More on Aqua Dog

Okay - I can't seem to get any more pics on the other post for my amazing aqua dog - so here she is in all her glory - acrobatically dancing with the stream of water.

More Paper Salon Peeks

Just a few links to wet your whistle:

Tribeca

Dazzle

and a couple of tins:

Some of the New Tailored Tins!

Summer Fun

Are you looking for more Paper Salon sneak peeks? Well, it will be later today. The first peeks are in the previous blog. How about some entertainment while you wait?

My kids went walking down to their grandpa's sunflower garden. Yes, I said sunflower garden. When grandpa does something, he does it big. Not one but two very, very, very long rows of sunflowers. Why?It's for the birds. Really. So, we all went to see the sunflowers up close and personal, but there was a problem. He had just tilled the dirt around the rows Dark, rich, yummy garden dirt and it had rained. Yes - that means mud. Squishy, gooshy mud. Me and Arielle opted to go barefoot, but Daniel borrowed a pair of Grannies shoes. So off we went.















Now I have to tell you about Jasmine. Jazzy isn't a typical dog. Jazzy LOVES the water, is known to have voluntarily jumped into Arielle's kiddie pool, and drinks from the faucet. She LIKES you to squirt her with the super squirt gun, and in these pics, she's jumping up and biting the water spout from the water hose. Meet Jazzy - the amazing aqua dog.

(okay - I have more pics to upload but blogger isn't cooperating. I'll try again later)

I've got another Sneak Peek!!

It's time for another sneak peek! The girls at Paper Salon have been given the greenlight! Check back here or check out A Peek Into Yesterday or Lifetime Moments for more images! Here's a couple: The first is a little bit of "Dazzle" along with some - should I tell ya?.. okay okay - holiday Tailored tins!!!

Next we have some Tribeca with a splash of more tailored tins.... this time the flavor is flourishes. Yumm!!!!

Happy Birthday, America!

Have a wonderful holiday and remember to be thankful for our freedom.

Flair CHA Sneak Peek!

Stay tuned early Monday morning for some sneak peeks of some upcoming CHA releases from...... well, stay tuned. How about a pic while you wait?





UPDATE!! You can read more about the new release at this 2 Peas Thread!

Scrapbooks, Etc.

Scrapbooks, Etc / Better Homes & Gardens has a blog full of wonderful scrapbook pages and information. They requested a scrapbook page of me and my hubby for an upcoming idea book, but then changed the idea book plans. So my page was in limbo. Imagine my surprise when I found the page! You can find it HERE! Scroll down to the very bottom. If you click on the photo, it will come up larger.

I'm off to a Patriotic production at church. My son is going to be one of the Iwo Jima soldiers (raising the flag). I hope the lighting allows me to get some pics!

Mommy, I cut my hair!

"Mommy, I cut my hair!" is NOT the phrase a mother wants to hear her 4 year old say. Well, guess what I heard this morning - yep - just that. She said "Mommy, I don't need to go to Ms. Debbie's now, I cut my hair". Ms. Debbie is my hairdresser, who sometimes trims my 4 year old's hair. As you can see from the blog photos, my daughter had long, straight, blonde hair - completely opposite of mine. When I was lucky enough to have long hair when I was young, it was always frizzy, wavy or curly. I say lucky enough because for some reason, my older sisters always seemed to convince my mom that I "needed" a short haircut. I don't know if that was meanness or did they really think I needed short hair? I always wanted my hair to be long. When I was 5 years old living in the white house (as I called it) at Kingsley Field AFB in Klamath Falls, Oregon, yes, I remember that far back one of my friends who lived at the end of the block on McGuire Street, Kirsten, had long hair. Kirsten wore it in a pony tail and it pounced just like a horses tail when she ran. I wanted a pony tail so I could run like a pony! So you immediatly think that is why my daughter's hair is long? Nope, that's not why. I cut a few inches off last winter and just didn't like it. Plus, she's in ballet, so she really "needs" long hair. Plus, it's the style right now.

So back to the haircut. I asked her if she cut her hair, and she rather sheepishly said no and walked away. I was calmly taking visual inventory and didn't see any gaping holes that I hear other parents talk about and show photos of, so so far so good. Then I saw it. It wasn't too bad. She had taken a piece from the crown of her head and pulled it at her eye level (about 5 inches from the root) and cut it. Not too much damage. relief!!! So we went to the table and there it was, 5 inches of beautiful, straight, blonde soft hair, lying on the floor. I picked it up and told her how sad the hair was that it didn't get to be on her head anymore. I didn't scold her. Now, in case you are wondering why a four year old had scissors - well, it's my fault. I let her scrapbook at the table yesterday, along with stamps and ink. She's really quite responsible for a four year old - but I should have put up the scissors. I learned that lesson last year when she cut holes in my brand new Gulf Shores souvenier t-shirt that I had for about 2 weeks. I got it at the Shark Store - her favorite store from the trip. I never buy t-shirts, so I was so sad about the holes. It was then that I hid all the scissors.

Meanwhile - I took my daughter to school today and when I took her out of her carseat, she said "But - I want to go to Ms. Debbies". See, I explained to her that only Ms. Debbie can cut hair because Ms. Debbie has special hair scissors and we only have paper scissors. Then after school, she still insisted on going. So now I am trying to explain to her what an apointment is.

Scrapbook Celebration

For those of you in the Arkansas / Mississippi / Louisiana area - and those who just love to travel - we are having a scrapbook convention in West Monroe, Louisiana. The FIRST EVER in this city that I am aware of!. I'll be teaching some classes there, and of course shopping from the fabulous selection of vendors. Do you want to get away and crop till you drop? Check out this link for more information. If you come - please ask around until you find me. I would LOVE to meet you and take some pics! Here's the information for Scrapbook Celebration!

Oh - and for a chance to win a free ticket to both crops, Friday and Saturday from 10am - Midnight (wow!) - check out Mississippi Paper Arts' contest for details!

That time of year....

It's that time of year. Well, yeah, it's summer - but that's not what I'm talking about. It's the mad rush to get CHA projects done. That and regular life. I can barely see the floor in my already small scraproom. My computer desk? Can't see the surface. Everything revolves around "I've gotta get this done...I've gotta get that done...". I warned my hubby a month ago this time was coming. I think he forgot. He rented some DVD's this weekend. So my life has pretty much been like this...
Thursday - take son to the river for photos for CHA projects
Friday - take photos of daughter for more CHA projects. Work on project no. 1 (meanwhile kids are at home - so everything is subject to interuption). Pack altered items and cards for mailing. Pack another card for mailing. Mail comes - got a magazine that had my projects in it - made scans (and couldn't resist looking thru at all the creations). Gee, where did the day go? Hubby home. time to take a long break and watch a movie. Hubby gets called out. Keep watching movie. Hubby comes home - rewind the movie to where he last saw. Read magazines while he watches what was replayed. that makes it seem like a really, really long movie! Prepare for a class to teach the next day. Wiped out.
Saturday: Up and at 'um. Teach altered project. Return home. Start on project with photos of son. Finish project! (yeah). Where did the day go? Time to watch movie no. 2. Retreat to my bedroom to veg on new bed. Son asks "why aren't you working, mom?" Banish son from bedroom. Okay - not really. A little bit of Trading Spaces and I'm wiped out again but I did have some cool ideas on repainting our bedroom furniture.
3. Sunday - church, then home. Back to work. Gee - I can't even remember what I worked on and that was just yesterday. Took a late nap! Worked till the wee hours.
4. Monday - finish projects left over from last night. Start new project which ended up getting re-done two times. Taking a much needed break to blog and then shower. Yes, it's after 5 and I haven't showered although the dog took a dip in dd's blow up pool.
5. Note to self: Self - prepare and mail off projects to two publications. Don't forget! Now if I would just remember to read my reminder.

Summer Movies

I love movies - especially in the summer. There are so many "summer releases" coming out. I went with 10 ladies (fellow scrapbookers) to see The Lake House Tuesday night (Tuesdays always have the best prices). I loved it. But I keep thinking about it. Why? It's the "time travel" factor. There are so many "problems" and kinks in time travel stories, but I love them. I always watch Back to the Future reruns when I happen to find it on the cable listings. There's just something cool about time travel. I really, really want to watch The Lake House again - probably to catch more "time travel" story kinks, but mainly just to watch it again.

I didn't feel that way about Cars. I loved Cars. Cars was adorable, and I want to get the DVD as soon as it comes out. Super cute. But didn't want to rush out and watch it again right away.

I'm also counting the days until Johnny Depp's new movie comes out. Is it okay to call it "johnny depp's" movie? he he.

If you haven't been to any movies this summer - try to catch one - soon! It's a great way to relax and have fun.

Empty Nest

I have empty nest syndrome. I went to take photos of the five baby birds again - 4 days after the last photo - and this is what I saw.



I can't believe I missed seeing them learning to fly. I panicked because I didn't know where they were. They were there the day before - I could hear them "singing" when their mommy brought them dinner.

Then I looked. They were just a few yards away perched on our fence. They were all there, but I only got a pic of 4 of them because the other male was flying. Yes, the males already have color! When did this happen. They were all still dark and fuzzy just a few days ago.



I watched them throughout the day. They moved further and further away. Out of our yard, to the pond behind our house. I could still see them in a distant Bradford pear tree. Then they were too far to see. I was sitting outside talking to my mom on the phone - and they flew over my head! But I don't know where they went. I was hoping they would "come home" and stay in their crowded nest for the night so I could "see" them.

*sigh* Empty next syndrome. They grow up too fast. I wish I would have taken more photos and watched them "leave" the nest. Lesson learned: Cherish your real children even more and more and be thankful that they don't grown up and leave home in two weeks.

Sunday Ramblings

About two weeks ago I was watering my hanging ferns. I took one down so I could place it on the ground while I watered, and much to my surprise - there was a nest with five eggs in it! Yikes. I immediately put it back up and then noticed the mom AND the dad. House finches. So from then on I was careful to only water the part of the fern on the other side of the nest. Afterall, we don't need the fern to die since it is providing much needed shade for the new family. Well, about a week ago I noticed the mom was not "sitting" on the nest anymore - but perching on its side with her head towards the nest. Yep - we have baby birds now. I can always tell when the mom and dad are at the nest - there is a choir of wee chirps - very musical.



I was recently very honored to have Aussie Scrap Source ask if they could put the "Smile" page (posted below) on their wonderful blog. Check it out at Aussie Scrap Source.

And one more bit of "me" news (why do I feel so funny sharing this??) My husband phoned from work one day this week to inquire "How are you"... "I'm fine"... "Well, good... since you're famous"... One of his co-workers noticed this in the newspaper.
NewsStar

They put a photo in the actual paper. A very, very, very cropped photo of my face. That could be good, or that could be bad. Someone reading the paper wouldn't *know* that was me at first glance - with only eyes, nose and mouth showing. Like I said, that could be good or bad, depending if I were in hiding or not.

We'll see.

just a few pages

just a few pages with some recent photos.

Is it really summer?

Is it really summer. I guess the giveway is the fact that Arielle won't stay away from her kiddie pool. I walked 10 minutes on my treadmill while she was eating lunch. I came back to the kitchen and she was gone. She was stripped down in the backyard with the waterhose. At least she didn't get her clean clothes wet.

Her ballet recital last weekend went wonderful. We are waiting for the DVD so she can actually "see" the production. You don't see much when you are back stage. The production was Peter Pan and the characters really flew!

Birthdays and Cousins

Jeff's family has a birthday party tradition - anybody's birthday is a reason to have a gathering. Today was Jeff's mom's birthday. Grandma - as the kids call her. We always like getting the little ones together - they are all so close in age. Arielle just happened to match her two cousin brothers - they were all dressed in blue.

Granny blows bubbles

We visited my mom's on mother's day weekend. She had a bottle of bubbles that she brought outside where we were sitting. Turns out bubbles aren't just for little ones.

Spring photo shoot

My son had an art show at one of the local museums. He's in the talented art program. I wonder where he gets it from.. For some reason he only wanted me to go with him. Maybe he didn't want his little sister running around the museum eating all the pizza and cookies. Anyway - we went. The art by all the students was just awesome.

We turned the trip into a photo shoot. I don't have any spring photos of my son because I never got the sping photos that they took at school. The spring photos are always the best. Well, I'll never know. Why?He threw them away. Yes, that is what he said. He didn't like them. Okay - so I'll have to take his word. Even so - I have no new photos of him. I can't believe he cooperated. Maybe it was because I told him he looked cool. Maybe because I let him wear the pink jacket. I don't know - but he totally got into this photo shoot. I think he'll let me take more pics of him. Maybe it's because he's growing up.

Well... true cause of tiredness

at least according to Mike at Creative Leisure News:

WHY I AM TIRED
For a couple of years I've been blaming it on lack of sleep, not enough sunshine, too much pressure from my job, etc. But now I found out the real reason: I'm overworked. Here's why:

The population of the U.S. is 273 million. 140 million are retired – that leaves 133 million to do the work. There are 85 million in school. Which leaves 48 million to do the work.

Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government, leaving 19 million to do the work. 2.8 million are in the armed forces, which leaves 16.2 million to do the work.

Take from the total the 14.8 million people who work for state government and that leaves 1.4 million to do the work. At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals, leaving 1,212,000 to do the work. And there are 1,211,998 people in prisons, leaving just two people to do the work.

You and me. And there you are sitting on your butt, at your computer, reading jokes. Nice, real nice.

Practice, practice and more practice

I'm practicing. I'm not even in the ballet and I'm practicing. I'm practicing making my daughter's ballet recital hair bun. I've made buns in my own hair, but never in a little girls. She had class photos taken this week and this was my first attempt at getting her hair fixed. This is MY first time doing her hair, and her first hair bun, so I thought it was worthy of a photo.

Tagged Again!

Oh, no! I've been tagged again. This time by Catherine. Okay, here goes!

5 Things in my fridge:
orange juice
grapes
alfalfa sprouts (no kidding!)
milk
leftover rice a roni
5 things In My Closet:
jeans & T's
dresses/skirts
hubby's clothes
saxaphone (really, I promise)
quilts
5 things in my Purse:
gum
keys
checkbook
photos
scrapbook receipts
5 things In My Car:
umbrella
extra phone book
car seat
empty water bottles
toys
5 things On My Tivo:
On my Tivo:

I don't HAVE a Tivo!!!

Okay - so now I have to tag some people. Hmmm.... okay - how about Samantha
and one more...
Joan!.

Old photos

I love looking at old photos. I always have. This photo is my mom (left) and her mom. They look like sisters to me. I never realized how young my grandmother must have been when my mom was born. To me, even 20 is young. They are so cute here - they even have their arms locked together. It makes me realize how much my grandmother must have missed my mom when she married my dad and he swept her away into Air Force life. - Oh, Nancy Jean, if you are reading this and want a copy of this pic - just let me know.

Dora Live

I took Arielle to Dora Live earlier this month. The Basic Grey Color Me Silly papers were perfect for the colorful photos. I just got Flair's new RUB ONs! (yeah) so I used them on a big brad and the tag. They go on like butter!

Welcome Home, Emery

Emery is a fellow scrapbooker who is also graduation from Louisiana Tech University in a few short weeks in graphic design. She just got back from a trip with fellow art students to France. I'm so jealous - not only do I envy her completing college in art - but I was born in France and wish I could have went. She sent us a pic - so I celebrated her trip by creating this layout. The papers are a monet painting by Paper House Productions (some I rec'd in my CHA -W Designer Goodie Bag). If you double click the layout - it will pop up larger. I doubt Em will ever see this blog - but just in case - we are all glad you are home!

Eggs, More Eggs - Me thinks it's Easter

I snapped these pics right before we headed to church. Believe it or not - Daniel's shirt is a NEW shirt specifically for Easter Sunday, and I had a time getting him to put it on.



We went to the park for an egg hunt, well, not actually a hunt - since the eggs were just laying in the grass. It was more like a pick up as many as you can before they are all picked up game. And my little darling left 20 eggs laying at her feet to dash to the end of the field to pick up one egg, and enjoyed every minute of it.








And if we didn't have enough eggs..... The kids did the egg coloring thing this weekend. Glitter eggs, sticker eggs, egg dye kits - but nothing works better than good ole food coloring. We did them all.




And I'm happy to say that eggs aren't just for hiding, finding and using in salads. The kids found that you can:
1) Use them as ear muffs
2) Use them as ipods
or
3) Pretend they are mutant seashells.




Eggs, glorious eggs.










Earlier this week I took the little miss to Biedenhard Gardens for some pics of her in her easter dress.

Mimi's Cafe

I don't share much about my "art" but I wanted to let my readers know about Jasmine. Jasmine (Jazz), my silly dachshund, has been hanging around Mimi's Cafe. Which Mimi's cafe? Well, that's why I'm sharing this. If you have a Mimi's Cafe near you - let me know if you see her. Mimi's currently has over 20 paintings of the Jazz Dog hanging in the newest restaurants across the country. Have you seen her? Do tell!

Happy Friday!!

It's Friday and so far it's been a wonderful day! I was just invited to join the Paper Salon Design Team and I said YES! I'm so excited to be working with this wonderful group of girls and their fabulous products!

I'm going to be working with a youth group tonight making clip boards. One of the girls that I worked with a few years ago in our church youth group is now all grown up now. Her and her hubby are youth pastors and she asked ME to come and speak to her girls and work on a project for them. There are fifteen girls signed up so far! This will be fun!

Happy Friday!!!