Jumping on the bandwagon?

Umm... okay, when I found out about the iPhone, I thought it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen in my life, but I didn't get one. THEN the iPod Touch came out. I got one of those (well, hubby got it for me...), and I still think it's the coolest thing I've ever seen.

Until now.

Granted, the name, iPad... I think... is stupid. It sounds like a feminine hygiene product for the digital era. I honestly thought it was a spoof. LOL. But THEN, I watched this video. I've been wanting an eBook since 2001. Seriously. But... I hadn't fell in love with one enough to pay the money. I guess I was waiting for this day. ;-)

Okay, I'm not going to run right out and get myself an iTampon as soon as it becomes available. Oops! I mean iPad! iPAD! Right. Sorry. May take me a while to get used to that silly name. Anywho... I'm not going to get one right away. I think I'll wait for the 2nd generation... let them work out all the kinks. LOL.

I love that it has a calendar/planner in it! Photos, videos, books *and* a planner?! Now, that's something I can get on board with. :-)

Hmm... we weren't going to put *all* our tax money toward credit card debt, were we?!

*ahem* Back to regularly scheduled posting.

And a layout I did using Studio Calico's January kit...

The journaling on this layout is a blog post I wrote on January 8th. I REALLY wanted to turn that into a page. I'm so glad I did! I know this design is kinda crazy (and doesn't have a white background! LOL!), but I wanted something that could fit A LOT of handwritten journaling in a creative way, and this is what my brain came up with. I also love this photo of the two of us. So fun!

Did I show this card too? I don't remember...

You should have seen my scrap room while I was creating this. It was SUCH a mess! Alphabet stickers EVERYWHERE!! LOL. Totally fun though. :-)

Remembering July 2009.

July was probably the busiest month of 2009. We did SO much!

First off, we drove to Colorado for 4th of July. We had to leave on the 1st though because it took two days to drive there. We saw a lot of this...


Our first stop (okay, technically, 2nd stop because we did have to sleep before we got there... LOL) was Albuquerque, New Mexico, to see Jeremy's mom and step-dad. We should have taken a photo the night we got there *instead* of the next morning. We all look exhausted! LOL.

Then, it was on to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to see my parents. I LOVE this photo of the four of us in their bakery. My mom looks so great, and this is one of the only photos where I think I actually look like her. I mostly look like my dad...

The *main* reason we went was because it was our 10-year high school reunion. Very fun to see everyone. I loved meeting everyone's spouses/significant others. That was my favorite part. :-)

Then we went to the 4th of July parade, where I got to hang out with my two best friends from high school: Julia and Jennifer. It was just so nice to hang out with them again. :-D Jen brought us gymnastics shirts (Jen was our coach, and Julia and I were on the team together).

Afterward, Jen and I went for a walk downtown, and we ran into Jillian, *another* girl from our gymnastics team (she still coaches... at one of the best gyms in the nation)! It was SO exciting to see her! I hadn't seen her in probably 9 years! It was awesome! :-) I probably screamed... LOL.

Then, Julia and I went over to the gym to stare at this sign on the door... and cry. *sigh* It's very bittersweet to see our gym close after 13 years.

EVERY time I go visit Pagosa, I have to stop and see *my* girls, Raesha and Re'ahna. I met Raesha and Re'ahna on March 17, 1996. I remember the exact date because it was St. Patrick's Day, and we were at the Riverside Restaurant getting our green ice cream! LOL. I babysat for them, competed with them, coached them... and loved them (still do!) like they're my sisters. :-) Raesha (the oldest) just went off to college! Sheesh, she's old! ;-)

And Re'ahna... the perfect little sister. In gymnastics, they called her "Little Ahna," and me, they called, "Big 'Anna." It was really fun. :-) She's 15 now. She was just a *baby* when I first met them in 1996! Craziness.

I also got to hang out with my honorary older sister (my mom has pretty much adopted her... LOL), Summer. We always laugh SO much when we get together. We had so much fun cuddling her dog, looking at photos and telling stories.

When I got back from Colorado, I re-did my scrap room... again. LOL. This time, I realized that I NEEDED color... and a vintage flair! ;-) I LOVE how it turned out. I've changed it again (not the decor, but the arrangement) since then, since we bought the house. I'll have to take photos soon...

Then we went to see Harry Potter, opening weekend. I wore my SUPER-cool button I made myself. LOL. I got a lot of compliments. :-) I used to make TONS of these (all different sayings) and pass them out at all the HP book releases parties and movie openings, but my button machine broke... LOL.

Jeremy didn't want to wear a button, so we stapled a Ravenclaw patch to his shirt. He passed OUT on the floor when we got home. Too funny.

Jeremy worked away from home a lot, and Ruby *really* missed him! Every night, she would sit and stare at the door... just waiting for him to come home...

This was also the month that Ruby *really* got into reading Scrapbook Trends magazine. She *loves* that magazine! ;-) (Seriously, Paige, this is NOT staged! I was reading it on the floor, got up, and came back to find Ruby here!)

On July 30th, I had my birthday. I finally turned my favorite number: 28. It was VERY exciting for me. LOL. I found this shirt at J Crew, and I HAD to have it for the occasion. :-)

Also on my birthday, my friends and I went out to the Melting Pot... just the girls. It was SO fun! SO FUN! This was actually the first time I ever had my closest friends go out together. They had never met each other before this night, and we all got along like we had all been friends forever. It was amazing!

Jeremy turned 28 on July 30th as well, but he was in Florida (for work) on our birthday... otherwise, we'd have a photo of the two of us on that day. Ah well.

Wow, I had a great birthday month last year!!! (I love this re-cap thing! LOL.)

Remembering June 2009.

Hung out with a bunch of friends in June 2009. I heart my friends. So much. :-)

My friend, Hillary, I've known since high school. We were in gymnastics together in Colorado, and she ended up moving to Austin a year before I did! Before I moved to Austin, I thought, "If Hillary loves Austin, I will too!" We're both total Colorado girls, so I knew I'd love it if Hillary did. :-) I love that we're able to see each other at least once a month.


I "picked up" Mark and Lindsay at The Container Store. They were newlyweds, and Lindsay and I hit it off right away. And as soon as I met her husband, Mark, I knew it was a couple-match-made-in-organizational-Heaven. ;-) We went hiking (all four of us; Jeremy is taking the photo) shortly after we met...

Mark and Lindsay are currently touring the world... for one year. *sigh* I think this is so awesome for them, but I miss them already! I can't wait till they come back for good! :D

My friend Paula wanted to do a scrapbook for her daughter for graduation, and I was happy to help. We spent FIFTEEN hours over two days working on this scrapbook, and we finally finished! It was so fun to have her over!

I don't think my scrap room has ever been that messy. Ever. LOL.

As a "thank you," Paula gave me a gift card to Kirby Lane, an Austin favorite. Jeremy and I had breakfast... with blueberry sodas. Yummm!


And my favorite layout of that month:

A pretty laid-back June. Just the way we like it. :-)

Wanting to be Part of That World...

Just call me Ariel...

So... the other day in the shower (TMI?!), I'm singing "Beauty and the Beast," and I realized that I didn't remember all the words. Then I decided to see to what Disney songs I *do* remember all the words. LOL. After several misses (umm... four...), my brain FINALLY remembered one. "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid.

I pretty much remembered it word-for-word. I couldn't believe it. As I was singing it yesterday (Again, in the shower. Again, TMI. ;-) ), I decided I'd change the words a bit. Then I thought, "Hey, that was fun. I should share this on my blog." LOL. My original idea was to SING this and post it on YouTube. Okay, I'm not Carrie Underwood, but I can carry a tune when I have to. ;-) And even though, I *recorded* myself singing... was surprised that I don't suck all that much, LOL... I can't bring myself to post it. LOL. So... here are the words to *my* version. (If you need a reminder of the tune, just click on the link above...)

Let's just say I'm bummed that I decided not to attend CHA this year. I mean, I had good reasoning (hubby and I want to use the money to take a vacation for the two of us instead), but I still am desperately missing it. And me missing CHA... well, it seemed to spawn a song... LOL.

Part of Your World (CHA Style)

Look at this stuff
Isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl...
The girl who has everything?

Look at this trove
Scrap-stuff untold
How many punches can one scrap room hold?
Looking around here, you think
Sure, she’s got everything!

I’ve got paper and Thickers a-plenty,
I’ve got Copics and scissors galore.
You want Maya Road Mists?
I’ve got twenty!
But who cares?
 No big deal.
I want more.

I wanna be where the designers are.
I wanna see, wanna see the scrap celebs
Walking around in the... what do you call it?
CHA!

Not submitting, you don’t get too far,
But take a chance, make a card, a layout..
And soon I’ll design for a - what’s that word again?
TEAM!

Up where they scrap, up where they go
Up where they stay all day in that show...
Designing for BG - wish I could be
Part of that world.

What would I give if I could design for American Crafts?
Would would I pay to spend a day on the SC staff?
Betcha on the team, they understand,
That you could scrap the day away
Creative women; sick of sittin’
In front of our screens!

And ready to know what the manufacturers know,
Ask’em my questions and get some answers...
October Afternoon, we do love you, but where are new
LINES?

When’s it my time?
Wouldn’t I love, love to explore that world in Anaheim?
Last year I was,
This year I’m not...
Part of that world.

Remembering May 2009.

Phew. Took a little break from the Internet... it was nice. :D I think I'll stay away more often now. LOL. Anywho... on to May 2009!

This cute little kitty had been following us around since July 2008. This month, I finally let her spend most of her time in our house. AND I finally got some photos of her! We named her Kissa (Finnish word for "cat").


Jeremy and I decided we needed to get out more. We went to this coffee shop by our house, Bear Rock Cafe. They closed shortly after. :-( Ah well. We DID get some cute photos! (This dress I'm wearing? Navy with white embroidery. CUTE! I got it earlier that month. It was only $15 at Ross! YAY!)

And a close-up of my SUPER cute hubby, Jeremy!

Hubby worked A LOT that month, and I had three days off in a row, so I decided to drive the FIVE hours away (McAllen, Texas) to be with him when he was done with work each day. :D Five hours in a car alone (well... with the puppies) gave me A LOT of time to amuse myself...

And the puppies (Amber, left; Ruby, right) were stoked to be able to come along. They slept most the way. They're so good in the car. :-)

I also got to spend time with my friend Bethina, and her boys: Bryce (left) and Sean (right). They are SO sweet!!! Honestly, they make me feel that if I have a boy in the future, I will be just fine. LOL. I get to see them again this week (and their new baby sister!), so I'm STOKED! :-D

One day, Jeremy asked me if I wanted to "craft" with him. That meant making RJ-45 cables (ethernet). I have to admit, I complained a bit before I gave in. But I was really good at them! After we were done, I was like, "Okay... mastered that craft! Back to scrapbooking!" LOL. (Photo was turned to black and white because I had JUST woken up and had no make up or shower... LOL.)

May is the month that it starts getting HOT in Texas. I needed new clothes. For some reason, while living in Rhode Island, I had neglected to buy many tank tops or tees (or skirts, for that matter); and in Texas, that's all you live in for a good four months. I even bought some with PRINTS! LOL. (I'm a solid/stripey girl.)

And... I made this (and forgot to post it!) for my friend Selena... a gift for graduation that month. She loved it. :-)


And that's about it! Hey! What do you think of my new blog header?! I made it myself! Well, I used my Wacom pen and tablet. The font is my own too. It was SO fun. I've been meaning to for a while. New photo of myself too since I cut A LOT of my hair off this week... :-)

Remembering April 2009.

I can't believe I never blogged about this! GAH! In March 2009 (I took the photos in April, so I'm keeping this in the April post... LOL), we had a HUGE hailstorm. I've been in MANY hailstorms in Colorado, Minnesota and Rhode Island, but NONE of those compared to this one. When it was finished, I ran right outside (as did most people...) to survey the damage. I scooped up a bunch of hailstones as proof...

You can see the racquetball there for size. Also, this photo was taken a MONTH after the hailstorm. I kept these in the freezer, and they SHRUNK! So they were actually a bit bigger than the picture shows. Still. Can you believe that?!

Both our cars were totaled. Well, they were drivable, but our insurance deemed them total losses due to the golf-ball sized dents and cracks in the windshields. Ack. These babies did A LOT of damage to cars and roofs in the area. Craziness!

A super cool thing I saw that month... a cardinal!

I was STOKED! I have seen VERY few of these in my lifetime. I saw my first cardinal back in Rhode Island, only a year earlier. They seem so rare and somehow, magical to me. I know the sound of their call now, so when I hear them, I can run out and try to find them! I rarely do, so I was so excited to catch this guy!

I spent a lot of April organizing my Studio Calico kit photos into an album, along with product listings and Elle's Studio tags. :-) It was SO fun. And this is SO easy to reference now. I LOVE it. I think I *may* be a *bit* obsessed with organizing at this point...

I also got to travel to Waco to have a crop with Kelly G (who was visiting and teaching classes) and some girls from SC. It was SO fun! I was so glad I had the chance to go!

Of course, Jeremy and I played more racquetball. We would always have SO much fun... and laugh SO much.

And then, of course, the down-point of my April... my horrendous sunburn. Yes, it *is* possible to get a sunburn this bad in April... in Texas. LOL. Second-degree burns are SO not fun. The pain got so bad, I nearly passed out on several occasions. I was on Vicodin! *That's* how bad the pain was.

I STILL have tan-lines from this burn. Gosh, I'm SO glad that's over!

Remembering March 2009.

Mmmm... March. Jeremy came home! YAY! We enjoyed being together so much! Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. :-) The puppies missed him SO much! LOL. They love to lick his face...

Some nights, we just sat around. I really liked those nights. I still do. I just loved sitting there, watching him on his computer, cuddling with the puppies...

feels like home to me...

This photo makes my heart so happy. One of my favorite photos of 2009...

We also went on a few adventures. Small ones. Our near-weekly trips to Big Top Candy Shop. We LOVE that place!!

A very old-fashioned candy shop, with vintage circus decor. I LOVE to just sit in here and look around. :-)

Waiting for my Italian Cream Soda (blackberry!) and my chocolate-covered sunflower seeds. My two favorite things from Big Top. :-) (And also my favorite sweater from Anthropologie! LOVE that sweater more than anything in my wardrobe!)

We also took up racquetball! It was SO fun to walk to the court a few nights a week. I think I only beat him twice! LOL. We were always so sweaty and nasty afterward. LOL! It was a great workout. :-)

(Wow! My husband is CUTE!)

After March... 2009 was looking up! It kept going up too! :-)

Remembering February 2009.

Honestly, February is a bit of a blur. Hubby wasn't there, so I was in a slump... missing him terribly, but trying to be my independent self and find time for ME.

I know I shopped at The Container Store a bunch... LOL. Took the pups with me... usually just Ruby because Amber hates crowds and stores. Ruby LOVES people, so she loves to be out of the house... shopping or walking or whatever. LOL. On this day though, I decided Amber needed some time out too. :-)

I didn't scrap much, except for Craft Critique. This was my favorite layout of that month:

I just LOVE this photo hubby took of me with my sister's girls. It's one of my most favorite photos... of all time. :-)

Looking back, I wish I had inked the edges of the papers. LOL. At the time, I considered it, but I opted not to because I felt like I inked SO much. LOL. I'll probably go back and outline everything with a black or brown pen instead... LOL. You know, since it's too late to ink the edges. LOL.

I also remember that I ate a lot of fruit, bacon and hot dogs during this month. LOL. Those foods reminded me of visiting with my grandfather just a few weeks prior, so it was very comforting for me. LOL.

February sucked. March got better... :-)

Oh! And... this month's Studio Calico kit is AWESOME! I LOVE it! I love it so much that I'm having a hard time using it! Once I use it, it will be gone. :-( It helps, though, that my favorite papers this month are SC papers... so I have THREE sets of them! :D Tee hee.

Here's what I made yesterday...

Jeremy and I are always saying to each other, "You're my favorite!" "You're MY favorite!" LOL. So fun, so I thought I'd document that. :-) The design for this layout was inspired by a photo I saw at Paige's blog. This woman's daughter's room. SO CUTE! Totally inspiring. :-)

And then, it was like... midnight when I finished that layout, but I still wanted to scrap some more, so I did a super quick one!

(As seen in Ellaments by Ella Publishing.)

A layout of my three nieces... aka "The 3 Sillies"! LOL. I really like how it turned out... simple, but fun. And the bow I made for the center? Believe it or not, The Container Store taught me how to make that at Christmastime! LOL.

That's all for today. Let me know you stopped by! :-)