Favorite Photos

These are my two favorite photos from our family shoot last week.

This first one our album cover, doesn't the skyline look great. My brother was upset that it was just the Hancock building in the background, it isn't as beloved as our precious Sears Tower...Whatever!

And this is my absolute favorite, the stop action is great and I love everyone's facial expressions, too funny. The fact I can get these kinds of pictures is why I love my Rebel so much. If it were a digital, I'm sure I would love it even more!

Family Photos

So, in between everything going on and keeping me busy beyond words, I managed to organize a family photo shoot for one side of my family. (the tree is a crazy one) The weather here on Friday couldn't have been more perfect for this shoot and my family was so cooperative, it truly couldn't have gone any better.
It is hard enough to get 9 people together, let alone not kill each other...now that was an accomplishment!
I enlisted the fabulous April to come and take our photos. It was nice to actually get into a few photos for a change. And I swear I don't think I have a family photo with all of us together.Yes, that is my hair sticking straight out to the left of my head...what can I say, this is the windy city. The colors are wonky in this photo thanks to Walgreens. You can see the background looks almost as if there is snow in the trees, but I swear it looked nothing like that and there was not an ounce of snow, the sky was bluer than blue. So, the photos are currently being worked on by Wolf Camera, so fingers crossed that they come out a little better than this!

And a nice picture of the me and the boy. I know I was talking through my teeth in this photo and my mom said she could tell, but hey...it is a total mom shot and besides the people in the background (which can be photoshopped), I love it.

So super big thanks to April and my family, who put up with the posing and walking and gave me a whole day to get some nice shots!

I have a ton of other photos like my Christmas tree (yes, it's up already...is it too soon?) and new cards with new stuff. But, alas, no batteries, so it will have to wait.

Swap Details

Final list of Participants

1. Connie
2. Greta (I assumed you wanted to join the cool kids. lol)
3. Elizabeth
4. Carol
5. April
6. Debbie
7. Lorene
8. Katie
9. Mimi
10. Stephanie
11. Me
12. Me (yes, I am making 2)

If I missed someone, please let me know ASAP.

Due Date: February 1, 2007 (plenty of time!!!)

What you will need to create: Using all your favorite supplies, you will be creating a 6 x 6 size recipe card/page. This can be a jazzed up little page with a recipe card on it, it can be a card in and of itself. That is up to you! Feature one of your favorite recipes that you absolutely love. It can be an appetizer, entree, dessert, cocktail...whatever your tummy loves.
There are no requirements on supplies at all, just make sure you are creating pages you, yourself would love to receive. Also, for all you digi gals , I welcome and encourage some digitally created pages, that would totally rock!

Total Number of Pages you should create: 12

What you will get: In the end, all these pages will be a whole recipe book of great recipes. And bonus, it will be totally cute!

What to do: Send all swaps to Me with a return envelope (address emailed) and enough postage to get it back to you safe and sound.

I had intended on making a sample page myself, but in between the craft shows and making 100 tea bag holders, I just ran out of time, so instead, here are a few great examples I found online to give everyone some inspiration:

Sample #1 (digi)
Sample #2
Sample #3
Sample #4
Sample #5
Sample #6

Ok, so I hope that answers everyone's buring questions for now, there is plenty of time for this swap, I like to call it stress free, but if anyone has any concerns or further questions, just shoot me an email.

Blogger and I are both Sick!

I seem to have caught some sort of flu bug, yesterday I was feeling quite nauseous but lucky for me today is filled with headache, chills and sore throat. So I think it officially makes it a flu. I have been chugging down Vitamin Water (power C) like crazy and I hope it doesn't get any worse or last too long! I'm way too busy to get sick.
What's up with blogger lately, I can't seem to post comments on anyone's blogs and I can't post pictures at all....Perhaps blogger needs a case of Vitamin Water.

Before the flu bug bit, I had a very deep thought over the weekend. We were driving to my mom's on Sunday and Max says, "Man, there are a lot of dead squirrels on the streets lately" Which is totally true!
I just told him, "Well, this time of the year they are so busy that they don't look where they are going, they just know that they have to get all their little jobs done."
I swear I had a lightbulb moment.
Then I said to Max, "Man I feel like a squirrel these days"
"Hope you don't get run over Mom."

Am I the only one that runs around like a squirrel and I should you really be watching where I am going?

Once blogger and I are feeling better, pictures and projects!

Swap Update

Ok, so as of today, here is a list of those who have signed up for the 6 x 6 Recipe Swap:

1. Connie
2. Stephanie
3. Katie
4. April
5. Mimi
6. Debbie
7. Lorene
8. Carol (even though she doesn't know it yet)
9. Me, of course.

There is still 14 days to sign up! And let's remember that it is not due til February, so join in the fun, you will have plenty of time after the Holidays are over will be happy you did. The more the merrier and the bigger my book will be!

For anyone who missed it....Details HERE.

Candy!

Pimped the kid last night to bring home 7 pounds of Halloween Candy! (yes, we weigh our candy, got to try and outweigh last year)
Not sure how the two of us will eat all 7 pounds but we are up to the challenge. Candy is a food group, right?

Also, a little eye candy for everyone!
I am seriously loving the new Creative Imaginations Products! Never really went nutso for them before, but loved the Bare Elements stuff I saw at CHA and now it just gets better and better. Everything I really love is designed by Marah Johnson and it is all wonderful.
This new collection, Play Cards, is so great. Very vintage, very cool. (Wanted to put a picture on here, but blogger is still not cooperating with me, I may need to try and get that beta version again, maybe that would help.)
Also, all the cool skulls and pink...love it!
And this Marah Johnson is way talented, I had no idea. She made some amazing purses with the bare elements purses and her new paper lines and I am floored at the mad skillz on this chick. I am just speechless. Check out her blog to catch a glimpse of the talent.

Hope everyone enjoyed that little treat!