Taking a break

I'm taking a break to lunch and catch up my blog. I've been up since way too early and I've been cleaning. It's a Christmas miracle! I went through the piles of stuff in my room that had been there since my last attempt to sort things out (June), then I paid my bills, and then I got started on the kitchen. It doesn't look bad at all now - as long as you don't open the fridge. That's another day's project. Not sure how much more I'll get done today since Mike needs me to watch the girls. Mom's away for the weekend, so there's way less distraction.

Anyway, all week felt like Christmas with all my shows back on! I am ten hundreds more times in love with Dr. McDreamy. I don't know any guys who understand neurotic women like that. I wish I did because I could use one! LOL! And I had to rewatch the Office last night because it was so funny and there was just so much in it that I couldn't remember it all. Earl and Ugly Betty were pretty funny too and I think Dirty Sexy Money is going to be a good one!

I got a little scrapping done in between all my TV watching this week.
I played with Tania's Lulu kit! She has a matching freebie up on her blog too! Credits.


And here's Lucia - Rocky just adores her!!! I used Jen Trippetti's new Serenity Now kit. Credits.

I was flipping through channels to find something to watch while I have my lunch and came across X Men 3. I just realized Eric Dane - aka McSteamy - is in it as Multiple Man.

OK something weird just happened and my laptop lost power. I think the outlet is dead since my battery isn't charged and I just switched to a new plug and everything is working. Gotta love firefox - didn't lose my post!

More from my fabulous friends!

I love being surrounded by creative people and some of my friends just amaze me! I've always loved Tania's designs, and I was sad to see her retire, but look what she's been up too!
You can buy this new Lulu kit on her blog!

And Kim is up to it again! Here new element set is supercool!
You can get Pop Top Poppers at Scrapdish!

Speaking of Scrapdish, Correen and Rachel - the new owners - are looking for designers and you can find out more here.

And if you haven't heard, Holly's going to be closing down My Digital Muse. So be sure to stock up by Nov. 1. I have been a lurker over there in the forums because I always want to learn more about photography. But I've added the Pink Ink Studios blog to my bloglines and have already learned a bunch and love all the amazing photos there too.

Read this book!

I forgot to mention, I just finished reading the Kite Runner and it is one of the most amazing books I've ever read. The store is just incredible, touching, horrifying, sad and sweet all in one. It is one of these books where you think thing can't get any worse or crazier, but then the author keeps it coming when you least expect it. Very hard to put it down. And I really liked learning about Afghanistan and all that the people of that country have been through. Don't want to give anything away - so go read it before they go ruin it with a movie!

Happy Monday!

Now doesn't that sound like an oxymoron? Happy Monday? Well, for some strange reason, I am in a good mood, even though it's back to work today. I am just so super excited because it's premiere week and most of my favorite shows are back, starting with Heroes tonight!!! Woohoo! I have the TiVo set for my regulars: Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, Dancing With the Stars, Grey's, The Office, Ugly Betty, My Name is Earl, Men in Trees, The Simpsons, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, and so far I'm only planning two new shows, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money. The Simpsons started up again last night and the opening credits was an awesome tribute to the Simpsons Movie, complete with a Spider-Pig cameo! At some point, I'll find some time to watch all of these!

It was a pretty quiet weekend here. On Saturday, I ran errands with Randi and Mom, and I bought some new sweaters in Banana Republican and Target. Then I went with Randi & Vesna to watch them get their tattoos! I think they are crazy, but the tats came out pretty cool.
After witnessing that, I needed a drink :) so I went out with my friends.

Yesterday, I had the house to myself. My stomach was kinda yucky again. I caught up on some Entertainment Weeklies, Netflix (Bobby & The Lake House. I like the Lake House until the End. Made no sense at all! Didn't the people who made that ever see Back to The Future and learn about the space-time continuum!) I also did a little scrapping (and more playing with Light Room) and finished up a page for my sketch challenge...
Finally scrapped these pics from the day I hung out with Connie and Irene. Used Jess's Just another memory. Here are the rest of the credits.
And check out the new sketch too. You can grab the templates at RAKScraps!

Poor George Clooney was in my 'hood

WEEHAWKEN -- George Clooney suffered a broken rib and minor scrapes today when a car collided with the motorcycle he was riding along Boulevard East, the actor's spokesman and police officials said.

The 46-year-old actor was treated at Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen and released, publicist Stan Rosenfield said.

"He's doing fine,'' Rosenfield said. ""He has a broken rib, it's very painful and it'll take a long time to heal.''

Clooney's passenger, Sarah Larson, suffered a broken foot.

Clooney and his girlfriend were heading north along the scenic route of Boulevard East at about 3:30 p.m. when they were sideswiped by a motorist between Bonn Place and King Avenue, said Jeff Welz, co-director of North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue.

Clooney was treated at the North Bergen hospital after complaining of rib pain, Welz said.

The Weehawken Police Department was flooded with media calls tonight when Clooney's publicist released his statement.

News of the incident didn't get out sooner only because police responding to the scene had no idea Clooney was a Hollywood star.

Lightroom!

I'm trying to find some photos to scrap for my new sketch challenge and am hopelessly stumped! I am so uninspired lately! So I've been playing with Lightroom and some presets by Traci Reed that I won (woohoo!) on her blog. :) And check it out....

RAKScraps is about to turn 3 and we're looking for sponsors!

Can you believe RAKScraps is going to be turning 3 in November! We're really exicted and planning another big anniversary bash!

We're looking for sponsors who will offer prizes for our anniversary event. In exchange for prizes (no matter how big or small!) we're offering a month of free rotating banner advertising. We do ask that you provide a coupon or GC that will be good beyond November since prizes are given out during the entire month, direct links to zip files or files that we can store for you on our server (only admins will have access).

RAKScraps is a not-for-profit community site with more than 23,000 members! We like to think of ourselves as a great starting point for newbies to this hobby and lots of our former CT members have gone on to become big designers who we're so proud of!

You'll find more info and contact details in the attached image. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. You can email Rachel or email us at admin @ rakscraps dot com. I really hope you'll help make this celebration great!!!!

10 more things

My poor neglected 10 things blog! I've abandoned it for months, but I have two new lists up! Come posts your top 10s too!

This was so true

My Chinese Horoscope from Facebook yesterday ...

Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Flexibility, thinking on your feet, and the ability to accommodate the unexpected will be called for now. The pace is very quick. You will be pulled in many directions at once and will tend to scatter your forces, jumping from one thing to the next. Positively, you may come up with some fresh, original plan or insight that may seem crazy at first, but which is likely to be quite useful.

...Which was very insightful because it was primary night at work and it was just chaos!

Quiet weekend

It's been pretty quiet around here. I've spent most of the weekend working and doing family stuff. My stomach's been bothering me, so I've been kinda cranky and I even went to bed super early Saturday night.

Saturday we went to the Moose Lodge for Mom's College of Regents ceremony. I have no idea what any of it means, except that it's a big deal for the ladies of the Moose. They all wear cap and gowns and have this big long (boring) ceremony. :) And my sister is now an official member of the lodge, too.
Here's a card I made for the occassion...

Credits: Christy Lyle's Chocolate Moose Kit from Sweet Shoppe, Kim Jensen's Date It Beads from Scrapdish, Circle stitched by Lisa Whitney at Scrapartist, Green stitches by Gina Miller, Dani Mogstad's Hand Stitched Alphas from Sweet Shoppe.

I also finally finished up this page that I started month's ago for a scraplift challenge of Jen Caputo....

Credits.

Here's one I also just finished of Taylor playing with Aquadoodle, one of my best purchases ever! Keeps the kids busy for hours! I used lots of stuff by SaraAmarie, who's one of this month's sponsors at RAKScraps. Credits.

And this is cute little card I made for my friend Missy, who was the birthday girl at the wig party I went to a few weeks ago. Missy rescues dogs so I had to use Mindy Terasawa's Dog Gone Cute kit and stickers to make this for her.

That's all folks. I need some lunch!!!!

Two great sponsor challenges at RAKScraps!

This month, we have two great challenges with sponsors from our fabulous September sponsors!

Lessons Learned Challenge: WIN JENNIFER BARRATTE'S STORE
As many children head back to school this month, we want to know about things you have learned. Your “Lessons Learned” page can be about you, or a family member, and it should include journaling and some sort of “school supplies” elements (like notebook paper, clips, pencils, scanned objects, be creative it‘s up to you!). One person who participates in this challenge will win a great prize from one of this month‘s sponsors - Jennifer Barrette’s full store! This challenge will run through Sept. 28. Look in our Impromptu Challenge forum for more details!

Use newsletter freebie: WIN PRIZES FROM SARAAMARIE!
We have another challenge for you from our September sponsor SaraAmarie of the Sweet Shoppe. Scrap any kind of layout using at least three pieces from my free kit in the August RAKScraps’ newsletter. Feel free to add what ever you would like to it as well! Post a link to your layouts here in this thread by Tuesday, Sept 18. On the 19th, Sara will pick 3 random winners that will each get a $6 GC to her store! And, everyone that posts a layout will get an extra little something that will match the newsletter kit! See more details here.

Lots going on at RAKscraps!

We have a brand new Mega Kit Add On available at Scrapdish! And this month we're joined by Kim Jensen!
You can also get the add on and the Sept. Mega Kit on CD at Scrapdish. And I've also created another quick page album using the Add On. You can get it here.
The September Mega Kit will be available free for a limited time very soon! You can watch out for it here in the Announcement Forum. And, we've also just released the latest RAK File! It has tons of layouts, sponsor reviews, a great tutorial on shadows, profile and freebies!

It's a pretty gloomy day today. It would have been easy to stay in bed, but I didn't and I'm pretty proud of myself. I got a lot done. I would like to say that it was because I was resolved to not be sad about today being today, but really it was because I told myself I was banned from Facebook until I got some stuff done.

- Went to the doctor
- Bought envies at Staples
- Paid parking tickets
- Went to the post office
- Made lunch and dinner
- Finished up my Sept. mega kit stuff
- Wrote up some stuff for the newsletter

So that's a bunch of stuff off the to do list. My appointment at the endocrinologist went well, too. I really liked the doctor and met with him and the p.a. But I'm bummed about two things. I felt really old because the doctor seemed about my age. I'm used to them being older! And after the end of the year, they won't be accepting my insurance anymore. So I will either have to pay out of pocket or find a new doctor. It took three months to get this appointment, so I'm not sure how easy it will be to find another doctor.

Oh well, need to get to work.

Six years ago...

Six years ago on a Monday...
- I drove back with Gary from Yvonne's wedding in upstate N.Y. We stopped at a rest stop for ice cream.
- I made quesedillas and yellow rice and brought it over to the Rover to watch football with the guys.
- Went to bed early, planning to get up for a doctor's appointment.

So behind!!!

Just stopping in to say hi since I haven't been around or any of the sites much these past few days (not even Facebook!). Here's a by-the-numbers look at how out of it I am...
38: Number of things on my to-do list.
699: Number of updates in Bloglines I haven't read yet.
2: Voicemails on my phone that I haven't listen to.
91: Unread or saved to get back to later emails in my AOL account.

I'm hoping to get some stuff done when I get home tonight, but it's not looking good as I'm exhausted. I got up at 6 am today to take my aunt to the hospital. I also forgot dinner.

What I've been up to

I haven't been blogging much this week. Here's what I've been doing since this weekend...

- Got Randi's car back after it got towed Saturday night.
- Watched Blades of Glory (total riot!)
- Finished re-reading Order of the Phoenix and restarted Half-Blood Prince.
- Went to a wig party at the Wild Rover on Sunday. How do I look with red hair???
- Playing on Myspace and Facebook. I am an addict!
- Working (blah!)
- Hanging out with some friends after work. (Which means staying out very late and sleeping in even later!)
- Trying to re-commit to my diet. (Doing pretty Ok on it too! Except for the beer.)
- Doing a little digishopping (picked up the Stand Up and Scrap kit and some stuff over at SBG).
- Getting RAK'd! I got some surprise coupons to spend from Amy Blesser and Miss Tina at SBB!
- Having my teeth cleaned at the dentist. I hadn't gone in a long time so it HURT!
- Scrapping...
This was from the luau. We were singing "I ran." Everything is by Jessica Bolton, mostly from her Not Quite Men collection. :) Credits
These are from another party in my brother's yard. This crazy girl is always hiding in the little nook in the front of the house! :) Mostly everything is by Jenn Trippetti. Credits.
And here's Randi in a wedding last Friday. Isn't she gorgeous! :) The green dress looked so nice on her with her green eyes! :) Mostly everything is by Correen Silke! Credits.

Help us fight breast cancer!

Hi everyone! I hope you'll help me and my family raise money to fight breast cancer. We'll be joining in the Race for the Cure on Oct. 14 at Great Adventure. Both my grandmother and my aunt are breast cancer SURVIVORS so this is a very important cause for us!

You can help our team by donating any amount here. Any contribution is greatly appreciated!!!!!

I need a theme song!

Or so one of my co-workers told me tonight after I helped out (again) with some computer problems. ;) So my question for all of you who know me is what song would you pick for me and what song would you pick for yourself?

I'm hungry

It's 5 pm and I haven't eaten all day. I did sleep late and mom got me a large ice coffee, which has been keeping me going. But I just can't decide what to eat. This is one of the big problems I have with food and dieting. I know I should eat something like a salad or a veggie burger, but that's just so unappetizing right now! I'd rather not eat. Isn't that terrible. Ugh!

Not getting much done today. I'm hanging out in the living room with Grandma, Mom and Rocky, and surging on the laptop. We watched Year of the Dog before and it was a really cute, but a little sad, movie. It also has me feeling bad about eating meat, so that's another reason I haven't eaten anything! But it's a good one if you're an animal lover. Molly Shannon is the star and it's nice to see her in a serious role. And the movie was written and directed by Mike White, who is the guy behind one of my favorite movies School of Rock.

Think I'm going to goof off some more now on My Space. If you're on there an haven't added me as a friend yet, my user name is rmcabana!