December Daily - Day 8

Layout and date stamp: Ali Edwards
Bingo card and disc: Katie Pertiet
Tinsel strip: Lynn Grieveson

Lights on, lights off

December Daily - Day 7

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Layout, date stamp and journal block: Ali Edwards
Paper: Taylor Made

Dressin' Up Dude

December Daily - Day 6

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Layout, date stamp and word art: Ali Edwards
Note paper and brass fastener: Katie Pertiet
Paper: Jesse Edwards

The Power of Facebook: This is Tracey

Tracey and I met at the U of A and immediately connected. We both have big mouths and a love of speech and drama. She taught me how to cry like a real live chimpanzee. es, a real live chimpanzee. See, I was taking this super creative Humanities class where we had to learn a new skill and teach it to the class. The chimp call was fantastically creative and easy to teach. My classmates, however, sat horrified as I screeched and squealed like a wild animal.

Tracey also was the one to break the news that I was not selected as a Resident Advisor at Maricopa Hall (they went with a gal who actually lived in that dorm). She went one step further and wrote a letter indicating that had there been two openings, I would have been first place of the seconds. That loss was a gain for me in getting on at Coronado Hall. Had I not gone there, I wouldn't have met so many wonderful people nor would I have E. So, Tracey is the reason I am a mother! She also helped me through my first real break up. A greuling, over dramatical affair that was best left broken.

Tracey is the friend you want in your life because she shoots straight, holds no punches and is uncensored, uncut and raw. You want reality TV? She's her own show, except she's actually REAL. She's a Pediatrician that teaches across a number of clinics (Think Scrubs), is married to Dan, mother to G and A and is an all around wonderful person. We've kept in touch over the years, Facebook has just made it better.

We tried to get together a month ago and we couldn't make it work. When she sent me a text last week, I just had to make it work. Lunch and endless gabbing and laughing today could have gone on for so much longer; but I will take what I can get with Tracey - because even a little is great.

December Daily - Day 5

Who knew the Kelly Clark Automotive Specialists would be so into the holidays, but they were and I got some great shots of Christmas fun for my December Daily project!

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Page layout, word art and date stamp: Ali Edwards
Paper: Jesse Edwards
Ornaments: Joann Brisebois

Choices Abound

At Phoenix Alterations, a place recommended by a friend of mine. I have a skirt that I want to wear to my company's holiday party and when I put it on, it's high-waisted and really loose in my waist. Today, E and I stop by Betty's shop and he's instantly taken with Ludmilla, who is quietly and expertly altering a pair of pants. He stares as she pumps the foot peddle and ensures a straight hem. Meanwhile, I have a nice chat with Betty. A sweet, fiery, hilarious, slight Lebanese woman with a thick accent and a warm smile. She loves my skirt and ushers me into the dressing room to put it on. When I walk out, this is our exchange:

Me: "See, Betty! Isn't this the cutest skirt?"

Betty: "Oh, I love it! It is so fun."

Me: "But here's the problem," I say, lifting up my shirt. "The waist of it is too loose and it looks bunched up under the blouse I intend to wear with it."

She doesn't answer me, instead she starts tugging on my skirt pulling it down, down around my hips. After a few tugs, she responds.

"There! You need to wear this skirt down on your hips. It's a hip-hugger style, not high-waist, dear. If you wear it high up it widens you."

Me: "Oh, my gosh. Well, I certainly don't need any more width. I can't believe I wasn't wearing it right!"

Betty: "Okay, well now you know. And just so you know, that will be free." she says with a chuckle.

I grabbed my camera to take today's picture and get some snaps of E engrossed. As I checked my watch and realized we needed to go, I grabbed E and said my usual, "C'mon doodlebug, it's time to boogie. Betty has me all taken care of."

With that sharp sense of humor she replied, "That's right honey, I taught your mama how to dress and now it's time to go."

I actually wished I had some work for her to do. She will be getting my business at my first opportunity.

December Daily - Day 4

Star Light, Star Bright

First star I see tonight. My new tree topper. Now, I just need to put the tree together.

December Daily - Day 3

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Layout, word art and date stamp: Ali Edwards
Paper: Sue Cummings
Lined note paper and binder clip: Katie Periet
Tinsel strip: Lynn Grieveson

Care Packages for the Troops

Today, we had our quarterly division meeting and had a great holiday project - packaging up some essentials for the troops, that our team had purchased over the last week. After all was said and done we had about 140 packages for men and women serving us from afar.

December Daily - Day 2

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Paper: Taylor Made Designs
Ornaments: Joanne Brisebois
Layout, journal block and date stamp: Ali Edwards

Juicy Treat

Just about nothing beats a juicy Gala apple on a winter's day. Even if you are stuck in a cube while savoring it.

December Daily - Day 1

Quickpage layout and word art: Paislee Press
Date stamp: Ali Edwards

Goofin' for the Season

Santa Hat - $3.99
Cherry Kool-Aid (to stain your face the whole day long) - $2.89
Having Your Camera at the Ready (even while in Target) - Priceless

How Many Things Can a Girl Cram In a Day?

I have really been feeding my creative side with the Project 182 and 30 Days of Thankful efforts and I am finding that I am ravenous for more. For a couple of years now, I have followed professional blogger and scrapper Ali Edwards' blog and have been so impressed with her work. My impulsive side would love to go out and create a whole studio just like she has, but then I remember that it's her job to have that. One of the cool things that she creates is a December Daily photo album. It's a project that helps you document and savor the season and she's meticulous in how she sets up all of the pages in advance of December, so that each day in December she can just incorporate her photographs and any journaling. The method is brilliant and allows the project to run without taking over your life or being burdensome.

It seems fitting in a year that I would tackle Project 182, I would also take on a December Daily. My version will be all digital, though. As I don't have the energy to go out and buy a bunch of stuff, and it seems tidier and more my style to do it all online. So, stay tuned this month for not only my daily photo, buy a snapshot of my December Daily, that once complete, will be produced as a 12 x12 photo book.

I am sooooo very excited! Here I go...

30 Days of Thankful Gets a Book Deal

So that the project may continue.

Day 30 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for THIS EXERCISE IN GRATITUDE. I was reminded that each day has a gift for us. Certainly, some days it's harder to find that golden nugget, but it's there--and I relished discovering it.

The Power of Facebook: This is Veronica

Veronica and I were Resident Advisors together at the University of Arizona. When we weren't policing student behavior, we were playing cards, laughing, sharing stories and telling jokes. I graduated and left Tucson for Phoenix and Veronica and I remained in touch for about a year or so. Fast forward 14 years and the advent of FB and reconnection with the Tucson clan, of which Veronica was one. We e-mailed and did some minor catching up, filling in some of the gaps of the past decade and then some. She was in town a couple of months ago, but we couldn't coordinate our schedules.

Imagine my delight last week when a post appeared on my FB wall that Veronica would be in town for the Thanksgiving weekend and would I be free to meet up?

Heck yes!

So, today was the day and Wildflower Bread Co. was the place.

Within seconds I saw that Veronica is still the awesome person I knew her to be. She radiates positive energy and I felt it with her generous bear hug right in the middle of the parking lot (thank goodness for no oncoming traffic!).

It was just like old times, without the dorm walls, students or a deck of cards. We joked and filled in the gaps even more. We laughed and teased and noshed and even squeezed in a little shopping. As you can see, she's gorgeous as ever and she also a very accomplished woman in the tech world--quickly judging my Canon Digital SLR but unwilling to pony up one of her supposedly better Sony cameras, LOL.

The two hours we had RACED by and I know I could have chatted for more. She's back in December and we are committed for another get together and more hang time. Great to see you, Vero!