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.

Lotsa Layouts

So this weekend I went to my first Creating Keepsakes Convention. I didn't take any classes. I'm all about the SHOPPING! I was a tad disappointed though. Not many manufacturer booths. But, I got some things I had been drooling over since CHA and left a happy girl. I rode down with 2 of the girls from my scrappy group and we meet up with 2 other carload of girls. So Friday night 8 ladies and a baby had a fun, delicious dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. I'm in love love love with their Luau Salad. YUM-MY! And of course we all had some cheesecake. I'm boring. My fav cheesecake is the plain with strawberries on top. Although, Lori had Coconut Cream cheesecake and it was divine, but I don't even think I could eat a whole piece of THAT! After that big dinner we needed to move around a bit so what better exercise than shopping! We drove out to Collinsville to a new scrap store called Croppinsville! How cute is that! They had some great items and a nice crop room if you are ever in the area.

Tonight I watched the closing ceremonies of the Olympics and I was again amazed. They really out did themselves and set the bar high for those that follow. The next summer Olympics will be in London in 4 years and Michael Phelps said he was going to continue to swim so it should be a good time once again. I loved what the brits did in the closing ceremony and look forward to seeing what they do in 4 years. I think it was one of the best Olympics I had seen in a while. I'm always moved by all those athlete's coming together to compete in peace. As one of the commentators said tonight if we can come together like that for 2 weeks then why can't we do it for a month or a year and longer? I wonder if we all had peace what we would strive for?

Enough ramblings. Lets get to the layouts!

Week 6 Project Runway entry. I LOVED the drag queen episode! RuPaul was the guest judge and I had just watched her on Tori & Dean also! I wasn't digging her wig on PR though, but JMHO. The challenge was to simplify things but have high impact. I had to do my BOM challenge for AllyScraps also which was to scrap about something you were proud of so I combined the two. I like it, but it is so not my usual style that sometimes I think it is just horrid. Can't decide. I AM proud about not smoking. More so than not drinking.



Now this was originally my PR week 6 entry but decided I could simplify even more. This photo probably has much more 'high impact' though. I really like the simplicity of it and it took no time to make. That's my cousins oldest daughter Emerson. Isn't she beautiful! She is always chewing on her hair. Auntie Susan is TRYING to get her to twirl her hair instead. Not so hard on the ends as chewing. lol




This was my entry for week 3 of Project Runway at SIS TV. We were suppose to do a page about our scrapping style and who we were as a scrapper. Used some of my fav manufacturers and stuff: Glitz, Elsie, lace cs, HS, Junkitz and Core'dinations combined with my fav colors of Cerulean blue, Red, Hot Pink, Black and White and some silly pics of me from NSD 2008. I've always had a love for animal prints too along with skullies and cheeries.




Remember all that doodling you used to do in class down the side of your notebooks when you were suppose to be paying attention in class? Well, that was my inspiration for this doodle challenge. I thought 'why not doodle the whole thing' and that is what I did. It was so much FUN!!! Now all my friends want one! lol I've actually already done another but I'll show it to you later. I just finished it tonight and haven't scanned it yet. This was a challenge over at Tallyscrappers.



My Crack: I love me some Coca~Cola or Dr. Pepper. I quit once and then started back again. Wish I hadn't. It's hard to stop again. I try not to buy it for home now which helps. This was for a Gutter Girlz challenge that I didn't get in on time. I had fun playing with that magic mesh and it is self-adhesive.



So that's it. I've got some ATC's to post later and my Tally Olympics layouts so check back!

8-16-08

So what a day yesterday was!
Madonna turned 50!
It was the anniversary of Elvis's death.
Michael Phelps became the first person to ever win 8 medals in one Olympic games.
All 8 of those medals were Gold.
7 of his wins were World Records!!!
What a day! I never really thought much about the 'where were you when history was happening' until September 11th happened. Now there are other historical events in life that I remember as well. Last night, watching that final race will be one of those times for me, and many others I am sure.

So here is my latest Project Runway inspired scrappy projects:
Week 5 entry for Project Catwalk. Since Brook Shields was on the show, and we all know that NOTHING comes between her and her Calvin's, we were challenged to make a wall hanging at least 4"x6" with denim as our main ingredient. At first I was thinking "NO WAY"! I didn't have a clue as to what to do. I'm not a huge altered person. But then I was leaving some gallery love on one of my boards and saw a wall hanging and it just came to me what to do. For once I was happy with my big butt because my pocket on the jeans was 6"x6"! I rather liked how it turned out in the end and it went together fairly easy also.





This was for Week 4 of Project Catwalk at SIS TV. We had to make a mini using Red, White & Blue as the predominant colors, incorporate 4 words from a list of 9-10, and the bonus product was the black and cream labels from Scenic Route. I had these pics printed already from last 4th of July and had wanted to make a mini out of the Scenic Route Liberty papers so this came together in about 4 hours which was shocking to me because I have NEVER done a mini that fast. Luckily, I also had this Maya Road album laying around from a past kit.

Front & Back Cover


1-2


3-4


5-6


7-8


9-10


11-12


13-14


15-16

A little late...

So yesterday was 8-8-08. Supposedly a very auspicious date in China hence the start of the Olympic games. I think it was one of the best opening ceremonies I have ever seen. I couldn't believe how detail oriented it was and so uniform in their movements. The sychronicity was just amazing. And the technology used! INCREDIBLE! And then there were the costumes!!! GORGEOUS & STUNNING. They said that no participant did more than one thing. The announcer said that the director joked that they had the people. And that they do. 1.2 Billion people! Wonder if Heidi Swapp is attending the Olympics? LOL Anyway, I copied this tidbit of Olympic information from a weekly email I get from this lady: The Olympic motto is Citicus, Altius, Fortius –a Latin phrase meaning Swifter, Higher, Stronger. The Olympic Creed is “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Yesterday was another important date for me and I didn't even realize it until late in the day. It was 3 years ago yesterday that I decided I was tired of being tired and should try a new way of life in AA. Although I went back out for one weekend which is about 3 months away, it was certainly the day that changed the last 3 years of my life forever. I can't imagine going back to the life and although alcoholism and addiction is certainly never conquered, I know now that I have fought well!

So this weeks Book of Me prompt at Allyscraps was to scrap about your faith. That was NOT a hard one for me because now it is the central part of who I am. I had a couple of ideas in mind and could have done a couple more, but I'll get to those later. Here are my layouts. The first layout was also for a lift challenge at Allyscraps. My challenge was to lift the ever-so-talented Morag Cutts. Check out her blog in my list to the right. You'll find her original layout HERE. I don't usually like to lift someone almost exactly but I loved what she did with this paper so much that I couldn't resist.



Journaling reads: Words cannot begin to describe the feelings in my heart as I sometimes ponder how much my life has changed, how far I've come, & how much there is yet to discover. And though I'm not sure where my journey may take me next, I'll know I'll owe it to the Grace of God.




The journaling is from the Martina McBride song "Anyway". I'm not a country fan AT ALL but I love the lyrics to this song and the minute I heard them I knew I would be using them to scrap. I chose just to use the chorus:

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good.
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
I do it anyway!

So I think that is it for tonight. It's storming out. Nana and I are feeling better although she is still coughing a LOT! I have an AA thingy in the morning with some speakers from Tulsa that I am super excited to hear. I saw Michael Phelps win his first Olympic Gold Medal tonight and I teared up. I'm in awe of these athletes and the dedication it takes to get there, let alone win a medal. And their BODIES! Dang! And when they play the National Anthem, I remember that I'm proud to be an American. Go team USA!!!