A little progress

I had high hopes of scrapbooking this past week – or at least getting some scrapbooking in during the past three days. Alas, life did not go according to plan, and neither did my muse. It just wasn’t in me.

And then, I thought to myself that even though I didn’t “feel creative” I should just sit down and piddle a little with the pictures and see if I got inspired. After all, it’s been months since I’ve scrapbooked and I’m still working on 2010 pictures, for Pete’s sake. (whoever Pete is…)

So, I did just that.

Sat down, opened up my software to see where I’d left off, and before you know it, I’d managed to do six pages! That, along with, feeding kids, retrieving dogs who are escaping their invisible fence, troubleshooting my mom’s email account, answering the phone, well, you get the picture.

The days of quiet solitude while I scrap are long gone. But, the nice thing about digital scrapbooking is that I can do just that – scrap in between life’s little interruptions. It doesn’t mean I have to put all the mess away, or pray no one bumps my page in progress. Nope, I just hit the “save” button, take care of the urgent matter, and move right along.

Love it.

Anyway, here are the pages I’ve done: (most of the digital supplies are from the Daily Digi subscription I have. Best investment for high quality digital supplies, I tell ya.)

And as a special treat for you guys – I have uploaded the template for the two pages above to my 4shared account (Creative Memories StoryBook Creator Plus templates) for you to download!

Photo of the Day 4/11: Dance, Ballerina, Dance

Menu Plan Monday ~ 11 April

Back to school today – back to our normal routines.

Waking up with the alarm clock after a week plus break was no fun, that is for sure!

While I know the girls are going to miss their free time and their “Ammi-time” they are excited to see their friends and ready to get back to the routine, I’m sure.

Can you believe there are only SIX WEEKS left to the school year? Hard to imagine. After this past week with the kids at home (and me on vacation) I am not ready to start finding creative ways to entertain them while I work this summer!! They are bigger, so they are more self-directed, but I’m sure there will be days when they’re b-o-r-e-d and I’ll have to be prepared with some good activities to entertain them.

So, I’m asking for your help… what are some ways you entertain your kids when they’re bored and need some diversion?

I’d love some suggestions!!

On another note…

My clematis are blooming! Aren't they beautiful!?!?

And since we’re back on our routine, I’m back to menu planning. Here’s what we have planned for our menu for this week:

BBQ Chicken
Chicken & Dumplings (made with the leftover chicken)
Spaghetti
Roast Beef with rice & gravy
Pizza (made with the leftover spaghetti sauce)
Asian Chicken Stir Fry (one of my girls’ favorites)

Photo of the Day 4/10: Clematis explosion

Sunday Silliness

Off The Mark - March 12, 2011

Photo of the Day 4/9: Decisions, Decisions

Life in the South with two kids, two dogs, SuperMan and a Serious scrapbook addiction
Thoughts Along Life’s Highway

It’s not Instagram, but I like it

I don’t have an iPhone. Therefore, I don’t have Instagram. I love the Instagram photos I see online, but I’m not going to give up my Droid phone for an iPhone just for the app, that’s for sure.

I have, however, found a pretty cool photo program (or two) for my Droid phone.

One in particular I really like –

Retro Camera is a program with five different “cameras” you can use to shoot with – (quoted from their website)

The Bärbl – An East German classic, naturally faded with a scratched film and medium vignetting, the perfect all-round choice.
The Little Orange Box – The Soviet Staple with aggressive cross processing and scratched square film. It's crappy plastic lens leaks in light and exhibits strong vignetting. Black and white option for even more emotion.
Xolaroid 2000 – Its inspiration is obvious! We love the candid snapshots this camera produces – you simply can't fail, every shot is a keeper. Blue / Green cross processing effects and timeless contrast. Black and white option for that classic touch.
The Pinhole Camera – A DIY gem and more unpredictable than Schrödinger's cat. Full bleed developing and vignetting through the roof, be sure to give this cardboard chimera a go.
The FudgeCan – The perfect rig for outdoors; developed on square film that wasn't quite stored… or developed right. But therein lies the charm that'll make your pics with this beauty, memorable and instantly nostalgic.

I am finally getting around to playing with it, after having it installed for a couple of months and totally forgetting it’s there.

Here are a few shots I took last week:

I think this one was with the Little Orange Box camera. And these two are with the Xolaroid …

And this one, I think, with the Bärbl camera.

I think someone was finished having her picture taken – and I love the note – I didn’t see it at the time but it was a note between her and my mom, written on the menu. Sweet.

Have you found any non-iPhone apps that you love?

Photo of the Day 4/8: Pasta Salad

Fit? Fridays

Yes, that is a question mark after Fit. And yes, it is there intentionally.

I’m not sure I’m qualified to consider myself fit as of yet. As a matter of fact, I know I’m not. I’ll know that I am fit when I can do that Jillian Michaels video without thinking I’m going to die. Or at least when I can do it repeatedly without thinking I am going to die.

But, as I promised I’d share with you the continuing saga of getting back on the exercise bandwagon, here I go with another installment.

If you will recall, I shared with you the valiant effort that was made in trying to complete the entire 20 minute workout on the Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred video.

Follow that with two days of sheer torturous pain and agony. We’re talking barely able to walk up/down the stairs, people.

SuperMan tried his best not to laugh (out loud) at me, but I know he was enjoying every minute of it.

I made sure, though, that I kept moving, even if I wasn’t ready for another round of self-inflicted torture just yet. I did daily yoga and focused on my stretching (felt good) and breathing (felt even better) and tried to incorporate some walking into my daily routines.

The video is still taunting me.

I will tackle it again this coming week. I spent the better part of the last week of March up to my eyeballs in work and pollen and this past week has been Spring Break and exercising on Spring Break is verboten. (did you know that?)

I have done a little exercising.

I haven’t been totally slack. Some yoga here and there, some stretching and some walking disguised as shopping last week.

It’s not where I want to be, but I will be getting things in gear again once the kids are back in school next week and we return to our normal routine.

What about you?