What I do

Journaling:

Kid driving, camera toting, hubby loving, scrapbook designing, house cleaning, dog walking, dinner making, stay-at-home mom

My life is to make your life easier

I wouldn't change a thing

as of Sept. 2007

Confessions of a Jacket Junkie

I used bleach on a rubber stamp on the photo and the paper to make an interesting effect.

Journaling (in envelope behind photo):

I don't know, maybe it's the snaps, the zippers, the rivets, buttons, zipper pulls, great textures, or the tneed I have for layering or the fact they cover a multitude of unsightly bulges, but whatever the reason I LOVE JACKETS!!! I've been known to buy 3 jackets on the same day. I've been known to solicit the help of friends and family to keep me from buying a jacket when we venture into a store.

Every year I try to cut back.  I start off by donating 2-3 jackets to charity.  But at the first hint of fall fashions hitting the stores 3-4 seem to automatically jump back into my closet

I don't usually intend on buying a jacket when I go shopping.  But it all goes out the window (or should I say the door) when I find the cutest jacket, in the best color at a great price.

Some of my favorite places to shop for jackets?  TJ Maxx, The Gap, American Eagle, and Costco.  As you can tell, a great jacket does not need to be pricy.  In fact 2 of my very favorite jackets cost under $7, a price like that only makes the attraction sweeter.

There are probably those who feel I need a 12-step program to help me overcome my addiction.  But I, at least for now, don't see it as a problem.  It's just something I do to treat myself nice.  And I deserve it.

At last count:

1 camo

6 denim

3 leather

1 rain

5 corduroy

3 ponchos

3 with fake fur

2 fleece

4 sweatshirts

1 velvet

1 beach pullover

2 plaid

2 super bargains

3 paid way too much

Music

Journaling:

Audio technology is changing so fast right now.  I thought it would be appropriate to document the beginning of the ipod.  the ipod has revolutionized the way we listen and purchase music.  My initial reaction to ipods was that they are way too expensive to be worth it.  But now.  I think I've beenconverted.  I love listening to country, rock and 80's music all at a touch of a button. No changing disks, no scratches, no cases sitting aroun making amess, songs organized by group, genre, date, in alphabetical order or even random.  Playlists can be changed or updated in an instant, there are all sorts of websites to preview and sample different  songs and different artists. No wonder my music interests broaden and change daily.

I am even enjoying my daily walks more with my ipod strapped to my arm, keeping up with the beat of Erasure keeps me bopping along and I find myself home before I know it.  I'm sure the neighbors think of me as the dancing neighbor.  I just can't help it.

It's not just limited to music either, we downloaded comedy clips and sound bites: and now with the new video ipods we can watch music videos, movie shorts and even feature length films.

Here are some of the things I like listening to on my ipod nano right now

May 11, 2006

(My favorites are listed all over the page.)

Nothing

Journaling:

Human nature is so funny and so dramatic.

It cracks mu up that when we have a small inconvience we dramatize and say, "Oh, there's nothing worse than..."  when in reality, there are LOTS of things that are worse.  Of course I have to marvel also when, we as humans, revel in a simple joy and then say, "Oh wow! There's nothing better than..." and for the moment there IS nothing better.  I love being human.

Here are some of my nothings...

Better than:

Good music while I'm cleaning

Costco frozen yogurt

Wearing super cute shoes

The smell of fresh baked bread

Waking up in the night and realizing you still have 3 hours to sleep

Worse than:

Cigarette smoke blown in your face

A cold toilet seat

Forgetting your cell phone in the charger

Having to unload the dishwasher to load it again

Food stuck in between your teeth with no toothpick or floss handy

Stubbing your toe while making your bed

Traveling when you have the flu

The Queen of Grunge

Yes, this is me, I answer to the Queen of Grunge.  Made with some of my favorite Mustard Moon paper and of course all the junque; stamping, cracked embossing powder, brads extra office supplies, extra sewing supplies, paint, game pieces, stitching, tags, sewing, chalk, , and I am partial to upside down letters and numbers... ok maybe I went a little overboard on this page.  But I love grunge, it makes me so happy!  I even used a blurry picture

Journaling: (Why I like grunge AND also describes what Scrapbooking means to me)

When it comes to my personal life, I guess I dislike grunge since it means dirt of filth.  And when it comes to music, grunge bands sing about apathy or dissatisfaction.  I abhor all of these things, but when it comes to scrapbooking, "Ahhhh!" It just makes me happy! Nothing is more satisfying than really grunging up a page, chalk, ink, metal, hardware, rips wrinkles, sandpaper, paint, a little bit of this, a tidbit of that; antique things, one of a kind things, something unique, something unexpected, heck, even trash. Sounds odd i know, but I feel so fulfilled when I finish a layout with one or more of these elements on it.  Sometimes I envy those who have a clean uncluttered style.  I always learn from them and occasionally try my hand at it.  But in the end I can't get away from that worn, aged found it on the street style.

More journaling: (in pocket behind above journaling)

I love finding out stories and tidbits about my grandparents and other ancestors.  It makes them human.  Even though I knew my grandparents well (I was married with kids before they passed away) it is still fun to find out that when they were young they used to sneak out of the house to meet friends, or they they thought that their parents didn't understand them.  How I would love to have pictures of the friends they met, or an actual journal entry about how they felt misunderstood. There is a connection to the past and a link to the future when one journals, scrapooks, takes part in genealogy or documents something noteworthy for future generations.  It is a strange phenomenon really... but I hope that within the pages of my scrapbook the scripture in Malachi Chapter 4 verse 6 will be, at least partially, fulfilled.  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers...