that scrapbook girl

Make it stop!

2010-02-05T16:12:00.000-06:00

Here it is February already and it is still snowing! Will it ever stop? This was a random pic taken out the front door this morning! Will we ever see green grass again? I'm really thinking NOT!!!

Frozen fog.....

2010-01-15T20:18:00.000-06:00

We woke up to some pretty dense fog this morning and it was so beautiful! Is there such a thing as frozen fog? It seriously looked like an old fashioned Christmas card outside!

I'm not sure if these "frozen pointy things" actually have a name but they were really unique.

They looked like they would be frozen icicles but they were really light and fluffy?? Only in Nebraska!

Welcome?

2010-01-14T21:40:00.000-06:00

I think I would be a guest here twice...first and last!!

Resolution......

2010-01-07T20:35:00.000-06:00

The New Year's Resolution was really simple this year! It looks like this: 7~7~7777! Today is the seventh day of 2010 and I have managed to stay on track! Out of bed by 7:00....seven days a week...... walk at least 7777 steps a day! Can I make it seven weeks?

Come on.....

2010-01-06T19:52:00.000-06:00

Seriously.....another blizzard? We have NO MORE room for any more snow! I guess the weather dude was right. Make it stop!!!! PLEASE!

Our neighbors go south for the winter and I wonder if they know they left their flag here, for the winter?

Tis the season...

2010-01-05T19:38:00.000-06:00

I was at Village Pointe today doing some "play time" at Archiver's with Mary Jo and couldn't resist the huge Christmas ornaments on display. The snow on the bulbs made them picture perfect even if the temp outside was zero! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr....... We might not be able to even see the ornaments this time tomorrow if the weather dude is right!!! Blizzard conditions are in the forecast again tomorrow but today it was festive!

Dreaming of a WHITE Christmas......

2010-01-01T20:22:00.000-06:00

There is something so nostalgic about a White Christmas but seriously.....this was just crazy! I didn't think it would ever stop snowing. I'm beginning to think this snow might still be around for a White Christmas 2010!

Happy Birthday kiddo!

2010-01-01T19:59:00.001-06:00

Has it really been 26 years already? Makes me sad :(

# 3 on the BUCKET LIST........

2009-11-26T22:18:00.000-06:00

Number three on the Bucket List is to go down to the Gene Leahy mall on Thanksgiving night and actually witness the "flick" of the switch for the annual Christmas lights. We have been saying for years that we were going to do this and even though we have seen those lights all lit up for years, we have never actually been there for the "official" lighting. We finished the turkey early today and decided that if we didn't mark this off our list today that well.... it would be another year before we could. The temperature outside was a brisk 39 degrees and it was nice and toasty inside. We had full tummies but this was the year that we were going to do this. We put on the layers and the ear muffs and off we went! We got there waaaaaaaaaay early because after all they usually have 30,000 plus people at this annual lighting. I was so thankful that the wind wasn't blowing because that could have been miserable, especially since we had about an hour and a half before the switch was going to be "flicked"! It was a beautiful afternoon for November in Omaha and you gotta love Con Agra for the free hot chocolate AND WHIP CREAM!!! It was just what we needed to wait it out!!! An added bonus was that we met and spoke to Mayor Jim Suttle! Too bad he didn't make the Bucket List this year so we could cross off another thing this weekend! Sorry Mayor...maybe next years list!!!

Notice that the grass is still green in the mall and there is no snow on the ground!

This photo was taken around 4:45 so we only had about another hour or so to wait! I still wasn't frozen at this point in the evening! But it wasn't dark yet either AND they still hadn't "flicked" the switch!!

Finally....at 6:00 the switch was finally "flicked" and it was worth every single minute of the waiting! Once again...I can't believe we had never done this in the 21 years that we've lived here!!! We truly do take so many things about Omaha for granted! Can't wait for the other 21 things on our Bucket List........

THE Bucket List....

2009-11-26T20:48:00.008-06:00

well actually it is a Nebraska Bucket List! We were talking a couple weeks ago and how sad it is that you never really take advantage of the opportunities right in your own community. We have lived in Omaha for 21 years and there are a number of places and attractions that we have never "done" but have always thought that we would some day. We decided that life is clipping along at such a fast rate that if we don't make a conscience effort to "do" these things that we'll never get to them. We sat down with a piece of paper and a pencil and started making our own bucket list. The only rule is that it had to be within a 50 mile radius of Omaha to start out with and once we get that list completed, we will expand our area on the next list.

The first one was the Bob Kerry bridge. The bridge to no where! The sun went behind the clouds as soon as we started the walk so it was pretty cold and windy but I can definitely say that I would go back and walk it again when the weather is warmer. We walked half way across the bridge just so I could get a picture of the Nebraska/Iowa line on the bridge! I'll finish that walk on a warmer day.

1. Bob Kerry Bridge

2. The IMAX theatre at the Henry Doorly Zoo

I can't believe we've never been to the IMAX with all the times we've been to the zoo but we

made our first trip and marked another thing off our Bucket List! I have a very weak stomach....very weak! I knew if there was any flying involved in this movie that it would be all over. This would be the end of my Bucket List! So I strapped on the Sea Bands and off we went!

Luckily there was no flying involved and I was fine! The show was awesome! And to think that this has been here for all this time and we just now took advantage of it! I can't wait to get through the other 22 items on our Bucket List!

Happy Birthday.........

2009-11-18T15:34:00.000-06:00

It's safe to post this picture today because the hubby never reads my blog anyway! I love it when November 18th rolls around every year because for the next 28 days we are the SAME age! I need to rejoice in it while I can because believe me the other 337 days of the year he is rejoicing in it! So for now we've both made it over the hill. In 28 days I'll be a little further over the hill but for now it's a tie!

She loves her RUNZA.....

2009-11-06T17:23:00.000-06:00

You know what I'm talking about when I say the word "RUNZA" if you grew up in or around Nebraska. RUNZA opened their first "Drive Inn" in Lincoln in 1949. According to Wikipedia, a RUNZA is described as a type of pastry filled with ground beef, onion and cabbage. And that is exactly what they are! And they are so yummy! Not to mention their french fries and homemade onion rings are to die for!! Ask anybody who knows my mom and they'll tell you how addicted she is to these wonderful little RUNZA'S!

We always have to go to Runza whenever she comes into town...always the first night she's in town! I recently went back to surprise mom for her birthday and all she could ask me was why I didn't bring her a RUNZA!! Yeah.....I could have packed a cooler I guess and stopped in North Platte and put it on ice until I got there but I guess I wasn't thinking. Mom had a rough week with doctor appointments and test while I was there so I promised her that we'd get OUR RUNZA!!! Some how...some way...we'd get it!!!

There are exactly two RUNZA Drive Inn's in Colorado. The closest one was 55 miles away in Loveland! We left the doctors office and drove to Loveland in 45 mile an hour winds and the temperature must have dropped 30 degrees on the drive up there. We didn't care though...we were going to get OUR RUNZA's! You have to understand that there is such a thing as a "good" RUNZA and a "bad" RUNZA!!! After twenty years of eating these with mom, I know she doesn't like a "bad" RUNZA!!! Believe me, I know! Mom is telling me as I'm fighting the steering wheel in the 90 MPH wind gust that this had better be the "best" RUNZA that she has ever had! YIKES!!! The pressure is on! I was kind of nervous as I was ordering for us....I had a lot of pressure on me! These had to be the best ever!! Luckily they weren't really busy and the RUNZA's were absolutely perfect! The fries were perfect and the onion rings were to die for!! The guys that worked there were great and actually took this photo for us! Thanks guys. When we were leaving they asked mom how the Runza was and she said that it was the "best " one she had ever had! EVER!!!! And I would have to agree! And I was so relieved!

We laughed all the way home because it just goes to prove that we would do anything for "OUR RUNZA'S"

Looking back on this day too just makes me smile because it truly was the "best" RUNZA ever with my mom!!! EVER!!!

Time Flies.....

2009-11-06T16:17:00.000-06:00

Has it really been five months since I last posted? I know I've been told that it's been that long...you know who you are! Has it really been five months since the American Idol finals? My goodness how time flies! It has been a crazy summer to say the least. Hopefully things will slow down this winter and I'll be able to post a lot more often! There now...does this count as a post??? I think it does. I promise it won't be five months again this time! More later! You know who you are!

YES.....

2009-05-21T10:31:00.004-05:00

I said at the beginning of the season that I wasn't going to watch Idol this year. NOPE....it was a waste of my time. Well that lasted a couple weeks and then I was hooked AGAIN!!! Kris was my favorite from the very beginning! Week after week.....he made it! Week after week...Tracy and I had a little show down on Wednesday mornings since she was an Adam fan from the beginning! I was nervous last night...and it's only American Idol for goodness sake!!! And remember I wasn't going to watch it? Soooooooooooooo glad I did and so glad of the outcome! But I'm not watching it next season!!!

I'm NO trader.....

2009-05-19T09:57:00.011-05:00

I recently flew out to see the kids for a quick four days and was presented a challenge...I guess we shall call it! I think the way the challenge was worded was to just "TRY" Peets coffee!! Something to the effect of I owe it to myself after drinking that STARBUCKS stuff? Come to think of it....was it referred to as "stuff" or something else? Any way....I was up for the challenge! I told Michael and Courtney that I HAD to have Peets while I was there... at least once!!! I googled Peets and there are as many Peets in California as there are Starbucks! Geeze! Maybe even MORE!!! Well come to find out THE original PEETS is in Berkeley and it was just a hop and a skip away from the kids!!! Only problem was that it had been closed down for renovation! Oh no!! Well it was re-opened when I got there. WHEW!!!!!!! and not only was it re-opened but it had been renovated into a museum.....shall we call it? We went to brunch for an early Mothers Day and then headed over for me to fulfill my challenge!! Michael and Courtney have always been great sports for the Starbucks photo's because of my Starbucks book!!! Now I'm asking them to pose in a PEETS of all places?

As you can tell...Michael wasn't too sure about this one! Should he really be doing this? But I assured him that it was ok....I needed the "proof" that we were there! I bellied up to the counter and ordered and for a minute I felt like a trader but I got over it!!! After all...I just needed the proof!! I didn't have to like it and it didn't have to make the switch!! I knew I could do it!

OK...I didn't travel all this way for the challenge and then not complete my mission! I took my first sip as the kids watched on!! OK....OK.....it was good!!! It was good!!! So good in fact that I decided that it even warranted a new mug to go with my Starbucks collection!!! Once again...here's PROOF!!!

I'll admit that it was a good change!! I had accomplished my challenge! I had the prooof! Only problem was that as I was wating to fly out from the Oakland airport...guess what! No Peets in sight!!! BUT..there was my good ole' familiar green logo....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Starbucks at last!! I'm no trader!!!

Long weekend....

2009-04-21T09:47:00.003-05:00

After only about four hours of sleep Saturday night and about the same on Sunday night this is exactly how I felt starting my week on Monday morning. After my daily fix and three Advil's..I was good to go! Just proves that anything is possible with enough java!!!

Too long with no Starbucks.....

2009-04-15T17:30:00.001-05:00

Can sometimes lead to this! I'll get it one way or the other!

Starbuck's withdrawls.....

2009-04-13T10:18:00.002-05:00

Sorry to say that it has been a LONG time since I've gotten a new photo AND since I've added a new page to my Starbuck's album. This little artist drawing will have to do until I head out to California and find some new material!!! This photo was actually taken in Benecia last year and has since been closed! :(

Chocolate Barbie?

2009-03-09T22:21:00.003-05:00

It was only fitting that I would get my Barbie Collector Catalog today in the mail since today is officially Barbie's 50th birthday!! Tracy sent me a link to a Hard Rock Cafe Barbie a couple of weeks ago and although it was lets say.... UNIQUE...I really wasn't too jazzed about it. That Hard Rock Barbie was in the new Catalog too but...so was this one!! Can you believe it? They actually make a Hershey's Barbie now!! AND she's only $43.00!! Hard Rock Barbie was $76.00. Sorry but that makes "Chocolate" Barbie that much better!!! It's kind of hard to see from the scan but her dress is actually done in brown and silver just like the Hershey Kisses!!
Sorry but what happened to my Classic bathing suit Barbie? I also heard a little tidbit about Barbie today. Did you know that Barbie has had 108 career changes in her life? Counting all the different "series" they have had through the years. I wonder if "Chocolate" Barbie makes 109????

Sorry Barbie!

2009-02-16T22:05:00.002-06:00

WARNING: Just in case you couldn't quite read the "naughty" word on the Barbie quote! Happy Birthday Barbie!!

Happy Birthday Barbie....

2009-02-16T21:06:00.006-06:00

Seems that almost everybody is coming to the top of "THE HILL"...you know the one where one day you're all of a sudden OVER THE HILL. YEP...even Barbie is turning the Big 50! Barbie???? How can Barbie be 5o? There was a big celebration for Barbie's birthday this last weekend in New York even though she doesn't officially turn 50 until March 9th! They had a fashion show and everybody was there. I mean everybody...including Ken and Skipper and Midge!! Barbie and I go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back. I remember playing Barbie's for hours and hours. We would drag everything out and play non stop from Friday after school until dinner time on Sunday. It was great childhood therapy! I'll drag all my Barbie's out one of these days and that will be another blog post! Until that post I'll just leave you with this little bit of "Barbie" that I came across a couple of years ago and keep on my desk for a little bit of adult therapy!!! Sorry Barbie but it isn't easy on the other side of THE HILL!

Old Men and Big Glasses.......

2009-02-08T22:43:00.003-06:00

We've always had a thing around our house about old men and big glasses. Have you ever noticed or wondered why old men always wear big glasses? ALWAYS!!! There was a time in the 80's when big glasses were "IN"...or so we thought!!! Ken had them!! In fact we even have pictures of Michael when he was little wearing Ken's old man/big glasses! Now the thing around our house is old ladies and big watches!!! What is it about old ladies and big watches????

They're everywhere you look!! Or so I've been told!! Don't you know that they are "IN" ? I actually know what it is with old ladies and big watches though!!! It is the only way that I can tell time! I wore my other watch for three months with a dead battery and really didn't even miss that I couldn't tell the time!! I couldn't see the numbers anyway. It was stopped on 2:55! I was still in the habit of looking at it even though I couldn't tell the big hand from the little hand!! It was always almost 3:00 to me! Not a problem with this one though!!! I might as well carry a wall clock around on my arm! That being said though, I still wonder what the deal is with old men and big glasses?

Addition to "THE BOOK"...

2009-02-06T23:02:00.000-06:00

It has been a long time since I've added a new layout in "the" STARBUCKS book. While the kids were home they were great sports and went to Starbucks and actually posed for this picture and then sent me the photo when they returned home!!! What a great surprise!! Thanks guys...I love it...you're the best!!!!

It's everywhere.......

2009-02-03T21:02:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I get the feeling that I've got paper and scissors and fonts and glue on my mind 24/7 but this is a bit ridiculous!!! I wonder if it ever changed to "Don't Scrapbook" i didn't stick around long enough to see!

A girl can dream.......

2009-01-27T17:10:00.000-06:00

You only have one life to live! You owe it to yourself to choose a career that coincides with your passion. You know what they say.....Do what you love and love what you do!!!!!! Even if it's only a dream!!!!

Breakfast of champions????

2009-01-24T20:35:00.000-06:00

You know it is going to be a good day when you can spell "fun" things in your morning bowl of Alphabets cereal!!!!

Happy Birthday Michael!!!

2009-01-01T15:26:00.001-06:00

We hope you're having a great 25th birthday in Portland!!!!!

Big Words......

2008-11-03T21:47:00.000-06:00

I found this recipe file box in the bottom of the pantry along with the lunch box the other day and couldn't believe what I found when I opened it.

These 3 1/2 X 5 cards were still filed in this little box in alphabetical order just the way Michael had left them back in 1990. They were still packed like sardines. I was shocked to see that the cards were still white and hadn't yellowed one bit and that I could actually read his handwriting better back then than I could now ! Sorry kiddo!!! Finding things like this in the pantry make this entire remodel project completely worth it. Treasures like these are PRICELESS!!!!

Mother Hubbards Cupboard.....

2008-11-02T17:25:00.000-06:00

We are in the process of a major remodel in our kitchen and after 22 years it is amazing the things you find hiding in your cabinets. We removed our pantry and way back in the back was this little lunch box. NO I did not get rid of it but I just wanted to put the memory down on paper.

This was Michael's lunch box when he was in the first grade at Grace Abbott. Seems like only yesterday. Aahhhhhhhh...wait till I finish the layout on what else I found in those cupboards! Stay tuned!!!

Guess who turned 75 today?????

2008-09-26T22:37:00.000-05:00

Happy 75 th birthday Mom!!!

You are quite an amazing woman!!!!

We are so happy that we could share your special day with you!!!!!

You're quite the "Birthday Girl!"

Changing Seasons....

2008-09-08T21:56:00.001-05:00

There has definitely been a nice fall feeling in the air the last couple of days. I love living in the Midwest where you get to enjoy the change of all four seasons! Come January I might change my mind but Fall is by far my most favorite season!!!

All it takes is a nice, new, fresh bag of MO MO's, some Hershey bars and a box of graham crackers!!! Nothing says fall quite like some nice toasty SMORES!!!

It might be 95 degrees out tomorrow but it sure felt like Fall this week!!! YUMMY!!!!!!

Two more pages......

2008-08-20T17:32:00.000-05:00

How many crazy people do you know that go around on vacations making their family (thanks Michael) pose in front of Starbucks for their scrapbook? I started scrapping different Starbucks about four years ago and actually added about 10 pages while we were in California visiting the kids. I just thought I would share it before OFFICIALLY adding it to "THE" book!!! I'm sure this is the first Starbucks I have ever seen with a purple door!!! Only in downtown San Francisco I guess!!!

More Pink!!!!

2008-08-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

I finally had to break down and get a new cell phone since mine was straight out of "Back to the Future" and decided that a girl can't have too much pink right? Well at least THIS girl can't. I had to have something to match my "pink puter". Who cares if the phone is any good or not? It's PINK!!!!!

Christmas in July?

2008-08-14T19:34:00.000-05:00

We were in Kansas City a couple weeks ago for a little R&R and just happened upon these guys staying at our hotel! When we were checking in there were a couple Santa's checking in and I thought it was kind of odd but not until later did we find out there were actually 70 Santa's at the hotel. It seems they are members of a group of Professional Santa's that hold a reunion once a year. I wonder what makes you a Professional? They were all unique that's for sure.

These were just a group of the "guys" that were hanging out in the lobby on Saturday morning. They loved to pose for pictures and would gladly pose at any time. And I mean ANYTIME!!There also happened to be a 24 hour Starbucks at the hotel and so I was in double heaven!!! Santa was even willing to pose for a pic for my STARBUCKS book!!!! Thanks Santa!!!

I have to wonder what they talked about all weekend? You think our names came up in the conversations? All I know is that there were a lot of confused little children in the elevators! But very well behaved I might add!!!

Mysterious Blogger........

2008-08-14T16:13:00.000-05:00

OK so I know I haven't posted on my blog forever it seems but just imagine how surprised I was when I signed on and actually saw that picture of Ken and I on there. Oh my gosh!!! I did not post that and so the first person I questioned was Michael. (I still REALLY think that he did it) Michael swears that he didn't do it since he doesn't have my password and even goes so far as to imply that I am getting old and forgetful??? In fact I believe his exact words were...."is this like your watch in the sugar bowl thing"? Thanks kiddo! I remember one time a while back (a long while back!!) when he swore to me that he didn't throw apples up against the back of the house too!! All the time holding a little crab apple in his other hand? He'll confess.....he always does....or else have me committed???

2008-07-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

More green........

2008-04-29T22:49:00.000-05:00

Or should I say more GREENS? According to Ken, this is as close to heaven as you can get!!!! The 18th Hole at Pebble Beach!!!!

I'll admit that it was absolutely gorgeous but I found a lot more GREEN as well!! And to me this is pretty close to heaven too!!!! I added 14 new Starbuck entries to my Starbuck's scrapbook!!!!

Sometimes requiring more than my fair share of my daily caffeine tolerance!!!!

After a trip to the city.....I actually did find HEAVEN!!!! Chocolate Heaven!!! Just the smell alone was enough to kill you!! There was a sign in the front window that said .....Dip Me in Chocolate and Call Me Dessert. Yep.......that pretty much summed up the entire store!!!!! YUMMY!!!

It truly was the Greatest Chocolate Store in the World!!!!!!

This is just a sampling of one of the MANY cases of goodies!!! Doesn't that look Heavenly to you? Trust me....IT WAS!!!!!

Missing in action...

2008-04-25T23:29:00.000-05:00

For those of you that have been checking on me to see if I have updated YET.....thanks so much!! I know my last post was January 14th and I know that you are tired of seeing the ugly green dude. We just got back from visiting the kids in California so hopefully there will be better things to blog about than ugly green things.

How about yummy green things? This was Courtney's Green Tea cupcake at an awesome little cupcake bakery in Berkeley called Love at First Bite. Mine was peanut butter cup and it WAS yummy too!!!!

I originally saw a list of the TOP TEN Cupcake stores in the United States and this little shop was ranked number seven. All I can say is that NUMBER ONE must be in Heaven!!!! And SECOND thru SIXTH can't be too far behind!!!!

Resolutions

2008-01-14T19:58:00.001-06:00

How many of us actually made the resolution to eat healthier and hopefully shed some "lbs" along the way? I know a good way for me to do that is to first cut out the chocolate...especially the M&M's. That right there alone would probably drop me by about 25 pounds a year!!! I don't think I've ever met an M&M that I didn't like and that I couldn't eat.......well up until today!!! This just totally turned my stomach on M&M's!!!!! I know one thing for sure is that I could never and will never eat another green peanut M&M as long as I live!!! As Dr. Phil would say" this day could very well change your life forever"!!!!! Believe me it has!!!!! Or better yet...he has!!!!

Happy Birthday Michael!!!

2007-12-31T21:09:00.000-06:00

For some reason New Year's Eve doesn't hold the excitement that it once did!! The main difference I think is this little (???) guy!!!

It hardly seems like 24 years ago tonight that I was in labor and rockin' out to Boy George in a California hospital. Some things you just never forget...like Boy George!!! Just glad that Michael is at least in the United States to celebrate his birthday this year! He spent his birthday of 2006 on a beach in Sri Lanka and his birthday of 2007 in China. Looks like he has come around full circle because he will be spending his birthday of 2008 back in California!! Happy Birthday kiddo!!! Hopefully no Boy George for you this year!!! We love you!!!

Pretty Pink Puter...................

2007-12-18T15:02:00.000-06:00

Everybody who knows me knows what a pink freak I am. I love just about anything that is pink!! Obvioulsy Ken has lived with me long enough to know my long time addiction to pink things!! So this is what I got from dear hubby for my 50th BD!!!!! A pretty pink puter'!!!!

I said in my post yesterday that turning "Fifty and Feisty" could be good and good indeed it was!!! In fact it was just perfect and pink!!!

I Made It!!!

2007-12-17T12:09:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning and I thought to myself....I've actually made it!!! To the "BIG 50" that is!!! I don't feel any different and I don't think I look any different than I did yesterday so by golly I made it!!! This is good! Good indeed!!!

I found this darling little bag and tag hanging on my mailbox at work from my most favoriteist swap buddy ever!!! Thanks swap buddy...you know who you are!!! And what was in the bag?? Another man (snow) to add to my life! Thanks again swap buddy!!! I can never have too many snowmen in my life!!! Or too many swaps for that matter!!

I've always tried to be really nice to my friends when they've hit the "Big 50". No dead black roses or black balloons....nope..I'm no dummy!!! I know paybacks can be hell!!! Even at such a young age!!! And NO I did not send in for my AARP card! So here's to being "Fifty and Feisty". This could be good......good indeed!!!

Have you ever been diagnosed with this?

2007-12-12T18:59:00.000-06:00

I heard that this is spreading through the croppin' community like wild fire! Check out the symptoms:

Difficulty making layout decisions
A preoccupation with one color or technique
Embellishment avoidance
Repetitive shape placement

Do you have any of these symptoms? They say it is really important to eat a lot of chocolate to help build up your "Creative System". I kinda feel like I'm comin' down with it now!!!!! Better go pop a couple spoonfuls of M&M's!!!

There's a new man in town..............

2007-12-11T19:11:00.000-06:00

Well actually there are three new men in town. We were snowed in today and the man in "Brown" still managed to bring me a nice little box of new snowmen. My sister-in-law and I have traded for years and we always anxiously await the arrival of the new men in our lives!!! This little guy.....who is without a name yet is soooooooooo skinny and cute. You can see his little "bird legs " and black shoes if you look real close! Thinking maybe he is a snowman golfer cause he has his own bucket of (snow) balls!!!

These two guys showed up together....

And I'm not quite sure what their story is yet either!!!

All I know is that they look a lot a like so they must be brothers!!! Just happy that they all arrived today....and we can all be snowed in together!!!!!

The most WONDERFUL time of the year.............

2007-12-03T19:39:00.000-06:00

Yep....anybody who knows me, knows what a

"Starbucks

Freak"

I am. I always know that it is coming upon the Christmas Season when the red cups appear. Every year they are different and this year is no exception. This year there is a link to their website at http://www.itsredagain.com/

All I can say is check it out soon cause it won't be around long!!! Now I'm just waiting for the snowman sugar cookies that they had last year. Those definitely were worth waiting a year for!!!!!

300 + Angry Men??????????

2007-12-02T20:06:00.000-06:00

Before you read any farther let me explain the title!!! I have been collecting snowmen for roughly the last 20 years. Back in the days when it was kind of hard to find them. Every year the collection just grew and grew. I think Michael always thought that FROSTY ....not....JESUS was the reason for the season. It usually takes an entire weekend to put them all out and it gets worse each year!! Last year Michael and Courtney were in China for Christmas and so we just kinda played scrooge in decorating the house. After all who was even going to wonder if we had our tree up much less where all the300 + MEN were? This year I couldn't keep them in the dark any longer.

It all started Thanksgiving morning and I'm happy to report was done by bedtime the same day!!! There were no melted men from being left in the dark for two years and as you can tell ...they all seem to be happy...not a frown in the bunch!!!!

You Gotta Love Em'

2007-12-02T19:55:00.000-06:00

For some reason Ken thought this was a rather funny piece of mail when he brought it in last week!!! Me.....well..........not so much!!! The funny thing is that this is about the third or fourth piece of mail that I have gotten from AARP in the last six months. Funny because all the others have gone in the trash before Ken even had a chance to ever see them!!!! I'm sure that there will be many more that I'll have to intercept before the Big Dreaded Day!!!!!

A Face Lift.........

2007-11-17T10:13:00.000-06:00

I love to watch make over shows...anything that has to do with "Before & After" shots! It is something about that WOW factor when you see it a disaster and then fresh and new. Love it!!

I love that feeling of accomplishment. I always have. Well.............I sat down for a few seconds yesterday and turned on the t.v. and flipped to Oprah...and oh my gosh!! She had a two part series on hoarders!!! These people were Serious Hoarders!!! That was probably the BEST "Before & After" show I had ever seen!!! After dinner I was going down to the scrap room to clean it up a little between projects and decided to do a little "Before & After" layout of my own!!! WARNING: Mom you might not want to read on any farther here!!!

Before.....

AFTER.....

BEFORE.........

AFTER........

BEFORE.............

AFTER......

WOW!!!!

I sure do love that feeling of accomplishment!!!!!

It's Monday...................

2007-11-12T09:11:00.000-06:00

What better way to start a week than with a nice hot brew from this awesome new little gadget?

DRINK COFFEE.......

Do stupid things faster with more energy!!!!!!

Here's to a great week!!!!

I Told You SO!!!!

2007-11-07T21:21:00.000-06:00

The last time I blogged I was ahead of schedule for once in my life and I told you it had to be a fluke! Well let me assure you that it was. Here it is the first week of November and I have ATC's due for November but NO IDEAS!!! NONE!! NADA!!!! I must have used up all those creative brain cells in October! I should have stashed some away with the Halloween chocolate for emergencies like this! I should have known it wouldn't last! Like I said...I had way toooo much time on my hands!!! Oh well..I'm officially back to work after my surgery so hopefully I'll have a little more structure in my life!!!

Maybe more time for scrapbooking (and ATC'S) and less time for the chocolate!!! NAH...I don't need that much structure or balance!!! I do need that much chocolate...how else am I going to stay up all night burning the midnight oil so I can get my cards done on time?? It works everytime!!!!

Ahead of schedule?

2007-10-17T21:40:00.000-05:00

Could it really be?????

For once in my life..I think I am actually ahead of schedule! No not in the healing from the surgery...which is right on schedule I've been told but ahead of time on getting a project done!!

Do you believe it? I don't!! And it's not even the end of the month. All I can say is that I must have way too much time on my hands! That and the weather has been so rainy and dreary has helped a lot too!

I actually got my ATC's done and delivered and it is only the middle of October!!! I am sure this will be the first and last time that this will ever happen!! I have to keep telling myself not to get used to it!!! It's just a strange kind of fluke!

But it sure feels good for once not to be burning the midnight oil and pushing the deadline to the limit!! I must take that after the kiddo!!! Sorry Michael...we know who we really got it from huh? I would start thinking about my ATC's for November but I'm sure this ahead of schedule thing is a one time deal and I'll go back to pushing the deadline again next month!!! Besides that would be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too ahead of schedule!!! And that is just not me!!!

Home body...

2007-10-10T17:18:00.000-05:00

It's a good thing that I have always been a home body or else I think I would have already gone stir crazy trying to re-coup from this surgery! Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved being home. My parents taught me to love being home. Home has always had such a warm and loving feel to it. I just even love the word....aahhhhh HOME!! I stayed home for many years while raising my kiddo and loved every single minute of it. People always asked after he went to school if I ever got bored at home?? Never... I was always busy trying to make our house a home and still am to this day and loving every minute of it. The memories are plentiful here and I'm just trying to capture them one day at a time! Yes...even while I'm re-couping at HOME!!!

Two weeks.........

2007-10-05T13:16:00.000-05:00

OK so the surgery was two weeks ago today and 6 little cards is all the "creativeness" that I have to show for it. These little cards took forever since I had to do them in 40 minute segments. I'm happy to say though that I now can use a paper cutter while in a horizontal position!!! Yes sir...i feel that I am making progress. I'm still not allowed to bend over which causes a major disaster when something falls to the floor. You don't realize how many things fall to the floor until you can't bend to pick em' up. Where is that "grabber" when you need it? All I can say is I have been sooooooooooooo creative when it comes to solving this little road block!!!
I am happy to report that I can pick up Skittles, raisins, M&M's and even brads with my toes! Yep...they make for great grabbers. It is amazing what you will do if you want something bad enough. Just today I wanted an apple and of course it was in the bottom crisper in the fridge. Nurse Rachett was off duty sooooo I had to be real creative! I found the longest knife in the kitchen drawer (top kitchen drawer) opened the crisper with it and stabbed me the biggest..reddest...juciest gala apple of the bunch! So..all in all I guess I have been pretty creative this week...it's just I don't have anything to show for it except these 6 little cards!

Day 7.........

2007-09-28T15:29:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe that the surgery was a week ago today. All I have done for the last 7 days is lay down.... stand up....walk laps around the house...sit down but for no longer than 30 minutes and then REPEAT! I still haven't figured out how to scrap laying down much less laying down and getting anything straight! I'm working on it though. Beginning today, I can start adding a few minutes to my sitting up time....hence I finally got to blog!! YEA!!! I'm alive again. And for those of you wondering....I packed the overnight bag...just in case. And no..I didn't need to use it. I really..really...really don't like hospitals so when told I could go home IF I wanted to....well I was outa there!!! Thigh high support hose and all!! Now that is another scrapbook page waiting to happen. Stay tuned!! Once again...I'm sooooo glad that Ken didn't have the camera!!!

High Noon.....

2007-09-20T21:21:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I think life is a scrapbook page just waiting to happen. I know this is the case with this layout.

I have been waiting for this for a week or so now but really for a couple of months. I have a herniated disk in my lumbar area and after drugs....physical therapy...and an epidural steroid injection....it's time to just go for it! It wasn't an easy decision but I'm scheduled for a lumbar diskectomy tomorrow at noon...I'm waiting for it to happen!!

Waiting for the pain to finally stop! The bulge in the disk shown above in my MRI with the little "pink arrows" pointing to it is affecting the nerves down my left side. It feels like my left leg and foot is waiting to wake up...like when it falls asleep and tingles.

And so I wait for the "Battle of the Bulge" to be over but not before I document the little guy on a scrapbook page!!! The hospital said to pack an overnight bag....I wonder if they meant my

scrapbook bag? Probably not huh? I'm just going to make sure and leave the camera at home....Ken getting pictures of me all goofy is NOT a scrapbook page waiting to happen!!!

I'm so glad it's Friday.....

2007-09-14T20:14:00.000-05:00

I think this little saying is the perfect ending for a great week!! Sure hope everyone has a nice, productive and creative weekend! I'm planning on it!!

More words................

2007-09-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

I have had this blank wall for going on 20 years now and for as long as I can remember we have never had anything on it. I finally found the perfect thing...or so I thought! This is not the saying that I ordered for this special wall. The words came in this week and all I can say is oh my gosh!!! I started to unroll and unroll the saying until it was finally all laying there flat on the floor. It ended up being 56 inches long! And the word "FAMILY" was 17 inches high!! Each letter was 17 inches high! I held it up to the wall and there was no way that was going up on my blank "little" wall. It was more like a billboard and not only a billboard but one I'm sure could have been read from Dodge Street. It was huge!! It was the size it was supposed to be but I guess it was just hard to visual the actual size! I'm going to have to cut the letters up individually and sell them as monograms! I already have takers for the "M" and the "L" and the "Y"...anybody need a huge "I" or "F"? I will say though that after finally getting this all put up tonight ...even after 2o years... this is the perfect thing for my blank little wall. I hope you can't see this one from Dodge Street!

It's back..........................

2007-09-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

Yes it is Monday morning and you could say that I had a very creative weekend. One look at my work area and you see the "creative mess" is back. You've heard the old saying that something has to get worse before it gets better? Well that's me and scrapping...out from under all this mess came some great memories and some great layouts. Now I'll start another week by cleaning off this mess and beginning another PAGE!!!

I Confess....

2007-09-08T19:15:00.000-05:00

For those of you in the "scrapworld" you know good and well what scraplifting means. You also know good and well that it's not necessarily a bad thing. Now is it? It helps a great deal when you just can't come up with the right idea for that perfect page. It's kind of like that little nudge that you need to get those creative juices going again. I have to confess...right here and now that I can not scraplift. Yes I said I CAN NOT SCRAPLIFT. It's not because it is naughty or anything...I've tried when I'm drawing a blank and I just can't do it!! I set out with the best intentions...I really do!! I fold back the page of the magazine and I study it and look at all the products that were used in the layout, get everything all lined up and then right when I think I'm going to do it...I can't! I cut the first strip of paper and then I completely lose it....going off in a completely different direction than the layout I spent so much time studying. What's wrong with me? I have never liked to read directions for anything...I guess it boils down to I just want to do it my way!!! And for those of you in the "scrapworld" you know that's not necessarily a bad thing either!!

Cuttin and Pastein'

2007-09-04T19:39:00.000-05:00

I spent most of yesterday in the scraproom working on a couple more layouts for a project that I'm doing. It's finally starting to come together ever so slowly!! Sometimes it just takes a while for those creative juices to get going. Once they start though there's no stopping me!!! I am a firm believer that time flies when you're having fun...and I feel so blessed to be able to do what I think is fun!!! But for some reason there is always something on the layout that I think could be a little better!! That's what happened late last night.....early this morning!!! I finally just had to give in and go to bed!!! After sleeping on it (which I always do) I decided it was the way I wanted it soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I tell myself...JUST GLUE IT!! down....call it a day and move on!!!

An organized mess......

2007-09-01T19:27:00.000-05:00

Last night at work we had roughly 30 women all scrapping in just two rooms. That means each woman got roughly 3 feet of table space to spread out and work...and yes some were very productive at the end of five hours...and some..not so much!! A lot depends on how organized the women are when they arrive and how motivated they are. So this is what I came home to today....and this is one woman scrapping and yes I have a lot more room than 3 feet to spread out in! And was I productive? Not so much!!! But I'm being creative! I start with a clean slate every time I start a double lay out and yes it was this messy! But it was an organized mess!! While I'm being creative~you can't expect me to be neat too!!!

All in a days work...

2007-08-29T20:44:00.001-05:00

Well I had good intentions of getting a lot created today and I guessI really did considering I heard the 'ole Starbucks calling my name this afternoon. So..off I went to meet a friend for some "CREATIVE" conversation?? How's that for an excuse? Actually I didn't make this baby gift card tin today but put it together a couple weeks ago for a very special couple that are expecting twins come to find out!! And on top of that they are "baby boy twins...I'm so excited for them! I actually got a couple pages put together today AND supported my other addiction with a caffeine fix from the Star all in the same day soooooooo...it has been a great day!!!!

Time to be creative......

2007-08-28T20:23:00.001-05:00

To CREATE you need a

good imagination and a

pile of stuff~~~

-Ben Franklin

Well I have a pile of stuff and now I

just need to get to the creating!!! I have

the next couple days off work

so it's off to the scraproom for me-

I'll post later and hopefully with some of my CREATIVENESS??

Writing on the walls...

2007-08-26T10:21:00.000-05:00

Everybody needs a little motivation to get their creative juices flowing right? Well check out the Uppercase Living words that I put on my scrapbook room walls this week! Gotta love em'....but can a girl have too many words in her life and on the walls? NO....NEVER!!!! It's just another way to tell the story...one day at a time and one word at a time! Stay tuned for a lot more words!!!

Why do I need A blog?

2007-08-21T17:56:00.000-05:00

Seems that everyone has a blog now days and I never really felt the need until my son told me I needed one!!! What do I have to write about that anybody else would give two hoots about? Did you forget Michael that you are the one that just traveled all over the world and taught English in China for the last ten months???? My life is boring!!! I eat...sleep...and dream scrapbooking 24 hours a day it seems like!! Cuttin'...and a pastein' day in and day out!! I will have to say that it does make for a very colorful world with all the new goodies that come out every single day! Hopefully through this blog you'll start to see my ADDICTION through my eyes as I try to preserve the memories...one day at a time ....one page at a
time!!!