a new day

Alright, on to better days after the one I had yesterday!

My original story yesterday was going to be about the new printer I purchased! I'm sooo excited to get it. I am probably in the dark ages for not having a photo printer, but I have been putting it off and putting it off because I just didn't want to do the research and didn't want to spend the money.

Finally I did the research and I decided it wasn't going to be too bad after all. I decided to go with the HP Photosmart Premium All in One. I ordered it directly from HP for two reasons. I figured if something was wrong with it I was hoping it would be easier to get it solved directly with them (I read mixed reviews on customer service) and also with me buying additional ink the printer and ink ended up being cheaper than anywhere else I saw it.

I really really really wanted a printer that would print 12x12 pages....but decided against getting one. Number one they were much much more expensive and number two I couldn't find one that I liked that came with a scanner. So I decided to go with this one.

I haven't had much experience with printers at all. For the money I thought this was the best choice to try one out. It was on sale and the ink is cheap...compared to others. In fact when I ordered the printer I got some additional ink right away too and one of them only cost me $5! Not bad....

I'm hoping to receive it before the weekend so I can try using it for my first challenge page....no I have not started yet.....eek!

live and learn

Well I had a totally different post planned for today until I tried to use my credit card this morning.

So this is just a reminder to all of you out there who use credit cards...which I would assume is everyone.

I ordered a new printer today (which I will talk about later now) and was trying to use my credit card to order it and the man kept telling me my credit card would not go through. I thought...ok this has happened before...sometimes when they are working on the computers at the credit card company for some reason my card won't go through at that exact moment. Run it again, I told him. Nope, sorry, he said, it won't go through.

So I got off the phone with him and called the credit card company. I immediately knew something was wrong when they directed me to customer service right away...I mean how many menus and pushing buttons do you usually have to go through to get to a customer service rep, right?

So the woman on the other line says "I'm sorry, but there have been fraudulent charges on your card, I need to direct you to security." As I'm sitting in my chair waiting, I'm wondering if I'm going to pass out first or have a heart attack and then pass out. You know that sinking feeling you get when your blood runs cold, you hands start to shake, and your heart starts racing.

Yep...that's the one.

So security comes on and asks me to verify everything of course...all while I can barely choke out the words because I'm so shaken up. Evidently at the end of last week there was a very small charge on my card...and then today there was a MASSIVE charge on my card. "WHAT?" I exploded on the phone....the poor woman on the other end was probably debating calling 911 for me. Between my hyperventilating and questions she kept saying "calm down ma'am...it's ok."

So she got me calmed down enough to explain what was going to happen. The guy was probably checking to see if the card worked by putting a very small amount on it and then wait a couple of days and sent the whopper charge through.

So thanks to some idiot who wanted to steal my credit card I now get to fill out tons of paperwork and have to worry about having my identity stolen.

At least there is a little light at the end of the tunnel...I do have 0% fraud liability on my card. Let's just hope that holds up.

Why me? I kept thinking. This kind of stuff doesn't happen to us!

BUT IT DID!

LESSON LEARNED!!! BE CAREFUL!

Keep your eyes open and check over your credit cards, personal information, etc. Make sure you know your credit card companies terms on fraud, because it can happen to you.

Trust me when I say you don't want to go through this mess.

So although it was not about scrapbooking...I hope everyone learned something today...because I know it was definitely a wake up call for me.

Challenge #1

Alright, it is time to start my first challenge from the
52 more scrapbooking challenges.

If you missed the post talking about the challenges refer back here.

I spent about 10 minutes looking through my pictures and I knew immediately which ones I wanted to use and which challenge I was going to take on first!

It is challenge #4 in the book (I will not be going in order):

Let a song lyric inspire a layout

I'm very excited about this one and the more I think about it, the more songs come to mind to use, but I know which one will be perfect for my page.

Hopefully you decide to join in the fun! It starts now!

been working

I've been busy for the last couple of weeks working on my announcement that is coming up. I'm getting pretty excited for it and hope to have it posted in a couple more weeks. I was going to post a little teaser....but I think I'm just going to wait till the project is complete.

On a different note...today was the last day for registration to the Snowflake Scrap. If you have not gotten your registration in please contact me!



I am gearing up for my 1st challenge that I will start on Sunday. First things first...my working space desperatly needs to be cleaned before I can accomplish anything. I also need to find some pictures and try to figure out what my first challenge will be.

I looked through the book last night and just for an instance thought that I had maybe bit off more than I could chew. But I think it will be fun and refreshing and a great way to get some creative juices flowing. So bring it on!


And of course it's hard to leave without a picture of Khloe. This is one I took when we went looking for our Christmas tree.

scrapbooking goal

I have been having a really hard time finding time to fit in scrapbooking lately and I definitely need to re-establish that in my life. So one of my goals this year is to complete all 52 of Elizabeth Kartchner's scrapbooking challenges from her new book

WHEW....I know it will be a challenge, but I'm up for it. I need something new and refreshing to help me get back into it. I figure I will take each challenge and work on it throughout a weeks time. I know I am already a week or so behind, but I'm sure I can play catch up at some point.

I wanted a few goals on my list this year that were definitely achievable, but not too easy. Allowing myself a week for each challenge SHOULD allow me to accomplish that goal (keep your fingers crossed for me). I'm planning to start on Sunday and will be posting the first challenge. After that I plan to post each new challenge on Sunday along with my page from the week that I completed.

That is my PLAN....should it not work every single week throughout the whole year it will be darn close...give or take here or there! ;)

The great part is when I announce which challenge I am taking on for the week you have the choice to begin that challenge with me! If you are up to the challenge of the week, email me your completed page at the end of the week. I would love to post some different examples of that challenge on my blog.

an amazing year

I have my goals in place and my mind ready to make 2010 an amazing year. I am watching Heidi's live webcast tonight. Troy was kind enough to put her to bed tonight...which worked out perfect because she wanted to lay with him tonight anyways! :)

I thought that I would share one of my goals for 2010 with you.

I have been having a really hard time finding time to fit in scrapbooking lately and I definitely need to re-establish that in my life. So one of my goals for 2010 is to complete all 52 of Elizabeth Kartchner's scrapbooking challenges from her new book. WHEW....I know it will be a challenge, but I'm up for it. I need something new and refreshing to help me get back into it. I figure I will take each challenge and work on it throughout a weeks time. I know I am already a week or so behind, but I'm sure I can play catch up at some point.

I wanted a few goals on my list this year that were definitely achievable, but not too easy. Allowing myself a week for each challenge SHOULD allow me to accomplish that goal (keep your fingers crossed for me). I'm planning to start on Sunday and will be posting the first challenge. After that I plan to post each new challenge on Sunday along with my page from the week that I completed.

That is my PLAN....should it not work every single week throughout the whole year it will be darn close...give or take here or there! ;)

The great part is when I announce which challenge I am taking on for the week you have the choice to begin that challenge with me! If you are up to the challenge of the week, email me your completed page at the end of the week. I would love to post some different examples of that challenge on my blog.

reminder

I just wanted to remind everyone that the deadline for the Snowflake Scrap is January 8th...which is Friday! So if you have NOT gotten your registration forms in....get to it! :)

If you are interested in coming and did not receive a form in the mail please email me and I can get your registered! My email address is paperscrappin@q.com.

Hope to see everyone there....and also hoping for good weather!

Our life....365 days a year

Last year I came across an idea to take a picture a day for 365. I honestly can't remember where I saw it...there are so many people doing it now. But of course it was in March or April when I saw it so I thought it was kinda pointless to start then. I put it on my to do list for 2010. Well the clock struck midnight the other night and I started clicking away on my camera.

I have had my scrapbook layout for these pictures all planned out for awhile now. I also thought it would be something fun to share with everyone, but I wasn't quite sure how to go about doing that. I didn't really want to take up a post on my blog with my "picture of the day" so....what to do?

I was going through my blog roll to see if I could find a solution to my problem and I clicked on to Talia's blog. She is also doing the 365 pictures. She decided to start a new blog just for the pictures....duh, why didn't I think of that?

Sometimes you just need someone else to flip that switch for you.

So the work has begun on my new blog! Just what I needed...one more project, right? There will be a link to the new blog on my sidebar in case you decide to check it out. Don't expect anything to fancy! I just think it is such a great way to capture those everyday moments that we always just let pass us by. I know I will have fun looking back on all those pictures someday!

It isn't too late to start your picture of the day! It only takes a minute!

I have a little bit bigger announcement that will be coming soon as well!

welcome 2010

Doesn't 2010 feel good?!?!?! I am sooo ready for a fresh start, new opportunities, and new achievements both persnally and professionally.

I decided to start my year off by putting my goals in writing on New Year's Eve.

Then yesterday I checked out Heidi's blog and found her idea for a "simply amazing" year. I can't resist...it looks too "amazing" to pass up! So I am going to print up my sheets for it today and get started. I'm so excited for this journey in 2010!

Also, if you have never checked out House of 3 and you are a digital scrapbooker be sure and check it out while you are printing off your sheets for your "simply amazing" year! I get a lot of my digital stuff there. They have great items and lots of fun ideas!

Meanwhile, at my house....we are kid free! My parents took Khloe last night for a sleepover and she is spending most of the day there today. Which means.....lots of scrapbooking time for me. I can't wait to get the creative juices flowing! I also have a lot in store for my blog this year and can't wait to get started!

I'll leave you with a picture of Khloe I took the other night. We have had a few trying weeks/months at our house. Khloe has definitely discovered her independence and likes to see how far she can push it sometimes. I guess that is what they call the "terrible twos." You know, you just always hope your kid somehow passes that over...but it didn't work out for us.

She is also getting teeth and only has two left to get...thank goodness! She has NEVER done well with teething.

Hopefully 2010 also brings us some more sleep at night. She was sleeping through the night for awhile after she got her tonsils/adenoids out and now we are back to not sleeping through the night.

Does this ever get any easier? On second thought....don't answer that...I don't think I want to know! :)

But moments like this make it all worth it!