Schtuff

So I found out yesterday that I am at risk of being laid off in March/April. This could not have come at a worse time (is there a better time?) as after 5 years of begging and pleading I finally convinced Michael to refinance and give me an addition. Yeah, well that's no happening now and I may have unfinished plywood stairs for the rest of my life at this rate! And I don't get my honkin big family room. :(

So I'm on the hunt for a job again. It took me 6 months last time, I hope it doesn't take that long again! I'm also cracking down on my spending and going to try to get some money into savings before this happens. Two months isn't long but every little bit helps right? Funny, I found this out on Friday, and it was confirmed yesterday. On Thursday I booked a flight to Texas to see my friend Amy for a weekend. Michael gave me some of his extra money from plowing a few weeks ago and told me I couldn't use it on bills so I said, hmmm, I need a visit to a warm climate. I had held on to that money for 3 weeks in a drawer for an emergency or something and then decided the heck with it I'm using it. It wasn't a lot but it would have paid a bill later when I am not getting a paycheck! Isn't that always the way?

I sent off my two altered items to Creative TECHniques magazine for publication! YAY! Hopefully I did all the instructions/photos right so they are happy and maybe will ask me again for stuff!

I also did some cleaning up in my scraproom. Man it was a mess. I made a pile of stuff to get rid of, got a few more baskets for storage and moved my sewing machine off my table into the armoire so there is more room for friends at the table. Debbie H, Dawn and Debbie F are coming over in a two weeks and we need some space! Another thing killed in the refinance idea is the cabinets for my room. Oh well.

And while I was down there, I also did some scrapping. Got 3 more pages for the Disney album done!

So that's it for me today, gotta go search the job boards now! Have a great day!

Middle Name Game

Got this from Lisa!

Here are the rules:1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).
3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.
4. At the end of your blog post, you can tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details.)

Yeah, It's supposed to be a tag but I'm not tagging anyone, if you want to play come back here and let me know so I can read your version!

M - Mother
A - animal lover
R - rambler
I - immensly enjoys baseball
E - eats too much junk

What Kind of Coffee are You?

I am:

You Are a Cappuccino

You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

Which is very appropriate!

Cards Anyone?

In 2006 a very good friend of mine's husband was being deployed to Iraq. Over at 123-Scrap, Chris came up with this awesome idea to make cards for the soldiers. Not just cards to send to them but blank cards for them to use to send back to their loved ones while they were deployed. This project was so well received we have sent thousands of cards and have received amazing feedback from both the soldiers who have used the cards and from people who are making the cards to send over there. So many people have told me how much it helps them to be able to give something back to the soldiers. So we are gearing up to start the 2008 mailings to the soldiers and I want this to be another great year so I'm spreading the word where I can.

So if you would be so kind to post word on your blog and/or to make some cards here is where you can get all the details:

http://cardsforsoldiers.blogspot.com/

or if you would like more specific info and to see some of the feedback go here:

http://123-scrap.com/forum/index.php?showforum=44

Thanks in advance! Have a great Wednesday!

Been Getting My Hands Dirty

Yep, been down in my scraproom the last two weekends in a row! FUN! I know I do a lot of digi scrapping but I still love the traditional stuff just as much as ever! Here are a few things I've made:

This is Jake (my 12yo) when he was about 5 months! Awwwww! :)

An altered barn star using the new Basic Grey :This photo frame album is hybrid and uses a digital kit by Traci Reed called "Aint No Sunshine"And a couple more for the Disney album:This one looks much better IRL, it scanned really badly! Thanks for looking! Happy MLK Day!

Laughter is the best Medicine

We all need laughter in our lives. My very favorite YouTube video:

Lia Sophia Jewelry Anyone?

I'm having a catalog party. Anyone interested?

They are having a great special for January, buy one item get two at 1/2 price! And get this, the one item you pay full price for can be the cheapest item! Cool huh?

If you are interested, here's a link to the catalog:

http://www.liasophia.com/sites/lisaruppel/page-catalog?CatID=15&TotalPages=61&PageNum=1

Long Week

It's been a long and a difficult week. I'm glad to put it behind me but I'm also glad I went through it too. Does that make sense? Well maybe it will after I explain a bit. It started out with a snowday on Monday, then a wake, a funeral and another snow delay to end the week.

Saturday night a bunch of us (some who hadn't seen each other in ages) got together at Rachael's house for a belated NYE party. It snowed here on NYE so we postponed it. Well about a half hour after the boys and I arrived the party was in full swing, the party took a terrible turn when Rachael opened the door to her Dad's apartment (he lived in an in-law attached to her house) and discovered something was wrong. We called 911 but it was too late. Her Dad had already passed away. It was awful in so many ways. You see Rachael was adopted an only just found Richard, her biological dad 9 years ago. It was such a fairy tale story as he never knew he had a daughter let alone 5 grandchildren so when he found this out he moved all the way from Las Vegas to New Hampshire to be with them. 9 years is not enough time but it's better than none I guess. I was at the wake Wednesday night and every person that came up to Rachael while I was next to her said how happy her dad was since they found each other. Those words just warmed my heart each time I heard them. At least Rachael has that knowledge to carry with her while she is getting over losing her wonderful Dad.

So while I hated to see my very good friend lose a loved one I am very glad that I was able to be there for her in that very difficult time and will be if she needs me in the days ahead.

Looking forward to next week! Hopefully I'll have something good to blog about! Have a great weekend!

Hubby Tag

Candice had this tag on her blog and invited anyone who reads her blog to play along. So if you feel like playing a game of tag . . . YOU'RE IT!!!

What's his name? Michael James Bumbaca

How long did you date? 5 years (we were high school sweethearts)

How old is he? 42 (for a few more weeks!)

Who eats more? We are both on a diet but he still eats more! This guy can EAT!

Who said "I love you" first? Him.

Who is taller? Michael, he's 6'1 and I am 5'4".

Who sings better? Ummm, me and that's not sayin much! Although, come to think of it, it may be him, I've never heard him sing! LOL!

Who is smarter? Michael even tho I was the better student!

Who does the laundry? Both of us. He puts HIS laundry in the wash and sometimes even the dryer but if I want it out of the basket I have to fold it!

Who does the dishes? Me.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you are looking at the bed, he does. If you are laying in the bed me!

Who pays the bills? I do!

Who mows the lawn? He does and he can't wait till the boys take over.

Who cooks dinner? Me unless I'm away then he tries!

Who drives when you are together? Michael unless he had too many beers! :)

Who is more stubborn? Definitely me.

Who kissed who first? Him

Who asked who out first? Neither one of us, his sister set us up by telling each of us the other wanted to go out.

Who proposed? He did.

Who is more sensitive? Michael.

Who has more friends? Me

Who has more siblings? He does. I have none, he has three.

Who wears the pants in the family? LOL! I let Michael think he does!

I saw this info on Tim Holtz's blog and wanted to share it with my few readers that may not read his blog. I think it's a great cause and hope you will pop over and help out! Info on the charity is below.

How It Works:
The four charity badges with the most unique donations through America's Giving Challenge will get $50,000 for their cause.
America's Giving Challenge runs only until January 31st.
Donate:
If you are able donate , please donate via the badge a $10 tax deductible donation. We need the most people possible to each donate $10 to A Place to Bark. In order to win the grant we need to have the most amount of donors, not necessarily the amount of money donated.
All donations made to A Place to Bark's Six Degrees Badge, will be matched by the "Zoline Foundation" up to $25,000.00!!! All donations up to June 1st will be counted for the matching donation from the Zoline Foundation.

Thank you in advance!

-3

Nope, not degrees like last week, pounds! In my first week on my official diet I've lost 3 pounds! Only 20 to go! LOL! I hate getting old. I used to be able to eat anything and not gain a pound. My metabolism started to slow down right around the time I stopped hairdressing and got a desk job. Imagine that! ;) Anyway this past summer I went off of a migraine preventative medicine that has one huge side effect - WEIGHT LOSS! I loved that side effect. Well the other side effect I guess it can do liver or kidney damage (I forget which one) over long term so my neurologist wanted me to stop taking it. Well I did and within a few months I gained 20 pounds and am actually more than I was when I started taking it! ICK! So Jan 2nd was the start of my diet but we are doing A Biggest Loser contest at work so the 3rd was my "Official Weigh In" day. Let's hope next week it's another negative number! ;)

Happy Thursday!

For Hallie

I am posting my newest Coach addition for Hallie since she said she would come to my house if I had some so I figured that would be a fun way to get to meet her! LOL! Anyway Hallie, my wonderful Husband bought me these for a belated xmas present because he got has got to make some extra money plowing with all this snow! What do you think? I have a matching purse too! You wanna come to my house now? ;)

Happy Hump Day all!

Look What I Won!

My friend Dawn who I met through Debbie won an Honorable Mention in Basic Grey's Card Contest (woohoo Dawn!). And because she was so happy she decided to have a little give away of her own and I won! I met Dawn today (she works in the town next to my hometown) and picked up my awesome prize! She made this awesome box out of the Laguna Guy Junkitz papers designed by my wonderfully talented and (pregnant!) friend Candice Cook (and I'm not just saying that cause she reads my blog either) isn't it the cutest!

And inside the box was so much fun stuff! Some American Crafts Thickers, Buttons, KI embellies and the most awesome paper pack!

And my very own BG Figgy Pudding card kit! I have been wanting one of these since Lisa posted all her awesome cards at 123-Scrap!

Isn't that awesome? Thank you again so much Dawn! I can't wait to scrap and play!

We're Having a HeatWave

sing it with me now!

Here is our forecast for the week!

I may not even need a coat tomorrow! Woohoo!

And another Woohoo! A hybrid card I made with some of Traci Reed's digi stuff is going to be published in Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine in the February Issue! Yay!

On the diet front, I'm drinking so much I need to make up time in the afternoon at work because I have to take so many bathroom breaks! And I haven't had one snack since Jan 2nd! That is saying A LOT!

Happy Monday!

Challenges!

There are challenges everywhere out there. We have tons of them over at 123-Scrap each month and even weekly too! ;) But as for digi challenges my favorites are at Sweet Shoppe Designs and my very favorite one is the Spin a Lift Challenge. Now everyone that knows me knows I love to scraplift! But the Spin A Lift puts a twist on my favorite thing by making me turn that page to lift it! Sometimes it takes some thinking because a page I might love one way doesn't work so well spun 90 degrees! I recently did a lift of Teresa Ferguson using this layout:
http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/inspiration/showphoto.php?photo=4564

and here is what I came up with:

Another reason I love challenges is that doing them keeps me scrapping and sometimes even stretches my creativity! Gotta love that! So go do some challenges! I'm off to do some now!

So Hallie, I'm sure that wasn't the type of update you were hoping for but hey, I blogged!

Happy Saturday!

Happy 2008!!!

Hope you all rang in the new year exactly as you liked! I stayed up with the boys, it was their first time watching the ball drop. Jake said it was boring! LOL! Considering we had to be quite since Michael was sleeping it was kinda lame! ;)

We got another 4-6 inches of snow today! BLECH! December was a record breaking month for snow and then on Jan 1st we get more! I'm so done with winter already! I'm taking up a collection so I can go somewhere warm anyone want to contribute? :) And since I was stuck at home, I did three paper pages today and made a bracelet. Well technically I re-strung a bracelet but I changed it up a bit so I'll call it making one! ;) Here is my favorite page of the day...

Back to work and school tomorrow so it's going to be an early night! Have a great one all!