Scrap Corner

As many of you know, I have relocated to MI to a small duplex until Paul returns from Afghanistan. I took a corner of my teeny bedroom for scrapping and have managed to arrange it for an extrememtly low cost.

Table-$15 (school surplus sale)

Letters-$2.99 (Joanns) **painted with acrylic paint and sealed with acrylic sealer

Pegboard-$14 (Ace Hardware)

Hooks-$10 (ebay)

Buckets-$1 (Target)

Containers for Ribbon-Free, just repainted with acrylic paint

As you can see, now I need to put all of my stuff away, but I couldn't resist putting up photos now.

SWAPtime!

Here are my fun goodies from my RedVelvet Swap partner. This was very very fun and I can't wait to use my new items. The picture doesn't show that the little changepurse is this great metallic pink patent leather. I LOVE IT.

Ahhh Naptime!

I am savoring naptime like an expensive bottle of red...
We have been on vacation for the past week and it feels good to be "home". Ok, not as good as being in the STL house, but good to be back.

More later,
cat :)

Christmas in August

Here are a few of my Christmas pages. I haven't done many, but have been starting to collect more red and green items for the next holiday season. Halloween is my favorite holiday, but having Tate has made other holidays a lot of fun.

Rainy today...I am organizing scrap stuff (my dad just installed a peg board wall for me) and watching tv. I made this yummy MUSHROOM PATE to take over to my parents later today. It is a Martha Stewart recipe and I have to stop myself from making a meal out of it. Here is the link for the recipe:

http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/martha-stewart/recipe2231/wild-mushroom-pate

Total Summer Brain Candy

The Hills Season 3, Real World 106, Fashionista Diaries, Top Chef Miami, Big Love, Project Runway, Model Life w/ Petra Nemcova.....

Not proud of this list, in fact it is kind of like a confession, but these shows give me something that PBS and the Discovery Channel just isn't going to give me!

TOP CHEF: Contestants work together to make their dish.

THE HILLS ; Audrina, Lauren and Whitney

Baking Bread

Catie and I have been trying to make bread from scratch. We finally succeeded! It was so good, that I am STILL full from all of our sampling.

Great Lakes Folk Music Festival

We had a great time. We danced for about an hour in the "Dance Tent" to the Latin music of Grupo Fantasma from Austin, TX.

SCRAP LAYOUTS-Texas Memories

Here are a few pages from when I lived in Abilene, TX (2003-2004). I was lucky enough to work at a small scrapbook store at the time, as well as teach at the local high school.

Doing errands today and hoping to get my scrap area organized. I haven't created in a few days...

I was inspired by Ali Edwards blog and her "daily something" project. I love the recycled envelope idea! http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

Blog Party Challenge

Elsie Flannigan is hosting a BlogParty today on her website: http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/

One of her challenges is to list "34 things to do before I am 35"...or whatever age you are.

Here are mine:
1. Bake a 3 tier weddingcake (but for another holiday, decorated for that holiday)
2. Go to Northern California and visit all my friends.
3. Have a babysitter for a full night for Tate and go out with Paul.
4. Return to my yoga class.
5. Go snowboarding.
6. Bake a decent loaf of bread from scratch.
7. Wean Tate.
8. Wean Tate off TV.
9. Make something worth giving away.
10. Go camping w/Tate and Paul.
11. Become a better home decorator.
12. Dress to feed my soul, not impress others.
13. Buy a really cute bag--not for carrying sippy cups.
14. Go out more with girlfriends.
15. Decide on whether or not to have a second baby.
16. Make at least one big change that is more environmentally friendly in my household.
17. Play my flute more often.

OK--I can't think of anymore, but will add as I come up with them!

ART JOURNAL

Hi all...

For my birthday, Paul bought me an Art Journal Kit from http://redvelvetgirls.typepad.com/. It has taken awhile to get some pages done, but here are a few.

**I realize as I upload these pics, there aren't the greatest quality. I'll update with new versions soon.

Random Thoughts

1. Can't wait for the Fall Issues of Fashion Mags... I cheated and bought an August Vogue to satisfy me until then.

2. I feel so mature when I read most Vogue articles. In my early 20s I only had the attention span for the clothes ads.

3. Missing Cloth Diapers--they really DO cause less diaper rash. (Using disposable since temp home doesn't have washer and dryer).

4. Wondering what the weird smell in kitchen is...(trash is clean).

5. Baby just stripped down to his diaper while dancing.

6. Coveting BIG designer BAGS like the scrawny models carry. I'd be fine with Target version.

7. I want to successfully bake homemade bread. First attempt w/ niece, Catie, FAILED. We are trying a baguette next.

8. Magic Eraser is the best domestic thing ever, while Press and Seal is the devil. Oh, so is the Swiffer...

I actually DO scrapbook!

I love reading other people's blogs and I love their scrap layouts. I realized I haven't posted any creations since Easter. I started photographing new and old layouts and will start to post more often. Here are a few of Mikey, my brother.

Some are original ideas, some are scraplifted (usually with a twist) andsome are layouts from classes I attended. I hope you enjoy and feel free to share with me as well...