create

...still on vacation

We are still on vacation up here in the beautiful Poconos (NE Pennsylvania)....no heart-shaped beds or martini glass hot tubs here though!!  We are enjoying a nice week at my MILs house on the lake.  It has been fun to get away from it all and actually see my DH.  The boys are SO dirty every night after playing outside pretty much ALL day.  Alex and DH go fishing every day and we take walks in the woods, row the boat around the lake (we sold the powerboat last season because we just weren't using it that much with a 4 year old and a 22 month old) and search for worms, salamanders and any other type of bug you can find!!  The joy of BOYS!!! 

So far, we've only had one trip to the ER.  My oldest son, Alex (4), decided to try and climb up the small rocky hill at the edge of the lake (of course DH was supposed to be watching) and he must've lost his footing and fell back into the lake and hit his head on a rock.  I'm inside with our youngest son and I hear Alex crying.  I look out the window as he is walking up from the dock and literally the whole side of his head is covered in blood.  Yes, I totally freaked out (I always imagine I would be better in these situations) and probably made him more scared.  Once we got it wiped up it wasn't all that bad, but I did want to get it checked out at the hospital.  On the way to the hospital (which is 30 minutes away), Alex told me that a cheeseburger and french fries from McDonalds would make him feel better.  Of course, I found the closest McDonalds and ordered him up a Happy Meal and got one for myself as well (gotta love that stress-eating thing!!).  The ER was a breeze (the benefits of a small-town) and we did have to get a staple put in his head to hold the gash closed (Yuk!!), but he was pretty good.  The funny thing is that when the whole thing happened and I was putting a towel on his head, DH goes to get a big band-aid.  I told him I thought the band-aid was a bad idea because his hair was going to get stuck in it.  He, of course, didn't listen and at that point I didn't feel like arguing.  So when we get to the ER, the nurse had such a horrified look on her face because she knew at some point the band-aid was going to have to be ripped off - along with a bunch of his hair!!  That was traumatic.  Anyway, before I left they gave me a piece of duct tape and said to bring this home to my husband and put it in his hair and rip it out o see how he likes it!!!  I actually thought that was pretty funny. 

I've read 2 books up here: Embers by Sandor Marai (for my book club) and Setting Limits for your Strong-willed Child (for Alex).  Both were GREAT!!  My MIL also subscribes to a ton of magazines, so I've been reading Cottage Living, Country Living, Paper Crafts and some graphic design magazine (can't remember the name), but it is a gorgeous publication.  Got some cool ideas for layouts that I put in my notebook to try when I get back home.   I am now reading Ultra-Metabolism by Mark Hyman - I know, I know, ANOTHER "diet" book.  I do have to say it is pretty good so far.  I am always looking for new ways to get this extra weight off!!  My mom saw the author on one of the morning talk shows and ordered the book on Amazon.com and had it shipped fedex to me so I could take it with me on vacation... What a great mom!! 

Here's some pictures from our trip so far...

..Jess Challenge #2 - my age

This was hard.....check out Jess' blog for details.  Anyway, here is my layout.  I will post credits tomorrow.

....who i am....jess' blog challenge

Here is my layout for Jess' blog challenge (so excited for the wonderful gift she is giving out---see papers below and she has added elements to it...yeah!!).  See the credits at my Scrapartist gallery link on the right.

...someone stop me

I have not been able to stop myself from buying all these new things lately.  The only thing I can be thankful for is that I do not have girls to scrap for.  If I did I probably would've bought another 3 or 4 kits at the Scrapartist sale.  My philosophy is that if I like a kit I don't buy it immediately when it comes out....i mull it over for a week or two.  If I still like it, then I will buy it.  I almost always end up buying it even if it isn't on sale and really I'm still getting a great deal.  These digital kits by these talented designers sell for such a fraction of what you pay if you were a paper scrapper AND you can use them over and over again.  I mean $7 for some of these kits - that's like 3 papers and some ribbons at AC Moore.  I once spent $20 on just glue and other adhesive stuff.  And I get to sit at home on my sofa with my laptop and order via the internet while watching Grey's Anatomy.  GOSH, I love digital. 

So here is what I bought (like I'm sure many of you care....lol).  I already have both of Nancy Rowe Janitz's schmootzy alpha stamps and Michelle Coleman's too, but in my obsession to own EVERY alpha stamp out there I bought one of Lisa Cohen's.  I had to buy Boho Chic and Lighter Shades of Pale kits by Michelle Coleman and the Lil Buckaroo paperpack and Happy-go-Lucky kit by Dianne Rigdon.  Two of the new Iron Orchid paper packs were a MUST.  Check it all out......now i have to get busy creating while the kids are outside with DADDY.....

 

..history repeating....

A few items of business before the kid/husband stuff....You have to go play Jessica's challenge over at her blog (you have until Monday midnight to post your layout).  She's giving away this gorgeous paperpack (hopefully it is ok that I put the picture here.....i need to check the blog etiquette on this) to all the people who post AND more importantly, it will be fun.  If you don't have time to play she will be putting the paperpack and elements in her store - Eclectic Scraps - next week.  I'm working on my layout now.

This recipe swap at Scrapartist is awesome.  Seriously good recipes.  I just joined, so it is not too late to get involved.  They have done appetizers and soups and are now on salads.  There's also an incredible sale there (ends tomorrow) on most items.  I'm debating my purchases now!!!

Enough scrapping talk....

I don't know much about DH's childhood (at least not as much as I know about my own).  My DH's mom was really young when she had him and had some tough years with my husband's father so there isn't much talk about Gary and the things he did as a baby and toddler.  The ONE thing I hear about all the time is how Gary stuck cherry seeds up his nose and how they had to go to the hospital to get them out.  Last night Alex comes out after we put him to bed and says his nose hurts and there is a seed up there.  I'm sort of not believing him (because I know he likes to postpone bedtime)...but he is sort of frantic so I  try looking and then we try blowing.  I can't see anything so I'm working on calming him down to put him back to bed and start asking him questions about this "seed".  He's pretty specific about the fact that it is blue ("or sort of grey" he says).  I ask him why he put it in his nose and he said "my pajamas have no pockets and I wanted to play with my puppets and if I put it on the floor Madison (our dog) would eat it.  So i kept it safe in my nose."  Can't argue with that logic, huh?  We blow a couple more times and he does end up blowing this grayish-blue bead out.  I couldn't believe it.  I was more frantic because I almost didn't believe him and was just going to make him go to bed.  So, of course, one more parallel to his daddy (who he is pretty much the spitting image of already in appearance and personality).....Alex wanted to keep the bead and put it in his bank so he could remember it (of course it is now in the trash).  I explained that he shouldn't put things up his nose and if he thinks there is something up there he should come to me immediately as opposed to trying to dig around and try to get it.  See I thought it was supposed to get easier when they turned 4....lol.

We skipped playgroup on Tuesday because I really didn't feel like dealing with the drama and it was so nice to have a day where we didn't have to get in the car at all.  The boys and I played dinosaur zoo in the sand box and spent countless hours building sand castles and destroying them with the "scary" dinosaur (t-rex).  It's so great to have just some down time with them as opposed to driving to preschool, the doctor, the store, etc.  Here are some pictures of the boys playing outside. 

 

...More Scraplift Love!!

A record...I did 2 layouts this weekend.  I know it doesn't sound like much, but I am a S L O W scrapper.  I go through so many different papers, elements, layout designs before I am finally happy.  The funny thing is that both of these layouts were for scraplift challenges and they still took me forever.  The first one is of my friend Terra's daughter (I need some girl pictures so I could use Jess' fabulous design with all the pink papers, instead of all the blue and green and tan that I used for my boys).  I left some room at the top of the photo for Terra to add some journaling. The scraplift was for a challenge at Scrapartist to lift one of Traci Murphy's layouts (i've been eyeing them for months).....see credits at SA link on left.

This next layout was for an impromptu challenge at DSD where you had to pick a page in the gallery and then scraplift any layout from the bottom row.  I chose a layout by threelittleguys {credits here}.  The kit I used is Two by Two from Kim Hill (one of my favorite of hers).

Got to get back to Sopranos and then Big Love and watch the tivo'ed Grey's Anatomy!!  Love Sunday night TV....

...annoying playdate and fun stuff to come

I make no excuses for my stalking of all things Jessica Bolton.  I think she is super-talented and such a nice person.  Anyway, she is having a little weekly blog challenge starting on Monday and I am psyched.  Her ideas are always so creative and fabulous.  Her Monday thing is going to be a photo/layout challenge and I for one will be first in line to play along. 

Second thing, before I harp on my playgroup issues is to remark on how nice this digital scrapping community can be.  I love being here.  My buddy Terra, who is on Gina Miller's creative team, did two layouts using pictures of MY boys.  How cool is that!!  So my boys have now been posted on Gina's blog for the hundreds of blog readers to see.  I have some pictures of Terra's beautiful girls that I am using on a layout that will hopefully be done soon.  But, I wanted to say "thanks" to Terra. 

Ok, my playgroup issues...  I have 2 boys (4 years and 20 months) and we've been in this playgroup since my oldest was 18 months.  Most of these women I've known for over 2 years, some even longer because they go to my church.   Not only do we have playgroup together 2 times a week, but we are all in a Book Club that meets monthly.   Suffice it is to say, I see and talk to these women a lot and for the most part absolutely LOVE them.  I am the only mom (of the 12) that works part-time (20 hrs a week) and the only mom that has 2 boys.  Ten of the moms' have a boy and a girl and there is one mom that has 2 girls.  One of the moms is driving me crazy lately with her constant "warnings" to my 4 year old son.  Yesterday she told him to stop playing in the dirt (at the park) because he was making her 3 year old son (who is very quiet, meek sit-quietly-in-the-stroller type) do the same thing.  She said to him, "Don't play in the dirt because Noah is following you".  My spirited child said "then tell Noah not to follow me."  Now I agree that wasn't the best answer he could've given...lol...but this was after she told him not to roll his matchbox car down the short slide (when nobody was even around).  We've always kind of "mothered" all the other children since we've been meeting, but lately I've gotten annoyed at her constant picking on my oldest.   I will be the first to admit that he is the one who runs the fastest, throws the ball the hardest, climbs the tallest tower and isn't always the gentlest when it comes to "giving way" to the littler guys.  But he is also the first to go over and hug someone if they've fallen and always ready to try and boost someone up to reach the water fountain.   Like all kids he has his good points and his not-so-good points, but I feel like she is sort of antagonizing him.  I feel like I discipline him enough (to which he IS NOT usually receptive - he will fight a time out like you were trying to scratch his eyes out) and that some of this stuff is just petty.  He's a boy, he's going to play in the dirt and try to get the car to go its absolute "fastest".  I think I need to say something to her next time, because I feel like I need to stick up for my boy.  The question is do I say it next time she says something or do I just call her up to talk about it.  Talking to DH isn't getting me anywhere because he already thinks she is annoying so his answer is "who cares, stop hanging out with her..."  Hmmm..need to mull this over. 

...your first kit?

How many of you remember the first digital kit you bought?  Did you use it more than that first time?  Would you still use it now?   Has your taste changed since you've gotten more involed in this community?  Do you find yourself drawn to one designer or do you buy from a bunch of different ones? Is there one color or element that can sell you on a kit?  Who's your favorite celebscrapper? Do you have one scrapper out there that you mark as a favorite pretty much everytime you see her layouts?  Do you remember the first layout of hers that you LOVED? These questions kick around in my mind.  It is mostly me just wondering if my habits are the same as other peoples or am I thinking too much...lol?

I've only been in the digital scrapping world for 7 months now and I still LOVE to go shopping for kits.  Even if I don't buy any, I like to see what is out there.  It almost helps me figure out what I like.  I have favorite designers that I'd buy ANYTHING from--even if it has pink in it(**I have two boys, so there is only so many layouts I can do about myself that I would use pink on...LOL**).  The first kit I bought was Michelle Underwood's Summer Bliss.  I saw a layout done with it in one of the scrapping magazines that I used to buy along with the mountains of paper scrapping stuff I would purchase (and that hasn't been touched and is sitting up in my attic now).  In finding that kit, I found SBB and just lurked for several months.  It took a while to get the umphh to actually put together a layout.  I found a sketch challenge with some free papers at DSD and put together my first layout (eeek...looking at it now...) and it took me at least 4 days to get up the nerve to post it. 

I really enjoy this community of people and feel that while sometimes it is hard to "get" to know people through the internet, when you make the effort you also get the reward of meeting somebody who may be in a different part of the country, live a completely different life, be 10 years younger (or older), but yet you almost feel like you've known forever.  I like that.

Anyway, to answer my questions above:  My first kit I got was Shabby Princess' Shabby Smiles (I think it was a freebie).  I used it several times and still think it is gorgeous (her stuff has such timeless appeal).  My taste has totally changed in terms of what I buy and most of the stuff I bought last fall and even through December I can't imagine using now.  I have several favorite designers, of which I own most of their stuff, but I am always open to a new one.  I love orange - anything that is orange (Kim Christensen does an AWESOME orange).  An alpha or stitching or anything orange can sell me on a kit.  My favorite celebscrapper is Ali Edwards...I *heart* her.  As for "regular" scrappers (LOL), I love Shabby Miss Jenn (who doesn't) and Jenn Olson (new HOFfer).  I remember I saw Shabby Miss Jenn's layout Trouble for the first time and it seriously made me realize how much I wanted to do this digital scrapping stuff and find different products and put them all together.  My favorite Jenn Olson layout is Out of Gas.   She taught me that a great picture doesn't have to be a face shot and the every day moments with your children are what you will appreciate the most.  Also, it doesn't hurt to have a great, catchy title!!

That's it, just rambling on.....have a great day.

....so fun to do

Well since I am out of the contest I got to spend my first Sunday doing a FUN page.  This really was cool.  It's been a while since I've just scrapped something as a "what the heck?".  Use whatever products, whatever design.  Hmm, it was fun.  I still find myself going back to the same favorite designer's stuff (jess), but I tried to branch out and use more of my stash!!  The design is kind of busy and pretty different than my normal style (if I even really have one), but I actually really like it.  I bought a lot of little elements over the weekend and was excited to use them.  I'll have to detail my purchases later as it is time to go to bed now even though it is really only 10:15 (before the time change).  Let's hope this means the boys will sleep until 8am!!