Danger, whining ahead.

Here is my girl, peeking through the leaves. Fall is definitely here. I love the colors, and the crisp, fresh air. It has been rather cool and rainy this fall, so I feel a bit ripped off.

In the scrapping world, just finished and sent some projects for Memory Trends. It feels good to have them done. I'm just not at the top of my creative game right now. In fact, I'm not on top of many aspects of my life right now. More later on that. I feel I need a new challenge. I'm slightly bored with my stuff, and need a change. Maybe some of the challenge blogs are the way to go. Who knows? I need to do some Halloween pages for my LSS for an upcoming class. Got one done tonight. It's OK. Mojo, where are you?

So here is my latest "Kay, you're a total moron" story. Em came home for the weekend. She wanted to go to the Homecoming parade and game. So when she's home, she parks behind me in the driveway, and I pull out around her. So last night I thought to myself that I needed to remember she was parked behind me. Again, this a.m. I mentally reminded myself again before heading out the door. So what did I do when I left for work? Backed right into her car. What an ass. I tell you, I'm not sure where my brain is any more. Seriously. No major damage to either vehicle, but my ego took another serious blow. I mean how many dumb things can one person do before seriously contemplating whether one is completely retarded? And my neck hurts. That's how hard I hit it. MORON.

So tonight is the big homecoming game. And again I feel a ton of guilt about not attending. Em pointed out my lack of school spirit yet again. Why do I not want to go? Because I work there. Because from 7:15 a.m. until 3:30 I'm "Mrs. Rogers." And my being that person means I can't be Em and Jenna's mom for that time. Or Kay, the person who scrapbooks. Or Bill's wife. So when I walk out those doors it is really important to me that I reclaim the other aspects of my life. Because I give A LOT of myself to my job. I'm a good teacher. I work really hard at it. But there is a cost to the rest of me. And I am trying to minimize the cost to some degree. So sorry Em. I know I let you down.

One new challenge for me, a former student who is on the Equestrian Team asked if I would be willing to take team and individual pictures of the team. How cool is this? A new challenge. Just what I wanted!

Have a great Friday. I'm going to bed.

To post, or not to post.

First, it has been one crazy, busy week. Again. I can't believe that I haven't blogged for almost a week! Yikes. School is good, but busy. Scrapping deadlines for Memory Trends all week, and went cropping on Friday night. Then taught a class at my LSS yesterday, and went out to dinner with Bill's aunt, uncle, and his cousin's daughter last night. BUSY. Fun though!

So here is my dilemma. The "to post or not to post" debate. You see, I used to put every layout I did up on three online galleries as soon as I finished them. Immediate feedback. And I would also submit them to mags, etc. But now the requirements that layouts not be seen online have been kicked up a notch. And here is the thing. I have probably 20 layouts I haven't posted online yet. And it's bugging me. Because I've had luck in the past with getting pubbed doing it my tried and true way. Is this really going to help me get pubbed?

Let's take CK for instance. I have never gotten any love from CK. Even when I post a layout on their online gallery, I don't even get a "great adhesive" comment. I get nothing. So I am inclined to believe that I am not their style. Well, alrighty then. Bummer, because I love the magazine. But why hold back layouts when I haven't been pubbed with them before? Is it going to make any difference? I think not.

So why does it bug me to hold back these layouts? I don't know. It just does. Maybe because I'm not scrapping to get pubbed any more. Maybe that just doesn't matter as much to me now. And I'm following the words of wisdom of those that think this is the only way to do it, and I'm not sure I believe that to be true. I haven't listened to the "this is the only way to be successful in the biz" talk before, and I've found a level of success I am really happy with. So why am I doing that now?

Also, with all of the deadline (DT) scrapping I do, I can rarely publically post my work anyway. So how am I going to keep my name "out there" when I'm not putting any of my work out there? I feel like I'm fading into oblivion here, and I'm not sure that is good.

What do you think?

Manic Monday

Back to the grind today! Good times, I tell ya! But yesterday we had fun going to a local art fair, which is within walking distance from my house. It was a beautiful day, and my mom came with us. I loved looking at all of the jewelry and coming up with ideas! There sure were a lot of beads this year! I also loved looking around at the photography. There were some cool photos printed on canvas, and I talked to an artist for a long time about how he does it. COOL STUFF. It will be my next obsession, I can feel it.

Speaking of obsessions, the layout showcases a few, mine and Jen's. I played with the new KI Halloween for my LSS, and anyone who knows me knows I am KI obsessed, and Jen is obsessed with her new costume. If I need to pick up that witches hat one more time I may just scream! She puts it on at least three times a day. But she looks so dang cute in it, no?

Regarding KI, today is the big day. Good luck to everyone! No nerves here, as I already got farther than I could have ever imagined, so I'm happy! Have a great Monday!

An eventful day!

Yesterday was so much fun. It was just the family fun time I needed after being in a foul mood all week at work. First, I went to my mom's for coffee, and visited with my sister who is in town until Tuesday. Everyone but Jayne made it, and we had fun visiting.

Then off to Bill's school district for a "Community" Day. The district rented a bunch of inflatables for the kids to play on, and since Bill was part of the committee that organized the event, we went early. The people setting up the inflatables let Jenna and the few other kids who were there early play on everything. So Jenna, with her usual lack of abandon, wore herself out before the event ever started! We stayed for about 4 hours, and Jen had a blast. There was this huge inflatable sponsored by the Marines, And I kept telling Jen is was for older kids. It was an obstacle course, with a climbing wall, and a huge slide at the end. But of course my tough little one had to try it. And she did it! Three times! (Maybe it was the pink and purple camo pants she was wearing?) Although the third time she had a little assistance from one of the marines. The first picture is Jen on a different inflatable where she was on a bungee cord and had to see how far she could run, and the second shows her delight down the slide (and check out those dirty feet!). What a crazy girl I have! LOL! We threw her in the tub the minute we got home, and she took a two-hour nap. Thank goodness.

Then off we went to the Balloon Fest. This is a community event put on every year, weather permitting. And for a small town, quite a few balloons and spectators show up each year. The event is for two days, and includes morning and evening activities. Last night, it started about 6, and we met my brother and his family, and my sister and her DH and his niece and nephew came too. It was fun to have such a big group! It started with the balloons taking off and flying through town. These balloons dot the skies for a week before the event. The as you wait for the "After Glow" there are skydivers who drop and land while you wait. Then the balloons come in and tether to the ground, and light. It's just so beautiful. Meanwhile there is a band playing, and yummy fair food. (Yes, there were elephant ears. None for me though!) It was such a cool day. Wish my Emily could have been there too!

Today, more fun. I'll post details and pics later!

Look mom!

A layout! I'm a little embarrassed . . . first because I ran to my LSS after school yesterday and "power shopped," as I only had a half hour, and ended up buying EVERY SINGLE THING from the new KI lines. I mean everything. Plus some cardstock, (KI Bazzill, OF COURSE), to the tune of $130. And yes, I get a discount. What a freak! But I have been so bummed because I haven't done any scrapping all week, and I needed me some "KI Therapy!" LOL.

So seriously, could I have fit one more thing on this layout? There's my second source of embarrassment. Scrapbook OVERKILL. I'll simplify next time, I promise. But if I'm to jumpstart the ol' MOJO, this is the way it works for me.

And it looks like I won't be doing much more scrapping this weekend . . .there are some really cool things going on in town this weekend. Pictures will follow, of course!

So signing out for now . . .need to get ready for our fun day! Have a great Saturday!

Marathon

Today was one major scrapping MARATHON. Whew. I am creatively FRIED. But it feels good to finally have some of these deadlines DONE. I thought resigning from Scrap Muse would free up a lot more time, but it really hasn't. I felt very down about not being a Scrap Muse designer today. Even though it was my choice, and I received nothing but support from Leslie and the member of SM, it just feels weird that I will not be uploading my kit designs this month. I'm kind of down. Not gonna lie.

What I did get done? Three projects for DCWV for a CK call, four projects for DCWV for QVC, a layout and a card for a Hero Arts class I'm teaching at my LSS, two BasicGrey layouts for another class at my LSS, and two KMA layouts for September. I still need to add some odds and ends on some of these projects, but it sure feels good to have gotten something done. FINALLY. My TO-DO list was getting kind of ridiculous. And today was a dreary, cold day, perfect for staying inside and nesting.

I did have a double espresso this afternoon, so who knows when or if I will be sleeping. I need to scan and send some of these projects, but just don't have the heart for it tonight. I'll run to my LSS tomorrow to drop off my samples. Penny and Tracy are so good to me, I feel bad that it has taken me this long to finish these samples. Now that I'm caught up, I need to stay on top of it. No more marathons. I can't take it!

Have a great Saturday.

Sending out an APB

for my mojo. I'd give a big reward if you could help me find it. I'm talking BIG. Still beating myself up, trying to do it all. Trying to find the energy to play with Jenna at the end of the day, while keeping the house in order, dinner on the table, and keep up with school all day. And while those things are in place, my scrapbooking has taken a serious back seat. And I know once I get back into the swing of scrapping, something else will give. Like my house will look like crap, or I'll fall behind at school. It seems I really can't do it all. And I hate that. So I need to learn how to strike a balance. And I'm sure it will happen as I get back into the routine. In the meantime, I'm bummed, wishing I had a few more hours in each day to accomplish something.

A girl can dream, can't she?

Stop the bus . . .

Time is just FLYING by! I'm trying to enjoy the last of the good weather. I love Michigan in the fall...it almost makes up for the winters which squeeze the life right out of you. I get cabin fever SO BADLY, I could cry from the memory. It's like being placed in a room where the oxygen supply is slowly cut off. That's winter for me. You think I'm exagerating, don't you? So I'm trying to spend this time playing with Jen outdoors.

After a full day of teaching, I feel that time I spend with Jen is too important. And there just isn't enough of it. My mommy guilt is setting in, big time. I'm sure I'll settle into a routine soon enough.

Went in for my Laryngoscopy today. The bad news? They shoved a tube through my right nostril down my throat to check out my vocal chords. The good news? There seems to be nothing wrong. No nodules. Good news but no answers.

The picture shows the first signs of fall. My dad always teases me in early fall, pointing out the changing leaves, reminding me that fall and school are starting. I guess it's official dad. It's here!

Under the wire.

I am usually not someone who misses deadlines, or is late with them. And this month, I cut the deadline pretty dang close. I think maybe I was stressed out over the whole KI thing. Who knows? So today, I wanted to get my PC things done. I not only had my normal monthly assignments, but a special project I needed to finish up. AACK.

Plus, I needed to go to my mom's this a.m. so Em could visit with her grandparents. Plus we went shopping with my mom and got Jen some fall clothes, since fall is ANNOYINGLY EARLY this year. Plus we went out to lunch. Then over to my LSS to drop off page samples. Plus I needed a high-powered coffee. Then my walk, then to finish my projects, scan and send them. Plus a TON of paperwork. I still have tests to grade this weekend. Plus a laryngoscopy on Tuesday, plus dance lesspns. Then Open House on Wednesday. Add to that sending off my PC projects, as well as my MM page, and you have ONE STRESSED OUT GAL. I probably should do the bills at some point as well.

I guess, in short, I am having a hard time striking a balance in my life right now. Stressing me out something fierce. But life goes on, no?

Pages are samples for my LSS using MME. I know Em looks stoned in them, but really she wasn't! LOL!

Have a great Sunday. For 27 more minutes, in my neck of the woods!

Kind of a big day for me.

Pretty hard to put into words what today has meant to me. But here goes.

First, I got a page picked up for the "Style" book by Memory Makers books, by Kitty and Wendy. Having a page picked up is still exciting to me. Any page. But this one is special. It is about my sister Beth, and the story of how we almost lost her. It means so very much to me, and the fact that it got picked up for pub . . . well that's beyond cool. (And if you're reading this Beth, your beautiful face will be appearing in a magazine!!!!!) It just doesn't get any better than that . . .

or does it?

Went cropping tonight with Jami. It's been ages since I have completed a page. Too long. So off we went to the LSS. I got a few things done, but knew from looking at the pub when I left that the KI calls were starting in the evening. And while I had counted myself out, I had hope.

I blogged before about how much this contest means to me, in terms of loving all things KI. Always have. And meeting them at CHA Atlanta two years ago just sealed the deal. You see I was already a fan. Then I went to CHA. Think small fish in big pond. That was me. Frankly, some vendors had absolutely no time for us "mere designers." And I totally get that. This is a business. And that depends on sales. And I didn't have buying power. But the people at KI were so amazing. First, a sweet girl who was working the booth recognized a "KI Freak" like myself, and she offered me a KI button. I know this makes me a total geek, but I was so excited! She then said I needed a picture with Kim, and called her over. Kim was as sweet as could be. And who was I? Small fish, baby. Nobody. But she took the time to pose for a picture and talk to me and my friends Maddy and Mikki. I can't tell you what that meant. If I was a fan before, multiply by 100. That's me.

Along comes the album contest. Should I enter? Do I have a chance? Am I good enough? Self-doubt, self-preservation, all fought against me. I mean, how could I NOT enter a contest for my dream DT? What kind of loser does that? Well. Almost me. But I persevered, and did an album that I love. And sent it off. And dared to hope that I could possibly make an "honorable mention" list. It was a huge step for me. I don't create just for calls or contests.

So tonight while cropping with my SIL Jami, with no internet access, we called her daughter to keep me posted on who was being called. I figured I could be happy for the winners. Maybe I would know someone who won, and how cool would that be? Imagine my surprise when my cell phone rings. And no, I didn't list my cell phone on the entry. And the call was "restricted." It was Kim and Ira. The K and I of KI Memories. I swear, I almost passed out. I'm sure I saw stars. I think I said, "Is this some sort of cruel joke?" Nice, Kay. Swift. And they were so kind. The weird thing is, when I got the call, I walked out of the crop room, right over to the KI section of the store to talk. How funny is THAT? It turns out they had called home, and woke up Bill. Lord only knows what he told them. We talked for a while, and I could tell that both Kim and Ira were genuinely happy to be making these calls, and that they were happy for all of the finalists.

When I got off the phone after blathering like a ninny, I went back into the crop room to Jami. I am SO THANKFUL that Jami was with me. She had tears in her eyes, she was so happy for me. She gets it. She knows how important this was for me. People outside the scrapping world don't get it. And that's OK. I didn't either. But she did. Love you, girl!

So I did it. I am a finalist. I surpassed my goal of "HM" And I wish I could put into words how much that means to me. This company whose designs I love, and whose owners/designers I respect and admire, like my work. Does it get any better than this? I think not. What a big day.

Check it out!

Where did the week go?

I cannot believe I haven't blogged since last Sunday! Wow, this week just flew by. No school today. HURRAY! It's a four-day weekend, and dangit that just makes me happy!

Jen started dance this week...tap to be exact. I'm not sure she's exactly a natural, but she sure likes looking in the mirror for a half hour straight! Stupid me, forgot my camera. And I NEVER do that! I'm bummed. But I'll snap some next week.

That reminds me, I haven't taken many pictures lately. Don't know what that's all about. So this weekend is "operation paparazzi." I need some pictures for inspiration.

Scrapbooking. Well. Still haven't done a thing. I think this is the longest I've gone in the last three years without doing anything. I mean NOT A THING. It's weird. But today is the day. I need to break the spell. And I'm cropping tonight, so that ought to do it! Wish me luck.

Today are the KI announcements. I assume the finalists have been notified before today and nope, I'm not one of them. It's too early to comment on my feelings...it's been so interesting to me to see all of the people who have been seriously bummed out over the DT's the last week. It makes me sad that people would want to quit this amazing hobby because they didn't get a spot. I'm not judging anyone here. Everyone needs to look inside themselves and make that decision. And everyone has a right to their feelings. I just never feel that way. Quit? Me? No way. I love this hobby. And if I never got another DT or pubbed page, I would still love this hobby. And even if KI doesn't choose me as a finalist? Still love the stuff. That won't change. Again, that's just me. I don't expect others to feel the same way.

The other night as I was walking I ran into two of my students from last year. I stopped and we talked for about 20 minutes. We laughed, and caught up, and I asked them about their teachers this year, and we had a great conversation. I love these two girls, and it struck me as I walked away is how much I love what I do. Being a teacher and having the opportunity to meet so many amazing people...that's just good stuff. Maybe that's why the losses in scrapbooking don't hit me so hard. Or maybe I'm just shallow. Who knows?

And the US Open. Now that's a good thing! And Andre WON!!!!!!! Love tennis. Love Andre. It's all good!

Nothing more to say right now. Maybe I should stop typing about my uneventful life right now and start scrapbooking. You think?

Weekends

I forgot how quickly they pass. When you're a teacher, every day is a weekend in the summer. But now that school is in session, they're the two days that pass so quickly my head spins. But the good news is I have a four day weekend next weekend. So that's something to look forward to.

So did I scrap yesterday? Heck no. Went to my mom's for coffee, ran to the Gap to return some jeans, and then got a call from my DH. He needed to drop something off for repairs, so met Jen and I at the mall for lunch. We jumped in his truck and off we went. We passed the zoo on the way to the shop, so of course Jen wanted to go. So off to the zoo we went. And I did not have my camera. BUMMER. Halfway through the zoo, I started to get a migraine. That's my second in a week. WEIRD. I get the aura (vision disturbance) first, and if I take 3 Alleve immediately, I get a very mild headache. Therefore, I carry them with me everywhere I go. So I took my meds, but stumbled around the zoo for that time. Then the problem was I needed to be dropped off at my car to drive home. And I couldn't see.

So Bill and Jen dropped me off and I headed over to the LSS which is a block away from the mall and chatted with the owners about some of the classes I'm teaching. And I bought some stuff. And two hours later, I headed home. No, it didn't take me that long for my vision to clear, I was just shopping and chatting. Priorities, you know!

So here it is, Sunday, and nothing done again. I have 4 ProvoCraft projects due on Friday, so I suppose that's my first order of business. Maybe I can hammer out one today during naptime. Wish me luck!

Have a great Sunday!

Fighting with myself . . .

on this back to school thing. You see, the one bad thing about being a teacher is how tired you are at the end of the day, just from simply interacting with people all day long. It's the weirdest thing . . . I remember Bill asking me how I can be so tired "just from talking all day." And yes, it did make me want to take out a gun and shoot him. But now that he supervises so many people at work, he gets it. It's a mental exhaustion. And it sucks.

So last night Bill wanted to go to a football game and take Jenna. What a fun thing for a family to do, especially while the weather was decent. But I didn't feel like going. My stomach was a little funny, and I was just so tired! So I stayed home and felt guilty that I didn't go. I can just hear Dr. Phil saying, "And how is that working out for you, Kay?" Well, not so much. I have students who would like me to go to their games, and it means a lot to me, but it's so hard to muster up the energy.

And the worst thing is being away from Jenna all day, and being so tired when I get home. I mean, I only have a few hours with her in the evenings, and she deserves my time and energy. I guess I need to make some changes. I am in control of this, after all. But any suggestions are welcome!

I took the picture on Wednesday night. Jen and I had a picnic outside, and we played. She is just the happiest girl I know.

KMA August

Here are my last two layouts for August. I did them so long ago I almost forgot to upload them on the site! Oops!

I'm just finishing up my first week of school, and while it's a lot busier, it's good to be back into a routine. I have great classes, and love laughing with teenagers. Maybe it's because my maturity level topped out in high school . . . who knows? LOL! But there is never a dull moment. I love that.

So maybe this weekend I will break out, do something different, and scrapbook! Really! I'm not kidding! It's such a novel idea . . . hopefully I haven't forgotten how to. Wish me luck, and have a great Friday!

The latest . . .

Here is some of my latest stuff . . . it is so hard to get a good picture, which drives me CRAZY! I'll learn. But for now . . .

So you think you can dance?

Jen does. I don't have the heart to tell her otherwise. I got the black leotard and skirt for dance lessons, and outside she went. Let's just say the music moves her. Where to? Who knows. Here are some of my favorites.

Then this last picture is one of those magical pictures that just happens. The background blacked out everything else, and she struck a pose. Magic, I tell you!

A sarcastic shout . . .

out to my gal Elaine. You see I saw her at school today in the office, and she says, "Rogers, I got on my computer last night just to hear something funny about the first day of school." As I told her, I'm finding it a tad bit difficult to be funny about such a tragedy. Nothing funny here folks, move along.

So yes, school is IN SESSION. Kids come tomorrow. Classes are overloaded. Not enough desks, calculators, anything. Michigan is in the midst of a pretty serious crisis, and we are feeling the effects. It always takes me a while to clear the cobwebs from the old "summer" brain, and get back into the game. It's such a different kind of thinking, and it's pretty exhausting at first. But I've already visited some of my former students, and it's fun to catch up with them. And that's what it's all about.

I gave up my DT at ScrapMuse. I have decided that keeping up with message boards is just too much with everything else. I will focus on the DT's that I have, and will possibly scale back again. I believe two of them have "term limits" and I'm nearing the end. If I'm going to grow as a designer, I need time to learn and grow. And when every layout is prescribed it's just too hard. But I'm sad, because I love the people at SM. The good thing is everyone has been very supportive, and that helps. I'll always be part of the Muse. You couldn't keep me away if you tried! (Well a restraining order may slow me down, not gonna lie.)

We have put Jenna on a "nighttime schedule." Got the idea from "The Nanny." And we all know from watching that show that the nanny helps the parents, not the kids. So I guess you could say "I" have been put on a schedule. So far, so good. I was so bad about any kind of routine during the summer . . . I mean isn't summer for NO ROUTINE? Isn't that the idea? So it's time. And Jen is just kicking butt at it. And so am I, thank you very much.

Some random friend/loved one encounters from the last two days: Got some beautiful flowers from my newly-retired sister for the first day of school. What a beautiful surprise from a beautiful person (love you, Beth!). Also my newly-retired coworker Mark from my middle school days stopped in to see me today. Earlier his wife stopped by. I got a nice email from Sarah yesterday wishing me well on my first day of school, then Tonia emailed me today to check in. I also met some fabulous people at the weekend crop, and we have been emailing back and forth making plans to get together. Got to talk on the phone last night with Leslie from Scrap Muse, love that girl! Got an email from my Maddy-friend whom I miss TERRIBLY! Then I went out to dinner with Gayle and Sue from my old school, and we made plans to see each other. Plus catching up with everyone at work, staff members and my kids . . . sometimes I feel so blessed to have such wondeful people in my life!

Off we go this afternoon/evening to move Em into her dorm room. There were piles of boxes, and random bags throughout the entire house. It will be interesting to see it empty after the carnage. Of course she "forgot" that everything was supposed to be in the garage to make it into Bill's truck, and, well, it doesn't all fit in her car. So Iget to go home and load up my van to take to meet up with Bill before we get on the road. The joy of parenthood.

So if, like Elaine, you need a laugh today, please check out "ThreadBared" which is linked on the left side of my blog. Another friend, Shaunte, pointed it out. I think it is HILARIOUS!

Have a great Tuesday!

Finally!

The fix! I downloaded Firefox! Here is the August kit from Scrap Muse. I'll post tomorrow, I've lost all my creative energies working on this stinkin blogger issue!

Back into a routine

and that's a good thing! School starts tomorrow. Here we go, folks! Back to the grindstone.

Blogger issues on my computer for some weird reason. Every time I go to post a picture onto my blog using Safari, it unexpectedly quits. So I went into Explorer to post that way, and the icon to post a photo is nowhere to be found. Good times. Tried emptying cache and reseting Safari, no go. So for now, I am without photo posting capabilities. Add the fact that Em will be taking this nifty laptop I am using back to college. The laptop I am using to watch YET ANOTHER episode of Gilmore Girls, out on my sunporch with the windows open and a very nice fall-like breeze wafting in, surfing the net and checking my email. It's the life of Riley, I tell you! But sadly it is going bye bye on Tuesday. I really need my own laptop. Who knew?

Let's see what's new. Went to The Scrapbook Zone with Jami for an all day crop on Saturday all day.It was a meeting of the Michigan Peas, and it was a fun day! It turned out to be a small group, but I got seven layouts done. I mes some sweet Peas, that I hope I will meet again! Plus we hit the mall and did some power shopping, then ended the day with a trip to IKEA. A good ending to a good summer.

Today the family headed off to Frankenmuth. It was a beautiful day, so we decided to wander around and have some lunch. We went to the mall area (to the bead store, of course) and as I was checking out I was listening to the music. There is a courtyard area where people can sit and listen to live performers. The person waiting on me said, "Oh look, there are some cute little girls dancing on stage!" As I turned around, who do I see? Miss Jenna up on stage, doing a little freestyle dancin'. It was so cute! And the performer kept her and two other little girls on stage for the next 5 songs. I had tears in my eyes, not because the girl can't dance, and trust me, she can't, but that she was having so much fun. It was so sweet! Then the performer came off stage and did a little dance around the courtyard with the girls dancing behind her. There was a family sitting with a young girl, probably about 10 years old, and when the girls got to her, the dad pointed at the little girl to sing with her. She handed over the microphone to the girl, and this 10-year old belted out "Redneck Woman" like you wouldn't believe. The performer took her (and the backup dancer Miss J) back on stage, and had her pick out another song, She sang it beautifully, to the cheers and whistles from the crowd. More tears. It was really cool!

OK, off to make some phone calls, and maybe make a necklace. Perhaps if I sold some of these pieces I could afford the laptop. Hmmm. . .

Have a great Sunday evening!

Hey Peeps!

I'm hoping that with my peppy tone I can mask the fact that my sweet freedom is OVER baby. I went into school today, much to the teasing of my coworkers. You see, back in the day, I would have gone into school WEEKS before the first day to prepare. What? I don't remember. I'm getting old here, so cut me a break.

Of recent years, when people ask me the date of the first day of school, I honestly reply "I have no idea. I guess they'll call me if I don't show up on time." Now before you get all judgemental, thinking I'm "one of those" teachers who only teaches for her summers off, STEP OFF. Not true. Love my job. And I can now effectively do it within the confines of the school year, thank you very much. But since I'm teaming this year, I'm afraid my two work days will be consumed by meetings, so I decided to get a head start. GO ME. And to be honest with you? I'm getting kind of excited about getting to know my new students.

So I spent the day with Em while Jenna was in daycare for the day. We went and got her a new phone, went and got beads (and I spent WAY TOO MUCH moola there), and went out for lunch. It was nice. Tomorrow we're going shopping with my mom. No scrapping for this gal. But I am done with my projects, they've been accepted, and I'm sending them out tomorrow. The relief. I can't tell you. Shaky mojo still. Better, but still shaky.

Coolest news? Our local newspaper is having a photography contest dealing with our local county fair. Well of course when we took Jenna the other night I hefted my SLR, and took a few photos. On a whim I entered one, and I WON FIRST PLACE TODAY! See it here! I'm so excited. Yep, a geek too. So I get some gift cards, it's already framed and up at the fair, and I get a chance to win the whole contest. Go me!

Also, made a very cool bracelet/earrings set, and necklace/earrings set. I'll take photos and post them. Just call me crafty!

Have a great Wednesday. And Thursday too, since I probably won't blog until the evening.

I'm out . . .