tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66883821123687961972024-02-22T08:04:56.875-06:00In My Digital Happy Place{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-62383572451627455722012-01-31T12:37:00.003-06:002012-01-31T12:37:52.865-06:00Blogger Hates MeFor whatever reason Blogger won't allow me to comment using Open ID. So, since I have been leaving comments using this profile, I wanted you to be able to find my REAL blog - <a href="http://happylittlewonders.wordpress.com/">Little Wonders</a>.<br />
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Please visit me there if you're interested!{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-40597885206412825622009-01-01T05:00:00.000-06:002012-01-31T12:35:49.950-06:00A New Year, A New LookWell, folks, it's been a long time coming, but I am saying good-bye to blogger and my Digital Happy Place. :( Don't worry, I'll leave the blog up. There's freebies here that still get hits and the links will stay good for as long as I can keep them up.<br />
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The other thing is that I found over the last year my focus changed a little and I wanted my blog to reflect that as well.<br />
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Here's the new address - http://happylittlewonders.wordpress.com/<br />
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Don't forget to update your Google Readers!<br />
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Oh, and I hope that everyone had a wonderful time ringing in the new year!<br />
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Happy New Year!!{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-80502612545907590742008-12-29T10:25:00.000-06:002008-12-29T11:03:09.463-06:00My New Freetime Filler<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVSLdWsUqtB3w99GYJPX7Nl5wY-FY9n6nktNersndWHyFOtMyTswksH7uP6BNBTN2BxY4-DXo0zIKJ_0z3PtxEXESj19Gn6eA1-GpUCi9AIc_WrPsnu0bnuVwTeyJ42VpfOyxaASjVEQD/s1600-h/LEGO-Star-Wars--The-Complete-Saga-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVSLdWsUqtB3w99GYJPX7Nl5wY-FY9n6nktNersndWHyFOtMyTswksH7uP6BNBTN2BxY4-DXo0zIKJ_0z3PtxEXESj19Gn6eA1-GpUCi9AIc_WrPsnu0bnuVwTeyJ42VpfOyxaASjVEQD/s320/LEGO-Star-Wars--The-Complete-Saga-1.jpg" /></a> </div><br />
Lego Star Wars. I resisted this game when I first saw it because I thought it would be silly. A silly little kid game.<br />
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Oh, I was so wrong.<br />
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A good friend gave this game to us for Christmas and let me tell you, we have spent every available minute playing it. Addictive little game that it is.<br />
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It's easy enough that the kids can play and have a level of success, but also challenging enough that the adults have enjoyed it as well. I am not a big fan of "fighting games" because I typically struggle to master the usually challenging series of button pushes required to master a particularly crucial move. Thankfully, the Wii eliminates this because you use the Wii remote as a light saber. The buttons are simple to master and using the remote as the light saber makes winning battles pretty simple. Add to that the really funny aspect of the characters shattering into little lego pieces? Brilliant!<br />
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The biggest draw for me though is the puzzle aspect. Every level has a challenge that must be figured out in order to advance. I love that!<br />
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I feel like I can highly recommend this game to anyone. We sure do love it!{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-40419246040243211302008-12-19T08:30:00.004-06:002008-12-19T08:30:00.288-06:00Some More December DailyI have been working madly on the many projects I've got going this month - here's a sample of life as told in my December Daily album:<br /><br />Here's the front of day seven's page - a shameless scraplift of <a href="http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2008/12/december-dail-1.html">this page from Ali's book</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day7Frontcopy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 314px;" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day7Frontcopy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the back side. The pictures weren't so great, but I am working with what I've got, so...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day7Backcopy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 295px;" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day7Backcopy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Skipping ahead... here's day 13.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 325px;" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day13.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>And day 14 - you'll notice that I finished the advent calendar. YAY!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day14copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 341px;" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day14copy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>And day 15.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day15copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 343px;" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day15copy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Day 16 - Seriously cold!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 342px;" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day16.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Day 17 - One of my favorite pages so far (along with day 7). I made the angel ornaments for friends. I have taken their names of the page for display. Internet security, you know... This is actually a 2-page spread. The split comes about 2/3 across the photo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day17copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 291px;" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day17copy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, Christmas draws ever closer. We're pretty much ready. Are you?{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-32400212113739697572008-12-07T22:10:00.000-06:002008-12-07T22:22:57.455-06:00All's Quiet...Sometimes the only time I get to blog is when the house is quiet after everyone else is in bed. Like tonight.<br />
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The December Daily album is coming along well. I am through day 4 and have finished day 7, mostly. Five and 6 are a bit of a challenge, since I don't know what I want to do with them just yet. Hope to have them done tomorrow.<br />
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Here are the digital images through day 4. After I get it all printed and assembled (hopefully tomorrow) I will post pictures of the real life album! I bet you are so excited!<br />
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Day 1<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv7dwcSOrAeXnRQSXvf_9ipXLPf2UjX7xTmMYugZM-rjOVzeCY4l3BmD6lwLZpRDZZETlsWwco3qrG7Qm5RHs6Fm98xnn5bPyGMFwVTjZu2HkwseCKgew4QFZNzq6_u3Lr9itm0P4gcW6/s1600-h/Day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv7dwcSOrAeXnRQSXvf_9ipXLPf2UjX7xTmMYugZM-rjOVzeCY4l3BmD6lwLZpRDZZETlsWwco3qrG7Qm5RHs6Fm98xnn5bPyGMFwVTjZu2HkwseCKgew4QFZNzq6_u3Lr9itm0P4gcW6/s400/Day+1.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Created with Merry and Bright by Pamela Donnis</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Day 2 is difficult to display in this format and have it make sense, so I'll show it as a completed page.<br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Day 3 <br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWRdlbn3zkhNFRNNRSa0VJFzFFCyOPl-cVYqTl5Pg4q0tBuHd5EOoYa6jY5MqoL9sTobJ90eeExKYEusj8Syfy-lJEU3LNPw4P71UpHXgK_rSYcnTtxYoOpiYXc4rtxXFtSP41lXyn8RV/s1600-h/Day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWRdlbn3zkhNFRNNRSa0VJFzFFCyOPl-cVYqTl5Pg4q0tBuHd5EOoYa6jY5MqoL9sTobJ90eeExKYEusj8Syfy-lJEU3LNPw4P71UpHXgK_rSYcnTtxYoOpiYXc4rtxXFtSP41lXyn8RV/s400/Day3.jpg" /></a></div>Day 4<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8peZFnqu-ftG04myvoPXd76ttOT5HBH3-uHXzIWoY41oVw5YKLgsXL7d-asRG4W22_iCLU0Ms8fBu9TQRDZDsZf6dBGTmKZIUnVNgs5Rm_lX0BZgjroz-BvEjgLXxgcLiKfwezZI71E2/s1600-h/Day4+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8peZFnqu-ftG04myvoPXd76ttOT5HBH3-uHXzIWoY41oVw5YKLgsXL7d-asRG4W22_iCLU0Ms8fBu9TQRDZDsZf6dBGTmKZIUnVNgs5Rm_lX0BZgjroz-BvEjgLXxgcLiKfwezZI71E2/s400/Day4+copy.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Created with Freshly Fallen by Jennifer Barrette</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The advent calendar is not coming along so well. This may be one of those projects that gets done and is used next year! See -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrmHNLo-EmvBS-8S_lQ3q_lEUG6EORtbx25bWgCKyWJE77DY86OD5hCpquPMKxswltvOtvlFTWqoAkP_gCCpCveDaCkOAigF563aFMdNfft5d3N3Q9fmHLLmBCRdKgyaCxjrp5FSBRU_I/s1600-h/IMG_3734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrmHNLo-EmvBS-8S_lQ3q_lEUG6EORtbx25bWgCKyWJE77DY86OD5hCpquPMKxswltvOtvlFTWqoAkP_gCCpCveDaCkOAigF563aFMdNfft5d3N3Q9fmHLLmBCRdKgyaCxjrp5FSBRU_I/s320/IMG_3734.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">So far it's been primed, painted, and I have cut paper for the top and bottom. Now it's all about the day magnets. Sigh. Like I said, it may be next year. <br />
</div>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-88304846298517446272008-11-25T20:58:00.000-06:002008-11-25T21:12:05.477-06:00So ThankfulWe already have some Christmas decorations up. I know Mom....Christmas doesn't start until Santa rides across the TV screen in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade... but, I decided that since we aren't hosting Thanksgiving I could get a little head start. And since I have so much "help" it takes twice as long anyway!<br />
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Speaking of decorating help, we can't let Captain Chaos anywhere near the tree because he discovered that he could SPIN the Christmas tree. So he tries that every chance he gets. He also discovered that shaking the tree makes all kinds of fun noises and gets a fantastic response from anyone standing nearby...<br />
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So, this week I have been focusing on what I am thankful for:<br />
<ul><li> My family - we spent two days with my parents, grandparents, and brother last weekend. So fun!</li>
<li>My kids - they keep me laughing.</li>
<li>My husband - he keeps me laughing.</li>
<li>Photoshop - without it I would be wandering in a scrapbook wasteland from which there is no return.</li>
<li>Cooler weather. </li>
<li>A best friend that totally gets me. And was able to attend a midnight showing of Twilight with me. :)</li>
<li>Christmas decorations that make me smile. <br />
</li>
</ul>Here's a couple of layouts that I have done - totally unrelated to being thankful, I just really liked them!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Paths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Paths.jpg" width="420" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Created with Woodsy Whimsy by Jennifer Barrette Designs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> <br />
<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/OldOrnament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/OldOrnament.jpg" width="420" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Created with FaLaLaLaLa by Dielle Designs</span> </div>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-2273734957004658082008-11-20T06:00:00.000-06:002008-11-20T06:00:02.579-06:00Just sharing a bitI am really looking forward to the holidays this year. I don't know why. Last year, I was so <a href="http://inmydigitalhappyplace.blogspot.com/2008/01/christmas-has-left-building.html">not in the holiday spirit</a>. I think I was just overwhelmed and sleep-deprived!<br />
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At any rate, my <a href="http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2008/10/creating-a-dece.html">December Daily</a> album is coming along nicely. The general idea is to have the album basically put together before December. Since I am a digital scrapper this created somewhat of an issue for me. I have very little in the way of paper supplies left and no real desire to go out and buy all that I would need for this album to look the way I want! So, I am improvising.<br />
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I am still making my pages ahead of time. When December rolls around I can just drop a picture into the page and print. Easy-peasy.<br />
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Here's my Day 1 page. I used a picture from last year to get the idea of layout and composition. I journaled about that picture as well so I could pick my font. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/Day1.jpg" width="306" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All materials from Pamela Donnis' Merry and Bright available at Elemental Scraps.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And something really neat! You can go to <a href="http://www.yourfonts.com/">Your Fonts</a> and get a free font of your very own handwriting! The "December" on the above page is my writing. You can do as many as you want, so I'll probably do another, better, more thought out one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, back to the December Daily, the back side of each page will be other pictures from that day that I like or enjoy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am really looking forward to having a completed album celebrating the magic of the 25 days of Christmas. And you know how I know I am gonna finish? Meet my <a href="http://gatorphimu.blogspot.com/">accountability partner</a>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-28284248033668043372008-11-18T11:41:00.000-06:002008-11-18T11:49:29.050-06:00Some things I am thinking about1. I am working on a December Daily album, inspired by the Ali Edwards version here. When I looked at past years holiday pictures I noticed that I hadn't really done a very good job of documenting anything besides Christmas morning. And I guess I feel like there is way more going on in December than just Christmas morning!<br />
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2. I hate having days where I really don't want to do anything. Especially when I feel like I have so much to do! I think it is the sense of being overwhelmed that makes me want to say - "just forget it all!"<br />
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3. I need to go grocery shopping today. I don't want to. It's getting cold and I just don't feel like leaving the house. Ugh.<br />
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4. For the first time in a couple of years I am looking forward to the holidays! I can't wait to start decorating and baking and all that fun stuff. Let's not get started on all the cleaning.<br />
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5. We need an advent calendar. So I am going to try my hand at making one this year. Wish me luck...{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-81470751008111158542008-10-13T08:00:00.000-05:002008-10-13T08:00:01.734-05:00Hi There!You know what is hilarious? And slightly embarrassing too?<br /><br />When your kid gets old enough to mimic you, starts to do it, and then you wonder, "where did he learn that?" Until one day you catch yourself saying it. The lightbulb comes on and you realize you've been saying it all along.<br /><br />I am fortunate, because my little guy picked up a completely innocuous phrase and nothing telling about my verbal bad habits. He could have very easily been walking around saying, "SERIOUSLY!" all the time. Instead, any time someone, or especially if he walks into a room he says, "Hi There!" It is the cutest thing. I realized that I say that every time I go to get him out of bed. It was a telling moment.<br /><br />So from Party Boy, Jr. to all of you - "Hi there!!"{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-13526374286504203962008-10-12T08:00:00.000-05:002008-10-12T08:00:00.944-05:00The Best Digital Scrapbooking Site You've Never Heard Of...Or maybe you have heard of it. But, it is my new fave digital supply shoppe. Why? Well, because of the challenges, of course!<br />
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See, <a href="http://www.elementalscraps.com/">Elemental Scraps</a> has these rocking scrapping challenges. They're fun to do - so you should definitely try one or two. A couple of my favorites are the <a href="http://www.elementalscraps.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=190">Scrapjack Challenge</a> where you get a specific formula for finishing a page, and the <a href="http://www.elementalscraps.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=196">Flip It, Flip It Good Challenge</a> (and I love the Devo reference, don't you?), where you scraplift a page and rotate or flip the design. Very fun. And let's talk about the <a href="http://www.elementalscraps.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=192">Bits and Pieces challenge</a> - you get a FREE mini kit and the challenge is to design a page using only pieces from that mini kit...like this one I did:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/DrPepperCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/DrPepperCollage.jpg" width="420" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Created using Bunkbeds Mini by Erin Keith</span> </div><br />
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So, besides helping me get a ton of pages completed in a short amount of time, I also earn cash money for completing the challenges! Yeah, you heard me right. Cash! Hang with me.<br />
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Each challenge is worth 5 points.<br />
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There are 20 challenges per month.<br />
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So, if you complete all the challenges you earn 100 points.<br />
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And....each point is worth 5 cents. <br />
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Complete all of the challenges and you could earn $5 in ES cash every month. Now, I know that may not seem like a whole lot of money, it will buy you one whole kit (or 5 if you wait for Dollar Days!). So, that's a kit that cost you nothing but time spent scrapping, and you were going to do that anyway, right??<br />
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Like I said. I love Elemental Scraps. What can I say?<br />
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And any of you out there that don't scrap digitally, I am available for private lessons! ;){C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-82018933440652334582008-10-10T15:47:00.001-05:002008-10-10T16:15:12.330-05:00Continuing EducationI love learning new things. I love all things digital. I also love FREE! So, if you are anything like me - getta load of <a href="http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/blog/2008/10/10/new-class-stories-in-hand.html">this</a>:<br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1223671729035"><br />
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/blog/2008/10/10/new-class-stories-in-hand.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6jB_koGfbbkC6CN19JKB2C9_2kAg2KX2-1y3o_irMMSr6q2TK4vpTgnesR_csH8jAZ4T6xfV1vd8K0aGCt_ZDk9QvjAZVwynGLU_m03K2Y3BMt1yVxDmg1cT5xjkpIjcYbtaX7_9TOV2/s400-r/JSprague-StoriesInHand-Flyer.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yeah, I'll be signing up on 10/20. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now for a layout to share. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsqbrQCQC6qMfu_pJOzXbAtoY8Lsoz0imixod6FrJ0vqou0Qi4p_tvC2sEXcHFLitQEX_2U3ImjUbqQqvRJukrTyyTAa9qmrOZ0BeCICZN6g-gQ2-dxUFutFIrhEC4McM2_I7oNrXcXR4/s1600-h/fall+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinX4U5Ya5pqCbibeHqztiXu8s_TmMYap3g3ZO-1hab_7h-rTm1jBjv-veP631m0-HZIGBtRz0bqzn7VmfdoYLs7i1TOmPVWP-guyZWVC0VV99FNEbVHzUhD075jdZUmArMlfHsCq5AUVho/s320-r/fall+door.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Created with <a href="http://www.elementalscraps.com/shoppe/product.php?productid=20242&cat=0&page=1">Autumn Leaf</a> by Pamela Donnis </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one celebrates my $5 Kohl's Door Hanger. I love that thing and look forward to September 21st every year so I can hang it up. It stays up until the day after Thanksgiving when the Christmas wreath makes its appearance. I really should get something for the other seasons, but I haven't come across just the right deal yet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a great weekend everyone! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-45843386387018263452008-10-08T20:25:00.002-05:002008-10-08T20:27:20.866-05:00I have new readers!!!I am so excited when people from my "real life" show an interest in my blog... YAY!<br /><br />So welcome my dear friends PandaMom and Jen. I love you ladies and have added you to my Google Reader. Now I can stalk your blogs and read your posts the minute you post them.<br /><br />Yay! That brings the total readership to 6! WaHoo!{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-83879400286383897562008-10-03T09:34:00.001-05:002008-10-03T09:36:57.509-05:00Given the current political and economic climate of late I decided that I needed to focus on my blessings. Here are a few:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/BlessingTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/BlessingTree.jpg" width="420" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Created with <a href="http://enkay-design.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=50">BeautyFall</a> by eNKay Designs at enkaydesigns.com, nuts4digi.com, and digital-scrapbook-art.com.</span> </div>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-4965111803579011142008-10-02T16:32:00.000-05:002008-10-02T16:48:46.727-05:00Oh my!Well, fall has fallen in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Not so much here. It's still 90 someodd degrees every day, although we are supposed to get a cold front sometime this week, I think. Then the daytime highs will drop to around 85. Woopee. Color me excited.<br />
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Anyway. I told you all I would be busy!!<br />
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AWANA got off to a rocking start and is sailing along pretty well now. I went to an amazing Fall Conference last weekend and learned SO MUCH! I am excited about the things that I have planned for my club and the work that I see the kids doing!<br />
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I joined another CT - Pamela Donnis is a new (not that you can tell) designer and is selling at <a href="http://www.elementalscraps.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=126">Elemental Scraps</a>. Probably one of my fave LOs with her stuff is this one with the Snips N Snails Kit:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/pigeon.jpg" width="420" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We went to an book signing with Mo Willem(s?) and got to hear him read his new Pigeon book. How fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In other news - my super-brother ran an ultra-marathon last weekend in Lake Tahoe. I was here being a wonderful sister and dog-sitting his 90 pound toddler Great Pyrenees, W. W is almost a year old and a toddler in every sense of the word! I haven't been that tired in a LONG time. You can read all about my brother's run<a href="http://runningmemaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/most-amazing-race.html"> here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I plan to be blogging more now that things have settled down some. Of course, with things settled down I don't know if I'll have anything to say? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just kidding. I'll think of something! </div>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-69462553819872262642008-08-22T21:03:00.000-05:002008-08-22T21:15:40.308-05:00The lakeWe spent three days at the lake this week with my inlaws. It was good. We stayed in a rental house that was okay. Let's just say it would have been perfect if we were all college age drinking buddies. I'll leave it at that.<br />
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This week is going to be sooooooo busy. I need to finish getting the school stuff ready and get all that set for the first day of school on September 2nd.<br />
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All the fall church stuff starts week after next so there are MORE meetings. Ugh.<br />
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Junior has decided that now is the perfect time to increase his skills and he tries to escape every time the gate gets left open. Or a door. Or a cabinet. He's started making word sounds too. You know what I mean? Sounds that really sound like words? Like at the lake - he would point (another new skill) and say "DUH!" (duck) and "KAA!" (quack).<br />
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Maybe I give the kid too much credit?<br />
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Anyway, back to the school thing and prepping for that. I am looking forward to being in a groove again. As much as I enjoy our breaks (and I really need them too!) I like having the schedule too. I like knowing that from 7:30 to about 12:30 we'll have plans. After 12:30 it usually all goes to pot, but we're getting better. This will be the first year with a toddler in the house. It should be interesting to say the least. I'll let you know how it goes!<br />
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*{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-13506501172925114422008-08-17T13:58:00.001-05:002008-08-17T13:58:50.862-05:00It's a BLOG CARNIVAL!<h2>Other</h2><b>Kelly-Ann Halbert</b> presents <a href="http://www.thedigichick.com/blog/wordpress/?p=420" target="_blank">Hump Day Hybrid: Recycle your cans!</a> posted at <a href="http://www.thedigichick.com/blog/wordpress" target="_blank">These Chicks</a>, saying, "Great hybrid project" <br />
<b>Kelly-Ann Halbert</b> presents <a href="http://blog.hummiesworld.com/2008/08/technique-challenge-swirly-arrows.html" target="_blank">Technique Challenge - Swirly Arrows</a> posted at <a href="http://blog.hummiesworld.com/" target="_blank">Hummie's World</a>. <br />
<h2>Trends</h2><b>Kelly-Ann Halbert</b> presents <a href="http://scrapstreet.blogspot.com/2008/08/wednesday-inspiration-dizzy-about.html" target="_blank">Wednesday Inspiration - dizzy about circles</a> posted at <a href="http://scrapstreet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">scrapstreet</a>. <br />
<h2>Tutorials</h2><b>Kelly-Ann Halbert</b> presents <a href="http://bethnixon.blogspot.com/2008/08/bethy-tutorials-using-masks-for.html" target="_blank">Bethy's Tutorials: Using Masks for Selective Color</a> posted at <a href="http://bethnixon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Beth Nixon Blogging {Finding Joy & Choosing Happy}</a>.{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-6158132667155743942008-08-13T09:51:00.000-05:002008-08-13T10:00:10.115-05:00Fall Must Be Getting Closer...It must be getting close to "fall." I say "fall" because here it stays HOT until it just one day get COLD. We really don't have a real fall. Anyway, it must be close to fall because I feel liek my life just shifted into overdrive.<br />
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We start school back up on September 2. So I am in the middle of getting our year all settled and planned and organized.<br />
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I agreed to head up our church's AWANA program. It's a huge job and I have now 20 days to prepare for the first meeting. I'm not in it alone, but that doesn't mean it's any less work! It just means that I don't have to do EVERYTHING! Thank goodness. Whew!<br />
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Bible study promotion is in a week and a half. We're in the midst of planning a great kick-off activity. Gotta get that all organized.<br />
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There's tons of trainings, meetings, prep times, cleaning, etc. for all associated activities.<br />
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In a word? SWAMPED.<br />
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On the bright side though, it does mean a return to routine, which is nice. I am looking forward to that.<br />
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How is your fall shaping up?{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-52730068116795031752008-08-04T08:00:00.001-05:002008-08-01T21:26:42.490-05:00I have a fun announcement!Okay, so I stepped out there and threw my name in the hat to be on a Digi-Scrapping Creative Team for Dielle's Designs and guess what?!?! I was accepted!! How exciting is that?!? I love working with Dielle and her stuff is a dream to work with. I am so very excited!!!<br />
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So anyway, I did a couple of layouts with Dielle's stuff <font size="1">(and some stock photos from stock.xchang<font size="2">)</font></font>:<br />
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This one is all stuff from Dielle's <a href="http://digitalfreebies.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2947">Spangled Kit</a>. I love the colors and the alpha is so much fun!<br />
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/?action=view&current=GirlDoor.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/GirlDoor.jpg" style="" width="420" /></a><br />
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This one is from her Teacher's Pet assignment <a href="http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4955&cat=523">Afternoon in my Garden</a> Mini Kit at Funky Playground Designs (the little butterfly is from a Shabby Princess Kit, Promise, and the mat under believe is Anita Stergiou, Strawberry Iced Kit, and there's that <a href="http://digitalfreebies.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3198">Spangled Alpha</a> again!) Just a note - Afternoon in my Garden is a Freebie, but you need to register for the FPD Newsletter to get the password.:<br />
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<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/?action=view&current=believefairy.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="420" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/crisher/believefairy.jpg" style="" width="420" /></a>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-73048585575350007792008-07-29T19:37:00.000-05:002008-07-29T19:43:21.588-05:00Wild Week Ahead!I wanted everyone to know that posting may be sparse this week because we are having Vacation Bible School this week!! How is it that I can work a 3 hour VBS and come home feeling like I have done hard labor for a 16 hour shift?!?<br />
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My goodness it's just exhausting!<br />
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MOTS is loving her class and Hollywood is next door to me, which is fun because her class and my class are teamed together so I get to see her quite a bit during VBS.<br />
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PBJ is okay being in the nursery, although he can't sleep through the crying. On the plus side, cutting his naps in the morning to 20-30 minutes has meant that he naps for almost 2 solid hours in the afternoon. This is a good thing except that I am too exhausted to take advantage of it.<br />
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So, enjoy your week and I will update as I can based on schedules, etc.<br />
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~C{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-7798880797538641622008-07-26T15:17:00.000-05:002008-07-26T15:38:39.964-05:00Summer JobsI was a lucky kid. I never had to find a summer job. I know, I know...brat.<br />
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Most of my summers were spent sleeping in, although Mom would call around 10ish "to make sure we were up." HA! We watched many, many reruns - The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Green Acres, etc. - and game shows - The Price is Right was a real favorite!<br />
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But there was one summer when a job fell into my lap. I was a receptionist for the company that did our senior pictures. It was miserable. See, as many of you know, senior pictures are kind of a big deal, so when things don't go well people (especially parents) get really upset! And who gets the earful? That's right, the receptionist!<br />
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I spent most of the summer addressing mass mailings, fielding phone calls from people "that never got the appointment card," and listening to disapointed mothers complain about the picture proofs (that they would try to steal!).<br />
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I also had to babysit the other receptionists. Cause, you know, like, they would "forget" their shifts, call in sick (to go to the water park), and disappear (to flirt with the guys that were in studio). Ugh.<br />
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When school finally started I was so relieved, because with marching band season starting up I was able to quit. I don't think I have ever been so happy to start school. On the up side I did get a paycheck, if you can call it that. And on Memorial Day I got to spend the day in the office answering the phone (3 calls I think), reading, and watching the entire Indiana Jones series. I got paid double for that day! Woo-Hoo!<br />
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Summer jobs aren't all bad I suppose. I'm just glad I didn't have to ever worry about it. Thanks Mom and Dad!{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-28361534453310021452008-07-24T12:37:00.000-05:002008-07-24T12:51:28.863-05:00How a Free Tool Can Actually Bankrupt You.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WARNING</span>: You should read this post at your own risk. I can not and will not be held responsible for your wallet flying open and money that comes flying out of it because of my pointing you in the direction of <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/">Kaboodle</a>.<br />
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See, Kaboodle is this VERY nifty tool for shopping online. You are browsing the internet, looking at all the cool things that you want/need/must have and it never fails, always find more when you don't have any money!<br />
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Kaboodle to the rescue! Now when you are flat broke and want to browse you can! Just add your stuff to Kaboodle. Then when you have saved up the nickels and dimes (incedentally, are you finding that nickels and dimes are all you have left after filling up the gas tank lately?) you can browse your Kaboodle and find someone else to take your money!<br />
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Spending your money just got easier courtesy of Kaboodle. Don't you feel richer for knowing this? In the metaphorical sense of course since in reality Kaboodle is going to make you poorer... I'm just sayin'.<br />
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Anywho. go forth and find the decorations for your dream house, photography equipment for you aspiring photogs, digi designs for you digital divas and let's fill those Kaboodles! You can organize by topic and create wishlists... the possibilities are endless.<br />
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And all of you lucky Firefox users can add sweet little browser buttons that allow you to add to your Kaboodle with the click of one button. You lucky thing!<br />
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But don't blame me okay? I mean, you would have eventually spent that money on something right? Even if it was something as mundane as groceries, or toilet paper....{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-45260801646366054252008-07-22T08:00:00.000-05:002008-07-22T08:00:03.450-05:00Movies and something I had not considered...So, The Dark Knight opened this last weekend and had record breaking ticket sales.<br />
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I immediately know why, even if Hollywood couldn't figure it out. Duh, there's not been a movie as hyped as this one all year. Also, one of the lead actors (Heath Ledger) sadly passed away earlier this year. Add to that the lack af many good movies and VOILA! you have a record breaker on your hands.<br />
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But then....Party Boy asked me a pointed question. If The Dark Knight had been released on Memorial Day weekend or July 4th weekend, which have historically been the release dates of the huge summer blockbusters, would it have been as big?<br />
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Hmmmmm. I don't think so. There was too much competition those weekends. Iron Man on Memorial Day and Hancock on the 4th. I think it might have split the take, you know?<br />
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Personally? It kills me that they didn't release it one of those weekends, you know, when I could have actually GONE???<br />
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Yeah, I wanna see The Dark Knight. We are so getting a babysitter soon. Real soon. I will see The Dark Knight in theaters... I will.{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-7196773723399757402008-07-21T08:00:00.001-05:002008-07-21T08:00:04.082-05:00A Word About MineA word about my <a href="http://www.lifeartmedia.com/newsletter11.html">one little word</a>.<br />
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It seems to be working. We are over halfway through the year and while I still have days that I must make myself refocus on being joyful it does come easier.<br />
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<b>Joy</b>fully...{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-61264251322251446112008-07-10T09:47:00.003-05:002008-07-10T10:17:23.078-05:00Environmental FrustrationOccasionally I decide that we need to do more - reduce our carbon footprint, recycle more, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera... (hee hee).<br /><br />Only, when I do try to do more I get lambasted by environmentalists. And it always leaves me mentally scratching my head, because no matter what I do, it never seems to be enough for anyone else.<br /><br />Case in point - cloth diapers. I love them. I primarily decided to use cloth because I wanted the money savings. As a SAHM, I evaluated, do I have more money or more time? While both seem to be in short supply on most days, I tend to run towards the end of the more time spectrum, so washing an extra load of diapers seemed a small price to pay as opposed to spending thousands on disposables. And, have no fear, I don't care what kinds of diapers everyone else uses...my environmental concern ends with what I do (or don't do, as the case may be) to be green.<br /><br />So, I am all happy because I will save some significant moolah in the grocery budget this next couple of years only to be criticized (on a cloth diaper message board with a seriously environmental bent that I obviously missed) for my choices. Apparently buying "regular" pre-folds and covers isn't enough. You have to buy the mega-expensive natural fiber, unbleached, preferably hand-crafted by a WAHM diapers. Then I got lectured on how I was negating any environmental good I was doing by choosing cloth because I was washing them and using SO MUCH WATER. Even the fact that I own a front-loading, environmentally friendly washer wasn't good enough.<br /><br />Whoops. Now I start backing away. Uh-oh, how am I planning on drying said diapers? Well, I'll use the dryer. I'll tell you what, that revelation nearly sent the uber-greenies off the deep end. All of that energy wasted. Now I am starting to feel like my carbon footprint is probably bigger than anyone else in town.<br /><br />And yet, I dare not use the evil disposable. All of that water and energy wasted! And the landfill pollution! Sigh.<br /><br />But then I decided to quit listening and get back to what worked for me. I'm not using any more water than I was before Junior, so that's good. And the energy bill has remained much the same. Also good. Plus, mot putting tons of disposables in the landfill is a good thing, right?<br /><br />The lesson I learned? For me environmentalism has be all about increments. Little bits at a time. We bought energy saving appliances when replacing the old ones from the great cheese dip disaster of 2007. We bought CFL light bulbs. Little things that will add up. And in time we'll get greener and greener.<br /><br />For now, that has to be enough and it is for me.<br /><br />And before anyone even brings it up...no, I do not believe it is environmentally irresponsible to have kids in the first place. Anyone with questions on that needs to visit <a href="http://www.ringsurf.com/ring_browser.php?ring_id=BooksandBairns">Books and Bairns</a>. And know this... Angi will take you on here too if I beg enough.... <waves>{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688382112368796197.post-31052484612290431942008-07-09T13:30:00.002-05:002008-07-09T13:35:22.971-05:00Confessions of an Avoidant PersonalityHave you ever had a hobby or activity that you really enjoy? And then suddenly life gets in the way and you wind up missing some serious time with said hobby? And then getting back into it is hard and so you don't and the next thing you know it's almost embarassing to get back to it? Yeah, that's me.<br /><br />Sorry for the huge lag in posts. Really.<br /><br />See, I got really busy when Junior started getting seriously mobile and it was hard to have a coherent thought, much less put it on paper (so to speak) between pulling him off the curtains and monitoring where all of the cords in the house were and making sure they didn't get unplugged and eaten... sigh.<br /><br />Compound that with a lack of baby schedule and well, there's very little time in the day.<br /><br />Happily Junior is still mobile and now is on a rough routine. This leaves me a little more time. Whew.<br /><br />So, I've been avoiding my blog. Because I was embarrassed. But I am back now, although I can not promise daily posts, unless somehow this blog goes viral and I start getting a check for my work here, in which case I will happily post every HOUR!{C}http://www.blogger.com/profile/01210301398633657141noreply@blogger.com1