For a challenge at MLAS. I had to use a specific amount of specific items. I used A Brand New Outfit by Bubblescrap Designs, except the staples. Template by No Reimer Reason.

Another page from my Christmas album.

Imagine my surprise when we got home from the movies last night and I saw a bunch of Facebook updates about an earthquake near Eureka. Luckily it wasn't too late to call the west coast, so I was able to talk to both my parents and they were fine. They did lose power for a few hours, though. Dick was on the roof at the time, so he went to the middle and just watched the trees swaying around wildly. My mom was inside so she ran to the doorway and watched her car bounce around in the driveway. Wild! There was a big earthquake there in '92, which knocked their house off the foundation (they were out of town at the time, luckily!), so after getting it repaired it has held up well to future earthquakes.

Precious was a a good movie, but very sad. If I ever feel like complaining about my life, I will remember how some people have to fight so hard just for the basics.

Owen was invited to a playdate this afternoon, so he's very excited. He has been friends with Abbey since kindergarten, so I'm glad they are still friends in second grade. It helps that they've been in the same class all this time.

Declan decided to decorate an empty wine bottle we had leftover from the holidays, so now he has a new friend called Mr. Bottle! lol

Dinner and a movie for me and Scot tonight. I don't know where we're eating, but we're going to see Precious. Yay for the $5 movie club! I had a fun orchestra rehearsal this morning. We actually played well on the first read-through's, so hopefully it will sound really good by the time we have a concert.

Week one of the chore chart was very successful. Declan typically does even more than one extra and Owen picked clean the toilets as a free choice chore. I don't know why that sounded so exciting, but I won't complain!

I did this layout as a template challenge at Scrapable. Those are my favorite challenges of all since I love to use templates. I used Holiday Sugar Cookies by Pixiemama Designs. I was having fun using the glitter styles since I couldn't use them with my old version of Photoshop 6.0. I am still on the trial download for Photoshop Elements 8.0, and after forcing myself to use it for a few layouts, I think I am getting used to it. I will be able to use brushes and styles, so it makes sense to get it, but I will keep my dinosaur Photoshop around anyway since there are only a few weaknesses with it in terms of digital scrapbooking and it still works well for my web graphics.

Yay, I figured out how to make my blog look pretty!

I completed a page today for the Add-on challenge at Scrapable. We had to use 5 patterned papers, which was hard until I came up with the idea of putting a bunch of layered paper behind the coins letters, since they were see-through anyway. I used Life is Good by Valarie Ostrom Designs with a template by Red Leaf DigiScrapping.