I thought I had written some of this down last year at this time but I looked back and apparently I didn’t. It was interesting to look back on my posts though from a year ago and I really need to post more often so a year from now I still have something to look back on and know what was going on during this time in my life. Right now I want to get down some of the things that I remember from 5 years ago today. Some of them I’m sure I will never forget.

I remember driving to work (which was about a 20 minute drive at the time) and hearing them talk about the first plane hitting the world trade center. There was no music or the normal chit chat by the dj’s and no commercials. I remember it wasn’t an organized report but more like they were watching it unfold themselves and reporting what they were seeing. I remember they sounded completely in shock as they announced that a second plane had hit the other world trade center building. It seemed as though they were trying to make any sense of it as they were reporting and coming to the realization themselves right there on live radio that these could not have been an accident. I remember getting to the office and they had already heard the news from one of my co-workers wives. Another co-worker picked up a small television from her mom’s and brought it in and we were glued to the television watching as they announced the news of the Pentagon and then seeing the towers fall one after the other.

I remember going to my mom & dad’s that night after work and seeing all my sisters and brother and feeling almost guilty that I was able to hug my family and know they were all safe.

I was glued to the television that night (and really any time I was home for the next weeks and months) watching 24 hour news stations. I remember watching the Presidents address to the nation. I remember seeing video tape of him being informed of the first plane hitting the world trade center. I can picture the look on his face to this day.

I’m not sure if it was the next day or a few days later but I remember seeing American flags everywhere. I got two American flag stickers that are still in the windows of my car. Almost every car you passed had some sort of flag whether it was a sticker in the window or even small flying flags. There was a major construction project on my way to work that had at least 3 or 4 large cranes on site and within a few days each crane had an American flag at the very top and they kept them up so long that I remember they actually replaced some of them with new ones after they’d started looking faded and tattered.

A coworker (who is now my boss) and I decided within a week that we had to go to New York City. We bought plane tickets and planned our trip for just one month after the attacks. I will never forget how one month later there was still a strong smouldering smell in the air. People we talked to down there mentioned the next day that it was just starting to clear up. There was still grey ash covering many of the bushes and plants in lower Manhattan. Still walls of photos of people who were missing from the towers. I remember seeing firetrucks with flags draped across them driving towards ground zero. They seemed to go by so slowly, almost in slow motion. I also remember seeing groups of men in military uniform carrying large guns walking through the streets near ground zero. I had never been to New York but I was sure these were things we wouldn’t have seen a month earlier and probably not a year later. I would love to go back when New York City is it’s usual city but I’m so glad that we took the time to go that first month after 9/11.

Another thing I remember about 5 years ago is listening to a CD that I’d made of songs that particularly touched me at the time. I uploaded many of them to my ipod on the blog here. I also included a few newer songs that have come out since. The months after 9/11 I listened to this CD non-stop and since then I listen to it every year on the anniversary of 9/11. It’s my way of not forgetting.

Posting just to say that I HAVE photos of my new niece Isa but I can’t get them into my computer. :( As if not having my own camera to take pics with isn’t bad enough, now I have a card full of photos that my brother Dino took (probably better than I’d have gotten anyway) but my card ready seems to be on the fritz. I’m hoping it’s just the $12 reader thing rather than the slot in the computer that’s the problem. It’s been touchy lately but now when I’m dying to see the pictures and post one here to show off my new niece it just won’t work at all. :( You’ll just have to trust me that she’s absolutely precious. All 10 pounds 4 oz. of her. :) Selena has the healthiest babies ever! :) Her name is Isabel Larue. Isn’t that the prettiest name ever?! It’s pronounced Ee-sah-bell Lah-roo and it sounds so pretty all together. They plan on calling her Isa (Ee-sah) for short and the nick name bella-rue has already been tossed around. Too cute. Plus it’s so pretty to write. I spent most the afternoon writing it on a magna-doodle while I patiently waited for my turn to hold her (again). :) So far from what I can tell all she does is sleep and I haven’t even gotten to check out the eyes to see if they look even the tiniest bit brown. I’ll keep ya posted. :) Pics tomorrow for sure! Dino may have some posted on his blog (link over on the left) so in the mean time you can keep checking there. :)

Well, I’m off to the hospital in about an hour to meet my newest niece. Dino and Selena are scheduled for a c-section at 9:30 this morning and this little one’s world   is about to change. :) I’ll be back later with pictures. I found out yesterday that my camera is covered under an extended warranty so good news it’ll be fixed for free – bad news is it will be gone for about 2 weeks. :( So I’m taking a memory card and hoping to snap a few pics with Nina’s super-fantastic camera this morning. :)

She’s got ‘em covered with Leeandra’s sunglasses here but our little Eva somehow got her daddy’s blue eyes instead of what should’ve been her mom’s ‘dominant’ brown ones. The dark hair blue eyed thing is pretty darn cute and we wouldn’t change a thing about her but sure would be fun to have a brown eyed niece in the bunch. Maybe today. :)

New music on the ‘blog-pod’. Totally random, old stuff, new stuff. Still lovin’ Imogen Heap and Ari Hest, new discoveries – Susan Cagle, Flyleaf & Snow Patrol, one new soundtrack song from Idlewild by Outkast (totally creative sound) and an old soundtrack favorite from the movie French Kiss – Via Con Me (just fun). Also threw in some Vertical Horizon and Crossfade. Great background music to scrap to. :)

Jill and I are still getting ready for the craft show in a few weeks. I finished my apron (from the Amy Butler book below) and we’ll be finishing up hers tomorrow. No, we’re not making aprons instead of purses. Just thought it would be fun to wear something like these for the craft show ‘cuz the idea seemed to fit with our ‘eclectic whimsy’ name. I don’t know how Kim makes her aprons for the price she’s selling them at but if you need an apron I would RUSH over to her blog and grab one before she realizes they should be selling for twice the price. Here’s a peak at mine since she wanted to see how it turned out:

And you can’t really see them well in the picture here but I got the funnest pair of shoes a few weeks ago and I think my family thinks I’ve lost it. Well, with the exception of Amanda I think. So I thought I’d take a little poll. Personally I think they’re the coolest shoes ever. I don’t even know why but I just love ‘em. They make me happy. Is that crazy or what? I realize they have skull and crossbones on them but they do. So even if everyone else thinks I’m crazy I’m gonna wear ‘em cuz they’re fun and they’re comfortable and they’re me. But still, I’m curious if anyone else thinks they’re the funnest shoes ever. :) Dino you can only vote once and I’m pretty sure Nina likes ‘em so she’ll cancel you out anyway. ;)

Also LOVIN’ a new book I got at the LSS (so love that they let me use the Michael’s coupons there especially since this week there were TWO). Have you seen this book? I had 3 books on my wishlist when I went in and bought this one instead and I’m so glad I did. It’s awesome! Hoping to be inspired to actually do some scrapping this week. It’s been awhile and the last couple times I tried I just look at all my pictures and scrap supplies and don’t even know where to begin. Hate that!

In the mean time I’ve been using some of those scrapping supplies to put together a database to use to keep track of the Eclectic Whimsy sales. I have a great software program I use for work and I thought it’d be fun to use it more creatively for my own book-keeping. I knew for me to keep track of all this stuff it had to be a creative looking database and I think this will work. :) I used some pattern paper by Michelle Coleman in the title & the sewing elements & notebook paper are all from Designer Digitals. Here’s a peak – wouldn’t it be nice if every database we had to use for work had a little creativity? :)

Kay, gotta actually head into the office this afternoon for awhile and then dinner at my favorite restaurant and a purse delivery tonight. Might stop at Nina’s and see if she can take some more pics for me on the way. Lots more fun keychains done and 2 new purses with the gorgeous Amy Butler fabric. Check the boutique blog for a new fabric combo that’s on it’s way too. I’m thinkin’ a purse with this combo would look great with my fun new shoes. :)

Has everyone gotten their issue of Digital Artist Magazine? I promise you will be amazed by this magazine. I’m so excited to get working on the next issue. We have our assignments and they’re both actually quite challenging for me but I have a few ideas. Now if I can get my camera back in working order soon so I can get some photos. For a sneak peak at the current issue here’s the LO that I created for the article on creative use of color…

No conventional style digi-scrapping this weekend but I did work on more images for the bottlecap keychains. Here’s a few that I had finished in time for Nina to take some photos on Sunday. I have a whole ‘nother set done now (including one with zebra print, sequins and lace as requested by Vicki – I’ll get more photos soon). :) I’ve got close-up shots of a few that are available for sale. Those will be posted at the boutique blog later this morning.

Off to get a MUCH needed hair color and then shower and head to work. Happy Tuesday everyone. :)

Well, I can finally share my exciting news. :) Early this morning the first issue of Digital Artist Magazine made it’s debut and I was thrilled back in July to be asked to be part of the team of artists hand picked by Andrea Mooney. After hearing about the magazine and it’s goals I was excited to be part of it and then when I saw the list of other digital artists who made up the team I was incredibly flattered to even be asked.

I downloaded the first issue this morning and it’s even more amazing than I had imagined. Full of never before seen LOs and articles that were easy to read and very interesting. I typically just look at the LOs even in my print magazines but this one I read every article. There’s even a great article on getting published by Veronica Ponce which was very informative. I’ve been meaning to submit more often again so that was timely for me. I was published in a few magazines and a book when I first started digital scrapbooking and for some reason hadn’t submitted since. So, here I am now on a creative team for a magazine and more exciting yet, I accepted another position on the team as design editor. That’s where my exciting news got even more exciting. :) So not only will I be creating LOs and get to see my nieces and nephews on the pages of a magazine but I’ll actually be involved in the design of the magazine itself. Helping Andrea each month put the actual pages together. I’m so excited to get started on this for the next issue and LOVE what Andreas done with the design so far. Such a great experience and such great eye candy to work with from this amazing team.

SO, if you haven’t already, go pick up your copy. You WON’T be disappointed. I’ve been frustrated with other online magazines. The scrolling thing drives me CRAZY but Andrea has put this together in the best way I’ve ever seen to view right on your computer. Hopefully someday we’ll be in print too but for now this is the first magazine I’ve seen that opens automatically in a way that is easy to view and read the entire page and just click through from one page to the next. GENIUS design! :) The free kit this month is by featured designer Mindy Teresawa. LOVE her stuff. Her flowers are amazing and apparently all hand-drawn. So impressed since I can’t draw a respectable stick figure. LOL

In other exciting news, after trading in my fancy phone that didn’t work worth a toot for a slick looking pink katana (which I hated) they’ve found the phone I originally was hoping to get in the first place. SO, I get to pick that up this afternoon. I’m a total geek so even though it’s technically not nearly as cool as the original phone I had it’s still something different so I’ll have fun figuring it all out. I didn’t use half the features on the old one anyway and although I really COULD use a system for keeping track of my schedule and to-do list I think I’ll go back to using the Franklin planner for that or maybe just this laptop since I’m on it all the time anyway. Now to figure out how to activate my microsoft office which they seem to have blocked because I’ve switched it too many times from one computer to another. Ugh!

Oh, and on the magazine, if you do get it… WHEN you get it :) you can find my LO on page 12. :) The assignment was to use color creatively or in a creative/fresh combination and I love how the some of my current fav colors worked together on this one. I’m not sure if we’re supposed to post anywhere else yet but it’s one of my favorites. :)

Kay, busy sewing today and making bottle cap key chains like crazy. I’ll be posting pics hopefully this weekend and selling them (I think) for $12.50 plus shipping. Maybe a special pricing of 2 for $20 as someone suggested as well. Quite a steal since the boutique in town is selling them for twice that and the images inside were only half as fun. ;) If anyone is interested in a personalized one with an initial let me know soon as I’ll be printing out more images this weekend to work with. :) They take about 3 days from start to finish to fully cure and be ready to ship so by Tuesday I’ll be able to start sending them out by mail. I’m excited to see how they sell at the craft show this month too. Jill and I are getting SO excited to actually have a booth with all our bags displayed and see what people here in town think. :) It’s our first craft show so if anyone out there has experience with these and could offer any suggestions we’d be so grateful. I’m sure the first one will be a learning experience to say the least. LOL

I should also mention that the exciting news posts will likely keep coming since I have a new niece on the way that could surprise us with her presence any day now but for sure by September 8th. GOTTA get my camera working before then for sure!

Happy Saturday everyone!