How Did I Get Here?

Oh So Productive

My babysitter called off for the day. My husband had court and was sleep deprived. Enter Missy. I called in a personal day, and made the most of it.

Let's start by saying, it's darn near impossible to keep a 2 year old quiet in their own home. So Connor and I headed to the park:

This kid is full of independence. Didn't need my help with anything. Of course, I was never far behind him... like a spotter in gymnastics... just ready to catch him or help him climb, but really, he didn't need me. Not. One. Bit.

He climbed the rope ladder like he'd done it a million times before.

He loved the slides. The big curvy guy... the racers... the little slow poke tiny tot ones... all of them. He did not discriminate.

I only had to tell him to stop throwing rocks twice.

I learned that I hate the tunnels at the park... too easy to lose a squirrely little 2 year old. There was another mom there with her two girls... so we kept trying to keep each other informed of who was in the tunnel and who was out. I did have one of those mini-panicky feelings when I couldn't track which opening Con had popped out of... thank goodness the other mom noticed my concern and told me she spotted the little green shirted guy. PHEW.

 

At the end of our playtime, Connor decided to park it in one of the tunnels. With 2 middle school aged girls who thought he was the cutest thing ever. They were calling him a ladies man... little flirt. I wound up having to lure him out of the tunnel with the promise of french fries.

Here's what I get to see in my rearview mirror every day :)

When we got home, we ate lunch, and I put the tuckered out little dude down for his nap... then it was:

Circle Journal Time!

I busted out three circle journals today. It felt so good to get these guys finished and boxed up. Here's a look at what I did.

The Good and The Bad

The first entry is for Miss Jen J's circle journal... the theme is to name the good and the bad about yourself.

I had a tough time. I don't like to brag... and I don't particularly like pointing out my faults either. Thanks a lot Jen!

The Last Book

This one is for Laura Kurz's journal. Name the last book you read. I chose to go with the last "grown up" book I've read... or else you'd have a page on Thomas the Tank Engine. :)

Now THIS I Like

I love that title. This journal belongs to Becky Novacek... list the things you like :) I got a little silly with the doodles... but I kind of like it!

OK. That's it! I swear I'm finished.

And, in case you were wondering, I went with "I'm Not Really a Waitress" for the pedi last night. I do love that color... and apparently, so do a lot of you! NIGHT!

Who Are You?

I'm in a new circle journal group! Why? Because I need ONE MORE THING TO DO. Kidding! Because I was asked to join a really wonderful group of talented women... and I could not say no. I'm still in the thick of my furst circle journal group, known as the eager beavers (because we were the first to say yes when asked)... This new group was organized by Miss Mara... and she has dubbed us the scrappin divas ;)

So my theme for this journal is: Who Are You? The rule is you have to choose someone you admire or identify with... and that someone has to be FICTIONAL So here it is ;)

First, the cover:

Welcome and Sign in Explainer (which is straight in real life)

My Entry:

My Sign In:

So there you have it... simple, sweet... kind of like me. HAH!!

What's In My Purse?

Ok... so what's in my purse? You're looking at it... That's the theme of the fabulous KLaLa's circle journal... and this is my entry. So let's break down these pics.

#1: iPod, Palm Pilot, Cell Phone and Pager.

#2: Keys and Work Badge

#3: 5 MAC lipglasses, one bottle of topcoat, 3 little MAC compacts full of Lipglass and Lipstick... all presents (2 from Aysu, one from Andrea), One tub of Blistex DCT, Nail File, One tub of Rosebud Salve (for lips and cuticles), Mirror compact, MAC Blot Powder and Body Shop Coconut Lip Gloss.

#4: My treasured Moleskine notebook and pencil...

And that is it... along with my wallet... which is pretty boring.

So now, I've got to get this sucker in the mail... because it was supposed to be mailed off on the 1st! eeek!

Confess

Ok.. I did my first page in my Circle Journal group (besides my entry in my own journal).

This is for Lilia's journal. The theme is "confessions". I really liked doing this... some of my confessions were a little mean, some are very silly... but then, I figured, they're the truth, so I shouldn't stress about them.

I used paperfever patterned paper.
Making Memories foam stamps, brads and rub ons.
A scrapworks tag.
Some Heidi Swapp tabs.
Some fancy-schmancy little flowers from Miss Gabby.
and that's about it!

See What I've Been Doing?

So now you can see what's kept me from my beloved TiVo. Projects. Projects. Projects. We start, with Effer Dare #10:

National Stop Taking Pictures Day

Amber had us make up our own national holiday. This is mine.
Journaling Reads:
Don't let me be that mom.
The one that hides behind the camera...
never coming out to get dirty and play.
I vow, to impose upon myself, a "national stop taking pictures day".
A day to make moments, NOT capture them.

I used my favorite child of patterned papers: Basic Grey. Ki Ribbon. Heidi Swapp rubons. Making Memories stamps and Rubons and Purple Onion Stamps.

Next Up! A birthday Scraplift.

The Goatee

This was another scraplift for a birthday surprise. This time, it was Cynthia's turn. I scraplifted her gorgeous layout, Mercie.

I did a little page about Jon's vacation goatee. Every vacation, he grows one. His police department does not allow goatees... only beards or cop 'stash's. And we put the big nix on either of those. So he grows one when he can... and I love the way it looks on him.

I used more of my favorite Basic Grey patterned paper here... Basic Grey letter stickers... a little Ki icicle... some Heidi Swapp ribbon... and my new white zig pen that I love love love.

And last, but certainly not least, my circle journal:

What's Your Theme Song?

A couple of weeks ago... Nisa sent out emails to all of the scrappers she likes (yay me!) and invited them to take part in a circle journal. For my non-scrapping friends, a circle journal is a journal you start, you pick a theme... and then you send it to someone. They make a journal page in accordance with your theme, then pass it along to the next person. In essence, your journal makes a circle... and when it comes back to you, you've got this amazing work of art from a lot of talented people.

Last weekend, I posted my cover to the journal... this weekend... you get to see my entry. The theme is What's your theme song? And of course, I picked Just a Girl by No Doubt. Anyone that knows me could have called that one.

So I packed this little puppy up and sent it in the mail to miss Nisa yesterday. I won't get it back until a year is up... because there are 12 talented ladies in this group... and we mail off our journals at the first of every month. This week, I should be receiving Miss Liliana's journal and her theme is Confessions... should be a fun one!

So that is it for my scrapping madness right now. There is always the next effer dare to work on... plus I've got another birthday surprise project and a swap with Erin to do (don't think I've forgotten you, Erin!) So I'm sure I'll be a busy little lady again this week.

But tonight? It's ladies' night. I am heading to dinner with Aysu, Tammy and Jane for a little birthday celebration. Aysu's birthday was last weekend... mine is next... so we are celebrating both of our birthdays tonight! I can't wait! Buca di Beppo with the girls is just what I need tonight. So now... I'm off to get prettied up!

A Birthday Wish and A Circle Journal

There we are... the Turk and the Greek. Aysu and Me. One of my best friends in the whole wide world. This picture is OLD. Like 1999 old. But I love it.

AND TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY!!! Happy Birthday, dear Aysu.  I love you!

For those of you that know Aysu, you know what a gem she is. Fiercely loyal. Dedicated to her friends and family. Incredibly smart. An amazing producer. A loving mother. A dedicated daughter. An understanding and devoted wife. An all around amazing woman. I am so very proud to call her my friend.

I met Aysu 9 years ago, as I started my new job, fresh out of college, at Channel 10. She showed me the ropes. She basically taught me how to produce. And every day I am thankful I had such a wonderful teacher. That work relationship blossomed into a wonderful friendship. Our families are so close. Our husbands are friends. It's quite frightening, actually.

So Aysu, on your special day, I just want to say THANK YOU. I'm sure Tammy and Jane agree with me when I say... our lives would never be the same without you. Have a wonderful birthday. And next  weekend... it's Buca time baby!! (and notice how I used a FABULOUS picture of you... and probably the dorkiest picture of me? That's how much I love you!)

CIRCLE JOURNAL TIME!!

It has been a wonderful day so far... Connor is just stirring from his afternoon nap. I've been downstairs, jammin' with my iPod and just CREATING.

First up: My Circle Journal. It kicks off on October 1st... so I had to get a move on!

My theme is: What's Your Theme Song?

Pretty self explanatory. VERY me. I borrowed some elements from my Human Jukebox scrapbook page... a CD for the title with some foofala rub ons... American crafts stickers and my fabulous Basic Grey patterned paper.

Now I've just got to get on the inside pages before I mail it off on Friday!

Tonight, I have nothing special on tap. After I'm done typing this... it's time to wake up Connor from his nap and have some fun time with him. Jon had to work tonight, so as soon as Connor goes back to bed... I'm plugging in the iPod and cranking out some projects!