A little photo shoot...

A fun little collage of some shots that I took the other day.

Note to self: Iron the white sheet before using it as a backdrop.

Mr. Clean is my Lex Luthor...

I did not inherit a cleaning gene from anyone. Possibly because it is missing in our genetic code - is it the Swedish side? I don't know. But I am not a naturally creative cleaner. I can see a product and think, "Hey, that sounds good" but it doesn't actually work like it does on the commercials. It must be partially operator error.

I remember how shattered I was when I found out those Scrubbing Bubbles guys didn't actually come out of the bottle. *&@#% Fraudulent advertising. Because I still had to do all the scrubbing - and there were no sparkles residing in my tub. Just the dull gummy ring to scrub over and over and over and over... well you get the picture.

I was mildly interested in the whole organic thing - vinegar, baking soda, club soda, etc. But that requires a major chart of where to use what. Again, the genetics conspire against me.

I will say that I have found my secret weapon. Microfiber. I don't know how it works - but I spent maybe 15 minutes on my glass shower walls last night - and they, dare I say, sparkled. We have hard water, so that's no small accomplishment.

I *heart* microfiber! If I have another child, I would seriously consider naming them Microfiber. Well, at least as a middle name. Jehosophat Microfiber Campbell. Has a certain ring to it, don't ya think?

UR 2 Cre8ive!

Taking this class from Stacy Julian at Big Picture Scrapbooking... liking it a lot so far. One of our assignments is to paint our toenails in a fun way. My girls LOVED this assignment!!

The flowers are Heidi Swapp rub-ons from my friend, Susan... they stuck better to my toes than to the layout I tried using them on last night - LOL!

Now... I'm not sure yet what the candy is *for*... but as if I needed an excuse to try the new Hershey's Kissables. Aren't they cute? They look like little SORRY! game pieces. I don't think they'll be replacing M&M's any time soon, though. The glass vase is pretty cute, too, I think... it's part of the King Street Trio from Southern Living At Home. Love that stuff!!

It's Official...

I am now in the Custom Invitation business. My neighbor, Rachel, who secretly covets all my scrapbooking supplies, asked me to join her in this venture a few months ago. It's kind of like when you see the kid who owns the basketball and you have to ask them to join your game...

Thanks to my uber-talented friend, Sara, for drawing this logo for us. We still need to add a web address - but that's after we actually create a website.

We just had our first gig - 35 invitations for the Cardiac Health Symposium. To quote Rachel "Sounds like a yawner to me."

I think we may have actually made $70 or so on the job. Of course, if you back out the actual man hours - it would mean that we made about $4.33/hour. While that is more than I made making clown cones at Baskin-Robbins in 1986 - I don't think that this is going to be a fast-track to the Millionaire Club. But we can chalk this one up to learning experience.

Things I have learned:

• An HP Photosmart printer is NOT the correct printer for a high-volume utra-thick metallic cardstock job (but if you leave the printer settings for Automatic paper - you get a really cool grey ink color over silver metallic paper - probably couldn't have produced that effect if I had meant to do it that way)
• You can charge 3.50 per invitation and a corporate client won't laugh at you
• Some people have no idea how to word an invitation - thus the need for professionals like us
• My children don't really care about the Cardiac Health Symposium either... they just want to play Candyland NOW

The next American Idol?

Just a quickie - but I had to write this down somewhere...

After waking up, Riley proceeds to take off her night-time diaper and put on a Pull-Up for the day... this is her theme song today... (I am not making this up!)

I'm wiping my bottom, whoa-oh!
I'm wiping my bottom, whoa-oh!
I'm wiping my bottom, whoa-oh!
And don't it feel good?
Yeah, all right now

If you're having trouble with the tune... it's from "Walking On Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves.

That kid cracks me up.

They say it's your birthday...

We celebrated little R's 3rd birthday today! She was so cute in her yellow dress - yellow is her favorite color, you know. She was SOOOO excited when people started arriving, she was a fabulous hostess and a good time was had by all!

On a lesser note (HA!) the Seattle SEAHAWKS won their playoff game - so it's off to the next round. Go Seahawks!!

Thank goodness for technology... the guys were able to record the game via DVR and still sing "Happy Birthday" and watch her blow out her candles. I guess this ain't your Mama's birthday party no more.... tee hee.

I am exhausted. It was a whirlwind. The girls rooms are utterly destroyed. But the toys and dress-up clothes can wait for another day to be picked up. I'm going to cuddle my 3-year old darling baby girl and marvel at how *old* she's getting. *sniff*

Tagged!

I got tagged by Karen... *smooches* to you, friend...

4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life:

1. Baskin-Robbins clown-cone designer
2. UW Athletic Dept gopher
3. Receptionist/office assistant
4. IT Manager for Office Furniture Dealership

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:

1. Pride and Prejudice (A&E original miniseries)
2. Chocolat
3. How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days
4. The Princess Bride
   

4 Places You Have Lived:

1. Norfolk, VA
2. Seattle, WA
3. Gig Harbor, WA
4. Covington, WA

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch:

1. Gilmore Girls
2. Crossing Jordan
3. Alias
4. CSI
   

4 Places You Have Been on Vacation:

1. Hawaii
2. San Diego
3. Europe
4. Greece
   

4 Websites You Visit Daily:

1. Scraptalk
2. Two Peas In A Bucket
3. Creating Keepsakes
4. Various blogs (notably Karen’s)
   

4 of Your Favorite Foods:

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Teriyaki Steak
3. Taco Del Mar burritos
4. Showering Rama (Thai Peanut Sauce, bok choy, and chicken)

4 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:

1. Anyplace sunny and warm
2. Hawaii
3. San Diego
4. Did I mention Hawaii?
   

4 Bloggers You are Tagging:

1. 13lisa/Lisa
2. jennylilac
3. Lara
4. Rosy

That's it! I am finished... off to clean my house for my 3-year old's birthday party tomorrow!!

Soundtrack of my youth...

Like gag me with a spoon...
Totally tripendicular...
He's such a babe...

If you recognize any of these phrases, then you might relate to the song list below.

Mirror In The Bathroom... The English Beat
Ship Of Fools... Erasure
Oh L'Amour... Erasure
Love Plus One... Haircut 100
What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)... Information Society
The One Thing... INXS
Too Shy... Kajagoogoo
I Melt With You... Modern English (still my FAVE)
Always Something There To Remind Me... Naked Eyes
Ceremony... New Order
State of the Nation... New Order
A Million Miles Away... The Plimsouls
Love My Way... Psychedelic Furs
The One I Love... REM
Blues Before and After... The Smithereens
Blister In The Sun... Violent Femmes
Don't Go... Yaz
Only You... Yaz

My best friend from high school, Shelley, just sent me a CD with all these songs. How is it that we spent nearly every waking moment together and I have hardly any photos? Well, at least my girls will have photos aplenty to document their embarassing hairstyles, poor fashion choices, loser boyfriends, and other teenage memories. Hmm... on second thought, maybe less is more.

To my favorite Valley Girl, I send my undying love, and like, come back soon, ya know?

I miss you, Shell! I've got to fly South for the winter and come see you!!

Doos and Dont's

Me (trying to soothe fussy girl): We can write Mac-n-Cheese on the grocery list. We can even get the Scooby Doo kind if you want.

Fussy girl: First we'll get the Scooby Doo and then next time we can get the Scooby Don't.



Even in the midst of tantrum... she's still got it.

Mindless drivel - or should I say drizzle?

Perhaps it the rain. Perhaps it's just that my brain is fuzzy from holiday overload and persistent lack of sleep. Perhaps it's something deeper, more existential, stemming from some long-awaited angst resolution, or even the solution to the sock-disappearing-from-the-dryer-mystery.

No, I'm pretty sure it's the rain.

If you have never been through January in Washington, you may not have an accurate picture of the pure torture of 27 grey and dreary wet days in a ROW. At least we cleaned out the garage and I can get in and out of the car in relative comfort - it's just unloading the cart and doing the carseat thing at the grocery store that leaves me with that limp, slightly crumpled feeling.

So - I made some cards today. With bright fun Lollipop Shoppe paper. Just looking at them makes me happy because A) they're such fun colors and B) hey- I got to make some cards!




Book club tonight - the annual *Selection Party*. I think we should create some brackets, make it a round-robin tourney or something. Maybe throw in some darts? Or arm wrestling? How does a group of rational, overly polite (because we don't know each other very well) women, start with 50 or so book choices and end up with 11 finalists? It's a mystery. (movie reference thrown in for Karen's benefit) Here's a wish that we will end up with a really fun list of books for 2006! Fyoooooooooooooosh!

Back to life, back to reality...

back to school you go! I hope T has a good day back at school. She was a little hesitant to leave, we've gotten into such a lounging routine around here, it was work to get dressed and get out the door this morning for R's tumbling class. Good thing my friend Rachel called me and woke me up - or we wouldn't have made it.

This photo is of T and her cousin, Paris. The cousins came from California for Christmas... I can't even believe how quickly they grow up when you only see them once or twice a year!

On a completely different topic...

There are good and bad things about your kids being able to read... yesterday, in the check-out line, T was reading the tabloids (and I include People and Us in that category) and informed me that the baby may keep Britney and Kevin's marriage together.

Oh, good.

Just what I wanted my 5-year old to be thinking about.

A whole new realm of teaching opportunities has arrived. Gotta get in the game - and fast!



And something else - completely unrelated... my little R in her favorite Hanna dress. Those curls are so cute (if I do say so myself!)

She's potty-training... which means some days are better than others. Today, we're not bringing our *A-game*, unfortunately. Definitely 3rd string prospects at this point - with a load of laundry to prove it. Oh well - that's what I get for blogging!

She will be officially 3 in 13 days... and we already have the temper tantrums and irratic behavior to show for it! Hooray! But on the flip side, she's got a firm grasp of language, is starting to learn her letters, loves to sing and dance and play... and is usually pure joy to have around. Except during those tantrums. More teaching opportunities. All I can say is... keep those Hershey kisses coming!

Where does the time go?

The past month seems like a blur. Certain days passed by in slow-motion... but overall? Blur. It was basically a good blur, but a blur nonetheless.

I'm working mentally on an "Intentions" layout, inspired by Ali. I've got some journaling points, now I just have to put them down on Bazzill (a synonym for paper, surely).

What I've got so far:

• De-clutter and simplify
• Eat healthier
• Work out (but I'm seriously going to do it this year - the gym membership has been paid)
• Remember birthdays
• Laugh more
• Take better care of my skin
• Spend more quality time with my family
• Enjoy my scrapbooking time and not stress about submissions

Here's to a happier, healthier me in 2006!