I am alive and can't believe I haven't blogged in a whole month. Not like me at all.

I have finally recovered from ARS (acute respiratory syndrome) and smoke ... digestion.

I am contemplating a risky life change. (no it's not a sex change)

I enrolled Lita into summer school. She should start next week and then I'll get some design work completed.

I have not scrapped in awhile but below is something I finished some time ago. 

And, I am tired of talking 'bout myself.

G'day!

I haven't been able to breathe for at least five days because North Carolina is a-burnin'. How I pray those firefighters are able to duke it out. The warm southwesterly blown winds drive smoke across the border and it's dismal. :( And we're not that close to the border. So I can imagine there are quite a few people in worser conditions. Yuck-o.

For peeps like me, and my Dad, and my cousin, it means we're confined to our home and some days between my heavy chest or heavily irritated nose, I just sleep through and through. But now I feel so much better. :D So I'm hoping those displaced by the fires can get some relief too.

Is it me or does there seem to be a lot of weather-related anomalies springing up ... everywhere?

Lita has gymnastics today, bumped her classes up to twice a week. She's at a point now where she's loosening up and letting her confidence lead. Watched her complete a fast sprint which ended in a quick handspring and roll. NEVER saw her do that before! And it made my heart jump twice: once for excitement and another quick one for 'oh-my-gosh-my-child-
could-have-gotten-
hurt'! I'm one of the mothers who almost melts down when someone else's kid falls off the balance beam. Yeah, trying to control that. :D Because it's inevitable; Lita will take a spill one of these days.

She had her class challenge a few weeks ago where the parents are invited to watch their child's feats up close and personal. Read: snap shots and videos which we usually aren't close enough in the practice gym to photograph. Loved it with one exception: her regular coach wasn't there. I think she was nervous and definitely some of the challenges they asked her to do she just couldn't. Well, some she did perfectly but others she's never been taught. So, I wish she had the luxury to show of more of what she could do with her own coach. But she had a great time, my hubby, and Grandma and Papa were all there, and the award of her first trophy was the highlight. All and all it was a great experience for her. And it marks the one year anniversary of gymnastics training. What Momma wouldn't be proud?!

And is it me or Disney planning addictive? Seriously, my Mom thinks I need to be a travel agent 'cause I'm so intrigued. But 'me thinks' that's not the job for me; I mean really I don't want to ruin anyone else's vacay. Just my own!

Seems like I haven't scrapped in a dog's age! And with the scrapbook room slowly ... ever so slowly ... getting together, I really haven't scrapped as much lately. Factor in hubby's school break for June and Lita's summer break and my personal time has 'shrunk'.

But I have been checking out the work of others and receiving links to peeps using parts of my products. That's such a good, rewarding feeling. Sure, I'm still learning so much as an apprentice at LDD and thinking thoughtfully through my kits. But it's nice to see what works on the pages of my fellow digi-scrappers.

Decided it be nice to share a few. Can't share them all, wish I could. But I'm happy to create something which can be put to good use. The layouts below have links back to their sources of where I pulled them. Leave them some love if you get a chance. These girls make layouts which shine! :D

I Heart Pink
Includes Pink & Black Flower Doodles

A Day in the Backyard
Includes Template #13 from Collection 003

Cute Froggie Raincoat
Includes Froggie Land Page Kit

Being Your Mother
Includes Template #6 from Collection 002

Star
Includes Template #5 from Collection 001

One ::

First Happy Birthday to One Little Word. We turned one last month but decided to throw the bash this week. And -- fittingly -- our challenge word was ONE! And lookie! I scrapped! Might make more ... don't quote me on that.

The seven of us our sponsoring this week's challenge with our own set of goodies. Here's my kit which I call, "The Romantic".

Lost of Basic Grey papers, Bazzil Cardstock, Lil' Davis Chipboard Letters, a Maya Road album, [other goodies] and a punch from Friskars which didn't make it into the photo. How cool is that?! Post your challenge layout/project on the OLW post to win one of the seven kits!

Me ::

Hey! Who's that sexy momma on your screen? Why that's me? :D Totally being a clown here. But here I am smiling at my hubby on Memorial Day in my Dad's back yard. Me & self have been picking up a few outfits on sale at Macy's, wearing makeup on occasion from MAC, and wearing hair styles like this which keep me from waking up saying I can get away with a pony tail when I should put a curling iron to my tresses.

Though tomorrow, I'm losing this weave-style and receiving my braids with honor. Not that I don't love this style -- it's cool. But I really love my natural two-handed twists. So another 12-hour day in my favorite braider's chair tomorrow.

And remember the running? Well it's turned into rollerblading! :D My muscles hurt from the change in exercise but I feel good. Though is it me or my neck looks/feels big to me. I've been thinking I may need to get my thyroid tested this month? You never know!

I'm also battle tested and ready to win this game tonight with hubby as my Short Round! Yes, this is what we do on a Friday night. Catch up on different episodes of the Wire from seasons past, play: name that movie title using this popular quote for said movie, and that game. And that's why folks we're perfect together. 'Cause deep down inside he and I our simply goofy.

Plan ::

Hubby sneaks peeks at my blog but I doubt he'll read in a few weeks so ... I'm planning our sixth year anniversary. It's our first year back in the town we married in so we're really excited. I'm thinking we'll drop Lita off at G-ma's, have dinner at the Lynnhaven Fish House, and catch this soon to be released movie with my second baby-daddy. I also plan to have our wedding cake re-made in the form of a groom's cake for dessert. Ohhhh, I can still remember how good our cake tasted! I don't think they have a website but it's called Jaimes Bakeshop in Virginia Beach. Best darn bakery in this country city on the water!

And, God bless him, my hubby lost his wedding band (I know, that 'bout killed my heart) one month into our marriage at the pool playing volleyball. He and our neighbors clamored after it before it whisked away down a drain pipe. So I'm thinking of replacing it. Not sure about that. But I think it's a nice gift. Too cheezy?

Happy Scrappin' Peeps! 

It's June! And it will be all month! Joy - like Ren & Stimpy. It's not to hot here - it'll be solid eighties for the next four weeks. Weather helps keep my mood up. :D

Froggies have been on my brain for the past few weeks. Perhaps because I hear them every single, freakin' night whilst I try to sleep in toss & turn land. We have this little 'wetland' area in the back of our apartment area and it's nice. Thankful to have the opportunity to live here all things considering.

But the frogs croak, the crickets creek, the birds sing, the racoons giggle and the foxes hump at night. Seriously, I don't mean to be crass but honesty is important to me. And the midnight symphony drives me crazy. Hence this kit ...

Isn't this crazy? Inspiration for those who love froggies & duckies! My daughter calls it FroggieLand. It's up at the Little Dreamers site now for purchase. Lots of summery colors, textured papers, and elements/rubons which are very 'graphic-pop'.

And see! See what happens to you when you listen to frogs all night long? They get embedded in the brain. In the brain!

Finally: Elton John ... for obvious reasons.

This was at my father's home on Memorial Day. She wore the red glasses all day, inside, outside, from sunlight to nighty-night. For those keeping score, this is Grandma's creation.

ETA: Almost forgot about these! New set of templates should be in the LDD store today too. Hope you like!