Fridays = FUN!!! (US Open Rocks, and Thanks for Voting!)

Aaaah yes... not only was this week Back to school for four glorious days... but today is Friday and that means an online crop all day and all night! It is a private group from SparkPeople (Scrap To Lose Team) and we gather to chat (mostly) and scrap (some?!) all day long! Since my Scrap room and all my supplies are downstairs - no where near my non-laptop computer, I usually just distrac- I mean, chat - instead! Sometimes I will work on some Digi stuff just for fun! But no matter how productive, or unproductive I am, I always have a great time!

Today - I was actually productive! I did a couple of digi's:

...and I had this sweet little set up goin' on:

SaWeet!

So - as you can see, I am working on the Lunchbox album! I am lovin' it! And I suppose I should say that Chuck came through and not just with some lame little thing - but something shockingly super sweet... I was pretty sure she really liked me?! LOL!? When I read that she found a poem that reminded her of me, I admit I had visions of obscene lyrics or something - so the actual poem was not only a tad bit touchy-feely for Chuck - but her added comments were perfect! (Thanks Chuck - no more negativity! LOL!) I am still a bit short on a few comments and several current photo's but just getting it out and working on it is making me feel better! I know when it is finally done - I will truly treasure it ALL the time!!!

I have been LOVING the US Open... SO GREAT! LOVE that it is on every day all day! (Sorry Michelle?!) GREAT matches... in fact, there is a fairly large tournament here in town at the Tennis Club this weekend, and Dave is thinking that he will tear me away from the tv to get me to go outside to watch a real live match (as if they would compare to Roger or Rafa, or Novak?) Still - it could be fun!

And lastly, I wanted to thank all of you who voted for me for the Craft Warehouse Scrapbook Queen contest! The online voting is now complete... it is now up to the judges - Heidi Swapp and Ali Edwards and the like?! (Thanks Denice for offering to take Heidi out and vote for me in her place! That was super sweet!) The winners will be announced on Saturday - I will let ya know how it goes!

Last night - we had a GORGEOUS Sunset... reminded me of that old Lifesavers (?) commercial!

Scrap On! Dinner is here and the rain delay is over... I gotta run! LOL!

~Karrilee~

Aaah - Back to School; Back to Routine! (+ Vote for me!)

Yes... I know... most of you probably already have voted for me... but just as a reminder, voting ends on Thursday at midnight for the Craft Warehouse Scrapbook Queen contest. If you have yet to vote, go to: http://www.craftwarehouse.com/ and follow the link to vote for Scrapbook Queen! (My Layout is in the Yakima category!)

OK - business out of the way... on to the fun stuff!

Today was back to school! My daughter was awake and dressed before I even thought about opening my eyes this morning! Oh how I wish this was a new leaf and we would not have to worry about that dreaded truancy threat from Juvie hall - however, I know that it was just first day of school ("Oh God, please let my locker open and let me not get lost or go into the wrong classroom!") jitters! Oh - you think I am kidding about the juvie threats?! I am not! You would think that I would be able to get her to school on time. I stay home, I have no other pressing things or even other children to get ready... and yet, she is too big to carry out to the car and belt in myself - so I am resorted to being an audio alarm clock! She is SO not a morning girl... and neither am I really, so it is not easy for any of us! We signed up for afternoon kindergarten ON PURPOSE! However, that was a long time ago and you would think that we would have figured it out by now!? We did much better last year than the year before! We went from elementary school starting at 8:50ish (HEAVY on the -ish as all of her teachers were laid back!) to Middle school starting at 7:50 (no grace period given!) Luckily, Junior High starts at 7:50 as well and today - at least - we were on time! We even had a brief moment to take our annual first day of school photo:

We MEANT to be early, but don't even get me started on the whole Mr. Mom "Exit from the North!" fiasco of the local school district!? Oh MY! Add to that, the (sorry Chuck - you know I am not talking about YOU!) Suburban driving Moms who seem to think that no one could possibly be as important as they are and the rules don't apply to them cutting everyone off and causing multiple near-accidents as well as elevated road rage! Yeah - so, Kaye got out of the car with 5 minutes to spare to get to her locker, hopefully open it, put things in order and head to class!

Did she make it, you ask!? Well yes! She did!

Did her locker open, you ask? Well, no! It didn't!? At least not until 4th period... but she did eventually get it! All in all, she had a great first day and came home (thankfully!) with no homework! She DID have tennis lessons that I had forgotten about and now she is getting ready to go to youth group... so I need to wrap this up!

What did I do all day, you ask?! Well... I LOVED the quiet!!! I worked out with Millie and cooled down playing around a bit on this computer... I made a grocery list and ran a few errands! I went out to lunch at The Taj - a delicious authentic Indian food restaurant, with my sis and I got groceries all by myself! I even had time to come home and put them all away too!

What am I doing tomorrow, you ask? I am dropping her off (hopefully early!?) and working out and then meeting a girlfriend at Starbucks to visit for hours and hours... and THEN, if I have time, I will work on that Lunchbox album of mine! (Hint, Hint CHUCK!?)

Hope ya'll are enjoying this back to school season as much as I am!

Scrap Happy! (Oh - and vote for me! again... shameless plug?!) LOL!
~Karrilee~

Whidbey Mini: Done - and VOTE FOR ME!!!

OK... I actually was able to start AND finish my Whidbey Island Mini Album! In reality - I started it a few days ago... but hadn't really done much actual scrapping with it! However, my Crop last night was very productive!!!


I bought this super cute little mini album while Chuck was in town and was obsessively trying to find fun paper that 'matched' the blue on the outside of the album... I found this line and LOVED it! Who doesn't love stripes and polka dots?! I mean, really?! So fun! So - here are some little Medleys of LOs in the mini... it really is small - only about 16 pages in all - which, for me - is tiny!? LOL!

Next up - I simply must say I am in love with two new men... I know?! Not just one... but two?! And Dave?! Well... Dave loves them too... I took my Kayelyn to the Super Mall and we discovered Steve & Barry! OH MY GOODNESS?! How did I not know these guys before Wednesday?! It is now our favorite store!?!! Seriously!? EVERYTHING in there is $8.98! Everything!? Is this always the case!? If it is - I am going to need to plan a trip there at least 4 times a year!? LOL?! It's probably best that I DON'T have one in town maybe?!


On Tuesday Kaye and I headed out of town to hook up with one of my bff's from high school! Thanks to Facebook - we reconnected in February this year and have gotten together here in town a few times... but she lives over in Renton and we decided a Girls Back to School Shopping day was in order! She has a little one who is starting Kindergarten, and then there is mine - starting Junior High! Anyway - we stopped off at some outlets on our way and picked up a few things... and then found Annette's house. We all went out to eat at Armondo's (super YUM!) and met up with my other bff from high school! The three of us were ALWAYS together in high school and I hadn't seen MaryAnn since before I was married! That was a lot of fun, and despite the 20 year (shut it!) gap in time, we picked right up where we left off... (um, for better or worse?!) LOL!


Here we are on our Graduation Day:


and here we are now:



So fun!


Then, on Wednesday, we spent the entire day at the Super Mall! My daughter had never been - so we started off in Burlington Coat Factory - which we only bought two things - a black and white striped sweater and BRIGHT blue leggin's (yes - that is how I say it?!). Then we walked all the way around the Mall - stopping off in several stores like Nordstroms Rack, Hot Topic, Zoomies, Gymboree, Old Navy, Icing, Claire's, & Marshalls! However, our favorite store - the one I said we should START with and boy was I right (but we didn't start there!?) was Steve & Barry's. I was not really shopping for me - but we were back to school shopping for Kaye. However, I told her that if I found a pair of jeans in the right (current) size, I was going to buy them because it is getting cooler and I have NO fall clothes anymore... I got rid of ALL of them... Anyway - I didn't think Steve & Barry would even have clothes in my size... (I keep forgetting I have lost weight?! LOL!) So - S&Bs carry Bitten - the Sara Jessica Parker line, and Dear - the Amanda Bynes line... as well as Venus Williams and who knows what lines for the boys/men... no - I didn't even LOOK over there?! I ended up buying a pair of black slacks, cream cords(ish?!), and a jean jacket!? All for $8.98 each?! I was excited when I saw that they had some larger sizes (up to about 22 or 24 I think?!) and remember that I am needing smaller sizes now anyway?! Yay! So - the cream pants are a bit snug - so they are more like Goal pants I guess... I mean, I can get them on and zip them up - but really, they are so tight they are inappropriate?! LOL?! In a month they will be perfect! The Jean jacket is a classic cut and I love it... it fits perfectly and replaces a beloved jean jacket that I had not yet gotten rid of but could no longer wear?! Kaye scored on a pair of jeans, two tops and a super cute pair of boots?! I mean - they have casual and dress wear, coats, jewelry, shoes, jeans, pj's, etc - ALL for $8.98 each?! I will not shut up about this?! LOL?! (OK - I will... but you get the idea! Steve and Barry ROCK!) I did also get a new pair of jeans which fit perfect but are too long (again?!). Don't worry though - Kayelyn is the one who came home with bags and bags... however, (one last time) when I reach my final goal - I am SO going to Steve & Barry's! LOL!


Anyway - the trip was a huge success and yesterday was Orientation! I did NOT follow Na's lead and take photo's of the locker shot or follow my precious down the hallways... I let her attend the day all on her own (well - carpooling her and her friends, I mean?!) She is excited about her classes and is ready to go!


OK - I must get going here... I am off to work on a few Digi projects and get ready for my sister and her fam' coming to town tonight! Yay!


Only a few more days til Back to School here - which means a Girls Matinee celebration soon! LOL!

OH - and by the way... I submitted a LO for the Craft Warehouse Scrapbook Queen contest... you can check it out (and vote for me please - yes, this is a shameless plea!) at:
http://72.3.135.178/index.php?option=com_ponygallery&func=detail&id=380&Itemid=102
You have to log in to the main page and then click on Photo Gallery, and 2008 Scrapbook Queen Contest, and I am listed in the Yakima Category! Thanks in advance for looking... (and voting... I say subliminally, of course!)


Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

I am alive... and I HAVE been doing something...

Hey there everyone...

OK - I know... I have no good excuse other than just life stuff?! I keep trying to not be sitting in front of a computer all day too - and so that has not been helping?!

Chuck was here... and we had a short visit - but even though it was limited - it was classic Chuck! I seem to recall something about dirty pictures on her Bunko Score sheet... but hey - at least we all got prizes that night! (Plus I still have a couple of bottles of wine in my frig?!) We had fun at the Scrapbook store and yes, I STILL have your Owl Stamps... they are Oober cute, BTW! LOL! I will send them to you soon - I promise! I am thinking they may come with a 5x7 Acrylic block and maybe even something else too... we'll see!? I haven't decided what yet?! ...it will all depend on how "Golden Moon" I am feeling!

Last week it seemed I had an appointment (or more accurately, a play date!) every single day?! No wonder I felt busy... add that to the reality of having the OLYMPICS in the complete OPPOSITE timezone, and I don't feel so bad for feelng so exhausted last week!? Each day I had a fun little coffee or lunch date with a friend! On Tuesday I met up with a few of my Prayer group gals and had a great visit! On Wednesday I met up with three local Sparks gals and had lunch! That was fun! We had been chatting online and decided to meet up in person - something I think we will do more often now that we have done it once! That was fun! On Thursday I had a 'date' with all my crazy Scrapbook Spark gals online and, well - THAT was fun too! Then, on Friday, I had a date with a friend from church! We had been trying to hook up for literally a couple of months... and that was fun! It seems, even though I am a fairly quiet person (shut up!), I can get together one on one, or with a small group - and hours just seem to disappear?!

However, it hasn't been ALL fun and games... I also did some 'work' - well, not really! I have been corresponding with two possible new clients, but the work I refer to is my own projects! I worked a bit on Saturday on that infamous Friendship Album:

How much do you LOVE that Cosmo Cricket line?! YUM!!! ...and on Saturday I also started work on a Mini album for those gorgeous Whidbey Island photo's I shared in my last post:

Today we had church... and then Olympics (OH yeah - I woke up at 3am to watch Nadal win Gold... nice!) and then we had a city-wide concert/worship service at church! That was great! It was like a family reunion - we saw so many people we haven't seen in ages - so that was fun, plus Ross Parsley is AWESOME!!!

So - this week, I have a meeting tomorrow morning. Tuesday morning I have an online crop, and then in the afternoon I am taking my daughter out of town to go Back to School shopping... we'll come back Wednesday night... Thursday I have a date with my sister (and Kaye has Orientation at the Jr High) then in the evening, I have my Scrap Happy group. Friday I have another Online Crop and then my sister and her fam are coming for the weekend! Yay!

Then, we have ONE MORE Monday to hang out together (which I THINK will include some movie rentals and a Jammie day!) before school officially starts up again! This summer seemed to fly by! We had a great summer - staying somewhat close to home - but it was relaxing! I am, however, ready for back to school and back to routine! (and maybe back to cleaning my house again too!? ...maybe?!)

Anyway - there ya go... a somewhat lame update - but an Update nonetheless!

Scrap On!
~Karrilee~

Alive and... well, Well!?

Hey there...

I know, I know... I promised it would not be such a long span in between updates - but what can I say... I am (still) on vacation?! LOL?! I honestly haven't done much scrapping to update and so since that it primarily what this blog is about (although my love of words causes me to spill the beans on every other area of my life here too?!)... I just wasn't feelin' the need to update. However, after leaving a wee bit of smack around blogland last night, (and then seeing that CHUCK updated WHILE on vacation?!) I decided maybe it was, in fact, time for an update!

So - we just got back from a long weekend on Whidbey Island! It was perfect... gorgeous weather - (I hate to say it - because everyone over there wants us to always say it is gloomy and wet...) the sun was shining every day and it was actually mildly hot! Not like the desert heat here - but nice take a walk outside or sit on the shore kind of hot! Sweet!!! I even found a tiny bit of sand to dig my toes into! Nice!

My brother-in-law recently bought a boat so we actually spent a bit of time out on that in the Sound... to understand how huge this is - you have to understand the spirit of fear I was raised with and know that while God has delivered me from MANY fears - water is one of the last to go! But, both my sister and I went out on the boat... and we actually had a great time! We took about a 30 minute ride to another little town on the island, docked the boat, walked around town and did some sight seeing and shopping, and had lunch, then took the boat back to Oak Harbor. Of course, my baby has inherited NO fear (just like her Daddy) and so she was ecstatic to ride on the front of the boat! I had to bite my tongue - until we started picking up speed and then I made her come back in the boat! LOL!

We also went to Deception Pass park... sat on the beach and relaxed and took a little trail up to a better viewpoint as well! That was fun! My sister and I walked down to the Marina one night after the boys had already taken the boat out... and we walked all along the docks and back home - that was a LONG walk - but it was great! Here are some random photos from our trip:












I managed to get a custom card order the day before I left so I knocked that one out and mailed it off before vacation, plus the same day - I had those 'friends' (jk!) e-mail me some photo's to scrap for them and I was able to do 2LOs for each of them! That was fun... and I am not so sure that they really thought I would do them?! I will post them here later maybe... afterall - they are not technically MY pages!? I need to hit the scrap store today (they are having a big sale - plus I actually NEED some matching Bazzill for my Lunch box album!) I know - ya'll are starting to think that there IS no lunchbox album... what can I say - some of my friends are losers (Oh - you know who you are!) and STILL haven't gotten anything to me to use in my album... but I do have enough that I can start working on it now! I am hoping to begin work on it this weekend or early next week!



I am leaning towards not doing the conference I was asked to do... I really need to pray about it before I decide one way or another - but unless I feel like God wants me to, I am gonna pass this time. I just don't have much on hand right now and I really need to turn my attention to my Etsy store and to my Cafepress store as well once school is back in session... I am open to doing it if that is what I am supposed to do - but if it's up to me, I chose not so much! LOL! Who wants to be busy with things that are not really 'required' of you!? Not me... not in this season of my life!


So - that is what has been going on here... Chuck is in town for a few days - so I will hopefully get to hang with her a bit... I weighed in this morning and found that after Whidbey I gained 2#s (just like after the Cabin!)... so that was a bit disappointing - but I know it was due to trying that Fish & Chips basket... um, twice?! LOL?! I hadn't had anything fried for 6 months and we were on an island with fresh fish everywhere - so I gave in and ordered it and it was so not worth it! It wasn't fresh and it tasted bland... really sad. But - as we were leaving the island, we saw another fish place and stopped in for lunch and I ordered it AGAIN... this time, it was worth it! YUM! (2#s worth it?! I am not so sure!?) Anyway - we are home again... pretty much staying put now except for that Super Mall trip coming up, and possibly that Waterpark deal... we'll see?! I can't believe that school starts in...19 days! (Yes... I am now counting down!? LOL!)


I am hoping to work on my digi's for a book as well as print out these Whidbey photo's to scrap too... plus I have that infamous Lunchbox Album to work on... so - uh - all of the sudden I feel busy!? (It's nice!!!)

Oh - lastly, here is a "painting" I did of the Oak Harbor Marina at dusk...




Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Getting Ready to Leave again...

Somehow, this summer seems to have lacked one major vacation - and yet, several little weekend getaways! I almost like this better... it just FEELS more like summer! (Although - I refuse to skip my beach trip yet again next year! I MUST have my feet in some sand at the ocean!!!)

I have been in vacation mode for several weeks - even when we are home?! So - you know what that means... my house is a MESS (which is supposed to be what I am doing today!? ...uh, which explains why I am now deciding to update this blog?! LOL?)! It's not that I have been busy... not really!? Last week I was able to hook up with a friend that I hadn't spent time with in weeks, and that was an entire afternoon of visiting and laughing and catching up. I also went to Richland for an afternoon with Kaye and met up with two of my friends there... we spent the whole day at a great little place called Smoovies. PERFECT for the kids and so comfortable and fun... They serve smoothies, along with lattes, etc. and a limited breakfast and lunch menu... they have plenty of places to sit and visit over coffee, while the kids (or kids at heart) can play for free all sorts of games... board games, card games, the wii, Dance Party USA, Guitar Hero, foosball, etc. Wow?! EASY to spend the whole day there!!! Dave went to Jazz in the Valley on his own - we WERE all going to go - but at the last minute, we decided he could go on his own, and us girls would hang out with our friend Arlene and lounge in her pool and visit! Nice! So - Friday night Kaye had Holly overnight and we all went and hung out at the pool for the day! Sunday-Tues I was involved in a conference here in town. Being on the Intercessory Prayer team for the conference meant I had to be there at 7:15am to pray... and the meetings got over each night around 10:30pm or so! Yeah... they were GREAT... but I was TIRED!!! LOL! The worship portion was great... I love Jeff & Robbie Ecklund! All the speakers were incredible - Ed Silvoso has an amazing ministry for reaching nations - literally seeing major transformations in entire cities and nations due to what he equips people to do... (which is basically knowing their authority and praying through the community!) My favorite speaker of the entire conference was Kris Vallotton from Bethel Church in Redding, CA. He works with Bill Johnson and he is so funny and so transparent... he really blessed us (and made us laugh - which is always a great way to receive truth from God!)

So - that is what I have been doing... no scrapping, no writing, (no cleaning!?), just relational stuff... which really is so important and so much a part of what I LOVE about summertime! We seem to MAKE the time in the summer to do these things that we really should do ALL the time?!

This weekend we are off to Whidbey Island for 4 days... we're really looking forward to it! My sister and her family are vacationing there with her hubby's new boat - so I am sure we will spend some time on the water, as well as walking all over the 'beach'. We're planning a picnic at Deception Pass and you know I will have plenty of photo's to work with when I return! I DID take lots of photo's while up at the Cabin - but I am thinking I will make them into a Digi mini book instead of printing them for pages in our Family Album... all these little weekend trips are causing my Album to be FULL already - and it is only July!? (well - almost August?! But still...?!)

So... August... this means that we have a School Shopping trip planned for the Super Mall soon, and Kaye and I will get to spend some time with my highschool bff, Annette and her family then. Plus we would still like to possibly squeeze in a Waterpark trip to Moses Lake... they added a Lazy River, and a Wave Pool too I guess... and Dave has never been - so we're trying to talk him into taking yet another day off of work and spending one more day out of town together before Kaye starts (gasp!?) Junior High!? sigh... I can't even think about it?! OH - speaking of THAT... at the conference, immediately there was this guy that was stalking my kid?! No joke?! I mean - it was a Christian conference so it shouldn't have been so creepy - but it was! LOL! There used to be this boy that hung around my niece and her family... he was a sweetheart - but sort of had this... uh... 'spirit' on him!? And both me and my sister (my nieces' Mom) knew immediately what he was up to... but I digress... anyway - this guy at the conference was JUST LIKE THAT... same spirit and all... and so I kept referring to him by the wrong name... and he would correct me, and Kaye and I would laugh... "Yeah... whatever... same difference?!" The most alarming thing though was that Kaye didn't discern his creepiness... which to me was SO OBVIOUS... so that is a bit concerning?! At least she knows that I can read people and I have discernment! I told her one day - maybe not in these next few years - but one day - she will thank me for it!

Anyway - I also was approached to do another women's conference which means I must find creative energy and inspiration to make up some stock for the weekend! Last year I was surprised that the journals didn't really sell that great... but frames and cards did pretty well. I do custom original work - that is usually made to order, so making things ahead of time is always a stretch! Oh - and a side note question... I had my hair colored last week... first time I have gone and paid $100 to have it done (I usually do it myself with over the counter color...) anyway - the question - is it normal to have it wash out once you get home?! I mean, in the last three times I have shampooed, and when I sweat during my workout - the color comes out?! It is faded a bit too... but, ?! Is this normal?! Of course, when I stopped by the salon, they said it was!? But - I know when I color it myself, it fades quickly, but it doesn't so much wash out?! Tips?! Input?!

Anyway - I give... I must go vacuum at least?! After all, tomorrow I have an online Crop and two very thoughtful ladies sent me photo's just so I would have SOMETHING to work on! (Yeah - thanks for that, girls! LOL!)
Until next time... which won't be quite as long, I promise!
Scrap On~
~Karrilee~

A Nice Quiet Get Away...

Wow... what a perfect relaxing weekend?! It was not camping - (praise God...) but it was out in the woods, and we did suffer!? This gorgeous Log Cabin in fact, only had one bathroom! Yeah - that's right... one bathroom, for 12+ people!? However, other than that... it was perfect!!! (Even with all that family all over the place?! (Oh yeah - and that LAME 'bedroom' that Dave and I had?! Yeah - that part was not perfect... just ask Dave?! LOL!)



This little gem of a log cabin is just 20 minutes out of town and my sister and her hubby were able to barter a weekend with the owners. He is working on their website, and so they got a long weekend stay - and promptly invited my entire family... parents, sister, extended family... Um?! Hello!? I thought she said it would be a NICE weekend away!? Just kidding... I actually get along great with my family almost all of the time!? There is drama of course... but we can all make it through a weekend together and manage to laugh, and talk, and cook, and visit, and laugh some more?!



As you can see... we had a full house! My parents, my sister and her daughter (her hubby and son couldn't make it), my little family along with my daughters' bff, the Balls (who did the bartering) and their kids... and then we also had an Aunt and Uncle and a couple of cousins, as well as a couple of friends pop in over the weekend!



It's GORGEOUS up there...

Millcreek Area

Top of the Mountain Log Cabin

The Bunkhouse

Strawberry Fields forever... we managed to get our way INto the fields -and just walking along those rows, the fragrance was so powerful - and who doesn't love freshly picked strawberries?! YUM! "Strawberry Fields Forever"

Hike up the Mountain

Kayelyn Marie (13)

Dave & Jack jammin' on teh deck!

Silly Girls - Holly & Kayelyn

Brandon & Jack - hanging out chillaxin'

The climb up the mountain was a nice little workout... the kids (all on their own!?) made it all the way to the top! Yeah, um - they were gone for over 2 hours and the area is known for some cougar and bear sightings... plus I had just read The Shack - so ya know, disappearing into the woods wasn't exactly sitting well with me?! The kids also had some adventure swimming down in the creek and sleeping out in the Bunkhouse...

Wiley, Sadie, Kayelyn, & Holly

~Dave & Karri~

We spent teh majority of hte weekend talking, and playing games, and talking, and taking photo op's, and playing music, and talking... (you get the picture!) I did not come by this love of words by accident?! LOL! Overall - it was a great weekend - super relaxing... completely UNPLUGGED - no cell phone or internet service or anything! Nice!!! Oh - my FAVORITE photo is one of me and my flygirls, just chillin' - but I think I may have promised not to post it?! LOL!? I can't really recall... I am pretty sure it will be uploaded SOMEWHERE soon though!? It's just too good! (Peace!)

~Kimmy, (me), & Karinna~

Our Family - the original Collins' Clan

Karinna, Mom, Dad, me, & Kim

I was over on two days with my Spark Ranges... but I also got some hiking in and I am not going to beat myself up about it... we all had a blast! I came home to boxes of pretty Cosmo Cricket papers, and so I am hoping to get to work on that lovely Friendship Album I am wanting to do! Yay! Maybe this week...

Scrap On!
~Karrilee~

A Quick Update and a couple of Digi's

Hey there...

Well - I was able to do a few Digi LOs this week, including the S2L Challenge of using Orange/Pink on a LO and I thought I would just type out a quick update!

A couple of weeks ago, I got a super last minute Custom card order... the gal found me via my Etsy store and wanted a custom birthday card for her hubby! (His b'day was in a matter of days!) All she told me was he loves Blue, and they like to Scuba Dive together... she also included a personal message for me to include on the inside of the card (which will remain personal) but here is the finished product:

They loved it and are in fact planning on framing it! Yeah! I love a happy customer!!!

Kaye had an INCREDIBLE time at Camp... powerful and fun and just as I had hoped, she came home stirred up and more in love with God! He really helped to make stronger connections with her friends there as well! I was not raised in church or believing in a God who cares and is personally interested... I did not have church camp or friends who would help me to stand up for what is right... I can not imagine the advantage that she has! It's amazing to me how she is growing up and who she is becoming! She came back last Thursday - and Bunko ended early - so I didn't miss too much of her sharing the first time around! (and no... I didn't win anything at Bunko!?) On Friday - we literally laid around ALL DAY and talked, read together a bit, and watched tv... a total 'Jammie Day' as we used to call them! It was WONDERFUL!

We are about 1/2 through The Shack... right where my hubby is too... we read it while he is at work and then he reads it on his own! I am so glad to have heard back from some of you saying that you plan to read it, or are reading it! I am serious when I say I would LOVE to talk with you when you are done and hear what your thoughts are! It's one of those books that you really do need to digest! I know it is fiction - and yet there is enough truth in it that it gives you plenty to really think about...

I am in need of a hair cut and color... seriously in need! I have been in need for too long already, but I can't seem to make up my mind! I am, as most if not all of you know by now, rather cheap - and I am not one to spend $$$ on having my hair colored, etc. I usually do it myself - but I have really liked going darker lately and that just fades too fast when I do it myself. So - I am having a bit of a dilemma! I want to have it done - but I refuse to spend $100... and I have a lot of hair - so that is probably not a crazy amount anyway?! But - to me - it is?! I also have been considering bangs?! I am not sure... my daughter suggested it and I keep feeling like it may be time!? I haven't had bangs forEVER?! It's one of those things you really can't change your mind on - and inevitably, I will want to change my mind once they are cut?! So - I am waiting another week even though I shouldn't - and then I will probably just go in and say something horrifyingly scary like, "I don't care - do whatever you want!" ??? (See? This is why I am waiting?!)

This weekend we are off to spend time with my sister... people in the past have often assumed we were twins. We never thought we looked THAT much alike - but we are definitely kindred spirits! We used to live right across the street from each other and even when we weren't living THAT close - we still saw or talked to each other every day. However, it's been months since we've been able to chat in person so this weekend is way past due! We are staying up in the mountains at a rented lodge... I can't wait!

Anyway - I am doing good... the past couple of weeks I have really felt like I was 'off' a bit... just not as motivated with my workouts and a bit discouraged in not seeing more of an outward change after all this work... however, I know it is working and I am mostly spinning in circles because I have a lack of routine - and I know myself enough to know that I do not thrive without routine! So - hopefully - now that I have pinpointed what it is - I will get myself back on track and will find some motivation to push through! I worked on a Digi 'LO' to post on my SP page once I reach the 40 pound loss... last week, I was at 38... it would be GWEAT if I could post it to my page this week... we'll see! I will give you a little sneak peak here... (hoping that won't jinx my weigh in on Thursday?!):

They have some icons for certain pounds lost to post on your page - but you know, I thought this was more my style!!! I saved this LO so that when I lose more weight - yes, even one pound at a time, I can update the image to reveal the correct amount of weightloss! I love this digi kit - it's called Promise by Shabby Princess!

Here are the other Digi LOs I have completed this week:

I am still gathering photo's and e-mails/letters from various friends (hint, hint Chuck!) for my Friendship Lunch Box Album... I have about half of the peoples' responses! It just sort of feels funny to bother people about writing something nice about me... LOL! But - the album will be so cute! I finally broke down and ordered the papers... I tried to talk myself out of the hard to find paper - but alas, I couldn't!? I had already fallen in love?! So - hopefully I will be able to start actual work on that project soon! I mailed out our SWAP pages from S2L today, too!

I have my Scrap Link this Thursday and will bring ,y lunchbox to work on a bit! Plus - I really do need to make a few new items for my stores! I think I will make 12x LOs to list for sale as well! I haven't done that and need to add something new to the storefront!

Until next time... which really, who can know when that will be?

It is, after all, the lazy days of summer!!!
Scrap on!
~Karrilee~

Boise, Bunko, my Baby... and a Must Read Book!

I know, I know... it's a cheesy title - but you know how I am with those things! LOL!

Boise...

Well - first off - here are the pages I did while I was IN Boise...

(It was nice to scrap with you girls!)

OK - I scrapped all of my photo's (well, ALMOST all!?) and am all caught up again on our 2008 Family Album... I need to transfer it though because I already have too many pages?! I may need one of those 3 Ring Binders that Chuck is in love with?! Anyway - here are my pages... (yes - I kno w... you will recognize the photo's from my other post! LOL! Just pretend, ok?!)

Bunko...

Tonight is Bunko night... I guess I have been doing this new lifestyle/way of eating deal long enough that Bunko Night no longer envokes fear and anxiety... sure - it still offers up a ton of temptation - but I am learning what I can handle and how to make better choices... so it is not as stressful! I have lost 38 pounds since February... I long for those weigh in weeks where I lost 4 and 6 pounds... but lately it has been 1-2 pounds a week... I know this is good - and will make it easier to keep it off... but a great loss would really be a welcomed change! LOL! Last night we went out with friends and had dinner (Applebee's) and then they came over and we played Mexican Train... I believe we played 3 rounds... and I lost every one of them! LOL! At least Robbin didn't win! tee hee!!! Hopefully tonight - we will both win a prize!!!

My Baby...

She is due home tonight... in route as I type... she called or texted (is that a word?!) me every day... she had an AMAZING time and I can't wait to hear all about it in person! I almost called in to cancel Bunko so I could be the one to pick her up! I know... I pick her up from school and get the full days events in the car and by the time Daddy gets home - she is out of words... I dont' want that to happen with camp... but - Dave assured me that she will have PLENTY to share about and I have already heard the majority of it anyway... so he encouraged me to go... and who couldn't use a bit of Bunko Time?! I have missed Kaye but it was nice to have the quiet house for a few days! Of course - we had a Cat Issue right before she left - so that was not fun! Our family pet, who is GREAT and has NEVER sprayed or had an accident in the house - decided that he all of a sudden needed to mark Kaye's room the night before Camp!? Yeah... ok - so he has had a few air ball incidents... and he sheds terribly... but he does not scratch the furniture or pee anywhere or anything - up until Sunday night that is!? So - he sprayed or peed in Kaye's room on her FURRY chair, and all over her clothes that were 'ready to be' packed for Camp! Nice! Yeah - um - how do you get out THAT smell in an hour?! Nice... her room is STILL airing out?! Yuck!? Anyway - she will be home tonight and I can't WAIT to spend the day with her tomorrow... do I have plans with her, you ask? Of course...

And that brings us to, lastly,

A Must Read Book...

I finally got my hands on The Shack! I had been, as I stated last week, waiting for EVER to get this from the library - the wait list was ridiculous and I was already knowing we would be buying it soon... and then it was handed to me and I was able to sit down and start it on Sunday evening... I finished it after dropping Kayelyn off for Camp on Monday morning!

OH

MY

GOODNESS?!

There are no words... (and you know {Denice} for me, that is saying somethin'!) This book is AMAZING!!! It is a simple quick read - a fiction story of sorts... but it is so deep and so TRUE... and so incredible! If you have not heard of it - run out and buy it... if you have heard of it - and haven't read it yet... seriously - what are you waiting for?! Get your hands on it and then talk to me! I would LOVE to know your thoughts!!! (If you can't get your hands on it - tell me, I will get them on it FOR you!!!)

OK - I am off to get ready for Bunko... Wish me luck!

(I need a coffee I think!? LOL!?)

~Karrilee~