Living While Dreaming

2011-05-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

Four Light portrait with cookie on background light.

Single strobes -

Glass; black and White edge -

Photo clone - from Rangefinder mag

Dragging the Shutter - 2 second exposure and at sync speed.

Shiny Metal -

Reflected Sun -

Four light product shot -

Painting With light -

Moonlight Strobe -

Schools out for summer!

2011-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Time to get back to the home life. I'm glad, I've missed hanging with my family and taking care of them.
I think I'll share my school projects tomorrow; today I have to get my life a little organized. Wish me luck.

New design option

2009-10-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

This is the new design I am working on for my blog.

It's coming along slowly but surely.

2009-03-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Whirlwind

2009-03-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Cleaning up around here a little and thought I would download a bunch of pictures off my little elph I picked up back when I thought my Rebel was broken down and busted. So here is a photo tour:

ITC Christmas meeting and auction, I had to bring my kids. The ladies were gracious enough to say they enjoyed them...This is Bruno, the mini dachshund we got as a gift from my mother back when I was finishing up my bed rest. - Love him!! he is the sweetest thing ever.

Parents Day at dance x5
8" of snow! may sound like no big deal but when you live in the desert, it's a BIG DEAL! I could not go home, they closed both roads to my little town, spent the night at my dads - and went to work late the next day. :) - I was traumatized, after all...

I have a new and very expensive obsession... Which make me want to color and make cards - like this one.

Another Card!

2009-03-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

made it with some a new stampavie stamp I got at http://www.7kidscollegefund.com see the black line right in the middle? that happend when I flipped over the image to put my adheisive on. I was so sad I just stuck it on anyway, I will restamp and color a new froggie replacement, but who knows when that will be! So I had to share right away. :)

Thanks Felicia & Collin

2009-03-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

thank you Collin for your help on the Animoto posting procedure! It did not help but thanks! I am sure it was my silly headed fault for not being able to use a user friendly website! So, Thanks Felicia for being a super duper bomb diggity rip roarin' - you get the idea - web master! and using your superior skills to hook me up! Your grrrrrreeeeat!

A lil of this n a lil of That

2009-03-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

My fave BIL came to town from Seattle and took Edward out to the races all day Saturday and Sunday. It was us girls time to play all weekend! yeah!!
**edited to add, Wow! is this a great picture or what?! sweet hubby is getting much better! I am sure it's my good influence...

a layout I made a few weeks ago from Tori's 6th birthday which was almost 4 years ago!

I also have been trying to perfect my card making skills and was pretty happy with how this one turned out. de little birdies are so stinkin cute!
and the last lil thing, my new siggy! I LOVE IT! Colors, pictures, sentiment, love every bit of it! It was one of those things that just come together perfectly in a few minutes.

My little girl Lex dancing with her cousin Rylan

2009-02-23T18:09:00.000-08:00

at the elementary school talent show last week.
so cute!! cant get enough of it!
Rylan

they were so cute and tiny! Lexi just turned 11 on the 17th and Rylan is 10 for a few more months still. Did you notice their feet zipping across the floor? love it!

Super-Duper Close!

2009-02-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

Last minute list is out and I am busy putting everything together for a Happy Heart Day!
I made the girls super cute cards (: well I think they are!;)to pass out in class, here's lexi's
I have a half eaten box of chocolate to give Edward, for fun. And I am considering having something jump out of box at him...

I actually got the sweetest Aunt in the world a Valentine made and dum de dum... MAILED! I couldn't be more proud of myself, for that one!

And last but not least I have to share the packaging from my Valentine from Becca ( I am not allowed to see my actual valentine of course, but she has showed me little seek peeks :)
lol! Tori got mad 'cause Becca used some of the papers I handed down to her without asking! I wanted to laugh so hard when Becca -in typical little sister style- showed me, but I held it in, since she was very upset her envelope was ruined. OMGosh! Our girls crack me up!!

Have a Happy Heart Day!

Sweet-ums

2009-02-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

What could be sweeter for the big Heart day than these sweet cheeks? I was so lucky to get to watch her for a little while last weekend. I was super excited to bless my lens with her sweetness!

A few months ago her mommy was watching me and let me get some shots of her. She is so beautiful, wasn't it sweet of her to pass it down?

give it away

2009-01-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

I did! 16 years ago for a half eaten box of conversation hearts.

The Heart Day is coming

2009-01-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

can't wait!

Official Christmas Card Photo!

2008-12-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

Ha ha ha! When I saw a tag with "Official Christmas Card Photo" on it, on Liz K's blog I had to lift it. So cute and I think it will now be on everyone of our future Christmas cards! Which makes me happy to think about.
If your not on our mailing list, this is just for you! Merry Christmas from our home and hearts to yours.

Rain - AT LAST!

2008-11-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

This is how it goes down here in Southern Nevada, no rain to speak of for months and months and BAM! Flash Flood Central. LoVe it! Sure, it is scary and sad for those who get caught in its devastating power, but none the less I thrill in the power of these rains, nothing else is like it.
Streets turn into rivers and the sunny blue sky is temporarily obscured by a undulating grey mass. Awesome, powerfull, enchanting and horrifying, not convinced? I just might be the only one in the world to feel this way. And I will continue to be amazed in this beautiful and dangerous world, if I make it home safe tonight. . .

Spooky

2008-10-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks Cathy

2008-10-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

for this weeks sketch #1 I love love love it! and think my lo is definitely one of my best. it was one that just would not come together and I was fussing with it for the entire day but when I tried the super cute brad swish I just purchased at shabby princess it changed the direction I was going and I rocketed off to a new dimension of Pretty. Let me know if you like-ie.

Another Day

2008-10-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

Ever feel life is passing you by? And all you can do is lay there watching? In a very real way that is what is happening to me as I lay trying to speed heal. My life is whizzing around me like Hurricane Jaimie only I can only participate when the eye comes in close to ground zero, my hospital bed. I have never wanted to clean my house more desperately than I do now, not that I am not making the girls pick up and Edward is fantastic as always (he deep cleaned the kitchen last weekend) but I lay here or even when I get up to make a potty run, and can only stare at the crayon laying on the ground or the dust accumulating on the right hand side of the ceiling near the fan. I don't know if that makes sense or not but that's where I am, I am supposed to be released from bed rest on the 20th but no word for sure.

anywho, here is the 2nd assignment from Cathy's class last week, cant wait to do this weeks!!

I did it! I did it! flat on my back.

2008-10-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

Yay! first assignment done! Thought I would not include the part where we did not go to dinner and did spend the night at the hospital. . .

somting different to create while flat on your back

2008-09-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

starting Cathy Z's class tomorrow and I am really nervous. I am having such a hard time doing anything how in the world am I going to be able to create anything? Let alone pushing my creativeness to the limit on something funky fresh and ah inspiring??

I am out of bed for about an hour a day total now so that is good but I really have to spend that time taking care of myself and trying to get some paperwork done. so I may get behind on the assignments but hopefully not...
hers a pic of how cute I was the first night in the ER.

T9 party = T9 fracture

2008-09-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Toris 9th bday was fun until I broke my back. Picture this; we're at the roller rink I was planning on being a mom, on the sideline directing traffic but my new camera wont cooperate no matter what setting I put it on, I just cannot get good pictures of the skaters. I decided I would have to get out there if I wanted a good one and I thought I might help my littlest practice since she was no where near actual 'skating'. I did what any scrap'n mama would do and laced up.
I think I made it around about 9 times before both my feet went out in front of me and I essentially did a pile driver on my tail bone.
This resulted in;
immediate end of skating party
trip to ER
ex-rays, CAT Scans and MRI's
50% compression fracture of my T9 vertebrae
multiple other minor fractures of vertebrae
7 day hospital stay
predicted 6 weeks of bed rest

so yes, I write this from a horizontal position and no, I did not get any good pictures and my little still does not know how to skate properly.

Not just another day

2008-09-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

Today is Toris 9th bday it's crazy how quickly they grow and at the same time how see seems so much older than nine. She would like to feed the homeless this afternoon and then have a food fight tonight. Conflicting agendas?

Made a layout of Lexi and Whitey from last weekend, I plan on doing two more lo's and will share when I do.

check out my new slide with updated and bigger pictures of my layouts also take a minute and listen to my new play list, it was incredibly fun creating it!
Enjoy!:)

I am being bad!

2008-08-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am at work but was taking a quick break to check what all my fav bloggers were up to before we head out of town for the long weekend. I stumbled across this on CKMBM Joscie's blog that she got from CKMBM Jingles blog and I took the quick quiz and about fell out of my chair laughing because it was so appropriate! Who knew I would be so easy to define? a few quick multiple choice questions and BAM!

You Are Comic Sans

You are a nothing but a big goofball. You're quite playful and fun!
You're widely known for your zany personality and your vivacious attitude.

To say that you stand out in a crowd would be a definite understatement.
Remember that you are overwhelming at times and that people appreciate you best in small doses.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatfontareyouquiz/">What Font Are You?

Change is Good

2008-08-27T22:52:00.001-07:00

When the girls got out of school for the summer and we got to relax a little, enjoy the summer sun and play it was a time to celebrate. Now school has started up again and nothing could be sweeter than sending their smiling little baby faces back into the doors of learning. It's all about change, a little bit 'o this and a little bit 'o that.

exhibit #1
I picked up this little essential back to school supply. I have been wanting one and since I am going to have to send my poor Rebel off to Canon for repairs I couldn't see any reason why I couldn't get some new goodies right along with the girls.
My first homework assignment is to study the guide. Even if I don't get an 'A' knowing how to use some of the functions will be it's own reward. 'Change is good. . . Change is good. . . '

Exhibit #2

This little sweet cheeks is actually on her way to her second week back at dance and happy as we were when last season was finally over we are even more pleased to have our new schedules (No Saturday classes!!! yea!!) new shoes, new tights, new suits, new bags and most especially we are so happy Becca's hair is too short to have to put a bun on her over sensitive head!! Change is sooo good.

Exhibit #3

Bed time is back on! Mama now has some happy scrappy time or bed time, either will do!! As fun as it was working on projects with this adorable trio, it is a lot of work to keep the paint going on the projects and not the already seriously damaged craft room carpet, crayons in the box, fighting over who has priority use of the 'good' scissors and who the last person to use the glue stick was. I am happy to be able to create and have elbow room, sweet silence is just a bonus.

I rest my case.

CKU explained (without a camera:o()

2008-08-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

Loved making this cover for the Ali Edwards Evolution class. Most people painted the entire cover including the lace card stock black, which of course was very chic.

That night as I was starring at this beautiful thing I decided to push it a little farther and add some glorious Glimmer Mist and if you knew how proud I was of it before i took this daring step you could not believe that I love it more now, but I do.

I plan to coat the cover with modge podge to keep the lace cs from peeling up and ripping. We used some extremely sticky spray glue that worked wonderfully to hold it down for most people but I went lightly and carefully with it since some people including my room mate Kathryn had extremely sticky spray glue on their hands and even arms that, being extremely sticky spray glue, would not come off!

This is the -in Ali's words- 'Hello, I am making an album' page the Heidi S. transparency is it's own page so when you turn it the picture below has nothing on it. So freakin' cool!!!

There are many pages made from transparencies in this album, little 6x8 pages with just pictures of the same size on each side, such a neat element. Another little page she had us do was with pictures we had that did not necessarily fit into her specific guideline, was to take two pictures of the same size put them back to back, punch holes in them and voila you have cute little page! This book is so fun with all the different size pages and elements. Another favorite page in this album is on the back of three full size chipboard pages we added these page protector thingies for the journaling - New To Me! Love it!!

I did go to about 20 other classes too. We all made slide books with Piggie Tales ( their new line looks so fantastic including these super cute springs for page elements), we made a mini book for CKU memories with a page by each of the designers that were each fun in their own way, Lisa B's page was so her and she used the cutest brads that I still don't know the manufacturer of :( the making memories page turned out really cute as well. We also all made a full sized 2 page lo with Scenic Route using my new favorite thing Glossy Accents which is so fun to use. We used it in the Tim Holtz class as well but we used it as a glue on the back of some 'fragments' (clear acrylic shapes) that we put on patterned paper and then cut out to use as elements on our mirrors.

I was originally thinking 'I don't want to make a mirror' I am so glad I did! Not that I totally love the mirror itself but the techniques we used were jaw dropping cool, for me. Crackle paint is so much easier to use than I thought it would be! if you haven't tried it, try it! We used ink in ways I would never have thought of! AmaZing! And holy cow did you know you can run grunge board thru your die cut machine using an embossing folder and change the pattern on it as many times as you want? WOW definitely on my want list.

I took classes using the quick cuts revolution and a rusty pickle class that I made this fun album with tons of flips, folds and funky pockets! Lance is a blast, he was constantly saying 'okay this is how you do it NOW, GO'! LOL!

What an incredible experience! a 5 day party with 500 scrap'n freaks like me from all over the world, inspiration by the truck load from all the people I have been admiring from a distance all these years who are so down to earth and friendly, even Lisa B. who had her picture taken with practically every woman and one guy there was much more charming than I could ever have been. All this AND yea AND!! I took five bags full of give-a-ways home! Seriously, and I was one who bought hardly nothing and only won a few drawings for small items. People were winning literally buckets, arm loads and handy shoulder bags full of scrap goodness! by Saturday night people were hoping they would NOT get anything else! sound impossible? believe me, I was there and although I did not take notes as suggested, I did hear this repeated often enough to remember it! CKU if you have not gone, GO! If you have been you know what I am talking about!

CKU

2008-08-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

i have no pictures to share. My Rebel quit on me the very first day i had taken 2 pictures then it was gone. big time suck!! :( i had such a wonderful time and all i have to remember is my feeble mind of already slackening memories. It may be time to break out my very serious journaling hat.

i am now a very devoted fan of Ali E. she has buckets of inspiration that she slops on every single person in her vicinity, AMAZING.
i can now understand why people are crazy stalking style fans of tim holtz too, he had some fantastic ideas for technique. i bought the scissors.

Had an incredible time and maybe later in the week when i am not so bummed about my loss i might feel up to scanning a few projects to share.

TTFN

Flat Amigos

2008-08-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Midnight release of Breaking dawn, the last installment of a series that I haven't even read. Somehow I was out past my bedtime Friday night to pick up this hot item with a freak... um... I mean a friend and 500 other fans! I had to bring the flat chicks since they felt they needed a night out too.

We got out of there just before 1am (I look pretty good for that time of day, don't cha think ;o) and then headed down the street to a little pool hall and got some great shots of the flat chicks livin' it up in Vegas, but I can't share 'cause this is Vegas Baby!

Rock It!!

2008-07-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

Grandma Roxanne's Birthday Celebration was just like her; calm and cool with little eccentric pops of glorious fun! Her gift from us was a framed version of this collage inspired by a Becky H. layout in July CK. I lowered the saturation on all the photos to give them a cohesive feel without going completely B&W. I love how simple it is (keeping in mind the recipient is anything BUT simple I tried to stay away from a complete grid work, lets just say it was serious work! :0) She loved it and we had fun reminiscing over the decades these family pics represent.

Happy Birthday Grandma Rocket!

Tastefull? Not Us!

2008-07-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

Russ wants to add a little humor to the new website and thought it would be great fun to dress me up like a gaudy fairy at the children's photo place Kiddie Kandids. Although the pic is totally off the reasonable charts for style and respectability it is admittedly growing on me, a little something for the scrapbook. Which is what I had planned to do before sharing this highlight of my life, but who am I kidding? I haven't scrapped in 6 weeks! Since I did NOT want to add this to the pile of relics of my childhood and future discussions of 'the good 'ol days' i am sharing it now. Lucky U!!

More baby scanning fun

2008-07-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

I am having so much fun loading up these pics from my baby days! Mom is looking so beautiful! The little background details are so great, I love how they are making me think about the things I want to make sure are in the girls albums.

scantastic

2008-07-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

goodbye old friend, HP6110! well, move over at least cause there's a new scanner in town! After dreaming and drooling over the super ICE Epson scanners for the last year, I have one at last! Everything I scanned with the 5 year old 6110 needed so much photo editing I only made scans when I was forced into it! Now that I'm rockin with my ICEie 4490 I'm shouting from the rooftops checking if anyone needs something scanned. ;o)

It is oh-so-sweet! And just in time to get my 1976-2006 fave non-digi pics loaded and printed for the Evolutions album class I am taking at CKU in just a few days! The pic of me and my mommy below is in a permanent frame i don't want to ruin, so I am glad I like how all the 30 year old (gulp) scratches on the plexi glass give it an old leather look!

4th Report and a question

2008-07-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

We had a really great BBQ on the 4th Dad (yep! that's him playing tickle monster under the girls) & Roxanne brought Danny and Trish, Richard from work and the neighbors stopped by Josh brought his now ex-girlfriend Sara! It was a mad house with all the munchkins running around sugared up and ready for the fireworks. And the show was absolutely amazing! Being at the park right under the fireworks is just so thrilling! I have never been a huge fan of fireworks but the show they put on at Veterans Memorial is spectacular! Even those who were not happy to walk down to the park forgot about complaining and got busy enjoying! Happy Day!!

How cool is this shot? I saw the technique somewhere, I think maybe on CK.I am off to bed now, but I need ideas for what to do if no one participated in my challenge. Well, I might just dream up the answer tonight or maybe you have one?

SOY 2008

2008-06-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

No call from CK for me, so I am feeling a little disappointed but still excited that I am going to CKU in Aug. and will be there for the announcement of the SOY! Congratulations finalists and Good Luck!

Here is my SOY entry and some of my favorite layouts for your viewing and my sharing pleasure.

Craft Time

2008-06-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Mulheron family crafting fun time! As part of the girls summer education we are having 'Art' class where we are exploring the many homemade goodies we can create! This week we exercised our fingers with FIMO clay and I was inspired to make a fun header for the challenges I want to host on our blog. Hence forth "Mulieberry Challenges"! For our first challenge go make something, anything will do! It would be great if it was something you have never tied before, but not required. Just post a link here or email me and I will pick a random winner to be the recipient of some fun new ribbons the girls and I found at Mikes. Have fun and I can't wait to see your creations!

Here is the silly header to watch out for, for all future Mulieberry giveaway challenges!

A Little Trip and a Little Tip

2008-06-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

Lexis Godmother Dee invited us to camp and check out their new property outside of St. George. It was beautiful! Their new filly is so adorable too! While we were so close we took a side trip to Zion ~ which I think is THE most beaUTiful place in the world ~ We had a great time and Edward had a fun time playing during a little photo shoot. He is Handsome as always but the sky turned out looking pretty bad, white instead of the pretty blue it was. In steps my best photo fixing friend PS2!

To fix the sky, I want to brush it with blue. With my magic wand tool set to a tolerance of 50 this is the selection I get. Obviously this looks even worse than the white sky did! If I were to keep my tolerance set at 50 which is what I use most of the time, I would never be able to get all the nooks and crannies between the branches, it would select them too and I wouldn't be able to paint over it without turning the branches blue too!

So without further delay, my little tip is to lower the tolerance to whatever works for your situation, in this case I went down to 15. Once you set your tolerance this low, it would take forever to pick up the whole sky so start by selecting with a higher tolerance, then drop it down and hold the shift key down while clicking on those teeny tiny spaces. For something intricate this can take a little patience, but I use this technique on most projects I use the magic wand tool on which is a lot! :) I zoom in so those intricate details are nice and big, making seeing them (and clicking on the right spots) tons easier! Another thing I like to do when painting a selection is using many hues of the same color in low transparency's, brushing over the same areas with a large brush many times.

On this photo, I did not spend as much time with the colors and so not totally loving the color of the sky but I hope it illustrates the technique pretty well... I did hit the photo up with the burn and dodge tools a little to finish it off.

Design for Dad

2008-06-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Before Christmas we took down all the pictures in our 'gallery' (aka, the hallway) and repainted a fresh new Blue Green, my fav new wall color. Until this last weekend the walls were naked since I wanted to update some of the pic's in the frames before rehanging... last Christmas! Edward was so sick of the bare walls he asked me to get the pictures back up for fathers day, so that's what he got!
How cute is the wall pot I found at Mikes on clearance for $12?! check out the close up to see what it's hiding.

Yep! the thermostat! I detest those U G L Y things! Now if anyone has an idea how to disguise the doorbell box and the fire detector at the other end of the hallway I'm all ears!

Dads & Gostbusters

2008-06-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

Another day another dance recital. We finally finished off the dance year! Aunt Sandy is so awesome!! She came to the show AGAIN! You Rock Aunt Sandy! love ya!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edward and I did not feel like taking the 45 min drive out to dad's for fathers day so we celebrated at home for the first time since Edward became a father, 10 years ago! It was pretty sweet to lay low, play board games, watch movies and snack on Delicious prawns, cherries and clams! Love to all the dads out there we wouldn't be here without you! :)

Old is new Again

2008-06-14T10:21:00.001-07:00

Golden West Region Conference

2008-06-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

What a great time we had here in Las Vegas this year! Donna did a great job as President and Sue went home with 1st place in the speech contest and two 1st place awards for her writing submissions!

(These are the amazing life members)

I had the simple job of signs and only a few minor rolls in the program, so I was able to take a trip over to the spa, had a pedi and was spoiled by two lovely ladies! I never had a two person pedi before but let me tell you, it was Divine! :)

Yesterday was it!

2008-06-05T07:29:00.001-07:00

The girls had their last day of school until next year! My baby is now officially in grade school and my first baby is going into fifth and really excited that the year after that she will be in middle school! This is NOT exciting to me! :(
I am happy they are growing up to be nice young ladies (most of the time, that is) but I want my babies back! I feel like very soon we wont have any children at home and I am worried about how quiet the house will be!

Anyhow, check out these cute pic's from the last day of school dress-up activities!
Guess it's pretty obvious Lexi had a 'Hawaiian' theme party.

If Tori looks like she should go back to bed that's because her class had a pajama party and she was so happy she got to wear the cute slippers! If you think Becca is happy it was the last day of school, you might be right! :) She had a 'western' day and they did a little performance for all the mommies. And yes, her skirt is too short but, hey we went with what we had on hand!

Learning Curve

2008-06-02T22:46:00.000-07:00

Setting up this blog is a little more challenging than I thought it would be.

I am having that kind of fun that comes from beating your head against the wall...

Lets Try adding a picture to this post!

Looks like it worked! Yay!!

I am now a blogger!

2008-03-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

woo hoo! can't wait to see what I can do with it!