Giles Girl Designs

What? It's been THAT long?

2008-02-26T20:52:00.003-07:00

Okay! Total blogging loser here! Haven't blogged in MONTHS! Wow! But a very special person in my life told me I really should update this thing because some people do actually read it! I don't really have many scrap related photos to share since I've been slacking in that department over the past couple months. But do look for some new projects since I finally got photos printed from our Disney World trip in December. Also, I do believe I'll be completing a little project for a special birthday possibly!
So, here's to my renewed commitment to blog a little more than three or four times per year!!!! A few pictures from our Disney World trip:

Okay....Okay!!!!!!

2007-08-15T09:41:00.000-06:00

I know. It's August. I haven't blogged in "forever" again. Why can't I keep up on this thing, anyway? Summer is quickly coming to an end. Cara turns 5 this Sunday and school starts next Wednesday. Camryn is excited to start 2nd grade and Cara will be in Kindergarten! My baby is starting "official" school! Selfishly, I can't wait to get some time to myself to work and get things done without both the girls here.

My sister and her family are coming tomorrow for a visit. They've never been to our new house! Should be a fun weekend. We're having a little High School Musical 2 party Friday night, golfing, attending a community concert event on Saturday and hanging out. Hoping the weather holds out. It's been over 90 for like 2 months now, so hopefully it's won't suddenly change just because I have outdoor plans.

The girls got hair cuts a few weeks ago. Camryn decided to go even shorter and it's really cute!

2nd Day in a Row

2007-07-09T11:00:00.000-06:00

Can you believe I'm posting again? Trying to get myself here and posting a bit more! Heading to pick up Camryn for dance camp in a few minutes but thought I'd throw in a little post since I have the time! It's official.....I am not a dedicated scrapper! I haven't scrapped in weeks aside from a card or 2. My plan is to get some layouts done this afternoon before I head to the golf course with Steve tonight. I have some of the new Making Memories Funky Vintage line that I'm dying to use and Basic Grey's Infuse. I need to get a circle journal done and mailed, too.

And although this has nothing to do with scrapping or anything else but my love of Tim......I just had to post this for you Tim lovers out there! Have a great Monday!

2007-07-08T12:13:00.001-06:00

It's been months! Thought I'd better update a bit. Summer is in full swing. Camryn and I went to the Soul 2 Soul 2007 concert in Salt Lake City last month....had a blast!!! It was her first Tim concert and anyone that knows me knows that it won't be her last one!

The 4th of July was low-key but it's been super hot here! Over 90 most days and near 100 on some. Camryn starts dance camp this week. Work is going as usual and I'm going nuts with the girls fighting!!! What's new, huh? I'll update more later. Nothing scrappy to report...haven't done a darn thing lately!

The 3 Dancing Princesses

2007-05-22T10:36:00.000-06:00

How cute are these 3? Princesses.....maybe! Troublemakers? FOR SURE! Marissa, Brittney and Cara are terrors at dance. But they are the three musketeers for sure and are always together getting into some kind of trouble or mischief! I couldn't wait to take a picture of them together in their little costumes, all ready for a dance performance! I love these girls!!!

A New Design Team 4 Me!!

2007-05-17T13:16:00.000-06:00

I'm super excited to announce that I've been chosen to be on the new design team for Scrapper's Paradise! It's an online store and it's based just down the road from me! I'm excited! They have awesome products at great prices and they just started a new Scrapper's Oasis scrapping forum! Check 'em out and watch for my work there soon!!! Thank you, Tina, for this awesome opportunity!!!

It's a Beautiful Day!!

2007-05-11T12:40:00.000-06:00

It is finally feeling like summer! It's nearly 80 and such a beautiful day! I'm planning on getting some work done and then hoping to scrap tonight and all day on Mother's Day! My gift to myself!! Here are some pictures of Cara in her dance costume and make-up. She had pictures yesterday at the studio but we decided to do a little photo shoot at home, too!

And here's a layout I did this week for the Designing Like a Star contest at the Chalet.

Catching Up

2007-05-03T10:54:00.000-06:00

I've got some definite catching up to do! Haven't blogged in forever! We've been traveling around for Camryn's dance competitions and have another trip coming up tomorrow! Thought I'd post a few pictures and layouts I've done in the past month! Hope to catch up and be more consistent again once dance settles down and school is out!!

Silly Hair

2007-03-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

Camryn has a dance performance this afternoon and has to have really curly pig tails. So last night I cut a bunch of old fabric into strips and rolled her hair in them. She slept in them last night and is wearing them to school today. After school I'll take them out right before her performance and smooth them out a bit! Of course, Cara wanted "rags" in her hair, too. Her hair is so short now that I could only do the top. It was a mess when we took them out this morning but it turned out cute. She looked like a little rockstar when I took her to preschool today. I'll take a picture of Camryn's later in her dance costume!!!

Home Again!

2007-03-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Well, we had a great trip to Las Vegas. Spent too much money, but it was so relaxing and fun! I forgot how nice it is to be away from everything for awhile! I missed the girls tremendously and I was glad to come home. I had the best time ever with Wendy Reed! We went to Starbucks, had some yummy chai latte drinks, visited and then headed out to three different scrapbook stores. Wendy brought me a bag full of fun scrappin' supplies that I can't wait to use! Then we picked up her handsome son Shon and went out to lunch at Macaroni Grill! It was so good and we had the sweetest dessert! I had a terrific day with her and she is just the sweetest girl!!! Here are some pics that Shon took of us!

New Design Team!!!

2007-02-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

I am overjoyed...seriously....I just found out that I am one of the new members of the Scrapbook Chalet's Creative Team!! I am honored to be part of such an amazing group of designers and just plain great people!!!! If you haven't been to the Chalet...you'd better head on over there. It's one of the fastest growing scrapping communities on the web! Great talent, fun atmosphere and wonderful friends!!!

I'm SO excited!!! Maybe this means I'll win big in Vegas, too, huh???

Hair Cut

2007-02-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

I got my hair cut yesterday! It's basically the same style but I had him cut several inches off for a new look! I've lost some weight over the past few months and I thought a change was in order. This isn't the best photo, however, since I had to snap it myself! Hopefully I'll get some better pictures with Wendy next week in Vegas!!

Do you ever look at pictures of yourself and think...YUCK??? My eye looks droopy, my chin looks huge and pointy and well...just not too pretty now that I've added it here! Oh well....such is life and there I am!

Vegas Bound

2007-02-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to head to Las Vegas, baby! Although I'm really excited about going, there is just SO much to do! It's hard when Steve and I are both gone at the same time. There's all of our packing to do and I have to get the girls ready to stay with a friend for a week! It's nice to get away, it really is....but I have to say that I've really been dreading this! So much work prepaing! Ugh! Since I'm a contract employee I don't get vacation. Well, paid vacation, I should say. My plan was to get 2 weeks worth of work done this week so I wouldn't feel guilty being gone next week. THAT HASN'T HAPPENED! Hopefully I'll be very productive this weekend!

I am SUPER excited to meet my friend Wendy Reed in Vegas, though. While Steve is in meetings I'm heading out on the town with Wendy! Not sure what she has planned yet but I'm really looking forward to spending time with her. And let's face it....Steve is really looking forward to me NOT spending time in the casino. We both like to gamble a bit and being there a week can get quite expensive!

Hoping to get lots of work done and try to do at least one layout before I go. I'm taking the laptop so if all else fails I suppose I can work while I'm there. But that won't be any fun! Maybe I can get online there, too, and see what everyone is up to while I'm away!!

HOF....down the drain!!!

2007-02-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

Well...I had the best intentions, really I did. I read the assignments early, planned out a few and really tried to find time to work on them. However, tomorrow is the deadline and I only completed four layouts! Guess I won't be waiting around for disappointment again this year...that's the good thing about not finishing my entry, right? I do love the 4 layouts that I completed and I'll post them here later! Hoping to do more scrapping this weekend! I was sort of in a grove last week but haven't scrapped since then and I'm not sure if my mojo will return!!

Sunday, Sunday!!

2007-01-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday morning...and it's cold! There has been a cold streak around here and it's not warming up! It was -15 this morning when I got up. The sun is shining and the snow is glistening on the ground but it's too cold to go out and enjoy it!!

I had a great time chatting with the Scrap That Moment girls last night! They even inspired me to throw my hat in the ring for HOF this year. I've tried three years and haven't even gotten an honorable mention...but at least I'll get some layouts done and challenge myself creatively! I was worried about completing the Inventive Technique layout...but after getting some inspiration last night I whipped out an inventive technique and even completed the layout to go with it! Woo hoo!! I'm on a roll! Well, okay, really I'm just starting but we'll pretend it's a "roll".

Steve is in Mesquite for his week long trip. He won't return until late Friday night! It's really good for him to get away every January but I sure miss him. It's hard to do everything by myself and I just miss his company sometimes! It is nice to not have to cook a big dinner every night, though! The girls are totally happy with easy stuff!

I don't have anything really exciting to blog about today...just thought I'd work on my resolutions and stay active! I need to get some work done today so I'm not putting it all off until next weekend! Shouldn't be too bad since it's too cold to leave the house!

Here's a picture I took of myself the other day. I rarely get photos of me unless I take them myself. My eyes are bit shadowed from the sun but it's kind of a fun one! I used a brush in photo shop around the outside for a different look! Have a great Sunday!!

2007 Goals!!

2007-01-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted about my goals for this year yet. And I suppose if I don't write them down where others can see them then nothing will happen, right?? So here they go:

Scrapping Goals:
1. Design for a manufacturer
2. Be published in paper mag.
3. Actively participate on new DT at Scrappy Chick.
4. Get out old albums and go through with the girls.
5. Put all layouts into albums this year!
6. Scrap at least one day per week.

Work Goals:
1. No procrastination.
2. Set a schedule and follow it.
3. Be positive around co-workers.
4. No late papework!

Personal Goals:
1. Lose 10 more pounds.
2. Exercise at least 3 times per week.
3. Attend church more consistently.
4. Spend more time with Steve.
5. Have more patience with the girls.
6. Read with Camryn daily.
7. Keep in contact with my family more frequently.

Here are a few layouts I did on New Year's Eve day!!

Saturday Blahs!!

2007-01-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it's the first Saturday in January and it's definitely a blah one! Cara has had a rash since Tuesday that won't go away with Benedryl so I ran her to urgent care this morning...Strep Throat! Yuck! She cried so hard because her and Camryn were invited to a Princess Tea Party birthday party today and she couldn't go. So devastating. Think I may have to scrap this one! I feel bad for her!

The weather is cold, windy and snowing. It's so dang cold!!! I do enjoy snow but not when it's 20 degrees and the wind is blowing 30 mph. Ugh! Camryn is at the party now, Cara is settled in the living room watching t.v. and Steve is at the gym. I've got to work here at home most of the weekend. Steve's playing poker at a friend's house tonight so I may rent the girls a movie to keep them busy while I work. If I can get enough work done I may scrap tomorrow! Yea!!

Waiting for a box of product to do some Scrappy Chick stuff! Can't wait!!!

A New Year

2007-01-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's a new year!! Where did the time go? I haven't blogged in months and I've decided to renew my commitment to keeping this thing current! The holidays were great with Steve and I both having some time off.

My DT term at Create My Keepsake is over but I still love that community. I was asked to be on the DT for Scrappy Chick Magazine and I'm super excited about this!! Things are looking great heading into 2007!

I updated my blog with Tim's new video! Can't wait til the new album in March!! Woo Hoo!!! That's all for now!

2006-08-30T08:48:00.000-06:00

I haven't blogged in weeks!!! So...I've decided to renew my commitment to my blog. Here's some random happenings around the Giles household lately:

Cara: she starts 4 year old preschool next week. Yep...4 years old! She had a birthday on August 19th! Can't believe my baby is growing up so quickly! We go to a "meet the teacher and your classmates" thing tomorrow and she's so excited! Same teacher as last year and the one Camryn had for 2 years before Cara...Mrs. Dance...we love her!!!

Camryn: They are building a new school in our neighborhood and it's not done. Ughh!!! The other kids in the district started a week ago. We're hoping that the new school is done by the proposed start date of next Tuesday. She'll be in 1st grade....all day long!!! I can't believe it!!! She's been testing my patience and although I'll miss her during the day....I have to admit that I can't wait for that first school bell to ring!!

Me: I've been working away lately. Haven't had much time to scrap....but as soon as school starts I'm hoping to get back into a good schedule!! I'm waiting on the KI Memories Album contest...supposedly they're making calls on Friday!!! I really want this one!! I wasn't sure I'd like the Color Theory line but can I tell you? I LOVE MY ALBUM!!!!! It's really freestylin' and fun!!! I'm also waiting on the Piggy Tales DT call!!! They are supposedly announcing by tomorrow! Haven't seen anyone "tooting" for this yet! I'm going to die waiting for the KI call!!!!

Steve: not much new with Steve!!! He is taking another college course that started last Wednesday. History of Western Civilization. Fun!!! Blech....so glad I'm done with school. He's also coaching grid kid football so he's gone most evenings until supper time. It's nice that he's got some "manly" stuff to do since we only have girls. His nephew is on the team and he is coaching with some people I work with. Should be fun to go to the games...we've watched for the past 2 years.

Well....that's about it for now. I'm hoping to re-dedicate myself to my blog and be more consistent posting!!! Thanks for reading!!

Sunday Blog Challenge for 7/16

2006-07-16T18:54:00.000-06:00

1. Tell me why your blog is named what it is. Giles Girl Designs....my last name, I'm a girl and I'm showcasing my designs and work....pretty simple!!
2. Tell me one person you admire as a scrapper/artist and why. I really admire Elsie Flannigan because she does her own thing, doesn't follow the rules and isn't afraid to be unique, regardless of what people think of her!!
3. What is one thing that you've never tried on a layout or project that you'd really like to try? Well, I tried sewing with a machine once and it didn't turn out so great! I think I'd like to try the dry embossing...haven't done that yet. I've done the wet embossing and like it, but never the dry!
4. What is your favorite time of year to scrap and why? I like scrapping in the winter....there's nothing like being warm, having fun creating, being surrounded by all my favorite supplies and looking out the window to a beautiful snowy day.
5. List 2 other people's scrappy blogs that you enjoy reading and post a link to them.
I love reading Elsie's blog A Beautiful Mess
and Donna Downey's blog Simply Me
Donna is so funny and has some entertaining posts. Elsie is just full of life and creativity! She gives some good pointers and ideas, too!

New CMK DT Layouts!!

2006-07-10T23:15:00.000-06:00

Just thought I'd post some fun layouts I've been working on for CMK!!! This month's product sponsor was Lil' Davis Designs!!! I wasn't sure I'd like their stuff, but WOW!!! I love it!!!

Junkitz Top 30 and July 4th Photos!!!

2006-07-05T15:22:00.000-06:00

Hey! Just a quick update.... the Junkitz Designer Draft is officially closed and I'm very pleased to have made the Top 30. Of course, like any other scrapper, I would've liked to have been chosen....but I am absolutely thrilled to have been recognized with all the amazingly talented women who applied. I don't know how many entries there were but I'm excited to be on that list!!

Here are a couple pics from the 4th of July parade yesterday. We went with some friends....Cara very rarely smiles with her eyes open...she thinks it's funny when I get mad at her for it!! {great!!}

Design Team Projects for Scrapbook Memories!!

2006-07-03T12:25:00.000-06:00

I had so much fun playing with the stuff I received for Scrapbook Memories this month!! Here's my projects!!

The Weekend Update

2006-06-24T22:10:00.000-06:00

Camryn was in her first golf tournament last week and this is the first chance I've had to load these photos. She got 3rd place and was excited to receive a trophy! She couldn't believe that her dad has never received a trophy for golf and proudly displayed hers in her room immediately upon getting home! She was quite timid and didn't like people looking at her when she hit the ball. But overall...she did great and had a lot of fun!

News of Note: Create My Keepsake will soon be announcing 2 new design team members. What a tough decision that will be. Take a look at the entries here. Rebecca has such an amazing site and it is growing so quickly!!! If you haven't checked it out yet...you'd better get over there and see what you're missing. There are so many talented scrappers and artists there....not to mention some great people!!!! I am truly loving my DT work for them!!!

My Regular Life Stuff: I am swamped with work. I can't seem to focus enough to get things done. I sit down at the computer to work and get about an hour into it when I get this sudden urge to play online. Darn it!!! I need to get so much work done this weekend so I'll get a decent paycheck this week. Someone get me off line...quick!!!

Movie Review: I took the girls to see the new Disney/Pixar movie Cars tonight. It was super cute and the girls loved it. They absolutely loved Larry the Cable Guy as "Mater" and I have to admit that he was super funny!!! It was a great show and I think kids of all ages will like it. As in other recent Disney shows...there are always wise cracks that only adults get that make it interesting for us parents, too! Go see it....you'll love it!!

Well...that's it for now. I'm sure I'll find something else to blog about tomorrow! Have a great weekend everyone!!

Kenny Chesney Concert

2006-06-22T16:31:00.000-06:00

We went to the Kenny Chesney concert down in Salt Lake last night. What an amazing show!!! We got stuck in traffic and completely missed Carrie Underwood...which I was totally bummed about. But we were there in time for Dierks Bentley and then, of course, Kenny!! Our seats weren't terrific...but they were free from a friend so I'm not complaining!! Kenny entered in the middle of the arena....17 seats from mine...but I wasn't in it! Ugh!!! So heartbreaking...I was trying to get back to my seat when he was coming on and they had everything blocked off so I couldn't get back there....shouldn't have left for a break in the first place I guess. So anyway...the silhouette type pictures are the ones I got while waiting to get back to my seat. Dierks was great...love his sexy voice. Kenny was great as usual...that man has so much energy!!! Uncle Kracker even showed up as a surprise!! We had a ton of fun!! Here's some pics.

Father's Day

2006-06-15T18:22:00.000-06:00

It's almost Father's Day again. Steve won't tell me what the heck he wants and my dad's present is probably going to be late. So typical of me!! Steve is golfing in a 2 day tournament this weekend and says that's his present....that'll be real fun for the girls to buy, wrap and watch him open now won't it? Ugh!! Men are impossible. I got my dad's gift sent today. I made this clipboard and card and also sent a gift certificate! Hope he likes it!

Not much to blog about today. I got my Junkitz Designer Draft entry sent in last night and then my stupid Yahoo mail kicked it back...twice!! Now what??? Freaking out about that and hoping to try again later tonight. Here's some of the stuff I sent in. I was amazed at how easy these layouts came together for me...they were just plain fun!!

Another day....another pee'd bed.

2006-06-08T07:37:00.000-06:00

Don't ya just get so tired of changing sheets? My 3.5 year old pee'd her bed again last night. Can I tell ya.....about to scream over the pee-ing thing. She refuses to go to the bathroom by herself and will literally pee her pants in the hall dancing around waiting for someone to go with her. Ugh!!!!!!! Getting really tired of it. She has pee-d her pants every day this week...sometimes more than once. Just had to vent about that!!

On a happier note...we planted a little garden Monday night. Here's some pics of the girls planting seeds and one of our fat dog Callie enjoying us being outside.

Create My Keepsake Design Team Work

2006-06-06T06:46:00.000-06:00

This month's Design Team sponsor at Create My Keepsake is Imagination Project! Don't ya just love Gin-X, Chloe's Closet and Center City Designs? Not to mention Blue Cardigan designs. They have some really fun stuff! Here's some stuff I've done with the Center City Designs line that I was sent. You can also see it in our Imagination Project Gallery at Create My Keepsake.

The shadows are kind of bad since I took photos of the layouts early in the morning yesterday. It was sunny and beautiful...is today, too! I've got to get some work done today and then hoping to scrap more. Cara's having a meltdown this morning...she can't find her "kitty". You know...the beloved kitty in most of her photographs. I think she left it at daycare yesterday so Leslie {the daycare lady} is searching frantically this morning for us. That'd be just great if she couldn't be found....last month Camryn left Pooh Bear there, which she's had since I was pregnant with her, and he's never been found. That drama still exists and now Selina {the cat's name}!!! Wish us luck on finding the missing stuffed animals today!!

Holy Crap It's June!!!!

2006-05-31T23:24:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it? I can't! It's already June and I haven't accomplished close to half of my scrapping goals for the year. I'd better get with it! I'm hoping that writing my scrapping goals down and seeing them daily will help me focus more on what I want to accomplish.
1. Complete my MMM entry.
2. Apply for the Junktiz DT.
3. Complete my KI Memories Contest Entry!
4. Submit at least 2 layouts per week for publication.
5. Blog more often to keep myself motivated!
6. Do some heritage layouts with my family photos...{see my previous entry about people and places.!}
7. Get with it on my circle journal...I've had one too long!
8. Contact some manufacturers about work.
9. Continue creating things I love!
10. Enjoy every minute of creating!!!!

So there...now hold me to it, will ya?

People & Places

2006-05-26T08:13:00.000-06:00

I've been a slacker again...I've been posting challenges and haven't had time to get over here and do them. So here it goes:
Thursday's Challenge was to talk about someplace you've been but have never scrapped. For me...it's probably Yellowstone National Park. I remember as a child going on a family vacation for like a week in Yellowstone with my cousins. My mom put together activity books {which I recently found} and it was an amazing time....there were still bears around then! Then when I met my husband he began working in Yellowstone for the road construction company he works for. After we got married he was sent there....good thing it's only 1.5 hours away. He had to work all summer, 90 hours per week, often working at night. He lived in a little camp trailer and I went there to visit him on the weekends. It was such a stressful time for him and for us. However, I really enjoyed the beautiful scenery and our drives around the park exploring. Our oldest daughter was even conceived there. We rarely go back because Steve spent so much time there and got sick of it. I guess I should scrap about it, huh?

Friday's Challenge is to write about someone in your life that's gone that you've never scrapped about since it's Memorial Day Weekend. The easiest {or perhaps the hardest} thing for me to do would be to scrap about my mom...but I've done that already. So I started thinking about this and realized that I've never done a layout about my grandmother. My dad's mother was an amazing woman! She had the biggest heart and loved God so much! She had a hard life and went through far more than we ever knew until after her death. I have so much memorabilia from her early years....World War II stuff from the men she dated, pictures of her as a young child and pictures of my dad as an infant. I truly think my grandma was the person who inspired me to take pictures....that woman carried her camera everywhere she went and always had one of those little steno notepads, the tiny ones, in her glove compartment {and in her purse before she drove}...she'd actually write down every picture she took so she'd remember exactly where and when it was when her film was developed. I am so lucky to have many of those pictures and I really need to scrap some of them. I feel so blessed to have been left with so much memorabilia from my family....I guess I've put off working on it because I want to do just the right thing with it!

CKU Pictures!!

2006-05-24T19:46:00.000-06:00

Well it's taken me a few days...but here are some pictures from CKU Provo last weekend!
1. Me & Heidi Swapp
2. Rhonna Farrer, Me & Elsie Flannigan
3. Natalie, Teresa Collins & Me
4. Me, Donna Downey & Natalie
5. Me & Nat having drinks at the only bar in Provo for her birthday!!
6. Me with Andrea Gibson of Reminisce.

Had a great time...will post a whole review tomorrow!!

Friday-Saturday Thoughts

2006-05-12T21:52:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted since Wednesday and I'm feeling a little lost! Today was Camryn's field trip to Yellowstone Bear World....it's a great place where you drive through the park surrounded by grizzlies and black bears, wolves, bison, elk, deer and moose. Her entire kindergarten class, as well as the afternoon class all went. I, of course, was begged by Camryn to be a chaperone and was happy to oblige her! Boy....and I thought 1 kindergartener was a handful at times! It was a long day but all in all...it was a ton of fun! Camryn said she loved having a whole day with just me and I have to say that it was really fun to see her interact with her peers and still have me to turn to when she needed to. I'll post pictures tomorrow...I got some great ones!

It's officially getting close to summer!!! I'm heading out to garage sales early in the morning with a friend....can't wait to see what I find! I'm hoping to find some great things to alter and maybe even some storage ideas for my scrap room! I'll be sure to post some pics of my amazing finds when I get home!

Teacher Appreciation Week

2006-05-10T08:07:00.000-06:00

This week is teacher apprectiation week and today was "Take you teacher a flower" day. Camryn has her main teacher, 2 teacher's assistants for special needs children in her class and a sign language interpreter for a deaf child in her classroom. I figured taking real flowers could be a disaster and besides...they die. So we took inspiration from Rebecca @ CMK and made some paper flowers!! Camryn was so excited to take them this morning but was worried about how she was going to get them on the bus, to school and off the bus into her classroom. {I have no idea where this child got her worrying gene from!!} We put them in a little shoebox and she looked so cute carrying them to the bus stop this morning. I, of course, had to snap a few pictures!

The whole teacher appreciation thing got me thinking....I have some teachers that I remember really made an impression on me throughout my school days. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Lintula, was awesome! I still remember her and how she made each person feel so special. She made me feel so smart and I truly believe she is a big part of why I loved school so much. I had another teacher in 7th grade, Mrs. Kelsey. She was such a smart woman and inspired me to be different, set myself apart from the crowd and really encouraged her students to be everything that they dreamed of being. I still remember many of my teachers but these two in particular were huge influences on me.

Being taught that I could be anything and do anything while being loved and truly cared about really fostered my independence and my desire to create and be an original. I guess that has really carried into my adult life and my scrapping. I try to follow these same principles when I create! How about you? Have you thought about special teachers way back in your life? Or maybe special teachers in your children's lives who have really made a lasting impression? Do you think those impressions have changed the way you scrapbook? Think about it....pay tribute to them somehow...even if it's just blogging about them as I have today.

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to thank your children's teachers this week!!

My Favorite This and That...

2006-05-09T06:49:00.000-06:00

Here's my challenge to the CMK girls for today and anyone else who'd like to try:

Post your favorite in each of these areas and explain how you'd incorporate it into your scrapping.

1. Kind of Music: Country {Tim McGraw preferably!}
2. Decorating Style: Very Eclectic...shabby meets country
3. Hair color: On me? the color of Camryn's hair which I had at her age, too.
4. Piece of Clothing: My Old Navy Pink Lounge Pants
5. Item to collect or hoard: Jackets....one can never have too many jackets
6. Favorite City to Visit: So far....Mazatlan, Mexico
7. Favorite Job I've Had: A Valet at the Greyhound Race Track {great tips!!}
8. Favorite Animal: My fat cat Charlie who passed away 2 years ago.
9. Favorite Food: Steak, Baked Potato and Salad
10. Favorite Room in my House: My kitchen...it's where we hang out together, eat, talk and even watch the tv in the family room!

Now...how could I incorporate these things into my scrapping???
1. Scrap the pictures from Tim concerts.
2. Scrap pictures of my house and my style.
3. Scrap a picture of me when I was younger with a picture of Camryn now.
4. Um....scrap in my favorite pants?
5. Take a picture of all my jackets...oh...good idea!
6. Scrap some pictures of our trip to Mazatlan when I was pregnant with Camryn
7. Do a page about all the jobs I've had
8. Ahhhhhh....do a page about my Charlie..I"ve been holding on to these pics.
9. I could SO do a page about this!!!
10. I don't think I've ever even journaled about my kitchen and all that we do in it...hmmm!

Hope this gives you some ideas...it certainly has for me.

Please Remember Me...

2006-05-08T17:34:00.000-06:00

I love that song by Tim McGraw...but who doesn't love Tim? We lost a friend last night when he finally gave in to his fight with liver disease and other problems associated with drinking. So sad to see someone so young throw their life away. I've been thinking about him and his parents a lot lately and his death got me thinking even more about my own life.

I challenged the girls over at CMK to blog today about how they want to be remembered or what their scrapping would say about them when they are gone. So here's what I would hope people would see when they opened my albums and looked through my scrapping room....
1. I loved my family more than the world!!
2. I loved to preserve stories for my children to remember.
3. Losing my mother changed my life in so many ways, including encouraging me to preserve my memories and live life for all that it's worth.
4. I cared about my friends and loved to do things for them.
5. I was creative and found great solace in scrapping.

I was reading someone's blog today and they stated that making this list really made them think about how they scrap. It does me, too. When I sit down to create a layout or an altered item...am I doing it because I love to do it and I love being creative? Does it preserve a special or even an everyday memory I want my children to remember? Does it show my friends and family how much I love them? Does what I'm scrapping or working on represent my desire to live life to the fullest? I know it's not always easy to think of those things each time you scrap...but if I were gone tomorrow, heaven forbid, at least I would be at peace knowing my family and friends understood just who I am.
These are some layouts I did on National Scrapbook Day...

National Scrapbook Day Goals

2006-05-05T23:00:00.000-06:00

Here are my own goals for National Scrapbook Day:

1. Complete @ least 2 DT projects.
2. Make altered item for nephew's room.
3. Alter a license plate!
4. Participate in all of CMK's classess/projects.
5. Hang out with Nat all day and scrap away...
6. Hopefully complete my last layout for a contest...
7.....and start my layouts for another contest!

I'll check them off as I go! Have a great night and I'll see ya'll online tomorrow for National Scrapbook Day!!

Pub Blogging Challenge

2006-05-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

Sophia over at 2peas gave us a blogging challenge today. List 10 food/drink items that you crave and can't turn down!!!

1. Diet Coke. No if's, ands or buts about it. I MUST have my Diet Coke daily.
2. Pecan Pie tarts...you know, the Little Debbie's cheap ones??? Can't turn 'em down!
3. Dark Chocolate...anything dark chocolate.
4. Oatmeal cookies...no raisins, no nuts...just ooey, gooey warm oatmeal cookies!
5. Tortilla chips and warm refried beans. Yummy!!! They can be an entire meal for me!
6. Wedding Cake...the kind with the "real" buttercream frosting!!! Must be moist!!
7. My only 2 "milk" chocolate loves.....TWIX Peanut Butter Bars and Reese's Peanut Butter cups.
8. Cold Stone Creamery's Birthday Cake Remix ice cream!!
9. Red Vines.
10. and last, but certainly not least....McDonald's French Fries. There's nothin' like 'em!

A little known fact about me: I can't mix my foods on my plate....it disgusts me. I have to eat them one at a time and they can't touch!!!

That's it for today. Plain and simple! I have to work all day and have training all day tomorrow...yuck! Have a great day!!

Contest!!!!!!!!

2006-05-03T09:56:00.000-06:00

I decided to have a little contest. I really want to alter something new...something alternative and that I've never done before. I have this SEI 11 x 8.5 album and paper set that I've had forever. It's way cute and I had full intentions on using it....Camryn has an album like this done with the Molly line. Cara was supposed to have an album done with this Kate line but I never got around to it!! So....leave me a comment on a new idea for altering something and I'll give the SEI stuff away to whatever item I choose to alter.

Give me some inspiration!!!

1/2 Way Through the Week

2006-05-03T07:34:00.000-06:00

Good Wednesday morning!! Woke up with a killer headache that I went to bed with last night. Darn! Getting Camryn off to the bus and Cara is home with me all day. I have got to get some work done....I have to go in to the office tomorrow and training all day on Friday. Yuck! So I'll get some typing done today and then hopefully scrap this afternoon and evening!!

I have been just sick the last few days about a friend of ours. He is 35 years old and only expected to live a week or so longer due to drinking himself to death. Can you imagine? 35 years old and your liver is shot....how much would one have to drink to kill a liver by 35? It's very sad. He has been an alcoholic for the past 5 year or more. Over the past 2 years the guy literally lived on vodka...hardly any food. The saddest part is that he lost his wife over it because she couldn't watch him kill himself. His parents didn't even know the extent of it until they found him unconcious a few months ago and his dad emptied over a dozen empty fifths out of his truck and found many more bottles in his room. He had gone to treatment and then started drinking again...which is when his wife couldnt' take it. They split up last year but she has been here for the past few weeks spending time with him. It's sad...they didn't split up because they stopped loving each other, it was because of his drinking. He is now in a hospital bed at his parent's home. I feel so bad for them, too. I can't imagine watching a child die because he couldn't put down a bottle. Steve went to see him several times yesterday and is having a really hard time with it. I just can't get it off my mind. Thanks for listening.

On a happier note...I challenged the girls over at Create My Keepsake to blog this morning.
5 Words to Describe Me

Friendly
Creative
Outgoing
Mother
Wife

5 Words to Describe My Scrapping

Fun
Layered
Photo-centered
Heartfelt
Creative

Have a wonderful day and "blog on"!!

Why I Scrapbook!!

2006-05-02T07:42:00.000-06:00

I started a "blogging challenge" thread at Create My Keepsake. This will hopefully challenge me, personally, to blog more often. I'm going to try to make the challenges scrap related...but hey, my life isn't always about scrapping {GASP!!!} so there may be a few stray subjects here and there.

The question of the day is this: Why do I scrapbook?

There are so many reasons...let's see if I can list some here:

I love looking back at my own photo albums with my mom's writing in them.
I don't have the best memory anymore...it's a way to document things that I want to remember.
My children, and husband, love them.
I love to create!
I feel so much pride knowing that I'm saving these moments for the future....for my family and generations to come.
It gives me a year-round hobby!
Scrapping is a social thing for me....gives me times with my best friend to hang out, chat and share ideas.
Hopefully some day it will make me money!
And last but not least.....I love it!!!

There are so many more reasons...but these are just a few. Here are some pics of the girls I took yesterday afternoon. It was sunny and fairly warm....but that darn Idaho wind wouldn't quit blowing!!!

Mail.......

2006-05-01T15:50:00.000-06:00

It was a good mail day. Isn't it funny how we can have good and bad mail days? Well...today was a good one. I got a thank you card from the lovely Christine Traversa for a RAK I sent her...totally sweet and the card was adorable!! I got another thank you card from my husband's aunt for a birthday gift I sent her last month. And.......I got a package from CMK!!! It had my order of Urban Lily papers, which are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to play with them. The box also contained my DT stuff for the next 2 months.

Our May sponsor is Die Cuts With a View and I received some amazing paper and rub on stitches from them! Our June sponsor will be Imagination Project and I was given some fun Center City Designs papers and WAY CUTE Coaster letters and shapes!! I can't wait to start playing with it all!!

First, I really need to make a thank you card for Junkitz from our DT at CMK. Then I think I'll get working on some Urban Lilly stuff....not that I'm entering their contest or anything! I'll post when I get something done and plan to have a little contest here on Wednesday...stay tuned!!

Gone Digi.....

2006-04-29T01:05:00.000-06:00

I have been loving all the digital layouts I've seen lately. So tonight I decided to give them a try. Hopefully none of you totally digi chicks will look too closely since these are some of the first I've done with brushes and stuff. I think I could get hooked on these....but I doubt it will ever take the place of my paper and taperunner!!

More Design Team Work---Scrapbook Memories

2006-04-25T19:38:00.000-06:00

Finished these 2 layouts for Scrapbook Memories. They are somewhat different than my usual style so it was fun to think outside the box. That's what I love about DT gigs!!!

Just Another Manic Monday!!

2006-04-24T11:28:00.000-06:00

I do not like Mondays. They are just NO fun! I have a staff meeting @ 8:15 am and have to get the girls ready, get Camryn on the bus at 7:50 am and drop Cara off at the sitter's before driving all the way across town to get to the office! Yuck! Now I know why I went "contract" and only go there twice per week! Today's meeting was all I had scheduled there so I basically went for 45 minutes of nothing and 5 minutes pertaining to me! Fun!

Anyway....I got some scrapping done this weekend at a 12 hour Express The Moment crop in town. Natalie and I went and we both won an SEI album for winning a card contest! So exciting!! The first layout in this post is just my own design but the other 2 are for my Design Team position at Scrapbook Memories! I have another layout or two to do for Scrapbook Memories and I'll post them later. Here's to hoping my Monday is calmer than usual and filled with Diet Coke!!!!

Isn't my new nephew adorable? Giles was born on 4-19 and swear he's one of the cutest newborns I've ever seen. He didn't even look like a newborn. He was only 6 hours old in this picture. I love chubby babies! My girls were both "skinny minny's"! Anyway...just had to brag about him!

Create My Keepsake Design Team Work!!!

2006-04-12T09:57:00.000-06:00

I have had the amazing privilege this month to work with Junkitz products!! I never thought I'd like them as much as I do! I had the Teresa Collins Love Line to work with and can I just say.....it rocked! Thanks Teresa and Junkitz!!! Here's some of the stuff I put together this week...also had a few sheets of their Salsa line so I used that on a mantel book!

Getting Ready for the Big Week

2006-04-09T10:38:00.000-06:00

This week is going to be so crazy for us! Camryn turns 6 on Tuesday and we're leaving to head up to Coeur d'Alene on Wednesday night for Easter. I'm really not that excited about driving all night, but Steve has class and I don't want to miss out on an entire day by driving on Thursday. Hopefully the girls will sleep the whole way there. Guess I'll be drugging myself with caffeine to stay awake during the 7+ hours it takes to get there.

The girls are so excited to see Grandpa. I personally think Camryn is even more excited because she'll be getting more birthday presents from Grandpa, Auntie and her cousins. She is the funniest kid. I can't count how many times over the past week she's said "I can't believe it's almost my birthday!" Hope it's not a big disappointment when it actually arrives.

So......this brings me to thoughts on birthday parties. I grew up having some kind of birthday party every year. Whether it was with friends or just with some of our extended family....we celebrated! These occasions are something I remember and cherish about my childhood. Steve, on the other hand, doesn't think kids need parties every year. I suppose this theory comes from his childhood in which they didn't have parties every year...whether with friends or family. This has been a sore spot more than once between us. He thinks it's rediculous to have a little party every year. He has gone along with it because it's important to me...but he's not always happy about it. I want my kids to have those memories of parties and look back at pictures of each year to see what kind of cake they had........just like I do. My mom has been gone for nearly 4 years now. I can't go back and ask her about my past birthdays. But with amazing pictures of cakes, presents and the birthday girl every year....I remember bits and pieces. These are great memories for me. I hope my girls have the same grateful memories!

2006-04-08T10:12:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am trying out the blog thing again. I've tried it before and could never figure it out. I've decided to do a scrappy blog about all of my designing and scrapbooking. Now I'll have it all gathered in one place and all of my scrapping friends can see what's happening in my life! This is a new adventure for me and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with you! Thanks for stopping by! I completed this layout last week and loved it!