What A Gem (March) by Ivorykeys Digital Dreams

Download wordart here

I've been lucky enough to work with kits by Ivorykeys Digital Dreams in the past because I know how to throw one awesome temper tantrum and she just wanted me to shut up. But, now I don't have to yell and scream or stomp my feet and beg because I am officially on her CT!

The first kit I've "officially" worked with is called What A Gem (March). Check out this preview...

Aren't the aquamarine colors beautiful? This kit has 14 papers, 28 elements and a full alpha. It's perfect for spring pics, baby pics and the wonderful soft shades will even work with snow pictures.

Here are a couple of layouts I've made...

Right now, you can pick this kit up for 25% off in the Ivorykeys Digital Dreams store at Stuff to Scrap until May 6. That's an awesome deal, so make sure you check it out!

PLUS...this is only the first of 12 kits Susan has planned based on the monthly birthstones. Personally, I think she should have started with citrine. Even though I've never been a big fan of my birthstone everyone knows that November is the best month ever! Oh well, I'll just hit her up with that temper tantrum on another day. lol!

The Day Ginger Snapped part 24

Download wordart here



“I can’t believe I’m sitting here on this stupid red bus taking a tour of the “Homes of the Stars” while someone I once dated drives the big ugly thing.” I said into the phone hoping that no one sitting close to me would over hear.

“Oh Ginger, after you get home, you’re going to have to sit with me and explain the method of madness you use when you choose the guys you date.” Brent laughed at me.

“Stop making fun of me! This is just horrible. I want to get off of this stupid bus, but this whole experience is just so bad that I’m scared to move.” I cringed as I looked around me at all the tourists taking pictures of what was supposed to be Mel Gibson’s house.

“Do you think he recognized you?”

“Oh God, I hope not. I thought all the wanna be actors out here were waiters. What’s he doing driving a bus full of tourist?”

“That’s a question you are going to have to ask him. Make sure you let me know the answer because my blog readers are dying to know and so am I.”

“Brent, this really isn’t a good time to get me started on that stupid blog of yours!”

“Don’t call my blog stupid! You wouldn’t have found this guy if he hadn’t found my blog.” Brent laughed.

“Oh, I’m going to be sick! I am sitting here on a bus that’s being driven by my blog reading ex-boyfriend surrounded by Hawaiian shirt, visor wearing tourists. Can we just call this guy a loser and move on to the next one?” I pleaded.

“No! You have to get his story. I mean what if he’s not just the driver? What if he owns the company, but drives the bus to keep in touch with his clients? What if he’s rich, I mean like really, really rich and he wants you?”

I rolled my eyes and sighed loudly, “Brent, remind me again why it is that we’re friends.”

Brent laughed. “We’re friends because I’m just as crazy as you are. Now, be safe. Don’t go to his house or anything like that until you figure out how crazy he is, okay?”

“I’ll be safe. I’ve got a fresh can of pepper spray in my purse. Brent, I’ll call you back after I talk to him and get his story.” I hung up the phone and looked toward the front of the bus where Jeremy sat in the drivers seat, wondering if he could possibly be rich and if he could possibly want me.

Really?

Download wordart here

Remember the kid in my class that got hung up on the word "fox-ee"? Well today, it was the word "really".

So, all day long, in response to everything I said, I heard, "Really, Ms. Brown, really?" It was cute the first hundred times or so, but after that---not so much! lol!

The countdown has begun....

Download wordart here


30 more school days until summer vacation!

Hazy Shade of Spring by Scraps of Ellay

Download wordart here

I am one lucky little girl! Every month I get to play with the fantastic kits put out by some of the best designers out there. My life is good!

This past week I got this awesome kit from Scraps of Ellay called Hazy Shade of Spring. Check it out...

This kit has 17 papers, 72 elements and a full alpha. PLUS...Ellay got a little carried away with her designing and added a bonus paper pack with the kit so when you buy the kit you'll get and additional 8 dotted cardstock papers and 3 argyle cardstock papers. How cool is that?!?!

Check out some layouts that I've made...

You can buy this kit in the Scraps of Ellay Store at Stuff to Scrap! Check out all her other great kits while you're there!

Brag book page Freebie!

Download wordart here

Head over to April's Blog for this week's BB page freebie.



Have a great week!

4-24-11

Download wordart here

4-23-11

Download wordart here

The Day Ginger Snapped part 23

Download wordart here



"I'm sorry that I don't have anything new to report. I'm in California now to find a couple of guys that I dated after college, but I haven't contacted them yet."

Linda laughed and said, "Don't worry about it! We have plenty to fill you in on. Do you know who Rod Sharpe is? That guy who does all the funny human interest stories for channel 3 news?"

"I think I know who you're talking about. Isn't he kind of cute?"

There was lots of laughter in the background. "He sure is cute and he's standing right here, right now!" Linda shouted into the phone.

I didn't even try to hide the panic in my voice. "What are you talking about? Why is he there?"

"We're going to be on the news! He's doing a story about you. Isn't that great?"

"No, it's not! Don't tell him anything!" I shouted as loud as I could into the phone.

"Oops! Too late! I'm going to the bathroom now. I'll talk to you later, Ginger." I could hear Linda laughing as she walked away from the phone.

"Linda, don't you walk away from me..."

"Ginger, calm down. It's Gail. I want you to know that I'm on your side this time. I told that Rod guy that I thought it was really unfair of him to come in here and try to exploit you, what with you being all mentally unstable and everything."

"Gail, how many times do I have to tell you that I am not mentally unstable?" I yelled into the phone.

"You can say it as many times as you want. You can even say it as loud as you want. Your actions are speaking louder than your words, though. And your actions are saying that you are one cookie short of a dozen."

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down before I said anything too harsh in return. It didn't work! "Gail, when I get home, you and I are going to sit down and have a long discussion about the future of our friendship."

"Good! Now, why don't you come on home tonight? I'll meet you at the airport with an ambulance and we can talk all the way to the hospital."

"The ambulance is a very good idea, because once I get my hands on you, you are going to need an ambulance!"

"Ginger, threats of physical violence are only going to get you in more trouble." I could hear the smirk in Gail's voice over the phone.

I took another deep breath. "Gail, I don't want to talk to you anymore. Put someone else on the phone or I'm hanging up."

"Fine! Brent is here. Why don't you listen to what he has to say?"

"Hi, Ginger! It's Brent. I've got all kinds of information for you! You aren't going to believe the things I've learned about that Kyle guy and his family."

"Brent, I don't think I want to talk to you any more than I want to talk to Gail! I can't believe that you started a blog about me! How could you do that? You're supposed to be the sensible one in our mismatched gang of friends."

"Ginger, I understand that you're upset right now, but in the long run I think you're going to be very happy with the results of the blog."

"I don't want to know anything about it, Brent! Just close it down, now!"

"I can't do that! It's way too popular right now. Besides, it's because of the blog that I know Kyle's wife is a stripper." Brent said proudly.

"Oh my God, that's not news to me. He told me all about how he met his wife and so it wasn't that hard to figure out what she used to do for a living."

"Not used to do...still does. Apparently, she works in some club in the Bronx while her husband thinks she is ministering to sick people in the hospital.

And, their oldest child has already had run ins with the police for drug possession. His daddy has paid a lot of people a lot of money to make the charges disappear." Brent told me all of this with an urgent sense of pride in his voice.

"How bad is it that I'm happy his life is such a mess? It couldn't be happening to a better, or should I say worse, person? But, Brent, this still doesn't mean I'm happy with the fact that you started a blog about me. You should have talked to me about it first."

"Ginger, if I had talked to you first, you would have said no."

"Exactly!" I said as I stretched out the word for emphasis.

"Yes, exactly! That’s why I didn’t talk to you first. Log on and read everything that's been posted. I think you'll change you mind. People are really on your side. Everyone is pulling for you to find someone that you like.”

“Brent…”

“Here's Bonnie, she wants to talk to you now." Brent quickly handed the phone off before I could say anything else.

"Ginger, how are you? Where's that nice writer guy?"

"Hi, Bonnie, I'm doing alright. Alden is still in New York. He had a story due and needed to work on it."

"Have you talked to him? Will you see him again?"

"I haven't talked to him since I left for California and I doubt that I'll ever see him again. He wanted to write a story about what I'm doing and Brent's blog kind of ruined that for him."

"I think he likes you."

"I think that would make him crazy and he's not the crazy type."

"Just be open to him if he calls you."

"Whatever, I better go now. I'll call again in a few days."

“OK, just remember that we love you and we’ll always be here for you.”

I was really starting to feel homesick and Bonnie’s words almost brought me to tears. “Thanks, Bonnie. I love you guys, too. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Kid complaints

Download wordart here

I have a little girl in my class that has a very beautiful, very long name. Today I called on her using only the first syllable of her name. She just sat there and didn't say anything.

ME: Is it OK if I call you that for short.

HER: Are you saying that's my short name.

ME: Yes, if it's OK with you.

HER: No, I don't like it.

ME: OK, I won't call you that anymore.

When we were on the playground I heard her talking to some of the other kids and complaining about me....

"She said that was my short name, but I'm not short!"

I'm still laughing!

Have you ever...

Download wordart here


Have you ever been watching TV and fallen in love with the background song? Happens to me all the time! Sometimes I recognize the song right away and other times I have no idea what it is.

I like the shows that tell you at end who the artist(s) is/were that you heard during the show, but not all shows do that. And even if they do, I don't always remember the next day. lol!

Well, thanks to a friend of mine I found this site today....Heard On TV. They've got lots of TV shows listed by episode with the info about the music. You can even post a question asking about a song you heard on a show if it's not already listed there.

Oh year, as soon as I have some time to sit and go through through this site....I'll be adding some more songs to my playlist!

Spring Tweets by FlowerScraps

Download wordart here The kits by FlowerScraps just keep getting better and better! You are going to love her beautiful new spring kit called Spring Tweets. Take a look at this preview...

Aren't those colors wonderful? I just love the adorable elements! Take a look at a couple of layouts I've made with the kit...

You can head over to FlowerScraps blog to get more layout inspiration. Who knows, there may even be a little freebie waiting for you there. Then visit the FlowerScraps Store at Stuff to Scrap to check out this kit as well as all of her other beautiful kits.

Brag Book Page Freebie

Download wordart here Click on the preview below to go to April's Blog and download this week's BB page freebie.

Have a great week!

4-17-11

Download wordart here

OK, I admit it...

Download wordart here

I have a confession to make...

I am a long time viewer of All My Children and One Life To Live.

I am so sad that they will be going off the air. I love catching up on them when school is out. I've even been known to record them and/or to watch episodes on SoapNet.

I've already vowed to never, never, never watch the stupid shows ABC will be replacing them with.

Who's with me?

The Day Ginger Snapped part 22

Download wordart here



"Would you like to take a walk along the water with me?" Alden finally broke the silence.

I smiled and shook my head. He reached for my hand and led the way out of the restaurant and into the back courtyard of the hotel. We walked hand in hand along the path by the water then took a seat on an outdoor bench. Alden never let go of my hand.

"Ginger, what will you do now? Will you finally give up in this quest of yours?"

"No. I mean...I don't know. I just don't think I'm ready to go home yet. There's not really anything there for me anymore."

"What about your friends?"

"Oh, God, they must be so worried that I haven't called!" I jumped up and off the bench, but Alden pulled me back down.

"Calm down. They called looking for you and I answered your phone. I didn't give them any details other than the fact that you were sleeping off a hang over and that in my opinion the guy was a loser."

"Great. I'm sure everyone was thrilled to hear that I had found another one. More free drinks for them."

"Actually, they were more thrilled by the fact that I was here with you." Alden let go of my hand and moved his arm across my shoulders. He sat back and smiled.

"Alden, what did you say to them?"

"Hey, it wasn't what I said to them that matters. It was what they said to me." Alden's smile grew bigger and his eyes danced with laughter.

"Well, I know my friends pretty well, so I can just imagine what they said. I should just apologize now and cover my ears so you can’t tell me anything they said."

Alden laughed and pulled me toward him. "Too late! I'm going to tell you everything because I think you can use the laugh. Who's words of wisdom do you want to hear first?"

I leaned in and rested my head on Alden's shoulder. "I don't care. Surprise me."

Alden tilted his head so that his was touching mine. "Well, Gail thought that I should take full advantage of your drunken stupor and have you committed. Grace thought that I should take advantage of you in other ways. Linda wanted to know if I had undressed you before putting you to bed and if I had, were you wearing 'granny panties' or not. Bonnie wanted to know what my intentions toward you were.

Everyone thanked you for the free Ginger-rita and said to remind you that the scoreboard is now tied at three winners and three losers.

Oh, and some guy named Brent wanted you to know that his new blog is a big hit."

"Brent stated a blog? Is it about me?" I sat up so that I could see Alden's face.

"I'm sorry to say that it is, but the good news is that you now have quite a following. People are logging on to get updates on your adventures and then posting their own stories."

"Did he use my real name?"

"Not your last name. Just, Ginger. However, he did give details about your career and the bar your friends hang out in and the town where you live."

I leaned back on the bench and wanted to cry all over again, "That's it. I can never go home again. What am I going to do?"

Alden pulled me to him and wrapped both of his arms about me. "I don't know about you, but right now I feel like I could spend forever right here on this bench."

If only that were possible!

My life as a reality show

Download wordart here


On the radio this morning they asked people what TV station would broadcast a reality show about your life. The on air personalities all voiced their opinions on their own lives. One guy said his reality show would run on the Nature Channel because he likes to hunt and fish. Someone else said their's would run on the Food Channel because he liked to cook and to eat. I don't remember what the other people said.

I decided very quickly that a reality show about my life would run on the Syfy Channel because I'm living through this crap and I don't even believe it. lol!

Then, just to prove that I belonged on the Syfy Channel---I got attacked by a bird. Seriously!

Mockingbirds are mean!

I got to school and walked down the sidewalk to the main office with no problem, but when I walked back along that very same sidewalk the bird attacked. At first I wasn't sure what had happened, so I looked around to see what was going on and saw the bird coming back for round two. I quickly started walking away, but I guess I wasn't going fast enough cause he got me again.

At this point I did the only thing I could do. I started screaming, running, ducking and checking my hair for bird poop all at the same time. lol! Thank goodness there were no cameras around!

Here's hoping that bird isn't home when I get to school tomorrow!

FCAT bites!

Download wordart here


This is the week of FCAT testing in Florida. I hate it for many, many reasons! I won't even start explaining them to you cause I would have to write for days and days and I just don't have that kind of time right now.

My class doesn't take FCAT because we're in Kindergarten, but I fear the day of giving five year olds a standardized test is just around the corner. YUCK!

In the meantime, we all have to deal with the added stress the other teachers and students feel. My happy campus isn't so happy this week!

Seriously people, how did I not know this?!?

Download wordart here


I did a favor for a friend of mine and turned down the money he tried to pay me, because it was a favor. He decided to pay me anyway---he gave me a box of Godiva candy!

You need to understand that I have a very special relationship with Godiva chocolates---especially the truffles! My relationship with the Godiva truffles is so special that if I were ever forced to chose between the Godiva truffles and my Cute Fajita Delivery Guy it would be a seriously hard decision to make.

Actually, I have to be honest with you---I would pick the truffles.

I would pick the truffles and then after I had eaten all the Godiva truffles in the world I would go back to my Cute Fajita Delivery Guy.

I'm a girl who likes to have her truffles and eat them too. lol!

Anyway---back to my story. I was so excited about my box of candy! Then it was explained to me that it was "no big deal". He was there to get his free piece of candy and just decided to pick up the box for me.

FREE CANDY!?!?! No one told me about the free candy!!!

At some top secret point in time Godiva started a rewards program that allows members to get one free piece of candy a month. There are other perks too, but they had me at FREE CANDY!

I was in the Godiva store at Christmas buying gifts and no one told me about the rewards program. I was back in there in February buying myself a Valentine treat and no one told me about rewards program.

Excuse me, but you've got a chick buying Valentine candy for herself and if you need to tell anyone about the free candy deal it would be her---and that's me! So why didn't anyone tell me?!?!

Trust me, I wasted no time in getting to the mall after school today to register for my rewards and get my free piece of candy. lol! You can sign up for your free candy here.

Everyone should get free candy!

Chili Peppers BB page

Download wordart here


Click on the preview to head over to April's Blog and pick up this week's brag book page. I made it using her Chili Peppers Kit.

4-10-11

Download wordart here

What came first?

Download wordart here


I'm not interested in the whole chicken or egg thing.

I want to know if you have the dream about needing to go to the bathroom because you really need to go.

OR

If you have to lug your lazy butt out of bed at three in the morning because you dreamed of going to the bathroom.

What do you think?

The Day Ginger Snapped part 21

Download wordart here


There were two restaurants in the hotel lobby. One was formal and the other was more of a sports bar that served munchies and burgers. We headed for the sports bar.

Alden found a high top by the window that overlooked the bay and we sat down. A waiter came by. Alden ordered a draft. I ordered water. The waiter walked off to get our drinks. I pretended to look at the view outside of the window, but I was really watching Alden's reflection on the glass and trying to figure out what to say to him.

"Ginger, I was glad that you called and asked me to come get you. It means a lot that you trusted me enough to do that."

I turned and looked into Alden's eyes. I didn't see sarcasm. He looked handsome and happy and I felt so foolish. "I must admit that I really don't remember making that phone call. I'm sorry." I turned back to the window.

"Hey, look at me." I faced him and tried to smile. "You don't ever have to tell me that you're sorry. We're friends and friends help each other like that. Got it?"

"Friends? We don't even know each other, not really. I'm a teacher going through a personal crisis and you're a writer looking for a story. I seem to be providing you with a pretty wild one." I could feel tears gathering in my eyes. I blinked to try and hold them back, but it didn't work very well.

Alden placed his hands on top of mine and squeezed. "You're more than that. I'm more than that. You're a wonderful, intelligent, witty, brave woman who doesn't realize how much she has to offer. I'm just the guy with dumb luck that managed to be in the right place at the right time and got to meet you. I'm not here because I want to write your story. I'm here because I want to know your story. I want to know you. I think you‘re someone pretty special."

He stared at me with his beautiful blue eyes and perfect smile and waited for me to reply. I couldn’t reply though. I was too mesmerized by his face and the fact that this beautiful, perfect man wanted to know me.

The waiter returned with our drinks and a basket of popcorn. We both ordered cheeseburgers with fries and the waiter left again.

Alden took a drink of his beer and then placed his glass on the table and laughed. "You know, there's a part of me that can't believe you didn't order a Margarita."

My body shuddered at the thought. "I think I'm good with the water."

"Are you ready to talk about what happened to you?"

"Not really. Any chance you'll forget any of this ever happened?"

"No, but if you'll solve the mystery of the missing shoe. I promise not to ask anymore questions about it."

I took a deep breath and started talking before I lost my nerve. "Well, when I got to Kyle's place they made me take off my shoes and leave them by the door. Then they made me wash my make-up off before I could actually enter their home. I talked with Kyle and he told me all about how he met his wife and how wonderful she is and how they home school their kids because the public schools are so dreadful.

His wife accused me of having an affair with him because, apparently, he does that a lot. His kids were like evil little robots that called me horrible names and no one even tried to stop them.

Once I had taken enough of the abuse I walked out, but Kyle got on the elevator with me and said some even more horrible things. So, I kicked him and then I threw my shoe at him.

After that, I found the bar and started drinking. My memory gets fuzzy at this point."

The waiter brought our burgers and more water for me. Alden ordered another draft.

"I should go kick that guy's ass." Alden said with real anger in his voice.

"There's no need for that. I'm sure he still has an ice pack resting on his front side. If you know what I mean."

"Ouch!" Alden laughed.

We both ate our dinner in silence for a few minutes. Finally I couldn't wait any longer and spoke up. "Alden, will you please tell me about the phone call I made to you? For the life of me, I can't remember calling you and it‘s been years since I‘ve drunk dialed anyone."

Alden looked up from his dinner and smiled. He wiped his mouth with his napkin then placed it on the table and smiled again. "You were very happy when you called. You asked if I missed you and when I said that I did you put the bartender on the line to give me directions to the place. He said that he thought I should come quickly because you were practically inhaling his Margaritas. Of course, that was after you went behind the bar and gave him a lesson in how to make a good one because you apparently didn't like the first six he had made for you."

I covered my face with my hands and took a deep breath. "I don't think I want to know the rest of this story."

"It's not as bad as you may think. When I arrived, you were sitting at the bar between two guys. You introduced me as Prince Charming and said that they were Skipper and Gilligan. Apparently, you had a whole Gilligan's Island theme going on."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Wow, I almost wish I could remember that."

"Oh, it gets better! The bartender was a big, tattooed, bald headed guy named Mary Ann."

"Now him, I think I remember." I laughed.

"You didn't want to leave right away so I talked you into moving to a table with me. You hobbled over in your one shoe and managed to get there without falling down. You tried to tell me what happened to the other shoe, but I couldn't keep up because you kept getting your sports confused. The analogy was completely lost on me, but you cracked up laughing every time you told the story. And you must have told it to me ten times."

"Oh Alden, I'm so sorry! You must have wanted to slap me!"

"No, you're a cute drunk. You didn't get upset until I tried to kiss you."

"You tried to kiss me?" I was horrified! How could I not remember that?

"Yeah, we were talking and I was calling you Cinderella because of the whole shoe thing and the fact that you were calling me Prince Charming. You were drunk and I shouldn't have tried to kiss you, but you were just so funny and so cute that I couldn't help it. You pushed me away and started crying. I called a taxi and brought you back to the hotel."

"I am so sorry. You didn't deserve that. Can you forgive me?" I looked at him and silently prayed that he could and would forgive me.

"I'm the one who should be asking for forgiveness. I didn't know what you had gone through. The last thing you needed was for someone to hit on you."

The waiter showed up and cleared our plates. He left the bill and I signed for dinner. I looked at Alden, unsure of what to do next.

Granny's Sweet Tea Brag Book pages

Download wordart here

I've posted a couple of Brag Book page freebies for you on the Stars of Ellay CT blog. These were made using the Granny's Sweet Tea kit.

Just click on the preview to go get your freebie.

Oh Happy Day!

Download wordart here

We had air conditioning all day today! It was wonderful! I have had one pretty sad kid for the last couple of days because I won't let him play brick breaker on my phone.

HIM: Please, can I play the game?
ME: No, not today.
HIM: just one time?
ME: No you can't play, because you accidentally called my friend and she heard us talking. Now she knows all our secrets and she thinks you're her boyfriend or something because you called her.
HIM: But I'm only six!
ME: I know, now go play.

He made himself feel better, by making it his personal mission to pop every bubble I made until I gave up and handed my bottle of bubbles to someone else.

So What! by Scraps of Ellay

Download wordart here

There is a new kit out by Scraps of Ellay! Actually, there are TWO new kits out by Scraps of Ellay. She got so excited when making this kit that she made a boy version and a girl version. Check out these previews...

These kits are great for those teenage or teenage-wannabe photos you have. You know the ones I'm talking about---the pics with all attitude and no smile. lol! Here's a layout I made using the girl version of So What!

This kit has 18 papers, 66 elements and a full alpha. Of course, you can also grab some matching cardstock paper, glitter paper, quickpages and check out these extra alphas...






The boy version of So What! is just as huge! It has 18 papers, 66 elements and a full alpha. I scrapped a picture of my buddy, Vincent with this kit.

Of course, you can buy the matching cardstock, glitter and quickpages for this kit too. And these extra alphas are awesome...

Now, if you're like me and really want both kits you've got to buy the So What! Mega Kit!

Here's a layout I made using papers and elements from both kits...

After designing all of this, Scraps of Ellay wasn't done so there is also a super cute mini add on available...

I promise you won't get tired of using this kit any time soon!

Check out Ellay's Blog for more layout inspiration.