I can't wait!!

So, last January I signed up for a 16 week long class at BigPictureScrapbooking.com with Stacy Julian called "Library of Memories" (This is the binder I made for the weekly handouts and assignments). It was $80.00 and SO WORTH EVERY PENNY! This class transformed the way I scrapbook. It took my focus off of events and centered it on relationships and the important stuff we'd have wanted to know about our ancestors...things like what their daily life was like, how technology has changed, their feelings about world affairs, etc. Anyway, this year it is offered again, ($95.00 this year) but as an alumni member I get to take it again for FREE! yeah baby!

I'm loving that! Especially since it teaches a system of photo & layout storage that is an ongoing process (i.e. you are never DONE!) Did I mention I really can't wait?

If you want to know more about the system but don't want to take the class, STacy Julian has a new book out that teaches the system called "Photo Freedom" (actually I think it comes out next week---in March) so....just buy the book! (Or borrow mine~ you know I'll be buying it! I'd buy anything Stacy Julian is a part of! She is Amazing!)

Tuesday loves....

Today I thought I'd mention a few my loves:

1) Looking forward to a tropcial trip in the middle of winter

2) Costco weight-loss shakes

3) The delay feature on my washing machine

4) Mexican coke

5) Taco time crisp chicken burritos

6) my TIVO

7) Efficiency & good work ethick

8) Suave coconut conditioner

9) "Almost Naked" Lotion from Victoria's Secret

10) Tax refunds!

Have a great day everyone!

Family time...

I love this family of Mine. This is a rare shot of all 7 kids. (Taken at Carter's baptism back on February 2nd. I am kicking myself for not getting Mom in here with us!) I feel lucky to

consider each one of my siblings my friends...however I don't get to see them often enough!

I did get to see Mom twice this week, Carlen, Chloe, Samantha, Mike Ray, Cami and Cosette all in one week! That is a good week I'd say! Love you all!

Feeling left out...

Our good friends the Eyrings took their 3 kids and headed to Puerta Viarta Mexico on Monday...They have been poolside, with sandy toes and tan skin since Monday! Meanwhile I have been working a 52 hour week, Hosting a Pampered Chef Party and having to work on what was supposed to be my day off! (Friday). *whew*
This picture was taken on our last cruise and it shows Trent diving in front of the camera~ a tradition for us! We miss them and wish we were suntanning with them right now. (Well not RIGHT NOW since it's 11:30 at night~ but you know what I mean!) They will be home sunday night though, and then we get to start counting the days until our Caribbean Cruise with them!

This guy is funny....this morning he sent me a text messange that said..."can we just start over?"
Of course! Anytime! I luv this man!
It was Dave's turn to have a rough day at work today...so hopefully tomorrow will go well for both of us....what do you think?
Let's end with a list of good things about tomorrow:
1) i get to see lots of friends i haven't seen in awhile~ They are coming for my Pampered chef party...good food & friends! Fun!
2) I get to hang out with Bonnie and baby Rion (my friend from pharmacy school) in the afternoon! yay!
3) It's my last day of work this week!
4) LOST is on tomorrow night!
5) I get to chat with lots of new friends at Scraplove.com!

Another day....

I can't wait for Summer....until we can do THIS again! We love our yearly trip to Idaho! Tons of fun in the sun!
Speaking of fun....today was not.

Have you ever had just an average day...one that wasn't bad but definately wasn't great? That was today. I have vowed to have a better attitude at work and I'm trying really hard. Today was difficult though because I was training a brand spankin' new pharmacist and it his hard to find the balance between what they need to learn and not overwhelming them, KWIM? Crazy day.

And I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

To top it all off, when I got home from working my 12 hr day Dave had said he'd have the dogs all walked so we could just go to bed together...well he hadn't walked them & wanted me to come with. Then he was upset when I had to call a few people & check in on the message board that I help moderate instead. Now he went to bed without me and he's still mad I can tell. I shouldn't say much more cuz he reads this. LOL ~ Hey Dave! I LOVE YOU! (I am sorry). xox

Back to the Grind...

This is my rose from Valentine's day...glad I took a picture cuz it's drooping now.
I went back to work today....and it was a pleasant surprise...It was actually mostly cleaned up and not TOO much paperwork. It was actually a very good day. I don't know if it was because I went in there with a good attitude or because they really missed me and ar adapting to my expectations. For whatever reason, I am glad. I won't dread working the rest of the week...

Scraplove Mini Scalloped Chipboard album!

This is the cute little chipboard album we made at Scraplove this weekend. Very cute indeed! It was lots of fun to be creative!

We also went and saw the movie "Jumper" interesting, entertaining, but left something to be desired story-wise.

I am NOT excited to go back to work tomorrow....Oh well. I'll get by. Happy Sunday Everyone!

My attempt at Weekend Creative

Over at Ali Edwards's blog (See link on the right side) she has a challenge every weekend called "Weekend Creative". this is my attempt at last week's challenge. It was actually very fun!

Today we went to Home Depot in search of filters for our furnace....why do they have to make everything so complicated!?! First of all it wasn't very clear where the filters actually go inside our furnace...some cheap blue-looking filters were apparently just shoved in our furnace. We had do get out the manual and figure out what was supposed to go in there & how. Then our trip to my favorite (NOT) store. Whenever I go there i seem to ask a stupid question and (deservedly) get snapped at by Dave. I am SO not a fan of Home Depot.

I am also not looking forward to going to work on Monday after having a week off. I love my job, but i love not having to go to work at all more.

Later on this afternoon at Scraplove.com we are having a mini-class making a cute little album. If you are into scrapbooking at all come check it out!

Middle Name!

Middle Name
I saw this on Bab's blog & thought it looked fun!
Here are the rules:
1) You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2) You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).
3) After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers. 4)At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details.)
My middle name is really, really long. (and I have a lot of double letters!) Anyway, hope you manage to learn some new and interesting things about me.

N-Never have liked clutter...drives me crazy!

I-Ice cream: LOVE the combo of Orange Sorbet WITH Chocolate Almont *or* Rainbow Sorbet WITH Rocky Road!

C-Cruises. Love them! Have been on 6 and we're going on our 7th in 70 days! Yay!

O-Organized. Have to be! (See 'N' above) ;)

L-LOST!!!! I am totally addicted to this show! If you haven't watched it you don't know what you are missing!

E-Entertained by little kids. (Maybe since I don't have any of my own) Little kids ALWAYS crack me up with the funny things they say & do and just the way their little minds think!

E-Eternally in love with my cute hubby! (Sorry, cheesy but true!)

N-Never have owned a new car! My 1997 Honda is paid off and only has 112,000 miles...so I figure I have at least another 88,000 to go before I need to start thinking about another car.

So, there you go! Now to tag 8 people! (And hopefully they will play along with the fun!)

Carlen, Tami, Tracy, Coni, Analee, Kate, Michelle, and Jamie.

( would Totally tag Suzanne, Cami and Darcy except those slackers aren't bloggers *yet* just stalkers!) ha ha.

Valentine's Day Fun

I Really love these guys.... (Otis, Angus & Dave)... ESPECIALLY, this guy....

I also love my friends... (these and all the other ones...you know who you are!)

And my family....so much.

Valentines day is mostly about family and togetherness for me. I don't buy into the Hallmark/contrived holiday part of it...but it is good to re-focus on those we love.

I did get a single red rose from Dave and I got him some candy & a card. That's all I need. Just that, and the Love he gives me everyday! :)

On a totally different note...I LOVE LOST!!! After tonight's episode we know 4 of the 6 survivors who get off the island eventually, and Sayid and Desmond actually are on a helicopter! (Sayid is my favorite character...he is so HOT!)

I met Ali Edwards!

Back in October Suzanne & I went to Creating Keepsakes University in Orlando Fl! (YES, I am the biggest scrapbooking NERD, I know, I am ok with it!) We brought Trent and Dave with us too....(hence the pictures a couple of days ago from Universal Studios). They hung out at the pool all day on the days we had classes. (One day was all sorts of classes and another was our Album Track day where we spent the whole day with Ali Edwards making the album she had designed called "A week in the Life") She is such an amazing artist & scrapbooker (for you non-scrapbookers she is a total Scrapbook Celeb!) and I was so lucky to get her to autograph my "Life Artist" book of hers and get a picture with her! yay! (Yes, I do know I am a dork!)

Goodbye Lavender Kitchen!

Above are the after photos, with my cool new Red Kitchen with a Brown accent area!!! Love it!

Here are before pictures (above) with the awful lavender color that was here... (Please excuse the mess)...

Thanks to great Sisters (Cami & Carlen) and friends like Cindy who helped me SO MUCH today!

By the way...sorry the photos added with the after picture first, but I really don't feel like changing it! (I'm tired). *whew*

Tell me what you think of my new kitchen!

Finally got pictures from Orlando...

Just got the photo CD from Suzanne of our trip to Orlando with our husbands back in October!!!
It had great pics of us at Kennedy Space Station, Universal Islands of Adventure, a few at the beach, some of the husbands in the pool, and a couple of She & I at CKU. Fun Stuff. I did this LO from the Universal pics.
Today was fun. Dave was off so we went to his dentist appt, (4 fillings!) ran errands, and went to see "Fools gold" great flick for it's entertainment value...not for it's beleivability rating though.
We came home and I made dinner on a weeknight! SHOCKER! (We usually have Sunday leftovers until about Thursday...then we go out to eat.) I am trying harder to learn to enjoy cooking.
I am so excited! Tomorrow my sisters, and my friend Cindy are going to come help me paint my kitchen Red with a Mocha accent wall! I'll be sure to post before & after pictures. Dave is excited too because he has hated the color of our lavender kitchen since we moved in almost 2 years ago! (WOW...has it really been that long?!?!)
Take care everyone!

Here's to Family...

I love this LO of me, McKenzie and Ainsley. My lesson in Laurels today was on creating an uplifting environment in the home. It dealt with how physical things like cleanliness & clutter as well as how your own attitude and the attidudes of others affect the mood in the home. I think it went pretty well. It really made me reflect back on my childhood home and look at my home now and consider what I can do to lift the mood in a daily basis. I decided I'll try to be more cheerful daily. Wish me luck! (One day at a time!) ;)
I am so excited that Dave & I BOTH don't work tomorrow. We get to go work out together, Dave has a dental appt. then we're going to Home Depot and possibly go see the new movie "Fools Gold". Yay!

A Dave Flashback

This is a LO I did for Scraplove's "Come Play with me" challenge posted every Friday. It's a picture from 1975 of Dave boxing with his little brother Steve. fun stuff.
Ok Losties....what is going on? Pictures of the crash of flight 815 UNDERWATER? So who is behind the cover-up? And a ghost-buster!?! Really? Why are the people from the ship after Ben? And...do you think John Locke was threatened by Hurley knowing where Jacob's cabin was? *whew* At least this show never fails to entertain!
I am going to workout today, clean house, do laundry, plan a lesson & pay some bills. I figure if I do all of that today, I'll have 8 whole days to play....:)

4,8,15,16,23,42.....It's back!

Yea....in a world with no writers....LOST is new again tonight!

Can't wait! (Speaking of LOST, the Layout above is a flashback from MY life!)

My internet was down this am because we had a windstorm last night.

It's up again tonight. Yeah!

I also don't have to work again for 9 days! I plan on painting my kitchen this upcoming week. I'll post before & after pictures of course!

I also plan on scrapbooking A LOT!

Hump Day....

I miss the sunshine.... And thankg GOOODNESS for great friends!
This picture was taken on our cruise last year...can't wait until April 24th!

By the way...if you are into scrapbooking, SCRAPLOVE.COM is having
a 25% off anniversary sale! Check it out!!!
From now until February 10th you will receive 25% off your entire order! Our prices are already at least 5% under suggested retail prices everyday, so you'll end up getting 30% off all our fun products. That's a huge savings! Please use coupon code: ANNIVERSARY25 at the bottom of your cart page to receive your discount at checkout. Just click on the link below to take advantage of this great offer!

Happy Tuesday!

I love being married to this man! He makes me smile & laugh every day! He loves me unconditionally, and I am lucky to be married to him!

Happy, Happy, Birthday Markie Dear....

Happy days will come to you all year...If I had one wish them it will be...a happy, happy birthday to you from me! Love you Mark Allen! I hope You have a great & wonderful day and birthday month! (It was so great to see you the other day little brother!)

My 2007 Highlight list

On Ali Edwards' blog on her "weekend creative" she challenged us to list big & little highlights from 2007...(Your list should be as long as you are old). Here is mine: (and you can bet it will be incorporated into a scrapbook page soon!)

2007 Highlights List:
1. Got pregnant, then miscarried
2. Changed work locations after 19 years (Rentonà Covington)
3. New Truck-2007 Ford F-250 Super Duty in Red
4. Caribbean Cruise: Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba.
5. LOM class- Taught by the inspiring Stacy Julian
6. Chose Joy- thru BPS & Kollette Hall
7. Taught Laurels
8. Rode dirt bikes in Idaho- made it to 4th gear!
9. Can get up wakeboarding with no problem (crossing the wake is another issue)
10. Went to Def Leppard, Styx & Foreigner concert- ROCK ON!!
11. Saw the “Boinkers” twice @ Great American Casino-no cover charge + great concert!
12. CKU Orlando with Suzanne- Becky Higgins, Ali Edwards, Making Memories, tons of fun.
13. Week in the Life Album-met Ali Edwards
14. Universal Islands of Adventure - Rode the Hulk, Jurassic Park and Dueling Dragons!
15. Went in a Bar (1st time ever) to see a cover band “Pop Tarts”
16. Loved watching LOST
17. Learning to enjoy cooking in our new kitchen
18. Maintained weight @ 134 lbs. (down 30lbs from last year)
19. Enjoyed my 5 minute commute 4 days a week
20. Became a moderator and active participant at the Scraplove message boards.
21. Participated in 2 cyber-crops
22. Made new online friends @ SL: Joy, Coni, Mel, Kate, Michelle, Michelle, & Em
23. Saw Van Halen in Concert (and finagled better seats to boot!)
24. Visited Arizona twice.
25. Got a Kitchen Aid for Christmas
26. Organized work & passed audits
27. Enjoyed weekends off with Dave
28. Re-organized scrap room
29. Saw Kennedy Space Center & Space shuttle
30. Karen came to visit
31. Surprised Dave’s Mom for 70th birthday~made her a Grandmother’s Album
32. Saw Dave’s Mom through Breast Cancer/ Mastectomy ordeal
33. Watched & Supported Cami through the loss of her MIL to cancer
34. Enjoyed scrap booking
35. Enjoyed walking & playing with Otis & Angus
36. Slept under the stars with Dave on the 4th of July
37. Enjoyed everyday life with my best friend (Dave). J

Happy Birthday Kerry!

Today is my little brother's birthday...he is 36!!!! Wow! Love ya!

I can't believe it's February!

I can't believe it's February already! I seriously don't know how time flies by so fast! It seems like just a couple of years ago that I was in High School with these gals...not 19!!! Wow I am old.
Missy, Jen and I got together a couple weekends ago at Red Robin to catch up. I hadn't seen Missy since my wedding. And Jen & I are really not very good at staying in touch, especially since we live like 10 minutes away.
I am trying to recruit them to help me with High School Memories & pictures for my childhood/teenage album I want to make...I've been avoiding it for a long time since I don't have many pictures from back then and there are so many stories to tell. I just know I'll forget something. It was really good to see them both.
Well, today is Superbowl Sunday. We are going to head to a friend's house to watch and eat. I prefer to watch the commericals. Not really the game. I know we'll have tons of fun.
Yesterdy, after my nephew Carter's baptism he wanted to eat at Old Country Buffet...can I just say: YUK. (The salad and the carrot cake were o.k.) but for 11.50 per person? you've got to be kidding me.
Have a great Sunday everyone!

Saturday plans...

This a Layout for a challenge at Scraplove..."Scrapbook Something unexpected".

Getting pregnant after 16 years of trying....then miscarrying a short time after was definately unexpected. It was a year ago tomorrow.

We get to go to my nephew Carter's baptism today. When he turned 8 he told his Dad...

"I finally get to be baptized! I've waited my WHOLE LIFE for this!" What a cutie.

Later, I'm hoping to scrapbook some more. Have a great Saturday everyone!

Cheer me up Award!

Coni(http://conisdesk.blogspot.com/) , one of my lovely friends from Scraplove (she lives in Germany but I get to meet her for real in May!) has nominated me for this cool award! What an honor! I haven't been blogging very long....it's great to know that I can make someone laugh, or comfort them, or make them smile. Coni, you're the cutest! Can't wait to meet you!

Now, to pass it on: I must admit that I LOVE reading Carlen's blog daily (http://oursweetcrew.blogspot.com/) and read what her cute little kids have said or done lately! She cheers me up always! So Carlen, as a recipent of the award you must, nominate someone else,and "If you are a recipient of the You Cheer Me Up Award, please find the blogs that cheer you up, copy the code to post on your sidebar and pass Ethel and Lucy across the blogosphere. You can use what cheers you up in your post, or copy this one, but please send your award recipients back to the original post on A nice place in the sun to get a copy of the award code, post the image and read the instructions. I want to try to maintain a page of original and ongoing award recipients, so feel free to let me know if you've received an award when you pick up the image code."

So Carlen, it's your turn to Pay It Forward! Pass the Cheer! And thanks for cheering me up!

Isn't she cute!?!

Ok....he is too. This is the one time I got to meet Tracy....but they live in Sunny CA! We can usually find a reason pretty easily to visit our friends & relatives in AZ or CA! We love the Sun!

Tracy asked if I have read the Twilight series of books...I've heard of them, and I WANT to, but haven't found them yet. I love the books from Vince Flynn that are based on a CIA operative named Mitch Rapp. I also love Harry Potter books. I just love to read. If any of you know good books...tell me. I'm always looking! (Although the twilight books are next on my list).

Ok, LOST....what did we think? What was Charlie trying to tell Hurley in his Flash Forward? Were you freaked out by Jacob's cabin? Why do you think only 6 survivors get off the island, and why do they think they should go back? hmmmm?