I'm baaaaaaack

I'm feeling like my old self and I have a spring in my step again. At least this week, ha!

It feels good to be silly, to laugh, to not feel drained and overwhelmed. Much of it has to do with Tuesday's events. But more of it just has to do with the people who surround me. Blessings being counted.

A boost in spirit gives me a boost in energy and a boost in creativity. I'm creating, crafting, imagining, sewing and dreaming.

Yesterday morning I took a mini-class with KB at a local scrapbook store. We made this super cute, super easy magnet clipboard notepad holder.

Later that evening, I got together with a few more friends and they taught me how to sew the cutest bear towels.
I shouldn't show the pics of these because they are going to my cousin's kids (surprise V!!), but they are so freaking adorable that I couldn't keep them to myself till after I mailed them. I'm the worst mailer. She might not get these for a month. Or more. (Sorry V!)

I've done a bit of scrapbooking, too.This is me.

And...
me, too. Yup. Dork. Not just dorky enough to take a self-deprecating photo like this, but uberdorky by actually putting it in a scrapbook. And then post it for all to see.
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Girl Cracks Me Up Like

Monica and I instant message every day. She always cracks me up where I am literally laughing out loud. We have our own IM language and carry on full conversations just with smileys.
Photo is from last fall when her and her family came to our hideaway for a few days.
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Bye bye June

I took a couple of classes this weekend at PMP with Becky Fleck, an artist and designer for Basic Grey, my favorite sb paper company.
I took the 1st class with my friend Doris, but she had to abandon me before the 2nd class. I guess her duties at her temple bazaar were more important than another class with me. I wonder about her priorities sometimes. Not only that, but we weren't able to finish the album in class, so I suggested that we get together on Wednesday to finish it. Well, the woman is leaving for Italy on Wednesday, once again leaving me in the dust. Whatever. Well...I showed her. I finished both albums on my own before I went to the temple to help at the bazaar on Sunday. Here are just a few pics:

Adventures of the Heart
This is a cool journal-style album. The idea is to journal about your goals and dreams at this moment in time.
Adventures of the Heart

A spot to write down goals.

A spot to write down your beliefs. Quote on the left reads: "You can't set the course for where you are going until you know where you are."

The back page has a pocket to tuck in your own personal mantra.
There are several more pages to list other aspirations and dreams.

I Wish You Enough...
Another heartfelt mini-album where the author leaves wishes for a loved one.
The front of the album. I didn't have the forethought to change the color of the album till after the pink was glued down. Oh well, Jimmy didn't seem to mind, he's secure enough to have a pink album. ;)
I did however, change it up on the inside pages.
Journaling reads: "I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how grey the day may appear"

"I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting"
There are 4 more pages in this same style.

(Have a great trip, Doris! I'll miss you. Take tons of photos so you'll have something to scrapbook!!)
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Joyful

addicted to these digi kits by Mindy Terasawa. She also creates elements for traditional paper scrapbooking at Autumn Leaves.
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She had a question for me

T: How do you get a tissue to dance?

M: I donno. How do you get a tissue to dance?

T: You put a little boogie in it.

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D&M

BBQ Rules

Since it's all in good fun, I couldn't resist doing a layout with these BBQ Rules (click on pic to enlarge to read 'em) that Phin sent me the other day.
Love ya Sweety! You do make the best burgers and grilled veggies! It's all about timing to make 'em so delicious, right? :)

Beautiful

If you've thought about trying digital scrapbooking, here's an easy page to do. Download the kit from Creating Keepsakes here. It has easy instructions in the txt file. All I did was dragged in a photo, typed in some journaling and it was done. There are also individual elements so you can create your own page design. I usually prefer doing it that way, gives me a little more creative control, but this "Quick Page" was so pretty I had to use it as is.
I used Photoshop, but I think you can use any photo editing software.

Celebrating May Day

Didja know that May Day was the traditional summer pagan holiday? Or that May is celebrated by the Roman Catholics as Mary's month and they honor the Blessed Virgin on May 1st? I didn't. I love Wikipedia. :)

Rocket Boy

It amazes me how quickly they grow up. R, my nephew was 4 when I took this photo. His parents went on a trip for a week and my MIL and I went down to take care of the boys. This little guy was my right hand. He'd help translate what his 2 year old brother was saying and tell us where everything was. I can't believe that he's 6 years old already. I only see the boys two or three times a year so it's almost always a shock to see how much they've grown or how smart they are. Love 'em to pieces.

Family

Cherish Moments

Memories of Autumns Past

Autumn is a Mosaic

We haven't been up to the cabin since the beginning of September so I suspect we missed all the fall color.
This is a digi-sb page I did a couple of years ago.

Totally missing my dogwood tree.

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

Hey sweety! (I know you're watching, heehee!!)
Love ya so much.

Jimmy and I met in high school. We had classes together since the 9th grade, but it wasn't until our junior year when we sat next to each other in history that our friendship started. One of my most vivid memories from that history class was right before a test. For the life of me, I couldn't (by myself) remember what OPEC stood for, so I was going to cheat and started writing it on the palm of my hand. Jimmy stopped me and somehow got me to remember what it was: Oil Producing Exporting Country. So engrained, I'll never forget till the day I die. ;)

The beginning of our senior year, we were still just friends. But I remember that first day of school, hoping that he'd be in one of my classes. By the 4th period, he still wasn't in any of my classes. 5th period though, English - yay! there he was. We sat next to each other and our friendship continued. We even worked together at Kentucky Fried Chicken (finger lickin' good!). In November 1985, we started doing stuff outside of work and school together and finally started dating in December and we've been together ever since.

I feel very blessed that I found my best friend so early in life and that through all the years, the challenges haven't separated us, they've made us stronger. That I've been able to spend my most joyous occasions with him and share my most grievous ones, too.

I hope you can handle me for at least another 38 more years, sweety. I know I can't wait to see what the next 38 will bring. We'll be 76! Just Imagine.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Danielle!!!
I know you and your sis lurk around here every now and then so I just wanted to send a shout-out to my bestest girl.
Hugs and kisses.

Sweetness

A photo of my girlfriend and her 9 month daughter, taken in February when they were up here visiting.

16 months

Nephew #3. He hung out with me on the shore mostly, but he also loved swimming with his mommy and daddy.

Imagine

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