My 10 Scrapbooking Mantras

2peas meme

"a meme n (mëm): is an idea that is shared and passed from blog to blog, like a question posted in one blog and answered in many other blogs."

This week [Sept 19th] we are going to talk about our scrapbooking mantras. What is a mantra? A commonly repeated word or phrase AKA what you think, believe, do right now regarding scrapbooking. I've changed the ways that i've scrapped lately so those changes are my mantras right now. They can be serious...silly...commentary on the scrap world etc.

1. ORGANIZE - I really need to find a method of organization that works for me. I've tried various methods but most seem to stop my creative flow.

2. USE WHAT I OWN - I have so much stuff that some of it has gone out of "style". I really need to use what I buy rather than hoarding it.

3. STAY TRUE TO YOUR STYLE - I often get caught up in the new styles of scrapbooking like shabby chic or retro. Some are just not me, or don't suit the themes I scrap.

4. DO IT - I tend to not find the time to scrap unless I am under a time crunch, so that means that most of my personal stuff never gets done. I need to devote time to getting my albums done.

5. GO TO MORE CROPS - I usually get quite a bit done at crops (even though those that know me think I socialize rather than scrap) but I need to attend more, especially the weekend ones.

6. LEARN TO SCRAP WITHOUT ELECTRICITY - since I'm faced with another tropical storm / hurricane, I better learn how to scrap when the power goes out.

7. YOU DON'T NEED IT IN EVERY COLOR - unless it's cardstock, but otherwise, just because they offer a product in 256 different colors, doesn't mean I have to go out and buy all the colors.

8. JOURNAL WITH MEANING - I need to journal better to express my feelings rather than what's going on in the pic.

9. PURGE - get rid of the things I will never ever use again. I have 3 nieces that would love them.

10. MAKE GIFTS - everyone laughs in my family because my wishlists always focus on scrapbooking and stamping supplies, but I rarely turn those supplies into gifts for my family.

Rita Watch

Just another summer day in Florida. We are under Hurricane Warning for Hurricane Rita. Down here we call the probablility cone "The Cone Of Doom". Even though my business is in North Fort Lauderdale, we've already begun preparing. Tomorrow we report to work if we can safely travel the roads (ie: no Rita). Mom is in Key Largo, and said she's not going to evacuate -- so we'll see.

We've done all we can do (stocked up on food, water, gas, and money; shutters down, etc) so now it's all up to mother nature.

If we do get a lot of rain and winds, I expect there will be heavy cleanup afterward. The neighborhoods still haven't been cleaned up from when Katrina came through late August. Most streets have piles and piles of yard debris waiting for the county to come through. It was as if everyone decided to trim their trees at the same time, so you can imagine. Thankfully, my immediate street has already been cleaned up so that's on less worry for me.

Presents Presents Presents

Lucky, Lucky Me ...

I got lots of stuff for my Birthday, so I'll tell you about some of it here.

DVD/VHS recorder
$15 Michaels GC
$20 Michaels GC
$25 Target GC
$50 Local Scrapbook Store GC
Designers Eye book by Ali Edwards
Clean & Simple book by Cathy Zielske
MM Metal Eyelet Charms
MM Jigsaw Alpha
MM Embellishment Attachements in Sky, Pewter, and Lime
Lil Davis Chipboard Alphabet
Cheetah Adhesive Refill
2 Clear Overlays 12x12
T-shirt with a cat in a 50s Chevy
Lots of Paperbacks including those by Dean Koontz, Iris Johanson, Patricia Cornwell, and Leslie Glass

Now, of course I've already spent the Michaels GC because they had the 50% off coupon this weekend so I got the MM Distressing Kit.

I had a great birthday, and a great weekend -- now if Rita will just stay away!

2peas Meme Challenge #10

Challenge from the 2peas message board
Since it's Back to School mode...This week [Sept 12th] we are going to talk about school memories. They can be fun...crazy...silly, etc.

1. 3rd grade - punished by standing out in the sun because I was talking too much
2. 3rd grade - always seeing a box on the porch of a house on the way home, and making up stories with my sister as to what was in the box -- turned out they were delivered meals.
3. 3rd grade - my first crush! - Scott Brenner.
4. 4th grade - Dawn dolls!
5. 5th grade - Mr. Copenhagen introducing us to James Taylor - Sweet Baby James Album
6. Elementary School - peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day! I would not buy the hot lunches, and would be upset if my sandwich (creamy peanutbutter) got mixed up with my brothers (crunchy)
7. Elementary School - Santa apples for the teachers - My mom would make Santa's of apples, and would deliver them for the holidays. They were the coolest!
8. Field Trips
9. 10th Grade - Getting Straight A's and a color TV in my bedroom.
10. Finishing school by noon -- we had split shifts back then.

This was a fun trip down memory lane! Thanks Tanika

Misuse of FEMA debit Cards

Misuse Article

I haven't said much about the Hurricane Katrina happenings, but when I see stories like this it makes me cringe. Again a minority of those who received the cards are [potentially] ruining it for the many who are doing the right thing and using the cards for food, shelter, and clothing. I'd also bet that these same people will be the first ones begging for more money because they can't buy food.

Insanity!

CKU - Atlanta

After all the speculation on the scrapbooking sites - Creating Keepsakes has finally announced the 2006 CKU schedule.

CKU-Album, Chicago, IL: March 30-April 1, 2006
CKU-Provo, UT: May 18-20, 2006
CKU-Album, San Jose, CA: June 22-24, 2006
CKU-Album, Atlanta, GA: July 27-29, 2006
CKU-Master's, Boston, MA: August 24-26, 2006
CKU-Houston, TX: September 14-16, 2006

First, I can't believe that they are not doing a Masters in Provo and second ...
CKU-Atlanta is going to be ALBUMS! I just can't tell you how thrilled I am. I wasn't sure I'd be able to justify the expense of getting to Atlanta if it was going to be a regular CKU (since I've already been to two), but since it's Albums - I'm definitely there! Plans are in the works - hotel reservations already made!

Blog Spam

I didn't know there was such a thing --- but there is!
I was just getting excited to see an actual comment, then I see it's just spam.

If you visit, please do leave a comment (but not SPAM), so I know I'm not just talking to myself.

Wicked Weather

It's Sunday, and it is raining cats and dogs. Great lightning storms, and the thunder is setting off car alarms. We decided to have pizza ordered in ... which turned out to be a drama of it's own. The Big Cheese, which is where we really wanted to order from didn't answer their phone, so we tried Papa Johns. The first place said they didn't deliver to us and referred us to another store, that store told us to call the first place, so on to Domino's. Domino's said there was a 90 minute delivery time, so we tried another local pizza joint which said the same. By now, the lightening storm had passed (we spent about 45 minutes trying to order a pizza) so we decided to go with an old favorite - Frankies! Only thing was, they don't delivery so I had to brave the wet streets to pick it up.

Pizza is one of those funny things, that once you think about it, you can't change to something else like tuna sandwiches. You've just got to go ahead and get the pizza - and let me tell you it was worth it. Every delicious slice.

Middle Age

Well, I guess, it's finally here. If you think about it, 45 is as middle aged as you can get -- that is assuming that you're going to live to the ripe old age of 90.

It's weird when you slow down and think about it - I never thought I'd be "middle aged", in fact, I never thought I'd be "old", and I don't think I really am (yet). Heck, I still don't make my bed, or clean my room. I still like Hamburgers and French Fries, and I still call my "mommy" when things go really wrong. I still play with toys (although they are now of the stamping and scrapping variety), and I still sleep through my alarm and need to be woken up in the morning.

So how did I get to 45!

Thinking About Birthdays

I was just thinking about what to get my niece/goddaughter for her birthday, when it dawned on me that it will be my birthday this month too! Then I thought some more, and realized that in a little more than a week, I'll be 45!

Boy am I late ... I've got to start coming up with a "wishlist" of sorts. I think my present to myself will be the Hot Air Balloon Trip next month.

Planning the Vacation

What to do -- What to do!

Working on my vacation plans. Trying to schedule in a hot air balloon ride during the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. (Last time I tried in 2001, the wind picked up and my flight was cancelled, and the time before that I tried in Florida, but trip was also cancelled because of smoke from fires in the Everglades) I want to try again, because you know the old adage -- third times the charm!

Labor Day

Nothing to report here. It's raining, so I'm scrapbooking while watching a "Law and Order" marathon. Other than making a run for bagels at Einsteins Bagels, just relaxing at home.

Car Show Today.

We went to a new car show today. It was at a park behind the old Omni Mall. When we first arrived, we thought it was going to be a bust. Only one old car, and the weather looked like it was going to hell fast (already a slight drizzle). But, we has made the drive, so we figured it wouldn't hurt to stick around awhile.

Let me say ... this show was top notch!

It was in conjunction with "Brunch on the Bay" which boasted a Jazz concert for City of Miami residents. They served food - roast pork, spicy chicken, rice and beans, and yuca (all the food was terrific). They also had wine, beer, and champagne for mimosas (of course I had to indulge)and the normal fare of sodas and water. In addition, all day long there was live jazz music.

We took the '55 Buick. There were about 20-25 cars that came out, and the neighbors section of the Herald talked to us about why we brought out the car, etc. It's supposed to be in print in a couple of weeks. I'll have to stalk the Herald website.

Company Picnic

When they say shade provided by palm trees - don't forget to bring your sunscreen. I did, and I'm just hoping that the sunburned areas turn to a tan. I sure am slathering on the lotion.

Overall, we had a great time. The picnic is held at a hotel on the beach, so you've got the best of both worlds - the beach and the pool. The food was great, and just about everyone attended. The weather held out, and it started raining while we were driving home (actually a driving rain all the way home, but that's another matter).

It's great to get to see everyone's family, and it is one of the only times that we get to see the kids. Since I've worked for the company for just about 12 years now, some of these kids I've known since birth. It's kindof weird to see that the 4 year old boy you once knew, is now a 16 year old with his own car, or the high school girl who once did your filing is now an Airman Apprentice in the Navy. Kids, they grow up so fast.

Circle Journals

I love Circle Journals, and have agreed to participate in another one today. This group is a bunch of ladies I've met at various crops in Florida. I know just about everyone who will be participating and I am so excited to get to know them better.

My first CJ was done on the Scrapbook Jungle my theme was A-Z About Me. I learned so many things about the group members, but I found the theme kindof restricting because most people worked off the letters from A - Z. My second CJ is also being done on the Scrapbook Jungle, and it has about 3 months left to go. This theme is A Virtual Crop, and I've asked for members to give me a recipe they would have at a crop, plus something funny like a story you would tell at the crop, and then a picture of either them scrapping, or of their scraproom. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Now for this CJ, I went back and forth between several ideas. It thought about "My World" and "A Day In The Life", but finally settled on "True Confessions". I think it's going to be a fun theme. So, now, I've got to figure out which true confession I will use for my layouts.

The other themes for this CJ are "Your Lifes Purpose", "Passions", "Collections from the Journey", "Women's Wisdom", "Sayings We Grew Up With", "Count Your Blessings", "If You Could Be Anyone", and "Magical Movie Moments".

I like Circle Journals because they give me a chance to break out of my "normal" scrapping themes, and it gives you a chance to express yourself.

Did I say that I can't wait to start this one. I think I might have mentioned it once or twice before.