Addiction....

I've long since accepted that I have an addictive personality. Not really bad addictions, no alcohol or gambling problems, no need to shop or spend all our money, but anything that I can get myself all tangled up in, let's say, a plot line or a character, that's another story. I can easily lose myself in a story, a song, a tv series, anything that captures my imagination and piques my interest. I'm not sure exactly what the linch pin is for me, but I can pick out a few examples from my past, quite easily.

Mr. Big's song, 'To Be With You,' junior high, repeat button pushed on my stereo for weeks (I don't think my brother can stomach the song anymore)

The TV series, Roswell, high school, minor problem with the lead characters never getting together and staying together

Grey's Anatomy, first season, why do people insist on talking when my show is on?

And, I've just found my newest addiction...

You probably remember my post last week about Twilight. How much I enjoyed it and how I couldn't put it down. Well, a few days later, I went to Calgary for a meeting and had a few minutes to spare. I told myself, "I'll run into a store quick and if it's there it's a sign." Thankfully, upon entering my third store, I found the second book, New Moon. Sometimes you have to look hard to find signs!



I also went and saw Twilight in Banff with some friends. I really liked it, except it was a little hard to keep the tension built as all of the girls in the theatre kept giggling like crazy whenever Edward (Rob Pattinson) came on... I guess that's the price you pay for reading teen books :)

So, now I've read the second book (again, one night after work, I cracked it and couldn't put it down until I was done). So, I feel like I'm ahead of the game a little. I don't want to stumble upon any spoilers before I get through the series, so I have to keep my addiction in check. I'm hoping I can wait for Christmas for the other two.... I should probably stay away from any kind of store though, in case I run into another 'sign.'

If you're interested, Stephenie Meyer's website is kind of interesting as well. A look at how she wrote the books and where her ideas came from. Just a little tip from an addict.

Lucky, lucky me

I am so lucky! I just found out I won a year long scrapbooking course from Tim Holtz's blog! Seriously, I can't wait for the new year to start this.

Here's the blog post, in case you want to see how this came about.

And some info on the course that is offered through Big Picture Scrapbooking.

Anyone want to take it with me? It looks really great and everyone needs a shot of inspiration and creativity in their life. And from reading the teacher's blogs I'm going to receive a hefty jolt of inspiration.

Thanks to Tim and teachers Kolette and Jason Hall for offering up this fantastic prize!!

All I had to do was write why I wanted to go and include my favourite quote. Amazingly, I'm a quote lover and was just working on a little rolodex revamp project to showcase some of my favourites when this opportunity came up so I literally had some of my favourites at my fingertips.

Here's a quick look at the project I was working on, which I made for a Just Cre8 Challenge:

















Speaking of neat ways to showcase quotes, did anyone see the quote forest in Canadian Scrapbooker?? They don't have a picture up on the web, but it's in the winter issue and it's really cool. I love it. I'm all ready thinking of a neat way to recreate it for our new place....Hmmmm, all ready decorating the house I've yet to find....

I think I'll take my luck and turn in for the day. Hope you're all having a good week.

Snowy Days Spent Reading

I always get so caught up in the joy of sunshine and green grass and bare feet in the summer that I spend those months cursing the return of snowy, cold winters. Then we have the first glimpse of snowy weather in the mountains and I remember how relaxing winter is after the hectic pace of summer. Such a nice trade off.

I've been taking advantage of the snowfall to read a few good books, lately. This is the perfect time of year for curling up under a homemade quilt with a cup of tea, a good book, and some background music. Ahhhh....

So, lately, I've been reading some Jodi Picoult books. Have you read her books before? She's such a great writer. I almost find myself appreciating her writing style over the story sometimes, but that's not to say her stories aren't good. They really deal with some big issues that make you think about life and question your opinions. Lately, I've read, Nineteen Minutes, about a school shooting, Change of Heart, about a woman whose daughter's killer wants to donate his heart to her remaining daughter (I know), and The Song of the Humpback Whale, about a mother and daughter falling in love at the same time.

Yesterday, I read Twilight.



Have you read this yet? I literally read it yesterday. It took me one day and I had to finish it. It's kind of addictive really. I'm dying to get the other three books in the series. I started it on my lunch break and I couldn't concentrate all afternoon. I could see it peaking out of my purse and almost had to put it in the car to stop the temptation!

The funny thing is, it's made for teenagers.... Yep, like the Harry Potter series (which I also enjoyed). So, even thought I talked to alot of people who loved it, I kind of feel like it's a guilty pleasure. Like, maybe I'm not that much of a grown-up myself.

Now, can I wait until Christmas, or do I buy myself the whole Twilight series tonight after work?? Hmmmm....what would a grown up do?

Edmonton and Challenge #3

We had a great weekend in Edmonton, touring around some interesting neighborhoods and checking out a few houses. Plus, we saw Eagle Eye, which was pretty good, but makes me want to throw out my cell phone... We also had a few meals out and did some shopping at West Edmonton Mall. Pretty great weekend. Just nice to spend some time together and it's so exciting to be moving!

Also, here's last week's Just Cre8 Challenge:



The challenge was to use an ad as inspiration for a layout. This is the ad that I chose (we were given three options, and this one gave me the dream idea):



And here are a few close ups of my layout:







This has been interesting. I don't think I'm making the best layouts I've ever made necessarily, but it's making me step outside of my usual scrapping box, which is fun. The deadline is what kills me... They give us the challenges on Saturday and they have to be uploaded by Wednesday. Which means if I'm gone for the weekend and have supper plans Monday night and work all week (like this time) I get to start and finish my challenge Tuesday night....

Maybe it's good to get my mind working faster on layouts. I have a million Europe pics to scrap so I need to step it up a bit :)

Digital fun!

Hi there,

Just a quick update on last weeks challenge for Just Cre8. The challenge was to use a rhebus puzzle in your layout....
Rhebus puzzle??

That's what I thought, but we've all done them. There are two kinds, one where you use pictures in the plaec of words or pieces of words ie. picture of a key next to the words 'to my heart.'

The second kind is a word puzzle, like if you wrote Seasons four times, it could mean four seasons....

Get it?

I used 1 in a million..... m1llion. Get it?

Anyhow, I used a ton of pictures of my hubby skiing (I even made a little photo book on the page, behind the journey tag). I think I used about 15 pictures. Such a great way to use those photos where you have a little tiny person and tons of background ie. snow and sky

Anyway, here's the layout:



And, otherwise, I've been ignoring my piles and piles of scrapbooking fodder to play with some digital stuff. Whenever I get in a scrapping slump I like tostep away from paper and play with pixels.

I made a quick calendar (I made a calendar out of canvases awhile ago, so I made new monthly calendars to clip in). Here's an example.



And a quick layout I made. Another Europe picture.



I made both of these with free digital kits I downloaded. You can find free stuff at Creating Keepsakes or Memory Makers or Shabby Princess or with a quick google search.

Halloween Rundown

I love Halloween! What a great holiday. I think it's even better as an adult.... you can have more fun with it and you don't have to layer a snowsuit under your costume to have fun.

Here are a few pictures of the party:





It's not the best picture of my costume, but, do you know who I am?

All kinds of babies, adoption papers, big hair....you can't see my tattoo here....but I had a big one on my shoulder....

I'm Angelina Jolie! I know, the resemblances are shocking.


And the details:



A table full of horrific goodies: vomit dip, tongue and cheek crackers, worms in dirt pudding, witch's fingernails, Adam's Ribs, etc.

And our tribute to Lake Louise:



What a fun pumpkin, eh?! We had a bit of trouble carving this as we didn't have the proper tools, but it turned out all right.

And one quick question. Someone left me a post the other day welcoming me to Edmonton (thanks) and gave me info on a house and some scrapbooking stores.... was t you? I'm so sorry, I should probably know who left the message, but you didn't leave a name, so I'm a little baffled.

Leave another comment or drop me an email if it was you.

Thanks!

Scrapbooking, Baby Jada, and BIG news

I've been scrapbooking more lately than I have all summer. I spend so much more time on crafty things in the winter. I can't wait for the cooler weather and all the cozy, crafty time inside.

This is a little make n' take that I taught at the Mountain Memories Scrapbooking retreat last weekend. A quick card showcasing the new Bazzill Stitch It templates and thread.



Here are some pictures from our weekend with Jada:



Brandi and Katelyn at the shower



Proud papa



What a sweetheart. That lamb came all the way from Britain, too. She's worldly all ready.

So, here's the BIG news.....

We're moving to Edmonton!!!

Honest to Blog.

Brad got a promotion and we're in the process of figuring out where to look at houses, when we'll move, if we can get season's passes to the waterslides, and where exactly to go from here, but there you go. Our big news.

If you have any ideas for us: nice communities, good restaurants, great scrapbooking stores, etc. let me know!

Just Cre8 Challenge

So, I scrapped a layout from a challenge from Just Cre8 and it was really fun and made me think.

The challenge was to use a famous ad slogan on your layout. Interesting. Not my usual journaling style, but it's good to try something new, right?

I liked the challenge. It was interesting thinking of different slogans and what the mean or could mean.
I chose "Where do you want to go today?" a slogan from a Microsoft ad because of the free-spirited nature of our recent travels.



But then, I went too far. Have you ever gone too far with a layout?

I finished a layout and then I found some other embellishments that I thought would be perfect, and... I went too far.

I started doodling and playing while I was only half paying attention and I kind of screwed it up.

Here's a look at it after:


Hmmmm.... I like the ink on the flower, but....

Oh well, it was fun and I still like it, but I liked the cleaner look better.

Jada Lynn and Just Cre8

So, I finally met my new neice and... she's perfect! (Was there really any doubt?)

We had a fabulous shower for Brandi and Curtis and Jada on Saturday and had quite a few people come out to wish the new parents well and meet Jada and she got a ton of loot. People are so giving, especially in a small town, it was really nice to see everyone and to see the new family get off to a good start.

I have a few photos, but I haven't downloaded them, yet. I'll get them up soon.

Also, Just Cre8 had a fantastic online crop this weekend, which I unfortunately couldn't partake in, but if you're looking for great challenges, they will be up for awhile. I tend to make use of them throughout the year. Check it out if you have time.

Babies, Babies, Babies....

With a new little neice and Sam's sweet Jack, everything is coming up baby!

There's something about babies that is so much fun... little shoes, cute zoo animals, soft fabric and pastel colours are all so adorable.

We had a baby shower for Sam and Jack last weekend and we're having one for Brandi and Jada this upcoming weekend.

Jack, five weeks old, at the shower:



I finished my little mini-folder (from Aimee Grenier's fabulous class) with pics of baby Jack for Sam:







And, I'm having a ton of fun making a few little things for Brandi over the long weekend. What a fun reason to scrapbook!

If you've got a ton of reasons to scrapbook, too, you should check out the upcoming scrapbooking retreat in Canmore. Linnette, the owner of Mountain Memories Scrapbooking is putting on a retreat in two weeks (Oct. 24 to 26) and it is going to be a blast. For more info, visit her site here. I'll be teaching some make and takes there, so if you'll be there, come over and say hi!

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you all had your fill of turkey.

Finally... Baby news!

I'm an auntie!!

Curtis and Brandi had a baby girl yesterday, 8 pounds 11 ounces. Congrats!





Could those two look any happier?

Jada Lynn took her time coming, but what a precious little girl arrived. We expected to return from our trip with a little neice or nephew, but that wee babe had other plans! Brandi and Curtis, you're troopers. Born more than two weeks late and with a labour that began three days ago, she's finally here and I can't wait to meet her.

Back in the swing of things

Well, we're home again and settling back in to regular life.

It wasn't too hard to return to the old routines although the alarm clock was a jarring sound Monday morning. Hearing the Namaz in Turkey may have been the closest we got to an alarm clock in the past five weeks.

To sum up our trip,

Favourite places: Paris, Cinque Terre, Venice, Dubrovnik, Santorini, and Istanbul

Favourite foods: bow tie pasta with pesto sauce in Milan, vegetable risotto in Dubrovnik, greek yogourt, Lamb Kleftiko (stew with dill) in Santorini, every single dessert we tried, except Turkish Delight... not a big fan

Longest Walks: Paris, should've used the buses that day

Worst accomodations: the hostel I made Brad walk to in Zadar, where we were greeted by someone peeing out their window into the street below

Best accomodations: the hotel in Santorini, Hotel Matina, and the sobe in Dubrovnik, where we rented an apartment from an elderly couple and their kids

Currencies used: Kuna, Turkish Lira, and Euro

Countries Visited: Italy, Greece, France, Turkey and Croatia

Countries Passed Through: Bosnia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany

Record Speed: 5 countries in 2 days

New stamps in passport: 12

Visas: 1

Modes of transportation used: foot, bus, train, plane, sailboat, minibus, van, ferry, catamaran, taxi, and metro

Favourite airport: Athens International

Approximate kilometres travelled: 30,000

Trip of a lifetime: Priceless

Back on Canadian Soil

After a month of travelling, experiencing different cultures, food and places, we returned home on Thursday. It's good to be home.

I have a few more pictures of our last days in Istanbul and then I'm going to take the rest of the weekend to visit.

Aya Sofia:



The Blue Mosque from our rooftop perch:



and our lavish "lunch":



Hope to see you all soon!

Foiled by Ramazan

We have been enjoying the people, food and culture of Turkey, but ended up visiting a few less areas than we had hoped. Our bus travel has been rerouted due to the end of Ramazan, a Muslim holy month where fasting occrs during daylight hours. I didn't spell it wrong either... it's spelled Ramazan here in Turkey as opposed to Ramadan elsewhere. Same holiday, different spelling.

We thought we wouldn't be affected, as the festivals don't start until Ramazan ends, which is the day we leave. The problem is, everyone wants to travel to their celebration destination in the days leading up to the final celebrations, which means all of the buses are booked solid.

Oh well, we only had to cut out one location, and we got more time in İstanbul, which is where we are at the moment.

The Blue Mosque:



It's our first time in a Muslim country, so we've never experienced namaz, the call to church which occurs here five times daily. The first call comes at 5:30 every morning... it's an interesting way to wake up, that's for sure. They blast the chanting from loudspeakers at every mosque and it lasts for 2 minutes or more.

Before Istanbul,we visited the calcium carbonate pools of Pamukkale (where our camera promptly died... crap!) but you can check out what they look like here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamukkale

Here's our one picture:



From there, we took an overnight bus to Istanbul and have been touring the city, exploring and learning how to barter.... We're not that good at it, but it's actually kinda fun. They're so nice here that bartering is like a game, not pressured really. As one vendor said in response to my 'I'm just looking,'
'I'm just selling.'

The best part of the markets are the colours and smells. It really is an experience not to be missed.

This is the Grand Bazaar:



and the Egyptian Spice Market:



We're coming to the end of our trip and are looking forward to coming home and celebrating all of the birthdays and baby births(?) and whatever else that we missed. See you all soon!

Turkish Delight!

We arrived in Turkey this morning, after a quick ferry from Rhodes Island, and are currently in Selcuk (sort of near Izmir). It's also pronounced Sel-chuk, Sel-kuk makes them all laugh...I'm not entirely sure why.

On the island of Rhodes, we spent our time in Rhodes City, as we had so little of it. We explored the Old Town and walked around the port area and even had a 30 second hail storm while we ate supper. The hail was the size of golf balls and just appeared out of the blue. Luckily, we were under cover and just pushed our chairs back a bit and enjoyed the show. As fast as it came, it passed and the weather returned to cloudy, but nice.



These flowers look like a lily, but they grow on trees, they're quite impressive.



We hopped on a ferry this morning and got two new stamps in our passport and a visa for Turkey (our passports have gotten a lot more interesting on this trip).

We landed in Marmari and then hopped on a bus to Selcuk. The people here are all very friendly, and it feels very safe (to reassure a few parents who may be reading). Everyone invites us for tea and the culture is very family-oriented and welcoming, partly because they want to sell you a rug...

We visited the ruins of Ephesus today and wandered through the remains of the 10th Century city, which is in remarkably good shape, for the most part. However, it's real claim to fame is the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but the remains of this have since been destroyed.



This was the library,



and the theatre.

And, from Wonders of the World, to ancient toilets... Brad will even demonstrate how they work for you.



And on that note, we're off again.

Island Hopping

We enjoyed four whole days on Santorini. Rest, relaxation, exploring, it was splendid.

We took a day to explore more of the island and it's surroundings by boat. Our first stop was a volcano just off the island, aptly named Vulcano, which we hiked all over and checked out the five craters that you can see from the surface. There are spots where you can put your hand in holes and feel the heat radiating through the lava rocks that form the 'island' even though this volcano is sleeping.



We then took a dip in the therapeutic waters off the coast, which are a natural hot springs created by the heat of the volcano. Quite lovely. It was like the Dead Sea, so thick with salt and sulphur, which took a few washings to remove.

We then headed to another small island where we stopped for lunch and a quick hike up the steps from the port to reach the towns that lie atop the cliffs.

Lastly, we headed to Oia (pronounced Ee-ah) to watch the sunset. Magnificient.





Oh yes, and we took donkeys up to the town from the port. Quite an adventure, with the narrow, switchbacking steps which you must take. The height you get from being on a donkey's back, just allows you to peer over the walls and see your eminent death.





Otherwise, we've been eating and drinking, touring the towns and enjoying the island life.

This afternoon, we took a quick flight to Rhodes Island and are exploring Rhodes City. Tomorrow, we head for Turkey!