I Was Tagged Twice!!

Scrappie Irene of Scrapdebris tagged me this morning with not one but TWO blog awards!! *grins*


The 1st one is "I Love Your Blog" that came with a twist...

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My 7 Facts:

1. Digiscrapping is not only addicting but has been very therapuetic during the long nights that I cannot sleep.
2. I live in the house that my Papaw built in 1939. It was passed to my mother in 1967 and to me in 2000.
3. I love vintage and antique items and discovering the history behind them.
4. I am a year and a half away from my 40th birthday. *grimace*
5. Shabby Chic, Country Farm & Cottage are my favorite decorating styles.
   
6. I have many items in my home that were originally used as one thing but I took them and reconstructed them into something else.
   
7. I'm finally at the age that I love who I am, what I look like and where I am in life.

The 2nd one is the "Brilliant Blog" award.

TAG...YOU'RE IT!!

1. Faye
2. Idgie
3. Carol
4. Jude
5. Judy
6. Sooze
7. Julie
   

Losing Time...

Eeegads!! It's been 3 1/2 weeks since my last post here and I find myself feeling deeply ashamed. Not only because I haven't scrapped much, but because I haven't posted about what is going on in my life!! *sigh* So, let me see if I can give updates without putting you to sleep with boring details...lol

Hubby & I went on an all expense paid vacation to Marco Island, Florida with hubby's best friend and his girlfriend. Won't go into details, but hubby and I came home after a week instead of almost 2 due to unforeseen complications between me and the best friend's girlfriend. *eyebrow raised* Did take lots of pics though, during the more pleasanter times and even managed to scrap most of them. (Will share in a future post...here is a photo of me and hubby on our first night there.)

Not sure if the Spring Cleaning Bug hit me or I found myself so bored that I began looking for things to keep me occupied...but I actually CLEANED my house. NO...I'm not talking just the regular, run of the mill cleaning. I'm talking MAJOR PURGING here. Hubby's sister and her fiance' came for a surprise visit a couple of weeks ago. Stayed for nearly a week. While here, they helped hubby get motivated enough to clean off our back porch, do some major yard work...and that led me to do the major cleaning indoors. It's been 3 weeks and since then I've purged/cleaned & redecorated my den, my kitchen & turned my unused dining room into a livingroom/office for me!!

Didn't realize how much of a pack rat hubby & I were until I started donated all of this stuff to the local thrift store. So far, I've removed 8 pair of curtains, 1 box of kitchen utensils, 8 boxes of country decor, 4 boxes of kitchen chef decor, 15 pictures, 60+ salt & pepper shakers (collection started with my mother) 2 chairs, 1 coffee table, 2 end tables, 1 lamp, 3 decorative glass bowls, 4 candles, 5 complete sets of plates, bowls, coffee cups, 2 sets of cannisters and the list goes on and on!!

While hubby's sister and her fiance' were here, OS, hubby & I got tattoos. (I'll take a brief pause while you pick your mouths off the floor)......................................

SIL's fiance' owns his own tattoo shop and brought a lot of his equipment with him since he was already planning on giving hubby a tat. The last 3 nights they were here, we ended up having a tattoo party. OS invited all of his friends and everyone sat around and watched as OS got his first tat. (Something OS designed himself) Bless his heart, took 3 hours because he passed out a couple of times due to lack of food for much of the day, and the fact he kept holding his breath from the pain he said he was feeling.

I received my tat the following day around lunchtime...I chose one of his original black & gray scale faeries, but tweaked it and had him add color. For the most part, it felt like someone had taken a ball point pen and was drawing really hard on my back. It was only when he was doing the tip of the wing and the water it felt like someone sticking me with a needle.


Hubby got his later that night...because he took ALL DAY combining the Elliott Clan Crest & the tartan colors. Afterwards, he gave Kudos to OS for being able to stand the pain on his chest, because where he received his on his forearm, he said it felt like someone was taking razor blades across his arm. EEEK!!



OS just celebrated his 21st b'day!! Hubby and I hosted the party. At final count there were 15 guests not including our family...and yes...each of them were getting plenty intoxicated. The rules were if they planned on drinking they had to give me their keys upon arrival, stay the night and then get keys back the next morning. For the most part, everyone stayed on the back porch and kept the mess to a minimum. Only once did I have to put my foot down and make a group leave due to it being 3am, beer long gone, OS off to bed and this group wanted to continue the party until dawn. Sorry, but my tired butt was heading to bed and I wasn't leaving anyone unattended. They left, those that had made plans to stay went to bed, and I locked up. (Will share photos once I get them uploaded.)

I'm sure I've forgotten something among all of this...but that's how it goes when you go so long without blogging. OOOPS!!

My Mailbox Surprise...

Yesterday evening, Kat went to check the mail, and look what she found!!
A Faerie Ornament!!
Special thanks to a very dear and precious friend
(you know who you are...)
for this thoughtful gift...I LOVE HER!!
(She's now hanging in front of my stocking on the mantle)

OH MY GOODNESS!!

I had opened my blog to do a bit of tweaking a few minutes ago and happened to notice the page views...9983!! That's nearly 10,000 page views since January!! WOW!! SO....this calls for a celebration!! Since I can't offer you a piece of my ice cream cake, how about I offer you the recipe along with a freebie??
This is a recipe that I received from Kraft Food & Family-Summer 2007 Magazine. I've made this cake 3 times so far and it never lasts long enough so I usually double/triple the recipe.

1/2 cup hot fudge ice cream topping, warmed

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling

8 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, chopped (about 1 cup)

12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches, unwrapped

POUR fudge topping into medium bowl. Add 1 cup of the whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Add dry pudding mix; stir 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in chopped cookies; set aside.

ARRANGE 4 of the ice cream sandwiches, side-by-side, on 24-inch-long piece of foil; top with half of the whipped topping mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining 4 ice cream sandwiches. Frost top and sides of dessert with remaining whipped topping. Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to loosely seal packet.

FREEZE at least 4 hours before serving. Store leftover dessert in freezer.

Now doesn't that look and sound YUMMY?? It's definitely NOT for folks trying to watch their weight...lol!! I'm telling ya, once you serve this to your family they'll be begging for more!! *giggles*

**FREEBIE HAS BEEN REMOVED**

Saturday Surprise (I'm dancing on cloud nine)

I have some exciting news!! Very soon I will be selling my kits at Tina Williams Designs store!! *doing happy dance* I've still got some paperwork to fill out, red tape to cut through and need to clean off a corner of a shelf or two for my kits...so it will be a few days before I'm completely set up. Never fear though, the minute my kits hit the digi-shelves-YOU'LL be the first to know!!

Well, I'm off to put the finishing touches on a few more kits I've been working on and to create a couple of freebies to celebrate!!
LOVE & HUGS

Saturday Surprise (more updates)

The past couple of days have been exhausting...my energy has completely drained. Sadly, taking my creativity with it. On Thursday, I was finally able to take Kat and her boyfriend Joey to Alabama Adventures. I spent the entire time in the water park either in the lazy river, or going down the water slides. For the most part, Kat and Joey were right by my side. Just after lunch, however, they took off walking to the theme park to enjoy some of the rides, leaving me to relax in peace and quiet in the lazy river once again. By the time we got home around 5pm, we realized Kat didn't put on nearly as much sunscreen as thought...her shoulders were as red as a lobster!! Thankfully, after a night of continuously applying aloe, the next morning she was nearly back to normal.

I had to make some tough decisions yesterday, as you know, and let several CT's go. For the moment, the remaining CT's seem doable while working part-time...I'll know more once I find a job. Yesterday evening was spent quietly with my hubby. Matt and Kat went to hear their friend, Ivy and his band, Without Regret play at Swayze's in Tuscaloosa. Due to the concert running so late, both ended up staying the night with Ivy and his sis Melissa. It gave me time to do more thinking, but no creating...kind of hard to create when you're thinking of financial woes...lol

Today appears to be a copy of yesterday where thinking and creativity is concerned. I've tried to work on a LO 3 times since this morning, and each time I end up so irritated with the outcome, that I delete it and start over from scratch. Giving up for now and going to take a nap to clear my brain. Hopefully things will look a bit brighter in a couple of hours...

Saturday Surprise...and 3 LO's

First, I want to say THANK YOU to those that have downloaded my "Musical Elements." It's the greatest feeling knowing that one of my creations is liked enough to be downloaded!! *doing happy dance*

Now on to my surprise for the day...I don't know how I did it...truly I don't...but I've just been chosen as a member of Deco-Pages Site CT!! *mouth hangin' open* Good Gobbly Wobbly!! This now makes 1 SeniorCT, 3 CT's, 1 Temporary CT, and 1 Site CT!! *Slaps self on forehead* I never really thought I was that talented...yet here I am on all of these amazing teams!! WOW!!

I'm scared I might be starting to spread myself a bit thin...but so far, I've crunched numbers, rearranged my daily planner for scheduling specific times to create, and I really think I can pull this off. HOWEVER, I know without a doubt that I definitely couldn't add anything else to my plate anytime soon!! ROFL!!

In the meantime, my creative juices have been flowing 90mph!! I decided to play around with a new kit from Tina, and before I knew it, I had made 3 LO's with it!! YUP!! That's right, all 3 came from one kit...Grandma's Bedroom!!
(Click each page for full credits and gallery view)

Saturday Surprise

This surprise actually consists of SEVERAL surprises for me...

#1. Mary Ridgeway (a designer at Deco-Pages) offered me a position on her CT!! Of course, I said YES!!

#2. I applied for another CT a while back and was just recently approved!! I can't share the designer's name yet *giggles* cause it's still under wraps...but as soon as she makes her formal announcement, I'll be able to proudly display her blinkie, link to her kits, and let ya know her name!! *doing happy dance*

#3. As you know, I applied for Deco-Pages Site-CT recently. No news yet on whether if I'm a top contender, but should know something in a week!!

#4. My dream is to one day be a scrap designer, so to learn more about the ins and outs, I've applied for SeniorCT position for Lorene. If chosen, it will be an awesome opportunity for me to see what I have in store for when I have my own CT members. (BTW...Lorene has 3 CT openings...)

#5. The best surprise of all...is I don't feel overwhelmed or stressed about adding to my daily routine. I'm actually confident that I'll be able to uphold all of the new responsibilities, and looking forward to creating wonderful pages for each designer!! How is THAT for an awesome surprise?!?! Normally I'd be freaking out about now...but I'm pretty calm. Maybe now, my confidence has grown?? Whatever the reason, I'm very happy and content!! :D

Saturday Surprise

I'm so excited, that I can hardly keep still!! Hubby's meter thingie to move the electrical wiring and stuff came in the mail today...which means by this time tomorrow I can have my washer and dryer hooked up and RUNNING!! *doing happy dance* Who cares that the floor is just plywood, or that there are still holes in the drywall, or that my sink isn't reinstalled?!?! I WILL BE ABLE TO DO LAUNDRY AGAIN!! WHOO HOOO!!! (The rest of the room is just cosmetics and can wait!!)

Did ya have a chance to grab Candee's "Vintage Is For Sissies" (part 1) yet?? If not, what are ya waiting for?? I'm telling ya...this isn't a kit you will want to miss out on!! *giggles*

I was browsing through one of the galleries last night, (as is the norm when I can't sleep) and came across one of the most enchanting, and inspiring LO's that my friend KimberlyRae posted. It's a photo of her and her hubby taken just 3 days before her son was born. It just touched me in such a way that I had to share it here!!


(Click on the photo to go to her gallery for full credits)

To me, there is nothing more beautiful than to see a woman with child. It's the knowledge that a miracle has taken place. That God has placed within her such a tiny treasure. What a wonderful way to celebrate this new life within her!!

Saturday Surprise (part 2)

I'm feeling so loved right now!!
First...hubby bought me a brand new front load washer and dryer.

Second...hubby decided to remodel my bath/utility rooms. (Ok...so THAT one was out of necessity due to damaged floors...lol).

Third...Kat and I spent Mother's Day at a theme park.

Fourth...Kat drew several pictures of me and her together in anime style.

NOW...I just received my gift from Matt. (As if last night's gifts at his graduation ceremony wasn't enough...) I have 6, brand new, Egyptian Cotton Bath Sheets for my bathroom when it's finished!! (4 cream & 2 sand colored) WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! Am I the luckiest Mommie or what?!?!

(Didn't have a photo of mine, so borrowed this 8pc set photo from ebay)

Saturday Surprise

I'm sitting here in shock. For one, yesterday evening was my oldest son's Graduation Ceremony. It was a roller coaster of emotions for me...watching him walk up on stage and take his seat. Listening to the pastor open with prayer. Listening to the special singers. Watching all of the photos flash on the screen of each graduate from birth to graduation day. Having son be presented with a single red rose and plaque that had a "thank you" message inscribed and then watching him walk over to me and present both to me. Watching him walk across the stage as someone read a list of accomplishments and then him receive his diploma. I couldn't hold it in anymore...the tears flowed!! I can't begin to tell you HOW PROUD I am of Matt!!

My second shock actually came earlier yesterday morning, and has now become MY "Saturday Surprise"...I've been chosen as a new CT-Layout Designer for Tina Williams Designs!! (The very same one that Idgie told me about one week ago and I had to apply immediately!!) At first I was confused, because my email was flooded with messages coming from her yahoo group for her CT-members. I was like "HUH?!?" I never claimed to be a smart cookie, so it took me a bit to catch on to the "why"...ROFL!! (I'm blaming it on the fact that my mind was more on getting ready for Matt's graduation ceremony...and it had NOTHING to do with me being slow *snickers*) And then BAM...I put 2 & 2 together, went to visit my yahoo groups and noticed I was invited, and then I knew...I WAS IN!! (I think my squeal of joy was heard 5 miles away!!) Ok...maybe not THAT far, but it was definitely loud enough that I scared the hair off of a few of my cats!! *giggles*

So, now here I sit, in the same boat I was in a few weeks ago when I was added to Lorene Hill's CT. YES...the doubts are flooding me. Am I really good enough to do her proud? What if I create a page and she isn't happy with it? What if I create a layout and it truly sux?!? What if they chose me due to a few great pages I've created but my future pages can't live up to my past pages?? What happens when I completely LOSE all of my creativity?? What if I'm just being overly paranoid and should just quit thinking?? hehehe

Can you tell I'm EXTREMELY nervous? There's so many things I have to remember about creating pages, and requesting kits, and where to post, and how to send messages, and I forget what else at the moment, but fortunately I have saved everything to text files and will definitely be reading and re-reading it daily!! Matter of fact, I think I kinda went anal retentive a bit in organizing files...I've now created a folder for each CT with sub-folders for each designer's kits I receive in exchange for layouts, kits I purchase(or will purchase), freebies, CT-rules, and info on members of each CT. Hopefully, with my tendency to forget things, keeping everything this organized will help me remember what I need to do /per page/per week/per month/per CT. (Try saying THAT really fast...lol)

As I try to untwist my tongue, I think I'm going back to review my text files again, so that I can get really familiar with everyone and everything I need to know.

'Til next time...Happy Scrappin'!!
*doing happy dance...I'm on Tina Williams CT*

Saturday Surprise

Today's surprise is more for me than a gift for others. I'd been gone all day running errands, came home to check my mail, when my surprise came to me. One of my dear, scrapping friends (Idgie) had left a comment for me about a CT Call for Tina Williams Designs...one of my FAVE artists for heritage kits. Of course, I immediately filled out the app and rushed it over!! Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be chosen!!

HOW EXCITING to have this opportunity!! Won't know anything for another week or so...but still very excited!!

My time is up, and I've got to get back to my remodel...
'Til next time....Happy Scrappin'

Saturday Surprise

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!!

To celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, I'm offering another freebie from my Shabby Chic Surprise kit...an adorable quickpage!!

To download click HERE
(Don't forget to leave some love if you pick it up...)

Saturday Surprise

I couldn't sleep last night...so figured it was the best time to create a surprise for my faithful readers...a paperpack I've named Shabby Chic Surprise!! *grins*

**UPDATE**
Had a few folks contact me saying they were unable to download from the original link at Files2upload, so I've now added an extra link to 4shared at a lower compression.

Click HERE (File2upload -53.3916Mb)
or HERE (4shared -7,049 KB) to download.

Don't forget to leave some love. *smiles*