What a week!

It's been quite the week around here! We got the "winter break" pack of UA basketball tickets so we've been out and about two nights this week. After Monday's game we went to Mimi's Cafe and enjoyed some hot cocoa and fried zuccini (I know, weird combo). Last night's game went to overtime - my voice is still sore from cheering! But, it was lots of fun and we did finally win, so we went home happy.

Yesterday at lunch I did some last minute errand running - stocked up on household items so Bob doesn't have to deal with that while I'm in Michigan (he's a native Arizonan and a Michigan winter is just not something he can handle - so he stays here and we spend some Christmases apart, kind of sad, but it's the cost of living far from family) If we had either toilet paper or Kleenex he'd probably be okay, but we were running dangerously low on both, so I braved the Target. It actually wasn't even too terribly busy. I also picked up a few last minute gifts there. And, it's right next to Michael's so I ran in and discovered that they were having clearance! I got two little tins for storing embellishments and beads, some embossed paper in sage green, and best of all the fun print at home 3x3 mini-albums pictured on the left! They're from Zoom Album and I think they're going to be a fantastic way to carry some of my favorite layouts with me! $9 for three of them in the pack!

Tonight I have to do some laundry, wrap a few more presents, and get packed - soon I'll be off to the frozen north! It's been in the mid-70's here, so I think I might just freeze to death in Michigan! But, even though I'll be cold and miss Bob, I am excited to see my family and spend some time with them!

And, finally a parting quote for the day - came in my Sojourner's newsletter today - I can't resist this kind of irony . . .

"I tried to watch President Bush's speech, but I couldn't; there was no electricity."
-Maxine Nash, Christian Peacemaker Teams member in Baghdad, commenting on President George W. Bush's Sunday evening address regarding progress in the war in Iraq.

Love of Family

In the spirit of treasuring family and remebering what's important, I was inspired by Carrie Stephens' Family Togetherness kit! This is one of our engagement photos - I love that you can see the spark between us - the very beginning of our family. It is ceaselessly amazing to me that one can forge this wonderful relationship with another human being, that we can choose to become a family - what a gift!

Feelin' a little Scrooge

It seems to be going around this year - a general sense of "bah-humbug" about Christmas. I have it too. I usually create a Christmas explosion at home - decorating every available corner and a big old live Christmas tree. This year we didn't get a tree and I haven't gotten out any decorations. I'm just not feelin' Christmasy this year. I think it's the fact that I've been getting Christmas forced down my throat since sometime in September. I miss the days when Christmas was something to look forward to. I couldn't wait for the season to start! But now the season is half the year and I'm just ready for it to be over - the hype, the advertising and the endless barrage of "must have" gifts. This just isn't what Christmas is about.

We watched a lot of sports this weekend and nearly every single advertising break had an ad for diamonds - apparently this is the only appropriate gift for a woman. I hate that! I mean, diamonds are fine, but what happened to personal, well-thought gifts that actually have something to do with the things the woman in your life is passionate about? Diamonds just seem too safe and easy to me - not to mention the whole blood-diamonds problem. Anyway, this was just one small example of what I see going on throughout our culture in regards to Christmas - it's just a big shopping event! So, instead of spending gobs of money on the next big thing, let's give to those less fortunate and give from the heart to those we love. Let's forget about fighting over whether to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" and reclaim our holiday spirit, whatever holiday we celebrate - a time for love, joy, peace, and family. I'm feeling a little less Scroogey already!

Digichick Blog Challenge

This sounds like so much fun! On Mondays there will be a blog challenge from the Digichick at the site's These Chicks Blog . I'm always looking for a little blog inspiration, so this should be great! This week's challenge is simple - Why do you scrapbook?

For me, it's a two part answer. First and foremost, I scrapbook for me - as an artistic outlet. I absolutely love to create things and work with color and design! Before I discovered digital scrapbooking I felt like I had some creative ideas and a decent eye for some artistic things, but I was never very good at art. I'm terrible at drawing and that always seemed like such a big part of art to me. When I stumbled onto digital scrapping I was thrilled - I could bring my ideas to life with a computer! Plus, I love taking pictures, so scrapping gives me a way to share my six million photos and preserve them for future enjoyment.

And, that brings me to the second reason I scrap - for the future. So that someday I can look at photos and remember what they were about and the particular magic of each day. So that someday if we have kids they can look at our photos and know something about our lives. I feel like I know very little about my ancestors - what kind of people they were, what their lives were like, what they loved and did everyday. Even my grandparents I really only knew as grandparents - not really as individuals. I want future generations to feel like they can really know something about me. But, on the other hand, if they're not interested in knowing their relatives that way it's cool - because I've had a great time making every single piece and finally feeling like an artist in my own little way!

Best bags ever!

I bought the cutest bags over the weekend! Tucson has a street fair twice and year and these folks had a booth. Their prices ran from $20 to $45 - very reasonable - and each one is unique! It sounds like they sell mainly at craft shows and such, but they said they would take phone orders too. They're called True Colors at 562-695-6099. They had all different sizes, from purses like these to bigger bags that would be great for craft totes. I could have bought one of each! But, in light of closet space, I settled for two. I'm so excited about them, I had to share!

Long time no blog

Wow I am a bad blogger this month! It's been a while, but we've had a houseguest - one of my husband's friends - so my computer time has been cut back a bit (our guestroom is also the office/craft room). But, other than that I've been busy doing some Christmas shopping and planning. I've gotten quite a bit of gift buying done, but I'm thinking of making a few things too - I'm going to do little shaker bottles with our favorite steak seasoning for the grown-ups, but I'm still debating on some things for our nieces - I'm torn between little tote bags with a digi-design ironed on and altered notebooks. Maybe I'll go with the books - I've been loving to alter lately! And, I'm going to do a canvas for my dad with a picture of his boat (assuming he gets around to sending the pictures LOL) - that will be digital and ironed on.

Also on the list of things to decide - whether or not to take Donna Downey's class! I'm definitely going to take Stacy Julian's class on making a creativity "funbook," but I'm on the fence about shelling out the bucks for Donna's. I think it will be great and totally worth the price - just not sure if it would be worth it for me personally - maybe I'll try a quarter and see!

Finally - be sure to swing by Fishscraps, Scrapartist and Digichick - they all have some great stuff out - both Christmas kits and non-holiday goodies. I'm seriously having a hard time even deciding what to scrap first - there's too much good stuff! A little scrapping marathon may have to begin once my computer is my own again!