Spare Time

It has been so nice to be on Christmas and to have spare time to do all the things I never have time to do.  I've read a few books, scrapbooked quite a lot and have been playing around with the blog and digital scrapbooking which are both new to me.  A few months ago Chris helped me switch the craft room around when we got the iMac and now I spend so, so much time in there.  I love it.  I've been going through a lot of my things and trying to re-organize the room to make it very accessible.  It's hard to part with stuff though.  I currently have about 38 stamps sets on sell on eBay.  Hopefully they'll all sell!

In the past couple days Chris and I finally hooked up my Christmas present from last year....a printer that will print up to 13 inches wide.  I was so excited to be able to try to print some scrapbook pages since I'd never tried digital scrapbooking.  My first try printing didn't quite go as planned...

Since then I've learned how to set up the settings correctly so the page doesn't get chopped off.  I'm a big fan of complete digital scrapbooking.  There's not enough depth and texture to the page.  I've done a few with large pictures printed directly onto the 12x12 paper and then the journaling which turned out cute.  I really like being able to use Memory Mixer to add the journaling directly to the page so it looks like I wrote right on there without having to actually use my own handwriting.  

I just noticed that both of these were of my dog...I swear I scrap more than just her.  That was just a coincidence.  :)

A New Year, A New Look

I've spent some time the last couple days changing the backgrounds on the blogs....this one and the one for my classroom.  I think this is my favorite thing about blogging honestly is playing with the little tags and backgrounds, making the headers and post dividers.  I a little OCD about it.  After a few frustration breaks I think I've got them both perfect.  Now I just wonder how long I'll be able to keep them this way...there are an awful lot of cute Valentine backgrounds :)

mrsfredricksonsclass.blogspot.com

Day 25: Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas despite the stress of recent developments.  We changed up the Christmas tradition and did a white elephant instead of a Christmas drawing and it was a lot of fun.  I think Chris and I scored pretty well with a $50 iTunes gift card and a $50 Palais de Jade gift certificate at the end.  Aunt Stacey ended up with an Incredible Hulk clock and a Lil' Wayne hoodie....courtesy of my dad :).  The best part of the night was the chicken...see the picture of Chris and my cousins Will and Kevin.  Yes, there's a story there.  Ah the chicken.  Well we hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and will have a fantastic and healthy New Year!  We are looking forward to my mom getting out of the hospital soon to finish up our Christmas traditions and to be able to include her.  

Although the 25 Days of December challenge has been a lot of fun, I'm looking forward to having a break from daily blogging.  I can't wait to change the background of the blog now that the holidays are over.  I'm obsessed with the backgrounds to choose from.  It'll have to wait until my paper is finished though...it's due tonight.  Uggh!  My last one of this class.  One more class to go!

Day 24: Baking

Today Chris and I made a batch of "Piano Recital" cookies, well two batches actually.  He got the recipe from his mom, who got it from a lady who got it from a lady that made the cookies for a piano recital...hence piano recital cookies.  I've got to admit that even while making them they look a little strange...graham crackers covered with slivered almonds and drizzled with a caramelly sauce.  But once the caramel hardens and butteryness (yes that's a word) soaks through the bottom of the graham cracker they are pure heaven.

As usual, Charlotte was under foot the entire time.  She did score a few graham cracker crumbs, but obviously she was not satisfied and had her eye on the grand prize.

Day 23: Annual Humiliation

Every year I humiliate Jack by putting on his winter sweater.  I'm not really the type who dresses up their animals but I do put on his blue, snowflake turtleneck for a laugh every year.  The funniest part of the sweater is the fact that Chris bought it "for me" when we first started dating.  That speaks volumes of the transformation people undergo once they stop trying to impress their new girlfriend.  I can't even begin to imagine Chris at Petsmart these days cat sweater shopping.

Every year when I drag out the sweater and force the furball into it he goes limp.  Basically he won't move.  Which is PERFECT for taking pictures.  Sorry Jack.  Until next year....

Day 22

The meteorologists in Reno are liars.  I know, I know, the weather in Reno is "so difficult to predict"blah, blah, blah.  What happened to all these big storms? We've been loaded up on groceries, books and movies waiting for the excuse "we've been snowed in" all week.  It never came.  If it's not going to snow or rain can we at least have some sun please?

Blog update:  apparently I have more people reading my blog than I realized and I have left some unanswered questions.  Yes, my peppermint bark DID separate AGAIN this year.  Next year I'll be revamping my recipe/game plan.

Day 21

This is the best time of the year to get the mail.  Not only are there always packages arriving but I love to see and open all the Christmas cards.  Every year it seems like there are a little less.  I hope people don't give up on the tradition.  Maybe I've just pissed some people off :)