It was brought to my attention that some of you might not have been able to comment on the blog due to my settings being closed to only registered (Blogger/google) members.  I didn't realize that I had it set this way, and I apologize.   I have opened the comments now, so anyone can comment.  Please, if you tried to comment on the contest before and could not, try again!  It is total open enrollment now, baby!  :) 

Here is today's quick pick from the Free section of the My memories store.  I know its super late.  Its been a crazy day.  But I didn't want to close it down with out posting this as promised.  Plus its super cool, so you've got to check it out! 

I couldn't pass up this quick page... it was totally perfect for that picture, like it was designed with Ian in mind! 

Today,  the kids, my hubby and I all went down to the habitat (remember that from this earlier post) and walked along the shore line.  I took a lot of pics and can't wait to get them loaded on the computer and share them here with you!  The kids had a blast playing in the water and climbing in and out of the trees that are usually home to the catfish and white bass.  It is spectacular how much beach is there.  I can't even describe it, you will just have to wait and see the pictures. 

Now, please, enter the contest... its open!  No excuses now!!! Nothing stopping you!!  Go ahead and type in that little box right there.  You know you wanna.  Just do it!  You might just win!  But remember, you must tell me what kit you liked from the My Memories web site, and you must post on Monday's post.. ah what they hey... I'll take any comment on any post all week long.   Any comment on any post this week counts towards the contest, as long as you tell me what kit you like from the my memories store!   There!   Now get to posting in that little box! 

Till next time!

I apologize for the lateness of this post, I was having technical difficulties with Firefox and decided to just wait it out.  Sometimes Sanity is better saved when you just walk away, ya know!  ;)

So today, I promised ya another quick page that I downloaded from the free section of the My Memories store.  Here ya go!  

I totally should have put some text on there saying that those were my strawberries from my potted porch garden, but yeah... I sure didn't even think of that till just now!  Still, ain't that a gorgeous quick page!  I wish I still had strawberries that looked that lovely, but the heat took them away. 

Next, I have a tutorial for you from the My Memories Youtube page.   I thought it would be cool to give you all a nice look into how the program works, better than my little screen shots from yesterday.  This tut walks you through the basics and gives you a good over view of the program and what you get when you purchase it or WIN IT!  Remember, someone has to win the copy I have to give, might as well be one of you!


Next, I was poking around in the store again and clicked on their facebook link, and noticed they had a $5 off coupon for liking the facebook site.  One time use per account!  So of course, I jumped on that and snagged me a new kit to scrap something for the blog today!  And here ya go!

 Scrapped with the Time for Growth Kit by Ettes and Company

I also found out some pretty cool news.  The coupon code I have here on the blog gets $10 off the price of the software, and after you purchase there will be an additional $10 coupon off product in the store!   Pretty darn cool!  And the coupon will stay here on my blog indefinitely.  Anyway, take a look at that Tutorial, if you haven't already and poke around over at My memories and pick out your favorite kit.  Then come back here and Comment on Monday's post!!  On Friday, I will pick one lucky winner to recieve a free copy of the software!   Like I've said, someone has to win... might as well be  you!  Get to looking! 

Till Next Time

I hinted at it last week, well here it is!   This week, I am going to be hosting a give away of a Scrapbooking Software Called My Memories Suite v2 (a $40 software!)  One Lucky Commenter on the blog will get a free copy of the software!  How?  You'll have to keep reading to find out!  First, let me tell you about My Memories.

I am a Photoshop Elements girl, so when I was first approached to do this give away, I kinda stopped and went "hmmm do I really wanna do that?"  So, I thought I would check out their site, My Memories.com and see what was what first before I committed to anything.  And I was surprised.  The place is pretty cool.   They have a pretty good amount of product, that is actually really nice!  I found myself wandering through the store thinking "oh I could use that!"  But, what about the software? 

So I downloaded it, installed it and went to work checking it out.. and let me tell you its pretty darn cool!  For those that are intimidated by the level of difficulty photoshop offers or even just the cost of it, this is a really good alternative.  It is a self contained program.  Everything you need for basic digi scrapping is right there in its interface.  It very nicely organizes your digi supplies, tags them into categories.  This was really nice, specially for someone who has never ever been organized or has ever tagged her stuff!  When you download stuff from the store (lots of free stuff available!), they come with an installer that puts them right where they need to be in the program.  All nice and tidy.  For a beginner scrapper, this program would be a dream.  Everything is laid out really nicely in a way that makes it easy to understand and flow smoothly.  The controls are easy to figure out and easy to find.  And it all ran smoothly on my dinosaur of a computer, which is saying a huge thing believe me!  If it will run on my computer, it will run on yours!  Trust me!  ;)

So here is a screen shot of the program, so that you can see its interface.  Its fairly simple and easy to navigate.

 All the controls are pretty much everywhere.  You can access them in three different locations, for the most part, but each has its "home" location. Every feature has a nice clear icon, and you quickly recognize exactly what it is for.  There are a few features in the program that are pretty cool.  Like the word art creator.  I liked that a lot!  It takes text and just kicks it up a notch!  You can add gradient (which it does by default), bevels and a slew of other things we've all already been doing in photoshop to do our titles.  They've wrapped it all up nicely into a little package to make it simple for beginners to understand, and titled it the "Word art Designer".  Very Clever!

I also liked the ability to add more than one element at a time.  When selecting an element, there's a little box down at the bottom of that screen that says quantity..  very nice addition

 Another really nice feature is the way they load photos in their file menu.  Most programs load just like your computer.  Drop down menue, chose thumbnail and you wait for them all to load.  My memories loads up your files on one side and your thumbnails on another, giving no need to go through the steps like before.  I screen shotted this for you too!  LOL  I believe in giving as much visual as possible!

Now, the big question on everyone's mind I bet is...... is it easy to scrap with?  We all know that some of these programs are bears and cumbersome.  I was afraid that I was gonna run into that with this one too, but to my surprise, as I said before, it ran really smooth.  I first started with one of their pre-made albums, which are pretty much plug and play.  Very easy to do.  You literally just add your photos and drop them into the photo openings.  They turn blue when you are in the right spot and walla a page is born! Here is one of those pages

The only thing I added was a bit of journaling.  They leave a lot open, in case you want to add to the page.  The album I chose is called "all about funk" and has 7 pages.  The program comes loaded with a ton of templates and a few other albums as well.  I'm not a template user, so I didn't use any others except for this album.  The rest of my pages are black canvases and a few quick pages that I downloaded from the store.  I probably should have done a template page, to give a full range of what the product could do, but take my word for it when I say it is loaded with so many templates my head was spinning!

I mentioned free product from the store earlier, and let me tell you, there is a good amount of it!  I was surprised!  There is actually a good amount of overall product in the store, even a dollar bin with what looked like 220 items!  I went to see what was available so that I could have some to showcase here for this post and was surprised to find such quality and quantity waiting for me!  I grabbed almost all of it, and will probably go back for the rest!   I will be posting a quick page every day from the free section of the store, so check back to see them!  Today, this is the Quickpage for the day.  Totally free download available in the store!

  

Ain't that just precious!   I think it totally fits for a Monday morning, how about you?  Quick pages are just as easy in this program as any other.  You just send your pic to the back and Walla, a page is born!

So, we've gotten through the ease of the program, the features I think are cool, the free stuff in the store, working their album templates.... how about a blank canvas page?  I thought that was going to be my challenge.  But, in the end, it really wasn't.  The hardest part was remembering there wasn't a layers pallet in the program.  (I'm spoiled, lol) But, for a beginner I can totally see how this would be simpler to learn.  I was able to scrap, from scrap (HAHA), a page in just a few minutes.  I could use some of the same techniques I've already been using, just with minor adjustments to fit in the program.  It was totally doable.  So, when it comes down to the very nitty gritty, and my mother in law was asking me what program would I recommend for her to start digi scrapping, this would be it.  Absolutely.  Cause I've already tried to teach  her PSE, and that didn't go well.  I believe she could totally get this, with out a doubt.  

And there are a few features I didn't have a chance to check out yet.  You can add music to your albums, and video.   I'm hoping to get a chance to check those out this week and throw them into a post for you.  We will see!  But I am sure they are just as cool as the other features I've discovered.  

So how do you win the software, that is what you are all thinking right?  Ok ok, I'll get to the good stuff now!  here is what you have to do!  I need you to go to My Memories and take a look around at all the kits they have.  Then come back here and leave me a comment ON THIS POST telling me which kit was your favorite.  On Friday, I will  do a random generator to pick the winner of the software.  Please make sure you are signed in to google or leave me an email address so that I can contact you.  But, I also have news for those that do not win the software, or who decide they do not want to wait till friday and want to check out this cool stuff now now now!!!  My Memories has been very generous.  Not only have they given me a copy of the software to give away, but they've also given me a coupon for all my blog visitors.  If you purchase the software, and use the coupon code, you get $10 off the purchase price!  My Memories Suite v2. Just type in Coupon Code: STMMMS29185   at check out.  (My Memories suggests copy and pasting the coupon).

blank canvas creation, using all about funk, funky fall and spring it on extras

So bottom line, Who would I recommend this software to?   Any beginner to digital scrapping, really.  Anyone who is wanting to learn to digi scrap but is a bit shy of learning photoshop or has tried photoshop (or similiar program) and can't grasp it. Or those that have been digi scrapping for a while, but just want to go back to basics, create easy albums for printing lightning fast.   Kids.  Its perfect for kids, I think.  I'm totally going to be letting my kiddos play around with this.  They are always wanting to "make pictures", but are too young to work photoshop on their own still.  I'm confident they can work this pr;ogram with out any, or minimal, supervision.  I think its well worth having, even though I'm still a PSE girl.  :)

So you've seen the plug and play album page and the quick page you can get from the store, but not the "what can I scrap with this program from scrap"... well here ya go.  This is my blank canvas page, no template or quick page used.  

Blank canvas creation using Love you 2, Funky fall and Stock papers  Font Written in his hands

I will try to have more to show you through the week.   Until then, remember to go to My Memories and take a look around, come back here and post your favorite kit!  Someone has to win the software, might as well be you!  ;)   

For more information on My Memories, check out their Blog, Facebook page, and on Twitter   Or if you really want some fun, check out their youtube channel!!  I may post some of those through the week to keep interest going, we will see! 

Till Next time!

As I promised yesterday, Here are the pictures of the Natural Habitat down at the end of the bulk head one lot over from us.  Usually, it is home to white and grey Egrets, Black Vultures, A Bald Eagle and a whole host of fish.  And probably a hundred dozen or more other animals I don't even know about.  Oh yeah, and our resident fox.  But right now, on a given day..  we are good to see maybe one Egret, where we used to see a dozen or more.  The Black Vultures used to hang out in such a quantity that there was no way you could count them, and you had this eery feeling that you had just stepped into the twighlight zone.  They haven't been hanging out.  Which is good for my kids toys, no more half eaten rubber duckies.  And I haven't seen our eagle since May. When I saw the area yesterday, I knew why.  Take a look...

There was no beach before, the water went all the way up to the trees.  You had to climb down a little cliff like hill to get to the water...and believe me people do because they think this is the public swimming area.  Now, they've got them selves a nice beach.  But the wild life doesn't have a habitat any more. 

As much as I love the pictures this gave me... It still saddens me greatly.  I wish for rain.  Steady and strong.  Steady and Strong.


Coming up this next week, I've got a special surprise give away that is gonna happen!  You won't wonna mis this!  If you have ever wanted to check out digital scrapbooking, but have been intimidated by the software or its prices, you'll want to check back here next week and see what I've got to say!  I promise! 

Till Next Time!

You don't really know how much you need that water that drips out of your faucet until it stops dripping completely.  Or how much you depend on the street lights out front till they are off for hours and its completely dark, so dark you don't even know if your eyes are open or closed.  That was our night last night.  We lost power, due to the much needed storm, around 5:00.  We did not get power back till after 9:45.  With the power, also went our water.  Why?  I haven't got a clue.  But the really freaky thing... when the power came back on, and so did the water... there was so much water pressure in the lines that it actually blew the water facet off the side of my house.  No, not kidding.  OFF THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE.  At 10 pm, I had a stream of water shooting 10 feet out of my brick exterior wall. The force of it was so strong that it knocked over a 30 foot metal awning that was leaning against the house.  Let me tell you something, when you know there is no water at all, all of a sudden ever water hating kid in your home suddenly craves every drop of it they can get!  I think I'm gonna have water cut off days, just to see if that will get them to drink it!  ;)  You think I'm kidding?   They were begging me, please mom... Please!  I'm so thirsty!  Like I could make wine into water!

If I could have, I would have been one happy woman and taken a shower, that's for sure! 

This morning after brushing our teeth with bottled water and waiting for the bus, we got to see some awesome lightning displays.  I was able to catch a couple pics in between calling the bus place.  Yep, no bus again today.  But, even that couldn't get me down..  How could it with Lightning, beautiful sunrise, and a Rainbow all in one morning!  Couldn't ask for more than that... not even a missing bus could take away from the wonder of all of that beauty!  Not having water came close, but we rigged up a temporary solution with a spliced water hose and some clamps.  We will see if McGyver holds.  For now though, check out the pics I took this morning!  

Rainbow over the lake.  I wish I could have walked back there before it faded!

The sunrise as I was taking the kids to school.  Awesome.  Really Awesome. 

Of course they are with my Iphone and Hipstamatic and ClassicPan apps.  I need to start slinging the Olympus around my neck every morning, but its just so dang hot still!  When its cooler, I have a tendency to use it more.  The strap on that thing makes me hotter!  Yep, excuses excuse excuses.  I've got tons!  :)   I promise though, there will be more "real" DSLR photos from me in the future.  Just give me a 20 degree drop and its on!

Later, stop by again and check out the pics I'm gonna post of the habitat at the corner of the bulk head.  I walked over there and took some pics this morning.  Drought Drought Drought.  Wow.  You'll see.

Till then!

I stopped by my Inlaws the other day to pick up some wonder under to finish a craft project for my kiddos, and while there snapped a mini photo shoot of my mother inlaw's moon flowers.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity! Her moon-flowers were in full bloom and looking absolutely stunning in the bright morning light!  A little Moon-flower 101, they bloom only at night and wilt in the heat of the day.  Hence the name!  During my research into a particularly weird weed I had growing in my yard last year (that I actually named Semoir!), I learned that in times past in Texas the moon-flower was considered a weed! Now we plant them in our gardens!  Ain't progress a wonderful thing!  :)  Now on to the pictures!  I hope you enjoy!  I think the moon-flower is one of the most lovely flowers of all, right up there with the rose.  Be sure to look for the honey bee in one of the pictures!

Till Next  Time!

Pictures taken with Iphone 3gs and Hipstamatic App

And boy was it ever a mess.  First there was a transportation issue.  The bus department didn't show up to meet the teacher night like they usually do, so half the parents (myself included) had no idea what bus their children should ride.  On top of that, they were not answering their phones either.  And my address... unknown on the system.  Cause I'm special like that, just ask Netflix.

 Livingston High School 8-23-11

So, I have to take the kids and drop them off at school.  Which is cool, cause its the first day and all.  I figure, Picture time anyway, right!  No way, not gonna happen!  I was able to get a nice picture of Dylan's school!  But when we got to the little kid's school, the place was so wrapped up, you couldn't even drive.  The buses, who picked up the kid's who's parents were somehow magically able to get their bus numbers, couldn't get into the bus lanes.  Parents had parked every where and anywhere blocking traffic.  It was seriously insane.  By the time I was half way to the drop off point, my gas light had been flashing for five minutes and I was praying to the almighty that I wouldn't break down in the lane!  So, no first day pictures for us.  Because, yeah... it just wasn't gonna happen! After school was a nightmare too!

But, I did get first second day pictures this morning!   As we waited for the bus that didn't show up!  Yes, you read that right.  For the bus that didn't show up!  Got the kids up at 5:30, get them ready, we head out to the bus stop at 6:20 because the bus driver said 6:30, and we wait.  at 7:15, I loaded them up in the car and we headed to town.  Busy signal all morning for transportation, and the one time it rang they didn't even pick up.  I'm starting to hate them and its only day two.  Not a good thing.  But, I did get some awesome pics.  So, the morning wasn't all that bad.  And the kids had a blast playing before school, and it wasn't terribly hot either!  So there was some plus side to it all. 

Waiting For the Bus

 Ian

Zachary

Katelyn

Hopefully this afternoon goes better than yesterday, and I'm not sitting out there in the heat for an hour and a half waiting on a bus.  But, that is probably how it will go down all week till they get the route all figured out.  I just shake my head and wonder why they even changed it from last  year.  crazy.   Anyway.   Life!  

Till next time!

 

Good Morning!   Not sure if its still morning (it was when I started writing!), or if anyone is actually reading here on this little piece of web space I call home... but Good Morning anyways!   Today I am gonna do something a bit different and out of the box for myself and post pictures of............ insert drum roll here...........   

Me

Shocker, huh!   I'm usually not in any pictures.  You can go through my hard drive, which has too many pictures to even try to count, and find less than enough to fill both hands.  I'm the picture taker, and those around me generally don't think to take a picture of me either.  They are busy doing whatever it is I'm busy snapping a picture of.  And, being fully honest, I didn't let them take pictures anyway.  So yesterday, I decided to do a little Iphone photo shoot of myself.  Yep, one of those!  :)   And then, I edited them... mainly cause I was bored.  And here they are.   Me.  

Taken with Iphone 3gs, hipstamatic, Edited in Iris Suite

When I took this, I thought... that doesn't even look like me! I have many moments like that now, when I catch my reflection in mirrors.  I've lost so much weight that I'm not used to the new real me yet.

Taken with Iphone 3gs, hipstamatic, Edited in Iris Suite

Totally look like I've regressed in age... I swear, I'm 36 and a mom of 4! HAHA

 Taken with Iphone 3gs, hipstamatic, Edited in Iris Suite

 I really like this one.  Though the two above are cute... this one is me.  I plan on doing something with this one, framing it, scrapping it, creating an art project around it.. something.  I love the treatment I did on it.  Sometimes, that is exactly how I feel.. like words are just swirling all inside and around me.  Like my brain doesn't shut off. 

Taken with Iphone 3gs, hipstamatic, Edited in Iris Suite

 LOVE the photo treatment here too.  Will probably try this one as a photo transparency transfer!  

So there I am!   In Hipstamatic Glory!  Or Hipstamatic Grunge, HAHA.  Did I ever mention that I have a leaning towards old, vintage, grunge, worn stuff?  Well, if I hadn't this is your notice.. cause I do.   Yesterday in a consignment shop my mother in law in I had a discussion over an AWESOME photo frame.  She said it needed to be restored and I said it was beyond the most beautiful thing I had seen yet.  We argued its value as is.  I will be going back next week to buy said frame, and will not be restoring, because its vintage, grunge, worn appeals to me.  Its beautiful.  And I can't wait to find something to frame with it!!  Maybe my word swirling brain not shutting off pic! Hmmm!  Naaa.... its too awesome for a pic of me!

Till Next Time!

New Scrap Page! !!

(Chance to win the Kit, info at end of post)

So, This is the week before school starts... and off I went to the big city to shop for shoes for the kiddos. Here in my small lake town, we only have a few choices. Walmart, the outlet, payless, and well.. I think that is it. I'm a bit partial when it comes to shoes, so its off to the city to get them ones that will last the year. Nothing I hate more than buying shoes that fall a part two months later!

I ended up in the Woodlands at a Famous Footwear that so happened to be in one of the most gorgeous buildings I've seen in quite a while. That might not be saying much to some people, but for me.. it was a beauty! So of course, out came the Iphone and pictures just so happened to be snapped. I mean, how could I pass that up? I am so going back with the DSLR at some point, because it had angels on the rough for heavens sake!

When I got home, I found an email waiting for me that a new kit was ready for download from Cilenia Curtis, that will be available next week, on Tuesday,  in the Store at Digitals. Always love it when she releases a new kit, and this is one of her Beautiful mess Collection! Even Better! So I download it, open it up... and about fall out of my chair!! Why? Because it matches my pictures perfectly. Not kind of. Not sort of. Not I could make it work. I'm talking the two were made for each other! It was like I sent her the photos and she designed the kit around them, I am not kidding! They fit together that well!!!! I couldn't wait to get started.... I got up first thing in the morning and opened that blank 12x12 and went for it! This is what I got....

Credits: Beautiful Mess 3
Stitches 6
By Cilenia Curtis

So, what do you think? Totally made for each other, right? There is so much more to the kit too!! It has gorgeous texture, lovely papers, pieces you can clip your photos too or blend with.. I love the muted color scheme that really isn't a color scheme at all! There is an adorable stitched bird that I fell in love with. You really should check out the kit, and there is a chance to win it too!  Just go here, Beautiful Mess Cilenia Curtis, and read all about it!   Good luck! 

Till next time!

ValeriGail