Carrie Colbert, one of THE ladies in scrapbooking mentioned the Dulce line on her blog today. I’m not one to be a fan-type sort of gal, but when I see positive comments coming from her and others, it feels pretty darn good. ;)

Gosh, I’m sorry I came across so bummed out yesterday. It just one of those sort of days that we all have once in awhile. I am much, much better. I have a list of to-do’s and activities to keep me busy…and we all know life is too short and we are given too many wonderful things to just sit around and mope. :)

Yesterday, I went on a bike ride at the encouragement of Brandon. It has been a really, really long time since I have been on a bike. My primary mode of transportation all through my childhood, it kind of shocked me when I realized it had been so long. Made me think of other childhood activities that we just sort of forget doing when we get older. The ones we used to really enjoy, but sort of move to the side for various reasons…

A bit of a chilly breeze outside, but the sun was shining as I rode through the streets.
I enjoyed it.
I think I’ll do it again.

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And be sure to check out some of my ebay auctions I have up! I’ve been spring cleaning my studio. Lots of scrapping goodies! :)

"Teach us delight in the simple things."

A good reminder for myself when I feel a bit melancholy like I have today.

Since we’ve been here, it’d be honest to admit there have been times when I wondered why and what we were doing here.

And sometimes, the answer can be found in the simplest of things:

Life is definitely more simple here. I’m learning to adjust to the slower pace, to appreciating the simple pleasures that can be found taking Rocco to the park above, or just sitting out on our front porch.

But among all these wonderful things, in my own little world, it’s just different. Some days are just hard for me.

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I have decided I want to plan a little garden area in our backyard. We spent some time at Lowe’s this weekend, and I was excited looking at all the magazines…all the possibilities. We’ve never lived in a place where things just grew so naturally. I think a garden will be a happy little project.

And tomorrow, I’m going to pick up some pansies for the front yard. Something tells me being out in the sunshine and getting my hands dirty will lift my spirits. :)

Happy Sunday.

As you can imagine, things are migh-ty interesting here in Tennessee…unemployed and alone with *them*…

 
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That’s all they really do during the day. Seriously. (Side note: my dog thinks he’s a cat and she thinks he’s just a really big cat and they play and lounge around together all day. Odd but funny, no?)
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I used to want to be exactly where I’m at right now. But that has changed. I want to be in the real world. Behind a real desk. Interacting with real people. And getting paid for it! :) Soon enough right?
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Like the new look of this place? Check out all the new links and stuff that have been added. Need ideas for a cool color scheme check out this site! I pulled the current 5 color combo from the Tres Chic Simplicity design. He provides you with the HTML web color code for all. What-a-guy!And yeah, that’s my dog up there at the top of this page banner. He’s standing on my belly when I took this shot from the floor. :) What a beast!
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A special shout-out to my new scrapping buddies (see sidebar). What *talent* I now live amongst! We got together last Friday to crop at Sherri’s and I proceeded to chat the ENTIRE time. Come on now people…you didn’t think I would just scrap when I COULD TALK WITH REAL LIVE PEOPLE? :D
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And how cool is this…I’ve been tagged by a fellow…er…former fellow Las Vegan! ;) Thanks Lauren Bird!

What scrapbooking lines/products/etc do you DISlike?
DISLIKE? Errrr…Uhh…I dunno. How about baby and kid stuff, because I have none of those! :)

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to scrap?
Well, right now I am attempting to create a mini-album each for my mother and brandon’s mother. nothing too intensive–just stick a paper and a snapshot on the page and on to the next one–sort of album, but for the life of me, I just can’t do it! I keep trying to make it harder than it is…

What technique do you use more than any other?
How about 2? Right now, I tend to group things in the middle of my page leaving a somewhat blank sort of frame around the layout. And I love my foam stamps more than anything right now for titles and accents – if you call that a technique!

Ever been published?
yup – and my first layout ever pubbed was in the 1999 CK Idea Annual…7 years ago, WOW! I should post that layout for kicks on here sometime. :)

What’s the smallest scrap of paper you save?
those pesky KI tabs and squares seem to throw themselves with reckless abondon all over my room. i find them everywhere!

Ever have any scrapbooking-related injuries?
no, but my pages have…my cat (NOT the cute snouty-faced one shown above but THE OTHER one who belongs to Brandon) loves to lick and eat photos! I have to kick him out of my scrap room or else I will find little teeth marks on my layouts….

Give us your best storage or organizational idea.
I love my bowls on my desk that hold all my stamps. Right there in front of me, begging to be used. Digitally, I’m all about going through my computer files once and month and spring-cleaning out downloaded stuff, things I don’t use, etc. Keeps the computer running nicely!

You just won a week-long scrapbooking cruise for 4. Who’s going with you?
I’d sell it on ebay and use the cash for our honeymoon cruise! ;) Haha.

And if you, the reader, feel like doing this survey, go for it! :)

Err…actually I am tired. But, I still do have my *enthusiasm.* ;)

This past week was busy, busy, busy…and I am so ready to shut down this computer for the weekend.

Busy finishing up things for CHA.

I finished up 2 new layouts using the new Dulce papers. Yay!

And be sure to check out Heather Preckel’s layouts….

here and here. Aren’t they fabulous?!

I think I will get the biggest kick out of seeing how others use the products. Talk about fufillment! :)

A2Z also got a HUGE CALL on the phone the other day regarding my line. Really big news. Which of course, I can’t share for a bit…but just know it’s really, really good. ;)

In other news…I have finally joined the real world and purchased some downloaded music from itunes. No, I don’t own an ipod…and I rarely purchase cd’s anymore because I’m just a radio kind of gal. But, my curiousity got the best of me and I was getting tired of the same old internet radio stations while I worked on the computer…

Loved it so much I purchased 12 songs in my first sitting. Fun stuff! Of course, I will have to let you know that almost all of them were country songs…funny huh? That Keith Urban guy seems to be everywhere these days…had not a clue what he sang…but he is sooo good – and good looking! – and I’m the proud owner of a few of his songs.

Anyway, all this music helps with the inspiration…and two new kits were released at Citrus Blossoms this week.

Spring Fling & Blissful Blooms…lots of fun, whimsical designs. I hope you enjoy!

Finally, my creative team never ceases to amaze me with the enthusiasm they have have for my designs. Be sure to check out their amazing talent and some of my favorite recent projects by them…:

Nancy

Candy

Leslie

Kellie

Megan

Patricia

I’m sooooo very lucky!

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Now, I’m off of this dang computer and going out into to play in the sunshine with my pup. Have a great weekend!

Attempted to post this yesterday – you know how it goes, you type this big post, hit the backspace key by accident…and there disappears your whole post. I hate when that happens! So here we are today, with my second attempt.

Happy to post my first layout using the Island Blossoms papers. Just a fun and simple layout using some silly photos one of my friends snapped when were in Napa Valley last April, waiting for our Robert Mondavi tour to begin. And so, the planning begins of this year’s girl trip. Makes me happy to just think about it. So many changes and things have gone on in the past few years of our friendship. Really hit home when I was addressing my friend Breanne’s baby shower invitations. Some of us have different last names (mine soon to change, too…wow!) and of course, Breanne’s baby is on the way…it always seems just like yesterday we were all in college… 

Speaking of her baby shower, I just have to share the cutest invitation ever if I do say so myself! ;) (Details changed for privacy, of course. I feel a digital kit coming out of this design, don’t you?) Stay tuned!

And today I had my first ping of home-sickness. Hit me while I was driving to the store (though I really didn’t need to go to the store, I just wanted to get out of the house)…probably didn’t help it was a gloomy day…Just kind of feel isolated out in my part of the world…I need to get my butt in gear and get to working on meeting some new people and friends. We all need girlfriends, right? I did however pick up some GREAT STUFF for the scraproom. Really going to get things finished in here this week. I’m tired of living among all these boxes and stacks of STUFF (i.e. junk that needs a home or needs to go in the trash).

Finally, Heather posted an even bigger peak of the new Dulce line at her blog. So it only seems right to let all of you in on it too. CHA is fast approaching and I’m getting excited…things are looking good so far!

Closing today’s entry with a simple quote that is always good for a reminder:

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." –William James