picnic hill

Menu Plan Monday 4/11/2011

2011-04-13T12:58:00.001-05:00

Confused that today is Wenesday? We had no (or at least very little) internet access over that past couple of days. As you can imagine ALL of my energy has gone into fixing that issue rather than blogging, scrapping, or even cleaning. (the cleaning part I haven't really minded so much) So ... this week Menu Plan Monday is brought to you on Wednesday. :)

MONDAY: Grilled Chicken, Foil Packet Potatoes, Greeen Peas

This didn't happen though, I nixed all meal preparation when the internet went down and kitchen sink began leaking. I am only putting this in to remind anyone who might read this that having a meal plan doesn't mean that things don't ever change. Life happens. We ended up with "fend for yourself night" combined with "don't talk to Mom, she'll bite your head off night." Oh well. we'll try for a better day the rest of the week.

TUESDAY: Beef Stroganoff

WEDNESAY: Greek Chicken Pitas

This will be a new dinner for us - the recipe uses a deli rotisserie chicken, but I am currently slow baking some chicken breasts I had in the freezer instead.

THURSDAY: Green Bean Potato Casserole, Whole Wheat Cresent Rolls

A favorite from my childhood - ground beef, diced potatoes, & green beans all mixed with cream of mushroom soup and baked at a pretty high temp (I like the crispy browned stuff along the edges if I cook it on high). I plan to addd some sliced up carrots in to it as well.

FRIDAY: Grilled Brats, Potato Salad, Tomato Salad

This will be our first grilled brats of the season - if you are not from Wisconsin, you should know that these are fresh Bratwursts rather than pre-cooked. There is no comparison. The tomato salad is one that I saw Jamie Oliver make on the Food Network and I am excited to try.

LAST WEEK"S NEW RECIPE REVIEWS:

Rachael Ray's Cobb Pasta Toss - it was good, but I will not make it again. It made a lot of dirty dishes, and involved a lot of steps. Making it felt like making breakfast, with so many things going on at once. And I never make breakfast for that reason. Anyway, it was good - not great.

Taste of Home's Slow Cooker Steak Burritos - this was good and easy. I can see myself making this again at some point.

Have a good week - talk to you later.

Project 365 Week 5

2011-04-10T09:20:00.001-05:00

January 30th - Thankful Thought no. 5: The last whole day of vacation - always a bit sad. Today we went back to the magic kingdom and then late to Hollywood Studios for the night show. I am thankful for vacation and a husband that really understands how important they are.

January 31st - Time to go home, enough said. Just one last picture showing Jamaica at The Caribbean Beach Resort (home for the last week).

February 1st - Back to Wisconsin and yet another snow storm. Grrrr.

February 2nd - I am done with the vaction laundry. Two days must be a record! Oh, and Jimmy the Groundhog did not see his shadow today. EARLY SPRING! We can only hope.

February 3rd - Scott bought the NFC Champions hat at the airport the morning after the game last week. But when we got home he dug out his NFC Champion hat from 1996. There’s a fan.

February 4th - At the beginning of January I selected “OPEN” as my word of the year 2011 and had not featured it yet. That is my motto this year, open to possibilities, change, whatever.

February 5th - Taylor was back for the weekend. She and Stella joined us in bed Saturday morning for some chat & snuggle time.

AND LASTLY, WEEK 5 LAYOUT

Project 365 Week 4

2011-04-10T08:58:00.000-05:00

January 23rd - Thankful Thought no. 4: Funny that this week’s thankful thought is the Packers - but today they won the NFC championship against the Bears. That means that when we get home from Florida we’ll get to watch the Packers in the SUPERBOWL! And so, today, all of Wisconsin is thankful.

GO PACK GO!

January 24th - We got to Orlando in time to go over to Epcot on Day 1. Awesome. last time we were in Orlando one of my favorite moments was Brooklyn meeting Stitch. So it was quite ironic that he was the first character we met this time.

January 25th - There are no words to describe how awesome, amazing and downright unbelievable today was. At Animal kingdom we were asked to be IN the daily parade. Yes, I said IN. We rode our very own float, the Tiger Float through the entire park - waving at spectators. This is one of my favorite memories EVER!!!

January 26th - Today was Magic Kingdom day - and magic is always a good word to describe it there. It was a big character day for us - Mickey & Minnie, the princesses, the faeries and more.

January 27th - Hollywood Studios in the morning - where Brooklyn got to be in the “Disney Channel Rocks” show. You know she loved that! And then to Downtown Disney in the afternoon, where Brooklyn went to Bippity Boppity Boo. I think Mom loved that the most.

January 28th - Today we went to Universal. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was the coolest thing - it was like we were really there!!! No kidding! And Mom has a new favorite ride ever ... through Hogwarts with Harry!

January 29th - Early morning at Hollywood Studios just Mom & Brooke. We were able to ride Rockin” Roller Coaster SIX times in an hour and Tower of Terror THREE. Early morning was fabulous! And then we met Dad at Epcot where Brooke learned to belly dance over lunch in “Morrocco”, rode Soarin’ a couple more times (YAY) and met some hard to find characters, like Jasmine & Alladin and The Beast (with Belle, of course). Disney is the best.

AND NOW FOR THIS WEEK'S BOOK PAGE --

Thanks for visiting.

Project 365 Week 3

2011-04-10T08:35:00.000-05:00

I'm going to need to post more than 1 week at a time if I plan to get caught up with this at some point - sounds simple enough.

January 16th - Thankful Thought no. 3: I am thankful for our beautiful home. The recession has really taught me to count my blessings - Yes, I am still looking for a job at this point, but there are so many people who have been affected so much worse than we have. I am thankful for that perspective. (This is a picture of home. It is Brooklyn & I on the master bed all set up to watch “Worst Cook in America”. We are here every Sunday night.)

January 17th - Today was a laundry day ... so I have included a picture from the internet of what I wish my laundry room looked like. A doable goal for 2011.

January 18th - Home on spring break, Taylor has enjoyed seeing some of her “old” friends, Like MacKenzie Bornick.

January 19th - Ericka reminded me about the apple dip I used to make when she & Brad were little. So, today I made some of it. It is just as yummy as we all remember.

January 20th - Packing for our trip has begun in earnest!

January 21st - We had the girls tonight - Stella is such a darling!

January 22nd - Weekend days at home often look like this now that Brooklyn has her own computer.

AND THEN THERE IS THE LAYOUT FOR WEEK 3

Project 365 Week 2

2011-04-05T00:44:00.003-05:00

January 9th - Thankful Thought no. 2: Taylor’s good friend Matt O’Rourke is back from a semester in Africa. Today I am thankful for their friendship & for his safety while in Africa.

January 10th - Ericka, Taylor, Nahdia & Stella go down to spend a couple of days in Dodgeville.

January 11th - Mom (meaning me) makes homemade cookies today.

January 12th - Wednesday means AWANA night for Brooklyn - both Travis and her friend Kate also go.

January 13th - Brooklyn helps make homemade pizza for dinner. We have lots & lots of mozzarella to use up from a semi accident this past weekend. Brad & Serina stocked us all up!

January 14th - Our abandoned swingset all alone for the winter.

January 15th - The Packers played the Falcons in the playoffs today. Scott went to Greg’s for "lucky" lasagna, and the rest of us went to Lana and Chad’s. Packers win. GO PACK GO!

AND LASTLY, THE LAYOUT FOR WEEK TWO

Project 365 Week 1

2011-04-04T22:22:00.000-05:00

I have actually kept up to date with this project so far this year - just not with sharing the pictures and layouts. This year my goal with it is to have it be a weekly representation of "who we are" - sometimes that means pictures from the internet that represent our day and/or life better. It also means that I am not stressing about getting the picture each day. If I miss a day - no sweat. And so without further ado, here is week 1.

January 1st - For the 2nd year in a row Paige spent the night for New Year’s.

The girls have declared it an official “tradition. Love that.

January 2nd - Thankful Thought no. 1: I am thankful for Brooke’s age right now - 8 is wonderful. I am her very best friend and she wants nothing more than to spend time together.

Today we made super awesome banana cupcakes.

January 3rd - All the girls and I went to visit Grandma Brickwell at Tivoli today.

She was so happy to see the little ones ... Somehow we all need to get there more oftten. A little thing that means so much to Grandma.

January 4th - My good friend Jen Carpenter’s chicks. Her daughter Abby hatched them in the laundry room for a school science project.

What a good mom!

January 5th - Today the Christmas tree came down. This is just a close up of some of Brooklyn’s new funky decorations this year. Taylor calls them Easter decorations. Too funny.

January 6th - New phone day (I lost my little pink clam shell one). This was HARD because I did not want a smart phone and there are like zero choices anymore without being one. I need a full keyboard though to text so that pretty much narrowed it down to this one. I hope I like it.

January 7th - We have the girls this weekend - just a shot of our pretty Nahdia.

January 8th - The three girls talked me into pushing the couches together in the living room for a ”cool” place to watch a movie. They thought it was the greatest thing ever. Pretty easy entertainment, Huh?

AND LASTLY, THE LAYOUT

Menu Plan Monday 4/4/2011

2011-04-04T20:42:00.000-05:00

DON'T ADJUST YOUR MONITOR! It really is me blogging. Recently I have been adding a daily thread to my facebook wall asking simply "What's for Dinner?" It has been really fun to see everyone's responses and their enthusiasm for the daily thread. I have really noticed that the need to write down our daily meals has "forced" me to think about the choices I am making for my family. A much appreciated side effect.

I also have been following a number of blogs for a while now that do weekly meal planning. The most notable of them for me is MB by Melanie Bauer that used to run the digital creative team I was on at Two Peas. I started following her at that time and have often considered following in her meal planning footsteps. Well, this is the week I officially go there.

MONDAY: Grilled Ribeye Steaks, Steamed Asparagas, Jasmine Rice & Tossed Salad

This is definitely a menu designed to make Scott happy, minus the rice at least. He tends to complain about rice, although I believe it is more to bother me than anything else.

TUESDAY: Cobb Pasta Toss

This is a new recipe we will be trying from a Rachael Ray cookbook that Brad bought me for Christmas.

WEDNESDAY: Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese

This is a busy night for for us - Brooklyn has both Jump Rope Club and AWANA, so easy is always the word of the day.

THURSDAY: Slow Cooker Steak Burritos

Another new recipe - this one is from Taste of Home magazine.

FRIDAY: Fish at Trapper's Turn Golf Club

Golf started for the season last Saturday, and they have my favorite fish fry of all time. Can't wait!

SATURDAY: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches and oven fries

Pretty sure this isn't the healthiest choice we could make, but Brooklyn is having a friend over and this is at her request.

P365 Renewed - week 1

2010-10-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

I am pretty happy about trying to get back into representing the essence of our life ... one day at a time! Well, week 1 back at it wasn't perfect ... only 6 pictures rather than 7, but considering the 6 month hole in the year - that's a pretty good average!

Sunday, October 17th - Unfortunately there was no picture taken.

Monday, October 18th - 10 work days left until my first canvass revenue clean date. I am starting to get pretty nervous ... and stressed!

Tuesday, October 19th - 9 work days left until revenue clean - I took this picture from my "mobile office".

Wednesday, October 20th - our newest litter of kittens.

Thursday, October 21st - BLACKJACK day. I say this because two really fantastic bits of news came my way today. The first ... I can't talk about yet. But suffice it to say that I could really use any good luck prayers, positive thoughts or whatever else you might have. The second was an email from Gina Cabrera of Digital Design Essentials. This was one of the first digital sites I discovered and fell in love with ... and now I am officially part of it as a member of the creative team. F-U-N!

Friday, October 22nd - This picture was taken through my car windshield ... it is easy to take the views around town for granted as I work every day, but the capitol building really is special!

Saturday, October 23rd - Brooklyn and I spent the day together and had sooo much fun putting together a family video on jibjab.com

So, that was our week. We'll try and document the coming one too. Talk to you soon.

Football, Family & Fall

2010-10-17T08:31:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we went to watch Rem's last football game of the season. Mom and Dad, Ericka and the girls, us, and of course Lana, Chad and the kids were all there. It has been such an amazing fall - one perfect weather day after the next. I was able to spend a few minutes last night putting the pictures on a layout using Jen Martakis' "FEELS LIKE FALL" scrapbook kit available at Two Peas in a Bucket

And since today is Sunday - no doubt it will be another football filled day.

GO PACK GO!

Project 183?

2010-10-16T19:15:00.000-05:00

The resurrection of my scrapping hobby has left me feeling a little sad about Project 365. In 2009 I started P365, but only made it about 6 weeks or so. This year was going to be different! I was going get that prized picture of the day ... EVERYDAY. But then the new job happened and all my plans came to a screeching halt. So, here's where I am with it now - I did manage to take that coveted photo each day for the first four months of the year and there are two plus months to go. So the plan is to start it back up have 6 full months done and make the pages in the middle with what pictures we did manage to take. This week there are only two - yesterday & today - that's how it starts.Wish me luck.

Friday, October 15th - a self portrait by BC

Saturday, October 16th - BC And her cousin P enjoying R-Dog's last football game.

Susan ... Here's to You!

2010-10-15T23:35:00.000-05:00

Today's post takes a trip outside the norm for me. I have known an amazing woman for close to 15 years. Our paths have never been such for us to have formed a close relationship - which is pobably more my fault than hers since close friendships have always come hard for me. But I admire Susan and her positive and peaceful outlook on life so much - and this outlook comes in the face of more heartbreak than most will ever know in their lifetime. These past couple of weeks she has been bravely facing a courtroom everyday - the trial is for her ex who is accused of violently murdering their 5 week old baby twins. She has been on my mind often, and I've searched for the perfect words to write to her. But I have nothing! So I am doing the one small thing that I can and I'm passing her story on and asking you to join her cause on Facebook - that murderers of children should receive the same sentences as those of adults, which horrifically is often not the case. So, here's to you, Susan. Know how much I admire the strength you somehow have mustered up through this.

This is a picture of her beautiful babies ... and a link to her Facebook Cause (take a minute to join if you will) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Murder-Is-Murder-No-Matter-How-Small-The-Victim/127418217269613#!/pages/Murder-Is-Murder-No-Matter-How-Small-The-Victim/127418217269613

It's a Happy Thing!

2010-10-11T19:18:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, last fall I was selected to be a member of the very first digital creative team ever at Two Peas in a Bucket. It was exciting and then some - since Two Peas had been my scrapbooking home since I first started. It is also where I found the encouragement and info to begin digital in 2006. However, I had to give the spot up this summer due to my new job requirements with AT&T - it was sad, but necessary. Anyway, today my layout that I posted on here yesterday was selected as the project of the day over at Two Peas - WOO HOO! That is indeed a happy thing in my book.

Not So Frightful

2010-10-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

I spent some time this afternoon creating a new layout to showcase Jen Martakis' fun Halloween kit. I have to admit that Halloween has always been a challenge for me to scrap ... which means I tend not to do it. It's a good feeling to finally have these pictures from 3 years ready to put into the family scrapbook. It seems that every year I think about making a mini book for each of the kids showcasing their costumes from year to year. Maybe this is the year I finally follow through.

Making Cider & Memories

2010-10-04T21:18:00.000-05:00

Last weekend my dad hauled out the hundred year old cider press that has lived in the back of the machine shed at the farm for as long as I can remember. Over the years I have put together some wonderful family time memories using that "machine" ... and I'm so grateful that we continue to use it so that all of our kids can do the same thing.

I used Jen Martakis' "BACK TO SCHOOL" kit to put this layout together. BTW I do know I already posted these pics, but that is probably nothing new for me.

Scrapbooking again!

2010-10-03T07:51:00.000-05:00

I am finding the time to scrapbook again ... finally! Getting to a place at work where this was doable again - that is priceless for me.

In the process I was not able to keep up with my commitments for the Two Peas in a Bucket Digital Creative Team, and had to give up my spot to someone that could. Anyone that knows me knows what a heartbreak that was -- making that team in the first place had been a dream come true. But Jen Martakis has allowed me to keep my position on her team, and I am grateful and motivated by that. Here are a couple that I did last week (and I plan to scrap during football this afternoon too) I used Jen's "ALL GIRL" and "ALL BOY" kits to create these two.

Makin' Cider

2010-10-02T20:40:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we had such beautiful weather - it was the perfect time to do something outside. Layne requested that we all go to the farm, and use the hundred year old apple cider press - what a great idea! There really is something special about it - the kind of thing that all of the kids will look back on as "something we always did". The older I get the more I realize that it really is those kinds of things that matter most.

At the Homecoming Parade

2010-10-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

How many times is a person allowed to say they are trying again with the blog thing ... it probably doesn't matter much since that very question's necessity means that I am most likely talking to myself anyway. But anyway, I am going to try it again. :)

This afternoon Scott took the little girls to the parade and met up with Brooklyn and her friends. I am soooo jealous. But it makes my heart smile to have pictures like these.

This and That

2010-04-12T22:17:00.000-05:00

Meal plan Monday has been put on hold - for 40 days and 40 nights. I have made the decision to try yet another diet plan ... this one involving HCG sublingual drops. Yes, the hormone that is found in the urine of pregnant women. I have been considering it for awhile, and then a good friend lost 30 lbs. in the last 3 weeks. So, my meal plan really won't be worth talking about. But ...

We did have a pretty amazing meal tonight. Which happened to be easy as well. It was Quick Chicken Marsala - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quick-Chicken-Marsala/Detail.aspx I can tell you that everyone in the family enjoyed it and we will definitely have it again. We had it with mashed potatoes and corn.

And the last this or that is some layouts that I created this past week with some of the wonderful digital products available at Twopeasinabucket.com

The first is titled A BIT OF WELCOME SUNSHINE and showcases some really darling elements by Vinnie Pearce - Peach Hill Elements

The next is titled, GOOD EASTER EGGS - it was designed to showcase a wonderful kit by Wilna Furstenberg called Somebunny to Love. So many great things in this kit and I love her style.

And I plan to keep this roll going tomorrow - which happens to be Tuesday. I do so love Tuesday, because it is new product day at 2Peas. Who would have ever thought I would look forward to Tuesdays? Go figure. Have a great night all.

5 Things - Gratitude

2010-04-11T07:37:00.000-05:00

This is my first gratitude poting so these will be the obvious ones (so their feelings are kept solidly in tact) and we''ll go forward from there.

1. Two Days in a Row People! Blogging might actually turn out to be good yet.

2. My wonderful kids and granddaughters. They are my everything. All moms understand this. (they will all hate this photo - but it serves as a reminder to them to let me take group shots more often. HA!)

3. A supportive husband to grow old with. I don't think you can appreciate this one too much. The older I get the more I understand the wisdom of this one.

4. My parents. I was one of the lucky people to have been raised in a really great home. We didn't have issues. And they continue to be a rock in my life - a calm spot in the greatest of storms. They are amazing.

5. Time. This makes the top 5 list for a million reasons at least. "Times heals all wounds" "Time marches on " You can't save time, you can only spend it wisely" My vow with changing careers this past year has been to use my time more wisely, to begin to live my life with purpose. And so it makes the first list.

So, thanks for stopping in -- here's to beginnings. I look forward to many more lists. Probably more interesting or fun, but certainly no gratitudes more important than today. God Bless.

Starting Again

2010-04-10T10:25:00.000-05:00

It seems that letting so much time pass between blog entries leads inevitabelyto forgetting all the things you had worked so hard to teach yourself about blogging in the first place. I think this is where I hit myself on the head. So, I am returning to the class lessons from Shimelle and relearning.

Why should this time be different? I have found a job!!!! Yup, that right - after so many stressful months of not knowing what the future held, I start work next Monday for AT&T Advertising. I am beyond thrilled. For the job AND to have a little extra money again. But to the point right now, I have let go of some stress - time to relax and start living my life again. Moving forward. I am a blogger.

In talking with some of my "scrappy friends" who are much more successful at this endeavor than I, I think that the way to start blogging more often is to develop a structure to follow ... at least in the beginning. So starting tomorrow I will have themes for each day of the week. Can't really promise that they will be set in stone forever, but that is what I'm going with. Sunday's will be about Gratitude. I will tell you five things I am grateful for. Monday's will be Meal Plan Monday - I'm a little scared of this. This might be more appropriate for those who are more "plannerish". But we'll give it a go.

So, we'll see you tomorrow. I'll be grateful if I can just follow through with this. (evil grin)

2010-01-31T21:40:00.000-06:00

It seems to me that ever since I started this blogging thing I have been saying that I am going to do better ... so I will say it again. I amgoing to do better. The thing about it is that I rather feel like I am talking to myself. AND then in the next sentence - I answer. Scary! But the truth is that I started this blog primarily to post 2Peas layouts for the creative team assignments, and doing all of it at once is tedious, frustrating and no fun at all (not to mention that I think it defeats the purpose), I AM GOING TO DO BETTER!

So to that end, here are my 2Peas assignments from January ... they are pictured with the kit that they are intended to promote. I will say that the kits at the site have been fantastic to work with. And as my first creative team I think I am starting to get the hang of it all (minus the blogging, of course - but again I am going to do better).

So there they are ... Next month they will appear more sporadically intermixed with more posts. I figure if I tell myself enough, I will follow through. SIgning off, with fingers crossed

Online Crop Tonight

2009-12-04T18:05:00.000-06:00

I am an introvert. It's funny too because I have always had the career of an extrovert. I am also a good actress I guess. lol. The reason this is coming up is that I often find myself hanging on scrapbooking boards - because I don't have to put myself out there really. So now with my new digital creative team member status at Two Peas in a Bucket - I am out there a little. I am getting used to it though, and it's really good. Tonight I will attend my first ever online crop. I'm nervous (weird) and I don't have any idea what to expect. We shall see.

This week I have been playing a lot with my new kits for the week. Just because I hate to have a day with no pictures. I'll share my first one for this week. The kit is by Brandy Buffington - is is so full of everyday essentials for me. I am, after all, all about kraft. You can purchase it at ttp://www.twopeasinabucket.com/shop/brandy-buffington/88334-digikit-my-animal-friends/?ource_type=LAY&source_id=1556808 (someday I will figure out how to get this to llok better and not show up with the url - I promise)

And this is what I made with this product as the focus. (others elements from two peas are the gliiter frame by Betsy Tuma and my new every layout element is the simple shadow stles by Hen Martakis) The page is about the last day we had with Daniela, our German exchange student.

I guess I am off to the crop - we''l see what that brings

Our First Assignment

2009-11-29T23:30:00.000-06:00

So, I am brand new at this and I'm already a bad blogger. I guess the rush of the Thanksgiving holiday got the better of me this year!

The real topic of this post is my first assignment on the Two Peas in a Bucket Digital Creative Team ... But I am taking a time out for an assignment ... Right Now (or first thing tomorrow morning if it is late where you are), pick up the phone and call your mom. Then tell her again just how much you love her! We had a heart attack scare with my mom this weekend. There is nothing like that to give you a little reality kick. I know I don't actually tell her that I love her as often as I should. But I am going to start. Sure she knows anyway, but hearing it matters!

So, on to the heart of this post. My first assignment for 2Peas was to make at least 2 pages each with these two wonderful kits.

The first is Simple Shadows Style by Jen Martakis - I'll probably use these on every single page from now on. They are realistic looking - which fits my digital style perfectly. For the most part I am looking to create pages that very closely mimic something I would have done back when I paper scrapped (only better). I have but shadows styles before, and then given up getting them installed - Jen's directions are amazing. I had this up and running in minutes!

My second kit for the week was Holiday Twist Borders by Holly Brooke Jones. This little beauty is only 99 cents (on sale for 79 through Monday) I have already made three completely different layouts and can honestly think of dozens of ways that I want to use this - both as it is and with minor changes. (and isn't that what is sooooo cool about digi)

I made three different layouts this week using both kits on each of them. And I'm thinking of making at least one more. Here's what I've got so far ...

OK - as a note to anyone reading this blog, I have so much to learn about formatting so it all looks like I want it to - that is up on my list of priorities for the coming weeks. So be kind to this new blogger. Thanks.

I'm So Excited ... And I Just Can't Hide It

2009-11-20T14:35:00.000-06:00

You know the song. Well I am as excited and happy as I can possibly be to say that I have been selected, along with 19 ladies to be part of the first digital creative team at Two Peas in A Bucket. They are amazingly talented and I am honored to be working with them. You can find them at the links below and also at http://twopeasinabucket.com/

Alice Wertz: http://aliceslittlewonderland.blogspot.com/
Audrey Neal: http://audneal.typepad.com/
Barb Hogan: http://barbhogan.typepad.com/
Cheryl Manz Ametewee: http://cherylmanz.typepad.com/
Christie Jurgens: http://accidentalinspiration.blgfspot.com/
Christina Smith: http://happystamping.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Hignite: http://jenniferhignite.blogspot.com/
Holly Koenigsfeld: http://hkoenigsfeld.blogspot.com/
Iara Gomes-Bae:
Karen Cole: http://redartscrapping.blogspot.com/
Kathy Racoosin: http://thedailymarker.blogspot.com/
Kerry Stewart: http://kerrydawaydesigns.blogspot.com/
Lucy Abrams: http://hedgehogsandladybirds.blogspot.com/
MaryJo Arthur: http://maryjojohnston.blogspot.com/
Mary Rogers: http://justus-photographyanddigistuff.blogspot.com/
Nicole LeBlanc: http://nicoleleblancphotography.blogspot.com/
Raven Edwards: http://ravenedwards.typepad.com/
Vanessa Matthyssen: http://scrappness.blogspot.com/
Wilna Furstenberg: http://wilnaf.blogspot.com/

New Look - New Attitude

2009-11-18T08:51:00.000-06:00

So, it appears that this blog is going to be a lot like me - random. Yesterday we talked about wildlife, today it's color. So it goes. :)

As you probably know, my one real hobby is scrapbooking. So, I guess I tend to think about color more than my nonscrapping friends and family. But, I was reminded this week about the emotion of color. I remember when I first started in this hobby reading an article or two on the subject. And at the time I spent MUCH more time considering that when choosing colors. Now I tend to just go where the spirit takes me. Then I painted my living room - and have found that this simple change makes me happier and energized. Even when I was making these color chips for the post, the old color scheme made me feel blah, and the new one made me feel up. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I plan to (or think anyone should) spend a bunch of time agonizing over the colors in scrapbook layouts. That would take the joy out of it - the page will be great either way for the most part. I just thought my trip down the paint aisle has been an interesting reminder - and maybe sometimes if I'm going for a certain emotion in the page I should try to pay a bit more attention.

Oh, and I might just take some pics of the new room and post them later. :)

Yesterday Was Top Notch

2009-11-17T10:10:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a while.

Brooklyn came home sick from school (that's not the good part, although I am pretty sure she was never sick at all). Coming up our driveway there were literally hundreds of sandhill cranes. We stopped to watch for a minute or two. And started talking about cranes ... how when I was a little girl there were barely any, and now we see them every single day... forward in the conversation to ... whooping cranes are white cranes that are still endangered. I told her that I had never even seen one. Brad is the only one I know of that had seen one in real life. What happened next? We had a whooping crane land with the group of sandhill cranes down in the field. The Crane Foundation came over and told us that he was a 6 year old male and we should call them again if we continue to see him in this area. They want to keep track of when he migrates.

It was just cool.

And Away We Go

2009-11-17T09:24:00.000-06:00

I have started taking Shimelle Laine's class "Blogging for Scrapbookers" and the start of this blog is the direct result of it. My hope for it is simply to provide a look into our everyday lives, our dreams, our projects, and history... and maybe even a place for me to make a few new friends if it all goes well. If you are interested in taking her class I have provided the link to it. (I said that becasue I've never posted a link and am not sure how it will show up when I actually post this thing LOL) http://www.shimelle.com/classes/618/a-new-online-scrapbooking-class-blogging-for-scrapbookers/

Without further adieu, as promised, AND AWAY WE GO.