Day 212, 2010

Today I got up early (6am) because Daisy for whatever reason doesn't get the concept of SATURDAY MORNING SLEEP IN!!!! (we're working on it! ) :) Anyway... it was so early and I wasn't in the mood for playing I photoshop'd while Daisy ate my toes... (seriously!). So here's the layout I came up with. I got the banner idea from a layout J-Sprague did for a photoshop Friday, but changed it up with the circular photos, corner embelishments and the journaling block. I like how it turned out. If you'd like this template, along with others, check out scrappinstuff-lorrie.blogspot.com (Lorrie's Story).

Day 213, 2010

Well we've picked the last of the garden squash and zuchinni... and made the roasted veggies above.. YUUUUMMMMMMO! I got the recipe from Kevin and Amanda so super simple and delish... that's fresh corn off the cob, red pepper, zuchinni and red onion, but you could put just about anything in it. I was going to add fresh mushrooms....but didn't. We paired it with a shrimp pasta dish that's just about one of my favorite main dishes.

Day 211, 2010

Ashlea met me for lunch today. We went to Hacienda... good to see her. (she changed her hair...again!) Looks good!

Day 210, 2010

We got take out Chinese tonight. I always end up with the strangest fortunes!!! On the back it tells you how to say POPCORN in chinese. BAO Mi Hua... just in case you ever go to China and need to know ;0)

Day 209, 2010

I received a necklace I ordered from my friend, Deb. It's so cool. She made it herself and sells her jewelry in her Etsy shop. You can find more of her creations here.

I'm wearing it to work today. :)

here

Day 208, 2010

My latest favorite Vera bag. This picture doesn't do it justice. It's partridges in pear trees and super cute. LOL Can you tell there's not much going on in my world right now?!!? :)

Day 207, 2010

The jumbo Hibiscus popped today. They are blooming faster than I can take photos. There's another plant like this on the opposite side of the shed, we transplanted this from Doug's prior house and weren't sure it would make it... but here it is 9 years later... still blooming! :)

Day 206, 2010

It's a gorgeous day here in South Bend today, very warm.. but gorgeous! I went over to Ashlea and Richie's to see the progress.. what cute apartment they've made, then Ash and I went grocery shopping together.. I took her home and then headed back and Doug and I enjoyed the afternoon. While sitting outside Doug said.. " look at the Monarch butterfly.. that would be a great pic of the day for you".. I didn't think the butterfly would still be there by the time I went inside and grabbed the camera.. but I swear he started to pose for me.. I got several shots.

Day 205, 2010

Doug and I went to see "Inception" today. Here's my official thumbs up. Another mind bender by Leonardo... (I just LOVe him!) great movie, but you have to pay attention!

My week layout for June 27-30, 2010

Still Catching up. Done with June.. off to July. If you'd like the template for the left side of this layout, it's on Lorrie's Story. Help yourself. This layout is pretty simple, but I want to get caught up.

Day 204, 2010

Can you believe in all the moving yesterday, I forgot to take photos??? Geesh...! This is/was Ashlea's room. It's pretty much emptied out now.. except her desk. They ran out of time/energy and daylight before she got that moved. Of course, she knows she's got to come back and finish cleaning up. My first project is to repaint the walls white... she had orange and magenta theme in her room. It was cute for her, but it's very bright!!! :)

Day 203, 2010

Well here they are with their first haul of "stuff". They are so excited! It really is a cute little apartment. They won't be moving the big things until tomorrow when Ashlea can get her dad's truck to help, but they couldn't wait for that.. they are staying there tonight.

Day 202, 2010

Hard to believe, my baby girl... Ashlea... walked out of the house tonight and came back and told me they signed a lease on an apartment. She's moving out tomorrow (Thursday)... bittersweet. Don't misunderstand.. I knew it was coming and it's a happy occasion.. but... she's my baby girl and my son is moving in less than a month for college... big changes coming my way. :) :( :P :~

My week layout for June20-26, 2010

Still Playing Catchup. You can download this template on my other blog if you like

Day 201, 2010

This cracks me up. It's a KONG toy for Daisy. You fill the middle with this Spray Peanut Butter stuff for dogs... it looks like she's using a binkie! LOL

Day 200, 2010

OK, I wasn't going to post this, but I thought it was kinda cute/funny. The other night when I went to the fair with my girlfriends, this guy gave this note to Jodie and asked her to give it to me. I threw it away, but I did take a picture to show my other friend in Florida, I just came across it on my phone. I blotted out the phone number.... Deb, another friend who was at the fair called him and pretended to be me... well, no it wasn't nice, but seriously.... c'mon! LOL At least he didn't say.. You're PURDY!

My week layout for June13-19, 2010

One more week caught up.

July 18, 2010

It's a dreary day here today, so I've been playing around with my digi. Yes, I have my mojo back and no I haven't touched my digi design kit and I'm ok with that. There's still time if I change my mind but I'm over feeling guilty. This is what I love.. taking the photos and telling the stories. Ashlea is such a pretty girl (I'm not prejudice...much! LOL) :) I just love playing around with the photos.

My week layout for June 6-12, 2010

Still Playing catch-up. If you would like this template, it's available on my other blog "lorrie's story".

My week layout for June 1-5, 2010

Slowly catching up on the weekly recaps

Day 199, 2010

When I come back in my next life... I want to be one of my animals.... lol What a stressful life they have!

Day 197, 2010

Ok, my picture is the Logo I was going to use to launch my digital designs. Was? you ask? Well I guess I'm posting this because I need your support. I took this class because I absolutely love Jessica Sprague's inspiration, style, etc.. and I wanted to learn more. I did learn more, I did enjoy it tremendously.. but every since the first day that class started (it's over now), I have not digitally or paper scrapped one page, I have not wanted to do anything because I feel guilty because I should be working on my kit for submission, then taking the certification exam.. I can't scrap or do anything else because I feel like I should be doing that instead. I am not a quitter. That being said... I have found that I don't really enjoy the designing aspect as much as the creating the memories/keepsakes. I don't care who made the paper, embellishments, etc.. I had so much fun making the layouts and creating a story for my kids that this has kind of taken away from that enjoyment. So.... my friends.. I am asking you for your permission to move on. Take the pressure off of me. I don't have to get certified.. I never wanted to "Sell" in the first place.. I don't have to create the ultimate kit for submission... I learned a lot, I can make a kit if I want to, I can make papers, embellishments... but it's ok to stop and go back to enjoying this craft and not making it a job. I haven't even been posting on my blog as regular because if I sit at the computer I have this nagging feeling that no... You shouldn't be working on blogs.. you've got a deadline. I don't want my love, my craft to be a job.. I just don't. I have a 8-5 job that I get paid for. I have a 24/7 mom job that I love.. I want my craft to be my special place that I do just for me. I know I'm rambling.. any maybe I'm trying to talk myself into the fact that it's ok to take what I've learned and move on. I just feel like such a cop out. I know I can pass the test, I know I can do the kit well.. I just don't want to. Am I being stupid? I hate that I haven't created anything. It's like the class sucked out my mojo.. I want my MOJO.. I like my MOJO.. :) On the J. Sprague board I posted something kind of similiar a couple weeks ago and they all said take the test, get your certification or you will regret it. I am just not happy that it's sucked the creativeness out of me. I don't want to feel guilty or pressure to do the one thing in my life that is 100% mine and 100% relaxing for me. Am I being selfish? Lazy?... please I can't explain it, but either A) I take the test, submit the kit and move on.. or B) let it go and go back to what I love without the guilt that I gave up. (but what did I give up on, really? ).... oy vey! I know.. this is not a "REAL" problem in life.. but I need you, my friends, to give me your honest opinions.. what would you do?

Day 196, 2010

Lori, Jodie, Deb and I met at the legion then went over to the Argos 4-H fair for our annual corn dog and to see who all we knew at the fair. Turns out it was not a big night for the class of 85, (or 84, 83, 82 for that matter! LOL) The first picture is the four of us at the legion... then of course Lori, Deb and I went for the classic corn dog, but Jodie opted for the more sophisticated walking taco.... the last photo is just one of Deb's numerous #1 blue ribbon entries in the 4-h. She had jewelry, quilting and several cross stitch projects entered.

Day 195, 2010

This is Lacey and Daisy. Lacey has NOT warmed up to Daisy until just this very moment, I couldn't believe Lacey didn't immediately jump down or swat at her.

Day 194, 2010

I was out letting the dog out and walking around the yard (trying to get her tired) and I glanced over at the garden... I guess we've been neglecting it because this was just a few of the overgrown zucchini and squash that I picked.

Day 193, 2010

My babies. Aren't they just adorable! LOL I got them to pose for a picture before Alex left to go somewhere (as he's always doing). I love that they are so close and really great friends not just because they are brother and sister.

Day 192, 2010

Ashlea and I were outside playing with the dogs and I was taking pictures as she entertained the dogs, she thought I was photographing the animals, but I took a few shots of her. I love this one.

Day 191, 2010

Recently I changed the place where I go get my car washed and I thought it was so hilarious that where your car enters the section that blows it dry, they have these monkeys on this netting on both sides, so when the blowers are going the monkeys are all jiggling and they look like monkeys hanging and swinging on a vine. So today I made sure and took my camera with me.

Day 190, 2010

The water lily in the pond bloomed today. I think they are so pretty.

Day 189, 2010

OK, I realize I have been mentioning Daisy daily, but really she pretty much consumes every minute right now making sure she's not chewing on this, or eating my shoes or chasing the cat, or..... (well you get the picture). LOL Anyway, I made this card to send to my good friend who loves her dog as much as I do... so she'll "get it". LOL

Day 188, 2010

The good thing about having Monday off? It's Wednesday already! Woooohooo! We are having a serious heatwave here. (I know you folks in Vegas are whining for me, right!? ;0) Anyway, for today's photo I am posting a pic I took of last night's dinner, we had too much heat and too many mosquitos to cook outside, so I made one of my kids favorites.. it may not look like much, but they love it!


Baked Penne & Smoked Sausage

1 16-oz pkg smoked sausage
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1-1/2 C Milk
4 C cooked penne pasta
1 C Shredded Mozzarella cheese (I use more like 16 oz... we love cheese!)
1 can french fried onions (the kind you use in green bean casserole)
1 C frozen peas
just a dash of Garlic powder
just a dash Onion powder
Pepper to taste... (note don't add salt. The sausage is very salty, you may want to salt portions individually)

Heat oven to 350. Cut sausage into 1/4" slies and brown in skilled, drain

Combine soup and milk in 3 qt casserole dish. Stir in cooked pasta, sausage, 1/2 of the cheese, onion powder, garlic powder and 1/2 of the french fried onions and peas

Bake 30 minutes until hot; stir. Top with remaining cheese and onions, bake 5-10 more minutes until golden. Serve, eat, then find a spot on the couch and unbutton the top button of your jeans... it's filling! LOL

Day 187, 2010

What can I say... I LOVE this show. My favorite line of the this season so far is... You, You and YOU Get out of my kitchen.... and YOU DONKEY! LOL It's like a train wreck.. you just have to watch. Chef grows on you! ;0)

Day 186, 2010

Doug picked our first "Mess" of beans from the garden today. Let me tell you, they were yummy! There were more than this, that's just all he had by the time I took the picture. We love to just have a bowl of beans with fresh tomatoes and red onion on top. OOOOHHhhhh! :)

Day 185, 2010

Happy 4th Everyone! I hope you all all enjoying a relaxing and wonderful day with loved ones. We absolutely had nothing on our agenda today so we just enjoyed this beautiful day outside with the dogs and gorgeous sunshine! Katie is getting used to Daisy so this is one of our first shots of them in the same photo. Daisy just adores Kate, but Kate is making sure she knows who's the Alpha Dog. lol

Day 184, 2010

We celebrated the 4th with Doug's Family today instead of tomorrow since everyone had other commitments. We had a wonderful day. Doug's Mom, Dad, Sister and Brother-in-Law joined Doug, Ashlea, Richie and I for a cookout at our house (Alex was at a friends). We had a nice relaxing dinner outside. BUT... I Forgot to take photos of our guest! DUH! As soon as everyone left I said, "I Forgot to get the camera out!" So instead you get a picture of a frog that Daisy found and gave the ride of it's life to today. I'm sure this little toad is thanking God for his life because Daisy thought it a chew toy and decided to run all over the yard with him/her before finally dropping her on the deck. WHEW... Sorry little fella! :)

Day 183, 2010

Well, I was sitting at the computer working on my photoshop and Daisy was in my lap..., then she went half on my lap, half on the desk and all I can say was she didn't find it too interesting because she instantly went to sleep! LOL I snapped the photo with the monitor camera on the computer.

Day 182, 2010

Can you believe it? We are half way through 2010 and half way through Project 365!!! I can't believe it, it has been so much fun watching everyone's Project 365 blogs and getting to know their families. Those from the Cricut Message Board (and open to anyone) were invited to make a "flat me" of themselves using Paper Doll Dress Up Carts, then we mailed a flat me of each of us to each of the others to celebrate this very day. Here are my fellow 365'ers, this was so much fun! There were 13 that signed up, I only ended up with 10 including my own, but I've got serious road construction going on my street and all the mailboxes have been moved and at times unreachable, so if you sent me yours and it's not in the photo, don't stress, it will probably show up eventually and I'll add it to my vase and take a new photo!