Summer of Love

Today is Memorial Day….the traditional start of summer…so I thought this would be a good day to start off with this fun little “Summer of Love” scrapbook!

Don’t the colors and designs in this scrapbook make you want to smile?

 

Maybe it’s just my age….a product of the 60s that makes me relate so easily to these funky designs.

Whatever it is, I think it’s a fun book.  And, a great way to capture memories of that summer romance….

 

whether it’s a new romance….

or a continuing one.  There’s always a story to tell.

I’m trying to get my stock built up again in my Etsy shop.   Have you stopped by lately to take a look?  I only have SIX more days to work before my summer break starts!!!!  I can’t wait to dive into scrapbooking full time.   :)

 

So Inspired…Words to Live By…14

When I dare to be powerful-
to use my strength in the service of my vision,
then it becomes less and less important
whether I am afraid. 
-AUDRE LORDE

This photo was taken two years ago as my son, Elliot, started college in Chicago.   Elliot has a vision.  He wants to be a screenwriter.   He HAS to make films.  It’s just who he is.   And in that pursuit…he’s fearless.

As a child, Elliot was never very adventurous.   Didn’t adjust well to change.  Didn’t like being out of his comfort zone… AT ALL. 

At 14 his world changed.  In 2004 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  OUR world changed.  Elliot adjusted.  Repeated flirtations with death have a way of making you focus on what you want…and fearless in the pursuit of those goals. 

He is a constant reminder to me that being afraid should not be an obstacle in achieving our dreams.  What could you accomplish if you push past your fear?

Check out Tracey’s weekly words for more inspiration at Notes from a Cottage Industry.

 

It’s a Girl Thing

If you’ve been hanging around my blog for awhile you’ve probably seen this scrapbook before.  Actually, not this exact one, but a similar one.  I just love this set of stickers!  I think anyone with girls can appreciate the mentality.   :)

 

“It’s a girl thing”

Gotta love the flowers.  They remind me of the fabric from one of my girls dresses when they were about 5 years old! 

“Drama Queen”….nuf said…

“I love Me”

“Whatever”

This would make such a special gift for the girl in your life!

So Inspired…Words to Live By…13

 

Efforts and courage are not enough
without purpose and direction.
John F. Kennedy

Looking for more inspiring quotes?  Check out Notes from a Cottage Industry for Tracey’s weekly words.

Transition Time

My girls are finishing up their first year of college already!  ALREADY!  I think they’ve had a pretty good year.  It still surprises me when they pop into my office.  It still seems a little out of context but it’s nice to be able to see them every now and then. 

This scrapbook is perfect for capturing a few of the special moments from the school year.  You KNOW they’ve got pictures too!  All those silly in-your-face kind of photos that typically end up on Facebook.

As always, this is available in my Etsy shop!  :)

 

So Inspired…Words to Live By…12

 

Opportunity is missed by most people

because it is dressed in overalls

and looks like work.  ~Thomas Edison

I used this quote in my speech at graduation a few years back.  Since graduation season is upon us, I thought it would be a good time to drag it out again. 

This is actually something I have been thinking about a lot over the past few months.  It also ties in with my 2010 word of the year (change)…and it definitely influenced my decision to take classes again, starting in the fall.  As the saying goes, you have to make your own opportunities…and sometimes, opportunities take a lot of work!

What work are you doing to prepare for upcoming opportunities?

My Mother’s Day Gift…Toby

His official name is Catawba Mountain Ronon….but he has been unofficially named TOBY.  He’s named after Toby Zachary Ziegler from the West Wing (of course!).   He’s a bit scruffy like Toby and a little bit of a renegade like Toby so I think it fits.

We’re still getting used to each other.  And we’ve had a few disagreements….he thinks it’s fine to use my carpet as a potty and I think he should be doing his business OUTside….but eventually I’m sure he’ll come around and see things my way.  Cuz basically in that department…it’s MY way or the highway! 

I’m willing to overlook a few indiscretions  while he’s getting used to his new environment, but I’m praying this phase will be short!  I think he’s laying his territory since I’m sure the house is still ‘scented’ like Lucky.  So Toby is just trying to make it his own.  Right?  Maybe some of you more experienced dog owners can help me out on this.

It’s a little hard not to constantly compare him to Lucky…but they are very different.  Lucky was 10 years old when he died in March so he was a pretty mellow dude the last few years.  He loved to lay right beside my chair.  I always had to look before I moved so I wouldn’t roll over him.   Toby doesn’t feel the need to even be in the same room.   He’s also just 2-1/2 years old so he’s got more puppy in him.  He still has some of that toddler walk going on.  You know, kind of like he’s moving faster than his body can actually control.  And, of course, he’s not used to this house yet so he’s constantly running into things.  If I’m walking around, he walks with me but instead of watching where’s he’s going, he watches me.  So bam…right into the doorway or cabinet or furniture.

This is definitely a new adventure.  One more way CHANGE has made it’s way into my life this year.

 

So Inspired…Words to Live By…11

Happy Mother’s Day!

Where we love is home -

home that our feet may leave,

but not our hearts. 

~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

My family circa 1966.  I’m the little one being held by my Mom.  

This was taken in the house I grew up in, from birth to when I was married. 

Don’t forget to check out the weekly quote from Notes from a Cottage Industry!

Graduation 2010

Available in my Etsy shop!

It’s a numbers game, Baby!

 If anyone tells you that they don’t care about the numbers, my guess is that they’re lying.  These days it’s hard to NOT care about numbers.  Think I’m wrong?  Think again. 

What’s your age?  What’s your weight?  Your blood sugar?  Your blood pressure?  The number of calories you’re putting in your body today?  What’s the number of new emails in your inbox in the morning?  How many friends do you have on Facebook?  How many fans on your page?  How many hits to your website in the last week…the last 24 hours?   How many followers?  How many sales in your eBay store, your Etsy shop?  How many people heart your shop?  What’s your feedback number?  How many text messages are on your phone?  How many points did you get on that paper?  How many points do you have in the class?  What’s your GPA?  What did you get on the ACT?  How many points did you score in the big game?  What’s your salary?  The price of your new house?  Your new car?

It seems like numbers are becoming more and more important…but do they define us?   Do we use them to keep score?  Sometimes the numbers pump us up and sometimes they are one more way we measure ourselves against the rest of the world and see ourselves as falling short.  Maybe our co-worker has more Facebook friends or a blog we admire has a huge following and we feel like we’re never going to get there.  We see celebrities losing an amazing amount of weight and wonder why we’re unable to duplicate the results.  Numbers can be tough.  They’re hard to argue with.

Even so,  I admit it.  I’m a numbers junkie.   The 2nd thing I do every morning is step on the scale.   I know, the experts say you shouldn’t weigh yourself every day, but it helps keep me on track—or get back on track.  If the number drops it encourages me to keep it up.  If it goes up I know I have to try harder.

It’s probably my competitive nature, but I also know all the numbers related to my online presence.  How many sales in my Etsy shop, how many hits on my blog, how many fans on my page, etc.  I don’t obsess over them but I am aware.

On days when my knees and back are aching I feel old.  And, this fall as I head back to school as a 45 year old student (again) I will feel old amid the 20-somethings.  But when I get carded buying beer or when someone is shocked that I have a 20 year old child, suddenly I feel young again.

I don’t believe numbers should define us.  I think they merely describe where we are in a snapshot of time.   The best part about numbers….like everything else, they tend to change.

My new backyard

Ok.  I’ve decided.  Since I’m allergic to grass and trees….it’s only logical that I get a new backyard.  I’ve  decided on this one!  The powers of manifestation are not working very well…yet…but I’m not giving up!  :)

Remember those “Calgon…take me away” commercials from the 80s?  I know.  I’m old.  Most of you have probably not even heard of them…but anyway…that’s how I’m feeling lately.  If only soaking in a tub of bubbles would melt away the day. 

Springtime is a crazy, busy…as in “oh, it’s 2p.m. and I haven’t even thought about taking time for lunch” kind-of-way for me at work.  We have a huge event the third Friday in April.  Once it’s over I spend the rest of the term playing catch-up with everything that has been ignored for the previous 2 or 3 months.  Last year during this catch up phase I found myself wishing I could just work a chunk of the summer to get everything done.  This year?  Not so much.  This year I’m ready for some R&R. 

I’m also looking forward to doing A LOT of scrapbooking.  My Etsy shop has become a bit depleted over the past few weeks and I’m anxious to get it filled back up.  If you have some ideas of what you’d like to see in my Etsy shop or  (or purchase from my shop!!!), leave me a comment.  I’d love to hear from you!

But…before I can start my R&R and my full-time summer gig of scrapbooking, I need to get through the next few weeks and get 3 kids back home from college!  Seriously…it feels like we JUST moved them into those dorms yesterday!!!! 

I’m not kidding…time is going TOO FAST!

So Inspired…Words to Live By…10

He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.  ~Raymond Hull

Happy National Scrapbooking Day 2010!

May 1st…already!  Can’t believe it.  In honor of NSD I’m working on scrapbooks for my shop.  No big event…just a day to catch up on adding new items since I’ve spent the past several weeks filling orders.

Lately I am so drawn to glitter.  Don’t know why…it just seems to pop out at me.  I love this bridal set…the beautiful glittery dress with rhinestones and the chipboard letters. 

 The pictures are not the greatest and don’t do justice to the beauty of this book.  The sheer ribbons are hard to capture in photos…at least for me—with my limited photography skills!  :(

Wouldn’t this make a fun shower gift? 

Or just a special gift for the newly engaged! 

 

 

 

So, are you doing a fun scrapbook project today?