California dreamin'...

...on such a winter's day. Okay not really, but I should be in bed dreamin' right now so this will be a short and (hopefully) sweet entry.

Today was my day off so I was able to get a few things done, yippee for that. All of my laundry is done, but now it's in a pile on my bed waiting to be put away. I was also able to do a third layout for the week, which I think is more than I've ever done in a week! I was so inspired by Holly's "Dare to Muse Me" challenge this week that I just had to join in on the action. I also packed up some of my scrap table stuff to take to Dan's this week. You know, the more I think about what to pack, the more I have no idea what to pack! Do I just take my entire room with me, or leave some of it here for whenever I *need* it? Ah well, time will run out and I'll have to throw a bunch of stuff in the car!

Now, on to the layouts!

This first one is the month-in-review layout for TDC's Chick's Life challenge.

[JANUARY '06]


Credits: Papers from Jen Wilson's "Mango Sunrise" layers upon layers collection and "J" from her "Day Dreamer" alpha. Pretty petals and fasteners from Holly McCaig. Straight stitching from Kathy Moore. Tag alpha from Ali Florendore. Fonts are Barbara Hand and Georgia (for "06").
Journaling: Now that it's the end of January, I think the only word that can describe this past month is "random." The weather hasn't decided if it's winter or spring. We've had one decent snow and some flurries here and there, but the rest of the days have been 40 or 50 degrees! I finally put together an outline for my publishable paper. Dan found a new hobby in rock climbing. I was finally able to have lunch with Ryan and Mandy on different Sundays and catch up with their lives. In fact, Mandy just moved into her own place this weekend! Dan and I got to celebrate Sheri's birthday with Olive Garden, tons of snacks, and a game of Cranium! I bought a cute, new cell phone - a purchase that was way overdue! Also, I've learned so much about myself this month from the layouts I've completed, it's awesome that I've captured so many memories. January sure was random, but it was definitely fun!

Next, these pictures have been sitting on my computer (and on my scrapping table in printed form) since last June and I really wanted to get them scrapped.

[IT'S OFFICIAL]


Credits: Kit is the new "Sweet on You" by Holly McCaig. Stamp alpha by Rebecca DiGrazio. Chipboard alpha by Dani Mogstad. Straight stitching by Kathy Moore. Fonts are Petra Script, Chromosome Light, and I Love Derwin.
Journaling: That Friday was a day I'll never forget...it was the day we became an official couple! We had the "official" conversation in the morning before Dan went off to work, and agreed to meet up for lunch downtown. For Dan's lunch break, I got to see some of the city and we met a couple of his friends at the Redfish restaurant. I still had to teach that day, so I couldn't stay too long after eating, but we decided to snap a couple official shots before I left. I was smiling the entire day!

Lastly, Holly posted her Muse Me challenge prompt and I couldn't resist the chance to do a layout looking back 10 years ago. I think I look exactly the same in the picture, just different hair, lol!

[10 YEARS AGO]


Credits: Kit is "Sugardoodle" by Mindy Terasawa. Corner swirly stamp by Carrie Stephens. Straight stitching by Kathy Moore. Index card by Jenna Robertson. Staple by Heather Roselli. Stamp alpha by Kim Lund. Font is Barbara Hand.
Journaling: Ten years ago would've been the beginning of 1996. I was 14 years old, in the middle of my eighth grade year, and my family and I had just moved to Clarksville. I loved the new house we had built, all of the land around us, and decorating my new room, but moving also meant going to a new school and leaving my friends. Living in the country was so far from everything and everyone that I was basically starting a new life. There were a few girls that took me in as their friend, but eventually I found myself changing to fit in with them. Back then was a time of influence and finding my place among new things and new people.

So that's it for now...tomorrow my students have Evan's mass lecture and I have some test grading to do! AND since it's February 1st, that means that a slew of NEW digi shoppes are opening tomorrow, and a ton of new stuff is happening! Big sales? I hope so!

Goodnight!

My crazy weekend!

That's about the extent of it...crazy!

Since the last time I updated a few days have passed, man where have they gone? Last Wednesday night and Thursday I had to grade all of my students' exams to pass back on Friday. Luckily, Dan helped me by grading the multiple choice while I graded the essays. Friday, I had the joy of passing back the first round of exams, seeing some happy faces and some disappointed faces, and teaching about language and meaning. After office hours I drove down to meet Dan at work and we had dinner with one of his co-workers...mmm, chinese food. We also drove around the neighborhoods to check out the houses for sale, and got a paper on one that was really cute, but I think we're going to wait a little while on the house thing.

Saturday...all we wanted to do was relax around the apartment, which we were pretty successful in doing. I worked on a layout most of the day, but I still haven't finished it because I just don't like it. I keep trying different compositions and nothing calls to me. Maybe after I do my challenge for TDC this week it'll inspire me to finish the one I'm stuck on somehow. Saturday night we drove up to Dayton for Sheri's birthday at the Olive Garden. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen Sheri since last May at Laura's wedding. The dinner was awesome, we got some pictures, then the group went back to Sheri's house to play some Cranium. That girl is the board game queen! :)

This morning Dan and I went to church, drank our coffee and listened to a really good service about friendship. I always love listening to our main pastor because he's the funniest guy and he really knows how to get the messages across. After church we stopped by the Sprint store to find me a new cell phone, but the store was really busy and I was being my indecisive self. We ended up getting some carry-out from Penn Station and going back home, and I looked online at the phones to try to make up my mind.

We were supposed to meet my brother and his family to go snow tubing tonight, but after such an "eventful" weekend we really didn't feel like going. The fact that this morning was rainy and warm didn't help the snow fun factor either. We sat around for a while...seems to be a theme here...then we went back to the Sprint store and I bought a new phone! I think I had my old one for something like 3 years, so it was time for a new one.

And now we sit...watching movies, eating pizza, and I want to start on a new layout but I really need some inspiration first. It's already 10:30, so I'm sure I won't get much done tonight. Guess I better get to it, though. Goodnight!

Where are my comments?

Ha, did that title get your attention or what?

You know, I've only had this little blog for about three weeks now, and already over 100 people have visited! Woohoo! I don't know who in the world they are, though, because they don't leave any indication that they stopped by. So, let me know that you dropped in on my ramblings!

Other than that, I've had my ice cream and chips for the night (see a few posts down on my four favorite foods and the fetish), and my paper outline is pretty much done, so I'm about to go to bed. I just wanted to show you the challenge layout that I completed today and I LOVE!

[I AM ME]


Papers from Jen Wilson's "Passion Fruit" Layers collection. Pretty Petals flower from Gina Miller. Zigzag stitching from Kathy Moore. Tag alpha and type key from Ali Florendore. Stamp alpha from Rebecca DiGrazio. Corner swirly stamp from Carrie Stephens. Font is Fontastic.

Aren't I just the cutest? That's one of the many snapshots I took today for that challenge. Have I ever told you that I'm not a big fan of taking my own pictures? Well, I'm not...but I'm not a big fan of other people taking my picture either, unless I'm with other people for the photo. So what can I do?

Here's the journaling:
I am a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a cousin, a girlfriend, and a friend. I am a master’s student and a teacher of communication. I am a procrastinator, yet a perfectionist. I am an organizer and a list-maker. I am a cat, ragweed, pollen, dust, and mold allergy sufferer. I am a music lover and an MP3 player fanatic. I am a girl who loves the look of natural nails, but feels pretty when they’re painted. I am happy to have an evening of pedicures and dinner with my mom. I am a gym member who needs to use what I pay for. I am an Orbit gum-chewer, mostly in spearmint, but sometimes in bubble gum and cinnamon flavors. I am a chocoholic, living on chocolate ice cream, M&M’s, Kit Kats, fudge rounds, and Esther Price…the list goes much further. I am a lover of the color purple, from the sheets of my bed to the color of my Bible. I am a believer; a girl of faith. I am a church attendee, writing notes in service every week. I am a lover of photographs and a lover of memories. I am a craft enthusiast. I am a lover of paints and brushes. I am a lover of embellishments. I am in love with the possibilities of a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. I am an office store junkie, spending hours roaming the aisles for supplies. I am a computer nerd with my laptop and widescreen monitor. I am nothing without my Photoshop CS2 program. I am a paper scrapper turned digital in a matter of months, but still love the inspiration flowing from craft store shelves. I am a girl who can crochet, although I have yet to complete an afghan I’ve started. I am a Disney dreamer whose favorite princess is Cinderella. I am a shopper who can’t get enough of American Eagle, The Limited, The Gap, and shoes! I am an attitude waiting to be irritated. I am an indecisive mind that takes too long to make decisions. I am a girl who’s afraid to talk about her emotions, and doesn’t like to cry in front of others. I am a girl who still has trouble saying those three little words. I am a girl in love with a guy named Dan, now celebrating eight months together. I am all of this and more. I am me.

Thanks for checking this out, now off to the comment section with you!
Goodnight!