A tag from the Sprague Lab...

Today's entry was inspired by Jessica Sprague's blog. She challenged her reader's to list the top 10 things that make you happy right now...

My list:

*Three-day weekends!! Whoo-hoo!

*THIS FACE!


*My new found love of Bloglines...making it so much easier to follow my favorite blogs all in one place - it even has a nifty little 'notifier' at the bottom of your screen that tells you when new content is available.

*The new Daisy D's rub ons I have on order from A Peek into Yesterday.

*Getting a great picture.

*The creative imaginations paper also coming with my Peek order...

*My computer! Email, blogs, photoshop, online scrapbook shopping...oh my!

*Computer Tricks for Scrapbookers Book also coming in the order from Peek. (I'm not just saying this 'cause it's your creation, Jessica! Although I'm a paper scrapper, I use my computer all the time for titles, journaling and more and I KNOW you will give me some great new ideas in this special issue!)

*That I've gotten back on the treadmill...I've been walking anywhere from 30-90 minutes a day for the past week. I've been getting up to do a 1/2 hour before work everyday and then walk again in the evening if possible. Getting the TV downstairs (in front of the treadmill) has REALLY helped. Now I don't have to count ceiling tiles anymore...

*Finishing a scrapbook page. I have one down so far today...hope to do 2-3 more.
TAG - your turn...what's your TOP 10??

A Review of Quick and Easy Scrapbook Styles by Memory Makers

A review of Quick and Easy Scrapbook Styles by Memory Makers.

Amazon Description:
*Features a range of favorite scrapbooking styles
*Includes helpful sidebars that explain techniques and shortcuts

Quick and easy scrapbook pages really can be full of character and pizzazz. In Quick & Easy Scrapbook
Styles, readers will learn the tricks and techniques for making quick scrapbook pages in six popular and time-tested styles:

* Graphic-clean and simple graphic design inspired layouts
* Romantic-including Shabby Chic and bohemian
* Fun and Funky-bold and bright freestyle layouts
* Distressed-worn, grungy and a little country
* Classic-traditional scrapbook page styles

Readers will also find inspirational artwork from some of Memory Maker’s most talented commissioned artists as well as helpful sidebars that explain techniques and shortcuts. With this fun guide scrapbookers of all tastes and skill levels can make their own quick and easy pages.

MY REVIEW:
I am always intrigued by the books the label styles in this way. I am aware that there are some distinct styles; however, I think that any scrapper who has been scrapping for any length of time has experimented at least a little in all styles and if they haven't, they should give it a try. Books like this are great tools to help you hone in on the principles and elements of your favorite style(s) and/or to step beyond the boundaries of your 'comfort zone' to try other styles of scrapbooking.

MY RATING:
4 STARS

Lots of randomness for this post...

First, how 'bout this weather? Mother Nature isn't playing nice. At least not in southeastern South Dakota. A week ago or so we were basking in the seemingly springlike sunny and upper-sixty degree weather and today it felt like winter all over again...a high around thirty and a bitterly cold wind. I even saw a few snowflakes fluttering around on my way back to work at lunchtime. The forecast doesn't look much better either. We'll be lucky to break 40 degrees this week it seems. Well, she does always have to have the last word I guess. I just can't wait till spring is here to stay!

Second, got my weekly dose of American Idol tonight...however, I'm finding myself less and less interested this year. I think it's largely due to my frustration that Sanjaya is still in the game. I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow night. Also been watching the new season of Dancing with the stars here and there. I don't really have any favorites (yet), but it's just fun to watch and I get just as much of a kick out of watching Kaitlin dance around the living room trying to mimic the dancers movements. It really is quite comical. The main highlight of tonight's show was that it featured Josh Groban and I definitely wanted to see that, which leads into...

#3 - I found out that Josh Groban is coming to Omaha in August this year, so am definitely making plans to see him in concert this time. He was in Sioux City in February '06 and I have been regretting not going then. This is one of my favorite songs he has out right now.

I think he would be so absolutely amazing to see/hear in real life. Can't wait for August to get here now!!

Fourth, haven't been taken as many pics lately as I would like, but I did get a closeup of Kaitlin's eyes last week and did a little 'fiddlin' with it in Photoshop. What do you think?

No, her eyes aren't really blue. She kind of got stuck with the hazel eyes that both her dad and I have. They really are quite pretty, but their color never seems to show up that well in pics. Maybe I just haven't got the shot right yet. In the meantime, between contacts and technology, no one has to be limited to the eye color they were born with, now do they?

Well, I guess that about it for tonight...it's way past my bedtime!

Sunday Spur for Scrapbookers #10 - Photo Idea Index

Photography is the basis of all scrapbooking. Have you thought about trying to improve you photography or are you looking for some new ideas of what to photograph to bring your pages to life? If so, then here's a great book for you!

A review of Photo Idea Index by Jim Krause.

Amazon Description:
From Jim Krause comes the fifth book in the popular Index series: Photo Idea Index.

This innovative guide:
-Provides designers with the information they need to take creative photographs, explore different digital manipulations, and use them in real-world design applications
-Shares the basics of technical information, then provides a wealth of inspiration, making this both a "what if" book and a "how to" book
-Explores low-cost and do-it-yourself ways to create unusual effects
-Speaks to designers' desires to use their own photos rather than costly stock photography

Full of out-of-the-ordinary ideas, this guide offers the trademark mix of inspiration and instruction that have made the previous books in the series a creative success.

MY REVIEW:
This is such a FUN book! While it is not specifically geared to the scrapbooker (more to designers), I still found it highly inspirational. I have been scrapping for about five years now with my main subject having always been my daughter. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that (she will always be my 'main' focus, I'm sure), I have found myself wanting to scrap more of the 'everyday' as a way to record our lives for future generations to (hoepfully) enjoy. With that comes photographing our environment and the items/objects within it. This book offers some great ideas and inspiration and I LOVE the fact that the author is careful to include that most of the pictures in the book can be (and were) taken with a non-SLR camera...this is important to me because I don't have one and probably won't be able to afford one anytime soon. It's nice to see examples of great pictures taken by a point-and-shoot.

MY RATING:
4 1/2 STARS

Short and sweet AI commentary...

No surprises here as to who I wish to go...of course, it's Sanjaya. Really, I thought everyone else did a pretty good job tonight. I really liked the song choices tonight. IF, by some cruel joke, Sanjaya makes it through again, the only one that I could see going this week is Haley Scarnato.

Half Acre by Hem

It's not too often that a commercial gets my attention. I mean REALLY gets my attention. Recently, I saw a Liberty Mutual commercial that really stood out to me with a pay-it-forward type theme. Do you recognize it?

The music is what really pulled me in. I just love the piano and the soothing voice of the artist. So, with a small piece of the lyrics that I could make out in the commercial, I went to Google to find the song. It's called "Half Acre" by a group called Hem. I already downloaded it and it's in my playlist. After reading the lyrics, I love that about the song, too! They are so uplifting.

I am holding half an acre
torn from the map of Michigan
and folded in this scrap of paper
is a land I grew in

Think of every town you've lived in
every room you lay your head
and what is it that you remember?

Do you carry every sadness with you
every hour your heart was broken
every night the fear and darkness
lay down with you

A man is walking on the highway
A woman stares out at the sea
and light is only now just breaking

So we carry every sadness with us
every hour our hearts were broken
every night the fear and darkness
lay down with us

But I am holding half an acre
torn from the map of Michigan
I am carrying this scrap of paper
that can crack the darkest sky wide open
every burden taken from me
every night my heart unfolding
my home

Below is a live performance of the full song...enjoy!

Kaitlin starring as 'little lamb'...

Kaitlin had a program at school this morning. It was a collection of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes put on by the children and it was pretty adorable. My dad happened to be in town for an appointment, so he came to watch, too. Kaitlin was pretty tickled when she saw that Grandpa Joe had come to watch.

Kaitlin was the lamb of "Mary had a little lamb...".

As you can see, Mary's little lamb had followed her to school one day...

Later in the program, all the preschoolers stood on the risers to sing Pat-a-Cake and Star Light, Star Bright complete with actions. Unfortunately, Kaitlin's costume wasn't quite conducive to all the choreography, but she made do.

Here's one tired (and hot) little lamb watching the rest of the program.