Does Your Heart Ache?

Does you heart ache when your kids' plans don't work out or when a friend of theirs hurts their feelings?

Today, my kids came home from school. Both of them had made concert band while most of their friends made honor band. One of their friends even made symphonic band, which is the best players, mostly 8th graders, and this girl is only going to be a 7th grader next year. She also never practices. She must have natural talent.

My son doesn't practice as much as he should. He was disappointed he didn't make honor band, but probably not all that surprised. He was sad, but he got over it - or appeared to get over it.

My sensitive daughter, on the other hand, cried and cried. It makes my heart hurt. There isn't anything I can do to ease her sadness. She even sent me an email telling me she was so depressed. And she told me face-to-face amidst sniffles and tears that she felt like the band directors were basically telling her she's terrible. And she's not. She puts her whole heart into it (her words). And she practices. And her "dream" of being a clarinet teacher is gone. And another girl told her she didn't want [my daughter] to make honor band, and that was just plain mean.

When I was in high school, I tried out for drill team officer and didn't make it - twice. I remember how hopeless and useless I felt. She is going through that right now, and my heart just aches for her.

I'm So Honored

I had such a long day today - work, errands, daughter's piano lessons, son's baseball game, homework, showers, laundry, making lunches! It's so late, and I finally got to log on to the computer, and what do I find? A sweet comment and a sweet post that mentions me! It makes me feel really good. Thank you, Suzie. And if you haven't visited her blog, Up the Hill Backwards, I highly recommend it. She has precious, adorable kids. Go see 'em! Suzie is probably a generation younger than I am, but I so completely relate to what she says. She's pretty amazing, too! THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY!

And since you just can't keep an award all to yourself, I'm going to pass this on to two of my new scrapbooking friends, Evelyn and Chrissy. I'm enjoying getting to know them through their blogs, and I admire their scrapping talent. I also want to pass it on to a few of my not-so-new blogging buddies who have "been there for me" and whose blogs I absolutely adore: Jen, Jenn, Lucy, Sassy Mama Bear, and Mamarazzi. You are all amazing!

Thursday Thirteen #27

13 Fun-Filled Birthday Party Ideas for Tweens

My twins will be twelve in a few weeks, and we have run through every birthday party idea for tweens that we can think of. Here are 13 of them.

1. Skating Rink Party. Most of them will reserve tables and time for opening presents and eating cake. The one near us also gives all the guests pizza, a drink, and a coupon for free skate time. The birthday boy or girl gets to choose a favorite song and gets extra treats.

2. An Event Complex such as Main Event. They have bowling, glow golf, laser tag, ride machines, and games galore. There is a party room that can be reserved, or you can just wing it. I think this is what my son is going to do this year.

3. Putt-Putt Fun House. This place has miniature golf, laser tag, games, and bumper boats. Very similar but not as “cool” as Main Event.

4. Hawaiian Luau Party. All you need is a swimming pool (in your back yard or in your neighborhood), some Hawaiian music, a limbo stick, a piñata, and some fun prizes. We did this last year, and the kids loved it.

5. 50’s Party – Have a sock hop. You can do a bubble-gum blowing contest, hula hoop contest, and a twist contest. You can also have an ice cream sundae making contest and “cool” prizes for the contest winners.

6. Shop Till You Drop Party – Especially for girls. A trip to the mall with a set amount of money to spend. Lunch at the food court.

7. Putting on the Glitz – Especially for girls. Girls can make jewelry, eat snacks, have cake and ice cream, and make more jewelry. You can buy a variety of jewelry-making kits at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

8. Lights, Camera, Action – Guests can write scripts and film movies to watch and share with their families. You could even vote on the best one and give it the Academy Award for home film-making.

9. Someone’s in the Kitchen – Especially for girls. Guests spend most of their time in the kitchen making and eating fun recipes such as personal size pizzas, cookies, smoothies, and so on. There are lots of kid-friendly recipes here.

10. Movie Party – Take the guests to see a new movie, then go back home for pizza, cake, and ice cream.

11. Beach Party – If you’re near the coast, have your guests hop in the car for a trip to the beach. Sunning, swimming, giggling about boys or girls, Frisbee, volleyball, or whatever you are up for.

12. Paintball Party – Especially for boys. Pile the boys in the car and take them out for some sweaty fun at the paintball park. Then, treat them to CiCi’s pizza or a food court meal and birthday cake.

13. Girlie-Girl Sleepover – Yes, this one’s especially for girls. The guests come over for pizza and cake, presents and goodie bags, and while they’re there, they do “girlie-girl” stuff like painting fingernails, fixing each other’s hair, gossiping about boys, watch a DVD, make ice cream sundaes, color fuzzy posters, and made beaded bracelets. All of these could be contests in which they win play money and get to go “shopping” for their prizes. You get to set up the “store” and decide what to put in it and the prices. And, of course, this is a sleepover/slumber party. I think this is what my daughter is going to do this year.

You can get fantastic ideas at this web site!

You can visit other Thursday Thirteeners at The Home of Thursday Thirteen.

Ode to Teaching

This week's Heads or Tails theme/prompt is:

TAILS - Tell about your job (Or one you've had)

Today feels like Monday since we didn't work yesterday. I almost forgot is was Heads or Tails Tuesday! (See my name?)

I am in my 20th year of teaching intermediate school (middle school, junior high) language arts. Teaching is so different now than it was when I first started. Kids are different now than they were then. Each year we are burdened with more and more non-academic requirements. If I could just TEACH (without dealing with discipline and other issues) things would be great. Anyway, I've written this little poem to give you an ever-so-tiny, generic glimpse of life as a teacher in Texas.

Ode to Teaching

I am a teacher
five days of most weeks

I impart knowledge and skills
we “fondly” call TEKS (rhymes with reeks).

Living by bells, and schedules,
and deadlines,

I don’t do anything that
would cause me to make headlines.

Lesson plans, paperwork,
state requirements galore.

Zillions of dealines that
you can’t ignore.

Grammar, spelling, vocabulary
and more,

Reading and writing,
two things I adore.

My students leave me
knowing more than they had,

They only dislike me when
they are bad.

Accommodations and discipline

are the hardest part.

But unlike my children,
my students think I’m smart.

If only teaching
were as easy as "they" think,

When first starting out,
it’s swim with sharks or sink!

My work doesn’t stop
when I go home,

I see students and parents
wherever I roam.

I do over a year’s work
in ten month’s time,

But the amount I get
paid should be a crime.

I don't like it when a kid

acts like a jerk,

But I'm off work when my

kids are, and that's a perk.

There’s much more to it

than there’s time to tell,

I do my job,

and try to do it well.

(Actually, the pay is not as bad as people think it is.)

You can visit other Heads or Tails posts here. Thanks, Skittles, for hosting this meme!

4 Days Until Book Giveaway!

Don't forget to enter my Pay-it-Forward giveaway for Dr. Phil's Life Strategies. Click this link to be taken to the post where you comment to win. Good luck!

The Legend of Chewing Gum

I went to the new Indiana Jones flick today, so what better way to celebrate than to write about a legend, albeit one not nearly as exciting as Indy!

We've all heard the claim that gum will take seven years to digest if swallowed, and undoubtedly, we have all "accidentally" swallowed a piece of gum. (Sidenote: I wonder if this is the same seven years of bad luck I'm supposed to have when I break a mirror?!)

Unlike food, one can chomp on a piece of gum for hours, and it never gets any smaller. And since we know we're not supposed to swallow it, imagination kicks in, and a reason is invented to keep us from swallowing this non-food substance. We are warned, "It will stay in your system for seven years!"

This, my friends, is only a legend with no basis in fact.

Luckily for us, it doesn't take seven years (as lots of myths have it). In fact, our stomach doesn't digest gum at all! Since it's made out of soluble fiber, chewing gum passes right through us. So gum comes out with the rest of your waste, usually a day or two after you eat it. One more legend proven false. What's the world coming to?

Here's a source you can check for info, and if you're really into specifics of what actually happens to gum in the digestive system, you can check this source.

And don't forget to check out the other writers at Writer's Island!

Let's Play Tag

I was tagged by Evelyn, one of the bloggers I recently "met" through Scrapping Servant's celebration of National Scrapbook Month. I did this tag In November of 2007, so I'm happy to do it again, and of course, it's different now.



1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.



Seven Random Things About Me:



1. Both my ex-husband's paternal grandmother and my paternal grandmother were twins. We have twins (almost 12 years old now!), and I am the grandmother-by-default to my step-son's twins, 8 months old.



2. My favorite Internet game is Candy Drops at Candystand. It's addicting. If I go there now, I won't finish this post for a while.



3. I saw Shaquille O'Neal, currently of the Phoenix Suns, walking through the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas in 2001. The man is ginormous! My husband and I will be travelling to Phoenix this summer on our way to the Grand Canyon.



4. My first job started the day before my 13th birthday at Rockin R Ranch in Humble, Texas. My sister worked there also. It's an outdoor recreation area for company parties and reunions. It has putt-putt golf, swimming, sports fields, concessions, kiddie rides, and great barbecue. Sounds fun, but not when you work there. I started at the putt-putt area, which is boring. I worked my way up to concessions and lifeguarding. But, at the end of the day, everyone has to pick up trash, and that's not so fun.

--------------------OOPS! I had to take a Candy Drops break here!------------------------

5. I get sleepy when I drive, and I don't like long car trips. 3 or 4 hours MAX. That's my limit! I'd rather take a plane, even though I don't like those much either. It'd be terrible if I had to travel for my job.

6. I am addicted to blogging. Aren't we all?

7. I could be the principal of your child's school someday. Pretty scary, huh? I've had my Master's Degree and Principal Certification since 2001, yet I remain in the classroom with the kids, mostly out of choice.

I'm going to tag some people I have not tagged before, at least not for a while. If you don't feel like playing, that's okay. If you do, let me know so I can go read your answers!
Chrissy
Random Autumness
Jenny
Normal to Natalie
Up the Hill Backwards
Laura
Kay

Sunday Scrappin'

Thank you, Amy, for hosting Sunday Scrappin', a place to share your ta-da's, to-do's, and participate in paper-craft related challenges.

My ta-da's this week:

1. I organized all of my scrapbook supplies! I cleaned off the old computer desk, "stole" some plastic bins from my son's closet (he wasn't using them much), and got out all of my supplies and set them up so I can maybe get something done. I was keeping everything in my rolling tote and my Creative Memories case, but if my supplies aren't out, I won't work on it, and I only recently had this extra table that I can use. That means that I won't have to wait until a scrapbook night at church or my sister's to get something done.

2. I completed the Sunday Scrappin' challenge to use buttons on a layout or paper craft, which also means I completed one page. I could only find two red buttons, but I used them. I hope it counts!

3. This week I visited all of the scrapbookers who signed the Mr. Linky at Scrappin' Servant's celebration of National Scrapbook Month.

4. I window-shopped for the paper organizers that I want, and I found one that is affordable that

might work for now. It is the Scrap-eze Vertical Storage Organizer, and I found it at scrapbook.com in their superstore.

5. I also organized photographs.

My To-Do's This Week:

1. To complete the new challenge at Sunday Scrappin' by using the paper I least like from my collection.

2. To complete at least one page of scrapbooking.

3. To actually make

a decision and buy something to store my paper on my desk so that it is easily accessible.

To visit other Sunday Scrappers, click here!

More Scrapping Servant Bloggers

I've visited them all!

I also did a little online browsing to address my issue of paper storage. A very frugal solution is to get a legal size, plastic container and Penda-flex folders to separate colors and/or patterns. It would look something like this.

What I think I really want are these clear stacking trays. One site had them 10 trays for $60, but I found the same thing at a different site (here's the link) for $49.95. I suppose I should check shipping charges to see which one will really save me money.

And many of you may know of several online stores from which to purchase supplies, but I want to mention Scrapbook Super Center, which seems to have it all for reasonable prices.

I am off to find my Cozumel pictures and plan my next pages! Before I go, these are the creative scrapbookers I have visited and commented on since earlier this week. I think I've hit them all!

ChrissyM at Chrissy’s Creative Spot

Jan at Making Scrapbooks

Charlene at Haute Artist

Shell – Scrapgrlz

Tiffany at A Mom’s Heart

Normal to Natalie

Cindy Gray at Out of the Gray-Portraits of Heart and Soul

Evelyn at Simple Scrappin

Mrs. D at Delightful Designs

Wani at Wani’s World

Baileysgranny at My Life as a Grandma

Katrina at Krafts by Katie

Jenny at The So-Called Me

Hope at 4theMemories

Flip Flop Mom at Just a Flip Flop Mom

Happy Momma ( Frog Princess ) at Happy Home

The final name on Mr. Linky didn't link to a valid blog address :-(

Classifieds - 5 Minutes for Mom Needs...

5 Minutes for Mom is looking for a computer whiz to add to their team of WAHMs in the area of e-commerce. If you're a little tech-y, and you enjoy working for home, you should check this out!
http://www.5minutesformom.com/3502/ecommerce-job/

Gift-Giving Help

Help! I need someone!

No - not the Beatles song. I really need your help.

My 3rd anniversary (remember this is my second marriage) is coming up next week, and for our first and second anniversaries, I was able to find gifts that reflected both the traditional and modern themes (paper & clocks, cotton & china) for anniversary gifts.

The third anniversary gifts are leather (traditional) and crystal (modern). I spent hours searching today and found nothing I wanted! Now, don't get too creative with the leather! We're not into that. I've thought of a wallet, but he doesn't need one. A belt is too impersonal. So are shoes. I've thought of a leather picture frame or a leather kleenex box for his table, and those are maybes, but what can all of you come up with?

I also checked tickets for all of the major performing arts and sports in our area, and there is nothing available any time soon that I think he would be interested in. I could have put some tickets in a leather pouch or something. But the tickets aren't going to work out. And crystal? Maybe a pair of crystal wine glasses will work. Come on, bloggy friends! Help me think of something unique for anniversary gifts made of leather or crystal! Please?

Thursday Thirteen #27

Edition 27 - 13 Things on my To-do List
Not Necessarily in This Order

1. Clean out my jewelry armoire.
2. Find photos of my trip to Cozumel three years ago so I can scrapbook them.
3. Decide on the type of organizer I want for my scrapbook paper.

4. Scan photos for a project for my students at school.
5. Laundry (which is an ongoing chore).
6. Clean out my closet.
7. Clean out my kids’ closets (or rather, help them do this).
8. Gather all the donations for Purple Heart.
9. Order a jumbo-sized toy net for my daughter to get the stuffed animals off the floor of her cracker-box sized room.

10. Move our old TV stand to my son’s room to better organize his TV and game accessories.
11. Read, read, read, read!!! I never have as much time to read as I want.
12. Find a good flea killer for the dog.
13. Watch my son play baseball.

Visit more Thursday Thirteen participants! Sign my Mr. Linky if you'd like.

Have You Scrapped Today?

My usual answer is no, I don't have enough time, and during the school year, since I teach, making time is difficult. But I LOVE scrapbooking!




I've had so much fun blog-hopping during Scrapping Servant's 15 day celebration of National Scrapbook Month. I've been so inspired by the creative ladies I've visited that I can't wait to make my next page, but there were a few things I had to do first:

• If you saw my Tackle-it-Tuesday, you know that I got my scrapping desk cleaned off and all my supplies next to it. I still need some shelves to keep my paper readily available and organized, but this was progress!
  
• I went through my partially completed scrapbooks to remind myself what I need to scrap next and made a to-do list to get me there.

• I organized some pictures and have them set up in a basket on my desk.

This is HUGE for me. I didn't expect to get to any of this until summer (I teach), but thanks to the "party," I MADE time. Here are some links to some super ladies that I have enjoyed visiting during the party, and if you're not on the list yet, I promise I will get to you by this weekend. I want to visit everyone!





Amy at Tiny Blessings
Christina at Photo Mama Creations
Elaine at The Miss Elaine-ous of Life (who is also in my blogroll)
Kristine at KCM Scrap-n-stuff
Crazy Daisy at Forever Daisies
All Things Cherished
JoyScraps
Lisa at The Scrap Princess
Who Has Time to Scrapbook
Bunny at It's a Bunny Life
Krista at Welcome to Married Life
Izzy at Passion Scrapper
Lauren at A Wandering Heart
Michelle at Our Full House

Heads or Tails

This fun meme is hosted by Skittles. Check it out at Heads or Tails.

This week's theme/prompt is:

HEADS *OR* TAILS - Peace *OR* Piece

I'm choosing Heads because peace is what I need now. I found a poem I want to share with you. It was written by Samantha Cooney.

Peace

Give me peace so I won't cry anymore,

Peace so my soul can rest and have something left to fight for.

Give me peace so my heart can love,

Peace so I can can believe that there is good above.

Give me peace so I can rest tonight,

Peace so I can sleep, not searching for his image within the night.

Give me peace so I can go on,

Peace so I can be at peace within the dreams that I long.

I also want to share a picture of pure peace with you.

You can visit other HoTties by clicking on the Heads or Tails link above.

Tackle it Tuesday

I've been busy with some tackles!

First, I took a pile of what appeared to be junk - receipts, accounting forms, etc. from my son's football team, and I got them organized into folders by type of paperwork and got it narrowed down to this.

Second, I finally have a cleaned off workspace to do scrapbooking. One picture shows just the edge of the table where the computer used to be and a bunch of "junk" (for lack of a better word).

It's now clean and ready to use. I want to add some additional organizational tools, but it's a good start! Everything is handy now!

Visit Tackle it Tuesday at Five Minutes for Mom.

Give Me Five Monday

Becca over at Becca's Buzz hosts a meme called Give Me Five Monday. The purpose is to share fun information about a chosen topic in a short list. Click the link to visit other "Fivers."

Today, she says, "Give Me Five movies you'd choose to have along if you were stranded on a desert island (that happened to have electricity, a tv and dvd player)."

I'm not the kind of person who likes to watch movies more than once, usually. I guess I get bored easily, or maybe I have a short attention span. Or both! tee hee! And Hollywood doesn't make too many GREAT movies, either. There are a FEW that I can watch over and over, in no particular order.

1. The Sixth Sense (1999)starring Bruce Willis (who isn't my favorite actor, but go figure) and Haley Joel Osment. I know what's going to happen, but I'm still surprised when it does, and I like when I notice something that I didn't notice the first time I watched it (or maybe I noticed it, but I've forgotten). Psychological thrillers are my favorite genre for movies or books.

2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) starring Morgan Freeman (who I wrote about not too long ago, and I love) and Tim Robbins (who I'm not crazy about). I don't know what it is about this movie, but I think it's fabulous. Believe it or not, it's based on a Stephen King short story - and I'm not too crazy about him, either.

3. Over the Hedge (2006) starring the voices of Bruce Willis (again?), Garry Shandling, Steve Carrell, Wanda Sykes, William Shatner, Avril Lavigne, Nick Nolte, and lots of other funny people! My favorite part is when Hammy pretends to be a rabid squirrel. I cracked up so much! I'm sure I embarrassed my kids, but oh well!

4. Madagascar (2005) starring the voices of David Schwimmer (I used to love "Friends."), Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jayda Pinkett Smith, and funniest of all, Cedric the Entertainer. My family and I are always quoting funny parts from this movie, and it doesn't get old.

5. The Sound of Music (1965 - the best year - the year I was born) starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. I'm a sucker for a good musical. I can probably sing all of the songs, though you might not want to hear me. I just love this story, and it won five Oscars! The Hills are Alive (and not because they have eyes).

Unconscious Mutterings

Luna Nina hosts a meme entitled Unconscious Mutterings that is all about free association.

Come play with us!

She says... and I think ... ?


Concentration :: remember
Relocated :: new job
Clot :: blood
Joints :: stiff
Satellite :: television signal
Money back :: returned
Kittens :: fluffy
Shady :: untrustworthy
Drain :: no energy
Stroke:: dad

Just Another Tag

I was tagged by Latree at Dandelion. Thanks for the tag! I'm finally getting it posted. It only took me a couple of days.

Here are the rules:

1. Each player answers questions about themselves.

2. At the end of the post, tag 5 people by posting their names.

3.Go to their site/blog and leave a comment telling them they've been tagged. Invite them to your site/blog so they can read the tagged post.

4. Let the person who tagged you know when you've completed your tagged post.

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was married to my first husband, and my twins were almost 2 years old. Other than changing husbands, things are much the same except that 2 year olds are a lot easier to deal with than almost 12 year olds! Really!

2. What are 5 things on your "To Do" list?

*Clean off the desk I want to use for scrapbooking
*Scan some photos for students to use in a photo story
*Grade papers – the year is almost over!
*Finish reading Neverwhere for book club
*Laundry!

3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy? (In no specific order)

*Picante sauce and cream cheese dip with fritos
*Chocolate ice cream
*Laughing Cow Light French Onion cheese and crackers
*Mozarella sticks and marinara sauce
*Chocolate pudding

4. Name some things you would do if you were a millionaire.

First, thank God, because that is the only way it would ever happen. Second, donate a tithe to the church. Then, I’d buy our family a new home and give some to relatives.

5. Name some places where you've lived.
All in Texas
Humble
Huntsville
West Houston
Atascocita
Clear Lake

6. Name some bad habit you have.

*Spend too much time in front of my computer
*I’m often late
*Chew nicotine gum.

7. Name some jobs you've had.

· At age 13, I worked at a guest ranch for company picnics doing everything from running rides, to handing out putt putt golf equipment, serving food, cleaning the grounds, and lifeguarding.
· I worked for Olan Mills Portrait Studio in telephone sales
· I worked retail at the mall
· I have taught intermediate school language arts for 19 years.
· My hardest job is wife and mother.

8. Name those whom you are tagging.
I want to tag some people I am just getting to know so that I can learn more about them and visit their blogs again.

Cecily at My Chaos, My Bliss
Yellow Rose at Yellow Rose’s Garden
Claudia at On a Limb with Claudia
Maryt/thteach at Work of the Poet
Giggles at Happy Tiler

And anyone else that would like to do the tag! Have fun!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is the nearest big city to your home?

Houston

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?

9. I'd like to say 10, but I'm sure over the course of the years I've divulged a secret or two.

Salad
Describe your hair (color, texture, length).

light brown with blonde highlights, bangs, shoulder length, thin, and fine-textured. I hate it.

Main Course
What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow?

I am courteous, but I have a tendency to get impatient and have a bit of a lead foot.

Dessert
When was the last time you had a really bad week?

About two weeks ago. Things were awful between my husband and me, and work was hectic with state mandated testing. I was exhausted. I feel silly calling it a really bad week now, knowing there are so many people suffering real traumatic events.

To visit the Friday's Feast homepage and view other participants, click here.

Thursday Thirteen #28

Edition #28, brought to you by my son's eye injury.

13 responses and comments about the baseball colliding with his eye.

1. Oh my gosh! (By far the most common reaction.)
2. I’m fine, mom. (And, believe it or not, he is!)
3. Tell him he should catch the ball next time. (This one from my step-son, the ER nurse. He is soooo funny! Not.)
4. Take him to the ER for a CT scan. (From my step-son’s wife, also a nurse.)
5. He needs to have his eye x-rayed to make sure there’s not an orbital floor fracture. (the coach.)
6. Put ice on it. (Duh!)
7. He could have a concussion. (He could, but he doesn’t, and I’m thankful.)
8. Is he throwing up? (no)
9. Did he pass out? (no)
10. It’s not like the doctor can put a cast on his eye. (This also, from my wise-cracking step-son.)
11. Wake him every two-three hours to make sure he’s coherent. (I didn’t.)
12. He’s gonna have a shiner for a while! (Ya think?)
13. Take him to the concussion center (yes, there is actually a clinic that does testing to make sure there are no lasting effects from a concussion. Got this info from the nurse at my school.)

This is day 2. Scroll down for day 1 in my Wordless Wednesday post.

Wordless Wednesday

I can't do this wordless! We have been through one season of t-ball, five seasons of soccer, three seasons of football, one season of basketball, and now, in our first season of real baseball, my son gets injured. He took a ball to the top of the eye as you can see in the photograph. I am getting such conflicting opinions - take him to the doctor, take him to the ER, just watch him for 24 hours, ice it. FROM NURSES AND DOCTORS that I know! What's a mom to do? Well, this mom is not sending him to school tomorrow, and then I'll decide if I'm taking him in. I'm going to check on his throughout the night and go from there. What would you do?

A Sweet Award

Latree at Dandelion bestowed this lovely award on me. She says I have a great blog. Thank you! It's so fun to get some bloggy love.

Now I will pass this award on to a few people that I "bloggy love."

Eve

Jenn

Claudia

Jen

Laura

Lucy

Tammy

Penelope Anne

Suzie

I honor the ladies of these blogs because they are always compassionate, honest, and "real" and I love their blogs!

Digi-Scrap attempt

Over at Carolyn's National Scrapbook Month party, she has challenged us to use some free digi-papers (from Jessica at Scrapbook Ideas). This is my first attempt at digi-scrapping, and using what little resources I had available to me, I put together a page for Mother's Day (yesterday). I would normally journal more, but I'm so new at this that I didn't really know what to do or how to do it. I'm going to be brave and post my first ever effort. Now Carolyn has another challenge for us. So, I revisited my first attempt, added some extra swirls at the botton, added some journaling, added a dark pink border, and here is my re-worked first attempt at digi scrapping! Do you think the few minor touches made it look any better?I really am looking for an easy-to-use digital scrapbook program that is compatible with Vista. The one I used to use doesn't work with Vista, so if anyone has suggestions, I'm open! Thanks!