this and that

Here's a digi-page I made on Friday night:

Forecast is calling for rain ALL week but we are taking this baby out on her maiden voyage this weekend rain or shine! 

I made this cute little mini-album for my son's teacher yesterday:

Darren's class has been learning about the life cycle of a butterfly. They each started out with their own caterpillar inside of a clear cup and watched it spin its chrysalis and eventually saw it emerge ~ transformed into a butterfly. Man, I wish I had fun things like that back when I was a little kid in school. You can buy the kits here.

I didn't want to miss seeing the kids release their butterflies outside so I came armed with my camera for the big event. 

On a side note related to my half-marathon training I have hit a rather prolonged speed bump. My impingement problem hasn't gone away and has now managed to cause all kinds of lower back pain. I've tried stretching {which I think made it worse. Oops!} and resting all to no avail. 

I have a physical therapy appointment tomorrow. I'm hoping they can help me with treatment or some appropriate home therapy options. I am running this race even if I have to walk it but I'm still crossing my fingers that I'll get ailing and aging body ready in time for the big day because I want to run all 13.1 miles!

7 days and counting!

Yes, that's right folks - 7 more days of school until summer break! Yipeeeee!!!

I have been working 5 days a week this past month; hence, the lack of a current blog post! I'm also 15 days and counting until my half marathon. The precious moments I have not been working I am running! 

I have to say that I feel good about the upcoming run despite the very recent setback of an annoying nerve impingement in my left leg. I think my body likes to remind me of my age! So, I'm taking a very brief but much-needed break from running to let myself heal and then it's full-throttle until the half!

I've been able to sneak in a few hours here and there learning some new Photoshop techniques in my quest for a better digital scrapbook page. There is SO much to learn in Photoshop that I am just scratching the surface but Jessica Sprague's Photoshop Friday Series sure has been helpful. Sign up to receive her newsletter or get on her blog roll because you can get all of her new mini-instructional videos for just $1 on Wednesday! I've taken Episode 2 and 3 and came up with these:

Episode 2 taught me how to use clipping masks (using shapes and die-cuts so to speak)

Episode 3 taught me how to use the drawing tool to create the banner.

That's about it for now! 

Enjoy the weekend! 

I plan to! :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to you!

 {bouquet}

Today was a pretty good day. I was taken out to breakfast by my family and enjoyed french toast along with my parents.  :)  

Darren gave me the cutest cards listing the reasons why I was the "Best Mom Ever."

I went to see the Indie film "La Mission" starring Benjamin Bratt. My review: "Loved it!"

Here are the Mother's Day cards I made for my mom and mother-in-law:

What did you do today?

KR and KL-inspired

For those of you who didn't get the newsletter I was soooo sad to hear that KL has decided to close her Kenner Road kit club. I am happy though that she can now spend more QT (quality time!) with her "littles" and sit back and relax a bit more. Believe me, I know how fun yet taxing running a kit club can be! 

On the bright side for us scrappers, she is going to continue creating digital goodness to sell on 2Peas as well as projects and classes {hopefully!} down the road.

I happened to get my hands on the April main kit, "Patchwork" as well as the project kit, "Nine Patch." I haven't had a chance to start on the vintage banner that she created with the project kit but I am definitely going to make it hopefully this weekend! 

Here's a layout I did last week with the main kit:

I am loving the Martha Stewart Punch "Around the Page." I used it on the layout above. KL was playing with it at Scrapbook Territory a few weeks back {even though she was playing with it like a 007 gadget! :-P} and I just had to have it. Thank goodness for 40% off coupons from Michaels!

I also made a KL/7gypsies-inspired necklace that I found on the 7gypsies blog. I had all the components I needed to make the necklace except for the linen. KL was sweet enough to hand over some of hers so that I would have no excuse not to make one. Ha! Ha! {Thanks KL!}

Here it is:

Instead of adding the travel arrow that she used in her necklace I added this little tiny pineapple that I've been holding on to FOREVER and was so happy to finally put it to use! My first piece of handmade jewelry! Totally exciting. :-)

It's a busy week in the holiday world. 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all you fellow teachers out there! Please don't forget to let your children's teachers know they are appreciated! Now off to make some Mother's Day cards...

A Proud Moment

Darren had his first communion yesterday. It was a special day for both of us as I have been witnessing his journey these past 2 years by being an aide in his class his first year and actually teaching his class this past year.

Here he is rockin' his first tie (No! It's not a clip-on!)

Proud parents:

Extra-proud Granny:

His Godfather (and eldest cousin) and his Aunt:

His Uncle, Aunt and cousins:

And his hands-down favorite cousin and partner-in-crime:

Next up: 5 more weeks of school and 2nd grade will be history! 

Bring on the summer!