Favorite Sports

I just can't express how much I love the Olympics. I look forward to it every two years. I find such joy watching all of these athletes who have worked so hard for so long participate in these events. And they are so peaceful and kind to each other. I just love it!

I do have my favorite sports.. I am REALLY enjoying the women's soccer, volleyball and beach volleyball. Those are three of my favorite all time sports! And they are doing so well! It is so exciting!! I really enjoyed watching the archery competition this year too! Who knew! I always enjoy watching the swimming competitions, but there are just so many swimming events! I even enjoyed watching some of the outdoor bicycle races this year.

Sports I don't understand... Tennis.. maybe if I understood it a bit more I might enjoy it better? Maybe.. I just don't know LOL Judo.. what is Judo all about? I thought it was a martial arts competition, but it seems to be more wrestling to me.. I found it very odd. And then there are those that I can watch a little bit of them, but then I get restless LOL They would be the water polo, hockey type games. Oh and basketball.. We have amazing basketball teams, but I have a hard time sitting there watching them. Basketball just doesn't do it for me. Then there are those that I just can't watch.. I tried.. I really did!!  Badminton, Table Tennis, Synchronized Swimming. Now, don't get me wrong.. these athletes are still amazing and I know they have all trained so hard.. Just not my cup of tea.

What would I like to see?  Hmm.... Grid Iron.. good ole American Football!! Now wouldn't that be fun LOL! Grueling Rugby.. now that would be fun! And what are they bringing to Rio?? I think they are bringing Rugby to Rio.. I'm not positive.. but I believe they are bring Golf. Yuck! LOL I will watch paint dry thank you.. LOL No.. I'm not a golfer.. and I can't imagine sitting there and watching it. I know I know.. another great sport.. again! Just not my cup of tea ;)

So what about you? What are your favorites... least favorites... want a sport added?

Here is a card I've worked on for a couple of days.. I've figured out that I can only seem to get a card finished every other day during the week. It is just too hard to get anything more done when you work all day. It doesn't help that the Olympics are on and a lot of my time is spent looking at the TV LOL!!

I used a bunch of scraps that I had..Basic Grey, Oh Baby! Boy. The planets are Itty Bitty from the Unity Stamp Company. It is called Solar Elem.. and I just love that stamp! the "You're Out Of This World" is from Market Street Stamps - Blast Off. I stitched on this card.. I colored the planets with my Prismacolor Pencils. I used my Brilliance Graphite Black to stamp the sentiment. That's it.. pretty simple card.

Challenges:

• August Sketch Challenge @ I {Heart} 2 Stamp
• Challenge #1: Anything Goes @ No Matter Which Challenges
• Challenge Theme: Manly; Stash Item: 2 or More Patterned Paper @ Clear It Out Challenge Blog
• Be Inspired Challenge #8 @ The Alley Way Stamps
• Challenge #75: Everything Goes @ Challenge Up Your Life
• Challenge #127: All About the Boys @ Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog
• Anything goes @ Papertake Weekly Challenge
• Use Your Ippity/Unity Stamps @ {ippity} OpportUNITY
• Challenge 122: Anything Goes @ Craft Your Passion Challenges
• Something Old, Something New (old: Basic Grey papers; new: both stamps) @ Sugar Creek Hollow
• Boys/Men Masculine Card @ Designed To Color
• One Year Challenge @ Marianne's Design Divas

Unproductive Today!

It has just been one of those days where I had all intentions of getting all kinds of things done and I don't feel like I got anything done!  I guess we all have days like that.. well most of us LOL!

This morning I got up and spent my morning with Kevin. We have been watching the Olympics together each morning. As best we can LOL He was watching the Marathon this morning and I was trying to watch tennis. I just don't get tennis.. I don't get the scoring or anything.. it is all confusing. So, Kevin was trying to explain it to me the best he could without being here watching it with me. I think I do understand it a little better. Anyway.. he was telling me what was happening in the marathon and I was asking him questions about the tennis match LOL

Then, it was time to get ready for church. I woke the kids.. who had a hard time rolling out of bed this morning. They are taking advantage of the fact that I can't stay awake late. They are staying up way too late! I'm going to have to turn the wireless off so they can't get online and set my alarm so that I can wake up and make sure they are going to bed. They did finally get moving and dressed and off to church we went. It was a good sermon.. all about being one as a community. He has a way about him.. he explains what he is talking about, he is explains the history and then he takes the lesson and explains it in a way that makes it current.. something of today and it all just falls into place. I really enjoy listing and learning from him. There was a lady behind us and as we were leaving she says that she can tell I really love my kids and that its nice that I am always hugging them or holding their hand LOL I'm such a touchy feely person... but hey.. that's me!

We came home and I had good intentions to make a card today. I went through the blogger posts.. I cleared off my desk a bit and didn't get anything done. The phone rang about noon and it was my mother. We headed over to her place and she had me ride with her to the gas station. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to pump the gas with her broken wrist. Poor thing.. She figured out it wasn't that hard with her left hand to pump gas. Then it was back to her place to mow the grass. This was Michael's first time ever mowing grass.. I was so excited! He needs the practice LOL He did great.. although my mother is impatient and was telling him to move it LOL I forgot to bring the camera, so I had to take photos with my phone. Bailey and I cut up cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and celery for her salad she wanted to make and then Bailey did the few dishes she had there. My mother again showed her impatience by pushing Bailey along .. as she wasn't fast enough doing those dishes!! My mother said she could have done them faster with her one hand LOL Gotta love her ;)

Home again!! I'm going to work on a card now!!  Nope.. wrong.. more looking at blogs... reading emails.. cleaning up the desk a bit more LOL I'm not sure what my issue was.. tired I think! I finally decided on some scrap papers and stamp... I have a lot of the card done and I'll finish it up in the morning. I did get some dishes done.. Ummm.. I think I put a few things away in the kitchen.. but WOW! Overall, I was really lazy and unproductive today LOL I think I should have taken a nap!

Have you seen the previews for the new show that will be starting soon... Revolution? It really interests me.. I think I will have to watch it and see how it is. It is something different... peaks my interest for sure. Anything that is peaking your interest?

Alright.. I'm off for the night.. I really need to get to bed and get some rest! Darn Olympics!! They will keep me up again LOL It's all their fault ;)

==============
For several years my kids played soccer. They really seemed to enjoy it.. especially the girls. Michael only liked it when I was the coach. Oh... he could drive you mad that kid LOL He would pout when someone got the ball from him or he didn't do something correctly. He would just stop. He is an extra sensitive kid.. even today LOL

This was one of Taylor's teams... she had a lot of fun!

Happy Hump Day.. Half Way There

This Saturday we will be up at the crack of dawn and helping our church set up and run a school supply giveaway. They will be giving backpacks and school supplies, haircuts, eyes, ears, and teeth exams for kids in the community that need the assistance. I'm very excited to help out and more importantly get the kids involved in some giving back to the community. Bailey and Michael will both be going with me. Just say a little prayer that Michael will really help out and not be his lazy self. He is the laziest person I know LOL and he is my kid! Ughh frustrating!!

It's been an interesting time at work. I've been doing two jobs.. working quite a bit of overtime each week for quite a few months now. The lady that was out on sick leave has come back, but it was such a mess when she left that they are having me gradually give her work back to her. I'm really hesitant giving it back to her too. Part of it is selfish though.. that is just that I've learned so much and cleaned it up and changed the process so that it works better that I just hate to give it up! I also support four Executive Directors.. well I did.. I am now the only one so I will be supporting all of the Executive Directors... eight of them.. and soon to be three VP's. I'm thinking that is just not going to happen LOL AND! on top of that they wanted me to go help out another VP who had her Admin quit. I'm thinking I'm only one.. and that is really stretching me a bit thin. Hopefully we can find someone good to come in and help out. This will be the fourth Admin we will have been through. That's life! I have an awesome boss, so I'm not complaining.. although I'm still waiting on that raise she promised me!

We are now in August and I'm patiently.. Okay.. maybe a bit impatiently... waiting on immigration to let us know something. I know it is getting really hard on Kevin. We just want this waiting to be over. It will be five months on the 12th of August. I'm going to get a box ready to send over to him with the album that I worked on and some other things that need to go. I pray every day that the time will be over and that we can be together again and get this family back to normal. Hopefully soon...

School starts in a couple of weeks. They start back on the 13th of August. I can't wait!! LOL  Summer vacation in the US is just WAY too long!!! Not to mention that they forget everything they have learned. I have managed to get some supplies for Bailey. We still need to go shopping for some pants and Michael needs his supplies. Sneak a Peek is next Thursday. We will go in and meet the teachers.. see where the classes are. Bailey is very excited since she will be starting middle school. I can't believe she will be in the 6th grade! And Michael will be starting the 8th grade! Boy do they grow up so fast!

Me.. I've been enjoying the Olympics.. I have it on my laptop at work, on the tv at home.. I even put the snooze on the TV so I am falling asleep to it LOL I LOVE the Olympics.. and I am really enjoying them online as well.  It's really been great! I hope you all are enjoying it as well! I watched a young girl from Iraq today competing in Archery. It made me get all teary eyed watching her.. With a big smile on her face. It was wonderful to see.

Today I finished up a card I've been working on since yesterday. Its my hot chocolate Warmest Wishes :)

I used scrap papers, fussy cut free images of snowflakes, The Art Glittering System - Brown and Crystal, Stitching on the sewing machine, the wonderful image is from MelJens Designs and it was colored using Copics. I also used my Zig Millenium to add some detailing like the steam lines and popped the penguin. I used dies for the circle and scalloped circle. I used a punch for the smaller snowflakes.

Challenges:

• National Milk Chocolate and Hamburget Day (hot chocolate) @ Drunken Stampers
• Animal Cards for Kids @ Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog
• 14th Challenge: Birds @ Crafty Mess
• Challenge #49: Animals or Insects @ Pattie's Creations Design Challenge
• Challenge 19: Anything Goes @ Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude
• Challenge 19: Anything Goes @ ATCs and Cards with Attitude
• Glitz and Glimmer Challenge @ The Paper Shelter
• PTT #70: Anything Goes @ Party Time Tuesdays
• #109: Doodling (the swirls and dots for steam) @ Tuesday Throwdown
• Anything Goes @ The Poodles Parlour
• Anything Goes @ Scrap-Creations
• Challenge #171: Monochromatic @ Digital Tuesday Challenges
• Anything Goes @ MelJen Designs
• Challenge #102: Christmas in July Week 4 @ 2 Sister's Challenge Blog
• Challenge 70: Christmas in July @ Lexi's Creations
• #23 Christmas in July @ The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog
• Lots of Layers @ Whoopsie Daisy Challenges
• Dies and Punches @ Crazy Amigo Challenge
• Challenge #5: Anything Goes @ Papelitos Stamp Challenge

Olympic Weekend and Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge

Today begins a new challenge

The theme this week is Challenge #21 - Anything Goes!  I made two cards for this challenge. The first card I used Candy Cane from Floppy Latte:

The photo really doesn't show the coloring that well in the 1st photo.. Oh well. All of the paper is scraps. I used die cuts for the circle and the scalloped circle. The ribbon is from my stash. I colored with Prismacolor Pencils and I duplicated several of the candies and popped them. You can see some of the dimension on the 2nd photo.

Challenges:

• PTT #78: Christmas in July @ Party Time Tuesday
• Challenge 38: Christmas in July @ Cardmadfairy's Digi Days
• Blogger Challenge: Week 266/Christmas In July @ Inking Aloud
• Christmas In July @ Splendiferous Creations
• Christmas In July @ Sweet Stampin'
• Challenge #35: Christmas In July @ Addicted To Stamps

The 2nd card I used the image Butterfly Love from Stitchy Bears:

I used scrap papers, the die cuts are sizzix. I added pearls to some of the ends on the swirls and I added rhinestones to a few sections of the swirls. The image is colored using Prismacolor Pencils. I used a couple of glitters from The Art Glittering System - Grape and Wild Rose. I used them around the wing. The darker purple right on the edge of the wing and the Wild rose on the inside of the wing. I used Ice Stickles Crystal on the swirls although the photo isn't really showing it that well. I popped and did several layers with this one. The very top wing is popped the highest and then the wing part right below it is popped just a bit lower. . You can see some of the depth in the 2nd photo.

Challenges:

• Free Theme @ Crazy Amigo Challenge
• Pearls and Swirls @ Paper Crafting Journey
• Monday Challenge #1: Anything Goes @ The Crafty Bloggers Network
• #175: Color Challenge (White, Green, Purple) @ Dutch Dare Card Challenges
• Anything Goes @ Willow Designs
• Challenge 143: All That Glitters! @ Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge
• Looking for Mystical Creatures: Fairies, Mermaids, Etc! @ Di's Digi Designs
• Challenge #142: Pearls @ Totally Gorjuss

Weekend Happenings...

Friday morning I woke Bailey up early and we went shopping for school supplies. I did a little bit of grocery shopping as well. Then we came home and I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out how to watch the opening ceremony live.. which by my vent before you can see I never figured out. I did watch it that night and I didn't think it was very good. I mean.. It was a lot about the history of England and I think their history is amazing, but I don't know.. there were only a couple of things that really stood out to me. I loved the five flame rings coming together and then raining down fire. I thought James Bond picking up the Queen and then parachuting out of the helicopter was cute.. and Mr. Bean was hilarious. Just my opinion though ;)

Saturday, we went to my sisters to celebrate Bailey's birthday. We watched the Olympics and had cake. That is the weekend, celebrate with the family deal LOL Taylor came and she gave Bailey some scrapbook supplies. My sister and Bailey went out for a bit.. Okay.. it seemed like they were gone forever, because I was ready to go home LOL But it was a good day. Then I came home, talked to Kevin and watched more Olympics.

Sunday, we went to church.. had to go to a quick meeting afterwards, because the kids and I area volunteering for an event next Saturday. And the rest of the day has been spent making cards and watching the Olympics.. And of course talking to Kevin :)  We are almost at five months!! We should hear something really soon from immigration. I really hope we hear from someone soon!

Olympic Lag

I had heard all over that NBC would be airing the Opening Ceremonies on the internet via a live web feed. Well... when the time came I was waiting and searching to only find out that NBC had decided that Americans would have to wait and see the Opening Ceremonies at 7:30 pm EST tonight!! Three hours after the Olympic Opening Ceremonies had happened. So.. am I suppose to just sit here and pretend that the Opening Ceremonies are going on? Oh no.. I find their thinking very wrong. I was really looking forward to sitting here with Kevin and watching the ceremonies. He is watching them and I am listening to them on his TV. How wrong is that!! We should have been able to watch them together. It really upsets me! Ughhhh .. so that is my venting...  I don't like Olympic Lag! And the fact that I can go online and see highlights of what has already happened.. well .. that just ticks me off too!! LOL Can you tell I'm upset?

I have been sitting here working on another card. I finished it.. hated it LOL and then took it apart and changed the papers. I like it better now. I did drop the ink pad on the edge of the image though so I had to come up with my fix it LOL The Stars ;) Hey.. it worked LOL

All of the papers are scraps.. the random buttons. All glittered up are the stars and the Believe. The ribbon is American Crafts Ruban Premium White. The edges were inked with ColorBox Warm Green Fluid Chalk. I colored her with Copic: E000, E00, E11 for the skin, E50, E51 and E55 for the hair, the greens were G20, G24, G28, the red are R24, R27, R29... I highlighted the white areas with E40. Hmmmm.. and I forgot to color her Bell!! So I'm going to have to go back and color that LOL

Challenges:

• Sketch Challenge @ Bugaboo Stamps
• Bingo (Diecuts:the circle; Free Space; Glitter: Buttons)@ Come and get It Challenges
• Christmas In July @ Whoopsie Daisy
• Challenge #72: Star Struck @ Celebrate the Occasion
• Christmas In July - Challenge #84 @ Lollipop Crafts
• Monday Challenge #63: Christmas In July @ My Crafty Spot
• Challenge 26: Ho Ho Ho Christmas @ Crafter's Companion
• Challenge #36: Christmas In July @ Creatalicious Challenges
• Belli Challenge #148: Christmas In July (old and forgotten: buttons) @ Creative Belli Blog
• Challenge #21: Christmas In July @ Go Fish

Lunch with the Kids and HAPPY OPENING CEREMONIES!

I'm about to head out and take the kids to lunch. Bailey wants to eat at Golden Corral and I told her we could go for her birthday. And.. I have to be back at home by 3 pm so I can watch the opening ceremonies.. I'll have to watch online, but that's all good. I'll be waking Kevin up and he is going to watch with me. So off we go.

I worked on a card this morning and I can't remember the image author.. So, if you know who this is, please let me know so I can give proper credit! I've decided I need to go back through all my images and put the author in their names so I don't forget! I'll have to go searching later if no one knows. I love this image!

Papers are all scraps that I have. I stitched on the plaid green sheet and the poinsetta sheet. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and stamped the Merry Christmas with Warm Green Colorbox Chalk Inkpad. The Merry Christmas is a Hero Arts Stamp. I distressed the edges of the papers as well. I also used Ice Stickles Crystal for the white chocolate on the strawberry.. i think that is what that is LOL and the white on the santa hat.

Challenges:

• Challenge #101: Christmas in July w/ Twist: use an Animal Image @ 2 Sisters Challenge Blog
• Week 164: Distressing @ AllSorts
• Week 77: Sewing @ Less Is More 
• Sketch Saturday #217 @ Sketch Saturday 
• Christmas in July @ Anyone for Anya

Have a happy Day!! And enjoy the Opening Ceremonies today if you can!!

Happy Olympics Eve

Good morning everyone.. or evening for those of you going to bed soon. And Happy Olympics Eve! The opening ceremonies are tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited. I just LOVE the Olympics. The games have already begun; there have been some events that have been going on. Kevin and I were talking about that this morning... and he makes so much sense ;)  I was surprised that they were going on before the opening ceremonies, but when he said that the team sports take more time because they can only play a game a day.. well.. doesn't that make perfect sense LOL  Just things that I don't think about. The U.S. Women's soccer team played and won... that is all I've heard so far. I will have to do some snooping around today to see what is going on. I also need to find out when the opening ceremonies are tomorrow. I love to watch the opening ceremonies and everyone trying to outdo the previous years LOL It is always a lot of fun.. Okay.. except when all the countries walk in.. because it just takes so long and I lose interest really quickly LOL

What else has been going on? I have been training a temp to help out in another department.. and I hate training people! I've been back and forth and feel like I haven't gotten anything accomplished really this week. Today I'm not going over there so I will just focus and try to get a bunch done.

We have been home since Tuesday... Wow!  That isn't very long is it LOL  No wonder I haven't recuperated!  I feel so worn out, but at least I was able to work on a card last night for OSAAT and I'm almost finished with it. I worked on it some more this morning and when I get home I will put the last touches on it. I am also going to print some images here at work... better printer! I brought my paper and that will give me some images to work with this weekend.

Night before last I was watching Netflix in the bedroom.. dozing off, when all of a sudden I heard a 'POP' and a big flash of light which woke me from doze. My DVD player was fried! I have been having some trouble with that thing for a little while now. I stopped by BrandsMart and picked up a new DVD last night... making sure I got one that I could connect to Netflix. Wouldn't you know!! I paid attention to the Netflix part, but failed to pay attention to the WiFi part. Ughhhh.. so I packed it back up and I'll return it today. I hate when I do things like that. I get in such a hurry that I don't pay close enough attention. Or, I don't read something carefully. This is really a bad habit of mine.. I need to slow down and pay closer attention. i got annoyed when I went in there, because there were about five salesmen just standing around talking. So, I grabbed and ran.. My fault! I should have paid closer attention! I knew what I needed. Tonight I will stop back by and exchange it for the correct DVD on my way home.

Here is a card for today:

The stamps are from Stampin' Up. Its just pretty simple. The square is covered in Diamond Glaze and then I cracked it. I love Diamond Glaze!

Challenges:

• Challenge 18: Anything Goes @ ATC's + Cards With Attitude
• Challenge 26: Color Challenge @ E.A.D Designs
• Clean and Simple @ Paper Pretties
• Challenge # 94: Anything Goes @ Crafts and Me Challenges
• Day 140: Layered Stamps @ 365 Cards