Thank you guys sooo much for all the sleeplessness suggestions. I picked up some Tylenol PM and it’s definitely helping. I can’t believe anyone even checks in here when I’ve been going entire weeks between posts. It’s amazing to me how supportive this digital scrapbooking community is!

I finally finished the page I was working on. I shouldn’t have posted the in-progress post ‘cuz I felt like I couldn’t post to the blog without the finished LO. Crazy hang-ups, I know. Thank you Lauren for your help on getting it just right. :) You can find the full credits here.

And I thought since I’ve been so behind lately on my blogging I’d post a couple links to other blogs you should check out. My friend Shari has moved her blog over to typepad and she posts the most amazing photos. You’ve GOTTA check out her wedding and children’s photography sites too. There are links over on the right of her blog. Every photo looks like it should be in a magazine. :) And then I’m so excited that Amy (Alb52) has started blogging. I absolutely love her style and she’s an incredibly sweet and supportive digi-scrapper.

Kay, off to work. Thank goodness it’s Friday. Busy work day today and actually kindof a crazy busy weekend ahead but all fun stuff and hopefully lots of scrappin’. Check out the new goodies at DDE. More free doodles from the creative team and Gina’s got some amazing new beaded chipboard embellishments that are sooo cool! 

Once again I’ve gone way too long between posts on the blog. I’ve been a little stressed. A little down and a lot busy. I HATE feeling sorry for myself but I hate even more other people feeling sorry for me so I hesitate to post when I’m having a stressful or emotional time. Probably goes against the whole idea of this blog but I guess that’s just me. Really could use a good night sleep. Thinking I should check into some sort of mild sleeping medicine. They scare me because I only hear about how addicting they can be but after a week of watching the clock I’ve gotta find something. If anyone’s still checking in here have you tried anything that really worked but that isn’t something you need every night?

Still working on the Eclectic Whimsy site. Took a bit of a break on it over the weekend and did a little scrapping. Also had Selah and Kennedy’s baptisms on Sunday so that pretty much kept me busy that entire day. I’d taken photos of Selah about a week ago and started working on a LO with them last night. It’s NOT finished but I thought I’d post it here to once again show something sorta ‘in progress’. I’d also love to find a stitched heart to use with the glitter heart on here. I know I’ve seen something similar done in a LO and loved it but can’t for the life of me find it back. I also know I’ve got a stitched heart in my collection of digi-scrappin stuff but have no idea where it is. If anyone knows of one PLEASE let me know. :) I know I’ll spend an hour looking tonight. So far I’ve used papers and the glitter heart by Jen Wilson, Lace and masking tape from Scrap Artist (I believe from the April kit only available during April), a pin from Designer Digitals sewing kit and ric rac from Michelle Underwoods’ Sun on My Face kit. And isn’t Selah just a honey?! I have like 20 more pictures of her from this day and had the hardest time deciding which ones to use.

Enjoying my relaxed Tuesday morning schedule but it’s time to head to work.

I LOOOOOVVVE the Blue Angels. Yep, it’s true, I totally LOVE ‘em! I’ve been known to travel hours to see them and I’ve been known to see them 3 separate times in one year (at least twice). I’ve scheduled a Florida trip around when they’d be performing there. In fact, the photo above wasn’t actually taken by me but I found it online and it was actually taken at the exact show that I saw in Punta Gorda, FL. :) I’ve driven as far as Cleveland Ohio (over 5 hours) but my favorite place to see them is Chicago and I love going for two days so that I can watch the whole performance from a nice grassy spot in the park the first day and then have the excitement of seeing them turn around through downtown while I’m wandering in and out of stores. You’d swear they’re flying right between the buildings and the sound of them flying over is a-MAZ-ing!

I’ve even done the research on how exactly you could get to fly with them because I’ve heard of people doing this but it turns out that you’ve basically gotta be some sort of media personality. I’ve considered this but 1) I don’t like speaking in public (nor do I like the site of me on video or the sound of my voice in recordings) so that eliminates tv or radio and 2) I stink at writing so that eliminates writing for the newspaper. So the odds of me ever getting to ride in one are pretty slim but a girl can always dream. :)

I think I get about as excited watching them from the ground as I would riding in one anyway. I know it’s ridiculous but the sound of them flying over and seeing some of the stunts they do actually takes my breath away. I literally think I stop breathing for a second out of pure adrenalin and excitement. I found a video that gives you at least a TINY idea of what it’s like to see them perform. Really not at all the same but I gotta give ya somethin’ if you’re wondering what in the world all the hullaballoo is about. :) There’s a little language in the beginning so you may wanna turn the speakers down at first. Ya can hardly blame ‘em though cuz it’s just so incredible to see these guys perform and it can be tough to control your enthusiasm. LOL You can turn the volume up again (loud) after the first 30 seconds. :) Apparently the video is taken in Seattle but when I was watching it I could’ve sworn it was taken over the bay in Traverse City. Looks exactly the same. Would love to watch them from a boat someday in the bay.

So there ya have it. I am a HUGE Blue Angels fanatic. Pretty much a groupie. And never get tired of seeing them. Can hardly believe I haven’t scrapped about it yet but probably ‘cuz I’m too intimidated. Can’t imagine actually doing them justice in a scrapbook page without the speed and the sound somehow incorporated into the page.

By the way, while writing this post I did have a bowl of Apple Jacks for dinner. :)

I don’t know why I can’t keep up on my blog lately. It seems like when I’m not at my computer I think of all sorts of things to say on here and then when I’m actually sitting with the laptop I draw a complete blank. Easter weekend actually seemed particularly long which is highly unusual for me. Normally weekends seem to fly by. Got to spend lots of time with the nieces and nephews. Babysat Paige, Corbin, Braelynn & Ainsley Friday night and Kylie and Kennedy came for dinner and coloring eggs. Went to the Easter egg hunt in the neighborhood behind us to take pictures of the kids while they filled their baskets with eggs. Got some great pictures to scrap from that. Got some adorable photos of Selah that they needed for her baptism this coming Sunday. Took my niece Celena to church with us Easter morning and then had a nice Easter brunch at my aunt’s bed & breakfast where I got more great photos to scrap. Here’s one of my favorites from the day. Braelynn does not leave Grappy’s side. My dad is just the BEST grandpa and I swear Paige should be in magazines. I don’t think it’s possible to get a bad photo of her.  Now if only I could find that creativity thing back. Hoping to scrap some of these easter photos soon with Gina’s latest mega kits. If you haven’t gotten it yet it’s not too late to grab it at a great discount along with what I think is just the coolest kit yet. The super discount is only through today though so go now. :) I can see using something from that book bag kit in almost every LO I ever create. So many fun papers and elements!

Been working on the Eclectic Whimsy site. Fortunately the creative side of that was determined early on so it’s just a matter of putting all the pages together. Here’s a sneak peak at the main page. Still a work in progress. Started out with some brushwork by Rhonna from her latest Peachy Keen kit just to play around with ideas and a concept for the background. Amazing kit and worth every penny but not commercially usable so really it just made it nearly impossible to come up with a replacement that I really love but Lauren found these foliage brushes and the look is really growing on me. Now on to the same process of finding something I like even half as much as Nancie’s incredible distressing brushes. *sigh* But we’re getting there. The fabulous papers are all by Jen Wilson. Soooo thrilled that she’s involved and generous enough to let us use her designs for the website. I can’t imagine how we could’ve pulled off the look we wanted without her.

Still lovin’ the blog ipod. Added a few favorites by Marc Anthony today. To me latin music has gotta be the most romantic and my favorite latin romantic is Marc Anthony. His lyrics read like poems and I think he’s got an amazing voice. His ‘mended’ album has been one of my long favorites and one of those rare albums that I can listen to straight through and sing along to every song.

Off to work but I’ll be back to post another ‘betcha didn’t know’ tonight. Already have one in mind but I’ve gotta find some photos to post with it. For those that know me maybe you could guess at this one. I’m a bit of a groupie for a particular ‘show’ and have been known to travel quite a distance just to see this group perform. Any guesses?

My sister Amanda posted about her (our) faith yesterday on her blog and I thought today it would be appropriate for me to do the same. I’m hoping this doesn’t fall under the category of ‘betcha didn’t know’ things about me. Today is Good Friday and I’m not really sure how to feel about that. In many ways it’s the saddest day in the Christian faith and yet it’s the reason I believe I’ll spend eternity in heaven where I’ll get to see Jacob again. And my uncle Bob and Grandpa – man I miss their scruffy kisses. And my grandma – singing in church has never been the same since she’s been gone, my family will know what I’m talking about. ;) And meeting the grandpa who died before I was born – if he’s anything like my dad I know he’s gonna be fun to get to know. So to me, this is a pretty important day and although sadder than Easter Sunday it’s powerful just the same.

I grew up going to church every sunday in a small Christian Reformed Church where we used to recite the apostle’s creed every week. It is still what I believe.

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to hell.
      The third day he rose again from the dead.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.

Happy Good Friday,

Wow, how do you start a post when it’s been soooo long since the last one?! Ever have that where you get so far behind that it’s just overwhelming to even start? Not that blogging should feel that way because really my primary reason for doing it is to be able to look back years from now and have a fun journal of stuff going on way back when. Oddly enough it’s actually pretty interesting to me already just to read some of my first posts only a year ago. That being said, I do feel badly when I see that 250 people stopped by to find nothing new for days and days. Strange thing is I’ve actually had lots that I would’ve posted about pretty much every day – a trip to my favorite big city over the weekend, working on the Eclectic Whimsy site, lots of fun new kits that I’ve purchased, a LO that I finished using Heather and Gina’s new kit and I still have plenty of betcha didn’t know’s to talk about.

Like, I betcha didn’t know that I’m a HUGE Fox news fanatic. I know I’ve talked about other television shows here on my blog but, believe it or not, probably 75% of the time the television is on at my house it’s tuned to the Fox News Channel. Part of the reason is that I very rarely just sit and watch the television. Usually it’s background to whatever else I’m doing whether it’s scrapbooking/designing on my laptop, cleaning the house, you name it. I grew up with 3 sisters and a brother so a quiet house just seems WIERD to me. I actually can concentrate better with at least some sort of noise. Why Fox news you might ask? Well, because it’s fair and balanced. I suppose if anything it likely leans a little on the conservative side but if you know me at all you’ll know that – so do I. :) Plus I usually catch enough network news like the Today Show or Goodmorning America while I’m getting ready for work that I’m pretty sure I’m getting more liberally biased reporting than any American rightfully should. I’m actually quite interested in the whole bias thing but that’s a whole ‘nother quirky set of facts. LOL Probably already more than any of you cared to hear about since most likely you’re checking to see if there’s anything scrapbooking related going on in my life. :)

So here’s the LO I finished with Heather and Gina’s latest kit: That Kylie is such a little ham for the camera. She rarely sits still long enough to get her picture but when she does it’s just one cheesy face after another. Gotta love her spunk! :) Other than that I’ve been working a LOT on getting the Eclectic Whimsy site done. It’s been so fun working with Jen, Lauren and Leeandra on it and I can’t wait to be able to start posting more info here and hopefully a link to the new site soon. Got some pretty exciting ideas we’re working on and I really could use that 3 extra hours a day that I put in a request for awhile back. Jen came through on the glitter request but I think she’s still workin’ on that whole time thing. :)

OH, and how AWESOME is my new musical toy?! I’m still figuring a few things out with it but I’m so excited that I can play any music I want on my blog now. I’ve got SOOO many great tunes that I just couldn’t find videos for. I think right now I’ve got sortof a mixed genre playing on there. I had to put my all time favorite song up first – Boogie Shoes by KC & the Sunshine Band. First heard this song at a nightclub my friend Cheryl and I used to go to called the Opus Room and I loved that place so it always reminds me of fun times. And then I know I’d talked about the soundtrack to Serendipity on here before so I had to include my favorite song, Moonlight Kiss, from that soundtrack. And then the Moon song that inspired a page I did not too long ago about my sister Tammy. Not sure she’s even heard the actual song before so I gotta leave that one up for a bit. And then Jill and I saw the movie ‘Take the Lead’ last night and it reminded me a lot of the movie ‘Dirty Dancing – Havanna Nights’ so I had to put my favorite song from that movie on there too. Fun stuff! :)

See what happens when ya don’t post for so long?!