Sunday, May 31, 2009

LOAD #31 ~ It's Over!


My LOAD Challenge is officially over and I did it! I managed to create a layout a day for the entire month of May! It was difficult at times due to my workload at school, but I'm glad that I stuck with it. Now, for the bad news...I got on the scale this morning...not pretty! I will be taking a break from the Internet until I lose the 5 pounds I gained this month. It is amazing how quickly it comes back on when I only exercise once or twice a week. I've got to get back up to my five or six times a week and really increase the intensity of my workouts.
Again, I used a Scenic Route class kit to finish my layouts for today. This was the final day of our Disney Cruise vacation last summer. I wrote that I was disappointed that we didn't go to Disneyland that day, but it really did end up being the perfect way to end our vacation. We walked around the pier and surrounding areas. I got to take a lot of photos, and we simply relaxed and enjoyed each other's company while soaking in the beautiful weather.

Okay, now I'm off to exercise! Wish me luck in shedding these pounds!!!

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Saturday, May 30, 2009

LOAD #30


Only one more day and then I will have completed the May Layout a Day Challenge! If feels so good to have accomplished a goal, but it will feel so much better to gain some time back in my day to exercise and grade papers! This has been a very busy month, but the summer holiday is in sight, so I feel myself calming down a bit. Even though it is Saturday, I didn't have time to do a full layout, so I pulled out one of my partially completed pages from a Scenic Route class at CKC. I absolutely love this Metropolis line of papers! In fact, you can get this page kit on their website right now! I love that they are selling their class kits online, because those were the only classes I wanted to attend but I don't really have a desire to go to CKC anymore. The sales aren't that great; plus, I have enough CTMH to keep me scrapping for years, so I really shouldn't be buying anythng new anyway. Now, I can pick up these class kits, get my Scenic Route fix, and save time/money by avoiding the convention.

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Friday, May 29, 2009

LOAD #29

This is the last official page for my Learn Something New Every Day mini-album. I will type a detailed reflection and paste it to the back of this page. I also have two page protectors left, so I'm going to add a page to this book each September for the next four years. It will be nice to reflect on the past while recording where I am at that moment in time. Shimelle's last prompt asks us to send her a photo of the book when we are done...I wonder if she has had anyone take this long to finish the project!
This is what I'm adding to the back of the page above: "I find it ironic that Shimelle’s class fell in a month with such incredible highs and tragic lows! As a Star Trek fan, I couldn’t have asked for a better month. I finished the 40th Anniversary celebration blog, attended the big event in Seattle, met many of the stars of the show, wrote reviews for StarTrek.com, was interviewed by Rico at Treks in Sci-Fi, and eventually ended up in LA sitting next to Tim Russ while we were getting our Vulcan ears applied! Had that been the opening and close to my month, it probably would have been the best month of my life (other than May 1990, of course!). Yet, tragedy struck in the middle of the month when my cousin died. I was overwhelmed with profound guilt. I had tried to call him earlier in the month and left a message, but I never called him back. After Grandma and Dad died, I told myself I wouldn’t live with regret. I would let people know that I love them. I would stay in touch. I wouldn’t let myself be put in this situation again…but, here it is, two years and eight months later, and nothing has changed. I don’t make the call. I don’t stay in touch. I let life get in the way of telling my family and friends how much I love them. I hope they know, but how will they unless I tell them. It makes me ashamed of myself. To top it off, my student died at the end of the month in 2006. Another one of my students died at the beginning of this year. What am I doing each day to let my kids know how much I care about them? I know it hasn’t been enough for any but 3rd period this year. So, the lessons learned are things I know in my core, but do I have the strength to apply them to my life? Do I have the courage?!"

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Thursday, May 28, 2009

LOAD #28

I can't believe that I've finally finished this mini-album! I still want to do a page to sum up the entire month and experience, but that will be primarily text. As tragic of a month as this was in my life, I'm so glad I'm ending on this high note. This was they day that I hung out with some of the crew members of Star Trek: Of Gods and Men at Universal Studios. We were a bunch of goof balls; it was so fun. That evening was amazing, though! I met Lana Lane and Erik Norlander at a restaraunt in LA. They are progressive rock artists and I love their music. When I found out that I was going to be in LA, I took a chance and contacted them through MySpace. They agreed to meet me to discuss the posibility of using their song "Romeo and Juliet" when I directed the play. As much of a Shakespeare fanatic as I am, I didn't like R&J until I heard that song. It was what made me want to direct the play and inspired my entire concept for the production. The song was essential! I couldn't afford to pay royalties, so I was overjoyed when they granted me the rights to use the song and film it for a DVD release! They were so friendly, gracious and generous. I could definitely see being friends with them if we lived closer.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

LOAD #27

I finally scrapbooked this memory! I know that it was ridiculous, but I felt guilty for not being there for Christina when she needed me. I was running around Universal Studios when she came to school to talk to me. She needed me and I wasn't there. I more than made up for it by making myself available any time she wanted to talk that year, but my heart still ached for that missed moment. The journaling on the back of this layout discusses how proud I am of her for turning a tragic situation into positive motivation for her life. She is a strong young woman, and I know she will be successful in whatever she chooses to do. I saw her earlier this year, but I haven’t heard from her in months. I must admit, I miss her! I hope she is happy!

I’m really excited to say that I’m only TWO pages away from finishing this mini-album! Woo hoo!

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

LOAD #26

The LOAD prompt today was to push myself, so I finally decided to complete the pages that deal with Adrianne's death. I cut up a pair of jeans for the fabric on the page and wrote the following on the back:

"The last conversation Adrianne and I had was in the hall outside the office. I asked her about the holes in her jeans and she said she couldn't afford new pants. I asked her what size she wore since my 10s no longer fit me since I had gained a bunch of weight back. Even though she was smaller than that, she appreciated the offer. I told her I would bring the pants when I got back from LA. I had no idea it would be the last time I saw her. She died that weekend in a drunk driving accident. I swore that I would get back into those pants--it took me two years to get my act together, and I almost gave up, but I lost the weight before her class graduated. I now wear a size 8. I will never forget AW!"

On a related side note, the ScrapHappy January 2008 LOAD Challenge taught me that I could do anything for 30 days. I started a cleanse in February of 2008 and lost 45 pounds in 5 months! I've kept the weight off and am gearing up for another cleanse this summer with the goal of losing another 10 pounds. The May 2009 LOAD Challenge is almost over--it has been a good reminder that I can accomplish my goals!

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Monday, May 25, 2009

LOAD #25

I didn't have much to finish on my LO today, but it still took me awhile since I had to stamp and cut out all the letters for the title. I tell you...I love the Rustic Alpha stamp set! I use it all the time. I'm really excited about it now that I've started using my Back Country papers and embellishments; they are so cute! I spoke to my mom this afternoon and am going to look through all our old camping photos when I stay with her next month for my nephew's graduation. It will be fun to scrapbook my childhood memories. I have a few funny and highly embarrassing camping stories to tell!

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

LOAD #24

I'm getting a jump start on the Back Country WOTG for my club next month. I'm uploading the second page today and will finish the title and journaling on the first page of the LO tomorrow. I need to get some information from my husband to find out exactly where we were on this road trip after I got my first brand new car. It was very exciting!

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Saturday, May 23, 2009

LOAD #23

This is the second 1/2 of the Omak Fair layout I started yesterday. Although the photos are bad, it is a reminder of a fun day we spent together as a family. On a product note, I'm having so much fun with Heartfelt Whimsy!

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Friday, May 22, 2009

LOAD #22

This is another LO where I am embracing imperfection. My pen kept slipping as I outline the letters...oh well! Another page complete and photos that I've had for 16 years are now in an album. Life is good.

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The Big Orange Beast!

What happens when my husband takes the day off? He comes home with a new "toy"! I'm really glad that he is so excited about working on the property and making the outside of our house beautiful, but every time something like this happens, I wonder how much longer it will be until I get hardwood floors. Well, the good news is that he will eventually have to build an out-building for all this equipment, and I'm going to demand a second story to create a scrapbooking loft large enough to hold classes and crops! I guess I better start selling more scrapbooking supplies to help pay for this...LOL! So, does anyone want to host a gathering or workshop this summer?!

He actually downsized from the one he wanted to get which is a good thing. He claims he can get this in the garage, but I'll believe it when I see it. Of course, he's an engineer, so I'm sure he has the layout designed on his computer. Speaking of layouts, I better get to mine for the LOAD challenge. I'll leave you with a photo of me in the front loader. He thinks I'm a complete goof ball!

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

LOAD #21

I'm having so much fun with this set and my old photos! The Heartfelt Whimsy collection makes me happy! I did break out the Waxy Flax tonight and inked some edges, but this layout still took less than 30 minutes from start to finish. I'm now going to go to bed early!

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

LOAD #20

As soon as I saw Heartfelt Whimsy in the new Idea Book, I knew that I had to pull out my old Let's Get Together papers! This is from the Level 1 kit that I received when I became a CTMH consultant a couple years ago...LOL! Hey, at least I'm using it now. :-) This page went together so fast; I even refrained from inking the edges of the Stickease. I was all about a quick and easy tonight. The longest part of the process was finding the photos...I need a new system. Anyway, these are really old and really bad, but they still let me tell the story of my fun summers in Moscow with Neal, Angie, Pat and Katie. Ahhh...the good old days!

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

LOAD #19

This is the second page to the LO I started yesterday. I really like this sketch. I was able to finish it while my club members were putting together their Tickled Pink kits. It was a fun night! I only wish I wasn't so exhausted. My cats kept waking me up all night and morning; now it is slightly after 10pm and I can't function. I'm posting this and going to bed!

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Monday, May 18, 2009

LOAD #18

I'm back to the Unforgettable kit...I really am determined to use all of the paper this month! I can't believe how much I still have left over. Anyone who says they can't afford to scrapbook hasn't purchased a CTMH paper pack! I decided to use the exact same sketch from the Tickled Pink kit; it's fun to see how different a LO can look based on paper and the placement of embellishments.

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Sunday, May 17, 2009

LOAD #17

After working on the 2nd 1/2 of my LO, I decided that I didn't like how the title turned out, so I went back and made some changes to the first page. I'm much happier with it now. It says, "I am...45 pound lighter!" This page is a celebration of my accomplishment in losing weight and gaining a healtier lifestyle. The journaling is in white gel pen, so it may be difficult to read. The journaling strips say, "I am...fit!" "I am...healthy!" "I am...so happy!"

Now I'm off to spend the rest of my day doing chores, exercising, and grading essays...fun times!

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Saturday, May 16, 2009

LOAD #16

I'm playing with my before and after photos and the new Tickled Pink set. I'll finish the 2nd page with journaling strips tomorrow.

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Friday, May 15, 2009

LOAD #15

I'm so exhausted today, so I'm really glad I only had to find and trim photos plus add my journaling. Once again, I didn't have a plan for my journaling, I simply started writing. What I discovered is that I'm thankful that the Schaub's still own the ranch as it is the last family home from my childhood that I can still visit.

So, why am I so exhausted, you ask? I was up until nearly 1am cleaning the 3 Ps from my cats. Kit also woke us up at 3am. Apparantly, she didn't get the memo that this is high on my list of why I DIDN'T have kids! I'm cranky when I don't get enough sleep. Argh!

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Thursday, May 14, 2009

LOAD #14

Oh, my goodness, it is so late! Neal and I went to Heaven Can Wait at OLT tonight and didn't get home until after 11pm. Luckily, I had an old make-n-take that just needed photos. I really need to organize my photos this summer to make them easier to find. Okay...must sleep!

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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

LOAD #13

The irony of this LO is that the prompt dealt with finishing this project, avoiding procrastination, finishing what you start...um...it's been almost three years since I started this project! Oh well, better late than never.

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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

LOAD #12

This would look a lot better had I printed the picture on photo paper, but I didn't have time to bother with that tonight. I'm going to upload this LO and go exercise for an hour and a half while I watch the Biggest Loser finale! I hope Tara wins!

I used a photo from my day on Enterprise because September 2006 began and ended with amazing Star Trek experiences. I'll write more about that on my final reflection LO. It feels good to finally be finishing this album!

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Monday, May 11, 2009

LOAD #11

I saw Star Trek again today at the IMAX theatre, so it is only fitting that I do another Star Trek LO from my Learn Something New Every Day project. September 2006 was a major month for me as a Star Trek fan!

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Sunday, May 10, 2009

LOAD #10

I'm off to a Shakespeare workshop in Seattle so don't have time to write much. Good news is that I'm back on track with exercising! The prompt for this LO perfectly fit my needs for today! It's amazing how something that should have been done three years ago spoke to me so clearly today...wow!

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

LOAD #9

Yikes! I'm in a hurry. I'm late for a date with Neal in Middle Earth!

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Friday, May 8, 2009

LOAD #8

I had a little more time to work on my LO today since I stayed home from school so the mobile vet could come over. I used the Reflections book to find a sketch and continued to use up my Unforgettable kit...I still have a lot left!

I'm going to the school play tonight and need to leave in a few minutes, so I don't have time to write a full review of the Star Trek. Let's just say I loved it! I can't wait to see it in IMAX this weekend.

Here's a photo of my poor baby getting shaved. I'll post the "after" shots tomorrow...she looks so funny!

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Thursday, May 7, 2009

LOAD #7

I'm back to 12x12 today. The prompt challenged me to use ribbon, and I really did intend on using more when I started this LO, but I'm anxious to go to Star Trek tonight and wanted to get it done ASAP! With that said, I'm heading out to the movie right now!

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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

LOAD #6

The Learn Something New Every Day prompt for 9/27/06 was "Something I shouldn't forget...." Talk about a perfect prompt as my journal is completely empty for that day! I honestly have no memory of the day because I didn't write anything down. My guess is that I was busy packing for my trip and writing lesson plans since I was leaving for LA the next day directly from school. But, I didn't take the time to write it down, so I don't know for sure. I have no memory of what I was feeling or thinking, because I didn't take two seconds to jot down a sentence or two in my journal. This is such a valuable lesson! So many of us put off journaling, but what happens when you go back a month or year or THREE years later? Memories fade if we don't record them in some form in the here and now. I challenge you all to start keeping a journal or blog or daily Facebook/Twitter update. Anything to record your memories so that they aren't lost forever. Something I shouldn't forget...write it down!

Exercise Update: Sadly...nothing to report.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

LOAD #5

Since our challenge today was to go with the flow, I put away my cruise photos and pulled out the Learn Something New Every Day project I've been working on for THREE years! I am in a Star Trek mood this week as I anticipate the new movie opening on Friday, and my Sci-Fi class finished watching Star Trek: Of Gods & Men today. I decided to go with the flow and finish the last Star Trek LO for that project since it was on my mind! At some point, I still need to journal about my conversation with Grace Lee Whitney and my interview with the lead singer of Electric Crush, but at least one moment of that day is documented. I only have 9 pages left to finish this mini-album. I finished many of them during the 2/08 LOAD challenge on BPS, so I think I need to make it my goal to finish the rest of them this month.

Exercise Update--it was raining this afternoon, so Kristina and I didn't do our walk. I did come home and exercise for an hour (eliptical, back align and abs).

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Monday, May 4, 2009

LOAD #4

Here is my 4th LOAD challenge. The goal was to incorporate squares in the LO...thank goodness for CTMH preprinted pages! I only had 1/2 to get this done and I finished with time to spare, which was really good because my card reader flaked out on me and I had to restart my computer.

I gave a card workshop to a great group of ladies tonight. It was a prize in a charity auction to support the drama club!

Exercise Update--due to the workshop, I didn't have time to work out tonight, but Kristina and I did take a long walk around the school this morning during planning.

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Sunday, May 3, 2009

LOAD #3

Wow! I was cutting it close tonight. I spent the whole evening getting ready for a card workshop I'm giving tomorrow. It wasn't until 10:20pm that I realized I hadn't done a LO yet. Thank goodness for CTMH level 1 kits! I used the Unforgettable kit with a little stamping using Comments (I LOVE this new stamp set!). I didn't plan out my journaling, so I ended up going on a bit of an anti-smoking rant...LOL! Now I'm going to bed!

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National Scrapbooking Day Mystery Hostess Winner!

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Saturday, May 2, 2009

LOAD #2

I had a great National Scrapbooking Day! Five great women came over and did some make-n-takes and browsed through the new Idea Book. It was a lot of fun, but I'm really tired. I cleaned up the make-n-take area before dinner, but I'm leaving the rest of it until tomorrow. :-) I did finish my LO for today...thank goodness most of it was complete and all I had to do was add the embellishments and journaling. These photos are really bad, so I'll have to retake them before uploading them to my CTMH website. I just wanted to get them up here for the LOAD challenge.


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Friday, May 1, 2009

LOAD #1

Well, as bad as I feel right now--splitting headache--I am happy to have my first layout uploaded for the May LOAD challenge. This is the first page of CTMH's new Moon Doggie Workshop on the Go. I absolutely love these papers and can't wait to use the rest of the packet with my Disney Cruise photos. I'm also very thankful that we went to Mexico last year and not this year! I was home all day, so I spent much more time on this LO than I will on most of my other LOAD pages. The 2nd page is almost finished; I just need to add the final embellishments and journaling tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to the big National Scrapbooking Day extravaganza at my house tomorrow! I still have a lot to do to get ready...I better get to it!

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About This Blog

For the past few years, I have been striving to add more creativity to my life through scrapbooking, acting, web design, and writing. This blog allows me to document my ongoing journey. I'm also a Close To My Heart consultant, so I will share specials and post new product ideas. Watch out for a contest or two, as well!

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