yuck...

I'm a little under the weather today. It's worked out kind of good to be sick right now while I'm waiting to start my new job. However, I just really want to get over this before I start on Friday. I think there is enough pressure starting a new job, but to be sick at the same time is just not good. I was thankful to have some Tomato Basil Orzo soup left over from the other night. Soup just feels good when you don't.

I did manage to get a layout done yesterday:
February Collab - Funky Playground; Paper Curl - Marcie Reckinger and Traci Murphy; Notebook Paper - Anne deJong

In Chase's family all the guys are Alabama fans and all the wives are Tennessee fans. It's pretty funny. These pictures were from our trip to Tuscaloosa.

Anyone know what they are doing for their husband/wife for Valentine's Day? I think we are going to stay in and cook, but I need to start searching for what that's going to be. And I'm thinking a serious chocolate cake is in order!

the 14th is coming soon

I've been working on Valentine's Day stuff most of today. I got some of these $1 tin mailboxes from Target, and I've been covering them all day. I was originally inspired by Emily Giovanni (her blog is awesome). Here is the tutorial on her blog. I'm making several of these, but I really wanted to come up with a masculine one for Chase. He never reads this... so here it is:

The only thing I did different from Emily's tutorial is that I used Modge Podge instead of O' So Sticky tape. I'm sure that would work nicely, but the stuff is pretty expensive. It really wasn't that messy but you do have to work quick.

Chase and I are eating sloppy joe's (his signature dish) since I'm a little under the weather. I have a layout for you tomorrow.

****breaking news*****

***EDIT AGAIN***

So who knows. Apparently they are getting back together, but now one knows to what extent. Crazy kids. I guess we will have to wait until we get the official announcement. I also read a rumor about a reality tv show.

***EDIT***

Apparently NKOTB are not coming back. I guess you can't believe everything you read. Actually I'm kind of glad. I like to keep them preserved in my mind pictured below... rather than their current real estate developer selves.
According to People magazine, it's official, they are coming back. Oh but wait, don't get too excited. Jonathan is now 40 and is a real estate developer, um somehow that's just not too NKOTB to me. More information here.

In other news, I'm off until Friday gearing up for my new job. I'm excited, but I'm not sure what
I'm going to do all week. Here's my latest layout:

Everything is from Chere Kaye's Crazy 4 You. My husband never reads this, so I'm safe to say, isn't he so cute in this picture. I just love it.

I'm off to workout and get some Valentine's Day crafts done. Happy Monday.

the week of firsts

I tried sushi Thursday and today I had my first facial. I finally realize why people get facials. My skin feels incredible, so good that I haven't put makeup on all day. I just don't want to mess with with how it feels.

I also feel in love with the moisturiser she used. It felt great, and it smelled great! I was pretty disappointed to find out it cost $56! Ah! I know the importance of moisturising, but come on $56.
Here's my most recent layout:

Chere Kaye-Layering Templates, Boyful Christmas; Kate Hadfield-Black Doodle Alpha, Heavy Duty Staples; Amy Hutchinson-Courthouse Doodles, Scribbled Swirls; Jenna Desai-Doodle Frames Anne deJong-Milestones: First Day of School; Rachel YoungSpilled Sequins; Micheline Martin-Stapled Buds; Paint the Moon- Ribbon

Our nephew is a big fan of saying "Oh Man." Way too cute. It actually took me awhile to get this one done. I actually started over a few times: once because my computer froze and at least a couple of times because I couldn't get the elements to work with the way I wanted the photos.

sushi

I know I'm way behind, but I've never tried sushi before, well until last night. Every time I've had the opportunity to try it, well I just didn't. I finally did, and well I guess it was okay. Maybe it is an acquired taste, and I just need to give it another chance. However, my biggest problem was that my friends insisted I eat it all at once. I really don't think I could even enjoy the sushi because I was too worried that I was going to choke. They said I could cut it in half, but I just felt kind of silly.

I used my friend google to find out if there was such a thing as mini sushi out there. Well there is one restaurant in Florida. I'm thinking my second attempt at eating sushi will be at Fah Asian Bistro. Anyone up for a trip to Boca Raton, FL (I have no idea where that is).

My latest project has been with all the Christmas cards we have sitting around the house. I like to throw things away, but for some reason I haven't been able to throw away photo Christmas cards. I've been thinking of a way to bind them into a little book that I could put out every year. Here's what I came up with:
An inside view:

I just used some twine from the Tractor Supply Company and ribbon to bind it. Make sure you don't bind it too tight. I made that mistake and had to loosen the twine. I also did the pictures back to back, rather than all facing one way. That way at Christmas time you could set it out open to two pictures rather than one.

I'm also thinking every year I'll just unbind the twine and add the next year's cards. That way I have one book and not 20.

Stamps: Baroque roller, Always Artichoke (paper, ink and marker)

project 365

Does everyone know about this? Well, I think it's a great idea. The object is to take one picture a day for 365 days. Basically at the end of the year you will have a year documented visually. I'm a pretty visual person, and I love the idea of looking back at your year. Plus, what a great way to refine your photography skills!

Here's some more information if you are are interested! You can really start your project at anytime, but I just like the idea of starting January 1. I'm holding off until next year.

Here's a gift pack I made for Christmas this year. I did 12 sets of these. They were a lot of work, but well worth it:Here's what I used: Paper: Old Olive, Real Red, 2 sided paper, Stamps: Merry and Bright, Baroque Motifs

a question and a card

Last night Chase and I made our way over to the apartment complexes gym. Usually the place is a ghost town, but as it is January it is the happening place. For the first ten minutes we are alone. Then we are joined by another couple. At this point our gym is full. No seriously, it's small. Then we are joined, all at once, by three adults and two children. I'm talking LITTLE kids, around 5 and 6. Now the gym is completely packed. It's not anyone's personal fault that it is pack, just a fact. Then the children begin to "work out." They go to each of the weight machines, "ride" the elliptical (you know one kid on each foot slot), "run" on the treadmill. If I was a kid this is exactly what I would do.

I don't have children, and I try not to judge something I don't know about. However, I was about to pull my hair out. Not only was I worried that one of these kids were about to hurt themselves, I couldn't work out. Chase and I just left, approximately 30 minutes before we normally would. Personally I would never take my kids to work out with me at that age, but what would you do in this situation? As a parent? As a stranger in the gym?

On to the crafts. I made a card last night:Here's the card open:
Here's what I used: Stamps: True Friend; Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Pale Plum; Ribbon: Real Red

Split Coast stampers has this great tutorial for making this card, here.

a neat idea

I am not a writer. I’ve tired several times in my life to journal, blog etc. Usually I’m just confused about how I want to journal, and it ends up being awful. So awful that I never want to go back and read my journals. It’s pretty embarrassing. I usually struggle to even journal on my scrapbook pages. During my daily blog viewing I ran across something for those of us that want to journal but can’t.

They are Mini Diaries. Instead of sitting down and writing for 30 minutes you just jot down different things. Personally I think it's brilliant. I love the idea of jotting my life. For some reason that seems so reasonable.

*** edited**** Chere has her wrap up neutrals on sale for $1.00 today!

stepping over into the dark side

After much thought I've decided to start a blog. Thanks to some good friends that have recently been encouraging me to blog and share my crafts. I do have a digital layout I did this weekend.



Credits: Lazy Man Bows, I Need A Date - Chere Kaye; Barely There Vol. 3 - Amy Wolff; Boardy Leaves - Gina Miller; Beautiful (frame) - Marcie Reckinger; Milestones: First Day of School (frame), Alpha Scraps - Anne deJong; Fabric Flowers - Vera Lim; Silk Ribbon - Paint the Moon; Doodle Frames - Jenna Desai; Glitter Paint Splats - Christina Renee; Black Doodle Alpha - Kate Hadfield; Scribbled Swirls - Amy Hutchinson

I have started a new theory behind scrapbooking. Normally I try to get pages done in a short amount of time. However, recently I've started to make myself wait at least a day to officially complete it. A day removed sometimes I see something I should try, or a mistake I made. Fresh eyes seem to make a difference. I actually originally started this page for the Hodge Podge blog challenge, but it took on a life of its own and didn't meet the criteria at all!

I'm cooking taco soup and having friends over! Happy Monday.