Scrapbooking our engagement picture.

Jim and I have been married for 16 years and I am just now starting to work on our wedding pictures. I have completed our engagement photo so at least that is a start. But to be fair, I didn’t develop my scrapbook addiction until after we were married. And now, I probably have more supplies than I can use and still buy more so I can have the perfect (for me) page!

Our story is rather interesting, at least to us. You see, my husband knew my grandparents. His family had a TV store and had sold (and installed) many TVs for my grandparents over the years. Then he met my parents playing darts. When my parents and some of their friends decided to open a dart bar, my grandfather was there and Jim was rather surprised to see him there. In the conversation they had, he found out that my grandfather was my mother’s father.

Several years later, I started playing darts. I met Jim and he asked me what brought me to the dart bar. I told him that my parents owned the place so he quickly asked me who my parents were and so I told him. He then realized who my grandfather was and had some stories about him to share!!!

Jim and I became good friends. I knew that if I ever wanted to go somewhere, I could always call and ask him and if he wasn’t doing anything, he would always meet me wherever I wanted to go. For years, he would ask me out and I would decline because I didn’t want to change the scope of our friendship. But then one night, I had a dream about him and that dream convinced me to let my guard down and take a chance. Our first date was on January 8, 1999 when we took my son Wesley to the movies for his birthday. We went to see Patch Adams!!!

We have been together ever since and I must say, it was the best dream I have ever had.

Our engagement picture was, I’m sure, taken by my sister-in-law, Sharon. It was taken at the August (1999 family birthdays when Jim told his family of our engagement. At that time, we had not set our wedding date, but we knew we wanted to be married before the end of the year.

My plan is to start working on our wedding scrapbook pages tomorrow… at least that is my plan!!!!

Fab Fit Fun, Stitch Fix, and Sephora Play!

I am currently subscribed to 3 subscription boxes! I am new to Fab Fit Fun and Stitch Fix, but I have been receiving Sephora Play! for over a year.

In June I received my first Fab Fit Fun box and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. It is very nice to receive products in a normal size, not sample sizes. Plus products not skin care related. The cosmetic travel case will definitely come in hand when we go on our cruise. I especially love that it has a separate section for makeup brushes!!!

Earlier this month I received my second Stitch Fix box. The first box wasn’t that great and I only kept one item… a pair of jeans! The second box was so much better. I actually kept all five items! I can’t wait to get my next box! Please excuse the wrinkles in the new shower curtain and in the clothes. I should have taken them out of the box much sooner. I tried them on at my daughters house then put them back in the box to bring home. Pictures of me trying on the clothes were taken by my granddaughters in the bedroom of the oldest one!!!

I received my Sephora Play! box this week! I love that it had plenty of Tarte products in it!!! They are one of my favorites!!!

I received a couple of boxes on Monday, that I desperately need and want! One box has 500 12 x 12 page protectors and the other has pictures from our 2014 Carnival Triumph cruise! I will be busy putting those photos in photo protectors for days, LOL! I also received panoramic photos I ordered!!!

I do believe I will be very busy making scrapbook pages for a very long time! At least that’s the plan…

Wish me luck!!!

Carnival Magic 2011 – Installment #15. The scrapbook(s) are complete.

I started this series as a way to keep track of the scrapbook pages I made for this cruise. And now, 17 days later, the books are complete. The pages are in chronological order in 4 albums!!!! I made some extra pages to maintain a flow through each album. I have also completed all of the journaling as well!!!! All that is left for me to do now is to make sure all of the remaining pictures are in photo protectors and placed in a binder for safe keeping.

This has been a lot of fun and I cannot wait to start working on the next pictures! Up next will be pictures of my daughter’s wedding in March of 2012. I have asked her if it would be okay for me to share the pages on here and she graciously gave me permission! Since they were married at the sub-courthouse, these pages shouldn’t take long. But I still want to make sure I have some scrapbook pages for this special occasion.

More Carnival Magic 2011 scrapbook pages and making a change to our Carnival Vista cruise.

In my ongoing quest to finish my scrapbook albums for this cruise, today I worked on the first 2 days of the cruise adding some pages for each day. I know it is silly, but I like to make sure I have everything related to the trip in some kind of order that will flow. Since a majority of my pages are in a 2-page format, I sometimes find it challenging to create the flow I’m happy with. But, so far so good. I also completed the journaling for the first 2 days of the cruise. Hopefully, with any luck, I will have this cruise completed by the end of the week and can start on my daughter’s wedding. She’s only been married for 6 years so this is a little late as well, but at least I’m making an effort to get things caught up!!!

I have a TON of very old family photo’s that I also want to put in scrapbooks so I’m just going to be doing a little bit of everything as I can.

I’m enjoying using my Cricut Explore Air. I have had it for a few years but just started using it consistently this month. I’m kicking myself for not putting it to good use sooner.

I think I need a much bigger craffice!

As our Carnival Vista countdown continues and will continue for a while, we had to make a change. Our son Dawson has said he is not going to go on the cruise. A cruise that we booked at an early saver rate. A cruise that has been paid in full for a couple of months now. He does not enjoy cruises as much as his father and I do. So, instead of making him go, he will be staying home and taking care of our cat. Not sure about the dogs, but definitely the cat. So, I called our PVP and told him the situation and that we have a friend that we want to put on our booking in our son’s place. With early saver, you cannot just change a name. But our PVP took care of everything for me and the amount of cancel Dawson and add John was much less than I was expecting! Now the cruise will be #4GenerationsOfFamilyFun and our friend the wine expert. Our sail and sign card just might reach an all-time high!!!

I should probably make a list for things we need to buy for the cruise. At least one thing is checked off… getting my mother 2 swimsuits for her birthday! Now to start getting stuff from the Dollar Tree!!!

Shopping for scrapbook supplies and some more Carnival Magic scrapbook pages.

I knew I had to go to Hobby Lobby today to replace the scrapbook paper my glass of Cran-Grape juice fell on. I asked my hubby if he wanted to go with me and he said yes. Now, I know most women prefer to shop without their spouse. I’m typically that way with Jim, except when it comes to scrapbook supplies. Somehow he manages to find stuff that I would need, want, or could use. This trip was no exception.

Before we went to Hobby Lobby, we went to Michael’s as I had a 50% off coupon to use and I was wanting to get a refill cartridge for my Xyron Creative Station Lite. I prefer to use the repositionable cartridges because I often change my mind about placement of things. Unfortunately, Michael’s didn’t have what I wanted, but the did have the Tombow removable adhesive tape funner refill, so I got that instead!

Once we arrived at Hobby Lobby, my first stop in the scrapbook area was the adhesive section. I was looking for a glue runner eraser and I found one and only one there!!! I want to try it and see if it will really remove the excess adhesive from the pages. I then picked up the scrapbook paper I needed to replace (LOL) plus a few sheets of white textured cardstock. I told Jim we might as well look in the clearance section to see if there was anything of use and his watchful eye did not disappoint!

My middle granddaughter’s name is Victoria. I always have a hard time finding just the letter V. But today was my lucky day. My hubby found 3 so I bought them all!!! I also picked up some other goodies including a paper pack.

As we made our way to the check-out counter, I stopped back by the adhesive isle in search of something that would be a good adhesive for glitter. So far, I have not found anything that seems to work. If you are reading this and have any suggestions, please let me know.

The papers in the paper pack were actually pretty good!!

Once we returned home, I continued working on finishing up the Carnival Magic 2011 pre-cruise album, making and adding a few pages. All of the pages are now securely in the album. I do need to do some touch-up on the outside of the album cover but that shouldn’t take long to do in the morning!

Tomorrow I plan on starting the first Carnival Magic 2011 cruise album and continue working on the journaling. I know there will be more scrapbook pages made for these albums as I like to include the daily Fun Times in my albums. I have a feeling there will be at least 2 albums just for the cruise. And hopefully I can organize the contents of these boxes I received today!!!!

Family Lunch plus some Carnival Magic fun today!!!

Today would have been my dad’s birthday. Since we have lunch every Sunday with my mother, we decided that today we would have lunch for breakfast. Breakfast food was my dad’s favorite thing to eat with the exception of a very good steak and lobster. After he retired, he would make himself breakfast every morning. And not just a bowl of cereal or some toast. He made a full breakfast… eggs, potatoes, bacon, biscuits!!! The aroma of his cooking still lives in my brain. Definitely something I remember so fondly. The first picture if my dad with my son and daughter. They were so young then.

Before I went to my daughter’s house for lunch I was trying to regain my composure of a tragic scrapbook incident that happened the night before. I was desperately trying to work on my journaling for the Carnival Magic cruise and I was making some very slow progress. And then it happened. I was drinking a glass of Cran-Grape juice. I had the paper I was journaling on in front of my in a nice, neat stack. When all of a sudden, the glass decided to fall over!!! The contents of the fresh glass of juice went all over the paper I was using for my journaling. All. Of. It. Was. Ruined. I decided to quit for the night and went to bed.

This morning, I woke up full of hope that I could at least work on the additional pages I want to use in my scrapbook and also put finishing touches on the scrapbook album. I definitely had success in that area!!!!

Now, I will have to FORCE myself to go to Hobby Lobby in the morning to get some more of the paper I want to use for journaling. I noticed in their ad today that some of their paper is on sale and the one I need is included in the sale. I think I will make sure to stock up on this particular paper.

Here are some of the pages I did this morning along with the finished scrapbook album decorated and a picture of how I am doing the journaling.

My plan is to work on more additional pages for the scrapbook album which I will share with you when they are done.

Thanks for reading!

Carnival Magic 2011 – Installment #14 Back to reality.

The cruise is over. Nothing left to do except to start planning our next vacation. Of course, there is a lot remaining to do on the scrapbook pages. I need to do my journaling for them and then I need to put all of the pages in order and into albums. This too will take some time, but hopefully not to long. The journaling will be easy. The only thing I’m waiting for is the 12 x 12 page protectors I ordered online.

Of course, there is that thing called a job. But maybe, Fernando can take over those responsibilities for me!!! I can dream, right???

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. There will be more to come. And there will be one final installment for this particular series. It will include how I did my journaling and other pages I have added to the series.

Thanks again and please keep reading my blogs.

Carnival Magic 2011 – Installment #13 November 20th. The cruise is over.

I do not like it when my cruise has come to an end. It just so sad. But, with the amount of pictures we have taken, I will be busy making my scrapbook pages (eventually).

We arrive in Galveston to a bright sunny day. We were even greeted by some dolphins, which I always LOVE looking for and seeing.

Eventually our number was called and we were asked to leave the ship. That is so rude! Jim walked across the street to Galveston Park N Cruise to retrieve our vehicle and before long, we were south bound on I45.

Since the weather was nice, we decided to stop at the Sam Houston Statue on our way home. The area is beautiful and was a diversion to the sadness of leaving the ship.

We stayed there for about an hour or so before we continue our south bound drive on I45.

Once home, our cat Talladega (aka Dega) greeted us in a not so warm manner. And yes, all of my pets names since 2002 have been NASCAR related in one way or another.

In the next installment, it is back to reality.

Carnival Magic 2011 – Installment #12 Last Sea Day

Today was like most of the rest. Coffee, breakfast from the Lido buffet, then walking around taking pictures. Only today, there were things to be done that we haven’t done yet.

After my morning walk, it was time for me to go down at least one of the water slides. I must confess… it was fun!!!!

Then I had to try the Ropes Course!!! It was a challenge for me since I have a fear of heights. But it was a lot easier than I thought it would be and the view from up there was FANTASTIC!!!

One of the ship photographers took a picture of Dawson playing mini-golf!!!

Fernando couldn’t be outdone… So there are a lot of pictures of him all over and with numerous people. Alcohol may or may not have been involved. Obviously I was taking a nap at the time, LOL!

We finally went to get cleaned up after a long day in the sun. We took an evening walk on our way to the dining room

As always, dinner was amazing right up until the people at the table next to us ordered frog legs… Poor Fernando. He was so sad, but quickly cheered up when the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake arrived.

After dinner, we took a some more family pictures then went to our stateroom to pack things up and to put our luggage outside. Dawson passed out from exhaustion!

Jim and I went to the Legends show which we really enjoyed. Then we spent the rest of the evening admiring the ship.

In the next installment, we return to Galveston.

Carnival Magic 2011 – Installment #11, November 18th… I LOVE COZUMEL

Cozumel is one of my favorite places. We always seem to pick an itinerary that makes a stop here and we have also done week vacations here. We. Love. Cozumel. As always, I was up early and out on our balcony to watch us arrive to this island. It is definitely going to be a beautiful day on the island.

After we watched the ship dock in port, we decided to go get some food and more coffee. We open the door and were completely surprised by what we saw!!! Some people from our Facebook Cruise Book had decorated our door. And there was a reason for the decorations. This cruise was just after the Texas Rangers made it to the World Series for the very first time. They were playing the St. Louis Cardinals. So, a friendly wager was made between myself and my friend Shawna. The winner would make sure the loser had a little something showing their team spirit. Shawna won. And I must say, she is a very delightful person!!! And her brother Michael, know how to decorate a door!!!!

While we were eating, Dawson decided he wanted some time on the waterslide since it wasn’t crowded. That boy really loved the slide!!!!

While Dawson was on the slide, I decided to walk around and take more pictures (like that is something new). I really enjoy spending time on an open deck just watching the area come to life. Plus it is fun to people watch!!!

Fernando did a little exploring as well.

Once we were able to get Dawson off the slide and cleaned up, we were finally off the ship. We took a taxi to Carlos N Charlies in town. This was also another first for Dawson. We ate our lunch and may have had a drink or 2 By The Yard! Then we walked to our friend’s restaurant to say hello to him. Tony Rome’s is just off the main square. Then we went back to the square to do some more shopping before heading back to the ship.

Apparently Fernando had a little fun in Cozumel too!!!

Once back on ship, Fernando got dressed since he finally has something that would be more appropriate in public.

As it was getting close to sail-away, we went to the Lido deck to take some more pictures of the area.

As we were pulling away from the pier, everyone noticed a group of men, on the pier with a lot of baggage. Sitting. Looking. Talking on their phones. It was the men that were on the ship working on the propulsion issue the ship was experiencing. I can only say “Thank You” to these men for working on ship so diligently.

The rest of the evening was like most of the rest… Dinner time, then bedtime.

The next installment will be all about our last sea day, or at least Fernando’s last sea day!!!