dj

but if i had my way, i'd take the rain.

the tummy is feeling funny. so I'm drinking some peppermint tea and playing around on facebook - I feel almost sea sick... if that's possible. I've never actually been sea sick, I'm just sort of believing this is how it feels. yep.

So, this week my blog was featured in scrapbooking.com's weekly newsletter! When they asked me last week I was so flattered, most of the time I think my blog needs some spicing up! So, if there are any new visitors who found me from the newsletter, please feel free to say hi!

I'm a little out of it. Am I out of it more than in it? Sometimes it seems that way.
Right now I'm thinking about scrapbooking... I've been going through a lot of my things and really looking at them and trying to purge a little (a lot). Like, I have a whole drawer full of chipboard. I hardly ever ever ever use chipboard. So why am I keeping it?? Other amazing scrappers could do awesome things with it!

I was thinking about giving it for lifebooks - I found out about through a girl at SIS and it just sounds like amazing idea.

I have a quick question (and it would be lovely for all you new folks who may or may not be dropping by to answer and have a reason to say hi!!). If you're a scrapbooker, why are you a scrapbooker?
Is it lame that I'm asking.
Maybe.
But I really want to know.
Because I realized today that I scrapbook for purely selfish reasons. I do have teeny hopes that if something ever happens to me that my husband will have lovely things to remember me by. But other than that, I really just love making myself pretty, meaningful things. There are the occasions when I make things for others... and actually, that feeling is more amazing than just making things for myself. But still, I really love it, just for me. And I want to work on being more real and more true (and hoarding less stuff!!). So tell me, why are you scrapbooking??

Alright, I'm gonna get back to facebook. If I owe you comments or emails or if you just feel like I've totally been neglecting you lately.... I'm going to work on this tonight and tomorrow. And I'm sorry that I'm such a loser about it! <3, there, have a little digital heart on me.
goodnight.

Tons

to say about one person.

 (I've been waiting to post this layout just for today....)

Neil turns 24 today.
I've known Neil since the 6th grade. And pretty much always had a crush on him at one point or another.
He is my very very very very best friend. That is what I love most about our relationship and why I work so hard on it with him. Above anything else, he is my FRIEND.

This boy.... this boy is so selfless. And I don't think he realizes he is. Even when I'm whining, crying, complaining, pmsing, bitching, having yet another food induced tummy ache, spreading my art supplies all over our room.... he is still right there. Taking care of me. There are times when I see it all over his face that he doesn't understand at all what is going on with me. Which is only fair since the most the time I don't even understand at all what is going on with me. (ahhh, love being a girl.) But still, he is always right there.

He's not going to mind if no one makes a big deal about his birthday. He's going to get up and go to work this morning and come home just like every other day. So you can bet your booty I'm going to be in his face all day long making sure he has the best day. That's why I've been a tad MIA this weekend - from Friday to Monday night I have been/will be making sure he has a great birthday.

If anyone deserves it, it's him.

love love love love LOVE him.

so blue.

new banner up! feeling the blues lately. Actually, I'm always in the mood for blues. and greens. they're like my best friends out of all the colors. we hang out a lot.

so, I almost forgot about this and Michelle's post actually reminded me. Last week Dustin and Andrea were up here:

 
(we threw them a little baby shower.... which explains the cake. I have no idea why Dustin is making that face, but Andrea looks so cute so I used this pic!)

and they treated us to a movie and we went to see Kung Fu Panda. Fine. I'll admit it. I'm a cartoon/kids movie loving dork. But this movie was so darn cute!! And the tortoise.... you should go see the movie just for the tortoise:

 

I definitely say that even though I'm not cool and artsy and trendy and have no reason to give out movie recommendations, you all should still see it.

I have therapy later on today.... it's going really well. Last week I had to reschedule my appointment and for a moment I thought I would have to miss my session for the week totally. And I was so bummed, just the idea of having to miss it...... sucked! Luckily I was able to reschedule. I'm so enjoying this process and this healing. It just feels like.... FINALLY. I'm finally doing this, I'm finally taking care of myself. I'm finally starting to LOVE myself.

so right now I'm into:
reading ecorazzi.com. I pretty much hate sites like Perez Hilton, People.com and TMZ. I mean, I might as well read the ScrapSmack blog if I'm going to indulge in that silly nonsense (it's one thing when it's actual news, but when it's lies and lets make fun of her and her, then it's just bad for my karma). BUT this site just sucks me in. I can't tell yet if it's a good thing or bad thing.

Still loving twitter.

Excited to get these lovely hair products in the mail. I really hope they live up to what I've heard about them, because I've been looking for a decent, more eco friendly hair product for awhile now.

Ok, gotta get back to going over the budget. always a fun break in the day. (sarcasm? maybe.)

ACK! almost forgot:

 
remember when I did that little envelope mini a couple weeks or so ago?? Well, Dustin was here while I was working on it, and he decided to take my scraps and make this happy face with them. Except that he actually glued the thing down to my desk.... not so much fun to remove!

so much to say.

(I know I'm using an older banner right now, I've got a new one in the works though...)

Does anyone else use Twitter?? I just started and it's kind of addicting! I added a little sidebar to my blog with my updates, just for fun. If you're using it, look me up!

I've got some things to share.... fun things made with paper of course!



made this with the SIS May StylePhyle.



my layout for the latest OLW.

 

Kara Scrapjack. Had to do this one. HAD to. I adore this girl. I didn't do a whole mini - I just based my layout off hers. Song lyrics are from "Rain" by Breaking Benjamin. I really adore that pic of Neil in that green hat. He's just pulls off that earthy, hippie look so well. *sigh*



Annnnddd... lastly, my page for the latest prompt on The Art is Found. I started up an 8x8 book to do my Art is Found stuff, I've actually got an idea for another page with a magazine image but I've yet to get it out of my head and onto the chipboard. I love working straight onto a chipboard book. I believe this pic is from a Toast catalog.

I'm feeling better. Good place in my head. I've got something to sort out so I don't feel guilty about it anymore, but other than that, only good things.

Oh! I recently won some goodies from the Elle's Studio blog and I just wanted to give her a shout out because I got them in the mail the other day. Lovely stuff. The dandelion tags are just yummy.

Gotta go get some laundry done now....

bad day.

I don't really want to get into it though.

nothing I was planning on doing turned out.
like going to the paper pixie crop.
and I'm glad I hadn't payed for it yet since everything was up in the air. because I did not get to be there.

BUT here is the canvas I made with some the product Sara was selling today at the crop:

 

I'm really happy with it.... 4th of July is not really a holiday I decorate for, actually, we haven't done much to celebrate it in the past couple years (last year it was raining, the year before that Neil was working...). So this was a bit of a challenge for me, but I really liked the result. Too bad I didn't get to share it at the crop today.... eh. I'm not talking about it. No negativity!

Just wanted to share it somewhere!

well hello friday!

(whoops! I almost forgot... but Happy 1st day of Summer!!! yay!)

So last week I did a little mini, about things that make me happy RIGHT NOW. Not things that will make me happy, or big grand items/places that make me happy. Just simple things I have in my life right now that make it good.

It's important to be thankful.



I am going to keep adding to it over the year.... you can see the rest of it: here.

Also finished up my ATCs for the Juno swap over at SIS:



Can you tell I'm a little addicted to my yellow crackle paint right now?
(just a little tip for anyone who is a dummy dum like me. There's a little plastic rim, that sometimes fall off the top of the paint lid. Don't throw it away... just get your hand messy and put it up back on the lid. Because throwing it away somehow makes your paint get all dried out and unusable. Boo. I'm probably the only silly girl that threw that rim away from like 7 of her bottles. ugh.)

I'm going to get down and scrappy today. I've had my June Red Velvet and Studio Calico kits waiting forever and ever and today I just really want to play!! Got my whole todo list done for the week and next week is full of much more to do. Plus found out two days ago that my weekend plans are probably going to change. Bummed about that.

Alright. Gotta go feed the furchildren. TGIF!

flicky flick flickr

I really love sneaking into peoples flickr favorites and finding new awesome photos. fine, it's not sneaking since everything is public, but anyways...

this week I've checked out:

.elsie*cake. (oh come on, don't we all pretty much stalk her??)

the.new.slang

ms. kara

Not only their flickr favorites but their photostreams ROCK as well.
I have got to learn how to take better self portraits. I'm only a little vain.

later gators.

oh! p.s.- (I know I don't really need to say p.s. but who doesn't love a good p.s.?) is it weird that the only bag I want to carry around lately is my backpack? I'm really just over trying to find a decent purse. But I keep getting weird looks lugging around a giant backpack everywhere. Like I must be up to no good.

yeah, I must be up to no good.

just really really quickly...

because I'm working on something very patriotic for the paper pixie crop on Saturday. Paint is drying though, I've got a few minutes... (ohhhh baby!)

I have so much to post... I've even got a "to post" list going with topics... but first I want to fix up my blog with help from this post.

Speaking of Miss Mandi -- Check out this layout she did. (Really you should check out all her layouts, 'cause that girl is crazy talented!) And then check out her description under the layout. Which of course made me beg her for a PM with an explanation... and this is what she sent me:

"hehe I knew you would be all like, WHAT? A challenge in spired by ME? But yes, it is true, we are ALL inspired by you, and so are the fashionistas!
But yeah, the fashionista hour was hosted by Jen Jockish, and I think Lisa Garay and Rebekah R., and they were like, do you all know Dani? Danilouwho? And we were all like, yeah! And they said this challenge is based on her. And she likes to use clouds, so we're challenging you to do a layout inspired by Dani and her style. And I was like.... awwwww!!
So yeah, I just HAD to participate."

Jen Jockish also filled me on the message boards! My heart is sooo full people. What's so funny is that I couldn't even participate in the online event because this weekend was the busiest EVER and I was so bummed out. Turns out I was kind of at SISiversary after all.... :)

All this love that comes from the most unexpected place... it's awesome.

ok, my paint is dry... back to work!

three very random things.

VERY random.

So before we get to them, watch this video first. Because it's the best thing I've ever seen in my whole entire life. JBT and Keith. My heart is just......*gush*.

1.
while Neil and I were at my dad's house yesterday, the weather was really pleasant. So we left our windows down and I talked with Toni and Neil helped my dad out in the backyard. And we drove home later, not having any idea what had happened ..... BUT this morning, we get into the car to get some breakfast .... yuck. just yuck.
We realized that a cat had jumped into the car through the open window on the drivers side (thanks to all the lovely hair we found on and around the window). Not only did he use the back seats AND the back of the drivers seat as a scratching post, but he also decided to relieve himself in the corner of the backseat, mostly on the seat and on the wall by the speaker. I could not be any more serious if I tried.

A cat relieved himself in my car.

It was the smell that tipped us off to everything, which I guess had time to get very strong overnight, shut up in the car since we rolled the windows up when we got home. Because on the way home last night, we just got in the car, and drove home, rolled up the windows, yeah.... had no idea!
But this morning opening the doors and getting a whiff of it... then looking around. Ugh.

2.
I've been reading The Secret. It's amazing. I want to read and reread and find out everything I can about it. I'm trying to practice some of the things it teaches, like remembering to be grateful and putting out positive energy over negative. And the more I've thought about it the past few days, the more I realize how far I am from really living my life this way - I'm not trying to be down on myself or anything, I'm saying I'm really having to retrain myself and the way I think. But I'm excited for it - I feel lots of daily journaling and creativity coming out of it.

3.
I just discovered the channel previously known as Discovery Home is now Planet Green. And it's AMAZING. I just want to keep it on all day and hope that maybe as background noise it will still seep into my brain and I'll wake up in a few days with the knowledge to be a complete green goddess. Maybe not - but still, tons to be learned here. If you're gonna watch tv anyways right??

alright - gonna go try to get caught up on bloglines. I dream big. seriously. I have 191 to go through.

wheee...

I'm back!
Well..... I think I'm back!

We were supposed to have internet last Friday - but supposedly we had bad wiring and were left with only very basic cable channels.
We were going to be waiting until Wed. for them to rewire.
And then somehow today we got all our million and half channels and internet! whoo!

No idea if it will last and no idea what is going on..... but I'm loving it and trying to get all caught up!

I'm going to head over to bloglines and leave everyone some love. I feel like I have a million things to say and share but I really just want to get back into my groove.

I'll leave you with some layouts I was able to get done this past week:

grr.

moved in. well, mostly moved in. like, 95% moved in.
love the new place.
BUT no internet yet.
tried to come over to dad's today and catch up on everything I missed out on the past three days or so.
BUT gads. TOO MUCH.
If I don't get some internet in the new place soon I may get very very very cranky.

I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad. to feel so internet dependent.

I would make things... but I have to totally reorganize all my supplies and I know I'll get too frustrated trying to create and not be able to find what I need.

be back later..... hopefully checking in from the new place. with internet. hopefully!

she's back.

can't sleep. we go sign the lease tomorrow and do the walk through and get the keys and maybe move a few things in and I'm just too excited to sleep. with school being out for summer I'm thinking I'm just gonna stay up as late as possible tonight so that way I'll wake up insanely late tomorrow and I won't be waiting around all day for Neil to get home! Sounds good!

Another thing about summer is that I'm thinking more about raw foods.... I dabble in it from time to time.... mostly I strive to keep my diet 50% raw - much harder for me to do in the winter, but now that it's warm and farmers markets are open and thriving. mmmmmmm. fresh fruits and veggies just make me so happy.

Plus, don't these cookies just sound amazing! (found the link through elsie's flickr favorites- I cheat when I'm looking for recipes and check out her faves because she's always got something new and yummy saved there! ha.) ohhh man and these corn cakes!

We made a new giant cat pole using these instructions tonight. We added a nice little sleeping perch to it and it's a tad.... ehh.... home made looking but it will do the trick! I'm thinking I'll be posting it on craftster soon to show off my hubby's handiwork!

Been spending my days really focusing on my photography, I always try to keep studying, keep it all fresh in my mind. Have you ever loved something so much it just scares the crap out of you? That's what photography is to me. I've always felt like, this is what I'm supposed to do when I'm behind a camera... but still.... freaks me out so much! Been spending lots of time on flickr for inspiration. I've really underestimated flickr and really discovering it has been fun.

AND here is my first very flickr mosaic..... wow, I know. dani is sooo behind the times. ah well.



1. Untitled, 2. POW!, 3. i had to bend really awkwardly to take this, 4. DSCN0584, 5. Untitled, 6. 'Juicy' Sneak Peek, 7. that's MRS. willy wonka to you..., 8. Polaroid Wall, 9. Untitled, 10. ...making wishes..., 11. toddlertights, 12. Untitled, 13. 73/365 Days - Embrace, 14. Day 143., 15. Untitled, 16. 25 / 52: Be Grateful!

(I'm not sure about flickr/mosaic etiquette, but I do want to say, of course, thanks for the inspiration!)
just some new photos I've found. well, new for me anyways. :)

and I totally lied when I said I was done pinning back my bangs. About an hour after my last post they started annoying me again and I clipped them up! BUT this time, with my lovely clips from meeting street designs - YOU, yes YOU need some of these clips. I love them. Even if I never match them to what I'm wearing and I look a tad on the five year old side. that is ok.

this post is insanely cheerful.... and I kinda like that! because I have been feeling really good lately and I figure either way, someone is gonna say, that girl is just too happy, must be fake. Or that girl is so depressing, she must want attention. So, I think I'll just post what I want and not worry so much about what everyone else thinks. ahhhh....

man, I'm like the queen of run on sentences!

the closer you get...

So I went into my favorite salon yesterday and told the always awesome Tiffany "just fix my bangs and cut off all these layers because I'm done trying to have trendy hair. I just want it cut so it will grow out all pretty and I won't have to come back for another 6 months."

And that is what she did...

 
(this reminds me of the self portraits I used to take in high school, I was obsessed with them having a hue, like purple, green, blue, etc... I thought I was being so cool and "arty"... ha.)

So, I'm done messing up my hair. I'm just going to let it grow back out, long and pretty, no more crazy layers, no more bangs, just my hair the way I like it. It works. I'm sticking with it.

After I took this photo I finally realized how silly the bobby pins look in my hair so I'm just letting the bangs chill out on my forehead till they finally grow out. I actually really happy with how she thinned them out and blended them in with the rest of my hair, so they're really not that bad anymore.

enough about that....
I'm not really that big a klutz (I think...) but I always seem to spill water all over myself or what I have in front of me:

  
literally, it happens at least once a day.

And of course, it's always fun to be on the catwalk. This layout means a lot to me right now, so yeah, very cool.  

So Tuesday night Neil did a quick plumbing job for my aunt and we took the money she gave him to go see the new Indiana Jones with some friends. I have to say, I really really enjoyed it. I had heard mixed reviews about it and how there were aliens, but yeah, i'm a sci fi junkie and I thought it fit well since it was set in the 50's. I didn't think the ending was any more far fetched than Last Crusade. And holy cow, Harrison Ford was busting some moves with all those action sequences!

We move in ... two more days! It's been fairly quick, but I've had everything packed for a couple weeks now and to be honest I'm ready to go! Everything is all piled up and the new furniture and garage finds are also down here to it makes daily living not so much fun. I'll be glad to be all unpacked and settled in so I have some room to breathe!

BUT this all does mean I'll be without internet for a few days.... I'll be able to slip over to Borders if I really need to until we get the cable/internet all set up and I can come back to my dad's house as well, but still, I may be away for a few days!

Monday

I'm a little sunburnt.
We weren't able to go down to the lake with my family for Memorial Day weekend this time around because of Neil having to work (boo) but we have been able to hang out with my aunt and her family and crash all her family activities (yay)!

So that meant fishing on saturday (where I didn't even think about putting on sunblock), and hanging out in belton saturday night. Then a T-Bone's game yesterday (where thank goodness I put on sunblock because it was 90+ degrees for awhile!). Love going to baseball games. 

So my cheeks are a little pink, but nothing too severe... hopefully I'm getting smarter about remembering how badly a really nasty sunburn hurts?

Last night we snuggled up in bed and watched Across the Universe (!!!!! LOVED IT !!!!!) and Eulogy, which was also pretty good, but who doesn't love Zooey Deschanel?

But fun all around. Husband is still asleep even though it's almost 11am now... and I'm just packing and organizing and catching up online.








I *think* I've finally posted all the random scrappy stuff I've made the past couple weeks. Good to be caught up there....

All my scrapbooking stuff is getting packed up and put away - the move is next weekend. Which gives me time to concentrate on other things I've been putting off. Having my scrapbooking stuff in a mess all around me was just too tempting these past few weeks! Gotta get down to business this week!

So now, gonna finally finish getting caught up on bloglines, keep drooling over Free People clothes, then go visit some of the awesome new people who've commented on the blog lately (hi!) and just enjoy this rainy Memorial Day!