Happy Hallow's Eve

Are you ready???? One more day and we get to meet and greet with all the little witches, super heroes, vampires, ghost, and goblins. They will be ringing your door wanting all things sweet. I don't know about your kids but mine are sooooooo excited. My parents are coming this year to help out which makes this weekend even more memorable. I just wanted to stop by and wish all of you a very Safe and Happy Halloween.

Here are a couple of new layouts....

Don't forget to drop by Creative Scrappers this weekend. Kristine will be introducing the new Design Team and a brand new sketch!

What's going on.....

OMGosh.....so much has been happening lately I can hardly keep up. But I do love to stay busy so I'm not complaining what-so-ever! Let me start with the bad stuff and then work towards the good stuff.

I don't know if you have heard of Degenerative Disc Disease. I personally knew nothing of it until I was given the diagnosis 3 years ago. To make a long story short, it started with a herniated disc at L5-S1. I had a microdiscectomy almost 2 years ago after months of conservative treatment and it was somewhat of a success. One month ago as I was going up the stairs and bending over to merely pick up one of my kid's books, I felt a shock go through me and my legs would not move forward....seriously, I would think "leg, step up" and nothing would happen. So I started backing up slowly down the stairs and made it to my couch. Then the pain started to spread from my back down my legs. It was excruciating! Since then I have discovered that I not only have a herniated disc, I now have 2 more bulging disc and arthritis that is causing some narrowing of the bone where the nerve bundle goes through. The bulging is causing nerve pain again to my right leg and I have chronic pain on a daily basis. I think what upset me most was when my doctor told me I now qualified for handicap tags on my car and possibly disability benefits. Believe me when I say I am not one to feel sorry for myself but even I was a little blown away by all of this. I have my good days and bad days but I have a positive outlook on life and I am truly blessed in many ways.

On to the good stuff....

Homecoming was this past weekend. On Friday Landon had to "Dress to Impress". Over here in Texas it is all about the mum. Now me, being a Louisiana girl, was clueless to this tradition. Apparently the guys buy this mum (as pictured below) for the girls and decorate it with all kinds of ribbons and toys, etc.....the girls buy a garter mum for the guys and decorate it with the same. I guess it really is true that Texas does everything BIG!!!!!!! LOL! All kidding aside, it was really sweet to see Landon and his gang of friends together before school prepping for the big game day.

Next came the Big Dance....Homecoming!!!! This was bittersweet for me. I love that my son is getting to experience things I deem a "rite of passage", but I also feel like he is growing up so fast. It seems like just yesterday he was my little boy and now he is this amazing young man. Sniff, Sniff.....very overwhelming!!!!!!

Of course I have to drop off a few layouts. I have been having fun with these new Halloween papers from Basic Grey. They are so fun and PERFECT for all my Halloween pictures. I really struggle with holiday themed layouts. How about you?????


Next is a layout I did from a sketch by "SuePup". Those of you from scrapbook.com will now who I am talking about. I am trying out some new techniques with masking. I have had a stash of Glimmer Mist sitting in my scraproom for over a year now and I am finally starting to venture out and experiment with it. It is sometimes hard to get out of my comfort zone but I am really pleased with the results. These beautiful papers are all Prima. Prima has become my best friend when it comes to all things "Girly". Since I only have one gorgeously amazing daughter, I tend to really embellish and "girl-it-up" as much as I possibly can.

Last but not least...if you are still reading at this point, I took my husband to the airport yesterday. He will be in Salt Lake City, Utah for 2 weeks participating in engineer training for Union Pacific Railroad. This has been a dream of his for the past five years. I am so very proud of him and excited to see him grow in this company. My husband is such an intelligent man and always enjoys a challenge so this will be right up his alley. I love you Duane....you are my ROCK!!!!

Good News!!!!!

Yippie Skippie, I am doing my happy dance as we speak!!!!!! I have been waiting for this day so I could finally announce my good news!!!! I have been chosen to be on the Design Team for my favorite sketch site, Creative Scrappers!!!!!! It is an extreme honor to be chosen amongst the amazing talented women out there in our little scrappy world. Thank You Creative Scrappers!!!!!!!

Dropping off some layouts for your viewing pleasure...Enjoy!!!

On the Mend

Hey Folks....been flat on my back for a while. I even made a trip to the ER in a real live ambulance. Cool huh????? NOT!!!!! Seriously, I have a herniated disc AGAIN!!!!! I had surgery nearly 2 years ago and I had hoped I would not have to repeat this process for a while but unfortunately things did not go as I had planned. Oh well, it is what it is and life goes on. Tomorrow is my 5th MRI since this all began 3 years ago and as usual, I am not looking forward to it. I do not wish this kind of pain on my worse enemy, well maybe just a little...LOL!!! Enough of me...I just wanted to drop off some new stuff...that's me, always sharing!!!! I will be glad when I can get back to my table to work up some more magic. Until then, Enjoy!!!!!

Addictions

Addictions....I have an addictive personality. Once I find something that interest me, I obsess over it!!!! Just like the Twilight Series. Now I am addicted to gorgeous vampires and all things supernatural or as Sookie calls them, "Supes". I have recently been turned on to the Stackhouse Series and I have been unable to put them down. I have just finished book no. 5 and can't wait to take a bite into no. 6. These books are the foundation of the True Blood series on HBO but very loosely based. What makes these books even better is that the author chose Louisiana as its location...my home state!!!

Of course my other addiction is scrapbooking...I just placed another scrappy order for some lucious Lemonade by Basic Grey and the new line from Pink Paislee called Twilight. Oh how appropriate to intermingle my two loves...Scrapbooking and dreamy Vampires! Gotta love it!!

Back to School

"Gotta go back, back, back to school again...." Yes, it is that time. Time for schedules, alarm clocks, homework, and fall tv. The kids are getting back into the groove and loving every minute of it. I now have one in elementary, one in intermediate, and one in high school. Next, there will be band concerts, dance recitals, and homecoming games. I love it!!!!!!!

The other day, Abigail and I watched Grease 1 & 2. She was so tickled that I could sing along with every song and that I knew how to do the "Hand Jive". Ha, when I was her age, I had the Grease record and listened to it on a daily basis...then she asks me what is a record????? Hmmmmm, can you say, I feel OLD???? Anyway, with the whole back to school thing going on I couldn't help but reflect on Danny and Sandy singin "Summer Nights". So I thought it fitting to say farewell to Summer with Danny and Sandy and welcome the new school year.

While busy amongst all the school hoopla, I have found the time to scrap a little. This one is of Duane and his Dad. They both work or have worked for the UP...Union Pacific Railroad. Duane's brother is also carrying on that tradition as well. Maybe one day, I can get a picture of all 3 of them.



Here is just one of the many pics from this summer. Little Miss Abigail is jumping in mamaw's pool, trying to make a big splash! This is a very bittersweet picture...Momma and Daddy sold their beautiful house by the lake. They have decided to downsize since they have both officially retired. I'm gonna miss my paradise on the lake.

Ode to the Eighties

If I have not said it once I have said it a thousand times....I loooooooove Eighties music!!!!!! I remember listening every weekend to Rick Dees top 40 countdown with my cassette tapeplayer ready to record all my favorite songs. Or watching MTV every Friday night with my girlfriends until we fell fast asleep on the living room floor. I specifically remember staying up late with my brother for the premier of Thriller.....ooooohhhh I still get goosebumps when I think about the first time I watched Michael Jackson dancing with all the creepy crawly zoombies.....ahhhhhh those were the days. Well I decided to pay tribute to my favorite decade. I put together a playlist of just a few of my faves, so sit back a spell and let your mind take you back to the "Good Ole Days". I'm sure you will enjoy a trip down memory lane as much as I did.

Of course I can't leave without posting some of my latest works of art!!!!!!!

Now see...I saved the best for last!!! Ha Ha, I told ya I was gonna scrap this fine piece of man flesh. Is he not a hottie or what?????? Oh my, I need a fan in hear cause it is smokin!!!!!!!!!!

Now ya have some good music and a beautiful man to look at...need I say what more could a girl ask for????