A Scrappy Happy Holiday to YOU!

So are you all done with your shopping? Tree decorated? Presents wrapped? I'm done shopping, still need to add the angel to the tree but it's up and decorated. Now for the house cleaning and present wrapping. I got a couple of extra days though since we aren't having Christmas until next Saturday. In the mean time, I had a great time with my scrappy girlfriends at our annual holiday dinner and gift exchange. It was a bit cold and a little icy so not everyone could make it and they were surely missed, but we managed to get by without them. lol Many laughs were had by all, that is for sure. So here is a picture of all of us. I did double duty this week by using some Glitz papers from my GDT kit from Allyscraps for the Ad This challenge this week. I just love Glitz papers and thought they looked fab-U-lous with our group photo. Hope you all have a great week. Try not to stress to much. Remember the reason for the season!

Go ahead, make my day!

So yesterday when I logged in to Tallyscrappers I found this lovely comment on MyTally:

Susan... you are my hero for taking such good care of your Grandma. Really. Most people wouldn't do it.
It's people like you that make the world a better place!


OMG! That MADE my day! You know when I was drinking and thinking I was such an uber good person (because my intentions were good), I always wanted someone to say this kind of thing to me. Now that I'm sober, well, I kinda always think I should be doing BETTER. KWIM? Not bashing on myself but I guess it shows that I have a little humility. Not much, but a smidge. lol Anyway, I thought it was really nice of her to reach out and tell me that. I really do love the friends I make thru my online scrapping sites.

Ok, back to the laundry. Hope you are all having a great Sunday!

A Scrappy Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock or chipboard or lace?
Or a Cricut, I said, with a smile on my face.
And that's when I heard him,
"Hi Santa, " I said
"You know....good little girls
should be in their beds."
"I know I should Santa,
and now I've got caught.
But I was just so excited
To see what you brought."
"Well, let's take a look
in this room where you work.
He shook his head quickly,
And left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim
as he put it in gear.
"You've got enough crap,
I'll see you next year!"

Let it sleet, Let it sleet, Let it sleet.

Yep, we are covered in sleet down here in my little slice of Kansas. Normally, this would make me happy, and it does a bit if it STAYS! I like to be 'snowed' in, as long as there is food and electricity. But I have LOTS of transcription to do this week. I also haven't put up the Christmas tree yet and I promised I would do that tomorrow which means the scrappy stuff gets to be hauled upstairs too. Why, OH WHY, do I not have any servants???

So it seems I've been having lots of blog readers lately. Google is sending them to me thanks to my post-Twilight depression. I find this funny. I mean, so are they searching for Twilight and my blog post comes up? Strange, this world of internet connections. Maybe they are depressed too and are looking for friends. Wish more of them would leave me a nice little comment then. Only anonymous people so far. Anonymous depressed Twilight-watching-reading girls. Hmmm...

So the new Ad This challenge will be up in a few hours and this is my lo I did from this weeks inspiration. It's not really blue but I had to back it in order to scan the transparency. The white butterfly wasn't lookin' to hot against the white of my scanner.

So transcription hell is calling. My only saving grace is the moolah this puts in my pocket and the plane ticket to see Kary it buys :D THAT makes me happy!

Guest Design Team Layouts

Aren't my titles thrilling? LOL NOT! I'm a guest designer this month at Allyscraps. These are my first 2 layouts that I did with my kit. Fun Times!

Another picture of Kary and I at Fort Baker outside of San Francisco. All the paper is by Glitz. I just love their stuff! One of the papers had earrings all over it so that inspired me to dig out some old broken jewelry and attach it to the layout for some bling.



Callie and I being silly at Scrapbook Expo. Isn't this Peaches line from Prima cute! I just love those little dancing Panda's.



So I'm Twittering now. Or attempting to figure it out I should say. lol And looking for friends as NONE of my email friends are twittering yet. So if you twitter, be my friend!
Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? Yeah, me either. I should be close to done if not completely done this afternoon though. I'm off to get my nails done and pedi's and a bit of shopping. I'm hoping this puts me in the Christmas spirit because I'm just honestly not feeling it yet. I haven't even put my tree up! Maybe that would help bring the spirit my way.
Have a great day!

Ally's Round Robin #1

For the month of December I'm a Guest Design Team member over at Allyscraps! So today I hosted our first Round Robin and fun was had by ALL! I gave the girls the layout below to start with and then the finished layout is below. I gotta go watch Dexter now so catch ya' later gator!

The beginning:


The finished layout:

So are you broke

after Black Friday and Cyber Monday? I only bought one gift this weekend and it was for MYSELF! LOL Hard to imagine I'm sure. But it was on sale and I have been wanting one for a WHILE now. So what did I buy you might ask. Well, of course it was a scrappy tool! A new Cuttlebug and a couple of dies. Ok, maybe a teensy bit more than a couple. ;) It should be arriving at my door any day now and NO, I won't be waiting til Christmas to use it! I do NOT have that kind of willpower.

This weeks ad is up at Ad This. Here is my interpretation of the ad. Over at Tallyscrappers one of the challenges for the last online crop was to ask a child some questions about Christmas. I immediately thought of my cousin's girls. This is the youngest one below, Maddy, who is 3 1/2 now. I really love what she said they leave Santa and his Riendeers. What a hoot.



What is your favorite Christmas story to read?
Elf on the Shelf
Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?
No Way
How old do you think Santa is?
25
Do you have a Star or Angel on the top of the tree? Or something else?
Star
How long do you think it takes Santa to deliver all the presents?
1 Second
What do you leave out for Santa & his riendeers? And is it homemade or store bought?
Fish
What is your favorite ornament on your Christmas tree?
The one with my name on it.

So are you done with your shopping? Or, are you just starting like me? I know what I need to buy which is usually most of the battle. I just need to go out and get it. Think it's going to require a trip OUT of Independence.

Is all the turkey gone yet?

I had a great Thanksgiving and I hope you did too. No pictures (I know, I'm bad) but I did enjoy the holiday with Nana and Uncle Bob and his girlfriend Kelly and her kids along with my friend John. Kelly did all the cooking and it was Delish! Still got some leftovers today too! I always have a lot to be thankful for but some things that come to mind this year is that I have a JOB! This small town has gotten hit a lot. I'm really lucky to be here taking care of Nana in a home that I have always known. I'm glad Nana is back home and feeling like her old self again too. Every day I'm thankful for sobriety and God and His love and forgiving grace. Without those things I have nothing. Also the friends that AA and scrapping have brought me. I mean, who knew that I would meet so many great friends on the Internet. Or from scrapping! Well, really, it all comes down to the life I lead today and the person I am in this moment and the journey I've taken. Life is pretty sweet right now and for that I am eternally grateful.

So I saw this list on a site about the things you have done in your life and thought I would share. The things in bold are the things I have done. Some of them I would never do! LOL A few I hope to never do or have happen again. And some of them I need to get busy on :)

Things I’ve done
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/world
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 Michelangelo’s 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 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

Hope you all aren't to tuckered out from shopping! It's cold cold cold here and I plan on staying inside today and organizing my scrap stuff so I can scrap tonight. Enjoy your weekend!

I'm pooped!

I'm so freaking tired today. My busy weekend of scrapping and Twilight watching and reading has plum worn me out! And no nappy for DAYS!!! I did have a FANTASTIC weekend though. I scapped a LOT and did 4 layouts. I went and saw Twilight again on Saturday night with Lori(my first Twilight partner) and Christy (who finished the book the night before) and Aja who is now dying to get her hands on the books. You know all those things I was complaining about after the first time I saw Twilight? Well, IGNORE them, because it was even BETTER the second time around!!! I mean, I am seriously in love with this film. I don't usually watch movies twice, let alone in the same weekend and pay full price twice! Now I have watched some movies over and over again but VERY rarely, and usually just because it is on and there is nothing else to watch. KWIM? I could seriously watch it like every day this week, and probably next! lol

True Blood ended last night. They are already filming next season which will be shown next summer! Can't wait. Need to feed my vampire infatuation. I want to get my hands on these books as well!!! I did finish reading The Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder last night and am looking forward to starting the next in this series tonight, Magic Study.

The new Ad This challenge will be up today. Here is my layout I did. The twist was to use labels this week so I used some Scenic Route labels. I've been dying to use this JB paper and wasn't sure how I was going to pull it off without covering up the corner or the bird and it worked out nicely I think. I'm really loving being a part of this blog and have loved the inspiration it has given me. You REALLY should go check it out and participate.



Ok, that's all for today. I'm off to go do some hair and then come home for a nice long nap!
Ta-Ta!

Post Twilight Depression

Ok, I'm crazy. I know this.
But this happened after the books too.
I'm depressed.
Sad really.
After I see Edward I miss him.
I miss them all really.
But ESPECIALLY Edward!
Now why in the hell can't I have my own hot vampire to while away the hours with???
Yes, I probably need to get a life, huh?

Yeah, still depressed.

In need of a nappy!

So I'm tired today. Even though I slept in until noon. Of course I was up until 4! But I'm sure you could care less about THAT!

So the movie: LOVED it! I do have some critique's (of course!) but overall I thought they did a great job. They rearranged some events and left out some things that I think are important to the following movies, if those happen, but they did allude to trouble to come. Alice was EXACTLY like I thought she would be! The scenery was gorgeous. I REALLY want to visit that part of the country now but I have for a long time so that is nothing new. Rosalie and Emmett also acted just like I thought they did in the book. OMG! The way they made his skin shine in sunlight was AMAZING!!! Even better than my own imagination conjured. And they baseball game was great too. LOVED LOVED LOVED the prom. So magical.

So my dislikes are pretty small: I'm disappointed in Edwards portrayal. I thought they didn't show enough of his softer fun side. Of them really falling in love and not just obsessed with each other. Not sure if it is the actor or the editing. I also didn't like how Jasper looked like he was freaking out ALL the time. The look on his face was just too stiff and robot like. I also thought at times that Edwards makeup look awful as did Carlisle's and Jasper's.

So that is it. Other than that I really did like it and will probably be seeing it again on Sunday! lol

So I'd love to hear what you thought about the movie so leave me a comment!!!

Guess What I'm Doing At Midnight???

If you guessed going to see Twilight they your RIGHT!
A little excited! Can you tell?
My friend Lori scored some tickets for us. I'm thrilled as my Friday plans totally fell thru so it works out great! I was reading the review that Seth (the web guy I think) on Stephanie's blog posted. He said it is not as good as the book (but really, how could it be? KWIM?) but that it is definitely good. I've always been pretty happy with the translations of the Harry Potter books so I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Also, I know they are already talking about making the rest of the books into movies. YIPEEEEEEE!!!!! And the soundtrack became the highest grossing soundtrack ever before the movie was actually released.



Here's my Week 8 entry for Survivor at Tallyscrappers. This week we were to scrap either vertically or horizontally down the middle, use a scalloped edge, cs for our background, photos should be body parts, and have fake or real stitching on our journaling. I added some stitches to the corner of my photo since I used them for my journaling, but I had already took the picture.



So if your going to see the movie, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought!
Ciao!

Sex Tips circa 1894.

I just found this and HAD to share! How HYSTERICAL is this:

Imagine a time when sex was seen as "at best revolting and at worst rather painful." According to The Sun (and well, anyone who's ever taken rudimentary history lessons), the Victorians, not exactly known for their raunchy bedroom antics, perceived a woman's um, "wifely duties" as something to abhor. Sex Tips for Husbands and Wives was penned by Ruth Smythers, a vicar's wife, in 1894. Some amazing gems:

* The wise bride will permit a maximum of two brief sexual experiences weekly — and as time goes by she should make every effort to reduce this frequency.

* A selfish and sensual husband can easily take advantage of his wife. One cardinal rule of marriage should never be forgotten: Give little, give seldom and above all give grudgingly. Otherwise what could have been a proper marriage could become an orgy of sexual lust.

* A wise wife will make it her goal never to allow her husband to see her unclothed body, and never allow him to display his unclothed body to her.

* Once in bed, the wife should turn off all the lights and make no sound to guide her husband in her direction, lest he take this as a sign of encouragement.

* When he finds her, she should lie as still as possible. Bodily motion could be interpreted as sexual excitement by the optimistic husband. Sex, when it cannot be prevented, should be practised only in total darkness.

* Clever wives are ever on the alert for new and better methods of denying and discouraging the amorous overtures of the husband. Arguments, nagging, scolding and bickering prove very effective if used in the late evening about an hour before the husband would normally commence his seduction.

* By their tenth anniversary many wives have managed to complete their child-bearing and have achieved the ultimate goal of terminating all sexual contacts with the husband.

* by Erin Flaherty, Shine staff

Glad I didn't live back then! See the rest of the article here.

It's Monday!

So I'm not usually a big fan of Mondays. I don't have to go back to work or anything but as the first day of the week, well it usually gets a bad rap, including from me. But lately I have had a little something to look forward to and that would be the posting of the new Ad This challenge (and we get our challenge for the following week). This week my friend Arlene is our Guest Designer so go on over and check out Arlene's layout and the ad. There is some great inspiration over there.

This is the layout I did with a pic of me on Lombard Street in San Francisco. I used a great pic that Kary took at the top and then a post card of the street from the bottom. This street is totally crazy!!! What I found even more crazy was the way people had to park and where their garages were. If you look at the picture of the street on the lower right and see that old white car. See it? That is the garage in front of it and that is where they park their cars. Straight in like that. San Francisco is somewhere I hope I never have to actually drive while there. I do however, hope to be there for my birthday in January.

Yeah, I got a thing for Vampires!

Only 4 days until the Twilight premiere! WOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!


Edward Cullens Dating Tips


I wonder if Edward has any tips for finding my own gorgeous vampire?

New AdThis Challenge and a bit of Survivor

So we had a great turnout for our first week at Ad This. This weeks ad was posted on Monday and below you will find my interpretation of the ad. Our twist this week was to add fabric to our layout so I stitched some along with some ribbons. If your looking for some inspiration then go on over and check out the other girls layouts and start creating. You could be this weeks winner and our next Guest Designer!





So over at Tallyscrappers I've been participating in Survivor each week. So far we have had 7 weeks and it has been tons of fun. And some of these challenges have been REALLY challenging, but in the end I've found a way to meet the requirements. It's fun to see others interpretation of the requirements also. Here is the first 7 weeks in reverse order.

This past week was all about creating a vintage look. We had to follow this tutorial by Tim Holtz. We also had to use a poem, either written by ourselves or someone else and frame our picture in some way. I love this poem by EE Cummings and knew I had to use for my grandparents. I got nothing on Mr. Holtz either! LOL



Week 6's challenge was to scrap our family and to cut flowers from pp to use on the layout in some way. As soon as I heard the challenge I knew I would use this Pink Paisley pp that I had been hording for a while now. Had to scrap about my scrappy family too!


Week 5 we were challenged to use leaves, pictures matted on white and look like a photostrip that tells a story, and journaling in our own handwriting incorporating numbers.


Week 4 was inspired by a album cover. We could pick our own album and since I love me some Gwen Stafani I couldn't wait to do this layout! The title of "Queen B.O.B." came from a joke over at Allyscraps and some rowdiness in Sacramento at Kary's house! Fun TIMES!


Week 3 we were challenged to do a double page layout. We also had a sketch to go by and were required to use a calender page, wings, the date on the bottom right, multiple photos, and layer the title of "Everyday Life". I actually took the pics last fall but had never scrapped them.


Week 2 challenge was to use raw chipboard, the word Journey somewhere on the lo; Multiple fonts in our title.


This was our first challenge. We had to do it like Sassafrass Lass so I decided to use some SL paper. We were challenged to use a paper pieced tree; 3 photos; and owl, deer, hedgehog or mushroom; at least one stitched edge and we had to use "Life is Beautiful" for our title.

Scalloped Scissors Held Hostage

So my friend Kary text me today to tell me to check my email. This is what I saw when I opened the email:



She is holding my precious PRICELESS giant scallop scissors for RANSOM! Worse yet is that she refuses to tell me what the ransom is! I am desprately praying for their safe return. They are near and dear to my heart and my scrappy mojo! Please join me on Sunday for a prayer vigil for the safe return of the scrappy scissors.

Yes We DID!

America has nominated their first African-American President of the United States. I voted for him because I thought he was the right person to vote for. The right vote for change. He won not because he is black, but because the American people wanted change. I believe Americans spoke in volumes last night with one of the highest number of votes ever cast in a presidential election and the most young people voting. The youth of America certainly Rocked the VOTE! I felt the magnitude of this moment in time, this moment in history. I cried for the fact that his grandmother didn't live just a little bit longer to actually see her grandson make history, although I believe in my heart she saw it from above. I can not begin to imagine the pride that blacks feel this day. It truly shows that you can be whatever you want to be despite race. I've never seen so many people gathered together to celebrate a President. I felt so much pride. Proud to be an American. Pride in my candidate winning. Hope in the future. It's an exciting time for our country, but there is long hard work ahead.

An Important Day In History!

Did you vote today? I did! I take my right to vote as a great honor. It wasn't that long ago that women weren't allowed to vote in the United States and in some countries people aren't allowed to vote at all. I don't care WHO you voted for, just that you voted!
No matter who wins tonight, it will be a very important moment in history. We will either have our first black President or our first female Vice President. How is that for breaking the glass ceiling? It's really quite exciting. My grandmother is almost 95 years old (next February) and in her life she has seen many, many things. I asked her if she ever thought she would live to see the day that an African-American or a female would be part of a winning Presidential team? Well, of course she said NO! She said there had been lots of things she thought she would never see: talking movies, television, a man on the moon. Those things happened years and years ago too. She doesn't really understand computers or cell phones or mp3 players. It just reminds me that the future is full of infinite possibilities.

More Exciting NEWS!!!! :)

What exciting news you say? Well,I got asked to be a part of a new challenge blog called Ad This! YIPPEEEEE! I'm so excited. We will have weekly challenges based on advertisements with an added twist. This was our first ad and the twist is to add some bling to your layout.





I'm super excited to be a part of this new design team. Check out their blogs:
Elisa Kammerdiener
Katie Haddox
Nina Pateña
Kary Lewis

There is a great prize filled with new Basic Grey pp's and the winner of the week also gets to be a Guest Designer on Ad This the following week so what are you waiting for? Go do your layout!

YIPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, good news! First, today is my 3 year Sobriety Birthday. Yep! I've been Alcohol/Drug/Cigarette free for 3 years today!

Second, I got my first Guest Design Team position! Allyscraps hosted a month long challenge for Allyscraps Next Top Scrapper. It was fun times! We had weekly challenges and then weekly mini challenges and played lots of games and meet new people and chatted a LOT! Two ladies, Mary and Tracy tied for first in the points section and then 4 of us got asked to be Guest Designers for the months of December and January. Here are the layouts I did with a description of the challenges below.

Kary started the challenges off with a bling challenge. She asked us to use at least 2 types of bling and some paint. I painted my chipboard and then added some doodlebug glitter. I used some Glitz Frosting around my picture, MM glitter letter stickers, Glittered Thickers, Stickles on my skully's bow and the glittered pink chipboard hearts. The pic is my friend Lori and I. Her birthday is 2 days before mine.


Queeen B.O.B. ~ This layout started out as a joke because of a joke on the AS message board. We (Kary, Callie, Nicci, Ann and I) had a lot of fun making fun of Queen BOB and what it could stand for. We weren't near as cleaver as some of our mb sisters were, that is for sure! LOL We decided it meant "Bitch Off Booze" for me and "Bitch ON Booze" for Nicci. My blingy things are the glittered chipboard hearts and stars and Stickles on my letters.



These 2 layouts were for Deb's sketch challenge. We got extra points for turning the the sketch in a new direction and also for using different fonts in our title.

Holidays are about Family: My sister, cousins and me Christmas 1991 I believe.



Christmas Memories: Some pics from Christmas 1966, just a few weeks before I was born! My mom doesn't even look pregnant in that picture to me.




Trish challenge was ALL about color! She showed us a list of fashionable fall colors and we need to use those colors, or shades of those colors, plus black and white. We got extra points for using a 4th color and also adding ribbon, bling and a journaling spot.

All hail the SSK! Scrappy Serial Killers. Like there could be such a thing! LOL



That's me on my first Christmas!




Morag's challenge was to use accesories in a new way. You got extra points for using something hand-made and using something in fashion. For my first lo I used a cluster of embellies with my home-made item being the Yo-Yo Flowers I made from fabric. I customized my chipboard and houndstooth is always popular for fall fashions. In the second lo I used purple as my fashion item. They say it is a hot color for fall! I customized my chipboard again and I also used some purple silk Yo-You flowers that I made. It really says 'Family History' but I thought the r part was a fallen dot on the i and I moved it! lol

Scrapn' Angels: Callie, me and Kary doing our Charlie's Angels pose with our scrappy tools at the end of the crop at Scrapbook Expo. Fun times!



Family History: That is my Great grandfather (Papa Faye), my grandmother (Nana) and her mother, my great grandmother (Maude) Sitting in their Sunday best.

On a little vaca!

Blood! You know me and vampires! ;) Today Kary took me to the Capital for a private tour. I was hoping to get to see Arnold but you'll have to wait for a pic to see just how close I got to him. They all call him the Governor or Governor Hi. I'm in Sacramento visiting Kary. I got here last Thursday. We went to Scrapbook Expo on Friday and Saturday. Took a few classes and shopped a lot and laughed even more. Nicci, Leeann and Miss Callie Jean (all Allyscraps girls) came down or over to play with Kary and I along with Kary's friend Ann. Sunday we scrapped some, I napped some and Kary got me addicted to TruSchwarzenegger and I was just like Arnold this and Arnold that. Funny how since he is a Hollywood star I use his first name.
Tomorrow we are all going to San Francisco. Can't wait since I have wanted to go there for-EVER! I've had a cold since I've been here that is promptly turning into a sinus infection. Lovely! Taking tons of pics. All hail the SSK! LOL

Breast Cancer Awareness

So October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. A couple of weeks ago our lss had it's annual Scrap Pink event and the other day Oprah had the woman that started the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation on her show along with Samantha Who star Christina Applegate who just survived breast cancer. I never knew that the Susan G. Komen Foundation was started because of a promise between two sisters. A promise to further research and to make it easier for other women to get diagnosed and become survivors.
As women, many of us are not always happy with what God gave us. Personally I always wanted mine to be bigger when I was younger, and perkier now. I also always wanted that cute teardrop shape but it's not what I got. Millions of dollars are spent each year on breast augmentation. But what would you do if they were filled with disease? Pesonally, I decided a long time ago that I would have them cut off and just get some new ones. I can say that easily because I have never been diagnosed with breast cancer. But having cancer run so rampant in my family, well, it's crossed my mind more than once. I've even had this conversation with Nana.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, Tallyscrappers had a challenge to scrap about your breast. Now my friend took this picture a couple of years ago while we were trying to climb a tree. Never thought I would be scrapping this pic! But I knew exactly which pic I wanted to use when I saw the challenge. So go over to their gallery and check out the Scrap Pink Layouts.

Talkin' bout My Girls




Capture Life's Little Drunken Moments With Sex Toys!
Ok, enough with the seriousness! Might as well throw in some sex toys with the boobies! LOL So, yep, that's me with the personal satisfaction device in my mouth. Yes, I'm on the dance floor at a club. Yes, I'm drunk! For my 29th birthday my friends thought it would be fun to get me a vibrator and I thought it would be fun to wear it in my bra to the bar! This led to lots and lots of comments and lots of raunchy dancing and illustrious stories. It was fun times though.



Ok, It is LATE and I should be cleaning and packing, not blogging! Only 2 days until I arrive in Sacramento!!!!!

Round Robin Fun!

So this past Sunday at SIS we had a Round Robin. We were to show up at 2pm with 3 playing cards and 2 1.5" x 1.5" photo's. Then we each had 20 minutes to add something to the project (or layout if you were on other teams) and this is what mine turned out like.
The first person showed the 3 cards covered in pp with pics and holes punched. I was next and I added the outlines and the chipboard in the middle with my 'title' so to speak. The next person added 3 brads (I used buttons) and some detail behind both the pics. Next person added fabric which I interpreted as ribbon and the last person tied them all together and added something else which escapes me at the moment. This was tons of fun and I already have a holiday one in mind.




Bird ATC Swap
Peep!




Photography ATC Swap
I took this picture a couple years ago in Tahlequah, Oklahoma at an AA retreat.



Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ATC Swap
I used exposed x-ray film for my background.

Sad times

I spent the last couple of days in Tulsa. You would think with all this free time not having to take care of Nana that I would be out roaming the countryside, but not so much. When I roam, well, I tend to spend money. Too much money. Anyway, it was nice to see friends and get rid of my black roots. Got a fun new Instinct phone, like the iPhone but with insurance. It will take me forever to learn how to use all the features on this thing. It gets Guitar Hero III Mobile! I'm VERY excited to learn how to play. I'm easily amused, especially by fun new technology. Watched some movies: Baby Mama (so-so), Love Guru (AWFUL, do NOT waste your money) and Sex & the City (I still cried). John made me a yummy Creme de Coconut cake. Filled up on some sushi. Basically a good time. Also needs to go down in the record books because I did not go to any scrapbooking or craft stores! I know, I can't believe it either. Shocking for sure. Spent some time with Nana today on my way thru Bartlesville. She is doing much better, physically and cognitive.
The sad part is that tonight I looked over at the birdies and green birdie died. He was alive this afternoon. I was freaking because they were out of food and I thought maybe I had forgot to feed them but Marcee said that they had food yesterday. Guess it was just his (or her) time to go. This is the 3rd bird we have had die. We had a little issue with the blue birdies at first. We had both of these for over a year so maybe that is a good run. Not really sure. So blue birdie is very quiet and sad. I feel badly for him (or her) so I guess I will be getting a new green birdie here before Nana comes home.
Allyscraps having a month long competition called America's Next Top Scrapbooker and it started today. They are having 4 weekly challenges and then some smaller challenges and games and such so it should spark the ol' creative juices. Kary posted the first challenge which is all about bling! A girl after my own heart!!! It's not to late to join so check it out.
At Tallyscrappers we started Survivor this past week. Our first challenge was all about Sassafrass Lass(my love!). Had to be 12x12 (easy); had to have a paper pieced tree(if you say so); 3 photos(not so bad); a bird, owl, hedgehog or deer(I need to use some of these up so that was a plus); had to have a title of Life Is Beautiful(I hate coming up with titles sometimes); journaling in a cloud(better keep it simple); and at least one stitched edge. Sounded daunting at first but then it came to me and this is my entry:


Life IS beautiful today and I AM (learning) to love hoo I am.

Life's Hard, Eat Cupcakes!

So what's been going on. Nana is in the nursing home still. Looks like she will be there until I get back from my trip to California. It's bitter sweet as I miss her dearly and yet I enjoy having time to myself. I have been scrapping lots but I need to do some scanning and editing first. I finished the TallyScrapper Olympics and Survivor starts tomorrow there. America's Next Top Scrapbooker starts Oct. 1st at Allyscraps. I'm done with Project Catwalk at SIS TV. I've done some swaps. One I'm even already got finished WAY before the due date. Others, well not so much. lol Scrap Pink is this weekend and I am REALLY looking forward to that and then Monday I am off to Tulsa to get my 'black' roots done because despite what Romy and Michelle think, I don't believe I look good with blonde hair and black roots! So since I haven't been posting much I thought I would at least show you my last entry to Project Catwalk. I did this about 3 weeks ago. There were 2 more challenges but I just wasn't feeling them all the sudden so I decided to stop pressuring myself. With Nana in the hospital/nursing home I decided I didn't need to add to THAT pressure. Being in my head,especially last week, wasn't such a fun place to be. So anyhoo, for this challenge we were to create something that was inspired by Jeanette and SIS in the SIS style. I used the SIS colors of red and teal and threw in some pink for me. I used a record because during the first Bossy Scrapper Jeanette used a record for her background and I thought it was neat. I also just happen to have an entire record cabinet full of them also. Jeanette loves tape of all shapes and sizes so I used some red 7 Gypsies gaffer tape, the bonus product which was the teal & white gaffer tape and then some Kawaii tape from on of my swaps. It had a cupcake them and I used a Maya Road Cupcake Rubon to go with my title: Life's Hard, Eat Cupcakes. I thought the title appropriate since JJ just found out her husband has cancer and I was dealing with Nana being in the hospital at the time. So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.



Let's fold scarves!

International Talk Like A Pirate Day

So I haven't blogged in a while now. Nana got sick and I had to take her to the ER 2 weeks ago today. She had multiple issues, all stemming from the fact that she only had 1/3 of the necessary blood in her body. She spent a week in the hospital in Bartlesville going thru lots of test but they couldn't find an active source for the bleeding. So now she is in a nursing home down there that is just across a parking lot from the hospital. She is there to get a bit stronger before coming home and a little bit more of a break for me. I have to say that it has been nice to have some time at home to myself. The first night I was a bit scared. lol Just odd to be in this house all alone. That has rarely ever happened in my life, especially not more than one night.

So it was also my first experience with a nursing home. Sure I had been in them as a child. Nana used to take me to see her mother in one I believe, but I was just a toddler then. I had done a little volunteering at one while at KSU with my sorority but I was in my early 20's then and my own mortality wasn't much on my mind. The other day was different. It smells weird in nursing homes. At least in this nursing home, although I hear that about all nursing homes. And it just seemed like a bunch of forgotten old people left there to die. I didn't like the thought of my Nana being included in those forgotten ones. I know that is not the case for all, but it is a reality for many. Made me think of all the times someone has asked me who was going to take care of me when I am old since I don't have or want any kids.

So now on the one hand, I like having a little more freedom and being at home alone and stuff, but on the other hand I don't really like Nana being there and am ready for her to come home soon. It all depends on physical therapy and what they prescribed for her I believe. So in the meantime I will just try to enjoy my peace and quiet.

I've hardly watched any TV the last 2 weeks. I have been reading a lot. First I read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. Now it is certainly no Twilight but her writing certainly makes you fall in love with each one of the characters and you find yourself rooting for different ones at different times. I bawled like a big baby at the end of this book. I hope she writes more because I truly enjoyed these characters.
I've been reading Tweak by Nic Sheff this week. This book has taken me for a trip down both his and my own memory lane of meth addiction. I NEVER used like this guy. In fact I'm surprised he is still alive. But I have flagged so much of this book right from the begining. Secretly I feel like I have fallen a little in love with this guy as sick and twisted as that might be. I mean, I UNDERSTAND HIM!. Makes me realize that I am just a little more crazy than I thought. I've always liked the broken boys. I used to want to fix them and make it all better but I was always the one who ended up worse off in the end. I don't want to fix them anymore, but the bonding over our broken selves is still so appealing. Yes, I AM sick and twisted and crazy.

But, alas, it's Talk Like A Pirate Day!
My friend Amy, well really her husband Jason, used to like to write me emails and make me talk like a pirate when I responded. I finally found this cool site that would translate for you into pirate talk. How funny is THAT! Let me tell you it is very hard to talk computer problems when you have to talk like a pirate! LOL So, in honor of International Talk Like A Pirate Day I'm sharing some pirate pickup lines. I must say that the very last one is my favorite and seems to be the most effective!



Top Ten Pickup lines for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?

9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?

8. Come on up and see me urchins.

7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.

6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.

5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?

4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?

3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.

2. Well blow me down?

And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …

1. Prepare to be boarded.

Bonus pickup lines (when the ones above don't work, as they often won't)

They don’t call me Long John because my head is so big.

You’re drinking a Salty Dog? How’d you like to try the real thing?

Wanna shiver me timbers?

I’ve sailed the seven seas, and you’re the sleekest schooner I’ve ever sighted.

Brwaack! Polly want a cracker? … Oh, wait. That’s for Talk Like a PARROT Day.

That’s the finest pirate booty I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Let's get together and haul some keel.

That’s some treasure chest you’ve got there.

Top Ten Pickup Lines for the Lady Pirates

By popular demand ...

10. What are YOU doing here?

9. Is that a belayin' pin in yer britches, or are ye ... (this one is never completed)

8. Come show me how ye bury yer treasure, lad!

7. So, tell me, why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"

6. That's quite a cutlass ye got thar, what ye need is a good scabbard!

5. Aye, I guarantee ye, I've had a twenty percent decrease in me "lice ratio!"

4. I've crushed seventeen men's skulls between me thighs!

3. C'mon, lad, shiver me timbers!

2. RAMMING SPEED!

...and the number one Female Pirate Pick-up Line:

1. You. Pants Off. Now!

Project Catwalk Week 7

So here is my week 7 entry. We were suppose to do a layout using texture in innovative ways. I decided to do an art canvas and to use as much texture as possible:
Sky ~ Tissue Paper
Clouds ~ Batting
Leaves & Rainbow ~ Vinyl
Bird ~ Birdseed
Tree Trunk ~ Burlap
Grass ~ Paint
House ~ Denim
Windows ~ Gaffer tape
Door ~ Felt
Sidewalk ~ Linoleum from cutting some stamp blocks.



It's late and I am off to bed. I just started reading the Host and I found out last night that Stephanie Meyers won't be working on Midnight Sun for a while so that was a bummer. So far this summer I have read 15 books so I am pretty proud of myself for that. I haven't read 15 books in a year let alone a summer before!!! Hope your first day of September was fantastic!

ATC's

So one of my new obsessions is ATC's: Artist Trading Cards. I've been wanting to get into doing them for a while. I've liked what I have done so far but hope to get more advanced techniques going someday. Gotta start somewhere right? So here are a few I've done lately.

Harry Potter Swap. I picked Dumbledore. One of my fav things in the HP books is the Pensieve. I want one of my own. Something I can dump all my memories in and retrieve them when needed. I know that is called a memory and we are all born with one, some better than others, but this way I could take all the useless or bad memories and put them in a safe place until needed.



Important Date Swap. My important date is definitely my sobriety date, which just happens to be my stop smoking date also. It's also my cousin's birthday.


Favorite Movie Swap. My favorite movie is definitely White Christmas. My sister and I always watched this movie on Christmas Eve and we always loved to sing the 'Sisters' song. Such a glamorous time!!!



Summer Travel ATC swap. I took this picture in Florence in 1998. It was my second summer to spend in Italy studying art and art history.



This was for the "Going Postal" ATC swap. I made my cards look like vintage stamps.



Sex & the City: This was one of my favorite episodes. Carrie gets asked to model for Dolce & Gabbana and they give her UNDERWEAR to wear! Then of all things, she falls on the runway and Stanford says 'Oh My God! She's fashion roadkill'. LOL


My pet peeve (well one of them) is being able to hear people eat or smack their gum. Drives me crazy.