It’s raining men, hallelujah, it’s raining men……

Got your attention, didn’t it? Hehehe. Actually it’s not raining men – just raining raindrops. We’re getting a teeny, tiny, random piece of Hurricane Ernesto so it’s been storming on and off all day. Rainy days equal sleepy days. I’ve just brewed a cup of Vietnamese coffee and am hoping that it works and gets me all caffeinated for the rest of the day and evening.

It’s a three day weekend this weekend and boy am I looking forward to it. I don’t really have any big plans except to scrapbook on Sunday. As for the other days I’m going to scrapbook, work on the moving to-do list, sleep and relax. I may even go to the library and get a couple of books. Counting the hours….

Thursday nights are small group nights. I go to a very large church and it would be really easy to just be swallowed up into this nameless mass of people who attend. Small groups are a way to help that and we somehow manage to form our very own little community.

When the time came to choose a group, I went to the meeting with the express purpose of joining a singles group. When the groups were introduced, there were two for singles, one for college age and one for middle aged. I didn’t really fall into either one of those categories, so I opted for a all women’s group. The funniest part was how I chose which women’s group I would join. Basically, I asked which one was closest to the highway! You see, Crossroads is in Buford, I live in Sandy Springs – that’s about a 45 minute drive, minimum. It actually takes me at least an hour to get to church on Sundays. There is no small group that meets close to my house, so my goal was to get the group closest to the highway so I could just zip home after it’s over. Somehow, it all worked out and I ended up in a group full of wonderful women, all of whom I feel a great connection to. The strange thing is that I would have probably never met them at church if we weren’t in small group together. So – that’s a long story to say what I’m doing tonight. :)

23 hours till the weekend!

Here’s an older layout of the cards Mom collected during her senior year of her graduating class.

Tuesday Blues...

It’s only Tuesday :( For some reason this week is really dragging….

I have been busily making my to- do list for moving and it just keeps getting longer and longer and longer. For some strange reason the idea of moving is invigorating to me. I guess it may have to do with having never lived in a house that our family owned. For my entire life, we’ve just been renters. So, about every 3 years or so, we would move. Not that it is a bad thing. Think of all of the fresh starts you get when you move and how much stuff you get to clean and throw out. Hence, my very long to-do list. That’s okay though, when it is all done, it will feel so nice.

Mom is leaving for Malta to visit her Moldovan friends tomorrow. I’m a little bit jealous. I can’t wait to hear all about it. Is it bad that I had to look on map to figure out where exactly Malta is? Geography definitely isn’t my strongest area.

Oh – and she had officially joined the blog club. She just couldn’t handle the pressure of Allen and I being bloggers :) Check it out at http://www.kbio-emo.blogspot.com/

Here’s an older layout. I know I need to put newer ones up, but some of the submissions I am working on have stipulations that the layouts have never been posted online, so I’m having to save a few until I hear whether I have been accepted or not. They’ll get posted eventually.

Allen

My brother Allen has started his own blog - from the land down under....go check it out!

www.allenboyer.blogspot.com

Any Big Brother All Stars fans out there? I was laughing out loud (kinda of an unusual thing when I'm watching tv by myself) last night at Dr. Will's conversation with the camera out in the yard. Hysterical!

Talk to you soon!

That was weird...

I logged on and except for my first two entries, my entire blog was gone. How weird....don't know what happened, but the entries are back now.

It's Sunday - the weekend is almost over. How sad. But this week at work should be pretty slow and "relaxing". Of course I'm sure you all know how that works....it may end up being the most stressful week of the year :)

It's official, I'm moving in November! I'm very excited. I'll be moving into a house - not a house of my very own, but into Renee's house. She's been a good family friend for ages (mostly on Aunt Paula's side of the family) and it's all just sorta worked out. The funniest thing of all is that she lives right across the street from Aunt Paula. What a small world! Soooo....if anyone wants to help me move.....I'm buying the pizza! (Allen - don't you want to fly from Australia to help??)

We scrapped from 9:30 am to 11:00 pm yesterday. Laurel and I - then Misti came around 4:30. Of course I wasn't nearly as productive as I would have liked to have been, but I got 3 1/2 pages done. As soon as I get them photographed, I'll post a couple. The funniest part of the day (or rather the most humorous to me) was when I was working on a page that had a sliding journaling thing - you cut a slit in the page and slide a card with your journaling through the slit so it's behind the paper - this card usually has a little pull tab or ribbon for you to grab. Anyhoo - I got it all finished and was testing it out and kept pulling and it just wouldn't come out....I was getting really frustrated until I realized that I had my other hand on the page right where the card was....of course it wouldn't slide out that way. The harder I pulled, the harder I was pushing down on the page. Priceless Rebecca. I was quite relieved everything was working...I just had to get out of my own way. :)

We missed you, Kimberly! It just wasn't the same without you. Here's good wishes that your move went well and without incident.

I guess that's it for now - off to make myself some dinner.

It's Friday!!!

Thank goodness! I'm ready for the weekend. Only 5 1/2 more hours until I am finished working and start playing!

EMo in Pisa

Christmas in August

Well, it’s official. Mom is coming to the US for Christmas! I am so excited. As much as I hate for her to have to make the sometimes draining trip, the idea of me not having to make that trip is wonderful. I’ll happily travel to Europe next time! I’m doubly excited because Cirque du Soleil - Corteo will be in Atlanta during Christmas and Mom and I will be going! I can’t wait for both events! Hmmm – it may be time to get out the day counter. If Mom arrives on the 22nd then only 119 days till I see my Momma!

The weekend is fast approaching and it just can’t be soon enough. I’m going to spend tomorrow afternoon at Aunt Paula’s getting her kitchen cabinets organized, then going home and trying to get things together for our monthly crop at Archiver’s. Even if I’m not terribly productive – I’m excited to just spend the day with the girls.

Speaking of productivity, I have noticed lately that I’m not nearly productive as I should be in the scrapbooking department. I can’t figure it out. I used to just speed through stuff, and now I’ll sit and look at the same layout for what seems like hours. It’s frustrating, but hopefully I will be able to overcome and mark a bunch of things off of my to-do list on Saturday.

Here’s the cover page to my Italy album. Please excuse the weird border. I took the photo on top of a Container Store bag and for some reason I can't seem to crop it out. I'm working on it :)

Survivor: Cook Islands….at last….

So, CBS made the announcement during their morning show that Survivor will be premiering on September 14th. If I had to make a comparison, Survivor is my second most favorite show behind Amazing Race. I am so excited!

What really caused a great amount of hubaloo was the method in which the production team will use to divide the contestants into teams. They are going to divide everyone by race. Of course this is causing a great amount of discussion, which is exactly what the team at Survivor wants.

After thinking about it a bit, I am totally fine with it. Curious, really. Dividing by race seems no different than dividing by gender or by age, all of which has happened in past seasons. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the contestants handle it. Hopefully this isn’t the season where Survivor “jumps the shark”. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Happy Birthday to my little nieceling! I can't believe you are 4 already.

Paris

Here's another page! Jan and Mom at the Eiffel Tower!

India

My Uncle Charles is the International Director for the North Andhra Coastal Evangelizing Association (NACEA), a missionary board dedicated to converting and training the unsaved in the coastal areas of India. I went to India with him in 1998 and have first-hand experience with the conditions and needs of the people in that area. He is on his way to India now to continue their mission.

“NACEA has developed just such a strategy, with programs in place for planting churches, healing the sick, equipping nationals, rescuing children, training villagers in vocational skills, and caring through disaster relief and assistance to widows”

He is blogging his journey almost daily. If you would like to follow along, please visit his blog at http://web.mac.com/mjgrubbs/iWeb/NACEA/Fall06/Fall06.html

I would appreciate your prayers, especially for my Uncle Charles who has a very rare heart/chest condition which necessitates him being on a medicine drip at all times. This makes it a bit of a struggle for these long trips. Thanks for your prayers and support!

Silly Girlz!

Here's a layout I finished at our last crop of Victoria and Regan.

Shopaholics Anonymous

Went shopping with the ladies on Saturday. Talk about shoppers! We left no stone unturned and no shop unshopped :) Went to breakfast at IHop then headed to the GA 400 outlets. I'm sure there is some official name for them, but I can't remember right now. We hit Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Williams Sonoma, Lane Bryant, Jones New York Sport, Jones New York, Elizabeth, etc, etc, etc with a couple of shoe stores thrown in. Then another Lane Bryant in Cumming after we left the outlets. Then dinner at Outback. Let's just say I was worn out! I did find 6 shirts and a denim jacket...but no pants. Zip, nada. What a disappointment, but I will prevail! I was so hoping to find everything I needed in one day. I should have known better. :)


Friday night Laurel and I went to Aunt Paula and Don's band concert. They were actually pretty good! Their entire band is made up of people over the age of 50. I totally appreciated the drive and fun that these guys seemed to be having. I can only hope that I have as much passion and fun about something when I am their age. It's definitely something to think about. Here are our proud band members....

Coming to you from the land of purple polka dot glasses...

If I have to wear these things…I’m gonna have fun. I’m on a mission to find the funkiest, craziest reading glasses I can find. That’s what you get when you tell a twenty-something that they have the wear things that they shouldn’t have to wear until they are fifty-something. The two newest pair (all having purple in them – which is her favorite color) are courtesy of my boss, Paula. All I need now is a pair of “rar” glasses (picture me with my hand up like a lion paw).

Worked on Cindy’s save the date card today – here’s the final draft. It may change some more, as her printing company is being a bit obstinate. They had a really cute idea to have their photo taken under these street signs - an intersection of their two last names! We had to do some serious photoshop work since vandals had somehow burned about 1/2 of the Stewart sign.

More Big Brother: All Stars tonight! I am so excited. I usually have small group on Thursdays, but it’s been cancelled this week, so I actually get to see the live eviction….live. Novel, I know. I’m obsessed with this show, so it’s a good thing it’s on 3 days a week so I can get my fix.

More later!

Bohemia

I just ordered some of the new ‘Bohemia’ paper from My Minds Eye. I am sooooo excited. Here’s a link to the website I ordered it from if you want to see what it looks like. http://www.3scrappyboys.com/mme06summerbohem.htm I’ve been waiting to get this paper for quite a while, so my brain is spinning with ideas of what to do with. The website was completely sold out, but I sent an email to the owner and she very graciously told me it was available again before emailing everyone on her list. How wonderful is that!?!

Mom and I are gearing up our holiday plans. The big question is whether she will come to the states or if I will go to Germany. Obviously, I would love for her to come here…but so would everyone else. I would have to share her with everyone! I promise I say that with a smile and not in a mean way. I swear!!!! If I go there, it will be very peaceful and quiet. It’s a serious dilemma. I’ve put in my vacation request regardless. It seems like such a long way, but it really isn’t. Less than 130 days!

So, Misti has forwarded birthday party pictures to me – I’ll post a couple even though I absolutely hate pictures of myself. They do have to be edited a bit, first, so if I get a chance tonight I’ll do it. Maybe I can edit myself completely out of them all (rubbing hands and cackling).

I guess that’s it for now – oh wait – the Hot Lipped Turtleheads played valiantly last night – but unfortunately did not win. The final score was 4 to 16. The sad part is that we were supposed to win that game. The other team was doing worse than us in the standings. Oh well.

Tata for now!

It's official, I'm 28

I’m officially 28. Not such a hard birthday to handle. It’s definitely different. Not that 28 is different than 27, but the birthday itself is different. I feel more grown up – but, just when I think I am so the grown up girl, I get a little sad talking to Mom and realizing that she is all the way across the ocean and won’t be here today to give me a birthday hug. And Allen, too.
Oh well, c'est la vie. I know I am loved…and I guess that is all that important!

Mom did bring up a good point today, maybe I should share a day like today with someone who is less fortunate than I am. I totally hesitated when she said that. I don’t know if I am that big of a person. It’s definitely something to think about – and somewhere to grow in the next year.

I had a wonderful time with Lisa, Misti, Jane, Laurel, Nancy, Terri, Paula and Aveline at Old Towne Tavern and Grille in Lawrenceville on Saturday! The food was actually really yummy and definitely not your typical tavern food. Then off to see Step Up at the movie theater. I loved the movie! Totally cheesy acting, but any movie that makes you want to dance in your seat is fun for me. I think it’s gonna replace Center Stage as the dance movie in my collection.
I am so thankful to be surrounded by such a loving, accepting and fun having group of girls. It’s nice to be accepted for the crazy girl that you are – and still have friends. Granted, I have to love them for the crazy girls that they are too – hehehehe.

By the way – for those of you reading about the birthday party – if you have pictures, send them my way. I’d like to post them for everyone’s viewing pleasure. I promise not to crop myself out of every single one of them.

Church on Sunday, then home to (unfortunately) veg. I totally should have been scrapbooking, but I just couldn’t seem to get myself off of the couch. So, that means Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are scrapbooking nights.

Tomorrow night is our company softball game – GO HOT LIPPED TURTLEHEADS!!!! (how we got our name is a story for another day). I guess coach (moi) needs to get her act together and get the lineup figured out.

Going over to Michael and Lisa's for dinner - I sorta invited myself so I wouldn't go home alone tonight. Nothing like quality time with Victoria, Floppy and my good friends. Oh and cupcakes - see picture above. I went to the store for birthday cupcakes for my office. They are so yummy. Gotta love Publix!

Hmmm – I must be feeling French as that’s two references to the language today. What’s up with that???

Au revoir for now!

Happy Pre-Birthday to Me!

The postman delivered a present from my Mommy! It’s shiny, silver and sparkly (all very important things in my little world) and even more importantly, it fits my chubby little wrist. Thank you EMo!

This is the kick-off to a wonderful birthday celebration. After work today I am going to get a pedicure and manicure, then to dinner at Renee’s house. We’re going to talk about me possibly moving into her house…which will be exciting.

Tomorrow is pretty low key with all of the girls getting together for a little birthday dinner at a pub up in Lawrenceville and maybe to a movie after dinner. I’m sure it’s going to be a wonderful day! Kudo’s to Lisa ahead of time for organizing it all.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Vietnamese Coffee

I belong to a wonderful book club called LaLit. We’ve been meeting for a few years now and read the oddest assortment of books. But, in the past couple of years, I have read such a variety of books that I would never have even considered. Last night we were discussing “Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals 1962-1966” by Thich Nhat Hahn. This was a completely fascinating journal written by a Buddhist monk who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Even better than the book was the food (a common occurance with our little club). We went to a restaurant called NAM. The food was excellent. I had claypot chicken and it was delish!. Let’s just say that the juice in the pot was boiling when it arrived at the table. I was a happy camper as there is just nothing better than hot food!

At the end of the meal we had Vietnamese iced coffee. Just think of really thick espresso (probably the equivalent of 3 shots) with condensed milk at the bottom of the cup. It comes out hot with this cute little strainer on the cup – you stir it up, then pour over ice. The only downside of the whole thing was that I couldn’t go to sleep last night….all of that yummy espresso.

I’ve been looking on the internet for recipes and one of those strainers. I am so going to get myself one of those things. I could totally make it at work. Yummmmyyyy!

Step #1 Add condensed milk to your cup

Step #2 Add coffee to the little strainer thing

Step #3 Let steep for about 4 minutes

Step #4 Enjoy!!!!!

Welcome To My Friendship

That sounds a little odd doesn't it? Well, for those of who are close that phrase will take us all back to the first time I met my good friend Misti. But, for those of you who have never heard that lovely phrase, "Welcome to my Friendship" or WTMF for short - there you go, you've heard it now. Welcome to the family. Like it or not, you are stuck with us. :)

I'm Rebecca - or ReRe, if you are my best friends, 4 year old daughter. I'm a single, unattached, 27 year old who thought I'd give this blogging thing a try. I love to read, scrapbook, watch movies, hang out with friends. I'll post scrapbooking layouts soon as I'm hoping to create my portfolio here instead of posting to various places and never knowing what is posted where.

It's 5:59 - getting ready to leave for my book club meeting. More about that tomorrow....