This is my new kit, Irish Wedding in the Rain. It’s now available at any of the stores listed on the side bar. If you haven’t been here for a bit, you’ll see a new store listed there. Scrap Happiness. I’m excited to be part of another design team.

I’m also waiting to hear about two other stores, both owned by the same person. I’ve signed contracts for them but haven’t heard anything about getting my store set up there.

In the meantime, one of my stores, The Creativity Box, is having a sale tomorrow.

Stop by and see what’s there!

WRITING NEWS:

I’ve had in my head the story of a spoiled princess who ends up married to a pig farmer who is more than he appears to be. I even have a title, The Pig Sty Princess. However, last night, I realized that I could use one of the characters from my current wip, Sword & Illusion as the princess for this new one. I actually got the idea for the book when I created this character but it never occurred to me that I could make the story work for her.

It wouldn’t be a direct sequel to S&I since it wouldn’t advance the over-arcing story, but it would be more like a spin-off. I see possibly a trilogy with this character and the situation she finds herself in.

The Boy didn’t have school today because of teacher conferences, so we went to Chick-fil-A for lunch and while he played I outlined the whole book.

I’m really quite excited about this, but I have to get S&I done first. To make the Pig Sty Princess work, I’ll have to do a little tweaking, but, heck, I’m tweaking it all over the place anyway!

So, guys, I hope you stop by one of my stores this week and check out my kits and I’ll try to make progress on my writing!

Until next time, hope you’re doing well!

Lots of interesting stuff is going on.

WRITING UPDATE:

HeartLA has its monthly meeting today. It’s always fun to get together with other writers. We have a couple of members who are “characters” and one was in fine form today, which made for an interesting meeting, but otherwise, it was great.

We had several visitors, which is always gratifying. When I was president, it was my goal to raise awareness of our group and it looks like it’s still working. Today a couple of them mentioned their story ideas and they spurred my imagination.

Today’s “workshop” was on goal setting, done by my friend Rhonda and now I’m psyched about working harder to get Sword & Illusion finished. I’m still struggling with one of the early chapters that will have repercussions throughout the book. So, I really need to make sure it’s right.

FAMILY UPDATE

Not much to say here. Beloved was sick a little this week and I was kind of afraid I was getting it, but possibly not. We’ll have to wait and see.

The Girl got an industrial piercing in her ear and I’m not totally thrilled with that but she is 19 so basically, whatever!!

The Boy has had some bad days in school. I’m not sure if he’s past it or not, but we’ll see next week.

SCRAPBOOK UPDATE

I saw a layout someone made with my Mardi Gras 2009 kit:

You can find this kit at any of the stores listed on the sidebar.

I also found out today I’ve made my first sales at two of the stores, so that’s pretty exciting.

I’m still trying to figure this whole thing out, but I’m still having fun.

LENT UPDATE

I’ve given up hitting the snooze and I’ve done pretty well, but I can tell you it’s taking its toll on me. I think that’s why tonight I feel so tired and almost like I might be getting sick. We’ll see. I didn’t go to Adoration last night because I’m getting up at 5:45 am every morning and had the HeartLA meeting today so being up until 1 am just didn’t sound healthy.

Well, I’m off to worry about my characters and try to get another kit finished. Talk to you all later.

Today is my 50th birthday and while a month or so ago, that number bothered me a lot, today I am probably one of the happiest women on the planet!

My family threw a surprise party for me last night at a local steakhouse/buffet restaurant. And it was very sneaky the way they did it.

I’ve been hinting, or actually blatantly telling my husband, that I wanted a party for this birthday. I never get parties, but as this is my 50th, I told him it was a big number so it deserved a party.

Well, he never made any comments about it or asked me where I wanted a party or who I wanted to have there or anything. In fact, he would joke that we could go out to Chick-fil-a for dinner!

As the days and weeks passed, I kinda went back and forth in my head about whether I thought he was planning anything or not. Nothing really seemed to indicate it. He was busy with work and actually forgot his parents’ anniversary which is Valentine’s Day and didn’t get me a card or anything, so I figured if anything, he barely remembered to get me a gift until the last minute. My daughter told me she’d gotten my gift a long time ago.

Well, a few days ago, he asked me if I thought going to Ryan’s would be okay. As he’d saved coupons from a mailing, I said I knew that’s where he wanted to go.

The plan, as far as I knew, was to go out TONIGHT!

Then, yesterday, my daughter called from college and said she just found out that her psychology test was tonight at 5:30 pm. I was a little disappointed but said, well, we can go out some other time. I IMed my husband and he said, “Wait. Tomorrow is your birthday. Well, what if we just go out tonight?”

I said sure that would be fine. He IM’d me a few minutes later and said it was all arranged.

I knew then there was no party because he couldn’t just call everyone (whoever they were) and have them all change their plans at the last minute like that.

However, turns out it was always supposed to be last night and her psychology test is tomorrow afternoon anyway! I thought that’s what she’d told me but figured she made a mistake.

There were people from the church choir and my writers’ group and even my Stampin’ Up lady was there! I was very surprised!

Here’s my cake.

Me opening the gift of a woman who couldn’t stay to eat with us. You can see some guests in the background. Her gift was a lovely picture frame.

Reading the card that went with a handmade beaded bookmark from a writer friend.

Showing off the bookmark. The cute little boy shoving bread in his mouth is, of course, my son.

A lovely orchid from a friend my husband works with who is also a fellow Guild Wars gamer with us.

My writer friend Arlene gave me a “Writer’s Block” journal. The guy in yellow is my Beloved husband.

Another choir friend and his family gave me a quill fountain pen set!

I guess I liked it.

With most of my stash:

Lovely jewelry from my good friend Sharon and her family:

My family gave me a card that said that my gift from them was a night at a bed and breakfast (with my husband of course) and babysitting from my daughter!

It was a wonderful night!

Now onto the freebie.

I had so much fun making this add-on for my Tweeny Girl kit, I almost didn’t stop, so you get several goodies. Remember, stop by any of the stores to the right to pick up the full matching kit.

Click here to download.

I’d love to hear what you think and see what you did with it!

Tomorrow is my 50th birthday but tonight is our celebration dinner because the Girl has a big test tomorrow night. I had planned to spend all tomorrow just goofing off and celebrating me, but I had a chiropractor appointment this morning, so I will still “play” tomorrow, after our dinner tonight.

I don’t have any idea what gifts I’m getting and I LOVE that. I LOVE surprises and I really don’t like having someone say “what do you want?” and then giving me exactly that. It’s kinda like, “Oh, here’s that XYZ thing I asked for.” I love surprises!!!

I plan to ride the exercise bike later today so I can eat tonight without worrying.

I have a new kit in my stores. I promise, Dear Readers, I will put blinkies and links on my side bar to my stores. I WILL!

Check out my stores and pick up this kit! I’d love to see what you do with it!

Come back tomorrow and I’ll have a freebie add-on for you!

I told you all that my Mardi Gras kit was uploaded to my stores, right? Well there were a few thing that I couldn’t actually fit into the kit, so I thought I’d share them with you.

Download this here and leave me a comment, please, so I know if anyone’s reading!

In March, at Michelle’s Angels, the designers are putting together a Mother’s Day collaboration kit. Here’s my contribution:

You’ll have to stop by Michelle’s Angels in March to pick it up. I’ll have a freebie for you when the kit’s up at the store.

I’m really sorry. I meant to update this blog before now!

Anyway, I’m designing still. I just uploaded this kit:

to four stores:

Bitchin’ Scraps Boutique
Michelle’s Angels
The Scrappin’ Divaz
The Creativity Box

Eventually, this blog is going to be redesigned to reflect my new “job.” I’m having a lot of fun with this. Don’t think I’ve sold anything yet, but when I started this venture, I took it before the Lord and told Him that if this was something He wanted me to succeed at, He’d send client and customers, and if it isn’t, well, I can still scrapbook for myself and have fun anyway!

Tonight I went to our monthly Stampin’ Up hostess club with my friend, Sharon. On the way home I was trying to explain digital scrapbooking to her. She didn’t get it. I’m going to have to bring her here and show her my program and what I can do with it and all that.

Got a chance to work on Chapter 8 of Sword & Illusion today. Trying to figure out how to get my kits uploaded and all that was taking a lot of time, and I wanted to get a mardi gras kit up before Lent!

Yes, I’m still working on Chapter 8. I did get all the way to 10 before Beloved re-edited 8. I added more stuff to it today with more coming. I like where it is and I think I’ll be completely done with it soon.

The kids were sick this week, both of them, but they’re better now. I’m glad tomorrow is Friday.

Hope you all have a great night!

I’m really excited about this!

There were a few last minute glitches, but I’m sure they’re all worked out now. The admin team there is nothing short of the best!

Stop by and check out all the amazing kits, supplies and other goodies. I’m sure you’ll find a ton of stuff you’ll love and at 60% off this week, how can you miss??

Lots and lots of stuff happening over here.

WRITING UPDATE

Finally, I’ve worked through Chapter Eight of Sword & Illusion. It’s not going to be done by my birthday as I’d hoped. Just too many things need tweeking and some other stuff has come up (see below) that is taking my time away from editing. I realize that’s not a great update, but I hope to have more news in coming weeks.

KIDS UPDATE

Well, the big thing from the Girl turned out to be a little thing. She basically decided or felt God was telling her to forgive Ex-Boyfriend and that she should be a better example to bring him back to his faith. That last part I’m not sure about. I don’t know how she can do that short of spending time with him and I know I don’t want her to get involved with him again.

She said she doesn’t know how to do that, either, but I told her there is scripture about leaving your sacrifice and making peace with a brother before trying to grow closer to God and that may be what He is telling her she needs to do.

That – I’m all for!

Also, she’s thinking about changing her major and going into some kind of Pro-Life career. Apparently, in Washington, she went to several seminars and in one someone said they need strong people of faith in pro-life positions and the Girl really feels this is something she could do.

Again – I could get behind this!

The Boy – apparently he’s decided he doesn’t need to get greens anymore. He’s been bringing home yellows regularly. Last year, this would have been an occasion of much rejoicing, but he’s been doing so well that yellows aren’t not as welcome.

He’s become totally fascinated with the solar system and the planets, as well as states and their capitals. He can name all the planets and knows that Uranus rotates upside down or something and that fascinates him! He can name about a dozen state nicknames. Can you do that??? He amazes me.

WEIGHT LOSS UPDATE

I was up .4 this past week after maintaining last week. I’m tracking but I guess I’m slipping a bit in portions or something. I need to exercise on the bike more and cut back on some of what I eat. I REALLY need to work harder at this if I want to work for Weight Watchers.

NEW NEWS

I am now officially a scrapbook kit designer! Tomorrow Michelle’s Angels opens. It’s a digital scrapbooking store and I’ll have two kits there. Here are previews for you to see. I’d love to know what you think.

I hope to have some freebies later on and who knows what else? I’m having fun doing this and really have to ration my time so I can write as well as do my own scrapbooking.

Beloved saw my kits and gave me a few assignments to do the graphics for the paper he’s writing. So, he’s not bugging me about playing on my PSP9 instead of writing.

His paper needs to be done by Saturday so that’s taking prominence right now.

I’d love to know what you all think about all this.

You all have a great day, hear?