No More Alarm Clocks

Friday was the last day of Miller's summer camp.  For three weeks, four days a week, I had 2 1/2 hours all to myself.  I REALLY liked it.  He REALLY liked camp, and I bet he'll miss it.  However, I did not like having to set an alarm to be at camp on time.  I haven't had to use an alarm clock regularly for years, maybe even a decade.  I think the world gets up way too early.  This camp was so great because it was basically all free play time.  They could play inside with toys or blocks, they could play outside in the amazing park, they could participate in the art projects - all up to them.  It was a great first experience for him.  Miller will be starting a real preschool in mid-September, and I will get a few hours to myself again. And even better, it's AFTERNOON preschool.  No alarm clocks.

I've been busy making layouts.  Taking advantage of my guest spot and my 2 1/2 hours :)  This first one is a 2-pager for Miller's 4th birthday.  This was a special party for me because we stayed in our own town instead of traveling to where all the family is.  It really meant a lot to us that they all came here for the party.

Make a Wish by Sahlin Studio and Valorie Wibbens
June Bliss Templates by Amy Martin; Photo actions by My Four Hens

Make a Wish by Sahlin Studio and Valorie Wibbens; Everyday Life 12x12
Templates by Gina Marie Huff; Photo actions by My Four Hens

I finally got some curtains for Miller's "apartment," so the room felt finished enough to scrap about it.  Before this, he did not have his own room; his stuff was just all over.  Now he has is own space.

photoy templates v. 4 by Amy Martin; Splatz Mats by C.D. Muckosky
Decorative Stitches by Valorie Wibbens; Make a Wish by Valorie Wibbens
and Sahlin Studio; Stylish Stocks paper pack by Pixel Gypsy

This page was about my entry to the California State Fair and meeting my online scrapping buddy Stef who also entered and won. I still have more fair scrapping that I want to do, but this was the most important part.

Paper Palooza #4 Template by Gina Miller Designs
Country Fair Picnic Papers and Mixed Media by Sahlin Studio

Just a cute picture of Miller.  Gosh, I wish he'd cut his hair.

Faded Masks and Mats by Scrapping with Liz; Growing Like a Weed and
The Joy of Life by Captivated Visions; Free to Be by Tracie Stroud

These were just some pics from a few months ago that I'd set aside to scrap.  Nothing particularly noteworthy about them, but I thought the little quotation word-art was funny and matched the photos really well.

Trademark by Lauren Reid and One Little Bird
Frame-It 2 by Sabrina's Creations

Finally, this is the tentative cover for my 2011 printed scrapbook. I love the simplicity of the design. I think it's similar to last year's cover, so I like the consistency of that.  I also like the words I wrote ... sometimes I surprise myself.

Sketched Frames by Scrapping with Liz;
Your True Colors by Captivated Visions.

That's all for now! Thanks for looking!

Whole Wheat Cookies and New Layouts - July 17, 2011

I bought flour this week, and when I grabbed it I thought it was unbleached flour.  In the middle of making cookies, I realized it was whole wheat flour.  Lazy as I am, I didn't want to run over to the store for regular flour, so I took the chance and used the whole wheat.  And they turned out fine! I was really surprised - I couldn't taste the difference.  They also didn't look very different either - I think because they were oatmeal chocolate chip, and I usually expect an oatmeal cookie to look more brown.

Here is the recipe I used:

• 1 C. butter, soft
• 1 C. dark brown sugar
• 1/2 C. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 C. whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 C. quick cooking oats
• 1 package milk chocolate chips.
• Mix up in the usual order (I do everything in one bowl - no pre-mixing dry ingredients for me).  Drop by tablespoon scoop and  bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Before I get to my new layouts, I want to share my digiscrapping news.  In June I participated in the challenges at The Lilypad.  I completed all seven challenges and was entered in a drawing to win a guest spot on their CT.  And I won!! My guest spot has already started, I'm so excited!!

Now on to layouts. Miller recently had blood drawn for some labs ... I'll just say it was not a fun experience, and I am so glad it is over. It has now been about two weeks since it happened. The scientist and I stayed at Miller's preschool for about 20 minutes this morning and just watched him a little. He was playing with a little boy on the swings, and after a while Miller asked the boy several times, "Did you know I had to have my blood taken?" It seemed that Miller really wanted this other boy to know about it. James thinks it is like a war story for him ... this horrible thing he went through, but he made it, so it's worth bragging about.

365 Neutrals by eNKay; Old News Paper and Soak It In by Pixel Gypsy

Miller had a blue life jacket that he used in the pool for the last two summers.  It is now, of course, much too small (I think it was even too small last year).  We got rid of it and acquired a new Coast Guard approved jacket for this year.  But he would have nothing to do with it at first.  He refused to go swimming at all ... for a while.  Now he loves it.

You Make Me Smile by eNKay Design

And a couple Project: Love, Me pages.  This month the general topic is celebration. I'm not a real big celebrating type person, but I do love cake...

Country Love by Etc. by Danyale; Double Page Journaling Templates by
Scrapping with Liz; Buttons from various kits by Gina Marie Huff
Stitches by K Studio; Cardstock from HoHoHo by Miss Tiina

And here I wrote about a failed tradition that James and I started several years back: reading the Declaration of Independence on 4th of July. I still hope to get this tradition going again.

Country Love  and Americana by Etc. by Danyale; Yin & Yang Template
Collab by Scrapping with Liz and Fiddle-Dee-Dee Design
Cardstock from HoHoHo by Miss Tiina

Thanks for looking!

New Layouts - July 9, 2011

Did you know that you can check out movies from the library? It's really nice for us because all of the movie rental shops have closed down in our town. Plus, at the library they're free! We've checked out several kids DVDs from the library over the last few months, and I finally picked up a movie for me. I picked Avatar. I really enjoyed it. I might even go buy it.

Here are a few layouts I've made over the last week or so ... This first one is pictures of my old cat Nellie.  I thought he was a girl when I got him ... then learned he was a boy from the vet. But I had already named him Nellie, and it seemed to fit him.  So I kept the name.  He died right after 4th of July three years ago.  He was only about 10 years old. I really loved him.  I had all kinds of nicknames for him, and I remember he used to sit on the toilet seat whenever I took a shower.  I think the sound of the water attracted him.  I would call him my "bathroom helper shmelper"  .... and I think that even morphed into "shmoop shmoop."  Our current cat Bob is just called Bob.  Well, I take that back.  He is occasionally called "Senior Bob-a-relli," which is a take from a song in the Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd. Actually, I believe Nellie's name even comes from Sweeney Todd.  I guess Sweeney Todd was pretty important to me in my college days.  Uh ... back to the layout.

Clip 'n Doodle Frames by eNKay Design; Missing You by Tami Miller Designs

I made this next one for a Digi Dare challenge. The challenge was to write about freedom, which is something the scientist and I talk about every once in a while. Basically, I talked about the trade-off between freedom and security, and how my gut chooses freedom, even if it risks harm. I even "won" the challenge!

Americana by Etc. by Danyale; USA Templates by Scrapping with Liz;
My Country by Studio Miki; Americana by Ziggle Designs and Tracie Stroud
Notebook from Desk Mess by Holliewood Studios

Miller started summer camp preschool this week. Leading up to it, he insisted he was not ready to be alone without me. I was scheduled to volunteer that first day, so that worked out nicely. By the third day he said, as we were getting ready, "I'm tired of you being there." (although I only stayed for that first day.) I don't think he really meant "tired of" in the way we usually mean. He's still learning all these phrases that he hears. My feelings were not terribly hurt.  I'm scheduled to volunteer on Tuesday again ... I wonder if he will allow that?

Ianthine Templates by Scrapping with Liz; Watercolor brushes by Faith True;
By Gina Marie Huff: Life is Good, Life365 Painted Papers
Sweet & Simple Life Kits #3,6,4, Hodge Podge 7 alpha, Cute Lil Patterns 2

Thanks for stopping by!