A Little Bit of This And That

Finally a new post......

2007-02-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

LOL life just gets so crazy that I just can't get to this dang thing except the Sweet Shoppe has a cookie quiz that I just had to take and find out what I am.....here are my results:

You Are an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

On the surface, you're a little plain - but you have many subtle dimensions to your personality.
Sometimes you're down to earth and crunchy. Other times, you're sweet and a little gooey.

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

Hmmm, plain??? Well I guess I can live with that and well I do like Oatmeal Raisin Cookies....sooo...must be me!

What's new? Hmmm, let's see??? I bought a new laptop yesterday that is being shipped to me and I am scared that it won't be what I want. I have one now that I bought on impulse and I hate the colors on it....and rarely use it except to do my commenting late at night. Amy and David like to use it but they are internet junkies so it's perfect for them. If the laptop works, then it will help me be portable but not sure what I will do with my desktop.....we will have to see how this works out.

Comments - I started this new thing in December where I would spend the last hour of my day commenting in the galleries I post at. I return my comments and then go to the home pages and just comment on all the ones on the page. Now it's been kind of fun to see new pages and people I had never seen and I feel good when I can do it. And the unexpected results? I am getting a lot of nice comments back.....and making new digi friends out there...

I spent a better part of my day attending the chats at Designer Digitals and had a blast. Didn't win anything but DID spend tons of money in the store!!! I am on the fence if I am going to get any idea books there too because I really love the DW 2007 Calendar I picked up a few weeks back. That thing is filled with ideas and I honestly thought it would just sit there on my table not being used. DD is having a contest each month for the best layout that uses one of the tips there and one lucky girl will get a change to create a layout for the 2008 calendar. I did already 3 this month so far:

This one I did for Charlene V at TDC of her little girl, Jasmine and used the suggestion from Feb 9th to "use the centers of punch-out letters to make coordinating page elements." I used the "s" and duplicated it a few times to create the orange swirl flower element underneath "love you"....now who would have thought an "s" could be a flower???

This is the Feb 8th prompt to "document your child's resolution for the new year." Amy is generally a homebody and not one to join in group activities especially sports. But this year she decided she would try it out and whatever happens she would also remember to just have fun!!! These are her best friends on the basketball team....before the game...being silly!

This is inspired by the DW prompt on Feb. 12th to "capture everyday moments" and this is Hayley when she was younger and loved to play in my scrapbook area......miss those moments with her.

I would say pick up the calendar but Katie said during one of the DD chats that it was all sold out and out of print......so make sure you pick it up for 2008. It really is filled with lots of inspiration and fun!

Ok I have to go do some layouts but wanted to at least post something on this for February! :)

Ugh....I hate when I get behind!!!

2007-01-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

Ok I know I have been trying to blog but it just seems that time slips away and well....I just don't get to it. But now that DST's gallery is down I feel a bit like I have some extra time......of course I could be doing layouts but kind of tired right now. I did go shopping today and bought a few goodies and will call it my "pre-birthday" gifts....hehehe....this is what I got today:

From Sausan Designs at www.scrapbookgrapics.com, I purchased these items I just couldn't resist:

From Terry Maruca, I got these cute little doodle/text paths actions thingys that you can use in Photoshop Elements (after I found out she was having a sale on these at Scrapbook-elements...grrr):

And of course, I had to snag up the new items released by Natalie Braxton at www.the-lilypad.com and smile at my layout on their store site :):

and of course, I needed a few little goodies from Designer Digitals.....even though I know tomorrow they release their new stuff:

The last item is by Anna Aspnes who I absolutely adore!!!! I have the papers and just noticed today that there was elements to match.....so couldn't pass that up. I created a layout today with the items for DD's guest ct contest they have going in January. I honestly don't know if I will make it but I have been having so much fun using my DD stash!!! Here is the layout I did today:

I was kind of excited to see this photo of Amy because I decided to shoot the entire game in RAW mode. I was definitely worried but so far they are coming out very nicely. I need to learn a little more about taking action shots so they don't come out so blurry but I did ok.

Oh and guess what? I won Gina Miller's contest with my "2006 in Review" layout I did below! I was soooo excited because in all honesty I rarely do layouts like this.....probably should do it more but I don't. So this template was a great "kick" to try it and well I loved the end result and was happy to be selected with the other 7 girls! So I have a nice $15.00 gc to use but I am waiting for January 31st when Gina has all her new goodies up!!!

And while I was (along with a gizillion others) was waiting for DST's gallery to come up, I had to smile when I saw this thread here and kind of get all soft inside to see this.....who says you can't have true friends online???? I know that I am very blessed to have some of the greatest ones out there......and I wouldn't trade any of them for anything in the world......

Last Layout....

2007-01-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Ok I am finally ready to go back to work - I have done all the layouts I can - still have more to do but feel good about the things I accomplished. Today I saw that Gina Miller was having a contest with her 2006 Template she created. I had already bought it a last week but hadn't done my layout yet so I decided to take a shot and do one for her contest. I really stay away from things like that but what the heck....so here is my layout:

Credits:- "Never Give Up" papers and elements by Vera Lim- embroidered vines and canvas by Jen Wilson- creme daisy from "Fudge Dream Supreme" by Robin Carlton and Lauren Grier- pinned ribbon by Natalie Braxton- dried flowers by Trish Jones- round brads by Amanda Rockwell- heart by Amber Clegg- used sketch template by Gina Miller- used shadows by Traci Murphy

And here is my new Princess Purse with my inserts I made using Fee Jardine's "Vintage Pickle" kit....a wonderful kit in my opinion!!

Ok all done with posting....time to dash off to see the new Desperate Housewives episode tonight!!! Yeah!!!

:) Always Changing

2007-01-07T06:46:00.000-08:00

Hehehe....I hated the header because it looked too squished so I got up early this morning just to create a new one. Now this I like! I put 2007 so I won't have to deal with it if I don't want until the end of the year.....which is fine by me!

Got some scrapping done and now feeling that sense of "I only have so much time before I go back to work." - so trying to get a few more things done since it will be more than likely crazy starting Monday. I did get a layout done last night.....I am finding I am slowing down again....ideas are a little bit slow but just hoping it is just a little bump....but here is what I did:

This is Hayley just daydreaming while home sick...

Credits:- "Tranquility" paper and elements by Amber Clegg- white daisy from "Eclectic Connection" collaborative kit by Amber Clegg and Kimberly Giarrusso- leather heart (re-colored) from "The Gazebo" elements by Amber Clegg- bunched up ribbon (re-colored) by Amy Martin- flower string by Natalie Braxton- scallop edges by Michelle Coleman- curled edges by Anna Aspnes- photo frames by Gina Miller- top brown edges overlay by Linda GB- metal buckle by Jen Wilson

:) Oh and I have to post this for my husband, Dave. He has been off because he pulled his sciatic nerve and can't walk. While he has been home, he has been reading the Scott Kelby book I got for Christmas and playing with Photoshop Elements......and this is what he did.....

Kind of cool huh??? Guess we have another person in our family getting ready to post stuff! :) Guessing he won't......

A New Year and New Blog

2007-01-06T18:16:00.000-08:00

Ok it took me forever to figure out how to add a blog header but man do I love google! I can always find some person who posted how to fix something! I will probably need to go back and change this a tiny bit but not many people visit so I have time....hehehe... I spent much more time than I cared for to get this straightened out and of course this is taking up my scrapbooking time. I only have 2 more days left before I have to go to work and I am feeling the time slipping right by even though we will disregard that I have been on vacation for 2 weeks. :) But I have accomplished a lot:

1. Caught up to most of my ct layouts.

2. Learned how to delete Norton Systemworks from my computer, repair the registry to delete tiny things Norton left and install a great new antivirus program - AVG - and didn't have to restore my entire hard drive!

3. Updated my blog and started back up in blogging at TDC.

4. Did most of my laundry - not all but most which is an accomplishment in itself.

5. Created and printed a calendar for 2007.

6. Commented, commented and commented in all the various galleries I play at......

7. Ordered a Princess Purse and will start designing my inserts for it!

8. Taught Amy how to use Photoshop Elements and she created her first layout using one of Rachael G's cool templates here:

Pretty proud of her and I think she is going to have a knack for this.....she is already busy creating her own papers and little touches! But then Hayley gets mad cuz she wants her to play barbies and well, Amy has to go. Poor kid!

And here are some of the layouts I have created over the vacation:

I saw this kit and just had to do something funky with it and well this photo seemed to fit it quite nicely!! A bit different for me but fun! :)

Credits:- "All Star" papers and elements by Ashley Olson- "2" alpha (re-colored) and stitches from "Messy Sampler" by Ashley Olson- heart doodles by Ashley Olson- flower string and pinned ribbon by Natalie Braxton- painted edges from "Invigorate" elements by Trish Jones- graffiti spray by Dani B- cardboard and leather heart (re-colored) by Amber Clegg- "my girl" tag from "Winter Tags" by Heather Roselli (modified)- torn edges by Anna Aspnes- scotch tape by Jen Wilson- shadows by Traci Murphy.

My beautiful dd, Amy.....

Credits:- papers and metal photo frames from "Fair Game" kit by Jan Crowley- striped paper, buttons, felt stamp (re-colored), corner stamp (re-colored), dotted stamp and stitches from "Buchanan" kit by Jan Crowley- crocheted flower swirls and flower (re-colored) from "Junk Drawer" kit by Jan Crowley- brooch from "Bombshell" kit by Jan Crowley- mini-alphas from "Havanna" kit by Jan Crowley- twine fastener and pinned ribbon by Natalie Braxton- embroidered flower (re-colored) and lace by Amy Martin- leather heart from "The Gazebo" elements by Amber Clegg- tied twine by Trish Jones- journal strip from "Meaning 1 accessories" by Jen Wilson- negative frame from "Just Plane Cute" kit by Laura Deacetis- curled edges by Anna Aspnes- clock hands by Katie Pertiet

These are my girls.....

Credits:- "Winterglow" papers and elements by Amy Wolff at The Lilypad today- frame by Gina Miller- stitches from "Junk Drawer" elements, alphas from "Havanna" freebie and grunge edges by Jan Crowley- bunched up ribbon, decorative ribbon and bead by Amy Martin- leather heart (re-colored) from "The Gazebo" elements by Amber Clegg- metal clip by Katie Pertiet- heart by Peppermintcreative- string by Trish Jones- tiny red flowers by Mindy Terasawa- shadows by Traci Murphy

Hayley has been sick all this week but I am guessing she might be feeling a bit better!

Credits:- "Fresh Delights" paper and elements by Eve Recinella- circle and square brads by Amanda Rockwell- binder clip by Robin Carlton (re-colored)- notebook paper by Jan Crowley- edges by Linda GB- journal strip by Jen Wilson- flower by Fee Jardine- heart doodle by Ashley Olson- stamped alphas by Michelle Coleman

I did a few more but these were the last ones I did that just made me smile! It was a good time....now back to work! :)

Musings and Thoughts.....

2006-12-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel better when you just apologize and let it out? I think after I blogged this weekend I felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Nothing was resolved but it was also not pent up inside. A lot had to do that things were changing so fast offline that I just had no energy to post anything. But once I did - I was able to complete 5 layouts this weekend - and layouts that I actually liked.

And I also got a chance to make up some layouts I didn't get done in November. Julie Howard had a call for guest ct's and I thought it would be fun to try since a month was not that big of a committment. So I was terribly excited when she said yes and I got my email at the end of October with all the details. I did a layout right away for her and then life got all bogged down and November ended and I didn't do another one. I was sooooo upset about it because one - she is really nice, two - designers need help and if you don't do a layout, you are not helping with the promotion of them and three - I always keep up my commitments and this time I didn't. I wanted to send an email but I felt like a heel and sometimes don't want people to think I am getting too big for myself that I can blow off assignments like this. So I was really happy that I got them done last night and sent her an email apologizing for my tardiness with copies of the layouts. I don't know what she will think about it, if at all, but I feel better because I did finish things as she had asked. Oh and I feel better now.....

Last weekend I was trying to find energy to do layouts (Thanksgiving weekend) and Trish Jones sent me a hello message to join her in a chat. She just installed a chatroom at her forum/store and wanted to try it out. Now I don't really know her that well except to say she is incredibly funny and crazy so I went to help out. So imagine being there with Trish and then some of her other friends that I recognize from the galleries and then in comes your idol - Jen Wilson!!! Wow I was just in awe being there......and she was talking to everyone when they asked about me. And then Jen said she knew who I was......dang that was a cool moment! I guess that is me being a little star struck....you know the digi kind....hehehe.

I got some scrapping done!!!

2006-12-03T21:42:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile but I finally got some layouts done......see:

This is Hayley today at our local Christmas parade....dressed as a little Christmas present!

Credits:- "Gingerbread Lane" kit by Laura Deacetis (some papers and elements re-colored)- Christmas tree from "Holly Jolly" kit by TDC designers- stitches by Lisa Carter- used template from "Templates No. 2" pack by Suzy Nunes

This is Hayley and her little best friend - Raylene - together at our local Christmas Parade....dressed like little presents.

Credits:- papers from "Outback Christmas: All Aboard" papers by Trish Jones- tag from "Outback Christmas: Cheerful Tags" by Trish Jones- notebook paper from "Outback Christmas: Making A List" by Trish Jones- flower brush from "Keeping Up With The Joneses': The House" kit by Trish Jones- photo frame and gingham ribbon by Katie Pertiet- curled edges by Anna Aspnes

I just had to scrap this picture I found of Hayley goofing around!

Credits:- "Blissful Holiday" kit by Julie Howard- used swirl brushes (no. 6) by Anna Aspnes to cut out swirls from Julie's papers- stars from "Merry Decorations - No. 7" by Jen Wilson- tags by Katie Pertiet- photo frame from "Understated Frames" by Mindy Terasawa

This is Amy and her best friend, Meghan who is sitting there "enduring" one of Amy's crazy antics!

Credits:- "Wintersong" papers and elements by Julie Howard- snowman from "Merry Decorations - 6th Day" elements by Jen Wilson- journaling tag from "Journaling Pieces" by Jen Wilson (re-colored)- curled paper edges by Anna Aspnes- used part of Templates No. 2 by Suzy Nunes

I did one more but blogger will only allow me to upload the layouts I did....pooh! But happy that I got so much done finally......

Hmmmmm, where has time gone???

2006-12-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

Wow two months since I wrote anything here....what a slacker!!! hehehe...not really just incredibly busy. I thought once the girls were in school life would get a little less hectic but instead now I have two girls who have a "social" life and that means mom is driving all over. :) For all my worrying and stressing over Hayley entering kindergarten, I have to smile at how much she loves her class and new friends. We have had playdates and parties and Daisy girl scout stuff and I am having a great time meeting these new moms in her class. I really believe Hayley's class is going to be a really close fun group! They also needed some help with the Daisy Scouts for Hayley's class and somehow I volunteered to help a "little" and well that grew and now I am the assistant leader! Not sure how that always happens but it's really been fun seeing these cute little girls trying to be new scouts! Yesterday the girls were in a Christmas Parade and we dressed them all up like little Christmas presents....it was very cute.....as you can see above. Most of the girls made it the whole route but a few of the tinier ones were getting tired and restless. Thankfully they saved the melt downs until the end when their mommies came! :)

As for Amy, Volleyball is done and now we are are getting ready for Basketball season.....which agains means more driving all over town for us. Sadly though, we have been having some really terrible issues with her new teacher this year. She is a first time teacher and honestly I don't know how she became one. And I say this sadly because Amy is a very strong student and every night homework and drama has killed any time for me to scrap or rest. I have had already 6 meetings with the teacher, the assistant principal and the principal and nothing has changed. I am at my wit's end because the girls are in Catholic school so I am not sure what the protocal is to elevate this higher if there is a higher. I won't go into details about this teacher because it upsets me so and so much of my time and energy is wasted every day on her that I just beg for time that I don't have to deal with this. I really worry that Amy and her drive to be a good student are going to be lost with all the drama and so I struggle to encourage her to keep studying and reminding her to see past the drama we are experiencing....and we pray very hard for a solution and guidance. I learned yesterday that one of Amy's friends will be leaving the class as the mom cannot handle the teacher anymore.....and I am sad. The child is extremely smart and very gifted - what a shame that the school has let this come to this point.

Work has also been super crazy. We have a hiring freeze right now and our department has many vacant positions. The high ups are only allowing some positions to be filled if there is a GREAT need for it. So the work has been just building up and everyone is asking to help out where they can. Since I am an administrative assistant that means I need to help all the managers, directors and supervisors in our area and that has been quite a challenge. I was used to my one manager and what she wanted and now I have 8 people asking me for help - all with very different quirks and personalities! Since there was a position open for this particular job that paid extremely well - I went ahead and interviewed for it. Believe me it was not that I wanted to the job per se - I just knew this would be the only way I would be compensated for what I was doing. So I did and I got the promotion two weeks ago. Now honestly I am not sure if I am happy or not - happy definitely about the pay but there has been a struggle with trying to make everyone happy and my old manager is the one who is not the happiest. She kind of likes me to herself so the "sharing" part hasn't been exactly easy on her. So I kind of been juggling and balancing stuff to make things work and then she tells me that I am not doing a very good job at it. So I sighed and cried some cuz I am tired from being pulled in all directions. I just hope that I can find a way to manage all the new changes so that I don't see a bad review coming up.

With the work pressure going on, I am finding the balance of working and being a mom extremely demanding. I have to keep taking off to go meet Amy's teacher or go to school events and when I do that I lose time at work. My mom used to be my stand-by to get the girls and things but her job has picked up too so she is not available like she used to be. So I find when the clock hits 4pm at work I am off running to go get the girls before the school closes at 6pm. Sadly California traffic throws me off and I am either caught in a traffic jam or I can find myself falling asleep on the road from exhaustion. David cannot take off to help me because he works for a bunch of nuts too so it's just me if something has to be done. And I will admit I have cried a bit on the way home wishing for a solution. David and I have seriously talked about him going part time and taking the summer off so he can be there for the girls and school stuff. Now mind you I would rather it be me that got this opportunity but I have the job with the awesome pay, wonderful benefits and perks that it would be a hardship for our family if I did it. I just worry if we take that leap that finances will be even tougher for us and I am not sure I want that. So we keep thinking of ways to fix this......and pray.

Whew so with all this going on - you can imagine that not much is being done scrapbook wise. I am very sad about that and have had to quit some teams because I knew in my heart I wasn't doing anything to help out the designer. But on the rosy side, just as all this was happening, Trish Jones asked me to be on her team and because I sooo love her - I couldn't say no. So trying to balance all of this and be some kind of productive ct member to everyone. TDC has been great as always but I haven't had a lot of chances to be there too with all this stuff going on above. I feel bad because it is my home and I haven't had a chance to say "Hey this is what is going on to me" and I just look like a flake to everyone....and I am not. I am just a mom who needs to be with her family right now and feeling a bit uninspired with all the stress around me. Oh I did get an email from Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals - I am going to be the featured scrapper there this month. :) Man I love that site.....if only I could make it work to be on their team too......but I can't. I realize I am at full capacity now.....and I have a lot of apologies I need to get out to all my designers so they know I am really still here.....just a little bogged down offline. :)

It's Sunday already???

2006-10-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

Man time is flying and I have so much to do but feeling a bit lazy....hate that. I was so excited about DD's sale and all day chats.....I knew I could get a lot done and knock out some of my ct layouts but.....guess the beautiful day was calling to me. So instead we took off to the pumpkin patch in Yucaipa! Wow what a wonderful HOT day it was....we played and picked pumpkins and let the girls just run wild all over the place! We got such great photos and I had to laugh because I could have stayed there all day just enjoying it. Unfortunately - Amy had a volleyball game in the afternoon so our fun was cut a little short.

So we drove two very tired girls to Amy's game......and well we didn't win but I got to see the moms I hadn't seen in awhile and had a great time just chatting.....and not really watching the game! Oops! Then Amy begged me to take her to a Halloween party that night and I just groaned - I knew I needed to get things done at home and even though Halloween is only a few days away - I have no costume for Amy! All the moms told David to unplug my computer and to kick me out so they could have some fun with me. Funny ladies they are!!! So we managed to stop at a store that still had costumes and picked up something for Amy - the gothic cheerleader!!! I have to admit I really liked how it came out. But of course Blogger won't cooperate so I could show you!

We got to the party and I have to admit I had a lot of fun catching up with the "moms" I had not seen over the summer - or actually in awhile. We laughed and just chatted about so many things and I really felt a sense of freedom from the "have-to's" in my life. Of course, that could have been the 2 glasses of wine I had mixed in with pizza, salad and some weird carmel apple Amy made and decided she didn't want!!! We both came home so exhausted and even though it wasn't too late, I opted to just go to bed instead of doing a quick layout.

So here I am - it's Sunday - no layouts done and I have tons of little errands I need to do and then I am going over to my friends to scrapbook. I know I won't get anything done since she wants me to show her how to use Elements.....and we both like to talk so.....we never get a whole lot done together! But it has been a long time since I have been to her house and Amy is really excited to play with her daughter.....so I am going to pretend I have no ct layouts to do and just go with it. Figure I can worry later right??? :) Right now I am enjoying just being out and about......

Ok I know it's been awhile

2006-10-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

Life has been so crazy for me since the girls went back to school. I thought it would be a bit calmer but now I just feel like I have to be in so many places that I want to scream "No More!" - I have to admit though - I am glad that I have scrapbooking to turn to. Except I feel a tiny bit bad because my email box is filled with ct stuff and I just haven't had a chance to do much about it. So for now I am going to go to bed and be thankful it is almost the weekend.....I can't wait for the sale at DD.....sigh.....it's the little things that just make me so happy! :)

Ugh I've been tagged!!!

2006-10-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

I have to laugh.....I have soooo been meaning to update my blog but life has just been crazy. Work is just nuts and I am always running around and then I come home and well, I am always running around!!! But I think I would be incredibly bored if I didn't have anything to do....ok I could live without laundry chores! That I hate!

There is a a new kit - "Common Bond"- that the The Digichick and Sweet Shoppe designers created where the proceeds will be donated to charities to help with breast cancer awareness and research. It is a gorgeous kit in itself but I really love the whole idea about where the monies will go. If you haven't seen it - go check it out here to see how awesome it is. Here is a layout I did with it - I really love the simplicity of it:

So Rachael G. thought it would be a fun idea to challenge the Sweet Shoppe girls to a layout contest - you know who can create the most layouts with the kit in the month of October! Now the glitch is - I am on both teams and both of them I love.....sooooo?????? I know that means either way I am on the winning team (hehe) but I want to do my part for both teams and also help promote the kit....so this should be interesting. Especially since this is just one kit that I will have to use over and over.....something I rarely do.....oh and the Chicks are ahead.....hmmmm interesting!

Now Kellie is a fellow scrapper I met on Lynn G's team who is busy as heck all over! I sooo adore her and love see her little funky avatar everywhere......oh and she is on the Scrapartist team and Jen Wilson's.....now that is some talented girl! Soooo anyways, she tagged me! Sheesh....so in the spirit of the tag - I must comply and answer....hehe....

Tag Rules:

List 5 Weird things about yourself or your pets. Tag 5 Friends and list them. Those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, state the rules, and tag 5 more people. Don’t forget to let the people you tag know by posting a comment on their blog!

Now my whole life is pretty weird in itself sooooo let's see:

1. I hate my forehead - not sure why but do and have ALWAYS worn bangs in some form or fashion. When I get my hair cut I always pull them down before I leave the shop.....always!

2. I won't eat strange animal parts....now I know you are thinking "That isn't weird" but I am Mexican and boy they love those brains and intestines and junk like that and well, will not go there.....not even for money!!! And I am telling you money has been offered!!

3. I don't like people to touch my feet - not that I have bunions or warts or anything - just seems ick to me....no reason, just one of those weird things!

4. I hate being called "Dar" - just gets me all worked up because the plain fact is my name is not that long to be shortend......so there have been times I actually will ignore the poor soul who calls me this.....but I need to put a disclaimer here - Val calls me that and I am ok with it.....just her. :)

5. I have to go to sleep with the TV on no matter how tired I am and will wake up and turn it on again if my husband turned it off. He hates the TV on because of the lights and really just wishes the dr would prescribe something that would make me sleep right away so that he could shut the TV off without having to hear my protests!

Hmmmm, not sure if they are weird enough but they were the things I thought of first.....

So the people I will tag:

Angelina - my new hero.....she is a hoot!

Rachael - love her too!

Melissa - one of our newest coolest designers at TDC

Nikki - a girl who needs to update her blog!!!

Vera - one of my favorite designers to work with and who also soooo needs to update her blog!

Sometimes You Need to Move Slow To Move Fast....

2006-09-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

There are times in the day I wish I could just stop the clock from running as if a few more minutes or hours would help me finish the day off to "my satisfaction." So Monday and Tuesday, I was in a work seminar called Conflict Jujitzu. I wasn't happy because I had tons of work to do and the darn thing wouldn't end until 5:00 pm meaning I wouldn't get home until 7:00 p.m. My boss and fellow co-workers were also attending the session which also meant you really couldn't discuss work situations freely and expect no one would know you are talking about them so I just had to listen. And I did.....the seminar was supposed to help us or give us the tools to deal with conflicts in our lives but it is so funny how I took it more for tools to help me to deal with conflicts in my real life. I got a chance to reflect on me, my marriage, my family and the things I do in the digi-world. I thought a little about work but have come to realize that there are no tools I could learn to ever change some of the people who work here! :)

As I was taking the class, I really wanted to blog because my mind was swirling with all kinds of revelations but when I got home - the "mom" took over and there was homework to do, baths to give and dinners to cook and of course, always laundry - so I didn't. Then yesterday we had to do a major cleaning in our house because our landlord was coming to visit us after 7 years - and well, our house soooo doesn't look like the one he gave us with two growing girls who have the tendancy to spill and a cat who insists on looking outside the blinds - the pet we aren't supposed to have. So we all spent time and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. When I started I was frustrated because I knew I needed to do an ad for TDC and send a bio to Robin Carlton but we all cleaned! And suprisingly, we were done in a short time and I was able to get online and do what I wanted to do while sitting in a very clean home. So one of the concepts I learned in class came to play in my life yesterday - Sometimes you have to move slow (taking the time to clean the house the way I wanted) to move fast (I ended up getting my stuff done because I wasn't stressed that I had other things to do too!) I'll need to thank my boss on Monday....great class!!!

So scrapping news.......when I first started digi scrapbooking I had a few goals that I wanted to obtain - I wanted to be on the creative teams at The Digichick and The Sweet Shoppe and I wanted to be published in the digital magazine that Simple Scrapbooks puts out each quarter. When I made them they seemed so unobtainable like wishing you won the lottery but guess what??? I did it!!!! I have already been calling TDC my home for almost a year now and fell over when I saw the call for the Sweet Shoppe. On a lark I applied never really thinking I would get it - Robin said there was a 120 apps and well - I know there are a gizillion more talented girls then me who would surely apply. So when I got the email from Robin I really thought it was a "thanks but no thanks" one and was just soooo shocked when it was an offer! I remember actually calling my husband at work to tell him and he was actually very proud and happy for me! I was a tiny bit worried how it would be received over at TDC hoping they understood that I would still be "Super Darla" and nothing would change there. Still not entirely sure but then things have been kind of slow at TDC since Laura and Jan have been really busy outside of the site. But I am having fun......and feeling very honored to be working with some more great designers!

Then this week after giving up hope that I would make it in the SS digital magazine, I got an email from them asking for one of my layouts I did for Lynn Grieveson for the "Reader Top 20 Stories" section.......and I was just shocked!!! This would be my first publication that I was actually going to be paid for and well it was one of my last "dream" goals I had.....go figure huh? Now I guess I need to think of more just to have......but for now I am just going to be happy about the successes I have achieved and also thank my family for being so supportive so that I could do something for me! :)

Ok I have been double tagged by my dear friends, Sinead (aka maggieandmommy) and Karon (aka DragonFly) - List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your LiveJournal/blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

I am stumped since I chat on my cell phone in my car (where listening to music would be for me) - I really don't catch who sings what. So I will try to do this:

1. "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt - soooo love his voice and love the live version that plays on my radio station.
2. "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer (on my sidebar)
3. "Put Your Record On" by Corinee Bailey Rae
4. "Call Me Sober" by Evanescence
5. "Ever The Same" by Robb Thomas
6. "The Riddle" by Five For Fighting
7. "Collide" by Howie Day

Hmmm, guess I could huh??? :) Now who I am going to tag.....

Amber
Michelle
Rachael

Playhouses for Charity

2006-09-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

David was asked to come take some pictures of some playhouses that will be auctioned off to raise money for homeless shelters in our community. Because the houses look so real - they asked to use the girls to give an idea of the dimensions of the houses. They were all so very cute complete with electricty, full screen tv's, video games, lamps and some were two stories. Actually some were nicer than my own home! Needless to say - I am sure they will raise a lot of money....but boy do my girls want one of these!

Reflections

2006-09-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Today in search of blog news for The Digichick blog I went and read all the staff's blogs.....and wow what an eye opener I had. Not that there was anything that was shocking to me but that I read such honest bloggin that I felt a bit guilty for reading it and not sharing my own experiences. Sort of like peepin into people's worlds and realizing how honest some are and feeling a bit guilty that I am quiet. I have this blog but I really don't say the things or share my thoughts here - probably has a lot to do with that everyone has this ideal that I am the "altogether cheerleader girl out there in digi land". I find that with this there is a lot of "pressure" to be on. I also find it has a lot of responsibility sometimes and I guess that is why sometimes I am quiet. I need time to regroup and find the ability to encourage and not sound fake when I do it. I am not unhappy per se with how things are going but sometimes I am tired, just really really tired. I find that sometimes I feel like I am lifting everyone up and finding that sometimes it almost feels like you are being taken for granted.

When I started out I am not sure what I wanted to accomplish - I guess I just wanted to create layouts and have fun. I wanted to be on some teams and maybe make a few friends along the way and heck even get published. I have accomplished many of those things but on the way I have seen some of the brutalness out there and it sometimes makes me stop and wonder about all of this. Oh and don't worry there are no specifics here.....just wondering out loud per se. I haven't scrapped in a week and finding I am at a loss for what to do. Not sure if this has something to do with it or if I am just in a rut.....the weekend is here so hoping I find something motivating......

Home stuff - well it's been 2 weeks since the girls have started school. Amy is overwhelmed with all the homework she has. And well, I kind of feel sorry for her. The last 2 years she has had the same teacher who in my opinion was a little bit too laid back with the kids. She kind of was more like "their friend" then their teacher and those kids just ran roughshod over her. So now we are in a new year with a new teacher and now some real homework. To add to all of this, she has different teachers for different subjects - something she is not used to and a bit different for only 5th grade. She passed a test and is in an advanced Math class so that is aiding to all the angst for her too. But I keep encouraging her. I met her teacher on Wednesday and well, I was not impressed. This is her first year teaching and well, she is really scatterbrained. Now mind you she could have been nervous meeting all us parents but wow.....I really had to sit there and think kind thoughts of her and her intentions for the year. I was happy though to see that other parents had the same reservations and I wasn't just being a butt about it all. Amy loves her so that is a plus so hoping that my instincts were wrong and that she will be good for the kids. Oh and I am happy Amy decided to go out for the Volleyball team at school......she is not the most athletic girl I know - preferring to sit and watch tv or play on the computer but this year she is able to join in the school teams. I really pushed her to do it since all the kids make the team - no one is asked to try out. So it gives her an experience she might not have ever had and also gives her a chance to be outdoors more. She really looks cute in her little uniform and already slept in it last night with a huge smile on her face.

And Hayley......well, it hasn't gone as bad as I thought it would. She did cry but not the wails I am used to seeing - just the kind that breaks your heart and makes you wonder why you have to be a working mom. But I am told by Sister Mary she is happy as a lark inside the classroom and is a great student. So since I am guessing nuns HAVE TO be honest I am going to go with that so I can make it through the day. She is meeting new friends and enjoying the school work, including homework, that she is getting. I believe whole heartedly this is going to be a good thing for her - she needed a challenge and Tutor Time (her daycare/kindergarten) was not doing that for her. And I have to laugh - my girls fight me about Church on Sunday and sometimes my laziness comes out and I can't disagree with their protests that it is boring. But now Hayley is loving it because I am sure the school church is much more lively than the one we go to on Sunday. They have 300 kids in there - they got to do something to keep those kids quiet and interested!!!

So we'll see how it goes - I am finding I need to be with them a bit more lately to encourage them and sit by them while doing homework......but I am ok with that......kind of fun being just a mom sometimes. :)

We survived.....

2006-08-28T18:10:00.001-07:00

Well, after all the stressing and stomach pains.......we survived Hayley's first day of kindergarten!!! I don't know how tomorrow will go or even next week but in all the years we have tried with Hayley - nothing went as smoothly as this day did. Of course, she cried some and insisted on giving David a hug but she stayed in the classroom....something I really wasn't sure of. I could tell though it took a toll on David - he didn't sound like a proud dad, he just sounded like a beat up dad. Now mind you, he had to juggle all the school items for both girls and the anxious parents and kids trying to get in the classroom....so I can kind of understand his tone. I worked 1/2 day and picked up the girls and it was very interesting to see the look on Hayley's face - she wasn't worried that I wasn't there yet (dang school let the kids out earlier than they were supposed to) - she just looked like she had always gone to St Joseph's.

The car ride home was a bit chaotic as both girls just had to tell me about their days.....but I think I got it all. Amy has a new teacher who has never taught before, sits by some of her more chatty friends, had homework already, there is some kind of reward thing for the class with marbles and prizes - kind of got lost when she talked about it and she still doesn't like Alex P. - the boy whose mom buys him everything.

Hayley thinks there is another child with the last name "Vasquez", she sits at Table 1 next to a boy who went to preschool with her, the teacher read a story about kindergarten, and she played with two girls that she doesn't know their name - just that they sit at Table 1 and Table 3. Guess this year will be interesting to say the least......glad that they are happy their first day. Makes things so much easier for the whole family.

We survived.....

2006-08-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Look what's happening at The Digichick.....

2006-08-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

We have a few open spots on TDC's creative team and Laura gave me the ok to put out a call. Really excited to see who applies and man I can think of a 1000 girls I would love to have on the team......but unfortunately, we only have a few spots. It is kind of nice right now because the CT girls are coming up with new ideas and suggestions on how to promote our site and the designers more. I like the feelings that are going around.....hoping that it will do some good and it's kind of fun to see the excitement out there....

I finally scrapped....

2006-08-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

Whew....what a week! My boss is trying to hire an empire right now (ok a slight exaggeration but nice illustration!) and decided that before our HUGE meeting on Thursday to schedule interviews with ummm 25 people in 2 1/2 days! So it meant getting a panel of directors and management to come help her with the interviews and to find a place to have all the interviews. It was a nightmere but we finally found a great site but it meant I had to leave my house at 5:00 am to get there by 6:00 to help out. It was incredibly grueling because I was driving all over Southern California and then Wednesday we took off to Santa Barbara to host a meeting for 75 people. Of course since interviews went late on Wednesday, we got up to Santa Barbara after our social mixer started. The meeting went well as could be - some of the speakers partied the night before and well, their presentations slightly suffered. Sigh....sometimes it is funny how people are around alcohol! So after 23 hours of overtime and driving over 500 miles - I am home with my family and I am happy again.

Scrapping news - when I came home I had two emails asking for two of my layouts for publication......One was a kit by Lynn Grieveson (going to be published in Legacy Magazine) and the other was a kit by Robin Carlton (going to be published in Scraptrends Magazine in December). An interesting note - I have done about 3 layouts for Robin Carlton and 2 have been picked for publication.....thinking I she is my new lucky charm....oh and including Jan Crowley and Amber Clegg......usually have something of theirs on my layouts too!

I finally got a chance to scrap.....and feeling pretty good to be back doing what I love doing....

Finally a new post......

2006-08-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Finally posting.....didn't mean to be away so long but been kind of in a "funk" and just couldn't muster the energy to post here. Having one of those moments when you start to examine your life and the people that you have around you. I am generally always positive and active as much as I can be but lately I am finding that I am kind of tired of the way some people treat you. I usually can shrug it off but I am finding either I must be getting older and have less patience or maybe I just feel like I am being taken advantage of and not feeling too good about that.

I understand that some will have off days and I haven't really said anything to these people so they know I am bugged so maybe they have no idea. Just I am logical about a lot of stuff and base a lot of my opinions on what I would do logically - might not be the ideal way to do things but has worked ok so far. Because I have specific designers/people I am mad at I am not going to post anything about it....until I decide if it might be time to leave. Just a hard struggle I am going through right now....because I have never felt this way before....until now.

Post No. 3 Because Blogger REALLY Hates Me!!

2006-07-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

You know I never post on this dang thing and finally do and nothing but trouble....so having to post a third one....grrrr.

And the fourth I just loved because it was our only Easter picture of the girls that day since Amy was very sick....although you wouldn't know it from the picture....and there is something funky on this layout I need to get rid of before I send it to the magazine....see that little square....there can't be "lint" on a digital layout....hehe:

Credits:
- "Blush" kit by Suzy Nunes- doodle brush by Meryl Bartho
- grunge edges from "Little Black Dress" by Jan Crowley

Whew!! :)

Post No. 2 Because Blogger Hates Me!!

2006-07-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

I finally update this dang thing and it won't upload my photos so starting a 2nd post to see if I can work around that....grrr.

This would be 2nd layout that Legacy would like and my grandma would just cringe if she were alive to see she is in a magazine dressed like this!!!:

Credits:- "100% Genuine" elements and papers by Jomi Designs- beach girl stamp and beach alphas by Jackie Eckles- lace from "All That Fluff - Lace 2" by Amber Clegg- tie fastener, photo deckled frame and brown lace by Katie Pertiet- scotch tape and journal paper by Jen Wilson- grunge edges from "IOD Essentials" kit by IOD- starfish from "Blue Waters" kit by Lynn Grieveson (re-colored)- tropical flower from "Sunwashed Hideway" elements by Sara Carling and Christy Lyle- stitches by Lisa Carter- brown stamp flower from "Remember When" kit by TDC Designers- swirls from "Rocco Brushes" by Dianne Rigdon- used shadow actions by Traci Murphy

My third layout is one that I created out of sadness that Amy is growing up......and one I love so very much:

Credits:- "Liquorice" kit by Vera Lim- bear element (re-colored) and staples from "A Bear's Life" kit by Katie Pertiet- messy stitches by Katie Pertiet- stamp frame from "A Beautiful Day" kit by Amy Teets- straight stitches by Lisa Carter- round accent brush by Val Fowler- grunge edges from "Little Black Dress" by Jan Crowley

Getting published.....finally!!!

2006-07-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

Ok after succumbing to the peer pressure of Rachael G and the girls on Jan Crowley's team, I started submitting my layouts a couple weeks ago. Shortly thereafter, I got an email from Legacy magazine asking for my layout I did with Faith True's "Cool Linen" kit here:

Credits:- "Cool Linen" kit by Faith True- tab from "Days of Eden" kit by Val Fowler- heart charm from "Winter Wonderland" by Meryl Bartho- wordart from "Just Words - Dream" by Holly McCaig

Of course, Faith was just as excited when I told her.....and I guess she is going to kind of ignore that I haven't done as many layouts as I would hope to with her stuff. Besides she is a design-a-gizillion-kit- a-minute gal and there is absolutely no way I could ever keep up with her.

A few days later I got a pm from Scrapbook-Bytes asking if they could use a layout I did for Andrea Burn's team with a little friend of our family below:

Credits:- "Uptown Chic" kit by Andrea Burns- grunge edges from "Little Black Dress" by Jan Crowley- messy stitches by Katie Pertiet- doodles by Kim Liddiard

I was really excited because I just love this layout and the girl, Kinsey, is such a cutie even though her mother is a bit off mentally. But the father adores her and does all that he can to give her a "normal happy" life!

Sooooooo yesterday - I got an email from Legacy again and they asked for FOUR layouts!!!! Yes that is right FOUR!!! I am so in shock and actually started to cry.....even though I know it is corny. I never really cared about it - I just loved creating my pages but it was like somewhere someone acknowledged your creations in a HUGE freakin' way. Because all the layouts are from new designers, I have chosed not to put an "OUT FOR PUBLICATION" sign up since they need the exposure out there......but I will figure out something..... :). So here are the four layouts:

Credits:- "Funky Sweet" kit by Nikki Meador- stitches from "Little Black Dress" by Jan Crowely- word poetry from "Mango" by Traci Sims- lower case "a" from "Stamped Alphas" by Christine Smith- "attitude" with "Offset Alphas" by Kellie Mize (which I SO love)- brush strokes by Michelle Coleman- metal journal frame from "Memories No. 1" by Amber Clegg

To be continued because Blogger stinks!!!

I am ok.....

2006-07-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

Well first of all - a huge thanks goes out to all those who helped me get through my little "hiccup" last week - I soooooooo appreciate your support and kind words. Funny how times like this you see how many awesome friends you have out there! Sure makes you appreciate them so much more. :) But here are a few smiles that I got from my friends and around me:

1. Laura A offered to take me onto her team....now that was too cool. I so love her and her designs but didn't try out when she had a call. I have what AmyJo calls "layout anxiety." I stress out way too much when I have to make a layout as part of an application to be on a team. Actually I get that way too when I have to do one for the DeZine magazine at TDC - just freaks me out. And since it does, I think I just do what I can to get it out of my hair and of course - always lose out on the team spot and well, guessing won't make the cover of the DeZine either. But I am ok with it....and I think I broke that streak....but I can't say how yet....it's a secret....shhhhh. :)

2. I was lurk a lot at the new DST board and had to laugh when Michelle Adams told me there was a thread there talking about me. Of course, the paranoid me is thinking why??? What did I do...hehe. Well, a thread was started about whose layouts you admire and guess what??? Got a few mentions among the HUGE digiscrappers out there! I was really honored by that and too excited for words! Thanks Michelle for pointing that out to me! Through all of this - it has been nice to finally get a chance to *talk* to Michelle.....I have always admired her but we just kind of been crazy busy with our own lives.

3. I am loving the new girls added to Jan Crowley's team....they are so fun and just excited to be there....it is nice to see Jan excited again!

4. Rachael G has taken on a new mission to help me figure out this "how to get published" maze out there and has actually gotten me into submitting my layouts finally. Not sure where it will go but happy that I am finally doing it!

5. Some of my old DSP friends have been catching up with me - funny how I am happy when I see them....takes me back to that beginning time of all of this. Speaking of DSPer's - LauraKaye and I were at DSP together and then kind of saw each other around 2peas. Lynn's team kind of brought her more to my attention and well, what can I say??? I love her stuff. Well she wrote a thing on DST stating which designer she wished she could be on a team for and guess whose name was on it??? Andrea Burns and guess who told Andrea Burns about it??? Me! And guess who I am working with now??? LauraKaye....eeeeeee I am so excited!

There is more but I will end now.....got to go do some work....but feeling happy again....I would add a layout of two of something I have done but dang blogger won't let me...try later!

Ethics and Integrity.....

2006-07-06T13:14:00.000-07:00

Ethics and integrity - two simple words in our English language but both have such powerful meanings. At my work - there are posters reminding everyone of the the company's values "integrity, excellance and respect." When you first hired here - you are required to go to an "Ethics In the Workplace" class and sign off on a certificate that you fully understood what this meant. There are special hotline numbers to call should you find someone acting unethically to report anonymously. I imagine it takes a lot for someone to call the hotline because although you *hope* that is it anonymous - you actually never know. And what if you think something is unethical and the party you reported does not? For instance - is it ok to take a pen from work? Well, if that is ok - is it ok to take a ream of paper? What about the whole box of paper? Is it ok to divulge company secrets? The last one is pretty obvious that it is not ethicial but the first ones hit those "gray" areas even though the answer is no it is not ethical to do.

We live in a society that is so busy that often people do not have time to deal with the minute things in life. Tell me if you got a call that someone took a pen from the office - would you send out the calvery to arrest that person? Or just take note of it and move on to bigger stuff? And if you are the one who is accused of this - do you rat out everyone around you? Or do you stick to the situation at hand and only accept responsibility for your own actions? I believe that people's ethics and their definition of it changes depending on the situation and sadly, if they will be caught.

I have always tried to be honest and forthright about things in life - I am not perfect, far from it, nor do I ever expect people to be perfect either. We are human and well, as humans, we stray and succomb to things that well we probably shouldn't have. It's called "free will" or the ability to make choices freely. I have learned so much about these two words in the last few days and their importance or unimportance. I am hoping that those who know me - really know me - understand that I have not changed - I am still the person I always was - just a little bit wiser about things now......

Finally a new post......

2006-07-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend my husband after having to sit through me tellling him about the latest "digi drama" going on the last few days - simply responded with one sentence - "Remember when all of this was just about scrapbooking....." Wise words and something I am going to focus more on. I may never be the top scrapper at certain sites, I might not ever get published and well, there are going to be a lot of creative teams I don't make - but in the end - it is and has been about my family....those who I trust and love. :)

Man I stink at this.....

2006-06-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Since I took over updating the blog at The Digichick - I just have no energy to come back here and update another blog. Too bad I just can't put my personal junk on there and then copy and paste it back here and be done with a post! :) hehe

Amy is out of school now and is attending summer camp at Tutor Time - the same school that Hayley goes to. Now I thought this was a great thing - the girls being together enjoying their summer and all. But it has been only 4 days of this and every night I come home with a litany of all the things the two girls fought about, cried about and argued about! I am just cringing at what the teachers must be thinking because if things are going as the girls are describing - it has to be utter chaos with them there! I used to get nice reports home on how well Hayley was doing - now I just get reports about how many times Hayley cried because of something Amy did or said. I am at my wit's end - knowing this is going to be a VERY long summer ahead and am finding it difficult to work. I keep thinking maybe I should call the school and check in on the girls but then I think "No what if they tell me I need to find a new school for these girls!."

David and I had a LONG talk with the girls last night and threatened to separate them into two different classes - we do have that power since technically Hayley was to be with the younger kids. But since this year she can go on the off site field trips, I wanted someone to watch over her. I asked the school to put the girls together so Amy could watch over her sister.....bet they are hating me right now! Well, at least they get quite a bit of my money to put up with this - I have to for free every night!

I am not sure if the girls are at an age that they just like to disagree or if they are tired or what. And as always, by the end of the day/night - they are the best of friends. I know you are saying it can't be that bad - but it is I am telling! Look it got me to post finally!! Amy is 10 and tends to have a mouth that is not very kind. She doesn't use bad words or anything but she does have a look and tone that will chill anybody's blood! Hayley is 5 and just cries - and not a soft whimper like cry but a shrill run your nails down a chalkboard kind that just seems to go for HOURS! And when you think it is over - she cries some more. It just seems to be getting worse and none of the things we take away or do seem to bother the girls. I keep hoping for a miracle soon - anything to stop this madness. But I have to laugh - I was talking to Amy on the phone while driving to work this morning and told her I was sorry she was having such a awful time at summer camp with her sister. She was quiet and then said "Mom - I am having a blast there....what are you talking about???" Go figure - they are having "fun" and I am stressing.....ah the life of a parent!

Finally a new post......

2006-06-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

I had to laugh today because I was chec king the new posts at various sites I frequent when this post by Misty (aka Faded Magnolia) popped up titled "BAD BLOGGERS" - I knew she had been at my blog today and thought "Oh no - she outed me!" But she didn't - yet- but instead posted a challenge to update your blog. It was my intentions to do so (really!) but since she challenged and I just poured my first cup of coffee, I will do it because SO MUCH HAS BEEN HAPPENING.
Well, let's try and recreate the last month of no posting by giving you the highlights in our life. Yesterday was Hayley's Graduation day from Tutor Time and I am so incredibly proud of her. Here is a photo of her coming up to receive her diploma:

Hayley has been going to Tutor Time since she was 6 months old and the whole experience has had its ups and downs. Hayley is quite the emotional dramatic one in our family and every day since she started the school, she would cry at being dropped off. And after a few minutes, she would stop and go off happily playing with the other kids. Every day, every year, every teacher - this would happen - ok I am sure there were days which she forgot to cry but I would say that at least 80% of the time she did. Unfortunately David had the task of dropping of the girls at school and sometimes when he called me I could hear the sadness in his voice of having to watch Hayley go through this. And Hayley didn't stop crying when the school had its Christmas programs and when it came time for her to graduate last year from pre-k - she would have nothing to do with it. She cried and cried and cried until it was decided that I would walk with her and sit next to Hayley to make this work.

So when we got the notice of the Graduation for the private kindergarten class - I was not entirely excited to go through all of this again. But she was and so like any good parent, we went and kept holding our breath for the famous "Vasquez screams" that come just as you hear "Are you ready?" from the teachers. But it was silent and off Hayley went smiling and telling us she was NOT going to cry this time. And she didn't - she sang songs with the rest of her class, she danced with the rest of her class, she waved to us from her seat and smiled real big and when they announced her name - she came up running to get her diploma. I won't lie - I had to hold back my own tears watching her so proudly. She is finally becoming a little girl who can do a few things on her own - all without crying. That night I hugged her a billion times and told her how proud I was and she just smiled and giggled and told me "I told you I could do it!" - and she did.

Yesterday was Amy's last day of school at St. Joseph's and she is now a 5th grader. Whohoo! She is so excited about next year because now she is officially wear the "big girl" uniform - the skirt instead of the dress jumper! It is a big thing to the girls in the school when they can lose that jumper and just wear the skirt but I have to laugh because Amy tends to like the shorts so she can play dodgeball - so not sure how often she will actually wear the skirt! Her report card was awesome! She is a great student but a talker in class and last semester's conduct grade reflected her gabbiness (B+). We had a little talk about not talking (hehe) in class and trying to pay attention during class so of course, the first grade I looked at was her conduct when she gave me her report card yesterday. And there shining brightly was a huge A!!! I am so proud of her! The rest of her grades were all A's too including PE - a class she desperately hates and finds many excuses on why she shouldn't have to go. So now we begin summer and summer camp!

New Layout - Sunshine

2006-06-02T23:23:00.000-07:00

I am going through some old photos of my girls - and just smiled when I saw this one of me and Hayley - she was 21 months here.

Credits:
- "Live Your Dreams" kit by Lynn Grieveson
- white background paper from "Orange Squash" kit by Lynn Grieveson
- wordart from "Sun Porch Elements" by Jen Wilson
- stitches from "Keep Em In Stitches No. 1" by Lisa Carter
- heart and x stitches from "Tutti Frutti Elements" by Michelle Coleman
- used decorative edge by Miss Mint to cut out edge from Lynn's papers
- brushes from "Fresh Start brushes" by Dianne Rigdon

It's A Sale at The Digichick!!!!!!

2006-05-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

So you don't know what to do this weekend and are stuck for that perfect kit.....well run over to The Digichick's Sale going on right now.....see the above ad for details! Happy Shopping!

New Layout - "Forever Young"

2006-05-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

This is Amy just being a kid and carefree and when I saw it, I was struck by how much I wish I could keep her young forever. Rod Stewart's song started playing in my head and this evolved. I used a sketch at the Digishoppe and everything just fell into place with this perfect kit of Lynn's!

Credits:
- "Sweet Madeline" kit by Lynn Grieveson
- stitches by Lisa Carter
- edges from "Little Black Dress" by Jan Crowley
- lyrics by Rod Stewart

Monday, Monday....

2006-05-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today I started to do The Digichick blog and that was pretty fun and hoped I didn't sound like a dork! But there is a prompt to help bloggin for anyone that would like to participate. I will try and get around to it too later.

I have been incredibly blessed to meet some wonderful online friends who share the same passions and visions as I do for scrapbooking. I learn so much about them and myself just being around them and know that much of my successes have been shared and encouraged by them for the most part. There is one team I am on that has blown me away with their undying loyalty to one another and their absolute desire to shine as a team and for the designer. Out of respect to the other teams I am on and because of the next reason, I will defer from naming this team.....they know who they are and know that I am so humbled and grateful to be a part of this.

One of my team mates and friend is in need of prayers - her son-in-law was mugged and assaulted last night and is in the ICU right now. The details are horrific and I am sure the emotions are quite high for the family waiting for test results and the prognosis. I may never meet her nor do I know her son-in-law but I feel the emotions inside as any human would when they hear of such stories. As she spoke to us via email, I am respecting her privacy by not revealing more but instead relaying a message from her to all - please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. If there was ever a time to pray, this would be it with a small note to give thanks for your own family. And so you know, religion is very personal to me and rarely do I speak about it openly but her words are in my heart and mind now and I know that many prayers are needed now.

WARNING: RANTING MOM!!!

2006-05-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

Sigh.....my girls are two of the most loving wonderful girls in the world but they have this little problem about picking up things. I am sure most parents suffer through this but today was the last straw. I get up very early to get to work so I can get off early and I am always late and running around. But this morning I come down and had to hop over shoes and socks and bookbags at the edge of the staircase. My purse was buried under blankets and jackets the girls had thrown on the computer chair. My computer/scrapbook area had a "Littlest Pet Shop" parade going down one side of the table meaning that I would have to walk around through the kitchen in order to get to my computer area. There I was greeted with Hayley's books and whatever snack she didn't eat from last night. The kitchen was scary, there was notes that "magically" appeared for me to sign that weren't there last night next to two 1/2 empty bottles of juice just ready for someone to knock down all over the mail and notes I needed to sign. And where were my girls???? One was asleep and the other had pushed aside the "mess" to sit comfortably eating cereal and watch some TV!! Now please don't think my home is like this all the time - in fact there is a standing rule in my home - no one goes to bed until all is picked up. So what happened???? I know I was tired last night but I swear I would have noticed that I had to hop over bookbags to get to my bed......needless to say......no one is getting chore monies this week....and there will be some serious cleaning done in my home tonight! Kids!

Finally a new post......

2006-05-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

Ok....it has been such a whirlwind week or two since I posted last......and well, I just couldn't get to my blog to update it. So let's just bullet point the cool things quickly:

I made the creative team at The Digishoppe......it was a lark and I wasn't sure if I wanted to do another team but I really liked the stuff in the store and the people seemed quite friendly there. And the best part is - there are a lot of TDC girls there that I recognize so it just feels already homey.
Amber Clegg asked if I would assist her with her designs and of course I said yes.....I love helping out designers and love it more when they give you the flexibility to create the layouts you want without restrictions. Her stuff really rocks and definitely my style so will be easy to use on my layouts.
Laura from The Digichick asked me to take on the task of updating the site's blog so she can do other things......I think it is a bit funny since I kind of forget mine. But hoping now that I will be doing that - I will be more faithful here.....I hope.
I decided on a lark (I keep doing that huh?) that I would enter the Ultimate Digital Scrapper contest at http://digiscrappin.biz/ I kind of don't like doing contests like this because sometimes people get too overly obsessed about their entries and comments and views and it just turns really nice people into people you just don't want to be around. But I thought it would be time to challenge myself and just try. I don't have any aspirations or notions that I would be in the final round - I just want to try for me. But I have seen the threads already at various sites about why don't I get comments or why is my layout not this or that....and it makes me sad because somewhere people forget the reason they scrapbook - to preserve memories for their family, friends and future.....not for Jane Doe at XCC board. Art is subjective - some like this and some like that......and because of that, it should not be taken personal. Funny how people forget that.

Big News for me.......

2006-04-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

hehe....it has been awhile since I posted....but been incredibly busy creating layouts and living my crazy life! But I have been keeping a secret that I can finally let out now - Val Fowler asked me to assist her with some mini album kits she envisioned with the kits she has out. I created 8 templates you can use to create a quick mini album with her "Rustic Craft" kit by adding your own photos and any elements/embellishments you would like. I did have a problem trying to hold back adding quotes or grunge edges and stitches - trying to remember that someone else will be finishing this off! :) But it was fun and you can see the preview above and it is now in the The Digichick store today here: http://www.thedigichick.com/boutique/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=721.

Really cool stuff not to mention Val's kit rocks!

Yeah....another team!

2006-04-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be invited to be part of Andrea Burn's creative team along with Novita of TDC.....now first of all I won't even begin to tell you how excited I was when I was asked because I am a HUGE fan of her designs but to be asked with Novita - one of the most talented scrappers I know - that is cool. This is my first layout for Andrea with my little one, Hayley.

Journaling reads:
You were a little bummed out because youir sister was playing at someone else’s house. I felt bad and tried everything to make you smile but you just were sad. Of course, the scrapbooker in me came out and I tried to get a photo of your sad face but just couldn’t get the right angle. Finally you just said you would take the picture for me. Well it wasn’t photo of the sad face you had but I smile thinking how fast one little sad girl can pull out a “cheese” smile for the camera - ALMOST LIKE MAGIC! Lucky for me that smile stayed on you the rest of the afternoon!

Credits:
- "Charming" kit created by Andrea Burns
- clip and notebook paper from "Little Black Dress" kit by Jan Crowley
- file tab from "Just Peachy" kit by Jan Crowley
- overlay from "Days of Eden" kit by Val Fowler
- "Schmootzy Alphas" by Nancy Rowe Janitz

Yeah it's Thursday - VACATION but.....

2006-04-13T06:46:00.001-07:00

Ok...I am so glad it's Thursday - the start of my vacation and although it is just a few days I am so glad to be home. The girls are still sick and I haven't taken them to see the Easter bunny - what a big dilemma. Do I take them sick to a mall full of screaming kids? Or do we skip it? I am figuring this is Amy's last year of believing so I really don't want to short change her. I have 3 days so hopefully something miraculous will happen.

Now ranting......I was on my way home last night when my boss called me on my cell phone. Not unusual since we often chat about life/work/kids quite a bit. But she called me to tell me that the Director of our department got a complaint from one of my co-workers that I was monitoring the comings and goings of another co-worker. I am pissed to say the least especially since it is absolutely untrue.

I have only been working at this place since October and honestly I feel I get older each day being there. I love my job (can be boring most of the time) but the people there are the most selfish, self-centered people I have ever met. My mother works there too but in a completely different area and location so when I accepted the job, I also accepted that I would make sure I never did anything that would cause a blemish on her reputation she has built there. Not particularly easy since the caliber of people I work with makes it difficult to hold my tongue - but I do. I know that in October I am eligible to leave the department so I am learning all I can to do so. Unfortunately, I have built a good reputation with the Director and others because well I work and they don't. So there is a lot of jealousy and quite a few people there ready to pull you down. I stay clear of it - come in, be cordial, assist anyone I can, go to lunch with my laptop and do layouts, come back and start all over until it is time to go. The co-worker in question that I am "allegedly" monitoring is the worst employee in our area - and everyone knows this. I would have to have a full time staff in order to monitor her comings and goings but it has been tolerated for whatever reason and quite frankly in the whole scheme of life - I could care less what she does.

So I am sitting here on my first day of vacation, thinking of work and having a sick feeling in my stomach that when I come back - there will be hell to pay if the rumor mill circulates as it normally does. Lucky for me, my boss and the Director don't believe the comment and the girl who made the statement is a temporary worker - not good for her. We will be having a meeting when I come back and boy am I going to have to pray hard that I don't tell off the world in there. And the funny thing about all of this - I am the most untimely person in the world and I have a hard enough time trying to manage my own time let alone have time to see what others are doing. Besides that would mean I care to know - something I definitely don't!

Just thoughts....

2006-04-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

I have been on a roll lately and it just seems easy to create layouts now.......they are just magically happening right before my eyes and I am very excited about it. I have really changed the way I digital scrap and I can honestly say - I love it! I am not sure if it is the wonderful kits from the designers I represent (which to be quite frank - are the bomb!) or if I am just in a happy place in life. Whatever it is - I am glad it is here.....and that I feel inspired to create. Hope that is continues for awhile.....it is nice to see the memories of my family come to life so vividly.

This is a layout I did today for SDD.....and it is one of my absolute favorites. Amy is sick today and her sister was trying everything she could to get Amy to smile. Of course that would mean craziness and I had to snap pictures for possible layouts. When I turned I saw Amy's face just sick with fever and I couldn't resist taking the picture. It truly breaks my heart to see her so sick and I feel helpless that I have no magic to make it go away. But as a good scrapbooker, I did a layout....and I was really pleased in the end how it came out. Of course I posted it everywhere and much to my surprise I got this pm today at SBB -

Hi Darla,
I really loved the layout you made using my Springlets Kit on your sick child - it's so lovely!!! I'd loved to feature it on my Ztampfest Gallery (http://ztampf.com/ztampfest/) - if you don't mind I'd just copy the LO with the information from SBB here. Thanks in advance. Look forward to seeing more of your wonderful layouts!
Best,
fhung of { Ztampf! }

What a great way to end my day! :)

Work stuff

2006-04-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to do a binder for the top management of my company to showcase the annual meetings we had. Being the perfectionist that I am.....I just had to "change it up" a bit and give the department a "look." This is what I created........and am pretty proud that I got paid to scrapbook at work! hehe

WOHOO!!! My First Tag!!

2006-04-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

Ok I have been tagged by Marsha - my first official tag and sigh and I can't get this dang blogger to work....grrrr! Oh yeah I am supposed to write about someone I admire and tell you why and all and then tag 4 others to do the same.....so let's hope this works since it is the 2nd time I did this.....grrrr. Oh yeah - warm feelings!

I picked Lisa Hoffer aka dlhoffer to write about. I met Lisa when I was on the DET at digitalscrpabookplace and since then we have become fast friends. It is funny how much we share in common and we often laugh at how we are like "twins" - always thinking of the same things, or can finish off each other's thoughts. She is a wonderful photographer and often captures those special moments with her kids. My girls have come to adopt Lisa as part of the family and it is not unusual for Amy to go online and comment on her layouts especially Lisa's daughter. Amy secretly is hoping for a new baby sister but I am ok if she adores Lisa cuz not having one here!! ;) Lisa is also great at finding wonderful things on the web and man I am glad at all the hours she saves me in surfing the 'net. She has stood by me when there was some rough patches on the DET and has always been one of the most honest sincere girls I have been fortunate enough to meet online. I know that her encouragement and her ability to refrain from calling me crazy about all the things I do - has helped me grow into the person I am now....and for that I am truly grateful. This is one of my favorite layouts of Lisa's of her son that was so poignant but then Lisa told me the real story behind this - he was crying because his sister had just thrown a toy at him! Don't you just love the stories behind the layouts!!

Now for my victims - I mean choices: I choose to tag Val, Jan, Lisa and Kelly Shults - the new designer at The Digichick simply because she hasn't posted on her blog since March 25th!!! hehe.

My first layout for Lynn Grieveson....

2006-04-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

Ok....this is my first layout for Lynn Grieveson and I am pretty excited how it came out. Wasn't how it started but somehow evolved to this. It is a picture of Hayley pouting because she is being asked to pose for David. When I showed this to Amy - she smiled and said "Mom this isn't her sad eyes this is her MAD eyes that you are making her take a picture!" Go figure...she is probably right!

Credits:
- "Everyday Beauty" kit created by Lynn Grieveson
- paper clip and overlay edges from "Little Black Dress" kit created by Jan Crowley
- stitches by Lisa Carter
- twine from "Acorns and Berries" kit created by Kim Liddiard
- brushes by Kim Liddiard

Man I stink at this......

2006-04-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Ok as much as I try to keep this up - I just can't find the time (or maybe desire) to do so. I love reading other blogs and can write but in the scheme of life - it just seems like there is absolutely no time to blog. But again I will try to do this more often....I say try because can't promise!

So I am going to bullet-point the important things that have happened since I last posted. Here goes:

1. I am done with GS Cookies and hopefully will never have to be in charge again EVER!! This would be my third year but we added an additional 13 girls to our troop and life was a nightmere because with these new girls came their moms who I would have to say as nicely as possible are an interesting lot of people. I had to bite my tongue quite a bit through all of this but I think what ticked me off the most was how they treated my husband with questions and complaints and sometimes nastiness. He was not in charge of cookies - I was so anything that needed to be said should have been to me and not him. Of course, it ticked him off too and he would put them in their place - so I guess that I won't be going to many "girls night out" but it's ok they are not worth it!

2. I am done with the Digital Elite team at DSP and I am very happy. I choose not to go into details about the whys/whats/whens because I know I did a good job - a very good job! But I am happy that I am done.

3. I decided to try out for Lynn Grieveson's team and guess what? I made it....along with a lot of other girls - all excited to be doing this. I recognize some of the team mates and hope to get to know the rest. But I do have to say this - they are a chatty friendly bunch - my email box was filled with messages to the group. :) Nice feeling to know you share the same love of digital scrapbooking with others.

4. There have been times in my life when I have decided to try things and really didn't know what to expect. But when you find out how wonderful the results are you are in heaven - that is the way I feel about The Digichick. The site is small but the people are real - I mean really real.....I have heard real life stories from the girls, heard them tell of the struggles they may encounter, seen girls rally around each other to make the site/designers shine and you know what - no one does this because they "want" something from Laura A. I really believe they just want the site to be a home for digiscrappers - free from the turmoil that you often see at other boards. Seems perfect that the site's motto is at the end of the day, we all just want to be chicks...... I know I am glad to be a part of the site.

2006-03-31T08:37:00.000-08:00

Although I am lucky enough to be on Val's team - I chose to purchase this kit as all the proceeds from the sale of this kit will be used to help fund a mission to aid an children's orphanage in Bangledesh. I truly believe there are times in our lives when we are called to step up and help others - even if it is in a small way. If you are interested in learning more - please visit her blog at: http://whenvalgalsitsdown.blogspot.com// or purchase the kit here at The Digichick.

Credits:
- "A Tiny Seed" kit created by Valerie Fowler
- staples by Shabby Princess
- inspired by paper layout created by McMom at SDD
http://www.scrappersdailydose.com/g...php?photo=23670

For a good cause.....

2006-03-30T20:40:00.000-08:00

Ok I am really bad at keeping this up but I am hoping now that DET is over at DSP - my life will be a little less crazy and I can get involved in things that really matter like helping a friend. Val Fowler is a wonderful designer at The Digichick and she has created a kit to help 12 members of her church go and minister and feed children at an orphanage in Bangladesh. The kit can be purchased at The Digichick for a mere $4.00 and all the proceeds with be given to this worthy cause. I hope that you can find it in your heart to help out. And on the same topic - a little seven year old boy has found a unique way to try and raise money for the same cause - take a peek here:
http://tinyurl.com/zkgr3

Hayley

2006-03-20T22:18:00.000-08:00

Hayley is my youngest and is just five right now. She is so very different than Amy and definitely has her own sense of being. If I want pictures of the girls, I can almost bet that Hayley will not cooperate or give me her "fake" smile while trying to see if she can watch tv or whatever else fascinates her. Amy instead has caught on - give Mom the picture you want and she will leave you alone! :) But I guess that is what being a mom is all about - being able to adapt to the differences and uniqueness in each kid.

While I was searching for photos tonight to do a layout - I heard some clunking in my living room. When I turned around, there was Hayley all decked out in a shirt that was too small, cowboy hat, and her sister's cowboy boots. She was dancing around as if this was normal attire for most sane people and without a care in the world. Of course, I couldn't pass that up and snapped some pictures and managed to get a good one out of the batch. Here is the layout I did with Stacey Jewell Stahl's new "Beyond Beauty" kits. Just got to love my kid!

WOHOO!!!

2006-03-17T21:53:00.000-08:00

Going to be on Marsha Zepeda's creative team......yipee!!! Really excited because I love her stuff and now have more reasons to scrapbook with it!!! Yeah!!!!

Celebrating St. Paddie's Day

2006-03-17T21:49:00.000-08:00

Here are my girls all dressed up in their green for St. Patrick's day today. My mom suprised me with a special dress she made for Hayley - who loved it except for the part where we wanted her to wear tights because it was cold. David was supposed to take a picture of her in the dress this morning since I didn't get to see her in it before I left for work. Instead, he only took pictures of her sitting down with the cat and oh, Amy. Men! I will put it on her tomorrow and take some more pictures.....but did a quick layout with Lynnie Smith's Twine Meadows kit....

The Digital Elite Contest.....

2006-03-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

The Digital Elite contest is being run at DSP where they are looking for 5 to 6 girls to represent the site and the kits that are created by the site's designers. The team lasts for six months and then a new one is picked again. When I tried out for the team last year - we had 145 girls enter and then after four rounds - they ended up with the team consisting of Sally, Judyy, Samara, Johanna. Lisa and myself. It was a great contest and I remember the nail biting and stress as each round progressed waiting to see who went on to the next round. I was just a newbie and so honestly didn't think I had much of a shot up against girls who had been doing this a long time. But I made it and now here I am rooting for the next team.

Of course, I have my favorites and I am sitting here cheering them on........excited when they make the next round. Right now the contest is on the 3rd round and they are down to 27 girls now. I am just blown away by some of the talented scrappers that have entered this contest. There are a few girls who are newbies like me and they are just creating layouts that master if not surpass the seasoned scrappers. Now I say this not because I particularly have a "stake" in this - but I do hope that it can be done again - a "New Kid On The Block" wins a spot on the team like I did!!! However, I do have to say I am so rooting for one girl - Debb aka keeplearning. She tried out with me last time and made it to the all the way up to the final round but didn't make the final cut. But when you see her gallery - you seriously have to ask yourself "Huh???" - she absolutely just creates the best layouts I have seen and I do browse all over the internet and see quite a few layouts. Today she posted her 3rd round entry using Lauren Bavin's "Reflections" kit and she just BLEW me away!!! It is a layout of her mother who was a beauty contestant and model with Elvis Presley in the movie Jailhouse Rock......that's right Elvis Presley!!!!!! I can't begin to tell you how much I screamed when I saw it and all I could think is no one can top that........so my good wishes and thoughts go out to her today........she so deserves a spot on the team!!!! Here is her layout if you wish to see it too - http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=83413&cat=1925.

A bit of sad news.....

2006-03-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

This weekend we lost one of my girls' kitten, Garfield, and our house has been filled with much sadness. I feel badly as a mom that my girls have experienced so much loss this year - more so that I would have ever dreamed and perhaps this is why there are so many tears being shed right now. Hayley has suddenly discovered the power of prayer and has been praying everywhere. I smiled at church when the entire congregation was sitting down in the pews except for one little 5 year old - sitting there praying her heart out. When she sat down, her eyes were all red from crying - she told me that God was taking care of her cat now. The power of a child's word and their belief in God is one that is so hard to convey or fathom. So you just sit and watch in wonder and realize the magnitude of what you are seeing before you. To respect my girls' privacy - I had no intentions of doing a layout on this but my little one begged me to....so this is for her and the words here are ones I have had to deal with since the loss. Funny how she has grasped the importance of why we scrapbook.

Journaling reads:

Dear God, will you please take care of my cat, Garfield? I have been praying hard that he is ok. Do you hear me? Do you see me crying? I know he is better off with you but I still miss him dearly. I wish he was here again with me -just so that I could say "good-bye." I feel badly that I forgot to do it. Will you give him a hug from me and my sister, please? Love, Hayley

Credits:- "I Miss You" kit created by Stacey Jewell Stahl

Yeah I made the Digi Layout of the Day!!!

2006-03-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

I am so excited - my layout "Good Friends" made the digi layout of the day here http://melissag.typepad.com/digi_pick_of_the_day/ and thanks to Novita who pointed this out to me......I got to do the happy dance today!!! And the irony was, I did this quickly for Jan Crowley because I found out that I kind of sort of didn't complete all my assignments for her.....bad Darla!!! So the moral of the story is - have Jan send you gentle reminders about where your stuff is and you will be inspired to create a layout that rocks!!! hehe

Amy when she was little.....

2006-03-03T17:54:00.000-08:00

I happen to see this picture of Amy when she was little and when I got Mari's new kit "Sweet Dreams" - I knew it was just perfect. I really love how it came out.....and just can't believe how tiny she was.....sniff, sniff,

The Kindergarten Test

2006-03-03T17:45:00.000-08:00

This is a layout that I wanted to do so that when my daughter, Hayley grows up, we can go back and look at this very BIG day in our family. It is not necessarily one of my works of art but for this time I really wanted to focus on the emotions of this day for our family. So I opted not to go overboard with it and let the journaling speak for itself. Including Hayley's drawing was an afterthought that seemed to just top off the whole intention of my layout. The funny thing is I have been getting so many comments out there that I am a bit overwhelmed - comments are great but the kind things that have been said about being a mom, my daughter and just everyone "feeling" for Hayley was just unexpected but so very touching. I plan to print everything and keep them for Hayley - one day she will have a daughter of her own and will feel the same way I did on that "big" day.

Journaling reads:I have been waiting patiently for you and your sister to be at the same school, so I was very excited to see that testing for next year’s kindergarten class was to begin in February. However, you weren’t as excited and told us that you decided to stay at your daycare. So we had lots of talks about why school is important and took you to Amy’s school to get you used to the teachers and campus. On the BIG day, we all drove happily to St. Joseph’s – you were all dressed in a cute little dress and shoes you picked out – and decked out in your sister’s “best” jewelry and lip gloss. You skipped right up to the door and when Sister Mary came to greet you, you just lost it! You clung to my side crying and finally it was decided that Amy could go with you but she would have to stand outside the door. Still that didn’t seem to appeal to you because I could still hear you crying from the next room. Sister Mary finally agreed to let Amy sit in the test with you and that seemed to do it. Fifteen minutes later, you came out holding a pencil from Ms. Lupe in one hand and a tissue in the other. My heart broke seeing how sad you were but I reached out and hugged you and told you how proud I was of you. We walked silently to the car when I remembered that we didn’t take a picture of you on your BIG day. I looked down at your little sad face and asked you about it. You were quiet and then said with a small sniffle – “Not today Mom.” I smiled and understood that sometimes we don’t need a picture to remember the BIG moments in our lives.

Credits:- "Wonderland" kit created by Jan Crowley- flower brush by Kristy Nerness- artwork by Hayley Marie Vasquez, age 5- scraplift idea from Melissa Chapman in CK magazine

I am still alive but barely......

2006-02-27T21:33:00.000-08:00

REAL LIFE STUFF: Ok....life is becoming quite busy. We are busy getting rid of all the Girl Scout cookies in our home and then I have a campout this weekend. I went from not having a lot to do with Girl Scouts to having something almost every weekend until May!! But I will give it to Amy - she said I could bring my laptop with me on our campouts! We are sleeping in tents, eating off of coals with no running water for baths and I bring a laptop! That is roughing it. Anyways....forgetting to do my blog but will try to keep up with it. But just trying to get a bit more organized right now....seems like I am always on the run.

SCRAPBOOKING STUFF: I am so excited to finally get some layouts done and got this one done using the new "Chic Chick" kit that TDC designers will be selling at A Cherry On The Top kit. It has a lot of stuff and I KNOW I will be using this kit over and over. Those girls are just creating great stuff....really excited to be a part of the Creative Team!

Sigh...is it the weekend yet????

2006-02-16T20:49:00.000-08:00

Ok.....played with my site today a bit - not sure but it's ok for now. I thought I would get a layout done today and well, as luck would have it, I have caught a cold. And the way I feel, I think this is going to be one of those that just "kicks your butt" and you are down for a few days! I just slept today until it was time for Amy's speech this afternoon. And when I came home, slept some more....and then remembered I forgot to do the birthdays at TDC....boy I feel bad about that!!

Amy's speech: Amy's class was given an assignment at the beginning of the year to do a report on someone in history. Amy chose (with a tiny bit of help from me) to do her report on Anne Frank. I was a bit worried that the overall topic might be too "grown-up" for her and stressed out a bit when she didn't seem too interested in reading the book. After two grueling months, she finally finished the book and surprised me when she started searching the 'net for articles and sites devoted to Anne Frank. I was really proud of what she found that someone her age could actually understand. And although I am her mom and could be biased, I have to admit her final report was pretty good. It had what she needed without going too much into detail about concentrations camps and the Nazis. Perfect for a 4th grader.

Today the kids in her class all dressed up in character and gave a speech about their "special" person. It was wonderful to learn about people you had an inkling about - there was Sally Ride, Walt Disney, Patton, Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Martha Washington and my daughter, Anne Frank. We dressed her up like a school girl and my mom sewed her a skit and made a small Star of David for her to wear on her sweater. But I think all the practicing we did kind of wore her out and when it was her turn to do her speech, she couldn't find her little index cards. I just happened to be sitting at the side and could see them all sitting inside her desk.....so I had to rescue her! Poor kid - really shook her up and she stumbled a bit through a speech she knew by heart. I felt so bad for her but gave her lots of praise for doing a great job. I got some great pictures of the kids and can't wait to do a layout about it. But boy am I glad that is all over and we can go on with our next project......Girl Scout Cookie Sales!!

Quick Thoughts....

2006-02-13T22:04:00.000-08:00

Real Life Stuff: Crazy day, went back to work and was bored out of my mind. Wanted to be home to scrap and just enjoy browsing through the galleries. Came home and did valentines with the kids and because of peer pressure by a certain TDC gal (LAURA A) - I made cupcakes for the kids even though they can't bring them to school. It is a health issue or something in case people aren't as sanitary as the Vasquez family I guess! ;) David actually went out this year and bought Valentine stuff for the girls - I am pretty impressed with his selection. He is a good dad!

Scrapping news: DSP asked all the DET members (past and present) if they would help judge the NKOTB contest since there were 79 contestants. We were to pick our top 15 and then our top 3 for this first round. Wow, there was a lot of great stuff from new digi-scrappers. I have to admit this is my favorite contest because it is really nice to see how excited they become when the get feedback on how to improve their layouts. And usually by the final round, the newbies really know what they like and just disregard all the cc's given to them. It is a hoot! Over at TDC, things are getting exciting with all the teams being assembled for the designers. Jan had her baby, Norah (a cutie!) and is back in action - man she must have a husband who just adores her! But tomorrow is Valentine's and that means that the Shabby Shoppe has it's grand re-opening!!! Whohoo!!! I am so there......can't wait....I love her previews. Ok I love her stuff what can I say! :)

Love Stuff: Ok I made this layout for my husband for Valentine's - kind of a way to say "hey I love you - you big hunk of man," but he dismissed it saying it was just for my scrapping friends/teams.....Sigh, got to love that romance in him! But I love him and love this layout......so this is for him too!

Ok.....already forgetting about this....

2006-02-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

Well, as I thought, blogging was just not a priority for me the last few days! Oh well...I will try to do better. I have been a roll lately and suddenly the layouts are just flowing so I kind of don't want to be "bothered" with the other things in life that I have to do. Ok, I am still doing my "mom" things but since the creative juices are flowing, I would be open to hiring someone to take them over temporarily until I hit a "scrapper's block." LOL - kidding, sort of.

We did go to the beach at Dana Point yesterday. It was the first time for Hayley and she just howled and screamed and fussed the whole time there. Amy had an absolute blast and I felt bad that her sister was causing such an uproar when clearly she was just excited to be playing in the water. It is a tough call as a mom/parent - one kid happy as a lark and one kid most definitely NOT! David got some great pictures despite Hayley's refusal to smile or enjoy herself. I even broke the "no pictures of mom" rule and took a few with the girls - something I KNOW I have to do but just hate how I come out in them. Need to learn how to "edit" things out in PSE and maybe I would be more agreeable to pictures! :) Anyways, off to go create some more layouts....hope this "spurt" lasts for awhile - I have a LOT of pictures to scrap..

New Layout

2006-02-09T14:17:00.000-08:00

Got a chance to do a new layout last night with a photo I kind of forgot I had!!! Bad thing about digital cameras - you have so many and they just pile up waiting to be scrapped one day.....going to make more of an effort to start doing layouts with those!

I used Sarah Jones' "My Sunshine" kit since it has such a "fun" look to it and matched my photo. There is a lot in this kit (as most of Sarah's have) and I really wanted to just use everything but settled for a clean simple look on the layout. Kind of happy how it came out!

It is a picture of Amy and her friends, Emily and Meghan. They all kind of "adopted" Hayley and she is the honorary member of their group. Thankfully Amy doesn't mind!

2006-02-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

This is my latest layout using the new kit that will be available on Friday at TDC....I so love everything in this kit and will probably use it over and over again!!

This is my little one, Hayley, when she finally let me curl her hair for a wedding. Needless to say the curls all fell out after about an hour but thankfully David took this great picture of her! This was in May 2004 - she hasn't let me curl her hair again! :(

I have done it.....

2006-02-08T18:19:00.000-08:00

I have finally succumbed to peer pressure and set up a blog for me to ummm, I don't know write about how hectic my life is??? Not sure I want it in writing because then I will really freak out so we will see how this goes. So far it has not been too hard to set this up.....but need to figure out how to get rid of the ugly green in the template....not a favorite color of mine but liked the design. I will post more later when I figure this thing out more.....