Update on the Weight Loss Front_

I am starting to lose the weight I gained during my surgery/recovery. I gained about 8 lbs over the time where the cyst ruptured and just after my surgery.. so it was about a month or so. I was down 2.7 lbs the weigh in before last and this past weigh in I was up a few ounces. But not a big deal, it's just water bloat. Next week will be better.

I am trying to get back into a exercise routine again. I have only really been cleared to walk a little but it's better than nothing! I can also life up to 10 lbs so I have been doing some toning with my 5 lb weight as well. I really need to get my arms toned up so I can get my tattoo and not have flabby arms!

I especially need to drop a few more pounds so I can get into the clothes I just bought LOL! Gosh, I hope my pants fit. I ordered my usual size but when I was out a few wks ago I tried on what I thought would fit at Target and I had to buy the next size up. I forgot that Target's pants run smaller and the Large size from Fashion Bug is still too big on me so I am thinking it will be ok.

A Bunch of Stuff and a Sale!_

First let's tackle the sale.. it's not really what you are thinking- that will be discussed in my next paragraph. It's a clothing sale! Fashion Bug.. it's one of my favorite stores for women's clothing. Not only are they reasonably priced, they carry women's styles in a wide range of sizes, 6–30 to be exact. I love that they are all in the same styles without the cost of extra material if you should need it. I am starting a new full time job next week so I needed new clothes. I don't have to wear anything fancy, jeans & nice top is fine, but I only owned 2 pairs of jeans that fit and not a whole lot of tops either. Right now they are having a 40% off the spring line and 75% off clearance but when I shopped the other day they were doing a Buy One Item, Get Another 50% off. So I got a REALLY good deal. And it's a good thing I bought when I did because some of the stuff I ordered is no longer available. I ended up with 7 tops, 5 pairs of jeans, and 2 new bras. Not a bad deal at all.

Now to address something else- I have closed my SDD shop. The reason being that I thought I would be able to get back to designing a little but now that I am starting this job outside the home, I'm not going to have a lot of time. It sucks, but it's what I have to do. I am however, thinking of making my current stock that I designed for sale at SDD available here through paypal incase anyone wanted anything. And also if I get a bug up my butt and design a little something new, I can put it up for sale here.

On to some fun stuff:) Last night I attended a Purse Party hosted by my sister-in-law, Shala. It was to help her raise funds for Breast Cancer. Her mom, Tammie, was recently diagnosed and some the efforts from this party went towards that. There was a lot of great stuff to choose from. I ended up getting myself a new wallet and a matching wristlet for when I go out and don't want to lug around my big purse. We had a lot of fun.

I just realized that I haven't been posting my ADSR layouts on here, so here are my last few pages- I'm doing thumbnails this time because it's easier lol. Click to enlarge.

Challenge 3:

The Challenge:

This one was to use selective coloring in the photo, dating elements, and at least 20 words in the journaling.

Credits:

Background Paper: Plain & Simple Winter by Blythe Evans (retired)
Wood Frames: Blythe Evans Wood Ya Like A Frame? at SDD (Scrappity-Doo-Dah)
Dating Elements: At This Moment by Blythe Evans at SDD
Heart Element from Micheline Martin's My Blue Valentine Kit(retired), Dirt element from Micheline Martin's All Natural Kit (retired), 'love' word element is Micheline Martin's Perfect Title V.1 (retired).
Corner stitching: Natali design stitching freebie.

The word 'dirt' in journaling and word 'Oh' in title is Blackmail alpha brushes by Blythe Evans at SDD.
Sparkly Craft Foam Alpha is from the Pastel set by Blythe Evans (now retired).

Font: Pea Hannah Vanilla

Challenge 4:

The Challenge:

This challenge was to create 2 ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) per team member and then put them all on ONE layout. The Theme: The One I Love (One card about someone or thing in your life and the other about your partner.)

Blythe's Credits:

(Partner)
Pink BG Paper & Birdie- Kathyrn Balint
Flowers: JannyLynn Silk Flowers
Dotcom Friends WordArt-Tina Chambers @ DSP
Flower Centers: Flergalious 2 Centers
Diva Crown (lol) Happily Ever After Collab by Mary Fran & Kay Miller

(Personal)

Room A Zoom Zoom Collab by Micheline Martin & Melissa Bennett

Bobbie's Credits:

(Partner)
Rubber Band by Kate Hadfield
Frame by CRD
Tattered Tags by Natalie Bird
Flowers No. 3 by ON Designs
Flower Rain by Jeann G
Flower Mania by Jofia Devoe
In The Sandbox by MK Designs
Font: CK Sketch

(Personal)
Spiced Pumpkin by Gina Miller
Fanpire by Tangie
Cherry Blossoms by Jenna Desai
O Brother Collab by OScraps

Extra Credits: Blythe Evans Down & Dirty Paperpack & Teeny Tiny Type Alpha

Challenge 5:

The Challenge:

This one was to incorporate chocolate in the layout in some way. Was also a 'recipe' challenge. We were given a list of items, which we needed to use at least 6 of from the list.

Credits:

2 papers- Blythe Evans Iced Mocha Latte Papers (retired)
1 ribbon- Sheer Skinny Ribbon Wraps by Wendy Page
1 alpha- Atomic Amber Kit by Micheline Martin (retired)
1 staple- Redju's CU staples
1 flower- Silk Flowers by Jannylynn
1 button- Atomic Amber Kit by Micheline Martin (retired)

Challenge 7:

**No Challenge 6 for me because it was to be done by ONE Team member.

The Challenge:

Make a 'bucket' list of 50 things you wanted to accomplish. This was HARD.

Credits:

Micheline Martin- Sunday Morning, All Things Natural Kit, & Ransom Alpha (retired).
Jannylynn's Silk Flowers
Notebook paper: Vicki Stegall's rock On Kit
Flower Stitching: Sweet Genevieve

Stock Photos: Free Digital Photos (.net)

Challenge 8:

The Challenge:

To use 'Someday' as your theme and journaling. Use a 'tone on tone' patterned background paper and at least 10 elements.

Credits:

Miss Priss by Blythe Evans & Micheline Martin (retired)

Well Hello There_

I had my surgery on Friday. Every thing went well except that they ended up needing to take a whole ovary plus about half of the remaining ovary. I am ok with it, it's just spare parts at this point. it would be different if I didn't have or wasn't done having kids but I am. They left enough that it won't send me into menopause at 34 but there is a chance that I will start menopause 2–5 yrs earlier than I would have normally. I was released on Saturday but I went and stayed at my mom's house for a few days. Even though Dan was home to help with the kids, there was no way I was going to get the rest I needed with 4 boys in the house. Dan also took today off of work so I could stay an extra day and I came home earlier this afternoon.

Now, on to more pressing matters.. the ADSR! I really wanted to get my second layout done before I went into the hospital since the deadline for the first week was on Sunday and I wasn't sure how well I was going to be able to function and scrap on heavy duty pain meds. So that left me to get it done by Thursday night. Yeah, that didn't happen. I don't know about everyone else but this was one doozy of a challenge.

The Challenge:

Recipe/Challenge:

Theme: 5 things I LOVE about....(choose a person, topic, idea, etc. Be Creative!)
Title: use a combination of 5 fonts and/or alphas (example: use 2 different fonts and 3 different alphas)
Photos: use 5 photos, one of the photos must have the number 5 in it!
Use 5 different elements of the same type (example: use 5 different flowers or 5 different buttons, etc.)

Season to taste: add ingredients from your digital pantry to make this layout your own!

I had a few different ideas but I just couldn't seem to make them work. Bring on the pressure! If you saw my facebook, you I was freaking out over not having my 'five'. So there I was, laying in the hospital and I still didn't have an idea and then it hit me. Go figure it hits me when I'm on a morphine pump. And believe it or not, it was actually an awesome idea. What's one thing I love? My Tattoos.. and hey what do ya know, I've got 5 of them (for now)!!

So here is my 2nd ADSR Layout- (click to enlarge)

Credits:

Title- Alphas: Micheline Martin's Ransom Alpha, Blythe Evans' Silver Mine Alpha Beads (retired), Blythe Evans Teeny Tiny Type Alpha (Scrappity-Doo-Dah). Fonts (Words 'I' & 'tattoos') Nasty & Blocked Type.

5 Elements: Fabric Flowers from Vicki Stegall's Rock On Kit.

Extra elements: Micheline Martin's Perfect Title word strips, Background paper and Star trail from Vicki Stegall's Rock On Kit. Flower centers- Vonnie's DigiWorld (bows) at Scrappity-Doo-Dah, Micheline Martin's Just the Basics (CU Button Stitching), and Digital Candy's studded brads. Nancy Comelab's Photo Clusters.

Well, That Was Interesting_

Ok, so I haven't blogged in a few days. The last time I did, the site was acting kind of buggy and it went down just after I posted last. I've been kind of busy this week so I thought I would just let it go and check back later. So, I got a few minutes and came on to blog a bit and my site was down. Come to find out somehow my IP addy got blocked and I couldn't access my own site! Never really had a problem with this webhost, I would recommend them to anyone. Just weird. They had me back up and running minutes after I emailed. They really do have top notch customer service even if weird things happen on occasion.

ANYWAY! The ADSR has started up again. Our first challenge was to create a Layout about your race partner. Layout must contain something about your partner and be a scraplift of one of your partner's layouts. So here is mine:



Journaling:

My partner this year is Bobbie.
We were partners last year too.
We originally met when she
applied for my Creative Team.
We hit it off and became very
close friends.

Bobbie is probably one of the
coolest people I know.
Not only is she sweet & funny,
she is also a fabulous mom
and photographer.

I am glad to have her in
my life because I know I can
count on her always.

Credits:

Ocean Breeze Paperpack & Au Natural Alpha by Blythe Evans @ Scrappity-Doo-Dah
Bubble Wrap Stamps, dirt spray, Strings w/ Things, & binder clip by Micheline Martin (retired)
Ribbon cluster: All Dressed Up Ribbons by Jennifer Barrette.

Scraplift of: http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php? photo=547974&title=no-hands&cat=all

Getting Back To Normal_

Whatever that is! After about 10 days or so, all the kids are back in school. Liam was out for a little over a week due to a mild case of Chicken Pox. He was already vaccinated so it was very mild. No fever, very little itching, spots all over but not too severe.

On Friday, Greyson stayed home because of a icky cough that he somewhat still has but not as bad. And finally, this rain has stopped! It actually stopped last week but I was hesitant to jump up and down for fear that it would say "Haha Made Ya Look!" and start coming down again.

A few good things coming up, we got our taxes done and filed as of last night (yippee!), Dan has informed me that we are finally going to buy a car- we have been without one for about a year now. It's time. Not sure what we will be getting though. Most likely another minivan, which is fine but I miss my truck. And last but not least, it looks like Dan may be getting somewhat of a promotion (??). Right now, he is the 'Assistant Manager of Inventory Control' and they really want him to take the position of Warehouse Lead, which really sounds like a step down but they are pushing to be able to give him an increase in pay if he takes it. So, I guess we'll see. If he takes it he may also have to work graves.

The kids just walked in-Early Release Monday, so it's homework time. Let the chaos begin!

My Wonderful Husband_

Gotta love him right? He thinks he is SO funny! Tuesday is my birthday, so this weekend he's been all over me asking what I want for my birthday. SO I told him.. I want a new tattoo, cash towards my Reno trip, clothes..  any one of those things would be just fine. He looks at me and says, "How about something practical like stuff for the kitchen..." Um hello, things for me to use to make things for YOU is not a birthday gift. A birthday gift is something that I get to enjoy for me. His other suggestion was new furniture. Yes, we need new furniture but don't use my birthday as an excuse to buy it! Sheesh man..

I also gave him a more reasonable suggestion.. the butterfly ring I have been wanting for like 2 yrs now. But I'd also like for him to come up with something on his own for a change. No one likes to pick out their own gift. All I know is we're going out to dinner, not sure where yet.

Oh And Another Thing..._

I wasn't planning on it but Bobbie asked me to partner up with her again this year for ADSR5. So I'm sure there will be at least 1–2 posts per week on that alone!

My last layout I scrapped, it only took me like 5 months to finally get done..



Credits:

Papers: Karah Fredricks- In My Dreams Mini kit
Frame: Blythe Evans Wood Frames (retired)
Star spray: Vicki Stegall- Rock On Kit
Date Elements: Blythe Evans- At This Moment
Word Art: Taylormade- Fading 3
Stitched border & paint spray by Micheline Martin (currently retired)