My Life Using Plan B

LOVE THIS!!!

Absolutely love the new Maroon 5 CD! Its been so darn long since the last one ... which I wore out the CD, and my poor iPod immediately jumps to this CD because of overplaying it so much! When I want to get into serious designing and tune out the world around me ... I listen to this or this ... but now its this ------->!!

MTV had this out on their album leak  ... and oh happy day to be able to spend last week listening to their new CD. I actually think that my design'ing improved cause I was happier! =)

What do you listen to while 'seriously' getting into a project?

A while back ...

Jeanette tagged me to update my blog with my favorite blog sites – at the time of the 'tag' of course I was swapped .. but hey I am still swapped (when am I not?) Lately I am seriously into sites "that give it all" at once, saves time on my day, and glad that someone else is gathering all the info, instead of me =) ... so here is my list of current favorites:

• Scrapscene : I almost don't want to give this site out because its such a great reference. One, because its so good and its like my portal into scrapbooking sites on my daily "checkin" everything out in one click with great links! Two, because they've failed to mention anything about famous me or get croppin. I believe that they are Canada based and quite often talk a lot about Canadian events. =(
• All my friends blogs Marirosa, Amy, Jeanette, Denise, Korie, Jennifer, Ali, Donna, and Margie
• Some of my "love that person's thoughts, ideas, or style" ... Kristina, Kelli, Rhonna, Jenni, Carrie, Cathy, Tara
• Why buy the magazines when its online for free ... Pink, TMZ, Splash
• Some of my favorite design, program, or style resource sites ... A list Apart, Expert Advice, Adobe Blog

I have so many favorites ... hard to list them all but that's my list!

Had a great mothers day ...

Spent my day with my peanut. She made me breakfast, we went to get a pedicure and our traditional paint a dish and the local paint pottery place. We were a bit bummed when we got there because they were out of our size dish. Since we've done the same size every year since she was 2 ... it would be hard to chose another size. So we painted bowls but will go back once the plates are back in stock.

I finally broke down and bought myself a REALLY nice mothers day present ... evidence up there ---7 (with a push from M) ... no didn't get the Mark III ... i didn't even get the D5 (although I had it in my hands for quite a while) I couldn't justify the money spent unless I were to start professionally taking pictures again ... and currently thats not something that i want to do for other people. So I settled on the XTI with a really really nice "compatiable with higher model" len (should I get the bug for better pictures). Totally happy so far with the results of this camera. =)

NYC - part 1

So I've typed this many times since returning from NYC, but every time, something happens and I loose the text. Manly because I am on multiple tabs on my FAVORITE WEB BROWSER open and one thing leads to another and POOF ... I've deleted the text ... so I'll type again ... but the first time I typed this ... it was the best!

NYC was a blast! Minus being terribly ill and freezing our butts off! Strange leaving DC in shorts and sandals, enjoying the cherry blossoms around the Reflecting Pool ... only to arrive in NYC and pull out our winter coats. Plus, I deserve the "worse packer in the world award", somehow K arrived with only sandals, many sundresses, and one pair of pants. UGGHH! 

When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted with the SMALLEST HOTEL ROOM i've ever stayed in! SMALLEST! The hotel itself was nice, and the location was great. Previous stays at other hotels in NYC made this hotel seem like a 2 star. =( Which sucks cause Mom isn't use to downgrading!

After a quick change we headed out of the small room and into the big city. We decided to purchase tickets for the NYC Sightseeing tour. In the past, I've chuckled a little at these type of "tours" ... cause you look like a tourists ... but we decided to throw vanity to the wind and "really see NYC" in the short amount of time that we were there. After a quick trip to the closest Footlocker for new shoes for K, we headed to the Time Square Toys R Us. When i asked K what she thought about the three story store ... her reply was ... Toys R ALL! =)

After that we went to dinner at one of my favorite Time Square Restaurants, Pigalle ... YUMMM love anything thats served with BRIE! YUMMY! After that hopped on the bus for the downtown/ brooklyn tour ... which we all learned how to say ... forget about it!

The next day, we woke to me not feeling well, pouring down rain, a $60 breakfast at the hotel, and plans for an afternoon at American Girl Place (which was the point of the whole trip!) We decided to do the uptown tour (in the rain) and stop at the Met for a little culture (heehee)! I am so so so blessed with a little girl whose love for art equals my own. Taking her to an art museum qualifies as a "great day" in her book. When we finally made it to my favorite period of art ... Impressionism and Expressionism! My personal favorite ... Van Gogh and Degas.

After a taxi ride back to the hotel, a quick change, we were off to American Girl Place ... ofcourse with Elizabeth (one of THREE! dolls that she has ...  did someone say spoiled!) My impressions of American Girl Place ... man what a RACK! That place was PACKED! Four floors on the corner of 5th Avenue and 49th ... we are talking BIG BUCKS ... that place has to pull in so much money. We made our way to the show ... yes the SHOW (which we had pre purchased own tickets). K loved it, and thats what counts, right? After that we had dinner reservations ... which I would give 2 stars ... but similar to Chuck E Cheese, your paying for the atmosphere. Cute black and white strips and pink flowers ... really cute designs. The dolls even get their own chair and tea set.  On the table are  boxes of  "would you" questions which we laughed at each others response.

A dark day...

I am overwhelmed with sadness for the families of Virginia Tech students hurt or killed. Just unbelievable. College is suppose to be your best memories, best times, days of knowledge and sleeping in. =/ Not blood shed or terror. Bush was right on when he said ... "it affects all classrooms." Today, when I dropped K off at her elementary school, I thought ... how easy would it be for someone to do that in her school. Sure the surrounding doors are locked, but anyone can enter through the main door with no real checkpoint. Overall, I would say that k's school is secure ... but how safe is secure when someone loses it.

I keep thinking about all the talk about locking VT down after the first shootings. People screaming that the other killings might not have happened. The guy would have been "lock down" in his dorm ... whats' to say that he wouldn't have killed all the people in his dorm ... then in the classroom. I just can't imagine. And i don't think that it could have been prevented, it seems as though the shooter was bent on destruction.

Years ago, I was awoken  in the middle of the night in terror ... a nightmare about being in an office when someone came in yielding a gun and shooting people. It was after Columbine ... I still think about that night and the terror in my dreams ... i just can't imagine the terror in person or the loss of a family member ... just unimaginable.

As a part of my own therapy, I've "photoshop'd" all the front pages of todays newspapers from around the country and around the world.

My heart goes out to all those affected by this senseless tragedy.   

Girls on the Run Part III

So next Tuesday, we'll be Girls on the Run (G&Rs) ... and i can't wait. The "girls" are Kaleigh, my mom, and me! My mom is flying out from CA and we are headed to the Big Apple! Or as my nephew use to call it ... the Big Apple Tree. The trip (as most of the Girls on the Run trips start out as) was suppose to be just a quick little trip up to NYC to go to the American Girl Cafe/ Shoppe for a little be-lated birthday party for K (because my mom was in New Zealand on this cruise ... there goes more inheritance =). Well like all other G&Rs ... its turned into quite a show. Starting off staying in  Time Square, and all-day excursion to American Girl Cafe complete with show tickets, shopping, and dinner. (Good GOD!) Lots of downtown shopping, museums, exploring, and fun. Plus, second row seats to Mary Poppins. I figure, how often do we go to a Broadway show ... better enjoy it rather then squint through it. Kaleigh is beyond excited! CAN'T WAIT!

PS ... M and I want to go on this CRUISE next year ... anyone want to send us money to pay for it! Only 118 days ... no one would miss us ... come on M ... lets make some tags to help pay only $73K a person!

I need to start ...

Saving my pennies now ... check this bad boy out ... whhho hooo ... and this feature alone ...

Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit and Dust Delete Data Detection

Technology ... don't you love it!

Relaxing ...

This past weekend was so relaxing! Although getting no sleep wasn't. I was up at 6:00am (one cause i thought it was 8am and two cause i just wanted to enjoy the lake) before getting right into a day of full scrapping! Heres one of my favorite photos from my sunrise "sit and ponder nature" moment: the fog was slightly building on the water and the contract between the warm sun and cold fog and glass-like water was so beautiful.

I laughed so hard this weekend. I can still think of funny moments and smile and give a little chuckle. SERIOUS fun! SO good to get away and laugh ... so good for the soul ... i highly recommend it!

I know i am no ...

Jeanette (man can that girl shop!) But let me tell you if you don't have one of these bad boys ... well then, run and get one! They are the Black & Decker Power Scissors. I am telling you these freaking rock! I know, I know your thinking "power scissors ... like how lazy is that." But think about the last time you tried opening a plastic package, a toy out of a plastic package, anything other then paper ... well, my friend, this is now my tool of choice!

My sister turned us all on to them at Christmas. During the frenzy of unwrapping ... kids screaming "open this open this" ... H pulls these out and the kids were hysterically funny. They used these to cut the curling ribbon, wrapped around the package (no more pulling the curling ribbon, hurting fingers as the ribbon would get tighter and tighter, trying to get it off a corner)! These bad boys will open a seal-tight Barbie package, get the Barbie out of all those strings, twist ties, plastic, holders, tape, and whatever in less then 30 seconds. We all loved them so much my mom got one, my brother got one, i got one ... I CAN'T SCREAM enough ... these ROCK!

Where has 8 years gone? ...

EIGHT YEARS! Holy cow, you blink your eyes and time FLIES BY. One minute its all about teletubbies and barney ... the next minute its all about Limited Too and Libby Lu. I am a hop, skip, and a jump away from words like "i want my own car" and "can I go to Vegas" for the weekend. UUUUGGGGGHHHHH!

K's birthday was Sunday, and unfortunately, so was her party. This year we planned a "burgers and movie" party. We were starting the party off with burgers and then going to the movies to see Bridge to Terabithia. She was so excited to have her birthday party on her actual birthday. Well, by 10am most if not all of the parents called to cancel ... because it was snowing. Tears were shed ... but after some cleaver planning, M, Kely, and I pulled out our shovels and quickly very-slowly-and- extremely-cautiously-spinning-out-at-every-turn, made our way to BK for a quick lunch, a birthday song, and cupcakes. We all piled into the Suburban and made our way across the parking lot to the theater to see the movie. Kaleigh was so happy to be able to celebrate her birthday with best friends. So the "substitute party" will be on Friday night. In total, K will have SIX birthday parties, (1 with her dads family, one with me (our "cake in bed" party...see picture above), the "snowed in party", a school party, the replacement party, and of course when Nanny comes in April party. HOLY MOLY!