So my friday started off really good! I sent in a submission for the Noel Mignon kit challenge to win photoshop cs3, and while I did not make it into the running for that, I received an honorable mention which included a gift certificate to her site!! YAY me (as London Tipton would say from the Suite Life - I watch way too much Disney!)! I have just recently discovered her kits and boy does she fill them to the brim with goodies! I ordered "ghost story" and it does NOT disappoint! Thanks Noel, for the hm and for the gift certificate - can't wait to play with more kits! Check 'em out! http://www.noelmignon.com/
Here is the project I submitted for this challenge:


In other news, we finally got our claims back from our insurance from the great flood of '07! So YAY - this means that for the first time in the history of our 10 year marriage, we get to buy new furniture! Heh. It has been looooong overdue. I guess patience really does pay off. We just got our dining room table and chairs last night and I am so giddy. I actually can't wait to cook dinner so we can use it tonight. ;) It is nice and roomy, unlike our previous one - this one will seat 8 or 6 comfortably. We expect the new couch this next week. No more slipcovers!! The anal person in me went bananas always trying to straighten and tuck that thing in. I can finally let people sit on the couch without twitching because I wanted to straigten the wrinkles. Heheh! It def. feels like an early Christmas. So thankful! Also, because I just can't let a post go by without mentioning my kiddos. . .today was grandparents day at school, and the girls were in there very first program!! I was sooooooo proud!! They brought tears to my eyes, and let me say. . .the girls got rhythm! I was so tickled at how they were shake shakin'. Macy had a speaking part too and I think I was more nervous than she was - she did fantastic and remembered all her lines. Whew! I got a pic of Micah - but had to hold Xman while Macy was singing and he kept putting his hand on the lens and screamed when I would try to move it! Lol!



Oh yeah - and my computer will NOT let me open my photoshop or any other editing program b/c of ram - Grrrr - so we have to get it fixed b/c I cannot even compress an image until that is fixed. Trying to talk the hubs into buying a MAC. Anyone know where I can get a good one for cheap? Have a wonderful weekend!
Warm regards,
Amber

Only 16 hours until. . .

I turn 31!! That's right. . .I will have officially launched into the 30's. I can't complain. I'm not one of those who dreads my birthdays either. Although the whole growing old thing doesn't neccessarily have me jumping up and down - I enjoy birthdays. You know in the Bible days where they make a celebration into week long feasts? Yup - that's what I do. I milk it baby! I've already started celebrating early with a Starbucks. I also talked sweet hubs into taking me out for sushi tomorrow night. Anyone who knows him knows this is a huge sacrifice for a guy who doesn't eat much other than pizza and hamburgers. Tomorrow during the day I am going to lunch at none other than Bandidos - a fave for that free birthday meal! My mom and aunt are coming with me. Then Friday night my sweet niece, who is also one of my bestest, is coming home from college with her new sweetie. We are going with a group of friends to eat and to a haunted house! Then it's back here for some wii action and maybe a game of Settlers. We're going to roast marshmallows on the firepit. I even managed to get some craft time in this week. . .I'm going to upload it tonight. I'm entering the Noel Mignon contest for Photoshop CS3, and boy do I need it!! It's a stretch - but a girl can dream, eh? Especially on her birthday!

These are a few of my favorite things. . .

my first mosaic!
Originally uploaded by theclikchick

Fall is my absolute FAVORITE time of year. . .the smell of burning leaves, homemade pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice chai from Starbucks, and yummy candles completely envelops my senses. I love warm sunny days for walking and going on picture taking hunts, and shopping - to chilly days where I can cozy up to hubs in a sweatshirt and drink a warm cup of coffee. Hayrides are my favorite and I have to admit I like the occasional scare from a haunted house with a group of friends. Topping it off is using the firepit and roasting marshmallows. I also start to channel my inner Martha Stewart and enjoy baking. I am totally a sucker for making Halloween treats - yes I've done plenty of the "skeleton cupcakes" and "ghost potatoes", "mummy dogs". I can't help myself. I just use the kiddos as an excuse to make those fun foods! ;) What a lovely fall day it is here - the girls are going to see a movie with Nanny and Papaw while hubs and I take X-man to eat lunch and scout new picture locations. Have a wonderful day!
Warmest regards. . .

Under Construction

This blog is getting a much needed makeover! I am in the process of making this my "scrap/personal" blog and making a new photography blog. I am having a logo made for my new photography business - very exciting! So. . .I want this blog to reflect my design and art style, so someday I can make it onto a design team (sigh!). =) I want my photography blog to be separate and only for my new pictures of clients that I take so new and potential clients can view my portfolio there. All that said. . .please be patient with me while I figure out how to do all these updates! I am taking a class over at SIStv by Kimberly Brimhall and it has been wonderful and exceeded my expectations. She has unlocked some of the mysteries to a great blog for me. I always wondered how people made their own backgrounds - and now I know. . .well. . .at least I'm trying to figure it out based on what she's told us so far! Lol! Happy Thursday, and I'll be updating this more often now that I'm getting the hang of things.