Random Facts about Me

Scrapdango is doing this fun Blog Challenge... so I thought that I would participate. I was surprised that I could list quite a few more than 4 things for most of the categories!

4 THINGS I WAS DOING 10 YEARS AGO
1) I was working as a Cost Estimator.
2) I was living with a woman I used to consider my BFF. (I haven’t spoken to her in over 8 years.)
3) I got engaged (at Christmas time)
4) I was a newbie to Scrapbooking

4 THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST FOR TODAY
1) Call into multiple conference calls
2) Do a crap load of paperwork for my job.
3) Sleep (haven’t done that much lately…)
4) Schedule an eye appt.

4 RANDOM THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY HUSBAND
1) His sense of humor
2) His sarcasm
3) His playfulness
4) His love of sports

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD
1) Cost Estimator
2) Librarian
3) Engineer
4) Graphic Designer

4 MOVIES I HAVE WATCHED MORE THAN ONCE
1) Coyote Ugly
2) A Few Good Men
3) The Legend of Bagger Vance
4) For the Love of the Game

4 PLACES I HAVE BEEN
1) 47 of the 50 States
2) Canada
3) Mexico
4) Jamaica

4 PLACES I WANT TO VISIT
1) Australia
2) Ireland
3) The other 3 states
4) Italy

4 TV SHOWS I WATCH
1) CSI
2) NUMB3RS
3) Bones
4) Life

4 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME
1) I’m a Triplet. (other 2 are boys)
2) I can write with either hand as well as upside down and backwards.
3) I love word/number games, like Sudoku, but I suck at Crossword puzzles.
4) I could eat Mexican food for every meal, every day. I love it that much…

Why don't you join us on your blog? Post a comment so I can read your responses too!

RAK and a Milestone

Hey y'all!

Today's a bit better - or will be when I can vote. I waited for 45 minutes this morning and had to give up to go to work. I hope you all get out and vote. Everyone's voice needs to be heard for this country to be great! And, talk to your kids about it. If we get them excited now, when they are old enough, they will also participate! Annde is wearing her Washington DC sweatshirt from Daddy today with her red/white/blue cause "it's 'lection day and we need to decorate ourselves!" I'll post her picture later today.

Onto the fun...

Head over to Pink Sketches for the week 12 challenge and you could win a prize just for participating! See the little Riff Raff tree on my layout about Annde's love of books from yesterday's post? You could win that little tree just by doing a layout based on Sketch 12 below!
All you have to do is send your completed layout using sketch #12 to kelli11181984@mac.com by November 8th at 8 PM. One layout will randomly be chosen and that artist will get their own curly tree courtesy of Riff Raff Designs. I love RAKs because you get something cool for scrapbooking what you already wanted to scrapbook! Check out what the design team did with this page by heading over to the Pink Sketches link to the right.

A Milestone... The other cool thing was that Annde has started doing her own "Scrap-in-book". One of her Xmas gifts is a little scrapbook stash/bag of her own. Sunday, we worked together and here is her very first Scrapbook page. It's about her BFF Nickie. {They were left over pictures from the page I did about the zoo.}

She's done other little scrapbook-like things but this is the first time she did an actual page. I am so proud of her and excited that we can share this wonderful hobby together. She even wrote the "E" from Nickie's name on the picture. Very advanced for her age, eh? :)

Okay... tata for now! Don't forget to get out and VOTE today!

It's somewhat fixed... and then I busted something else!

So, Steve, Uncle Ted, and Randy have worked hard for 2 weeks and it looks like the 'puter might be mostly fixed. He still needs to load software and the software he has loaded isn't running too well but it's well on its way! I did some scrapbooking this weekend in addition to the fun of the holiday so check that out after this week's low-down:

On Tuesday, Annde went up to Grandma Patterson's workplace and did some trick-r-treating. This is an annual Patterson family event (they give out good candy, lots of it, and it's indoors!) and we were excited that Steve was able to participate. (Not because he was home with the whole "outpatient procedure" looming in the future, but because he's never gotten to before)

Here's some cute pics:

Wasn't she just cute?

Then, on Thursday, while Dad recooped from the fun of the surgery, Annde, Nickie and I did the annual pumpkin carving fun. Annde painted hers with a face and then painted my Frankenstein's face too. Nickie carved a wolf that looked kinda like their dog, Harley.

Yes, she did get green paint in her hair and yes, Mom pissed her off during bath because I was bound and determined not to let Belle go trick-r-treating, looking like the witch from Snow White! That was hopeless, because while I got the paint out, she insisted on dressing herself in her Halloween shirt (which reads "NO QUESTIONS... just put the candy in the bag!), florescent purple tights (with hot pink, neon yellow, green and orange flowers), her pink crocs, a pink fuzzy crown, and the ponytail holders I made for her birthday, clipped in with barrettes.

We got asked a lot, "What is she?" but she was cute, as usual...

We packed up and went to Lansing to see Steve's friends and go to the MSU v Wisconsin football game. Pam, Dave & Diane flew in to root for Wisconsin while Steve and I were for MSU. Diane (and Dave?) had never been to a College Football game (her school was so small it didn't have a team) so we wanted her to have a blast. The tailgate was kinda cold (we drank hot cocoa with french vanilla Kaluha to stay warm) even though we laughed our butts off at the tailgate across from us. Students from UofW were dressed as the Sound of Music. Too many guys, not enough girls meant that Julie Andrews as well as some of the girl children were boys. (or should I say, Men in Tights?) It was super funny - then Olivia Newton-John (or two girls dressed like her in her "Let's Get Physical" video) showed up. Talk about funny! We laughed and laughed at their antics. Then we went to the game, MSU won with 0:07 left on the clock with a 44yd. field goal. It was AWESOME! At the same time, I kinda was jumping up and down and managed to drop my digital camera into the cup of Hot Chocolate and camera is not happy. It's pretty much busted. Sigh! Now, I have to find out if it can be fixed or if I have to replace it... :( The rest of the weekend went okay. Steve is still feeling like crap and he won't have any results of the biopsies until end of the week...

Here's the layouts I mentioned above...

This is the first layout for my month as Guest Design Team member for Scrap Dango. I was sent the spice kit, full of Maya Road and Collage Press goodies! I love the simplicity of this page. Plus I fingerpainted with 2 shades of stickles - fun! The page is about how much Annde loves her books... and the Wish List shows what we normally buy her.

These two pages were dual teamed - I used some unusual papers from my DT kit for the Zone with the Pink Sketches of the last two weeks. I was REALLY blocked on these papers. They were really outside my normal styles. This page in particular was difficult for me because the background paper was really cool with the tags on the side but I just couldn't get anything to work with it. I kept covering too much of the design, which frustrated me. All it took was a great sketch and this page was done in under 30 minutes! I love how I mixed the thickers shapes together to make the scroll work. And, these ATC journaling tags by 7 Gypsies are awesome!

This one used some of the paper by Sassafras and GCD. Once again, very heritage-y muted colors. I mixed in some ribbon and some doodling and cut out some apple lace paper from KI Memories to embellish the Riff Raff tree (Pink Sketch sponsor of week 12). I love how it came out.

Once again, what I love about these pages is that they are me but they are also pretty simple in construction but still look like my style. I might change the letters on the apple page because they don't show up as well as I would like them to. I did another last night for Tracy but I haven't taken the picture yet. I'll do that and post it later in the week.

Well, I'm off for now... Have a good week everyone!

My List of Life

I am: Jana

I think: about so much stuff that my mind sometimes wants to explode.

I know: my faith is strong.

I want: to feel secure.

I have: an addiction to scrapbook blogs, magazines, & challenges.

I dislike: parents who refuse to take the time and responsibility to be parents.

I miss: my family.

I fear: the state of the current economy.

I feel: tired from being worried.

I hear: the clickity clack of keyboards being used.

I smell: the hot mulled cider sitting on my desk top.

I crave: my scrapbook stuff...

I cry: when I think about wanting to have another child. It can be frustrating when others are being granted the wish you wish and you are left alone, waiting and hoping.

I usually: have at least 1 basket of laundry to fold.

I search: for balance in my life.

I wonder: what my child will be like when she grows up.

I regret: not really exploring what my career would be when I was young enough to do something about it.

I wish: my family got along better.

I love: my husband with all my heart, through better and worse.

I care: about my friends and how they are doing.

I always: check my email.

I worry: that the world I brought Annde into isn’t the best environment: there’s so much anger and hate and disease… but that will make her stronger, I think!

I am not: shy or afraid to express my opinion.

I remember: why I am proud to be an American, even if the political climate right now is making me nutso! I wish this election would be over already.

I believe: that every person is capable of amazing things. Most just forget that as they muddle day to day.

I sing: in the car. I don't care who sees me. I used to be good at it, now I’m just louder.

I don't always: think before I speak. Sometimes, it’s funny and other times, I get into trouble….

I argue: with my family. Sometimes its fun, sometimes its unintentional, sometimes its unhealthy, but most of the time, its second nature.

I write: to cleanse my mind and soul.

I win: or I will die trying. I am a little too competitive at times….

I lose: my sanity occasionally… along with my temper more often than I would like.

I listen: to my IPOD when I am stressed out, with country, rock, rap, christian or musicals being the playlist…

I don't understand: Why more people don’t use common sense… or the words “Thank you!”

I can usually be found: staring into the screen of my computer.

I need: to lose weight.

I forget: the world around me when I get sucked into a really good book.

I am happy: to be me, most of time.

How about you? Who are you?
Link to my comments so I can go read yours...

And the hits just keep on coming...

... It's been a while since I posted and you might be wondering why...

It's been a rough couple of weeks.

First, Steve's health has been bad. After several ER visits and several Dr. appointments, we seem to have the first real lead as to the cause. Or, more like one of the causes. After all the research we've been doing, we think its actually a combination of several things since not all the symptoms fit one thing or the other. Needless to say, the last 3 weekends have been spent in the hospital for lots and lots of testing. We're not done yet. He has an outpatient procedure being done this week. Maybe we'll have an answer (or two) by the end of the month. I know Steve is tired of being sick, not being able to sleep, and not knowing what is wrong with him. I am tired of being scared and worried because we don't know what is wrong. I am tired of trying to hide it from the kid so she doesn't know that something is wrong with Daddy. We're just tired in general...

... and then to add to it... It's been a couple rough weeks at work, with me traveling (Thank you Tracy for taking the kidlet overnight for me) as well as stuff in general being a little tense becaue the automotive market is in REALLY bad shape. In fact, the paper had a report today that some guy went to get a car and the best financing he could find was 16%... I bought my car 2 years ago with a 5% rate! No wonder no one is selling cars! (which could affect my job...)

... Then add on to that, our home computer is down for the count. We got hit with a nasty virus that well reached it's little tentacles out into all the little corners of the computer. This has caused us to have to pull everything out and rebuild it from scratch. It's the only way that we'll be rid of it. So, I'm still without a home computer and my laptop doesn't have access to the scanner or card readers to get my Pink Sketch up. Steve's home this week (due to the medical stuff) so he's going to try and get it fixed by mid-week. My uncle spent the weekend working on it when Steve was in the hospital and then the two of them together last night and the majority of the day before they left to go back to Chicago.

This weekend, we were supposed to meet in Grand Rapids with my Aunt, Uncle, and Grandma for apple picking, pumpkin patching, and wine tasting. But, that went down the drain with the whole Steve medical thing as he spent most of it in the hospital. Since he was in testing the majority of it, we spent time at the pumpkin patch since we couldn't hang with him. It was super cold but we had a good time. Hopefully, we'll get to carve them this week sometime. :) I would put up pictures but ... refer to the last paragraph. Needless to say, when the computer's fixed, I will put a bunch of pics and pages up.

I am working hard to keep a positive outlook. We will find out what is causing this and we'll get it fixed. I have faith. Please keep him in your prayers. I can handle it as long as I know what I am handling.

I'm off for now. I have a million things to do for tomorrow and I want to make sure that Steve's doing okay in the office...

A long and winding... Fall!

Fall is around us in Michigan. It's my FAVORITE season!! I love football and the colors changing and the nip in the air... Mmm... What a wonderful time! Unfortunately, the fall in my title doesn't refer to the season, but my own klutzyness.

You see, yesterday was a comedy of errors. First, while she was playing, Annde tripped and fell down the front steps. After a couple of bandaids and kisses, she was fine and back out to play. Later on, I was taking some hangers downstairs and my bad knee decided that it would be the perfect time to not function. So, 4 steps from the bottom, I went flying and crash landed at the bottom. Other than a bruised shin, hip, foot, shoulder, and ego, I am fine... just black and blue and sheepish! Then around 1am, Annde let out this loud shrieking cry, yelling "BUGS!!" and in my haste to get to her (the 3 gargantuan steps that I took from my bedroom to her's), I misjudged the door frame and cracked my already throbbing shoulder and my head against it on my way into her. Steve said it barely phased me in my rush to get to her. I felt it this morning though! I guess she was scared of Mosquitos. Hmmm... at least, that's what she told me at 3am and 5:30am when she got up crying again. Maybe tonight will be a little better...

Luckily for me, though, I was finished working on my projects for the FALL Coordinates Collections Cyber Crop. I came up with these pages & card. Sorry that the pictures are dark - I took them at night and need to retake them in the sun.:

The first one is about Steve's trip with Annde to the cider mill (while I was scrapbooking).

This page I did about a trip to a fun park near our house. It was so much fun to experience all these new things with Annde. It was her first time driving her own go cart and she went hog wild on the trampoline. The miniture golf would have been better at 9 holes... she got sick of it. Next time, we'll wear tennis shoes so she can kick the soccer balls (instead of baseball) and climb the rock wall. The next page was about Annde playing her "jumpin' game" - basically hurdling anything she can set up in her course. She doesn't know this was one of my events when I ran track in HS/College... She just loves to jump!

This is a page I did about Annde's new school. I wandered around taking some pictures and this is where I used them. It was fun to do this page because I not only got to use 16 pictures but I combined a Scrapbook Doodle challenge that I posted for their Friday night crop (use 10 pictures on a page for the 10th month) with the Challenge for CC for the use of this Scenic Route patterned paper. Here's one of the bonus doorprizes: Create a card from one of the challenges... I chose the one using 4 patterned papers and created this card to say Thanks! I love how it opens in a non-traditional way...

These are 2 pages I did for my journal using the Challenges. Hey, why not??!? The first one is about my favorite Scrapbook manufacturers (I had to use numbers 1-9 on a page). The journaling reads: "My life is my message, carefully recorded, page by page between the covers of albums. My life is my message, and these manufacturers are the ones I tend to grab out of my bag first when I have something to say or memorialize. My life is my message, and while my message isn’t limited to these 10 companies, they show up over and over again in what I make." and the second one is about why I blog (I had to use 6 fonts in the title). The journaling on this page reads: "I was once recently asked by someone why I blog. “Why waste the time and effort? Does anyone actually read what you write?” Maybe only 1 or 2 people might read it but to me, those people actually want to know what I am doing, how life is going, what my scrapbook pages look like. Those people matter to me. Blogging can make life easier: It’s easier to say, “Check the blog” than it is to write a letter. It’s easier to post pictures and pages than send a copy to everyone. But, it’s more than that to me... So, why do I blog? I blog because I can and I really enjoy it. I blog because someone once told me that my blog was: “Very humorous and a real peek into your life. It's the best blog I've ever read. Just wanted to say keep up the good work.” She’s a wonderful woman and it meant a lot to me because she only knows me through one of my boards. I blog because I know some of my family members and friends like to read what I write or see what I am doing. Maybe the question should be: Why don’t you blog?"

As for other fun news, I was picked as the November Guest Designer for ScrapDango! FABULOUS!! I got a sneak peak at what's in my kit and I can't wait to get my hands on it. I also won bingo at CC this month and won a fun prize too! You can see it used in 2 of the pages & the card above (Cider Mill and Summer Fun)

Tomorrow is my first workshop for Susan's 3 day and I am happy to say that I have sold 5 out of 6 spots! Only one to go - if you are interested, let me know!! The reveal of project 2 will be on Wednesday or Thursday and is a fun way to do a picture Christmas card! I can't wait to show you!

Well, that's all for now... I am going home to ice my leg, or rather ice my drink to make me forget my leg!! AHAHAHAHA

The Good, the bad... and the... well, Pretty!

Okay... so I am trying to snap out of my funk from yesterday by reaffirming the good things in life. Like my daughter being a backseat driver (started a little young, eh? Shouldn't use the stop light to explain colors...) or the fact that I can sit on my couch and listen to two candidates debate and scrapbook at the same time...

For those who don't know, I am trying to keep up with a daily journal. Not doing so hot - missing 4 days from Sept and 2 in October - but I have managed to do about 30 entries over the last 5 weeks. Here's my one from today, showing the important things to me and the fact that I am not overly thrilled with either candidate. Especially when they refuse to answer questions, try to muddy the water with false or exaggerated claims about the other, etc... I just want to know who is who and what they stand for... I really wish we would abolish political parties so that the candidates had to run on who they are, not all this bi-partisan crap and their ability to work together. Fire them all (like its done in business when you run it into the ground) and let's start all over again! Okay, off my soap box... Here's the page:My journal isn't all scrapbooky looking or even that interesting. You should see the one where I praise the jalapeno bagel with Salsa cream cheese that I get on the mornings I need a little pick me up! (Hey! It's hard to find good Mexican in Michigan!!) But, I am trying to "Scrap in the Moment". It's actually kinda of fun and it does make journaling my pages a bunch easier.

As for scrapbooking... Here's my latest Pink Sketch. Color is a bit wacky in the picture but I do like the page:
I also did a few others this weekend but I have to take the pictures in daylight. Too much glare on the picture when I tried a little bit ago.

I was also excited to receive a prize I won today from Color Me Daisy! I won the September contest with my page about owning a scrapbook retreat (I was SERIOUSLY thinking about this yesterday...) and this is what I won:
I've never gotten to work with Black Market Paper Society papers so I can't wait to see what I come up with.

I also was picked for the Layout of the Week over at Scrapdango for my Uncle Kevin page and as a Fab Find for my Prepared for Preschool. So, now you have the bad, good, and the pretty! And, what I have is... a desire to yawn and crawl into bed. So, goodnight all!