The Best of 2018

As with most years of my life, 2018 was a mix of fantastic, average good and very sad.

I got to visit Huntington Beach, CA (work trip), Boone NC (with my sis), New York City (family trip), Ocean City NJ (family vacation), Orlando FL (work trip), and Kauai, HI (getaway with Jay).

I made NINE trips to Maryland for work - gone an average of 3-4 days each time.

We lost our beloved pet Kira in August.  She was 17.  Thankfully, her sister Ashley is still going strong.  Ashley had been very sick in 2017 and we thought we were going to lose her then, so the fact that she has outlived Kira was a surprise to us.

Made with Tami Miller Designs Love Birds kit, currently on sale HERE.

I PLAYed more.

I lost some weight and gained most of it back (story of my life).

We had a lot of good family time.

I got a new car!  2019 Honda Pilot, dark grey.  Very nice ride.  I don't miss the Odyssey at all.

Becca passed all her PTA program exams and just has this semester of clinical rotations to finish, then the Boards and she'll be a Physical Therapy Assistant.  Lots of anxiety getting this far, but we are on the final stretch.  Mom could not be more proud!

"Life is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs. But it's your CHOICE to either scream or to enjoy the ride." (unknown)    I'm choosing to enjoy the ride!  How about you?

Welcoming 2019 - Time to Get HEALTHY!

Saying goodbye to 2018 took me some time.  I'm still working on getting myself fully organized for 2019.

2018 was my year to PLAY - for six months I mostly kept up with LifeBook 2018 and enjoyed the new art ideas to which I was being exposed.  Then I joined a Creative Team whose designer passed away from cancer two months after I signed on, joined three other creative teams from her shop only to have the shop close, and followed those designers to new shops.  All of which completely distracted me from LifeBook.  I was still PLAYing - albeit it digitally - so I considered my word and my involvement with it to be a success.

This year I'd like to get back to the LifeBook version of art-ing.  I've signed on for LifeBook 2019, but so far I haven't even managed to get through the first lesson.

Totally aside from PLAY, during the first six months of 2018 I focused on my health - my weight and my physical condition.  I joined WW and lost some weight; unfortunately gained the majority of it back during the second half of 2018 - between trips to the Jersey shore and Kauai, travel for work, and the holidays.  Honestly, I will probably always struggle with my weight.  Bad combination of insatiable appetite and slow metabolism.

So... 2019.... knowing that I really want to get HEALTHY so that I can enjoy and actively participate in the rest of my life - rather than merely surviving it or suffering through it - I decided to make HEALTHY my word for the year.  My primary focus is on my physical health and I have some goals in that regard.

 I am participating in Ali Edwards One Little Word class this year, but probably won't be doing many of the album prompts this year because I'm adding this to my daily planner rather than keeping a separate album.  I want everything together where I see it all the time.

I'm also thinking about my mental, emotional, and spiritual health - as well as having a healthy home, healthy marriage, healthy relationships... you get the idea - healthy can truly encompass the entirety of your life and being!

I've started classes at a local gym (began in December) and I've signed up for the Whole Life Challenge that starts this coming Saturday, the 19th.  Check it out HERE and think about joining me - I'd love to have some of my blog friends on my team!

This challenge ties in so neatly with everything that I'm trying to do this year, and the price was quite reasonable, so I couldn't not give it a shot!

To keep myself accountable and be fully transparent about what I'm doing, here is my "before" picture, complete with belly.  Ugh.

I've also joined Cathy Zielski's FIT class again, but that's mostly for her monthly inspirational audio.  I'll be tracking my stats in my daily planner:

I really like that this keeps everything together - how well I slept, how many steps I took (which for the winter months isn't as important to me as getting in some exercise classes), how much water I drank. The facing page tracks my weight and measurements, my monthly goal, and how I did.  Not quite ready to share that.  I'm also writing in a page each month of daily gratitude entries.

So those are the plans... and here are some of the goals for the year:

Created with Tami Miller's "Love Life" kit which released today at Scrap Girls.

What are your goals for 2019?

Sharing A Little Bit More

Manu Design Studio's Blue Velvet kit needed to take the center stage.  Paired with a very old photo of me at (I think) 3 years old.  From the time I spent living with my Aunt Bev.  The curls are NOT natural. But the blonde totally is!

 From Tami Miller Designs - a collab kit with Aimee Harrison called Family is Forever.  A photo of my family at Ocean City NJ in August. 

Also from Tami Miller Designs, the Grateful Hearts collection.  This was also taken at the shore, but includes our +2 boys, Andrew and Kyle, who are quickly becoming part of the family.

And yes, this is the extent of my creativity lately.  I haven't had the time or inclination to log into Lifebook in the last three months.  Hoping to get past that soon as I'm already signed up for Lifebook 2019 and I'm missing my paints and getting messy.  But these pages are making me happy too!
How's your creative life these days???

Creative Team Share - Tami Miller Designs - part 2

Here's more from Tami Miller Designs.

 1. Using a kit called "Above Rubies".  This was a proud moment in 2016.  Can't believe it has already been two years since we were in Scotland.

2. Using "The Story of Us" to highlight a photograph of our Summer daylilies.

3. This one is "Sweater Weather"

4. Probably my favorite from the group of nature inspired photography, this was taken in Scotland - while everyone else was pointing cameras 180 degrees in the other direction at Sterling Castle, I was focused on the beautiful flora growing alongside the road.  Using "Sweet Simplicity."

Creative Team Share - Tami Miller Designs

 Today, I'm highlighting layouts created with kits from Tami Miller Designs.  Again, the name of the kit will link to where the kit can be purchased.

1. From Thankful for You.  Picture taken while hiking in the Waimea Canyon on Kauai in October.  Jay and I don't really "do" selfies, so this is one of only about 3 photos of us together on Kauai.  The kit colors were a perfect match!

 2. Using Autumn Glow.  Sometimes Tami sends out a kit with a real mixed media, art journal vibe.  This was one.  Loved using it to showcase my first fall photo into an artsy layout.

3. Using Beautiful Dreamer.  This one got me scrapping a very old photo, but brought back so many memories.  I actually turned the round frame into a freebie cluster that was available through Tami's newsletter.

4. This is Tami's newest release - BeYOUtiful.  The photo is Becca and Kyle at the shore. It's not a great photo but I love that they are both laughing and goofing around.  This kit has some great self-esteem word art.

5. Using a collection titled Bliss Yourself Out.  Just the title of the kit evoked art for me!  But seriously, click the link and check out the absolutely gorgeous colors in this kit!!!

6. I almost can't believe this was created with a kit titled Hello Fall.  I wanted to do a "big photo" layout that would commemorate my trip last year to NYC with my mother, without it being the typical "touristy" layout.  I feel like I succeeded.

I still have several more layouts to share, but didn't want this post to get too long.  So more coming in my next post!  Needless to say, I've been doing a bit of scrapping the past two months... not so much art, but this is filling the need for now.

Creative Team Share - Manu Design Studio

Man am I behind!!!  Two months since my last post - I blame it on work commitments and travel.  But so much catching up to do...

Today's post features layouts from recent kits by Manu Design Studios.  The name of each kit is a link to where it can be purchased.

This first one is from a kit called Book of Memories, using only elements from the kit:

These next two are from a kit called Bound By Love and I just ADORE the ripped papers!  Photos are from this year's family trip to the shore.

 The Last Ride was created with a kit called Fading - it was an interesting exercise in trying to turn a kit that is basically vintage shabby chic into a manly layout - but also highlights just how versatile Manu's kits really can be!

 This memorial layout for Kira was made with Ripped Paper Templates 3  and the Antiqueness Kit.  Kira was actually sleeping on my lap in the photo.

 And my newest set of layouts from Manu use her beautiful new Snowlicious Kit.  It's a wintry mix with a beautiful pop of pink:

It's easy to see why I adore her kits!!!

Exciting News for Summer!

I have something new and exciting to share for June...

Let's start with the facts.

I haven't done any digital scrapbooking since April of 2016.  Two years.  I know, right?

I missed it terribly but between work, the shop, and just life ... well, I know you get it.

On Sunday, June 3rd, one of my favorite digital artists posted that she needed a few new members for her creative team.  It was sheer luck I even saw the post that day.  I pulled together an application and went looking for my best layouts using her products.  Not easy given that I hadn't done a digital layout in over two years! 

On Monday, June 4th I hit "send" on my application.  Then I saw her blog post saying she had received tons of responses and had added 4 new members to her team.  So I figured I was too late.  But at least I tried!

On Tuesday, June 5th I drove to Rockville MD for work, arriving late afternoon to my hotel.  I set up my computer, connected to the Internet, and was SHOCKED to see an email from Kim asking me to be on her team!!! 

So.... I'm on a new creative team for Kimeric Kreations at The DigiChick!!!  So excited!!!

 This  layout was created with Kimeric's kit All About Attitude.  I needed a new chore list and this just seemed to fit the bill!

And this one features her newest kit - For The Love Of Summer

I hope this means that you'll be seeing a lot more scrapbooking shares from me now!

A Weekend Share

Using Krystal Hartley's newest collab kit "Autumn Reflections".  The only part that isn't from the kit is the "Happy Birthday" wordart that comes from Katie Pertiet's "Another Year Older" template.

Not Your Damsel

 Krystal Hartley's newest kit "Not Your Damsel" is available now at Sweet Shoppe Designs on sale 20% off regular price.

Here's what I created with it!

My Happy

My latest digi layout using Krystal Hartley's new kit "See Jane Smile".  This kit includes lots of pink and yellow and an adorable She Art style doll that just didn't fit this particular layout.  Photo was taken by Becca on her iPhone during our Capitol Tour.

Dream Big

One of my dreams came true. 

A dream I didn't even know I had until two weeks ago. 

You all know that I digi scrap. Not exclusively, but it is a major part of my scrapping life.

I've made no secret about the fact that I have some favorite designers out there.  

The Creative Team call went live on August 17th at 6:00 a.m.  I saw it via Facebook. I didn't even know I wanted to be on a Creative Team.  I'd never considered it before.  I mean, sure, I love recognition when I do work that is worthy, who doesn't???  But to be on a team?  The thought had never crossed my mind.  

Until I saw HER call. When a designer who is on your top five GO-TO list (arguably even your favorite designer of all time) puts out a Creative Team call, well, what's a girl to do?  

By 2:00 p.m. that same day, my application was completed and emailed.  

That is, of course, when I started second guessing myself. Would my skills be good enough? What was my competition like? How many applications would she get?  Was I crazy to think I had a snowball's chance in hell????  And so it went, for twelve excruciatingly anxious days.  And life was still happening all around me. Nothing had slowed down while I was pondering what her very polite rejection letter would say.

As it turns out, I wasn't crazy.  

On Wednesday, August 29th at 12:25 p.m. an email came into my in box. I saw it almost immediately.

After a quick perusal, I was wearing an idiot grin the size of Texas. Yes me. Grinning from ear to ear. Well, at least as far as my small mouth will grin anyway.

The email said (in pertinent part):   "I think you'd be a terrific addition to my creative team. I hope you'll accept this enthusiastic invitation to join me."   

Hell, yes!

The email also said:  "Please keep this news to yourself until I've officially made the announcement on September 1."  

Say WHAAAAAT???  

But I want to go shout it from the stinkin' mountain tops! 

Thankfully, I didn't have to keep my big mouth shut for too long.

And here is my first Creative Team layout:
  

Created from the "Lovers, Dreamers, Me" collab kit by Krystal Hartley and Traci Reed.

available here

This post is submitted in conjunction with Sian's Storytelling Sunday.  To read more stories, check out the links at Sian's blog.