Wassup?

Outside my window: Our turkeys are back!! I looked out the window at 6:10 a.m. and saw 2 adults---quite a few less than previously. Then, suddenly, one stood up and two little puff balls scurried out! They were so cute---baby turkeys---about the size of a softball. Too bad, I can't get good  pictures through the window.

I am thinking: of the things I need to do to get ready for vacation.

I am thankful for: family visits.

From the kitchen: After the Lapps family leaves this morning, I'm DONE in the kitchen! I don't plan to cook again until Friday.

I am wearing: Capris and a Nashville t-shirt.

I am hoping: to do a little stitching today before our class this afternoon.

I am reading: I'm mid-way through American Pickers and Proof of Heaven. Both are very good in completely different ways.

I am busy creating: Since I've been busy with family, I haven't created anything lately---unless you count helping Elizabeth make letters on the Cricut for their "cook-off challenge" dinner plans. I am planning on getting my handout finished today for AYM.

I'm bummed: that it's a rainy day. I'll be worrying about Sandy driving home.

I am hearing: ABC news.

Around the house and garden: time to start gathering stuff to take on our vacation. I have a list going, but there's a lot to do.  Also, our magnolias are in bloom. They are magnificent!

These blooms are about 12" across. Unfortunately, these trees are about 25 ft. tall and most of the blooms are at the top where they get the most sun.

In other news: Our vacation is less than two weeks away. I'm making lists and gathering "stuff" to take with us. It will be a lot. It always is.

One of my favorite things right now: floating in the pool on a sunny day. That's only happened about 5 times so far.

I appreciate: a family that gets along and pitches in.

Butch spends a lot of time helping with clean-up when the family is here.

I remember: what summer used to be like as a kid---those evenings playing outside into the dark, catching lightening bugs and swatting mosquitoes (that part wasn't fun).

I forget: how much fun playing "fan tan" for pennies can be. There's not much else you can do with pennies. In fact, "fan tan" is the only game you will ever play that you hope you lose---just so you don't have to take all of those pennies. Luckily, little kids like to win them.

I regret: that we didn't have a fire in the fire pit. The days just zoomed by and then I was just too tired.

How the weekend is shaping up: It's early in the week, but still we already have plans. We're having friends over for happy hour, dinner and then poker. I also would like to do a little work in my scrapbook room.

And just for fun: From the time Mindy was about 10, she loved to wear fake glasses. She's still doing it. She thinks they make her look smart. You be the judge.

Eads Family Cook-off Challenge

Every year for our vacation, I come up with some sort of surprise activity for the family. This year it's a family cook-off. We drew names out of a hat for partners. It's all a big secret---with everyone thinking that their team is going to win. We discussed all the details at "happy hour" on Friday.

Everyone got a list of guidelines---would you expect anything less from me?

Then we discussed our itinerary for the week and who was going to cook, when. We've rented a house on Isle of Palms, South Carolina---between Hilton Head and Charleston. Of course, I'll "clean" this up. It will be posted on the refrigerator at the beach house.

After dinner, our surprise family activity was to "decorate aprons with your partner." With the exception of the aprons, I had all of the supplies---paint, markers, foam stamps. Happy to see them used--although they are all quite a mess now. And, I must say, we use our dining room a lot---for more than just eating.

It always amazes me as to how creative they all are. 

 I don't really consider myself all that creative. I love flowers, so I just stamped a vine and added flowers.

Jordan was at Bonnaroo, so I did her apron (she's my partner). She loves animals, so I did this bluebird for her. I don't have any other animal stamps, so this had to do.

I thought our aprons came out pretty good----until I saw what the rest of the family did---oh.  my. gosh! So creative and FUN!!

Elizabeth had definite ideas as to how she wanted her apron to look. Mindy copied her design exactly which thrilled her to no end! Certainly a couple of "cool cooks." They avoided breakfast clean up by saying that they needed to go out to discuss their meals and purchase a few things. 

 Victoria and Morgan kept it simple with "chef." They have some tricks up their sleeves. With Morgan's work schedule, they have had to "sneak" in their meetings when they could. 

 When I first started picking the teams, I said, "before I select the teams, all I've got to say is---if you get Stephanie---I'm sorry!" Mitchell was the lucky one!! Steph is such a good sport about her lack of cooking skills. She said that Mitchell has had ALL of the ideas for their team and meals. This one, for their aprons is outstanding. He came up with "twitter" @mitchelllapps#TopChef for him and "twitter"  @stepheads#winners---is the best! I loved it! They are pretty confident that their meal is going to really guarantee it for them. At least, this weekend, when I asked Steph to cover a casserole, she didn't have a Saran Wrap cutting accident like she did at Christmas!

 We're all wondering if Sandy (hot tamale) and Greg's (whole enchilada)  aprons give a hint to their meal. They requested the first night since it's Victoria's birthday and they want to make it a party for her. 

And then there was Butch and Nicky. They weren't all that enthusiastic about the project, but were good sports. We all thought this "Butch-ism" was the perfect thing for them!! We thought when it came to their meals, they would just come up with something at the last minute. Instead, they really have been planning. At one point, Butch said they had come up with the perfect thing that was going to "seal the deal" for their team.

We also decorated cooler cups so we have them for vacation---no wasted drinks that way and we keep them cool!

A cook-off has been the best idea so far. Usually, they don't find out anything about our challenge until we get to our vacation. This time, it has been so much fun to watch everyone really get "in" to it. I think the anticipation is half the fun. Everyone is so enthusiastic---taunting each other with their secrets and "over the top" ideas. We'll see. I really can't believe any of them will top what Jordan and I have in mind!!

Stay tuned....it's only a week and a half until vacation now!

PS If anyone would like to have my "guidelines" and ideas, feel free to let me know and I'll be happy to email them to you.

A New Butch-ism

Butch took Mitchell fishing on Friday. I was making them a lunch for the boat. I kept asking if they wanted this or that. Finally, Butch said, "It's a fishing trip----not a luncheon!"

He cracks us up with the things he comes up with!!

Still busy with the family. I have lots to report, but no time now. Later...

Too Good to be True?

The answer is---absolutely---YES!!! Except for maybe the first time---it really is TRUE!

 I bought this Teresa Collins kit from Peachy Cheap. Each day, they send a "deal" to your email  in-box. The price is always amazing. This one was $19.99. I got two of all the papers you see (in the back row---double sided)

plus: banners, chipboard stickers, regular stickers, buttons, paper flowers, brads, rhinestones fibers AND a stamp set. And the colors----so luscious (that reminds me of this: when we were at the Steeplechase race this year, after I asked Morgan if her eyelashes were fake and she replied, "no"---her boyfriend, Will said "aren't they luscious?" It was so cute---just like this kit). The best part of kits like this---no thinking---just add pictures! 

Anyway, if you want some really cheap scrapbook supplies, then you need to check out Peachy Cheap. All you have to do is scroll down to the email sign-up box on the right to start getting your "deals." 

Another place I like is Crafty Steals. They also send an email every day with some sort of special deal---always at least half price from retail. Their email sign up is all the way at the bottom.

Here's one last place that has good deals on scrapbook supplies (and other stuff) Scrapbook Steals.

Doesn't everybody like a good crafty "deal?" Especially now, since most of our scrapbook stores have closed.

More Layouts

Here are the rest of my layouts from last week---and my Project Life update:

 Karolyn shared this technique. Punch or cut 1 1/2" squares; Cut on the diagonal; Draw a line; Adhere the triangles at the top only and line up along the line; Using the sewing machine, stitch a tight zig zag stitch. If the stitch is too tight, it will actually perforate the cardstock. That happened to me. I just taped it along the back. I'll turn this in to either a title or end page.

I used that new technique on this page titled "mystery trip." It was a lot of fun to do.

 This layout is for my ABC album. "addicted to Magazines" & "that's Nasty." There's not really anything unusual here in the way of techniques.

 This layout has been a long time in the making. I first started on it in February. I spilled a glass of wine on it at the Kinderhook scrapbook retreat. After I dried it out, it was all wavy, so I had to "smush" it between books. The next time I worked on it was at the farm in the spring. I decided I needed another photo. I finally finished it this past week. The lesson here: Don't drink and scrapbook! Naaah! I'll just deal with the mistakes!

 Another layout for my ABC album: "organized" & "proof." I used a Fiskars border punch along the bottom. I cut a few more to use as embellishments around the page. Really pretty simple.

 On "Young Love," it's really hard to tell, but this layout is a result of more mistakes. I started by trying to mask and mist the background. But, since the masks were not 12x12, there were lines that I didn't like. I just started over, covering the "messy" spots with patterned paper. I stitched over the seams---it's hard to tell. I also stitched down the heart border and through the middle of the title. It's done now, but I wish I had just stitched the pocket too. I didn't think of it until right now.

 Here's my PL layout for May. I managed to get quite a few photos and plenty of journaling on the pages.

That's "it" for scrapbooking for awhile. With out-of-towners, our family vacation and planning classes, I have no idea when I'll be able to actually create. I do have the Wildwood scrapbook retreat with Jeanne and Janet to look forward to in August.

Layouts

I get most of my scrapbooking done when I am away from home. That's why I love scrapbook retreats---or a trip to the Broussard's farm. Of course, I do a lot of reading and lounging around, but still I manage to get quite a few pages done.

 This is a title page I planned. I love this quote---it's perfect for my philosophy---don't ya' think?

This paper was really old and came stitched. All I did was print the quote on a transparency and add the embellishments. I layered concentric circles, crumpled them for added dimension, then affixed with a paper brad.

This was a fun layout to do. Again, I tried a new technique on that sun. To get this patchwork effect: Cut (4) 4" squares; Cut them on the diagonal; Join them on a Cricut mat (I have the "baby bug" so had to trim off the sides); Cut your choice of shapes. The title here is "Somebody's Gotta' Doo Doo It." I often use my blog as journaling for the page. You can find this story here!

On "The Proposal" I decided to layer the banners as a base for the title rather than use them across the top. This was a sheet of banners that you just tear apart. The little ones on the opposite side are stickers. Those little ones mimic the big ones across the page.

Here's another new technique. I saw this idea somewhere (sorry, can't remember) and knew I wanted to give it a try. I used a Heidi Swap mask for the background. Then I used my Creative Memories hexagon punch to cut some pattern papers. Then I just layered a few here and there. This layout is "K" & "L" for my alphabet album.

 Notice that silhouetted photo? That's from the "olden days" of scrapbooking when we did that a lot. I don't do it much anymore---this one was leftover in my photos.

There's not really anything here in the way of technique---unless you consider the little rhinestones I put in my journaling at each of my "4 simple Pleasures"---Kindle, Starbucks, iPhone, Downton Abbey.

More tomorrow!

This Guy...

Is the best! Today is his birthday, so I decided to devote this post to him.

When I met him, he was a tv repairman. But, he had ambitions and dreams. After we got married in 1971, he embarked on a ten year journey to complete his education. At the time, we had a card table and two chairs for our kitchen table and a borrowed bed. Our big splurge each month was the purchase of a $2.00 game from Target. We were always big game players and still are. We ate out occasionally, but that was at McDonald's or Taco Bell. One summer we went to Baskin & Robbins twice in a week---then didn't have the money to pay our phone bill. The budget was tight---I had $15.00 a week to spend on food. That was adequate, but I had to use a calculator as I shopped.

After about 3 or 4 years, we took a leap of faith. He started a low level management job with Central Parking System. He actually took a pay cut! We weren't sure we could afford that, but the company would pay his school tuition and for his books---which is exactly why we did it. Turns out, he rose fast within the company and the bonuses came rolling in. Eventually, he became the CEO until his retirement in 2010 at 58. I'm so proud of him. It's been a great ride---all of these---nearly 42 years! I'm glad he took me with him!

The following pictures are what remain on my laptop. I just did a major purge---8000 photos removed. I was a little too lazy to transfer more from my desktop. This was on our 25th anniversary.

 I think he's still pretty cute!

 I don't remember what year this was. Somewhere in our 40's.

This is him with Victoria. He's so good with the grandkids. Actually, he's good to all of us.

 He still has a lot of bendability left in him too! This would totally kill my knees (ooops, I didn't mean
to make it about me).

Here he is with Morgan. I just noticed, he wears a lot of blue shirts. Stands to reason---that's his favorite color.

If there's one wish I could make for him---it would be to slow down and enjoy the fruits of his labor!!! The rest of us certainly are!! And we thank him!