time for a lift

Just looked at my own blog and my oh my, must I apologize!! I'm in need terrible of a lift! My blog as much as myself. Will be working on a new header, background and design in the next few weeks - hang tight.

some friends of mine...

Street gals are in a card contest. Would love your help as they need votes! You vote by typing something like you have to actually type--this is my first vote, my second vote, third vote in the comments section. Would appreciate your vote, but why wouldn't you vote for this cutie anyway? http://www.thegreetingfarm.com/galleria/showphoto.php?photo=13084



Thanks for your help!

of house and home

Yes, I'm still super busy making our new house our home. At the same time, daily activities and chores have caught up with us. So lately, I've been trying to balance the old with the new. Successful, just busy!

Meanwhile, on the scrap table, I have two adorable lines just waiting for my new house. That's My Little Shoebox on the left and Nikki Sivils on the right, and then there is a little Jillibean Soup mixed in with some adorable farmhouses. We've moved near many horse farms, so I can wait to get good pics for Chicken Noodle!

But alas, work comes first. It's work I love - more Nikki and my first kit from Top Shelf Memories which is all about Basic Grey and Crate!! Off to "work" I go!

Studio Step 1

There may be quite a few steps to the studio building, lol, but bear with me. Got my staple supplies up in the room. Even scrapped a page, almost done and another, started. (Can you scram Nikki Sivils?!) Next step is to fix the lighting. Just not a scrappable area at night, my best work time.

On another note, I'll start posting about some house renovations we've been getting done. Aaaah, right now? The sound of wallpaper being ripped off of walls. It's like jingling bells in the spring.

Design Team Call!

First ever design team call for ScrapStreet.com! Don't worry, the STAR contest is still scheduled, but to be magazine crew, you have to apply as follows -- good luck!!

We are looking for a couple of new team members who LOVE to create and to write. We are looking for people who are active in scrapbooking--blogging, gallery uploads, trying new things. People who tackle scrapping with enthusiasm!



Details: ScrapStreet.com Magazine Team Call
Date: April 10, 2010
Note: ScrapStreet.com Magazine is looking for fun and creative designers who love to scrapbook to add to our team. Traditional, hybrid, digital, layout, card, and altered artists are all encouraged to apply.

The Job:
Our team publishes a monthly ezine with thousands of subscribers and a 5 year history. We love finding and showcasing talented scrappers and beautiful products. If you are selected for our team, you will write a monthly article which will include selecting and requesting the work of designers, combining the work into an interesting article, and meeting your deadline.

You will also receive products at least 6 times a year from a variety of manufacturers and will scrap several items to showcase their lines. It is an excellent opportunity to increase your visibility in the scrapping community while having fun.

To Apply:
Send the following to designteam@scrapstreet.com
contact information
a short statement of why you are interested in joining us.
3 of your favorite creations showcasing your style.
a link to your blog.
a link to your gallery.

link: www.scrapstreet.com

blank slate

Looks so sad. Feels so good.

How's this for finding mojo? Seriously. White has never inspired me like this. I'm sure you all think I'm crazy, but I can't wait to work in my new studio! I've always had a scrap space, just never a clean one. :) And I'm pretty sure it'll never be this clean ever again!

I'm imagining this entire wall as boxes and cubbies and shelves, neatly packed and organized. I can find anything. Everything is within a stretch and a reach. No mess, no fuss.

Well, it's a nice dream, isn't it?!

Alright, since my last box was moved off the counter top here, I'm ready to go find my tools an dive into my new Nikki Sivils. Next time you see me, I'll be happily among scrap clutter!

Happy 4

to my dear little McKenna. I can't believe she is 4! She is my baby, and a bit of a miracle baby at that. She had a really rough [2nd half] pregnancy and first year. But here she is, apparently LM-free, bouncing around on those once-braced hips. We had a school party together Thursday. We had family and close friends over to the new house Saturday night and Sunday she had her gymnastics-Toy Story party. She was so exhausted, she slept in till 8:30 this morning!! (and that after the time change!!)

So here's happy fourth birthday to my bouncy, snuggly little girl. She keeps us on her toes (and probably will through teenage-hood) but her hugs make every tear and tantrum well worth it. :)

Happy Birthday, McKenna Michelle!

we're moving! / Project Raina

quite literally! no play on words this time!

we're in the process of moving into our new house - it's coming along nicely but man, do we have a lot of stuff! So much that I'm having trouble figuring out how we fit all our crap in our old house which was 1/2 the size of this one!! It'll be a long process to move in, but I'm up to it. I can't stand packing and moving out, but moving in is right up my alley! Yep. Anytime that I get to open boxes, organize, put stuff away, organize, throw stuff out, organize some more, and then reorganize? Oh yeah baby.

I don't have any inside/after pics yet, but there is plenty 'befores' on my Facebook. And more to come, for both sides! Looking forward to my brown/light teal living room, the kids' jungle bathroom, and figuring out where we're going to out the brown/light teal bathroom. :) Options are totally open!

So, I'm going MIA for about a week and I'll be back, I'm sure with plenty to post!
xoxo
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Hey, while I'm gone, I've got a project, if you're up for it.

A dear friend has a niece who is in Westchester Hospital after a near-fatal sledding accident. She was sledding last week and ran into a tree. She broke ribs which completely collapsed one lung and partially collapsed another, along with a few other complications.

She can't eat or talk yet, but she's doing well, finally off the ventilator and is expected to continue to recover. Anyhow, she loves getting cards, so my friend posted. I thought it would be nice that if you're making cards and would like to send one my way, I can get it to her. Was just thinking of brightening a little girl's day.

If you'd like to contribute, please pm me for my address - remember I have a NEW address!!!! - I'd so appreciate it. I'm about to make one card with a ScrapStreet Showroom kit and another, hybrid, out of an upcoming free digi kit. Thanks, friends!!

for my friend, Bri

A friend I've never met, can you believe? But I can tell you from first-hand experience that she is one of the strongest women I've ever met. I can't remember the first time I encountered Bri, but I remember that I was easily a fan of Bri the woman, wife and mom before I was a fan of my friend Bri, the scrapbooker. I continued on her scrapbooking quest the best I could before I could call her fellow crew at ScrapStreet.
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Besides being uber-talented (did you see those ADORABLE little dolls in the the March mag?!), she's a devoted military wife, a loving mom who I see continuously working on her mothering skills, and is one of the funniest friends (twins!!) I've ever had.
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I hate to make this a post about what I meant to do, my intentions, but a few weeks ago she mentioned that her husband was coming home for good after nearly two military years away. She said he'd be home in 40 days. Well, it was my intention to make a paper chain with my kids for Brianne and her son, something to create a little hope in her house for my crazy and beautiful friend. Needless to say, for various reasons, I never got to my paper chain with 40 links and her husband's arrival is just days away.
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But I wanted her and her family to know that my thoughts and prayers have been, are, and will continue to be with you. I don't know how you do it, Twin, but you are indeed a hero of mine. I hope you look upon that Love Canvas everyday and remember that you're loved by so many and we're all just as happy that your love will soon be home.
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Love you girl. xoxo

Sorry, we're CLOSED!

But why be sorry? It's our new house!! Yay! Today is finally the day! After a three-year house-selling journey, a five-month "homeless" stint, and a bunch of closing delays (hello, Mother Nature and her three feet of snow?!), we finally have a house again!! We just can't wait to get in this house. It's all the space and security we've ever wanted. We call it our "forever" house - we had a starter house, moved away from the neighborhood, and figure we'll stay in this one until we retire upstate. The sellers are actually good friends of ours and to make the story more interesting, Doug's dad's name was on the original deed when he and the seller first bought it 17 years ago. How cool is that?!

Now, even though I can't physically be there for the handshake, I can't wait to see the actual evidence that we own our dream home! Plans are to let the seller close on his new place later this week, keep moving stuff in every day, be in by this weekend. Then... the restoration begins! Doug's already done the bonus room - eventually an adult room, but for now the kids' place. I can't wait to see how the few things we've bought so far make this house our home. Can't wait to show you the area rug we bought at Home Goods, of all places! in the fireplace room.

Kudos to dh for sending me some pics from the table. :) Sooooo excited, but all of the sudden, I'm a bit overwhelmed by all that's going to need to be done...

Karen Russell was on my doorstep!!

Okay, so Karen's Photography Workshop was! Yippee!! I can't wait to get started. I'm wondering how much better these photographs will look in a few weeks. lol. I hope!!

What type of camera are you ging to be working with?
My Christmas present was a brand-new Nikon D5000. I absolutely love it, but I feel like I have a lot more to learn about it.

What do you typically take pictures of?
Well, my first answer would be my kids (duh). But my real response is more like everyday moments and stories. I take pictures with the intent to keep memories and scrapbook them.

What are you hoping to gain from this workshop?
I'm looking for suggestions for everything from basic to expert.

What is one thing you really want to learn more about?
Well, I really need to learn more about lighting. Effects or not, I need to know how to adjust in an instant to make sure not to miss that moment. There is only so much PhotoShop can do for me, you know. :)

So?! Let's play!!

that's not funny

Well, to start, my month-plus long stint with the kidney stone is finally {almost} over. I had surgery last Wednesday and all went well, according to plan. I still don't know the exact term for what they did but basically, in Lindsey terms, they put me out, went internally and "blasted" the stone with a laser, I think. I wasn't passing it and ultrasound wasn't an option for young women, according to my doc. (Young women = :-D )

Soooo, I succumbed to surgery on what would have been one of the busiest day of the year, as we were in the middle of a week-long snow storm, had vet appointments, teacher's conferences and so much more in regular busy life. I'll have to show ya those pictures later. Pictures not taken by me, incidentally, as I haven't been able to enjoy one inch of these three feet of snow we got!! And if ya know me, you know how much I love snow.

So what I didn't know, post-op, is what a stent really is. I linked ya up with Wikipedia to spare you details. Kinda turns my stomach and I'm living with it! Anyhow, this stupid thing (and I've been waiting days and days and days to use the word stupid - all I can think about from stone to surgery to stent) is keeping me from sitting upright at all. Been laying around since Wednesday with no where to go. Pain and discomfort are decreasing, but I haven't gained the full ability to sit yet. And for some reason, I still get very tired after being on my feet for more than 15 minutes.

Alas, relief is on the way. All Ihave to do is hold out till Thursday when the thing is removed in office and I can't wait. Meanwhile, we had Chinese last night and look what word I learned to say in Chinese! Really, that wasn't nice. >:-(