Shutteryfly Book One - Mission Completed!!

Remember that Shutterfly book I've been rambling on about? Well as of 1:30 am it was completed and paid for. This is the front cover of the book. Now, I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival! It's a little nervewracking to pay that much money and not be able to see the finished product! Oh well, if it's not perfect I'll make the changes and print my - this one is going home with my MIL. I know have to get my Christmas card LOs done - do you think I'm cutting it a little close? Maybe they should be Happy New Years card:) Here are the credits for the cover.

Scrappin' News
The other day in the Chatter forum at DST someone posted a thread about being intimated by really awesome scrappers! I clicked right on that thread because that is where I used to live. I would browse through the galleries and look at all the amazing, collage-style LOs! For me it was never even an option of doing one - it would be like putting a Calculus problem in front of a kindergatdner. I didn't even know where to start - it boggled my mind.

But then, one day I came across this book, Clean and Simple Scrapbooking by Cathy Zielske that took me from being a completely frustrated, feeling like a failure scrapper to being completely okay with my style of scrappbooking. After reading what Cathy had to say I realized that it is okay to make Clean and Simple LOs (thus the name of the book:) She also teaches in the book the elements of good design, the art of type, and the importance of journaling, or lack there of. I read this book in one afternoon (while sitting in a business meeting with my husband :) and came away with so many simple tools that improved my scrapbooking. So, if you're looking for someone/something to validate your style of scrapping this is a must read! P.S. the sequel is really great too!

Family Haps and Other Ramblings
The in-laws are arriving today which means that my scrapping room will have to turn back into the guest bedroom. It really is sad my guest bedroom looks like and office with a bed slapped in it. What's even sadder is that I have a real office downstairs but I like being to work up where the kids are - did you notice I called it "work?" :) I figure I am working - my pay is the free kits that I receive from my designers! My husband says that I am very good at justifying things! Hey - whatever it takes!! Anyway, one of my resolutions for the New Year is to turn my guest bedroom into an inviting and welcoming room. Of course if it's not comfy company won't stay so long. Okay, just kidding!!

Finally, remember the cookie recipe search I was on? Well, no one came to my rescue until last night when my friend, jennylongfingers (don't even ask) told me about this SmittenKitchen website with a chocolate chip cookie recipe that looked really yummy! What looks even yummier are all those pics she has posted on her site! It's making me hungry!

My Favorite Things
Last night, my above mentioned friend, jennylongfingers, mentioned that she was a little disappointed at my list of favorite things. She was hoping for some more materialistic things - you know, so she could run right out to the store and buy me a gift for our gift exchange next week. I, of course, told her that Christmas isn't about materialism (grin)! So, jennylongfingers - even though you've already bought me a gift that you're not sure I'm gonna like, here's one for you.

I love watching the Grinch - the old and the new. It is a must see every Christmas - well really my son wants to watch it year round. We have the original Grinch movie but not the new one with Jim Carrey. So - that is definitely on my Christmas list (my husband usually busy be a Christmas CD but this year I asked him to get me that in lieu of a CD.)

Well, that about does it. I have a house to finish cleaning before the in-laws arrive on my doorstep for their 13 day visit!!! :)