Seven Random Facts about Me....

My Friend Ann Corbiere-Scott tagged me...and well usually I don't do very well with being tagged. I don't do them...but I figured that if I didn't do Ann's then she would let me know! (in a good way!) Plus, she said that she was going to keep her eyes open to see if I respond. So here are my "Seven Random Facts About Me".

1. I have curly hair. Yep...see the picture to the right...just down a bit...that's me. With Curly Hair. Now mind you on some days it's curls good and some days it's curls bad. So I guess you could say that the day I took this picture it was a semi-good curly day. Actually...it was my birthday and I decided that it was about time that I took a new picture of me! Did you notice the words? Time for me to take a picture of me? It seems that whenever I need a picture of me there is noone around, and when they are around they just don't do what I want them to do...so it's just easier to take a picture of me all by myself! Okay, I'm digressing.

2. I don't leave the house without having makeup on or having my hair done. Just don't do it. I don't even like going to the mail box without having done those two things.

3. I arrangment my jewelry at night on my dresser. I have to lay it out. Yes, I know it's crazy...you might call it O.C.D. but it has to be done. Also I straighten everything out on my bathroom counter too. So it's nice and neat the way I want it.

4. I wear my glasses to bed. Don't you? I mean that way if I have to get up on the middle of the night I'll be able to see! It can be a problem though...especially when I wake up in the morning and find that the frame has been bent every which way....this problem though will be remedied on January 9th. I'm having Lasik. (i think I have 55 days to go!)

5. I don't like my dh to go into my car. It's off limits to him. Also my scrapbook room is off limits. Let's put it this way...anything that is mine is off limits. Yeah...that's the ticket! lol But seriously...he would laugh if he saw some of the stuff in my car. On the door panel I have my scrapbook magazines, I have one glove in the glove box...cause I can't drive with two on...

6. I don't like dishes piled up on the kitchen counter. The sink is fine...but not hte counter. You see, the sink goes down and well, the counter is flat and if they are in the sink then there is a better change that I won't see them!

7. I love cats. If I could have a houseful of cats I would. But Simon said that three is enough. Which is really too bad because down at Petco there is this cat named "Henry" and he is the sweetest kitty cat! And yes, I go and visit him...often. Okay...I go to Petco several times a week to visit the cats. Now that's random isn't it!

Oh, and Ann... if you are reading this...Whenever we hear the name Cornelius we think of the Rooster that is on the box of the Kellogs Corn Flakes. Yep, you guessed it, his name is Cornelius.

Have a great day!

{Jill}

My Christmas "Wish" List

I was visiting one of my favorite Scrapbooking Message Boards today (http://www.scrappertalk.com/) and there was a thread there about Christmas. The thread got me thinking. In it there was one comment that said "I know you don't shop at so and so store, but I do". Well that one sentence got me thinking! There are lots of stores that I don't shop at and there are lots of stores that I DO Shop at. And some of the stores that people do shop at FOR me are are not the same stores that i go to. So, what better place to list the stores that I do shop at!

Since I am a scrapbooker, a gift card to a scrapbook store would be a wonderful idea! However, all the stores in my area are closing...well the scrapbook stores. BUT! we still have Hobby Lobby and Michael's. So if someone wanted to purchase a gift card for me for scrapbooking supplies it would be wonderful to have one to Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Hobby Lobby is less than a mile from my house and I am there a LOT! (okay, maybe i shouldn't say a lot...but at least 3 or more times a week I can be found wondering the aisles). Michaels is about six miles away, but I like to go there to see what they have on sale. They also carry this ribbon that I like to use on just about every project.

Clothing stores. Okay, so since I am a scrapbooker I (personally, just me!) don't like to spend a lot on my clothes. I am perfectly comfortable in sweats, tshirts, jeans, sweaters and stuff like that. I like to look neat, but if I paint or spill mod podge on me I don't want to ruin what I have on. So I shop at Target mostly. Once in awhile I will venture to Dillards or somewhere like that if I have to have something really nice, but most days you will find me in comfy clothes that I can replace easily. I know, if I wore an apron that would protect my clothes wouldn't it!.

What else would I like for Christmas:

Hmmmm....I just got a new camera for my Birthday! It's a NIKON D40X...I'd love a new lense for my camera! So I'm hoping that dh will get that for me!

Ohh..but you know what! I would also love a tv/dvd/combo for my scrapbook room! that way I could watch movies while i worked! So the best place to buy one of those is at Target or Best Buy!

See, there's lots of things that I could put on my list! But mostly gift cards would be great! Especially if they are all to the same place! That way I can combine them and put them towards one big item! Like a tv for my room....or a lense for my camera, or even a cartridge for my Cricut Machine.

Just some shopping advice from someone who is going to have a Wonderful Christmas! (because I usually shop for myself! lol)

Have a great day!

{Jill}

Posting Some Projects!

This month's Rusty Pickle Challenge is up on the RP Blog! Go to http://www.rustypickle.typepad.com/ and take a look! Also all the chefs gave the challenge a try too! Including me! I LOVED how my layout for the challenge turned out!

You know what the nicest thing about having a blog is? It's your own personal gallery! You can post whatever you want in it! So that's what I'm going to do today! Here are a few project that I did lately! I would love to post this one project that I just finished today but I have submittal plans for that one!

This is the second Family Chipboard sign that I made for the Armstrong Family Fundraiser (the first was made with the Cap'n Jack Line. This sign was made using the new French Market line from Rusty Pickle. I LOVE how it turned out! And now I want to make one myself! This sign was made using only FIVE sheets of Rusty Pickle Paper.

Yes, my cat is a party animal isn't he! This is my sixteen year old cat Joey. Yes, he has a party hat on, and yes we had a party, but it wasn't for him...it was for my other cat Snoopy. The hat belongs to one of my daughter's bears from Build-A-Bear...luckily it fits my kitty cats too! I put this hat on Joey when he was sitting up, but then he just sort of laid down and I snapped this really cute picture of him!

Thanks for looking!

{Jill}

Time to Post a Project!

It's been a while since I've posted anything project related so I thought I would do that today! This is the Chipboard Sign that I made for the Armstrong Family Fundraiser. I LOVE the colors that I used on it...why? Well, because they match my house! I want to make another one of these for me, but first I have to finish the Chipboard Sign that I am making for the second fundraiser. Don't know about the fundraiser? See the post below and just follow the links!

All the paper is from the Rusty Pickle "Cap'n Jack" Line and the Chipboard letters are also from Rusty Pickle! The Rusty Pickle Trims are from the Pashmina Collection and the Pickle Party Collection. I just love this sign and can't wait to make one for me!

Have a great day!

{Jill}

The Armstrong Family Fundraiser

First off I have something to say. Please, please do me one favor. Please go to the Rusty Pickle Blog (http://www.rustypickle.typepad.com) and follow the link to the Armstrong Family Fundraiser Blog (http://www.armstrongfamilyfundraiser.blogspot.com/) . Rusty Pickle is doing a wonderful thing by helping this family out! I so wish that I could attend this event, but I can't since it's being held in Arizona and Utah. I live in Texas, and well it's a little bit too far for me to attend. But those of you that live in Arizona and Utah can attend!

Tracy Armstrong was shot 4 times at point blank range by a guest at his Panquitch Lake Resort. This father of nine is now paralysed from the arms down and is not able to work. Additionally his wife is staying at a hotel in Provo to be near her husband and having to deal with child care and the loss of the family bread winner. In additional to the loss of income they are dealing with insurance deductables, increased living expenses, and upgrading their home and resort for Tracy.

Another way that you can help out the Armstrong Family is by purchasing Raffle Tickets. The prize is $500.00 worth of yummy Rusty Pickle Products! You can enter your name in the drawing 1 time for $5 or 5 times for $20 (or 25 times for $100!). ALL FUNDS WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THE FAMILY! To purchase Raffle Tickets please go to this link: http://legacyscrapbooking.com/catalog.php?category=298

Go Now to the Rusty Pickle Blog!!!!

You have to pop on over to the NEW Rusty Pickle Blog! (http://www.rustypickle.typepad.com) Go over and leave a comment in the comment section and you could be the daily winner of some Rusty Pickle Goodies!

And She's BACK!!!!

Okay, so in the last two weeks I really have gotten a LOT done! I've cleaned and mowed and organized....it's not all done or caught up but I've at least started which makes me feel MUCH BETTER! I hate to be disorganized and have a mess (okay, mom don't laugh at that!)

Now to catch everyone else up on what's been going on during the month of September.

The first weekend of September I attended Creative Escape in Phoenix Arizona. Creative Escape is put on by Heidi Swapp and Bazzill Basics Paper. And let me just say that I loved each and every one of my classes. I loved Heidi's class where we made a canvas (okay, I haven't finished it) I loved Rhonna's class where we created a 21-Challenge Journal (okay, I haven't finished that either). I loved Leslie's Card Class (Yes, I finished those in class) and I liked Heidi Lynn's Calendar Class (I finished those layouts too!). I truly had a wonderful time and I already have my reservation for my room next year! And next year I'm doing it right and treating myself to a much needed personal vacation, including a trip to the spa, and maybe a trip or two to the casino!

I returned home from Creative Escape on the 9th of September and was able to "visit" with Simon and Sarah for a few days. And then I was off again! This time I went to Utah for the Annual Rusty Pickle Chef Retreat!

I flew into Salt Lake City on the 13th and stayed until the 16th. I was SO excited to go! I'd never been to Utah before! The first thing that we were going to do was go to the Rusty PIckel Warehouse so that we could go shopping before we headed to the cabin! And that was TOTALLY fun!!! It was so much fun watching what everyone was buying, and then you would stand there and think for a bit and got and get a little bit more before it was your turned to pay. The Chef retreat was awesome and I had a truly wonderful time! (Thank you Tasha and Lance and Patricia and Emily and everyone!!!). We stayed in a cabin that was on this mountain and the funny thing about it was that there was NO cell phone reception which meant that noone could get in touch with me! So when one of the other chef's decided that she was going to go to town on Friday i jumped at the chance to go just so that I could call Simon and inform him of the bad news....the conversation went something like this...

Me: "Hi Sweetness"
Simon: "Hi Sweets"

Me: "Umm..i have something to tell you"
Simon: "Yes?"

Me: "Umm...you're not going to be able to talk to me until Sunday when I go back to the airport because there isn't any cell phone reception at the cabin".
Simon: "Are you really up in the mountain"

Me: "Yes, and noone can call anyone, so everyone is calling their husband to let them know that they can't call them".
Simon: "Okay, so I guess I'll talk to you when you go to the airport"

That was basically the conversation. Mind you, I didn't included the entire conversation, but that was basically it. And when I hung up the phone, i sort of giggled, because well Simon can usually get in touch with me wherever I go. But, this time he just couldn't do it. Little did we know, but there was a phone in the cabin and well...it worked.

At the retreat we had SO much fun! But I think I stayed up a little bit too late one night....I think it was 4:30 a.m. when I went to bed? Yep...it was 4:30. You see I was working on some stuff and well, I just didn't want to stop. If i could have stayed up later I probably would have, but you know I guess I was really tired.

I returned home on the 16th. Totally tired. And what did I do? I went to bed. On Monday I brougth Sarah to school and came back home. And what did I do? I went to bed. I don't think that I felt right again until about Wednesday. But by Friday I was back to my old self! Which I had to do! Why? Well, because Friday, September 21 was my 43rd birthday....eeek.....yes...43.

Usually in my house my birthdays are not the greatest. Usually dh goes out on that day and buys me a card. I know because i find the reciept that shows the exact time that he purchased the card. But this year, I think it was in April. I put on the calendary "Jill's Birthday, You Better Plan Something Good!". And i circled it. Well, guess what! I was in complete shock, because, yes, he planned something good. Well, not exactly he planned, but he bought me a REALLY REALLY NICE present! or should I say presents? Simon and Sarah walked into the bedroom on Friday and they had my presents in their hands. I had the cards to open...one from Sarah, one from the cats, and one from Simon. Then I had two bags. In one bag there was a Dremel! I've been wanting a Dremel for a very long time! BUT, in the other bag there was an envelope. I looked at it....and then opened it. Dh had ordered me my camera that I had been waiting for for a very, very, long time! I am now the proud owner of a D40X!!! Now I just have to figure out how to use it!

I think that the camera was also a part of a Thank You Gift from Simon. He knows that for the past month and a half I have been helping him, and doing everything around the house. Remember, he broke his hip? He's doing better, and he's walking. But he still has a ways to go. But I think the camera was his way of saying, "Thanks Sweets, I love you".

But I never told you what I did on my birthday did I? I went to get a pedicure, had lunch, went to a movie, went shopping, and then had dinner with my husband and daughter at Buca De Beppo. We sat at the "kitchen table" so that we could see everything that goes on in the kitchen. Sarah made the reservation for us, but I secretly think that she wanted to be able to sit in the kitchen, because it's a special table.

But my birthday really wasn't over on Friday! On Saturday I had plans to go and scrapbook with my friend Bernie (http://scrapbdazzled.blogspot.com/). We had made plans to visit a scrapbook store that was about an hour from my house. I had never been to this store, so I was really looking forward to it. I called Bernie to let her know when I was leaving my house and started my trek to the store. I also told Bernie that if I got lost I was going to call her....yes, I got lost...not once...but twice! But I did finally arrive at the store...and I was hungry for lunch! Bernie and I went and had lunch at McAllister's Deli and then went to Recollections to have a look around. I like to go to the different Scrapbook Stores (okay, so Recollections isn't new to me...but it was in a different town) to see what they have that's different than everywhere else. After Recollections we returned to where we were cropping and started to work. I had a lot of stuff to catch up on...and I'm almost done....

Bernie and I had a great night! And she truly is a GREAT friend! You know what she brought me...BIRTHDAY CAKE and ICE CREAM! I hadn't had a birthday cake yet, and this truly touched me! (Thank You Bernie!) She also gave me this goodie back of treats...like Smarties, and Tootsie Rolls and Lollipops (Sarah is enjoying that!)

So all in all my September has been pretty good! MUCH better than it usually is! And i have my husband, and daughter, and Rusty Pickle, all the Rusty Pickle Chefs and Bernie to thank! Thank you all!

And with that I am going to leave, so that i can go and pack my stuff up so that i can meet Bernie again tomorrow!

Have a great night everyone!

{Jill}

Just in case you're wondering what's going on and where I am...

I am going to be out of town. I'm going to be taking a break when I get back. I will be back to blogging later....after I take a much needed nap.

I need to reorganize
I need to clean
I need to mow the lawn
I need to get rid of the weeds that have grown in my flowerbeds
I need to finish my bathroom that I have been working on for two years.
I have a lot of stuff to get done
and I need to get it done because I hate making to do lists and never getting them done.

So I am taking a break.

So, if you don't see me online anywhere I will be outside in the sunshine getting my house back in order. For the past three months I've been at home, not really getting much done. Then Simon broke his hip and things went a little haywire...well that's what happens when you are in charge of everything. So, I'm going away this weekend. I'm going to have a good time (better than last weekend (she says crossing fingers)) and I'm going to laugh and spend time with my friends. Because I deserve it.

Have a great month.

Yes, it's been a month....

and i've been busy. Doing what? Taking care of my husband of course...remember, he broke his hip?

Not much really going on other than that...next week is that thing that comes around every year...yes, it's birthday time again (Sepember 21...). And well, I know how it's going to end up. DH is busy with meetings all day...until about 9:00 p.m. And well, DD she is in a play at school and they have practice until 6:45. So what am I gonna do...not quite sure yet, since I"ll be by myself all day. It's sort of sad, you know? Celebrating by yourself. But that's what happens most of the time. Anyway...not to sound like a "sad person" but I think I"m going to take a bit of a break until it's all over. Then I'll come back....otherwise you will have to sit here and read sad post after sad post...so I'm not going to do it! Nope! I"m going to go and do something to keep busy until it's over....

Be back later....

Jill

But everything is fine!

Fine is a word that my husband hates to hear from me. He asks me, "Are you okay". I'm fine. "Is there something bothering you?" Nope, I'm fine. "I'm going to go to a class this weekend" I answer fine. See everything is fine with me!

However, last Saturday everything was not fine.

Simon decided around 9:00 a.m. that he was going to go on a bike ride. That was fine with me (see there's that word again!) But really it was fine. Sarah and I had plans to go out for a few hours. We were going to the Mall and the Scrapbook Store to do some shopping. Simon headed out for his bike ride and I headed into my bedroom to change clothes. Everything was fine. I got dressed, did my hair and makeup, and took my time doing it. I was going to have a WONDERFUL day and I was really looking forward to it! I was even going out scrapbooking that night, so I have a very special day planned!

As Sarah and I were leaving the house I began to wonder where in the world Simon was. It was after ten and he is usually only gone from the house on his ride for about 30-40 minutes. I know the trail that he takes (sometimes I go with him). And I knew he should have been back before we left. We pulled the car out of the garage and I said to Sarah that I was wondering where her dad was. She too was concerned. So, instead of turning right to go to the Scrapbook Store and the Mall we decided to turn left to see if we could find Simon.

We didn't have to go very far. As we were driving just around the corner from our house I found Simon. He was sitting on a bench on this strip of grass, his bike was parked in front of him. He looked as though he was just sitting there thinking about something. I drove up, pulled over and put my window down. And I said to him, "Hi hon, are you okay?" And the answer was, "I've taken a fall and I think I hurt myself". I asked if he wanted a ride home, and he said yes. But we still had the bike. I didn't know what to do about the bike because with three of us it wasn't going to fit in the car. Sarah "volunteered" to walk the bike back home. (that is SO not her usual thing!". I had to figure out how to get Simon into the car because he couldn't walk on his leg. I asked him if he thought he broke his leg, and he said no. But still he couldn't walk on the right leg. I had to figure out how to get him in the car and finally I decided that I was going to drive my car up to him! So I get in the car, go up over the curbs and drive right up to his bench. I get him on the car, mind you he can't walk on his leg, and he is leaning on me all sweaty (YUCK!!! But you know, if I let him do this I must love him!). I got him in the car and then returned to the driver seat. I WAS going to back out the way I got up there, but then I decided that I was just going to do a circle and get down that way.

SO, we get Simon home. He can't walk on his leg. He doesn't want to go to the hospital because he wants to lay down on the couch. I put towels on the couch because he is all yucky from biking. And he lays there for about two hours. Finally I asked him how he was feeling and he said he was ready for a shower. So again I had to help him to the shower and into the shower too! When he was finished I said, "So are you ready to go to the hospital now?" And finally he said yes.

We got to the hospital around 3:00 p.m. Finally saw someone at around 5:00 p.m. He had xrays done and the doctore confirmed what I thought. His hip was broken. He was admitted to the hospital at 6:00 p.m. and was in his hospital room at 7:00 p.m. The doctor came to visit at around 7:30 and that is when we were told that Simon would be having surgery the following morning at 8:00 a.m. Simon was fine with everything. Until the doctor told him this...."No eating or drinking anything after midnight". Simon always has his snacks at night, and tonight, well tonight he couldn't do it. Sarah and I stayed at the hospital unitl about 11:30. Simon told us it was time to go home. And well, he was right...mainly because I had to walk the neighbors dog that I was watching.

Sarah and I returned home and took care of the dog, set the alarm clock for 4:00 a.m. and went to bed. It was a really fast night, and the alarm went off before you knew it! But I wanted to be at the hospital when he was taken to surgery.

Sarah and I arrived at the hospital at 7:00 and Simon was wide awake! The nurse came to get him at 7:30 a.m. and she was moving the hospital bed all by herself, so I asked her if she needed some help. So she was at the bottom of the bed, and I was at the top of the bed. The nurses at the nursing station laughed because I was pushing Simon to the operating room. He went into surgery at 8:00 a.m. and was out of surgery, into recovery, and back in his room by 12:00 p.m.

All in all everything is really going fine here. Simon came home from the hospital on Monday. But, he can't do anything. He can't bend, can't lift, can't carry anything. So, I do it all. Which really is fine!

The only thing that wasn't fine is that Sarah and I were supposed to go on Vacation on Tuesday. And well, we had to cancel. SO that wasn't fine (was it mom). But, we will be going on vacation at some point. I didn't have any choice really. I mean I couldn't just leave him at home knowing that he couldn't do anything, and well I don't think the neighbor's would come over and watch him like I watch thier pets! (lol)

But everything really is fine. We are just a little tired....that's all.

But everything is fine.

Have a great day!

{Jill}

This is ONE LONG summer....

Yes, it is.

This has been ONE LONG summer. Why? Well, this year is the first year since Sarah has been in school where she has just about three months for summer vacation. She got out of school on May 25, and doesn't go back until August 27th. Three months and two days.

Now, I don't want you to think that I am complaining. I mean I love her to pieces and I knew that summer would be long, but what I didn't count on was having TWO extra people (besides me) home for summer vacation. I can handle one extra person to clean up after, but two? In case you haven't figured it out, the second person is my husband. He has "decided" to work a majority of his work week at home, with us, in the house.

Now I do love him too, but you know it would be nice if I could get some help around the house? You know to unload the dishwasher, sweep the kitchen floor or put a load of laundry in? Cleaning a mirror would be good too! But nope. Nothing happens unless I get really upset. So let's just say that the bathroom mirror hasn't been cleaned in a very, very, very, long time. (lol)

I know that school will come and both will either go back to school or to the office, and I can learn to "deal" with my loneliness...honestly, I can FIND things for me to do...I"ll be fine! Really! And I don't need anyone to give me suggestions on things that need to be done around the house...I can however give the others a nice LONG list of things that need to be done, that were promised to me for at least four or five years (one item on the list is 11 years old!). See, I'm a VERY patient person.

But sometimes even the most patient person just needs to vent. But since noone at home seems to listen to me, I have to come here and vent to myself! lol I tried to talk to Snoopy Cat about it, but he just looked at me as though he really didn't care what I had to say to him! (lol)

BUT! There is the light at the end of the tunnel! I do have some trip planned! And they are coming up really soon! One is to Tulsa in August! I can't wait for that one! The second is to Phoenix in September. I'm going to be going to Creative Escape again this year! And then there is the Rusty Pickle Chef Retreat in Utah. I've never been to Utah before so I'm SUPER excited about this one! I don't consider these just trip for me, but I look at them as time that my daughter and husband have to spend together and try and get things done without me. When I get home there is always a story, and it's always interesting!

Have a Great Day!!!

{Jill}

And Even More From Rusty Pickle!

Pink Pirates!!!
School Daze
Mayflower

Rusty Pickle CHA SNEAK PEEK!!!!

Here are some Sneak Peeks for you from Rusty Pickle!

Addams Family

Grandma Pickelicious

Grandpa Pickelicious

Mayflower

Cap'n Jack

I have a Secret "Blog" Reader! LOL

Okay so I was talking on the phone today to my mom...she lives in Tallahassee (Florida). And well, I was asking her if she would come and pick me and Sarah up at the airport...we are going on a little visit, since Sarah hasn't seen "Georgia and Renata" for awhile. So as I was saying, I was talking to my mom and said, "You know what Jill"...what mom...and then she told me. She reads my blog! And do you know why she reads it? So that she knows that I am still around. I guess that I don't keep in touch that much, and that if I update my blog at least she knows that everything is okay! (or that at least I'm still around)

Guess I better post a picture too so that she will really know that I've been here!

Have a great day!

{Jill}

Yes, I am still here....{With Some WONDERFUL News!!!}

Yes. I'm still here.

I have to pinch myself every now and then.

Why???

Well, remember the Rusty Pickle Design Team contest???

Well....i made it!!!

They announced the winners on Monday. We actually received emails that day...and I read mine carefully...just to make sure...and sure enough! I made it!

And not only that! But I have a new friend who made it too!!! Amanda Oates!!! She is this really GREAT scrapbooker and I couldn't be more happier for her! Well I'm happy for both of us!

So Monday (June 9th) we received our emails. And we made it, along with ten other ladies (who are just as excited as I am! But it didn't really hit me until about 45 minutes later. I just sat at my computer, and said to myself...I did it...I couldn't believe it. And I can't wait to get started!

My daughter came in the room after the announcement was made on the Rusty Pickle site and she said to me, "Mom, can we go to the Zoo now?" And I told her, "Yes, Sarah...we can go to the Zoo now". But since it rained on Monday and Tuesday, we didn't get to go until today...97 degrees out and we are at the Zoo. But I told her that I would take her, and I did...now at least I have a happy 12 year old. At least for a little while!

While we were at the Zoo we went by and saw the otters. The Otters are Sarah's favorite animal to watch because they come right up to the observation window and look at you! Just like you are the one they are supposed to be watching, and not the other way around! And I tried to get this picture of the five otters swimming under water towards us...i think I got it, but I'm going to check later...so if you see an otter picture here later on, you'll know what it's from.

I'm going to leave for now. I have some major cleaning up to do in my scrapbook room. Lots of stuff that needs to be put back where it belongs, zoo pictures to be uploaded, and I want to scrapbook something! (Plus it's getting ready to really storm outside!)

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

{JILL}

Am I in the right place???

Yes... I think I am!

This is my Blog isn't it?

It's just that it's been SO LONG since I've been here I sort of forgot what it looked like! (lol)

Not really...

SO, where have I been? Yes. It has been a long time but I have been SUPER busy with some stuff. Right after the Gwen Stefani Concert in May I got this wild idea that I would try out for the Rusty Pickle Design Team...Well I really decided on May 19th that I would try out. So that's what I've been doing.

Rusty Pickle (http://www.Rustypickle.com) is this WONDERFUL Scrapbook Manufacturer! And I DO mean WONDERFUL!I am a fanatic about Rusty Pickle Products! Even more so now. So as I was saying on May 19th I decided to enter the Rusty Pickle Design Team Contest. Here is how it worked...In order to even be consided for the contest you had to design a mini album, a layout and an altered project. Remember, I said to even be considered. So everyone who wanted to enter the "Rusty Pickle Amazing Race" had to complete those three projects and send them in. Rusty Pickle was only going to pick 20 of all the entries that were submitted to them. And out of the 20 only 12 of the contestants will become Rusty Pickle Chefs.

Follow me???

So, I completed my three projects and I sent them in. Remember that I made my decision to enter on May 19? Well, I didn't start my projects for another two days. I worked and worked and worked, and finally I had my projects done and sent in by the deadline specified. Then all those who entered had to wait for the results to see who the twenty scrapbookers would be. Imagine my surprise when I received an email from Rusty Pickle letting me know that I would be a finalist!!! I screamed for joy! And my husband? Well, he was wondering why I was screaming! I had to explain it to him...he finally got it.

So now I am one of twenty contestants in the Rusty Pickle Amazing Race. Rusty Pickle was so generous to us! They sent us two boxes of Rusty Pickle Product...this product was to be used for our projects in the race. I was in New Braunfels, Texas (at Schlitterbahn) when my boxes arrived, but as soon as I returned home I opened them up and organized them in their own special container so that nothing would happen to them...and also so that I would know where everything was!

The Race has been going on for a week and two days now and so far we have completed five projects. We have three more to go! This afternoon we received out 6th clue on what I project should be, so I have to get back to work soon....

And I'd love to show you all my projects, but I asked and I can't post them anywhere except the websites that are hosting the Amazing Race. So if you are following along and know where to look you can see everyones projects.

5 projects down
1 project in the works
2 projects to go

And then we find out who makes it. I really would like to make it!

Have a great day!!!

{Jill}

Gwen Rocked!!!!!

and that's that!

So much going on....

Yes, it's hard to believe that there is so much going on!

This past week I was in Austin at the Scrapbook Exp working for Fiber Scraps! I had a GREAT Time meeting new friends, reconnecting with old friends and just showing everyone what they can do with the Fiber Scraps Walnut Ink Tintz. I love working the booth because, well, it's sort of like I get to play all day!!! Don't get me wrong, it's a LOT of work! Especially building the gridwall, setting up the booth and all. But it's also a LOT of fun because people from last year have come by just to say "hi" to me. Patricia would be so proud of me!

The first day of setting up is always the hardest, okay it runs a close second to the last day when we have to tear down. But after we were done setting up we went out to dinner to Threadgill's. Patricia and I went there last year so that she could try the Fried Green Tomatoes...she even let me try them! This year I ordered them for myself! And they were just as yummy!

The next night was Thursday and anyone who knows me knows what I do on Thursday nights. I watch my tv shows (Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and October Road). So I had take out chinese food and watched tv all night long..finally took a shower around 10:00 right at the beginning of October Road.

Friday night I was able to go out for dinner with my friend Kara! I was glad that I go to see her again! She is just the bestest! We went to Pappadeaux which really is a treat for me since Simon (my dh) doesn't really like seafood. We split the Crawfish Appetizer and the Stuffed Shrimp. Kara kept saying that she was going to have desert, but when time came around did she have room? nope.

After dinner Kara and I went and visited a scrapbook store. It was nice to be able to get out and see something in Austin. We drove to the store and walked around and guess what I bought? nothing, which would really make my husband happy to hear! (lol) But he doesn't know about that new bag that I bought at the Expo either....

After we finished visiting the scrapbook store we went to Starbucks and I was able to get a Vente' White Mocha...at a price that was right! The coffees at the Expo were $4.75 apiece....and that was for a tall! This one was $4.25. Which was better!

I drove home from Austin on Sunday and was greeted by NOONE being home! So i unpacked, jumped in the shower and got on the computer to check out all the messages that were waiting for me...I'm still going through them. I'm afraid to do a massive delete because I might get rid of something that is important....like a gift certificate code (which I also deleted tonight by mistake...)

The week is almost halfway over and there is SO much going on! On Friday I'm going to an all day crop at Recollections, since I can't go scrapbook on Saturday...why can't you go on Saturday? Well....I'm going to go see Gwen Stefani!!!! I am SO excited about this! Dh and I are bringing Sarah to her first concert this weekend and she DOESN'T EVEN KNOW!!! For Easter this year Sarah got the "Sweet Escape" CD in her basket and she opened it up and found the concert dates that GS would be doing...and Dallas was listed as May 5. Of course we as scrapbookers know that May 5 is National Scrapbooking Day...so I told Sarah that we couldn't go to the concert because of that! But what she doesn't know is that SHE will be at THE concert! We aren't telling her until we arrive! I can't wait!!! I have to take a picture of this!!!

Then on Sunday I am taking two classes with Tim Holtz!!!! See I told you I was a busy girl this weekend!!! I'm just wondering, when I'm going to sleep?

And I do have other news too....I am now a PINK LADY over at Scraptalk.com. I was tearing down the booth at the Expo on Saturday and got the call! So I'm super excited about that!

I've also had a lot of other things on my mind lately, some have gotten me down, but thanks to the support of good friends everything is going to be A.O.K.

Tomorrow I'm going to post the frame that I made in a class a few weeks ago...it's has my wedding picture in it...Right now it's sitting on my desk and I can see my husband and myself smiling....and it's just making me smile.

Goodnight.

{Jill}

How many times can you hear the word "No"?

How many times can you hear the word "No"?

How many times can you hear the word and still be okay?

The answer: 16

In the past year I have submitted to 16 Design Team Calls. All of them have one thing in common. The word "No".

The latest came today. I'm sad. Yes, I will admit it. I'm sad. I really wanted it. But life will go on. you know....it really will. But still there's that burning question of what didn't they like?
I thought outside of the box, I made things that I thought they would like....and I liked them too. But the answer was still no.

So what am I going to do about it? Give up? Not scrapbook anymore? Nope. I"m going to keep on keeping on and still do my hobby. I'd love to find a manufacturer that would really love my work, someone who would love whatever I made. So I guess I have to continue to search for that "perfect fit".

But for right now...I can be sad. Because. It's O.K.

{JILL}

Happy Tuesday!!!

It's Tuesday! Do you know what that means??? Only two more day of having to get up early! This Friday there is NO school and we can sleep in!!! But I'm not going to, there is a place called "Michael's" and I have some 50% off coupons that I am going to go and use. Luckily dd will be with me so I can give her some money to go to one line while I am in another.

Okay, so how do I make a Blog Banner???

If anyone out there can help me out it would be greatly appreciated! (cause I don't know how to do it! (lol)

{Jill}

My Flower Pot

I've had this project in my head for awhile and well I finally decided to do it last week. It's what I call "My Flower Pot". It's the perfect garden! You don't need to water the flowers, put them in the sun and the flowers will never die!

Hope you enjoy looking at it! All the beads were designed and hand made by me! The beads were meant for another project, but they matched the colors that I wanted to use on the pot so well that I used them for this project. Hope the girls at Creative Escape understand! Yes, that is what the beads were for. I'm in a Charm Swap for Creative Escape and I had all of my charms finished, and well my mind wandered and I decided to use them on this....guess I better get started making the charms again....only 66 to make (so far!) It shouldn't take me too long!

I love the colors I used on the pot. They just look pretty to me! And if the sun shines on it, it has this little glow to it...And a plus is that my room is going to match my pot...once I get it painted. (July)

Hope everyone has a Happy Monday! Tomorrow I'm going to post another project that I made for my scrapbook room...and I think that this one is super pretty! (at least to me!!!)

{Jill}

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday I attended a scrapbooking event for Relay For Life. A friend of mine organized this crop and I had a wonderful time! I didn't go by myself. I was joined by four friends! It's always nice to scrapbook with friends! I managed to get five pages completed, two cards and almost completed a mini book project that I had been wanting to work on. I LOVE all day crops!

I've been doing a lot of cleaning around the house lately. I figure if the house is clean, then everyone is happy. And, if everyone is happy then I get to scrapbook. So, I've been trying to keep the house tidy as much as possible so that I can do just that! And this week I have high hopes for getting some major scrapbooking done! I just want to sit with the music on and scrapbook just for me. No pages calls, no contests, no Design Team work. Just scrapbook for the fun of it. And that is the best type of scrapbooking there is. Mainly because scrapbooking is supposed to be fun!

I bought myself two new toys today (okay, really three!). I finally bought myself a Cricut. M's was having a sale on them and for only $139.00 I am now the proud new owner of one. Now, if I could just get my house clean so that I can sit down and use it! The second new toy is the Xyron Design Runner. I had a 50% off coupon for M's and well, it was there, and so was I. Now I am home and so is it! The third toy I bought myself isn't really a toy, just an accessory for the Cricut. I bought a second font so that I could have a little bit of a variety. I didn't want to have just one font, so I bought it. And you know, I never really buy myself anything like these things and it feels really good!

Now if I can finish getting the house tidy to use them...

Have a great Sunday! I'm off to clean!

A New Beginning....

It's Sunday Night. The beginning of a new week and new ideas to share.

I've been really busy this past month. Doing what? Scrapbooking of course! (oh, and going to the Dentist!)

Last week I received a box in the mail from Patricia at FiberScraps (www.FiberScraps.com). Guess what was in the box! The four new Walnut Ink colors from FiberScraps! The new colors are Leaf Green, Sky Blue, Charcoal, and Whitewash!!! I really can't wait to use the Charcoal and the Whitewash. Those are going to be fun!!! And I've been looking for a white color to use on dark papers for awhile, so this box came just in time!

I've also been adding a few things to my gallery over at 2peas. Here's a link to go to my gallery...http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/userprofile.asp?user_id=41475. I've added just a few things that I've been working on in the past month or two. And I have a few more projects to add, just have to finish them!

Tonight I decided to take on a project that has been on my mind for awhile. I learned how to solder. I bought a Solder Gun and it's been sitting here in my scrapbook room for the last month. I was going to take the day off and do nothing, but then I got this idea in my head that I had to do learn how to do it tonight. So I plugged in the gun, let it heat up and started to use it. It was EASY!!!

As soon as I'm done with my Soldering project I'll post it here....shouldn't take me too much longer. Hopefully tomorrow!

Last night I went scrapbooking with a friend of mine that is moving. We had a great time! And I did this really cool layout for a Design Team Search. I thought I would try out for the Rouge De Garance... http://www.rougedegarance.com/ Design Team. They are looking four designers from the United States. So I thought why not try out! You won't know if you can make it unless you try! So I have to have my submission in to them by the 31st of this month...I'm keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed. The only thing wrong with my submission is that I didn't use any of their product, mainly because I couldn't get my hands on it. There are only a few places that I could find online in the states that carried it, and they were all out when I went online shopping.

So, how did I hear about this search? That's a good question. I heard about it on 2peas. BUT, I first discovered Rouge de Garance from one of the English Scrapbooking magazines that I bought while I was on vacation over in England. Even then I was interested, but this search for a US Design Team really pushed me to get my entry in! I hope then like what I send them, because I really do!

So I better get back to work. These projects that I am sending in are really totally different from things that I have created before. I will post them here as soon as I finish....because, well, they are really going to be beautiful!

In the meantime, here are some of my layouts and projects that I have completed in the past month and a half! (okay, so they are up above because I don't know how to get them down below! (lol)

Have a great day tomorrow !!!

{Jill}

Yeah, Yeah, I know...it's been a while....

And I did go to the Dentist just like I said I was. As a matter of fact since my last post I have been to the Dentist a total of FOUR times! Four times? Yes, FOUR times. The first visit was just to see what was going on. The second visit was to do some cleaning on the left side of my mouth, the third visit was to do some cleaning on the right side of my mouth, and the fourth visit was to do some "work" on the right side of my mouth. Now at the last visit the Receptionist was going to make me another appointment for this week and I said to her, "do you think we can take a week off?"

So I took a week of.

Back to the Dentist next week.

And for all of you who were worried about me....my Dentist. He's nice.

I'm sort of not looking forward to tomorrow...

Well the time has come. I have to do it. I don't want to, I mean I'm okay. Nothing is bothering me, but dh said I have to go. Where? The Dentist.

DH told me on Friday that he was going to make appointments for us to go the Dentist, so he called. I LUCKED out that day because the dentist's office was closed. But then he had to go and call them today and the earliest appointment they have is TOMORROW MORNING. Uggh...

Okay, I haven't always been like this. I use to like to go to the dentist. It was nice having the cleaned and I always left the office smiling. But it wasn't until I moved and changed dentists. The first dentist I went to I walked into the office. It was the first day I had my daughter in a new day care center (that's how long ago it was!). I sat in the chair and I was looking out the window. He said to me, "You don't want to be here to you?" "You don't like dentists do you". Now mind you what I said earlier about how I LIKED to go to the dentist. This dentist was totally different than any other that I had gone too. He yelled at me. Yes, he yelled. So what did I do? I didn't go back to him. I didn't like how he talked to me and I didn't like being yelled at.

So, I went on a search for a new dentist and found one close to my house. The dentist seemed nice in the beginning. I would go in, have my teeth cleaned and leave the office smiling. But then things went downhill. At about the third or fourth time that I went in, he changed. And he yelled at me too.

Why did he yell? He said to me, "Jill, you HAVE to floss". I know I have to floss, but you know no matter how much you do it, you're not going to make the dentist happy! It wasn't just the tone of his voice (LOUD) it was how he said it to me. So I didn't go back. And I won't go back to either dentist number 1 or dentist number 2.

So tomorrow I am making a visit to dentist number 3. He already has brownie points because he's a friend of my dh's. One night dh and I went to an office party at number 3's office. I met the staff, and dentist number 3's wife. DH talked to number 3 and explained to him about my pastexperiences with the two dentists. And number 3 said to me, "I won't yell at you". So I'm sort of feeling good about that! Plus number 3 is funny! He has a nice office, and well, he said he wouldn't yell at me.

So tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. I will be at the dentist office. Dh will be there before me. I wonder if he would stay and hold my hand? Ooohhh, but on the other hand maybe I could get the Dentist to ZOOM my teeth!!!

I'll update tomorrow!

CHA Sneek Peek!!!!

I'm SO EXCITED about this new book that's coming out from FiberScraps!!! You'll have to guess why!!! But it's being introduced at CHA next week in Anaheim! And that's not all that's coming from FiberScraps! They are also introducing some new Tintz Colors!!! Can't wait to get those too! So here's a little Sneak Peak from ME to YOU!!!

I am SO busy!!!

Yeah, I know, everyone is busy right? Well, i know that! But this week, especially today and tomorrow I am super busy! I have SO much stuff that I have to do it's not funny. Let me reword that. What I really have is a list of things to do that will take up a lot of time, it's not that it's a LOT of stuff to do, it's just time-consuming!

Here is my list:
1. I have to get my mail out. I have packages to get ready to mail and I have to get them out of here!!! (Do you hear that Susanne?) As soon as I am done here I'm heading to the post office, well, after I get everything all wrapped up and addressed!
2. I have to get caught up on my Heidi Swapp Big Picture class. I've stated my goal, and I've taken my pictures. But I have to do the artistic challenge and get that done. Which means I have to print out my pictures. Guess I better upload then first.
3. I have a SUPER BIG project that I have to finish this week. Not going to say what it is. Just that I have to get it done.
4. I have another project that I promised to get done this weekend. It'll get done, even if I have to stay up all night.
5. I have to plan my daughter's Birthday Party and make the invitations, make the reservations and everything. Then drive dd around to deliver the invitations. And then I have to go and buy a "Cupcake Tree" because she doesn't want to have a Birthday Cake, but wants to have a Pretty "Cupcake Tree".
6. The gym. I have to go. That's all there is to it!
7. Help dd finish building her castle. Yes, castle. Her entire class was given what was called the Castle Building Assignment. Each student has to build a Castle from things that are around their house. Lucky, I'm a scrapbooker! We're almost done with it, just have to really asemble it!

So that's my week. See it's not that there is a lot of stuff, it's just time consuming stuff, and well I guess I could stay up a few nights this week. Because you know, I work better in the quiet of the night!

Have a great day!

{Jill}

Heidi Swapp's January Life Challenge for the BPS Class

So now everyone knows that I am signed up for Heidi's class over at the Big Picture (http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com). And for the first week we were given the task of setting our goal. On this goal we are supposed to answer some questions, so here i go!

My Goal Is: To Simply and Organize my Scrapbook Room for Inner Peace.

1. To keep focused on any goal you must have a completion date. Set a date when you will be accomplishing the goal you have chosen:

The completion date of my goal is May 25, 2007. Why that date? It's the last day of school. So I have between now and then to get my act together and get things organized! Because once school gets out for the summer it's pool time and "field trip" time with dd!

2. Think of five reasons why you want to accomplish this goal.

1. So that my scrapbook room will be neat and tidy.
2. So that I won't get stressed out whenever I walk into my scrapbook room
3. So that dh won't make comments about my scrapbook room being messy! (l0l)
4. So that when I am looking for something it will be in it's spot.
5. So that when friends come over I can invite them to scrapbook in my scrapbook room and not be afraid of them seeing a mess!

3. Determine something you will tell yourself everyday to keep you motivated.

I don't know what I'm going to tell myself yet, but i do have this vision in my head of being in my scrapbook room and having it all neat and tidy! I have the colors all picked out for everything so that's helping too! I think it's just going to be the vision in my head that will keep me going!

4. Enlist support. Tell someone that will encourage you throughout the process and hold you accountable for your goal.

I've told two people about my goal for this class. The first is my husband Simon, the one who started to help me redo my scrapbook room two and a half years ago...and well, I hold him partially responsible for the state of my scrapbook room right now. I mainly told him what I was doing so that when he got the credit card bill for new organizing things he would know why I was spending it! And the second person is a friend of mine, Tracey. Tracey is actually taking the class too! But we have different goals that we are focusing on. I just ran my "goal" by Tracey to see what she thought of it. And well, she thought it was a pretty good goal too - at least that's what I think she said! (lol)

5. Take photos, or have someone else take photos, representing your goal.

Okay, I have taken photos. One is a photograph of a pile of stuff that is in front of my closet. I have to go throught this stuff piece by piece. And the other photograph is of my desk that has all this stuff all over it, you might wonder how I work with all that stuff on there! Both photos are on my camera and well, it's not hooked up right now so I'll post them later on (or else I'll just keep them to myself so that noone will be able to see how truly messy my room is!)

Whoo...there! I've answer all five questions! Let's see if I can keep this up!

Until next time! Have a great day!

{Jill}

I'm BACKKKKKK.......

Yes, I'm back! Finally, I'm back!

I guess you could say that I got SUPER busy over the holidays, what with Christmas Shopping, Christmas Cards, Mailing Stuff, Surprise things that pop up, and Traveling. But I'm back.

Something wonderful happened over Christmas. While I was in England visiting my husband's family my best friend in the world came over to see me. She had with her, her husband, two young sons and her little girl. She drove two hours to see me! And I was SO happy to see here! But, the most wonderful thing happened! She asked me to be the Godmother of her little girl! How could I not say yes! We visited for a few hours before they had to return home, but I'm so glad that I got to see ALL of them! I guess you could say that this was the HIGHLIGHT of my trip!

What else have I been doing? Well, not much. I am majorly procrastinating everything! Okay, so a few minutes ago I did put some towels into wash and did move some boxes around in my room. But something just isn't working...me! I just feel that I need some time off, especially after Christmas, so I guess I shouldn't feel guilty should I? Nope!

DON'T FORGET!!!! The FiberScraps Deadline is coming up! The grand prize is $500.00 and the winning layouts will be featured at CHA at the end of the month at the FiberScraps booth! This is a WONDERFUL opportunity for everyone! Just wish I could enter, but well, I'm not allowed! (lol) Well, I could but my entry wouldn't count, that's what happens when you're on a Design Team! For more information about the contest go to http://www.fiberscraps.com


Speaking of the Fiber Scraps Design Team I guess I shouldn't say I haven't done anything. When we returned home from our Holiday in England I had to get some projects done! I HAD TO! So I told everyone at home that I had to get some stuff done. Okay, that was on Sunday. When did I start? (Patricia, don't read this!) I think it was late Wednesday night? But I did get what I needed to get done done. I think I work better under pressure.

So now it's 2007 and I've signed up for the Heidi Swapp Big Picture Class (http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com) and in this class we have to pick a goal. I thought for awhile about what my goal would be. I thought, it couldn't be this cause that's not a goal, it can't be that, cause that's a modification, and it can't be that because I've already done that! So what I did decide on is something that is very important and something that will help me operate things a little bit better around my house. I need to clean out my scrapbook room. My goal is "To Clean and Simplify my Scrapbook Room for Inner Peace!" Now, don't laugh at the part about Inner Peace, I'm totally serious about this! You see my scrapbook room is a mess! A disaster you might say. Two and a half years ago my husband said he would help me design my scrapbook room. He put in some cabinets and began to build pullout drawers and put some shelves up. In the meantime, all those things that were supposed to be in the cupboards or on the shelves were placed in boxes or in a pile. Dear Husband put the project on a hold a bit because of work projects of his own (at work) and well, fast forward two and a half years and it's not done. See I'm a patient person. But now I've decided that my scrapbook room has to be done, it can't go on like it has been. When my scrapbook room gets messy it doesn't make me happy, and if I don't get to clean it out when it does get messy then I'm more unhappy. SO, it's time to go through the boxes, through the piles and SIMPLIFY and ORGANIZE for INNER PEACE.

Now, this simplification and organization is beginning today. (we are also supposed to identify a goal date so mine is May 25, which is the last day of school) I have pulled out the boxes, well, some of them, from my closet and I am going to go through them once. I am going to do the keep, toss, sell method (you know like on that tv show). And the keep pile is going to be put away where it belongs. The tossed pile is going to go immediately to the garbage before I can have second thoughts about it. And, lastly the SELL pile...what do you think is going to happen to that pile? You're right! I"m going to sell it, and guess where at? At a Garage Sale in Richardson on January 20! It's going to be at the Polka Dot Potato Offices in Richardson. If you need more info you can post here, or email me! There's going to be a whole bunch of stuff there from different scrapbookers and it's always a LOT of fun! I CAN'T Wait! If you need an idea of what I'm going to be getting rid of here are two things that are staring at me right now! My Black Quickutz Squeeze and the Girls are Weird Sizzlits from Sizzix. So, if you are interested in either of those things then you need to come to the Garage Sale on the 20th! Plus, there's going to a whole LOT more! Hope to see you then!