covert ops

Sorry Jules...I didn't post any decor or bride pics!! What was I thinking??!?!?


I am covertly typing this as I sit at my new "desk" so I can't add any more pics right now. Depending on how tired I am tonight, and how long the dishes take me to do, I might be able to post some more. I want to get them up on Flickr so Mom & Amy can see the pics I took of the decorations (for ideas).

Had "fun" at the Bridal Expo on Sunday. The "industry" has changed so much since I got married...it's still overwhelming just in a little crazier way! I can't even imagine how much money you can spend just on table decorations! Why would you rent a vase for $15 when you can just go to the $1 store and buy one for a dollar?? Amy is very excited about my dress and about the decorating, but not so much about her dress! She is an odd duck! That's usually the first thing that a bride wants to buy! But I share her excitement about my dress (and the decor, but especially my dress!) so I don't mind one bit. So I have made up some mock centrepieces and taken photos of them for her approval...I haven't sent her those photos yet but that's neither here nor there!

I have been thinking about my own wedding a lot lately, given all the other wedding talk going on. And I am left with one conclusion: I loved my wedding when it happened 5 years ago, but I know that if I were to get married again tomorrow, it would look totally different...or would it? There are so many more options for stuff out there now - bridesmaid dresses, flowers, decorations, etc. - but I do remember that a lot of the choices I made 5 years ago were because I didn't want to spend all the money in the world to celebrate one day in my life. I might change some things (like what my bridesmaid's wore, and the centrepieces for my tables), but I also know that like many things, my wedding looks different in hindsight. I had a good time, I had no regrets right after (except my stupid DJ, which I would TOTALLY CHANGE had I known then what I know now), and I think everyone there had a good time as well. And that's all that matters...as far as I'm concerned!

off with her head!!

and then off to bed...I promise! I just wanted to post these guys, whom I completely love and want to tape to my back so I can show them off with pride!

(this is what sleep deprivation will do to a person!)

So this is love

So Nadine and Cory's wedding was beautiful. Of course. It was a little nostalgic being back where Russ & I were married. Totally different decor, and set up, but still nostalgic.

Nadine was gorgeous, and they were having fun and the ceremony and the speeches made me cry (of course) and it was so fun! We came home early, as both Russ & I are feeling sick, and we had to go pick up Lucas from Mom's.

I got a tonne of photos...lots of good ones too! I am a bit of a sneaky photographer...I take your picture when you aren't looking. Sometimes those make the best photos! Unfortunately, this means I get some red eye, and some weird pics, but I also get a lot of good ones! I am going to try and post them on Flickr tonight, if not tomorrow. I am a little bit drunk (only a little), so typing is a bit difficult. I'm going to get some scrapbooking done tonight and then maybe do some more computering. We'll see. Here are some of my favourites:

(we all matched kind of perfectly...little Twilight Zone for ya!)

It was so nice to see Veronica and Naomi and Jayme and Kara all together...they all looked so pretty tonight. I sometimes forget that I have such amazing friends! And I know I don't tell them enough that I love them and that they are important to me...so this is going to have to count towards that!! (I love you and you are important to me...all of you).

later,
:isa

P.S. No orange hat. I started making a red one, but it didn't turn out, so i just went "bare-headed." I still looked totally hot, in case you were wondering!

Techneek is up

...a day late & a $ short!!

Oh well.

Here's a sneak of my new layouts. But don't tell Juli I posted them, because they're for a kit that isn't out yet! Sorry dearie...but you gotta take what you can get! Check out the Projects and Techneeks blog for the full meal deal.

Love and Hugs

P.S. Do my layouts seem extra big to you, or is it just me??

all's well that end's well

I am so tired. I have been working super weird hours this week. Off Monday, up at 5:15am Tuesday, don't work until 10am Wednesday, up again at 5:15am on Thursday, Friday as per usual. Very weird. Plus I slept late today and was all scatter-brained when getting ready so I didn't eat breakfast. Now I have a grumbly tummy to go along with my puffy eyes.

Grey's Anatomy premiered last night...and it was excellent! So was the Office (SPOILER ALERT). Jim finally proposed and I totally called it and it was a very funny episode. Plus I caught a miss-edit: Michael had a goatee, then he didn't, then he did again, then he didn't and only THEN Ryan commented on it's disappearance. Gotcha! That show is so very funny! One of the other ladies at the other dental office really likes the show too, so we were chatting about it yesterday. The girl I'm filling in for doesn't like the show, so Abby lent her Season Three (which was super funny), thinking that maybe Renita just hadn't seen enough of the right episodes. But Renita still didn't think it was funny...she even watched an episode twice thinking maybe she missed something the first time!!

It sure is fun hanging out with new gals at a new office...but I like my old gals at my old office (who I never get to see because they aren't in today...except for Heather who I see every Sunday for dinner!!).

Nadine's Wedding on Saturday. Excited to meet Veronica's "A", if that is his real name!! Am making an orange fascinator...but still have no idea what else I will be wearing!! Did I mention that I actually went shopping for wedding clothes last Saturday a half hour before we had to leave for the actual wedding! I love leaving things to the last minute, then in a burst of creativity just going for something crazy with no time for regrets, just hoping that it looks rad. And I think I looked rad last weekend!

Bridal Expo on Sunday with Mom and Amy. Super fun...I love crazy brides. And by I love them I mean they freak me out!!

Am learning things about myself that are making me cringe, but hopefully will lead me to be a better person. We'll see. Am also learning some good things about me, so that's nice too!

Sold two books from my list on my other blog...to my Mother-in-law, but at least it's something, right!

Have been purchasing and not using way too many scrapbooking supplies as of late. I need to just sit down with a stack of pictures and go crazy. I miss it, but as of late it just feels more like work than fun. I have a really cute kit to work on for TM, and the Halloween shapes from Riff Raff are amazing!! Too bad I don't have any more pics to scrapbook of Lucas' at Halloween. I am going to have to raid Mom's stash of us when we were kids...or maybe find some of Russ!!

Recent buys: Hambly mustaches and bicycles, American Crafts paper and stickers, pom pom ribbon, Bazzill flowers, and I still have a bag full of tulle in my cubby waiting to come home with me. Don't ask me what I am going to do with 200+ yards of tulle in 12 colours!! So far all I have planned is an orange hat!

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Yep. Today it is my birthday. Par-tay! Russ took me to Brewster's for dinner. We had cheap wings, yummy beer (mine with blueberries floating in it!!) and bison burgers. Plus I got a free dessert because it's my birthday! Yay me! Pretty low key, but that's usually our style. Lucas was still at Grandma and Grandpa's, so we got our mini night out. Russ gave me a really cool book by Naomi Klein and some gift cards, including one for Colours that I am really looking forward to spending!


I started my "temp job" at the periodontist office next door to the one I work at on Fridays. They do things differently enough that it is annoying to get used to, to "relearn things" so-to-speak. But I should have everything down pat in a couple of days. It was very hard for me not to be able to take Lucas to playschool today. But I know he has fun with my mom, so it's not too bad. But sometimes I think he has too much fun and doesn't want to come home!! Plus he actually made the craft at school today!! Gasp! it's a cute little wreath with his scribbles and some leaves all over it!! I am totally putting it on my front door! He also got to make cupcakes with Grandma today...cracking eggs and everything! We sang Happy Birthday to Momma (he actually sings...it is beyond adorable!) and he helped me blow out the candles.



I am the Secretary for the playschool board, so I was busy typing up minutes tonight...a little bit late, but I'm getting there! I had a busy weekend...



Sarah's wedding was Saturday, and I totally cried through my whole reading! I didn't even make it passed the third word before I started bubbling. Arggh! But everyone kept telling me I did I good job, and even Russ said he heard some other people getting a little weepy, so it was okay! My "fascinator" hat was totally rad! I made it the night before out of pink tulle, Doodlebug flocked paper and some Prima bling and Kaiser Crafts pearls. Russ freaked out a little when he saw it on my head, but it was worth it!! I got lots of compliments, even from some guys!

Me, Sarah (the bride) and Cheryl...we were best buds in University and they were my bridesmaids at my wedding!

My rad hat...boo-yah! Jill says it's called a "fascinator" (sp??) and is very popular at weddings in Scotland. Oh well...at least I'm trendy in some part of the world!!

Robin and Sarah...have been best friends before they even knew what a best friend was. Robin's speech/toast was awesome!!

Look it's me up on stage! Singing Blink 182's "All the Small Things" to my adoring fans!!

At the end of the night...the girls with all the chair bows!

Scott and Jessica got married last year. The first (and last) wedding Lucas attended!

The Bridesmaids (Cheryl, Ashley and Kristen)

Please ignore the fact that I look like a shiny alien...doesn't Russel look hot!!

All of the decorations were gorgeous!! Turns out Aaron's mom has somewhat of a talent in this area! Lit trees, tulle everywhere, beautiful bouquets and centrepieces. It was so beautiful in that place, and I have seen it at it's ugliest...so now I know what potential it has! Sarah and Aaron donated to the Humane Society instead of providing favours, so all the tables were "named" after animals at the shelter. We sat at the Simba table, who turned out to be the cutest little tabby kitten! She had little placards with their pictures on them. The family tables were named after Sarah's cats.

That's all for now. I pretty much just wanted to show off my hat and let everyone know about my b-day. Thanks Nadine for my little b-day surprise at the store! Yummy!! And I'll see you Saturday for my next wedding day of the month! I have to get lots of ideas for my sister Amy who is (finally) engaged!! Very exciting...I get to be a bridesmaid!! And go to bridal fairs and taste cake and all the good stuff! But she kind of got the bum end of the deal because I really am no good at researching venues and caterers and stuff...she was the big help in that regard for my wedding. I'm pretty much just going to show up in my rad dress, cry a lot and dance the night away!!

P.S. I've posted my Books for Sale on my other blog. Please check it out...and let me know (via email) if you are interested in any titles. And remember that these books are available for ANY READERS of my blogs, or if you just happen to stumble upon it!! I can arrange pickup/delivery and will take offers!

300...come and gone

This is three hundred and first post on this blog! Wow! It seems only yesterday we were celebrating 200 together! Aah. How time flies!

Now I've got to get this done quick...Lucas...

Some random layouts with the new American Crafts. I 98% like the first guy, and maybe 50%the second. Layouts have been coming slow and crappy for me lately. Don't ask why...I like one, then I do a couple that I just don't like. It used to be the other way around.

Don't ya just love the big Flamingos? They are from my Elsie Wonderland art journal! Woot! There are some super fun little journaling guys in the kit that I can't wait to use! They all seem to go really well with my Amer. Crafts stuff...hmmm...how convenient!


P.S. My Book Sale should be posted tomorrow (or the next day) on my other blog. Check it out

And also check out the new Techneek of the Week post here. It's FLOCKING!!

hi there...

SCRAPJACKED CHALLENGE LAYOUT
thanks for stopping by!!


and now on to other things...
the rest of the day went well here...not much to report. Did some scrapping this afternoon, and taught a class at TM this evening. I am totally stuck on one page though, and it's really frustrating. Sometimes I find it so hard to do 12x12...and sometimes not. This is a case for the former! I'll keep at it though...something's gotta give!


And yes, I have already scrapbooked the photos I took this morning! Call me crazy... It's not my ideal page, not the way it looked in my head, but this is another one that was giving me trouble today. Perhaps this just wasn't my day to create. It's that darn name tag that's throwing me off.


And here is a pic I took of the beautiful flowers Kennedy gave me for my early b-day surprise. With some new American Crafts (from my CHA goodie bag...it still hasn't shipped to TM yet!! argh!!!) and old other stuff. The title is from a line from Romeo & Juliet: "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." These little guys make my kitchen smell like perfume!
Am loving Perfect Pearls right now. Here it is on Riff Raff chipboard, after applying a heck of a lot of alcohol ink! It is so shimmery and gorgeous! I feel a "Techneek" coming on!!
(NOTE: In the scrapjacked layout and on Lucas' page, I did the same thing on Scenic Route chipboard, then coated the shape in glossy accents. Super Rad.)

later,

new stuff

here are a couple of layouts I finished on the weekend. I wasn't feeling too hot, so I stayed in on Saturday night (missed my friend's stagette...sorry Sar) and just hung out with the boys. Russ has been playing Sim City on his laptop, so he sits at the table and does that while I stand beside him and scrap! It's a good arrangement.

Both are with pics from Disneyland. But I might have to re-do them, as I just got my Elsie "Wonderland art journal" in the mail...and it is WONDERFUL!!! All Alice in Wonderland goodies, doodles and some of her art prints as well. I am very excited, to say the least!!

I'm done all of my class demos for the month, so I am going to take a week off, then get back at it for October. I'm going to be at the LNC on Friday with my mom and lil sis, working on my friend's guestbook for her wedding in a couple of weeks. It's turning out really amazing...even though purple is so not my colour! Maybe I'll get some more Disney/San Diego pages done this week. Fall is a very creative time for me!

And check out my other blog for "1st day of preschool" photos!!

and the winner is!!

Veronica! Lucky You! I went for the very high tech "pull a name out of a hat" deal. Actually it was a bowl. An IKEA bowl. Dude!

Once I get your shapes, I'll let you know and you can pick them up from the store.

Not much else going on. Am sick (and tired) so I don't feel like doing much aside from reading and drinking coffee. This has got me thinking about all the books I own, and how I really don't read a lot of them anymore. So I am going to have a "Book Sale". Everything will be under $5. I'll post titles and synopses in the next couple of days. And there will be a lot of books!!!

Also, am still taking donation for Light the Night. Anything is appreciated!!