Happy Sunday!
I'm recovering from a 3 week-long headache and way too much activity this weekend.
So while you're waitin' on the next column here, check out my latest guest post here: The Lady at Home.
I'll be back tomorrow. Promise.
The Bachelor
I admit it… I watch The Bachelor. I can’t help it. I know it’s probably 85% fake, or edited so much it might as well be. But I am always hooked from the second episode every season. I have my favorite picks and I watch to see if he/she makes it all the way to the end.
I don’t know if you watch or not – or if you saw the last season of the Bachelor or not. But I thought you might enjoy this. Regis & Kelly did a spoof of the Bachelor. It’s cute.
Since my brain is fried on Fridays, I thought you might enjoy this instead of some silly random thoughts from me.
I promise, scrapbooking stuff tomorrow (or Sunday at the latest).
Until then, I give you: The Bachelor.
The Bachelor
I admit it… I watch The Bachelor. I can't help it.
I know it's probably 85% fake, or edited so much it might as well be. But I am always hooked from the second episode every season. I have my favorite picks and I watch to see if he/she makes it all the way to the end.
I don't know if you watch or not – or if you saw the last season of the Bachelor or not. But I thought you might enjoy this.
Regis & Kelly did a spoof of the Bachelor. It's cute.
Since my brain is fried on Fridays, I thought you might enjoy this instead of some silly random thoughts from me.
I promise, scrapbooking stuff tomorrow (or Sunday at the latest).
Until then, I give you: The Bachelor.
Thinking about the Dads out there
As I have alluded to recently, I am the mother of a pre-teen…
This requires a unique set of skills. Ones I'm quickly learning as the days go by. You have to. It's survival.
However, I have an advantage. I've been there. I know what is going on in her little head (more or less, anyway) I can, with some relative accuracy, figure out where the outbursts are coming from and address the root issue not the behavior (or so I am trying, anyway!)
However…
I feel for her Daddy.
Poor man. He has no clue. None, whatsoever.
Case in point. He works 10 hours today, gets home at roughly 7PM (after leaving at 5:30 this morning) happy to see his girls and looking forward, I'm sure, to some dinner and family time.
Less than ten minutes after he's home he's served with a note that says:
Poor man.
He didn't even know what was going on.
"How can I hate you?" he asks. "I just got home from work!"
Little did he know, my poor baby girl was just miserable because of a shopping expedition earlier in the day. She is at that unique stage where she is too big for little girl clothes and too little for junior/miss clothes. Hence, what was a promising afternoon turned into a big disappointment. She was devastated.
And the poor man just walked right into a ticking time bomb.
I'm going to have to figure out how to help him. At the same time I'm figuring out how to help her. (has anyone seen that manual I was looking for?)
Ahhh… Puberty. I thought I had left you long behind. Not-so-nice to see you again.
(but at least this time I have the benefit of experience)
Thinking about the Dads out there
As I have alluded to recently, I am the mother of a pre-teen…
This requires a unique set of skills. Ones I’m quickly learning as the days go by. You have to. It’s survival.
However, I have an advantage. I’ve been there. I know what is going on in her little head (more or less, anyway)Â I can, with some relative accuracy, figure out where the outbursts are coming from and address the root issue not the behavior (or so I am trying, anyway!)
However…
I feel for her Daddy.
Poor man. He has no clue. None, whatsoever.
Case in point. He works 10 hours today, gets home at roughly 7PM (after leaving at 5:30 this morning) happy to see his girls and looking forward, I’m sure, to some dinner and family time.
Less than ten minutes after he’s home he’s served with a note that says:
Poor man.
He didn’t even know what was going on.
“How can I hate you?” he asks. “I just got home from work!”
Little did he know, my poor baby girl was just miserable because of a shopping expedition earlier in the day. She is at that unique stage where she is too big for little girl clothes and too little for junior/miss clothes. Hence, what was a promising afternoon turned into a big disappointment. She was devastated.
And the poor man just walked right into a ticking time bomb.
I’m going to have to figure out how to help him. At the same time I’m figuring out how to help her. (has anyone seen that manual I was looking for?)
Ahhh… Puberty. I thought I had left you long behind. Not-so-nice to see you again.
(but at least this time I have the benefit of experience)
Scrapbook Layout Inspiration
Happy Tuesday, y’all…
It’s raining here. Nasty, wet and cold. My youngest is at home with me – she has the sniffles. We are snuggled up in the house and I’m trying really hard to remember that I work full-time and stay focused on work. What I really want to do is grab a blanket or two, light a fire, make some hot tea, and snuggle by the fire with my little Doodlebug. Maybe that will come in just a little bit. Must get a few more things done.
I thought today I would share a layout idea that has inspired me. I found it over at Ella Publishing Company’s website. They have a neat new eZine that has some pretty awesome ideas in it. I’m finding great inspiration for layouts, color schemes, you name it. One thing I’ve learned over the years is to always be on the lookout for things that catch my eye. Once I find them, I either take a picture, save it on my PC, or put it in a folder I have of scrapbooking ideas.
Here’s my folder –
I just rip pages out of magazines and save them here. When I sit down to scrapbook and need a little inspiration or help getting the creative juices flowing, I just rummage around in the pile of ideas. That is usually a good way to get me started.
I used to subscribe to tons of scrapbook magazines. Now, not so many. I have found that I can get the same inspiration from looking at blogs and other scrapbook related websites (like Ella’s) to find (free) ideas. So, I have started an electronic version of my idea “folder” as well. This is a little simpler – it’s just a PowerPoint file that I copy/paste images into whenever I see an idea that inspires me.
Here are some places for you to consider as you search for ideas for yourself:
- Designer Digitals – they have challenges that are awesome. If you are a digital scrapbooker, the downloads that come with the challenges are pretty awesome, too. If you are traditional, consider getting the downloads anyway. You can always print them on your own cardstock or re-create the layout, etc. on your own. The ladies at DD are really talented and I always find a few things I want to try over there.
- Ali Edwards – always has awesome ideas. Check her blog out (if you haven’t already) – it is well worth the visit.
- Cathy Zielske – I love her no-nonsense style of scrapbooking. Clean lines, lots of whitespace and capturing the essence of a story.
Okay, enough rambling…. Here’s the original layout that inspired me:
Here’s my version:
And, here’s a bonus for you – a link to a template you can use in StoryBook Creator + (3.0) if you are using that for your digital scrapbooking. (as soon as I get Photoshop Elements, I’ll include those, too. Not in the budget yet, though)
Send me your pages! I’d love to see what you do with the idea!
Scrapbook Layout Inspiration
Happy Tuesday, y'all…
It's raining here. Nasty, wet and cold.
My youngest is at home with me – she has the sniffles. We are snuggled up in the house and I'm trying really hard to remember that I work full-time and stay focused on work. What I really want to do is grab a blanket or two, light a fire, make some hot tea, and snuggle by the fire with my little Doodlebug.
Maybe that will come in just a little bit. Must get a few more things done.
I thought today I would share a layout idea that has inspired me. I found it over at Ella Publishing Company's website. They have a neat new eZine that has some pretty awesome ideas in it. I'm finding great inspiration for layouts, color schemes, you name it.
One thing I've learned over the years is to always be on the lookout for things that catch my eye. Once I find them, I either take a picture, save it on my PC, or put it in a folder I have of scrapbooking ideas.
Here's my folder –
I just rip pages out of magazines and save them here. When I sit down to scrapbook and need a little inspiration or help getting the creative juices flowing, I just rummage around in the pile of ideas. That is usually a good way to get me started.
I used to subscribe to tons of scrapbook magazines. Now, not so many. I have found that I can get the same inspiration from looking at blogs and other scrapbook related websites (like Ella's) to find (free) ideas. So, I have started an electronic version of my idea "folder" as well. This is a little simpler – it's just a PowerPoint file that I copy/paste images into whenever I see an idea that inspires me.
Here are some places for you to consider as you search for ideas for yourself:
- Designer Digitals – they have challenges that are awesome. If you are a digital scrapbooker, the downloads that come with the challenges are pretty awesome, too. If you are traditional, consider getting the downloads anyway. You can always print them on your own cardstock or re-create the layout, etc. on your own. The ladies at DD are really talented and I always find a few things I want to try over there.
- Ali Edwards – always has awesome ideas. Check her blog out (if you haven't already) – it is well worth the visit.
- Cathy Zielske – I love her no-nonsense style of scrapbooking. Clean lines, lots of whitespace and capturing the essence of a story.
Okay, enough rambling…. Here's the original layout that inspired me:
Here's my version:
And, here's a bonus for you – a link to a template you can use in StoryBook Creator + (3.0) if you are using that for your digital scrapbooking. (as soon as I get Photoshop Elements, I'll include those, too. Not in the budget yet, though)
Send me your pages! I'd love to see what you do with the idea!
Check this out
Just a quick update to let you know I have been asked to contribute articles about scrapbooking on the blog “The Lady at Home.”
I’m so very excited to be joining the Lady and sharing my love of scrapbooking with her readers. I will be posting a weekly column (tentatively to be posted on Sundays, I think) so check her website for my articles as well as all kinds of other great things – articles about homeschooling, recipes, etc.
Today…
Outside my window… the clouds are trying to overtake the sun and the leaves are changing into a beautiful blanket of color.
I am thinking…of all the things I need to accomplish today – there is not enough time!
I am thankful for…good friends, a loving family, God’s blessings.
From the kitchen…homemade oatmeal craisin cookies; ham for dinner.
I am wearing…comfy clothes; must get “dressed” for the day still.
I am creating…a positive mood and outlook to help me be productive today.
I am going…to love on my kids when they get home this afternoon.
I am reading…You Had Me at Halo (a silly, but entertaining book)
I am hoping…my husband’s job continues to be productive and he is not laid off again.
I am hearing…”I Will Rise” on the radio.
Around the house…my cats are sleeping, the puppy is trashing the yard, and the big dog is napping with one eye out for the pup’s attacks.
One of my favorite things…my hot tea in the mornings… earl grey.
A few plans for the rest of the week…Ballet, Jazz, making dinner for a friend who is recently home from hospital.
Photo inspiration:
Thanks to The Simple Woman’s Daybook for the inspiration.
Check this out
Just a quick update to let you know I have been asked to contribute articles about scrapbooking on the blog "The Lady at Home."
I'm so very excited to be joining the Lady and sharing my love of scrapbooking with her readers. I will be posting a weekly column (tentatively to be posted on Sundays, I think) so check her website for my articles as well as all kinds of other great things – articles about homeschooling, recipes, etc.
Thoughts Along Life's Highway 