There is Life After Nursing School

Scrapping or the Lack of Scrapping

2012-01-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

I'm trying!! I've been working on our Colorado album. If you read my previous post you know that it was summer of 2009! I decided to change up my method of scrapping as the way things are now, I have no hope of ever digging out from the piles of pics and digital pics I have.

I've started using the We R Memory Keepers album system. What I like about it, is the fact that I can still do my full 12 x 12 pages but I can also do smaller things scattered throughout my album. WRMK sells page sleeves with various sized sleeves. I can put pictures in and scatter a box of journaling or some fun embellishment. It's really helpful especially for scenery pictures. I do one large layout and then a couple pages of smaller pictures. Sorry I don't have anything scanned but it will be on my to do list.

We R Memory Keepers - Classic Leather - 12 x 12 - Three Ring Albums - Dark Chocolate
Scrapbook.com

We R Memory Keepers - Page Protectors - Multi Pack - Fits 12 x 12 Three Ring Albums
Scrapbook.com

Where Have I Been??

2012-01-30T12:03:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that I haven't posted since 2009! It is now January of 2012 and I have decided to get back to blogging.

I've been pretty busy since 2009. Definitely enjoying life. I'll try to catch up in a nutshell

Summer of June 2009 camping trip out west to Colorado and Utah. We were gone for 10 days and visited 3 national parks, Arches, Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountain. I drove my first mountain pass, over 13,000 feet!

Fall of 2009, it was back to school for my BSN.

Summer of 2010 a camping trip to Michigan. We visited Michael's nephew Terry and his family. Went to Mackinaw Island, and went to Lake Superior. I ended up having to take a final on that trip. I did well on the final but it wasn't a good thing for the vacation.

Winter 2010-2011. We went on our first cruise at the beginning of February. I took the entire semester off so there was no fear of any homework on the cruise. It was a fabulous trip!!! We flew to San Juan and sailed the southern Caribbean.

Summer 2011 - Another semester off school, we hosted the Doran family reunion. Oh will I ever get done with school?

Fall 2011 back to school again. Had a registration snaffu and my classes were dropped. I could only get back into one class. Beginning to wonder if I'll ever get done. Definitely not graduating spring of 2012 as I had planned.

That brings us up to now. I am back in school, 8 credits and going strong. After this semester I have 3 classes and a internship. The end is in sight!! So do I push it and get done by December or take my time and graduate spring of 2013?? What to do, what to do.

Great to be back on the blog :)

Paper Bag Albums - WhoKnew They Were So Easy!

2009-05-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

I've had a "fear" of paper-bag albums for quite some time. I always thought they were cute, but was afraid the whole thing would fall apart on me. I was motivated to give it a try recently and here is the result of my first paper-bag album.

I used Basic Grey "Phoebe" which was perfect for my theme!

Scrapping Again

2009-03-15T00:33:00.001-07:00

I've been off to a good start this year. Lately, I've been having fun doing baby girl pages!! This is completely new territory for me and I'm have so much fun with it.

For my niece Makenzie's album

Goodbye My Friend

2009-02-25T23:30:00.000-08:00

I lost a good friend early Monday morning. Her name is Margaret McCormick. She was a part of my life from the beginning. She gave me my first bath after I was born. She watched me grow up. She was there to hem my wedding dress when I got married. She watched my children grow up, in fact she spent the day with my oldest son when my second child was born.

Margaret was the dearest, sweetest person. She was also my mom's best friend. When I look at her picture it seems so strange to me, that she is actually gone from this world. I was priviledged to have spent time with her during her last few hours. I held her hand, and talked with her. I prayed with her, and I hugged her. Life was tough on her the last year, with one assault after another on her body. Her mind was sharp to the very end, but her body wore out.

At apx 3:30 am Monday morning, Margaret left this world and walked through the door to enternal life into the arms of her sweet savior Jesus. Waiting for her were her parents, sister, brothers, husband and her oldest son. Until we meet again my dear sweet friend Margaret, I will miss you dearly.

Welcome to the World

2009-02-06T23:15:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the world Madison Kathryn born February 5th

Merry Christmas

2008-12-13T19:42:00.003-08:00

I actually had all five of us in one place at the same time.

Happy Birthday to my dear Husband!

2008-10-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, you....I know you're reading my blog so ~~

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Michael,
Happy birthday to you

Lots of love to you today and everyday from your beautiful wife hehehehe

No you can not have the scarf that Sammi knitted me for your birthday present, it's mine all mine!!!

ATCs

2008-10-18T00:15:00.001-07:00

My ATC project! I'm in a swap where we are making atc's for display. Each person listed their request and I went to work. ATCs are fun to make, and fun to trade! Mine are pretty simple compared to some, but they reflect my style, which is what ATCs are all about.

I spent far too much time on this one, but I so enjoyed looking at Johnny Depps beautiful face, lolol. This person wanted colorful, funky, whimsical people and I thought Captain Jack Sparrow fit that description. The background is metallic cardstock. I started by heat embosssing his scraf with clear powder. I used Pebbles brown shimmer chalk on his hair, including his mustache and beard. and covered it with Ranger Inks clear accents. I used gold and copper stickles and pearl liquid pearls for his beads. The swirl in the upper right corner was done using a template on a prima package!! It was so perfect, I couldn't resist opening my flowers just to use the template. The belt on his arm was a bit of a problem for me, I finally chalked it, and added some gunmetal stickles. The key is a brad.

I was given complete freedom on this one! She wanted a card done in my own style and fav colors, that she could use for inspiration. She also wanted a fun scrapbooking quote. I painted the card with Ranger Ink broken china crackle paint, used a heat gun to hurry up the drying time because I'm soooo impatient. the black background design is prima clear tape. I used a Ranger Ink pearl paint dabber around the edge. The tags were done using my Making Memory tag maker The black arrow is seven gypiess. The little heart on the bottom left corner was a RAK from someone, sorry I can't remember who to thank you. I inked white embroidery floss with broken china distress ink to match the background.

Basketball - This is for a basketball book that someone is making for her son. She wanted basketball quotes. His school colors are white, gray and red. I wasn't sure how to do this one, but then saw the Jolee's at Michaels, so picked them up. I love the quote!! I'm going to use it in my son's wrestling album. I used black diamond stickles for the basketball trail. The stars have a touch of crystal stickles. The edge of the white bazzill bling is inked with a cat eye cranberry ink pad, the gray bazzill bling is inked with a cat eye black ink pad

Isaiah 40:31 is one of my favorite bible verses. This was done for someone who wanted one of my fav verses. She is going to take her atcs and assemble them into a cross to hang on the wall. I used an old Creative Memoires template I had from about 10 years ago to make the clouds. The flowers are prima, the clear bling is prima and the tiny bling on the upper right white flower is My Minds Eye.

Travel - this was done for someone who wanted a travel theme. I used Ranger Ink alcohol inks. The main color was bottle with a little meadow green. I used the mixing solution to lighten. I inked the edge of the card with a gold cat eye ink pad. I've had the airplane button for awhile and finally found something to use it on. The ribbon was from "Love Elsie - Toby collection"

Puppies - This was done for someone who likes puppies and purple. I tried to make the wagon purple but it came out more pink. Theree of the puppies were painted with Ranger Ink Brushed Corduroy crackle paint, chalked and inked. All the puppies eyes and noses were done with black diamond stickles. The background flowers were all done with stickles, lime green, yellow, cotton candy and orange. The wheel hubs were done with purple stickles

Last one! The request for this was to use her scrap room colors of black and white with pink accents. She also wanted a humerous scrapbook saying and likes bling, flowers and flourishes. The word strips are printed on pink bazzill bling and mounted on Doodlebug black sugar coated cs. The bigger pink bloom at the top right is an Imaginisce pink petal pusher and the center black bling is prima. The strips of clear bling are glitz icing. The smaller pink and white flowers are Queen & Co sequins. I hope she likes it.

Scrapping

2008-08-27T20:38:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to focus on getting more layouts done. At this rate I'll be caught up several thousand years from now! One of my goals is to get my wedding album done, here is one of the first layouts. This layout was done as a challenge. I was sent 5 things in an envelope that I had to use in a layout. The most challenging item was the tiny, mini puzzle pieces. I used them as the flower centers. Thank you Laurie for the envelope items. I used the masking technique that Scrapperlicious taught me for the title. I used a combination of a gold paint dabber and Ranger Black Soot distress ink to mask the title. The stamping is done using a gold paint dabber. Scrappychicdesigns suggested trying paint dabbers on stamps to me. The picture is of my beautiful bridesmaids, hence the title "Beauty"

Prima Marketing: Pattern paper and whispers; Ranger Ink: Gold paint dabber and Black soot Distress Ink; Queen & Co: Felt Fusion, scrolls; Lil Davis bookplates; Making Memories: Green celery and pearl paint; Fancy Pants Designs Glitter Cuts; 7 Gypsies, acrylic stamps

Itaska

2008-08-27T20:16:00.001-07:00

Michael, Adam and I went to Itasca State Park at the end of July. Opps, almost forgot, Lacy came with too. Brandon and Ryan met up with us later in the week at Crow Wing Lake. It was our first long camping trip with Dakota and all went well.

Standing by the headwaters. Can you believe that is the beginning of the "Mighty Mississippi"

Camping at Crow Wing Lake ~

Boys kayaking

Cannon Valley Bike Trail

2008-06-30T18:03:00.001-07:00

Our second camping trip with Dakota was to the Cannon Valley bike trail. We weren't very impressed with our campground but the bike trail is beautiful.

We put up our "add a room" for the first time and love it. Lacy loves the new porch so much that she insisted on sleeping there all night.

25 of my Favorite Things

2008-06-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Blog assignment 25: 25 of your very favorite things!

1. My children and husband
2. Being in love with my husband
3. Praise and worship music
4. Animals
5. Flowers, any and all
6. Coke, not diet, the real sugary coke
7. kittens
8. Italian food
9. Chocolate
10. Riding my bike
11. Scrapbooking
12. Watching movies
13. Clinique
14. Camping
15. Reading
16. Garage sales
17. Thrift stores
18. Antiques
19. Campfires and roasting marshmellows
20. Mexican food
21. Being a nurse
22. Surfing the internet
23. The beach
24. Bubble baths
25. The mountains

Happy Birthday to You!!!

2008-06-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Tiffany!!!

You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you

Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.
(Lennon-McCartney)

Birthday's ROCK!!! Sure, I'm not happy about the ever increasing number of candles on my cake, but it definitly beats the alternative. I always wanted a summer birthday, but mine is January 24th, which makes today the "5 month" anniversary of my ** birthday so......

You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah

2008-06-23T05:00:00.001-07:00

Vent Time
Blog assignment for June 23rd Vent!Say what you want!Vent Time

Why do people take up 2 parking places?? It doesn’t make any sense to me. If they don’t want anyone parking close to them, they need to go out further where no one parks instead of taking up valuable parking spaces!!

Does the grassy areas along the roads look like a trash can to you??? Me either, so who are these people who think they are trash cans!!! Every gas station I have EVER gone to has “trash cans” it’s a great place to throw the trash into. STOP tossing your trash on the side of the road!!!

NO SMOKING….SMOKING ZONES are situated AWAY from doors, there is a reason for that. What good is a non-smoking building when you have to walk though a cloud of smoke coming out? I’m sorry it’s raining and you don’t want to get wet, but try an umbrella. I’m a nurse, I see people with lung cancer who have never smoked but they were exposed to second hand smoke. It’s your choice what you want to do to your own lungs but leave mine alone.

Okay, off my soap box.

A Perfect Summer Day

2008-06-22T12:09:00.001-07:00

My perfect day…..hmmm

Relaxing by water with my family is the ultimate perfect day. The best place to be would be by a lake, a mountain stream or the ocean. The weather would be perfect of course, not a cloud in the sky, 80 degrees with no humidity. Someone would be serving us our favorite foods, no dishes to do. We’d swim, sun, hike, maybe a little volleyball. We’d capped the day with a bonfire and s’mores.

Playing Around

2008-06-21T12:19:00.001-07:00

Before and After and a darker version

I found this fun tip from "As For Me and My Blog, We Shall Serve The Lord" blog. I was able to darken the edges so that the corsage stood out a bit more. The after version is a very subtle change, but I like it. The darker version pops the corsage out a bit more, but I think I like the subtle version better.

First Day of Summer

2008-06-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

Here I am the first day of summer laying in bed. I've been sick since about 3 am on Friday while at work. I made it through the night, came home and went straight to bed, didn't even eat breakfast.

I've been in bed ever since, no appetite, sipping on propel. I had to call in sick to work last night...worst thing to do is to call in a Friday night, they never believe you're sick. I feel so lousy that I don't even care.

On a positive note the pounding headache I've had seems to be subsiding. It's still there just not pounding anymore. My stomach is still doing somersaults. Not the best first day of summer I've ever had. Hope everyone else is having a nicer first day of summer

Steel Venom!

2008-06-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Assignment June20: PHOTO, of something yellow, orange or red

Steel Venom at Valleyfair, the ultimate extreme ride. Adam is riding in the front seat alone, brave boy.

June 19th Assignment - Animal Time

2008-06-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

Little Princess Lacy a.k.a. Lacy a.k.a the fruit loop loving dog

Notice, Lacy is keeping her eyes on the fruit loop box. Then she patiently waited for the two pet humans to go inside....she makes her move

When she's not eating fruit loops, she's claiming the furniture. She did allow Adam to share the couch with her
Toys!!! Lacy loves toys. She got a stocking full for Christmas, but didn't know which one to play with first....so many choices
Last halloween she dressed up as a weblo cub scout. Lacy's favorite animal to torment is "yellow bird" acy can spend hours stalking the bird. Once she finally corners yellow bird, she doesn't have a clue what to do with the bird. If she gets too close yellow bird pecks her on the nose. I guess yellow bird rules, sorry Lacy

Sunset at Glacier

2008-06-16T13:52:00.001-07:00

Blog assignment: a picture of a sunset or sunrise. I searched all my digital photos and I did not have even ONE picture of a sunrise or sunset! Have a new assignment for myself.

I found this picture of a sunset at Lake Mary in Glacier National Part in Montana. I was here, and saw the sunsets, but for some odd reason don't have a picture. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I spent two days there and only saw a small portion of the park. I highly recommend Glacier.

Because....I'm the Mom

2008-06-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

I lifted this from The Queen of Chaos' blog. It's her summer theme song. I think it's the summer theme song for all moms!

Water

2008-06-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is a water slide at Noah's Ark in the Wisconsin Dells. I acutally went down this slide, several times four years ago. You get up to the top and it looks like it goes straight down. The lifeguard up there won't push you down either, I tried. So, you have to get up the courage and drop down and then SCREAM!! It doesn't get any easier the second or third time either.

The red signs over the bottom of the slides post your speed. You can do this slide in apx 4 to 6 seconds, barely gives you time to scream. It was a blast, and my kids were pretty impressed that ole Mom did it.

Greatest Summer Memory

2008-06-07T23:26:00.000-07:00

One of them is being made today. We are celebrating my son's graduation from high school with a party for him today! He is so excited.

One of the greatest moments in my life happened in the summer. June 12th, my husband and I will be celebrating our wedding anniversary! We are still hopelessly in love with each other. There is nothing better in life then being in love with your husband. Our wedding was beautiful, and I cherish my memories of that day.

Some of my greatest summer memories were just the simple summer things I did with my children. Walks, playing at the park, going to the beach, going on vaction "up north", laying on the ground looking at clouds, catching bugs, playing in the sprinker....the list goes on and on. Now that my children older, I see young families doing these things, and I so miss these little things. I'm tremendously blessed that I was able to stay home with my children for several years, and don't regret one moment of that time. Life is good.

A Perfect Summer Menu

2008-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

A Perfect Summer Menu - Blog Assignment June 7th

Steak on the grill, with sautéed mushrooms on the side. A fresh green salad, tossed with whatever veggies are in fresh at moment. My homemade potato salad, which I don’t make often enough. Gotta have grilled sweet corn too! With a cold glass of lemonade on the side. ahhhhhh

Welcome to the World!

2008-06-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Makenzie Ann!!

My newest niece, born June 3. Weight:7 lbs. 8 oz

Congratulations Jamie and Nicole

and Grandparents Bob and Thearey!!!

Dream Vacation

2008-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Blog Assignment June 6 - Dream Vacation

Italy is our dream vacation! Michael has been there, but I haven't. I can't wait to go have him show me Italy, and discover some things together. We're making plans to go after Adam graduates from high school, in another 5 years. Seems like a long time....but we can dream until then!

Summer Song

2008-06-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

June 5th of the Big Blog Challenge add my summer song to my blog ~

You are listening to "Something Beautiful" by the Newsboys.

(a day early...opps)

Someone I Love

2008-06-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

Blog assignment 4 - Link something/someone you love!

That would of course be ~

http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=140225&m=view&id=1149051&start=20&page=1&a=114689

Photo of something Refreshing!

2008-06-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Blog assignment 2 - Photo of something Refreshing!

There is nothing more refreshing on a hot (there's that hot word again) day then a nice, cool stream in the mountains. We were up in the mountains in Montana, camping next to this delightfully refreshing stream, Lacy was having a blast splashing with her stick!

Something Hot

2008-06-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

First blog assignment... Blog about something "Hot" What does that mean to you?

Today something “hot” is mowing the grass. Yes, I know it’s not what women think of as “hot” but the sun was beating down on me, and I was forming a lake as I mowed. It was hot baby. Now I’m inside the air conditioned house with a glass of ice water, still sweating, still hot. Time to hit the shower. Then maybe I’ll put on a flick with a “hot” actor in it, hehe

2008-05-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

PROM

It's hard to believe that this is Ryan's last high school dance! He's graduating two weeks from today. I took over 100 prom pictures!! I'm sparing you all those pictures and am just picking out a few.

Ryan and Zena

Can't be the same Ryan I sent to kindergarten 13 years ago!!

The dudes ~ Ryan and friends clowning around

The entire group of friends that Ryan and Zena went with. After prom, they all went together on a party bus.

Ryan got to use his dad's Firebird convertable. Here they are heading to prom

Ryan and Megan. Ryan and Megan have known each other since they were babies.

Had to have a prom picture of them. Silly kids!

Getting Ready!

2008-05-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

We had a fun weekend of getting our new camper ready to go for it's first trip! Of course it looked so easy at the showroom, but trying to unhook the camper from the SUV the first time proved difficult until Michael figured out the "trick" to it

Then there was the bike rack, but it finally came together. We have it set up for 3 bikes.

Dakota went up pretty easy, and even has a neat little gas grill

Our "little" kitchen and dinette. The dinette converts to a bed.

One of the two king beds and the couch which folds into a bed.

Finally Home

2008-05-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

We finally brought Dakota home!! We promptly parked it in the garage, since I had to work that night. Today we're pulling her out and getting her set up. First thing we have to do before we open her up is to assemble the bike rack and mount it on the roof. This should be interesting, hehehe. We also have a shopping trip planned and have a list to pick up all the odds and ends we'll need. We go on our first trip in two weeks!!!

Me and Dakota

Michael carefully watching the hookup process. It's amazing how much there is to know just to hook up the tow vehicle. We decided Michael's RX300 would be the better tow vehicle. It already had a hitch, and can handle a bigger load than the Sienna.

Not home yet

2008-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

We went to pick up our camper, but weren't able to take it home. There were a couple minor things that needed to be taken car of. We're hoping to get it Wednesday or Thursday. It actually worked out for the best since the weather was far from desirable. Snow, rain, wind yuck

We had to do our run through inside. This is acutally ours!!

Dakota

2008-04-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

2 weeks to go when until we get our new "PUP" in the camping world that stands for Pop-Up. We started out tent camping on our trip to Montana, which was okay....at first. But we're ready to get off the ground and out of the tent.

This is the same model as ours

I set Michael up with a popup camper message board where he is getting all kinds of advice and tips. One thing he picked up there is that everyone names their PUPs. So we "had" to come up with a name for ours. I suggested "Dakota" since Michael's from SD, and Dakota it is!

Can't wait to publish some pics of our new baby PUP!

The Joys of....

2007-11-18T17:13:00.000-08:00

...working in a hospital. I have to work Thanksgiving. I work the night before, the night of and the weekend after. We're going out to eat for Thanksgiving, no cooking, no dishes but "no leftovers"

We're looking forward to Christmas which I do have off this year!

A Day in October

2007-10-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

We have settled down into a nice routine. The kids are all back in school.

Michael and I are both loving me being home on weekends. After all those years of school on the weekend, we finally have a life together again. Today was beautiful. It was sunny and in the 60s, perfect fall weather with the trees at their peak of color. We took Lacy on a long walk, and just enjoyed being together.

Tonight we are heading to the Olive Garden compliments of Joyce, for Michael's birthday. Will probably hit a movie too.