Vote

There are so many reasons why you should vote. Need some motivation/inspiration? View the video.

Vote because for the first time ever, an African American could end up in the White House.

Vote because for the second time in history, a woman is running for Vice President.

Vote!



Every vote counts.

::giggles below::

537 people decided the 2000 election. … There’s more Baldwin brothers than that.

Justin Timberlake: I can do anything. I was in a boy band, OK?

Free online class

Spreadin' the word...

Run, don't walk, to register for Jessica Sprague's new FREE online class Stories in Hand.



Jessica says on her website that in class, we will learn:

• Techniques for capturing memories from our own lives and from others
  


• Dozens of prompts for stories you might have forgotten


• A cool system for capturing the stories happening in your life right
  now, AND for listing the stories you have yet to tell


• Printable goodies that will make your “capture” system work, AND keep it
  cute! (you know we gotta keep it cute - there’s nothing in life that’s not
  better with a great design)


• “Next steps” video tutorials for turning your stories into pages


• Technologies you can use to help you gather your stories together with
  photos, video, your blog, or any other media you have that gives a peek into
  your life

And we will make a REALLY CUTE project! (You’ll find out the supply list when you register). You are not required to have Photoshop to complete the project.

Oh yeah, by the way, this class is COMPLETELY FREE.

Go here to register:

http://www.jessicasprague.com

Because Jennifer rawks

I recently won a giveaway on Jennifer McGuire's blog. Jennifer is an amazing artist -- scrapbooking as well as stamping. I've loved her style for years.

I've seen Jennifer use this adhesive in her videos, and she always says how much she loves it. I'm so excited that I won this giveway.

The adhesive arrived this weekend. (Whoo hoo!) I think I need to do some crafting soon!

Kindle-icious

OK. I have to say, without a doubt, I absolutely love, LOVE my Kindle.

LOVE it.

I take it with me everywhere. I read it at home. In the car. When I'm waiting (for anything...doctor's appointment, kids' activities, etc.).

I might look on ebay for a Sony ebook reader, simply to have an option where the screen is back-lit. I don't want to spend hundreds on a second ebook reader, though (unless Amazon comes up with a new Kindle I can't resist!).

(I would post a picture of my Kindle sitting on the beach in Hawaii, but I loaned out my card reader, and I don't know where I put it when it was returned!)

To My 5 Friends

Pass it on.

New gadgetry

What do you do when you have so many gadgets -- so much gadgetry -- that you don't even use what you have?

In the past year, I've acquired several new gadgets (some are major awesome gadgets), but I just haven't had the time to truly appreciate them.

This summer, I got an HP Photosmart compact photo printer (prints 4x6 photos). I think it was a mother's day gift. So sweet of hubby. It's still in the box.


Digital 7" LCD frame. Ditto.


I have an iPod classic and iTouch. I love them both, and used to use the classic a TON, but I haven't had time recently. I'll charge them up this weekend and give them some attention.

Last week hubby surprised me with a Sony Cybershot camera. Sweet! It takes photos and video. It's perfect for an upcoming trip to Hawaii! (How lucky am I? Hubby has to go for busines, and we're making it a family trip, too.)


Now I'm going to check out the Kindle, which I think (if I like it and keep it) will be used almost immediately and very frequently. I'll also be able to receive and read MS Word docs on it, which means I can conveniently receive documents for work. That's a plus and a minus LOL.


Maybe I need to go on a gadget hiatus for a while. This could get to be almost as expensive as scrapbooking! ;)

I won something today!

Whoo hoo! I'm so excited! I won a stamp set from Hero Arts blog.



Click here to see the announcement of the winners.

Now, if I could only remember which email address I provided so that I can stalk my inbox waiting for Shari's email.

Aack!

My Wordle Cloud

Here's my Wordle cloud for this blog.


Make one, too: http://wordle.net/create

Creative soup for the soul

I needed to do something crafty today. My creative spirit needed it. It's been sorely neglected, and it becomes withered and virtually useless when it remains idle too long.

Anyway, I made this card:



I was inspired by this card on the Hero Arts site:



I hope to exercise my creative spirit again tomorrow, too. With practice, I'll get better (and faster, I hope!). Hopefully I'll also exercise my mind and body tomorrow. My body really needs it! :)

Magic Bullet giveaway

I hope I win :), but check out and enter this giveaway, anyway!

5 Minutes for Mom Magic Bullet Giveway

MIA

It's been a very busy few weeks! For example:

I had a birthday.

I went to Disney World and had a wonderful vacation.

I had my birthday *in* Disney, as a matter fact. (It wasn't as magical as one might expect!)

Work, work, and more work.

Voted in as next year's PTA Treasurer.

PTA meetings.

Very little crafting and knitting but wanting to change that a LOT.

Kids with strep, and few weeks later, one of the kids with strep AGAIN.

No weight loss.

Bought and watched The Bee Movie on DVD. Cute.

Read three Stephenie Meyers books and started another one. Had trouble getting into a few other books I've bought and borrowed.

And that's been my past four week or so. How 'bout you?

Triple the Sketch 2

I decided to take another spin on the Triple the Sketch ride.

Here's the 2nd sketch:



And here's my simple take on it:



Thanks for the sketch, ladies. It was fun!

Challenge and technique

I made this card based on a sketch from a new sketch site called Triple the Sketch. I mentioned the site on my Scrapbooking Friends Yahoo group, and one of my friends challenged me to "whip out something using the sketch and report back if it is easy to use."

I think the sketch is very easy to use. Especially if you do a lot of layouts or cards. I'm still pretty rusty, and I still managed to make something. LOL

Anywho, here's the sketch:


And here's my card:


I also used a technique that's fairly new to me -- the Dahlia Fold. I learned it at a Stampin' Up stamp camp, and then it was featured as a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.

Did some online shopping

I had some gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket last night. I don't know why, exactly. I've had 3 of them since Christmas, and one of them since last June. But last night, I was determined to do some shopping.

So I was off to Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. I discovered some interesting cost comparisons. Even as a member at B&N, which afforded me approx. 15% discount on my purchases, the costs for the books I wanted were about 20% higher at B&N than at Amazon.

My other big dilemma: Buy new from Amazon or buy "new or used" from one of the Amazon sellers for a FRACTION of the cost (but pay $3.99 per book for shipping). So many decisions, so few gift certificate dollars to spend.

So, anyway, I wound up purchasing 9 books last night: 3 each from Amazon, B&N, and Amazon sellers. I only paid shipping on the books from the Amazon Sellers, but I saved at least $15 each on the books I ordered from the sellers, so it was worth it, overall.

5 Scrapbooking or Cardmaking books
3 Science Fiction/Fantasy books
1 Historical Fiction book

(One of the SciFi books that I ordered was recommended to me right here on my blog. Thanks, Genevieve, for the suggestion!)

Something new and totally different for me...

I just got my first Mac! I've always used PCs and Windows-based laptops. Can't wait to dive into the world of Macdom. :)

A letter to my body

Dear Body of Mine,

I’m going to write this letter as if no one else will ever read it. OK? Let’s pretend this is just between you and me (even though I got the idea from the BlogHer campaign, so I’m sure this will wind up on my blog).

Why are my eyes starting to tear up, just thinking about writing this letter? I’ve had a few fleeting thoughts about what I might say to you here:

• I’m sorry I haven’t taken care of you lately.

• Please, please transform into the body I want. The body that I believe will help me to be happier and healthier.

• I’m terrified of what the future might hold if I don’t change something soon. As you know, I just lost my father last month. Both of my parents are gone now, and I need you to be around for a long time so that I can be here for my own children.

I think it’s that last point that especially hits home. I need to take care of you, body, so that we can be here – mind and body – for my children, and my children’s children, for years to come.

So, here's the deal, Body. I pledge to take good care of you. Not just better care of you, but *good* care of you. I pledge to appreciate you, and all of the wonderful things you’ve done for me through the years: kept me healthier than many people I know, bore me two beautiful children, tolerated the bad eating and exercise habits as well as the good ones, and hung in there when my psyche was so exhausted it threatened to send me running down the street naked, screaming at the top of my lungs (thanks for not actually doing that, by the way).

I pledge to lose weight. And keep it off. You were petite most of my life. I’m sorry that I put so many pounds on you without even noticing.

I pledge to do things that feel good to you. Because let’s face it, what’s good for you is good for me, too!

I pledge to love you for what you are today. Every day.

Hugs,
-Wendy

The Fresh Prince of Scrapping

Funny!

New layout

I'm playing around with my layout tonight. Some of my widgets are missing at the moment, but I'm working on getting everything set up again.

Meanwhile, you can always reach the SBA Blog Ring List here.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hugs and kisses!

oooxxxoooxxxoooxxx

A good week for goodies!

This has been a good week for goodies.

I started the week using my Michael’s gift card (Christmas present from in-laws) to buy myself a set of knitting needles with lights on the tips. (Have I mentioned that I love gadgets?) Now I can knit even if hubby wants lights out. LOL They work pretty good -- they suit their purpose, but the tips are kinda blunt, so it’s harder to knit with some yarns.

Johnny surprised me with a Coach bag and pretty silky-type garments ;). He said it’s "just cuz I love you, honey". Aaaaawww. I’ve never had a Coach bag, and I love it.

I ordered some cotton yarns and a pattern from Peaches and Crème website. It’s scheduled to arrive on Monday. (Can't wait! I'm going to try making this ascot scarf. It might be ready in time for next winter. ::snort::)

I took the plunge and ordered a set of KnitPicks Options interchangeable cable needles. They arrived yesterday, and this morning I switched the dishcloth I had started on the light-up needles over to the Options. So far I love them. The cotton just slides off of the nickel needles. I had to shove them off of the plastic light-up needles (I like to knit the textured dishcloths really tight so that the patter pops).

I’ll have to be careful with slippery needles when I start my next project (the reason I even purchased the Options). I’m participating in a knit along to make this baby:



Scary stuff, but I’m going to take the plunge. I don’t know when I’m going to find the time to do these projects, but I’ll worry about that later. :)

I have no desire to purchase new scrapbooking stuff. Maybe that's not really accurate. I'm determined to find uses for the massive inventory of stash that I already have! I'm signed up as an alumni for Stacy Julian's A Library of Memories class. Hopefully, I will find the time to participate in it, get some scrapbooking done, and have fun doing it! (Translation: Let go of the pressure, creative and otherwise, and just do it!)