ASDR Here I Come

OK. So I was over at Tangie Baxter's CT forum checking on what was going on and Carolyn was looking for a partner for the Amazing Digi Scrap Race. I figured, "What the hey!" So starting Jan. 4th, she and I will be racing together. I think that will be big fun and give me some good scrapping challenges!

Well, for those of you who have visited, you know I signed up at ChaCha to earn some extra money. It is a legit thing, but they are having alot of problems on their site, apparently getting the text questions out to what they refer to as Guides, which are us. Anyway, it has caused a big slow down in the amount of money people can make. Sometimes questions are 10 minutes apart. Some folks sat for three hours and got none. Now, if you know me, that is not gonna happen. I have ants in my pants all the time. I liked it when I first joined...I think the first two days when it was working. It has been broken since.

Then they have alot of rules about which sites you can and cannot go to for answers, which I apparently violated a bunch of rules to the point I nearly got myself kicked out of ChaCha. And you must use complete sentences that are grammatically correct with no spelling errors. You get 160 characters to reply. And if they don't like your reply, they hit you with a QC complaint. All that for ten cents a question, unless you make top guide, but to do that you have to comply with all their rules. If you know me, you know I am not too good with rules. Rules are for everyone else. In my life, if you can't get around the rule, you didn't approach it correctly. HOLY SHIT! This is supposed to be some mad money not a chokeholding, smothering additional stress factor! LOL!

Anyway, I'm not killing myself until they get their site fixed. And apparently the MOzilla Firefox that you must work out of instead of IE SUCKS! It caused my computer to lock and not operate. Now, as a scrapping addict, we cannot have that. Locked computer means I don't have access to my designs. I don't have access to my photos. I can't scrap. That will not do.

I scrapped today and yesterday. I can't share either lo because (and lo is a no-no on ChaCha cuz you must use real words and cuz is out, too)one lo is going in a grab bag in December and the other can't be shared until tomorrow, which when you read this will be tomorrow. So then I could share it, only it is not tomorrow now so I can't.

I have alot more to ramble on about, but then I'm not sure I really can because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings in case they read my blog, which I don't think they do. But I'm not sure.

I'm a bit aggravated. So let's just say I need to run apparently. Which I only ran one day this week because it was cold. Boo hoo!

Catsquerade Layout

Digi credits: HERE

Aaaaahhhh....I'm off. What? I can't believe it. I put in 26 hours over the weekend at work. Yes, you read that correctly. I was so tired last night I was comatose! I feel a big fat nap coming on so I can recuperate. LOL!

So I have not scrapped since last week. That is the truth. I just didn't have the time or the energy this weekend.

Celebration at TAngie Baxter Designs Oct. 1-4th

I made this treat box for Halloween out of the collab kit that Tangie and Clever Crow Studios created. Check it out here: A Merry Autumn Night

This delightful lo was made using the free kit that Sherriejd and Tangie Baxter collaborated on called Treetop Serenade. A piece of that kit is available each day Oct. 1-4 HERE

Finally, this is a lo I made using Terri Walsh's Timeless kit available at Digitals.

I went to the library today to check out some books. DD had to copy some pages from some reference book for a report for one of her classes. Now, mind you, as with many libraries, ours is in the worst part of town with the most impoverished folks around it. The sign on the copier instructs you to place the item you want copied "vertically". The copier itself has a keypad that looks like the Space Shuttle cockpit. I consider myself to be of above-average intelligence on most days but this copier even baffled me and wrangled me out of fifty cents before we had to get the librarian to come over.

She pointed to her arrow with the duly marked "vertical" inscribed up on it. Mind you, you are copying a rectangle with 4 sides. I realize vertical is up and down, but up and down in relation to what? Landscape paper? Portrait paper? I had two pages print out portrait and two print out landscape. I did the same things for each one. Again, I'm educated. I understand vertical. But WTF are they talking about?

Well, you must turn your book sideways (landscape), instead of your natural inclination to position the book in the portrait position, which is the normal 8 1/2 x 11 mode. DUH-HUH! Which leads me to think that perhaps you need to position your book horizontally.

But hey, I have an even better idea. How about two arrows - one at the top right edge and one at the bottom left edge. Then you can have a nifty little sign that says, "Position your book between the arrows." We can all understand between the arrows. Don't even use the word position. Say PUT YOUR BOOK BETWEEN THE ARROWS. Honestly, it shouldn't be a mind bending puzzle to make a copy! Glad I had a wallet full of change! LOL!

Beth Rimmer and Tangie and Stuff

digi credits HERE

digi credits HERE

I finally got to scrap with some of Beth Rimmer's stuff again! I love her designs. You can click on her blinkie and go right to Digitals to check it out!

I hope that you enjoy my new blog header. I'm giving you a preview. I will post it Oct. 1st. There is a blinking part that says, "Happy Halloween". I made this using some new stamps that Tangie Baxter has at her fab site. Click on that blinkie if you want to check it out!

I keep thinking of things to blog about and then when I get here, I've forgotten! I did have fun this morning chatting with a girl I met several years ago at a scrapping site. We did a bunch of swaps together and hit it off. I even got to visit her on a trip to my brother's once! Anyway, we have alot in common and are currently suffering together as our girls are in the throws of friendship drama.

Spent a whole day with dh this weekend as the kiddies were off at work or with friends. We went to a college game and everything. It was alot of fun. We drank a few beers and ate our little sandwhiches and watched the game. I watched all the fans in the stands, the cheerleaders from both sides and the goings on around me. DH was soooo into the game. I tried. I really did for his sake. I enjoy going. I just enjoy different aspects than he does and am easily distracted by goings on around me! Especially the fish wife behind me who kept yelling with her shrew voice after every play. I have no idea what she looked like, but she was so common and loud. It was really "trashy" as dd would say!

Terri Walsh at Digitals and ATC Fun

digi credits: Birthday by Terri Walsh at Digitals


digi credits: Timeless by Terri Walsh at Digitals


Check out Tangie Baxter's ATC stuff by clicking on her blinky!

I made some lo's this weekend. I scrapped my brains out! And I'm still in the mojo! I'm binge scrapping!

Remoulade Sauce (courtesy of Emeril Legasse)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
3 tablespoons Creole whole-grain mustard
3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
3 tablespoons ketchup
3 tablespoons chopped parsley leves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process for 30 seconds. Use immediately or store. Will keep for several days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Talk about tangy and delicious. OMG I made this to go over some salmon and as a side to dip shrimp in for dinner. It was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend it. It's easy, but it has a big bang impact. Definitely something you'd want to serve to impress your guests...and it's so easy.

I had to help my dd with a paper on some aspect of Beowulf. Surely she realizes that I have been out of high school more than (ahem) twenty years (egad!). Thank goodness for the internet because I was able to help her organize her thoughts and find examples to complete her paper.

Cottage Arts News and Rasberry Road

credits: HERE, and if you want to leave me some love, you can!!!

This lo is made using the Sunflower Susie Collection by Rasberry Road. Click on my blinke if you want to check it out. And if you like it, a QP based on it will be released on 9/18 at her site! I know, cuz I did it!

OMG! They just said that if you live in a 1 or 2 story house in Galveston, you need to leave or you will die. So my dh put this in perspective for me at our beach house, which is up on stilts, that the water would be up to his neck on the 1st floor at the expected levels. The sea is such a powerful force, that at that depth and ferocity, it would level what was in its path. How scary! I hope everyone listens and evacuates.

DD is still sick. The strep has really wiped her out. I feel so bad for her. I have used all my motherly knowledge to keep her comfortable.

Ds has worked every day this week except Sunday and Tuesday. I'm so stinkin' proud of him I could bust! He hasn't complained one time, well except for trying to keep his check, but his fight was short and he showed up with his insurance $$ for me today. What a good boy!

Cottage Arts has released 2 calendars for 2009 with more to come. HERE to check it out. This is the blurb from the site.

"You can see it comes with alot of goodies for you to personalize the CD calendar: Our very popular CD Case Calendar is back once again...this one having an everyday theme in creams, browns, greens, and blush. The everyday theme comes with 16 monthly calendar overlays (Sept 08-Dec 09), 7 patterned paper ScrapOver Templates, 1 texture overlay (play with layer blend modes for more possibilities), and 4 frame clusters. You can use the plain calendar overlays as they are and simply drag a photo behind them, add the vellum flourish overlay over the photo (beneath the calendar), or use one of 7 different ScrapOver templates with a photo mat opening. We've included 4 of the frame clusters if you would like to use them with other backgrounds or simply on white. Print 2-up on your home printer. Take a CD case and pull it back for a fun easel desk frame (slim line with black back work real well)."

And finally, our news told us there was a shortage of gas and that in some parts of the country, due to Ike, gas had already reached over $5.00. Locally one of our gas stations was limiting customers to 10 gallons each. Now you know with them saying that, it caused a mass panic (in our small town). Walmart was backed up all in its parking lot with people lined up to get gas at each of its pumps. The station at the end of our neighborhood had an accident due to cars lined up in the road waiting to pull off to get gas. Mind, you we decided to fill up since the national news said that the floating oil rigs and such might get damage causing a shortage like after Katrina. OMG! Now, I'm trying to restrict my teenage drivers to ONLY drive where they must and NO hauling anyone anywhere.

A New Rasberry Road LO

I made my lo using the Boys To Men Collection available from Rasberry Road Designs. And then I made a QP based on my lo. To get the QP, if you are interested, CLICK HERE and you can download it!

Oh, I got so many comments about the nasty little cheerleader. Y'all have no idea what a crushing decision it was to leave, but with my hands tied behind my back, it's impossible to effectively coach. So thanks for your support. But some decisions are perhaps the Holy Spirit hitting us over the head for not seeing earlier messages. As bummed as I was, when I hit the lss to sign up make a deposit on an all day crop, she asked me to teach a digi scrapping class! WAHOO! Now that's right up my ally. So I'm jazzed!

I've got a kiddo down with strep. 1000mg of Amoxicillon 2x per day. You know she's puny!

I have a weird allergy that I get on my hand from touching something I am allergic to which erupts into a strange kind of hives that blister and hurt and itch. Today I had two eruptions on my hand. I'm about to go crazy itching! ACK! I'll ask the dermatologist when I see her next.

Ds got his first paycheck from his new job which he so richly informed us that he needed to keep to use towards the car. AHEM! You will put 1/2 of your check in to pay for your insurance son! Driving isn't free. The rest you may have towards gas or whatever. GEEEEZ! What are they thinking?

Saw a cute movie today called "Smart People". Dennis Quaid was in it and that girl from Juno (which I disliked that movie!). It has some very funny lines in it and is a cute movie about a quirky family. I rather enjoyed it and had more than a few laughs. That to me is entertainment!

I guess I am chatty today. Oh well! Thanks for stopping by!

School Tearz

Credits

Can you imagine? My dh told me to take it easy today, relax, and scrap. HAHAHAHAHAH! OK! I will! So I made this lo! Went back to bed this morning. Drank a diet coke. Ate some popcorn. Watched Oprah. Yeah, that's a great day! LOL!

Not much else to chat about!

Final Brag Book FREEBIE Pages

I was writing a bit of bitchin' about some things that have kind of chapped my hide lately. Then I decided, who really wants to read about that? NOT ME! hahahahahaha

So instead of doing that, I am posting the link to Rasberry Road for you to pop over and get the last 5 pages of my 4x6 Fish Tales (Tailwater) Brag Book Freebie. I hope that you like it, and if you finish yours, it would just tickle me to see what you put together!!! I'm sure Susan, the designer of the Tailwaters kit, would love to see your handiwork, too.

This is my final installment. You should end up with a total of 10 pages all together...the first four, the bonus, another four plus one bonus!



CLICK HERE to download!

What did I love about the Olympic games? Aside from Michael Phelps who just was an unstoppable athlete? Jimmy Page!

me: "Matt! C'mere! Jimmy Page! Led Zeppelin!"
ds: "So."
Did you hear me deflating? Completely lost on my son.

I'm sorry Leona Lewis, but you should just not have sung. It's just trite next to Jimmy. 'Kay! I know they made ya do it, but who really cared about you? HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Freebie 4 Today

I had a run-in with vertigo yesterday. I wanted to finish my brag book, but honestly, you can't do anything when you have vertigo, except take something for it and go to bed.
So all I've got today is a lil' bonus page freebie, and I will get the rest Monday as promised!!! So please come back if you are looking for more!

I will post the 4 final pages and an additional bonus page.

CLICK HERE to go and get your download link!

Printing at My Pic Tales: A Review

Okay, my prints came! I'm not going to discuss the uploading at this time as I believe they fixed or are fixing the bugs they had with that.
I ordered 1 8x8 print and 11 12x12.

In order to print, they ask for bleed. Now there are tons of threads at DST about this and even actions for sale if you save your files as a layered PSD. I don't. Frankly, that isn't necessary. I increased the canvas size on each lo to 8.25x8.25 and 12.25x12.25 respectively. I use PSE 5.0 if that matters. Anyway, this made a border around my lo's.

The purpose of this is that in mass printing, they do mass cutting, which means they put it in a stack and chop. I am not sure what type of tool they use for cutting because I used to work in a factory that had what we called a cutter. Now, it would go through stacks of paper the thickness of file folders effortlessly. Anyway, the bleed is so that as the blade goes through the stack and papers shift, you are not getting anything cut off that you consider important on your lo's.

The one 8x8 came back with no bleed are left on it at all. Smart, clean edges as it was a single page cut.

The 12x12 came back with a few having a small area along the bottom. It happens to be a light gray, but you don't even notice it. I am very picky and it didn't bother me at all, but if you were bothered by it, you only have the one edge to trim so it's not like it is all 4.

I am very pleased with the paper quality. It is a nice thickness.

The colors on all my lo's are true. You know how when you used to get film processed, if the person didn't know what they were doing, you might get a greenish cast or a pinkish cast, and they'd have to re-do all you photos? Well, this is not the case.

The printing is sharp. Very high quality as far as I can tell. My 12x12's look fantastic. I can't even begin to tell you how nice they look. And my 8x8 is gorgeous, too. On a bigger canvas, you would definitely notice shoddy work.

So, in closing, I have to say that this place is IT! Their prices are perfect for my SAHM earn-printing-money-through-paypal-sales budget. I highly reccomend them as I am very pleased with my end result. I am pleased enough that I will be placing another order today!

If you have any other specific questions that I might be able to answer, let me know...Oh yeah, shipping was very reasonable and the pages came in protective plastic in a heavy duty cardboard box. There were several options for shipping and I'd say it took my entire order about a week from order placement to my door.

FREEBIE
Click here for a beautiful QP by Cheryl at Rasberry Road.

And right now there are only two entries for the Bucket List Challenge to win a $10GC to Tangie Baxter's Store. Challenge ends today at night so you still have time! Click here for details

I'm Aggravated and Lo's and Rasberry Road Grand Opening

Let's chat first about Rasberry Road. Susan Darter has slated her Grand Opening of her new fully functional site for October 1st. There will be tons of games and prizes so it should be a good time. The new site will include a gallery and forum and blog and all that good stuff, along with her fabulous shop which she has been using Blogger to host.


This lo was made using Wee Lil Wise Guys available at Tangie Baxter Designs. Click on my active blinkie on the side to check out her store. I do still have ds's back to school page to do. At least I'm putting along on my lo's.

I ordered some lo's from My Pic Tales. Still waiting for those to come. I don't know what their turnaround time is. When I get them, I will give a full review.

And lastly, we have decided to sell one of our beach houses. BOOOHOOOO! It's mainly an economic thing in this slowed down economy. Which this economy is eating us alive. It's kind of depressing, and I handle all our bills so I'm feeling all of the pressure. Looming on the horizon is sending two to college a year apart, although all of their tuition is already paid. A fourth car since one will be gone. You know, all the usual home maintenance stuff with a 20 year old house ...plumbing, new dishwasher. I'm coming unglued...back to school. ACK! I know we are all going through it. I'm just venting! Oh yes, and ds is always starving because we are starving him because "we have no food in this house."

Cottage Arts, Digitals and Chat

Credits here


Each of these lo's has a 2nd page that I need to do to go with them. I have some silly shots of my family cooking to go with the Thanksgiving one. They are hams! And I have some more dancing pics from camp and the journaling to go with that activity and page!

Credits here Look at this yummy tree that is brand spankin' new and available at CottageArts along with another beautiful kit they released today. Trees really are all the rage these days. I love the beauty of this one.

Well, aside from cheer camp I haven't done too much with cheerleading since we got back. Mainly because they are just learning the cheers and band dances, which all the returners already know. It's just the newbies that have to learn them really. But tonight we are off to an event at our local civic center put on by the school foundation here. The girls are performing a lil sumpin. So I will have pics of that. And I'm in my official capacity as Asst. Coach. I'm sure it will be fun!

I'm about to go and feed my son, who assures me he is starving to death. Do teen boys ever get full? And then it's a nice run around the neighborhood. So I hope that dd has not run the battery dead on my ipod so I have some good tunes to keep me occupied. And I'm getting my hair colored today. HOORAY! No gray! LOL!

Cheerleading Camp and Recipe Page

This lo was created using the Mystical Skies kit available at Rasberry Road. Just click on my blinkie over on the side to get a peak at more of Susan Darter's clever kits. She has such great variety.

This page was created using Homemade Goodness and Farmer's Market kits by Rasberry Road. The recipe card and the QP without the recipe are part of a participation prize for this month's challenge. I hope you will check it out. Personally, I can't wait to get all the QP's just to whip out a quick recipe book for a Christmas gift!

I worked on a lo last night for Becky Fleck's Page Maps coming out in September. I finally got it done. I just couldn't get it right. You know how that goes sometimes, but the great thing about digi is you can just delete what you don't like. Anyway, I can't post it because it is going to be pubbed. So as soon as it is, I will post and link so you can see it.

I ran my 1.25 miles on the street today. Big accomplishment as last time I ran only 1 mile because when I rounded the corner and looked up and saw that hill, I completely unpsyched myself. Today I was focused, determined and completely in the zone. So I am very happy! YAY! It was also alot cooler today than it has been for a while.

I will say this: I need some new running shoes. I wore an old pair and my shins and knees told me about it. That's usually how I can tell when my shoes are gone. Plus my hips will hurt later. No biggee. Just a reminder of how important it is to run in the right shoes because the stress it puts on your joints can lead to other things down the road. You gotta take care of yourself and have the right equipment! But my running shoes are $100. And yes, that is alot of money. However, I have tried cheaper pairs and the same thing happens...sore shins, sore knees, sore hips. Once you find a pair that does the trick for you, you really have to stay with them.

I ran so many errands yesterday. I had to take a nap! But I think that might be my new bp medicine as well. I've been jacked up for a while...zippy and so not feeling that way, makes me sleepy. Gotta get used to it.

I hope you will check out the Authentic Artistry blog. They have some freebie templates posted today. HERE.

I guess I'm feeling chatty today! LOL! My kids are cramming in all the fun they can before school starts. They are cracking me up. And dh is so addicted to the Olympics. Now he has all of us, and the kid's friends, glued to the t.v. routing on the athletes.

Rasberry Road, Scrapbook News & Review, Christina Renee Designs

Credits: HERE

And too boot, this lo is featured at CRD's store with the Dirty Notes Papers: HERE. And I have another one in her shop feature, too: Game On.

In addition, my e-mail came today with the latest issue of Scrapbook News and Review which has one of my lo's in it! I'm so jazzed. So all in all, today was a good scrapping day!

Susan Darter of Rasberry Road is about to open a shop instead of her blog shop, which will feature a forum, gallery, blog and all the usual stuff. I'll be posting about the grand opening when we get all the stuff organized. Lots o' prizes and games and giveaways 'n stuff! Wahooooooo! So check back...it should be fairly soon.

Neck pain...teenagers...killing me...slow painful death...oh GAWD! Said with much love, but ds and his friend woke me up 2x last night...at 1am and 4am...at which point I became possessed and forced them to go to bed. (#_)#($*)(@#)( XBox 360 Live is like a drug to them. Cutting that way back. And dd has been argueing with her bff all week...mainly over bff's ex who is a complete and total loser, drop out, verbally abusive, controlling, stalker...who has snuck back and trying to get with bff and dd won't support her. Duh! GEEEEZ! Why do girls like abusive boys? I have no idea.

Hmmm. think I shall scrapbook!

Rasberry Road and Recipes and a Challenge

Don't you just love the jar in this set of elements? Susan always does something unique. Her papers are just beautiful. This also has a freebie alpha available at the blog. So check it all out here: Rasberry Jam at Rasberrry Road Designs by Susan Darter.

Only today and tomorrow left to participate in the "Layered Frame Challenge" I am hosting at the Rasberry Road Forum: Click HERE for details! You can win a kit from Rasberry Road Designs!

And finally a little teaser for next month's challenge is this recipe card from the Homemade Goodness collection at RR. They will be given away with a bunch of others along with QP's for a recipe book made with the Farmers Market Collection just for participating in August's challenge!



As far as comments on my daily life, it's hot. It's summer. So what else is new! LOL! I ran a whole mile yesterday OUTSIDE, which is a big deal for me as I have always run inside on a treadmill. I had to give up my gym membership, and since I ruptured my achille's tendon several years back, have been afraid to run outside. But I conquered that fear and am now out on the road! So hopefully I can get up to my normal 3 miles! Keep your fingers crossed.

Here we are scrimping and saving like all of America with gas so expensive. And I get a bill for having our wrought iron gates fixed. DH said, "I found a guy to fix our gates for $160.oo." Yeah, bill comes, and true to dh's form, it is $725. Yes, you read that right. I said to him, "Now? With all that is going on we get this bill? If I had known it was going to be this much, I would have passed on this project." *#$_)(*@#_)(*$(_@)(#$*_)(*_@#)($*_)(*#$)(*$_$*#(_)(*#_@)$ Sometimes I hate handling the family finances, cuz I sacrifice so much and then ($*_#(*$@#)M*%_#)(* like this happens. I mean, where am I going to cough that out of??? HELLO!!!

Fun New Lo with Cottage Arts and Senior Portraits

CottageArts Play & Grow Collection by Julie Meade

UNEDITED

Okay, I have always wanted to do one of these kind of cartoon lo's, for lack of a better description. When I saw this kit by Julie Meade over at Cottage ARts, I had to have it. It just so happens that I found these photos of my dd from about 4 years ago that were just perfect to be scrapped with it.

I can't remember if I shared this pic of ds that I took. I need to edit it, but I just love it. I believe it will be his Christmas card pic! And the one he can give his friends when they are passing out senior photos! I just love it when he cooperates with me.

His senior proofs came, but the tuxedo yearbook pics didn't come out. Photographer flubbed up so he has to redo those, but the casual looks were great. Now dh and I have to pick which one to order. TOUGH choice! LOL! I'm only going to get an 11x17 as otherwise it is way too expensive!

Digi credits: HERE

That lo is for the July 4th Challenge at the TBD Loft which is a Christmas in July challenge. I will say one thing, it was hard to get some pics for this cuz I really took some stinky photos this year. I'm talking cluttered backgrounds, shadows BLAH! I know not every photograph has to be museum quality, but for heaven's sake, these photos stink-stank-stunk as the Grinch would say!

Let's see, today was HOT! I sweated. That's what I did today! LOL! I had to finish mowing the lawn. Just as I got about 1/4 done, the irrigation guy came to chat with me about our impending sprinkler system in the front yard. I was dripping sweat. I mean, literally, sweat was pouring down my face. It was so gross. At least I didn't stink! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

I planted the rest of my begonias. I just wasn't sure where I wanted them. I finally just put them in the rest of my pots. So I'm done. No more planting...big fat lie! I still have another camellia to plant and some hostas...this weekend...

I did enjoy some time in the pool today, which was wonderful and welcome considering the heat and the sweat. Mind you, I'm not complaining because summer is my favorite season! Even HAWT summer's are my fav!

I have got to do something with my family so I can get some pics of us this summer. DD is the only one traveling, but she lives the life of the Rich and Famous cuz of all her friends. Hilton Head, ATL ya know. but anyhoo, the rest of us gotta do something. A lil day trip somewhere. I really want to go white water rafting. Frankly, I'm the only one excited about it, but too bad. I may just have to drag them all along anyway.

So Much I Had To Make A Slide Show

I have been a busy bee lately, although I do swear that my mojo is dead. I think I taxed my scrapping creativity so much with Christina Renee and Tangie Baxter, that I killed it! LOL!

Anyway, I hope that you will visit Tangie's ATC Emporium because they have so many new ATC kits, you won't believe it. She partnered with Sherrie Drummond to create all these goodies, and they made a ton of stuff!

Hope on over to Tangie's CT blog HERE for this weeks Big Picture Challenge which ends on Thursday 6/26...yeah...today! But you can knock something out real quick and win a $10 GC to her site and buy some cool ATC stuff or something else.

And while you are at it, hop on over to the Authentic Artistry blog where Christina REnee has some awesome freebies posted and two challenges.

I had a migraine today, and so I am very sleepy now. I was worried about it, but I took my lil sumpin and I feel so much better. Sleepy, but at least the headache is gone. I was supposed to go to work, but I was too afraid to be stuck over there with a major migraine cuz it's hard to drive when you are dying of pain! And I don't feel to friendly when I don't feel good!

My teens are out and about as usual. Yes, I know exactly where they are cuz I am a strict mom all up in their business. DS was supposed to go to this go-cart track today, but his friend's dad got mad cuz they were playing XBox 360 online and his friend stayed up all night long. So that was the end of that.

I did have to lay an egg the other night when they hooked up the online XBox because I kept getting woken up by ds's friend saying, "hello? Hello?"

It turns out ds's headset was malfunctioning. I got smart and kidnapped it, and left a ransom note. They are however, teen boys, and got smarter...they got their other friend's headset, and it only delayed them a few. So I threatened them with taking the whole system if they did it again. Cuz I am the smartest!

And on that note of mom power, I shall say, "Ciao!"

Two more lo's and Foodie Chat

digi credits HERE

digi credits HERE

Okay, a shameless plug for Tangie Baxter who is soon to launch her ATC Emporium within her shop, which will also be perfect for the amazing INCHIES shaking up the paper scrapping world. My first lo features an INCHIE on the star... they are 1" x 1" squares that folks decorate! Anyhow, check with Tangie's site on June 25th! That's the debut day!

While I'm shamelessly plugging, check out Christina Renee Designs who is featured at DST this month AND is giving away a freebie every single day. Part of her Ready, Set, Chase! designs are released each day. On Saturday, if you clicked on my blinkie at DST, you got the Fantasie Ornates, Windows. Boy was that fun for me to be able to do that!!! Anyway, hop on over and find the magic CT member to get the latest piece!

Dd came home from Hilton Head today. I'm glad. I missed her. We celebrated Father's Day after she got home and ds got off work. I made a Beef Wellington, Risotto and cherry cobbler for dessert. Appetizers were potatoe skins with blue cheese. Whew! Am I full. Anyway, can you tell I've been watching Hell's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay.

I would like to know WTF is English mustard? That's what you are supposed to rub all over the beef tenderloin before you cook it in the shell. They don't sell it where I live that is for sure! Not a shocker, but never heard of it! BTW, beef wellington is delish. I used portabello mushrooms for the mushroom part. Yummo!

I have managed to master risotto. And it is really, really good. You just can't be in a hurry to make it.

And cherry cobbler. A whole stick of butter. Need I say more.

I do love cooking when I have time and watching Hell's Kitchen got me curious about risotto and beef wellington. Now both are added to my culinary skills.

So all that being said, I do believe dh had a nice father's day. He got two trees for our landscaping adventure: a pansy tree and a dogwood tree. Plus we got him a pair of Columbia shorts. I also took him for my "short" route of walking since he is wanting to lose some weight. I told him I would take him the long route another day. I think he thought the short one was the long one!