The day from hell...

*sigh* This day just plain bites. Sorry, but there is no other way to describe it. I really don't feel like going into a lot of detail, but I would be doing you a diservice if I didn't post what the heck is going on in my life at least enough for you to understand why my mood may be down and I may be short in my posts. Scott (& the entire management team) was let go from Holiday's today. I am SHOCKED that they would use him for the past year and a half to get the restaurant open and then drop him like this. He is the hardest worker I have ever met. He always give 200%. He worked 80-90 hours a week and gave everything he had physically and emotionally to that job. I am crushed that they would treat him like that without any explanation. Further more, we have kids... lots of little mouths to feed and I don't know how that will happen with my menial paycheck. I am filled with fear for what the future may hold for us. PLEASE say a little prayer that Scott will find a new job... and while youre at it, maybe even pray that he will find some happiness.

In totally non-real life related news... be sure to check out this fabulous button freebie from Lisa Whitney! These are the coolest buttons ever and the layout she created with them is fantastic!

Don't miss your chance to win a Canon Digital Rebel XT right here! I have owned this camera for about 11 months now and couldn't be happier with my decision to purchase it!

Be sure to check out the newest designer at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking- Cindy Simon! Congrats Cindy! :)

Burned where the sun don't shine.....

I think I wore my swim suit only like twice last year. [Being overweight has stripped away my confidence to be seen covered by so little fabric.] Today I decided "What the heck?" I'm going to wear my suit so I can get a tan that won't show weird lines from sleeves, etc. Mistake. BIG mistake. Despite using sun screen, I burned the back of my legs VERY badly. You know how a burn is always worse the second day? Yeah, this is still the first day and I can hardly sit down. Looks like I may have to work standing up this week! LOL

I wasn't great in the photo taking department... I took maybe 130 pics. I did actually break out the manual, though, and learned about a few more of the features and played with some settings. I even shot a little bit in fully manual which I haven't done in years! I am looking forward to getting the pictures downloaded and creating some new pages!

Despite the fact that I napped this morning and then on the way home tonight, I am mighty tired, so I am out of here. I plan to see if the new Big Love episode is On Demand and then crash for the night!

Happy Memorial Day!

Good morning!

Wow, it's not even 8am on Sunday morning and it's already hot and humid. We should be well into the 80's today! Our plans: Church, then up to Ossipee for the rest of the weekend! WOOHOO!

Have you been by The Digi Chick this weekend? Check out this super fab sale!


I didn't get quite as much accomplished yesterday as I had hoped, but I did make progress. It's a never ending mission, I suppose.

I created a digital invitation for the basketball sleepover we are planning for July. I was compiling a list of the girls to invite with one of the players and realized it's EIGHTEEN GIRLS! Am I crazy!? I have asked Lesley to come up and "chaperone" with me for this girls only event. Now I just have to ditch the boys somewhere... maybe Sherri will be up for a sleepover herself?

In other scrapping related chatter, I did 2 digital layouts last night (both about Megan's basketball team) and also scanned the 2 paper layouts I did last weekend. They are all up in my gallery if you are interested in taking a little looksie! :)

The shower is calling to me so I am outta here... don't have too much fun without me this weekend! Be safe! XO

Thanks for the lovin'!

Thanks to you girlies who left me a comment yesterday! I am super psyched to find out you are here. :) Of course I am shaking my head because my life is so stinkin' boring, I just can't imagine WHY you are here but I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth. [What exactly *is* a gift horse, anyway?]

So, here it is like a million degrees in NH. Gosh, I hate sweating. It's just so, well, YUCKY! I actually put on shorts today which I swore I wouldn't do this summer! LOL I am spending the day cleaning the house. How is it that 4 kids and a dog can produce such a MESS???????? Hmmmmm, do you think my lack of organization skills could have anything to do with it? Naaaaaa, lol ;)

CKU Boston update: We have decided not to go. After carefully reviewing the classes being offered, we decided that they are not what we would consider "Masters" level classes and that $400 plus food and hotel and for 6 not-so-great classes just can not be justified. I am bummed... I was really looking forward to the experience, but I am also not about wasting my hard earned cash when I have debt to pay down.

I can't believe it's just a few weeks until the kids are out of school! I have a feeling this summer is going to FLY by! I hadn't planned to work in the summer, but myposition really calls for it so I am going to work just 2 days instead of 3, losing only 3 hours which I am sure I can make up at home. I hate paying a sitter all the money I make to work but I would feel bad just leaving my employer in the lurch.

Well, I better get back to the cleaning before I lose all motivation. Wish me luck! :)

Toot x 2!

Woohoo- just got 2 emails from Scrapbook Trends for the September issue! :) Way to make a good Thursday even better!

Bandwidth. That seems to be my issue here. I ran out today! How can that be? Are that many people really coming to this little site? And if so, how come they are not giving me a shout out here on the ole blog? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Think. Think. Think. Geesh, can't think of anything else new or exciting so I will cut this post short today! Have a wonderful- SUNNY - Thursday afternoon!

How cool is this?

Megan's basketball team was recognized by the Senate at the State House today. After this recognition, they had the chance to meet Governor John Lynch! Isn't that awesome??

Favorite Summer Activity

8 days till CKU Boston registration opens! I am stalking the site yet there are still no classes listed! UGH! :(

Angela's blog challenge at The Digi Chick today is to share a favorite summer activity! Since I don't have much new or exciting to share, I guess I will join the crowd on this one. One of my favorite summer activites is going up to Lake Ossipee to stay at Scott's parent's camp! I LOVE the laid back feeling of just hanging out. The kids love to ride their bikes around for hours and we spend entire days on the boat. We will be kicking off this summer (Memorial Day weekend) up there and I can't wait!!!!!!

I hate to cut out of here with hardly a post but Dylan's appt with the specialist is this morning so I need to get myself ready! Have a great Tuesday!

Notes from the dark side of the shopping event!

Wow! What a whirlwind weekend! Fun times always go by WAY too fast! So wrong, I tell ya!

Overall I had a GREAT time at the CK Convention in Manchester this weekend! Don't tell the honey, but I spent a little more than I should have! ;) Some of my favorite purchases include:
*LOTS of goodies at the Lil Davis Designs booth for just $1 including the Full Circle Book, bookplates and rub ons!
*New bookplates & chipboard from Basic Grey
*Lots of yumminess from Fancy Pants including the Dapper and Chi Chi lines and some HUGE chipboard
*Many sheets of awesome patterned paper from Rusty Pickle, Melissa Frances, Junkitz & more
*Heart and Bookplate chipboard in cute tins from Maya Road
I am sure I am probably forgetting several fun things, but those are some highlights just to make you drool a little! :)

I actually scrapped 2 pages last night with some of the new product but haven't had a chance to scan them so they are not in my gallery yet.

As for the classes? Well, I would really rather not go there. I don't like to "trash talk" anyone, but I really felt that several of the classes were not up to snuff for a CK event. I did have a few good teachers, though, and enjoyed the projects of 2 of 6 classes so I guess it wasn't a total loss!

The very best part of the convention was getting to meet so many of the scrappers I know online. I was super excited to meet ATD girls: Debbie Hodge, Angela Moen and Laurie Gelo! They were just the SWEETEST girls! I am so lucky to get to work with such talented designers because of my job! :)

I have a SUPER busy week coming up! Work x 3 days, a trip to the pulmonary specialist for Dylan, a trip to the State House for an award for Megan, an open house for incoming 6th graders, a meeting at Victoria's school and Girl's Night Out. My buddy may need to bail so if anyone is available for Friday night, let me know! I have a sitter all lined up! :) Have an awesome night!

CK Convention

I am up early so I can gather the things I need to bring to the convention today. I am looking forward to this brief escape from real life, a chance to hang out with my friends and do some laughing. I am taking 6 classes. I sure hope they are good! Give me a shout if you see me there!

The Ultimate Scrapper Challenge- Round 3

I can't believe I made it to Round 3. Wow, I feel like I have accomplished so much just to have made it this far with such amazing scrappers. I am fairly certain this will be my last round because I am not sure I did a good job with this challenge. Part of the challenge is to connect the journaling to the photos and I don't know if did that. You can see my layout here: Flashback My goal was to express the events of that one day, that one phone call with an underlying theme of how the event as a whole has effected my life. In retrospect, this may have been a "bad song choice" for this round. Honestly, though, this journaling is something I have wanted to do for a long time and this contest was the catalyst to get to me to do it, so no matter what, I end a winner!

It has FINALLY stopped raining here in NH, although the forcast shows rain for Fri-Mon. The kids went back to school today and I went back to work. Normal. I like it that way!

Have a great night!

One rain soaked toot!

I just got an email from Wendy that I am a finalist in the Design Team search for Paper House Productions! I am THRILLED! My heart jumped right into my throat when I got the email!

Another rainy post....

As an update to my post from a little while ago, school is officially closed for tomorrow as is my road at both ends now. I am officially trapped here.

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring!

I am feeling a little claustrophobic at the moment. The reality of the flooding around us is starting to worry me. I couldn't get anywhere from here at the moment. My road is closed just beyond my house. Leading the other way, I could get to "downtown" Auburn, but would then be locked in by the bridge by the school that is now flooding. I couldn't get to Chester via 121 because the road is closed, but it wouldn't do me much good anyway because 102 is closed at the Derry line and also at the Raymond line. What the heck???? What is going to happen? Flood waters don't recede while the rain is still falling and the rain is scheduled for...... dare I even type this?..... at least another week! I can't imagine the kids will have school tomorrow... how would the bus even GET here??

This reminds me of a movie that I saw as a kid... it was about another planet... one where it rained ALL the time. ONE day the sun came out by the main character missed it because some schoolmates had locked her in a dark closet. I can't imagine that was really the plot of the movie, but I remember watching it and thinking how horrible it would be for it to rain all the time. Does anyone remember this movie? If so, please post the name.... if you can't remember the name, but know the movie, post some validation for me so I know I'm not crazy, LOL

In non-liquid news, Lesley & Melissa came over yesterday and we scrapped our little hearts out. I think I finished 8 pages- not too shabby if I don't say so myself. I am working on scanning them now, but am frustrated with the "seam" I get when I stitch them using Photoshop. Anyone know of a way to "blend" the seam in Photoshop? My scans are looking terribly unprofessional!

Plans for this week include: Work, Victoria's Spring Chorus Concert and the CK Convention in Manchester where I am taking 6 classes!

Let me know what you are up to! :)

My little girl is all grown up!

When I went over to Victoria's Dad's to take pictures before she left for the Seventh Grade Semi-formal, my jaw fell open. Look at how amazingly beautiful she looked!!! I took LOTS of pictures and can't wait to scrap them over and over!

Have you heard about the Lovely in Lilac kit Treasure Hunt happening at TDC today? I bet that kit would go quite well with these gorgeous pictures of my daughter! Don't miss out on the NSD fun today at The Digi Chick!

It's raining cats and dogs here and the boys are already stir crazy so I am cutting this short today! Have an awesome Saturday!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Scrapbook Projects Illustrated

Oh my gosh, I ran across the coolest thing today at Allyson Bright's Blog. Come on, don't tell me you don't know who she is! She is the coolest thing since sliced bread... AND she just happens to be the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Scrapbook Projects Illustrated. So, anyway, I click on the link at her blog to tell me more about the book due to release this fall (you can click here)and check out this most excellent paragraph:

The book also features art from some of the industry's hottest rising stars, including a special circle journal project featuring the art of Alecia Ackerman Grimm, Rachael Giallongo, Alexis Hardy, Leah Blanco Williams, Angie Hagist, & Michelle Van Etten.

Dude! That's SO my name! See it? See it right there? I am beyond excited! This was such an amazing project to be a part of and I am so thrilled to have been able to work with Allyson and the other awesome scrappers listed above! I can't wait to get my hands on this book! WOOHOO! So, if you are like me and are ready for some truly inspiring work, you can pre-order the book right here!

Oh, and may I also add that Allyson's blog is worth a little walk through. I saw that she actually released some songs! Now I must figure out how to get my hands on that music. Doesn't it just seem unfair that one person got ALL the talent? ;) LOL

Where's George?

Several weeks ago I received a dollar stamped with www.WheresGeorge.com. I have wanted to spend it several times but hadn't found the time to check out the website, so I kept the dollar in my possession. Finally, I decided to do that today! How funny to think that people before me held the same dollar and entered that information into the website. This particular dollar hasn't traveled all that far really, but I am so intrigued by the entire concept. The internet really does bring people together.

Yesterday Scott and my dad spent the day putting up our new fence. I was unsure of what it was going to look like, but when I got home from work, I was immediately in love with it and wish we did it sooner. It's an awesome visual reminder to the kids not to run into the road. Today, my dad has a paving company here and they are putting down the tar for the basketball court! It's going to be a long few days keeping the kids off it.

It's hard to believe that Mother's Day is THIS weekend! How on earth can it be the middle of May already? We usually go to Canobie Lake Park for Mother's Day (since Moms get in free and I am such a frugal mom, lol). Scott works so it's just me and the kiddos. Each year has become more enjoyable as the kids have gotten older and have been able to go on more rides and dont need to be pushed in the stroller. Hopefully the weather will be nice because I would love to go again this year! My friend Sherri's family usually joins us, but this year Sherri is due with baby #3 so I doubt they will be coming! How exciting to know someone having a new little baby for me to kiss and snuggle! It seems like forever since any of us have had newborns!

Off to find something to do on this quiet Tuesday afternoon! Have a great day!

Just so that we are clear....

It is LESS than 7 years and 6 months until I turn 40. Why is this a big deal, you ask? It is a big deal because Scott did NOTHING to make my 30th birthday special. I expect the party of a lifetime for my 40th. It will take A LOT to surprise me. I have been surprised only once in my life (by the Tevlin's in '98 when they threw a baby shower for me). I realize this probably sounds terrible and greedy of me, but I think it's a fair request to be spoiled once per decade. I don't want gifts. I don't want a trip. I don't want jewelry. I simply want to be surrounded by the people I know and love. So, if you are my friend and you don't get an ivitation during the summer of 2013, start calling my husband to nag the heck out of him. Heck, start NOW if you want, LOL :)

In a related note, Megan was commenting the other day about her age in months. It occurred to me that I am just a mere 390 months old. When ya say it that way, it doesn't really sound that bad at all, huh?

Official Diagnosis- CRAZY!

I received an email from my friend, Melissa, a couple days ago. It included the following conversation with her children.

Melissa: Guys tomorrow you need to behave because I have permission from Rachael to beat you if your not good and I will do it.
Andrew: AARGH!!! (jumps under the table)
Abbi: Yeah, I know because Rachael is as CRAZY (said with serious attitude) as you are!!

I guess this makes it official- I must be crazy if my friend's children even think so, LOL :)

**ETA: Melissa and I joke about "beating our kids" but we don't actually beat them- heck, we don't even SPANK them, LOL... just wanted to clarify that! :)

Melissa came over last night and with the amount of laughter we shared, we probably didn't do much to convince our children that we are not crazy! I am so looking forward to SDV in July... 4 of us girls piled in one room... let the laughs begin!

Dylan's doctor called on Thursday. The x-ray showed that the pnuemonia is gone, but that there is a thickening of the lining of his lungs. The blood work showed some elevated levels indictating that he is allergic to something. She said he should stay on the allergy meds and take the inhalor at least once a day. He will see the specialist in a couple weeks.

So, Happy National Scrapbook Day everyone! Got any exciting plans to honor the day just for us? The kids and I are heading out to a First Communion and then to the Pack Meeting where Dylan should be receiving his Tiger Cub Badge! I may do some scrapping and/or shopping tonight! I know that www.NDISB.com is having a 50% off sale today! I am sure that many other sites are offering some deals, too! The Digi Chick party is next weekend just to make things last a little longer! :)

If you are reading this, send me an email or leave me a comment and remind me to get my butt off here and write that reference letter for my friend, Lesley. I have been SUCH a slacker and there is no excuse for it. Lesley is going to make a great Mommy and I should be doing all I can to help her out. I think I am just nervous to write the letter because I want it to be perfect and know that it wont be and thus my procrastination begins! I am so flawed. I can't help it!

Anyway, the shower is calling me so I must run along! Be good! XO

One of those days... the GOOD kind!

I really love days like today! It was "one of those days", good style! There was plenty to do at work, but no real hard core deadlines. The day FLEW by! The weather is beautiful so I rolled down my windows and cranked the tunes! I stopped and got a Dunkin Donuts Berry Bliss Iced Coffee. Yum! Seriously, what is the magic ingredient in Dunkin' Donuts coffee that makes it so much yummier in than the rest!? When the employee handed me my coffee she said "This is going to the best coffee you ever had!"..... at first thoughts of urine (or worse) being put in my coffee crossed my mind, but once I tasted it, I couldn't have cared WHAT was in my coffee, LOL My taste buds freak out.... it's berry..... it's coffee.... it's berry..... no, it's coffee! Seriously- SO delicious!

Bad news- Good news....

What a week it's been so far! I guess if you look hard enough you can find the good in any situation!

Bad news: Scott called me at work on Monday and told me that his car had died. Oddly enough, I was able to correctly diagnose the problem over the phone. I consider that pretty amazing since I can't even change a tire or fill my own windshield wiper fluid.
Good news: Through a connection at work, I was able to order the alternator and have it delivered to me while I worked that same day! I also even saved about 40% (still out almost $200, though).

Bad news: It was time for the dog to have her yearly check up. Why the vet couldn't check her one of the many other times she was there this Fall and Winter, I don't know. The visit set me back $170. Duchess gained 10 pounds in 6 months! They did a test thinking it was her thyroid.
Good news: The vet called tonight and told me that it's not her thyroid, she's just a "round girl"! She must take after her Momma, LOL

Bad news: My iPod crashed hard core today! Even using the trouble shooting at the Apple site, I couldn't get it working again. Scott had to take it to Best Buy for me. They were able to reset it, but it deleted my entire music library!
Good news: I was able to add the music from iTunes back onto the iPod and also stumbled on the ability to upload photos! In about 15 minutes I transfered about 400 layouts to my iPod. It is SO stinking cool!

Bad news: I did get an appointment for Dylan today. The bad news is he is still coughing like crazy tonight.
Good news: The good part of the visit was that they seemed to understand and take seriously my concern for the fact Dylan has been coughing for 5 months now. They took some blood, gave him a new allergy med to start, sent him for a chest x-ray at the hospital and gave us a referral to a pediatric pulmonary specialist that he will see later this month. Hopefully we can get my poor little guy better soon.

Anyway, between writing checks and watching electronics fail, I am pretty drained this week! I am working tomorrow, but looking forward to Friday... it's Girls Night, Cinco De Mayo style at Pam's house! WOOHOO!

Wanna play hot potato?

Help get my potato to all 50 states! - on - PassThePotato.com!

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Scrapping, Coughing and Elmo, Oh My!

First, a layout share! In the past week, I completed THIRTY paper layouts! Woohoo! I am back on the wagon, folks! This is probably one of my favorites for the week! I have uploaded several others into my gallery and will be adding more later this week! Scanning is rather time consuming, you know, LOL

In other scrapping news, I FINALLY completed the last circle journal for the last group I am in. I have NO EXCUSE for what took me so long. I had the worst mental block. I must have worked on that entry on at least 20 different days. Anyway, I finished it this weekend and shipped it out. I am SO glad to have that weight lifted.

Dylan stayed home from school again today. His cough is back and as bad as ever! He was just at the doctor's office on Friday for a follow up and they gave him a steroid and said that should do the trick. It's not. This kid has been coughing since January... that's FIVE MONTHS! It looks like I will be calling in tomorrow and taking him back to the doctor's office. This is just ridiculous. I can't imagine what is wrong, but I am going to really push for answers.

Hmmmmmmm, trying to think of some other news and can't think of much! Lesley stole the good story about my transparency and the crazy word we found on it! If you are interested in the story, you can view it here on her blog! Don't read to the end of her post, though, or you will find yourself humming "Elmo's World" (don't say I didn't warn you)!

Have an awesome Tuesday!