Birthdays and more...

Lots of birthdays going on over here...and lots of celebrations. I'm of the thought that a birthday isn't birthday unless it's been celebrated at least twice!

And in the midst of it all, a new scrapbooking venture. And that's all I can say. Mostly because the details aren't ironed out yet and mostly because I'm too scared to actually write it out for the world to see. It's one thing to be uncertain with your close friends...it's another thing entirely to be uncertain with the world :) I'll work on it - promise! All I can say is...if you are a scrapper...and you like to get together with other scrappers....you might want to be in Atlanta in September.

OK - that's it. That's all I'm sayin'!

Hope you have a fantastic evening!

Spring Cleaning

It's spring cleaning time.  I felt it coming along last week, but  I just wasn't ready to deal with the idea.  Combined with the fact that I haven't really gotten completely settled at the new digs…well, let's just say that I needed to wait a few days so passerby's wouldn't have to deal with the crazy woman standing in the middle of the room pulling her hair out. :)
 
I went to storage and on Friday and loaded up the three bins of summer clothes and yesterday was the big switch-a-roo.  And the big purge.  I was pretty ruthless with winter clothes…if I  a) hadn't worn it since I pulled it out of storage in October, b) wore it but hated it when I did, or, c) it needed repair that I wasn't willing to do, it went into the thrift store pile.  A few things went into the trash.  And I am ashamed to say, a few of those trash things…I wore pretty recently.  The same thing went for spring/summer clothes.  I can remember what I wore last year, so I didn't even mess with things that needed to go.   And don't even get me started on the shoes.
 
It felt good.  Really good.  And then I looked at my closet and felt bad.  Really bad.  I think I'm going to need a little investment over the next couple of weeks.  Otherwise I'll be wearing t-shirts and khaki's every day this summer to work.  And while I can get away with it every once and a while, it would be nice to amp it up a little bit.
 
I also pulled out all of the stuff in the spare closet.  Most of it was scrapping related, but some of it was a weird assortment of things that I had held on to when I moved because I wasn't sure if I would need it at the new place.  So, that closet is pretty empty, too, now.
 
Tonight will be laundry and dusting.  I found a few dust bunnies.
 
Have you started your spring cleaning?

Another Layout

Here's another fun one...I just can't get enough of little Elizabee... Sorry about the camera glare. It was either this photo or no photo at all!

Tomorrow is Friday! Whooppeeeee! And then the next day is Saturday (I know, I know...you know the days of the week), but it's an official "scrapping" day with the girls and I can't wait. Nothing like quality time with all of the ladies!

Have a great weekend. I'll post more Sunday!

Birthday Cards...

Here's my mama's birthday card. Had to wait until today to post so the suprise wouldn't be ruined. She's been known to stalk a blog or two.
We had a great celebration! Photos soon! We missed everyone who couldn't be with us...but we understand...sort.of. :)

Mi Madre

Today is mi Madre's birthday. Don't ask me why I call her mother in spanish…I don't know, but I do it all of the time. She's 68. And while most women would complain about me posting her age for the entire world to see, she's not most women. I asked her a couple of weeks ago how she felt about turning the big 6-8 and all she could say is "I have to much to do to be 68, I better get busy". She's got goals and aspirations, still at this point. She's not slowing down even though she's officially retired. If anything, she has sped up. She's more active than she ever was when I was younger. Making new friends, volunteering at her church and …. this is a big one…. studying for her PhD. Seriously. I want to be like her when I grow up!

A fantastic weekend...

A fantastic weekend. Being creative and relaxed. Scrapping. Birthday cards and layouts. It just doesn't get any better than that. (if you don't count the kinda rough start of paying money to see "The Watchmen" at the movie theater...blech. I think this is the first time I've ever felt so strongly about a movie NOT being worth it.)

Here's a layout from a couple of weeks ago based on a sketch from Becky Higgins.

I've been bitten...

And no, it wasn't by a vampire. :)
 
I've been bitten by the Facebook bug.  The thing I swore I'd never join.  And it's addictive.  Yikes!  If you read this blog and we aren't already "friends" send me an invite.  I *heart* friends! 
 
This weekend is going to be pretty low-key.  And I'm looking forward to it.  I'm ready for a little down time and a bit of a regroup.  And to finish up some pesky things on my to-do list.  What abou your? 

I won!

I won, I won!!!  The first ever blog giveaway on kevinandamanda.com!!!!!!  Yippee!  I love Amanda's blog and website.  Especially the fonts!

Guess where we are?

Misti and I are.......at a reading/book signing with Jodi Picoult!

More pictures on Misti's blog later!

You guessed right!

You guessed right!  It was my new quilt and shams from Pottery Barn.  I chose the Tea Garden Toile from Pottery Barn.  And once I get the new bedskirt on the bed (my old one was black), I'll post a photo. 
 
After all of the past indecisiveness, I think I've decided that love the idea of accents that complement, not just "go" with a bedspread/quilt/duvet, and then having more than one set of bedding that can be changed out on a whim.  I'm fickle like that, don'tcha know?  And so, that will be my goal.  Mind you, I am not looking at more bedding.  No way!  I'm over it.  For at least a month.  He.
 
Had a pretty busy weekend.  I'm back to five days a week at work - whoohoo!  For now at least.  So, working all day Friday, chiropractor visit and grocery store on Saturday, then working furiously on a "Good Book" for my friend Carol, and then a small group get-together Saturday night, church Sunday, a couple more errands and then finally, home to crash.  I went to my room, shut the door and didn't leave it for the rest of the day except for food.  I was struggling, trying to stay awake and finally realized it must be because of the time change.  Isn't it amazing how an hour can make such a difference?  I think it's taken me this long to recover!
 
In the midst of working on the book for Carol, I recognized an exorbitantly expensive scrapbooking tool that I am sooo glad I own.  A Zutter corner rounder!  Seriously, this thing is the bomb.  I just can't think about how much I spent on corner rounder! Yikes!  But it was worth it! I have it in the 1/2" size. 
 
Wouldn't you know it though, Laurel sent me a link yesterday to a new corner rounder that does both sizes.  Seriously! Oh well.  I'll stick with my trusty Zutter.
 
What's your favorite new tool?   Share!

Dingy, like most packages...

A rather large box arrived today at work.  About 2 feet long and 1.5 feet wide.  Typical brown cardboard. Dingy, like most packages.  It taunted me.  I was working on a deadline when it arrived.  A deadline that forced me to walk past it over and over again.  Back and forth, back and forth.  Every time I passed it, my eyes strayed to it.  And then I would resolutely turn my eyes forward and keep moving.  I told myself "just wait 10 minutes.  You can open it in 10 minutes".  Ten minutes turned into 20, then 30, then an hour.  Finally the task was done.  But my feet hurt.  So, I walked back past the box to my desk and slumped into my chair.  Gulped down half of a warm, bottled Diet Coke.  Swiveled in my chair to peer around the other boxes surrounding my desk to get a glimpse of my box.  Scootched my chair a little to the right for a better view.  Then slowly reached my left hand out, grasped the brushed silver handle to my top desk
drawer and pulled.   I reached into the drawer, fumbled amongst the tangled pile of binder clips, that on a side note, I really need to organize, and finally close my fingers over the box cutter.  And then, suddenly, it's time.  I resolutely stand up and casually stroll over to my box.  Gently scrape the cutter over the packing tape, grasp the edge of the box and pull.  Then pull again, and then none too gently apply the box cutter agin.  Finally, My goal is in sight.  The contents snuggle comfortably in their bubble wrap.  The item itself plays peek-a-boo around a catalog.  I reach in and gingerly pinch the package between my thumb and forefinger and……
 
Well, what is it?  Do you know, do you know?  Guess!
 
That was kinda fun. Hmmm - I always wanted to write romance novels :)
 
Have a wonderful day!