Bloom Where You're Planted-FeMcB's Blog

I'm Back!!!!!!!!

2009-04-30T17:29:00.003-05:00

I've been gone forever! or so it seems. Major computer issues, but now I've got a new one and she's might fast! so I should be back in business! :)
So I got to digi scrap for the first time last night in months. I mean it has been forever!
here's the page and the credits

Just some random pictures one day, my little guy of course had to get in on the action, lol.
The layout was inspired by one of Jennifer McGuire's in the May 2009 CK mag from page 45. I just loved the circles.

Everything used is by Merkeley Designs
Circle It Templates
Ring It Templates
Strip It Templates
A Moment In Time (clear word art)
Wrapped ELements (staples)
Making Memories kit (alpha, rivets, elements and papers)

Font-Papyrus

15 Random things that are on my mind....

2008-11-28T16:01:00.006-06:00

wow, so I haven't posted in a while, I haven't really done any commenting on other people's posts either. bad blogger=me! so while I've got the idea in my head I'm going to run with. Here is a list, in no particular order, of random things I'm thinking about/or that are going on.
1- Thanksgiving came and went too fast- how is it possible that it's almost Christmas?
2- It's almost Christmas- yay for Christmas music on the iPod!!!
3- Here's to hoping the economy does not get worse- I don't think we can take much more, things are tight.
4- I really need to get hoppin' on the home made christmas gift front-I've got the stuff I need I just "gotta get 'er done".
5- I really need to make all of us some nice snuggly winter pjs.
6- I wonder if it's possible to squeeze a few more hours into the day? if not could we just add on a whole 'nother day? I mean really I'm not asking for much am I?
7-I wish I knew where the hell my camera ran off too, I've been using my mom's since august, mine went missing some time after July 19 (as that's the last picture I have off of it).
8- I really need to get some CT work done, but I need more time! I could also use more drive space, lol.
9- We still need to get the garage door replaced- but again there's that money thing again.
10- I need to get some new stuff into my digi shop, not that I seem to make any money there anyway, but it's fun to dream.
11- I'm thankful we're all healthy and happy (or at least in my case only mildly depressed, impatient, and cranky-it comes and goes, lol.)
12- really need to give Aidan a haircut, and then I must take pictures for Christmas cards.
13- I wonder if Ian will ever cut his hair again? lol, maybe he's trying to get it as long as mine? my hubby is a mystery. but then he's always said he likes to keep people guessing!
14- will this baby fever ever go away? it's frustrating...which is probably why I'm mildly depressed.
15- It's really funny how my thoughts seem to come with a southern accent, it also rears it's head when I'm talking and getting agitated or emotional. ( Hi, I'm Fe, and I'm pretty fluent in southern-ese).

so that's all for now, that's what's floating around in my head right this minute, I'm sure that'll change again as soon as something new comes up, and then I'll forget what I needed to do and we'll be right back where I started from, dazed and confused, and wondering what it was I came into the room for. I know I can't be the only one that that happens too, you know what I'm mean- you walk into a room for something, and then you stand there trying to remember what that something was that you came into the room for... I know I'm not the only one this happens too! please tell me I'm right!

oh wait! here's another not so random thought....how is it that my baby...

is going to be 6 in a less then 2 weeks?????? (BTW- that picture was taken right before we left the hospital, so that's not his birthday)

Gappy Grin version 4.0

2008-11-16T09:00:00.001-06:00

He lost another one this morning, not he's got a big ol' gap, and little bitty lisp! He's just too cute! (even with the major case of Bed Head and sleepy eyes going on in the picture below- we had to get a picture right away!)

Yet Another Lost Tooth!

2008-11-05T17:13:00.005-06:00

They seems to be coming out just as fast as they came in! This one has been loose for a bit and was actually coming out really weird, it was pushing forward, it turns out that was because his big tooth was wanting out! The tooth next to it is very loose too so I'm sure we'll be singing "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" this holiday season. Here's a picture of the Aidan's Gappy Grin Version 3.0 (and Daddy is in there too with as Matt calls it- his "hippy hair" )

Jedi

2008-11-02T18:17:00.005-06:00

So here's a layout with a picture of Aidan in his Halloween costume that I made. He's all about Star Wars lately! I had to take a picture of him in his Jedi gear with the funny little R2D2 mailbox outside the Museum of Science and Industry. They had free admission on Halloween, and since Daddy had to work and we wouldn't have a car to go to Laurie's for trick or treating this seemed like a great alternative. I think Aidan's favorite part might have been the pumpkin drop demonstration that they did. We got to watch it twice. It was a wonderful way to teach kids about elastic and inelastic. They started out bouncing two small rubber balls that look alike, except they're not. One bounces and the other doesn't. So once the kids understood the difference, the got on to the really fun part. We glance up to the balcony where our presenter's partner is stationed. They first hold up a playground ball, and they ask the audience how high we think it will bounce (by the way there's a giant tape measure showing that the balcony is 25 ft high, and this is what we use to guess how high things will go). SO it bounced about 3.5 ft. then he yells up to the other guy, "what else ya got for us?". He's got a water ball (a squishy ball you play with in the pool). We guess what that will do (it just flops down, lol). Again he say "What else ya got for us?". He's got a really big playground ball. It bounces pretty much the same as the little one. "what else ya got for us?". He's got a pumpkin! the kids all start cheering. (keep in mind each time they drop something they've had the crowd counting it down from 3, and if we're not loud enough, they don't drop it. I think this really makes it more fun for the kids. it's a wonderful museum, lots of hands on for the kiddos.) Anyway back to the pumpkin. we're guessing what it'll do (the kids are all really cute!). We count it down (3 times, we were really yelling by the time they dropped it, lol). of course it splats! the kids (and adults) go wild, lol. They ask if we want to try it again. of course we do! They dropped 3 for each show.
They also allowed the kids to trick or treat at the museum. The employees were all "Mad Scientists" and their lab coat pockets were full of candy. It was really nice, the kids had to answer a science question to get their candy. I liked that they (or at least most of them) got down to the kids level to ask the questions. Some of the questions were hands on. They were all very friendly and help make science fun for the kids. A wonderful experience all in all!

everything by Merkeley Designs
Crumpeckles Paper Pack
frame- Wrapped kit
Jedi - Say it With Cubes
Star Border-It Templates
Tag It #1
Stitches- Dusty Kit
Font- Georgia

Gather

2008-10-01T10:59:00.002-05:00

Here's a layout I put together last night for a challenge on one of my CTs. I'm pretty happy with how it came out, I've been wanting to scrap these pictures for a while now.

Twig It by Merkeley Designs
Blue Autumn by Merkeley Designs
Font Monotype Corsiva
Frame Template 009 by Cátia Cunha

Donut Recipe

2008-09-17T20:45:00.006-05:00

First off I'm not a pro at cooking, I really really really just fly by the seat of my pants. I usually do lots of research online first, find a bunch of different recipes and then I wing it, lol. so the recipe below is going to be written as if I was talking to you, if you have questions feel free to ask in the comments.
The whole idea for these started when my god-mother mentioned that when her nieces and nephews were young they couldn't afford to go and buy donuts (my aunt had 10 KIDS!), that they would make their own. so this intrigued me. I asked how they used to make them. She said it was easy, they'd take canned biscuits, and deep fry them and then put powdered sugar or cinnamon on them. Well that shot down my hopes of making them at first because we don't buy canned biscuits. The reason we don't buy them is I don't buy ANYTHING that has partially hydrogenated oil in it, and every kind of canned biscuit I've found has that. But then I got to thinking (dangerous I know) and I decided why the heck don't I make home made biscuits and do the same thing!
so I use Bisquick Heart Smart (because the regular one has the evil oil in it, that crap is in so much! not going to get into that now though, lol).
and this is what you do
you take
2 cups Bisquick
3/4 cup milk (or 2/3 cup water)

Stir milk into Bisquick. Beat dough hard for 30 seconds to make it tighten up enough to handle. Turn dough on well-floured, cloth covered board. Pat, round it up and fold over 3 times. Roll out lightly with rolling pin, 1/2 to 1 inch thick, depending on how thick you want the biscuits.

now here is where you get out your fancy biscuit cutter (what you don't have one of those? then do what I do and take a drinking glass and use that, lol) and you cut out as many biscuits as you can with that. (you can either rework the dough from around the circles you just cut or leave it in strips and cook them the same way we'll make the donuts). Now how do you cut the hole out of the middle? well I'll tell you what I did. DON'T laugh...lol . you know how liquid meds come with with the little cup to dispense it? well I've got tons of these around and so I took one of those and used it to cut the center out. I sure hope you're not laughing...oh who am I kidding go on get it all out.....lol!! so know you have donuts and donut holes.
Now when I make these I do half of them covered in powdered sugar and half in a mix of cinnamon and sugar, so get a bowl of each ready. You can also just leave them plain, sometimes I leave a couple that way too.
now you want to have some oil (I use vegetable oil, lots of the recipes I came across said to use "deep fat", and yeah...I don't go for that, so veggie it is for me, lol) nice and hot on the stove in a pot big enough to fit 3 or 4 donuts or use a deep fryer (oil doesn't have to be super deep, the donuts will float) and heat to about 375 degrees. you're going to plop a couple of those babies in the oil for a minute or so (until the first side browns , and then you're gonna flip them. now when both sides are done you take them out set them out a plate with a paper towel to get the extra oil off, then coat them in the topping of your choice. Continue until they're all done. Enjoy.

Homemade Bagels

2008-09-17T20:10:00.003-05:00

I've had several people ask about the homemade bagels that I make. I do 2 kinds now, plain for my hubby, who likes to put cream cheese on them, and cinnimon raisin for the little guy and I. I have to admit, I didn't come up with the recipe, I found it (with lots of wonderful pictures) at Tammy's Recipes. So I'm just going to link you right up to her. Homemade Bagels

September Calendar Topper

2008-09-17T16:02:00.000-05:00

Credits-
Apple Festival Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Creative BlockBusters Calander Templates by LaWanna DesJardin
Fonts-Poplar Std and Sylfaen

Apple Honey Bundt Cake Recipe page

2008-09-17T15:42:00.002-05:00

Credits-
Apple Festival Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Creative BlockBusters Calander Templates by LaWanna DesJardin
Font- Monotype Corsiva

Apple Honey Bundt Cake

2008-09-17T10:11:00.004-05:00

I don't remember where I got the recipe for this, but I've had a few requests for the recipe. So I'm going to share it with you.

Apple Honey Bundt Cake

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 2 eggs
* 3/4 cup honey
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
* 3 apples - peeled, cored and shredded
* 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and oil ( I used half a cup of oil and half a cup of applesauce -mine happened to be homemade, but store bought is good too, a little healthier and so yummy). Beat in the eggs until light, then stir in the honey and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice; stir into the batter just until moistened. Fold in the apples and nuts.

3. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the crown comes out clean. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a plate and tapping out of the pan.

In Remembrance

2008-09-11T18:25:00.001-05:00

I lowered Aidan's ears

2008-09-06T19:51:00.003-05:00

ok so this is my logic. It's was almost time for Aidan to get a hair cut. I usually take him to a kids place, keeps him at ease, and it's fun for him. But it's kinda of far away to take him for a hair cut unless I have other errands out that way and that doesn't happen often. So I've toyed with the idea of picking up a hair cutting "kit" and doing both of my guys hair. and Ian is LONG overdue for a trim (I love you babe but I don't dig the hair long enough to go in a ponytail). So I figured try it on on the little guy then go after the big guy! The little guy was just starting to get shaggy, I figured I just follow how his hair is now. no biggie. so here's the before and after shots, I'm pretty happy with it. and once I give Ian a hair cut the thing will have paid for itself.

oh Ian!! you're next! :)

Speed Scrap Layout

2008-09-05T21:02:00.002-05:00

So one of my design teams that I'm on had a couple of speed scraps today. It was lots of fun and I did two layouts. so I'm a happy girl.
here's the two layouts

Credits:
Started out with a template by Simply Yin
Macho Flowers by Merkeley Designs
Dusty by Merkeley Designs (stitches, fastener)
Font- Myriad Pro

Credits:
Private (short stack) Paper Pack by Merkeley Designs
Dusty by Merkeley Designs (stitches, arrow, pin)
Macho Flowers By Merkeley Designs (journaling block)
Say It WIth Cubes by Merkeley Designs
fonts-Monotype Cosiva and Sylfaen

Feet Are Funny

2008-09-02T20:00:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple of pages I did with "Feet Are Funny" by Merkeley Designs

Relax layout

2008-09-02T19:58:00.002-05:00

credits:Merkeley Designs "Either-Or" Designer Sampler

Oscraps Summer Fling Collab Kit layouts

2008-08-26T20:22:00.002-05:00

I did two pages using this kit, I love the bright cheerful colors (which are not the norm for me).
(click images to see credits)

I did two pages using this kit, I love the bright cheerful colors (which are not the norm for me).

The Scrap Palace of Romeo

2008-08-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

totally rocked! I won a weekend there, and went the weekend right before my birthday. I got to meet my friend Kathy, who I've known through a scrapping group for at least a couple of years. She's a real sweetie! Hopefully we can get together and scrap again. We totally didn't get any sleep while we were there. We were up until 4 both nights and up by 9:30 the next morning. It took a couple of days to recover! Anyway, the Palace is beautiful, it's an old Victorian, that is gorgeous inside and out. The food was fantastic!!! (just wish there was more of it, lol. The portions were healthy sized I'm sure, but I'm used to eating more). I sure hope we can go back again sometime. Here are a couple of pictures that Kathy took (I'm lame and kept forgetting to bring my camera down, lol).

Back row-Me and Kathy
Front row-Keitha and Mary

My Birthday

2008-08-18T20:00:00.002-05:00

Ian stayed up all day again, and went with us to the zoo.
Here are a couple of pictures from our day.

So sad to hear...

2008-08-09T19:03:00.002-05:00

that Bernie Mac passed away today. It's hard to believe that the man I ran into a little over a year ago at a local theater is gone. He was so nice in person, and always seemed so vibrant and alive. My thoughts are with his family.

Very talented and funny man, he'll be missed.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

2008-07-22T21:09:00.005-05:00

Here's a layout with the recipe for the jam I made. I can't remember where I found the recipe, if I find the link to it I'll link it up, but for now here's the recipe.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Ingredients:
4 cups rhubarb, thinly sliced
2 T. lemon juice
4 cups of fresh strawberries, sliced
10 cups of sugar
2 packages of fruit pectin

In large kettle combine all ingredients except sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil. Add sugar and keep stirring till sugar is fully dissolved. Return to boil and boil for one minute. Keep stirring. Remove from the burner and skim off the foam with a spoon.

Spoon the hot jam into hot pint or half-pint canning jars. I like to pour the jam into a glass 4-cup glass measuring cup first, then pour into jars, as this makes jam easier to pour into jars. Leave 1/4 inch of space at the top. Wipe jar rims clean and screw lids on firmly. Place the jars in boiling-water canner on high. When water begins to boil, set timer and boil for 5 minutes. Remove the jars from canner and cool on racks. Try not to disturb jam til it is cool. It may take several hours to set.

This should make about 12 half-pint jars

layout credits:

Designs by Sine template
Classic kit- Designs by Krista

2 new layouts

2008-07-22T18:46:00.005-05:00

Designs by Sine template
Splash 'n Shine kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Peace and Quiet wordart by LaWanna DesJardin
font-Monotype Corsiva

Designs by Sine template
Macho Flowers kit by Merkeley Designs
font-Monotype Corsiva

Both of these layouts are of pictures from when the boys went camping last month, they had tons of fun!

Bagels

2008-07-21T10:44:00.006-05:00

So, I've been on this...what would you call it? oh hell, I don't know what to call it. I've been on a kick I guess you could say, yeah we'll call it a kick, lol. I've been on this kick where I've been making things from scratch. I'm doing it for several reasons.
1- I like knowing what my family is eating, doing it this way there are no weird ingredients.
2- if I make it from scratch there isn't all that extra packaging, and it's actually cheaper most of the time.
and
3- I really enjoy it!
So I've done several things from scratch recently. I did Italian bread a month or so ago, and of course there were the donuts (I totally need to make some more of those!). And most recently I made homemade bagels. they came out totally yummy! and were super easy to make!
These are pictures of them fresh from the oven! and oh! oh! OH! are they good with my homemade jam on them!

Doing the Can-Can

2008-07-21T10:16:00.007-05:00

Canning that is! So I'm totally new to canning. I've been researching it online for months and bought one of the "for Dummies" books about it. and a couple of weeks ago I gave it a shot. I went over to my mom's house to do it (our stove is one of those glass top ones, and the canning pot can't be used on it). So Our first day of canning we made Dill Pickles (we ended up with 9 quart sized jars, 7 of spears, and 2 of slices for burgers and such) and we made strawberry jam (11 8 ounce jars). The jam came out so good! I was so proud of us (my mama Vee helped). We're still waiting to taste the pickles, you have to let them sit so the flavor can soak in, we've got to wait for a couple more weeks for those.

Flash back to last Wednesday, we gave it another go. While searching for recipes before I came across a couple for strawberry rhubarb jam. Now I'd had never had rhubarb, I knew that I had heard of pie made from it though so I figured it must be pretty yummy, lol. So when we went to the farmers market the previous weekend I saw some great looking rhubarb, picked up some of that, and then we got some organic strawberries at the grocery store. Well this jam....let me tell you...whew! it is SOOOOOOOOOOO good. I have a new favorite! seriously! why don't they sell this kind in stores? I mean, it is such a wonderful combination! I'm eating some of it on toast as I sit here, and it is just fantabulous! We made 9 jars of the stuff and I have a feeling we're going to need to make more!

Too Precious

2008-07-14T16:24:00.002-05:00

This is a picture of Aidan and Nanny, when he was 7 months old. This was taken during out first trip with him to NJ. We were at the 4th of July BBQ at Aunt Linda's. Aidan was such a good baby, he would pretty much sit with anyone, very easy going. And over the years I've always been so impressed with how well he adapts while on vacation, he remembers everyone's names, and always plays so nicely with Nanny. He's pretty special too, he's the first Great Grandbaby on the McB side of the family, and the second on the K side. Aidan's is very lucky to have 3 out of 4 great grandparents in his life, not to mention having the best Grammy and Grandpa in the whole world. He's a very loved little boy.
Any way...I've always loved this picture of Nanny and Aidan, it's just so sweet!

Another Lost Tooth!

2008-07-06T14:04:00.003-05:00

Aidan lost another tooth last night! seems like they're coming out almost as fast as they came in. I'll post a new picture of the gap-py grin in a bit.

ETA- added the photo, look at that gap! The first tooth that came out, was almost all the way in when the second one came out.

Perfectly Calm Layout

2008-07-05T21:29:00.001-05:00

One of the waterfalls down in Turkey Run, Indiana. My hubby took this picture while camping with my little guy.

The word art is from the Oscraps' collab kit, O-Escape

Just Be layout

2008-07-05T20:45:00.003-05:00

journaling:
with your crazy work schedule it’s not often we get a chance to goof around and relax, I’m so glad I caught us both with the camera enjoying a chance to just be...

Oscraps' oEscape Collab kit

A couple of new digi pages

2008-06-27T19:42:00.004-05:00

It's about time I got some scrapping done, doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day sometimes. Thank goodness for templates as a jumping off point. Here's the 2 new pages-
Wright Family

I used a template by Moriginals and the Kit I used is Merkeley Designs Americana Days.
Laura and Rob

I started with a template by Shazbutts Digiscrapz, and I used LaWanna DesJardin's brand new kit, This Bliss

Mama and Me

2008-06-14T19:21:00.001-05:00

Mama and me
Journaling:
This is how she always is for me, this smiling happy angel in my life. She is the most positive person I know. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her, and I know that the feeling is mutual. When things are overwhelming me, she's the first to step in and help. She is my own personal saving grace. She just makes things better. I love her more than words can say. I am truly bless to have this wonderful woman as my godmother. She will always be my mama.

Started out with a template by Meridith Tiede (Moriginals)
LaWanna DesJardin's Sweet As Can Be Kit
Font-Monotype Corsiva

Happy Birthday Mama!

2008-06-10T17:05:00.004-05:00

This is my Mama! she may technically be my god-mother, but in my heart she will always be "Mama". She's helped to make me who I am, she's always always always there for me, and I don't know what I would do with out her. And today is her birthday! so from all of us, Happy Birthday! We sure do love you!

A new month!

2008-06-02T12:21:00.004-05:00

Holy cow! Where is the time going? Wasn't it just New Years? I'm shaking my head over here, half the dog-gone year is gone! sigh. But alas, time marches on. So with the new month comes a new daily download kit, created by Tina, Irene and me, at DDD. Last month's kit was a HUGE success. Here's the preview for this month's kit, there's a new link each day at this thread. At the end of the month you'll have the whole thing, and if you post a layout in the gallery at DDD, you get a posting bonus that matches the kit.

There are still some freebie on my design blog, the link is in the sidebar. They'll only be available for a few more days, then some of them are going into the store at ScrapDebris.

Rubix Cube

2008-05-15T15:49:00.002-05:00

I did this layout for my BOM challenge at DDD.

I don't have pictures of this, and I don't know what ever happened to that particular cube, but the story needed to be told.
Journaling:
The Story of Felicia and the Rubix Cube
Once upon a time there was a little girl. She was fascinated by the fact that her mama could figure out a rubix cube. Sometimes it took her mama a long time to figure it out, but she always did. Well, one day when the little girl was only about 6 years old, she decided she wanted to try. So she grabbed the cube, without permission,twisted it all up and attempted to fix it up. well, time went by and it got closer to the time when her mama was going to come home and the little girl was no where near figuring out that cube! She knew her mama would be annoyed that the she had mixed it up after so much hard work to put it back. So the little girl got the bright idea to peel off the stickers and put them back on the "right" way. She finished just in time to put it back where it usually sat. Mama came home and saw that cube and said "what on earth happened to my rubix cube! Every single sticker was either crooked or falling off. The little confessed and everyone had a good laugh. 20 years later people still joked about it, and she still wasn't allowed to help with a cube again!
Credits
Stock photos from stock.exchng (user: MeHere)
Blog Freebie by Lilach Oren
Wheels Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Wheels Extras by LaWanna DesJardin

Little Me

2008-05-14T22:55:00.004-05:00

A picture of me as a tiny tot, sitting in the rocking chair that I've passed down to my son.
Template 59 by the Template Club
Dusty Kit by Merkeley Designs
Font- Georgia

Goings on

2008-05-13T17:43:00.002-05:00

Did ya'll think I fell off the planet?I know there haven't been many posts lately. Nothing much is new. Aidan and I made bread last night, there is one slice left, lol. Just got done eating dinner before Ian left for work, I made spaghetti and meat- a-balls (you have to say it like that, meat-a-balls), and home made spaghetti sauce. Not to bad for a first time with the sauce, will use the rest of it tomorrow with the meatball sandwiches. Probably will try my hand at making Italian bread for that.
Gas prices are INSANE. If they go up much more, it won't be worth me working. I'll miss my discount, and the people of course. Oh well, what can I do?
I'm off to read a book to the little man.
later taters!

My 1st Car LO

2008-05-13T13:43:00.003-05:00

credits
Creative Block Busters Set 4 by LaWanna DesJardin
Wheels Page Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Wheels Extras By LaWanna DesJardin
Font-Monotype COrsiva

2 new digi pages

2008-05-11T19:20:00.002-05:00

Ashley Mega Kit, by DigiSueBee (Susan Blanton)
Font- Monotype Corsiva

Journaling: Ian, I always wanted to play an instrument, and it's always thrilled me that you used to play the violin. Apparently you played really well with out practice, and amazing with it. I wonder if Aidan will play one day?

Credits:
Stock photo from morgueFile
Kit used is Ashley Mega Kit by DigiSueBee (Susan Blanton)
Template 63 by The Template Club
Font Monotype Corsiva

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T09:47:00.003-05:00

I hope all the mommies out there are having a lovely and relaxing Mother's Day. I wish the sun were shining here, but alas it has been raining, all night, sigh. what can you do?!

First Day

2008-05-07T11:46:00.004-05:00

of our Daily Download at DDD.
Here's the preview

Happy NSD!

2008-05-03T21:55:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a great National Scrapbooking Day. I behaved and didn't spend, lol. I've been working behind the scenes at DDD to get ready for some post-NSD fun. I've been dabbling in digital design. I've made several little kits. I'm no pro, but I thought they were cute. I'm on the Creative Team for Ashley who owns the site. She's been mighty busy lately, and hasn't had a lot of time to spend there (that happens when you add a new little person to the family) and the rest of the team (Tina and Irene- hi girls!) and I have been trying to keep things hopping there. So we decided we'd make a HUGE digital kit, and give a few pieces of it away each day (starting on the 7th- we figured we'd give everyone a chance to recover from the over load of NSD). So here's a sneak peak of the kit, keep in mind this is just a teaser, this kit is huge! I should know I split up the downloads-insert big grin here.

Altered Tin

2008-04-23T19:53:00.002-05:00

This is a little band aid tin that I decorated to keep my son's baby teeth in.
K&co Paper (little whales with a gap tooth grin, so cute!) and Karen Foster tooth alpha stickers. Ribbon is Lasting Impressions. Tag was punched with an EK Success punch
and this is the little monkey that wanted to take a picture!

Gap Tooth Grin Layout

2008-04-23T15:34:00.003-05:00

I saw this new K&Co paper at work the other day and knew it would be perfect for a layout of Aidan losing his first tooth. You may not be able to see it from the picture, but the little whales all have a missing tooth, it's just too cute.
Ingredients- Card stock, K&Co paper, Karen Foster tooth alpha stickers, Lasting Impressions ribbon, Foof-a-la button, Autumn Leaves clear stamp and the George Cartridge for the Cricut.

Urban Samurai

2008-04-21T18:57:00.002-05:00

Well...I did it.... I paper scrapped!! for the first time in I don't know how long. Broke in my cricut, and scrapped some picture of my Urban Samurai(s). Ian, Kevin and Dan with their Samurai swords that Dad got for them one year. Nothing too fancy I had to get my feet wet with a simple layout. it's taken me days to sit and do this because I only had one sheet of that dragon paper and I didn't want to ruin it. Ignore the glare, I can't take a decent picture of a layout to save my life.

It's Out!

2008-04-17T21:12:00.003-05:00

He keeps telling me he looks silly now, everyone is going to laugh. It this my kid or what?

Loose Tooth

2008-04-17T18:53:00.001-05:00

My little guy has a loose tooth! it wiggles and everything, he's not too thrilled with the idea of it coming out, he says he doesn't want everyone to laugh at him....I'm like everyone who? no one is going to laugh. to which he says "oh" and wanders off to play. What a kid!

Memory

2008-04-17T14:32:00.002-05:00

Journaling
"When ever I see this picture, it always makes me think of little orphan Annie, in her red dress. I remember sleeping in curlers to get my hair to curl just that little bit. My curls never lasted very long, but I loved the look of them."

Credits
LaWanna DesJardin:
Curled Paper Templates
Ladybug Lucy Kit
Everyday Word Art

Priceless

2008-04-17T13:37:00.003-05:00

Journaling:
"What a rare thing! A picture of my Mama Vee. Well that’s not totally true, I’ve got tons of pictures of her -from the back, or with her hand hiding her face! But one with a smile for the camera? That’s a rare and PRICELESS thing."

Merkeley Designs:
Chip Trims
Private Short Stack Paper Pack
Purty Curls
Glitter Charms Alpha

Misty Cato- Distressed White Alpha

My Teddy

2008-04-17T12:36:00.002-05:00

Journaling
"The story behind this bear always makes me smile. Apparantly when I was an infant , Mom was pushing me down an aisle in the store, and I started going crazy, she contnued down the aisle and I was pointing and making lots of noise. She looked all around to see what was causing my to behave that way, and she finally spotted what had caught my eye way up on the top shelf. This Bear! It was bigger then I was! When she tried to leave without it I guess I wasn’t to happy about that. She couldn’t help but buy it for me. "

credits
O'Scraps New Growth Collab kit
Glitter Charms Alpha - Merkeley Designs

Being Green

2008-04-09T19:24:00.002-05:00

"It's Not Easy Bein' Green" (lyrics by Joe Rapposo)
Template by Jen Caputo
Creamy Green Kit by HZ Designs
Font Monotype Corsiva

FlashBack!

2008-04-04T10:49:00.003-05:00

oh my GAAAAWWDDD!!! they're getting back together! Who do you ask? NKOTB! that's who!

I'd scream like a preteen girl but my husband's asleep, LOL. I never thought they'd get back together and record again. I loved them from the start, I think I was like 8 years old. what preteen girl at the time didn't love them. I'm just geeking out over here, I wonder if I can make my sweet hubby take me to a concert? will have to see!
now where did I put my giant 3 inch buttons of them? I just ran across them in a box a couple of months ago. gonna have to dig those out again.

MMMMMMMMMM..Donuts!

2008-03-31T21:11:00.005-05:00

Ok so I've been wanting to make more things at home, I worry about the preservatives and other stuff that's in the food we buy. We haven't had donuts in a long time. and I decided to try making them at home. OH MY GAAAAWD!! they are so easy to make and they taste so much BETTER then anything you'd get somewhere else. Aidan had one and he comes back to me in the kitchen with his plate and says "that was the best donut I've ever had!" So GOOD. we did one batch and it made 18 donuts and about 24 donut holes. we put powdered sugar on half and a mix of cinnamon and sugar on the other half. Can't wait to do that again. Here's a picture of our donuts. They aren't perfect circles, but they taste awesome!

Air Guitar

2008-03-31T20:58:00.002-05:00

Aidan playing air guitar on one of the awesome benches on Oak Park Ave last year.

Credits: template for a challenge on the Hawt Mama Team Blog, by Pam Bumbaca.
Crazy Funky Cool paper pack by Traci Reed
Font- Monotype Corsiva

March For Babies

2008-03-26T13:32:00.004-05:00

It's that time again! The March of Dimes is having their March for Babies (formerly known as WalkAmerica)10k walk in my area on April 27th. I've placed a badge on the side of the blog and donating is easy, you can even use PayPal and it's tax deductable. Every little bit helps. If you know me then you know I've been participating in this fund raiser since I was in High School, there have only been 3 that I've not walked in in the last 10 years and only one that I didn't raise money for.
So if you're able and you'd like to donate then please click on my badge on the right side of the blog.
thanks!!! XOXOXO

Who?

2008-03-22T14:59:00.002-05:00

the rare layout of me. pictures are few and far between, lol.
Credits:
Merkeley Designs- Wrapped
Font Monotype Corsiva

Out of This World

2008-03-20T17:13:00.002-05:00

Lindsay Jane Designs-Template 13
LaWanna DesJardin- Astronomical kit
Font-Monotype Corsiva

Aidan and Uncle Kevin

2008-03-20T15:53:00.002-05:00

I started out with a template by Michelle C0leman (free from Little Dreamer, not sure how long ago though)- it was originally a 2 photo template, but I took out the other one to work with just this one photo.
LaWanna DesJardin-Ladybug Lucy
Newsprint Alpha by RetroDiva
Font-Lithos Pro

new size layout for me

2008-03-20T14:55:00.003-05:00

I wanted to try doing a bragbook sized page. so here's what I came up with.
This is the world's best mother-in-law as an infant, wasn't she adorable?

Credits:
LaWanna DesJardin-Ladybug Lucy kit
Font-Lithos Pro

To Infinity and Beyond

2008-03-20T14:03:00.005-05:00

Credits:
LaWanna DesJardin-Creative Block Busters Set 4 (template3)
LaWanna DesJardin-Astronomical kit

Fonts:
LithosPro
Comic Sans MS

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
~ Irish blessing

LO of Aidan at 6 weeks

2008-03-07T16:41:00.005-06:00

My little guy's 6 week old pictures, hard to believe he's 5 years old now! time flies!
Everything is from this month's Oscraps Collab kit "Lucky O"
Font is Monotype Corsiva

A girly page!

2008-03-05T23:44:00.004-06:00

I don't get much chance to do "girly pages". This is my Aidan's younger cousin, Caity.

Merry Wishmas by LaWanna DesJardin
Whimsy Notes Lined by LaWanna DesJardin
Glitter styles by Flergs
Butterfly Garden by Flergs
Font-Monotype COrsiva

A Mother's Arms LO

2008-02-29T23:33:00.004-06:00

my darling husband as an infant. wasn't he cute?!

credits:
Feel The Nature kit by Jassi Woschek at K-Joi
Psycho Magnet Glitter Styles by Flergs
Font- Monotype Corsiva

Bad Blogger

2008-02-28T15:09:00.003-06:00

I've been bad bad blogger. Haven't posted in over 2 weeks. That's lame. will try to be better.
my few faithful readers may noticed that I was here yesterday doing a little maintenance around here. got my blinkies for my creative teams to actually blink, and they're also linked to my designers' stores. I rearranged a little bit too. Next on my list is a new header, I'm hoping to put something together that's fun and springy.
Just as an update, we're all doing good here, nothing much exciting going on. Just day to day normal stuff, which I must admit is not a bad thing. I'll be back with more fodder for my blog soon.

Ringing in the New Year

2008-02-28T15:06:00.004-06:00

another calendar page, maybe I'll have a whole calendar done for next year, lol.
Template 11 from Amy Bleser’s Just the Tops calendar templates (SBB)
LaWanna DesJardin-Spring Fling
Font Monotype Corsiva

A Splash of Beauty

2008-02-10T12:43:00.001-06:00

I'm very blessed with a thoughtful husband. When he was working a nice normal second shift job, he would often times stop off on the way home and pick up flowers to bring home. Now that he works crazy hours (6:30 at night to 6:30 in the morning) He doesn't get the chance to do the spontaneous flowers any more, but he still never forgets the holidays and he picks the prettiest arrangements.

O Valentine Collab from Oscraps

Font-Monotype Corsiva

Little Black Dress

2008-02-06T22:23:00.001-06:00

The picture isn't great, but I couldn't find any others from when this one was taken. This is me before my senior year homecoming dance (first dance I attended in HS). I look back at this picture and realize how stupid I was to think that I was fat in high school. I realize now I was healthy, I just wasn't a walking talking stick figure.
Journaling:
note from my 17 year old self:
every girl should have a little black dress at some point in there lives.

credits:
Feel the Nature Kit by Jassi Woschek
Delicate Templates Vol2 by Thaty Borges (fancy bordered mat)
Font Monotype Corsiva

I can see clearly now....

2008-02-05T17:01:00.000-06:00

..that my monitor's calibrated (sing along with my now) I can see textures that I didn't know where there...

holy cow my monitor was worse then I thought, lol. I was missing SOOOOOOO much. I haven't been scrapping these last few weeks because it was so bad I was worried things wouldn't color coordinate. Well my colorimeter came today, and I'm a happy girl! PSE here I come.

Here's a layout
I used the following:
Family Time by LaWanna DesJardin
Creative Block Busters (Set 1) by LaWanna DesJardin

Here's one I just did of a picture of Caity.
She's such a little cutie pie, hard to believe she's 2 already.

supplies used
Template by KimB (kb-Bday-bonus2-template)
Sweet As Can Be kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Font-Monotype Corsiva

Contacts

2008-01-10T21:54:00.000-06:00

the kind for your eyes, lol. This is day two of me wearing them (I had them about 8 years ago, but I was working 6 days a week and wasn't allowed to wear them at work, so it wasn't worth it to continue wearing them at the time). Ian and I both got our eyes checked yesterday, holy cow glasses are $$$$$!! I about went in to cardiac arrest when I heard our total, hopefully work will reimburse Ian well for his safety glasses. He's also got to go see a specialist for something the doctor saw on one eye, we've still got to find out if out VSP insurance covers this doctor we've been referred to. Any who I was talking about the contacts and I have to say they've come a long way, they're not nearly as uncomfortable as they were the last time, but I do need practice putting them in, it takes me a couple of tries, and I'm sure if doesn't help that I'm barely awake when I'm putting them in, LOL. And I totally have to stop trying to shove my glasses back up my nose, I didn't realize how much I must have done that, seeing as it's a habit now....
In other news Grandma is going to take us to see the new Veggietales movie tomorrow, hopefully it's as amusing as the previews. :)

Little St Nick

2008-01-10T11:46:00.000-06:00

Template 34 by Lindsay Jane Designs
Christmas by Claudia Niggpen
Lush Grids (Boyish) by Jessica GOrny {black paper for the frames}
Font-Nueva Std

Shining Through

2008-01-10T10:52:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite pictures of Aidan.
Template by Julie Johnson
Christmas by Claudia Nippgen
Font-Nueva Std

Calamity

2008-01-09T22:44:00.001-06:00

Template by Jessica Gorny
Simply Me by Jessica Gorny and Danielle Engebretson
Constructive by Jessica Gorny
Fairy Dust Overlays by Kim Hill from CG Essentials
Font
Nueva Std

My mom when she was a young girl.

Journaling reads:
When you were just a few months
old your mom and dad had just
seen Calamity Jane. Soon after
that’s what they started to call you,
Calamity. Knowing what a “tom boy”
you were it amuses me to see photos
of you with long hair and a pony tail.
If It weren’t for the fact that I’d know
that face anywhere, I wouldn’t think
it was really you!

Play

2008-01-08T15:27:00.000-06:00

Supplies used
Template from the Hawt Mama Blog (HawtMamaFreebieTemplate~MMullens)
Play on Play Kit by Jessica Gorny
Font- Myriad Pro

Quote
“Today you are you that is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you.” Dr Seuss

Journaling reads: Aidan and Mama playing around with the camera. What a couple of hams!

Smile LO

2008-01-07T17:17:00.000-06:00

Jessica Gorny
Fun Frames
Play on Play (Alpha, paper and staple)
Antique Journalers

Font-Myriad Pro

Table Art By Aidan LO

2008-01-07T11:24:00.001-06:00

Supplies used:
From Merkeley Designs (Available at Oscraps and MerkeleyDesigns.com)
BG paper-Blueberry Mountain Short Stack Paper Pack
Crayons- 8 Pack of Fun & 8 Pack of Fun 2
Fonts:
MS Serif
Monotype Corsiva

Time Well Spent LO

2008-01-06T19:43:00.000-06:00

Supplies used:
Kellie Mize- KHM-AdFree-121006 template (Designer Digitals-challenge freebie)
LaWanna DesJardin’s Family Time Kit from SBB

Fonts:
Comic Sans MS
Times New Roman

WOW! 6 Years

2008-01-04T19:53:00.000-06:00

(and a day, because I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, not because I forgot, I'm not that senile yet, lol) Ian and I have been married. That's just wild. But then when you think about it, we met 10 years ago. Yeah that's what I said, 10 years. Where does the time go? Is there like a time vacuum somewhere? Do the little gremlins that steal one sock from a pair out of the dryer run off with it? It just seams to keep slipping away. Any who...Ian worked last night but we're going to try to go out tomorrow. Probably will see a movie if there's something we both want to see.
Happy Anniversary Babe!

Goodbye 2007, HELLO 2008

2008-01-01T11:29:00.000-06:00

Wow, so there went another year! Was it just me or did it fly by really quickly? I'm apparently getting old or something, I couldn't even make until midnight, I was snoozing by 11:30. Maybe it's the whole, I'm not on second shift and I'm having to get up in the mornings like a normal person thing. This was definitely a banner year in the McBride house. Ian graduating was by far the highlight. We received his diploma last week, I'm thrilled to report that he graduated with honors. How awesome is that? I had to just stand there and look at it for a while with a big grin on my face.
Some other highlights this year were:
Aidan turning 5 (this just doesn't seem possible to me, I mean we just brought him home from the hospital right? right? sniff sniff)
My mom going complete off her arthritis infusions. She's feeling well enough and they were far enough in between that she's hoping she won't need them anymore. Hopefully she's right because if it turns out she's not it will take awhile to get it back under control again according to the doctor.
Christmas with a large chunk of the family. It's been a few years since we went and had a huge crowd, there were 20 of us there and only 8 missing. It was loud, the dinner was awesome (great job Jen!!), the company was fantastic, and it was a great time. I hope we can do something like this again soon, it was great seeing everyone. Aidan was thrilled to finally meet his little cousin Anson.
So all in all it was a good year. I hope this one is awesome as well.

As far as resolutions go, we know I'm not to into those right? I feel like they put way to much pressure on a person. I still have the same goals as last year, I want to keep simplifying things, getting organized, spend more time just playing and spending time with my little guy (which we did a lot of this last year, Aidan and I are much closer then we had been, We both still get frustrated at times but that's normal)and hopefully spending more time with Ian this year, since he's done with school hopefully he'll have more time for playing with us(and job hunting too).
So that's where we stand this snowy New Year's Day. Blessings to you all for the New Year!

Did you know

2007-12-26T13:48:00.000-06:00

that we've got a pirate in the family?
Ahoy Matey!

We've also got a blood sucking fiend apparantly...LOL

12 Days of Christmas...ARGGGGG

2007-12-26T09:47:00.000-06:00

Here's a video of our motley crew singing the 12 days of christmas. Leave it up to the boys to add a little flavor, lol.

Birthday Pages

2007-12-13T17:36:00.000-06:00

Love Made Visible
Merkeley Designs
Mocha and Pistachio Kit (frame, ribbon wrap and alpha resized)
Purty Curls
ksharonk designs
notepapers3
font
Monotype Corsiva

Birthday Kisses
Merkeley Designs
Mocha and Pistachio Kit (brad resized)
Font
Monotype Corsiva

5 years

2007-12-09T22:19:00.000-06:00

ago my little man was born! Happy Birthday Baby! I mean BIG BOY!

Big Kid

2007-12-01T15:50:00.000-06:00

that's me! I love Christmas, I love putting together a list of things I want, even if I don't get them. It's just fun to wish isn't it? So I saw something today, I want it! looks awesome, like I could have a jolly good time playing with it. It's creating keepsakes kit of the month (or what ever they call it exactly.) they're a rockin' set of foam stamps, and they want to come and live with me! they do! really! they told me so, lol. aren't they lovely?
They're HUGE! there are like seventy five total in the set.

Oh honey! here's the start of my list, lol @ me!

Feeling Lucky

2007-11-28T20:12:00.001-06:00

Another Calendar topper
Template 6 from Amy Bleser's Just the Tops Calendar templates (SBB)
Ruffed Up Papers by Kaye Winiecki (Pickleberry Pop)
Irish Blessing paper by Kay Elfin from the St Patricks Day collect a kit (E-scape n Scrap)
Green Stained Wood Alpha by Misty Cato
Shamrock from Doris Castle's Bit o' Green (freebie)
Font-Monotype Corsiva

Autumn Harvest

2007-11-28T16:47:00.000-06:00

Another Calendar topper
This is Aidan picking Apples this past October.

Template 9 from Amy Bleser's Just the Tops Calendar Templates available at Scrapbook Bytes
Autumn Bounty by Connie Prince available at K-Joi
Fonts- Monotype Corsiva and Selfish

New Header

2007-11-27T19:30:00.001-06:00

I figured it was time to holiday up the old blog-a-roo. So I made a new header. I used Amy Bleser's BlogHeader Templates available at scrapbook bytes. I used LaWanna DesJardin's Merry Wishmas Kit. Font used is CK Holiday Spirit. The picture is of Aidan from christmas of 2005. I need to do a photo shoot soon for this year.

Thanksgiving Table setting

2007-11-27T18:58:00.001-06:00

Here's the pictures promised a couple of days ago. one is of our place setting, complete with home made cloth napkins (I just loved the fabric) along with placecards and napkin rings made by Aidan, with only a little help from his Momma. There's a picture of my sewing the napkins (as you can see by my super red face and frizzy hair we were really working, lol) and one of Aidan coloring in the turkeys. I hope every one had an awesome thanksgiving.

New digi Layouts

2007-11-27T17:24:00.000-06:00

"Is not a kiss the very autograph of love?" ~Henry Finck
Template by Jessica Gorny for HappyScrapz November template challenge
Fallen By Jessica Gorny (I flipped the Background around, and I recolored the stitches)

Dirty Tag ALpha By Jessica Gorny (from her Nov GrabBag at Oaks)
Fonts-Franciscan and CK Holiday Spirit

I'm working on chrsitmas gifts, going to try to get a least one calendar made. This will be for December.
Christmas Comes But Once A Year
Merry Wishmas by LaWanna DesJardin
Template 8 from Amy Bleser's Just the Tops Calendar Templates
Font- DSP Cybergram

Waiting for Santa
Lush Grids (Boyish) by Jessica Gorny
(The Great Frame) Wrap up By Jessica Gorny (from her Nov GrabBag at Oaks)
Dirty Tag ALpha By Jessica Gorny (from her Nov GrabBag at Oaks)
Santa Hat by Robyn Gough
Fonts- CK Holiday Spirit, CK Chunky Block

Ready to get your gobble on?

2007-11-21T20:47:00.000-06:00

We're gearing up for turkey day here. As we all know, Aidan helped make placecards already, and yesterday I finished up sewing my cloth napkins, they're lovely if I do say so myself. And I do! :) quite proud of them, I am. What cloth napkins could be complete withough napkin rings, so last night Aidan helped make turkey napkin rings. They're pretty cute (pictures to come of the ringed napkins tomorrow, but for now I'll include on of me sewing the napkins) and the table will look fabu. Today we made 4 pies, 2 pumpkin (I love the smell of pumpkin pie baking in the oven, totally a comfort smell) and 2 oreo cream pies. The recipe for that is on this blog, go back in the archives to NOV '05. I had to make a change though, because we don't use cool whip anymore. We've cut out partially hydrogenated oils from out diet, and so that rules it out. I made whip cream myself instead. We're thrilled to be able to have these again, we haven't made them for over a year because the oreos had that kind of oil in it, but Oreo has seen the light and gotten rid of it, and we now can partake of the yummy oreo goodness again. On that same note, making the pumpkin pies took longer as well, for the same reason, every store bought crust I could find had it, so we made our own, that was interesting, lol. We'll see how they taste tomorrow.

This was just a quick update. Have a rocking turkey day everyone!

Aidan's Turkey Day Placecards

2007-11-17T19:31:00.000-06:00

fun simple turkey day project with my little. I figured this way he'll feel involved with all th preparations. If I get my napkins made tomorrow, we'll make napkin rings.

the place cards were simple. scraps for the place cards (4x4 square folded in half) leaves with letters (punch), and the turkey is a stamp that I let Aidan color in, he was so proud of himself. then we stamped turkey tracks across each card.

Lil' Punkin

2007-11-07T23:10:00.000-06:00

Aidan's little cousin Charlie, last Halloween.

Kit used is Autumn Bounty by Connie Prince from K-joi

Font DSP cybergram

Look Who's TWO

2007-11-07T09:18:00.000-06:00

My son's younger cousin, turned 2 recently, I couldn't resist scrapping that sweet birthday girl smile!

Everything is from Fallen by Jessica Gorny

font is DSP Cybergram

Paper scrapped gift

2007-11-04T13:15:00.000-06:00

I know it's hard to believe. I've had the stuff to make this since I came back from IN/KY back in August. The picture is my cousin Sandy and me standing in what is left of a carriage trail on what was once land owned by my 5x great grandfather (Sandy's 3x great grandfather).
This is a gift I'm going to send to my cousin Sandy.
The background paper is paper salon. the frame is K&Co. the round stamps are Sandylion clear stamps. the larger journaling block is by Stampabilities. I used brilliance Ink in Cosmic Copper. and I used a Marvy scalloped circle punch. on the two little leaves are the month and year the photo was taken.
Top circle has out names, middle circle says where we are, and the bottom one says, Cousins, Friends, Family Historians.
The quote on the journaling block says "to forget one's ancestors is to be a brooke with no source, a tree with no root. ~Chinese Proverb"
This is relevent for us because we are the ONLY ones in the family with an interest in researching our family tree. It was quite an experience to stand there in that carriage trail, to see what was left of the tracks worn by years of use, and to imagine what it must have been like to live the way they did, to have to travel miles in a wagon on such rough terrain, to be so far from town.

Farmer Aidan and his Girlfriends

2007-11-01T13:14:00.001-05:00

Farmer Aidan

2007-10-30T16:08:00.000-05:00

This is his "costume" for Halloween this year. We went from him wearing the same clothes, along with his toolbelt and hard hat (so he could be Bob the Builder) to being a farmer.

Credits
Autumn Mix by LaWanna DesJardinPainted Burlap-Alpha and Extras (red) by LaWanna DesJardinFont- DSP Cyber Gram

I got accepted to another CT

2007-10-30T11:36:00.000-05:00

for Merkeley Designs., which can be found at Merkeley Designs and at Oscraps.

She's got some awesome stuff in her shops, I love her "A Big Alpha" which I used for the "1941" in the layout below.

The picture is my Great Grandfather. That's him behind the bar in his Saloon (one of many businesses that he had).

Credits

Blueberry Mountain (short stack) paper pack by Merkeley Designs
A Big Alpha by Merkeley Designs
Binder Clips Altered by Merkeley Designs
Purty Curls by Merkeley Designs
Sepia Stamps by Merkeley Designs
Spectrum Flowers by Merkeley Designs
Fonts MS Serif, Calligrapher, and Sylfaen

Credits
We only have a handful of pregnancy pictures, most were lost during my hard drive crash. This one is a scan of a really bad copy, but it's the only one from the end of the pregnancy, and a bad picture is better then no picture.
Blueberry Mountain (short stack) paper pack by Merkeley Designs
A Big Alpha by Merkeley Designs
Binder Clips Altered by Merkeley Designs
Purty Curls by Merkeley Designs
Sepia Stamps by Merkeley Designs
Spectrum Flowers by Merkeley Designs
Small Packages-Notepaper3 by ksharonk Designs
Font Arial

3.92

2007-10-26T17:50:00.000-05:00

That's Ian's final GPA! It would have been even higher if we hadn't been without internet for a week during a 2 week long class. Ian you rock! I am so PROUD of you!!!

Ian "in the classroom"

Just another day in Paradise

2007-10-24T18:41:00.000-05:00

Things are going ok here. I am, as per the usual, feeling overwhelmed about the things that need to get done, and trying to find balance between the things that NEED to get done and the things I WANT to get done. I was going to make baked ziti today, I had just finished boiling the noodles for it and was in the process of draining them when I spilled the darn things all over the sink! To my credit I didn't burst into tears, lol. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. I cleaned that up and just boiled another kind of pasta with some broccoli, and some baked chicken. I was so annoyed with my self. Part of the reason for that is my poor little guy is sick again, just a cold but he's miserable, and didn't sleep well, and was up about 2 and half hours earlier then normal. I'm waiting for him to crash. It's probably going to happen soon, and I'm going to have to crash with him, because I just know he'll be waking up a bunch during the night. So anyway, I had to take a tired and listless little manto Sam's club and the grocery store with me. then I filled the truck up. came home and unloaded it all. didn't have much time to get dinner made before Ian had to get up for work and then I botched the first batch of noodles. so you can see my day's been a bit tiring. BUT. I'm home with my little man more, and that's a good thing. We're acclimating pretty well, we just need to get more a routine and we'll be moving right along.
So here's to many more days in paradise- maybe minus the flubbed noodles and the sniffles.

I've been double tagged

2007-10-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

by Meghan and Lissa
Here's the deal:
7 Random Facts I must post.So read them, comment on them & then check to see if your name is in the 7 I tag. If it is, list 7 Random Facts about yourself & pass on the tag to 7 people.

1.I just ate pancakes and eggs for dinner (you asked for random, lol).
2.I love reading, I've got so many books I could use a couple more tall bookshelves. Ian is in the same boat. So is Aidan. We could so totally open the McBride private library, lol.
3.I've read all of my books, multiple times. And I usually finish a book the same day I start it.
4.I have the best in-laws in the world. I get along better with them then I do my own family. :)
5.My youngest brother in law turned 16 yesterday. he was 6 when I met him!!
6.My babay is going to be 5 in a couple of months..AHHH! where does the time go?
and last but not LEAST!
7. Ian just finished his last class TODAY!! As soon as the figure out the grades for that, I'll be the very PROUD wife of a college graduate! It's been a long 4 years. But I'm so proud of him, he's worked so hard.

now I'm supposed to tag 7 people, but I think most everyone I know has already been tagged, and I don't know 7 people to tag. But I'll tag the people I know anyway, and if they've been tagged more then once, as Lissa said, just considered yourself extra loved.

1.Abby
2.Tara
3.Laurie
4.Julie
5.Torreh
6.Jodi

Trick or Treat LO

2007-10-22T15:45:00.000-05:00

I used a template by SStanton (there was no TOU, this was part of the file name) as a jumping off point.

Everything else is by LaWanna DesJardin.

Stitches- Bittersweet Autumn kit

Purple Glitz Alpha

Everything else is from her kit Moonlit Magic Fonts- Calligrapher and Arial

2 new digi layouts

2007-10-20T17:03:00.000-05:00

Well, I was going to upload to new pages I did , but blogger won't let me! oy.
So here's what you can do if you want to see them, click on one of my gallery links, and you can see them there, one is called "Magical" and one is called "Autumn Romp". I'll try to upload them here again later.

ETA: Here are the LOs. Details below

Autumn Romp

Did this for the Hawt Mama Template challenge this week (10/19/07)

I used LaWanna DesJardin's kit Bittersweet Autumn. The r, m, and p are done with the socket font, and I covered them (masked?) with the burlap circle from the kit so they would match.

Fonts- Socket and Arial

Magical

Started out with KimB's Pretty Twisted Template.

I used LaWanna DesJardin's kit Moonlit Magic

Font - Arial