Friday funk

Today we got even more bad news at work. The company is closing down our press room and cutting 166 people who work there. They're going to print the newspaper in New Jersey. They're also looking to sell the building and possibly relocate, which is probably a good idea since our third and fourth floors are pretty much empty. So sad. Plus I had one of those nights where all kinds of things went wrong and I got stuck working an extra hour. Hate that! I'm in such a cranky mood. But at least I'm home now with my puppy and that makes things a lot better!

I sang a new song at karaoke last night - Lisa Loeb's Stay - and I rocked it! I have had that song in my head all day. I haven't sung in a few weeks, so it was fun to get back into it. The whole night was just crazy.

I think I'm going to watch something funny tonight to put me in a better mood! I just got a bunch of cheap DVDs from Amazon's black friday sale, including Step Brothers and the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Christmas special.

My friend Kait sent me this link today - great for cleaning your computer screen and a good laugh!

Yay for Tania ... and some new pages

I think I must have used up most of my scrapping mojo in the beginning of the year! I have about 25 images posted at DST in January and 11 for November. Well, here are some I haven't shared here yet.

I'm super excited for my friend Tania Shaw. Not only is she rocking over at Funky Playground, but she's also the guest designer this month at Digi Chick. I did this page using Tania's Krafty Christmas and templates that she as TDC. I remember when Tania was so excited to be on the elements team at Digi Chick, and even though it's gone through a few owners since then, it's pretty cool that she's back there this month!


Here's one I did using a template by a new studio girl, Crystal Livesay. This isn't my usual scrapping style, so it was fun to play. I think I would like this better if I made the photo and clusters a little bigger. I can hardly see Penny! LOL!

Credits

And I'm trying to get some pages done for my Christmas albums this year. I had scrapped a version of this page for my hybrid Easter album. (Total of three pages done!) So it was easy to add some paper and elements to make finish a digi version.

Credits

Penny Claus

I was going through last year's Christmas photos to scrap a page that I'll share later this week when I came across this. It cracks me up.


I woke up this morning to the sounds of a delivery man madly ringing my doorbell. Which was followed by the annoying sounds of pug whining. They are the sounds of the seaon!

I'm not ready for December!

Why is that December always comes and goes so quickly? The holidays just creep up on you and before you know it, it’s all over. Today I finished the last piece of Aunt Eileen’s apple and crasin pie, but skipped the turkey. Our fridge is still stuffed with Thanksgiving leftovers. I’ve been trying to get creative with them. I made some quiche with leftover bread and broccoli and a sort of shepherd’s pie with turkey. Next year, the relatives need to take more food home with them!

I’m not the kind of person who is ready for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving is over, but there’s no escaping it. The commercials. The songs on the radio. The Hallmark and Lifetime movies my mom is always watching. (A Dog Named Christmas on CBS the other night was a big old sap fest!) One of my neighbors was up on his roof putting up a blow-up Santa. I don’t mean to be Grinchy, but it just seems that Christmas gets more overwhelming every year. We usually don’t put up the tree until the middle of the month. I did get myself a cute little hedgehog ornament at Target the other day and I watched Elf so that’s me getting in the spirit of things. I have so many things I don’t even what to start thinking about – the gifts, the cards, finishing up scrapbook projects, baking. I think I’ll wait until the weekend to make my to-do list.

And well, I got some news today that kind of puts a damper on things. Corporate announced another round of furloughs for the first quarter of next year. We probably won’t get raises again, too. I really don’t mind the time off, but I do worry about money. It means I’m going to need to be a little thrifty with the gifts and I might not be getting myself a new camera or Wii like I had hoped. I am trying really hard not to feel down about it.

But on a positive note, I realized today that I’ve got 30 more days left in Project 365. I took a photo of my new pink scarf. I had a little scare the other day thinking that I lost my camera! (I seem to lose my camera or phone at least once a day.) And my biggest worry was losing my photos from the week. I’m glad that I’ve stuck to this project all year. I’ve learned so much about taking photos and it’s really made me appreciate the little things.

I’ve been scrapping a monthly page featuring my 365 photos, but I’m not happy with how some of them are displayed. I’m thinking of doing something else with them, but I haven’t figured that out yet. Because I really need another project!

Black Friday shopping with my friends!

I decided to do a little Black Friday shopping when I got home from work last night. I picked up a few digi kits and templates and then I got myself some DVDs super cheap on Amazon. I did manage to buy two gifts - a jewelery box for my mom and a cute little dragon for my goddaughter.

If you're still looking for some good digiscrapping deals, be sure to check out my friend Kim Jensen's store and pick up here new Burst My Bubble alphas! Here's a page I did with them for last week's Studio Start to scraplift LovelyMissKait.

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My dear friend Melinda Staley is retiring from designing and is having a big sale at Scrapdish.


Then there's this cute kit by my pal Tara Sroka and Mikkel Paige, available at the Digi Chick. I love those elephants!

And Tania Shaw is also having a sale at Funky Playground Designs where you can find these super cute puffy alphas! She has a few different sets and a freebie on her blog, too!

Feeling thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am relaxing a bit before I head in to the kitchen to do some cleaning and maybe bake some peanut butter cookies. I made a cheesecake to take to work tomorrow. I love Thanksgiving at work - we all bring in food and have a good time. And that's after dinner with my family.

So I was just thinking of what I'm Thankful for this year. Here are just a few things.
- My family, especially my mom, who does so much for me, and my sister, even if she made fun of me for going to see New Moon
- Penny
- My pals - and especially my awesome digi friends. I am so glad I got to see so many of them this year!
- My iphone, ipod, camera, laptop - always keeping me entertained!
- Facebook, for giving me something to do when I'm bored and for keeping me connected to so many friends
- Having a job. Even though it's a pain, I'm lucky to still be employed this year.

One last day

Why does vacation time always go so quickly? I've been off from work the last three days and I can't believe they are over. Not that I've been doing much. I've been taking it easy after being so sick last week. I did go see Couples Therapy with Randi yesterday and did a little shopping at Target today. I mostly cleared out all the shows backed up on Tivo.

On Saturday, I went to a crop with the girls and here's what I got done.

The girls baking with some of my brother's co-workers. I didn't get to stay and taste the cookies they made. Boo! This was for a Ruby Rynne play day - another one of the new designers at SBG. Credits


I caught up on my 365 scrapping for September and August.

Here's one I did using some goodies from Pixel Works featuring the pups looking sweet. Credits

Some of my friends on Halloween. Credits

SBG Chat tonight!

Come chat at 9 pm EST tonight at Scrapbook Graphics. I'm off tonight so I should be there!

Some more pages...

I just found out my Girls Rules page was featured on the Log Your Memory blog! I have been hearing a lot about that site and need to check it out some more.

Here are some more recent pages, including one I just finished up.

The SBG designers worked on this month's Songbird Avenue Kit - Toys in the Attic.

Here's one I did of Penny in her Halloween costume (doesn't she look thrilled!) for the Rosey Posey play day. Credits

And I used PixelWorks Cozy Dreams to scrap about being sick this week. Credits

Digital Scrapbook Day

I've been hanging out home sick the last few days. Things have been so crazy at work with the elections and world series - I didn't call out sick until yesterday, but I probably should have been here all week. The doc says it's a touch of the flu. :( I spent yesterday relaxing with Penny and plan to do the same thing today. I really hope I'm better tomorrow because I'm out of sick days. It's been a rough year!

But I'm sick of sick talk. There's a big holiday coming up for us digiscrappers on Saturday - Digital Scrapbooking Day!
Scrapbook Graphics has a whole day of chats, challenges and sales planned. You can find out all the details here. You can also grab an ad booklet.

And Michelle Godin, aka PixelWorks, is having a great sale and an awesome grabbag at Scrap Artist.

I'll be celebrating by scrapping with my friends at our montly crop so have some fun shopping and chatting for me!

Netflixing on a rainy day

Not much going on here. I feel like all I do is work. I did get a lot stuff during the last week. Took Penny to get groomed, went to the eye doctor (which reminds me I need to pick up my new glasses), cleaned the mess that is my bedroom. I tried making brownies with a new silicon bites pan, but I forgot to spray it first and I made a big mess.

On Sunday, Lucia had her first dance recital. Five hours into it, her group was finally up. They did the dance twice - and both times she just stood there. At one point, she did punch the girl next to her! It was all very cute and worth the wait to see her.

Today I'm catching up on some Netflix and watching the Soloist. It's been rainy lately so I'm finally getting through these. I also watched Away We Go and Monsters vs. Aliens over the last few days - all pretty good.

Haven't done any scrapping since last week's crop, except for this new page with this new Rebel Rock kit by PixelWorks.

Funday and a chat at SBG

Check out the second Funday at SBG this week! :) I was stumped by last week's search but I found this week's word and there will be some great stuff on sale!

And there's going to be a chat on Tuesday at 9 pm EST with some prizes!

10 pages!

I just love going to crops! I get to have so much fun with the girls and get so much done. I finished 10 pages with a total of 72 photos yesterday (counting two pagers!). The crop started out a little crazy because I forgot the plug for my laptop! Luckily, there was a Best Buy nearby and I bought a new one.

Here's some of what I got done. I have one I can't share just yet! :) I'll link up the credits when I get these posted in the galleries.

Here's Penny perched in one of her favorite spots - my shoulder! Credits

Some photos from this year's Race for the Cure. Credits

Haley posing for "senior portraits." She is seriously just too cute! Credits

Hanging out with the girls in NYC! Credits

Here's a close up of us. Credits

And these are my 365 photos for July. I started this page back in August and finally got it done. Am so behind on these! Credits

If you'd like to know more about the method behind my multi-photo madness, check out my How I Did That post at SBG (there's a template freebie there, too!). And speaking of blogs, my page Built With Love with the Girlfriends kit was the featured LO on the Funky Playground blog yesterday!

Say cheese

Thought I'd share some pictures of things I've been talking about lately.

Here I am at Highline Park with my girlies Amanda, Amy and Tara!

Haley is the cutest thing ever. It was so much fun to hang out with her and the rest of the girls.

Here's a shot from my friend Billy who saw Bruce after I did.

I was sitting way up here.

And here I am with the fam at the Race for the Cure.