Catching Up

Jen and I went to the Detroit Zoo last week on Wednesday with my SIL and niece. We had fun, the highlights being seeing this adorable polar bear swim around us, and feeding the giraffes. We then headed to the airport to pick up my niece from her trip to Paris. It was a fun day!

Also last week I took a few former students out to dinner and for a coffee. They are both seniors, and one I have known for 5 years, the other was my student for three years in a row. It was great to catch up with them. I am so fortunate to have a job that puts me in contact with so many amazing people. I miss my kids!

Then we went for the weekend to Elk Rapids and hung out at the beach. It was TERRIFIC. The weather was perfect, and it was very relaxing. I even read a wonderful book called Broken For You. It was wonderful. Plus we went out to lunch with my nephew who is a deputy up north. He took us to a wonderful restaurant called Pearls. It was New Orleans fare, and Bill tried alligator. And no, I did not taste it, thank you very much. Jen is truly a water baby, and is so tan, despite the SPF 50.

Now it's back to reality. And laundry. I actually scrapped today in between laundry, swim lessons, and a nap. (And that nap was for both Jenna and I! LOL!) I finished my entry for So You Think You Can Scrap. I will probably be scrapping for my life again since my layout is near the bottom again. Oh well. I love a challenge! Also got five layouts mostly done from the August kit from A Million Memories. Now tomorrow I can focus on my ProvoCraft projects, and maybe, just maybe, get a layout done just for me! Wish me luck. Off to fold another load of laundry.

We're back!

Sunburned, tired, and happy. We went to our friends' cottage this weekend and had an awesome time. I took so many pictures, and Jenna experienced so many firsts. She rode on a jet-ski (or ski-jet, as she calls it) several times, we took pontoon rides, went tubing behind the jet-ski and the boat, sat by the fire and roasted smores, and ate until I didn't think I could eat again.

Our friends completely redid this cottage, and it is absolutely gorgeous. I know they feel they still have a lot to do, but when you look at the before pictures as well as hear them describe what they have personally done, you would be amazed. Their girls are these amazingly kind kids, and Jenna just loves to be around them. It was the perfect end to a crazy two weeks, and it's amazing what a different state of mind I am in because of their hospitality.

OK, off to catch up with the rest of my life, the parts I have been sorely neglecting the past two weeks. Things like bills, laundry, deadlines. . . wish me luck!

Come to momma!

Well look at the little surprise awaiting me when I got home from class yesterday! Have you seen this baby? The Cricut Expression is a larger machine and it ROCKS! I am so lucky to be on the ProvoCraft team. They have been so awesome to work for, and extremely generous. Now, where do I store it?

I made it through my second grad class of the summer. It was every day last week from 8-5. The class was "Dreamweaver" which is web software. I updated my school web page, then worked on one for photography. I decided that in retirement, when I open my photography business, I will PAY someone to build a site. I don't have the knowledgenor the patience to do it myself.

Also taught my first Photoshop Elements class. It was from 6-9 Tuesday and Thursday. I needed a double espresso to make it through, but I had the nicest ladies in the class. It was a wonderful way for me to start with such an understanding group. I look forward to teaching it again, now that I know the timing, etc.

Em had her friend from college come for a few days to visit. Isn't she gorgeous? I hope she enjoyed our town. I was so busy with classes I didn't have a chance to find out. They made it to a Loons game, and those are always fun.

I made it through to round 2 of So You Think You Can Scrap Contest. Round 2 layouts should be posted this weekend. Stop in and vote for the best layout, even if it's not mine! Just vote.

Have a great weekend, and say hi if you visit the blog!

Rumor Control

No, I am not the Michigan scrapper picked for BHG. I WISH! LOL. I've had a few emails today saying I was mentioned on the smack blog. My news is not at that level (DT for a major mag), but it is at MY level, and I'm really excited! I'll spill one secret soon, and another to follow. But, if you really think I should be on BHG, go ahead and call Melissa Inman and tell her. ;)

Thank goodness it's over.

This week, that is. One word - BUSY. But it was all fun too, so I'm not complaining. Jenna had her big "friends" birthday for the first time. Em planned the whole thing, and it had a "Luau" theme. We bought grass skirts, leis, and visors (which they decorated) for the kids. They looked so cute! There were 8 kids, two babies, 4 adults, and 2 (almost) teens. It was a full house, but I appreciated the help. It went SO FAST, and while we were busy, it wasn't too rushed until the end when I realized that there were only 10 minutes left for cake and ice cream. OOPS! We did the limbo, played musical beach towels to the soundtrack to Lilo and Stitch, and did a pinata, which came apart at the hanger, forcing us to hang it upside down. Then the stupid thing wouldn't break. It was hilarious!

We went back to the lake to look at cabins this afternoon. Nothing is really jumping out at us, which is OK because we're still in the "thinking about it" phase. I'd love a cottage for the summer, provided I have internet access. How spoiled am I? I know, I know.

I have a few scrapping secrets, but I'm not ready to divulge them just yet. It's been a great summer with guest gigs and such. I've been approached with a few new opportunities, and that makes me feel really good. If someone knows me from my pages, well, how cool is that? I'm not a networking kind of gal . . . I don't know a lot of people in the biz, and that's just fine. I still have modest success by staying under the radar. I am in the So You Think You Can Scrap contest sponsored by Scrapper's Bliss. There will be voting starting some time this weekend. I have to be honest, I'm not crazy about the voting part. I'm not comfortable campaigning for votes, but this contest has the current DT giving input, so that's cool. We will also post pages without names, which makes it a touch more anonymous. It's fun to try these different styles, although I'm afraid of a few of them. Hopefully I stick around for a while and get some pages done. I also did two pages for the BasicGrey Pub Calls blog. They are the last two on page 3. Another challenge to keep my mojo going. Not my best stuff, but OK.

Let's see. What else. I had two Curriculum Development meetings this week for 6 hours. It's funny to think school now. My brain is on summer mode, and it took me the first hour of our meeting to switch over to "teacher mode." It gets harder and harder to do each year. I also met for dinner with my cousins, and say Debbie who lives in California. She is the cousin I resemble, and she cracks me up. Family is such a cool thing. Also took Jenna to Chuck E Cheese for her actual birthday. She is going to think that birthdays are week-long affairs. BIG MISTAKE, I know. Bill's Uncle Fred came home from vacation today, so all is right in his world again. He's been to his house twice already. Again, family. It's a good thing! I'm in the midst of removing wallpaper in our entryway so we can paint. Nothing says fun like scraping off wallpaper, I tell ya!

And for the most embarrassing new development in my small little life . . . I am addicted to Webkinz. I love playing the games, especially Goober's Lab, and picking out the rooms. How sad is THAT?

Peace out!

Where is the time going?

I seriously feel that time is slipping away too quickly. My summer is just flying by! Makes me sad. Let's see what's new. We went looking at cabins on a lake this weekend. It's eventually what we want to do, and right now it's a buyer's market in our area. So it doesn't hurt to look. I'd love a place on the water, and we found a couple that have some promise. We have decided we want a cabin, rather than something that looks like a house. I don't need another home . . . I want a getaway.

Took Jen to the spray park twice in the last couple of days. It's been HOT HOT HOT. We also had Hayley and Jenna's bday party here yesterday. The family party, that is. The friend birthday party is later this week. Should be fun! We got her this Groovy Girls bike. She called it "super cool!" Now that's high praise when you're 5!

I have a kink in my shoulder that has been wearing me down the last few days. It spasms, and I can barely move. Last night was HORRIBLE. I could barely move. I'm taking meds, but they are wearing me out. Or is it the pain wearing me out? Or is it the heat? I don't know. Let's just say I'm worn out, 'kay?

Good news - I made the first cut on the So You Think You Can Scrap? contest at Scrappers Bliss. I need a challenge . . . something to keep me going. So this is my attempt at it.

OK, it's nap time. For me. Jenna doesn't need one, I do. Hopefully I will get to posting some recent pics on my photo blog today. Wish me luck!

Checking in!

Went to the fireworks last night. It was odd weather . . . the temps were low (78) but the humidity was high, which made the blankets the girls were sitting on and our jackets feel wet. But the festivities were fun, and we did sparklers when we got home. How weird that today is Thursday when yesterday felt so much like a weekend. I'm putting some fireworks pics up on my photo blog, if you're interested! Have a great, um, oh yeah! Thursday!

Here is some cool news!

I was the guest designer for the month of July at Scrap Supply. I had so much fun working with Debi and Linda, and everyone was so kind. Thanks for choosing me, Wendy! Here is a copy of the newsletter with my summer projects.

Also, just finished my July kit from A Million Memories. Fun, beautiful colors. I am so drawn to red right now, where I never have liked red in the past. (Don't ask me the color of my minivan.) I got the layouts done on Friday night while cropping with Jami. I think I'll do another layout from this kit . . . I still have pics that work perfectly with these papers.

OK. Off to mom's for coffee. Peace out!