I love and hate new technology at the same time.

Love having a new laptop.

Hate transferring files. (I haven't yet begun to transfer the 10,000 plus photos I have.)

Love wifi.

Hate not being able to print yet.

LOVE new software. (photoshop elements 8.0)

Original photo:

Edited photo - used a Coffeeshop Action - creamy chocolate.

Hate not knowing what to do with it! I finally figured out the photoshop actions...thanks to Dani for some help! I'm going to finally go through all the Jessica Sprague tutorials I have saved. And I think I need a book or two.

Now I can finally go to sleep!

Nothing beats a good ol' fashioned pajamma day.

Yep, wore PJ's all day today. A much needed break to do really...just about nothing serious. Anyone venture out into the shopping craziness? We saw the tents set up at Best Buy yesterday at 3 PM. I can't imagine sitting outside for 15+ HOURS just to get a cheap tv/computer/blu ray... not that die hard! This year, I stayed in on Black Friday. I did head out yesterday for a couple of quick stops at Meijer and Kmart, but nothing caught my fancy for Black Friday shopping. I was hoping to do some online shopping, but Kohls website has been down all day.

Instead of shopping, I did do some scrapping. Working on my December ASD kit. So far I've completed 4 single page layouts with the Lily Bee papers and 1 two-page spread with the Fancy Pants papers. Maybe tomorrow I can get a sneak peek up...we'll see if the sun is shining or not over here so I can get some good photos.

On the homefront we took the plunge for some new family room furniture. Much overdue. Totally changed the look of the room, so we (I) need to redecorate the very blank back wall. I'm thinking a piece of wall art and a bunch of black framed B/W pictures... I'll have to get a picture up.

If anyone is scoping around online...I'm in the market for a new laptop. I'm looking for 4GB of RAM and at least 320 GB hard drive, Pentium Core 2 processor...if you see a deal, let me know! Our computer is 6 (!!) years old, it's time for an upgrade.

Who Doesn't Love a Happy Mail Day?

There is something about getting a package(s) in the mail that is just FUN. Yesterday, I received my November kit from ASD and my DT kit for December. Nothing like a box of scrapbook supplies to get you out of a funk. I'm working with the "Bigger" kit for December and if you love Fancy Pants or Lily Bee, you are in luck. Both are in the kit for next month. In fact, I've already finshed my two-page sketch layout, all I need is the journaling.

Also, sitting on my front porch waiting to be opened was a box from Amazon. Who doesn't like a package with a smile on it? I ordered some Early Reader books for Alexa. She's really making progress reading and is enjoying books as well. I picked up four books to slowly introduce over the next few weeks. Santa may have to bring some books from the next reading level!

December is almost here, anyone doing a "December Daily" this year? Last year I spent too much time making the album and pages and ended up too far behind to catch up. I'm trying again, this time, I have my album picked out and the pages already set. Hopefully that will make it easier to journal and/or add pictures. It's mainly chipboard (an older Prima album), and some die cut chipboard pages that I painted and used some Glimmer Mist to add a subtle sheen. I have Basic Grey Wassail papers and die cuts to add to the pages as I go. Once I take some pictures, I'll load them up.

At Last, I'm back.

After a much too long break from blogging, I'm back. Life got a little crazy last month. I got sick, work got insanely busy (and still is), then Halloween came around and work got busier. For at least 2 weeks I didn't even touch my scrap supplies. By the end on the evening (when I usually scrapbook) I was exhausted.

I don't have a big update, hopefully, I can get back to regular blogging now that our outdoor activities are winding down.

But, on a happy note, tomorrow is my anniversary. 8 years. :) Happy Anniversary babe!

Ah, back when I was young and thin, my how time flies!

Right Now...

This girl:

1 - is loving school. Learning to read and loving it, becoming very independent.

2 - is loving making art. I don't know if it's a fad, but she has to draw and/or color every day right now.

3 - is waiting for her first tooth to fall out. Don't tell her, but I really don't think ANY of them are loose yet.

4 - is growing taller. Clothes are starting to not fit again. Must have hit a growth spurt. We went to the mall today.

5 - is kind, thoughtful, observant and a good big sister. She makes us proud.



This girl:

1 - is making leaps and bounds with her speech. Alexa being in school has forced Ava to talk for herself. A very good thing.

2 - is totally into art as well. Has to draw, color and/or cut things out daily.

3 - has the best facial expressions. She can tell you a story and even if you don't know what she's saying her face says it all.

4 - is still a lefty. No doubt, this girl is going to be a southpaw.

5 - is a sweet, slightly stubborn, kind and caring little princess.

LOVE them dearly!

P.S. -stole this idea from another person's blog! Love this idea. :)

Blog Candy Winner!

Just a quick post for now, but I counted up all the posts and challenges and wrote out a bunch of little slips with names (somewhere around 30!) and the winner is.....


REBECCA!

Congratulations and great job on the challenges. I'm going to need your address to ship out your kit and RAK. Rebecca email me at:
swiatkowski01(at)hotmail(dot)com.

I'll be back later!

I have a cold. And my layouts from the ASD blog challenges.

Ok, first things first. Yes, I am going to whine for a paragraph. Hang with me.

My main job is to teach others about H1N1 right now. It's all we do at work, it's all-encompassing. You would think those genetically related to me would heed my "cover your coughs and sneezes and please throw your tissues away and wash your hands" message, right? Hmm, not so much. My oldest has graciously shared her cold with me. Fab-u-lous. Hand washing only goes so far, especially when your darlings have a knack for coughing all over you as you buckle the cherubs in their car seats. *sigh* A nice chesty cough and a voice that sounds like I drank whiskey daily and smoked unfiltered cigarettes for the last 50 years. Yes, I am that hot right now. And just in time for my first day off since Labor Day. Awesome.

So, after that little rant, I did get several layouts created this weekend, including a few for the ASD Crop-tober fest. Apparently, I need more light in my house. These photos aren't the finest.

For the Embellishement challenge (I used glitter, chipboard, - I just love those Maya Road cupcakes - ribbon and a rhinestone):


For the Naked chipboard challenge (this layout is so "un-Maria," it's messy, non-linear, and for the love, I painted on my paper):


I did finish the 2-page sketch challenge, but it is way too dark to get a picture. Perhaps tomorrow morning. It was linear and clean...all things "me" when it comes to scrapbooking.

While I was down at my crafting area, I ended up creating a few other layouts:

This one might be my favorite. New Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses here. And a tiny bit of new Pink Paislee. And my newest fad - a grid.


Alright, off to bed I go, back to work tomorrow. I'm hoping my voice clears a bit, I do have a presentation at noon. (On H1N1, of course!) Even better, tomorrow night, I also have a doubleheaders. Starting at 8:30 PM. Should be a balmy 45 degrees by then.