2 Tags and 2 Previews Tuesday!

What were you doing 10 years ago? 1996 - I was 16 and a junior in High School... not much... I was kinda a dork in HS, LOL!

What were you doing 1 year ago? Trying to get through my second NW PA Winter... I also had a 4 month old, so that meant staying inside at all times, and not going anywhere very much. I started going to a gym to get rid of baby weight.

Five snacks you enjoy: Honey BarBQ Fritos, Tostitos and Salsa con Queso, fresh brownies with Caramel ice cream, sharp cheddar cheese on crackers, any chocolate ice cream.

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics: Baby Got Back, Whoomp There It Is, Shine, various Praise Songs

Five bad habits: picking at the skin around my fingernails, leaving my clothes on the floor at night, leaving Seth in the crib just to answer one more post, spending too much money, uhhh...

Five things you like doing: Getting a manicure, singing loudly to music when I'm by myself, having my hair done, going out on a boat, shopping

Five things you would never wear, buy or get again: plaid stirrup pants, brown penny loafers, skorts, flip flops with unpainted toes, I would never get another pixie cut.

Five favorite toys: Computer w/ CS2, Nikon D70s, DVD player, food processor, and does my oven count?

Five people I want tagged: Jen W, Melissa, Tegan, Mari, Jan


Coming This Thursday to The Digi Chick!

1. If you were to choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
something flamboyant like Veronica or Lola...

2. If you were given an extra $10 in change at Walmart, what would you do with it and why? I'd give it back.... I know, I know, I'd be plagued by giult all day if I didn't!

3. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your past relationships? Be honest from the get go!

4. What’s one of your worst habits? see above tag...

5. What was the best day of the past week for you - why? Thursday... I got to go to the camera class, and spend time with my family, outside of the house!

6. What are you wearing today which is most reflective of who you are? A Large men's Old Navy Hoodie. I LIVE in lg hoodies in the winter. Its white with red lettering... 2 of my fave colors.

7. Choose a unique item from your wallet and explain why you carry it around. I have an ink print of Seth's hand from when he was a newborn. I just like nowing I have his hand with me that I can touch when I am out without him.

8. If you could change one thing about your physical appearance what would it be and why? I have acne-prone skin. I have had this bad skin for 12 years now... shouldn't it end? I have been on every med under the sun for it... and its still here.

9. Share one of your most embarrassing moments. Oh geeze! How about the time I went to a Sadie's Hawkins dance when I was 15, and it was a blind date sorta thing with a 14 yr old. He was the star soccer player in JV. He was way cute, dark curls and all. After the dance he told everyone that I was "OK" and that he wanted to stay friends. I was crushed. At school on Monday I tried to play it cool and approached him and his friends as they stood against the wall. My 2 girl friends never saw me leave our safe pack, so they kept going and turned a corner. All of a sudden, him, and all of his freinds turned their heads at the exact same time and just stared at me....it was almost like slo mo, 8 guys siwveling their heads to stare at me... I literally turned on my heels and ran around the corner. I NEVER spoke to him again. I will say that I saw him last summer at a wedding back home... and he's gained weigt and his hair has receded, LOL! And yep... still never said a word to him, bwahahaha!

10. If you were given a million dollars and 24 hours to spend it in, (no depositing it in the bank or investing it) what would you buy? Pay off every loan and credit card we have, Diamonds, new vehichles, gift certifs to my fave clothing stores. And land, yep, land.

Tag 2 more: Traci & Gina

Here is my most recent scrap, these are the 2 girls of a friend of mine. I LOVE scrapping girls! Jen Wilson's Snowfairy kit from Seasonal Scraps and ScrapArtist Schmootsy frame and alpha.

Creative Team Call!

Andrea Burns is looking for 5 active, enthusiastic, and inspirational digital scrapbookers to become part of her creative team.

Details:
1. As a part of my team, I ask that you create 3-4 LO's a month. You will receive a minimum of 2 free kits to work with each month.

2. You must create 1 to 2 original layouts with each kit you are given and post to at least 2 (preferrably 3) major online galleries (2 must be TDC & 2Ps) and e-mail me the links to the layouts. You must properly credit me as the designer in your gallery postings.

3. I prefer that you become an active member of the posting forums of the galleries you post to. I feel that if people "know" you, they will pay more attention to your work in the galleries.

3. You can be a member of any other design team or website creative team as long as you are able to keep up your commitment to complete the layouts for the kits you have received.

Application:
1. Please download a sample of my work here:

Link 1

Link 2 (please use once link 1 is finito)

2. Create a LO using the sample items. You may supplement a couple items into your LO, as long as my itmes are still the main focus.

3. Email me your LO to andreaburnsct@hotmail.com sized to 100k.

4. Along with your scrapbook page, please include the following information in your e-mail.
Complete name and contact information.

A link to your most complete online gallery
A description of your scrapping style and what you feel your strengths and weaknesses are
Any additional information you want to share

Deadline is Wednesday February 8, midnight.

Snowflower

This is something special I have worked on for a while! Its technically the second design I have made, so it is dear to my heart. It is now available at A Cherry On Top, so go get it! Snowflower is a fun and flirty digital kit. The papers have a sanded denim texture, and are sure to draw eyes to your layouts. Included in this kit are, 10 textured papers, 5 tags, 3 twills, 2 buttons, 2 flowers, 2 paperclips, 2 silver flower accents, 1 tied bow, 1 silver frame, and hardware. A full alpha, number and symbol set is also included!



My friend Kiersten and I, just got back from seeing the movie Tristan & Isolde. Mmmmm... I love a delicious star-crossed love story! Espcially period pieces! This movie was wonderful, lots of angst and tense moments. Lots of heart ache and love~ I deffinately recommend it!

Baby It's Cold Outside...

I have lived here in NW Penn., for 3 winters now. Each year has yeilded record snows from December through April. Except this year. Its been dry. Don't get me wrong, its still disgustingly grey and cold... but dry. Well, it finally snowed a couple days back. So I bundled up my Charlie Chimpanzee, and we headed out. Much better than last year, where all he did was cry! Seth really enjoyed himself for the 15 minutes we were playing in the yard. He was so absorbed in discovering the snow, that I couldn't get him to look at the camera! I mean, I was still in my flannel jammies singing Itsy Bitsy Spider at the top of my lungs (what were my neighbors thinking?) and he just walked away. Maybe I embarassed him, LOL.

My Ritz Camera class was "OK" last night. The guy teaching it was just an employee with a DVD and a handbook, but he did know basic stuff. I did learn a few things like, rather than singular focus that I had it on, I could put it ion Continual focus, which is better for tracking small chimpanzees as they run nekid through the living room. I picked up a couple tips, so it wasn't a complete waste. But I will say this... if you read the manual, the class isn't much. YET on the other hand, if you don't read the manual, the class is too much, KWIM? I guess only read half befor going, LOL. There was this one lady next to me who couldn't even scroll through her menus... she kept asking me how to OK her choice. (Uh... just hit enter, for the 3rd time lady.)

I have some GREAT news! I have been asked to sell designs at A Cherry On Top as well! YAY! Of course it will be exclusive designs for them, just as my designs for The Digi Chick are exclusive. I am alsmost done with something special over there... be on the lookout for a sneak peek in a day or so! Be sure to head over there once the Digi Store opens! This is a great opportunity to spread the digi word even more.

Baby Mine....

(sigh)..... how does the time fly! Both LO's above were created using my new Baby Boy Mine and Baby Girl Mine kits debuting tonight at The Digi Chick. Seth was only a day old in his picture up top... what a little precious he was! The baby girl, is my friend Tara's baby Tegan... well not so much baby, she and Seth are the same age, 16 months.

I have my first camera class tonight. When Nate bought me my Nikon D70s for Christmas, he got it at a Ritz Camera. They offer free class with purchases of DSLRs. So... tonight I go to the one specific to my camera. Being that I have been a photog forever, and that I have poured over the manual and Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure book, I hope that the class isn't a complete waste of time. It may very well be, but I am a SAHM, and can use the excuse to get out. Then again, maybe I can pick up a cool trick I havn't learned yet, or in turn teach the teacher a thing or two...LOL!

Sadie & Seth (Buddies)

It really is true! Children really do have much more fun with packaging, then with the actual product. My Seth is such a nut. He played like this for 30 min, just running back and forth, bumping into everything, and then laughing like he'd won the lottery.



Here are some LO's I completed yesterday. I bought this kit a while back, and just loved the design and the colors. So when I got these great shots of Sadie, I knew what I wanted to do with it. I was also really excited because I don't get to use pink very much. Sadie really is a very good dog. Nate and I were so scared about the transition of bring Seth home when he was born. See, we'd had Sadie for 4 years before Seth came along... she was our baby. The night we brought Sth home, Sadie just sniffed him, and wandered off like there was nothing to it. To this day they get along famously. Just the other day, Seth was using Sadie's head as a footstool to climb on the coffee table.... ahhh buddies. Manda's Jawbreaker kit at TDC.

This LO is from the same day as the photos from above... after Seth finished playing with the bag, he grabbed his tried and true Lovey, "Blue Dog" and then started carrying him around while pushing his trike. This lasted about 2 min, as Seth thought it would be awesome to follow Sadie around and ram the bike into her.... repeatedly. Sadie took it with a grain of salt, and Seth ahd the time of his life. Poor girl! Shabby Princess Spaceboy kit.

One more question, before I close.... tell me who in the whole world could resist this little guy's face? What a doll he is, and I am so blessed to have him! Even if he did jump on me this morning and make me spill all of my coffee onto us and the couch...

Imitation is the Ultimate Flattery...

Seth has really been doing great with pointing out body parts lately. He stabs a finger in our eye when we ask for it, and he tries to rip my bellybutton out, when I ask for that. Seth is still the funny goof, when I ask him where his nose is, he just blows it at us... see posts below for a LO and pics. So, I'm laying in bed this morning, its about 8:30. (I know! I've been blessed with a great sleeper.) And I hear Nate coming out of the shower. Nate always blows his nose, honking loud, to clear it out after the shower. All of a sudden, I hear from the nursery, Seth mimicing his dad, and blowing his nose! I cracked up, it was so funny.

Thanks for all the compliments yesterday, my scrapping style is just something I am going to have to work at till I feel that its perfect...

Work at The Digi Chick is coming along! We just finished the Group kit for Feb's de-zine, and it looks great! Talk of the site re-format is still going on, and some really neat ideas have come up, and Laura is exploring some great options.

I have 2 new kits and a new alpha pack coming out on Thursday night, so here is your sneak peek. They are called Baby Boy Mine and Baby Girl Mine, there will also be a combined paper pack offered, if your interest lies there instead. I really wanted to make coordinating kits in case a mom of a girl and boy wanted semi-matching LO's.

me

This LO is for my "Meet The Boutique Designers" at TDC and it took me forever yesterday to create it. I agonzied over everything. Can you tell what my favorite color is? I LOVE red, its alwasy been my favorite, its always invoked strong feelings within me. I used Mari K's awesome Country Charm kit.

I have gotten alot of praise over this LO, but I am still iffy about it.

I have been struggling lately over my scrapping style. I usually tend to go traditional... but I really yearn to be a bit more dreamy and artsy.

Nate and I watched Cinderella Man last night after church. I have to admit I was hesitant in watching after seeing Million Doallr Baby... Cinderella Man was excellent. There were parts in the movie, as a mother, I had a hard time watching, but I did enjoy the ending.

Ebay Shenanigans

I love Ebay. I love that I can find what I want, and normally for cheap. I love to laugh at the morons who end up buying iPod's for $100 more than they can order on the Apple website. I ESPECIALLY love bidding on the item I have been stalking the last couple days, when there is only a minute left, and totally snatching it right from under the high bidder's nose! Yesterday I won a chocolate sweater, new with tags (b/c *ick* otherwise) to go with my fab new skirt from JC Penney's. And while I am at it, here is another outfit I got from Penney's just b/c I love it so.

Seth did the most amazing thing yesterday before dinner. I had just brought him downstairs, and I set him on the floor to let him loose. He starts to run away, and as he does I kneel down and say "come give Mama a hug & kiss." And what do you know? Seth stopped right in his tracks and came over to give me the the sweetest hug, while patting my back. It just made my heart melt!

I took some cutie patootie pics of him this morning playing, and of course you will see them scrapped soon~ I already have a page in mind.

Digital Memories Magazine is NOW AVAILABLE! Do not be a dweeb and be the last to own it... go get it NOW! well.... whadya waitin' for? Go!

Some Love For You~

Thank you my friends! Thank you so much for your love and support, and most of all your continual encouragement! To show my appreciation, here is some love for you! Please enjoy~ and please let me know when you create with it, I'd love to see!

Two links, when they run out, DON'T Despair! This will be offered as my Designer Sample next week at The Digi Chick!

Link 1

Link 2 (please use this if Link 1 is finito)

What do you think?

I wanted something a little more fresh! WDYT? Let me know! I will tell you that I have had a morning ove it... I selected my new template, and approved... WITHOUT saving my old template, so ALL customization had been lost! I just spent the last hour re-entering blogs and links... if I have missed you thats why, and please drop me a line!

MUAH!

Dream Come True~

YAY ME! This is a dream come true, a dream 9 months in the making! I have been dreaming about being a designer when I first became a digi scrapper. Thanks to the WONDERFUL Laura for offering me a prestigious Designer Spot at The Digi Chick, tonight makes my debut!

I am so thrilled!!! Please go take a peak, and let me know what you think!!

Come See Me Here!

Let me know what you think! And be on the lookout for more!!

(hint, hint~ next week I am releasing my Baby Mine collection :) )

One Cold Night...

Our furnace broke last night, so we hade a full night and morning with no heat. Talk about miserable! I couldn't sleep b/c I was cold, and I was so paranoid that Seth was freezing to death... the furnace guy JUST finished installing a new blower motor, so the house is rising back to liveable.

We had this for dinner last night, and it was so *YUMM* So I thought I would share~

One Pot Pasta

1 lb lean ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 (8 oz) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tsp veg oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (26 ounce) jars Tomato-Basil pasta sauce
1 cup water
1 TBS dried Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (20 ounce) package refrigerated four-cheese ravioli
1 cup shredded mozzerella cheese

Brown ground beef in a Dutch Oven over med-high heat, stirring till it crumbles and no longer pink. Drain, wipe dutch oven clean.

Saute onion and mushrooms in hot oil over med-high heat 8 min, or till tender. Add garlic and saute 1 min. Stir in beef, pasta sauce, 1 cup water, and next 3 ingredients.

Bring sauce to a boil: add ravioli. Reduce heat to med-low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, or till pasta is done. Stir in cheese, serve immediately.

YUMM! And it feeds us 2 or 3 times!

And WHAT was up with LOST last night?! I was loving the tension between Kate, Jack, and Sawyer. Know what my theory is? Other than last week's theory that they are all tripping on Heroin?

I think they stumbled on to the Island Survivor is taped! Didn't you hear they guys say "Its OUR Island" as the torches go up? I swear I also heard "The Tribe has spoken~ you've been voted off"

LOL!!!

OK, seriously, I thought that the torches lighting simultaneously was weird... like maybe the Other Man had a remote and did it all himself... and as he backed away turned them off...

Hmmm...

tonight is my debut... and my stomach is just rolling about!

Outa Control!!

This Tagging (as Regis would say) Is Outa' Control!! LOL~ the very sweet Shabby Miss Jen got me, so here goes!

What scrapbooking lines/products/etc do you dislike?
cartooney-looking products, I want depth & texture!

What is the hardest thing you've ever had to scrap?
Ihaven'tt done it yet... I want to do a page for my best friend who passed away last year, but can't bring myself to do it...

What technique do you use more than any other?
Lotsa drop shadows, always some photo manipulation, whether its a conversion or pulling of curves, none of my photos are SOOC.

Ever been published?
Not paper published... but I do submit. I have had interest in a couple LO's, and I have resubmitted, like asked, but heard nothing yet. DMM publishes me regularly!!

What's the smallest scrap of paper you save?
don't paper scrap...

Ever have any scrapbooking-related injuries?
does a sore bum count? from sitting too long in front of the computer...

Finish the sentence "If I wasn't a scrapbooker, I would spend my money
on more photography equipment!"

Give us your best storage or organizational idea.
put things away, right away ( i know, boring!)

You just won a week-long scrapbooking cruise for 5. Who's going with you?
Traci Murphy, Warty, Angie, and Shanah!! Couldn't you just see us?!? Watch out cabana boys~ this would be so much fun!

You're turn!
After you've answered the questions, tag 6 of your scrapbook buddies!

Traci
Jen P
Gina
Jen W
Mari
Laura

Here are some recent LO's I have completed to show off my new designs debuting tomorrow night! YAY!! LOL~ I snapped this picture while we were coloring, Seth was in mid growl! Jeeze, I love this kid! It is so hard to believe that 2 years ago he was conceived... the time has really flown!

New Adventure!!

Here goes! Officially posting what is coming Thursday to The Digi Chick.

Also, and update on my Father In Law~ He is doing so much better. He gets to come home today from the hospital, and he is just as excited to get home along with the rest of us. We found out that his case of Peretinitis (the burst intestine) was one of the worst cases they have seen, and that if they hadn't caught it, he would have been dead within 24 hrs. That really puts things in perspective!! Almost losing Nate's dad? That is so scary! We just saw him over Christmas healthy as could be! Its amazing how quick you can lose someone....

PHEW!

PHEW! I did it! I survived.... I had a good old fashioned sleepover last night with 11 teenaged girls. Good times! We watched a a girly movie first (Little Women) and then a scary movie (Watcher In The Woods), talked boys and ate LOTS of chocolate. Then when we got up this morning we went shopping at the mall~ like I said good times, but boy am I beat.

And what the heck? Why is it January, technically the beginning of Winter, and all the winter stuff has been pulled and Spring clothing shoved in our faces? I need a grey or silver long sleeve cotton shirt or sweater... did anywhere have one? Nooooooo.

Warty (sorry no link~ I am not sure she wants me to reveal her true self!), Traci AND Mari, (another new designer at TDC) tagged me, so here goes~


Four jobs you have had in your life

Waitress, Photographer, Teacher, Designer

Four movies you would watch over and over

Last of the Mohicans, Zoolander, The Notebook, The Goonies

Four places you have lived

Pucallpa, Peru~ Grasonville, MD~ Toccoa, GA~ New Castle, PA

Four TV shows you love to watch

LOST, & all 3 CSI's

Four places you have been on vacation

Outer Banks, NC~ Miami, FL~ Savannah, GA~ Ocean City, MD

Four of my favorite foods

Chang's Spicy Chicken at PF Chang's, Nate's cashew chicken, steak & potatoes, and Breyer's ice cream.

Four websites I visit daily

My Pumpkins, Babycenter, The Digi Chick, & 2 Peas

Four places I would rather be right now

The beach, the beach, the beach, the beach

Four bloggers I am tagging

Melissa, Bethany, Tiffany, Tegan

Digital Memories Magazine, Issue 2

Wow... all I have to say is..... wooooowwwww!!!!

Jen Pebbles, the Editor-In-Chief of Digital Memories magazine, has rocked my world again. She sent us the new issue to proof over a bit and preview, and can I say that My Socks Have Been Rocked Off!!! More pages than the last issue, more layouts packed inside, and I am proudly announcing a new Photography Section, complete with a feature artist (Danielle Toews) and Favorites Gallery! You will not believe what the magazine has to offer this issue!

Can you tell that I am a teensy bit excited? LOL~ I am doing the Scrap Happy Dance!

Anyways, it will have a formal release in the next day or 2, so RUSH over and by a subscription! Why, you ask? Because there are so many goodies that will come hand in hand with that!

On a sad note, my father-in-law, Ed, has been seriously ill this week. He came down with a high fever and severe stomach ache and was admitted to the hospital on Tues. They had him on the highest form of antibiotics for 2 days, with no change, and sent in a specialist. Turns out one of his intestines had ruptured, and he was leaking waste into his abdomen! So they rushed him into emergency surgery Thursday night, and it wasn't pretty. They finally get him cleaned out and put back together, and he is still recovering in the hospital, with 5 or 6 more days to go. Once he does get to go home, he has 2 months off of work! So, please say a prayer for Ed, he needs it!

2 for the Road

OK, so how cool is blog hopping? I was checking out some of my friend's blog that I read, and was led straight to friends that I haven't seen or talked to in a couple years! First, my friends Jason & Jenny~ happy to report that they are having their own little baby soon. Jenny is wonderfully creative, maybe we can get her digi scrapping too... Next I found JB and Iris~ another pair of missionaries to Russia! We all went to TFC together and worked at a church together in Toccoa. Hi Guys!

and now.. 2 for the road!


2 names you go by
Andrea & TigerLilly

2 parts of your heritage
50% Cuban & Scotch

2 things that scare you
Spiders, my son getting hurt or worse

2 of your everyday essentials
hair tie & coffee

2 things you are wearing right now
black jogging suit & my glasses

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment)
Aaron Shust & Bethany Dillon

2 favorite songs (at the moment)
"I Will Believe" by Nachole Nordeman & "Turkish Delight" by David Crowder Band

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)
Admiration & respect

2 truths
my bum hurts from sitting in front of the computer too much lately, and I have a mold phobia

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)
Blue Eyes & wide shoulders

2 of your favorite hobbies
Designing & photography (uh duh~ isn't this what my blog is about, LOL?)

2 things you want really badly
Financial freedom & a red Sony Vaio

2 places you want to go on vacation
Hawaii & Scotland

2 things you want to do before you die
Hug on my grandchildren and see some friends come to Christ

2 ways that you are stereotypically a chick
I must wear makeup when going into public view & I alwasy ask if I look OK.

2 things you are thinking about now
Whether or not I'll be a success & can I get it finished in time

2 stores you shop at
Gap & Barnes & Noble

2 people i would like to see take this quiz
Melissa & Jennifer W


I had a little photo shoot with Seth yesterday, I have had these photos in my head for a while, but wanted to wait till I got my D70s. And yesterday was the first time I saw the sun in ages, so I knew It Was Time.

Insomnia

I am an insomniac. Always have been. I just lay in bed for hours waiting for my restless mind to finally drift off. And then in the morning, when I have to get up... well its not pretty, and its such a vicious cycle. Its almost 2:30 am now (hey Melissa~ what time is it in Hong Kong?) and I don't see the finish line quite yet.

Nate and I went to see Narnia, The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe. (another shout out to Melissa~ Remember our first double date to the AT? I was reading TLTW&TW on that trip...) It was EXCELLENT! It never fails to amaze me how much symbolism for the story of Christ there is in it. CS Lewis was a brilliant man! I loved the little actress who played Lucy~ very compelling and genuine. There was this one scene in the beginning where mothers were evacuating their children to safety, and they couldn't go along, so all of these small children are on this train, and the platform is full of weeping mothers... It Just Gripped Me! There are some things I just did not fully understand, until I became a mother to my own son. Anyways, this movie is a MUST SEE!

Our Pastor at church had sermon notes this past Sunday, and basically, I got my inspiration for these pages from those notes. I need to do one for myself, but LOL, when you are behind the camera, thats kind of hard. So I guess a Self Portrait is in the schedule sometime soon. Have I mentioned lately How much I LOVE my new camera? LOVE IT! It does all of the coolest stuff!

Whelp, off to ed to try and sleep again. "Night all"... Or actually, "morning" to some!

My BIG News

Welp~ here it is! My BIG News! The Fabulous Laura Alpuche has asked me to join the team at The Digi Chick! I have accepted, and am so stinkin' thrilled! (Lets not mention the nervous as all get out...) I have already had a part in talking about some big and neat changes coming to TDC in the next month or so. So be on the lookout for a new "change of clothes", so to speak, and of course.... fabulous new designs (wink, wink).

Need A Little Laugh?

OK, like you haven't heard enough Christmas music right? Well, I promise this is a treat.... if you love William Hung, then you will adore this song: Oh Holy Night . I have to thank my friend Melissa~ this is originally from her blog. I was dying girlfriend~ and had to add it to my own~ so thanks again Geeta & Melissa! ROFLOL!

Which Road?

Oh geeze! I am so torn! I have some great opportunities, and I have to decide between two of them. What to do? Which road to take? So many confidantes are saying take the road well travelled, and honestly it is so appealing. But what about that less travelled road? Would it be worth it? Or would I be like Belle's father in Beauty and the Beast, and end up being chased by wolves.... Big decisions to make in the next couple of days.

And more exciting news! TOOT! (thats me... tooting my own horn, LOL) A scrap mag has asked to print not one but TWO of my older Lay Outs. Except, I think I accidently deleted them! Arrgg! Not a huge problem, as I can see them in my gallery, and just re-create them. This is a first for me, and it is very exciting.

Here are two of my most recent LO's, and of course they are the pics I have already posted, but I couldn't help myself, they are great pics, if I say so myself!

Credits: Joyful Christmas kit at Something Blue Studios

Credits~ Schmootsy Frames from ScrapArtist

Where's Your Nose?

LOL! We have been teaching Seth to blow his nose into a tissue, and locating facial parts... so my darling son combined both lessons! When we ask him where his nose is, he simply blows his nose! My husband and I LOL every time. Still working on these lessons, becasue we'll ask where his mouth is, and we get the same reaction. I don't care though, he'll master it soon enough, and I enjoy the giggles. Seth has been such a toddler lately, but (sigh) I guess that is what he is now. No more baby. He has been on this no meat kick, beef ends up on the floor, chicken across the room. Texture? Taste? Who "nose" (sorry, I couldn't resist).

I have to tell you though, I am half Cuban (maiden name Lopez), my dad is fully Cuban~ born there and everything, and for New Years we fixed Arroz y Frijoles Negras (black beans and rice for you "gringos") and my baby proved to be cuban when he gobbled up the biggest plate~ and then cried for more! He did Mami y Abuelo proud!

BTW~ HALLELUJAH! The sun peeked out for all of 10 minutes this morning, AND its not quite so grey and yuck.

12:06

It's past midnight here, and I swear my eyes are bleeding from sitting in front of the computer too long... But there is another football game on, and I'd rather let my eyes bleed off into the sunset. I worked bunches today, and am really proud at what I have created, I am almost done, and just need to set up shop. I went ahead and created a Cafe Press shop, just for fun, and in case any of you would like a T-shirt that says Embellish... So here it is if you want to take a gander... Embellish Apparel I'll be adding a link to ye old shoppe, whenever (seems like "IF ever") it gets up... I think I will get myself a long sleeve T and hoody... its been so cold.

Been editing a bit for my mag, Digital Memories Magazine, there is going to be some great stuff in the upcoming issue. Release date is Jan 15th, so be on the lookout. Some beautiful (and suprising!!) pics are being included.

OK, the screen just swam, so I think its officially time to hit the sack, sans hubby. It is now 12:14 BTW.

Hello New Year~

Here are some shots I took on New Years day while the boy watched dreaded football. I guess Its a good thing that there is so much of football on right now~ gives me extra time on the computer. However, I can't wait for my TV shows to finally start showing new episodes, NIX those reruns! I am so irritated that its been a month of reruns. And I am super irritated that they are moving 2 of my favorite comedies, The Office and My Name is Earl, opposite one of my other favorite shows, CSI. Guess we'll have to tape.

I hate the weather here in NW PA. Nothing buy grey and yuck. Its been so cloudy and yuck for a whole week now. Did you know that NW PA is very close behind Seattle for rain, and that Dr's actually recommend people to move here, if they have allergies to the sun? Its so depressing!

Must run! Seth is blowing snot bubbles and climbing on the dog!

Goodbye Decorations~

I mentioned in my last post that the decorations have already been taken down, but I still wanted to share these pics with you. And I am proud to say that I went fully manual on the camera! And yes, the red glow is natural~ we only have red and white lights on our Christmas tree.

Seth had his 15 mo. Wellness Checkup this morning, and the poor bubba had to get 2 shots, one of them the MMR. Now its the waiting period... does he get a fever or not...? Five days to find out. The Doc also wrote us a script to go see an Oral Surgeon. Seth has inherited (from his daddy!) an extra thick piece of gum extending from his lip and over his top gum. It causes gaps in his teeth, so they will have to cut it out. Blech!

I have been a busy bee all day! Work, work, work! First the check up, then I ran to the outlets to exchange some unmentionables, and then after luch I sat down and created, created. My butt hurts.

I got some terrible new today. My husband is a Youth Pastor, and we have 20-30 kids in our Youth Group. (C&MA denom.) Last year we had trouble with a young lady self mutilating. We had an intervention with her parents and herself, and she recieved professional help. Now I hear that she is starting to use drugs and exploring other dangerous areas. So... now we pray extra hard for her. Her inital is "N" if you feel so inclined to do so, and I thank you for it.

2006, a Brand New Year

Ahhh... a sigh of relief! The tree is down, and it is one less thing to try to keep Seth away from. My house is clear from clutter, and my parents have gone home. Time to get to work!

I have been busy creating elements for my kits~ These take so long! My goodness, but I promise I have good stuff in store, and you will be pleased.

I opened my new Graphire Wacom 4 that my lovely IL's gave me for Christmas. And here is my first doodle! What do you think? Well, tell you what, ENJOY! Click the link and DL for your own pleasure.

Andrea's New Year's Doodle

More Stuff to come!! Drop me a note and let me know what you think!