checking back for the big announcement. I have not been given the okay to announce just yet, LOL.

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. ~Sydney J. Harris

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. ~John Dewey

As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools. ~Author Unknown

The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder. ~Ralph W. Sockman

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. ~Kahlil Gibran

AAM Layout!

2006-09-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well I have been scrapping the last few days and boy has it felt good! I started this LO actually a few weeks ago but wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it. 11:00 pm Monday night I finally got the idea in my head and of course could not go to sleep so up I got to work on the LO. I finished it yesterday. It was a ton of fun to put together. I am so loving the Bohemian freestyle thing. I used several different fonts for the words I used to describe myself. I used the Basic Grey Urban Couture paper line. Hope you are all having a great day.

Oh and I almost forgot there will soon be a BIG announcement I will be making. So keep checking back to find out the EXCITING news!

Question Tuesday

2006-09-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

So instead of a few coordinating questions I chose to ask just one today. My question for you all is long after your fire has burned out and people are celebrating the memory of you, what do you want to be remembered for? I realize this is a pretty deep question but it is sometimes good to sit and reflect on how we want people to see our lives. That way if we need to make some chages we still have the time. So here is my answer

To live in hearts we leave behindIs not to die.~Thomas Campbell, "Hallowed Ground"
When the time has come for my good maker to take me away my deepest hopes for my loved ones is that they remember the person I always strove to be. I want to be remembered for the time I spent with my family as a daughter, wife, and mother. I want them to remember the person who glorified the name of God and tried to walk the walk. Albeit, I have never walked the perfect straight path I have strove to live the life he would have wanted for me. I want my dear friends and loved ones to remember that I loved life and always tried to find the good in others. I want to be remembered for the good deeds I tried to do but maybe not always succeeded at. Last but not least I want to be remembered for ME. The person who was not perfect and made mistakes but always tried to learn and find the good in those mistakes I did make!

Okay so ladies it is your turn. Thanks to you all who took the challenge, I loved reading your responses.

RIP Steve Irwin

2006-09-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

So todays post is a bit more on the serious side. I am honoring the life of one of my most favorite celebrities, Steve Irwin "The Crocodile Hunter". I know I will miss that vibrant wacky smile on the television. I just loved watching his shows and so did my children. Here is what was written about his death today. I can say I am sure he went with a big smile on his face doing what he loved best, working in the environment with wildlife.

CAIRNS, Australia (Sept. 4) -- Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44. Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said. "He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time. Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said. Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity. He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction. "The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns. "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!'"

Scraptathalon week 6

2006-09-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

Jenn has been having some problems with the site so I posted the challenge for her. You can view it here. Yesterday I posted a sneak peek of my LO for the challenge so here is the breakdown:
10 points for creating a LO using a list of journaling strips
10 points for using altered ribbon (stamped soccer ribbon)
10 points for my list starting with all the same letter (T)
10 points for using an embellished floral embellishment on my LO (Flower with soccer charm in middle)5 points for using only one photo
5 points for using ribbon as a border.
Altogether I created a LO for the complete fifty point total. Good luck ladies you are all doing a phenomenal job!

Week 6 Scraptathalon challenge

2006-09-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

Okay so here is a sneak peek for the Scraptathalon challenge week 6. This LO totals 50 points. After the challenge is announced I will let you know the total breakdown. This was a fun challenge and I loved that I was able to keep it simple. I am really bummed about this photo though. I printed it on my printer after I played around in photshop with it and I am not happy with the quality. Grr darn printers, LOL. Anyhow journaling reads:
Two pairs of Shin Guards~ $30.00
Two pairs of Cleats~ $50.00
Tuition for two to play soccer~ $130.00
Two Pre-Game Smiles~ Priceless!

Are you ready for some football!

2006-09-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well last nights final preseason game for the Vikes was shocker to say the least. They played a great game and dominated the first half against the Dallas Cowboys. The game ended in overtime as a tie! I am so ready to get the season started. New coaching staff, new players and great old fans! I can't wait to see what they come up with this year and how well they play under a new coach who is not an idiot!

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Just some pictures

2006-08-31T06:53:00.000-07:00

Okay I got these pictures back yesterday and had to share. The ones of the kids with the horse is at their Grandparents with the new horse Diablo they recently bought for the kids to ride. Yes Diablo stays at Grandpa's house, LOL. Mommy does not want Diablo here, LOL. The other is of my soccer team on opening day during the parade. Hope you all have a great day.

LOOKY what I got in the mail today, he-he......

2006-08-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

Okay so talk about having your day made with an unexpected surprise. I went to PO expecting it to be a typical mail day. I was not expecting anything but bills. So I open my box and there sits a key for me meaning I had a package come. I am like hmm did I order something I don't remember. I open the box with the key and there sits a nice little priority mail box with the return address of a great Friend. I was like hmm what is she sending me now, LOL. So I head over to the local diner to get a sandwich and decided to open my package. Inside sat this very very cool and rockin' Tealight holder! Now how cool is that. What a great friend. So I thought I wonder what I did to deserve such a great present. Come to find out it was for my birthday. Now she was a bit late but hey you aren't gonna hear me complaining. Oh and also in the package was a very thoughtful reminder of the fact that I have children, LOL. She sent Devan a support our troops red white and blue bracelet and Caden an airforce magnet. So to my super friend out there I want to send you big hugs you really made my day!

Today my puppy becomes more.......

2006-08-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

Okay so here is a photo of my puppy Tana to serve as reminder how cute and funny she is. Well after today she will no longer be so innocent, LOL. Today is the day she becomes,lets just put it nicely and say, promiscuous. Okay so it all started a few days ago when we noticed Coda was really sniffing Tana out and paying alot of attention to her. Well last night I was cleanining out her kennel and Coda was all warm and ready for her, LOL. Well thank goodness I caught him before he could get it right. I immediately had to put her back in her kennel. I am sure you are asking why I wouldn't want my own dog to do the deed. Well even though he is registered I still have yet to get his papers signed over to me from the original owner. Although there are several people who would love to have a Tana/Coda combo I still need to be able to sell the other pups. So we have a neighbor who has a registered male similar to color and size. He really wants his dog to be able to have some fun, LOL. Okay so I know I am totally weirding you all out here. But here is my delimma. How do I document this big day in my dogs life. Obviously I don't want to go out and take photos of the two doing the deed, LOL. But I want to be able to document it in some way being the scrapper I am, LOL. So if anyone has any great ideas I would love to hear them. So wish us luck that the deed is taken care of quickly and we will be on our way to puppy bearing in the near future.

Question Tuesday

2006-08-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is the second time I am posting this today so if by some miracle my original post pops out of cyber space I am sorry Diva's. I am going to start question Tuesday. This is where I will post a few questions for us to each answer on our blog and then in turn if you so chose you can take those questions and answers to complete another AAM page for your books. I hope you all take the challenge. I will try to ask questions that are theme related so if you do chose to do a LO with those questions they aren't just something random. This weeks theme will be about your seasonal favorites. Okay so here they are along with my answers: 1. What is your favorite season? I would have to say fall is my favorite season. I am not big on heat and summer months. 2. What is your favortie thing about that season? I love the colors of fall. I love being able to pull out my favorite sweatshirts. I love the smells associated with fall also. The crisp cool air, hot apple cider and warm apple pie! 3. Is there something special you do during that season? For me it is the obvious. We always take a trip to the pumpkin patch and then I try to do my annual Chirstmas card photo shoot with the kids. Although last year Caden did not cooperate. So we used our family photo instead. Which was taken in the fall! Well there they are. I hope you will join in on this weekely challenge. I think it would be a great way to get to know one another better and to complete some more pages for our albums!

Look one nice deed is remembered

2006-08-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

Okay so I found this girl on My Space that I grew up with all through elementary school middle school and high schhol. So we have been messaging back and forth and today this was her email to me. I am only including the portion of the email that is relevant. So here it is:
AMY YOU STILL LOOK THE SAME--YOU HAVEN'T AGED A BIT...I NEVER GOT TO TELL YOU THIS. BUT, I REMEMBER WHEN I DIDN'T BRING ANYTHING TO DRINK FOR LUNCH IN THE 5TH GRADE. AND YOU WE'RE NICE ENOUGH TO GIVE ME YOUR DRINK. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THAT...BUT, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I APPRECIATED THAT. ANY HOW I HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES. THANKS FOR THE ADD. KEEP IN TOUCH

Okay so I do not remember doing this what so ever but it is really nice to know that such a simple act as giving someone my drink was remembered almost 22 years later. I am so glad to find out I was a nice elementary school aged child. It is just a nice remember that it is the little things that make someones day.

Just a silly for the day

2006-08-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

Okay saw this toilet and just about peed my pants. Okay that just didn't sound right, LOL. But anyways, here it is, LOL. Be afraid, Very afraid of a toilet like this one, LOL Free Myspace Graphics

5 questions of summer

2006-08-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

Okay I actually stole this from my ggod Friend Nancy's Blog. I liked the idea and chose to do it myself. They are five questions about the summer.

1. What was your favorite summer event?
Camping with my family at Kennedy Meadows.
2. Favorite picture of the summer?
Caden at my inlaws house playing retrieve with Toby the Lab in the pool
3. Favorite movie of the summer?
Cars, LOL
4. Best song of the summer?
Shakira's Hip's don't lie
5. Did you go on vacation, where?
Since we have a very short summer here with a modified school schedule. The only thing remotely close to a vacation was going camping, LOL.

The photo shoot

2006-08-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

Okay I figured it was time for some new photos. So I put on one of my favortie colors to wear RED, put on a little bit of make-up and handed the camera to Devan, LOL. So here is the result. I also did a few with the kids. Caden took the ones of Devan and I, Devan took the ones of me alone and of Caden and I, LOL. Sorry that the head shot is dark. Guess I will need to school her in lighting, LOL

Shoe poem

2006-08-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Okay I saw this poem and had to post. I thought it was too cute to not share. I hope you find the humor in it I was able to relate too, LOL

39 shoes....39 shoes what does that tell you? What's a gal to do when she's only got 39 shoes? Wouldn't you know it It's the very pair I wanted to wear. I've hunted and grunted. searched low, then high I'm plumb mystified "Dang it! Where's my other shoe?!" I cried. Only so many places a shoe could hide. Retraced my footsteps every inch; near and wide. This has made me insane. I've gone quite mad; things are looking hazy. I tell ya, I think I'm going crazy. I've looked under chairs and couches up and down the stairs I need my 40th shoe! Now what am I going to do? They were the perfect shade of blue. But wait! I've got an American Express. No need for this girl to get depressed.

Scraptathalon week 4

2006-08-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Okay so here is my LO for the Week Four Challenge of the scraptathalon. Sorry my photo is so poor. I was unable to get a really good photo with all the shiny elements. This LO only qualifies for 35 of the available 50 points was I an actual contestant. The two parameters I was unable to follow are 5 points for using a hand cut cursive title and 10 points for using only two colors. But I did meet these parameters to make up my 35 points. 10 points for doing a LO on an important time in someone's life~ I chose to use Caden's first day of Kindergarten 5 points for using photo corners for something other than a photo~ On the lower left hand side I made a pinwheel out of photo corners 5 points for using three or more different stickers~ The button looking things are stickers along with the item I used as a ribbon slide. 5 points for using something organic on my LO~ I stamped the all smiles diecut with an actual apple half. I know it is really hard to tell, but I really did. 10 points for using something on my LO than it's actual intended use~ I used a pencil as an embellishment on my journaling block. Also I wanted to let you know that this LO was partially done at the Scrapbook Expo class I took on Wild Asparagus and distressing. I wasn't in love with their actual design so I gave it my own spin. There is a second page that I will be posting once it is complete. Hope you all are having a great day. For those of you involved in the Scraptathalon event you are doing a superb job!

Five things

2006-08-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

Okay so today I decided to post my five most favorite things about myself and the five things I need to improve. I Felt the need to grab my inner self and remember what makes me who I am. Even though there are a few things I know I need improvement on they are a part of me and a part of what makes me who I am.

My five favorite things about myself

1. I always try to find the good in others even when they are being nasty and foul
2. I love being tall
3. I have great hair
4. I am always lively and fun to be around
5. I am not afraid to speak my mind

Five things I need to improve

1. I am completely right brained and have poor orginizational skills
2. Sometimes I talk too much
3. I am not afraid to speak my mind
4. I am too hard on my own children
5. Sometimes I don't think before I speak

Okay so I know some of you read that I am not afraid to speak my mind in both areas but this is why I posted it both places. There are times that this is really a good thing. You should never be afraid to let people know how you feel. But sometimes I get really passionate about things and it can turn others off. So I need to know when to shut up, LOL. Now I know a few things sound crazy or conceited but really I don't want them to come across that way. Sometimes I think we need to write down our good and not so good traits to grasp reality and find our innerselves. We need to be comfortable on both the inside and the out with who we are. Becuase if we aren't then we aren't good to ourselves or those around us. So my challenge to all of you is to do this same thing in some form. It doens't have to be how I did it but trust me you will find things out about yourself you may or may not have known and others will find new things out about you.

Moving in the fast lane......

2006-08-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Wow sometimes life moves in the slow lane and when it does I never take the time to enjoy the quietness of it. So when life is moving in the fast lane I can remember those quieter times. Why is it as humans we are like this? I mean I am definitely the kind of girl who loves a fast paced life. I love the thrill of working under pressure and in the last minute moment. Something about it just gives me a high. Yeah I know I am weird, LOL. But it feels like sometimes I miss the good stuff. You know the stuff in life that happens when things are slowing down. When did I stop taking time to watch that sunset? When did I stop taking time to enjoy the simpler things? How many "moments" have I missed with my children because I had other things to do. I am making it my solemn goal to work on this issue. I don't want to look back and wish I had not missed that moment or wonder when my children grew up. Now you ask why today of all days are you reflecting on this. How come it hit you today. Yesterday I went in for my regular Diabetic check up and found out things are not going well. So what should have been a half hour appt turned into a two and half hour appt of poking, prodding, exams, and shots. I realized that although I have felt like I have been taking care of myself I have not been doing a great job. I don't want to go on insulin at 32 years old. I don't want my children to see their mom suffer the dabilitating areas of the disease. For these reasons I am taking responsibility and telling you all it is time for me to take a stand and start enjoying the lighter things. Maybe after I do that I will be able to make myself healthier and not wonder where the time has gone. So to all my Blog reading Diva's I hope you take the time today to notice the small things and take the time to see that sunset with your children. Trust me you will feel much better!

Leaving soon

2006-08-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

Okay so in less than an hour I hit the road with one of my best girlfriends for Scrapbook Expo. I am so excited. I am a bit sad though since I only get to be gone one night. But hey one night is better than none, right? Tomorrow I am signed up for some great classes, I can hardly wait. Then it is to rush home to make it to one final practice before my team hits the soccer field for their first game on Saturday morning.
Before I left I wanted to post the most up to date raffle entries for week 3's Scraptathalon RAK. They are as follows. You ladies sure have been holding your own with completing these challenges.

Denean (Denean) 5 entries
Janean (Scrapin4me) 3 entries
Margo S. (Parxmom) 8 entries
Samantha (sam1024) 4 entries
Shelley (Taylorsmom) 8 entries
Terry (Terryscraps) 3 entries.
Remember ladies this is anyones game. You ladies are doing such a super job. I love it!

What inspires me

2006-08-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

Okay I was reading a post on the Blog of a wonderful person I have met through my journey of online scrapbook communities. She wrote about the things that inspire her designs. Now of course my main inspiration is my family, but I love how she posted the other things that are her inspiration. So I decided to steal this wonderful idea for my blog. Sometimes it is just the silly little things that get me excited so here are a few of mine and why.

RIBBON

Ribbon oh how I love ribbon. I love ribbon so much I get all giddy inside when I see it,LOL. I don't know why it is just so fun to use and so pretty. It makes my day to purchase a fun roll of ribbon. Sometimes if I am feeling a little down and are unsure what to create I play with my ribbon. It always awakens my spirits and gets my blood pumping in a way that I can create and have fun.

FLOWERS

Flowers, I mean come on every girl loves flowers. For me though it is not the stereo typical rose. I love sunflowers and daisies. I love the way flowers compliment a nice simple LO. I love the way you can add them all over for a fun and festive look and I love the way they seem to complete a page or give it that finished look.

ALPHABETS

I don't think I am the only one out there who loves a good ALPHA. I am not alpha partial either I mean it can be chipboard, metal, sticker, acrylic, or any flavor in between. I LOVE ALPHA'S. It must be the teacher and English major in me. My DH thinks I am silly when I get all giddy by playing with really cool alphabets. I mean you can do so much with them. This is a major key component to a LO. There are times I base my LO around my alphabets. The right title or journaling can make or break your look, KWIM.

PAPER

Yummy yummy paper, I love paper. Just looking at this blog post makes me realize how many things I love about this hobby. But anyways back to paper. Paper brings me so much joy. I love the varieties of colors and styles it comes in. It seems like no matter what your photo there is a paper out there to compliment it. There are so many fun makers out there it is always so fun to go and touch and feel it all.

Well This Long post was quite therapeutic to list today and it made me realize how much I love this hobby and the different aspects really affect my creativity. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

My Lo for weeks three challenge

2006-08-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Okay it took me long enough to get this done, LOL. Here is my LO for the Week 3 challenge at the memory safe. My points spread for this LO is as follows: 10 points for creating a Sports themed LO 10 points for using 3 or more photos 10 points for using 50 or more words in my journaling 5 points for using Earth toned colors 5 points for sewing 5 points for handwriting my journaling. For a total of 45 out of 50 possible points. I could have gained 5 more points by creating a design with buttons, but I couldn't find a way to make it work. For this LO I used Basic Grey Urban Couture paper. Gotta love Basic Grey. I used Heidi Swapp alpha's and fuzzy rub-ons. My journaling is under the bird I cut out from the Basic Grey paper. I attached it with a brad so it could be moved to see the journaling. I have included a photo of the LO both ways. I traced around the bird so I could do my journaling in the shape of the bird. TFL and good luck to all you wonderful Diva participants!

Scraptathalon Week 3

2006-08-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

Well here I am again part of the mini challenges for week 3. You ladies are doing such a super job. I love seeing everything you have created. For those of you who missed out on the awesome talent display with the week two challenge here is The Link to see the Awesome creations made using the parameters of that challenge. If you are a registered voter please put your Vote in here by midnight tonight. It is so exciting to see how each of you created such different yet awesome LO's with the same parameters. I recently posted the first Mini Challenge for you to all sign up for. This mini challenge will be posted in different components throughout the day. I see Amanda also just posted the Second component to this challenge. Tomorrow either Amanda or I will post the final part to the challenge. Ohh what could it be, LOL. Looking forward to another fun week. You guys totally ROCK!

My journaling

2006-08-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Okay so I decided that since I posted the challenge I should at least complete my part of the challenge. I am choosing to write about the day I realized being a mom was the most important thing I had done in my life.

I remember one day a few months after Caden was born I was out to lunch with a few fellow moms. During lunch a friend walked up to me whom I hadn't seen in quite some time. She slyly said to me so I see you are "mommy" once again. I am not sure why but the statement really embarrassed me. I felt so low. I felt like someone who had done nothing special with her life. Here I was being mommy and not working in the big career of journalism I was sure I would some day be. What had I done with my life. What happened to the person who graduated with honors. The person who upon graduation had received several acceptances to big universities with scholarship offers. What happened to the person who swore her career was going to be the center of her life. Well that person had sunk to the menial job of "mommy". The more the day went on the more depressed I became. All I could reflect on were the things I had not accomplished. I reflected on silly things such as instead of wearing the latest hip smelling perfume I was wear Eau De Caden's spit up. Instead of shopping at Nordstrom I was shopping at Target. Instead of the nice career type clothes I traded those in for whatever was comfortable that day. That night I went home just severely depressed but something deep down was bothering me even more than the fact there were things I hadn't done. Then all of a sudden Caden smiled for the first time. You know that real smile. The one you know is him recognizing you and showing you he cares. That was the smile that did me in. It was right then and there I realized I was more than just mommy, I was someone's mommy. I had done something special with my life, I had brought two beautiful children into this world. Who cared if I hadn't done all those things yet I once aspired to. My most important job was right here right now with these two children who needed me. God sent them to me as an eye opener. He wanted me to cherish them and love them as they justly deserved to be loved. I am so happy to be "mommy". There is plenty of time left to do those other things and some day I will. But not until the time is right!

Journaling

2006-08-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is not my normal post. But today I wanted to talk about journaling. I have noticed through my travels amongst different web sites that most people are journal phobic. It makes me really sad. I have seen some amazing Layouts created that tell its own story without any help from others. But it saddens me to hear people are afraid to journal because they don't like the way they write or they don't know what to say. Scrapbooking is an art we create for our family. There is no right or wrong way to do it and there is no right or wrong thing to say. Never be afraid of sounding dumb. This is our history to our future generations. I love to open a magazine and I immediately navigate to Layouts that contain journaling. It makes me feel a part of the story, KWIM. So my challenge to you is to use your blog to overcome your fear of journaling. Find a topic you are really passionate about and write 50 words or more on that topic. I would love to see those of you who are really struggling with journaling start overcome that fear. Remember this is about you and your loved ones. No one is going to think you sound dumb!

Skater Chick

2006-08-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

Okay so it was time for a new look. You know when you look in the mirror and you are bored with what you see. Well I was telling DH how I almost went really bold the last time I saw the girl who does my hair. He said you should have. He said I think you would look really hot with a skater chick look, LOL. So today I went in to Juli and this is how I came out. She colored my hard brown with a really pretty red to it then added three large chunks of blonde. Hey Greg is this Skater Chick enough for you!

Prima Paper

2006-08-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

Okay I know some of you are tired of hearing about my aversion for the Prima papers, LOL. But I had to post about it today on my blog. I am including a photo for all to see. Now no offense as this is just not my taste paper so if you love it I am apologizing now for any offense I may cause but all I have to say about this paper is BLECH! I wanted to gag when I saw it after my much anticipated waiting on getting it. Okay so I was so excited when I got the package I ripped it open immediatly just to have my heart sink. The quality is not the greatest, it has a weird smell and the colors make me want to gag. Now a few of the sheets of paper are okay and I will try to do something with those as I am challenging myself to at least complete one LO with them since I spent a pretty penny on them. I love my new Prima Flowers, but I am thinking Prima needs to stick to flowers and not create paper, LOL. Oh and this picture doesn them more justice than one can tell. They really do not look so bad in the picture but in real life they remind me of something my Grandma would have made a quilt out of in the 70's and we aren't talking one of those pretty ones either, LOL

Kindness

2006-08-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Today I have chosen to share quotes on kindess. Sometimes I think we all need reminders. I have been seeing some really sad things going on lately in and around my life and I thought these would be good to share:

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. - Leo Buscaglia

What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness? - Jean Jacques Rousseau

Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do. - Emmanuel Swedenborg

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. - George Washington Carver

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. - Seneca

Okay so I tag each and every one of you to help spread the good thoughts. Each of you who reads my blog I challenge you to find at least one nice quote to share in your blog to help make another's day!

Just one of those days

2006-08-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Eww I woke up today with barely energy. I know my body is trying to fight something so I haven't been sleeping all that well. Caden has the icky yuckies and I think I am getting them too. Doesn't God know now is the time for me to get sick! I have soccer that has just started, school has just begun and we are busy little beavers around the property! So back to waking up. I get up and am just dog tired. I decide to take the kids to the bus and come straight back home. No problem will just go in my PJ's they look like a work out outfit anyway. Wouldn't you know the one day I wear my PJ's to the bus stop I actually have to get out of the truck, LOL. So I come home and think I will just lay on the couch for a minute before I start cleaning, well that minute turned into a hour and half nap from which I could barely wake myself from. You know that sleep you have to awaken from and you are trying like crazy but just can't open your eyes. It was that kind of sleep. So I got up feeling much better sleep wise but now my sinuses are raging, EWWWW I hate that, LOL. I did get my bathroom scrubbed a full hour and half of scraubbing, LOL. I got my kitchen done, floors mopped and the hardwood swept. I still need to vaccuum, do some more laundry and clean the playroom but I will leave some of that for tomorrow. I plan on spending a bit less time at school this week. Hey I have stayed away all day today aren't you proud of me. I also managed to get in a phone call to an old friend I used to work with and get caught up after a year. I did that while I was cleaning the kitchen, LOL.

So on to the Scraptathalon. Well my official full week of duties is done. The ladies did a great job of keeping me on my toes with fun challenges. They also did some amazing work. I drew the name for this weeks raffle prize winner and it was Terry. Congrats Terry I will get your RAK out in the next day or so along with those others I still need to get mailed from my pre scraptathalon challenge. I haven't forgotten it just got crazy with all those challenges I posted, LOL. Well til meet again, lots of love to my DIVA'S!

Scraptathalon week 2 challenge

2006-08-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is not my usual type of scrapping although lately I do find I have been loving doodling. Not sure why guess it is the person in me who always has to have my hands moving while I am idle. Anyhow this LO was done as an example for week twos challenge for the memory safe Scraptathalon. Here is the link to view all the assorted details Scraptathalon Challenge Week 2. I must admit I did this LO last minute last night and was up until midnight completing it. So for that reason I don't think I like it all that well. Anyhow it is done and if I were a contestant I would have been awarded 40 points for this creation. The LO depicts my love for shoes. We all know how I LOVE SHOES, LOL.
I need to say that all you ladies who are participating do amazing work! I wish you all the best of luck in the contest, you are Scrapbook Challenge Rocking Diva's!

Scraptathalon mini challenge points update

2006-08-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Okay so here is the most updated points for the Scraptathalon mini challenges for week 1. I have tried really hard to make sure I have awarded each person with their appropriate amount of points. Please let me know if you think there is a discrepancy. You ladies are doing such a great enthusiastic job. This has been so much fun to do this with all of you.

Denean(Denean) 4 entries
Janean (scrapin4me) 6 entries
Kathy (kacarr61) 1 entry
Margo S. (Parxmom) 7 entries
Nancy (NancyRoo) 2 entries
Samantha (sam1024) 1 entry
Shelley (Taylorsmom) 17 entries
Terry (Terry Scraps) 6 entries

Remember raffle entry points could change just like that so do not feel frustrated if you only have a couple of points racked up thus far. Also it is a drawing and the way nature works it doesn't matter if you have 50 entries or 2 entries ANYONE CAN WIN! So for those of you not playing please help cheer on these fun enthusiastic ladies!

My silly TanaBanana

2006-08-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

So today I was out cleaning my sweet Chocolate Lab Tana's kennel and had emptied her water bucket yet again cause for about the last week or two I have walked out each day to it looking really nasty. I normally clean her kennel and fill her water while she is getting her daily exercise. Well today after cleaning the kennel I put her back in because Dakota was getting mad at her. So I came in to do a few things cause her water bucket is one of those large rubbermaid storage bins. I went out to check on it and this was the scene I walked up to, LOL. So case closed mystery of grotesque water has been solved. Guess it is time to find her a new water bucket, LOL.

Scraptathlon points update

2006-08-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Okay so here is a the most current update on the scraptathalon raffle points. But first of all I must wow to all the amazing LO's. We have three people already finished with their LO challenge, you girls RAWK. I have never been so in awe of a group of ladies. Oh and have you seen the tags that have been created for one of my mini challenges? If not you really need to visit this link: Tag mini challenge, to see what they did within their parameters. One of them even said they had never made a tag before and you would never have known it. You all just take challenges by the horn and get em done, LOL. Points are beginning to rack up like crazy! So without further ado here are the raffle points I promised to update:

Janean (scrappin4me) 4 entries
Margo S. (parxmom) 4 entries
Terry (Terryscraps) 5 entries
Shelley (Taylorsmom) 6 entries
Samantha (Sam1024) 1 entry
Denean (Denean) 2 entries
Nancy (NancyRoo) 2 entries

Well good luck ladies and if anyone sees any discrepincies please let me know. I hope I didn't miss anything. I am trying to keep up as we go but you ladies are so darn quick, LOL. Have a great day!

Side note to this is I just updated the points as of 12:40 pm California time.

She...

2006-08-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

Did this LO for a challenge on another site scraptastic. It is for a Beauty Pageant, very creative way of naming a survivor game, LOL. The challenge was I must say very challenging. I ended up having so many questions that I began to over analyze it, LOL. No not me! I finally got mad at myself so I just did it to the best of my abilities. I hope you all like it.

Challenge today

2006-08-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Okay I am having trouble getting on the site to post a challenge so I figured I would do it here on my blog, hey now what a grand idea. We will see just how many of you Diva's actually pay me a visit, LOL. So the challenge for the present is as follows:

You all need to create a tag, but not just any regular tag. No this tag needs to have a journaling pocket included in it. It may not contain any of these items: Patterned paper, embossing, stamping, staples, or stickers. Any other items are fine. I will want you to post them to the message board by tomorrow morning 10:00 am PT. I will then post a poll asking for votes. You will not be able to vote for your own tag though. The person with the most votes will win not one, two, or even three entries you will win five entries into the drawing as this is an in depth challenge. Those that participate in this challenge will all recieve an entry just for participating. Please leave me acomment letting me know you saw this post. Have fun and good luck!

Looky Looky

2006-08-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

Okay call me crazy, call me goofy, call me whatever but I have wanted a pair of Roxy flipflops for quite awhile now. Well my one of my very best friends shows up this evening with a present for my birthday and she starts out by giving me some barettes, there is a story to tell there but I am tired and too excited to share, LOL. So I tell her how pretty they are then she starts to laugh. She hands me my real present and guess what they were!!!!!!! These wonderfully adorable Roxy Flip Flops. I jumped up and did the happy dance. See even though I love love love shoes I just wouldn't splurge and pay the money they wanted for these flip flops. She knew how badly I wanted a pair so she bought them for me. I just love her. A great big fat wet kiss out to my dear wonderful friend Wendy, which BTW is my co partner in crime in the girly girl LO, LOL. How ironic I finally do that LO and she shows up to make my day. I just love her to pieces. Okay so DH just doesn't understand why I am so excited and why I just hadn't gone out and bought myself a pair, LOL. Then I told him the price and he thanked me, LOL

Wow the Scraptathalon is moving along very strong

2006-08-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Wow the ladies that have entered the safe Scraptathalon just amaze me. They are really keeping me on my toes with all the challenges this week. So here is the points thus for just for the mini challenges. My hand and Amanda's will be busy filling out all these raffle tickets, LOL. Oh and we have also had someone complete the main sketch challenge posted and she did such a nice job. But now without further ado so you can see how each person is doing so far. Now don't get discouraged because this is only day two and you never know what I will pull out of my hat over the week.

Janean (scrapin4me) 2 entries
Terry (Terryscraps) 3 entries
Shelley (Taylorsmom) 1 entry
Samantha (Sam1024) 1 entry
Denean (Denean) 1 entry
Nancy (NancyRoo) 1 entry

Okay I think ALL the ladies participating deserve a big hand, they have really been great about taking what has been trhown at them this week. Good luck ladies you are all doing awesome. I will update this list periodically so keep checking back.

Girly GIrls

2006-07-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

So this LO was supposed to have one other photo on it and be labeled Girls gone wild! But I couldn't fit either on, LOL. This is a LO of myself and one of my very best friends. This is a rare moment to see us dressed up all girly, LOL. So I had to label it girly girls just because. This is really not my normal scrapping style but I loved this paper so much I had to cut it all up and make it more three dimensional looking. My DH thinks it is a bit busy and it is but it was really fun to put together. The letters I used are the new Melissa Frances glitter chipboard alphas. It has been so much fun to be able to finally sit down and scrap this weekend. I really feel like I accomplished a ton. I completed a few other LO's but they are for some challenges and contests so I can't put them up yet!

Smile

2006-07-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

Just felt the need to create the last couple of days. I did this LO twice, LOL. The first time I was not happy. Was doing a new trend and found out it just wasn't me, LOL. I just don't seem to be a trend follower. I tend to do better work on my own accord, LOL. Here is a LO I did of Devan and her different smiles that a typical 8 year old makes. I used Scenic Route paper. Oh what fun it is to use!

First challenge for The Safe Scraptathalon

2006-07-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Okay so you have heard me talking about it the last week or so. The day has finally arrived for the very First Scraptathalon Challenge. I loved doing this one. Shawn's sketch was just right for this challenge. I am including the LO I did to go with the challenge. I was able to include four of the seven components. I used the sketch provided, I used 8 or more eyelets, I used a name of a TV show in my title, and I used four or more solid colors. I hope you enjoy this challenge ladies. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Don't forget their will be mini challenges posted through the week, so this is not the only challenge you will be seeing this week. Stay tuned for more fun..........

Too Little Too Late

2006-07-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

You ever have those thoughts where when something finally happens it is too little too late. Well my DH is famous for these moments. In the last almost 14 years we have been together I have waitied for him to finally do some things I have needed of him for a very long time. One would think that after being reminded of things that need to be done it would eventually happen. So today I get this call:
A~ Hello
G~ Hey what is it we did have planned for Saturday?
(rolling of my eyes begins because I know what is coming next)
A~ Uh obviously nothing because I know you are going to tell me what it is you need to do.
G~ Well I decided to work tomorrow
A~ Yep that is typical, I guess along with having no help this week with the kids that I was also supposed to plan what we were doing for my birthday
(SILENCE)
G~ Well you said you were going to Scrapbook Expo in three weeks so to not buy you anything.
A~ Yep told you to not buy me anything but that didn't mean I wouldn't want to go to dinner or a movie or something
SO the conversation proceeds from there, I finally get mad and say I need to go and don't want to talk about it right then (I had a house full of kids that belonged to other people). An hour goes by and Ring Ring goes the phone
A~ Hello
G~ Well I want you to know I went out of my way to reschedule what I needed to do for next week.
A~ Greg I am sorry but it is too little too late
G~ What is that supposed to mean
A~ Exactly what I said I have grown to expect this of you and I am sorry but the last thing women want to hear is how you went out of your way to do something for me that I had to remind you about.
G~ Well you will never be happy will you
A~ Never said I was unhappy but that I had already come to expect the fact that if I want something I need to plan it myself.
You can tell how the rest of the conversation transpired and once again before I burst into tears I told him I needed to go becaue right now was not the time to discuss it.
Half hour later; Ring Ring
A~ Hello
G~ I got a babysitter for tomorrow so tell me where you want to go
A~ I don't want to go anywhere anymore
G~ Well why not I did what you asked and planned a babysitter
A~ Once again Greg too little too late
G~ Well fine then you call the babysitter and cancel, I obviously can't please you
A~ Greg right now is once again not the time.
So my day pretty much preceeded on like that. I don't know why my feelings get hurt each year. I have grown so accustomed to it. Don't get me wrong I do appreciate the things that are done to surprise me but man sometimes they are just "too little too late". I love my family and I know God has some great plan for me, but this can't be it. I know his plan can't be for me to just live each day the same as the other growing to expect disappointment. I don't want to question God and who am I to question God but sometimes I just wish he would enlighten me with what the plan is, KWIM. Okay thanks for letting me vent!

Conforming a big vent of mine, LOL

2006-07-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Okay so I was just reading a blog of a really talented scrapper and she got on the subject of groupies and conformists. It got me to thinking cause she said she hoped she didn't hurt anyone's feelings when she said she really didn't like those who were. I say those who might have their feelings hurt need to be checked out. Why is it people feel we all need to conform to other's beliefs. Why is it we should have to apologize for feeling the way we do. I am so not a conformist and I can't stand being around people who are. You either like me for who I am or you don't like me at all. It is just that simple. I am a big girl and I can choose who and who is not going to be my friend. I do not need to be told whom I should be friends with, whom is really cool, and whom is not really cool. I guess this is why I have such a large "variety" of friends. I don't care if you carry a little more baggage around the waist than Pamela Anderson, I don't care if you drive a Lexus, I don't care if you are white, black, blue, purple, brown or green, I don't even care if you wash your hair every day. All I care about is what is on the inside. I have met some of the best people in the whole world by looking at the things about them that count. I want to know the real you, not the fake you. I want you to be my friend for who I am not for whom you think I should be, or who I am related to. It really saddens me to see what has become of our society today. Too many people want so badly to be things they aren't that I am not sure half of us even know who the real us is! With all this said I want all my Diva's out there to know I love all of you for a different reason and you do not have to be someone you aren't just to be my friend!

My challenge LO

2006-07-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

Okay so I put the challenge out there so here is my version of it. Sorry that the photo of it didn't turn out too well, but you get the idea, LOL.
Okay so here is my LO using my challenge for the pre scraptathalon to jump start us. I was able to add in every aspect of the challenge and it was really fun! I used three different kinds of Cherry Arte Seasons patterned paper. I doodled with both paint and journaling marker. I used brown, green, and white cardstock. I included four photos all of which were from a different event. I included a quote from a famous person it reads: See yourself as a unique being and follow your own inner voice. ~ Susan Hayward. I doodled my quote and my journaling which reads~ One of the things I love the most about you is your ability to be your own self. You have this unique style that is all your own. You are my special guy! ~TFL~ and thanks for joining in. I can't wait to see what you all do with this challenge!

Mini challenge just posted

2006-07-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hey guys I just posted a mini challenge at the safe to give you all a teaser of what is to come during the upcoming Scraptathalon. You may view the challenge here. I would love to see all you bloggers post it on your BLOGS for all to see! The link is: Mini Scraptathalon teaser challenge . I am looking forward to seeing what you all come up with and I will be sure to send a RAK to each of you whom participates.

Daddy I made you a sandwich

2006-07-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

So my daughter decided she was going to make her father a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take to work the other day. So he tells her make sure there is lots of Jelly. Well guess what, he got what he wished for ALOT of JELLY, LOL. This was the end result. I had to take a photo of it cause it was just too funny!

Monkey Boy

2006-07-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

Well I recently got the privilege of working with the new Chloe's Closet line before it was released at CHA. What a fun line. Unfortunately I did not have any fourth of July photos to use so when I got these developed I immediately fell in love with using them for this LO. These are photos of Caden during our most recent camping trip. He decided that climbing that tree was the coolest thing. I must admit it was so refreshing to scrapbook. I have been on the go so much since we had his birthday and school starting all at once. I have not been able to scrapbook in over three weeks EGADS! So this paper line and these photos gave me just the incentive I needed to get back on track. Love to all my "Blogging" Divas

Come one come all, come join the fun!

2006-07-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

True to The Memory Safe form, we are once again getting ready for another fun challenge. Come and join all the fun scrapping challenges being brought on by the DT. Sign up and join in on the exciting 8 week Scraptathalon. Here is the link the rules: The Official Memory Safe Scraptathalon. Our wonderful and generous Leader Laura has supplied us with some really fun prizes that I know you will all love. You will need to Register as an official safe member. Follow this link to Officially sign up for the fun! I hope to see all my good friends come and join in the fun!

Birthday Party

2006-07-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is what Caden said as he posed for this picture before we leave to go celebrate the fact that he will be five tomorrow. I can hardly believe how big he is getting. It amazes me each and every day when I see him what a young man he is turning into. Today his birthday party, Tomorrow he turns five, Monday he starts School, EEK! Time really flies. I can still remember holding this sweet helpless little guy in my arms shortly after he was born. Boy little did I know the things I had in store for me. Who would have thought that the sweet little guy who was born 6 1/2 weeks early would be such a survivor. All those ups and downs and pitfalls with his health would make him so much more of a fighter. Who would have thought that at 6 1/2 weeks early he would still be a fighting 7 lbs 3 ounces. Now he is almost 50 pounds and almost 4 feet tall. They say he will be close to 6 feet 5 inches tall. One would never believe the things he has went through. I am so proud of my little fighter!

Soccer Draft

2006-07-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

OMG is all I can say, I can not believe how ridiculous some coaches are when it comes to drafting 9 and 10 year old kids. We had to do a second draft because another coach had way more kids then the rest of us mostly me. So we go through the nine year old girls, then on to the ten year old girls, then on to the 9 year old boys. Okay so by this point during the second draft things were going okay. Then we get to the ten year old boys. This other team decides to hide the fact they have about five ten year old boys while I sat there with only one ten year old boy. I walked away from draft with seven kids while the other teams had 9 or 10. How is it you become the third draw in the draft and end up with only 7 kids? So I start to argue the fact and I am thrown under the carpet. The registrar lady had the nerve to tell me I should have stopped it before the President of the league left. Uh Hello I tried to stop it but I was thrown under the carpet. So I came home pissed off of course. But here is the stickler, during the draft they let other peoples kids in there while coaches were discussing kids, they let spouses in there with the coaches. Then adults were making negative remarks about some players so of course these kids that were there heard these remarks. Okay kids are cruel they are going to relay these things to the kids. I can't believe they allowed that crap. I can't believe how political it was with players. Like ten year olds are gonna make it to the World Cup! This is a learning rec league. I am so miffed at how dumb it all is I almost chose to not coach. When did it become about winning and not about the kids having fun! I am really re thinking this rec league sports thing! If it wasn't for the kids wanting to play I wouldn't even go through this. Is it this way everywere, or is it just small town sematics!

Camping photos

2006-07-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

So these pictures were taken while on a hike during our camping trip. Of course Caden just had to climb that tree. I swear he is part Monkey!

To all Men

2006-07-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

Yes we as women do have boobs but that doesn't mean that just because they stick out we want you to grab them. When we are doing dishes, putting clothes away, or hey just plain standing still does not give you right to come up and grab my butt like it's a beer! No I don't get turned on when you grab your other head and say hey baby wanna piece of me! I am sorry that nasty stinky Beer and onion dip breath is not what I want coming at me for a wet slobbery kiss that you have high hopes will turn me on! When I am alseep rolling over and breathing on me is not exactly what I want to wake up to. The fact that I am laying on my back and asleep doesn't mean get up on top and hope I will enjoy the ride! So to all you men who have high aspirations that this stuff turns me on, THINK AGAIN!!!! It will only get you a swift kick in the you know where!

This post is in response to the fact that my DH just doesn't understand why I don't immediatly melt when he does any of the above listed items!

The Stockton Lightning

2006-07-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to our first arena football game. It was a total blast. For those who have never been it is defintely an experience to be reckoned with. The field is only 50 yards long. So as you can imagine it is very small and it only takes about five plays to make a touchdown. There is a ton of knocking guys against the sides etc. Quite the experience. Our seats were incredible we were only about five rows up from the field at the goal. So we got to see a ton of action as one could imagine. I think, acutally I know Devan and I got more enjoyment out of it then Greg and Caden. I took the picture above with my camera phone I was pretty impressed with how well it turned out. Then of course there is the logo for the lightning which I tried to make bigger so I kinda distorted it, LOL. Okay so now here is the reason I am writing about our experience. Caden won a photo of the team. I was looking it over to see who this one player was. As I was looking over the roster I noticed a name I recognized ALL too well. A name that was so unusual I knew it had to be whom I thought it was. Okay so while I was in high school I had this huge crush on this guy named Josh Wallwork. He was the all star football player, very tall and super good looking. During our senior year football games, which EVERYONE in the town attended were super exciting. There were always scouts there watching him play. We all knew he would go pro. He went on to play for Wyoming, won some tremendous awards. Went to training camp with the 49ers and was supposed to be the number 2 draft choice of his year. His stats beat those of Peyton Manning. He was an incredible Quarterback. Well due to getting involved in drugs among other things, he lost his chance to play in the NFL. Then of course you never hear anything more of him. Very sad story. The kind that makes you really sad to hear. So last night I see him in the line up for this particular Arena Football team. Unfortunately as the second string Q-back. I never got to see him play. I am sure that any sort of pro team is better than not playing at all. But it is such a shame to see such talent wasted on drugs. I only hope that my children can succeed heavily at whatever they do and not let things like drugs get in the way. So anyways, if you ever get the chance I highly recommend seeing an arena football game!

BUNCO

2006-07-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

Every month I get to go out and play this wonderful game called BUNCO! We meet the second Friday of every month. It took awhile for our group to fully get up and running with people who wanted to be comitted to be part of a group. As with any group there of course was growing pains. But I think we have our "special" group. I love my BUNCO group. The ladies range from young to older. They are so much fun to be around. We get silly as you can see by our photos with their "version" of the loser sign, LOL. Sometimes we embibe a little too much and then rename it DRUNCO, LOL. But most of all we just have fun. This is a group of ladies where no one judges and we are all their for the same reason: to have a good time. Of course there are a couple of ladies whom are probably some of my best friends ever and I would have fun with them no matter where I was but I feel blessed to be part of such a fun group of people. I love that we don't gossip, no one cares of you are carrying a few extra pounds or if you are a little too lean. These ladies are real. I am not sure what I would do without my monthly outlet. I only hope and pray each of my Diva friends has such a fun outlet for themselves. Although last night I did have a bit of a scare. I had an allergic reaction to an egg and they thought they were going to have to take me to the ER. Luckily after awhile it began to subside about three benadryl pills later. So today I am a bit tired, LOL. Have a great weekend ladies! Oh I forgot to add the top photo is one of my best friends Wendy, The third picture down I am part of that table. I would name everyone but I am not sure I would give the right names to their current positions.

100 silly questions

2006-07-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here are my answers to my 100 silly questions. I was tagged on another site to answer these, LOL. I tag Nancy, Jeanne, Twisted Soda, Susie, and Linda E. to answer them:

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
Closed...can't sleep with it open
2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?
Sometimes
3. Have you ever 'done it' in a hotel room?
Of Course
4. Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
Yes
5. Do you like to use post-it notes?
Yep sure do
6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?
Sometimes
7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
Um not even gonna go there
9. Do you always smile for pictures?
Unless I am caught off guard
10. What is your biggest pet peeve?
I have too many to list, I am a bit neurotic
11. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
Tucked in, I have this phobia with them out
12. Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
I have but not usually
13. Have you ever peed in the woods?
Yep while camping cause the potties are too far of a walk in the dark
14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?
Yes, sometimes
15. Do you chew your pens and pencils?
Sometimes I put the top of a pen in my mouth
16. How many times have you scrapbooked this week?
Once
17. Do you like popcorn from those big tins?
No it is always stale and gross
18. What is your "Song of the week"?
Hips Don't Lie
19. Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
Not sure how to answer that one
20. Do you still watch cartoons?
Yes I have children
21. Whats your favorite scary movie?
none they are all dumb
22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
Somewhere where no one could find it
23. What do you drink with dinner?
Usually Iced Tea but sometimes water or wine
24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
BBQ Sauce
25. What is your favorite food?
I like food period!
26. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
Anything with Matthew McCaughney
27. Last person you kissed/kissed you
My son
28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
Nope
29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
Heck yeah only if I were 40 pounds lighter though
30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
I send cards all the time
31. Can you change the oil on a car?
That is why I keep my DH around
32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
Yes
33. Ran out of gas?
No
34. Favorite kind of sandwich?
Pastrami
35. Best thing to eat for breakfast?
Breakfast Burritos
36. What is your usual bedtime?
around 10 or so
37. Are you lazy?
I can be
38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for halloween?
I was always something too many things to list
40. How many languages can you speak?
2
41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
Yes too many
42.Which are better legos or lincoln logs?
Leggos
43. Are you stubborn?
Sure am
44. Who is better...Leno or Letterman?
Leno
45. Ever watch soap operas?
Used to but they are dumb!
46. Afraid of heights?
Yes
47.When do you sing in the car?
All the time
48. Dance in the shower?
No
49. Dance in the car?
Of course who hasn't
50. Ever used a gun?
no
51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?
For Christmas last year
52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?
Some are but I like some
53. Is christmas stressful?
Yes usually
54. Ever eat a pierogie?
Yes they are good
55. Favorite type of fruit pie?
Apple Pie
56. Occupations you wanted to be as a child?
Teacher
57. Do you believe in ghosts?
No
58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?
yeah
59. Take a vitamin daily?
yeah when I remember
60. Wear slippers?most of the time
61. Wear a bath robe?
Yes
62. What do you wear to bed?
PJ's
63. First concert?
Something my parents drug me too, probably Johnny Cash
64. Wal-Mart, Target, or K-Mart?
Target
66. Cheetos Or Fritos?
Fritos
67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?
sunflower seeds
68. Ever hear of, "gorp"?
No
69. Ever take dance lessons?
Yes
70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?
Something cleaner
71. Can you curl your tongue?
no
72. Ever won a spelling bee?
Yes
73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
yes
74. Own any record albums?
Yes
75. Own a record player?
Yes
76. Regularly burn incense?
No
77. What is your favorite movie?
Gone with the Wind
78. Who would you like to see in concert?
Keith Urban
79. What was your last concert you saw?
Hmm probably Metallica or maybe it was O-Town, LOL(my very good friends Brother is Ashley Parker Angel)
80. Hot tea or cold tea?
cold tea
81.Tea or coffee?
Tea
82.Favorite kind of cookie?
Snickerdoodle
83.Can you swim well?
Yes
84. Can you hold your breath w/o manually holding your nose?
yes
85. Are you patient?
Sometimes but not with my kids
86. DJ or band, at a wedding?
DJ
87.Ever won a contest?
Yes
88. Ever have plastic surgery?
No, LOL. Unless the mini tummy tuck the doctor gave me after my last C-section counts, LOL.
89. Which are better black or green olives?
Green
90.Can you knit or crochet?
Crochet
91. Best room for a fireplace?
Living room.
92. DO you want to get married?
I already am and probably wouldn't do it again.
93. If married, how long have you been married?
11 years September
94. Who was your HS crush?
Larry Cox
95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?
No but I would like too
96. Do you have kids?
Yes two
97. Do you want kids?
No more than I already have
98. Whats your favorite color?
Green or Purple
99. Do you miss anyone right now?
Yes
100. Who do you wanna see right now?
Hmm not sure

Closet Scrapbookers

2006-07-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Okay so I got this from a friend via email and had to share with all my scrapbook friends, LOL. I wonder how many of us have a DS or DH that does this.....

My 7's as tagged by NancyRoo

2006-07-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

I was tagged to write about my 7's so here they are:

7 people I admire

1. My Mother
2. Mary James (founder of the MOMS Club)
3. Maryanne Garamendi (she was my daughters kindergarten teacher)
4. Pink (weird I know but I admire that she has a mind of her own!)
5. My true blue girlfriends
6. Tecumseh (he was a brave Native American Warrior
7. Princess Diana

7 things I say often:

1. I love you
2. Not yours (I have to tell this to my dog all the time)
3. I don't think so!
4. Please give me my own personal space!
5. SNICKERDOODLES (my word for Shit)
6. Because I said so!
7. SuperDeeDooper

7 things I do really good:

1. Teach
2. Scrapbook
3. Shop for shoes
4. Bargain shop
5. Swim
6. Cook
7. Give Hugs!

7 things you might not know about me:

1. I am a International Volunteer for MOMS Club International
2. I married my first love
3. I used to go to Mexico every year for Spring Break while in High School to build playgrounds
4. I sleep with my baby blanket. I have my whole life and it is sadly full of holes, LOL
5. I cannot stay organized to save my life!
6. I have my very own dirt bike
7. I am very afraid of MICE!

7 movies I could watch over and over:

1. Gone with the Wind
2. The Notebook
3. The Prince and Me 1 & 2 (yes I am weird, LOL)
4. A time to kill
5. Walk the Line
6. Proof
7. Little Women

7 Favorite books:

1. The Red Heart
2 The Notebook
3. Anne of Green Gables
4. Dragonfly in Amber
5. Children of the First man
6. The Long Knife
7. The Ant Bully (cute kids book, I was reading it to my kids well before the movie)

7 great songs:

1. Dear Mr. President by Pink
2. Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me by the Cure
3. What Hurts the Most by Rascall Flatts
4 . 1985 by Bowling for Soup
5. Anything by James Blunt
6. Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
7. you'll think of me by Keith Urban

7 people who should do this, - you don't have to do the same 7!

1. Terry
2. Amy (SpoilAmy)
3. Margo
4. Elise
5. Toya
6. Jenn
7. Amanda

Making cards with the kids

2006-07-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

Okay so my daughter has been begging me that when her friends are over if I would make cards with them. So today my girlfriend Kelly came over with her daughters and we sat and had a mini card class. Even Caden made a card so I had to share the end result. Devan's is the white one with flowers that says thanks. Caden's is the yellow one that is upside down and says Happy birthday, LOL. He had his card upside down when we put the letters on and of course I didn't notice until after all was said and done, LOL. Oh well he is four what can I say! Basically I gave the girls a small basis for their card and kept it really simple. They really had fun and I think they did a great job!

A Camping continued......

2006-07-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

Okay so after unloading the whole truck by MYSELF, I decide I had better put up the tent. Now mind you we don't just have this little bitty tent, we have a rather large 3 room tent. So I have the kids come over and help me. Well after several attempts with no directions I can't get it together. As I throw down a pole this nice lady walks over from the other campsite to see if I would like help. So between myself, her and her husband we finally get the tent up, WHEW! So the kids and I decide to explore a little. We checked out the river and a few other things then decide we are hungry. So I boil a couple of hotdogs for our dinner since my friend who was supposed to bring KFC for dinner still was not there. So we ate and then began starting the campfire. Yes by this point it is getting fairly late. While at the fire the nice people from the site over bring me a large trout they had caught today all cooked. It was very good. Awhile later while the kids and I are roasting marshmallows for smore's my friends finally pull up. By about 11:00pm when Greg and his brother still have not arrived we are all exhausted and went to bed. Shortly after I heard them pull up. Yes I was quite upset with them for being so late, LOL. The next day I get up and cook a full meal of breakfast burritos for all 12 of us. We ate and I decide to go pay $5.00 for a shower for the kids and I. Which of course my one friend is absolutely mortified I would do, LOL. So I figure while I am gone that since I was the one who cooked while everyone else slept in that they would all take care of cleaning up. I get back and low and behold the MESS is still there but even bigger. I was quite peaved. My DH read the anger in my eyes and immediately began cleaning. So later in the day I remember about a waterfall I saw coming up the mountain so I suggest a few of take a ride there with the kids. Well for some reason I can't find it and of course have to hear about it from my one friend, how she spent so much money in gas on my trek for a waterfall. But on the lighter side I did find a really cool trail with some neat things. So we get back and once again guess who gets to do all the cooking. Yep that would be me. Of course I make sure everyone knows I don't mind cooking but I refuse to clean up after everyone. Sure enough no one gets up to clean so I kinda threw a fit about how no one is doing their share. At this point yes I was pretty angry. Finally they begin to clean up. But I hear the whole while how when they camp they only cook what can be done on a BBQ. Well just cause I am camping doesn't mean we can't eat well. So off to drink I go, LOL. I went to bed later that night still pretty upset. The next day guess who gets to get up and cook yet again, now mind you I really do not mind cooking but I do think it is rude for everyone else to sleep in and expect me to do it all. Oh and BTW at this point no-one had yet paid me for the groceries I had purchased which came to almost $200.00. Plus I had to remind them over and over again that I had paid the first nights $30.00 since I was the one holding the spot for everyone so they had to go pay the other nights fees. Yeah pretty angry by this point. So people slowly start getting up as I cook bacon and pancakes. So I made enough food and wouldn't you know it my friends kids come in and start hammering on the food and leave hardly anything for myself and my family. Then my friend comes in and cooks some eggs with the left over El Pastor for herself and family and doesn't ask if anyone else wants any. So I had to cook more food and use the bacon I had planned for the next day. Well guess who got to clean up yet again? Yes that would be a big ol me cause everyone else I guess thought they were on vacation and I was their maid. I was pretty peaved by this point. Well everyone but us decides they are leaving that day but that they want to eat first. So instead of eating the sandwiches I had planned they get into the hotdogs, hot links and sausages I had in the back of my mind for our dinner since the tri tip was so large I knew we wouldn't eat enough to make it worth while. Once again I have to cook this full blown meal and then she had the nerve to pack up the dish liquid before even cleaning up. I was really done by this point. The thing is at first I didn't want everyone to leave, but after they were all gone and it was just us it was so relaxing. I will put a side note that Greg and I did not argue once cause he knew I was pretty peaved that I had to do most of the work for the weekend. I also forgot to add that my friendly daughter made friends with the grandchildren of the people running the campgrounds, LOL. They are from Texas and she was able to get their email address so she can now have a pen pal. So basically in a nutshell that was the whole camping experience. We will be going back at the end of the month but minus a few people, LOL. It is one thing to do all that for your own crew but not to do it for everyone else! I will post pictures later this week after I get them developed as I forgot my digital and only had my SLR with me. Love to all my blog reading divas

A Camping we will Go......

2006-07-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

Okay so silly me gets this great idea on the fourth of July that we are going camping. Well I am one of those people who when I decide I want to do something I can't wait I just make the plans and run with it, LOL. So instead of wating until I can reserve a campsite on an open weekend, I tell everyone I will go up early and reserve our spots. Well after being the one who has to all the shopping, hit Walmart for fishing stuff and a few other stops I was about half hour too late for the campgrounds we wanted, LOL. So the nice senior citizen guys working at the rangers station decide to give me lots of advice as to where I should go and then offer me a sherriff escort from the local Mayberry sherriff, LOL. So I start heading up the mountain. Hey I am always up for adventure, LOL. Well I look in my mirror and sure enough here is the sherriff trying to get my attention, LOL. What a sweet older man he was. So I finally pull over and he has decided I should go to this "other" campsite back down the mountain, LOL. By this time I am like look I don't want to miss out on any other open campsites so maybe we should see if there is even any availabilty. So we go to the next ranger station where more senior citizens are giving me my campsite advice. They decide that the one Good Old Andy Taylor told me about is a hole so I should continue up the mountain to this other one, LOL. So finally I pull into the one they told me about looka round and decide this looks super. Guarantee the double site and head up to the resort area to use the pay phone to let everyone know where we are. So the adventure begins. DH decides he is going to play softball so he won't be up until really late. My friends hadn't even left their town yet and they were supposed to be WELL on the road by then. SO guess who gets to unload the WHOLE BIG TRUCK FULL OF CRAP!!!!!! Yep that would be me........Okay so more tomorrow. Doesn't the suspense just kill you.

Fun Sucker

2006-07-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

Okay I am sure you are all wondering what my title could be all about, LOL. Well I know everyone has at least ONE in their life. You know the person who when they walk in a room all of a sudden it is like one giant vaccuum and they begin to start sucking ALL the fun right out! Well in my case I am married to that person. Now here is the deal, almost 14 years ago he was not like that. We would always have so much fun together. In fact it iahs just been in the past couple of years this has started to happen. But lately he has become that big heavy duty vac that you pull in for the really big messes. Yeah he has become THAT kind of a FUN SUCKER!!!! So yesterday was the fourth of July and because he had to be up early for work we couldn't go to the fireworks session at the culbhouse. So I bought some so at least the kids could have some sort of Fourth of July. Well what does he do but decide while it is still LIGHT outside we need to do them right then and there because he has to go to bed. You know give me a break the kids are only young for a short time. Why do we have to do them while it is still light outside. Would it have killed him to stay up a bit late for one night just for them. So I was so angry I wouldn't even go out with them. I have no photos for the fourth of July. Yes scrapping sin number 1! So I decide that since we only have a couple more weeks left until the kids go back to school that I am going to plan a camping trip for this weekend. ALl he has done is complain and grumble and we aren't even there yet. Once again I am sure he will SUCK all the fun out of that trip. Then to top it off he thinks it is okay for me to go get the site, set everything up, and then have him come up late so he can play softball. Give me a break your team sucks, you never win, they aren't gonna miss you, I think you can miss one stinkin' game. Okay I just really needed to rant cause it is really playing a number on me lately and I am not sure I can deal much more with it. Anyone else have one of those in their life, LOL?

Happy Fourth of July

2006-07-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a little patriotism. Hope you enjoy these quotes: Let freedom never perish in your hands. ~Joseph Addison Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith. ~Lyndon B. Johnson We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

This is my Town

2006-07-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

Okay so I just posted a challenge at www.thememorysafe.com to do a LO using the lyrics from Mongomery Gentry's song "This is My Town". So I figured I would post it here on my blog and also to get me started I thought I would post a few photos I borrowed from the website www.myvalleysprings.com. I cannot take credit for these wonderful photos which is a super dipiction of the town I live in. So for all of you who missed the challenge and for those of you who saw I also have a new challenge. I challenge you to update your blog using a few photos that you would say best depicts parts of your town. For those who missed my challenge I am challenging you to do a LO using this part of the song from Montgomery Gentry "This is my Town...."but adding at the end your own version to make your own lyrics. Your LO should depict how you see your town. Lots of love to all "My Blog Reading Diva's" Hey let me know in the comments area if you are with me on this one!

MEN

2006-07-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

Okay so like two years ago we bought a new bedroom set. But the kicker is I bought it in Reno and had left it at my moms. Well because the weather had been so bad those times we were there we were unable to bring it home. So a couple of weeks ago my parents brought it to us. I guess two years of storing it was enough, LOL. So anyhow, by then we had already gotten a new bed because I kinda sorta forgot I had purchased this other set, LOL. SO I gave the bed to my best friend but kept the dresser and night stand. Well today was the day we decided to move it in. Or lets just say today was the day I decided I might be able to handle dealing with DH as we do the changeover. SO yes it was as horribly mortifying as I pictured it was going to be. Hubby was in amood and took it out on all of us. He complained the whole time that I had WAY too many clothes, blah blah and then when he went to take the old dresser out which was a very very expensive antique he BROKE it all to pieces. I was so pissed at him. I wanted to put it in Devan's room. Well guess that isn't happening now. SO finally get the dresser in and it is a bit big for the area we have it but it will have to work for the time being since we will be putting the house on the market, but now he is complaining because it has a couple of scratches. HELLLOOOO if you would have picked it up from my parents two years ago it wouldn't have had to sit in their garage. If you would have placed it in a better spot in our garage it wouldn't have gotten scratched. Then the kicker if you would have been more gentle moving it in it would still look brand new. Anyway the scratches are minor you can't see them unless you really inspect and I now have a MUCH bigger dresser then before so now I don't have this huge pile on the floor of clothes with no home, LOL. I will post a pic later! Love to all my "Blog Reading Diva's"

New Friends and Old

2006-07-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

Well first of all I have to say YAY!!!!! One of my very best friends came home from Europe today. She was gone a WHOLE MONTH!!!!! OMG I felt so bad when I heard her voice on the phoe I didn't immediately recognize it, LOL. Well Caden is thrilled because along with her came his BEST FRIEND Sierra. He missed her so much. In fact she missed him so much she had to talk to him on her way home from the airport, LOL. Well after she gets over jet lag and the 9 hour time difference we will have so much catching up to do. But guess what happened to her on her trip. She took over 600 photos and two days before they were to return home she lost her memory card!!!!! OMG she commited scrappers sin. She of course is just mortified. I feel so bad for her. Thankfully her MIL was with them and took some photos too.
So now on to the other part of my title, new friends........These last two weeks the kids and I have been spending an exorbirant amount of time at the clubhouse. In fact my DH has began to call us the CLubhouse rats, LOL. Actually it has been wonderful because the kids are happy and so am I cause I do not have to nag at them at all during the day. They do what they need to so they can go swim. Well anyhow, I have gotten to know someone I have just casually spoke with in passing this last year. Her name is Kelly and actually Devan and her daughter Stacy are the same age and in the same grade. Her daughter Judy who turned 12 today is the sweetest thing around and I just love her one and half year old little guy Evan. Well she too has joined the clubhouse rat ranks with me. Her hubby is gone during the week working so she has had a ton of free time. Well we have been getting together and hanging out while our kids swim. She is really one of the nicest people I have met in a really long time. But here is the scary part......We are very eerily alike. OMG yesterday we went shopping and we got to talking a little more in depth and the similarities are really scary. But I am just thrilled I found a friend to help occupy my time like I have in Sherri whom was gone for so long. It is always so awesome to make a new friend!

Remember When.......

2006-06-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

Got this in an email and had to share:

Some of you are not fortunate enough to know what most of this is... AHHHHHHHHHH MEMORIES!!! Close your eyes...And go back... ....Before the Internet or PC or the MAC...... ....Before semi-automatics and crack.... ....Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari... ....Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's, voicemail and e-mail.... ....way back.... ....way.....way.....way back..... I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk Red light, Green light Red Rover....Red Rover..... Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third Streetlight came on Ring around the Rosie London Bridge Hot potato Hop Scotch Jump rope Duck....duck....GOOSE!!! YOU'RE IT!! Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones Mother May I? Hula Hoops Seeing shapes in the clouds Endless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows open The sound of crickets Running through the sprinkler Happy Meals Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom Cracker jacks with the same thing Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend ...but wait.....there's more.... Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man, Schoolhouse Rock Watchin' Sunday morning oldies (Abbott & Costello, Three Stooges) Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos FONZIE.....AYYYYYYYY Playing Dukes of Hazard Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar Christmas morning Your first day of school Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses Climbing trees Swinging as high as you could to try and reach the sky Getting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor Truck A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers Jumpin' down the steps Jumpin' on the bed Pillow fights Sleep-overs A 13" black and white TV in your room meant you were RICH Runnin' till you were out of breath Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt Being tired from PLAYING WORK: meant taking out the garbage or doing the dishes Your first crush Your first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in The classroom, Remember that? Oh, I'm not finished yet.... Kool-Aid was the drink of the summer So was a swig from the hose Giving your friends a ride on your handlebars Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school Class Field Trips with soggy sandwiches When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there When a quarter seemed like a fair allowance; and another quarter a MIRACLE When ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him to carry groceries...And nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it. When your parents took you to McDonalds and you were COOL When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home. Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of em! Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that!" Well, let's keep going!! Let's go back to the time when... Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo" Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!" "Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest. Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly" Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends. Being old, referred to anyone over 20. (CRAP! I'm officially old!) The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties. Nobody was prettier than Mom Scrapes and bruises were kissed by mom or grandma and made better It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park. Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true. Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare" Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles. The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team. Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon. Older siblings were your worst tormentors, but also your fiercest protector If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!

Gardening

2006-06-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Okay so for those of you who ACTUALLY love to garden this is not the post for you, LOL. I am one of those people who absoultely, positively, really DISPISE gardening. I don't mean just the weeding part or any of that I mean the whole darn part of gardening. I realize God made Earth a beautiful place for us to inhabit, but come on, how can standing outside in the blistering heat to pluck at weeds, water, hoe, germinate, fertilize etc be any FUN. My motto has always been if it is not a rock or a weed I WON'T GROW IT!!!!! Okay so in comes my mother and my daughter. My complete hatred towards gardening I blame on my mother. As I grew up she had FIVE ACRES completely landscaped and she made me go out and help take care of the whole darn thing. Now why should I have been subject to taking care of her garden that she had to have. Yes she loved it and that was great. The woman had such a green thumb she could take a seed from an apple and grow a thriving apple tree. Me on the other hand seems to kill everything green that I touch. Well somehow my daughter has gained her Grandmother's addiction for gardening. So after much persuasion and the fact that we no longer have Cheyanne who loved to dig up the flowers I agreed to buy five flower pots, LOL. So here is our garden almost a whole month later. This picture depicts one of the five flower pots I allowed her to have. But the deal was she was to water it each and every day. Well guess who has watered it the last three days! Yes that would be me. So how did it go from my daughters garden to mine, LOL. Okay just my rant for the day! Oh and BTW the gaping hole in the middle of the pot is yes because two flowers died, LOL. I told you I don't grow things well!

Water Aerobics

2006-06-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

Okay so on Wednesday I decided to start taking water aerobics at the clubhouse we belong too. Well I get there and it is a few older ladies, me and Jessica my friends 12 YO DD, LOL. Well come to find out the aerobics instructor quit because it was mainly older women. SO these faithful ladies had been trying to keep it going on their own, LOL. So guess who gets roped into teaching aerobics for the rest of the summer, yep that would be me, LOL. I will have to take pictures of me teaching the seniors aerobics. So those of you who know me, know I have a bit of a competitive streak in me. So I am hoping I am not too aggressive for these ladies. But who would quit teaching cause it is mainly seniors????? How rude is that????? So anyway tomorrow is my first day teaching and several friends are coming, LOL. These ladies will be so thrilled. I will let you all know how it goes! Wish me luck. Love to all my "blog reading Divas"

Inspirational Quote for the day

2006-06-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me well, knows I love to read quotes, use quotes and live by great inspirational sayings. My faith in God is strong and and I am not afraid to say it out loud. Saw this today and wanted to share:

We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey. - Stephen Covey

Cultural Diversity

2006-06-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Okay so my children and I had quite the interesting day today, LOL. I decided I wanted some really good home made Mexican food. So off to Lodi we ventured to get some errands done and to visit the Mexican market there in town. Now mind you this is no little side of the road Mexcian market. This is a full blown grocery store with the obvious Mexican delicacies, etc. So in I trot with my two blonde haired blue eyed children in tow, LOL. Of course yes we stick out like a really sore thumb. But no big deal as far as I am concerned. This is fun and I love to do culturally diverse things! I love for my children to see how other people do things etc. Well I was not quite prepared for the "experience". Okay so back to my story. I have the two blonde haired munchkins in tow. Walk in and realize I somehow missed the shopping carts. I turn around and low and behold there is a guard in the entry way. (wow is going my brain) Ask him very politely where I might find a cart and he directs me in the right direction with a sweet little smirk on his face. I am hearing his brain saying stupid blonde Gringo, LOL. Because yes I walked right past them and they were right under my nose. Okay so we get our cart and in I go. I of course am overwhelmed by the site of the fact that not only is it a grocery store but a full on restaurant, etc in there. Okay cool, we can do this. I have my little list in hand for a recipe from a friend at the safe. I walk over to the produce dept and get my Jalapeno's. I sniff them, okay wrong thing to do, the sneezes start. So I just grab some and throw them in a baggie, LOL. Get the other produce items I need and proceed to try and find the otehr things on my list. Okay so here is theone of the parts I was unprepapred for all the signs were in Spansh, LMAO. So I have to so very nicely ask what they say, LOL. Yes I am blonde and no I don't know Spanish. Okay so we make it through that hurdle. Well I realize I needed a name brand of something so I call Jeanne. I figured hey she needs to be a part of my experience with me. Oh wait I forgot the part where my sweet eight year old daughter says very loudly. Mommy what kind of store did you bring us to this is weird! Okay crawl under the cart and beat the child, LOL. So I get Jeanne to give me the brand name I need and proceed over to the meat cases. Okay so here is what I really wasn't prepapred for. Oh one thing I forgot to add was I almost married a hispanic guy. One who followed all the Hispanic rules to the tee. Go to Grandma's on Sunday for dinner, eat Menudo on Saturday, cook some really weird things to me, wanted me to wait on him.........Uh yeah this is where the relationship ended, LOL. Okay so I have seen some weird things. But I never realized you could just walk into a market and see some of these things just staring back at you. Okay so over to the meat case I go. Okay have to make it past the chicken feet, intestines, brains, and goat heads. Yeah right about there I wanted to PUKE!!!!!!! So I politely ask for the carne asada and El Pastor as I had decded we were not making Jenn's dinner after all, cause I had to look at things that were pretty gross to me. Now I have no problem with people eating those things but the fact that I had to see it was just wrong, LOL. I am not sure where I thought people bought those things as I know people eat them but I never expected to see them out staring at me. So we ever so politely payed for our groceries from the sweet cashier girl who was very helpful by the way and out we walked. Now on a side note our dinner tonight was absolutely fabulous and by no means i s this post a bash on anyone's culture. This is a bash on a poor white girl who obviously isn't as diverse as she thought she was! Lot's of love to my Blog readining Diva's!

Scrapping questions

2006-06-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

These were provided to us on the safe from a fellow scrapper. Hope you enjoy reading and join along in the fun: How often do you scrap? I try to scrap two to three times a week or more if possible. When do you prefer to scrap? I have no time preference when I prefer to scrap. I like to scrap anytime, LOL How long do you typically scrap for? I will typically scrap for three to four hours at a time. How many layouts do you complete in a month? I try to complete about ten or more per month but sometimes I get in a rut and only complete a few. Depends on how busy we are. Prefer to scrap alone, with a friend or at a crop? I love to scrap with others but I also love to scrap alone. I dislike having to try to bring everything along though. Favorite scrappin munchie? Anything salty or sweet Favorite beverage? (obviously, in a sippy glass... placed away from pictures and layouts) Water or ice tea How do you organize your sessions for scrapping? Organize? What is that! Do you build page kits? No not usually, but when I get my DT kit I try to mainly use those kits Do you make power layouts? No not usually, I have tried but that system does not work for me. How often do you use sketch challenges? Rarely How often do you scrap lift? Once in while when I see a LO I love I make my own version of it. Do you watch tv, movies, or listen to the music? I like to listen to music Do you crop sitting ot standing? Sitting What albums or themes are you currently working on? I do a varied family album every year. I am always working on our Disney album and I am slowly trying to get my sons T-ball coaches mini album done Any tips or tricks to share? My only advice is to keep it real. Remember the reason you began scrapping was for your family and for memories, not for notariety. Anything else you want to tell share about your scrapping habits? No not really as I can be a bad scrapper influence, LOL

labs and pools

2006-06-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Okay so today I went to the store and bought the dogs a plastic kiddie pool, LOL. Yeah I know most people go to the store to buy their kids a plastic kiddie pool. But with the weather hitting almost 109 the last two days in a row I felt really bad for my dogs. We don't allow our dogs inside due to my sons health for one and for two they are sporting dogs. Well at least Tana is now Dakota the lab with $3000.00 in training is another story, LOL. But he is still my sweet 130 pound baby. Anyhow, the kids were just appalled that the pool wasn't for them and that we wouldn't buy them a pool. Hello what do I pay yearly fees for the clubhouse pool for if I am going to get one of my own. Besides the fact that we did have one of those great pools and Dakota always tried to swim in it. So I let the kids go outside while the pool was filling to get cooled off. They kept coming in crying that Dakota was in the pool. Hello we did buy it for the dogs. So finally we had to make the kids get out so the dogs could enjoy themselves. Oh and what fun they had. Unfortunately Tana gets so excited when we are outside I couldn't capture her in the pool, but here is Coda just loving the pool and as you can tell he is gross and muddy and so is the pool now. Hey kids wanna swim now!

Some people never learn nor grow up!

2006-06-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

Okay so as some of you know there have been a few things happening with a "problem" member at the site. Well she says she has left but people have seen her on the site. But that is neither here nor there. Ever since she joined the site she has done nothing but cause problems. When she didn't make the DT she bashed those that did and did some very childish things. Then whenever someone posts something she tries to stir up contriversy. She has even accused one of our members of being a stalker, LOL. She always brings the happiness and the tone of the board down with her poor attitude. But here is the kicker the woman is of Grandmother age. Okay all the Grandma's I know do not thrive on making problems and acting like juveniles. I really think she has some major problems and wants to bring everyone down with her. Well somehow I was anonimously emailed a posting to a blog she wrote accusing us (mainly me) of being rude, LOL. I have always been very sweet. Well in her blog she said she was prettier and better than the rest of us. I just about died, LOL. She said we were all intimidated by her beauty and power. Yeah okay whatever, I have never in my life been intimidated by another person. Even women who ARE beautiful. If you are going to post something then please post the truth and not lies. People can see through lies and we all have seen through hers. She is constantly trying to pit us all against one another, but what she doesn't know is that we have all joined together as one and refuse to listen to or believe her lies. So anyway, this BLOG is not of my usual nature but I have just had it with rude people and isn't that what blogs are for? They are for venting! Love to all my Blog Reading "divas"

Memories

2006-06-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

This month as I sat down to do my DT projects I had so many ideas in my head of things I wanted to do. After recieving my kit I finally had the paper that seemed to be the perfect fit for this photo. As I was working on the LO, things just seemed to fall into place. Don't you love it when this happens, LOL. Anyway, I was looking at this photo of the two of us. We looked so happy. Where do all those happy days go. Here I was so sick and could barely walk and still managed to put on a real face. How come every day I can't feel that way about the one person I am supposed to love forever? Life is so full of mysteries and why's. There are some days I wish I had that ever powerful magical ball that would answer these questions. But I guess that is the great mystery of life and some things are better left unsaid or unanswered. God will show me the way in his time not mine. Who am I to question him? He is so ever powerful and mighty. I just need to leave things in God's hands and the answers will fall in place. Just the way this LO did. Okay so I got a bit deep and this was not at all what I planned on writing but it turned into this, LOL. Love to all my "Blog reading Diva's"

Pictures from SF trip

2006-06-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures of our fun trip to Sf. The one of all six of us was in the elevator at the Aquarium. Can you tell that by then Wendy and I were pretty frazzled, LOL.

SF TRIP

2006-06-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

What a fun day we had in San Francisco. My friend Wendy and I decided that since it was so hot where we were at we would beat the heat and take a trip to SF for the day. The dads had to work and they hate going to SF so it is left up to us to do those trips on our own. So what a perfect day to do it. So we loaded up all six of us in Greg's car because neither of us wanted to navigate our big huge trucks through SF. Well of course I left my camera in my truck so we had to go a bit out of our way to Stockton to get it from Greg at work. After picking up the camera, going through the Jack in the Box drive through to get everyone drinks, getting gas, and stopping to pee we finally made it over the Bay Bridge about 12:30pm. Well I am following the signs just as any good driver would do and boom they just stop. So what happens but we get lost, LOL. Well after driving around and finding a person who can speak English we get directions to where we need to go which was the pier. At around 2:00 pm after navigating through traffic, (yes we were thrilled at this time that we did not have the truck, LOL) we finally got ot our destination and found parking. Immediately we all made a mad dash for the famous restaurant on the pier called Alioto's. They have really delicious food. A bit pricy but right up there in cost with the rest of the SF restaurants. Of course our kids being of the Country nature know nothing about fine dining, LMAO. My kids couldn't figure out why I was tipping the girl in the bathroom, or why I wasn't all too pleased when Caden spilled his water EVERYWHERE!!!! But that is okay I love them just the way they are. We ate a delicous lunch and headed off to enjoy the wharf. We really wanted to take the kids to Alcatraz but the tours were booked all the way through Monday. So that was no longer an option. Okay never fear SF has tons to offer. So we opted for a trip through the SF bay Aquarium on the pier. The kids had a blast going through the water tunnels filled with sharks and all kinds of tropical fish. Seeing the eggs and ambryos of soon to hatch Skater fish, and of course had a blast in the touching pools. The Rays were so friendly that everytime they felt the water move they immediatly swam up to get petted. Caden's favortie was the leopard shark pups. He thought that was really cool. He also thought it was really cool to see Sea Stars with fish in their tentacles to eat them. After about an hour in the Aquarium we headed off to explore the rest of the wharf and all its offering. But of course we did not make it out of the Aquarium without a quick trip through the gift shop where Caden talked me into a "Toob of Sharks" and Devan a Hump back Whale stuffed animal. Money well wasted, LOL. From their we hit the famous Carousel by the sea. We all of course had to ride. But Wendy and I opted for the benches on the second story so we could just relax, LOL. The kids of course made a mad dash for the spinning thing. From there we ventured over to hat mania where Wendy's kids talked their mother into some hats. On to get some refreshment of ice cream and warm hot donuts. While the kids were busily choosing their treats I walked over to the famous Boudin bakery to pick up some fresh sour dough bread to bring home. By this time we are thoroughly exhausted and decide it is time to make our trek home. I hand over my keys to Wendy as I hate maneuvering my way through the hellacious traffic of SF. On our way out we grabbed a couple of pints of the famous SF clam chowder and a to go dish of Shrimp cocktail. Unbelievably it took us half the time to get home as it did to get there. Go figure but all in all it was a great day. Although my wonderful friend Wendy came up with a really funny new saying while on the road for those of us with severe road rage. She was trying to merge into a lane and there was a car full of Arab people not letting us in. So she so lovingly spouts out "I let you into my country, and you won't even let me into the lane!" Okay I just about died right there. I laughed so hard. So this is now our new saying as of course we thought it was so darn funny that we said it about everything going on while driving the freeways. Yes we are weird but just cop it up to a bit of insanity driven by a long day in SF with four children, LOL. This is a picture of the four kids together as we were leaving the pier with a sculpture of two sea lions. I will post more pictures later. Hope you enjoyed our little outing to the big city!

New names

2006-06-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Okay so this post is all in fun. Lately I have acquired some new names among friends, LMAO. So I just have to share because I think they are really quite funny. Okay so my friend Jeanne says her son has labeled me as the Awesome Amy and the Cool Amy. Those are great as long as he stays away from the Wicked Amy, LOL. Okay so then another person I know was ranting and raving about how much she hates liberals and how much they are Bush Bashers, blah blah blah. So my only response to her, because I try really hard to keep politics out of my friendships was that not all liberals were bad and that each party affiliation had extremists. So she informed me that she had forgotten I was one of those Crazy Liberal Educators! Okay not a name I am ashamed of because I love being in education and my views are very liberal and what the heck I am crazy, LOL. But the sad thing is I never once said anything to her about Bush being a bad person and about her affiliation on the conservative side. The only thing I have ever said out loud to really express my opinion on a political side was that I did not like the No Child Left Behind Act and that I thought it set our education system up for failure. Heck three of my very best friends are Conservatives and we get along super. They all got a kick out of that new name by the way. Okay so enough about that one, as I am getting too deep in political water for my liking. Then there is the name I was given about being a trouble maker due to a situation that happened recently on our boards. I think that name is quite funny and I am sure from time to time it fits me well. Now of course my children like to lovingly refer to me as the mean mom. Yes it is a name I strive so hard at, LOL and my husband loves to whisper under his breath what a Bitch I am. Okay another hat I know I wear well but I love my newest acronym for it
Beautiful Individual That Causes Hardons So today at the safe I got my newest name: Are you ready for this it is the funniest of them all...........I am now officially a CD WHORE, LOL. I thought this was really really funny. My good friend Amanda decided to name me that because it seems I have too many CD's and that she can't find one to share with me. I am sure though Amanda that you probably have some great ones in your collection that I don't have and would love to have. Thanks for the good laugh today. Thanks for reading my little name euphiamisms for the day!

Why is it we can't choose our family?

2006-06-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Okay so I guess my mom went into the hospital last night. My father had been trying to get ahold of me. Not sure which numbers he was trying but I was home. Anyhow, this morning I have a message from him that he called about 6:00 am. So I immediatly call him back. He tells me my mom is really sick with ehr gall bladder being full of stones and her bowels were not working and backed up into the rest of her organs. So I say well okay then I will pack up the kids and come. He has the nerve to tell me to either wait or not bother because my sister was coming. We all know how well my sister and I get along. So I say I will just rent a hotel room and we can avoid one another. You wold think that would work. Well that isn't good enough. Okay well then I I just won't go. Well then my DH lectures me on how I need to be there. So again I go back to that I will rent a hotel. The arguing back and forth as to what I am going to do just proceeds on and on. So I say well if you want me there so bad tell her not to come. Well he can't do that heaven forbid. So what the hell am I supposed to do. I am not going to wait five days until she is gone and they don't need me. So either they need me there or they don't I swear why does my sister have to be such a bitch that I have to deal with this now. I mean I was just really sick but no one can remember that and did anyone come to help. nope that is usually the way it is. They all get sick and I am expected to run right away. I get sick and they are all too busy to help. Okay I just needed to rant. Think I will take the kids to swim for awhile while I mull over my choices.

Cooking with the kids

2006-06-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

Okay so today my daughter had been requesting Grandma Mary's egg rolls. These are like the best egg rolls EVER!!!!! So finally after hearing her ask over and over and having my mouth water enough I decided to load the kids in the truck at 4:30 pm to go to the store to buy all the ingredients, and there are MANY!!!!! So we get them all, I cut them up with the help of my wonderful children puching into me to get to the stuff first, LOL. I then cook the pork and start the chicken for the chowmein and stir fry. All the while the kids are throwing stuff everywhere, yelling at each other and just plain getting in my way. My kitchen looked like world war 3 came and went. So Caden gets bored after finding out he can't CUT anything and goes outside. Devan decides she too is bored so she goes out side, AHHHH some peace, yeah right only for a very short time do I get that peace. In they come yelling and screaming and pusching away yet again. So I set Caden up with something to do and have Devan stir the stirfry veggies while I try to not burn anyone with the hot grease for the egg rolls. So finally an hour and half laer all is done and we get to eat. So what happens everyone enjoys the meal for like ten minutes gets up and leaves the table. Heeeellllllooooo I just cooked for the last hour and half for all of you. The least you could do is either eat slower so I have the satisfaction of knowing it was time well spent or you could clear the table. No DH has to hurry off to a softball game, Devan and Caden have to get back to their game of basketball. So who gets to celan up the whole tornado mess but me. Thenmy daughter has the nerve to tell me it was really good but Grandma Mary still beats me when it comes to her egg rolls. I am glad she loves Grandma's egg rolls but that moment was not the time to tell me that, LOL. Little turds I swear........

Good Grief

2006-06-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

I know we all have someone that always seems to rub us the wrong way. I mean every time I say something this person has something to say back about what her opinion is. So recently I listed a joke that was tasteful but showed a little skin and what do I hear but how it was in her face. Okay so maybe I should have thought a little more before posting the photo but I always make sure my kids are out of the room when I open jokes. No matter what site I am on. We are all women in here and I know we can get silly from time to time. I guess maybe I am just having a bad day and this particular person rubbed me the wrong way. Sorry to anyone I offended that are really my friends. I just haven't been feeling good lately as most of you know so that picture lifted my spirits some and I had hoped to lift others. Just my little rant for the day.

Baked Potatoes and Broiling pans

2006-06-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

I am sure you are wondering what the heck I could be writing this blog about, LOL. Well I love love love a really good baked potato. You know the kind that you pre do with all kinds of butter and seasonings on the outside before you bake them. Then once baked to perfection you cut them open and lather them up with butter, sour cream, beans, cheese, bacon bits, and scallions! Well although these are really bad for me being diabetic. From time to time I splurge and make them as part of our meal. I just need to make sure I have an appropriate amount of protein added in and then of course no desert with sugar. So tonight is one of those nights for me. Being in the hospital this last time really did a number on me and I just really want a super duper deluxe baked potato my WAY!!!!! So I get them all ready and pull out my broiling pan because I do not want them leaking on my oven bottom and what do I pull out but a really gross greasy stinky broiling pan, LOL. Okay so I have to admit this is my fault. I only use baking stones anymore. You know the ones you never ever on your life wash cause they need that baked in goodness from every time you use them. The ones that the blacker they are the more seasoned and better for cooking. Well we all know that suits my life just right since I do not like to clean, LOL. Well I guess without even thinking the last time I used the broiling pan I just stuck it back in the oven as is. Just as I would one of my stones. Boy did I learn my lesson. It was an icky mess to clean up. But at least I get my really yummy scrumptious baked potato tonight with my meal of RIBS, YUM!!!!!