California Dreamin'

Hard to believe that just a short week ago I was sitting at the DoubleTree in Anaheim awaiting the start of CHA.  All I can say right now is at least the sun is shining today here in Ohio but other than that the contrast is mind boggling . . . Can we say 5 degrees at the moment!?

Anyway, how about a little wrap-up on Winter 2010 CHA?  One of the biggest changes that I noticed this year is that both Lori and I were far better organized when it came to picking out products for upcoming kits.  Since at this show, we not only decide on what we are going to use for our monthly kits through August, but we also plan on what we are going to use for our kits at Mega Meet in May.  All I can say is WOW!!  I totally love all that we picked out. 

Over the last year I have learned that the product/ideas must 'speak' to Lori and fit into what she likes to work with.  In other words, getting her to use bright primary colors is not going to happen too often.  So you can imagine my joy when we happened upon this new line from Doodlebug that was perfect for this August's ScrapScriber travel album and Lori loved it too!  Can't wait to see what she does with this . . .

Another line that I am completely blown away with is Pink Paislee's Queen Bee collection.  Pink Paislee has come up with the coolest twill strips that have so many possibilities.  Check out these flowers that were made using the strips . . .

Enough about CHA . . . the trip was whirlwind but a lot of fun nonetheless.  Mark and Gregg put over 500 miles on the rental car, we ate well (California Pizza Kitchen, Buca Di Beppo . . .  fabulous hot spinach salad that will not disappoint . . . , and Outback Steakhouse), visited with my nephew Trey at dinner Saturday night, our flights were seamless, and I had a great time spending 2 days with my sister Cathe at the show.

Well I gotta run folks!  Lots to do today and this sure isn't the way to get it done.  Be on the lookout for my "Tale of the Scale" update tomorrow . . . hopefully I'll be brave enough to report the results.  Have a great day!

4:00 AM (PST) = 7:00 AM (EST)

Trying to stay on Ohio time while here in California, so I was up bright and 'dark' this morning at quarter to four in the morning Pacific Standard Time.  I actually did a little bit of digital scrapbooking this morning and completed my entry for Janaury 24  for my Gratitude Project 2010 journal.  Thought of this reason I am thankful the other day while on my way to California and actually snapped my photo with my iPhone.  How cool is that?!

Need to go finish packing since we are heading back to Ohio this morning.  CHA was amazing but more on that later this week.  Have a great day everyone!

The Tale of the Scale . . . Week 1

One of the blogs that I read daily, written by scrapbooking guru Cathy Zielske, discussed today taking ownership of her weight/weight loss situation. I really liked what she had to say and really liked the title for her blog entry, so I thought I would use it myself to document my own weight loss journey.

Don't I wish this is what I weighed!

For more years than I can count, my weight has been a huge issue for me. So now here in 2010, it is finally time for me to take ownership of this problem. It is kind of like the elephant in the room type of problem for me. No one ever really talks about it, but it is always there. Food is definitely my addiction. Not in the sense that I eat a whole bag of chips or a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting, but I definitely don’t eat healthy. And when it comes to exercise . . . hey, what’s that?

In order to get this issue under control, here today, on January 18, 2010, I am making it known to whoever gives a darn, that things are going to change. Not that I am going to announce to all who might read this exactly what I weigh today, but let’s say it isn’t a good number. I have weighed more, and even last year I weighed less, and there is certainly a lot to lose.

So let’s get this party rolling! Actually I got it rolling last week when Mark and I started the NutriSystem program. That lasted exactly one day. The food tasted like I was eating acorns and pine needles. We sent all of the food back. For the remainder of the week, I really watched what I ate. I added a lot more fruit and vegetables to my daily intake and cut my intake of Pepsi down to one can a day. I am trying to drink a lot more water. It isn’t that I find drinking water disgusting or anything, I just don’t drink it enough.

As for the exercise part of this equation, I am slowly working on that too. In fact, I ordered these this morning. Leslie and I are discussing the idea about joining the Y down in Wapak and meeting up after school to work out together. More on that later.

Right now, I am not setting any specific goals and plan on tackling one week at a time.  So we will see how it goes.  Anyway, on a lighter note . . . no pun intended . . . I am happy to announce that this past week I lost 4 pounds. Not a Biggest Loser type of first week weight loss but a step in the right direction. Stay tuned for future updates . . .

Have a great day everyone.  It sure is nice having a day off!

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?