Weekly Gratitude Project 2010

Over on the Willow Traders website they have started a yearly challenge called "Weekly Gratitude Project 2010".  The idea is pretty simple . . . make a weekly layout, revolving around a monthly theme, about something you are thankful about.  Since one of the girls over there, Karen, made up a digital template that really seemed to make this challenge quite doable, I thought I would give it a try.

Took a couple of hours to figure out how to make the templates do what I wanted them to do, but I am definitely happy with the final result.  January's theme is work, so here are my first three weekly layouts.

Here's to a year full of gratitude!

Ten on Tuesday . . .Written on Wednesday . . .

This week's Ten on Tuesday is being written on a cold Wednesday morning . . . freezing drizzle expected this morning . . . . fingers crossed for some sort of delay . . . .

This week's question is "10 Things You Are Looking Forward to in 2010" . . .

1. our Alaska trip in June . . . it's a cruise/land tour
2. scrapbooking more
3. new wood floors in the main living area and den
4. new seasons of Top Chef and Dancing with the Stars
5. summer vacation
6. CHA in Anaheim and Chicago
7. watching ScrapScription continue to grow
8. getting better organized
9. spending quality time with family
10. summer vacation . . . sorry but it had to be said again . . .

Still no delays, so I had best get going.  Have a great day everyone!

A Marathon of Sorts . . .

Today is the last day of Winter Break . . . . Back to the grind tomorrow . . . . Not looking forward to it in the least.

Now mind you, I probably should be working on lesson plans for next week today, but since I haven't scrapped at all this vacation I decided to give it a whirl!  Got up this morning, pulled out some Bella Blvd. birthday paper I had on hand, found this very doable layout by Brenda Carpenter on The ScrapRoom website to 'lift' using the exact same papers, printed out my pictures from Mark's 60th birthday party, popped a movie in the DVR, and got scrapping!

First movie I watched was "Failue to Launch" starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey.

Second movie on the agenda was "The Wedding Planner" with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey.

And then I finished up this so-called movie marathon with "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" starring Kate Hudson . . . and you got it . . .  Matthew McConaughey.

So after my mini-marathon here is my finished page . . .

Felt good to scrap again.  Mark actually asked me what I was doing.  And I even got my Tarragon Scrapper's group challenge #1 done for 2010!  Not to shabby . . . if I do say so myself.  Now if I can just keep it up . . .

Hey everyone . . . Have a great Sunday!

Let the Good Times Roll . . . Welcome to 2010!

First of all I must admit, Mark and I once again slept through ringing in the new year . . . sorry state of affairs isn't it?

I remember thinking as a child, if I was waiting for something to happen, how long it seemed to take for the event to occur. Then why as an adult, does it seem like time just flies by? I cannot believe that we are already entering the second decade of this century and 2009 has already drawn to a close.  Needless to say there have been a number of changes and additions to my life in the past ten years, so I thought it would be fun to take a look at a few of them . . .

1.  I would have to say that the biggest change is that I am now a grandma and I love each moment that Aiden calls me "Mena".

2.  Right along those same lines, I offically became a mother-in-law when Leslie and Christopher were married in 2001 and a "bonus" grandma when Kate and Jamie married in June 2005.

3.  I earned a Masters in special education in August 2004.

4.  Sadly, I am no longer a daughter-in-law with the passing of June in July 2008.

5.  I am now the co-owner of my own on-line scrapbooking business, ScrapScription.

6.  I own an iPod, iPhone, orange Dell laptop, shot only digital photographs, and drive a cranberry PT Cruiser.

7.  I (or should I say, Mark) no longer have to rack leaves or mow a lawn since we moved into our condo in October 2006.

8.  I have actually taught students with behavior disabilities since September 2000 and for the most part have actually grown to enjoy it.

9.  I have now traveled to 49 of the 50 states in the United States.

10.  I how have more scrapbook 'stuff' than I know what to do with.

So there you have it, ten things that have changed for me over the past ten years . . . What would you list include?

And Now for the Rest of the Story . . . .

Many of you have probably seen this scrapbook page before since it is one I actually made a couple of years ago.  Yesterday while I was setting up some new albums on-line, I pulled out my two 8x8 albums that I made chronicling my summer of 2007.  And that's when it hit me . . . I truly enjoy scrapbooking and why aren't I doing more of it? 

Since September I have scrapbooked zip, zero, nada pages.  Throughout the summer I managed to scrapbook a mere 12 pages.  And this is from someone who, a year or so ago, could spend hours scrapping away a weekend.  I found scrapbooking inspiring.  I found it relaxing.  I found it just plan FUN!  I found it filled my creative need.  I love looking back on what I have created and, if I do say so myself, admiring my work.  And above all, I found it rewarding! 

So, you ask, why don't I simply make the time and scrapboook more?  I really don't have an answer to that question.  But I truly do believe that I need to begin to scrapbook more.  I really miss the process and it makes me sad that I am not making the the time to do it more . . . .

Long Time, No Post . . . Part Trois

Okay, okay, I know what you all want to say.  Here she goes again . . . saying she is going to start to blog. She has told us that before and look what it has gotten us . . . zip, zero, nada a thing in over 6 months.  So what makes this time any different? 

Well, let me tell you . . . This time I have actually signed up for a class on blogging and scrapbooking called "Blogging for ScrapBookers" at shiemelle.com.  Hope that helps . . . Wish me luck!  I am honestly going to try to do better this time . . . . .

So what all has taken place since we last met.  Let me see . . .

• I did not take the job with Auglaize County.  I continue to work for ACESC and am presently and officially called an ED Transition teacher.  Great title for someone who is teaching math in the mornings and working with students who we would like to transition back to the regular classroom.  Unfortunately there are not to many of these . . .
• Aiden is well on his way to be toilet-trained and still is as adorable as ever.  His official name for me is 'Mena' . . . Love it!
• ScrapScription is growing faster than either Lori or I could have imagined.  We offically started our monthly kit club ScrapScribers in August and are preparing to send out our 6th monthly kit.
• traveled down to Hilton Head in June with Mark, Leslie, Chris, and Aiden . . . Hot, hot, hot!
• Lori and I flew to CHA in Orlando . . . hot, hot, hot and muggy there too . . . much smaller than the show in Anaheim but we got a lot accomplished and purchased
• bought the newest iPhone (3GS) and sold my old one on eBay in less than 30 minutes for $199.99
• ran over a dead deer on I-75 on my way to school one morning in late October . . . fortunately State Farm did not total the car and I now have it back as good as new
• sold the house in Hilton Head . . . Mark went down and donated all of the clothes to charity
• going to get hardwood floors in our main living areas and new carpeting in master bedroom
• started planning our trip to Alaska in June . . . we fly out June 11
• Mikey is going to run a limited NASCAR schedule in 2010 and Jimmie Johnson won his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship . . . UGH!
• having my mother live close by continues to be a challenge
• leaving for CHA Anaheim with Lori, Mark, and Gregg on January 23
• my Uncle John passed away on December 18 at the age of 93 . . . He was married to my Aunt Jeannette for 70 years . . . Amazing!
• ScrapSchool 2009 officially took place on October 17 and 18
• Did I tell you how adorable Aiden continues to be?
• Christmas 2009 has come and gone . . . very low key this year

Guess that is about all for now.  Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Long Time, No Post . . . Part Deux

Okay, okay, so as a blogger I suck . . . .

Since we last met much has happened including . . .

• the county decided to close down my unit at Elida Middle School and after 10 years I am totally bummed that I will be switching buildings
• Aiden turned 2 and is more adorable than ever
• we, actually mainly Mark, are cleaning out the garage
• life with my mom living so close by is definitely an adventure
• there are only 3 more days with students this school year
• ScrapScription is in the middle of an amazing sales month
• Mega Meet was an unbelievable success; better than either Lori or I could have imagined
• I have scrapped a grand total of 1 page
• Did I say there are only 3 more days with students this school year?
• Mark and I made it to Washington DC and back without a hitch . . . way, way too crowded for my liking
• OBX trip got cancelled this year but we are heading to Hilton Head with Chris, Leslie, and Aiden instead
• Lori and I are all registered and airline tickets are bought for the July CHA Show in Orlando
• have a job interview tomorrow after school for a position in another county . . . not really sure how I feel about this
• hit an all time high score of 136,300 points on the mind numbing Bejeweled Blitz game
• not doing real well on the losing weight, eating healthily, and being more active front . . . there is always tomorrow
• springtime has finally arrived in Ohio . . . my favorite season
• sold my original PT Cruiser and am now driving June's PT Cruiser . . . hope to get flames added to it this summer
• Oh yea, there are only 3 more days with students left this school year!

Have a great Memorial Day everyone! I'll be watching the Coca-Cola 600 which ended up getting postponed a day due to rain in Charlotte. Hoping that Tony Stewart or Ryan Newman can win this one!!

Guess What's Happening Tonight?

MSU is playing for the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship!!

Go Spartans!

Play All Day ScrapScription Kit . . . .

Just thought I would take a minute and introduce you to ScrapScription's newest project kit, Play All Day . . . . Lori did a fantastic job designing this kit and all the little details she added are too stinking cute. Hop on over to the website and check it out . . . .

Cold one here today but thank goodness we didn't get the snow they are getting on the east coast. Have a great day everyone . . . .

Long Time, No Post . . .

Sorry about that . . . the days continue to fly by.

Since we last met . . . .

• I attended CHA for the first time in Anaheim, CA . . . something I can now check off of my 'bucket list'
• spent a great two days with my sister Cathe while visiting Anaheim
• missed going to my special ed conference in Columbus due to the weather
• Lori and I launched our new scrapbook website, ScrapScription . . . come on over and visit
• the Steelers won the Super Bowl Bowl
• I entered my 61st year but I refuse to discuss this event any further
• attended a scrapbooking weekend getaway at the Craft Farm in Somerset, OH with some of the girls from the Tarragon Scrappers
• my baby turned 29 . . . . you know who you are Kate
• IEP season is now in full swing at school
• NASCAR revved up with a new season and Mikey landed in the top 10 at Daytona!
• I started working out with a personal trainer once a week
• I started going to Dream Dinners again
• my cleaning lady started coming once every 2 weeks again
• Aiden is still as adorable as ever
• our "bonus" daughter, Julie, and her husband Shane, welcomed Hayden Bradley into the world
• it has snowed, melted, snowed again, rained, melted, snowed, and melted again but I truly believe that spring is just around the corner . . . typical Ohio winter
• scrapped very little but love what I have completed
• bought 21 packs of newly released Thickers from Lifetime Moments . . . definitely my scrapbooking weakness
• got all excited and weak in the knees as Lori and I took delivery of all the new products from CHA we ordered for ScrapScription future kits
• discussed with Leslie about finding our house in the Outer Banks for June but still have not sat down to finalize plans
• planned Mark's and my spring break trip to Washington D.C.
• tried to eat less and healthier . . . sure is darn hard at times

Well I guess that is about it for today folks. Hope everyone has a great Sunday . . .