My Word of the Year

I love to play on the computer and try different things! I was just messing around and came up with this for my word of the Year!

Never drive faster.....

Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly

Ok? Ok, honey?? My youngest is taking her driving test today! Already! She's had her permit for 180 days, she's accumulated the required 60 hours (and more) behind the wheel with ten of them being at night.

But, I still see her as my ....

my baby!

If you have a moment, please say a prayer for her and for all the young drivers that are just gaining their road experience. I pray that they don't assume they know what the other drivers are doing, that they take that second look just before they switch lanes. That they have the sense to put their cell phones down and not fiddle with the radio. That they allow themselves a few extra minutes to get where they need to be so they aren't rushed. That they are quick reflexed, conscientious and courteous drivers. Amen.

Routine

Today, everyone goes back to school or to work after the Christmas break. I'm planning to get back into my exercise routine. I do one of 4 things, I Swim, Step (stationary biking is the warm down), Weights or Run (ugh! Wish I enjoyed this, but I don't. I only do it because it's the best way to tone my legs). Rarely do I walk. I like to walk, but I don't do it as exercise it's more as a "mental escape" or scenery change for me.



About 4 yrs ago, I could never keep track of whether I worked out or not. When the kids had to be carted back & forth and back & forth , and I was doing lots of quilting in between I would think that I worked out "yesterday", but I really wasn't for sure. That's when I started using the kitchen calendar to write my workouts down. It was so easy and Visual. I could see at a glance if I've been slacking off or if I could use a break.


From this I could see how much I exercised that year. I decided to keep a yearly log on my Palm. The categories are the same as above: Swim, Weights, Steps, Run, Bike. It's been a little reward system, if you will. This year was not as good as last year in TOTAL DAYs worked out. Last year I totalled 250 days, this year only 227 days. I've figured out if I work out 5 days a week that would equal 260 days per year and if I work out 4 days a week then I'd have to do 208 days per year. So, really I'm about where I want to be. Not less than 4 days a week.

Quiet Responses........

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Have you ever tried to argue in a whisper? It is equally hard to argue with someone who insists on answering gently. On the other hand, a rising voice and harsh words almost always trigger an angry response. To turn away wrath and seek peace, choose gentle words.

Rush! Rush! Rush! Hurry, get there, do that! Don't forget! These are the types of statements that on occasion will cycle through my psyche. And with that comes a "hurried response" a louder than I planned response. Sometimes too quick a response. Not only have I not thought it out, it hasn't even occurred to me how the response would sound if I were the one listening. If only I could halt

a few seconds and take a deep breathe instead racing to answer....

As per my word for the year. I'm going to try to START responding more softly in all my engagements. Not just in a possible tiff here or there with my family. But in my responses to the support team on the phone, or some of my excited responses to the people I engage with on a day to day basis at work and the parents I see when attending school or sport functions. I know this may be 2nd nature for many of you, but it's not for me. It will be something I need to be mindful of! It will be another thing I will need to be mindful of!! Oh-evie!

Do you Doodle?

I think we all are capable of doodling? I doodle when I'm on the phone, when I am in meetings (cuz I'll have pen and paper), when I'm home and making lists of items to get from the grocery store. I love coming across people's doodles. Just think of what you can learn from them. Lots of times I can find out who likes who, or I can find out the "date of the doodle". Yeah, random stuff, but fun stuff too! When I was a kid I always doodled faces. I worked on the eyes and someone showed me how to do the pupil, where it looks like light reflects in them. I like to doodle in color too! Fine point sharpies are my marker of choice.

I was so happy to receive this Doodle book I heard about for Christmas. It's called "Doodling for Papercrafters" by Maelynn Cheung and you can find it HERE

Organizing my USB cords! Ugh

Why are all these cords "proprietary" ? Why? We have the USB cord to the Palm, to the Olympus Camera, Rio MP3 player, Sandisk Sansa, Sony Cybershot, Sony Alpha, and my Instinct Phone. Only one of these cords will "multi-task". The Standard USB cord I got with the Palm.

Thankfully, it did my Olympus Camera and my Rio. But why didn't Sony make one proprietary cord? My DD's cybershot cord will not work with my Alpha SLR, huh? Go figure!

So, feeling rather inspired to organize this mess. I labelled each end of each cord. I use the red background tape to signify "camera", the blue bkgd tape to signify "mp3/Phone" and the white tape is because this is the closest to a UNIVERSAL USB I have found.

I still am not 100% in love with the visual effect this leaves, but it's far better than the way it was.

If you've found a "system" or an item that helps you organize your cords please share it. Oh yeah, it has to be less than $10, too!

Very Random game- But if you believe in synchronicity then maybe there's something to it.

The game is PLAY BOOK and I found it on this blogpost:

http://www.letyourlifebloom.com/ from the November 28th post.


Play BOOK!
Book! Rules:
1- Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
2- Turn to page 56.
3- Find the fifth sentence.
4- Post that sentence along with these instructions in a note to your wall (blog, journal,etc), and post your sentence in a comment here as well.

My 5th sentence was:
“Description also satisfies the defiant human desire to preserve certain “unforgettable” perceptions against the annihilation of time.”


I really wanted to post the 6th sentence:
There are moments that, for the artist in all of us, seem too important to allow to pass into oblivion.

Oh Well.......

Christmas Cards

Our 2008 Christmas Card!

Merry Christmas

Busy, busy, busy time! But I wouldn't have it any other way! We always take a "all included" picture on our last day at the beach! Now, I'm starting an "all included" picture for Christmas. It really isn't hard to set up the tripod, so why didn't I do this before?


P.S. Today is my 23rd Wedding Anniversary! Wow!

Professional Pictures, Can't Sell without a Release

I guess I should feel flattered, but this could be a hassle! I took wedding pictures for this adorable couple this summer and as a Christmas gift to them, I wanted to make a funky little Digital Layout. I really don't know if this is their style, but I sure had fun making it.I just wonder why Walgreens requested a release? I said; "Well, I took the picture and I did the Layout in Photoshop". I told them I release myself! The clerk didn't give me any problems, but what if she had? Do I need to carry around my purchase information from ScrapGirls because I bought some digital elements from them......See the Date Stamp,the Vertical Diamond border, the "Always and Forever" and the butterflies. Please note,this is a gift, I am not selling this.

I'm gonna upload to a different Walgreens for my digi-Layouts next time! Who wants to be bothered?

The Christmas Card

You won't be getting this Christmas Card from us. I loved this card. I liked the colors and the quote. But it has been axed! You see, I'm married to a man with rather strong opinions and well, he 1- Didn't get the quote (not Christmassy enough) and 2- He didn't like the hat I photoshoped in (I guess I could've put it on the dog) and 3- His original shirt was Orange, not red (but see I changed the color to work with my theme). So, now I'm working on another card. And I better hurry, I'm running out of time.

Word for the Year

I am lousy at keeping New Years Resolutions! First of all, I can never think of the "perfect" resolution! I ping-pong and yo-yo between any and all of the ones below:
1) Lose weight 2) Exercise more 3) Make my bed every morning 4) Cook more or try new recipes 5) Cut and use coupons

You get my drift. I'm obviously pretty vague about 1 & 2 ; I should say lose 10 pounds by Easter, or Exercise for 30 min. a day. #3 is a super hard one for me because 3-4 mornings a week I am out of the house before DH is even out of bed. AND, #4 is well, it just will be something that I've resolved myself to not enjoying. Granted, I love to EAT and get SERVED but the actual task for me reminds me of work (performing multi-step testing to get an accurate result). I also think I'm a rather boring eater. I could eat the same thing for days and not grow tired of it. Now #5 I did do for over a year. I used my PALM to write down all the money I saved with my coupons and those BOGO (buy-one-get-one) Free promos and I learned a ton about when to buy what, how to stockpile and what is a good price for Meat or Laundry detergent.

Last year I came upon a few sites ( Ali Edwards and Christine Kane )that talked about choosing a WORD for the year instead of the New Years Resolutions which I break or forget I even made.

So, I've made up my mind! I have my Word! I think it'll work in lots and lots of
ways as I create my life. Really you must go check out Christine's blog, she starts December with a whole list of words to get your creative juices flowing. Then each day this month she has a guest blogger talk about the word they chose for 2008! I find it so Fascinating, really!! See for yourself HERE



So, without further adu, My Word for 2009:

Gone Digital

I am so honored today! On Saturdays the Scrapgirls NEWSLETTER
selects weekly LO (Layout) winners! I couldn't believe my eyes! One of my LO's was featured in the newsletter. I posted this LAYOUT in early November and I sorta forgot about it! It was a super fun LO to do and surprisingly I didn't have to "overthink" it too much! Once I figured out how I wanted to show the hands. That's where the frame came in for the left hand. All the products are from Scrapgirls (even a FREEBIE was used). I think I get $5 to the Scrapgirls BOUTIQUE and with all the sales they have this will suit my needs just fine!

The journalling reads: I was never one to pull out my wallet and show people my kids latest School pictures. But all that's changed since I went DIGITAL........

By the way, I totally love my Sprint INSTINCT (it's Sprint's version of the iphone)! Love, Love, Love it! My DH even asked for one for Christmas. We set him up with his very own yahoo email and now he will actually respond to email....... (I think cuz he has an excuse of writing on the phone so it's ok for him to keep it brief).

Photo Contest

I am just "pleased as punch", "happy as a clam", "as happy as a dog with two tails", because I won a something! A couple of months ago Mark took me up flying for my birthday, we planned to go up the morning of the Bluegrass Balloon Race so we could see all the balloons. I brought my camera (Sony Alpha dSLR) and hoped I could get a few decent pictures to submit for the photo contest they were running. See my earlier blog entry Bluegrass Balloon Fest for the pics I submitted.

I just found out that I won! I won? Me? I didn’t win a new car, nor a Me-llion dollars (think Dr.Evil in Austin Powers). But Still I WON! I WON!!

Here is the LINK to the CONTEST GALLERY.

And this is what I won!!!

Don't you just Love these FALL colors????

BlueGrass Balloon Fest

We woke up early this morning to greet the Hot Air Balloons!! Fantastic view from the air! Didn't even get air-sick this time. I guess it helps having something to do :)




After the Hare was released, the Hot Air balloons came up from all over
town! We had to be careful not to be above them as they went up.

Love the peacefulness of this picture!

Definitely can't be afraid of Heights!

One Day, I will do this!! i hope :)

The Tower gave us clearance to go ANYWHERE!

Note to self: Delete ALL of the pics on your memory cards prior to departure!

We think there were around Fifty balloons in this race.

Yellow- really?

Ok, so this isn't Yellow! But, isn't this a cool pic? Love it, Love it, Love it! It just makes me happy looking at it!

BTW, have a HAPPY 4TH of JULY!!! See you tomorrow!

Yellow- Day 4

This is a sign i made about 3 yrs ago and it hangs in my kitchen above the back door. When this

saying came out- I spotted these signs all over creation. I love to do things myself and put or

make them to suit my needs/ my colors. It's so not perfect, the wood piece was from Michaels and there are some little brown spots that somehow got thru the white base coat. But for now,

I'm keeping this right where it is! It's fun and a little whimsical and a good reminder for me.

Yep, those are my kitchen walls, yep, they are pretty darn yellow!

See you tomorrow :)

*DEB Graphic Frames BrushSet

Yellow- Day 3

Yellow Butterfly in my planter at the mailbox! I love garden paraphenalia. It's so
fun to put the little personal touches along with the flowers. My petunia's have not
had the best season though. They just aren't as vibrant as they usually are. Other
people have noticed the same thing about their petunia's. Which makes me feel
better, because then i can't say it's cuz I've neglected them.

Well, Day 3 and I made another post! Yipee! See you tomorrow!!


*DEB Graphic Frames Brush Set from Scrapgirls.com

Yellow Hat- Day 2

I love this yellow visor! Love visors in general. I'm having trouble finding the better visors right now. I guess I'll have to wait until I get to the Destin Outlets in August. I tend to find a good selection there. Where do you find good hats?

*DEB Graphic Frames BrushSet by Scrapgirls.com