I went to a tea tasting with Michelle, Mom and Shelby the other day at Goldfish Tea in Royal Oak.  Shelby was pretty excited that she was going to a tea party with REAL tea, lol.  We learned all about tea and the different types.  I also found out that you can make any tea caffeine free by steeping it for 30 seconds, dumping the water and then starting the process again.  Apparently the caffeine is the first thing to come out of the leaves during the steeping process.  I also learned, (thanks Michelle for this lesson), that Oolong Tea gives me a migraine.  Lesson learned and despite the funny name, I’ll be keeping my distance from the good old oolong.  lol.

Andrea stopped by today for a replacement keyboard as apparently there was a “liquid meets keyboard” incident at her house yesterday, lol.  She was nice enough to bring me by a stack of paper she had apparently been able to part with.  I’m giddy!  Fresh printed paper… yum.  Thanks Andrea!!

I spent my morning so far cleaning up around here.  My house has been pretty neglected for the most part over the last week or two and it needed a serious cleaning.  That, and it’s cold and I’m freezin, so all the cleaning is keeping me moving.  I have laundry to do and hopefully I can get myself to fold what comes out of the dryer instead of covering myself with the warm towels as they come out.    Brrr… I’m so ready for spring.

Happy Hump Day!

~j

I finally got in some good scrapbooking time last night.  Sadly I can’t really share it as it’s for the next issue of Michigan Scrapbooker.  I will however, give you a sneak peek. I won’t post the rest till the Spring issue hits the shelf.

I know I haven’t blogged recently… yes Andrea, I know, lol.  I’ve been busy with a good friend of mine spending “quality time.”  Sadly for me, quality time seems to include a lot of eating, so most of the weight I lost, I put back on.  So outside of a nice meal here and there, I’m only eating GNC Lean Shakes and some occasional fruit as a treat.  I have however, been able to convince myself that if I mix the lean shake with some skim milk and ice that it tastes just like a chocolate malt.  Ok, maybe not just like it, but if I drink it fast enough, it all works out in my head.    Slender me… here I come!  (Crossing my fingers!)

Michelle and I are going to Treehouse Getaways soon.  I’m looking forward to it and hopefully I’ll get a lot done.  The scrapbooking I did yesterday really inspired me and I think Jen may have gotten her groove back, lol.

Happy Tuesday…

~j

In the words of BNL, (my fav band if you’ve missed it around here, lol), it’s all been done.  Sadly it was announced today that Steven Page has decided to leave BNL to work on a solo career.  I have to admit, that I’m really saddened.  I’m not one of those crazy fans that follows bands/celebs all over the place, and I don’t get overly excited about things, so feeling this way is a bit of a shock for me.

I just went over to tourphotographer.com to order the pics from the NYE concert Denny and I went to.  I had been putting it off and this gave me the kick inthe butt to get it done.  Here is a photo of their last bow as BNL as we’ve known them over the last 20 years…  Ugh, that just hurts.

~j

Yesterday was Dylan’s Fish Day at his school.  They pick one day each month to honor a select group of kids from each class, and this month it was Dillys turn.  (Funny, cuz Ethan got picked too, lol.  His Fish Day is tomorrow.)  Anyway, they always give the kids a fish type hat and this year it was this fisherman cap.  Dylan has this grin that always cracks me up, and the hat, well, judge for yourself…

Too funny!

Happy Tuesday to you!!

~j

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but in case someone missed it… I hate Michigan.  Here is the view out one of my office windows right now:

I went to the grocery store first thing this morning thankfully.  So the upside is I won’t have to run out for anything.  The downside, I swear the snow brings out the worst in the kids.  Dylan and Shelby are fighting today nearly non-stop.  Denny has decided to spend the afternoon (so far from 2-5pm) on the couch and is sleeping through it all.  As usual, I’m doing laundry.  At least I’m almost done.  I’m not putting it away.  Denny can do it… he rested up.

~j

Just because I feel pooey today I thought I’d share a photo that makes me laugh.  Barb Hogan turned me on to Adobe Lightroom yesterday.  (Thanks again Barb!) Well, after just a few minutes of playing with it, can I just say I LOVE IT!  Anyway, here is a little something I came across while sorting through photo that makes me laugh!  I hope you enjoy it.

Thank goodness it’s Friday!

~j

I finally got the boys photos taken for their birthdays yesterday!  They did great and I’m happy with how all of them came out.  My only issue… Ethan looks too old, lol.  I’m still trying to figure out where the last 9 years has gone?!?!?!

Trying to get motivated again today.  Seems like I have that issue all winter long I swear.  It’s snowing right now, which isn’t helping AT ALL.  I swear, if I could bring myself to move, I would.  Warm climates sound really good right now.  Wonder if you get sick less if you like in say… Hawaii, lol.  Whatcha think?

Off to do some laundry… you’re shocked I know!   On the bight side… it’s almost Friday!!!!

~j

I have had my eye on this princess bedding set at Target for Shelby and finally broke down the other day and bought it.  I ordered it online after Denny got a peek at it.  He sure is a big softy when it comes to little Shelby.  Considering she isn’t using a regular twin bed yet, I’ll be storing this for a little bit.  But it’s so stinkin’ cute!  Each little spot where it is gathered is topped off with a crystal like button.  OMG.  She is just going to love it.

It looks pretty yucky outside today.  Of course I have to go out later, so that’s why it’s yucky.  That’s just the way it goes with me.  If I had nothing I had to do, or I couldn’t leave, it would be beautiful outside.  Kinda like when you wash your car, then it rains.  At 3:40 today I am finally taking the boys to get their birthday photos taken.  I had planned for two different appointments, but between people getting sick and stuff coming up I though I’d just wait till Ethans and then do them both together at one time.  I had also been waiting for scratch marks on Dillys face to clear up.  But I swear, the second one gets close to gone, he get another.  Thus, I give up.  It is what it is, and his battles with his sister will be forever recorded on film, lol.  I’ll be getting out some makeup later to try and erase a few though.

The boys went back to school today, and as usual, I woke up with a headache.  Shelby is asking to go back to bed and snuggle with me, so I plan to do that in a few minutes.  Then I really have to find some way to motivate myself to get moving…  ugh.

At least the week is half over already!

~j

I worked on this layout a bit at the crop I went to a week ago and just finished it up the other day.  The cardstock base is stamped with a bunch of different flower stamps.  I just used VersaMark as an ink.  I love that look on dark cardstock!

Looks like Rocky, our foster dog, will be staying with us.  I really didn’t think I wanted to take on another dog permenently, but we’ve grown pretty attached to him now.  He has gotten used to all of us and has started to warm up to other people that come to the house now too.  The kids coudln’t be happier, and everyone has agreed to help out with him.  (We’ll see how long that lasts.)

While I have Rockey on my mind, just wanted to pass on somethign that was passed on to me this morning.  Visit gettothevet.com to get a certificate good for $20.00 off at a vet to get care for your pet.  It runs from now until the 28th from 9am-9pm.  They give away 80 each hour.  Good luck!

My iPhone came on Friday and I decided to do the software unlocking myself.  I’m not the most patient person on Earth, lol, so I didn’t think I could handle the wait to have the cellular place do it.  All worked out well, and I’m super happy with it.  I tried to show Denny all the cool stuff it does, but, not being the techie type, he wasn’t all the impressed.    Poor guy.

Let see, oh, we had a yucky dinner at Andiamos in St. Clair Shores for Valentines Day.  Food wasn’t all the great and the service wasn’t all that great either.  I hate it when places do special menus for “holidays.”  I went with the idea of what I wanted, got there… poof special menu for the night and of course what I wanted wasn’t there.  Worst part was it was my idea to go someplace other than our usual.  So I had to take the fall for this one.  Not good.  I hope everyone else had a good Valentines Day.  Outside of dinner mine was fantastic.

I have an extra kid here today, so I’m off to play peacekeeper….

~j

Here is another layout…  I’m on a roll .  I actually got the journaling done today.  It’s nice to actually get some scrapping done.  I haven’t been doing to well in that department to say the least!  This is a seriously old set of photos.  This happened not too long before I had Shelby, and she is 3 1/2!  Better late than never.

I used up items from my stash for this.  That little band-aid is seriously old Making Memories product.  A sign I don’t need to buy anything for a long time.  Unless I see something on clearance, lol.  I’m a sucker for clearance scrapbook supplies. 

Supplies:

Bazzill Cardstock
Basic Grey Printed Paper
May Arts Ribbon
Making Memories Charm (I think thats what they were called)
Making Memories Brads
Heidi Swapp Chipboard Letters
Heidi Swapp Ghost Alphabet
Heidi Swap Slide Clips
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Kraft Photo Corners
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Photo Tape
Ranger Paint Dabber
American Crafts Black Pen (used a Sweetwater Doodle Template for the lines.  I can’t draw a straight line to save my life.)
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink
Glue Dots

My iPhone comes on Friday.  I’m so freakin’ excited I can hardly stand it.  I found a Wireless Giant willing to unlock it so I can use it on t-mobile.  Sadly he said it would take about 2 business days.  I could probably do it myself, but not so sure what would happen should I mess it up.  Apparently it’s taboo.  I had to call about  places before I found someone to do it for me that was a “professional.”  The place I did find is a hike from my house… but worth it.  *wink*

Enjoy your Thursday.  The kids first day of mid-winter break is today. Both a good and bad thing for me.  I’ll be sleeping in if they let me,which is a plus, and the not so great… the fighting between all three of them should make me crazy by noon.

~j