Book Review

Fellow book junkies: I'm going to start doing Book Reviews of the books I'm reading.  When I'm finished, I'll tell you what I thought, without spoiling anything, and totally invite discussion!  Here's my first one!

I just finished Tell Me Where It Hurts by Dr. Nick Trout.  I love animal books.  Mostly, they make me cry, and I shed a few tears on this one.  It's probably because I have two dogs and when I read about sick animals or animals dying, I think of them.  I just don't know how I'm going to handle it when it happens.  This book is about real tales that Dr. Nick Trout has encountered during his years of being a veteranarian.  He's very passionate about his job and the way he describes some of the animals is downright funny.  He laid the book out in an interesting way.  He has the timeline as being one full day of his job.  However, the stories are from different times, and some are follow-ups.  It's interesting.  I definitely recommend it if you like stories that involve animals and caring for them.  Plus, the book grabbed me because of the Boston Terrier on the cover...I have a Boston Terrier as well.

My Boston Terrier, Brody.

My next book is Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands.  Yes, it's a vampire book and part of a series.  It's the latest book of the Argeneau series (#13) and I absolutely adore them!  Can't wait to dig in!

Help...head about to explode....too much creativity!

Whew, I have so much to do!  Today I received a nice little goodie package from The Dares.  They gave me a prompt and some supplies to participate and be featured on the their blog for Dare 169.  I looked through the supplies like a kid looks through their Halloween candy!  I imediately started brainstorming on my page.  It will be a fun one!
I also started putting together my mini book for my class I'm taking.  I love how quickly it's coming together.  Just a great little album I can put together and the memories are forever.  The album is titled "32" and it's a to-do list of things I want to accomplish in my 32nd year (which starts in a month).  I'm just waiting for my delicious little Studio Calico package to come (due Monday) to add some details that I'm planning on.  I struggled with whether to use pictures, but I wanted to really focus on my list.  Elise really gives great tips and sparks creativity!
And today I finally started my sister's baby quilt.  Ok...I ironed the fabric...but that counts right?  I'm using the rest of this week to get some of these projects finished up.  I have yet to start the WWII album, but I want to get all my deadline projects finished first so I can solely concentrate on that one.  But for tonight, it's time for a hot mug of passion fruit papaya tea and my very last West Wing DVD.  Good night!

Projects, Projects, Projects!

Happy Labor Day everyone!  This has been a nice, relaxing weekend.  And a very inspiring weekend as well.  I have been getting a TON of creative ideas and I can't wait to get to my studio today and play, play, play!  I posted earlier about my mother-in-law asking me to create a WWII tribute album of her father's service.  I just received the package with the items to use, and let me tell you, this stuff is so awesome!  I'm really hoping that I can do it justice.  All of these old items are a little intimidating and I just hope I can make them shine.  I can't wait to get started on it!

Another project that I MUST get going on this week is a baby quilt for my sister.  She's expecting her third child in December.  When she told me she was expecting, I knew I was going to hand-make a gift for her.  When she had Emily, I made her a scrapbook.  When she had James, I made her a cross-stitch for the nursery.  Now, I'm making a quilt for Matthew.  I pulled out my fabric, determined to use what I have (what a concept!).  I noticed that I had a lot of browns, yellows and reds.  Those go well!  So I pulled out patterns that go together and I'm going to get started this week.  I'm planning a trip home for either December or January to see her and the baby, so I'd like to get it to her before then.  I'm excited to get sewing again.

Other projects: two thank you cards, a mini book for my class and a design team submission.  Whew, I'm going to be a busy girl this week.  Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Are you ready for some football?

I am!  Those of you who know me, know that I'm a HUGE Georgia Bulldogs fan.  Both of my parents went to UGA, in fact, they met there.  I was practically born with a Bulldog onesie on.  I have most definitely passed that on to my daughter.  In light of football season starting this weekend, I am posting a pretty sweet Georgia page that I've made and a couple of pictures.  Let the touchdowns begin and GO DAWGS!

LO I made of when we met head coach Mark Richt.

One of her many UGA outfits.

Mark Richt signing my daughter.  I have plans to frame that shirt.

My parents with Mark Richt.

Game Day outfits!

 My family and I are heading to Phoenix for the weekend to spend some time with Josh's aunt.  We'll be back on Sunday.  Hope everyone has a great and safe Labor Day weekend!

I Got It!

Last week, I pronounced my new love affair with The Dares.  I stayed up late one night to complete one of their dare layouts to try to be one of the first 15 to post.  The first 15 were selected to receive a box-o-goodies to use in participation of the next dare.  I was one of them!  I sent them my address today and they're getting a fun box in the mail for me.  I'm so excited!

I also completed a layout today, using the Aug 29 Sunday Sketch from Studio Calico.  I love this page.  This is such a great picture and I'm so glad my family was able to capture it.  In the picture is (from left to right) my mother Emily, my grandmother Dorothy, my niece Emily (named after my mother) and my sister Ashley.  I think it's so great that they were able to get a picture of four generations of our family.  This was taken in 2005, right after my niece was born.  I made it for my mother to put in her family album that I gave her for Christmas a few years ago.  I left some blank spots in the album to be able to add to it.  This will be one of them!  Thanks for looking!

Sketchbook 2 - Day 12 and some Date Night Pics!

Here is my last page for the Sketchbook 2 class.  Of course, I love it.  I really loved this class.  It was very inspirational and pushed me out of my comfort zone, which I needed.  I feel that since I've been on Studio Calico, my scrapbooking has gotten better.  Everyone on there is so talented.  I've been pushing myself to be more creative with my products and I have loved every single page that I've made since starting this class.  Big thanks to Kelly Purkey for getting me on Studio Calico and giving me so much inspiration.  I'll definitely be signing up for her next class!

I hope that turned out ok, I'm using a different computer.  If not, here's the SC link so you can look at it more closly if you want: I Bub You.

On to date night:  Let's talk about this movie.  If you haven't seen it yet, I won't spoil anything.  But I didn't really like Eat, Pray, Love.  I felt the same way about the book.  I'm trying so hard to like it, but it's just not doing it for me.  I admire her and I think she's really brave, but I was bored.  Julia was great and the guy who played Giovanni...I could've listened to him talk all night with that Italian!  The Italy part was my favorite.  It was beautiful and the food looked amazing.  Made me want to go there even more than I already do!  So the movie was a little disappointing for me, but I've heard a lot of people really loved it.  Maybe it's just me?
Dinner was phenomenal!  We went to Ra Sushi, a place we've heard great things about.  We got there and ended up eating at a small table in the bar so we didn't have to wait for a table.  It was like a night club in there!  Definitely the hippest sushi place we've been to.  Where else will you hear Beyonce's Diva while eating sushi.  I was bouncing in my chair...just a little.  The sushi was amazing!  We split four different rolls and each was so good.  I didn't even use soy sauce!

After dinner, we went next door to Frost Gelato.  Oh. My. God.  This gelato is ridiculous.  It was so cold and creamy...wow!  I got chocolate hazelnut and my husband got a two-scoop of panne cotta and amaretto.  Wow!

So, date night was wonderful, despite the crazy lightening storms that seem to be pretty common in southern Arizona, at least this time of year.  I'm excited to start my mini book class tomorrow and will definitely be sharing my projects.  If you haven't already, please check out my Scrap Angel facebook page to see some more of my work, plus some ordering information if you want to order a custom scrapbook.  I'm dying to make some awesome projects for you!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday everyone!  Thanks for stopping by again!  Last night was Studio Calico's reveal night.  It was worth all the hype!  I was on about an hour early and joined the live chat.  The only thing about that was there were so many people in the chat, that it was hard to keep up.  I kept getting lost in the conversations!  So right at 9:00, I switched over to order my kit.  Keep in mind, I was only buying the main kit!  No add-ons, no extras....I was going to stay strong!  Yeah, that didn't happen.  I got the main kit right away and went back "just to check the other stuff out."  Big mistake.  That Harvest Moon add-on went right into my cart.  Then, just one more looksy...the patterned paper add-on...in the cart as well.  Oh Lordy.  I did spend more than I planned, but I know it will be worth it when I get that goody box in the mail soon!  I may just be on my way to becoming a subscriber.

Tonight is Date Night!  I'm so excited!  I'll be taking some good pictures (as good as I can get with my iphone anyway) and I'll post them tomorrow.

Now that my Sketchbook class is over (will post my final page tomorrow), I have signed up for a mini book workshop taught by Elise Blaha.  This girl is so talented, especially her mini books.  I'm really looking forward to making some creative books and branching out from my normal 12x12 layouts (which I love dearly, but needing something different).  The class starts on Monday, so I've cleaned up my studio and I'm brainstorming some ideas for cool books to make.  Anyone made any cool minis lately?  I'd love some suggestions!

P.S.  I just realized that registration for her class is closed.  I feel bad for anyone who hasn't heard of it before and would have liked to take it.  Next time I'll be sure to post any info a little earlier!

Hello Weekend

The weekend is finally here.  I'm very excited for this particular weekend to come.  This is because my husband and I are FINALLY getting to go out on a date.  We moved to Tucson about 3 months ago and didn't know anyone who we were comfortable leaving our daughter with.  Recently, some friends of ours from Texas moved here as well.  They offered to take our angel for a night so we could go out.  Yay!  We're going to see Eat, Pray, Love (despite ho-hum reviews, I think I'll enjoy it) and then we're going to go eat some sushi at a place we've heard a lot about.  We really need this and I'm so excited, I even have butterflies!

Another exciting thing about this weekend actually happens tonight.  Studio Calico reveal night.  Now, I'm not a subscriber to Studio Calico, but I want to purchase the September kit.  For those of you not familiar, Studio Calico puts together monthly kits of scrapbooking products (some from their line and some from other lines, such as Jenni Bowlin and Tim Holtz, just to name a few).  It's all coordinating so very little to think about as far as putting products together on a page.  Every month subscribers receive the main kit and can purchase add-on kits if they wish.  I've been on Studio Calico as part of my Sketchbook class but didn't plan on subscribing at all.  Well, I'm starting to change my mind.  I haven't taken the plunge yet, but I am going to order the September kit to test it out and see if it's worth it (there is a SC ruler stamp that I'm practically drooling over).  Here's the thing...this site is competitive!  They only have a certain number of kits and add-on kits, so you have to be quick to get what you want.  Oh my gosh, it's cut-throat!  I feel like we're at a sample sale at Barney's or something!  I gotta get my inner Carrie Bradshaw ready.  I feel confident that I'll get the kit and I'm going to skip the add-ons right now (that's what usually goes quickly) since I'm just testing it out.  The kits go on sale at midnight (EST), so 9:00pm my time and I'll be on the site and ready to go.  I'm getting excited and all the lades at SC are so inspiring and friendly.  How often do you get to have a real conversation with the head of a scrapbooking company?  I've talked to April Foster a few times and she's amazing. 

Here are my weekend goals:
1. Do my final page for my Sketchbook class.
2. After that...clean up and organize my scrap desk.
3. Get ready for the mini book class starting Monday (more on that tomorrow).
4. Clean out my car - needs it desperately!
5. Tonight is pedicure night for me and my daughter.  Matching polish and all!
6. Finish my book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Can't put it down right now!  So good!
7. Watch my next West Wing DVD.  I'm halfway through the last season.

I'll be back tomorrow with an update on how SC Reveal Night goes and details on the mini book class I'm taking.  Have a great Friday night everyone!

Sketchbook 2 - Day 11

Whew, I had some fun on this page!  Two words: Glimmer Mist!  I took a stamp and used embossing ink on white cardstock to stamp the image.  I let it dry completely.  Then, I sprayed glimmer mist over the image until it showed up white.  That was fun!  I'll definitely do that on another page!  I normally don't make pages without photos, but this one was fun.  Caylan's first artwork paper has been sitting on my desk for almost a year, so I was very happy to get it down on a page.  When I saw the sketch, the big circle element scared me a bit, since I don't normally do circles.  But that's the beauty of this class.  It pushes me out of my comfort zone and gets me to try new things.  I absolutely adore it.

Only one more sketch left of this class.  I'll receive it tomorrow.  I'll be sad when it ends, but I have a great collection of sketches that are going in a binder to use for future pages.  There's been some talk of a Sketchbook 3 class, which I would sign up for in a heartbeat! 

My New Addiction

Hello.  My name is Sarah.  And I'm addicted to scrapbooking blogs.  Seriously!  I just discovered a new one (new to me anyway), called The Dares.  OMG.  I'm still trying to get the gist of it, but it seems that they post "Dares" for you to attempt on scrapbook pages.  I saw this one and I absolutely loved the idea!  The dare was to scrapbook these 11 things that are going on in your life right this moment.  I jumped right on it and created this page for it.  It says the first 15 people who post their results will receive a bunch of goodies to participate in the next dare.  I think I'm one of them!!!  I believe I will be stalking this blog.  If anything, I'm loving all the challenges I've been taking on.

P.S.  I apologize for the bad lighting.  I did the page at night and wanted to post it asap, so I took the picture at night.  Wow, what a difference!