...Because I can

Posting for that very reason!! *huge smile*

Today was a good day. Weather was very nice. Not too hot, not too cool. Just right. Had lunch with the InLaws today. It was nice, grilled out chicken/hotdogs. Watched the kids play on the trampoline. Mowed the yard. Weeded. Went to the movies to see Ratatouille tonight with the family and MIL. It was cute. Ate way too much popcorn...ugh...feel sick.

My MIL brought me back some Fiestaware from West Virgina. She has used it for years and I have always loved it. She uses ALL the colors and it's so pretty. I have wanted the red and yellow for a long time since my kitchen is done in Cherries. (it's Michigan afterall!) So instead of a Tshirt, she brought us home Fiestaware!!! Hey, I can do a culture challenge layout about my fiesta ware! and the yellow challenge all at the same time! LOL

Sophie is doing great. Getting along with all of us as though she always has been part of the family! I forgot how spunky kitten can be! And how sharp their nails are...ouch.

Got a new/old recruit today. Welcome back Annette! Hybrid...how can you turn it down? Faxed in her aggreement tonight before the movies. She will going digi in no time! I am going to share this great offer with another dear friend of mine later in the week. I know once she spends 2 minutes on my laptop she will be hooked!

Off to work on my LifeTimez some more!

Live from my laptop!

Ahhh....*chest goes up and comes down ever so slowly with a long exhale noise.

I was so fed up with not being able to post from laptop. I was asking everyone I knew about what the reason might be and the word security issues kept coming up. So I just went in and reset my security systems to the defaults...and bam! I can post now!

Life just got easier. It's a good day!

Happy July 1st! There will be fireworks over Detroit tonight from our Canadian Friends just over the water! I haven't not been there in years. And I know why...Traffic. So we will not be there. But I will be sure to watch it on the TV!

I am on vacation until July 9th! We have NO PLANS! It sure feels good. Just a bunch of little day trips and staying home with the family!

EHD & Organization

External Hard Drives. If you don't own one, get one. I just spent the last day going thru all my Digi downloads and loading them on to my EHD. I have been very lucky with computer and thought I was really pushing my luck by not having a back up for all my stuff that I buy. So, I bit the bullet and sat yesterday and did that. I found stuff that I didn't know I had! LOL Which is a good thing I guess. They are all freebies that I have found one place or another.

Now, I need to pick your brains. I was on a chat last night with Dragon Flaire Studios. They were talking about storage using the ACDSee program. Well, it was very informative. So it got me thinking. As did my hero, about sorting and storage. I am so freaked out about starting this project but it has to be done. I waste more time just looking for what I want then actually putting stuff together. I know I have it but where...

So, I want to discuss storage and how to tackle it. I have heard some do it by color, some by theme. I want to know what YOU do. Please share and help me get started. It's still a managable project at this point in my digi life, but if I don't grab the bull by the horns NOW, it will be a nightmare.

I want specific details...how do you even start? Is it with folders? I am clueless. Do I need ANOTHER EHD just for this reason? Help!

Krystal Hartley's Layout...my photos!

Here's my pictures on this layout! Perfect. I swear she looks at my photos before she designs! LOL THANKS KRYSTAL!

(side note: I just figured out how to link something!) yeah me!

This is from or trip last weekend to North Carolina. I just emailed it to all my Aunts and Uncles. They are going to love it. I had just got my photo book in the mail the day I was leaving so I took it with me to show off. They all feel in love with it. I smell christmas gifts!

Chatter box

I guess I am just a little CHATTER box today with all these posts! Speaking of Chatter...Look at these cool bookz COMING SOON!

My Creative Block- Culture Challenge

Here's my personal take on Culture. I can't live without this stuff. I don't want to ever give it up! NEVER! I WON'T....YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!

New Pet

Got a new baby girl today. Can't figure out a name for her yet, though. So far we have:
Ophelia, Bianca, Sophie, and Grace. Oh and Will wants it to be Pumpkin! LOL I can almost be sure it won't be named pumpkin.

EDIT: Her name is SOPHIE

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope...it's just the Real Rach!

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? about 5 minutes ago...still fighting back the tears.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I don't really worry to much about it. It's not great but you can read it.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? The kind that has the cheese pieces in it. Don't eat it very often but that's the kind I would beg my mom for growing up.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 of the best! Sons.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Of course I would. Why you not want to be friends with me?!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Never...oops...sorry, Yes!

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS Nope. Removed in the first grade.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Oh Hell NO! (No need to erase Betsey answer here...)

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Frankenberry as a kid and I still enjoy it but not as much as I thought! So I guess now I will say, frosted flakes.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? NEVER! And I try to buy shoes without laces for that very reason. Lazy!

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? With my life...you bet!

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Red Indian from Bobbie's in Hudson.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Teeth of course...it's my job!

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I can only pick one thing here?? Can I lump them together and say my looks? My weight has always been an issue and my hair.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Papa Bill

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Sure. It's always fun to read.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Denim shorts and bare feet.

20 WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Sunny Side (mexican food)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Star Wars video game (Zander is playing it right next to me)

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Yellow because all the kids use it to make the sun!

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Lilacs

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister Amy Jo. Telling her about why I was crying.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? You bet...she's my TLC buddy!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Hands down...FOOTBALL! Worst: GOLF? WHY DO THEY SHOW IT ON TV?

27. HAIR COLOR? Naturally brown with added highlights and lowlights.

28. EYE COLOR? Hazel

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Can't. Suffer from extreme dry eyes and plus I feel naked without my glasses on!

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican food

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? At this point in my life...happy endings.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Shrek 3 and I must say, It wasn't the best one of the bunch. But...all the same, I will be seeing Shrek 4 if they make one.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? baby blue cotton Tshirt.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? SUMMER (all 3 months of it!)

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cherry Pie

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No clue?

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND See question 37.

39. What book are you reading now? I don't read books. No time.

40. What is on your mousepad? Dell XPS

41. What did you watch on T.V. last night? Nothing.

42. What is your favorite sound? Birds singing in the morning

43. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles, I guess.

44.What is the farthest you've been from home? Spain

45. Do you have a special talent. I have so many I can't list them all! LOL

46. Where were you born? Hudson, Michigan

47. Whose answers are you looking forward to getting back? Anyones!

shopping

Did me a little Secret Sister shopping tonight!! Now the main problem will be giving it up! I found a ....wait....I can't post it here! Sorry...forgot....oops...that's a shame too...it's really cool!

Home

Well worth the time it took to drive to North Carolina for a day! We were only missing 2 people from the group. From Left to Right: Aunt Linda, Mom, Uncle Terry, Grandma, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Denise, Aunt Pat. Missing: Aunt Barb & Uncle Ray. This will probably be the last time the group will be together with Grandma at one time. Her health is failing fast. But it was great time!

EDIT: Took 9.5 hours going down and then 13 hours coming home but we slept for 2 hours in a rest area and we were coming from farther south on the drive home.

Binder Park Zoo

Petting Al with the Zoo Keeper.
Grandma Bonnie and the boys at the giraffe statue.
Zander getting kissed by the giraffe just like Daddy did last year! He says it's a family tradition and he wants his children to do the same. I do too, Zander, I do too! It's all about traditions and family, buddy...Always!

Aunt Amy Jo and the boys on the turtle statue. Weather was just perfect. We had the BEST time today. We got to go into the Turtle Cage! Which was very fitting for our family since my sister collects turtles. (hence the turtle pics last week at the zoo) It was so cool and the biggest one weighed in at over 750 lbs. Guess I won't complain about carrying around my own weight now! The big one was named Al and the littler one was called Speedy. It was so cool to watch them move and eat. We also had a blast with the monkeys today. They were very 'talkative' while we were there. They would imitate William and that would make us laugh even harder. This was my Mom's first visit to this zoo. I think she enjoyed it! We love going as you can tell. To any zoo!

More cards for swap

I got 6 more done for the swap. I am out of transparencies so I am at a stand still until tomorrow. I can get to the store tomorrow on my lunch hour, I hope.

We leave Thursday evening for North Carolina. Going down for a surprise party for our Uncle's 50th Bday! Coming back Sunday. So major fast trip! But wouldn't want to miss it. I think I will take my laptop as I did on trip to florida. I can hopefully get some layouts done during the 13 hour drive time!

Happy Birthday Shell!

Happy Birthday SHELL!

June 20th is her day but since she's a Kiwi, it's techinically her Bday now! Made a little something - something for you! Here you go! Love Ya Girly!

My first Photobook submission

card details

I had a couple ask me "how" so here is a break down.
The transparencies are just from walmart in the business section. I just cut them in half and folded them. Cut my cardstock and adhered it with the red sticky tape to the inside-back of the card. The stamps and rubons are on the outside front. Then I added a 2x2 piece of solid CS to the top of the Slumberparty print paper to use for signing the card. This is the back of the card. You can barely see the adhesive. I just put a little in each corner. (it's the double sided sticky tape)

Cards

Here's my cards I have done so far. I am not sure about the stamps. I used StazOn ink but it was so slippery that a couple of them are sorta a tad distorted. I added the little solid CS fold at the last minute. I thought we could use it as a place to sign the card without it showing. I am thinking they need some ribbon but not sure?? Any comments? If you don't think they will be well recieved, I won't make any more of this type. I just have been dying to try these transparency cards so I did. They are super fun to make but not sure if they are something anyone else would want?

I was trying to keep my costs low. My first idea was going to be too expensive to mass produce. I was going to add BLING to it but then after adding up the cost decided to go with the rub ons. Also thought about using the chips but was to lazy to want to cover them to make what I was thinking! LOL

Card swap

I started my cards tonight. Got 12 done. Not sure how I feel about them. The didn't come out exactly as I had hoped but I guess cute enough.

I need to by more transparencies to finish them up. I think I will make 20 and when they are gone they are gone. Last time I came home with more than I passed out! LOL oops....

I need to get my layouts printed that I want to submit for the contest also. I am on the fence as to what one I want to do. I have been saving one for just that reason that no one has seen yet. It's more funny than anything else. My sister is going to kill me for showing everyone this photo that I used on it! LOL But it just as humiliating for me as well! LOL hee hee....sorry...it really is funny!

Josh picked me up some of the thin stuff from hobby lobby. I am not impressed with this stuff either. It cuts so jagged. I need to figure out if I can sand it down. I really truly believe the only way to go it to buy the $30 album! But Ouch...if you make too many!

Grrr.....

Ok,...I am beginning to think that this whole making my own clear albums is for the birds...I hurt myself trying to use the crop a dile to punch the holes. Plus it was splitting them. So we took them down to my FIL and used the drill press on them...well the first one, again, worked great! BUT...the hole was smaller than I wanted it. So, I get the bright idea...let's just put in a bigger drill bit. WRONG! It broke them again. So out of 12 I have 4 left that are fine. GRR....

I need to find thinner acrylic/plexiglass. 1/8" is NOT working. I need 1/16". So Josh said he will hit hobby lobby for me tomorrow to see what they have. Bless his heart. I took some pictures of him doing my album! Let me post them!

Oh...and KH...I will save a card just for you!

Lowe's

Made my trip there tonight to hunt for the acrylic/plexiglass to "attempt" my own clear album. Well, I found a sheet of 18"x24" for under $9. It was .080 thick...thought it seemed heavier-thicker than the one I have at home. YEP...it was. I used my crop-a-dile to cut the holes in it and it worked like a charm on the first piece. But every piece after that would crack on me...grrr....I had the man at Lowe's cut my stuff for me too. So that was one less thing I had to do. So I am going to have Josh get out the drill tomorrow and see if he can cut my holes for me that way. I wanted to just play with it first before I played with the purchased album.

I bought some cute clear Swirls stamps tonight by Rhonna Farrer. (Autumn Leaves) They were $8.93 at WalMart. I DO NOT stamp but I could NOT pass these gems up. I love swirls and these will be perfect for my project for convention. I have something in mind that I hope looks as cute when completed as it does in my head!! LOL Card swap...here I come!

For Aunt Amy

The boys were thinking of you while at the zoo Wednesday. They had to have their pictures taken on the turtle statues for you! We need plan a Binder Park Trip Soon! My goal is for one road trip each week during summer break. Doesn't have to be far but I want to spend as much time with the boys as I can. This is my last year with William home! Gotta make it a good one!