Post-holiday blues...

I don't know about anybody else, but I am definitely feeling a little bit of the post-holiday blues. The Christmas tree is down, decorations put away, the last of the 'late holiday' get-to-gethers are over.

I ran across this fun quiz that a friend sent me before the holidays and it perked me up a bit. Of course, I didn't have the forwithitness to post it at Christmastime, but better late than never, right!! I am also thinking that this would be great inspiration for a scrapbook page or mini book...or could be used just as it is for a fun form of journaling...hmmm...

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? WRAP - but he’s a little behind on his duties this year (nothing is wrapped yet!!) (when originally answered it was only 10 days till Christmas!!)

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? WHITE

4. Do you hang mistletoe? NO

5. When do you put your decorations up? Thanksgiving Weekend

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Can’t pick a favorite…love it all…ham, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, sweet potatoes, shrimp and veggies for appetizers….mmmmmmmmmmm

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: opening presents on Christmas Eve and then going to Midnight Mass (back when it was actually at Midnight); when I was really little - wrapping obscure household items (junk really) for my dad on Christmas morning for my dad - he always acted surprised and like it was the best gift he had ever received

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Don’t remember…it must not have been too tramatic

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? It’s always been Christmas Eve at my house and gifts from Santa on Christmas morning and Justin’s family has always been a Christmas morning family, so now Kaitlin gets a butt load of presents on both Christmas Eve AND Christmas morning…what a lucky girl!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? White lights, burgundy & cream ball ornaments, glass icicles and snowflake ornaments, silver bows and some scattered sentimental ornaments received from family over the years.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Intermediate…love it at Christmas time…but never in large amounts or dangerous conditions

12. Can you ice skate? NO - would probably break my neck!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No, but I remember the most memorable gift I DIDN’T get…one year my brother and I did some snooping and found a Smurf’s Color-by-Number set and I was convinced it was mine….but Scott opened it up on Christmas Eve - I was so mad I think I cried!!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Always - being with family; especially now - sharing the magic of the season with Kaitlin

Let's prolong the holiday, shall we? Feel free to fill in your answers and share with me!

simply something like magic...

Trying to get some scrapping done today, but haven't gotten too far yet. This is one of my most recent scrapbook layouts that was inspired by a concert by Matthew Mayer that I attended at Mount Marty College back in November. Seriously, if you ever have the chance to see/hear this guy, he is AWESOME!!! He is from South Dakota and went to California as a young adult to work on his career. Now, he actaully lives in Omaha and plays all over the US. I bought three of his CD's that night - Beyond, Merry Christmas, and Reflections (I especially like the first two). If you are interested in his CD's or tour dates, visit his website.

It took me awhile to get to this one because I had no photo to go with it, but still really wanted to scrap the memory and the poem I wrote. Well, finally I found a solution...I used a stock photo. I've never done that before and don't plan to do it often, but for this purpose, it worked.

The hidden journaling on the tag is actually an email that I wrote to the performer and his response, which came a couple days later:

email to Matt…Thursday, November 17, 2006, 10:13 p.m.

Matt,
This may seem odd, but I just had to share this with you, Matt. I began writing poetry when I was in grade school - 3rd grade, I think. I wrote throughout grade school, high school, and college. Then, for some reason - I can't even say what - I stopped. No life changing event, no catastrophic loss...I have often joked that I 'lost my muse.'
Tonight, after your performance at Mount Marty, I wrote my first poem in over eight years...most of it actually simply 'came' to me as I sat there with my sleeping daughter in my lap and watched you play. You are amazing...Here is my poem - I hope you like it!
Jill

reply from Matt…Saturday, November 18, 2006, 10:32 p.m.

Jill,
I was touched by your email. Thank you for taking the time to share this with me. It is emails like this that keep me motivated as well.
I hope you continue on with your poetry. Your work is beautiful and very touching. You have definitely been given a gift to write like that, and hope you keep going with it. It would be a shame if you didn’t keep exploring that side of you. Your words were very meaningful to me. Thank you for sharing this experience.
As the holidays approach, I wish you and your daughter a very peaceful and Merry Christmas!
Blessings,
Matthew Mayer

Here is the poem that I wrote which is highlighted next to the stock photo:

there was simply something like magic
about the sound that came
with the sway of his body as he sat
that brought a shiver to mine

there was simply something like magic
about the bounce of the light
off the backs of his hands
that brought tears to my eyes

there was simply something like magic
about the movement of his fingers
that made every hope and dream I ever had
well up inside my chest

there was simply something like magic
about the brush of every ivory key -
no matter gentle or full of force -
that had the power to move my heart

there is simply something like magic
about this man, his piano and passionate notes

@j.m. paulson

I saw the Memory Makers Celebration Gallery on newsstands TODAY!! Hurray!!

It's out...it's out...it's out!! Justin & I stopped at Hy-Vee tonight 'cause he was in the mood to make some fried chicken and there it was! So exciting...

So, if you were hoping to get a copy, look for it. Well, anywhere except Hy-Vee in Yankton because I bought the last three copies they had. :-) I promised one to my mom and Ruth wanted the other two.

It will be available online eventually here, but they don't have it listed yet. It will be a little more expensive online (they add in a shipping expense), so if you can find it in a store, that would be cheaper, especially if they offer a discount on mags. Walmart should have them, too, I would think.

Anyway, my pages are on the bottom of pages 33 (with this ring), 55 (birthday fun), and 57 (it's all in the cake)...let me know what you think!!

New Basic Grey fix...and about to experiment with Technique Tuesday

I got my most recent fix of scrapbooking product in the mail the other day from KMA. I got the new Blush Collection by Basic Grey, some stamps from Technique Tuesday and some other little miscellaneous. I really love the BG...no surprise there...I always do. There were certain ones I knew that I would love just as much 'in person' like Angelic and Eternity, but some where even prettier than

they looked online - especially Girlfriend.

I have never really been to big into stamping...not sure why, but I really loved the Whirlygig set by TT that I thought that was as good of a set as any to give it a 'whirl' (get it :-)) with. I think I will like these better than wood or foam because with clear stamps you have a little more control over placement. I'm looking forward to playing around with them...

Memory Makers Celebration Gallery...where are you??

So, the new Memory Makers Celebration Gallery Issue is still not out yet. I know I have my copy already, but there is something about knowing that it is actually out on newsstands for all to see that still has me excited...and impatient!!

Well, I had a long break from submitting layouts lately...things have just been so busy, but I got back at it and made about 25 layout submissions to various magazines...we'll see what happens. I really hope that I continue to get a few layouts picked up here and there. Not that my scrapbooking isn't gratifying in and of itself, but it's still nice to have it recognized by others also.

Anyway...still watching for the Celebration Gallery...don't worry...I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I see it!

National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

Did you know that January 10 is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day? Who came up with that?? Maybe I should do a scrapbook page on how you can feel a slight draft by almost every window in our house...not too energy efficient there!!

Anyway, there are some good resources available online about what you can do to actually them. Check out Do a Spring Cleaning on Your Energy Bills and 17 Ways to Save on Energy. I think we need one of those programmable thermostats!

My first published layouts!

The holidays are over...somehow it seemed to come and go for me so quickly this year. I couldn't bring myself to take down the tree yet, but will have to do it soon I know.

I had about 10 days off from work which was wonderful, but that too went sooo quickly. Didn't get nearly as much 'done' as I had hoped. I thought about doing more house cleaning, but that's just no fun. I did do a little scrapping...here are the layouts I did manage to complete.

I did struggle with these Halloween ones a little, but I didn't want to just skip the pictures as they were cute and had a good story, but they certainly aren't my favorites as far as design and color are concerned...they can't all be favorites though, I suppose!

HOWEVER, I am really happy with how these two turned out...I had taken some pictures of Kaitlin outside in the backyard with the leaves back in early November and finally got them scraped. I actually used greeting cards as photo mats in both layouts. I always hate to see beautiful cards just go in the trash and these were just perfect for the layouts.

I also completed this layout - FINALLY!! It was a picture I took back in September that I just LOVED - I think I was afraid I wouldn't do it justice, but I think it did turn out well.

Christmas was fun with Kaitlin this year...really enjoy celebrating her Santa fantasy!! She wrote the cutest letter to Santa at preschool and it was printed in the local newspaper. The main item requested was a toy Rudolph...and Santa brought her TWO stuffed reindeer...she was quite please.

Definitely the MOST exciting thing for me personally that happened over the break was that I received my layouts back from Memory Makers and 2 comp. copies of the Celebrations Gallery Special Issue. The issue should hit newsstands in a week or two. I was sooo gratifying to see my pages in print for the first time!! Hopefully, it won't be the last; however, it has been so busy lately, I haven't submitted any pages for quite some time...I definitely need to get back at that!

It was back to work yesterday...the day went pretty quickly, thank goodness. It is going to be a busy couple of weeks before the start of the spring term. I hope to register at least five more students, but seem to keep running into roadblocks with student issues...hopefully, we can get them resolved in time. There are always new challenges with this job, that's for sure.

Until next time...