Show and Tell

...Making Memories is at the top of my list right now of favorite product lines! I just love how versatile it is. TFL.

dream.design.create.

nikki

Hybrid Stationary

I received a catalogue in the mail the other day and it made me realize that I do not have any personalized stationary. I decided to make some and I liked the idea of a flat card rather than your traditional flip card.
For the floral background paper, I used the digital kit Feathered Friend (the same one I used to make my blog banner), and to top it all off it is only $1.00. I then created a vellum overlay. Next I added my name. (I was able to get 4 cards out of a 8 1/2 x 11" piece of paper.) I cut out the cards, and added a flower and a button. TFL, and if you have any other questions just leave me a comment and I will get back to you.
dream.design.create.
nikki

I love ACDSee

...I can't promote them enough to organize your digital scrapbooking supplies www.acdsee.com (I use Photo Manager 10). Before I lost my hard drive on my laptop, I had backed up my stuff on my EHD, thank God. I did it according to the step by step instructions you can find at www.digiscrapinfo.com (the women who helped create the software also have a website, tutorials and forum just on how to use the software). The support is worth it alone.
Well, after reinstalling ACD on my computer after the crash, and moving all my digi supplies from my EHD back to my computer, I had lost all my tagging and categories (that is what took my approx 40-50 hrs to organize). You can imagine I was sick to my stomach. But, with the help of Heidi (one of the creators) in the forum she walked me step by step through the process and BINGO everything was back just like it was before the crash!
nikki
ps i found out that scrappers are starting to use their photo editing software to create digi pages, and they are creating all sorts of tutorials and help with that too!

Art Bar

These are the projects on tap at the K2 Art Bar this month. What is an Art Bar you ask??? If you are not familiar with K2 Scrapbook Studio, it is my local scrapbook store. Each week we have a fun project at our Art Bar they are priced from 5.00 to 12.50 dollars. The projects range from layouts to cards, to cute gifts, mini albums....the possibilities are endless. Have fun.
dream.design.create.
nikki

Tag, I'm it!

{thanks Kim}
Ok, here goes...

* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
* Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


1. I am such a neat freak...one of my biggest pet peeves is to leave dishes or food in the sink...I LOVE a clean kitchen...{God help me that I have 3 boys in the house!}
2. I love great fashion...I just wish I was more stylish-LOL
3. I think it is gross when someone has dirt under their toenails...eecchhh
4. I eat salads almost everyday for lunch.
5. I love rollercoasters...I would ride them over and over if I could...the scarier the better.
6. I am deathly afraid of spiders
7. I failed my drivers test the first time I took it...the 3-point turn did me in :)


I tag... Jenn, Paula, Tammy... 3 is all I am tagging, hope that is OK!!

A beautiful story

I received this story via e-mail today and thought I would share. Enjoy.

Being a Mother.......
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would Love to spend some time with you." The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What's wrong, are you well," she asked? My Mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded "just the two of us. She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniver sary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting."
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My Mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small, she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded. During the d inner, we had an agreeable conversation nothing Extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed.
"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice, Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered. A few days later, my Mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son."
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I love YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to norm al after you've had a baby.... somebody doesn't know that once you're a Mother, "normal" is history. Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first....somebody doesn't have two or more child ren. Somebody said the hardest part of being a Mother is laborand delivery...somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten...or on a plane headed for military "boot camp." Somebody said a Mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a Mother's heartstrings. Somebody said a Mother's job is done when her last child leaves home....somebody never had grandchildren. Somebody said your Mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her....somebody isn't a Mother.
This isn't just about being a Mother; it's about appreciating the people in your lives while you have them....no matter who that person is.

Watch your Thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions Watch your actions, they become habits . Watch your Habits, they become character. Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle".

nikki

Dinosaur World here we come...

A couple of weekends ago we wanted to take the boys to do something fun. We didn't want to drive very far... and just like everyone who has ever driven I-4 in Plant City we had seen the dinosaurs peeking out at us from the trees!...so we decided to give it a try. It was totally worth it! We all had so much fun. We let Riley lead us around the park (twice). The park has over 150 dinosaurs (that someone did a really nice job recreating), you get to "dig" for fossils, they also have a huge sandpit where kids can dig and look for a dinosaur skeleton...very cool. We totally recommend it to anyone whos kids like dinosaurs. We are definately going back!
nikki

First Oreo cookie...

(even though this picture is overexposed...I love how his eyes just pop out at you!)



I gave Brody his first Oreo cookie the other night after dinner and boy did he have a hay day! He was squeeling with enjoyment and then as soon as he finished the thumb went right into his mouth! Love it. These are the everyday moments that I love about being a mommy.

xoxo

nikki

Computer Techy!!

Well, my computer completely bit the dust and here is the repair saga...if you care to take this incredibly fun journey with me :-)
(above is my new HD...)
(above are all my re installation and software CD's...)
(above is my laptop in "mid hard drive surgery" :).... I googled "how to install a new hard drive on a laptop"...and of course a how to video came up! I watched it and installed it myself!)
(above is a picture of my old hard drive and my new one!)
If you are still with me, thanks cause I know these were the most interesting photos you have seen in a while...LOL :) Thanks for letting me share my feeling of accomplishment of "fixing" my computer!
nikki

26.2...again!!!

I am glad to say that I am done. I completed 2 marathons in 3 weeks!!
Well, I can tell you one thing, running a marathon is such a mental game.
A couple of weeks ago when I ran the Gasparilla Marathon I pretty much had a runners high the entire race, I felt good, never hit "the wall", and never really had to talk myself through anything...and actually felt, "Wow this isn't so bad".
This Sarasota Marathon was entirely different. The first 13 miles were great. I had shaved 7 minutes off my goal time (which was 4:45:00, 1 minute faster than last race) and if I could have kept up that pace it would have been great, BUT at mile 16 or so I hit "the wall" and boy did that suck. I had to seriously convince myself to keep going. Right at that moment this guy behind me asked me if he could run with me for a while (he was dying and needed someone to pace him) and I said sure...which I think helped me keep going. He stayed with me for about 5 miles then he fell behind and I didn't see him again. I saw my Mom, Sean, Riley and Brody at mile 22 1/2 and that helped too. (They made a sign that said "Go Mommy" and they screamed and cheered for me as I went by, and Riley had his disposable camera just clicking away...but by that time I was so done, I just looked over and said please pray for me that I can finish this race! Needless to say...I ended up finishing at almost the exact time as last race 4:47:11 (about 30 seconds slower than my last race)
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers yesterday...I really needed every one!!
run on.
nikki

On a lighter note...

...here are some pictures of a 12x12 and a 4x4 canvas I was playing around with. I used MM paper, thickers, black and pink paint, a small clothespin, a vintage pin and lace, I hand doodled the flourishes, 7 gypsies rub ons, buttons, and these really cute conversation cards I picked up at Wal-mart! TFL. (You could substitute the card with a photo...that is why I used a clothespin instead of gluing it to the canvas.) TFL

dream.design.create.

nikki

How to Print your "My Favorites" list...

Would you like to print out a list of your favorite websites to share with others or to view when accessing the Internet from another machine? The following tips will print out a list of favorites, followed by a list of URLs.
1. From Internet Explorer, choose "File" - "Import and Export".
2. When the "Import/Export Wizard" dialog box appears, click the "Next" button.
3. Select "Export Favorites", then click "Next".
4. Make sure the "Favorites" folder is selected, then click "Next".
5. Select "Export to a File or Address". Underneath, enter "C:\favorites.htm". Click "Next"
6. Click "Finish" to close the dialog box, then "OK" to close the dialog that follows showing your favorites were exported.
7. In the Internet Explorer address bar, enter "C:\favorites.htm" and press ENTER.
8. Select "File" - "Print".
9. When the "Print" multi-tabbed dialog box appears, click the "Options" tab.
10. Check "Print table of links".
11. Select the "General" tab and select your desired printer. Change options as desired.
12. Press the "Print" button to print your list of favorites, followed by a list of links.

I found this info here
Enjoy, I know I did!!
nikki