Nose to the Grind Stone- And a freebie

All good things must come to an end and today is that day for me. I've enjoyed 4 wonderful days at home with my super wonderful hubby for our anniversary. We did everything and nothing, but most importantly we just enjoyed each others company. It's been 9 years since the day we stood together said "I Do". My how the time flies. In so many ways it seems like it was just yesterday and in other ways it feels like a lifetime ago. Whatever the case, I just know that I'm still happy and still loved.

Today it's back to work. I'm okay with that though. I enjoy my work (most days).

Things over at My Life and Scrap are REALLY hopping. There are all sorts of new challenges and some contests are going, new items are going up in the shop every day and people have posted some really stunning layouts there. In just a few short months it will be the 1 year anniversary of My Life and Scrap! Linda and I have put a lot of hard work into it and it's all been SO worth it. We've both met lots of great people and learned so many new things. What a ride it has been (and we're not getting off any time soon LOL).

Being in a kid free home Halloween tends to be pretty low key around here. But I'll bet that lots of other people have really had an eventful Halloween. I'd love to hear about it. Even better, I'd LOVE to see some of the cute costumes your kids wore. If you leave me a comment and link me to a picture of your kid's costume and which kit you'd like (Scary or Sweet) I'll pick a winner for each. Take a look and tell me which you like.


Okay, now I must go get ready for work. Hope you all have a really great week.

Introduction to Masks

Today I'm hosting a Speed Scrap at My Life and Scrap and thought I'd do a little introduction to Photo Masks. I've been having a lot of fun making them and JUST realized there are all sorts of people out there who don't know how to use them.

To start, you can grab my set of free samples at the shop. Just click on the image to be taken there.


Open the mask in PhotoShop
Place your photo on top of the mask
Press CTRL + ALT + G
Grab your photo and move it around until you're happy with the position
Press CTRL + E to merge the two together
And you're DONE!!

Here's my latest layout using a photo mask:

Busy, Busy, Busy

Gosh it feels good to get things done. I've had lots piling up and it sort of stresses me when that happens. Today I was up early before work and just got busy and started crossing things off my list. It's good to get things done WOW! What a relief. The list isn't done but some of the things I've been putting off for one reason or another are now crossed off! I even finished the My Life and Scrap Newsletter. I think I do my best creative work under pressure, so the newsletter is usually not done until late Wednesday night, just in time to be mailed out on Thursday morning, but today I just had the go-juice to get it done. And it feels kind of good. Now what will I do with my Wednesday evening?

35

I couldn't let the day go by without recognizing that today is a special day. This would have been my parents' 35th wedding anniversary. They were the perfect pair and every day I strive to be just like them- Happy and in love.

Happy Birthday

Today it's my mom's birthday and I can't express how happy I am that I get to spend part of it with her. There were several years that we lived on opposite sides of the country and a phone call had to suffice. Granted, hearing her voice and wishing her a happy birthday over the phone was far better than nothing at all, but being 5 minutes away is MUCH better.

Mom, I hope you have a very happy birthday and I'm really looking forward to a wonderful dinner and spending some time with you today. I'm so fortunate to have you close and I hope you know that I enjoy our time together, whether we're out on a new adventure or at home on the phone. I love you mom!

WHO am I?

Lately, I'm not sure. I don't even recognize me after the past 2 days.

Lastnight I went to pick up my computer from the wonderful folks at BestBuy. Come to find out, they've installed a new hard drive but no operating system. SERIOUSLY??? So that means I have a nice shiny computer that (still) doesn't work. Shockingly, I didn't bother yelling and screaming at the Geek on duty and I didn't ask for a supervisor. I took many deep breaths, looked away and tried to refocus that energy that was building up inside me. I took my poor pathetic computer and left.

This morning I called my friendly Gateway customer service center to speak with them about getting a set of recovery disks that the Geek at BestBuy said I should be able to get for free since I've only had my computer for 10 months. I was quickly told that I would NOT get those disks free of charge, in fact I'd have to pay for them AND the shipping charges. So rather than yelling and screaming and asking for a supervisor I said I would buy the disks (my super sweet hubby was standing above me reminding me that "it's not worth having a heart attack over"). Just as I was about to give them my information Hubby asked for the phone. To my surprise, he spent 20 minutes on the phone giving them hell... in the end I gave them my credit card number and agreed to their charge of $27 (including shipping- but delivered right to my door step in 7-10 days!) what a deal! NOT!!! I'm not happy... but such is life.

So there ya have it, that's the update on the last couple days for me. I feel like I'm walking an emotional tight rope over this, how have I let something like this get to me so much?

Clear Creek Celebration

Today mom and I stopped by the Clear Creek Celebration for a salmon feed. When we arrived there was Native American drumming and dancing going on so we sat and watched for a while. Having some Native American background it brought a chill to my spine to learn some of their traditions. After the entertainment we enjoyed a salmon dinner then a walk through the Interpretive Center on the trail. We met the granddaughter of the family who donated the barn to the city and enjoyed looking at some of the antiques that have been collected there over the years. It was a really nice time.

After the celebration it was off to Costco for a pizza for Leonard (who's not much of a salmon person). I waited in the food court while the pizza was baking and while I was there another shopper approached the older couple seated next to me. The other shopper said that she recognized the insignia on his hat and that her son is in the same unit in the military. He said that he served many years ago, in the Korean War. They chatted a bit and she thanked him for serving then she was on her way. Many times a week I realize just how proud I am to be an American. Around every corner there is patriotism and pride in our wonderful country and this too brings a chill to my spine.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and that you're as proud to be from where ever you are from as I am proud to be where I am from.

Party!!

Yesterday was my hubby's birthday! And actually there was no party, it was pretty low key. He isn't really into birthdays. As a kid he never had parties and no one ever really made a big deal of his birthday so that's what he's used to. Because of how he was treated as a kid is exactly why I always want to make a big deal of them. It's funny how so many things in life have a certain balance, in this case it's a matter of letting him know his birthday is being acknowledged and celebrated without going overboard.
Anyway, mom took us out to a nice Mexican dinner. They both enjoyed strawberry margaritas, it was fun watching mom try to drink from that HUGE glass. She'd never had a margarita before!! Ahhh... my mom and her second childhood. After dinner we went to the grocery store and picked up some things mom needed and we also picked up a little cake for Leonard. It was a really good time.
Leonard actually let mom take some pictures of him (which I hope to have to scrap with for the MLAS festivities this weekend).
OH!! Speaking of MLAS festivities... I thought I'd share a little of what's going on. We're having a PARTY!! Be sure to keep an eye on the Site News section of the store for more details. Until then... here's a little teaser of what's to come:

Gettin' in the Groove

We've tested, we've played, we've poked around and it seems My Life and Scrap is fully functional. There were a few little bumps in the beginning but they're all cleared up now. Be sure to check in through out the week, especially at the end of the week, we have some surprises coming up for you. Don't worry, I'll be sure to post them here on my blog as well : ) Definitely don't want anyone to miss anything.

Next week we'll be introducing some new designers to you as well, so be ready for that. You can bet there will be some good sales to go with those intros along with some other surprises.

One other thing, our challenges are in FULL swing over in the forums. Since our service was interrupted right in the middle of the first week of challenges we've decided to extend them for the whole month- meaning you have until the end of the month to post your challenges and earn points from the first half of the month. There are also new challenges going for the second half of the month as well. Be sure to take advantage of these, it's a great way to earn free stuff at My Life and Scrap.

Hope you're all having a wonderful Monday. Next week I'll get back to posting my Scrapbook Pages, I've got quite a few to show you. That downtime proved to be a good time to scrap.

Movie Review: 17 Again

Super fun movie about a guy who gets to be 17 again. His wish is granted, to go back and re-live his "best" years only to find out if he'll make the same choices he has already made. Leonard and I both really enjoyed this movie. 2 thumbs up.