you have to check out this layout that the very talented Nikki did...(i wish I could say I did it) she is one of my favorite scrappers....and we have been pubbed together a few times in Somerset Memories....but I was flattered when she asked to scrap me...for a contest over at Tally where you had to scrap a tally friend....so hope you will all go over to tally and give her some love http://tallyscrapper.com/scrapbook_gallery_challenge.php?challenge_id=682 but I am in love with the page and not because it has my face on it...ha,ha!! well we are off to school....and both of us are nervous.....excited up until now...but ready...trying to charge my camera batteries so we can at least get a first day of school pic....plus tonight it weigh in!!! what a day............

school night

so excited that it's my first school night, Sommer keeps telling us..how we are going to be sick of school after the first week, she forgets that we did our 12 years...but she's cute..she even gave me some folders, and stuff for my book bag...and she said she would help me out with the math...how this child does so good in math I have no idea (probably her dad) yesterday I vegetated all day...stayed in my pj's caught up on some laundry and dishes....Oh yeah..and scrapbooking...did this page of Tonee' just being toneeas I was letting the chickens out.....the rooster jumped on the picnic table acting all tough....even though he is a brat!! he sure looked beautiful...
today I am going to a bridal shower, which should be fun...haven't been to one in forever, plus I love the bride (miss erin)...plus I get to hang with my bff and catch up on a weeks worth of life!!

ready?

did a layout last night...for the OLW challenge #48 ready.... http://www.blogger.com/upload-image.do and all I could think of for the word was school....am I ready?? I have no idea....but yesterday I went and finished my testing...did pretty good...I stink at fractions!! yikes...we will just say math..period!! but they have great programs there to help you with stuff you're struggling with.....so here is mylayout for the challenge...about "ready"

gift card usage

went to pick up my gift cards from the yard sale.....was really happy...ended up making $144.00 in store credit!!! yay....so I had to spend a little bit of that...so I picked up a bunch of the new cosmo cricket..love the bright colors....and also some thickers I've been eyeing..and those new rubons from glitz!! I've also been eyeing..these new transperancies from hambly!!!

and then I actually scrapbooked...a page yesterday between my Nyquil Naps....still fighting this cold!! hate it..but I think it's almost gone.. took these pics of alyssa and mikey...can't believe these babies are my baby brothers.....


got to run up to the school today to finish my testing....refresher course for us older folks..ha,ha!!

yard sale finds

well the yard sale at scrappy chic was sunday....it was insane..people were wrapped around the front of the building waiting to get in for the sale...!!! hey...we like a deal.....!! there was so much stuff..to dig through..and yes..it was like digging for treasures...I didn't go to nuts but wanted to post some of the treasures I picked up....My friend renee picked up a couple things that she knew I had to have along her way..like those stamps...yum!! we had those in rubons and loved them!!! and 2 packs of heidi swapp chipboard hearts....that I use like crazy!! all this stuff was in a grab bag!! of rubons......love it!!
Yesterday was the orientation for dorsey school...it went really well...we got all our questions answered...and everytime we go back to the school it feels a little more comfy!! on one of our papers yesterday it was how to for student survival!! this one hit home "It's not as bad as you think...it is just new!!! that is so me!!!! so I am gonna hang on to that quote...today I go and take the test to see where you are as far as smarts...hee,hee...yep..little worried about that one...but she said there is no fail or pass, it's just to see how you're doing!!

last night was the first weigh I've missed....since I started (besides x-mas break) and you know what it didn't go well!! I didn't fall of the wagon as far as eating "bad" stuff...but I over did it on the good stuff!! yes that's possible...because it really comes down to the calories!! but that is when it comes handy to have your support system...which I know she is going to yell at me for not calling her....but I wanted to see if I could pull it together first...but it has been tough..and I will call her today, but I wondered how it would go without the accountability..and you know what it didn't go well....so I am well aware that I will be going to those meetings for a long time!! and they know that if I don't show up...it's probably time for a home visit!!!

would've been 28th weigh in at GLWW

a year in the life of an art journal "F"

here is my "f" for my abc art journal "free" http://oneyearartjournal.blogspot.com/

not to much going on here...going out to lunch with my uncles,grandma,aunt and mom....at red lobster..should be fun..and I know I can get something pretty healthy from there...thanks for all your comments and support...about school...it so helps...because one minute I am confindent..."like yeah...I can do this" and the next I am looking for the phone number to call and cancel!!! We go monday night for orientation....so that should get us even more excited.or more scared matters what mood we are in....but that means I will miss my first weigh in.....but after that it won't mess with the meetings...because school is earlier..but it will mean I won't be able to go to my grief group...and that breaks my heart..not only for the fact I think I still need it...but I love the ladies in my group...and I'm gonna miss them...but I guess I will have to look for a group that meets later in the afternoon or night!!! So excited for the yard sale tomorrow at scrappy chic!! and I'm officially packed and ready to go!!! and I think it's going to be fun...to hang out all day..during the craziness....so stop in and say hi!!! I will be the one with the big smile on her face doing snow angels...in all the scrappy goodness!! it's like getting to snoop through everybody elses stash...and then buy it if you want!!! love it....

excited/scared

yesterday I went with Tonee' to look into a medical assistant program, we talked about how she loved going to school...and since the job search isn't going so well...why not go back...but then she asked me...if I wanted to go with her??? what?? I'm supposed to tell her to go to school!!! so we went yesterday....had the tour, the financial part (yuck) and learned about the program....and "drumroll"....this is not a picture of her scrubs....it's mine!!!! Oh my Lord what have I done???

I have never been so excited and scared almost equally!! well I guess you might of knew they're my scrubs...for the "short" sticker on the pants...and you know what they're shorts and still long on me...but the good thing is when I was grabbing sizes off the shelf...to what I thought I would need...I ended up with 2 sizes smaller...which was really cool!!! I think in the end...I was the most nervous about drawing blood...not affraid of blood..but just the idea of hurting someone...but I guess that's why they teach you, and of course I started to throw doubt out there...if I was too..big to do CPR...if I let all the doubts go through my head...I would go nuts...but I'm learning that even the most confident people have those doubts sometimes.....my dream job would be to work in a weight loss doctors office...I think that would be right up my alley...but I have a year to worry about the job hunt part of it.....so not going to worry about that til' then...Oh well I am determined to finish pricing my scrapbook stuff for the sale on sunday...at scrappy chic...don't really have as much as I thought..but still feels good having it moved out!!

check this out

I was so honored to be asked to do an interview over at the "bloom where you're planted" blog it's a very inspirational blog, always postive things going on there, and she asks you questions that really make you think about the important things in life...so I hope you will all go take a peek http://inspiredbynana.blogspot.com/ and let me know what you think?I also wanted to post the rest of the layouts I did last weekend....
one of you had suggested taking pics of things in my car, so I did that one...I think that would be cool in the future..

going to check out one of those business schools with Tonee' today...hoping to get inspired, and find out what we can do for some financial help with the school.....she seems really excited to get back into school....so I figure why not now...since the job search is still not going well.....

27th weigh in at Great lakes weight and wellness

Happy St.Patricks Day....

just wanted to post a couple of my layouts I did this past weekend.....notice the over use of the labeler!! almost used it on every page.....this first one used some making memories ledger paper, I got out of the clearance section at scrappy chic......and the woodgrain paper is from Kristina Contes line. this one I used some pink paislee paper, and rubons...and then some of the new prima flowers, and the jouraling thing behind the pic is from anna griffin....
this flower paper is from sassafras Lass and so are the stickers, except for the red strip "thelma and louise" and the "us" those are both from 7 gypsies. and more prima flowers

this one I used october afternoon...got some of the yellow thickers from american crafts too....

So hoping today is an uneventful day.....need to pick up my house, do some laundry....stay in my pj's...kinda day.....Tomorrow..Sommer goes to see the dentist about braces....GREAT!! so we shall see how that goes...

mini book/ new toy

thought I would introduce you to my new toy...since I used it a ton this weekend..I've been using this labeler for some of my journaling....it's fun and easy...here is the cover of my mini book of lyrics....stole the title off of sommers chorus shirt...
almost all of the book is with the gypsy line from 7 gypsies...

it was fun to make....with not that many pics....but it's fun to flip through and see lyrics that mean alot to me...and I will probably add more along the way....speaking of lyrics..my new favorite song is "gravity" by sara Barellies ...so gorgeous!!! just put it on the ipod....yum!! also added the new rascal flatts "goodbye" and Natasha bedingfield "soulmate"....hope they help me at the gym today...I know I'm gonna be hurting since I haven't been since thursday!!! and it's weigh in tonight.....

were back....

well we are back from the weekend crop.......and tired...but it was fun!! I had picked up sommer from school....so we could head over early to the Hotel.....she was so excited!! besides looking forward to the weekend.....she had a choir thing....and her chorus won 2nd place....and even got a medal....too..cute!!!

sommer snapped a picture of the sign as we pulled in.............

after checking in...we peeked in on our room.....Mom wasn't there yet.....

so I dropped off our bags....and then grabbed all my scrap junk and heading down to our crop room.....JJ was teaching us about some new creative memories digital stuff....

I knew I probably wouldn't do any layouts friday night....I need to finish my "march" page for my weight loss mini book....and then I also finished my mini book that has my favorite lyrics in it...I will post pics of it tomorrow...it was fun and easy..not alot of pics....just lyrics and embellishments.......So friday night we scrapped til' about midnight......

saturday morning....we were up early....8am..and started scrappin' again....saturday was all layouts....it was a slow start but I ended up finishing 8 layouts...not to bad for me...here I am with karen....being cute about my clip it up.....there was a joke going around, because I seriously had someone come up.....start looking through it and asking for prices...she thought the stuff was for sale....hee,hee...is that bad when people think that you're a store??? and believe it or not....that's mom on the right...she actually ventured in for a visit....usually scrapbookers scare her....and she keeps her distance....but it was good to have her hanging for a minute...and it's cute that she thinks...her daughter is the best scrapbooker....!! isn't that what mom's are supposed to think....?

On saturday...Tonee' and Chris....came in too...Sommer was thrilled to have someone to go in the pool with her....I told her I would've but forgot to pack my "thong"....darn!!

Over all it was a great weekend...that went by way to fast!!! Tomorrow....starts another week, and another weigh in.......I ate all the meals they served at the hotel...but I always skipped the bread,dressing, and desserts.....so I think I did pretty good....except for the gym..!!!

meet deidre

I came across this folk art doll on a friends blog (christi) she is super talented....!! the doll's name is deidre clementine...and here is what was wrote about her

Deidre (meaning "broken-hearted") has had some unfortunate relationships in the past. She was always searching for the love of someone else to make her feel complete. Now she's barefoot and poor, with her grandmother's heirloom necklace as her sole remaining possession of any value. After a string of greedy and hurtful lovers, Deidre has decided to brush herself off and mend her broken heart. And though she's lost her way before, Miss Deidre Clementine is finally on the right path. She's beginning to learn how to love and respect HERSELF.Deidre is enjoying her time here in our home, but she's feeling the urge to travel and see what this world has to offer. I know there's a kind soul out there that would love to care for Deidre through the rest of her journey....could that person be you?
I just had to have her when I seen her...and I know that christi is working on another art folk doll, I can't wait to see who the next one will be here is her blog addy http://www.createdbycoffee.blogspot.com/ I think it's kinda funny..that sommer is a little freaked out by her....when we were taking her out of the box...Sommer is like I feel like she is gonna jump out at me....I told her that's crazy...she waits til we are all asleep...and runs through the house!! yeah..she didn't like that either....

Went and put the kits together for the Design team at Scrappy chic..it's a little pressure...being the design team coordinator...but it ended up being alot of fun...and hope the ladies like what they get in their kits...I hope to get to play with some of my stuff at the weekend crop!!

also had to get...some of the new 7 gypsies...I am in love with the new gypsy line...and check out the mini book covers!! yumm...I am already working on a mini book....it's just a mini book of some of my favorite song lyrics...I did the cover last night...then hated it...ripped the alphas off.....ended up messing it up...but then I liked the messed up version better....so hopefully I will finish it this weekend...

and I also am now the proud owner of the coolest scrapbook scissors EVA!! Fiskars... scissors with skull and cross bones on them..used my 40% off coupon on these bad boys!!! Scrappy chic had these and another design...more girly...but these are just more me...

so I was almost packed last night for the crop....when I got an itch to start that mini album..so I need to repack!! To say I am excited for this weekend is an understatement...!! Me and sommer were trying to guess how many layouts I will get done...since we will be scrappin' from like 6pm-Mid on friday...and 8am-9pm on saturday....I told her that I was hoping for 8....she laughed and said yeah...probably only 2...ouch!! these crops...which there are 2 a year...one in march and one in october...always will remind me of Ed...we never had alot of money for "real" vacations...so we all looked forward to staying at the hotel...for the weekend..twice a year.....but the week before he passed away..we were beyond broke...and we didn't go...but he told me to at least go to the scrapbooking..even if we could'nt afford...the hotel....So I'm left with the memory of him as always putting me first.....(and then he sent the roses to the crop)...but I wish we would've been able to spend one last weekend......but me and sommer were talking this morning...about him..and our memories ....which I love doing with her...but again I am so thankful...for such beautiful..peaceful memories...of our family..I am just missing him pretty severe...right now..yesterday while cooking dinner...I kept trying to imagine him..walking up behind me...asking what's for dinner...or hearing him click away at that remote looking for something good on tv...just feeling empty...so anyway...you see why I am looking for an escape this weekend....

abc journal

did my "e" entry for my abc journal...the word is elude....this is the front and here is the back.....I guess we all know what the "why" stands for..
couple weeks ago on the biggest loser, they showed these veggies..in cheese..well kroger had them onsale..for 2 for $4 and let me tell you sister...they're amazing!!!!! only 45 cals...per serving..and only 6 servings..so you could pretty much eat the entire bag...okay no pretty much I did eat the entire bag..only down fall..is that the sodium was 380 a serving!!! yikes...now when I don't lose next week...remind me of that sodium count!!!

but seriously....it was delicious!!!