St. Thomas = Paradise

We had a blast. I apologize that it took me so long to get photos to you all. It's been stressful the past few weeks, between getting Champ home and then everything else going on. I worked dillegently on finishing some cards for a swap and that's all the scrapping I've been able to get together. I'm hoping this week gives me options for more creative outlooks.

But without further stalling...some photos from the trip!

The cove boyfriend and I swam at one of our days there where we just chilled on the beach.

Driving on the left side, but the cars are still set up with the driver on the left side.
On the boat after snorkling in Turtle Cove. We had a fun time snorkling. Really cool to see sea turtles (check that off the list of things to do before I die). Shot of our gracious hosts Tom and Becca.
This is the view from Tom and Becca's apartment. I seriously considered just not leaving.

It's blue, it comes in a fish bowl with a plastic shark (who is eating a plastic skeleton) and it tastes wonderful. And it is 100% not good for you.
Beach Champ!

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Home at last

I'm torn between being completely excited that I'm home and depressed because I really didn't want to leave.

I don't have pictures yet to share, but I'm hoping to get them loaded up to flickr this evening. I managed to get a few on Myspace, but you don't have to look at that (and you can't if you don't have an account). Check flickr tonight, or tomorrow morning, and expect a blog post later this week (tonight if I'm really moving). It was really a beautiful trip, the pictures don't even scrape the surface.

The July C2P kit is absolutely lovely! I did get to play with it briefly before I left, working on a card for a subscriber who just had a baby boy! Between the new kit and having an excuse to use my Cuttlebug airplane die, I was in scrapbooking heaven. I'm hoping to jump more into C2P and the newest LRS kit later this week (by Thursday at the latest). I've still got a bunch of cards I need to finish up for a swap, but perhaps that will help me put the kits to good use. I'm also hoping to have my St. Thomas pictures by Thursday to start scrapping those as well.

Plus, I'm seriously considering trying my hand at this.

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Headed out

Hopefully, this will be my location from Wednesday to Sunday. I'm not sure why I'm doubting this trip so much, I guess it just seems to surreal to be headed to St. Thomas to visit a friend. I hope everyone has a lovely rest of the week and weekend!

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Manic Mondays...

With a stack of cards I worked on all weekend (and another stack to get into) I sadly don't have pictures to show yet. But hopefully later this week before I head out to St. Thomas for a much needed, real live vacation. (I know, I travel more than anyone else you know, but so much of it is like one day in the airport, the next day somewhere and another day in the airport. I'm taking time off and taking Champ along. It's going to be magnificent.)

Since it is Monday, I wanted to get your day going (even though for most of you it's almost over) with some fun stuff to share. So here's my list of what I'm loving/craving right now.

Blogs I <3:
-- James, my dear Deccor Fellow, such a great blog. I find his stuff totally inspiring and I'm not even into design (well interior design). But I can get excited about the next issue of Coastal Living just like the rest of them, and I love his style. Especially the compact simplicity he yearns for. I totally yearn for that in my LOs, even if it's a totally different medium.
--I've been really enjoying my polariod blog as well. I love the soft feeling of her photography. Very inspiring especially since I typically prefer sharper imagery.

Projects worth trying:
--This type case project from Ali Edwards is fantastic. I love it because I grew up with these sort of racks around our house. I used to keep all my little figurines in one (you know the plastic Carebears and Snorkels). We still have some that came from my Great Uncle's store hanging up in the basement of my parents house. I really want to try this.
--You know how I love a mini book (even if I don't make as many as I should). This one from Ali brings together the idea of using up all those neat little things you're hoarding and a really cool looking mini book.

Books:
--I'm currently reading Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey. It's the second in a fantasy series, that sports a pretty amazing lead female character. I'm a sucker for a great, strong female character. It's a hefty read, but if you are into the fantasy genre, make sure you look into it.
--My summer book club just finished up Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, which I really got into. I was touched by her perception on a lot of things, especially her attitude towards a relationship with God (and trust me, typically these are sort of things that turn me away from a book). It's great thought provoking book, and excellent for a book club choice, or just on your own.

Let me know what's caught your eye this week!

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Sunday Showdown

Welcome to the Sunday Showdown. As part of a weekly post you, my adored readers, get the honor of being exposed to some grand rant that's on my mind. so get geared up and we'll get down to business. Feel free to weigh in on how you feel about subject as well. (Oh I wish I was better with Photoshop...I think this series needs it's own logo!)

Ok, I'm not a designer or an artist or much of a neat and tidy person. I'm not a wedding planner either. I will stand here and tell you though, there are certain things you just don't do for a wedding reception.

I understand too that it's nice and cheap to have the wedding reception at the church where the wedding was held. In my honest opinion you cut down on the number of interesting events that could happen be eliminating alcohol from the mix, but most brides can't handle the idea of one of the groomsmen getting tipsy and leading the entire wedding and rowdy version of the YMCA. I was also raise Catholic and most of the churches I've belonged to haven't strictly forbid booze in the parish hall, but they'll probably send you to the Knights of Columbus meeting hall because they have more space and it's pre-wired with a speaker system and the bar already has taps for kegs. Plus you'll get a good deal since you belong to the church.

I love the idea of doing something different for a simple reception. That's so unique and cool. A wedding I went to this spring was going for fun and different, while still being frugal and at the church. They came up with the great idea of having an ice cream sundae bar for the afternoon wedding (along with other finger foods on another table). This is so neat! What a great idea, I said to myself. I was really excited, seriously, and then I looked at the table.

The ice cream was still in the plastic tubs from Kroger or whever that they bought them in. That's fine, moving ice cream from one container to another is difficult, but why isn't that big bucket in a nicer kind of bucket filled with ice? Even one of those cute little pails they have now to put drinks in outside with pretty ribbon tied on the sides would have worked. What's more fun is you can get that with your new name of the couple or a monogram or just the last initial. The toppings (of which there were plenty to choose from) were all put in plastic throw away cups. Not throw away bowls even. Just cups. Each cup had a little place card with what the topping was called, which was very nice. But why cups? I swear you can go to Kroger and get matching clear bowls for less than a dollar each (I know, I saw them there last week) and with a wedding this time of year, all stores have sets of fun plastic wear that's reasonably priced for a great set up.

What is wrong with people? I understand saving a buck here and there, but this is your wedding reception. This is technically your first event you're throwing as a couple and it should be a reflection of how every other event you two will host for the rest of your married lives. Plus you have significantly longer to plan this than any other event you will host. Is it that hard to find matching plates and serving dishes for your reception? I know it's not because I go to places like Target and Walmart (if you want to be really cheap, we won't even go into the stuff they have at nicer stores) and I see the whole line of serving platters and etc that match and that can be paired with anything or everything. Maybe you don't want the traditional wedding feel to it all, but pick a theme! Go with the theme.

And I'm not even going to go into the fact that the drinks were cans of coke and small bottles of juice in coolers lined up along the wall.

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Finally...

I keep starting this post and then things get in the way.

I love this shot from Memorial Day weekend. Champ + yummy food = my favorite things
The photos I took that afternoon came out so lovely it surprised me. That's what it's like to take photos in the Atlanta summer I suppose.

Super happy it's Sunday, even if this Sunday means I'm at the office working. It's nice to be on a normal schedule again. The idea of making dinner with boyfriend (Champ) and his roommate or my roommate in the evening just makes me happy. Or the idea of going to the gym in the evening and seeing a new set of familar faces. I love that I recognize people there. It makes me happy. For some stupid reason I honestly love that place. I need to photograph it.

Here's shots from my C2P mini book that I've been promising for over a week. These are only a few pages...the rest are up on my flickr site.

Boyfriend loved it. This is his favorite part of my scrapping habits: when he's the focus. Gotta love him. I finished up another C2P LO, but haven't had a chance to photograph it yet. Champ's grandfather passed away this week and as soon as I could join him with his family I did. The rest of the weekend was spent keeping him busy and happy, so my things got put to the side briefly. Hopefully I'll have things to show off later this week.

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