Monday Daybook Solstice Eve

FOR TODAY… December 21 2009

Outside my window… Darkness.The longest night of the year

I am thinking…that I am finally on the road to recovery

I am thankful for…DayQuil

I am wearing... blue tshirt, striped pj bottoms my snuggie and chinchilla slippers

I am remembering…solstice celebrations of years past

I am going…to bed soon. Im still not 100%

I am currently reading… Dead and Gone

I am hoping… to be back in good health soon.

On my mind…my nephew Noah who just turned 1

Noticing that… my little christmas tree is leaning

Pondering … When i will feel well enough to finish Christmas shopping and get everything mailed out

From the kitchen… chicken tenders, butter beans and mashed potatoes. A HUGE step up from Jello.

Around the house… STILL a giant mess.

One of my favorite things… Puffs Plus with lotion.

From my picture journal…None Ive been to sick to even get out of bed since thursday

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Wordless Wedensday.

Monday Daybook Innagural Edition

So Ive been reading my friend Theresa's blog for a while and love how she posts her daybook posts every monday. I love seeing just a little peek into her life and love the concept have having a quick snapshot of every week. So I am going to follow her lead and post my own Monday Daybook. So here we go!

FOR TODAY… December 14 2009

Outside my window… Fog. Lots and lots of Fog.

I am thinking…About how I wish I was more in a Christmasy mood this year. Im feeling pretty Bah Humbug about it all.

I am thankful for…Friends who are there to listen when I need to just whine.

I am wearing... jeans my black alpine sweater and black balet flats.

I am remembering… that i need to call my aunt to check in on her since her PC is dead

I am going… to dinner with T & Bella!!!!!

I am currently reading… I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb. I just finished She's Come Undone and am in love with both books.

I am hoping… that I can get up the energy to finish Christmas shopping and get everything mailed off ASAP.

On my mind…my lack of preparedness for Christmas this year

Noticing that… I really really need a vacation.

Pondering … When I will get to see my family again. I miss them already.

From the kitchen… out to Enzo's tonight so probably Siscilian pizza.

Around the house… a giant mess.

One of my favorite things…My super comfy super snuggly super warm robe P got me for my borthday. I lived in it all weekend long.

From my picture journal…

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Sewing 101

About 2 years ago P bought me a very basic sewing machine because he had heard me mention that I would love to be able to make basic things as well as use it for scrapbooking. After breaking 4 needles, finally sloppily hemming a pair of pants, creating a giant knot of thread in my bobbin compartment and finally doing something to completely break the machine I figured it was time to take a lesson. Well that and I am tired of paying $$$$ for basic doll clothes.

So Wednesday after work off to the Atlanta Sewing Center I went for Sewing 101. The instructor Carol was super nice, the class was very small so she she taught us all how to use our specific machines, from bobbin winding to cleaning and maintenance. She even taught us some basic troubleshooting skills when the stitches don't look right.

We were given some scraps of material and told just to play. It was just the right class I needed. Well that and the sewing machine repair so it now runs just fine :)

Here is my first try at sewing. It was fun to play with different lengths and widths of the stitches. I only have these 2 basic ones but I figure it is PLENTY to get me started. If I really get into it I can always upgrade my machine down the road.


The class gave me enough confidence I wan tto try to sew some little bird ornaments and the like. Basically small pillows. Nothing fancy just fun for practice. Then it's off to learn to make doll pants and dresses!

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Lists for 2009 Part 1- books

Both my mom and friend Jessica compiled lists of books they have read this year so I thought given the spirit of December countdowns I would make my lists too. I LOVE to reread my favorite books. I know this is anathema to some people but I included those on the list too.

Books read as of 12/10/2009 - 66 Books
  • Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris - 10 books
  • The HArry Potter Series by JK Rowling -
  • The Adept Series by Katherine Kurtz & Deborah Turner Harris - 5 books
  • Vampire Academy series by Rachelle Mead - 4 books
  • Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer -4 books
  • Lord of the Rings by Tolkien - 3 books
  • Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs - 4 books
  • Alpha and Omega Series by Patricia Briggs - 2 Books
  • House of Night series by PC & Kristin Cast - 6 books
  • Wicked Lovely books by Melissa Marr - 2 Books
  • Immortals Series by Alyson Noel - 2 Books
  • Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare - 2 Books
  • The Lost Chronicles by Hickman & Weiss - 3 Books
  • Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
  • The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz
  • American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
  • The Host by Stephanie Meyer
  • The Sleeping Doll by Jeffrey Deaver
  • Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
  • The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
  • Deception Point by Dan Brown
  • Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
  • She's Come Undone by Willy Lamb (this is my current read and I should have it finished before the weekend. I am LOVING it so far!)

I will probably finish 5 or 6 more books since I just ordered a TON of used books from gohastings.com when they were having a 30% off sale. Books in the pipeline:

The Modern Faery Tale Series - 3 books
The Road
The Joy Luck Cub
The Bonesetters Daughter
Water for Elephants
Prodigal Summer
The Poisonwood Bible
I Claudius
Life of Pi
I know this much is true
The Girl with the dragon tattoo
Shogun
The Lost Symbol


I think 60+ books isn't bad at all for someone who still has to work full time. I really do LOVE reading. It's one of the things I have to thank my mother for (Her total is pretty much the same for the year). Instilling that love in a child is probably one of the greatest gifts a parent can give to a child and I am forever grateful to my mom for teaching me this by example.

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Wordless Wednesday on Thursday.

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Because sometimes you have to buy something totally impractical...

Just because it's cute.

Normally I don't buy "cute". Practical-yes. Crap on sale I don't really need- you betcha! But buying something just because its cute????

So here they are my totally adorable, completely impractical (though with the crappy weather we have been having I may get more use out of them than I thought), and even better I got them for 50% off.

Introducing: My Rainboots.


Target had one pair. in My size and on sale. I just couldn't pass them up. Now I just need a cute skirt to wear so I can show them off :)

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blah.

So I haven't really been feeling great lately as you all can tell from the prolonged absence. I just haven't been in a scrapping mood. I have been thinking about that a lot lately and realized I need to work on getting my scrap space done. I work in an unfinished basement and while I love love love the amount of space I have (my room is roughly 12'x20') I hate the roughness of it (and really hate the lack of heat now that it's cold down there). We don't have the means to finish it off so I will just need to get creative. I need to paint, reorganize and decorate.

I think being in a space that makes me feel happy will just encourage me to be more creative. I realized how much I missed CRAFTING. Not just scrapbooking but making stuff. I think part of my blahness has been Ive been totally unmotivated to scrap and that translated to not doing anything creative. When I don't use that outlet it just generally makes me more depressed. So I have been working on several crafty non scrapbooking projects and have been much happier.

I am taking a sewing class tomorrow night so I can finally learn how to use the sewing machine P got me almost 3 years ago. I've been super inspired by some of the adorable projects on Blair Peter's blog which has led me to think long and hard about what style I want not just in my studio but in the house in general. Too much of my house is done in non colors and I think it's bringing me down.

So I have a semi-new color palette for my studio and have started some cute decor projects as well as at least fabric covering the exposed insulation, pipes and beams in the ceiling. I realize I have lots of storage stuff that really isn't working the way it needs to so I will be boxing it up to sell. That should clear off some room to work at least.

I also realized I need a more or less permanent well lit spot to take dolly pics. BAsically I just need to reconfigure pretty much everything lol.

But I know it will be worth it. I plan on really getting into it on my Christmas break which can not get here quickly enough.

So thats it for now. Ill keep posting as things move along. Ill also be posting more general life stuff as I want all my stuff in one place. Very much a reduce and simplify motto moving forward :)

Secret Pumpkin Card

SO I participated in Scrap Freaks Secret Pumpkin Swap. I had a horrible night last night so I didn't get a chance to add all the little extras i was planning too :( I hope she still likes it.

Here's a quick little card I made fr her. ALl paper is Daisy D's Owl Stamp from Hero Arts.


Here's to hoping I have better luck in this swap then some of the others I have done.

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October Class at Scrap Freak


I am so looking forward to this class being taught by Jessica. I am going to do a Christmas cookie album, I think, as Christmas will be here before I know it.

I also have a binder DH bought me to keep all of our recipes in. I may work on that too. In any event I can't wait to get started!

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Scrap Pink

This past weekend was Scrap Pink. A National scrapbooking event where various LSS and online stores organize crops to raise $ to benefit the Susan G Komen foundation.

I was asked to design a challenge for Scrap Freak's online crop. I did Messy Girl- a challenge using all my favorite messy things, paints, inks, mists etc...

So here is the project I came up with

PP- Making Memories, October Afternoon, Stampin Up
Ribbon- Maya Road , Prima felt
Heidi Swapp Masks, Thickers Alphas and Distress Crackle Paint
Background Paint- Making Memories
I also used alcohol ink to ink my photo

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Finishing projects

Ive been to a ton of crops and have managed to pile up a ton of unfinished projects plus i am working on Get Meaningful design stuff and I was asked to do a project/challenge for ScrapPink crop on September 26, 2009 benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

So I've been working on some cool projects. Some I can't post quite yet but here is what I can share :)


Supplies:
PP- KI green paper, strips- American Crafts, MME, KI
Alphas- American Crafts thickers painted.
Embellishments- Sass cloud stickers, bazzill and Queen and Co brads, Sass chipboard, DCWV hedgehog, scrapworks giggle fabric tag, lots and lots of stickles.




Supplies:

PP-MME, Scenic Route, SEI,
Embellishments- Doodlebug & Bazzill paper borders, Sass chipboard, Thickers letters painted and covered in stickles.



Supplies:
PP- some ancient floral paper from HL ~2006
Alphas- Basic Grey
Making memories Journaling spot accented with stickles.
Flourish- tim holtz grunge board
Prima flower ribbon.

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My View Tomorrow Night

Lesson 23 - I wish...

Lesson 23- I wish...

We all wish and want.
For little things, for big things.
For selfish things, for things for others.
For thing of great value and things of little value.
Some wishes could change our entire life, while others would be forgotten almost as soon as they are granted.

Think about the things you wish for and let that inspire you. You can create a page about a wish, a page about how you wish your life was like right now, or even just a page about what your wishes SAY about you.

I actually was so inspired by this prompt I am doing 2 projects. I did a page about how i wish my nephews grow up to be close the way my brother and I were, and I am doing a mini on things big and small I wish I had or could do. The mini is not quite done but i wanted to share my layout.






Supplies:
CS & scalloped Edge: Bazzill
PP:Scenic Route, October Afternoon, Daisy D's, Cosmo Cricket, American Crafts
Alphas- Doodlebug, Making Memories mini alphas, American Crafts thickers
Journaling Card- October Afternoon
Chipboard Tree- Maya Road

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Meet the Freaks

Due to the generosity of Jessica and her husband who donated airline miles, I was able to join the freaks in Wisconsin for their annual crop. I had a wonderful time meeting people IRL and managed to not get hassled too much for my hatred of cheese in the land of all things dairy.

It was sooo hard to pack for a crop that I was flying to. I thought bringing mini albums to work on was the best bet but I think in the future I will do page kits. It's just so hard for me to scrap without all my stuff about me. For me I packed "light" and still managed to go over my weight allotment by 3lbs.

I managed to get 2 mini albums 80% done. All covered with paper, photos attached and some of the journaling done. I just couldn't do the embellishments as I didn't pack the right ones.

If you want to see pics from my trip I posted them on my Flickr account.

Ill post project pics as soon as they get done.

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Kathi's birthday

Spent the day at Archivers cropping with the girls and celebrating Kathi's birthday. It's been a while since we have been together and as always it was just too much fun. Here are some shots from the fiesta lunch :)














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Some Recent Layouts




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Lesson 22 - Something Cherished

Lesson 22 - Something Cherished
Most of us surround ourselves with objects... from mundane everyday items to those special keepsakes we can't stand to part with. This week I want to you reflect of the objects around you and document at least one item that holds meaning for you!


Journaling reads:

This photo was taken in 1972 at my mom's baby shower. My dad is holding my very first bear. He has fur that's almost real and he used to growl when you moved him. Now bear is too fragile to cuddle with and only grunts if you shake him really hard. I still cherish him and the memories of his better days.

Supplies:
PP Wild Asparagus, Scenic Route, KI, Basic Grey. Chipboard: BG, Maya Road, Sassafras Lass

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Get Meaningful Lessons 16-21

Ok so Ive been a blogging slacker and a get meaningful slacker. I haven't done most of them :( so you catch up with all of the lessons on the Get Meaningful Blog

Lesson 16- Then and Now
Lesson 17- 10 years from Now
Here's My take on this One


Lesson 18- The Meaning of Life
Lesson 19- So Cool
Lesson 20- Just Chill
Lesson 21- Evidence

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Get Meaningful Lesson 15

Sorry I am behind in posting these (Ironically they have been done on time I just didn't take pics to post). Ive been a total slacker lately :(

Lesson 15 - Quirks

I love that everyone is an individual. I was raised to believe that being different or unique is a good thing. Life would be so boring otherwise! As I always say - Normal is for BORING people :D This week's challenge is about the quirks and habits that make you or someone you love unique!

  • What quirks do you have that others notice? Is there any particular memory of how these quirks have made you stand out or impacted you in the past? Do you know how your quirks started?
  • What quirks do you find more endearing or amusing about a loved one? How has their quirk impacted your life or your relationship?
Here is my take on this. I HATE pink. My hatred of pink is legendary and I get some good natured grief for it so I thought it would be perfect for this challenge:



Supplies:
I am forcing myself to use at least 2 things on each layout that are older than 2006.
PP- KI Color Theory
Black birds Maya Rd
Pink Bird Sass
Misc ribbon
Alphas- Heidi Swapp chipboard inked pink, American Crafts thickers colored in with copics

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An odd sort of milestone

I love it when I get my mojo flowing and I actually get pages done! I have now officially filled up 2 whole albums. I went from zero pages to 2 albums worth in a year. And it was all due to this place.


I know I know, I post about them all the time. I started posting on the freak a year ago last summer. My good friend Jessicabree was on the design team there and suggested I give it a try to get away from the negativity on 2peas.

Who knew it would be almost life changing. Ok well not almost. It was. I have scrapped more in the last year than I have in the previous 9 years combined. While sometimes the cheeriness can be a little fake I will take it over real drama any day. The two layouts I did this past weekend are perfect reflections on my time there.

I had done a similar layout for my first Scrapfreak crop so i wanted to do another one to celebrate my first year on the freak.

Supplies:
Bazzill CS
PP- Scenic Route, MME, BG, K&Co, Hambly, memory box
Chipboard- Maya Road
Alphas- American crafts thickers, scrapworks rubons
The journaling reads:
Jessica is honestly one of the most talented people I have ever met. I jokingly call her the MacGuyver of scrapbooking because she can take anything and make a fantastic page. She has been my biggest supporter and is often my muse. I treasure her talent &friendship.

Supplies:
PP- scenic Route & Sass
Hambly tree rubons. All sorts of doo dads and flowers.

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Get Meaningful Lesson 14

No I didn't skip 13 (well I am skipping posting it) I did it but I can not for the life of me get a good picture of it. AS soon as I can figure something out I will post it.

Lesson - 14 Beliefs
Whether you practice an organized religion or are a die-hard atheist, we all have beliefs that shape who we are and how we live our lives.? Think about the core beliefs that define you as an individual.? Especially consider the nuances of those beliefs, the contraditions you may have in beliefs, and the choices you have had to make the past because of your beliefs.


Journaling reads: I always joke and tell people that if I were a better person I would be Buddhist. I love all of their beliefs but continually struggle with this one.

(and it's the BIG one. lol)

supplies:
LOTS of stickles
SEI flower and brad
Maya road and Heidi Swapp Birds

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Get Meaningful Lesson 12

To finish out this series of lessons that focus on our senses, this week is all about TOUCH.The feeling of grass beneath your feet, the chill of cool water on your hands, the touch of a mother soothing her child, the tight embrace from someone you love...

This week, I want you to reflect on memories tied to a physical sensation. Think about your favorite feelings and create a page about it!

And My layout:


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Get Meaningful Lesson 11


Ok I actually did this a while ago and totally forgot to post it.

I grew up a home full of music and can't imagine my life without it. So many of childhood memories are tied to music. Even as an infant, I was lulled to sleep each night by same album, Sittin In by Loggins & Messina.

Music is a part of both our everyday life and those special events. For this lesson, I want you to use music to help you think of memories you want to record. Some things to get you thinking:

  1. Did you grow up with lots of music in your home? How did your parents taste in music influence you?
  2. What music did you like in when you were younger? Think about specific songs you really loved (or still do!). Try listening to them and get inspired to scrap memories associated with those songs.
  3. Are their songs that hold special meaning to you... perhaps the song you danced to at your wedding, a song you sing to your child, or a song that got thru a hard time.
  4. If you had to pick a theme song for your life what would it be and why?
  5. If all else fails, consider using a song to inspire the title or journaling of your page.

Here is my layout:

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ScrapFreak June Guest Design Team contest

So I should have posted this over the weekend before I knew the contest outcome. I just found out I didn't win :(

And I really thought I had a great layout. This is the second month I thought I had a good shot and came up empty.

I am actually really disappointed. I know I shouldn't be, but I am. I really really LOVE my layout and thought it captured the theme- COLOR really well. Not just in the layout but in the photo too.
Ahh well.

Here is my entry:










A layout of my dolly obsession. They have become quite the creative muses for me The photo was created using big huge labs flickr toys.

PP- Basic Grey Blush & Obscure
KI ribbon
Sass teal scalloped border
Pink Paislee Black border sticker
Sass clouds
Alphas- Making memories, American crafts, Maya Road chipboard. The shiny letters are AC that were re-inked with alcohol ink.
Black Soot distress Ink.

There are tiny black rhinestones in the intersection of each mini photo.

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