Scrapping Adventures

I seem to be finding a million reasons right now not to make anything.

But, I do have a scrappy date with Stephanie tonight and am hoping to kick the non-creating streak in the butt.

Meanwhile. . . here is what I made with the Scrap-tastic April kit.

Becky is keeping the store stocked with some great stuff. . .
Pink Paislee
Hambly
Making Memories
Jenni Bowlin
. . . to name a few.

I haven't made a card in ages. . . totally stole this idea from Ali Edwards.


Another idea stolen from AE. . . painting over KI lace cardstock to create a background. (It's actually one of my favorite techniques right now.


A two-page 8.5 x 11 spread. Crazy talk, huh? I whipped this up while scrapping with the Studio Calico girls in Chicago. Sigh. That seem like so long ago.


Last, but certainly not least. . . I designed a project kit to accompany the main kit for April. You can make (of course!) a mini with it. (Shhhh. This is a gift for Nicky and Christ for Natalie's birthday. There is one picture from each month since Natalie's second birthday. She's going to be 3 in just a few weeks. Too bad she's totally convinced she's going to be 4. But that's a different story. . . )

The last two pages are blank because I still need to add pictures from March and April 2008.


Off to read about professional learning communities.

2008: Wife of the Year

I wasn't even trying to compete, but I'm afraid I inadvertently have earned the illustrious title of Wife of the Year--2008.

Reason 1:
On my way out the door Monday morning, I realized I only had a key to the Fusion and no keys to the house. I ran in, grabbed the house key, and skipped off to work.

Too bad the house key was also attached to the Escape keys - the very same Escape keys that Brad needed if he planned to leave the house at all yesterday (he had the day off).

So, after leaving a few frantic messages on my cell phone and a few more with my secretary, Brad hitched a ride to my work to pick up the keys. He was not very happy.

This earned me my nomination for Wife of the Year 2008.

Reason 2:
Brad went for a run at the YMCA last night after dinner. I promptly fell asleep on the couch (didn't even get to see The Hills or The Bachelor!).

I was awoken by a ringing phone. The caller ID wasn't working, and the phone wasn't within reach of the couch. I decided not to answer. The person hung up right before the answering machine.

But, the phone immediately started ringing again. Hmmmm. That's strange. But, my sleepiness got the better of me, and - you guessed it - I decided not to answer.

Well, then the phone started ringing again. I was really honked off now. I mean, really! Who needed to talk to me so badly?!!??

Turns out the YMCA needed to talk to me so badly.

Brad had some kind of a bizarre allergic reaction while running, was covered with hives, itching like a mad man, seeing stars, and feeling like he might throw up. Pretty serious, actually. Would I come to the YMCA and bring some Benadryl?

So. . . I went to the YMCA. . . in my pajamas and without a bra on.

There was Brad, sitting on a chair, looking miserable surrounded by four female YMCA employees. Each and every one of them was staring at me real slow up and down when I walked in.

One of them said (in her very best judgy Clueless voice), "Oh. I assume you're Brad's wife. We called six times."

Yup. That's right. They called six times. I slept through the first three and opted not to answer four or five. They also left a message on my cell phone.

You can go ahead and imagine the rest of things they must have been thinking about me.

ETA: Brad is completely fine. He is going to see an allergist sometime soon.

This solidified my position as Wife of the Year 2008.
Or. . . it might just mean it will be a miracle if we make it through April without filing for divorce!

(It - especially the second part - also means that I will probably be forced to cancel my YMCA membership, as I'm sure all the employees now know me as the woman who wouldn't come help her husband! The second part also solidified what I've always known - nothing good comes of running!)

Dear Diary (Part Quatro)

6 April 2008

Dear Diary,

I'm in love!

But, I shouldn't be.

I should be mourning the loss of my dear, sweet Ranger. Brad and Barb showed me the pictures as soon as they got home today to try to break it to me gently.

It wasn't good.


Then they introduced me to him.
I forgot about Ranger instantly.

He is shiny and black. He has an iPod jack. He has a soft, beige interior.
He is a 2007 - younger than me, but age is just a number.

He is simply irresistible.

His name is Fusion.
He parks right beside me.

I'm going to bat my headlights at him all night long to see if he notices me.

Escape Fusion. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

More later, Diary.

Dear Diary (Part Tres)

4/2/2008

Dear Diary,

I sure wish Barb loved me just a little more. I mean, really. Who takes their beloved vehicle to the CarX man and expects it to actually be fixed well?!!???

So, I had no choice. She made me feel cheap and neglected.

I had to break down again this morning, and I had to do it at a far more dramatic time than the last incident. I had to really get her attention.

So, just as Barb was pulling on to the highway to go to work, I started chugging and chugging and chugging. I threw on my engine light. I flashed it a few times. Then, just for the dramatic effect, I started running fine again. But, at the very last moment before Barb could exit, I took a huge chug. She veered off the highway and took me straight to the mechanic.

Barb didn't take any chances this time. She took me to the Taj Mahal of mechanics. The kind of place that doesn't even smell like a mechanic. The kind of place that they wash you up and vacuum you out after they fix you. I mean, you never want to go to the mechanic. But, if you have to go. . . this is just the kind of place you want to go to.

But, boy. Barb was angry. She had to have the mechanic give her a ride to work, and she was late. She hates being late. Plus, it cost a lot of money to have me fixed. I needed a new coil and new spark plugs. Oh. And the mechanic fixed that pesky recall on my brakes that Barb's been getting tons of notices about.

The mechanic did give her a whole list of other things on me that need to be fixed. . . I have a burned out light by the license plate. I have a little exhaust leak. Some of my fluid is burnt. I need to be flushed. Overall, though, I'm feeling pretty great right now.

That's more than can be said for Ranger. I heard that he is in pieces right now. I even heard that the mechanic might just toss the pieces in Ranger's bed and let Brad have him towed away instead of having him fix. Oh! The Horror!

But, the upside is that they might only be able to afford to get a Kia. I know that I will be the favorite car if a Kia is parked me next to me in the garage.

Dear Diary. . . (Part Deux)

4/1/08

Dear Diary,

Turns out I'm a bit of a hypochondriac. It is possible - just possible - that I might have flashed my check engine light prematurely yesterday. I have always had a flair for the dramatic.

The Car X man poked around under my hood for awhile this morning. I felt a little violated at first, but luckily it didn't take him long to figure out what the problem was.

My fifth cylinder decided to take a vacation and wasn't firing at all. Mr. Car X gave me a little TLC, wiggled some wires, did some cleaning, and sprayed some grease. Then, he took me for a spin. I was running perfect. He sprayed water under my hood (thinking it was sitting all day in the rain that may have caused the problem). I still ran perfect.

I left the shop completely healthy after Mom paid a small bill (way less than she spends at Studio Calico each month!). I'm tucked in for the night in my spot in the garage right next to the Jetta.

(I still haven't heard anything about Ranger yet. I overheard that the mechanics in that other city spent all day looking at him and still haven't given him a diagnosis. That doesn't sound like good news.)

Gotta go, Diary. A whole day at the mechanic really tires a girl out!

P.S. She got a call today about scheduling my spa (aka auto body) appointment. Turns out I will get an entire week's vacation and come back good as new. Ahhhhhhhh. Take me away!

Dear Diary,

3/14/07

Dear Diary,

I thought today was going to be a great day. I drove Barb safely to Chicago yesterday. I even got my very best gas mileage on the highway! I know she noticed all my extra effort because she parked me with extra care very safely in Emily's driveway.

I fell asleep right away and dreamed about my next oil change.

My happy dreams ended abruptly when a big white van came out of nowhere and scraped right into the side of me! The nerve of that van! He hit me right by the passenger mirror, but he didn't stop there. He just kept right on scraping all the way through my passenger door and the back passenger door. He left his white paint all over me. I'm still a little sore. I can't open my passenger door at all.

I'm not worried, though. I know Barb will take good care of me.

TTFN, Diary.

---------------------------------

3/18/08

Dear Diary,

She finally did it! Barb finally got me new tires. I've been shaking my wheels and screaming out in pain for quite awhile, but she didn't listen to any of that. I was close to actually having to blow out one of my tires in a most dramatic fashion on the highway (I didn't want to do that, but Barb wasn't giving me much of a choice!).

Luckily, she got me new tires and a lifetime alignment. I'm the happiest gal around. I just wish she would have put the white walls out instead of in; I would have looked so much sportier that way.

She spent lots and lots of money on me! That must mean she loves me and wants to keep me forever (or at least until I'm all paid for).

Gotta go, Diary.

-----------------------------------

3/30/08

Dear Diary,

I miss my dear friend, Ranger. He usually parks right next to me in the garage. But, today Barb and Brad came home with a Jetta instead. They told me not to worry about it; Jetta isn't staying for long. She's just here until Ranger can be fixed. (Plus, she's my cousin, so they said I have to be nice to her.)

But, Diary, can I tell you the truth? I'm worried about Ranger. I heard that he broke down somewhere far from home. I heard Barb and Brad swearing about what a let down he has been. Supposedly, the mechanic that has him told Barb and Brad, "Dude. There's something seriously wrong with your truck." That is not good news. I'm really worried.

Barb and Brad are really angry and scared. I think I might heard that Ranger's head gasket might be broken or that his engine block might be cracked (gasp!).

I hope they have him fixed soon and bring him back. I don't like having to share my garage with this Jetta. . . although, Jetta is smaller. She takes up far less space in the garage than Ranger. But, she does have a sun roof. I don't have a sun roof. Maybe they will start to like her better than me.

Oh Diary, life is tough.

------------------------------

3/31/08

Dear Diary,

I'm writing in you today from the parking lot of CarX.

I've been under a lot of pressure lately. I really miss my friend, Ranger. And, it was raining today. All day. Really cold, really wet, really constant rain. And, I had to sit outside. Plus, Barb had to go back to work today. That meant no more vacation for me.

I got Barb safely to work, but I just couldn't take it anymore. I sat outside in the rain all day. A bird pooped on me. I was unhappy. I made it a few blocks before it happened.

I started sputtering. I died at a 4-way stop. My orange check engine turned on. And then it started flashing.

I broke down.

I know Barb was disappointed in me (she was crying and yelling at people on her cell phone for a long time). I know Brad is frustrated with me, but it's tough to not get any appreciation or tender-loving care. I think the worst part, though was that it was that Jetta that came and rescued Barb. Now, she's going to love the Jetta more than me for sure.

Hopefully, The CarX man will be able to fix me quickly and I get back to my owners ASAP. I just know that Jetta is parked right in the middle of the garage!

Oh, Diary. I hope I can be fixed fast and not cost Barb too much.

The Other Side

I never did crazy spring break in Mexico thing while I was in college. But, I'd imagine that if I ever had, it would have included just as much throwing up as has happened in my house the past day and a half.

In the past 36 hours. . .

I watched disk 6 of season 1 of Ugly Betty. (Why didn't someone tell me that season 2 is not on DVD yet??!!?? This girl has no patience!)

I watched Becoming Jane. I really dig a sappy movie every now and then.

I watched season 4 of Friends. Why season 4? I wanted to see the episode where Chandler peed on Monica's jellyfish sting.

I watched season 1 and most of season 2 of Grey's Anatomy.

I've eaten nothing but a few saltine crackers and half a piece of toast with honey. I've drank more 7-Up than I have in my entire life. I'm feeling like I might be hungry but am not real sure exactly what to eat.

My typewriter came yesterday while I was in the midst of Sickville. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet, though. Does that give you an idea of how sick I've been?

I set my alarm for 10:45 p.m. last night to be sure to make it in time for the Studio Calico premiere.

I made an appointment with a real estate agent to get our house on the market.
It scares the living daylights out of me. Mostly, I'm afraid that we are going to find a place we really love and not be able to sell our house. Also, I'm a little afraid of a bigger mortgage payment. I like to shop.

Karma

I probably shouldn't have gone on and on and on yesterday about all the things I love about spring break.

Now I have the flu.
I decidedly do not enjoy being sick on spring break.

I'll spare you the details.

I've been thinking. . .

. . . that I could really get used to this whole "spring break" thing and should probably find a way to make this (not working and still getting paid) a permanent situation.

I get to sleep as late as I want to every day - which turns out to be about 8:00, at which time Memphis has undoubtedly found his way onto the bed where his black fur is soaking up the sunlight that is streaming through the window making him a giant ball of heat, forcing me to wake up burning hot.

I have time to do silly things - like make a special trip to the grocery store to buy birthday hats to celebrate Memphis's seventh birthday. Doesn't he look thrilled?

I get to go out to lunch. Friday I had Chinese with Angie. Yesterday I had Noodles by myself. Today, I'm headed out with Ang again. Hmmm. I wonder where we'll go? I'm kind of pulling for Red Robin.

I stay caught up on the message boards and galleries.

I can meander my way through my favorite catalogs.


I can wear my pajamas all day (only did that on Monday).

I can not do a single thing on my to-do list and not feel guilty about it. (Okay. That last one isn't true. I do feel guilty about it.)

I get to hang out with Natalie and Katelyn and not have to feel like I need to go home and get something done. Isn't Natie helpful?

I get to talk to Em on the phone in the middle of the day because she has spring break, too.

I can finish my day covered in Mod Podge and paint and paper scraps - if that's what I want to do. (Check out Scrap-tastic soon for more info about the mini book.)

I can take a nap in the middle of the day; I'm usually pretty tired by about 2:00.

I am confident I'll be able to stay up for the Studio Calico premiere and all the chatting that comes along with it.

I can celebrate my scrappy accomplishments. Turns out there is a lot to celebrate this week. Like, an album featured in Shimelle's latest (and ultra-fab) class. Or my very first pub in Scrapbook Trends, April. (Huge thanks to the person at Archiver's who took my picture with the magazine.)

Happy Day

I was doing some reading of my own blog the other day. I'm a little worried that so many of my posts are about things. I'm afraid I seem like I'm all about the things and superficial stuff and food. (I blog a little too much about food.)

So, today. . .
some non-things that are making me happy.

In no particular order (and occasionally supplemented by pictures)

1. Seasons
Even though I can't stand shoveling snow or swatting mosquitoes, I love living somewhere that has distinct seasons. It keeps life interesting.


2. Personal touches
My Girl Scout cookies came in the mail with a cute note from my littlest (although she isn't so little anymore!) cousin.



3. Words
Kids picked their favorite quotes, cut letters and words out of magazines, and made this great bulletin board in one of my favorite classrooms. Love, love, love all the words.


4. A Tradition of Creating
I've been thinking a lot lately about why I enjoy making things so much. The best answer I can come up with is my grandma. We always made things together. . . cut-out cookies at Christmas when I was a kid, baskets when I was a little older, and sewing. The sewing together was my favorite. When she was alive, I so valued being able to make things together. Now, at least one of the reasons I make things is because it is a time that makes me still feel close to her.


5. Frie-Mily
I had lunch with Angie yesterday. I have some favorite things about being friends with Angie. I love the laughing -there's always lots of laughing. I love the straight talk - she tells it how it is. I love that we've grown-up together. We helped each other through college. We got married the same year. We bought houses at the same time. I'm so excited for the next step. . . helping Ang become a mom. Can't wait to meet The Warrior!

6. Learning
I love learning things. I love the moment where I "get it." More importantly, I love the moments where I can watch someone else "get it." One of my students is working so hard to be a better reader - really working hard. He is always carrying a book around with him. The latest choice is a collection of poetry by Tupac Shakur. It's so rewarding to watch him make each poem mean something, to really work through the ideas. He is even starting his own notebook of poetry. I think - after knowing him for two years - that he is finally starting to get that reading is about more than just knowing the words, and that writing is about more than just spelling something right. Guess it just took Tupac.

What non-things are making you happy?

90210 Out.

Bad news, friends.

In an effort to bring down the cost of our astronomically high cable bill (Don't worry. I plan to use the extra few dollars to buy more paper and ribbon and buttons!), I asked Brad to call the cable people and do whatever it took.

Well.

"Whatever it took" turned out to be canceling some of our channels for a savings of approximately $20 per month.

I was fine with this. . . when I thought that what we were losing was the military and hunting channels.

I was fine with this. . . until tonight when I sat down to watch 90210 on the DVR.

Much to my dismay. . .
no more 90210.

The Soap Opera Network (home of at least two episodes of 90210 each day) was part of the canceled channels.

In other important television news, though, The Bachelor has made an oh-so-dramatic return with it's latest eligible hunk. All 6'5" of him and his fun, little British accent can't compete with Donna and David and Brandon and Kelly and Dylan and Brenda.

Josie? Where are you, girl? I know you'll hear my pain!

There are not enough. . .

. . . days in the weekend.

Thursday I got stuck in some serious traffic (caused by a drunk semi driver) en route to Em's. Although it caused a serious delay in my arrival time, I did not let it interfere with the fun.

Friday Em and I volunteered to be teaching assistants at CKU. We were totally fortunate to be assigned to the fabulous Margie Romney-Aslet (of Making Memories) and spent the entire day watching the lucky participants build great mini-albums out of an abundance of Noteworthy supplies.


Of course, being at CKU also meant plenty of AE sightings and some time to visit with Miss Stephanie. She took a lunch break from her creating with AE to make a little CKU mascot out of her orange. Gotta love Steph. . . always creating something!

Friday night was filled with cropping. . . not just any ordinary cropping, though. . . cropping with Jenn and Nicole. WOW! I knew they would be funny and kind and creative, but really. I had no idea just how kind and funny and creative they would be. We had a blast.

Saturday was city day. Justin chauffeured Em and Josie and I into the heart of the windy city where we walked and shopped and walked and ate and walked and shopped. Highlights include:

Windy City Scrapbooking
(No idea how we didn't take any pictures there!)

Lush


1154 Lill (where we each may or may not have met irresistible bags)

Bummer this picture is so blurry!

Paper Source

The Bean and Millennium Park


The Green River (those darn leprechauns!)

Dinner

All of this stress could only be relieved by one thing. . . facials (supplies purchased during the afore-mentioned stop at Lush).


(There may have been some not-so-good news involved in the weekend, too. However, I will save those sad stories for another day.)

And, today I headed home to celebrate Nicky's birthday with some chinky (Chinese take-out) and birthday cake.

My weekend runneth over.

Out.

Okay. So. I'm leaving for work in approximately three minutes.

The very second I'm finished with work. . .
I'm headed to Chicago.

A whole weekend with Em and Josie.
Scrapping with Nik and Jenn and Stephanie.

Shopping in the city.
Scrapping.
Eating.

Laughing.
I know there will be lots of laughing!

Can.not.wait.

(I predict a minimally productive day at work!)

Dear Leprechauns,

I am quite confident that this is a busy time of year for you.

You have many seasonal commitments, including but not limited to:

• turning beer the world-over green
• hiding extra pots of gold beneath rainbows
• campaigning against Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny for the title of "Most Beloved Seasonal Creature"
• keeping that Lucky Charms hooligan in order (he seems like a most unruly leprechaun)
  
• coloring the Chicago River green
• spreading the spirit o' the Irish
• fighting your eternal feud with the Keebler Elves

I would like to take this opportunity to offer you a most sincere thank you for taking time out of your busy St. Patrick's day schedule to stock each and every McDonald's with Shamrock Shakes.

The Shamrock Shake makes me happy - its minty flavor, its cold temperature - it makes me smile.

So, thank you, dear leprechauns, for bringing this small, albeit seasonal, pleasure into my life.

Sincerely Yours,
Babs

Big Girl Bed

As a first grader, I had a stunning resemblance to Annie - as in Little, Orphan Annie. I had freckles and reddish hair that was short and curly. It was uncanny.

So, my mom bought me Annie bedding - pillow shams, comforter, sheets, sleeping bag for travel, the works. I used all of this proudly on my top bunk.

That - in first grade - was the last time I had a bed that was coordinated. Since then I've had a hodge-podge of sheets that were on sale and quilts made by my grandmother and any old blanket I could find.

I never even had a bed in a bag.

Well, that all changed last night.

The PB quilt I've been lusting after went on sale, and it is now mine. All mine.

I added some new pillows and matching sheets and a new blanket and now I have a Big Girl Bed.


Next steps? New mattress and an actual head board. Oh. And I should probably get a nightstand instead of a tv tray, huh?

Happy March

Cannot believe how fast time is passing. One week of March is already gone. WOW!

Here's what I've been up to. . .

1 March 2008: Some creating


2 March 2008: Hooked on Tulips



3 March 2008: Morning Pick-me-up

4 March 2008: DIY Yogurt Parfait

5 March 2008: New Quilt--Perfect for Cuddling

6 March 2008: Fun Auntie Barb

7 March 2008: Mirror Images

We're about to head out for a fish fry. Cannot believe we've lived here for almost five years and still haven't managed to find good fish. Is it wrong that I want to get in the car and drive more than two hours round-trip for a fish fry and a beer?

Somehow I managed to commit myself to presenting at yet another conference tomorrow morning. After that. . . I plan to log some serious couch time.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll be back before the end of the weekend to share some scrapping from last weekend!

March Scrap-Tastic Kit

I haven't made much of anything lately, but I have been hoarding some fun lay-outs made with the Scrap-tastic March kit.