Summer Love

Laura tagged me a couple of days ago to list my five favorite things about summer...

1. Beach trips. We're very fortunate Trent's parents own a small place just south of Myrtle Beach so we can easily take a weekend (or week long) trip to the beach.
   
   
   
2. Baseball games. For the last 3 or 4 years, we've given each other mini-plan tickets to the Durham Bulls (Tampa's AAA team) as a Christmas gift.
   
   
   
3. Our garden. I enjoy all the beautiful colors in my flower garden and the delicious fresh grown vegetables & herbs from our vegetable garden.
   
   
   
4. Grilling out. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, kabobs, veggies, etc - all so delicious fresh off the grill.
   
   
   
5. Long days & warm weather. I love getting off work and still having a couple hours of daylight to enjoy especially if we can spend them outside taking a walk, relaxing in the backyard, etc.
   

I'm tagging Emily, Benita, Darcey, Tere, and Sandra.

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6 Baby Names

Aimeslee tagged me in January to list 6 baby names that made our semi-finalist list. It was impossible for me to even start a list at the time because Trent & I had decided to wait until we knew the baby's gender before discussing ideas. Now that we've had some time to think about it, I'll share a few of the names that have come up in our discussions and reasons why they haven't made the list...

1. Gavin - I actually suggested this name and still like it, but I can't pronounce it! LOL Trent laughed every time I tried to say it.
   
2. Clark - too much of a tongue twister with our last name that begins with "C." Seriously, I stumbled over it the first time out of my mouth. One of those "say this 5 times fast" sort of things.
   
3. Braeden - Trent's first response was "like braidin' hair?" And off the list it went.
   
4. Russell - as a teenager I babysat for a little boy with this name and his 2 brothers - all were quite the handful. I haven't seen them in years, but those images stick with me so this was an instant no.
   
5. Henry - liked this one until I remembered it's the name of a coworker's dog. An association (even though unintended) that I don't want. Strike it.
   
6. Trent suggested Frank Ulysses as a joke. Nothing wrong with either name, but combine them with a last name that starts with "C"? Enough said. ;)

Wondering what name we have chosen? So far we can't agree on one! But, even if we had, my lips would be sealed. When we agreed to find out the baby's gender before birth (I initially wanted to wait, but finally sided with Trent on finding out early), we also agreed that we would keep the name a secret until the little fellow makes his appearance.

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Photo Tag

I was tagged by Sandra, Jill and Monica.

The tag how-to...

1. Go to the photos folder on your computer.
2. Go to the seventh folder of photos.
3. Go to the seventh photo.
4. Put the seventh photo on your blog along with a description.
5. Invite seven friends to join.
   

I'm a little folder obsessed with my photo organization so I had to repeat step 2 twice which led me to photos from our 2006 trip to Biltmore in Asheville, NC. I took this photo while on the rooftop tour. I loved the look of the aged copper (click to enlarge). The gorgeous patina of the metal was striking against the slate gray roof and deep blue sky. Notice the Vanderbilt family initial.


I'm tagging Laura, Lori, Pat, Colleen, Theresa, Janet and Linda.

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Random Photo Tag

Janet tagged me yesterday for a little challenge: Go to your pictures folder, select the 4th folder, find the 4th photo and then share on your blog. I have to agree with her - this is harder than it looks! LOL From My Pictures, I quickly hit on the 2004 folder, but inside were only more folders - no photos. So, I again selected the 4th folder (Cats) and again more folders! (Is it possible I over organize my photos?) After selecting the 4th folder for the 3rd time, I finally found photos and here is the 4th photo:


Little Chester taking a nap with Trent on the couch. The first couple of photos were a bit cuter. I imagine by this one he was annoyed with my photo taking interrupting his nap. :D

Sticking with the number 4, I'm going to tag 4 bloggers: Ter, Linda, Tina and Kerrie.

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7 Facts

Micki tagged me to play 7 Facts.

RULES:

• Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
• Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
• Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
• Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

MY FACTS:

one I wear socks 99% of the time. I can't stand for my feet to be "naked."

two I can wiggle my ears.

three I enjoy doing Sudoku puzzles.

four Fall is my favorite season.

five I've become a "crackberry" addict since getting my new phone over the summer.

six Starbucks Caffè Mocha is my favorite coffee drink.

seven I talk to my cats. And, yes, they talk back. ;)

I'm tagging Kim, Lizzy, Lori, Linda, Janet, ScrapperJen, and Lily.

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six secrets

Linda tagged me for "six secrets" - I share six secrets about me and then tag 5 other bloggers. This is far more challenging than it seemed. Do I even have six secrets? Perhaps six things you might not know about me?

#1 I never make my bed at home. Neither of us do. I read a news article once about how it's better for folks with asthma to not make their bed so it will air & dry out. Making it helps trap in moisture & humidity which provides a perfect environment for dust mites to increase. Truth or fiction - it's a great excuse to skip that chore. ;)

#2 I have no idea the last time I read a book. I've read parts of a few, but haven't finished them. Too many other things to do than sit still long enough.

#3 I bribe myself to get on the treadmill with gossip magazines.

#4 During college, one of my friends and I decided to color our hair. We were *just* going add a little bit of reddish highlights. A couple of beers later and hair coloring left on too long, we were both a lovely shade of magenta the next day. It wasn't too bad indoors, but oh goodness, when the sun hit.... LOL

#5 Growing up I had the terrible habit of biting my nails. I wasn't able to quit until about 6 years ago.

#6 I watch Guiding Light on cbs.com every weekday while eating lunch at work - frees me up from time on the couch at home later and is a nice mid-day distraction.

I tag... Pat, Darcy, Benita, Jen and Emily.

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Tagged

I've been tagged by Darcey! :)

Ten Years Ago: I was at home for the summer between sophomore & junior years in college. I worked part time doing website design & coding for a small company.

Five things on today's To-Do list:

1. Blog
2. Wrap up a set of construction drawings for plotting on Friday
3. Attend a small party w/ Trent after work
4. Play with my furbabies
   
5. Sew a few more Cat Squares
   

Snack I Enjoy: dark chocolate peanut M&M's - not good for me, but so delicious! ;)

Things I would do if I was a Millionaire: donate to charity; travel

Places I have Lived: Although I've lived in a variety of zip codes, I've only called 2 counties in 2 states "home." For the last decade that's been Wake County, NC.

The 4 people I am tagging are: Lori, Tina, Linda and Ter.

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Quiz of Lasts

Tina tagged me this morning with this list of "lasts."

1. Last music you listened to - Nickelback How You Remind Me
2. Last thing you watched on TV - Divine Design w/ Candace Olson
   
3. Last movie you saw - Horton Hears a Who
4. Last book you read - 101 Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World
5. Last person you spoke to - Trent
   
6. Last thing you ate - Cadbury egg
   
7. Last time you laughed - this afternoon
   
8. Last place you visited - my in-laws' house
9. Last website you visited - Shutterfly
   
10. Last thing you scrapped/crafted - Test Track layout
    

I tag Shirley, Lida, Gabrielle, Linda and Aimeslee. :)

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ABC's of Me

I've been tagged by Tina. :)

A- Attached or single: very happily attached
B- Best Friend: Trent
C- Cake or Pie: cake

D- Day of Choice: Friday
E- Essential Item(s): cell phone, inhaler, wallet
F-Favorite type of music: pop, country, oldies - I enjoy it all :)

G- Gummy Bears or Worms: bears
H- Hometown: Culpeper, VA
I- Indulgence(s): dark chocolate peanut M&M's

J- January or July: July
K- Kids: 0
L Last movie: Meet the Robinsons

M- Marriage Date: November 8
N- Number of Siblings: 1 sister, 1 brother, 1 step-sister, 3 step-brothers
O- Oranges or Apples: apples

P- Phobias or Fears: claustrophobia
Q- Quote(s): It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end. - Ursula K. LeGuin
R- Reason To Smile: my husband & family

S- Season: fall
T- Tag: Colleen, Jen, and Toni.
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I'm a sock freak. I don't like it when my feet are naked.

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: oppressor
W- Worst Habit: leaving folded clothes in the baskets
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: x-rays

Y- Your Favorite Food: chocolate ;)
Z- Zodiac: Scorpio

'my feet' layout created January 2007. Inspired by Jan 13/14 of dw2007.
Supplies: Deja View patterned paper; American Crafts ribbon; Making Memories feet plaque; Jenkins font; Photoshop CS for fun feet effects.

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Randomness

I've been tagged by Shirley and Gabrielle. :)

Here are the rules:

• Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
• Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
• Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
• Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my 7 random/weird facts:

1. I love visiting National Parks & Historic Sites and getting cancellation stamps in my Passport Book.
2. I love Sudoku puzzles.
3. I can wiggle my ears.
4. I'm allergic to grass. It's something I've assumed since childhood, but had proven during allergy testing in 2006. And, of course, the two types I'm most allergic to grow in my own yard!
   
5. I don't like barbecue and that's practically a sin living in the South.
6. I can't eat fish - causes an asthma attack.
7. In high school I was a member of the math club.
   

I'm tagging Lynn, Tina, Linda, Theresa, Janet, Benita and Lida. Looking forward to reading your responses! :)

Sudoku layout created September 2006. Inspired by 9/25 of dw2006.
Supplies: Basic Grey patterned paper; QuicKutz star font; 2ps Flower Pot font; Making Memories snaps; Li'l Davis rub-ons; scrap cardstock & ribbon.

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About Me

I've been tagged by Linda. :)

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B: Each player answers the questions about themselves.

C: At the end of the post, the player then tag 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 years ago: I was a sophomore in college.

Things on my to-do list today: It started off with nothing in particular, but then we went to Ace Hardware... Here's a clue. ;)


What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire: donate to charity; travel

3 of my bad habits: talking too much, cursing when I get mad, leaving folded laundry in the basket

3 places I have lived: Virginia; Raleigh & Cary, North Carolina

5 jobs that I have had: babysitter; cashier at Taco Bell; sales at Toy Works; web designer; architectural designer

5 Things people don't know about me: I can wiggle my ears. Can't sing (I'll often mouth the words during church! LOL). I've only lived in 2 counties. I wasn't a fan of the color pink when I was younger, but now love it. I have no feeling in part of my right pinky due to an accident as a child with a cat food can.

Now I tag: Katy, Monica, and Colleen. :)

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Facts about Me

I've been tagged by Katy! :)

• You must post the rules before you give your answers.
• You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name.
• Each fact must begin with that letter.
• If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name.
• After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers.
• At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details).

Legally, my middle name is now my maiden name, but for the fun of this game, I'm going with my given middle name instead: Elizabeth.

E - easily Excited by little things.
L - Laugh a LOT. Ties in with my "H" fact.
I - Intelligent.
Z - Zoo. [seriously, try to come up with a good 'z' word! LOL] Love going to zoos to see the animals and, somedays, kinda feel like I live in one with the chaos of my 2 cats. ;)
A - Artistic.
B - Believer of God.
E - Energetic.
T - Talkative.
H - Happy. I'm a glass half-full gal. Which keeps me pretty upbeat and laughing through my days. :)

Here are the 9 people I tag: Sherry, Jenn, Tina, Melina, Ter, Gabrielle, Gina, Lorie, and Heather. Looking forward to seeing their lists. :)

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Tagged

I've been tagged by Colleen! :)

1. Name your two favorite scrapbooking topics: Disney & any vacation we've been on. :)
2. What are the 2 best places you've been to? Grand Canyon and St. Lucia
   
3. Name 2 things you do every day? Check my email and read the paper.
4. Tell us 2 things that pretty much everyone knows about you. I'm married & have 2 cats.
   
5. 2 places you wish to visit. Europe and Chicago
   
6. 2 things you may not know about me are- I've only lived in 2 counties in my life and I have 6 siblings.
7. 2 nicknames you've had at some time in your life! Scooter and Philly
   
8. The question I'm adding is: Name 2 of your favorite drinks. Sweet Tea and Margaritas [separately, of course ;) ]

Notice a theme? :) All of the questions have 2 in them. Answer the questions, add one question of your own (this tag started with 4 questions) and then tag 2 people. Simple enough?

I'm tagging Sherry and Janet! Looking forward to seeing your answers.

2ps blog challenge:
Do you ever think back to when you were a child and wish you could relive it to get more photos to scrap the memory?
I'm on the fence with this one. My gut instinct was "absolutely!" I mean, it would definitely be great even just to have fresher mental images of those memories to enable me to journal them more completely. On the glass half empty side (LOL) - I'm thinking no because it adds to my already large pile of stuff to scrap. ;)

Layout details.... "Favorite Drinks" is a layout I created in July 2006 to record a few of the various drinks we enjoyed while vacationing in St. Lucia.
Supplies: Various scraps of patterned paper; cardstock lime & drink by me (drink sketch based off Making Memories metal tag); Akbar font; title: Lil Davis rub-ons.

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