Happy (early) Mother's Day

I got this from a friend and just HAD to share it. Unfortunately I can't give credit on where it's from, but I've seen it before so it's been around a while. Now, let's hope I can do this right as I've never posted videos before. Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms!!! And those who aren't, enjoy this anyway...I can see some of it from my childhood, and I bet you can, too.

Can I do this???

As I posted a few weeks ago, I recently started running with a friend of mine (Erica's God Mother). I am VERY SLOW...I don't even want to tell you how long it took us to finish the 5K in Feb (I think I already said my mile pace was in double digits, though). Anyway, we signed up for a running group with a trainer. The pace groups are based on your 10K pace. WHAT?!? I have never even run a 10K. How do I know what my pace is?!? So I started in the slowest published pace she has listed: the 11 minute mile group (or as I call it, " the All Others" group because the next slower person is 9:30). Fortunately two more ladies joined after me and I have company now...I'm more of a social runner, so running by myself was really not much fun.

I also started running with a neighbor on Mon and Wed right after work. She's VERY organized...plans everything. Now I know I'll be running at least twice a week...can't let Tracie down!!! I feel a little bad, though...she's a better runner than me and I know I'm holding her back. Hopefully I'll build up my strength and will be able to keep up with her a little better.

And speaking of keeping up. The trainer that heads up the running group I'm with also does individual training. Her website says she has a waiting list. So I asked her about it last night...here was the conversation:

Me: "So I see you have a waiting list for training."

Lisa: "Well, that's a loose waiting list..."

Me: "What do you mean?"

Lisa: "Two people dropped yesterday, so I have room...do you have a particular race in mind?"

Me: "What do you mean?"

Lisa: "I only train people to reach a goal for a particular race"

Me: "Oh...well...I really wanted to run a 10K this year, but that seems wimpy. And the Humpy's Half Marathon (in August) seems like it's a bit aggressive for me at this point."

Lisa: "There's a Half Marathon in Jan..."

Me: "Really?"

Lisa: "...in Phoenix..."

Me: "Really? Wow...that might be perfect, 'cuz I like to take a winter break each year for a Spa trip to Scottsdale..."

Lisa: "Check it out and let me know what you think..."

O...M...G...am I gonna really do this?!? I know I posted on the "Me Work" layout that I wanted to do one, but that was kinda just out there...I didn't really think I'd start REALLY training for one. WOW...I actually think I'm going to give it a try!!! Wish me luck...and my Spa buddy (Kelly) will hopefully be able to do the spa with me around the same time and take some pix!!!

I'm A Lrjik

I've shared some of Erica's work before...here's one I can't resist sharing. Apparently she was asked to draw a picture and then tell a story about it. Erica really wants a dog, but we've been telling her no because I'm allergic to cats and dogs. Maybe if we lived somewhere warmer so the dog could be an outside dog, it might work...or maybe I can convince Jeff to get a "hypo allergenic" dog...

You know this one will be scrapped, right???

More Fun in the Sun

Wow...look at me go with posting this week...can you tell I had a GREAT time at the crop this past weekend? This hobby is such a joy for me. I saw a note a week or so ago that commented on the therapeutic benefits of scrapping. Those of us that scrap ABSOLUTELY know that's true. For me, it's not only about documenting family history (mostly Erica). I LOVE to scrap with friends...I consider it a social event. It's also very relaxing for me...after all, I usually scrap the happy, fun stuff (not to be confused with Happy-Fun time, if you're a "That 70s Show" fan), so I feel good as I remember the good times I had when the pictures were taken.

OK, enough of that...here's another layout from the crop this past weekend. I had a friend come by a few weeks ago to scrap on a Friday night and she "lifted" a layout from Scrapbook Trends using the AC Bailey Apr Kit of the Month. I LOVED it and had to lift her idea for a pool layout with Erica over Spring Break. The colors are AWESOME. I put some Stickles on the die cut title letters to add just a little something extra, too. And can you see the dotted texture on the background? That's Dotted Swiss cardstock...it's it cool?!?

The journaling says, "Erica was quite the Diva during Spring Break...check out that pose! Then her true colors came out. She sure had fun in the pool every day! And she got Grannie Annie to join her on the last day.

The Challenge Begins at home...

...so to speak. Challenge 1a of the AC Bailey Stimulus Challenge is to create a layout about your house. We remodeled our house five summers ago (wow, I can't believe it was 5 years ago) and I have yet to scrap it...not even one picture or thought.

I feel so relieved to have finally scrapped the remodel. I've had the stickers for so long that they would hardly come off the backing paper. I know I need to journal something on the layout, but I'm not sure what to write yet...so I can add it later, right? I'm just glad I was inspired to FINALLY scrap the remodel.


Now I challenge YOU to go to the AC Bailey forum, sign up for the challenge, and get your name in the hat for some goodies!!! Happy Scrappin'!!!

Tigger Tails

Wow, two posts in two days...I must have been at a crop this past weekend. YEAH!!! OK, sorry I had a slump for a while, I'll try to do better.

This layout was inspired by a challenge (gee, me and challenges...go figure). Check out the AC Bailey Stimulus Challenge. Gail's challenge 1b is to make a layout that stimulates one or more of the senses. My first thought was feel...how easy is it to put texture on the layout (felt or velvet). But then I was sifting through pictures and saw Erica eating Tigger Tails...O-M-G...they are D-Licious!!! You can only get them in the Hundred Acre Wood (not the official name at Disney...maybe Adventure land???).

Olympic Bronze

Are you as in awe of the Olympics as I am? I believe it's the world's largest stage for sports. Our family watches both the winter and summer games. I recently learned I have an Olympian in my family: my Grandfather competed a LOOONG time ago in an equestrian event...so was he the Olympian or the horse??? I don't think he won a medal or I'd have heard the story so much I would've thought I was there. But I think it's cool that he was there.

Fast forward to 2008. Corey Cogdell is a Trap Shooter from Eagle River, Alaska. She competes in the 2008 Summer Olympics and wins BRONZE. We went to Birchwood Recreation and Shooting Park to visit her and see her medal in early Nov. You should have seen me when Corey put the medal on Erica...I think I made an audible gasp...wow, how cool! And as any proud mom would, I immediately wondered if Erica would ever wear one of her own.

The papers are from Scrap Within Reach and the flowers are Petaloo.