What's that I see?

Yes! It's a layout! I don't know what happened today. We are off all week for spring break (did I ever mention how working in the schools was the best thing ever?). I've been cleaning like a crazy woman since Friday. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I have this creative mojo pulsing through my veins, just dying to get out. Boy, that hasn't happened in a long time! So, I actually decided to get down off the ladder, put away my dust cloth, sit down and actually create something. Wow, did that ever feel good! I scrapped 3 of my most favorite things right now...Baci chocolates, Buffy and Charmed on DVD, and Philosophy Shower Gel. Now if the rest of the week continues on like this, it may be one very fruitful (does anyone even use that word, "fruitful" anymore?) spring break. That and if I ever get my kitchen cleaned to perfection. Ha!

Where have I been?

Has it really been over a month since I last blogged? Oh my goodness, where have I been? We were having some crazy computer troubles for awhile, so I guess between that and plain old life, the last thing on my mind was the good old blog.

Not really much to report lately other than we are finally beginning to experience spring! The temperatures have been in the high 50s to mid 60s and there is nothing like pleasant spring weather and a shining sun after the dreary winter to send my need to spring clean into overdrive! I deep cleaned the living room over the weekend and am ready to roll along to the rest of the house this weekend. It's a sickness I tell ya!

Happy Spring!

Amazing

I'm not sure if there are any other American Idol fans out there, but I have to share something that I found amazing today. Let me first go back to last night:

Last night on Idol, Jason Castro sang a song named "Hallelujah". I have to admit that the song intrigued me a bit. The judges loved it, even Simon. They mentioned that their favorite version of the song was sung by Jeff Buckley. Having never heard the song before last night, I decided that the next time I was hanging around the itunes, I would have to look up this Jeff Buckley version of the song. I mean they spoke so highly of it, I had to hear it for myself. Right?

Imagine my surprise when I found that "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley was listed as the #4 most popular song on itunes. Can you believe it? This song was recorded in something like 1994 and it's #4 on itunes today, some 14 years later? Apparently I wasn't the only one intrigued by it! Did I download it? You bet your 99 cents I did!

I can't help but think, how amazing is the power of American Idol coupled with a really great song! Honestly, I'm amazed.

Just another snowy day

We got quite a good amount of snow yesterday and overnight, enough to close the schools today. Gotta love a good ol' snow day. I feel like I packed so much into this day, yet at the same time, I feel as though I got nothing done at all. Very strange. It's almost hard to believe that on Monday, we had hardly any snow and now we have this:


and this:


oh yes, and this:


and did I mention this:


Fooled you that time didn't I? You were expecting another boring snow photo. In order to remind myself of spring, I bought that little "box of love", as I've decided to name it, last week. What could be happier than buttons, paper blossoms and felt flowers all in one little box? I don't even need to mention that this set contains my three most favorite colors in the world--orange, pink and red. Love it! I am also loving the Garden Party chipboard shapes that I bought. (couldn't get a good picture of them, so you'll have to use your imagination if you haven't seen them yet) That set screams spring and is my only consolation when I look outside my window and see that it is snowing heavily, yet again! Here's hoping that winter is over real soon.

Separation

Yesterday, I received my March issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. I haven't really combed through it with any intensity, but just by flipping through, I have to say (and I really hate to say it) but I am so not inspired by any of it. (my apologies if you have a LO published in this issue) It's not this issue alone that has turned me, I haven't been inspired by any CK issue in a long time. There was a time when I would run from the mailbox when a new CK issue arrived and try to hide from my kids long enough so I could read it cover to cover. This is so not the case anymore. I have my very first issue of CK still (for sentimental reasons, I guess). It's the May/June 1998 issue. It's taken 10 years to get me to this point but when my subscription is up in September, I will most likely not be renewing it. I find I can get much more inspiration in other places... online galleries & blogs and just in the everyday stuff...and not in Creating Keepsakes magazine, that's for sure.
There is a part of me that wonders whether this separation from CK is because I've been scrapping for 10 years, I've finally become comfortable enough to just "do my own thing" even if it's not cutting edge and not worry if the masses like it. Then I realize that I still do enjoy BHG Scrapbooks Etc. magazine, so that can't be the case. It's just a separation between CK & I. Period. What's that silly phrase that everyone says nowadays? Oh yeah. It is what it is.

Mid Winter Recess

As a kid, was there anything better than a week off from school? Funny, I'm still feeling that vibe after all these years. It is Mid Winter Recess here, and my kids & I are starting our week off from school/work. (I'm thinking that my switching jobs in October was one of the best things I ever did...who has better working hours than teachers & staff?) I'm really hoping to get some scrapping done this week, but for now, we are off to see a very talented local magician perform at the library. Have a good one friends!

Tagged!

Sweet Melonie tagged me, so here goes:

You must post the rules before you give your answers.*You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name.*After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers.*At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name.(Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details.

A--attractive. Hold it here, believe me, I'm not calling myself attractive as in a "Oh I'm so beautiful, look at me" way. I mean attractive in that I always attract people in general, in public, from all walks of life to carry on conversations with me. My sisters, my friends have always gotten a kick out of this. What is it about me that perfect strangers feel they need to talk to me?
N--neat freak. Sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. The littlest things out of place drive me nuts!
N--nice. Well I realize that it's kind of a generic word, but I think that in general I am nice or at least I try to be nice at all times. (Hey, maybe that's my problem, see letter A above! LOL)

I will be tagging, in the hopes that they don't want to kill me:
JenCoen
Nicole
Janie