Monday, March 31, 2008

Tag your it!!!

I have been tagged from a fellow scrapbookin pal Barbara a/k/a digimom! This is my first time being tagged, so I hope I am doing this right! Thanks for tagging me - and I am sure my tagee's appreciate it too :) By the way, I had no idea what a meme was, so I wiki'd it.

A meme (pronounced /miːm or mɛm/) consists of any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that gets transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

Ok - makes sense to me !

ALL are invited to join in the Links fun!

PLEASE just follow the rules!

Just copy paste THIS and everything below up until my Five links:

I thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen!

They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…

There are Five Rules:
1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.

2. Only FIVE links.

3. MUST tell 5 people.

4. A link back to the person who tagged you

5. Lara’s Place is the meme originator. (an active link is appreciated)

------------------end copy and paste-------------------------------


My links:

I thought I would link to things I can't do without !

1. Beckie Wallace Designs: this woman is a true inspiration with the amount of stuff she is able to get done! She has two little ones and one on the way and still manages to put out the most amazing designs. It is an absolute honor to work for her!!! Also check out the Beckie Wallace Creative Team Blog - jam packed with awesome layouts using Beckie's kits :)

2. Tribes! Ok, for those not in education this is a learning system you implement in your room to create a comfortable, safe environment and helps to create cooperative learning groups.

3. Bare Escentuals make up - well, its just awesome - you hardly feel like you are wearing make up at all ! Love it!

4. NetVibes - I just got this from a friend and you can organize your own homepage. It has a great feature that you can enter your favorite blog addresses, and everytime you log in the page will check your blogs and let you know who posted something new! Saves me a ton of time :)

5. Stone Accents Studio - My new home away from home for the digi-scrapper in me. I love the group there and they have really great challenges. You should check it out :)

6. Snippy - Here is an extra - this little program allows you to literally cut out photos on your screen. A small crayon pops up and you are able to circle whatever image or text you want to capture and then paste it into whatever document you are creating. AWESOME find!










Here is an example of what I just did with Snippy. I used it to show you a small screenshot of my NETVIBES!

7. Unzip Them All - For those digiscrappers who download billions (exhaggerating - - or, am I???) of freebies and new kits daily. This program will unzip them all for you in literally seconds! What used to take me days to extract now takes minutes! It also extracts those blasted .rar files !!! Check it out, honestly. I couldn't live without it!

OK Thats it - I promise.

I am tagging the following ladies - sorry guys ! Had to be done ;)

Kelly

Angiee

Heather

Beckie

Christie

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Just me

I did this page as part of the Sunshine girls challenge! You can read about it here.
Yes, that is a spoon on my nose - JEALOUS????


Credits: Walking on Sunshine Mega by the Sunshine girls.

Some cousins

My mom has a very large family. She has five sisters and four brothers - and so that leaves me with a lot of cousins. Some are closer than others, some I rarely see, some I never see! Some were more like sisters and friends while I was growing up, still are, and some I even babysat! But, here is a layout I did with some of the cousins. One of the cousins in the picture is my little sister! These pictures were taken on Easter ! What fun we have together!!!

Credits: Walking on Sunshine Mega by the Sunshine Girls (and guy)!!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Lauren on Easter

Maddie put these bunny ears on Lauren and I kept waiting for the wailing to come - but it didn't. She actually liked having them on.

You know I have a camera permanently attached to my hand, so check out the faces!

Credits: Beckie Wallace's Burst of Spring kit. Font: CK Toehead

Missing my hubby

Well, my hubby has been away at an EMSI conference since Wednesday and, man, do I miss him! He isn't far - just at a ski resort about an hour and a half East of us. The thing is that typically it is me and the kids who go away, and leave him home, like when we go to the cottage. Well, I know how he feels now.

So, last night he called to see how everyone was doing and it turned out that he hadn't made dinner plans with the guys. I decided to take a drive! So, I left the kiddos with my mom and I drove up to see him and have dinner on a whim. I decided all of this at like 3pm. Of course, he is at the resort that has the ALL YOU CAN EAT SEAFOOD BUFFET on Fridays. But to be honest, we could have sat in his hotel room and had pizza for all I cared.

Sidenote: we did have the buffet and it was kick a$$ as usual.

Here is a layout I did of Lauren and Mike while he was gone :(

Credits: Beckie Wallace Boy Meets Girl kit.

Creative team news :(

I decided (begrudgingly) to step down from two of the Creative Teams that I am on, at least for now. I needed to make some adjustment in my life and it was just time. It is a necessary change right now, but perhaps I will be able to come back in the summer when school has let out. We shall see!

In the meantime, I am still scrapping and still learning to design. I have so much wonderful feedback from everyone on the kits I have created so far, and I really like it. This might be that creative outlet I have been searching for. I am working on an idea that is a spin off from UNDER MY PILLOW, but totally different. That is what I am doing today.

A few people have already suggested to me that I may be able to sell the kits, which is very complimentary since I am not sure they are 'worthy' yet. I am nervous about that, because I have heard of some designers getting flack when they turn from freebies to $$$ kits. By flack I mean, people actually telling them their kits are good enough to download for free, but not good enough to pay for. I would like to sell eventually. I have a group of people around me who I trust, and they will not steer me wrong. We will see how it plays out down the road.

On that note and going back to the whole - you are good enough for a freebie but not to buy, I have to say how much easier to be blunt like that and hurt someones feelings on the net. I think people wouldn't say HALF of the things they say if they were face to face! If you really feel that way, don't download it and go away to the many other people giving shit away. I am pretty outspoken actually, but I would NEVER intentionally hurt someone. I think most people are like that in real life, but online - that's another whole ball game. People type anonymous comments and just think they can hide behind their computers. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I am sure it will!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Impromptu Challenge - Unconditional

I don't know if I am just a sap lately, or if it is because Mike is away at a conference right now. But I couldn't help but do this impromptu challenge over at Stone Accents Studios. The challenge was to create a layout about what unconditional means to you, using the dictionary definition.

Now here is a testament to Beckie's kit - I am not a big fan of orange, but - honestly, check out the florals in this kit! The orange one is so unique in color and it just seems classy to me.

Well, anyway- here is what I came up with.
The foil hearts are kick a$$ too - hey, don't say a word - I said it was uncensored!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

New Beckie Wallace kit - KISMET

Gotta love this new kit by Beckie Wallace who, by the way, has TWO NEW STORES! She has her shoppe at Stone Accents Studio, and we are currently celebrating her Grand Opening over at Digital Candy as well!
Kismet is brand new, and in both stores so check it out now! It is currently on sale at both stores so be sure to hustle to get it if you are interested.

Here is my new layout using the kit - called DREAMS. Which I just love this picture, well for many reasons. I had just gotten them bathed and dressed for bed. I put Lauren next to MJ on the chair and MJ immediately went for her hand. They were watching Backyardigans, so they were in their regular trance - they just held their hands up in the air. So long, in fact, I had time to run and get the camera - and there they still were holding their hands up like they were doing some kind of Renaissance dance! Love it!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Under My Pillow

The response to Under My Pillow has been indescribable ! I can't believe how many people have downloaded it in less than 24 hours. I really enjoy designing - but I hope I don't displace my love for making my own layouts!

Here is the first creation using Under My Pillow! The very photo the entire kit was designed around is in this layout! Thank you again, Heather :)

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Presenting: Under My Pillow

I asked my friend Heather what kind of kit she would like me to try to design next. I was in need of some direction to go. I started three or four kits but none had a theme yet. She had a great plan, and I ran with it. I was trying not to be too cheezy - but here is my latest freebie!

So, I present to you : Under My Pillow

Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave me some feedback or even send me your layout. I love posting them on my blog!!

Grab the UNDER MY PILLOW papers here.

Grab the UNDER MY PILLOW elements here.

Christie's Two-pager with Summer Cottage


I am so excited to show you this one, mostly because the pictures are so amazing - but, of course, the use of the kit is awesome too. I love how some of my papers suddenly look like water in her layout!

Thank you so much for sharing these with me Christie :)

Another Summer Cottage Layout !!!

Sorry I have been scarce, I have been working on a new kit :) It will have a extra element pack of first lost tooth items. I really like how its turning out - so I hope everyone will too :)

Here is another Summer Cottage Layout that I got from another fellow July momma, Leslie. Thank you Leslie for sending me your layout. It is amazing!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Beckie Wallace - freebies!

Beckie Wallace has some freebies up on her design blog! Check them out! This is just a sample!
A GLOSSY ALPHA: Some cool metallic hearts and flowers:In the Woods paper pack :


Go snag them here at Beckie Wallace Designs!

For my peeps!


Summer Cottage Layout

I received another Summer Cottage Layout today from a fellow July mommy, Hillary! I can't possibly describe the boost I get when I see these layouts. This one is incredible - I just adore it, plus the boys are so precious! Thank you so much for sharing it with me, Hillary.

Won't you wear a sweater day?

In honor of Mr. Rogers', who would be eighty tomorrow, please join me and participate in

WON'T YOU WEAR A SWEATER DAY?


Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Excited - and a new layout with Coffee Talk!

So, I am thrilled to report that within the past few days I have had over 300 hits on my blog and about 130 downloads of the Summer Cottage kit. That is way more than I expected, and I couldn't be more stoked than I am right now.

Here is a layout created by my friend Heather - she used the Coffee Talk kit to scrap her two pooches! How adorable are they, all cuddling up in the bottom photo! The alpha she used is from The Promise kit by Shabby Princess.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

I love this !

It is so incredible to see amazing layouts that people can make with something you put together. Thank you again to Christie for sending me over another amazing (and adorable) layout. This time, she used Summer Cottage to scrap her daughter - isn't she just an adorable little bug!
Keep 'em comin!

Summer Cottage

Here is my second kit... I am really attached to this one. It was inspired by my family's summer cottage on Lake Erie. Please enjoy and send me any layouts you create with this kit, I would love to see them!

Click here for my new freebie - SUMMER COTTAGE.

Coffee Talk Layout

I got another layout made from my first kit COFFEE TALK. It really is extremely exciting to see the layouts made with a kit I made. I am so tickled. This amazing one came from my friend Angiee! She took these pictures from inside and used enhancements to get rid of that 'inside glass' look of the picture. She is extremely talented, and I am so proud to post something she made on my blog! Thanks A! You can check out her blog here!


I still hope to get more. So, if you downloaded my kit - please, please send me a link so I can see what wonderful things you did with it!

Friday, March 14, 2008

I did it!

Ok, you guys know me. I don't do anything half way. There is nothing more annoying to me than not knowing how to do something. So, I have taken on the task of learning how to design my own kits. I have thrown myself at the mercy of some women I trust to steer me in the right direction !
Just for sh**s and giggles - I took a whack at making my own kit. Realize before you go scrolling down to check it out that IT IS MY FIRST KIT EVER! I bought some commercial use items, and went for it. I hope it isn't too amateur, but then again - I am, so I guess I should probably be ok with that. I am giving this away, but only only if you promise to share with me anything you made with it.

I understand that it's a small kit, but I was truly just messing around. I hope to have more in the future to share with you.
Also, since I used commercial use items to make this kit please check out my TOU, so that credit can truly be given to those designers: specifically Kim B, SAAB and Atomic Cupcake.
This is my new mini- COFFEE TALK (and if you are an SNL fan like me - you get it !)

I gave this kit to my partner-in-scrap (LOL - I totally made that up, feel free to steal it) Christie, and she made this layout. I can't even begin to describe to you how it felt to see it used. I was on cloud 9 nine all night - Thanks Christie !


Thanks for checking it out! Enjoy :) You can grab the freebie here !

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Change can be a good thing

Well, my favorite designer, Beckie Wallace, has some new digs over at Stone Accents Studio. What does that mean for you, well it means big savings until the 15th - see the sale sign below and click here to go to her new shoppe!
Congrats Beckie on the new digs! I said it before, and I will say it again - you are stuck with me, mama - to the ends of the Earth!

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Considering the candidates this year - this is poetic justice

http://www.hbo.com/films/ironjawedangels/


This story was forwarded to me and felt I needed to pass it on. It is about an HBO movie (titled above) that hopefully everyone will get a chance to see.

This is the story of our Grandmothers, and Great-grandmothers, as they lived only 90 years ago. It was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote
A reminder on the importance of using our voice!

The women were innocent and defenseless. And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of "obstructing sidewalk traffic."

They beat Lucy Burn, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the "Night of Terror" on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote.
For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms. When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.
So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because--why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie "Iron Jawed Angels." It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. "One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie," she said. "What would those women think of the way I use--or don't use--my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn." The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her "all over again."

HBO released the movie on video and DVD. I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum. I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.
The doctor admonished the men: "Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity."

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

My baby's blues

We all have hazel eyes: me, Mike and MJ. I am really hoping that Lauren keeps this incredible shade of blue eyes that she is sporting! I suppose I could go to some genetics probablility website and it will tell me that its not likely - but I ain't hearing it right now :)

Here is a layout I did today to showcase these amazing baby blues! I used Blueberry Cream kit by Sophisticated Scraps. Fonts are LD Charlie Clown and LD Italic.

New layout

Here is a layout I did late last night with Beckie's new kit called BURST OF SPRING! - I should mention now that I really need a burst of Spring because we are supposed to get another snow blast today!
Other than that - just another Saturday :)

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Tales from third grade...

Some days when I sub it is truly comic relief! That was today :) I love subbing in third grade specifically one class - they are always 'with it', ready to go, actively participate and are truly a class that visually represents why I love being a teacher. I do mean that!

While part of me felt bad for this kid, but I had to get that in check - he brought it on himself for thinking he was smarter than me. Bad plan: I take it personal!

So here is the scene: we have read a really great non-fiction article comparing and contrasting East Coast and West Coast spartina! Have I lost you yet? Truly, that is unimportant, I just thought I would throw it in there :) After the article, there is a practice book page that needed to be completed. It was a grammar worksheet practicing placing quotations in the correct spots of a sentence. There was probably six or seven of them - not trying or time consuming by any means. I assigned the class the page 111 in the practice book, and said I would give them some time then we would go over it as a class.

Next, I see a hand fly up in the air - the boy says, "That page is ripped out of my practice book". Now, I remember the last time I was there hearing this same sob story from this same kid. Last time, I had him look on with a neighbor and work together on it.

Fool me once, shame on me - Fool me twice, uh.... yea, that's not gonna happen! Shame on you!

This time, I asked him how that happened and probed further as to where the page could have possibly gone since they are not allowed to take these books home. He gave me a bunch of random answers about being suspending and taking the book home and it was probably his brother. I reminded him of the last time I was there, and how it was a strange coincidence that BOTH those pages seem to be missing. I asked him point blank, "Did you tear it out and put it in your desk?" - he looked me square in the face and told me no.

I assumed, incorrectly as I later found out, that he wouldn't pull this on his regular teacher whom I was subbing for.

So, I checked the book - sure enough, it was ripped out. I handed him a blank sheet of writing paper and an extra copy of the book, and told him to copy his answers on the paper. He was livid. So, I all this time the students were working on this page, and I am going back and forth with this kid. I gave him his final instructions to get to work, and walked away to prepare for the next part of the lesson while they were finishing up.

He didn't want to work so he spent the next few minutes scratching his arm until it appeared as though he had a rash. He raised his hand and said with a smirk, "I have a rash.", so I told him to go to the nurse.

The second he was out the door, I checked his desk and sure enough, I found it! It was crumbled in the back of the desk, behind all the books, in the very far corner - the practice book page. So, I took it out, uncrumbled it and placed neatly on his desk.

When he came back, I told him that it was too late for him to do it now. It seems as though he would have to come back during recess to complete it. How sad for him!

Lunch time came and I informed the teacher on duty that I wanted him in my class as soon as he was done eating, but he somehow ended up outside for recess anyway. So, you know I took my butt out there and hauled his little butt back into my room and made him do that work.

I also gave him the ol' " I am very disappointed, not because you tore the page out, but because you lied to me" line - he did apologize for lying.

Maybe other teachers would have been annoyed by this entire escapade, but I thought it was somewhat humorous! It's a fact that the kids who are challenging (notice I didn't say bad) - are my favorites! I do like kids when they have a distinct personality - even if its a challenge for me!

Kindergarten tomorrow - can't wait :) You all know how I love Kindergarten!!!

Thursday Scrappin update

Here are two layouts I did in the past few days. They are for my teams, which I can't tell you how much I am enjoying them. If you ever have a chance to be on a creative team - jump at the chance! There is so much more to it than getting their designs for free (although thats awesome). The secret is that there is such a wonderful network of women who are supportive, nurturing and inspirational out there who share your interests.



The first one was created using Amy Leigh Fennell's Fresh and Funky kit! Fonts used: Zirkon and Willing Race.



I used Beckie Wallace's new Sea Spray kit for the next one. I love the combination of golds, brown, creams and blues in this kit. It really reminds me of the beach! This is Madelyn from the summer of 2006 at the cabin. How much she has grown! I think she will really love it this year - its going to be tough chasing two down there :) Font used: CK Letter home.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

My rambling...

Ok, well it has been an eventful week in our house. First off, Lauren now has FOUR - yes, you read correctly - FOUR teeth. Two on the bottom and two on the top ! Holy crap. She is pretty pleasant but slobbering like crazy! She is also up on all fours and rocking. I think its absolutely hysterical that she doesn't sit on her own unassisted for more than a minute, but she is going to be crawling around within the next few weeks. She really gets going! I will see if I can get a video of it today, but here is a picture :)

On to Madelyn... well, we had a visitor on Sunday night - the 'dinky' fairy came to take her 'dinkies' away. We left the dinkies for her on the table and she took them, and left a present for MJ! She was excited for the present, but cried for the dinkies for over an hour. She actually said to me at one point, "Call her and tell her to BRING THEM BACK!" - then random waking up in the night crying and screaming for them!
Talk about a trauma! If you know me in real life, you know I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE HER A PACIFIER FROM THE JUMP. But my doctor told me it has benefits, blah - blah - blah! I knew I should have tried to take it away before she turned two, but honestly - being pregnant, I was thinking about other things. I also thought how can I take it away, then introduce a new baby with one into our home. So, I put it off - mistake !!!! I should have just taken the damn thing away before she could tell me how much she loves it!

So the last few nights in our house have been ****H E L L**** Last night was a little better, but I think its because she took NO nap yesterday. Eh, lesson learned! Here are her last moments with the dinkies :)
Mike and I got to go out to dinner by ourselves Sunday night -which rarely happens. My mom watched the girls' and we got to eat a nice hot meal :)
Now the week has started and I am just trying to patiently wait for the QOTC winners to be announced :) I am working two days this week in addition to my evening classes ! So getting things prepared is taking some time also. But I am keeping busy, and thats a good thing :)

Monday, March 3, 2008

Queen of the Crop - Day three

Well I was able to finish - although I didn't see it happening. I will explain that in tomorrow's post.


And so I present my last of the QOTC layouts! Honestly, I can't believe I finished this challenge this weekend. 10 layouts??? That's insane! I also was able to keep the house in order, and get some shopping done - go out to dinner, and that is a feat! I am really proud!


Here they are:


The first layout was a scraplift challenge. That means you check out someone's gallery, find a layout that you like, and use it for inspiration to make your own layout. Sometimes these come really easily, and other times you get stuck. In this layout I used Shabby Princess's Vintage Florals, NewLife Dreams 2 Hearts kit and the alpha is from GoodBye to Summer by Mydigistyle.

The next one was to scrap a smile. I used Just for You Kit by NewLife Dreams, and a pink alpha by flergs.

The theme for the next one was 'Splish spash', make a layout with water! I decided to use Heather Roselli's Oceania kit and the frame is from Beckie Wallace's Snips and Snails kit.

The last one was themed 'Interview', in which I tried to actually interview Madelyn. Well, that was a joke. So I made a list of all her favorite things right now. In case your wondering, "Chocolate Bunny kind" refers to Nestle Chocolate milk with the bunny on the carton! I used Robin Carlton's Fancy Pants for this one.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Queen of the Crop - Day two

Unproductive day - the kids were nutso today. I just didn't have the energy to deal with them and find time to get more done. I did one layout this morning before they woke up, and two after they went to bed! I did finish the laundry that I started yesterday. Eh, just a day.
The first layout wasn't even for the challenge. I just wanted to use this new kit I bought from Dani Mogstad called 'The Land of Nod' - its so cute! Font used: CK Twilight.
The second layout was for the challenge. The prompt was to scraplift one of the layouts from the designer who is giving the challenge. It was tough! I used Dani Mogstad's Sassy Pants kit (sensing a pattern here?), star embellishments by Ellie Lash and the word art by K. Pertiet.

The third and final layout of the day was also part of the challenge. The prompt was to scrap a picture of your kid smiling and use the quote, "Whenever I see you smile, I smile myself because I love you". I used the Just for you kit by NewLife Dreams, and the WWpinkalpha by Flergs. Font used: CK Happiness.

I think I have one other to post, but I just have no energy left~! I am off to bed.