Where Have I Been...

These are the two most recent lo's I have created. Only two. Oh, that is killing me. If you are interested in more by Cottage Arts please click on my active blinkie to go right to the site. I'm too sleepy to deal with HTML code right now...hehehehehe.

OMG! 7 days straight of working retail for a supposed part time job...thanks to that girl who quit. Who at this point, I have quit feeling sorry for her and feel some animosity about her stupidity. JK! LOL!

Thanks to those of you who visited my post and left a comment over at Tangie's Creative Team Loft where I was featured.

For those of you who have been following my gardening saga, I have a pic to share of my empty pots. This is the before. I got a postcard from our local nursery and am copying their planting as best I can. So once I finish planting (TODAY), I will take a preliminary picture, and then share the postcard. Then I will take a pic once my pots fill in and look glorious, just like the postcard! Okay, blogger is being aggravating and won't let me post my before pic. But I will eventually!

I am not sure what I am doing today aside from the usual exercise, cooking, cleaning, scrapping and gardening. Maybe that is enough. I am going to watch my DVR episodes of Hell's Kitchen and AI. I LOVE NEIL DIAMOND!

It's My Birthday Today!

Today is my birthday, and my dear sweet dh started early (Major Bonus POINTS) by giving me my card last night (aha early shopping...additional bonus points). It is hilarious. On the front it says," A long, long time ago..." in a Star Wars manor...and when you open it, it plays the theme from Star Wars and says, "you were born." It is a riot. And he is so cute, he played it this morning when I was coming down the stairs like I was Miss America!

My bff, Mandy, is taking me to a brand-spankin'-new mall today. I think it opened about a week ago! Neither of us really has any extra cash, but we just want to check it out, have lunch, and goof off.

I like to take a picture of myself on my birthday. I'll do a lo about it, too. I started a lo last night but I got a whopper of a migraine which severely interrupted my night. However, I do believe that a celebratory day of scrapping is in order...perhaps tomorrow? Not sure what the fam has planned for tonight!

I'm sharing two things with you I found recently on my blogging adventures. I absolutely love this freebie created by Andrea so I have included a link for you in case you didn't see it yet. You may know her as Boyervillescraps. Check out Andrea's free kit

As a fan of Chris Daughtry from the day he opened his mouth on AI for the very first time, I have been sorely disappointed in the contestants until I saw David Cook. Holy Schnikes (a line from my favorite movie, "Tommy Boy")! He is one talented dude!


Want to see a star being born? Watch this video!

Now, did you know today is the 50th anniversary of Tab Mad Libs. Have you ever played those? My best friend in high school, Terry, and I used to play them all the time. I guess we were dorky! LOL! But the game I remember the most is when she used every form of the F-word to fill in the mad lib. We laughed and nearly peed ourselves. I guess as it was completely forbidden, it made it funnier. I'd type it, but I don't want to be completely offensive on my blog. You can use your imagination to make the noun "F" into verbs, adverbs and such.

One more garden saga:

I was attacked by Fire Ants again. Innocently leaning over to examine a stupid cigarette butt thrown by an errant passer-by, I had my hand on the ground to brace myself and felt the tell-tale burning sensation. When I looked down there were about five on my hand and WORSE, there was an army attacking my shoe and crawling up my pants leg. I felt a sting on my ankle as I was madly wiping them off my hands and feet and pants. This was a sneak attack. No mound. No warning. I drowned that bed in fire ant killer. I"m sure I killed all their aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, friends and assorted remaining relatives and all future generations. I sucked down two benadryl and my regular allergy pill and tried not to notice the cottony feeling growing in my throat and the numbing of the back of my tongue. I really was not in the mood for a trip to the ER. This of course, caused me to start to hyperventilate. I'm such a dork. To calm myself down, I looked up remedies for fire ant bites, which includes washing the remaining poison off your hands (I did) and applying ice to control the swelling (I did). That appears to have worked two ways...calming me down, giving the benadryl time to work and it did keep the swelling down.

And finally, can you guess my age? If you can, I will give you a little freebie I made. It's an embellie, and it's a surprise, and no you won't hurt my feelings if you guess what you really think.

A New Lo and No Garden Tales

Digi credits:HERE

Another vintage photo! I'm on a roll here! Been busy downloading assignments for Scrapstreet.com for July and August. Only to find out that one of them is due April 1st. I think I missed the deadline, don't you. So I gotta get cracking on that.

I do not have any garden tales for you today. We had a lil ole cold front come through, and I wasn't about to go outside. It was windy and cold. Things should warm up by the end of the week so then I will be back in the yard.

Short post today as not much else is going on.

Featured CT Member AT Tangie Baxter

(Created using Perennial Paperie by Tangie Baxter Designs, Tiptoe Through The Tulips by Sherrie Drummond, Hardware Pack by Natalie Bird Designs)

Next Tuesday, I will be featured on the TBD Creative Team Blog. I will be following Cathy, who is featured this week. Anyway, we have to make a header for our article so that is the header that you will see if you pop over and check me out next Tuesday, April 22nd. And don't worry, I'll feature a link on my blog.

I put out seven bales of pinestraw yesterday. My goal was to do 10, but it got sooooooo cold. The temperature dropped, and it got so damp. I also managed to put weed killer on the backyard lawn, pull some weeds and move my Oleander bush to a pot for the time being. My roses, which are in very sad shape from neglect, also got a little fertlizer and bug repellant. In my continuing GARDEN SAGA, I did get hives on my arms and another splinter.

Anyway, I don't think I will garden today as it is 40 degrees outside right now. I will do some stuff inside the house today. I am not a fan of cold weather.

I used a spray weed killer that you hook up to the hose and it mixes with the water in the exact amount so you don't (1) kill yourself and (2) kill your lawn. It is my concerted opinion that the Chinese are single-handedly going to kill the American economy by continually sending us poorly manufactured crap at ridiculously low prices. Actually, I'm sure dh had no idea the bottle was MADE IN CHINA. The spray part didn't work in the ON position. So I had to juryrig it a little bit which caused the weed killer to get all over my hands and probably cause my untimely, early demise from chemical poisoning sometime in the future (LOL!). It gave a poor attempt at a spray, but beat the heck out of the STREAM setting, which worked perfectly, of course, but who wants that?

Finally, I got a coupon from a local lawn/garden shop that will give you a FREE six pack with the purchase of a box of whatever. More importantly it said they would plant and maintain your pots for you. Can you imagine how beautiful that would be if you could really afford that? It would look just like the gorgeous picture they sent, which I might try to imitate and see what happens.

Anyway, that's all for today as I try to stay warm in my gorgeously sexy ensemble of socks and heavyweight nightgown with random pajama bottoms for extra warmth! LOL!

Weekend Layouts

I have two lo's to share with you. One features Beth Rimmers "Every Now and Then Add On" available at Digitals. Credits: HERE The other features Rasberry Roads "Too Cool For School Girls". Credits: HEREBoth lo's use templates by NadlM! And photos of my Mom. I'm nearly done the heritage photos I had scanned a while back so I will have to go scan some more.




I decided not to blog or blog train over the weekend...thereby freeing up the time that I normally do that! LOL! Anyway, I had to work early Saturday and then on Sunday, I spent the day pruning some tea olive bushes and pulling weeds.

Since I have shared my garden ailments before, I will share the horror of the splinter. I ran my hands through my hair and felt a sting on my ring finger. That action must have pushed on the splinter that had lodged itself between the nail and my skin. ACK! My dh had to get the tweezers because I couldn't get it out. After I yelled out, "HOLY MOTHER OF GAWD!", he said, "That was it." Whew. I'm not sure my weakened condition could have taken any more pain! LOL!

"Deadliest Catch" starts on Tuesday. Is anyone else excited? We are. I've been watching the marathon on and off over the weekend. And I discovered that Discovery is HD, too, so I have the most excellent, sharpest picture.

My ds is spending his spring break earning money by picking up extra hours at his golf grunt job. I'm so proud of him. He is excited to have extra cash and to have the car as dd is at the beach with her friend's family. No sharing! I told him he had to pay for the gas he used, and he is so happy, he doesn't even care.

My tax accountant called and didn't get our tax electronic filing form to file our taxes, but I mailed it. I expect they will get it tomorrow. If not, I am going to lay an egg.

A Simpler Time

10/15/1956
Do you realize there was a time when a simple photo of my mother's cheer squad was news? Not for doing anything wrong, but because they were simply being cheerleaders and doing what they do! My mom is top row all the way to the left, standing next to her very best friend, Sara Smith. Look at those long skirts, socks and saddle shoes. It ain't yo momma's cheerleadin' no mo'!

Let's see, I have a fire ant bite on the bend in my index finger so as I type, it is sending out a minute bit of pain because, for those of you who don't know, fire ant bites HURT AND ITCH. And I'm sacrificing my comfort to blog today! LOL!

Actually, my garden wounds include the infamous fire ant bites from my recent attack, a splinter in my palm, a gash from being stabbed by a tree branch and many thorn stabbings from reaching in to weeds. Ah, the glories of gardening. I normally wouldn't mind, but here I am at work showing people jewelry accented by the beauty of my wounded hands and fingers! LOLOLOLOLOLOL!

Please go check out my challenge at The TBD Loft because you can win a $10 GC for Tangie's store. I know all y'all can do it and you don't even have to use her stuff. And if you do pop on my to have a look-see, leave a comment and say HI!!! Why? Cuz it will make me feel good! LOL!

I am off to pick up my taxes. I'd go on and on about this but who really cares? We all got something to say about it....hehehehehe

And then to get a few maintenance items for my pool filtration system. Although, why? It is going to be in the eighties today probably and then on Sunday night down to 37 deg. BRRRRRRR! But that is April here...lots o teasing for the great weather to come.

I am working on a lo that I started yesterday that I will probably post tomorrow. Anyhow, I need to get my butt in gear and this show on the road and all that!

Alot O' Nuttin' Today!

These are some before photos of my painting adventure in the master bathroom. I will have after photos this weekend, although I just painted the trim and cabinets and doors. These will be scrapped soon, too!

I was looking out my kitchen window at this fat black bird of some type standing on the edge of my pool at the ladder. I was wondering what the fat black bird was doing as he kept looking at the pool. And then he jumped on the top rung of the ladder, shook around, and hopped back out. He looked around some more, jumped back in, shook his fat birdy body, and jumped back out. He then hopped over to the side of the ladder, looked in the pool, and decided it was too deep. He popped back over to the ladder. Looked around a bit and jumped back in on the top run for another shake. My pool as a bird bath! I wanted to get my camera, but I knew if I opened the door and the screen door, that fat black bird would be gone.

I am disgusted by the group of girls that they keep showing on the morning show. They lured that one girl over and beat the crap out of her while two boys acted as look outs. What kind of young women beat a girl to the point they knock her unconcious and then when she comes back around, beat the tar out of her again. And then the one girl's mother comes on to say it wasn't her daughter's fault she beat the *%$)(#* out of that girl because that girl was talking trash about her daughter on Facebook or My Space. WTF? Unfortunately, putting these girls in juvi will only teach them to be better criminals. It is a sad tale, and sadder that a parent tries to blame the victim for her daughter's bad choices.

I have to have a chuckle about these lawn commercials they keep showing...families rolling around in their lawn, actually lying on the grass...these are obviously commercials filmed by northerners. No southerner lies in the grass because we know we will be carted off by fire ants!

Speaking of fire ants. I was attacked while gardening yesterday. I have a nasty bite on my hand. I usually will go barefoot until I get the first ant bite on my toesies, but this year, I will not. Although I love being barefooted, there seems to be an inordinate amount of fire ants this year springing up. Too risky!

And lastly, I am sharing this bread recipe my friend sent me over the weekend because it is soooooo freakin' good. It tastes like bread from Carrabbas she says. We don't have a Carrabbas here, but it is chewey on the outside and light on the inside. Best served straight from the over with lots o butter!

Recipe: Basic Free Form Loaf
FLORIDA TODAY • April 3, 2008

Yields 4 loaves3 cups lukewarm water

11/2 tablespoons yeast (two packets)

11/2 tablespoons kosher salt

61/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, more for dusting dough

Cornmeal for the pizza peel



In a large bowl or plastic container, mix yeast and salt into water. Stir in flour, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose. Cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room temperature 2 hours (or up to 5 hours).

Bake at this point or refrigerate, covered in a bowl with air holes, for as long as two weeks. When ready to bake, sprinkle a little flour on dough and cut off a grapefruit-size piece with serrated knife. Turn dough in hands to lightly stretch surface, creating a rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Put dough on pizza peel that is generously sprinkled with cornmeal; let rest 40 minutes if the dough hasn't been refrigerated. (Let rest for an hour and 40 minutes if it has been refrigerated.) Refrigerate any unused dough.

Place broiler pan on bottom of oven. Place baking stone on middle rack and turn oven to 450 degrees; heat stone at that temperature for 20 minutes.

Dust dough with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Slide onto stone. Pour 1 cup hot water into broiler pan and shut oven quickly to trap steam. Bake until well-browned, about 30 minutes. Cool completely on baking rack.

Variation: If not using stone, stretch rounded dough into oval and place in a greased, nonstick loaf pan. Let rest 40 minutes if fresh, an extra hour if refrigerated. Heat oven to 450 degrees for 5 minutes. Place pan on middle rack.

Digitals, Tangie Baxter and A Recipe!

I created this lo for my roaming CT work at Digitals. We get a new designer to work with every month. This month I am working with Christina Guillermo who goes by Scrap4brains. I find that very funny!

Anyway, she had a school stuff kit, which I bought actually because it has a lunch tray in it, and i wanted to use the lunch tray like folks have been using boxes. However, my sil sent me this cute photo of my nephew sliding into home, and I had to scrap that first. He is in 2nd grade and the 2nd smallest guy on the team, but he has good hand-eye coordination. Anyway, at this age, baseball doesn't care how big you are. I know he must've been really proud of himself as he had 2 RBI's that night, too. He's just a cute little boy who is very ernest about everything.


This lo was created using those fantastic Digistrations and the soon to be debuting the Future Authentic Artist at CRD's French Twisted kit (bead bottle, Eiffel tower, bead string), plus a real pic of my glasses! LOL! This lo is for a refrigerator challenge coming up at Tangie Baxter Creative Team Loft on April 18th. I think it is really about what is in it, but Tangie made this to announce her CT, and I had to save it, and I've finally gotten to scrap it.

ORIENTAL COLE SLAW (GRETA'S SALAD)
Printed from COOKS.COM

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


DRESSING:

4 1/2 tbsp. vinegar
3 tbsp. sugar
1/2 c. oil
Salt and pepper
Flavor packet from Top Ramen noodles (chicken flavor)

SALAD:

1 pkg. cole slaw mix
1/2 c. toasted almonds
1/2 c. green onions
3 tbsp. sesame seeds
1 pkg. dry Top Ramen noodles, crushed

This salad needs to be put together at the last minute to make sure that everything is crunchy. Toss the salad ingredients first and then toss with the dressing. Serve immediately.

I made this recipe for dinner tonight, well, along with some bbq chicken. Let me tell you, it was good, easy and cheap! So I hope you will try it!

A small comment about AI: David Archileto made the hair stand up on my arms. He was amazing last night, and I'm David Cook's biggest fan! So there ya go!

CRD Revealed

Okay, the lo I made on my previous post was using products from a Future Authentic Artist at Christina Renee Designs. Now how do you accidentally fall into a lucky spot like that? Just being on Tangie Baxter's Design Team. This future Authentic Artist is collaborating with Tangie on some kits and through that relationship we get to be her CT for CRD products. So the spot she will be selling is revealed, but the mystery as to who she is still remains...


Click here for credits This terrific kit comes from the multi-talented Beth Rimmer at Digitals. If you haven't seen her spread in Somerset Magazine this month, you are missing an incredable altered art mini album made from digi! Pages 24-26 if I remember correctly. I went to BooksaMillion and checked it out because any time one of my designers is featured, I'm excited!

I really like altered art. I like doing it, too. I haven't been doing it so much just since I've been addicted to my computer and doing the digital scrapping thing. I am doing a little digital altered art type project with making that little ID Badge mini album for my son to celebrate his DL. The only thing holding me back on finishing it is finding my card for my computer because the pics are in my phone so I have to use one of those cards that takes the mini card from my phone.

Prom was last night in our town. All three high schools had prom on the same night. I was working my pt job, and you would not believe how many mothers and daughters were in there buying last minute prom jewelry. I would not be taking my dd to the store the day of her prom to buy last minute jewelry. Now her wedding, maybe, but prom..no way. That is so nuts. They were all stressed out trying to squeeze this in as if they hadn't known about it for a month. INSANE! Of course, one lady I know whas there with her older daughter and was upset because she had landscaped her whole backyard for prom photos, and we had 4" of rain all day yesterday.

My mother planted colorful flowers in her beds for our wedding reception, but she didn't relandscape the whole yard for my wedding, and I certainly doubt that she would have relanscaped the whole yard for my prom pictures. I think sometimes people lose perspective.

I remember thinking I would DIE as a senior if I didn't go to prom. I mean what kind of life would there be if I was ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE who didn't go to prom? I went, of course! Only to find out as you go to college and go through life, how many terrific people you know just didn't go to their prom. And they are terrific, and their life wasn't over by being labeled a NON PROM ATTENDING PERSON.

So relandscaping NO. And I'm sure I will take my own prom photos as I know what I'm doing, and I will pay for ds to get his photos done at the prom because you have to have that pic, too. I'm not relandscaping for DS to attend the prom. His date's mother can do that! LOL!

Actually, my worst fear is the apres prom parties which involve hitting the beach about 1 1/2 hours away. That just sounds like a recipe for disaster if you are a parent, doesn't it?

DH was so funny lecturing dd that there would be parties on prom night, and if she went to any and there was alcohol, that the police were out and about. They were going to try and find probable cause to enter homes and arrest everyone who was in the home attending the party of liquor was found for underage drinking. So he suggested she just leave if she got to a party and there was alcohol. Ds was working so it wasn't an issue for him. And it wasn't an issue for dd. She wasn't attending any parties...as if we would let her attend prom parties because we would suspect there would be alcohol there, and she doesn't need to be in that environment. But I just thought it was cute that dh was giving his fatherly warning!

OK. I've chatted long enough about that! LOL! I've got some kits to play with and lo's to create. Happy scrapping to ya!

A Mystery, to be sure...

Digi credits: HERE. There's a new designer coming out, and she's debuting at an exciting store. Due to her affiliation with Tangie Baxter Designs, we get to create for her, too, which is a HUGE honor, trust me on that! Anyway, all I can say is that she is a "Future Authentic Artist". I'm using her stuff, and I love it!


Digi credits: HERE
This is the cover of a mini ID badge book that I am making for my ds who got his license as I mentioned on yesterday's blog post. I'm just going to have a few quotes in it, and his pics from the DMV that I took with my trusty EnV phone! I got this fabulous idea for the mini ID badge book from Beth Rimmer who is hosting a challenge at Digitals with these dandy little things. She even has a set of 4 templates to download to get you started!!! Details here.

Ds drove himself to work today. I think he is rather pleased about it. DD was miffed, but her friend got her dad's car this afternoon, so they were able to make the rounds in another vehicle. I do believe that took some of the edge off of having to share a car! LOL!

I believe I spent the day making that first lo, and taking dd to get her athletic physical and to another appointment.

May I rant for a moment? Sure I can because it is my blog. I have been taking my family to the same doctor for 13 years. My dh went to college with his partner. They are a very nice practice, and I like going there as I trust them to handle any emergencies if we had them. They had a new lady working their check out area. Apparently she is just a bitch. I was so mad when I left that I was considering calling the office manager. I'll just wait until the next time I have to go to the dr.'s office, and I am going to tell him about her. I've only complained to him about an employee once before, and he left the examining room to handle the situation immediately. Therefore, I don't like to do it lightly or abuse it. But this lady was arguing with me over my insurance and how it was handled by their office. How the freak does she know if she is brand spankin' new? And she is the type that has to look things up and try and prove it to you. WHAT? And she wasn't letting me go until she made her point. Lovely. Even my dd commented, "What is wrong with her?" Attitude. Bad attitude.

Ok. I'm done. Off my soap box. That wasn't so bad was it? I try not to be completely insane!

My girlfriend told me a joke yesterday so I will part with that. A blonde lady was robbed. They took all her valuables. The police dispatched their K-9 unit to her home. She was distraught, sitting on her front porch crying when the officer stepped out of his car with his dog. Her friend was there and asked her why she was so upset. "After all, the police are here."

The blonde lady replied, "Well, it's bad enough I was robbed and they took all my valuables, but they sent a blind policemen to my house with his seeing eye dog."

A Great Day in Our House

My cousin's son last summer in our pool.
The Briny Deep
My Bracket Fetish I
Paris Cafe Alpha Clear
Doodle Frames Rebecca McMeen (not available)
DST CT Appreciation Alpha
Inspiration Scrap Words CottageArts

Okay, I have another driver in my home. Ds passed his driver's test. He is so excited. And how long do you think it took for the first fight over sharing the car? I'm not even sure they made it out of the school parking lot.

I got a call. It was dd. DS was going to McDonalds. She wanted to go get a book for her class. Intervention! Peace! It all worked out.

Had to explain to dd how excited she was when she got her license. So ds wanted to drive. Ah, the beginning...

And dd made Varsity cheer again this year. She made it last year as a sophomore so it was a pretty good guess she would make it this year, but you never know!

So each kid has something to be happy about, which makes me happy, too!

It took me all night to make that scrapbook page. I just kept working with it and trying to get it how I wanted. Anyway, while I was scrapping, I watched "Hell's Kitchen". That guy is some kind of mean, but I do enjoy the show since he is not yelling at me!

David Cook rocked AI, imo! He's my fav for this year. I know David Archileto (sp) is cute, but I'm a rocker, and I'd buy David Cook's stuff before the cute lil guy!

I love how teachers assign books to be read when (1) there aren't enough copies at the school for all the students in the class (2) there aren't enough books in the library for all the students in the class (3) there aren't enough books in the public library for all the students in the classes (4) the teacher never coordinated with the local bookstore so one doesn't have their books in on time and the other, well, we got the last copy. I might suggest to the teacher that she make sure that the bookstore and her reading are timed appropriately. Otherwise, how do all the students get the material in a timely manner to complete the assignments?

And I leave you with a chilling thought from my world...

Now, who will be driving to school tomorrow?

Rasberry Road Blog Challenge and QP

Here is a QP I made to be put together with everyone elses' QP's over at Rasberry Road for April's challenge prize. You can check out April's challenge HERE. There will be a freebie kit to use as well as the great prize! Frankly, I've never made a QP before, and I've never used one so I hope this will be ok!

I had another, "Why do I go to Walmart?" moment. Let me tell you, I don't think they encourage coupon use because whenever I use more than one coupon in the self checkout, the thing freaks out, and I always end up having to get help over, and over, and over, and over. But I get my coupons! I usually have about $11.00 so it is worth it to me! Anyway, there I am at Walmart checking out in a line with a cashier and lo and behold she starts asking me about one of my coupons. I said, "I bought that item, but I don't know which bag you put it in."

So now I have to start routing around me week's worth of groceries she has bagged to find the stinkin' toothbrush so I can save my $1.00. I find it. Meanwhile she is asking me if it is a Pulsar? "No, I tell her it is a blah blah blah."

She says, "Is it a Pulsar or something else."

Now, didn't I just tell her what it was? I get the coupon and read it back to her. "It says 'Pular' comma, blah blah blah".

She says, "I realize that it says Pulsar. Did you get a Pulsar."

HOLY CRAP! Is she kidding me? NO, I didn't get a pulsar.

She says finally, "Pulsar is a brand."

I say to her, "Look at the picture. The coupon is for an Oral B."

"Oh," and so I get my dollar.

HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THINGS CREATED!

Now, I have a teenage dd. Today, I think she almost drove me to the funny farm. She tries out for cheerleading, and she and her friend come over here to wait for the list to be posted at 8:30pm. Fine, I cook them din-din and wait with them, checking the internet every so often for them, and they are checking, too. Her friend's mom shows up, and still nothing. So we start asking them questions, which starts making them mad. As if getting information is a crime of the highest order.
"Who told you the list was being posted tonight?"
"Did the coach tell you how she was going to let you know?"
"If she posts it, will it be on her academic site or the cheer site?"
"Did she tell you?"
"Who told you?"
"Did you ask?"
"Why don't you call someone?"
"You don't have everyone's numbers? Use the phone book."

Now, it appears that one of the jv girls who is not a reliable source, as in connected to someone in the know, told them that it would be posted on the internet by 8:30pm. Not the coach. They didn't ask before or after they tried out exactly where or when the list of who made it would be posted. So I'm sitting her with two ninnies who are about to have a heart attack waiting for something to be posted that may or may not actually be posted tonight. Because they were originally told that they would find out through announcements at school tomorrow. These silly heads won't call the supposed next year's captain to see if she knows anything. They don't want to call the nosiest girl on their squad who knows everything. So they suffer, and we adults give up and her friend goes home.

Amazing to me that something that is so important to them, they would not have the answer to. CRAZy! But that is a teenage girl for ya. I give up! I need a sedative! LOL!

Is it the flu?

digi credits: HERE.
And that, folks, is the last CT lo for the month. Completed and posted at 4:28pm on Sunday, 3/30! LOL!

Now I can either do what I want or do some advance CT stuff for next month! LOL!


digi credits: HERE.

I think I may have the flu, although I'm not sure. I slept for 12 hours last night. I woke up with a scratchy throat. I feel nauseated. Bleh. I don't get sick very often. I can't even tell you the last time I was sick...maybe October? I eat well, excercise and wash my hands alot! That is my key to that I think. Anyway, don't feel bad for me or anything. I think all I can do is scrap today! bwahahahahaha! Yahoo as far as that goes. Guilt free!

Okay, so you know you don't feel that great when even scrapping doesn't interest you. I was going to play and play and post and post and bleh! So I only made the lo above for fun, and I didn't want to scrap anymore!

CT countdown

digi credits: HERE.

I'm down to my last two lo's for my CT requirements for the month. Nothing like taking it down to the wire! LOL!

So I have one left now!

I never have a plan of attack as in doing in order of favorites or anything like that. It usually happens that someone comes out with a kit, and that is what makes me work with their designs next. I'm not sure how it works for you, but that is how it works for me!

I'm still trying to download the CT Appreciation kit from DST! I've got about 2/3 of it. Have all y'all gotten it yet? The lo above is one of the templates from the kit.

Don't forget about the chance to win a $10GC to Tangie Baxter Designs. Check out my post from yesterday to get the link. It's a desktop challenge. There's samples and a link to get you started!

I just want to brag on ds for a moment. He has a job at a golf course as a golf grunt. You know, the kid who cleans your cart when you are done. Picks up range balls...makes sure there is fresh water throughout the course in the coolers, etc. Well, he has had a head cold and had to work last night. The weather was amazing; the course was packed. He worked until 11P at night and never complained about it! Woke up and went to school, albeit a little draggy, which really pissed his sister off, but I was so proud of him! He's becoming such a man!!!

NadlM, Faith Sisters and Friday Challenge

Digi credits here.

This is my catch up card for my Faith Sisters Scripture Challenge. It's for week #3. The word was BEAUTY. I was drawn to this scripture immediately!

Beth Rimmer at Digitals is featured in Somerset magazine available now! I'm so excited for her. Her hybrid book is on pages 24-26. It's called "An Accidental Childhood". I hope you will check it out and also pop over to Digitals to check out Beth Rimmer's designs. I'm so lucky to be on this creative lady's CT!

Tangie Baxter's Creative Team Loft is sponsoring another Friday Challenge. I'm hosting this one, and you have a chance to win a $10 GC to Tangie's fabulous store! Check it out here: Desktop Challenge. I hope you will spread the word for me so we get lots of participants!!! I'm posting about it on DST, too!

It's a Desktop Challenge! Create a desktop for April. Rules and samples are featured on the blog!

Finally, wahoooooooo! It's Friday! Wahoooooo! I did spend some time yesterday painting my bathroom trim. I'm getting low on paint. I should finish up the trim tomorrow...I think. If not then, on Sunday cuz I'm working on Saturday, and I can't be covered in paint! LOL! Then it will be wallpaper stripping time. Oh la la! And I have been taking some pictures.

I also took some pics of some clothes I need to list on e-bay. That was on my list of things to do today, but I guess that 2 hour nap I took kind of interrupted my day!

Beth Rimmer, NadlM and MONEY!

Digi credits: here.


Digi credits: here

I had to work yesterday, which is fine! Gotta keep my discount! LOL! We just marked all our clearance stuff down again so I found 4 things that I will be getting tomorrow when I get paid. Three are sterling silver...originally $35.00 each for $3.50 each, plus add my additional employee discount! And one is $1.20! Imagine. Those are a cute pair of earrings for me. The others are two necklaces and one has a matching set of earrings. Those are for gifts. You can't beat it. They were all 90% off! Now that is my kind of deal!

I finished painting the cabinet in the kids' bathroom and their bathroom door. I don't know what they do in there, but it does look so much better now. I do have pics, but I just haven't posted them yet. Probably on tomorrow's blog.

I am now off to our master bathroom. I painted our shower/toilet area about six years ago. But I never painted the sink area. Mainly because it needs to be painted and the wallpaper stripped. Well, that is my next project. I'm doing the trim white just because I like white trim in the bathroom. It looks so clean. I'm not sure what color I will paint the walls, but I have to get all that paper off first.

Tomorrow is yard day because it is supposed to be around 80! Wahoo! Finally. A day of warmth, although the high on Sunday is supposed to be around 56. Bleh!

I'm sad to say that I am having to give up my gym membership. I'm still going to exercise because I do enjoy it. But these gas prices, food prices, and the fact that I have two teenage drivers (insurance) is killing us. I can save almost $100 month by giving that up and also changing my cell bill to a lower minute plan. All the kids do is text anyway so that will not be a big deal! I'm running out of areas to cut.

I mean, I have seen on Dr. Phil a while ago about getting rid of the cell phones, cutting the cable, blah blah blah. This is real life here. My husband would die if I cut off his cable. We don't have movie channels and how miserable do you have to be? Anyway, we are not living high on the hog as they saying goes. So there isn't alot to cut! I don't know what we will do if gas hits $4.00 per gallon like they are saying. Give up leaving our house, period! LOL!

That is my rant for today! Oh, I guess I could not by that jewelry, but $1.20 is worth it and also, I have to get a gift for the lady who is taking my daughter on Spring Break with her family. So $6.00 for sterling silver necklace and earrings is quite a nice deal!

Faith Sisters Week 12 and Painting

Digi credits: here.

My scripture choice this week for the Faith Sisters Scripture challenge. The word this week was listen. I was originally going to pick another scripture, "Be still and know that I am God", but I ended up being led to this one.

I'm busy painting the bathroom sink cabinet in my kids' bathroom because it had a leak underneath and got all funky. I painted the outside fronts of the cabinets yesterday and the bottom of underneath the sink. Now I have to do the cabinet sides underneath because the fresh paint really shows how badly they need it. I'm also going to put shelf paper down. I had shelf paper down before, and if you ever wonder if it really protects anything, where I had it, the paint looked new. Where I didn't have it, the paint was faded. So there you have it!

New Blog Header and Some More Lo's

I made a new blog header. It is animated, but I'm having problems getting the animation to work. I'm not sure, but I think my file might be too big. Anyway, this was made using Tangie Baxter's new Digistrations. Credits are here.


This lo is for an upcoming template challenge. I used the new Bungalo Blossoms and Bracket Fetish I from Tangie Baxter and That's My Boy Page Pak w/ Alpha from CottageArts.net.


This lo is created with Doreen Stolz's new Spring Romantic kit and Doreen's Staple Factory.

This picture is of my scrapping friend, Missy, during a recent retreat. She is so funny because she used to do Public Information or something like that so she is very composed in this photograph! We were so tired. Maybe you can tell. Missy figured we got 10 hours of sleep and scrapped for 38! OMG that is alot of scrapping!

Cottage Arts

Playing with the new Nature's Garden Collection that Michelle has over at Cottage Arts. Natures Garden Paper Collection & Natures Garden Element Pak & Alpha
I used two papers and the luminosity mode in the layers pallette. Then I used my OptikVerve Glamour filter in b&w to get the effect I wanted on my photo and added it in to my lo using the overlay mode. Art does reflect the mood of the artist, and I think this shows how I was feeling today! Ah the teen years!


digi credits here.
A lo of my bff, Mandy, from a recent crop weekend. Poor thing had the worst cold in history, but as with all scrappers, she wasn't missing the crop weekend. She took alot of meds and a nap and made it through like a champ!

OK. I think I was in some sort of scrapping rut or funk or whatever you call it. I just felt my creativity was lacking, lacking, lacking, but tonight I feel like the mojo is on again! I hope it stays that way for a while. I just played and filly-farted around, and I actually like what I did. Which, you know how that is, sometimes you are not too wild about the lo's that you make.

I also bought a new tool today. NOt a scrapping tool so don't get too excited. It's a handy lil' knife sharpener that my husband had at his store. I saw a tool being used on The Today Show that was sharpening tools, and I said I needed one. He said he had one. So I made a trip up there today to get it. I can't wait to use it on my pruning sheers and get a'pruning!

Rasberry Road

I always enjoy working with Susan's kits from Rasberry Road. She never ceases to surprise me with something in every kit. I absolutely adore this cardinal with the berries. Don't you! (stitches: CottageArts Bountiful Blessings, font: Love Ya Like A Sister)

Completed another scripture challenge. I'm a little behind! But that's ok. My goal is just to get them all done as part of my "ME" word this year (Ali Edwards). Doing this scripture challenge is part of my spiritual growth.




Luck O' The Irish by Maddy Fernandez at Digitals (font: CK Ali's Writing)

Blog Challenge at The Loft

digi credits: HERE

Here is my lo created using my template (see yesterday's post) for the blog challenge I am hosting over at Tangie Baxter Designs Creative Team Loft. You can still download the template and play for a $5.00 GC to Tangie's store! What are you waiting for?

I have another economical, money saving dish for you out there in recession-land like me. Well, actually two.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie
1 can cream of celery soup (cream of chicken or cream of mushroom)
1 can Veg-all vegetables (or frozen mixed vegetables)
1 can french fried onions
1 pie crust
chicken (left overs)
seasoning - I use Greek Seasoning, but you can season with salt, pepper and some garlic.

You can use store brand for all the items. Depending on the size of your pie plate, its depth, and how many veggies you put in, you can make 2 pies. I prefer to make my own pie crust. It's easy and it's certainly cheaper than buying, but you can buy the store brand pie crust to save money. Also, if you roast a chicken and have left overs, pick the chicken off the bone for this recipe. Or if you buy the Walmart frozen skinless chicken breasts, I use 2. I do not cook them first.

Okay, back to the recipe. Preheat your oven to 350 deg. Put your pie crust in the bottom of your pie pan. Prick with a fork to give it some air and keep it from swelling. Cook for about 10 minutes or so. Dump your cream of celery soup and the Veg-all vegetables in a bowl and mix well. Cut up your chicken to 1" pieces and put in the soup mixture. Put all this in the pie pan over the pre-baked shell. Put in oven for 30 minutes. Top pie with fried onions and cook another 5-10 minutes.
Voila. Easy. Cheap. And tasty!

Okay, another cheap recipe, too. And this one is good for you, too. You can use left over chicken as well or cut up 2 chicken breasts like above.

Easy Chinese Fried Rice
Chicken left overs or two cut up chicken breasts (in 1" pieces)
2 C. brown rice
peas
2 eggs
onion
soy sauce
sesame oil

You do not have to use sesame oil. You can just use regular canola.

Cut up onion and chicken. Cook your rice according to package directions. Five minutes before rice is done, add peas. Put onion and chicken in pan with 2T sesame oil or canola oil. Cook until chicken is done and onions are clear. Crack egg and cook one egg at a time in same pan, scrambling until both eggs are cooked thoroughly. Drain rice and add to pan. Mix. Remove from stove
Serve with soy sauce.
You can add more rice or less rice, more chicken or less chicken depending upon your preference. This is a very flexible recipe. But it is cheap, except for the sesame oil part, but I gave you a substitution. Brown rice is nutritious and gives this a great flavor, but if your family won't eat it, buy the white rice.

I might share one last recipe with you that is very cheap and tasty. Tomorrow! hehehehehe It's a good ole Southern standby and one of my daughter's favorite meals. That's all for now. I've got more CT things to get cracking on!

Saving Money, Template Challenge, Digistrations

I am hosting the "Love of My Life" Contest on Tangie Baxter Designs Loft. It starts Tuesday, March 18. Go here for PNG files and here for PSD files for the contest template. All lo's using my template must be posted no later than March 24 at High Noon EST HERE! Please post your gallery link in the comments section of the Contest Blog Post...OKAY!!! Winner will receive a $5.00 GC to use at Tangies store, where I wonder if they will spend it on the new Digistrations??? Theme of the Contest is "Love Of My Life" as it is my anniversary. Married 19 years! Wahoo! I don't care what you have as the "Love of Your Life", but you must scrap about it, and it must be obvious what it is from your lo! You must use my template. You are not required to use Tangie's products, but you are certainly may! Since the Love of My Life, Lou, is also a fan of my scrapbooking, he and I will choose the winner together! Because that is how we are. Enjoy!

You may download my template for your personal use and do not have to use it to participate in the contest. You must give me credit if you do use it, as in "template designed by Leigh Bossinger". If you do use it and post somewhere, I'd love to see what you've done!!! (Do not share my template. Do not use it for any illegal purposes.)
Okay, we all now that we are getting hit hard at the pump and the grocery store. We're having to squeeze out every cent we can to maintain our style of living or even cut back just to make ends meet. It's hard on everyone these days.

My ds is seventeen and eats me out of house and home. Snacks are a big expense item at the grocery store. It is so aggravating. And you get such a tiny bit for alot of money. I have a few secrets up my sleeve. One thing I do is I make my own Chex mix. I can make as big a batch as I want, and it surely is alot cheaper than buying their snack mix brand at the store. Plus there are different varieties. Currently ds's fav is the spicy chex mix. I buy generic chex mix cereals i.e. Walmart brand, which further cuts on the cost, generic butter, and store brand Worcestershire sauce. Recipe here: Chex Hot & Spicy I also use cheerios instead of pretzels in mine. Frankly, you can put in it what you want, like if you like oyster crackers instead of all that cereal or cheerios. So mix it up a bit. And I don't put nuts in. Too expensive right now!

I also look for ways to keep us nutritionally sound while still being able to save money. I found that we were really enjoying the Fiber One granola bars, but with only six or 8 of them coming in a box, if I eat one and dd eats one and ds eats one, then there are only about 2 days worth in a box. Not very economical if you think about it. So I started looking for recipes online. I found this one so far to start with. It is easy as it uses granola cereal you already have. It is 3 ingredients. Now I am not wild about the corn syrup, but you can substitute a sugar mix. Just do a google search for corn syrup substitute. However, this makes a huge recipe, and I found that a 9 x 13 pan was too small or it makes 2 batches. Just fyi! Recipe here: Peanut Butter Granola Bars. I will post more as I try them. I have found some completely from scratch that I will probably try, too.

Tangie Baxter is one talented lady. If you haven't figured that out by now, you will when you see this next innovative idea she has come up with. They are called Digistrations. I find them to be so innovative and am going to be using them to change my blog header as I have had this one for a while. Check 'em out here. Just do a search in the gallery for Digistrations. I'm serious, this is the coolest thing I have seen in a while, paper or digi! And it's new and original. I know I'm on Tangie's CT, but I'm completely FO' RE-AL here! These are just so ORIGINAL and creative. They are blowing my mind. If you decide to get some, please tell Tangie I sent ya, just because it's nice to know where people find out about her stuff. I don't get anything extra for you mentioning my name so you don't have to if you don't want to!

A Fav Kit

I'm working with some other kits right now, but I had to share a kit I worked with not too long ago that is one of my all time favorites. It is by Michelle Boeckermann at Scrapstreet.com. She is a hidden talent imo. Caught Off Balance. The best part of this little deely-bopper is that it is free! So I hope you will check it out! And if you decide to download it, tell her I sent ya, okay!!!


Vintage Hawaiian Kit from Scrapstreet.com (see preview in yesterday's post!)

Okay, so I had great plans to whip out 3 lo's today. NOPE. I'm not sure what I did all day. I did get a fab nap that I so desperately needed. I made snack mix for my son who is constantly starving. I made sweet tea because he is constantly thirsty. I made a good dinner, and lo and behold, I watched American Idol. Yes, even though I swore I wouldn't. DH has worn me down.

I had big plans to do alot of laundry. That's okay. It is still there!

DS has to have his wisdom teeth out. I'm not doing it. That's what he said to me. As if there was a choice. Then he wonders why everything happens to him and not his sister. I reassured him that she would be having her wisdom teeth out, too. I guess that made it better. He decided he would do it. Just not soon. As if he has control over that either. He's getting it done when I get it scheduled!

He is 17 today (when you read this). My oldest is 17. Hard to believe. I'm sad he's no longer a baby. I'm sad he's a year from graduating high school. I'm happy he's turning into a man and growing up and soon to be graduating from high school. I'm inside-out-upside-down as my not-so-little guy gets a little closer to leaving my nest. Of course, at present, he has developed a little bit of a smart mouth and a wee bit of a defiant streak as in, "No."

Um...no? No, to me? Not happening. So we are working on that, but I guess it is part of the independence and growth into adulthood. He's working now so maybe he's feeling his need to spread his wings. I don't mind if he spreads his wings, I just don't want him to be rude.

Mr. Ed, Cool Kits, One More Lo

Okay, so I'm at work last night and this man comes up to look at some watches. Literally, he is making this horse noise. I thought to myself, that it must be just a fluke. But he apparently clears his throat, which I assumed is what he was doing, every 10 seconds, so as he walked around, he kept making the horse noise. I met Mr. Ed last night, in the human form that he must have taken on after his show went off! I am not exagerating. It was a horse noise. Quite odd!


Credits: HERE

I've got to share this beautiful kit with you. I just got it yesterday and cannot wait to play with it! I hope you'll check it out. It is gorgeous. I'll be posting some lo's with it tomorrow!!!

Click here to go right to it!
This beautiful digital kit is collaboration between the Designers at ScrapStreet. There are 44 patterned papers, 18 solids, 2 alphas and 117 different embellishments for a total of 273 megabytes of digital goodies to scrap with. From frames, strings, ribbons, flowers, rubons to journal mats and tags, whimsical sea creatures and pins and clustered elements.

Woodland Wonders at Digitals. Fonts: CK Becky & Monika

A little lo about my two crazy friends that I go to crops with. This was a recent weekend and we were trying to take pictures of ourselves the way my dd does. How they get it right, we can't figure it out. But I figured these pictures would be so fun to scrap!


Timeless Masters by Tangie Baxter Designs
font: Just Me Again Down Here

Totally love this outrageous kit by Tangie Baxter. So funky, grungy and cool!

That's basically all I've done recently because I had to put in so many ridiculous hours at my p/t (?) job! What is going on? It's cutting into my scrapping time. That is not cool!

But I did get an awesome e-mail today from Scrapstreet.com requesting a lo of mine for their April mag. Wahoo!

Awesome Tree & Crazy Cat

Old tree and old dog! This tree is at my friend's house. She actually built her house where her granparent's house used to be. This tree and her camellia bushes have been around for a while. I just love the way it's branches are! I haven't edited this photo at all so it it what it is! But isn't it a fabulous tree!


My cat is completely nuts. He was so crazy about this plastic bag. He wouldn't stop licking it. I don't know if it smelled like the cat my mom had when she was growing up or what particularly attracted him to this. It was in the vintage suitcase I found with memorabilia from my mom growing up and some old photos, which I've shared on my blog. I had to get out my camera and capture this insanity. Just wish he would have been able to tell us exactly what he was thinking.

Well, I have a bit of exciting news to share as well! I will have a lo pubbed in Ready, Set, Create April/May 2008 issue! I"m so excited. It is a paper lo that I made over the weekend at my recent crop. I have a few others I want to submit to another online e-zine so keep your fingers crossed. And if you get RSC, look for me!!!

Driving home from work tonight was so scary. I'm not normally scared behind the wheel, but when you are on pitch black country roads with no shoulder, and it is raining so hard you can't even see the end of the hood of your car, you don't have any room to make a mistake. I was going 25 on a 45mph road and the wind gusts were causing sheets to come across my windshield that would completely block my view of the road. I couldn't pull over as there was nowhere to pull over, and I couldn't stop of course. And once when a car was passing me in the other direction, I couldn't even see out the windshield so I just did my best to avoid them and hope I wasn't going to drive off the road. Of course, with crazy Southern storms, I get 1/2 way home, and suddenly it is not raining a drop any more!

I didn't get to scrapbook today, but I'm hoping to play with a new kit by Beth Rimmer at Digitals.

My Crop Layouts and Maddy Fernandez at Digitals

digi credits: HERE
This is my first layout as part of the Digitals Creative Team! I'm so excited. I'm not sure I ever said anything about it on my blog! But it was big news to me. I already CT for Beth Rimmer over there so to get to work with the other talented designers on a rotating basis is just awesome to me!

Anyway, they paired me up with Maddy Fernandez this month and I used her Nuts About You Kit because I just adored the colors in it! So yummy!

Here is a slide show I made of my layouts from the crop weekend I just went on. I guess the are kind of small, but you get the idea! I had to add music. I heard so much great music over the weekend. I need to update my iPod with some new songs!

Funny Photos and Addicted to Blogging!

While my photos load, I'll just chat away! These are "self portraits" each of us took. We had to hold the camera the way our dd's do and after my friend, Mandy, took just her eyes, we thought we would copy that look. I can't wait to scrap this page! LOL!

I went to a weekend crop and my friend calculated that we spent 48 hours there. She said we slept for 10, so basically we scrapped our brains out for 38 hours...I confess, I must subtract the 1 hour nap I took on Saturday, which I have NEVER done at a crop before. So I guess I secretly had 11 hours of sleep over the whole weekend! LOL!

I created 21 paper layouts. No digi. Wah! Actually, digi has improved my design and detail skills in the paper realm. I'm hoping to put together a slide show of the ones I created!

The absolute funniest thing is: I left 1/2 my stuff at home! OMG! I didn't realize it until I got to the crop and was unloading my stuff! I carry a Navigator and a crate and an embellie case. My crate was in my kitchen.

Do you remember momma asking, "Do you have everything with you?" or "Have you forgotten anything?" or "Just do a double check." You know why she said these things? Because they are important!
So when a disorganized person tries to pass as organized...I had all my stuff by the front door, ran to the gas station to get dd gas in her car and get myself $$. Came home and dh had loaded my van with my stuff. Oh so sweet. I didn't even have to go in. I just pulled out and off I went a'croppin....
Pick up my bff. "R U sure you have everything with you?"
"Oh yes, dh packed my car before I left."
Arrive at crop. Unload car. Notice two girlfriends have their crates. Where is my crate?
*LIGHTBULB over head*
WTF?
)(#$*_)#(*#$^&_#@)#(*$*#@)(#*$&#)(*#)((@#**#)@)(*#&$((@#*&$(*@(*#&(*$&(@*#_()#
Dh never packed the crate by his chair in the kitchen. The crate which had the other half of my stuff. The crate with my light, my embellies, my ink, my rubons, two of my ribbon containers, my PICTURES...
I had my paper, my trimmer, some embellies, and luckily a bunch of pictures that I had grabbed at the last minute. I had some alphie stickers, some regular stickers, and my tools such as scissors, my paper piecer...
OH BUT I WAS FREAKING OUT>>>>> half my stuff was at home...and I was 3 hours away...to far to go back...to far to have it brought to me...
but my dear girlfriends came to my rescue and let me use their stuff. So I managed to survive and have a blast and just remember...when momma asks those questions like, "Do you have everything you need?"...there is a reason!

I also got spooked, too. So silly! Yes, an actual spooky incident...during the crop weekend.
The back staircase was pitch black until we finally found the light switch...at the top..which doesn't help if you were at the bottom to start with! At the bottom of the back staircase was a door to the outside...which made me make a crack that I hope Ted Bundy didn't drop by over the weekend (sick joke, I know). Do you think they lock this door???
Now, I have put Ted Bundy the serial killer on my brain. Spooky...
So it's dark, and I have to go to the bathroom in a strange place...I get up and go to what I think is the door to the back stairs...as I open it, I look up into something big and round and Ted Bundy is on my brain...oh my gawd, I was spooked! Until I realized I was looking into a closet where they had stored the Christmas tree that happened to have giant Christmas balls on it.
bwahhahahhahahhahah
wrong door...wrong room...hysterical laughter...and I really gotta pee...good thing I have bladder control!

And how much to I love blogs and blogging? I kept mentioning, "Oh I saw this on a blog," or "I had this on my blog," over the weekend. Apparently, I have blogging issues. My friends don't really blog as much as me, but I do love blogging, and I love reading other peoples' blogs. I can't help it! And I figured out how much I liked it when I kept talking about it over the weekend!