My Digital Addiction

Online Savings Account

2009-02-13T09:31:00.000-06:00

For the best online savings account rates visit MonitorBankRates.com.

We're Pregnant! Part 10

2009-01-26T10:53:00.002-06:00

Here's Part 10 of "We're Pregnant!" There are just a few more to come...

Click HERE to download Part 10!

Big Shocker

2009-01-26T09:47:00.003-06:00

So... the funniest thing... I went to my High Risk Maternal-Fetal Medicine Doctor the other day for some testing and an ultrasound. The ultrasound tech and the Doctor both asked me separately if I wanted to know the sex of the baby and of course I said yes. BOTH declared without a doubt that we are having a BOY!!! I just started giggling stupidly, thinking my Husband is going to be floored! It's not something that I find disappointing, it will just take a moment to wrap my mind around, since now for over a week I've been thinking it's a girl!

So now I can start shopping and arranging the nursery! I actually bought some yard and thought I would try my hand at knitting or crocheting. I used to do both, but I haven't done either in YEARS! I'll let you know how it goes... As for shopping, how does a first-time Mom know what to buy (you know, besides the cute stuff)??? So far I've been told that Pack 'N Plays and baby slings (how cool are these?!) are absolutely vital. I'm off to shop...!

We're Pregnant! Part 9

2009-01-15T10:01:00.002-06:00

I don't know what happened to Part 8. That was kind of weird, but I've replaced it, and hope it stays replaced!

So I'm very excited today... I had a Doctor's appointment yesterday and she said as far as she can tell (leaving a little room for error, I guess) we will be having a baby GIRL!!! I hate to admit it, but for whatever reason this is what we both really, really wanted. Everyone was telling me otherwise. Everyone. But I couldn't wrap my mind around anything else. I have another ultrasound next week at the specialist. If he tells me it's a girl, then I'll start shopping. Until then, I'm still holding my breath, but so, so, so happy!!!

Now here's my favorite part of visiting the Doctor's office: Part 9! That miserable, dreaded scale.

Click HERE to download Part 9!

Webhosting

2009-01-15T09:35:00.005-06:00

I know I've mentionned this a couple times in my blog, but I'm going to mention it again. I have had multiple websites over the years, including a couple Digital Scrapbooking sites. I have had several unhappy experiences, so I feel really strongly about this. After hearing of another friend's bad experience with webhosting, I thought I would reiterate my thoughts on this matter and hope that if anyone who reads this blog is interested in starting a website, they will learn something. The webhosting you choose is so, so, so important! It's not exagerating to say that it will dictate your entire experience.

There are ways to educate yourself and to avoid disasterous mistakes. One of the best ways to do this is to do side by side comparisons of each hosting company's features and to consider other customers' experiences through reviews. In my experience, I have found these reviews to be honest, unbiased and very helpful. Take the time to research - it is worth it in the end. Don't be so excited to get your website up and running that you pass over one of the most important parts of your website! And finally, best of luck in your indeavors. If this is something that you are working on, I wish you all success!

We're Pregnant! Part 8

2009-01-12T10:13:00.004-06:00

I know, right! FINALLY! The girl pulls herself together enough to get something done! I'm actually gearing up for a whole day of getting stuff done - I've got to clean the house, bake some cupcakes and a pie, and get ready for "Girls' Night In!" For the past while, every couple of months I've been having The Girls over for an evening - just to relax, drink wine and chat. I love, love, love it! So here's the next installation of "We're Pregnant!" Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 8!

Beds and Selling

2009-01-08T15:17:00.001-06:00

It's a beautiful day out (I've given up trying to figure out Texas weather!) and I am stuck at home waiting for a mattress delivery. Don't you just love when they tell you "We'll be there between 12:45 and 6:45." Seriously?! With my luck it will be 6:45, too! I am excited about it, though... I had bought a beautiful, beautiful bed with four poster pillars. I had this idea in my head of exactly what I wanted and I was not going to settle for something different. After looking and looking at hundreds of beds, I finally found exactly the one that I wanted about a year ago. I then proceeded to do absolutely nothing to set up the room. Procrastination Queen. So now that we need to make room for the baby, we're getting all organized and fixing up the master bedroom (finally!). We went out a week ago and found a mattress that we liked - my dear, silly husband wanted to know why we couldn't just order one online! Haha! I had him rolling in them in the store. This is a big purchase and you have to be comfy, right?! So now I'm waiting...

I wanted to answer a few commenters' questions here. A couple of you wanted to know if I sell anywhere. I currently do not. I ended up closing down my store a little while ago and now I am kind of enjoying the break! I certainly haven't eliminated the possibility of selling in another store in the future, but being busy with my home and the baby coming, I don't think right now is a good time to start, for me. If you have requests, please feel free to leave them in the comments and as time permits I will get to them. How's that for a deal? Thanks to everyone for their interest, though!

The Holidays are Over

2009-01-06T10:19:00.003-06:00

Ok! Ok! So I just have to remind myself that yes... the Holidays are all over, and now I have to get back into the swing of things. Back to the routine of everyday life. I've been slacking terribly with the blog... mostly because by the time I get home from a 12 hour shift, I am completely worn out and barely have the energy to spend a short time with my Husband before flopping into bed. Then on my days off, the cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping etc needs to be done and time gets away from me.

I kind of feel bad after reading my comments. I tend to whine and complain about all of the negative parts of being pregnant, not ever even thinking of those caught in the cycle of infertility. I desperately hope that my dry, sarcastic humor does not offend those in this situation. I know we have been very blessed. Even when it's not something that you plan, I still believe a child is a gift.

Now back to Digital Scrapbooking! I am hoping to have the time this week to sling together the rest of "We're Pregnant" so that I can finally pass it all on to you guys. Thanks for having such patience with me; I know this is dragging out.

Cancun Pictures and "We're Pregnant!" Update

2008-12-23T11:45:00.005-06:00

Oh my gosh! It's getting hard to keep up! But I'm guessing everyone is busy around this time, and I'm not the only one who's behind... would you believe I haven't even started my Christmas shopping yet? I've been wretchedly sick for the past 2 weeks. It's apparently something that's been going around down here and being pregnant, I seem to pick up absolutely everything that comes my way. However! Today I am actually feeling a little better and I swear I'm going this afternoon to get my shopping done.

How about a few pictures from Cancun, like I promised? It'll take your mind off the weather for a few delightful seconds... it's been cold, cold, cold here.

And finally, I didn't forget! Here's the next installment of "We're Pregnant!" And speaking of being pregnant, can someone explain to me those women who "just love being pregnant"?! How do you "glow"??? That is so foreign and un-understandable to me right now, I can't even tell you!

Click HERE to download Part 7 of "We're Pregnant!"

I will working on Christmas - one of the pure joys of being a Nurse! So Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families and friends!

I'm Back!

2008-12-15T11:09:00.006-06:00

Thank-you guys for checking in on me. You're all so sweet and kind and caring! Everything is fine, thank-you for your concern... very fine, in fact - I've been on vacation! I went to Cancun, Mexico with my husband, parents, brother and two sisters, one brought her husband and 3 kids. It was absolutely beautiful, perfect weather, gorgeous beaches... so much fun to play with the kids! I've got a ton of pictures that I've got to get scrapped, now! I'll have to round up a few to show you over the next couple days as I have a chance.

I'd had this delicious fantasy about laying on the beach with a pina colada in one hand and a strawberry dacquari in the other... but that was kind of foiled by my pregnancy news. The nice part was, my sister, Debbie was in the same boat, only about 5 weeks further along than I am. So we sat there with our virgin drinks and enjoyed ourselves just as much (well almost, maybe)!

I'll get back to the rest of "We're Pregnant!" as soon as possible, too. I haven't forgotten it again, I promise!

We're Pregnant: Part 6

2008-11-26T11:46:00.002-06:00

Ok, well I'm totally procrastinating. I have to go grocery shopping and I HATE grocery shopping! Especially now, the day before Thanksgiving, when I just know it will be crowded beyond belief and sanity. So, until I can make myself go, here's the next part of "We're Pregnant!" Enjoy! And have a great holiday!

Click HERE to download Part 6 of "We're Pregnant!"

Christmas Decorating

2008-11-26T10:39:00.004-06:00

I am always amazed at how quickly the shopping centers and stores have Christmas stuff out! I swear this year it was out before Halloween stuff, so that when Thanksgiving comes around there's a little area to tuck fall stuff into and then it's quickly gone to make way for more Christmas stuff. Not to be "Bah-Humbug" about it all, but could we maybe have just one Holiday at a time?! I'd be willing to be that next year Christmas stuff will be out in July...

I'm actually more of a Christmas decorator than any other Holiday. I was thinking to get my house decorated this coming weekend, while we're off for Thanksgiving. I'm a bit of a slacker, I'm afraid... I think every neighbour around here already has their lights up and yard decorated! At work, folks are pulling out thier Christmas jewellery and socks (since those are about the only ways we can possibly spruce things up in scrubs!). I noticed one lady, with a little more imagination than others, perhaps wearing glasses with Holiday frames. Not a bad idea when you can ones that look like candy canes, even at rediculously low prices online.

I've got a ton of stuff to do today before the Holiday tomorrow... so I'm not sure if I'll be able to get any more pieces of "We're Pregnant!" up today. If I'm super efficient, I might manage something. Happy Thanksgiving!

We're Pregnant! Part 5

2008-11-23T22:24:00.004-06:00

I couldn't sleep, despite being exhausted - another joy of being pregnant, I understand - so I thought I would catch up on things in the Digital Scrapbooking world. First of all, thanks guys for the suggestions for "We're Pregnant!" I actually have incorporated a couple of those ideas already! The pickles and ice cream had not entered my mind, as for some reason for which I am very thankful, I have not had any weirdo cravings at all! The thought of some foods make me horrified and many smells are suddenly too much, but no cravings.

Here's the 5th installment of "We're Pregnant!" Enjoy and keep leaving suggestions if you have them! Thanks!

Click HERE to download Part 5 of "We're Pregnant!"

We're Pregnant: Part 4

2008-11-20T10:29:00.003-06:00

Ok, guys - I'm on a wordart binge! Today's piece has a few of them... do you guys have any ideas of what you would like to be included? If you do, leave them in the comments section and I'll snag 'em. In the meantime, I am off to do the million and one things that I should have done yesterday.

Click HERE to download Part 4 of "We're Pregnant!"

We're Pregnant! Part 3

2008-11-19T13:37:00.004-06:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one... but I have a huge list of things to do and, as you can see, I am doing whatever I can to avoid it all. I want to have a laze around and do nothing day...

Here's another little piece of "We're Pregnant!"

Click HERE to download Part 3 of "We're Pregnant!"

A Productive Day

2008-11-17T17:02:00.004-06:00

I had the best day today! I'm giving all the thanks to my anti-nausea pill, Zofran, because I took it first thing this morning and proceeded to have the most productive day ever! I cleaned the entire house (no small task considering how we sat around all weekend, making it messy!), did all of the laundry, and even managed to get some Digital Scrapbooking done! If it weren't for those pesky telemarketers, I'd probably have even more done... think I could benefit from Reverse Phone Lookup?

We're Pregnant: Part 2

2008-11-17T11:27:00.004-06:00

Good Morning everyone! It takes me a while to get going in the mornings now, trying to deal with the morning sickness, but I've recently discovered Zofran, and I am officially declaring it a miracle! It takes you from curled up in a ball on the couch, unable to even contemplate the thought of food, to NORMAL! It's awesome!

So here's the second part of "We're Pregnant!" It is a paper and a positive pregnancy test. I should probably have made about six of them, since you all know how we work! Haha! Does anybody actually really trust the first one?! I know I sure didn't... I told my husband: "It's probably defective, so I'll just do it again in a little bit." He agreed, saying: "Yeah, it's probably the cheap brand. Get a different brand and try it again." When I finally showed up at my OB's office for "confirmation" they laughed at me and told me, "Honey, those home pregnancy tests ARE confirmation!"

Click HERE to download Part 2 of "We're Pregnant!"

We're Pregnant: Part 1

2008-11-16T20:51:00.003-06:00

It's exciting to read the comments and hear of others who are currently pregnant, or hope to be in the next little while! Congratulations to you all and best of luck to those of you trying! I am so glad that my kit will be of use!

I don't have a full preview yet, because I'm not finished all of the pieces, but here's the preview for what's in store today! I am completely starting over from the last time, since I'm redoing the kit, so please bear with me as you may get a couple of duplicates.

Click HERE to download Part 1 of "We're Pregnant!"

New Kit: "We're Pregnant!" (For Real!)

2008-11-15T17:33:00.005-06:00

Sharon, here the biggest virtual (((HUG))) ever! You are such a sweet, sweet lady and I just love hearing from you, with your cheery self, each time you leave a comment! Thank-you! You are such a darling!

Now, I know I've been a dreadful blogger. And I could list a great big round of excuses, which could occupy and annoy you for hours, but instead I thought I would pass on some very exciting news - at least for me! My husband, Michael and I are expecting our first baby! This is very shocking and huge for us... especially since we have not even been married for 3 months, but as I am quickly learning, you can't control everything! Things got off to a bit of a bumpy start - that was going to be one of my excuses! - but everything is perfect right now and we are hoping for smooth sailing for the next few months! Or should I say for the next 18 years! We are just finishing up our first trimester... feeling hideous, I might add... all the fun stuff: nausea, indigestion, exhaustion etc, but that's what makes a baby, I guess!

So this fits perfectly with the next kit that I promised to give out, "We're Pregnant!" I had started giving it out a while back and got distracted (seems to happen easily with me), and it took a few of you guys to remind me! DUH! So I decided to rework it and so far I'm only done with the papers. Here's the current, working preview of those:

I'm planning to make it a fun, humorous kit, with alphas and silly wordart describing the joys and not-so-joys of pregnancy. If you've ever had a baby, you'll be able to identify! So hang around and I'll get the first round out in the next day or so.

Girls' Night Out: Last Part!

2008-11-04T18:33:00.003-06:00

This is it, folks! The last and final pieces to Girls' Night Out! Thanks to everyone who came by and especially to those awesome ladies who leaves such nice comments every single time! It's very, very sweet of you! Just a note: please be sure to get all of the pieces soon because when I start giving away the next kit, I will take all of the Girls' Night Out downloads down. Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 20!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T15:38:00.004-05:00

I don't know what got into my very small brain, but I volunteered to work tonight because everyone else wanted to be out with their kids. I have these unexplainable surges of compassion while at the same time knowing that I'm going to wonder what was I thinking?! I'm going to squeeze a quick nap in, then somehow stay up all night. Have a great time out there, everyone, and be safe!

Here's the second to last part of Girls' Night Out, Part 19. Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 19!

Binoculars

2008-10-30T19:35:00.003-05:00

When we decided to go to Alaska for our Honeymoon, we were given a list of "must-haves." These included such things as a camera, rain jackets and a good attitude. One suggestion that I was very grateful for was good binoculars. I researched binoculars and found out more than I ever thought I would need to know about them. I came to the conclusion that the Nikon Monarch and Trailblazer Binoculars were the best options for our plans.

Although my new Husband initially questionned my purchase, he wore the binoculars around his neck the entire trip! It was worth it just to hear him admit that I was right!

Girls' Night Out (Part 18)

2008-10-30T16:12:00.004-05:00

One minute so that I can brag on two things: first aren't my 3 neices so beautiful? I can't believe they're growing up so fast and that I live so far away that I can't enjoy them! Secondly, didn't my little (well, she's not so little any more, I guess...) sister, Sharon do a beautiful job on this picture? I just love the warmth of this picture! She captured the colors so beautifully!

Ohhh... we're almost done! This is Part 18 of 20. It's just the alphabet - I gave the background paper away in a previous download, so check previous posts if you didn't already get it!

Click HERE to download Part 18!

Girls' Night Out (Part 17)

2008-10-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

Alrighty! In to the end stretch! There are only 3 more downloads after this one - 20 in all. I know. That's a little excessive, but all those textures make for big, big files! So hang in there - we're almost done! Here's Part 17. I know I've given this one away before, so this is for those who didn't get it.

Click HERE to download Part 17!

Shutterfly Insider Secrets!

2008-10-29T11:39:00.003-05:00

I wanted to let you all in on some incredible deals that Shutterfly is currently having. Every once and a while they have these incredible sales that are just too incredible to resist! At my wedding shower, a few of the girls at work got together and bought me a gift certificate from Shutterfly and I'm thinking it might just be the perfect time to redeem it! Just click on the graphic link below:

Girls' Night Out (Part 16)

2008-10-28T10:29:00.003-05:00

I have 2 days off and I feel like the Queen of England! There's nothing so sweet as sleep when you are so tired you can't see straight! I'm going to laze around all day... sleep, watch TV, I may paint a little... I've been working on my kitchen really slowly and I wish I would just finish it already!

Here's Part 16 of Girls' Night Out:

Click HERE to download Part 16!

Girls' Night Out (Part 15)

2008-10-27T20:15:00.004-05:00

Sorry for missing a few days, there! I ended up working the whole weekend - not a bad thing, because it was with my favorite crew and we had a great time! I was so tired by today, though, that I called and begged to get the day off... without success. It was actually quite busy for a Monday and we were short-staffed. So we delivered babies all day long.

Here's the 15th piece of Girls' Night Out. We're getting near the end, I promise!

Click HERE to download Part 15!

Girls' Night Out (Part 14)

2008-10-24T19:41:00.003-05:00

Stressfull, stressfull day, which I will tell you all about sometime. Sometime when my brain is actually working. The weather's been so gorgeous here recently and I haven't even been out to enjoy it. I've been wanting to get out for walks everyday and I've been such a basket case I haven't done it once!

Here the next piece to Girls' Night Out. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Click HERE to download Part 14

Girls' Night Out (Part 13)

2008-10-23T05:05:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! I couldn't sleep, so I got up early (4:30, go figure!) and thought I would get caught up on my blogging. So sorry for missing a couple of days... I've got a few things going on in my life that will get sorted out.

There have been a couple of folks asking about a kit I was giving away months ago, called "We're Pregnant!". First of all, thanks for asking because that's how reliable my brain is! I get right into the middle of things and then forget why I'm there! I need folks like you! The answer is YES! How about as soon as this kit is done, we'll go on and finish up "We're Pregnant!"?

Alright. Here is Part 13 of "Girls' Night Out." Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 13!

Girls' Night Out (Part 12)

2008-10-20T20:58:00.002-05:00

I had a great day at work today! You know I don't often say that! It was just steady enough to keep me busy all day long with great girls to work and talk with. We laughed all day. Gotta love it! But I have to go back again tomorrow, so I'm going to try to get an early night... I've been working a lot of extra shifts and am getting a little run down. So here is Part 12 of "Girls' Night Out." I've given this away before, so you may have it in your collection... Either way, enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 12!

Girls' Night Out (Part 11)

2008-10-19T13:58:00.004-05:00

Hey Guys! Hope everyone's having a great weekend! I've been painting my kitchen all morning... So now I'm all sore in strange areas and am taking a break!

Here is Part 11 of Girls' Night Out. It's a alpha - the paper was included in a previous download. Check back to get it if you haven't already! I'll be leaving all the downloads up until the entire kit has been given away. Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 11!

Help with Web Hosting

2008-10-19T13:34:00.004-05:00

I wish, wish, wish I had run upon a site like this before starting my own Digital Scrapbooking store! Like many Designers just starting out on their own, I began with a lot more excitement than experience, and with a lot less knowledge than creativity. Not that there is anything wrong with that - after all, weren't all the greatest artists in history a little lacking on the business side? Unfortunately for me, the knowledge came at a price. Without knowing enough about Web Hosting companies, I signed up with one I thought would serve my purposes. I learned the hard way that not all companies are honest or interested in customer service.

There are many ways to learn how to run a Digital Scrapbooking website before jumping in, blind, with both feet. Web Hosting Geeks offers a great service that I could have certainly benefitted from before creating my Digital Scrapbooking website. It is a list of many web hosting companies with honest feedback and reviews. This is very important, especially when it comes to customer service. I would definitively recommend reading this prior to making a webhosting decision! They also have a worthwhile web hosting blog which contains lots of valuable information for anyone considering running a website.

Girls' Night Out (Part 10)

2008-10-18T20:19:00.004-05:00

Well... I got a different green for the kitchen and I still don't like it. Know when you have an idea in your head and you can't quite match it? That's where I'm at. I might just keep painting to see if it grows on me.

In other news, I worked today with my good buddies and now I'm tired. So I'm just going to whip the next part of Girls Night Out at you and run. Thanks for the comments! They're always so nice!

Click HERE to download Part 10!

Paint and Part 9

2008-10-17T08:12:00.003-05:00

We have a beautiful fresh, bright morning here in Texas, which you won't hear me say much. I've been working on painting my kitchen - I'm painting the walls and cabinets - but I'm not crazy about the wall color. So I'm off to the store to get something different.

Here's the Girls' Night Out piece for today. Enjoy and have a great day!

Click HERE to download Part 9!

Terms of Use

2008-10-16T21:27:00.004-05:00

The following are the Terms of Use for all of my Digital Scrapbooking products. Please be so kind as to respect these terms with the understanding that although I my creations away on this blog, they are not for anyone else to give away.

Copyrights to all designs belong to the original creator, Joanna Cinnamon, with all rights reserved.
Distribution of these designs in any fashion is not permissable.
All graphic designs are for personal use only.
You may post layouts to websites or scrapbooking magazines that include any portion of the graphics, altered or not, providing you give proper credit and reference back to MyDigitalAddiction.blogspot.com.
Graphics may not be used commercially.
Altering a graphic is permissable, however you many not then claim them as your own.

Look Up Phone Numbers

2008-10-16T18:00:00.002-05:00

If you ever need to look up a phone number, here's a little tip. Say, for example, you would like to see who is calling you, check out this new website, National Phone Registry. This site is user-friendly and allows you to access detailed information on any phone number in the United States.

Growing Seeds and Part 8

2008-10-16T10:43:00.004-05:00

Ahhhh...! A day to relax at home! I've been so exhausted, I slept until 9am! So first I have to show you this - I love my Husband to death but he gets these ideas in his head and goes nuts with it for a while. For the last couple of months he's been in to growing seeds. Yeah, that's right. He will go to the grocery store and get all kinds of different fruits and nuts, come home, eat them (or pretend like he's made me some exotic dish with mango chutney) then try to grow the seeds. His obsession with this tickles me to death. I watch him every morning run down to the window where he's got them all lined up to check out any progress. This was all fine until he took over my photography studio because the windows gave more light!

Then he got it into his head that he was going to "help" me decorate our newly furnished living room. Hmmm... Check out what he came up with. That is a tile left over from our kitchen's backsplash with four felt pieces on the bottom. Seriously, Honey?! And then a dried rose stuck into a little vase. Niiiiiccce!

Alrighty! Here is Part 8 of Girls' Night Out... a couple more pieces. Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 8!

Wrong Number?

2008-10-14T09:52:00.002-05:00

This has happened to me a million times: the phone rings at a very inopportune time and when I drop everything to run and get it, I find that it is from a telemarketing company. Here is a website to Report Phone Numbers and to let others know who is calling.

Wild Alpha

2008-10-14T09:16:00.004-05:00

Good Morning! It one of those quiet, dreary-looking days here and having two days off, I plan on doing as little as I can without feeling guilty! I have been working on redecorating my kitchen. It's terribly bland - painted only in white with a hideous, metallic (no less!) unmatching border around the top. I've been fighting for the last week to get this stupid border off. Big thanks to the IDIOTS who literally glued it on for eternity! I might get another inch of that done today...

Besides that, I have a hairdresser appointment of which I am in desperate need. So here's Part 7 of Girls' Night Out. It's an alpha that I just love. Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 7!

Website Reviews

2008-10-13T17:40:00.002-05:00

This is kind of interesting... here is a website that publishes Website Reviews by users, along with visitor and site statistics. There are categories for "Top Websites," kids, sports, travel and much more. Check out and review your own website or look up and review your favorite Digital Scrapbooking website!

Girls' Night Out (Part 6)

2008-10-13T17:09:00.003-05:00

Here's Part 6 with a Preview. A couple of Readers requested a preview of each so I thought it wouldn't kill me. LOL!

Click HERE to download Part 6

Area Code Finder

2008-10-13T16:52:00.002-05:00

Ever get a phone call from a number you are not sure of and you think you could probably guess who it is if you just knew where that area code comes from? Here's an Area Code Finder that lets you do just as well as providing a list of phone numbers within each area code.

Girls' Night Out (Part 5)

2008-10-12T21:46:00.004-05:00

I spent a rough weekend at work. I don't know what the deal is... I like to work weekends because they are easy and pleasant. No one is breathing down your neck, questionning you and monitoring you. But this weekend was rough! So now I'm tired and sore. And too tired to even veg out in front of the TV. So here's Part 5 of Girls' Night Out before I take off to bed!

Click HERE to download Part 5!

Eyeglasses

2008-10-11T21:45:00.005-05:00

I haven't been to the Eye Doctor for about ten years. It's rediculous, but about ten years ago I had laser surgery on my eyes to improve my vision and I have not gone back since! So now, as I am getting older I am once again starting to experience the joys of deteriorating vision. So it's time to go back. I know myself well enough to know that I'm going to have to get eyeglasses again. NOT looking forward to that. When you have to start wearing glasses, you have to start admitting that you are getting older. I'm not ready for that yet!

I found an online store called Zenni Optical that offers eyeglasses for as low as $8 a pair. Their secret to great prices is that they only sell their own manufactures frames directly to the customer, avoiding middlemen and an advertising budget. Lord knows right now how we could all use a little break! I could certainly use prices like that! I never spend over $10 on my Shades because I am guaranteed to lose them, sit on them or crush them in my purse. They come in all kinds of fun colors and shapes - take a look at this pair:

You can see what others are saying about Zenni Optical by following this link.

Girls' Night Out (Part 4)

2008-10-11T21:40:00.003-05:00

Ok. I've had a long, rough day at work and am going to hit the sack early tonight in order to be ready to do it all over again tomorrow. So here's the next part of the kit. Enjoy!

Click HERE to download

Area Code Locator

2008-10-10T16:20:00.004-05:00

Here's a little tip if you're ever trying to Locate Area Codes. It's a new website that allows users to search for phone numbers and locate area codes. I've used such services several times when I have had an annoying caller and I wanted to know where they were calling from.

A Real Fall

2008-10-10T16:00:00.003-05:00

Living in Texas, there are a few things I miss. One thing is the distinct changing of the seasons that we see in the more northernly parts. Where I live there are no gorgeous, vibrant changing of the leaves, just a slight tinge and then it's gone. Growing up we used to go on nature hikes, climbing mountains, enjoying the fall. I miss that a lot, especially when I see pictures like this from my sister...

And if that's not enough, just look at this cute little thing. This is my sister and her daughter. They are planning to meet us in Cancun for Christmas and I cannot WAIT!

Family Tree

2008-10-10T15:24:00.003-05:00

Often when one is interested in Digital Scrapbooking and preserving memories for future generations, they are also interested in researching thier family tree. Although this is something I've always been intrigued by, I've always felt the task to be too daunting. However, there are now some great resources online to help with this complicated process.

Girls' Night Out (Part 3)

2008-10-10T14:10:00.006-05:00

Ok, so I decided to stop making previews of each piece of "Girls' Night Out." It's just too tedious and time consumming. I'm not so in to that. So I'm just going to attach the entire kit preview... hope you all don't mind. I'll leave it all up for a while so you can be sure to get the whole kit.

Meanwhile, it's cheat day (on our diets) and my Husband is taking me out somewhere. So I will catch you all later!

Click HERE to download Part 3!

Research!

2008-10-09T14:10:00.002-05:00

I wanted to throw a word of caution out there to all of the DigiScrappers, Designers and potential website or online store owners out there. I have mentionned this previously, but thought I should reenforce the whole issue because of the extreme inconvenience and hassle it has caused me.

Please, please, please research your webhosting service to DEATH! It is so vital to know what you are getting in to! Running a Digital Scrapbooking website is time-consumming enough. You do not need the distraction of a webhost service that does not meet your needs or your expectations. This only serves to take time away from Designing and other passtimes that you may enjoy. I would strongly recommend using a rating website such as Webhosting Rating as a resource when you choose to make this decision. This site can guide you into choosing a service provider that can actually meet your specific needs. It allows you to view and compare the many different prices and plans available through a variety of different companies. You can also make use of the valuable information for help with such topics as ecommerce strategies etc. If I can save one person half the money and stress this has caused me, I will be happy.

Girls' Night Out (Part 2)

2008-10-07T20:52:00.007-05:00

I'm enjoying this so much already! A little less stress is always a good thing, and knowing that I have one less thing to think about is actually feeling kinda good right now!

I had a nice day at work today. It doesn't matter how busy it is when the people you work with are great... and I was working with a great group today. They all work well together, are supportive of each other and we laugh a lot. It makes the day more enjoyable and it makes time go faster so that we can all get home to our families sooner. Love that.

My Dearest Husband is watching TV. Since I'm Canadian, I have no desire to watch the Presidential Debates so I decided to make my friend at work a cake. Apparently her most favorite cake is a pound cake - which I have never made in my life. She's been begging one of the girls to make it for her, but it's never happened, so I'm going for it... Wish me luck. I'd hate to make a fool of myself, bringing them in something disgusting!

Finally, here's the second part to "Girls' Night Out." Enjoy!

Click HERE to download Part 2!

New Plans, New Freebie!

2008-10-06T16:16:00.006-05:00

As there often is, my website disaster had a silver lining. I took some time to think about what I wanted to do and decided to refocus my attentions on other things. I will not reopen MyDigitalAddiction.com, but will instead operate from this blog AND I will continue to give away my freebies, as always. I've renovated my blog and am starting fresh!

Thanks so much Brittney, Vera and everyone else who faithfully comes to my blog, leaving comments and emails - Thank-you for all of your support and encouragement.

AND NOW.... for my first big freebie! "Girls Night Out" was a customer favorite when I owned a store. It's fun and bold, naughty and nice, with a touch of both grunge and bling. It's for those great girls nights when no guys are allowed. It's pretty big in size, so I'm going to divide it up into several smaller pieces and give it away over the next little while. The first piece is below.

Click HERE to download Part 1!

A NEW "My Digital Addiction"

2008-10-05T13:26:00.001-05:00

Please bear with me, folks, as I update...

My Digital Addiction is GONE!

2008-10-02T20:37:00.003-05:00

To all of my Customers and Friends: From the moment I opened "My Digital Addiction" I have had significant issues with my Hosting provider. Because of these issues, I quickly realized I would have to change Hosts in order to provide the service I wanted to my customers. I changed to a Host I have been very happy with and have not had a single other issue. However, I never received a refund from the original Host of several hundreds of dollars. I'm not a big-time designer, in fact I only give my designs away. So I'm sure you understand that I do not have that sort of expendible cash floating around. Despite numerous attempts at resolution, including everything short of a lawsuit, this situation remains unresolved. Today, despite my understanding otherwise, my domain registration expired and the original company has not been forcoming with the required documentation to reinstate it. So as of now, "My Digital Addiction" is no more.

If the situation changes, so may the outcome. Until then, please continue to visit me at this blog where all will continue as usual.

Geneology Research

2008-09-30T13:02:00.004-05:00

I know many folks involved in Digital Scrapbooking are also involved in Geneology Research. Of course, it makes perfect sense since both hobbies have to do with preserving memories for future generations. Here is a resource that may help you in your search of Public Court Records on the Internet.

A New Look at Quick Pages

2008-09-30T12:28:00.004-05:00

I have never been a huge fan of Quick Pages. I always found them somewhat restricting, limiting my great and unlimited creative imagination (yes, that's sarcasm!). Recently, however, because of time constraints, I started trying a few because of their convenience, and I have to tell you I'm LOVING THEM! There are so many talented people out there - why not use thier creative genius, right?!

Here's one I just downloaded by Poupoune, with the kit, "Cherish of Love" by Fanette. This is my parents who will be married 40 years this Novemeber! Can you imagine?! Thank-you Poupoune and Fanette for the beautiful QP!

A Day Off

2008-09-30T09:54:00.003-05:00

Ahhh... a day off. I had stupidly scheduled myself for a couple of overtime shifts this week, so for my days off I plan on doing absolutely nothing... except maybe catching up with my friends in the Digital Scrapping World and have a long chat with my sisters. We live so far apart now, with such busy separate lives that I often think I need a People Locator service to get in touch with them!

Ginger Has a New Store

2008-09-29T22:37:00.004-05:00

Here's a layout I made of me and my friends at a little get-together from the other night using Ginger's "Ladies Night" kit that she was giving away on her new site, GingerScraps. Be sure to check out her site - it's really cute and has some great stuff!

Another Vacation!

2008-09-29T22:29:00.003-05:00

I am so excited! I don't know if I mentionned it before, but we are going to go to Cancun again this year to spend the week before Christmas with my family. My parents bought a time-share type of deal down there and so we have a beautiful resort awaiting us! I'm never too excited to stay in hotels - I have a creepy paranoia with regards to germs there, but I'll make sure my Husband educates himself on exterminating bed bugs and other such delightful creatures before we leave. LOL!

Beautiful Freebies from Rachel

2008-09-26T16:48:00.006-05:00

I know I'm not the only one who blog-hops. It's fun because it always leads to discovering new things. Today I found "Memory Scraps ~ designs by Rachel." She is giving away a bunch of really nice kits until the end of the month. Follow the links on her blog and you'll find them easily. Of course I grabbed a few... Here's a quick page I used to scrap some pictures I had taken at Denali National Park this last month... Yeah! I actually scrapped a little!

Moving Furniture

2008-09-26T16:34:00.002-05:00

I've spent the day trying to arrange my furniture. It occurred to me that decorating a home is almost like moving... packing and unpacking, trying to find a spot for things... For me, moving is synonymous with nightmare. If I ever have to face it again, especially long-distance moves, I'll probably try to avoid a truck rental and find a company that would help me out!

My Morning Excitement

2008-09-26T10:47:00.008-05:00

I got up this morning and was eating breakfast with my Husband when he suddenly grabs my arm and says "DON'T MOVE!" If you want me to panic, tell me not to move. I immediately suspect I am crawling with some sort of creature and am about to be eaten alive. So, of course, I move! Meanwhile, Michael is creeping over to the window, telling me to grab my camera. I grab it and follow him and this is what we see on our back fence!

Now if you didn't notice those claws, here's a close up! We have a lot of little rabbits running around our neighbourhood, and I suspect that's what brought this fellow by. Anybody know what it is?

After a couple clicks of the camera, he quickly tired of me and flew away. How awesome is that?!

Shopping for a Cartier Women's Watch?

2008-09-25T14:47:00.004-05:00

While on our Honeymoon Cruise, I'm afraid to admit it, but we did a good bit of shopping. I was acutally really surprised at the prices of watches on board the ships. So surprised, in fact that we ended up buying a gorgeous new watch for my new Husband. His had recently fallen apart and until he saw those prices, he refused to get a new one! LOL!

As soon as my Husband had made his purchase, I think he was struck with a little bit of guilt because he quickly turned to me and said: "Now let's get you one, too!" In an effort to be sensible, I didn't get one, although now I am kind of wishing that I did... What exactly was I thinking???

Maybe next time I'll throw sensibility to the wind and go straight for the Cartier watches! Now those are some beautiful accessories! I was looking on the Watchery website for a cartier women's watch.

Obviously, the prices are a little out of my reach - my little Digital Designer salary isn't quite cutting it yet! But they are significantly discounted for those who can afford it. And hey! Who said a girl can't dream?

Our Furniture is In!

2008-09-25T14:42:00.005-05:00

I am so excited! First thing this morning our new living room furniture got delivered and it is beautiful! At first I was somewhat horrified at the size... the room is rather small and I hate the over-stuffed look that enormous furniture gives. But after rearranging things, it has potential.

The leather chair was my choice. Yes, it's big, but it's so comfortable! It's the perfect chair to sit in front of the fire and read all day. So now the next step is to shop for accessories and artwork! I'll show you a picture if I ever get it done.

Unsolicited Calls?

2008-09-24T20:56:00.003-05:00

I am one of those fortunate people to have inherited a phone number from someone who was clearly in credit card debt. Because of this, and despite numerous attempts to stop them, I am frequently the recipient of a high number of unsolicited phone calls. If you are in the same boat, you may benefit from Caller Identifier.

Finally! A Comfy Chair!

2008-09-24T20:50:00.003-05:00

This may not be a huge deal to most, but it is to me... I finally got myself a gorgeous, new office chair today! It is sooooo comfortable and lush, I think I'll just sit here all evening! If you read this blog much, you may remember I mentionned several months ago (I'm talking April!) that my office chair had broken. We had gone out looking for a chair that would suit but came up empty-handed. Like the brilliant person that I am, I continued to sit in it. The inevitable eventually happened. I was sitting in the chair, chatting with my friend, Melody, leaning waaaaay back and CRASH! Hahaha! I crashed to the ground in the most lady-like fashion and she was so shocked that she fell too! LOL! She quickly regained her senses and grabbed her camera. And no, I will not be showing the results here!

Web Design Help

2008-09-24T12:59:00.002-05:00

In response to several emails, the other day I started with a post on how to start your own Digital Scrapbooking Store. There is a lot of background work before every opening a store. In a previous post, I tried to emphasize the importance of research when choosing your host. Another point of importance before ever even opening your store is the design of your site. I am sure you have noticed that most Digital Scrapbooking sites are very similar. Yes, including mine! A main reason for this is program availability, price and ease of use. Original sites are eye-catching and unmistakeable... but hard to make and time consuming, if you are not familiar with web design.

For those of you like me, with no experience in web design, the amount of time and money you are willing to put in to the creation of your website will determine how it looks in the end. Fortunately there are some great web design services available to help you create your unique vision. You can chose between a standard, template-style web design or a premium, custom-made design. Professional web designers are available to help you on a one-to-one basis each step along the way. Network Solutions is one such example. They provide assistance from beginning to end, including hosting services and on-going customer service.

New Kit: Tribute to the USMC

2008-09-23T11:00:00.007-05:00

Here it is... the last in the series of "Tribute to the Armed Forces." This last kit is called "Tribute to the USMC" and is available now at MyDigitalAddiction.com for FREE! For those of you collecting the series, it would probably be a good idea to collect all four and mix and match. Many items are shared between the different kits, but many are different as well. Click on the preview to be taken to the download section of My Digital Addiction!

Sorry! This product is no longer available for download.

Starting a Website

2008-09-23T10:25:00.003-05:00

I've had several emails recently asking me how to get started with an online digital scrapbooking store. Obviously it's a pretty big undertaking if you don't have the knowledge or training to do so. It is possible, though, and my biggest piece of advice is to research your web hosting very carefully and thoroughly. The wrong choice will ruin your experience and torment you until you change. Believe me. I've been there. If you make a good choice, you will never have to think about it again. There are a multitude of options to consider - not just price, so be sure to educate yourselves before making a decision. Start with WebHostingRating.com. This is one site that brings it all together and makes it easy for you to sift through and make a decision.

A Treasure Chest!

2008-09-22T19:37:00.005-05:00

I feel like I've discovered an entire treasure chest of goodies! I'm sure you've all heard of Stone Accent Studio, right. Well, as you may have heard, they are currently hosting a "Next Designer" Contest. I always find this sort of contest really interesting because it's not just another person out there selling their creations, it is real artists competing. This results in the most beautiful kits EVER and would you believe it, they're GIVING THEM ALL AWAY?! You will need to sign in to their Gallery, which is more than worth it. Here are just a few of the kits I downloaded today:

I still can't believe it! Thank-you to all of the great designers and best of luck in the competition! Thank-you too, to Stone Accents Stuido for hosting this awesome competition! Can't wait to see who wins!

New Jersey Vacations

2008-09-21T20:34:00.005-05:00

I am always thinking of the next vacation. I know I just got back from my honeymoon, so you'd think I'd be satisfied for a while, but in my wandering mind, that just means another trip is around the bend! I love, love, love travelling. Generally I like to see something different; something off the beaten path, away from the swarm of tourists.

So, I'm going to be honest, New Jersey is not the first place I would think of when I start planning my next vacation. In fact I have not been near New Jersey in over ten years. If you have children, though and are looking for a place to spend some quality time with your family, Morey's Piers may be the unexpected answer! I hear that the New Jersey water parks can be a great place for a family beach vacation.

Morey's Piers is a great place for a New Jersey vacation, operating three amusement piers and two beachfront waterparks along the boardwalk and beachfront of Wildwood, New Jersey. There are approximately 89 rides for big kids as well as little kids and two themed beachfront waterparks.

Morey's Piers website will provide you with a valuable resource when looking for hotels and motels in Wildwood. You can find more information on specials available on their website as well.

A Blog Full of Freebies!

2008-09-21T20:26:00.004-05:00

Ok, so you all know by now that I love great deals and Freebies. So when I find a new nugget of information or a great new blog I'm going to share it with you! Now, maybe you've all heard of this place already, but I've been out of the loop for a while, so I'm just discovering it. It's a blog called the WaterLO Project. Here's how they define themselves: "We are free group of people (you can see their names in the kit preview), creative team and friends of PST Designs. The target of our project is to combine professional looking elements with gumboots, roasted duck, concrete troll or rat named Ruženka. We are fond of thinking up new elements and we are looking for seeing our „absolutely unscrapable“ elements used by you in your layouts. Usually our kits include about 50 elements so you can choose by your taste and we believe everyone is able to choose something. We create our kits a bit differently and tricky style – we define only theme to big group of members - without colour definition and restrictions. That’s the reason why our freebies look a bit differently. One more specialty of WaterLO Project are papers that we create only by mixture of textures and blended photos. And that is enough about us – lets download and create!"

They are different, original, interesting and very, very generous, so if you haven't already, take a jaunt over to the WaterLO Project Blog and have a look!

Virtual Assistant

2008-09-19T13:21:00.018-05:00

I feel like I've been disconnected from the Digital Scrapbooking Community, since I've been so busy elsewhere. First planning for our wedding, then the wedding and honeymoon, then getting back to the daily grind... work's been busy and I've been working overtime. I often wonder how women run a household, look after their children, work and sometimes even go to school all at the same time. It's positively super-human. How do you fit in fun time? Hobbies? Relaxation? I have no kids and do not go to school and I do not have the time to fit such things in my life sometimes! Don't you love how life has the nerve to take time away from you relaxation time? I've been so busy, I haven't designed anything in months! I swear, sometimes I think: wouldn't it be great to have an assistant?! Or even better, a Virtual Assistant! Can you imagine having someone at your fingertips who was proficient in web design, graphic design, accounting and marketing services? It would be like having a valuable resource available, but not having to provide the desk! I recently came across a website of a company called BPOVIA that does all of this and more... makes you stop and think a little, doesn't it!

Tribute to the USAF Kit

2008-09-19T13:21:00.017-05:00

I've just released the third kit in the "Armed Forces" Series, called "Tribute to the USAF." It is similar to the previous two kits, but contains a lot of items distinctly for the United States Air Force. It is available for FREE, as always, on MyDigitalAddiction.com now! Enjoy!

I began the "Armed Forces" series upon multiple requests from Mothers, Grandmothers, Wives, Aunts, Sisters and Daughters of those who are serving our country. This is for those who support our troops, where ever they may be stationned... it is for those who love them, stand behind them, encourage them and wait for them.

Sorry! This product is no longer available for download.

A Little Note

2008-09-19T13:21:00.016-05:00

Hey guys! I wanted to add a little note regarding the "Armed Forces" Series. I have received a ton of emails asking me to expand the series or to create different elements ranging from bombers and submarines to tactical pants and rifles. I have to be honest - I am not American (although I've lived in the USA for many years) and am somewhat on the clueless side when it comes to the Armed Forces, how they are represented and the equipment used to protect our country. I've done my best in creating what I hope will be a useful kit to commemorate those who serve. Please be so kind as to bear this in mind when downloading this Series. Thank-you!

Back to Reality

2008-09-17T22:35:00.008-05:00

So! The fun's over and I'm back to work. This week we started another "Biggest Loser" competition, which I joined in a continued effort to get in shape and be healthier. We've also just decided to join my parents in Cancun this Christmas time, so I've got a big of a time crunch! I doubt I'll ever be one of those Fitness Girls, but I don't care to join the Circus, either! LOL!

"Tribute to the USAF" Alphabet

2008-09-17T22:35:00.007-05:00

Alright! So we're back in business... I've finally had the chance to sit down and put together another kit to share. This one is the third kit in the "Armed Forces" Series. Obviously this Series is targeted at a very specific audience, so I appologize for that. Today I am releasing the Alphabet. It is all capitalized and includes numbers. Be sure to come by tomorrow - I'm hoping to have the entire kit uploaded by then!

Sorry! This product is no longer available for download.

Our Alaksan Cruise

2008-09-14T11:31:00.004-05:00

It's been a while since I checked in; things have been busy, especially with work. Generally when work is busy, I'm tired when I get home and don't even sit down at the computer to check email, never mind blog! I'm hoping things will get better, though. I'm working on a third part of my "Armed Forces" Series, to be out soon.

Meanwhile here are some pictures, as promised from our Alaskan Cruise. It was too vast and beautiful to describe or to put into pictures... I tried and it does not do it justice to any extent.

Love of Travel

2008-09-05T14:02:00.005-05:00

I have gotten a few emails asking for more pictures - they're coming! LOL! I am working on them one by one - there are a few thousand of them! Imagine scrapbooking all of them?! What's really great, is it seems that my new Husband has caught on to my love of travelling! When I met him, he was completely disinterested in such things. Now, he is coming to me with suggestions of travelling to the Mediterranean and other exotic places! It's incredible! Can you imagine renting some North Cyprus Property, for example... enjoying the unspoiled sandy beaches and the incredible regional cuisine? Ah... for the life of luxury!

Denali National Park

2008-09-04T18:52:00.006-05:00

Ok! I've had some time to work on my pictures - this is the other side of "My Digital Addiction!" So here are a few of my favorite pictures from my time in Denali National Park in Alaska.

The drive from Anchorage to Denali was almost as enjoyable as Denali itself. It was raining on and off and rainbows were scattered all over the sky.

The last picture was taken just outside of where we stayed. Every room overlooked this quiet lake, surrounded in mountains. It was breathtaking to watch the sun set and rise everyday.

We booked an all-day tour into Denali National Park for the first day we were there. Although the clouds obscured the view of "The Big One," we were extremely fortunate to get a show from nature like no other.

Stay tuned! Next time I should have some pictures of our Alaskan cruise!

Lake Tahoe Beauty

2008-09-01T18:41:00.004-05:00

Well... I'm still sick. I must have some stubborn virus that refuses to quit. I'm still hacking and coughing and sniffling but I went back to work for a couple of days anyways.

I've been getting screamed at for more pictures and updates ~ I hear you! I'm just working on the pictures I've taken and my wedding pictures haven't come back from the photographer yet. I should be getting them this week! I'm dying to see them! Kirsten - I was told to expect the rain, so we were well-prepared. Alaska would be beautiful even if it rained non-stop! In fact, we hadn't had rain here for months, so the rain was actually a welcome change for us. Sharon - Thank-you! That's not the exact spot where we got married, but isn't it beautiful?! You could pretty much pick any spot you like around Lake Tahoe and just sit for hours admiring the beauty!

Here's a couple more pictures from our at in Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area. Next post will be some from Alaska!

A Way to Debt Relief

2008-08-28T19:14:00.005-05:00

None of us seem to be exempt from the number one concern of all families - financial worries. Money (or lack thereof!) seems to be the cause of an enormous amount of stress and strain, not only personally, but in relationships. The scope of this problem can range from small to very large. When this happens, there are companies, such as Freedom Debt Relief that offer different types of assistance.

While many of us have heard of such options as bankruptcy, debt consilidation and credit councelling, Freedom Debt Relief offers an alternative. This company uses a innovative approach by negotiating with creditors to actually decrease the amount of debt that you owe, thus decreasing your payments and leading you to financial freedom much faster! Of course, not everyone will qualify for this option; each customer is carefully screened to meet the required guidelines.

The benefits of this type of debt relief far exceed those of simply filing for bankruptcy. By using Freedom Debt Relief, you will not only have the benefit of debt relief, but you will also receive assistance in buying a home and financial planning.

Control of our finances is something we all want. Maybe it's time to take a step in the right direction. After all, isn't financial freedom worth it?

I'm Back as a Mrs!

2008-08-28T18:54:00.004-05:00

Hi Guys! I'm back! Thanks for the very sweet notes, comments and emails of Congratulations and Good Wishes! What a pleasure to come home to!

We had an absolutely awesome time and of course wished it would never end... we got married on August 13th on a cliff overlooking Lake Tahoe in California. If you've never been there, it is definitively one of the more beautiful spots on the face of the earth.

We spent a couple of days there before flying to Alaska, where we drove to Denali National Park. After a few days there, we boarded our cruise and spent a week sailing the Inside Passage. I'm hoping, as I have time to go through my pictures, that I can tell you a little more about it all. In the meantime, I've been sick as a dog since I got back. I had the pleasure of sitting beside a woman who hacked and coughed all over me the entire flight. Gotta love it!

I'm Off to Get Married!

2008-08-11T17:28:00.004-05:00

Just touching base to say "Good-bye!" for about 2 weeks... we leave in the morning for our Wedding and Honeymoon, and although I love you guys, I doubt I'll be checking in! LOL! Have a great time in my absence - I know I will! When I get back I will get back to the business of Scrapping! Bye!

Custom Printed Brochures

2008-08-08T22:26:00.004-05:00

I know that a lot of the advertising work that we do as Digital Designers is online. Obviously, it is the nature of our business as Digital Scrapbookers. However, I have been trying to think of ways to take it further, to reach those outside of the already existing Digital Scrapbooking Community; to suck more and more poor souls into the great abyss of our "addiction." LOL! One of the first, and probably one of the most simple ideas is to create educational and informative Brochures that could be passed out or placed in opportunistic places. Such places could include Obstetricians' and Pediatricians' Offices, the Community Center or even Churches.

I am just playing around with ideas right now, but would be curious as to what you all think. I have been looking at VistaPrint in particular for several reasons. First of all, I have received a great recommendation from a friend who actually had some brochures made up there. They were great quality. Besides that, they are currently offering 25 Free Brochures if you use the coupon code "FreeBrochures08." The brochures can be created from available templates or they are fully customizable, allowing you to upload your own personal designs.

My Embaressing Yard

2008-08-01T19:06:00.005-05:00

I don't know if it's like this everywhere else in the country, but down here in Texas, we are dying of the heat! It's over 100 for the umpteenth day in a row and I can't remember when it's last rained. Embaressingly, my sprinkler system decided to die so despite standing out in the heat with the hose every night, my yard looks like absolute crap! Like it's a farmer's hay field. Oh, and did I mention that the poor folks beside us are trying to see their house, so they have this beautiful lush green yard, and the people across the street are retired and apparently have nothing else to do but look after their yard. So here I am, ducking into my house every night, hoping no one sees me, because my yard looks so dreadful.

My fiance has suddenly decided to get very concerned about the yard, perhaps preferring not to recall that we are leaving to get married in less than two weeks. In the last day or two he has filled the back porch with shrubs and trees to plant... all of which I am convinced will be dead by the time we get back. The problem is, I have to smile and act encouraging - otherwise he'll drop the project like a hot potatoe! LOL!

We spend today running around doing last minute wedding and honeymoon errands. I've got the fiance all fixed up. I think the only thing I have left to do now is get my hair cut and colored, and I have to pick my wedding dress up from the seamstress this week. I am hoping it will fit perfect and I won't have to go on a last-minute, desperate search for the Best Diet Pill in America in order to fit into it! LOL!

FREE: "Tribute to the Navy"

2008-07-28T13:55:00.005-05:00

I've finally got the kit, "Tribute to the Navy" up at MyDigitalAddiction.com. It's the second in a series of four. I know it's a pretty specific kit, but there are also plenty of pieces in there that can be used for all kinds of layouts. Just click on the image to be taken to the Download Section.

Sorry! This product is no longer available for download.

Tribute to the Navy Alpha

2008-07-24T11:51:00.006-05:00

So, again a big gap since I've last had the chance to write. I've been busy, busy, busy with wedding plans. I cannot believe the amount of effort it takes to put this stuff together! It's shocking! I honestly don't know how people put together these enormous weddings. Even with us just running off, it's somewhat of a production! However! It's all coming together really nicely... I got my wedding dress and it's being altered as we speak, we got the rings and they are getting appraised for insurance, I picked a florist and the flowers have been decided on, travel arrangements are done and the honeymoon is pretty much organized! I've just got a few smaller items to look after and I'm done! I can't wait to go! I think I'm more excited about getting away, and enjoying 2 carefree weeks with my new husband than anything else.

In between all of this, I have decided to dismantle my old website, NursesDesigns.com and bring all of the products to MyDigitalAddiction.com. I'm slowly doing this, so as an inside scoop, if you're a reader here, don't go spending any money at NursesDesigns! LOL! Here's something from the "Tribute to the Armed Forces" that I put up today. It's free, as always.

Sorry! This product is no longer available for download.

There's lots more to come, so check back occasionally! I'll get it all up as soon as I can! Have a great weekend... I'll be working the "real" job.

Calculate Your Bills IQ

2008-07-16T23:17:00.005-05:00

Money management is an area that we could all use a little help with, right? Even with a very money-savy fiance, I often find myself wishing for a little more security. Here is an interesting little quiz you can try find out how well off you are with relations to your bills, credit, debt, budget, wealth and life plan. You can actually learn a few things along the way.

I did it and got a score of 89% which is a B. Hey! At least I didn't fail! LOL! I learned a few things from the quiz, one thing being that since I have met my fiance, I have made some great changes for our future. However, as always, there is definitively room for improvement. One obvious step is to become debt-free as soon as possible. That is easier said than done, of course. Achieving this goal may be more manageable with the development of a budget and a little Debt help. I actually found it encouraging to see that I was generally on the right track. Although I'm sure we all find retirement somewhat of a scary concept, it's something that I look forward to and hope to have many years of it with my nearest and dearest!

A Visit From My Parents

2008-07-16T22:57:00.004-05:00

Sorry Guys! I know I'm being pathetic with my blog and with My Digital Addiction, but I am so short on time with everything that is going on! Please forgive me and know that as soon as things settle down a little, I'll be much better!

I really wanted to say a couple of words to a couple of my readers. Thank-you so much, Sharon, for taking the time to write a sweet, kind comment each time you come. You have a gift of spreading smiles and I hope you know how great that is! I truly appreciate your words. Linda, I just LOVE you and I've never even met you! Your note was so awesome to read... you are one of the greatest reasons that I absolutely love Digital Scrapbooking!

I had a wonderful, wonderful time with my parents! Here they are at the Gaylord Texan Resort. What an awesome place! Has anyone ever been there? It's absolutely incredible... acres and acres of indoor gardens and walkways and water, all covered with a clear dome to make you feel like you're inside! Best part - it's 72 degrees all the time!

Best of all we were able to spend some real quality time together, which was very special. They were able to get to know my fiance a little better too - it couldn't have been better!

More Planning

2008-07-08T19:33:00.005-05:00

I am amazed to say that my wedding and honeymoon plans are all winding down. I can't believe it's all come together so easily and nicely! The more I get things planned, the more excited I get! What's funny is, as much as I am excited to marry my incredible fiance, I am just as excited to go on this honeymoon with him! We are planning on flying to Alaska for a cruise, but first we are getting a car rental and spending a couple of days in and around Denali National Park. Just take a look and drool!

Meanwhile, I have to clean my house! My parents are coming in to town to visit and I have to pretend that I keep this place like a civilized human... It's always hard to know what to do when they visit, especially since it's so freaking hot outside! We rented a minivan - wish I knew about about the 50% off deals at Advantage at the time - so we didn't have to cram them into our small vehicles, and I've found a few fun things to do with them inside, like wine tasting etc. Wish me luck! It's the first time they will be spending a significant amount of time with my fiance!

"Tribute to the Army"

2008-07-05T14:45:00.008-05:00

I got so wrapped up in the day yesterday that I forgot that I was going to give away a kit! I wanted to give away a kit called "Tribute to the Army" from my series of four kits called "Tribute to the Armed Forces." I thought the Fourth of July was as good a day as any, if not more. It is because of these people who fight for our freedom that we are able to have such wonderful days, enjoying our families. Here is "Tribute to the Army." You can click on the preview to be taken to the Download section of My Digital Addiction. And yes, as always, IT'S COMPLETELY FREE!

I also created a little Quick Page for anyone who wants it. You can download it below, or HERE in the Download Section. Enjoy!

Sorry! These products are no longer available for download.

Planning

2008-07-03T23:48:00.005-05:00

Just checking in to say Happy Fourth of July to all of my American friends! I'm so excited to have two days off in a row with my fiance. And guess what we're going to be doing??? Cleaning the house and yard. How fun is that?! Actually my parents are coming to visit next week, which is HUGE, so I have to make it look like we keep a somewhat orderly existance. LOL!

I've been feverishly working on wedding and honeymoon planning. The more I get into it, the more I get excited about our Honeymoon cruise to Alaska. This has been a dream of mine for years, so I can't believe it's actually coming true! Nor can I believe the amount of planning that has to go into it! Thank-God, I found this website that pretty much walks you right through everything, right down to what excursions to book, a packing list... and they're serious about their stuff! They've got the deals right down to the kind of binoculars you should get for optimal wildlife viewing to the 5.11 Tactical pants recommended for hiking in Denali! So things are finally really starting to come together!

Have a great Holiday, folks! Enjoy the outdoors and the BBQs with your family and friends!

The Designer of the Month is Back!

2008-07-02T13:12:00.007-05:00

I've been so busy lately that my Designing and Digital Scrapbooking has taken a back seat. In the process I missed 3 Designer of the Month spots! But we're ba-ack! For the month of July, we are honored to have Dede Smith as our Designer of the Month.

There are so many Designers in the business right now, that it's very easy to get lost in the fray. I typically have about 5 favorite Designers and stick to their designs. However, this is why I find the Designer of the Month so fun. I get to "discover" Designers, new and old, with a wide variety of talent and style. Dede's designs are some of the sweetest I have seen in a long time. Cute, cuddly little teddy bears, beautifully coordinating designs, richly textured papers... you're going to love them!

Dede's designs can be found at Digital Scrapbook Pages or at her blog, Designs by Dede. To read Dede's interview, you can visit our Forum, and also be sure to stop by the Download Section of My Digital Addiction to get the coupon she is giving out to her store!

Happy Canada Day!

2008-07-01T22:08:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to stop by and wish all of my fellow Canadians a HAPPY CANADA DAY! Hope you all had a wonderful time with your families and friends.

My Quest for a Photographer

2008-06-30T12:30:00.004-05:00

Today my big mission is to find a photographer for my wedding ceremony. This is one of the most important parts of planning a wedding, to me, and I'm going to be honest - I feel sorry for whomever I choose. From scanning a multitude of photography sites already today, it seems to me that anyone who buys a nice digital camera suddenly thinks that they are photographers. However, they have absolutely no concept of how to capture light or how to pose people. They photoshop their pictures to death in an attempt to resuscitate them... it's rediculous! I know I'm terribly picky, but at the same time, I find it rather offensive to be offered sub-par snapshots and be charged several thousand dollars!

Ok. That's my whine for today! LOL!

Shutterfly Inside Scoop!

2008-06-25T18:19:00.005-05:00

I'm a huge, huge fan of Shutterfly and recommend them to anyone and everybody I can - especially when it comes to putting your Digital Scrapbooking Layouts into a photo book. They are absolutely fabulous. That being said, I just wanted to let you know - if you're not a member yet - they are having a new promotion where they are giving 50 free 4x6 prints and an 11x14 Collage Poster when you sign up! Their ads don't even reflect this awesome offer yet! If you're interested, just click the ad below and sign up. I am also including a link at the top of the page for easy access if you would like to do it later. Enjoy!

Tiger Did It...

2008-06-23T17:09:00.003-05:00

Ok, I hate to admit this, but as I approach 40, I am really noticing my eyesight deteriorating! Almost 10 years ago, when it was first becoming popular, I had Lasik done to both eyes. It was one of the best things I ever did for myself! It was painless, a quick recovery and suddenly the trees had leaves and my alarm clock had numbers! It was amazing! Now I'm thinking I'm probably spending too much time on the computer and am going to need it again.

I'm only wishing the whole process was covered by insurance. It's only fair, don't you think, since it's only returning my eyesight to what it should have been in the first place - it's only bringing my eyesight up to par with the rest of the world.

Hey! Tiger Woods did it... not sure if he had Lasik in San Francisco but I'd be willing to bet it improved his game.

Breathtaking Hint

2008-06-22T19:38:00.005-05:00

Well, my blogging has been descending downhill fast as wedding and honeymoon planning have taken up the forefront of my life. So sorry, but I'm not even going to promise to get better until this is all over! LOL!

Here's a hint at what I'm in the middle of planning... Doesn't it just catch your breath?!

Blog Templates

2008-06-17T15:48:00.007-05:00

I've had several people email me, inquiring as to how I did the design for my blog. My answer: I didn't! I wouldn't have the first clue as to how to go about designing a blog! LOL! I just do an internet search for blog templates. There are some great sites out there full of all kinds of templates you can use. It doesn't matter which blog platform you prefer, whether you are looking for blogger templates or wordpress templates - you're bound to find something you like. Once it's installed you can customize it to your liking just like you would do to the one you currently have. For example, check out this template, blogs can be beautiful too!