Taking it to a new level!

So now my digital scrapbooking is heading in a whole new direction (and addiction). I could seriously be in some major trouble here. I designed my first papers and did a layout. In this layout I used my papers and tag. The overlays, stitching and tag string are from the Summer Lovin Kit that can be found at www.plaindigitalwrapper.com























I also managed to knock out a couple of layouts today. This first one I used Tia Bennett's 2peas Seventies free pea kit that you can find at www.twopeasinabucket.com






















This last one I used Rhonna Farrer's 2peas Perfect Pets free pea kit. This one was perfect for this layout. My dog Marty is not very bright sometimes so I had to do this layout. A couple of weeks ago he was sleeping at the top of the stairs and while I was working on the computer I hear, BANG, BOOM, BANG, BANG, THUMP! I ran to see what happened and found Marty on the landing down below standing there is a daze. He had rolled over and went down the stairs!! Don't worry he was not hurt. But man was that screaming for a scrapbook page!! So here it is. Poor Marty!!

Playing with brushes

Okay so I am discovering how much fun Photoshop brushes can be. I decided to change the look of my blog and designed a new header for it. Let me know what you think. I may be changing it frequently as I keep playing with all these cool brushes I have gotten. The brushes I used for this header I got at www.echoica.net and www.missm.paperlilies.com There are some great brushes there by some very talented artists. I have also been dabbling in making my own but I will put those on another day. I have been at it again for some digital scrapbooking. The first 2 layouts I used the Summer Loving Collaberation kit at www.plaindigitalwrapper.com The next one is a free digital kit at by Sande Krieger at www.twopeasinabucket.com and the last one is the Olivia kit at www.shabbyprincess.com So here are my new creations.











































The more digital scrapbooking I do, the more I am learning. I can't wait to figure out more about my Photoshop program. I wonder if I will ever go back to paper scrapping!!

Busy, busy, busy!

Wow, will life slow down just a little? I can't believe how many days it has been since I last posted. Oops! Well I have been back at it for the digital scrapbooking and boy is it addictive! Here are my latest creations.






















































So you can see I have been a little busy at the computer. I am loving this digital scrapbooking. I did get to spend the evening tonight at a place I just love with a man I love just as much! We went to the Washington DC temple and it was so peaceful and beautiful. I love nights like this. Then we leave there and of course hit the beltway traffic. YIKES!! Anyhow here is some pictures of the temple that I took tonight.





















Well that is all for my update as it is late and I am beat!

Just my dumb luck!

Wow, I cannot believe my luck. I love thunderstorms and I love to take pictures of lightening. My husband is always bugging me about it because he feels I take too much of a risk standing outside with my camera and tripod trying to get the picture of a bolt. So in early July a storm came through and I was outside trying to get a good shot and could not get one. The storm got too close for comfort so I came inside. So I decided to head to the computer to work on a project. That's right work on the computer during a lightening storm, I know not the smartest thing. Anyhow, all of a sudden a large bolt hits right over our house and a large cracking sound came into the house and a spark appeared in mid air near my hand that was on the mouse! I freaked out and ran away from the computer. My husband asked what that was. He saw the spark. My hand felt funny and I looked down and saw a black mark on the tip of one of my fingers. I think some of the lightening went through my mouse, my hand and out my finger tip!! It ached really good for awhile, but I was fine other wise. I look at my husband and say, "See I am much safer outside taking pictures!" So this week another storm comes through. This one is huge! I get freaked out trying to take pictures when I see the bolts coming down in from of the homes right across the street. I know it is time to head inside to safety (ya right!). So I come in and we open all the blinds to watch the storm. I was actually scared of this storm. All of a sudden another bolt hits right over our house and we hear lines crackling and frying in our house near the phone. So the next day we discover our phone lines are fried!! We can call out, but no one can call in and when someone tries, the phone does not ring it makes just one small crackly chirp sound. Poor phone, I think I faired better with my strike!! So I guess lightening can strike twice! Anyhow here is some pics of lightening that I have taken. The first one I took in Eastern Washington 2 years ago and was WAY to close to it. The others are taken within the last couple of months here on the East Coast.

Refelection

Well as another birthday nears I find myself reflecting on my life so far. Am I happy with where I am at in my life right now? The answer is no. I am happy to have my family and the blessing that they are. My dissatisfaction is with myself. I will be the big 40 next year and I am so unhappy with my appearance. I have finally reached a point in my life where I know I need to do something about my weight. Maybe it was the heart attack scare I had in June, I don't know, but I am ready to finally do something about it. So as a birthday gift to myself I am going to lose my weight by my 40th birthday next year. I need to do this for myself mostly, but I need to stay healthy for my family. I know I can do this, I did a similar gift almost 9 years ago. On my 30th birthday I quit smoking, cold turkey and have not even had a desire for a cigarette since then. I will update on my blog my process, I know it is going to be a long and sometimes dicouraging road, but I have to do this for my health. Wish me luck!

I have a new addiction!!

Okay not a bad addiction, well my husband would disagree with that! I am addicted to Digital Scrapbooking!! I was inspired to start doing it after seeing my very talented sister-in-law, Tia Bennett's work. So now I am spending every moment I can at my computer or behind my camera. My poor family is feeling so neglected. I have bought a few kits, but I have found some great freebies at www.twopeasinabucket.com great stuff there and some very talented designers! Here is my latest creation with the August Free digi kit, Garden Evening by Traci Turchin.



Will my family ever forgive me for neglecting them, if not I am sure there is a good scrapbook page I could do on it!!

Back to Reality!! Yuck!

Okay so we finally got away on a family vacation. It was the first time in 4 years that our family was able to take a "real" vacation. It was the first time we did this with 2 three year olds!! That is a story all in its self. So my three year old son Skyler decides while on vacation that it is time to start being a big boy and go potty. Don't get me wrong, I was so excited for this, but while we are on the road? He is so proud of himself and we even came up with a really funny song to sing each time he goes, don't worry I won't torture you all with that. He is my baby and he is growing up so fast. So one down and one more to go to get out of diapers. I gotta tell ya, having 2 in diapers at the same time is quite a challange. So back to the vacation. We went camping down near Norfolk, Virginia. We stayed at Fort Monroe across the bay from Norfolk. It was such a great place. The post has been there since the 1600's and the old fort they have there is so cool. It has a mote around it. The history there is amazing to see first hand. Okay so my idea of camping is not the norm. I don't do the tent, sleeping on the ground, waking up with a flat air matress, condensation dripping on your face kind of camping any more. My excuse is I am getting to old for that. So here is my idea of camping.



That's right I am completely whimpy and proud of it!! Fort Monroe had a beautiful lighthouse and I grabbed a couple of pics of that.





So as I mentioned we were right across the bay from Norfolk and my oldest son Tyler just LOVES Navy ships. So while we were there we got to see some coming back into Norfolk. We also drove over to the Navy shipyards so he could see them up close. I thought he was going to cry!! He kept saying, "Oh my gosh, I am shaking so bad!" when we pulled up to the aircraft carriers (his favorites). It was so fun to see him so excited about them. He has asked me to print off some of them for him to hang in his room. I am sure they will go great with his star wars stuff!! So here are some pics of the ships.





We also had the opportunity while there to visit Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. They were amazing to see. I am loving all this history that is so close to where we live now. These are places I never thought I would see in my lifetime. Here are some pics from Jamestown.









Colonial Williamsburg was amazing and I would have loved to have spent more time there, but one full day is pushing it with 2 three year olds!! I loved how everyone working there had to dress for the time period. Here are my pics of Colonial Williamsburg.











We also ventured out near Virginia Beach and went to Fort Story to see the Cape Henry Lighthouse. It was beautiful. My pictures of the old lighthouse did not turn out so great but I got a good one of the newer one. We also had fun walking down the beach. The kids were having a blast with all the crabs running around everywhere. I didn't like that so well. I got a great picture of my family while we were down there and a great picture of the sunset.







We finished off the vacation with a trip to Busch Gardens and the kids just loved it. My son Skyler who is three could not understand why he could not go on the roller coasters. Boy am I in trouble when he gets older. It was an amazing week and I so did not want to leave and come back to regular life. I really loved the area, it was so beautiful and I loved being by the water. I could see me moving to that area some day. So we are back home, back to reality and dreaming of going back.