Some new pictures

Head on over to my photo blog for some new pics for class. Used the Orton effect on this one. Hope you enjoy!

Let the weekend begin.

Seriously. This was one long week. Today was an emotional roller coaster, with our staff honoring the retiring staff members. I am AWFUL with goodbyes. I mean seriously messed up. We are losing some fine educators. People who have spent a lifetime making a difference in the life of kids. Now tell me that doesn't choke you up. And as much as I am happy for the people who are retiring, you could see with each and every one of them that they weren't done making a difference. That's what hurts. Cried all morning. And that feeling of sadness stayed with me all day, which is rare.

On to better news, I finished my article for the Scrap Supply newsletter. Layouts? Check. Article? Check. Relief? Check. Check. It is such a feeling of accomplishment when I'm done with deadlines. And I'm proud of this article. You really need to stop by SS on June 1 for some serious fun. They are even giving away a Making Memories Slice. What could be better?

Also went to see our coworker, Mary, and her newborn baby girl. It still just amazes me the miracle of babies. And this one is a beauty. Made me want another one for a minute. Biological clock and all. I'm lucky to have my two girls, and I'm happy. So the feeling passed. Not the miracle part, though.

No big plans this weekend. We're not exactly the type to head out on vacation when everyone else is. We're more the type to go on vaca when everyone else is home. Bill and I both work with people EVERY DAY, and I have no desire to deal with tons of people on my free time. Now I love what I do, don't get me wrong. But sometimes getting away from the crowd is just what the Dr. ordered.

Sharing some pictures of the diva and the makeup transformation by sissy from last weekend. Doesn't she look adorable?

That's Entertainment

A few pictures from last night at dress rehearsal. Doesn't she look happy in the first? The had the kids line up for the finale first, and the girl would not crack a smile. She looks so happy trapped amongst the flowers, no? Then they went back to their seats and waited for their number. Well let me tell you this girl put on her game face when it was show time. That move in the second picture had Em and I hysterical in today's performance. I was laughing so hard I missed the final few moments from the tears in my eyes. She dances with heart, I tell you! And the last picture is the smile on her face when it was all through. Priceless.

Layouts and more

Here are three layouts for Fancy Pants Designs for this month. I actually took a personal day today and scrapped for three hours this a.m. I'm a bit stressed for a lot of reasons. I'm edgy and nervous. And there is a lot going on this weekend. YIKES.

Did all the laundry today as it will be too hectic this weekend with dance recitals and rehearsals. Between costume fittings and alterations, painting her BLACK tap shoes TAN, getting the proper lipstick (red), eyeshadow (purple), and blush (pink), none of which I own OF COURSE, the hairspray (ultra-mega-super hold), bobby pins, etc. I am plum worn out. How do the stage moms handle it? She's a leprechaun. Go figure.

Emily and one of her roomies are coming home for the weekend as well. I'm hoping in between the weekend we call DANCE I can get some pictures of the college girls.

I'm doing a photo shoot with some techniques I will share in the June Newsletter at Scrap Supply. Watch for the special anniversary bash, scheduled for June 1st. There will be contests, prizes, and all sorts of fun. I had a blast on NSD with the ladies from SS, especially playing Bingo. Check it out! Another cool twist is that the amazingly talented Ali Edwards. Can you believe it?

Speaking of SS and NSD, I created and shared some PS actions for NSD, and answered Photoshop questions. Well who dropped by but Crystal Jeffrey Rieger, a Memory Makers Master. Check out her blog post where she mentions yours truly. How cool was that?

Let's see what else. On the health-front, things aren't so swell. Turns out my Thyroid levels are all out of whack. I had a feeling because I am SUPER sensitive to cold right now. HATE IT. I get so cold the only thing that will warm me up is a hot shower. Hypothyroidism is a pain in my ever-growing butt. Seriously.

Two of my family members are having health crises of their own right now. I'm not sharing specifics, because both of them are private people, but it is 99% of my stress. We should have answers on both of them tomorrow. In the meantime, if you're the praying type . . .

Got a new lens for my camera. It is the Tamron 28-75 F2.8. If you look at my photo blog you can see a few I snapped tonight.

OK, I'm out. Have a good weekend.

Happy Mother's Day!

I know I had a good weekend. It was busy, but fun. Went to mom's for coffee yesterday a.m. Then home to finish my deadlines for Provo Craft. The got Jenna all ready for her soccer game, arrived at the fields, only to find out she didn't have a game after all. That will teach me to check the schedule. As we pulled away from the soccer fields, Jenna said "Mom, I am NOT a happy camper." True dat, my girl. True dat.

Went to the casino with the neighbors last night. And while I'm not exactly a high roller, playing the $0.02 machines and all, not spending more that $20 total, I ended up at $127.00. After paying Bill back the $20 he gave me to gamble, and also paid him the $20 he lost. Then I paid for dinner and the tip at $40. So we ended up with a free dinner and a bit of winnings to boot, without spending a dime. Odds were in my favor, I think.

Grocery shopping today in preparation for the week and a family gathering at mom's for lunch. The whole family was there, including Billy which was a great surprise. He has been moved to days (he is a police officer) so he can now come home some weekends. We had fun together, as always. Emily came home after work last night and left tonight. What would Mother's Day be like without my girls?

Speaking of my girls, this is one of the outtakes from the gardens last week. Priceless.

A few from tonight

Had a little fun tonight at the Gardens. My girls.

Happy Sunday

It's amazing to me how quickly time passes in the spring. It catches me unawares every stinking year. Soccer, with dance, school activities, and life in general. It's just kicking my butt right now. And making me long for summer, and a different pace. One that doesn't involve to-do lists that span the length of my arm.

One of the things that I spent the week (and last weekend) working on was my new Advanced Photoshop Elements class. It takes so much time, because I have to decide what I'm teaching, test each topic, write up the steps for a handout, and choose the pictures to go with the class. Then I have to drop the pics off at the store so they can be loaded onto the computers. The class is 6 hours in total, and I only got done with the first class. On Thursday night, after countless hours spent on prepping for the class, the camera shop called to say they didn't get enough people to run it. GOOD TIMES. At least I have more time to prep.

Yesterday I spent a lot of time at Scrap Supply celebrating National Scrapbook Day. What a blast! I have some Photoshop challenges and tutorials, and the other DT members have fun challenges as well. You really have to check it out! We played Bingo til the wee hours last night and it was a blast. I even created a few actions if you have Photoshop, although they won't work in Elements.

Emily is now officially done with her junior year of college. She called yesterday and talked about how she feels like a zombie now that exams are over. I remember that feeling. She's working at a coffee shop (I believe she is called a barista, but she doesn't find the title nearly as charming as I do.) She's taking classes all summer. I just cannot fathom that she's already been away for three years. Yikes. She gets to come home and hang for a few days and I can't wait to see her. It always makes me feel like my family is complete when she's home.

School is busy too. Grades were due this week, and the kids have been absent in droves due to field trips, sporting events, club competitions, etc. So every day after school I had droves of students needing the lesson repeated or to make up the tests they missed. Plus it was prom last night, so they were really wound up in class getting ready for the big weekend. I got so busy at the end of the week I got kind of cranked. That usually doesn't happen. I'm usually really on top of things at school. Somehow with the make-up work it was impossible. Here's hoping for a more relaxing week. Wish me luck.

I've been working hard on my photos for my photography class. I am learning so much about my photo skills and point of view. We are supposed to shoot a series of photos with a theme/story. It turns out I don't really have one. I'm disappointed in how "snapshotty" my photos are. I want photos that look polished, well-composed, and a little artsy to boot. Doesn't seem like too much to ask, IMO. My passion is photos of people. Not just my girls, although that is a good 90% of the passion ... but that's just because they can't say no when I want to take their picture. So I really wanted to take pictures of Jenna for my series. But I did bring pictures in to class last time of other shots I have taken so the teacher could see I'm not just a mom with a camera. (MWAC.) He particularly liked one I had taken of a corn stalk. And literal-minded math teacher w/a smart mouth said, "It's JUST a corn stalk." Nice, Kay. Now let me tell you about this teacher. He is an accomplished photographer who has studied with several famous photographers, and can make even the most mundane things beautiful. You should have seen the look he shot me. So after much deliberation I have decided to make my series "Things Along the Trail." Little things I observe when hanging out at the Nature Center. Maybe focusing on something OTHER than people will push me forward. Here's hoping.

Just finished the book Water for Elephants. It was REALLY good. In fact, it's the best book I've read in a very long time. Now I'm reading The Year of Fog. It is good, but leaves me feeling so sad every time I pick it up. It's about a missing girl and the endless search for her. I think this time of year I need something a bit more uplifting, and a little less heart-heavy. Next time, I guess. I need to keep reading because with every page I'm hopeful that they find her. I'm going to be a wreck if it doesn't happen. That's all I'm sayin'.

The picture is of my girl last week. Hope you have a wonderful week!