May/June as told by my camera card...

Wow... I think that this is the absolute BEST way to take care of this update! By going through the photos that I have taken! None of these have been touched up... they are what they are! And just a warning... this post is LOOOOOOOOONG! Give up now if you don't want to see it!

I actually got to SEE E's band concert this year... Isn't she adorable! She just LOVES playing the flute, and she is really good at it! Chuck and I have NO clue where that talent comes from... because we can't play a NOTE to save ourselves! She did an amazing little trio to boot!

Next we headed to the Big D to celebrate the marriage of my dearest cousin... She actually got married back in September in a civil ceremony, so this was the chapel ceremony. How funny to announce that she will be having GREAT-grandchild #15 this November! We wish her little Kiwi (her husband is from New Zealand) a happy entry into this world! While celebrating... I managed to get some amazing photos (some Chuck took too) of our wonderful little family! The two dapper gentlemen are my 96 year-old grandfather and his baby (92) brother!

We wound up May with a trip to my parents' house and FINALLY got to get the ski into the water! This is the first time E was allowed to ride it by herself! Chuck thought it would be "fun" to splash MOM! Nice... T wasn't all that impressed with the ski, so he plucked golf balls into the lake! We need to get that boy a driver! Go Daddy... GO!

They also welcomed the newest member of their family... Bandit! Isn't he adorable?

We spent a very relaxing week at Chuck's sister's fishing camp to celebrate Chuck's 39th birthday! I think I did better catching photos than I did catching fish!

Left E there for a few weeks, so we took T bowling... Check out that FORM!

Worked on the next phase of my scrap studio... I am so loving IKEA about now! Next is my desk... then my library cabinet! This is the studio of my DREAMS! Thanks baby!... and finally Chuck and T found the coolest moth ever. Anyone know what this is? Look at the SIZE of that thing... that is Chuck's hand!

Sorry for the randomness and LENGTH of this post! But you have been asking for an update for a while! Here you go!

Lights Out!

me!

Updates...

Yep, I am alive and kicking... I have updates... fun ones... just need to do them! Give me a bit, and I will update the HECK out of you!

Why do they do that?

Just when you have that PERFECT product... they discontinue it! Yep, that is what CLINIQUE did to me! Are they sorry about it, I don't think so. They want you to try their latest and greatest! Well, it isn't GREAT! It is horrible! IMHO! I am talking about their spray on tanning stuff! It was Da Bomb! (hey, just got off a trip with 69 7th graders). It went on easily, dried quickly, didn't smell like some chemical burn, and I didn't look like someone that just OD on carrots!

I know, we have sun so many days of the year here, why not tan naturally! Hello, I am a stinking GLO WORM! I am just pasty white. I don't tan, I burn, peel, and turn back into Casper's long lost sister-in-law! Now... look back at the days of my childhood when I had NO kids, a great shape, no cares in the world, and a pool in my back yard! I was DARK! Now... just white! So I digress and hit the tanning solutions!

And tanning solutions I have tried! I have 7-8 still under my cabinet... I could throw them away, but then I would accept defeat! I have tried the loofahing, the shaving, the walking around nekkid until it dries... and nothing gives that ever-so-perfect-straight-from-the-beach-tan EXCEPT Clinique! And they go and discontinue it! What is THAT all about!

I have found an acceptable replacement for the time being! Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Bronze Bombshell Strike Gold or something like that! I still notice somewhat of an odor after the second application, but not like the days of old... and it is the most natural looking color so far (besides Clinique), and it is a lotion not a spray! But like I said, it will work!

I do plan on spending a few days in the sun in a few weeks at my SIL's fishing camp. Can you say, pull out the old bathing suits and get the sun! I swear I would like to have SOME natural sun! It will happen! But for now, I will either lather up or GLOW!

Lights Out!
me!

Where to start?

What a whirlwind month! I have so much to say, but don't know how to put it in words...

We (69 7th graders, 7 teachers, and me) left for a four-day-three-night trip around Texas! It was a great trip... new places to visit... new experiences... I spent 3.5 hours in the ER with one of my angels, but she was great! No drama... just there and back! Her roommates from school were more stressed than she was.

I was really missed on the home front. E handled it in style, T not so much, and Chuck was definitely glad I was home! I must have slept the entire weekend!

Reality hit again on Monday. We are in reviews all week, finals next week, then SUMMER! WHAT THE HECK? When did THAT happen? My babies will be in middle school and kindergarten! Slap and wake me up! We leave for Chuck's sister's house the following weekend! I can't wait for just some quiet time, fishing, and being in the sun! I am on a QUEST this summer for a tan! I haven't had a real tan since before E was born!

OK, weird post... but it is updated!

Lights Out!

tagged...

You know... I know I haven't written in my blog for some days now... and now I have to! I was tagged... Thanks, Gretchen for the push!

The rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I teach middle school! Most people just balk, but I LOVE it! It gives me hope!
2. I moved ELEVEN times in my first EIGHTEEN years! Two middle schools and two high schools.
3. My *baby* brother is a helicopter pilot for the US Marines!
4. I read more young adult novels than "grown up" novels.
5. My all time favorite movie is "GREASE" I know EVERY line!
6. I met my hubby waiting tables in college!
7. Thanks to Cass for helping me with my last one, (I really am not all that exciting) I can trip UP the stairs without spilling a single drop of my LARGE SONIC DR. PEPPER!

I tag – Cassie, Lyn, Denise Jan, Bev, Lisa, and "anyone else that reads this with a blog"... So there! Okay ladies, I can’t wait to see yours too!

Lights Out!
me

whoa!

OK... Growing up I always thought my initials were super cool! ABC! Pretty cool, right? Am I the only one that really thinks about initials... apparently NOT! Well, getting married, I am now ABM... and on my wedding day, my precious baby brother informed me that I was now A Bowel Movement! Isn't he adorable? So for the past fifteen years, I cringed at my initials... until NOW! Whack me over the head, but I always put LOST in a Blond Moment for my location on all my boards (yes there is a rambling point here)! Hello! A Blond Moment has the initials of ABM! Once again... my initials are COOL! Fitting aren't they?

Race day is right around the corner! May 1st starts the very first day of The Amazing Scrap Race at Scrappy Arts and boy are we stoked! Lots of cool sponsors, and the Team list is just getting longer every day! It is not too late to sign up! Like I said... PRIZES + Scrapping + Friendships = GREAT TIMES!

I had an epiphany one day last month, and it has really relieved some major scrap related stress. When I shop for paper, I usually end up grabbing multiple papers from each line that I fall in love with (yes there are paper lines that I skip). And then stare at a layout for DAYS because I just don't know what to do with all the different patterns, embellishments, photos, etc. I do not like cluttered layouts... remember all those vintage layouts... they KILLED me! any way... back to my epiphany! Simple Scrapbooks! I found that by just using one or two patterns as an accent, a little grouping of some embellishments, my photo really stands out! And I can do a layout in half of the time! I know... you knew this already! But for me, it was a break through! And I have also decided... who cares if the paper is older than a month? Use it! Will we really KNOW in ten years that when we finally used those papers they weren't the LATEST? NO! Now I am a scrapping fool! And I love it again!

OK, not sure anyone should/could have to face this many Blond Moments coming from one poor soul, so I am done for now! I leave you with the results of my epiphany, and a quickie little clipboard that I made for a door prize!

This was for a challenge at SA. I am not happy with it, as I screwed up the sewing and had to move that 07 up to the top, it was planned for the bottome! Supplies:1. Bazzill CS 2 MME floral (solid pink from back) 3. MME striped 4. Chipbard tag 5. sewing

T has this strong desire to be a garbage man. He gets us out of bed every garbage day to watch and wave at the trucks, has EVERY toy garbage truck we have found... and I just LOVE this photo of him playing with one!Journaling... a fireman? a lawyer? an astronaut? a doctor? NO... a garbage man is your career choice ~ age 4 ~ april 2007Supplies:Bazzill Crate Paper CS QK Tangerine and Vixen White sharpie Pressed Petals chipboard letters

This is a little 6X6 clipboard from Pine Cone press... Supplies: ALL SCRAPS! Scenic Route PP Bazzill CS Heidi Swapp chipboard Bazzill florals MM brads random ribbon (American Crafts and Michaels) White sharpie

Lights Out...

me!

To DO or not to DO!

That was the question! The big day was this past weekend! The wedding went off without a hitch... except for ONE! ONE minute before T was supposed to walk up the aisle to meet the best man, he planted his feet, put his hands behind his back, and said, "Nope!" He didn't do it! Thankfully, the important photos (for me) were taken BEFORE the wedding!

The photographer was a friend of the family, so he let me trail behind him... Here are a few that we got! If you want to see more... I have about 200! :) Just ask! I took these!

Here are my GQ men! Aren't they adorable?

The bride and groom

T before the wedding watching the groom tie on the rings! And posing for the photographer... On scrappy front... We are starting The Amazing Scrap Race at Scrappy Arts Sign ups are happening right now, and the race begins May 1st! Come sign up!

Lights Out!

Lookie Lookie

Look what Chuck did! He built the frame around my French doors this weekend! There is a little shelf with a rim on the top so that I can showcase stuff! Isn't he amazing? For now, I have my M's up there! Once I get the shelf for my antique cameras, I plan on moving them to that wall! But for now, I just couldn't wait to get stuff up there! It is AWESOME!

We had our spring carnival yesterday. Being the "cool" teacher that I am... HA and the fact that I can never say NO, I spent an hour of my Sunday in a dunking booth! It was SIXTY TWO degrees! It was a lot of fun, and I made more money than any of the other teachers... is that a complement? I don't know... but it was COLD! My legs are killing me from climbing in and out of the tank! Some moms took photos, so I will be sure to share my misery with you all!

This will be a busy week! Our nephew is getting married! He was OUR ring bearer, and he asked T to do that for them! It is just such a feel good moment! Chuck is one of the groomsmen as well! Speaking of HIM... he has had a little secret up his sleeve for a few weeks, and he finally told me about it yesterday! My ALL time fave novel is To Kill A Mockingbird. and unbeknownst to me... the play version is in town! I am going to the theatre! Isn't he awesome? We have our April date downtown watching this play! I feel SO grown up! tee hee He really does know me!

OK... one day I may actually write in this like a true writer! I do write... really well actually, but from my past blog posts... that doesn't seem possible!

Lights Out!

Update...

Wow... has it been that long since you heard from me? Are you STILL coming by? Have you gotten SO bored with me that you just left? Well, if you are still here... Thanks! But if you don't like photos of stuff concerning me, turn back now!


OK... Easter was great! T had his little easter party at school and I got this GREAT shot of him! I have been loving these photos where they are set up in the third of the photo! Have a ton of horrible tries, and THIS accident! LOVED how it turned out!

Went to my parents house for the Easter weekend with the idea that we were going to maintenance and RIDE the jet ski, clean and use the kayaks, ride bikes... basically all kinds of fun spring weather activities... This is what happened instead! Needless to say we spent a bunch of time INDOORS!

And FINALLY... My doors are INSTALLED! Aren't they amazing! One step closer to having the studio of my dreams! Whoda thunkit? ME with a studio! Furniture is NEXT! Come by and play with me in my new Sudio!

Lights Out!

OMG... a dream come true...

OK... so we woke up like any other Saturday morning this past weekend! E goes shopping with my MIL to get a dress for my nephew's wedding, so Chuck, T and I hit the errands! While at Home Depot, Chuck says, "So... wanna get the paint for your scraproom!" I pretty much RUN to the paint section to order my BEHR Green Tea paint!

Decide I better get the room cleaned up in case he gets the bug to USE the paint! Sunday we wake up and he gets ready to leave... when I ask him where he is going, he says... "off to Home Depot to get your French Doors!" I almost FELL out of bed! Here is what it looks like so far! Actually at this time, the doors are back down and are primered in the garage! We have to do the other side, and then paint them! I got CUTE door knobs for them as well! Now to get all my scrap crap back inside! It was GREAT that he is doing this with me, but BAD because now he sees all my stuff!

Here it is BEFORE the transformation, but after I threw TWO garbage bags of junk and about 70 pounds of old scrap magazines away!





Here is the paint! BEHR Green Tea! Doesn't it just scream creative calmness?

And the French doors... We put them up just to make sure that they fit! They will be white like the baseboards!


I should take a picture of our study where everything is just PILED up! We plan on getting some shelving units and a new desk to go in there!

Lights Out!

Misery Scrapping

OK, that title sounded harsh... but... my baby girl is sick! She has a fever, throwing up! The full she-bang! I can't get her to keep ANYTHING down! T was so cute and kept checking on her. I would have to throw him out because I don't want HIM to catch it! I am going to try and get her into the doctor today!

Anyway... while she was pacing back and forth from the bed to the potty, T was watching his "new" movies! We pulled out the old VCR and a bunch of E's OLD Disney movies! He watched Lion King and Bug's Life after seeing them all at Disney last week! He was set! AND... I hit my scrap table! Does that make me a horrible mom? She is ELEVEN and very self-sufficient when hitting the pot! I make sure she keeps the fluids and tries to eat... she makes it in the toilet! I can't sit with her the entire time... so I scrapped! Can you tell I am trying to make me feel better?

Here is what I got done though...

So big... journaling: what was once my baby boy is now... so very big! Supplies: Bazzill, Scenic Route, Pressed Petals, White Sharpie, Zig Writer

989.2... journaling: A little bit of this and a little bit of that, and a whole lot of miles. 989.2 to be exact! We challenge you to find better riders than these kids. We are making miles of memories. Disney here we come Supplies: Bazzill, Scenic Route, FIFTEEN photos, cats eye chalk ink, zig writer, KI alpha soup

Off to call the doctor!

Lights Out!

Happy Hump Day...

Yes... it is Wednesday... still waiting on some rain that they have been promising us! Watching 7th graders take standardized tests! And wishing I was home scrapping!

Forgot to post this... I started it before our trip and didn't know where to go with it! Then it came to me in the car... I couldn't wait to get back to work on it... but the Mouse was calling!

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock, Scenic Route patterned paper (hand cut), Heidi Swapp ghost letters, Karen Foster Brads, White sharpie for outline and hand journaling! I took that photo TOO!

Hope to grab some sushi today for lunch! Yummy!

And at some point I need to start a wedding album for my nephew and future neice! I can't wait to work on it! They are so cute! He was our ring bearer FIFTEEN years ago, and now T is HIS! Is that not just fun?

Sorry for the boring post!

Lights Out!

Scrappy Crop...

I think it was a success... nice little bunch of women to hang out with! Great challenges! And quite a few people got a lot done! I got a lot of CHATTING done, and not so much scrapping! I did get an altered project done THAT night, and completed a challenge yesterday that will count!

My Mind's Eye Magnet Board ~ Michael's ribbon, Making Memories brad, Basic Grey magnet tie back, and flashing from Home Depot!

Beyond ~ Crate Paper patterned paper and alphas, Bazzill cardstock, flower punch, EK colored pencils for doodling, white Sharpie for hand journaling

Have another layout on my table at home... so want to be there instead of these standardized testings!

Come check out Scrappy Arts The challenges go through Friday! I think we have solved the sign in issues! Grand Opening contest info is even published on Pub Calls AND Scrapsubmit! We are BIG time, huh?

Lights Out!

Copy Cat!

Got this from Lisa's blog and thought what the heck... I will do it in between pretending to teach!

What time is it 12:10 pm
What's your full name Alicia Brooke Merrifield
What are you most afraid of Losing my children
What is the most recent movie that you have seen in a Theater Premonition
Place of birth Las Vegas
Favorite food Anything I don't have to cook
What's your natural hair color NOW... dirty blonde
Ever been to Alaska no
Ever been toilet paper rolling yes
Love someone so much it made you cry yes
Been in a car accident yes
Croutons or bacon bits Croutons
Favorite day of the week I teach... Saturday and Sunday
Favorite restaurant This changes regularly
Favorite Flower Tulips
Favorite sport to watch Baseball... but live is the best
Favorite drink DR PEPPER (are there others?)
Favorite ice cream Meant Chocolate Chip
Disney or Warner Brothers Disney
Ever been on a ship Yes
What color is your bedroom carpet No carpet, wood floors
How many times did you fail your driver's test Written-none, driving-once
What do you do when you are bored Scrapbook (i don't have time to be bored)
Bedtime 10:00 pm
Favorite TV show Greys Anatomy
Last person you went to dinner with Chuck and the kids
What are your favorite colors Red, Navy, black
How many tattoos do you have None
How many pets do you have two (a dog and a bearded dragon)
What do you want to do before you die See my grandkids
Haveyou ever been to Hawaii Yes
Have you been to countries outside USA Yes
Time this survey ended 121:17pm

OK... and REALLY weird... over half of my answers are the same as Lisa's! How cool is THAT?

I think Cassie needs to do this too!

Lights Out!

Travisisms...

OK... so I was bathing T last night and he told me he loved me... being goofy, I said, "Oh yeah... and why do you love me?"

His response stopped me in my tracks... he said, "Because you love me!"

Just LOVE that guy!

Lights Out!

We are back!

Wow... what a whirlwind trip! I finally got to see my photos TODAY! All 1027 of them! Here is ONE of us from the Monday at Magic Kingdom! I can't even begin to share everything! It was awesome! We had some very jam packed days, and then some days where it was just the four of us and we took it slowly! Just way too much fun!

As far as Scrappy Arts! We are hanging in there! We just got our 50th member today! The Grand Opening contest is going great, we have a fun little challenge we are going to announce, and then one big shibang coming up in April! Make sure you come check it all out!

Alrighty then... back to actual work... I have a four day trip to finish planning for 72 seventh graders... any one want to join me!

Lights Out!

Cassie... ROCKS!

She fixed my blog! I NOW have titles! I played a mean trick on her... she was not amused as she would say, but I got a load of giggles out of it!

She told me to go look, to see if it worked... I told her it was GONE and what did she do? She was panicking...

And I finally typed a small... just kidding!

Love you, girl!

Lights Out!

Travisisms...

OK... so by this time everyone is aware that we are going to Disney and leave at the end of the week! Every morning we count how many "wake ups" are left until we leave. Here is a conversation with a four-year-old on the phone with his aunt...

Penny: How many more wake-ups, T?
T: EIGHT!
Mom: Nope, only SIX!
T: UGH
Penny: What is wrong?
T: Mom keeps changing her mind!

He apparently doesn't realize yet that we are counting down, so the numbers DO change... not my MIND! What a cutie!

So what is today's "wake up" count... THREE!

Lights Out!

Grand Opening Contest!

We hope you have had some time to get in and get to know some of us crazy people over at Scrappy Arts. It is Cassie's and my intentions to have a board that lets you grow both in your scrapping as well as in your life due to your scrapping. Scrapbooking is so much more than just a hobby! We want to see just how you let scrapbooking be involved in your life...

So... with that said! How has Scrapbooking Enhanced your Life? Nothing more... Nothing less... Just share with us! Please submit a photo/scan of your completed one or two page layout to submissions@scrappyarts.net by midnight CST on March 31, 2007 - Wiiners will be announced by April 3rd, 2007

Our sponsors for this contest are...

Home Scrap Club
Coordinates Collections

Please check out their sites and see the wonderful kits that they offer! Can't wait to see your stuff!

WE ARE LIVE!

Come on by and hang out for a bit! For now we are just letting everyone get to know each other... then let the parties and contests begin!

Phew... Finally a weekend with no pressure. We are thinking of taking the kiddos to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo... the nation's LARGEST rodeo! Thought they would love to see the animals and carnival! Won't compare to Disney! Oh...

Should I NOW mention that we leave ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! We are driving and taking it slow... we will make one stop and meet up with Chuck's parents, drive for a bit on Saturday and meet up with the rest of the group, then a SHORT drive to see THE MOUSE!

Come and play with us at Scrappy Arts! You can also click that killer BANNER that I made all by myself! Can you tell I am proud of myself?

Lights Out!