Day 59

So what is it that you do on a Friday night? Well this is what I do. The past couple Friday nights I have sat at the coffee table, while watching TV, and worked on my Project Life album. I really enjoy scrapbooking this way, because there are very minimal supplies needed...at least to get things organized and into the album. All you really need is your core kits, a paper cutter, a corner rounder, a pen and some adhesive. Embellishments can come later.

I generally start with writing my picture of the day on a post-it (a tip from Michelle Wooderson on catching up!), and tentatively applying them to the position where I think they'll go. Then I pick out my cards for the week. In this case I'm working on the week of Valentine's Day, so it was pretty easy...I just grabbed the Valentine's cards from the Holiday Mini Kit and started placing.

Can't wait to wrap up Week 7, and get it posted here on the blog!

Project Life Week 2

My first full week using Project Life. I used the Seafoam Edition again, with some Dogs Themed Cards. I used Thickers to designate the week, and more Sn@p Letters and Stickers, along with a couple from my stash. I feel like I'm still kind of getting my feet wet at this point...a pretty basic layout, even though that is the point of Project Life!

Day 58

We really have a silly office. Or more accurately, we have a silly April!

For some reason this afternoon she decided to get her Shamrock On. She had an extra hat and mug, so Billie played along, and of course I grabbed my camera. What happened next was a lot of laughing, causing a few tears and unfortunately a lot of coughing...because none of us can get over this winter bronchitis! We are quite a group right now. Still, it was a few fun Luck O' the Irish minutes to break up the afternoon monotony.

Project Life Week 1

When I started my Project Life at the beginning of the year, I vowed that taking photos of each week would NOT count towards a Picture of the Day. These would just have to be additional entries, made for fun after a week(s) was completed. I've taken several rounds of pictures of my first few Project Life pages, but none of them seem to come out very well. I think the sad truth is that my camera is dying a slow, painful death. I managed to capture a few in some relatively decent light, and so I'm just going for it. They are not high quality pictures by any means, and really don't do my pages justice. I think most of them have turned out pretty cute for a beginner!  None the less, here goes.

My first purchase was the Seafoam Edition Core Kit and Binder. Being a newbie (and somewhat obedient), I read Becky's tutorial on Setting Up a Project Life Album, so followed what she said. I even put the suggested cards in to create the cover. I added the year and each of our current ages, using Sn@p Letters. Then, before I actually got started with pictures, I bought the Holiday Mini Kit, and the Dogs Themed Cards. I used both in my Week 1 layout.

I used Thickers to identify the week, along with more Sn@p letters and stickers mixed in throughout.

Day 57

This morning before everyone was out of bed except Rob, the spoke alarm chirped. This is unsettling for both our girls. When I looked into Baylee's bed, I found Lucy curled up, and had to go looking for Baylee...who was hiding out in the living room between the couch and the coffee table. I got her fed and pottied and then I hopped in the shower. When I got out this is what I found...Baylee in her bed without her little blanket, and Lucy curled up on the blanket as close to Baylee as she could be. Comfort in being together...Sister Love ♥♥♥

Maybe they need one big bed to curl up together on? I think Lucy would go for it, but I doubt ol' set-in-her-ways Baylee would!

Day 56

This picture is two-fold. First, it's my handsome husband feeling better, and with a fresh haircut. Isn't he cute? I think he is!

And second, it's me messing around with my new app InstaWeather. I think the general idea is that you'll photograph something outside, and then the current weather information will be generated around the photo. I just wanted to play...there are many different skins to choose from, and then different settings within each skin. Maybe you'll see more of these in the future...they are perfect for Project Life photos!

Day 55

Uh oh. I don't even have to explain. Ginger Ale + Chicken Noodle Soup = A Stomach Bug.

Poor Rob. One of the boys where he works came down with a bad case of the stomach flu over the weekend. And last night, when Rob got home he said he was starting not to feel well himself. It didn't take long before it reared its ugly head, and the poor bugger spent the night in misery. He had to call in sick to work today, and just stayed in bed and prayed that the symptoms subsided.

On my way home from work I bought the ginger ale and soup to help him re-hydrate and get a little something back in his tummy. Thankfully it seems to really be a 24 hour bug...but what a violent bug it has been during these 24 hours!

Day 54

Back on Valentine's Day, I told you that my mom took me to Costco, and bought me a new pair of glasses. Well today after church, Rob and I stopped by and picked them up...and here they are.

They really aren't too different from my last pair, in shape and style. But there is one big difference...they are bifocals! I can't believe I've become that person...that age...someone who wears bifocals. Alright, I put it out there, but now I'm over it - because all I know is I sure can see better with them. I just might not ever take them off! Thanks Mom for your gift of sight! ♥♥♥

Day 53

I took a lot of photos along the way to get to this final picture...but I really think this is the only one that is needed. It's was a lovey dinner, and full of firsts for me!

The other day Mom brought over a whole chicken...she had gotten a deal on them, and was nice enough to give me one. I had toyed with roasting it, but really just had a hankering for mashed potatoes and gravy. So I tried my hand at {skillet} fried chicken. This meant that I first had to try my hand at cutting up a whole chicken. Internet video with directions...check! Then I coated and fried each piece...pretty simple...check. But then I had to turn what was left in the pan into gravy...and not just gravy, but decent gravy...gravy that at least resembled the gravy my mom makes. Well, it wasn't Mom's gravy, but it didn't turn out half bad. Add some Niblets, and voila...a fried chicken dinner was on my table!

I'm sure next time will be easier, go smoother, and be even tastier! There always has to be a first time, right?

Day 52

Today is my momma's birthday! And because it happen to fall on our Friday off, Billie and I, along with Melanie spent the day with Mom...having a girls day, celebrating her birthday.

To start the day, I whipped up some cherry chip cupcakes this morning. The tradition for Mom's birthday is mud pie, but this year she said she wanted cupcakes. I used the usual cake mix, but in an effort to keep them good and moist, added an extra egg and some sour cream...mmm mm. Then I topped them with cream cheese frosting, with maraschino cherry juice mixed right in and a half cherry on top. They looked so cute...but admittedly when all together, they looked like a bunch of...well...let's say I called them my Breast Cancer Awareness cupcakes!

This afternoon we all met at Mom's and headed out to lunch. She chose Fujiyama's...she had been there once and liked it, Melanie is kind of a regular, and for Billie and I, it was our first time. We had a pretty entertaining Chef who cooked our meal to order, while using our food to make things like a fried rice fish, and an onion stacked birthday candle. At the end of our meal, they came out with drums and gongs and sang Happy Birthday Fujiyama style...complete with a slice of cake and a candle to make a wish on!

After filling our bellies, we headed out for a pedicure...my first of the season. Can't wait for spring to let my toes out! Then we headed back to Mom's for gifts, cupcakes and ice cream. To wrap up the day, Melanie, Mom and I decided to see a movie, and headed out to Winter's Tale.


It was a great, long, celebratory day, and I sure hope Mom enjoyed herself, and felt the love today...on her very special birthday.

Happy Birthday to the very best momma!

Day 51

Today I was sitting in a class about Records Management, put on by someone from the State Archives. Can you imagine...just... how...dry?? Anyway, I had my handy little planner with me and happened to check out the Project 365 Inspiration List, and it said Escape! How funny, that's exactly what I wanted to do.

Just then, they gave us a 15 minute break, and I did just that. I escaped across the street to the nearest Starbucks for a coffee and scone...that's my Escape. And when I got up to the window, the barista told me it was on the house because she had made some kind of error. Score! An even better escape...one without paying! I made it back to class in record time, and with all my funds still in my wallet! It made the rest of the class bearable.

Day 50

OK...so you know how sometimes you do things...and in the midst of doing them, you hear a voice that says, 'This is probably not a good idea'? But then the other little voice chimes in and says, 'Oh, shoot, it will be FINE'?

Well that happened to me this morning. I put on this sweater, and the collar just would not lay right. So, I grabbed the iron and tried to just get the edge to lie down...but as I dragged it over near my shoulder, apparently, I also drug it across my chest. OUCH!

Lesson learned...never iron your shirt while wearing it. It really seems like a no-brainer, but evidently not!

Day 49

Isn't she just the picture of cool? It's how she rolls at the vet. Today while we were in the exam room waiting for Dr. Chuck, Lu just hopped up on the little couch next to me and chilled...like it was no big thing. Now when they took her temperature...well, that WAS a big thing, cause her little buggy eyes went even buggier! She wasn't too thrilled with the shot she got either. But through it all she was a {silly} little trooper.

Day 48

Alright, I'm kind of cheating here.  I already shared a photo of my Valentine's flowers on Friday, but I had to take a picture again. These are probably the prettiest roses I've ever had. They all opened up so beautifully, and the colors were just gorgeous...in fact this photo doesn't do them justice. I just thought they were lovely, and wanted to remember them this way, so I snapped another photo. With this pic, I think Valentine's Day 2014 has been brought to a close.

Day 47

Today, at the end of Mass, Father Taneo blessed a few Prayer Quilts. Afterwards, the quilts were placed in the Gathering Space for folks to tie knots, and say prayers for the healing of others. I've never been involved with one of the quilts, but know it must be such a comfort and blessing to receive one, and I just thought it was a beautiful expression as these were being blessed.

Unfortunately, grabbing my camera was a last minute thing, and the head of the gentleman in front of me could not be avoided!