My Weblog

Internet woes

Our poor little internet has died.  I don't know what the problem is....modem, cables, etc....  I've been going through such withdrawals all weekend that I had to come check my email from my Mom's house Sunday night.  LOL  The cable people will be coming Thursday to check it all out.  THURSDAY!!??  Surely there has got to be a faster option.  But no amount of begging would help.   :( 

It's really probably for the best. Olivia's sweet little 4 year old birthday is on Tuesday and there's lots of planning still before the celebrations.  Not to mention the dozens of half finished sewing and crafty projects I've got in the works.  So the time off could really be a blessing....right?!  (I'm trying to convince myself of this!!  Waaaaaaaaaaa) 

So until we get back up and running....don't have TOO much fun without me. 
TTYS~
Kim

if you can't laugh at yourself....

As I was rummaging through my pics yesterday searching for the salt shaker pics, I came across this video.  Cracked me right up, and I just had to share.   This was taken last October on our little digi-retreat.  What possessed me to make a total fool of myself, I'll never know.  I imagine it was in following with our dinner conversation, but I've been known to go off on my own mindless ramblings from time to time...so I can't guarantee that it wasn't completely our of no-where.  And no, I did not know it was being RECORDED.  Thanks a LOT Kari!!  Anyhow, here ya go.  :D

 

 

Apparently I talk with my hands quite a lot!  And I say the word "freakin".  LOL  Oh man, what a NUT!!

a bit weird

First of all, thank you so very much for the well wishes for my babies.  They are doing MUCH, MUCH better now.  Thank goodness!!    Now stay away from us little germies.  :)

I was tagged by my dear shabby friend, and a new friend who I didn't even know read my little blog.  --Does it make you all as happy as it does me to find a new referring link and get a comment from someone delurking?  I just love it!  Delurk, you shy lurkers.  :)--  Anyhow, both were the same tag....to list 6 weird things about myself....do you think that means I need to list TWELVE?!  Oh my.   I'm sure I could...but not sure I want that many of my idiosyncrasies floating around.  ACK!  :)
Here's the skinny: "According to the rules... Each player of this game starts with the "6 Weird Things about You". People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says 'you are tagged' in their comments and tell them to read your blog!"

Ok, here goes:
1. I like the feel of cutting things.  Wow, that sounds terribly morbid.  LOL  Let me clarify a bit. More specifically, I like cutting fabric.  There's nothing like the feel of some really good sharp scissors slicing through layers of cloth.  And that little twing of Gingher scissors always reminds me of my childhood.  (My Mom had radar hearing if we ever picked up her nice scissors.  I must have gotten that from her.)   I also like chopping hard foods like carrots and apple slices.....same reason, the feel of my favorite razor sharp knife.....  Yes, I know.  WEIRD!

2. When at a restaurant I like to try to balance the salt shaker on a grain of salt.  I learned this feat from a high-school friend.  It drives *Henry* nuts so I have to control my urges....but I did practice this little circus trick while in Chicago with my digi-girls.   In fact, Shawny snapped a few pics of the process. 

Pretty crazy, eh?!

3. Okay, this one is not really weird, just a little unique....and spurred by the pics above.  I have very skinny fingers.  I believe my wedding rings are a size 4.  Pretty small.  And by the looks of it, could use a bit of a resizing so they stays put and don't slosh all around on my finger.   I've never been good at back massages because of my bony little needle fingers.   Not complaining.... :)

4. The only exercise I get is while grooming.  Seriously, this is true.  I don't know why, but I do lunges in the shower.  25 on each side.  LOL  Our tub is the exact length for a perfect lunge.  I also do squats or calf raises while brushing my teeth.  I guess I figure these daily activities are such a waste of time, I might as well multitask and do something useful.  :D

5.  Mouth sounds gross me completely out.   I've always been very sensitive to the sounds of people eating.  (Just ask my poor brothers who listened to me gripe about it all growing up.)   It drives me batty!  I don't mind the "chewing" sound...but that creamy "tasting" sound gives me the chills.  Same with swallowing.  YUCK!  And hearing people kiss...just downright disgusting!!  During love scenes in movies I have to plug my ears or the whole movie is ruined.  LOL

6.  Ugh, I'm embarrassed to admit this one.   I'm a joint cracker.  It's a horrible habit and I can't stop.  I've been popping my knuckles since 4th grade when it was "cool".  Now, it is totally uncool...but i still do it.  I even do it in my sleep.  (So I've been told.)  And what's worse is I can, and do, crack nearly every joint in my body.  Ewwwwwww....so un-lady like.  Any tips to break this really bad habit?

Phew.  That's enough.   Okay, I'm tagging:  Saucy, C.D., Ashley, Amy, Aud, and Angela....and YOU!!  Please tell me I'm not THAT strange, and if you feel inclined leave me a comment about one "weird" thing about you.  I really love quirkiness....and lets be honest, I need to feel a little more normal after spilling some of my major oddness.  LOL   

Thanks for reading, friends.  Happy Thursday!
Kim

We've been hit by the sick germs...

....and I am soooo behind!  I'm always sort of a "fly by the seat of my pants" type of girl, but when the babies get sick, it totally disrupts my already over-scheduled agenda and balls start dropping left and right.   Starting last week Olivia was complaining of a tummy ache.  I was a little worried, but nothing to keep me up at night.  Then on Saturday night little Gray threw up....and then olivia threw up (still not quite sure if she was really feeling sick at the time, or just watching Gray did her in.)....then Gray again....and Olivia.  Ugh.   This pukie pattern continued throughout the rest of the weekend and the beginning of the week.  Olivia made a semi-fast recovery, and left baby Gray back in the germie trenches.  I put him on an exclusively clear liquids diet and made an appointment with the doc.  (By this time he was running a fever and horrible diapers too!)  Just as I suspected...the Doc gave the dreaded diagnosis of Rotavirus.   Blech!!   I know it's common, but these type of illnesses really irritate me!  We do EVERYTHING I can think of not to get those nasty little germs....I use a shopping cart cover, we wash hands ALL the time, and antibacterial wipe to the point of obsession, etc.   Still, because SOME person we probably don't even know did not wash their hands after using the restroom (EWWWWWWWWW) and contaminated something that my kids touched....now we've had days and days of torture.   Sorry for the rant, it just TOTALLY grosses me out.  (And quite truthfully nearly puts my germ phobic hubby *Henry* right over the edge.)  Anyhow, we are just now starting to see improvement in little Gray.  We made it all through the night without any bodily fluid explosions.  Phew!!!   Now to try to advance his diet and see if we can get some more weight back on the poor little thing.  He's looking sooo scrawny! 

On to a happier note.   
I have a little tooting of my own horn to do.  I already spilled the secret at DST, but wanted to share here as well.  It looks like I'll be joining the FABULOUS group of shabby artists at this cool place.  You heard me right....I'm on the SHABBY PRINCESS creative team. 

Is that not the COOLEST!?!  I still can't believe it.  I had to read her invite over and over and over.  Surely she was mistaking!!  But no, it's been confirmed, and I'm just delighted.  :)   Thanks again SP! 
Oh, and I have another little toot too....but can't announce quite yet as i don't know if it's supposed to be a secret.   (Here's a hint:  it has something to do with my last post and includes the SWEETEST person in the world. *wink*)

And lastly, a layout to share:
The only sanity I've had over the past few days is some REALLY late chat time with good friends, and a bit of scrapping.  Finished up my pages for Digital Artist Magazine, and did a quick CT page for Jen last night using her new Re-Jen-Erate kit.  (Okay, not SOOO quick.  I'm a very slow scrapper.  LOL) 

Full credits can be seen here.

Okay friends, off to play a little catch up.  I hope you are all staying clear of the germs and are happy and healthy.   Have a good weekend~
Kim

a snippet of our day

It's been a great day full of some of our favorite things.   It started out with Miss Olivia and I making our favorite muffins for breakfast.  (We've been planning this for weeks, and then always forget.  But this morning was perfect for a little baking.) 

I'm telling you girls, you NEED to try these muffins.  They're like comfort food goodness baked in a little pleated cup.  Perfection.   Of the 10 that we baked, there are only a few left.  :)   Hey, they're made with love....which makes them calorie free.  Right?  Right. 

While our muffins were baking, we looked outside and saw that it had SNOWED.  FINALLY!!!!  This has been the craziest winter for weather.  Earlier this week it was 50 degrees....EXTREMELY warm for here.   Now I'm not complaining as it's been great for building a house (Which, BTW, I need to put up some pics of the process.  It's kind of fun to see the transformation.  They are doing sheet-rock now, and it's SOOOO neat to see it coming together.) but our kiddos love the snow, so it's like a party on the days we get some white stuff.  So when baby Gray went down for his nap, we grabbed our snow garb and headed out for some fun. 

AND, I finally figured out how to set the white balance of my camera....so these are completely unretouched.  Yippppppppeeeee!  Love when things finally click in my brain.   I can't believe the difference it makes.   I'm going to get this camera down if it kills me.  :)

Alrighty, I've gotta get dinner on, the babies bathed, snuggled, and in bed....and then settle right in for a lovely evening of Grey's Anatomy (YAYAYAY, it's the new season!)  and scrapping!!!  How perfect does that sound?!   *sigh*   

All the cool photo frames are by Nancy Comelab.  Go snag them here!!

Enabling Sunday

I never thought in a zillion years I'd ever hear myself on the radio.  NEVER!!   But the day has come, and really, it isn't as bad as I thought!!  (Okay, my goofy little chuckle is enough to make me cringe with embarrassment, but the ladies were so sweet and didn't let me make TOO big a fool of myself.  LOL)  When I was contacted to be a guest on DiscTalkRadio I was shocked.   Truly shocked.    I mean, I looooooove scrapping and certainly spend oodles of time doing it, but I definitely don't consider myself one of the scrapping greats.  Not at ALL!!  And while being referred to as an "inspiration" is extremely flattering, it also was very, VERY nerve wracking to me.  Before the interview, I tried to think of all sorts of witty and articulate replies to some of the questions I knew they'd ask....I even did some role playing for practice.  (Yes, I'm THAT big of a nerd!)  But when it came time for the actual interview, forget the practicing...all of that went out the window.   The only option I had was to just be me.  The simple mom, wife, and friend who's trying to find time to balance all of her hobbies and passions and just be the best person she can.   So it's nothing fancy or earth-shattering, but you can go listen HERE, and learn a bunch of little tidbits about little ol' me. :)     (It's the show called Inside the Scrapper's Playhouse.)  Also, if you subscribe, there are lots of very cool prizes including this beautiful free kit by Michelle Coleman

and the chance to win one of 3 custom pages made by me.  *blush*  So anyhow, go sign up!!  Besides that you get to learn of some other REAL designing and scrapping inspiration out there!!  It's very cool!

Enough about me.  LOL  Have you all seen the new kits out by Shabby Miss Jenn?   When I got the email with the previews last week I just about DIED!  Are these not the most fabulous kits?! 

(Click HERE to be taken to her store!)  I was even able to scrap with them a little bit over the weekend.  I made some labels for a fun little secret project that I'll share in the next little while.  (You will LOVE this girls!!)  And then I combined goodies from both kits, and threw in some floof from a few other designers to make this page of my little Livy.   

Full credits can be seen here.

Speaking of Miss Olivia-Louise, I got a text from my sweet Jaynie (aka NellieRose) yesterday about the magazine I mentioned a few weeks ago....the one where Jayne is PUBLISHED.  (One of the many actually, cuz she totally ROCKS.)  Anyhow, Jaynie sent me a pic of the page in the mag...AND it's in the contents section too!  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!  So excited to see it printed out IRL.   

Credits here.  Go leave her some love.  :)

Isn't it such a great page?!  I LOOOVE it, and I adore Jayne.  Not only for her scrapping style and for getting my little cutie-pie in a mag, but because she is such a wonderful person.  I am so blessed to know her. 

Okay, this is turning into a MUCH longer post than I had planned.  LOL  I've got to run.  Whipping up a quick batch of chocolate chippers with the kids and then heading over to my Mom and Dad's for our bi-weekly Sunday dinner.  Hope you've all had a good weekend!

Love,  Kim

New Year obsession

Wishing all my blog readers the BEST of luck in the new year!  I hope 2007 brings you all the happiness,  prosperity, and creativity in the world.

And with that said, I'm going to go throw on an apron and get down to business.  Cleaning business, that is.   LOL   I have an uncontrollable urge to deep clean every surface of this house!  Hey, January 1 is a fresh start...might as well begin with a spotless and perfectly organized house.  Wish me luck! 

digital art by Shabby Miss Jenn....go get it HERE!