In The Lime Light

Second Batch of December Daily Pics

2010-12-15T09:49:00.000-06:00

December Daily Pages

2010-12-04T05:48:00.000-06:00

Long time no post, but it is photo heavy. Decided to play along with Ali E. this year and create a DD album. Took a while to put together and I started after Thanksgiving b/c that is when the season starts to me. I have to say that so far it is one of my fave projects. I already love the memories that are recorded in here. It is going to be chunky and full of goodness by the 25th. A great way to record Claire's first holiday season as well. If you are interested in the project details or want some great inspiration, check out the link. December Daily

***click each pic to see them larger.

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-28T13:14:00.000-05:00

Claire and I at the Pumpkin Patch. She wouldn't look at the camera straight on, so this is as good as it gets :-) This is the little outfit she is wearing for Halloween.

Getting Serious About Design

2010-09-03T12:22:00.003-05:00

I decided that I really want to take my scrapping to the next level. I don't want my layouts to be hit or miss anymore. So I am going to start studying design principles, so I can make more pleasing layouts. I am taking two online classes. One is Design Workshop by Lisa Dickinson at Ella Publishing and the other is Building Pages by Debbie Hodges at Get It Scrapped. I am happy with my pages, but I want to improve and I believe that I have room for growth. This is the first layout using a grid design. It is the first lesson in Lisa's book. I really love it. First time I have ever used a grid before :-)

All of the pp pieces came from this kit except for the background. Journaling: If you knew how much grandma loved you, you'd know you were the luckiest girl in the world.

New Layouts

2010-08-07T10:56:00.001-05:00

Adding layouts I did for a challenge over at Willow Traders :-) Sorry for the bad pics. Too lazy to scan and the lighting is bad right now.

Feeling Crafty :-) Multiple Layouts

2010-07-23T14:20:00.001-05:00

Been feeling crafty lately :-) Gotta use up those Noel Mignon kits somehow :-) Did all these this week. I am in love with 8.5x11 layouts right now. I did my first one a week or two ago. I think I may switch over from 12x12. Some of these also use sketches by Becky Fleck. Still trying to get use to arranging items on a 8.5x11 layout vs. 12x12. Click the pics to read the journaling and see details on the 8.5x11 layouts.

2010-07-09T13:53:00.000-05:00

Hadn't posted over here in a while. I have a private website set up for Claire and jsut don't have much time to do both. But i do know a few people check in here to see pics of Claire growing, so here is one from her fourth month :-) She is getting so big, is super bright and healthy :-)

Photo Heavy :-)

2010-06-06T18:17:00.001-05:00

I have been feeling very crafty lately. Sharing some of my most recent layouts. Baby girl is featured in all of them :-) She is doing so well and growing so big :-) Total joy in my life. She is almost 4 months now.

Week In The Life Project

2010-04-27T12:02:00.001-05:00

Ali Edwards did her week in the life project again and I decided to join in. You take pictures everyday for a whole week of everything that you do and then you pick certain pics to journal about, etc. This is the opening page to my album. It is 8.5x11, which I have never used before. I think I will post the pieces as I put it together.

2 Month Pic

2010-04-22T10:36:00.000-05:00

My little fuss box is a drama queen already, but I love all 11 lbs. of her:-) she is truly a blessing and changing everyday. daddy and I are enthralled with her.

Easter Pic :-)

2010-04-05T12:35:00.002-05:00

She wasn't a happy camper, but oh well :-) My vision was good.

Baby Girl is 1 month

2010-03-25T12:41:00.000-05:00

Quick pic of the munchkin who is doing just fine and growing by the minute. Can't believe that 6 weeks have passed by already. She is a joy. Fussy :-) but a joy. Can't imagine life without her or the baby smell at the nape of her neck :-)

Well I thought I had 14 days left :-)

2010-02-15T17:33:00.000-06:00

Claire Noelle made her grand entrance 2 weeks early and on Valentine's Day. he weighs 6lbs and 12 ounces and is 20 inches long. We are both doing well and I will post a pic and more info when we make it home. She is absolutely perfect and the whole experience was much more than I ever imagined. I cried with the final push and couldn't stop when I first met her. It truly is a blessing and I am thankful that God blessed us in this way. I am still in a bit of shock at this little person we created and so nervous at the responsibility and so ready to embark on this new journey.

17 Days Left

2010-02-10T14:05:00.002-06:00

I am totally ready to explode. Good lord I don't think my skin can stretch anymore.

Weeks 2-4 for my Gratitude Project

2010-01-27T17:05:00.000-06:00

Here are weeks 2-4 for the gratitude project I am working on. If you scroll down a few posts you will find my first week entry and the reason behind the project. It is really helping me to be more aware of the small joys in life.

Decorative Light Switch and Socket Covers

2010-01-26T12:27:00.000-06:00

I wanted some decorative ones, but couldn't find a style I liked, so I decided to put my craft supplies to good use and make my own. We didn't paint her room a decorative color b/c we had the whole house painted a soft cream earlier in the year, so I am trying to bring in color through various objects. I used pattern paper, mod podge and stickles.

8th Month Pic

2010-01-26T11:35:00.000-06:00

Really coming down to the wire. Only 5 more weeks remaining if she comes on her due date. You wait the whole pregnancy for this point and then when it comes you wonder if you are really ready for it. I honestly feel like my whole life is about to change. Kind of heavy. On the other hand, I am really ready to hold this little lady and see who she is. You will notice that my hair is down for the first time in 8 months b/c I caved and got it permed for my maternity photo shoot this past Saturday and my upcoming baby shower this Saturday. I feel like a human being again. I didn't realize how much your outside can affect your inside.

Claire's Cubbie System

2010-01-11T11:33:00.000-06:00

Here are pics of the cubbie system we bought and assembled this weekend. Love the colors and can't wait to finish decorating. The piggy bank was a Christmas gift from her daddy, which is why it is the only non blue, green, red, brown item in the room :-) He worked really hard putting the cubbie together. The directions were horrible. Hopefully, we will be ordering the bed and dresser this week.

9 Month Collage

2010-01-07T10:16:00.000-06:00

Okay, so on the 3rd of December I posted a collage of my pics so far. I bought the template and then realized I hated it. Searched for a while and couldn't find anything I liked. So I said to myslef, " self, you have almost the same computer tools the designers have, do it on your own." Took me a bit to figure out the logistics, but I think I have a self created template that I love.

This is the one I bought:

This is the one I made:

7th Month Pic

2010-01-07T10:07:00.002-06:00

Thought I would finally get around to sharing this. It is from early December. I take my 8th month pic pretty soon. I am 33 weeks, so that means only 7 more weeks to go. We start childbirth classes this week. I started my every 2 week appointments and at the last one on Monday the doctor said she is head down, has a strong heartbeat and is measuring right on track. She has finally decided to be active, so I feel her move all the time now. I guess she got tired of me worrying everyday and poking her to get some movement :-) Although I am ready to be done with the pregnancy pains, I know I will miss the life inside of me. Total affirmation that there is a God when you have the ability to grow a life.

Gratitude Project: Week One

2010-01-06T18:38:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I have decided to start a new project with the new year. It is called Weekly Gratitude and the basics are that you find one thing each week to be grateful about and document it via pictures, journaling, scrapbooking, etc. Here is the more detailed version of the project: Gratitude Project Blog Basically it is an opportunity to focus on the more positive aspects in our lives and to make it a habit to appreciate our daily life. The link is for the current version I am doing with a group at Willow Traders. The orginal version was done by Brenda Arnall

Here is my pic for Week One and my journaling:

Progression Photos

2009-12-03T15:05:00.000-06:00

6th Month Pic

2009-12-03T14:24:00.000-06:00

Thought I would share my 6th month pic and I added the 5th month pic for comparison. I think my belly has finally rounded out :-) Baby and I are doing fine as far as I know. 28 weeks down on Friday. 86 days remaining. 12 weeks left. Geez, can you feel my nervousness :-) LOL

Baby Nursery Red/Lime/ Aqua

2009-11-02T19:10:00.001-06:00

This is the color scheme I plan to use in the nursery. I wanted something clean, fresh, and feminine. The pic should get bigger if you click on it.

The bedding I wanted was $450 (don't ask and yes it is outrageous), so I bought just the sheets and the changing pad cover. The bed skirt is from a different company (decided on no bumper or quilt).

The two wall decals with the trees and tree branches will be white, but the birds will be aqua, red or lime.

The three pieces of art work (the bird cage and the two quotes) will stay the same.

The red/blue knob will go on the dressers. They will replace the knobs on the maple furniture that is pictured.

The "Sophie" will have the baby's name and will remain blue with either red or lime birds.

5 Month Picture

2009-10-22T08:11:00.002-05:00

Not sure there is any hiding it now, but I still haven't gotten any comments from strangers. We are both doing great. Scary to think only four months left to go b/f she is here. Very excited :-)

Recent Layouts

2009-10-19T10:43:00.002-05:00

I joined this challenge on the scrapbooking message board I belong to. They post three challenges each week using different themes and prompts. They have really been good ideas for layouts and I have gotten a lot done. I really should stop being lazy and get out my scanner, but it hasn't happened yet, so I apologize for the pics of the layouts.

Our Bedding/Furniture Options

2009-10-14T14:34:00.002-05:00

You can click the pics to make them larger to see the detail.

2009-10-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

New Layouts

2009-10-02T16:00:00.003-05:00

Here are a few layouts I have completed the last few months. You can click the pic to read the journaling or look at something up close. Sorry about the layout with the extra shiny birds :-)

3rd and 4th month pics

2009-09-23T15:33:00.005-05:00

Okay, so yeah I am still alive and yes I am behind on posting pics. Here you go mom :-) The babe is fine, I am for the most part fine and we find out the gender on October 6th. Super excited. We both think it is a girl. Not sure if it is baby or bloat just yet. I got fooled before with 2 week mega bloat. And I have only gained 1 lb at 18 weeks, so the baby is very good at redistributing my pre-motherly stores of love :-)

My Friend Jen :-)

2009-08-06T12:30:00.004-05:00

Here is a pic of me with one of my closest (sp?) friends. She came to visit about a month ago and it was great to see her. I am not one to keep a lot of friends from the past, but we have been friends since 2001/2002, which is a good amount of time in my book. She is quirky and I love her :-) I can't wait to scrap this pic. Side note: If you can't tell, I am feeling a whole lot better today. No preggo queasiness. If this continues tomorrow, I will upload the 3-4 layouts I have done recently. This is in honor of my sister, who said why don't you post your layouts, to which I replied I am lazy and don't feel like getting out the scanner :-)

2nd Month Preggo Pic

2009-08-06T12:23:00.002-05:00

I am loading this with a bit of hesitation. I swear to you I have not gained any weight since I found out I was preggo, but the bloat in month two is unbearable and I look like I am 5 months :-( This has been a hard month. I am queasy every day and I sleep for hours at a time even if I get a full nights sleep. I am looking forward to the second trimester. They say you start to feel human again :-) Here you go mom. She calls and says well I know you are almost 4 months, so where is the two month pic :-) Tomorrow I will be 11 weeks along.

1 Month Preggo Photo

2009-07-06T20:01:00.002-05:00

Here is my one month pic. I am going to take a pic at the end of each month wearing the same thing, so at the end I will have a nice little progression of my belly growth :-) I am excited can you tell :-) :-) :-) I am six weeks so far and to think I have like 34 more to go. This pregnancy thing takes way to long....Today I had my first experence with morning sickness; needless to say I wish I could pass on this badge of courage.

Vacation Album Pics

2009-06-05T15:27:00.005-05:00

These are what the pages look like that I am putting into a mini album. Each page is 8x8 printed on photo paper and I am going to mount it on top of pp and adhere it into a chipboard album. I did four other sheets, but I forgot to save them, so I could post them here. I am really excited about the project. Can't wait until I get the items I ordered from 2 Peas to decorate the album. I am using the new travel line by Little Yellow Bicycle. Hopefully, you can read the journaling. If not, try and click on the pic to make it bigger.

I AM BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-04T09:50:00.002-05:00

We got our baby back last week. I am so HAPPY. But now I am in a quandry as to how to proceed with my 365 project. I have most of the pics I missed and I am sure I can fill in, but I am not sure I want to back track and post them all on my blog :-( Any suggestions ???

Sidenote: I do have some awesome vacation photos. It was an awesome trip.

Just Checking In

2009-04-20T12:33:00.001-05:00

Hello. I am still alive, but my computer is not, so I haven't been able to post pics (although I have still been taking them). Hopefully, Rob will figure out something this week.

Day 89 Pic of the Day (Sexitar)

2009-03-30T22:17:00.004-05:00

So the ladies over at Willow Traders have been adding new avatars. Mine has always been the pic you see on my blog to the right. I thought I would give something new a shot. So this is my new avatar over there, which Rob calls my "sexitar." He thinks the off the shoulder is a bit sassy. I do too, which is why I picked it :-) LOLOLOLOL
You can create your own here: Mangatar Have FUN !!!!

Day 88 Pic of the Day (Spring????? Part 2)

2009-03-30T22:16:00.001-05:00

Woke up to snow this morning. Yep you heard correctly....SNOW. Will post pic later.

Day 87 Pic of the Day (Spring????)

2009-03-28T14:23:00.002-05:00

Umm, it has been 70-80 degrees the last couple of weeks and then today it is 45 degrees. Where is spring???? My grass is a little greener, but my tree still has no leaves. I don't believe in having heat on a couple days before April :-(

Day 86 Pic of the Day (Enjoy the Process)

2009-03-28T14:15:00.003-05:00

Today is a rather cool day for me. Today is the day the doctor told me that I should be fine to start family planning. This is very exciting to me. After being married for almost 6 years, approaching 30 and finally deciding that maybe I could raise a good kid in this world, we are going to finally take the plunge. She suggested I wait a month to get my body back on its natural cycle and then told me to have fun. I asked about an ovulation calendar and she told me she didn't believe in using those at the start. She said having a baby was a magical process and that my hubby and I should focus on connecting with each other and enjoying the process :-) She told me to simply have fun and have fun often :-) Rob got a kick out of that. She said if I wasn't pregnant in 6-12 months, that I could begin to look into counting days and all the extra stuff, but not to worry about it now. So I won't worry and I will just enjoy the process and continue my daily prayers to God for a healthy, happy, and smart baby.

Day 85 Pic of the Day (Mail Goodies #2)

2009-03-28T14:09:00.003-05:00

I have been drooling over these kits for months. But the price has been preventing me from taking the plunge. Like $41 a month for each kit. Well someone on Willow Traders (can you see how much I love this place) was selling both kits for about the price of one. So I couldn't resist any longer. These are packed kits, the colors are great and I love the embellishments. My Creative Scrapbook makes great kits. I couldn't wait to play with these items. They look better in person than the pics show them. Now I can't decide if I should get a subscription to them or to Scarlet Lime (the club I won three free kits from earlier). They are both nicely packed with cool embellishments. Decisions, decisions, decisions because I won't buy both. Right?????

Day 84 Pic of the Day (Mail Goodies #1)

2009-03-28T14:02:00.002-05:00

Look at what I got in the mail today. Scrap goodies and lots of them. The first pic are items I bought at a sale from Memorable Seasons. I got all this stuff for like $20. Unheard of. But she has awesome sales. The second pic is a kit I won on Willow Traders from Scrapperie Kits. Lots of paper goodness in this box. I am in scrap heaven right now. It gets better tomorrow.

Day 83 Pic of the Day (Wall Quotes Again)

2009-03-28T13:59:00.001-05:00

Well if you love it once, you should do it twice right???? I put this vinyl quote at the top of our staircase. It looks really nice when the sun hits the cold. And I must say this has been one of my fave quotes for many years now. Everyone that's been to the house comments on it :-)

Day 82 Pic of the Day (Choices)

2009-03-28T13:45:00.004-05:00

These are our final two selections for a blacksplash choice. We decided to go with the shiny one on the left. It looks modern, reflects light and blends in well with the countertop and cabinets. If you can believe it, Rob said it looked too plain to him. It was a reversal of fortune this day because he also liked the more expensive one. The stone one on the right was very nice, but ti looked more italian villaish and that isn't the mood of our home. Plus it was $6 more expensive a square foot. I think we might put a couple of stone accent pieces in to make it stand out a bit more for Rob.

Day 81 Pic of the Day (Groceries)

2009-03-28T13:43:00.002-05:00

Nothing fancy today. Went grocery shopping in between church services. In and out in under an hour. We were hustling. Love the look of a full refridegerator. Means we are blessed.

Day 80 Pic of the Day (FCCF)

2009-03-28T13:40:00.003-05:00

Went to church today to do some community service. Once a month this year we have volunteered to do Communion. I really enjoy it and feel like I am doing something useful for the body of Christ. It is behind the scenes and no one really knows your name. But it really doesn't matter. It feels good to serve others. I have always loved volunteering in any capacity and it is something I hope to pass on to our kids.

Day 79 Pic of the Day (See an inch take a mile)

2009-03-28T13:35:00.002-05:00

So after doing the whole demo and sink installation a couple weeks agao, Rob and I are feeling kinda handy dandy. So what do we do, we install a dimmer switch on our fan light combo in the livingroom. Did we need it? No. Is it purely asthethic? Yes. And guess what. I LOVE it. I call it mood lighting :-) Rob says whatever makes you happy and it does.Took us a bit to find the right one, but it was super quick to install. I think I have a knack for this home improvement stuff. Kitchen backsplash here we come.

Day 78 Pic of the Day (SpongeBob)

2009-03-28T13:31:00.003-05:00

Okay I admit it....I watch SpongeBob Square Pants. Each and Everyday. I enjoy it. I don't know why, sometimes I am ashamed by it. But mostly I don't care. I listen to it while I am on the computer working. Lucky me it comes on five hours a day on various channels and yes I have not gone somewhere before because a new episode was coming on. We all have to a have a bit of fun and quirky in each of us. It drives Rob crazy, but I think it maintains a bit of my youth and fun side.

Day 77 Pic of the Day (Kit Raffle)

2009-03-22T18:50:00.003-05:00

I am super lucky this month. I won another kit on Willow Traders. I told Rob that I should play the lotto this month due to my lucky streak.

Day 76 Pic of the Day (Picture Wall)

2009-03-22T18:48:00.002-05:00

Yes, I bought it and Rob put it up. I love the way it looks on the wall. It really fills the room up and will be great when I put our personal pictures inside of it. This room won't need much of anything else once the frames are up and filled. I do get trendy points right ???? :-)

Day 75 Pic of the Day (Book Club Layout)

2009-03-22T18:44:00.004-05:00

Used some of the items I won from the Scarlet Lime kit club. I love blue, gray and orange together.

Day 74 Pic of the Day (It matches?)

2009-03-22T18:39:00.003-05:00

This is like our fourth attempt to match the backsplash with the cabinets and countertops. This one looked perfect in the store. Brought it home and not so much. Kinda like too much of a good thing. Sure looks gorgeous in this picture though. Due to the success of our previous home improvement projects, Rob and I have decided to do the backsplash ourselves if we can finally decide on one.

Day 73 Pic of the Day (Weekend Warriors Pt.2)

2009-03-22T18:31:00.003-05:00

After the men installed the countertops (they look gorgeous by the way) Rob and I had to install all the sink components. We picked out this cute faucet from Lowe's I believe and had to buy PVC pipes, elbow joints, plumbers putty, screws and water connectors. Sounds important doesn't it. It took us a couple hours, a few trips to Home Depot, we had some scrapped knuckles (under the sink is a small work space), but no leaks and a brand new working faucet with a sprayer. Not sure why I don't have any pics of Rob under the sink. He was there helping. I am so proud of us :-)

Day 72 Pic of the Day (Weekend Warriors Pt.1)

2009-03-22T18:24:00.003-05:00

This is perhaps the proudest day in our homeownership experience. Rob and I took out our old countertops, sink, and island to make way for the granite countertops we ordered. It took us a couple of hours, we swore a bit, put a small gash in the wall, read the internet, watched informational videos, and finally completed the job with no tears and no blood drawn. All in all, I say it was a very successful experience. We aren't the handiest people in the world. Rob's motto is that he works with his brains, so he doesn't have to use his hands. Well today my baby used both. I was also in the thick of it and discovered that I have good common sense and a knack for home improvement projects. Tomorrow we install the sink, drains, garbage disposal and new faucets.

Day 71 Pic of the Day (Picture Day)

2009-03-22T18:20:00.004-05:00

This is what it looks like when you get behind on printing your pic of the days for your album. This concept does take a bit of organization. I LOVE the idea of having snapshots of my life, but it takes some training to remember to take a pic each day and it take stime to upload them to the computer, type an entry for them, and then fix them in Adobe before printing them out. I am glad I have made the 3 month mark.

Day 70 Pic of the Day "Crusing"

2009-03-22T18:15:00.004-05:00

It's official. We got our cruise tickets in the mail, our informational booklet, and all the information about the shore excursions. We are going to visit a real volcano (Rob's dream), swim with the dolphins (my dream), lay out on the beach, and tour the Barcadi Rum factory (our dream). It should be a ton of fun. May isn't coming quick enough.

Day 69 Pic of the Day "Free Goodies"

2009-03-22T18:07:00.002-05:00

Look at some of the fabulous goodies I won from Scarlet Lime Kit club. I am in LOVE you all. The colors are fabulous and the embellies work well with the detailed papers.

Day 68 Pic of the Day "Waffle Layout"

2009-03-22T18:03:00.003-05:00

I had another layout I was going to put here, but I didn't feel like scanning it, so I am going to post a layout I did recently. Love my hubby :-) Sorry for the scanner line down the right side. It was working kinda wonky. Click layout to read journaling.

Day 67 Pic of the Day "Oh Baby"

2009-03-22T17:09:00.007-05:00

I LOVE this layout I made to celebrate us deciding to start a family. The colors are soooo vibrant. You scrapbook to remember these moments.

Day 66 Pic of the Day (Wine Trip)

2009-03-10T12:22:00.002-05:00

This is our first trip of the season, but it won't be our last. The weather was unexpected gorgeousness. 78 degrees and windy. Gotta love that in March in the midwest. We visited 3 wineries with Latonia and Sean and his business assoiciates. All new wineries to us. Good wine, good snacks, good weather, good conversation. We had dinner at his clients house and it was very tasty. We also visited a winery set in a cave. weird location, very dim, and cold, but some of the best wine we had on the trip. They have this one wine they serve in a shot glass made of all chocolate. It was awesome.

Day 65 Pic of the Day (Fortune Cookies)

2009-03-10T12:19:00.002-05:00

Unfotunately, I didn't realize how blurry these were when I took them at P.F Chang. Anyhoo, the quotes were nice and fit where we are right now in life. Too bad I don't remember them :-) Love this place for Asian food. It is healthier than normal Asian restaurants and they have tasty dishes. Remember though that healthier doesn't mean healthy. They do have some steamed dishes.

Day 64 Pic of the Day (Cruising)

2009-03-10T12:16:00.003-05:00

We are doing it. We are taking our dream vacation to the Southern Caribbean. We hoped others would join us, but no one was able to. We will have a boat load of fun for everyone else. We will be visiting St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, St. Thomas, St. Kitts and another locale. This is our last hoorah as married w/ no children, so we wanted it to be extra special. We leave in May and I can't wait. We also managed to get the cruise with an Oceanview room for the lowest price we have ever seen it for. And we are also spending one day in San Juan once the cruise is done. SUPER COOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 63 Pic of the Day (Some love for Mom)

2009-03-10T12:11:00.002-05:00

I did this layout of mom b/c I had the pics and have wanted to do something with it for a while. It was also a challenge on WT to do a layout using 3 scap items 3 different times. I have brads, stickers, and pp. The pic was taken last mother's day. You can click it to increase the pic to read the journaling. Now that Rob and I are really moving forward with the baby thing, I have become a bit reflective on my mom. She is cool :-) And I am not just saying that b/c she reads my blog. LOL

Day 62 Pic of the Day (Message Board)

2009-03-10T12:06:00.004-05:00

I have an addictive personality, which is one reason I have never done any illegal substances. My new addiction is hanging out on the message boards and blogs again, since I have become addicted to scrapping again as well. I really enjoy Willow Traders for the ladies and their love of kits and embellishments. I spend a couple hours on scrap boards and blogs each day. Sometimes the little pads on my scrolling hand hurt and then I have to force myself to do something else. Kinda crazy I know.

Day 61 Pic of the Day (Decorating)

2009-03-10T11:53:00.003-05:00

I think I have found a good arrangement over the fireplace. Now if I could only figure out the other rooms in the house :-)

Day 60 Pic of a the Day (Communion)

2009-03-10T11:50:00.004-05:00

Every month I volunteer one weekend to set up the communion for all 3 church services. I really enjoy doing it and I feel good when I see the tray being served during service. We all have to pitch in to do the work that uplifts the kingdom of God whether it is behind the scene or in front of it. The lady doing it now is looking to hand it over to someone else, and I may begin to pray on whether or not I want to oversee this committee of one and hopefully weekly volunteers.

Day 59 Pic of the Day (Creative Spirit)

2009-03-10T11:47:00.004-05:00

I am enjoying the creative process again. I did this for a challenge on Willow Traders. You had to do a whole layout using nothing but rub ons. These notes are ones Rob left for me around the house one day. He is sweetie pie most days :-) You should be able to enlargeto read the journaling. Normally I scan these, but my scanner sounds like it is dying, so a pic will have to do.

Day 58 Pic of the Day (New Do)

2009-03-10T11:44:00.003-05:00

Okay, not exactly a new do, but if you saw the pic on the 36th, you will understand how liebrating having staright hair is. This is my fave relaxer after years of testing products. My hair is super tamed, shiny, and stays that way for a longer period of time.

Day 57 Pic of the Day (You Should Be in Picture Frames)

2009-03-10T11:41:00.004-05:00

Just about the coolest product in Michael's recently. I love picture walls, but was confused on how to create a good arrangement. Well this takes all the guess work out of it. Downside they are not cheap, but they are 40% off this week, so I splurged on it. Now to find pics I love to put in them and to hang them up. Some of these are huge like 16 by something.

Day 56 Pic of the Day (Name Game)

2009-03-10T11:36:00.002-05:00

Rob and I always do everything with our own personal twist. Never the simple route and always quirky. So I am not pregnant yet, but we both realize finding a name we both agree with will be tricky. So what do we do but create a name board. I used to put my dinner menues on here, but now we write down names we like and erase ones we can't stand. We have about 6 in the acceptable pile, so we feel the process is going well :-) Claire and Cameron were the first to make the list. Maybe it's a sign we will have twins or something.

Daily Quote

2009-03-05T21:18:00.001-06:00

Positive Thoughts :-)

2009-03-05T21:15:00.001-06:00

Totally LOVED the thought of these and the positive mind frame they put me in. I got them from the Donna Downey Creative E-mail. She got them from a little book at Starbuck's.

MOVE FORWARD - "Yesterday is a cancelled check. The past is not your potential. There are far better things ahead than any you leave behind. the next 5 years are a blank canvas - clean and bright. Decide that you will throw all the paint on it you can."

KEEP YOUR WORD - "Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Look the world straight in the eye. Live and work with honesty, openness and integrity; keep your promises, and everything else is a piece of cake."

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE CRANKY - " Attitude is a choice. We create our own world by the way we choose to see it. For the next five years your mind can focus on fear, worry, problems, negativity or despair. or it can focus on confidence, opportunity, solutions, optimism and success. You decide."

Day 55 Pic of the Day (Longhorn)

2009-03-03T11:37:00.003-06:00

Nothing really to say, but they have AMAZING steaks and Rob loves their Baked Sweet Potatoes. I get the New York Strip everytime. I also love the new decor they have up. Less lodgy and more sophisticated.

Day 53 Pic of the Day (Crosswords)

2009-03-03T11:32:00.002-06:00

I LOVE crossword puzzles. I watch the gameshow on TV, play the online version and complete the ones that come in the paper. I am not the best, but I have improved a lot. I like that you have to figure out clues, use your brains and have a bit of luck. They are a great way to pass time and when I am stressed a good destresser. I read that a young boy does teh New York times one in about 20 minutes. It takes me that long to get just 5 words done :-) And sometimes that is all I know. LOL

Day 52 Pic of the Day (Book Club meeting)

2009-03-03T11:28:00.003-06:00

As I said before, I am in a bookclub with my mom and sister. It is going fine so far. We have read some interesting things and had some good discussions. This was book # 4. We have also read: Revolutionary Road, The Shack and How to Make an American Quilt. Our next selection is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

Day 51 Pic of the Day (Hardware)

2009-03-03T11:23:00.003-06:00

Since we are in the home improvement mood, I thought now would be a good time to add hardware to the kitchen cabinets. It is not too expensive and really adds an impact. We bought a little tool to help with the placement and with the exception of three knobs, it went smoothly. We put in like 21. They are going to look amazing when we get the granite countertops in. I was really proud of Rob and the job that he did. He doesn't do labor, but he did it for me :-) Thay's why I LOVE him.

Day 50 Pic of the Day (Clean Scraproom)

2009-03-03T10:56:00.003-06:00

What is the best way to find your scrap mojo after completing only 2-3 layouts all of last year????? Clean your scraproom of course and discover all the goodies you once loved. Touch the embellishments, smell the paper and bask in the glitter. All of a sudden I LOVE being in there again and I am excited about doing challenges at Willow Traders that get me scrapping again.

Day 48 Pic of the Day (Hallmark)

2009-03-03T10:53:00.002-06:00

My youngest sister is turning Sweet 16. I went to buy her a card from walgreens. I could nto resist the spanish card I picked out. She is currently taking Spanish, doesn't understand a word of it and hates that it's the only thing her teacher speaks in the class. So yes, I thought it would be too funny to get her a card in all Spanish for her b-day. She will surely remember it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUBBA.

Day 47 Pic of the Day (Sweet Comfort)

2009-03-03T10:48:00.003-06:00

Rob and I can be frugal and lazy at the same time. So that is what happened with our bed. We bought teh first bed for like $600 when we first got married 5 years ago. We should have gotten rid of it 2 years ago. It had a huge dent that you could literally roll in to :-) It was even causing us back pains. Well now we are living large with our brand new Seally posturepedic. It is HEAVEN. Super thick, super padded, super comfortable.

BEFORE: I put the stuff on the bed, so you could see the height difference. Sorry for the bad lighting making everything look yellow. Didn't feel like getting my good camera out.

AFTER: Pure Perfection

Day 46 Pic of the Day (My Fave Food)

2009-03-03T10:44:00.002-06:00

What does a person from Chicago LOVE??????? Deep dish pizza. I finally found a spot in STL that offers a pretty good replica that doesn't feel heavy or too thick. Rob even likes the place. I meant to take a picture of the whole fresh pizza, but I couldn't resist eating right away, and so this was all that was left when I remembered I wanted to take a pic :-) LOL the restaurant name is cute as well: Pi

Day 45 Pic of the day (Valentine Love)

2009-03-03T10:41:00.002-06:00

We spent the weekend at a hotel downtown. We went to the movies, ate a good lunch, got dressed up, had a nice dinner and had a good breakfast the next morning. It was a nice Valentine's day. Probably our last one alone :-) And yes, this dessert was tasty.

Day 44 Pic of the Day (Wall Art)

2009-03-03T10:38:00.004-06:00

So yeah now I feel super trendy with vinyl letters up on my wall :-) LOL These were not as easy to get on as they would have you believe. Especially the intricate parts. But I LOVE it. Rob came in and said, "Umm that does make a difference." High praise from him.

Day 49 Pic of the Day (Sweet Sixteen)

2009-02-18T14:55:00.002-06:00

DISCLAIMER: I know this out of sync, but I was so proud that I created a layout that I had to share anyway. I will post the prior days sometime this week.

I think I found my mojo by cleaning my scrap room. To prove it, I went in there today and I felt a desire to create. Saw this challenge and thought it would be a great starter. My baby sister turned 16 today and I got a little teary. We have a super close relationship. My husband always jokes that I need a DNA test to prove she isn't mine. I love her to death and now she isn't the little girl I used to take downtown for lunch at McDonalds and a stroll through Toys R Us

Day 43 Pic of the Day (Decorating Fever)

2009-02-12T15:37:00.002-06:00

So... I don't always like to spend money, but when the mood hits, I go with the flow. A newly painted house screams for decorations and I feel like obliging. Here are a few pics of things I saw in Pier One that I might want to add to the house. Obviously, I like reds, greens, and creams. Those colros are found in almost everyroom of the house.

Day 42 Pic of the Day (Deck Drawing)

2009-02-12T15:33:00.002-06:00

Here is a drawing of the new deck we are thinking of having installed in the next few weeks. The deck floor is gray and the spindles are obviously white. I think it is going to be super cute. Rob's grilling stuff goes on the left side and the new patio furniture will go on the right. I am also going to buy one of those deck boxes to store the cushions, so they won't get destroyed by the weather like the first ones we bought. We were always too lazy to bring them in when it rained.

Day 41 Pic of the Day (Tapas)

2009-02-12T15:27:00.004-06:00

Well today was the day for our wine club tasting. Seems we have been indulging in spirits a lot lately :-) The red were better than the whites today. They also had a very good dessert wine. We went to Barcelone afterwards, which is a Spanish Tapas Bar. The food was good as always and the Sangria was okay. The place has a good vibe and is small and cozy.

Day 40 Pic of the Day (House Renovation)

2009-02-12T15:07:00.004-06:00

Rob and I decided to have the entire house painted one color. We went with Bone White from Porter paints. No more green, purple, brown, and creamed colored walls. We thought it was cute and romantic to paint the house together when we first built it. Now we want it to be clean, warm colored, and professionally done. What a difference 4 years make :-)We love the new color on the walls. Every room feels bigger and brighter. This is the painters doing repair work on the walls before beginning the paint process. So this is not the current wall color. I would take a pic, but not sure I culd do it justice.

Well here is a pic of the wall and some new decorative items I bought. Not sure if it shows well.

Day 39 Pic of the Day (60 Degree Grill)

2009-02-12T14:52:00.003-06:00

Rob says he doesn't grill unless it is above 60 degrees. It was unseasonably nice for a February, so I am not sure if it was 60 degrees, but I unthawed Rob's ribs and let him know I was expecting to eat them on Sunday. He kindly obliged and they were pretty tasty :-)

Day 38 Pic of the Day (Flat Tire)

2009-02-12T14:48:00.003-06:00

We learned that Rob doesn't really want to live in the city because back alleys give you flat tires :-( Thank goodness for AAA. We have been thinking about maybe moving to a house in the city closer to things we do. We saw a few nice rehabbed homes, but the back alley ways were a sure fire turn off for Rob. He handled the flat tire well. I think we have decided to stay put in suburbia :-)

Day 37 Pic of the Day (Arcade Fun)

2009-02-12T14:43:00.003-06:00

Our friends also belong to a wine club, so we went with them to their open tasting. We sampled a bunch of wine. Afterward we went to dinner like we always do. At the restaurant, they had an arcade golf game. My friend's husband is a golf fanatic, so we had to play. Rob and I lost, but neither of us play golf, so we didn't feel to bad. It's nice to have friends you can hang out with eespecially when you share similar dispositions and tastes.

Me with another bad hair day :-) Geez, I really should have blowed dried right away. LOL

Day 36 Pic of the Day (Bad Hair Day)

2009-02-12T14:39:00.003-06:00

Clear sign that it is time for a perm is when your hair looks like this after a simple washing :-) And to add to the trouble is the fact that I was lazy and didn't blow dry right away. So my hair air dried. Blow drying in this state is near impossible. It is almost easier to rewash and start again.

Day 35 Pic of the Day (Target is Dangerous)

2009-02-12T14:35:00.002-06:00

I am sure that I don't need to tell anyone that Target is a dangerous location. You go in with a list for $10 and leave spending well, I mean well over $100. My downfall was the fact that I picked up a cart. A cart begs you to fill it with something. And who I am to deny the cart what it wants. I started small, but it continued to grow. Needless to say Rob wasn't very pleased. But he doesn't understand the allure of Target.

Day 34 Pic of the Day (Julius Caesar)

2009-02-12T14:33:00.002-06:00

I don't remember reading this play in high school and I had a strong background in classical literature. Anyhoo, this is my first time teaching it, so I had to read it and brush up on the plot and characters. Not a bad story in my opinion.

Day 33 Pic of the Day (Consideration)

2009-02-12T14:29:00.003-06:00

Rob knew I was having a funky day b/c of my job, so he came home and brought me a bouquet

of wild flowers. Nothing big, but the gesture says a lot to me. He really cares about my happiness. I love him :-) I should have photoshoped these, but I didn't feel liek it. You get the picture.

Day 32 Pic of the Day (Well Balanced Meal)

2009-02-12T14:26:00.003-06:00

A good meal makes you feel warm and fuzzy :-) Balsamic Pork Tenderloin from the Robin Miller cookbook. Super easy and Super tasty.

Day 31 Pic of the Day (Waffles)

2009-02-12T14:17:00.004-06:00

Well the Green Monster can make you hungary the next morning (LOL) so Rob made or attempted to make waffles the next day. The spirit was willing, but the batter was weak :-) Good play on words Keianna :-) I ate them anyway b/c I appreciated his effort. Not sure what happened. He usually makes a decent waffle.

Day 30 Pic of the Day (Green Monster)

2009-02-12T14:05:00.003-06:00

Rob made this drink he found on the internet. We call it the Green Monster b/c the actual name is something I wouldn't repeat in polite company :-) We had like 3 of these and played Spades all night long. I think I won, but I can't really remember or at least that's my story and I am sticking to it. Tasty drink, no hang over, downside... you don't remember anything the next morning. Which could be good or bad depending on who you are and who you hang out with :-)

Top 100

2009-02-05T17:49:00.003-06:00

Saw this on another scrappers blog and decided it would be good filler. Hopefully, my mom won't notice I haven't posted any pics of the week this week :-) I have taken them, I just don't feel like fixing them :-) All the blues are things I have done. Got to the bottom of the list and realized I have lived a very blessed and fortunate life. I have done a lot of things :-)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a/in a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

16 Things About Me

2009-02-02T13:12:00.003-06:00

I saw this on Ali E's blog and I have seen a lot of ladies doing these lately so I decided to join in :

1) I hate to feel overwhelmed. I am a pre-planner and it really freaks me out when I don't feel prepared and it's not my fault. Hence, why I am upset with my job today.

2) I will only eat ice cream if it has nuts in it i.e. walnuts (reminds me of my granny), pecans, almonds, pistacios (sp?), whatever it is I need the crunch.

3) I have lots of great ideas, but I am not very good with the follow through :-) What's the quote... the road to hell is paved with good intentions :-)

4) I love doing nice things for people, but I have to feel like they appreciate it. If I don't think they do, then I don't do it anymore. Obviously, I am still working on being a better christian. LOL

5) I love to travel.

6) I am a very passionate person, but my fire can fizzle quickly. I have well over two grand in camera equipment that I haven't used in over a year. But like I tell Rob, it doesn't go bad and you never know when my passion will resurface. He is still waiting on me to finish the mosaic table and to paint the barstools :-) LOL

7) I love my hubby b/c he is patient and accommadating. See the items above :-) He lets me be quirky and loves me anyway.

8) I eat popcorn just about every other day. My fave is called Chicago mix and is cheese and carmel mixed together. So delicious and so bad for you.

9) I enjoy cooking for Rob on most days. It fullfills my need to feel domestic at times.

10) I am deathly afraid of raising kids, but Rob and I are going to embark on it this year. You can be assured I will probably read every book on parenting out there..... at least twice :-)

11) I am still not sure what my life calling is and I am still not sure what it isn't. Kind of a jam isn't it???

12) Red makes me feel sexy and I happen to look good in it as well. One reason I am glad to be a Delta.

13) I am a bit of a phobic about germs and diseases.

14) I hate watching shows with week to week connecting storylines b/c I feel like they are forcing me to watch every week and that makes me mad. This is why I gave up Deperate Housewives and etc.

15) I watch SpongeBob faithfully and still enjoy Nickelodeon.

16) I will be 30 this year and somedays I still don't feel like an adult. Maybe it's because I watch SpongeBob :-) LOL

This wasn't so bad. You probably think I am a little odd now, oh well :-) Ciao

Day 29 Photo A Day (Nurse P.)

2009-01-29T14:32:00.002-06:00

So Rob had to have minor surgery a week ago. No pics b/c he refused to be photographed wrapped in bandages and gauze. So here is a pic of what my days have been like playing Nurse P. I told him I needed a wife raise since I was adding nurse to my job role :-) I haven't seen the increase yet :-( He is doing fine and even went back to work today.