livelovecreate

The $100 popcorn kernel

Wanna know what happens when you give a 3 year old a bowl of popcorn?

Drumroll please.

A five hour visit to the ER Friday night at 10pm.

After it was all said and done, the ER tech told me to keep a bottle of cayenne pepper on hand. "A quick sniff of it and it should cause a sneeze next time" was his candid advice.

Buddy, there won't be a next time!!!

So that's my service tip of the year.

And yes, I kept the kernel for a future scrap opportunity.....seeing as Emma has been giving me lots of inspiring moments this week.

P.S. To answer the question about my Heidi Swapp post, upon the urging of my manager at Memories, I sent in a few projects that I designed with her line. Fast forward to this week, I get an email from her asking if she can use the samples for her upcoming Summer catalog and on her new site.

Um, yeah, you sure can!

So I guess that is my official *toot*!

Not that I will be submitting anything to other companies soon, but it's nice to know that talent and ability, no matter how great or modest, gets noticed.

Did you know

That Heidi Swapp just sent me an email?

I'll have to stay quiet about it for awhile, but I HAD spill the beans to someone who'd appreciate my complete joy and shock. *Normal* people just don't get it. Hee hee.

I'm bursting with excitement. Really, I am.

:)

Layout-Love You

Layout I pretty much copied by Scrapbooks etc editor Melissa Inman found in the Inspirations book from last year. I am in love with the KI patchwork paper. So much that I counted 10 sheets in my KI paper section! Emma was 19 months old in the pic and wearing one of my favorite sweaters her Nana bought her at Gymboree.

More creative messes to follow....

Since I am on a button kick

I thought I would pass on another site devoted to all things buttons.

www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com

Their product was featured in CK's Top 10 issue that I snagged at work today. Jennifer McGuire did a layout featuring the buttons. I went to the site and they are selling bags of 500+ (hee hee!) buttons in single and multicolor packs for 4.99! No clear ones, but I think it'll take me a few months to go through the foof-a-la ones I already have.

Oh and have I got a "toddlers and Mod Podge don't mix" story for you.

My newly organized crafting space has become a magnet for Emma. She has decided that the four drawer organizer cube has LOTS of fun things to get into.

Today's adventure involves a small bottle of Mod Podge, a curious 3 year old and a distracted mom.

She comes into her room where I am finishing up hanging her tops in the closet and shows me her hands full of what she is claiming to be "lotion for her tummy". Upon closer inspection and a quick sniff, I am horrified to discover that she has found my bottle of Mod Podge and has left a trail of it from the coffee table in the living room all the way down the hallway and into her room.

Have you ever seen a decoupaged toddler stomach?

Thank goodness it is water soluble. And the hardwoods survived.

Me? I've gotta find a higher place for the stuff. Duh.

I honestly wish I had been able to record the event on fil but discovered that the camera battery was dead. So much for a scrapbook opportunity. Sheesh.

Got buttons?

I do! I do!

Finally got my hands on these cool little buttons. From a super online store that I know I mentioned eons ago, and am a bit afraid to tell you out of fear you'll go and snap up the last 5 bags they have. Hee hee. In the sense of being neighborly and to keep up my enabler status, a peek into yesterday

Just so you folks know the bag is so much bigger than it looks.

Aaaand there's really 500 buttons. I counted them. I am such a nerd. :)

I'm off to enjoy the remaining free hours before Emma comes home from school. I do hope she cheered up once she got into the building. She was a little crabby this morning and left the car with crocodile tears running down her face.....I almost caved and let her come home. It was a very long drive out of the car line!

TAGGED again....

The rules for this particular tagging are as follows: Remove the blog name in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add yourself to the bottom slot.

1. Amy
2. Traci
3. April
4. Holly
5. Stephanie

Then you get to select five people to pass the love on to.

1. Mi'Chelle
2. Suzanne
3. Elizabeth
4. Sarah
5. Tracie

Here are the questions.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was living in Cypress, Tx.  I was engaged and working as a nurse for a High Risk OB/Gyn group.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Exactly what I'm doing this year...staying at home with Emma!

Five snacks you enjoy (in no particular order, as all snacks are created equal):

1. Popcorn sprinkled with parmesan cheese or Lowrey's seasoned salt
2. Cheese and pretzels
3. Cinnamon gummi bears
4. Chips and salsa (On the Border brand is the best!)
5. Apple slices and caramel dip

Five songs to which you KNOW all the lyrics:

1. Knees to the Earth (Watermark)
2. Big Yellow Taxi (Amy Grant)
3. Forever Amen (Randy Travis)
4. Piano Man (Billy Joel)
5. Rocket Man (Sir Elton John)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Pay off any/all debt
2. Vacation more
3. Buy a better house
4. Buy better cars
5. Save some, I suppose

Five bad habits:

1. Terrible at exercise :)
2. Angering too quickly
3. Spending entirely too much time online
4. Not finishing tasks on time, every time
5. Procrastinating

1. Five things you like doing:
2. Reading
3. Cooking
4. Watching my favorite shows on tivo
5. Organizing
6. Scrapbooking/Sewing/Crafting

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get again:

1. I would never wear neon anything again-UGH!
2. I would never wear leggings again
3. I would never buy a Pontiac car again 
4. I would never cut my hair really short EVER AGAIN
5. I can't think of a fifth thing!

Five favorite toys:

1. Tivo
2. My computer
3. My camera...it's not fancy or anything...i just like the instant gratification of digital
4. Scrapbook paper
5. XM radio

First time you got kissed: How was it? Awful!  I was in the 8th grade, and he was in 9th grade....All I can say is GROSS!  I didn't kiss anybody else for at least 2 more years because I thought it was SO aweful/gross/disgusting!

First time you drove a car: What kind of car? It was my mom's maroon Subaru. She could not wait to pass it over to me.

First time you scrapbooked: When you look at your page do you love it? Probably two to three years ago. It was a different time back then. I got into the hobby via stampin' up and card making long before I ever got interested in scrapbooking. I'm pretty much addicted now! As far as my early pages are concerned I cringe at the early stuff...But they're done and I'm not redoing them. I'm not sure I'd be too terribly fond of my scrapping style from even two years ago!

First time you went on a date: Where did you go and with who? Hmmm....I wanna say my first real date was with a guy named Bryan Lowerey a couple months after I turned 16 years old.  He was such a cutie, and went to our rival high school.  We went out to dinner and to a movie. 

First time you fell in love: How did you know?  In tenth grade. And because I had a hard time not thinking about him every minute I wasn't with him.

First time you cooked for someone: Was it yummy? What did you make? I think it was when I was four or five years old. My mom always involved my sister and I in the process. Even if it was the simplest of tasks. It is something that I am really working on with Emma. If my mom had anything to do with the process, it was good! I'm thinking one of the first things we got to cook was cookies.

First time you got on a plane: Where did you go Were you scared? I was eighteen months old, flying to the US with my mom and sister. My dad was being stationed in Chicago and would join us a while later. My mom also loves to point out that I screamed the entire time....I had an ear infection. I'm betting that everyone was a bit deaf upon landing.

First time you shaved your legs: Did you cut yourself? I was in the 7th grade. I was getting ready for a Christmas band concert and took out a huge chunk of flesh by my ankle. Our uniforms were all white and the blood kept soaking through the bandages. I still have a visible scar and almost avoid shaving that area to this day. Bad memories. Bad, bad, bad.

First time you put on make up: Looking back how did you do? Did you look good or like a clown? The first time I wore make-up, was when I was maybe 5 or 6 for a ballet recital, but the first time I put on make-up was maybe in the 8th grade.  I was only allowed to wear eyeliner and lipgloss until I was in High School or for special occasions.  I still don't wear much makeup today! The most you'll ever see on me is tinted moisturizer, brown mascara and sheer lipstick. I still use Clinique and have been for almost 18 years. I am a HUGE believer in a good skincare regimen. Their 3-Step skincare system has been my way of life since I was 15!

First time you moved out of your home: Was it an apartment, house, etc? It was one week prior to getting married! I moved into the apartment and got settled in and then Robert moved in when we returned from our honeymoon.

Well, now that was fun!

Happy Saturday!

1. Amy
2. Traci
3. April
4. Holly
5. Stephanie

Then you get to select five people to pass the love on to.

1. Mi'Chelle
2. Suzanne
3. Elizabeth
4. Sarah
5. Tracie

Here are the questions.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was living in Cypress, Tx.  I was engaged and working as a nurse for a High Risk OB/Gyn group.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Exactly what I'm doing this year...staying at home with Emma!

Five snacks you enjoy (in no particular order, as all snacks are created equal):

1. Popcorn sprinkled with parmesan cheese or Lowrey's seasoned salt
2. Cheese and pretzels
3. Cinnamon gummi bears
4. Chips and salsa (On the Border brand is the best!)
5. Apple slices and caramel dip

Five songs to which you KNOW all the lyrics:

1. Knees to the Earth (Watermark)
2. Big Yellow Taxi (Amy Grant)
3. Forever Amen (Randy Travis)
4. Piano Man (Billy Joel)
5. Rocket Man (Sir Elton John)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Pay off any/all debt
2. Vacation more
3. Buy a better house
4. Buy better cars
5. Save some, I suppose

Five bad habits:

1. Terrible at exercise :)
2. Angering too quickly
3. Spending entirely too much time online
4. Not finishing tasks on time, every time
5. Procrastinating

1. Five things you like doing:
2. Reading
3. Cooking
4. Watching my favorite shows on tivo
5. Organizing
6. Scrapbooking/Sewing/Crafting

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get again:

1. I would never wear neon anything again-UGH!
2. I would never wear leggings again
3. I would never buy a Pontiac car again 
4. I would never cut my hair really short EVER AGAIN
5. I can't think of a fifth thing!

Five favorite toys:

1. Tivo
2. My computer
3. My camera...it's not fancy or anything...i just like the instant gratification of digital
4. Scrapbook paper
5. XM radio

First time you got kissed: How was it? Awful!  I was in the 8th grade, and he was in 9th grade....All I can say is GROSS!  I didn't kiss anybody else for at least 2 more years because I thought it was SO aweful/gross/disgusting!

First time you drove a car: What kind of car? It was my mom's maroon Subaru. She could not wait to pass it over to me.

First time you scrapbooked: When you look at your page do you love it? Probably two to three years ago. It was a different time back then. I got into the hobby via stampin' up and card making long before I ever got interested in scrapbooking. I'm pretty much addicted now! As far as my early pages are concerned I cringe at the early stuff...But they're done and I'm not redoing them. I'm not sure I'd be too terribly fond of my scrapping style from even two years ago!

First time you went on a date: Where did you go and with who? Hmmm....I wanna say my first real date was with a guy named Bryan Lowerey a couple months after I turned 16 years old.  He was such a cutie, and went to our rival high school.  We went out to dinner and to a movie. 

First time you fell in love: How did you know?  In tenth grade. And because I had a hard time not thinking about him every minute I wasn't with him.

First time you cooked for someone: Was it yummy? What did you make? I think it was when I was four or five years old. My mom always involved my sister and I in the process. Even if it was the simplest of tasks. It is something that I am really working on with Emma. If my mom had anything to do with the process, it was good! I'm thinking one of the first things we got to cook was cookies.

First time you got on a plane: Where did you go Were you scared? I was eighteen months old, flying to the US with my mom and sister. My dad was being stationed in Chicago and would join us a while later. My mom also loves to point out that I screamed the entire time....I had an ear infection. I'm betting that everyone was a bit deaf upon landing.

First time you shaved your legs: Did you cut yourself? I was in the 7th grade. I was getting ready for a Christmas band concert and took out a huge chunk of flesh by my ankle. Our uniforms were all white and the blood kept soaking through the bandages. I still have a visible scar and almost avoid shaving that area to this day. Bad memories. Bad, bad, bad.

First time you put on make up: Looking back how did you do? Did you look good or like a clown? The first time I wore make-up, was when I was maybe 5 or 6 for a ballet recital, but the first time I put on make-up was maybe in the 8th grade.  I was only allowed to wear eyeliner and lipgloss until I was in High School or for special occasions.  I still don't wear much makeup today! The most you'll ever see on me is tinted moisturizer, brown mascara and sheer lipstick. I still use Clinique and have been for almost 18 years. I am a HUGE believer in a good skincare regimen. Their 3-Step skincare system has been my way of life since I was 15!

First time you moved out of your home: Was it an apartment, house, etc? It was one week prior to getting married! I moved into the apartment and got settled in and then Robert moved in when we returned from our honeymoon.

Well, now that was fun!

Happy Saturday!

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was living in Cypress, Tx.  I was engaged and working as a nurse for a High Risk OB/Gyn group.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Exactly what I'm doing this year...staying at home with Emma!

Five snacks you enjoy (in no particular order, as all snacks are created equal):

1. Popcorn sprinkled with parmesan cheese or Lowrey's seasoned salt
2. Cheese and pretzels
3. Cinnamon gummi bears
4. Chips and salsa (On the Border brand is the best!)
5. Apple slices and caramel dip

Well, alrighty then!

Just when you think you have successfully maneuvered around the latest round of blog tag........you get tagged. Thank you Mi'Chelle! So without further ado, here 'tis

four jobs i've had in my life

• selling popcorn and sodas at Pop's Corn my senior year in HS
• working at a retail decorating shop called Pitty Pat's Porch while attending nursing school
• office/hospital nurse
• being a mommy, the best job on earth!

four movies i could watch all over, and have

• You've Got Mail
• Steel Magnolias
• Stepmom
• Sleepless in Seattle (are you noticing a pattern here?)

four places i've lived

• Heideburg, Germany
• Chicago, IL
• Hebbronville, TX
• Houston, TX

four tv shows i like to watch

• Desperate Housewives
• HGTV/Food Network-too many to list singularly
• House M.D.
• Monk

four places i've been on vacation

• Sweet Home, OR
• Bay St Louis, MS
• Seaside, FL-seriously want to live there, someday
• Fredericksburg, TX

four websites i visit daily

• 2 peas in a bucket
• various blogs
• Google
• my bank

four of my favorite foods

• homemade lasagna
• my mom's frozen grape pie
• chicken
• chocolate

four places i'd rather be right now

• home-I'm a homebody, what can I say?

four people i'll tag next

• i.will. not.let.the.madness.continue-besides, I believe the only bloggers I know to tag, have been tagged already. If not, consider yourself TAGGED!

but that is my book

Photo taken this morning with a semi-cooperative 3 1/2 year old. Ha. With the bribe promise of a lolipop if she smiled just a little. The two others are posted in my photo gallery. (Post/photo title *creatively on loan* from Disney's Charlie and Lola preschool show....my creative streak is not up to par as of late)

The book she is not willing to share is Love and Kisses by Sarah Wilson and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Melissa's work can also be found on the likes of toys by eeBoo. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their gorgeous work and I have purchased several games from them like the Classic Matching Game, Alphabet Pairs, and Life on Earth dominoes.

I'm finally beginning to reenter life as we know it as evidenced by my earlier attempta at a photo shoot.

All I can tell you is that I am sooooo thankful for Symmetrel, a.k.a. the flu drug, and loads of homemade chicken soup, courtesy of the best mom around. Emma's returning to preschool tomorrow so I can start to play housework catch up. Darnit that it never really goes away and heaven forbid it stops while you are sick. Grrr.

The flu

I.will.not.succumb.

But I did anyway.

Be back in a few days.

Friday Five

Welcome to the next installment of my Friday Five!

Top 5 websites on my favorites list

• Blogs I read
• Creating garden @ two peas
• Heloise
• Organized Home
• Martha Stewart

Hey, I finally figured out how to remove the extra bullet point. I'm so easily amused. :)

So now that you know what my top five favorite sites are, please post yours!

Robert comes home today and we'll begin the process of downloading all 500 shots he took during his visit this week. What I intend to do is make a photo album of the trip and I'll post a note when they are ready. Hopefully by the end of the weekend. *fingers crossed*

I am getting ready for my weekend to work. Bad timing, but we'll manage.

Have a terrific weekend!