Oh my gosh...What Happened to Me?

My fabulous friend, Waleska, tagged me. I never have been very good at running, so I didn't stand a chance. LOL! This is what it is all about:

• Take a picture of yourself right now. No primping or preparing. Just snap a picture.
• Load the picture onto your blog.
• Tag three people to play. Remember, if you are tagged, we will all be heading to your blog to see if you played along.

Here you go.

Don't believe that is me? Well, that is how I feel today. LOL! So I cut my own hair this past weekend. I wasn't drunk, overly tired or on any medication, so there is no good explanation as to why I would do this. I just did it and I used scrapbooking sissors. Thought I was talented enough to do it. Not. Wondered why do people go to school to do this? Yeah...I know now. Whatever. I also had a chemical peel last week. What does this all mean? My skin is flaky and my hair is limp. I usually look better. Who am I kidding. I don't. I just pretend I do. Without further ado here I am. Run.

Now who should I tag? Good question. I choose: Aimee, Diana and Judi.

Just a Few........

Hey! There is no snow in my yard. Do you know what that means? That means it's almost time for me to squeeze myself into my bikini (not really) and get back to scaring the neighbors. First I have to scare the ducks off my pool and wait for the weather to get above 70 degrees. I was working on my pool today in the pouring rain. I have to drain it completely, so I can have the liner repositioned by my pool/cabana boys. I sure hope they are hot and arrive with palm fronds to fan me. That never happens. I always get the dudes with the carpenter/plumber crack. Sigh. I guess they could say the same thing about me. LOL!

SCRAPPING

Scrapping-wise...this past weekend I did a bit of it. On Saturday I spent the entire day with my cousin and friends and I completed almost eight layouts. Almost. I can never complete an entire layout at a crop. I always have a bit to finish up at home. Below are a couple of the layouts I recently finished:

The one above is a layout I did for Davinie's Project 12 challenge. The little flowers are Jenni Bowlin Chipboard buttons I received from my friend, Heather. Thank you, Heather! Check out her blog. You won't be sorry she creates beautiful layouts. :o)

This layout was done for the current DT Inspired Challenge at Studio Calico. This was based on Nicole Harper's Layout Good Fortune. I loved her flower border. I am going to paint the flower outlines red. They need more of a pop. The journaling basically says...First day of school. Time for the mandatory photo in front of the tree. The kids just love doing this. Well, Emily loves it. She's in Kindergarten. Jake accepts doing it. He's in 4th grade. Nick loathes it. He's in 6th grade. I think you can see a pattern forming. Whatever. They will pose in front of this tree until it is either cut down or they graduate from college. That is my right as aunt or so I think. ;o)

Just a reminder that there is about a week remaining in the BASB challenge I am hosting. Check this thread out for more information: A Day in Your Life

Well, that is it. I need to head off to bed and read a bit. My friend and introducer/enabler of all good, Anilu, has introduced me to the Sookie Stackhouse books. I am addicted. Kind of like an adult version of Twilight. Light, fun and quick reading. If your looking for something to read, check them out.

A Day in Your Life...or Is It Mine?

Wanna win this?Yep...a brand new still in package Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch. Well, it can be all yours along with a few other extras. All you have to do is join in on the 9th challenge at BASB.

HMMM

Here's the scoop. It finally happened and I am the host for the 9th challenge at BASB. Talk about nerve-wracking. I am not a leader. I'm a follower and dang happy to be so. LOL! But I have pushed all fear aside and chose my challenge to be about documenting a day in your life. I, of course, couldn't fit all the spectacular events onto one layout. Oh please...I said I was a follower and unless someone is leading me in the bunny hop there is nothing too exciting happening here. ;o) Here's my layout:

I hope you will check out the challenge and join in. Here's the link to the ins and outs of the challenge: A Day in Your Life. Deadline is March 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Sweet Memories (Calorie and Fat Free)

I received an email telling me I need to blog more often. Huh? Why? I thought it over and figured out why that person was wrong and I shouldn't blog more often. It's all because of you. I don't want to overwhelm you with my wit, creativity and...well...forget it. I don't blog everyday, because I am not organize enough to do so and I certainly do not lead such an exciting life that deems perpetual updating on this here blog. I mean if you want to hear about this week's Ghost Hunter episode or the latest and greatest excuse I have heard from one of my tenants on why they are paying rent late I could post everyday. Nope...I didn't think that would interest you, so I will stick to my routine. Do I hear a HUGE sigh of relief? Oh wait...that was me.

Journaling: The summer of 2008. Great memories of staying cool in the pool and hoarding all the tubes no matter how high pitched the other's whined.
GHOST HUNTERS
With saying that...I finished up a layout, while watching Ghost Hunters. This layout has been staring at me for a couple of weeks. I had the circle portion and green wave done and the photo plopped into place, but didn't know where to go. I'm a simple and plain scrapper, but even I admit this is on the verge of me having to justify why I even buy embellishments. I wanted to pull out all my jewel-encrusted brads and use them all willy nilly over the layout just to prove I could. I resisted and used the one piece of Flair. OOoooo...scary. I better run out immediately and stock up on some more Flair as I will soon run out. Not.TEXTURE

This I am excited about. Yesterday on the message board at Studio Calico I read a thread about adding texture to photos. Elisa's layout, Butterfly, is awesome and this thread finally gave me the push to really want to learn about adding texture. Within that thread, she provided a link to a tutorial that she wrote up. It was written perfectly - easy to understand. Thank you Elisa! So I tried and the following is my first attempt. The top photo is the original with just a bit of contrast correction. The middle is the texture I used. It was found here: Urban Dirty. The bottom is the final result. I still have a lot to learn, but I thought it was a good outcome for a first attempt.

So texture is fun, especially when you get to work on photos with cuties, like Jake. Now I want to texture everything. That's the problem with me and trying new things - it's all or nothing. I will try to restrain myself, but the following blurb will prove I have no resistance to anything.

RESISTANCE

Resistance. I wish. Since no blog entry would be complete without a mention of my current food frenzy, here goes. Dang the Girl Scouts! They look all sweet and innocent dressed in their little uniforms. Little does the world realize that they are diabolical and out to take over the world by making all our butts so big we can't move.

Yes, the cookies are in da house and they are on their way out via my mouth. Next year I am installing an anti-Girl Scout device on my front step. Once they step on it and it senses that they are "scouts" it will send them flying in the air right to my skinny neighbor's front step. Take that, lady with no butt! Grrr....game on!

BASB

Before I forget...I will be hosting the next BASB challenge. I hope you can all participate as I am not above saying my fear is that no one will participate. There...it's said. Look for an update on my blog this Sunday or Monday. I am not above bribing anyone by saying that the prize is one of those elusive Fiskar border punches. Which one? Well, you will have to wait for that.

CLOSE THIS BAD BOY

Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. If you have an urge for a Thin Mint, stop on by. My behind will thank you.

What's Up, Sour Puss?

Sorry. I'm not impling (or is it inferring) that you are a sour puss. The sour puss is the little chicita below. She's normally not one either, but for a small moment in her life she got caught.

SOUR PUSS

So do you know how you plan to be ultra creative and you actually have a weekend to do so AND you are super excited about it? Well, it will never work out as planned. That was my weekend and this is what I did. That's it. One layout. I have one thing to say about it. As stated above she is never pouty. Well, rarely. I have to say that here, because one day she is going to find my blog and wonder why I would lie. I have to keep it real, because someday she will be supporting me and I want her to pick out a nice nursing home. Love ya, Em. Friendship Village is a really nice home for seniors. Just a hint.

LOVE CARD

To be quite honest I also made a card. I was doing the Inspired DT challenge at Studio Calico. This week's DT was Nicole Samuels. I really like this card she made: Love Card. Thought I would make a clear card, too. Have you ever tried to make a clear card? I am giving Nicole credit. It is not easy. You get fingerprints everywhere, static cling and dust globs magnetizing to the acrylic and then on top of that you have to creatively hide the adhesive. Remember above where I stated there was no creativity this weekend? That was true about hiding the adhesive. LOL! OK...it wasn't that bad. I came up with this. Not even close to the masterpiece of Nicole's, but I tried. Oh and photographing a clear card is even harder than making one. For sure!

HI

PUNCHES

So while I wasn't busy being unproductive, I was shopping. Have you seen the little gems in the photo below? They are the new border punches by EK Success. I am not normally a punch person, but had to have these. I went way overboard, but they were on sale and...uh...oh forget it...idon't have to make any excuses. I bought them and that is that. Anyway...I like that the designs are more petite/finer than Fiskars and I love that they have a little switch on the bottom that holds the punch closed. Easier to store. The only disappointment I have is that the zigzag one is pictured as if it has stitch lines. The punch out does not. Maybe I got a faulty one. Anyone else have one that does have the stitch lines? Let me know. You can find these at Michael's. Head there now and don't forget your coupon!

BYE
Well, that's enough from me. I hope you have a wonderful Monday! Thanks for stopping by.

Cookies and Cream.

Yes. I got them. One can only avoid such decadence for so long, so I took your advice and just had one. OK, truth be told, two. Dang three. Now do you see why I avoid them? Each one is the size of my face and there are six in the bag. It's no surprise that I will soon be giving Weight Watchers my big butt business. Anyway, I loved them and it is over. No more. Ever.

In the scrapping realm, the new BASB Challenge has now been posted. This time it is hosted by the Cupcake Queen Greta and she has chosen the theme At What Cost. Basically, put your own spin on documenting the cost of something(s). I got a little out of hand and did the layout below. It seems I am a little obsessive about ice cream. When I was done with the journaling on this layout I came out of my trance, wiped the drool off my chin and realized I need serious help. Therefore, the second clue I needed a Weight Watchers intervention. Dang. Anyway, join in on the challenge and you just might become the lucky winner of a $15 Studio Calico gift certificate. Now who wouldn't want to win that? I may enter a layout incognito for that one. Kidding. But it is a good idea. Deadline is March 14 at 11:59 p.m.

Nothing else is happening around here...thank goodness and dang. Enjoy your day. Hmmm...I wonder if I have enough time for a trip to Great Harvest before work. Did I say never again? I don't remember.