To Make A Long Story Short...

After an eventful weekend (on Saturday our front door deadbolt failed while we were away--it had been acting a fool for a while--and we had to break into our own house, then go buy new locks and install them--LONG story which I may recount later but right now I am too tired!), I got some layouts done Sunday and today.

The first one is of the beautiful birds in Mama and Daddy's backyard. They have a little bird sanctuary back there! It's beautiful! And anyway, I needed an excuse to use my new Crate Paper Lillian Collection. So cute!




And, then, this layout. Although I did not really want to remember the weekend of March 1st because Brian and I were horribly sick with the flu, I had to document the rare occasion of snow in Central Georgia! We took turns hobbling feebly to the windows to take these pictures. No flu shall keep me from having pics to scrap! :D



That's about all. National Scrapbook Day is this Saturday, May 2nd. I'll probably hang out online at scrapbook.com and 2peas, and maybe get some stuff done. I'm just not as excited about it as I was last year. So, what are your plans?

Oh. My. GOD.

I just saw myself as a Featured Artist on Scrapbook.com!!!!!!!!!

Now, I have had layouts featured before on the Gallery Summary page. But this is different. To be a Featured Artist means that other users have voted for your work and/or added you to their favorite artists enough times to propel your popularity enough to be a Featured. Freaking. Artist!!!!!

Sorry if this may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but I have been waiting for this day!! I've seen my layouts featured before, like I said, but NEVER EVER have I seen myself in the Featured Artists column. That's where a lot of scrap industry "celebrities" are featured!!!

Here are a couple screenshots so I can remember the day. And please don't harrass me about how many browser tabs I have open (don't be like Brian). :D I like to browse, yo.

But, yay!! Featured Artist!!

You can click for a larger image. :D You know, to see my featured self even bigger. :D :D





Did I mention, YAY??!!!! And also, SQUEEEEEEEE?!!!!!! :D

A Couple New Layouts

Here are a couple layouts I've done recently.

A little backstory on this LO:
I have been a musical person most of my life. I started taking piano lessons when I was 7. By the time I was 14, I was the pianist for my church and began singing at the same church around age 12. I love to perform and in high school, I was part of the choir, and sang solos for our literary events. I went to college for a year, majoring in Music Education. I thought I wanted to teach voice and piano, but I also still really loved the performance side of it. I dropped out after a year because I decided I didn't really want to teach after all. I got married shortly after that, in 1997, and have just sort of "bookmarked" that part of my life. I still sing and play for weddings and such, but I do miss performing in the capacity that I once did.

So, anyway, when I was in high school and thought I wanted to go to a performing arts school, I had requested brochures from several colleges. I received one in the mail from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and this excerpt has stayed with me from the moment I first read it.

I recently came across several old photos of myself, before different performances at different times in my life. I thought it would be neat to do a layout using those photos and the excerpt from that brochure. It pretty well sums up my feelings on performing, especially during that time in my life.

It reads:

"It's not just that you like to perform. For you, it's what matters most. You accept the solitude, playing by yourself, practicing for hours, trying to surpass your own demanding expectations. Then there's more time spent one-on-one with a mentor, where you attempt to go beyond what you know and stretch to a higher level. After the labs, ensemble rehearsals, and lessons are over, you take the stage. You share yourself and take away a breathless moment of connection. The bridge that music creates between people--that's one reason you have to play for them.
The other reason is all yours, right down to the shiver that comes with the applause."

The layout has a very messy, collage-y and hurried sort of feel to it. That was really how it came to me. It was like, I have to get this out and NOW. LOL! So I was just in a frenzy, writing and sticking things down. It was very sort of stream of consciousness, put on paper. I like the end result.



This second layout is of my Maw (Grandmother) at her 86th Birthday party.
The journaling:
In February 2009, my sweet Maw celebrated her 86th birthday with all her family. She had a good day that day, was happy and even got up and danced! :) So blessed to share this day with her!

Gone With The Wind

On Sunday, we went with a large group of people to see the 70th Anniversary showing of Gone With The Wind at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta. It was amazing!

Here are some pics.

Here's a shot of the stage, just as people were still coming in.


Here's the Fox Organist, Larry Douglas Embury. This shot is so cool to me!


Here we are (Ginger, Brian's mama, Dale, and me) with Rhett and Scarlett cut-outs.


And Ginger, trying to come between Rhett and Scarlett. :D


Here she is again, this time, brazenly making a play for Rhett. :D


Here's Brian's mama, Dale, with Scarlett.


Our friend, Michael, with Scarlett.


Here's Michael, Brian, me and Melinda with the cut-outs.


And just Brian and me.


After the show, we went with our huge group to Loca Luna, a tapas bar/restaurant. It was very cool!

Here's a group shot (and not even ALL of the group is in this!!)


Ginger, Dale, me and Brian.


Ginger, me and Brian.


Dale, Billy's Mom, Kathy and Billy's Aunt Kam.


Dale with Billy. Billy organized this whole thing!!


Me, Billy and Brian.


Melinda and Michael.


Me, Brian, Melinda and Michael.


We had sooooo much fun!!! Can't wait to do something like this again!

Tax Day Tea Party

We went to the Tax Day Tea Party last week here in Macon. It was so awesome to see so many come out in protest against our Government spending, spending, spending. It has to stop! At this rate, my 17-year-old niece's GRANDCHILDREN will still be paying for these bailouts and other unnecessary Government spending. It's ridiculous, and it's Big Government at its worst.

It was also so wonderful to see so many Libertarians and other supporters of the Fair Tax. We need to do away with the IRS!

We took lots of pictures. There were over 600 people there! Yay for so many people who are getting involved in this grassroots effort. We can make a difference!

Here is a link to the Picasa album (Brian took all these pics!):

Macon Tea Party

Easter

We had a nice Easter with our families on Sunday. Took lots and lots of pictures!

Here are a few:

This is me with my Mama. :)


Here's Ginger, very windblown but smiling!


Our nieces, Alita and Kyrie, egg hunting.


After the egg hunt, Kyrie is checking out a prize egg.


And Alita, happy with her basket.


Brian with his parents.


My Mama and brother, Ricky.


Me, Ricky and Ginger.


Here's me and Ginger with our Maw (grandmother).


There were SOOOO many more pictures, but these were some of the best. Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

Cosmo Cricket Extreme Cuteness!!

Have you seen the new Cosmo Cricket Line? How will I ever wait until May?!

Oh Happy Day

Yes, yes it is. And it is so awesome.

Thank you, Zaxby's.

Rain, Rain, Rain (and some new layouts) :D

It's been raining here for nearly two weeks straight. So, lots of time spent indoors scrapping. Well, actually, who am I kidding? I spend most of my time indoors scrapping no matter the weather. :D

You can click on the layout images for a larger/more detailed view. I didn't really mix products too much on these. The first one is all Sassafras Lass, the second one is all Basic Grey, and the third one is all Cosmo Cricket.




This layout will be published in the July/August of Scrap n' Art, so it is temporarily removed.