I'm not one

to use the word "never," because quite honestly I'm afraid it would come back to bite me in the butt & I really don't have any of that to spare.

BUT!!!! I'm making my testimony now & it's in writing for all the world to read...."I, Dawne Ivey, being of sound mind & a healthy body, will NEVER and I repeat, NEVER, go into a tanning bed again!!"

Ya see, living down here in the beautiful Gulf Coast, why would I need a tanning bed? I mean, I already possess a natural olive complexion & tan beautifully during the summer. Alas, the weather also gets extremely hot down here & the humidity? Well, that's another story in itself. So, I decided I can no longer bear the heat of the beach & thought I'd hit the tanning bed once a week, or so, with tonight being my first trip. Now, the last time I visited a tanning bed was approximately 10-years ago & I remember having issues then, but apparently my fear has escalated to the point of no return.

I lay in the bed, with my appropriate eye-wear on, of course, along with my bathing suit, because this girl's naked body ain't touching something that someone else's naked body touched. I have my iPod playing & the fan on medium. I do NOT have the door to the bed closed completely (another fear in itself) & I push "start." 15 minutes.....I can do this. 1/2 way into "Girls don't Cry," I start hearing a popping noise. Not liking it one bit...I mean, it sounds like popcorn in a microwave for goodness sake. Then, I realize I have 2 metal hoops on my bathing suit.....Oh gosh......I can see the electricity start to fly. I'm wondering if I need to get out of the bed & go consult the young girl up front (who cares if she thinks I'm a complete idiot). I decide against doing so & continue tanning, all the while listening to the popping noises of the bed (yes, heard over the music of Fergie) & waiting for the entire thing to explode, when all of a sudden I start feeling some *twitching* in my stomach area? Oh geez....now my insides are starting to cook!! I knew it...I knew this was a bad idea, as I try to calm myself, relax & listen to Alannis Morsette's "Isn't it Ironic?" No, it's not ironice & at this point, I'm really starting to sweat (seriously, I am), as I start to think of the bulbs exploding, my body crashing through this tube that's holding me up, my flesh melting against the shards of glass & my eyeballs popping out because I opened them (even w/the glasses on) while I was in there. Midway through "I hope you Dance," I can no longer stand it & I reach out & turn the bed off manually. I calmly get out, wipe myself down from any germs & redress. Find out I only had a couple minutes left of my 15-minute session & tell myself as I'm leaving the building "No Dawne, you will NEVER visit one of these again."

Okay, so I realize I have serious issues with this whole tanning thing, but who the heck came up with the idea of lying in a tube w/hot bulbs surrounding our fleshy bodies & said "Hey, this looks like a good idea?" Definitely wasn't me!!

It's one of those days

when I'm happy. Just plain happy. No particular reason, other then my life is good...............real good. Here's a layout I did for a challenge at Treasures to Scrap. It truly does make my heart happy to see this photo. It's a picture of my beautiful neice Maddy & my equally beautiful daughter, Camryn. There's about 5-months separating them, but they are so cute together......we only wished we lived closer then 7-hours away. I did hand-cut the butterfly (2 layers), then stamp with Technique Tuesday stamps & heat emboss. Love the little clothespin middle.

We're also still working on the All About Me challenge at Scrapfabulous. This week's challenge is scrapping things in your everday life. Things that make your day function. My items included, but not limited to, coffee, computer, mail, phont & television. Go over to Scrapfabulous & join us...remember, there's weekly prizes.

I'm also happy about some new music I've been listening to. If I could ever figure out how to use the whole YouTube thing with my blog, you could come & listen to music everyday with me. Fergie's new "Big Girls Don't Cry," KT Tunstall's "Other Side of the World," & Pink's "U & UR Hand." Happy, butt-jigging music.......doesn't get much better then that!!!

I've also been purging my scraproom AGAIN. Okay for those that know me, you're probably wondering how often I can do this in a month. Believe me.....I'm getting better. I'm learning to control my spending & trying to use what I have & not be so OCD with my buying. But, if you're so inclined to see what I'm getting rid of, go check out my Ebay auctions.....you might just find something you have to have (williami710 is my Ebay ID) & I'll be more then happy to mail it to you, should you win the auction.

Today is also my dad's birthday. He passed away 6-years ago & I miss him terribly. I wish both the girls would have had a chance to know him & all his quirkyness. Fortunately, I think each of his kids has inherited little things about him here & there.....little things that are a constant reminder to me, of him.

Okay, well off to play in our redneck pool with the girls. Summer is a great time of year.....just another reason to be happy.

Contemplation

is a wonderful thing. Especially at 12:00 midnight....what else ya gonna do? So, I've been surfing the net, mainly because I'm bidding on one of those stupid Shrek babies (the girl) & want to see if I'm gonna win it. Those that know me, know I won't pay more than retail....my high bid is in, so I really should go to bed....I'm not gonna bid again if I get outbid, but it's the thrill of the bid that keeps me awake.

I also found out, while surfing the wide-net, that Heidi Swapp is going to start Club Heidi....a monthly kit club. Those that know me, know I adore all Heidi Swapp products & probably should own stock in her company, but I don't. I'll anxiously be awaiting the debut (love this word....looks like it should read de-butt:) of her first kit & I'll probably be a subscriber.

I've also been cleaning my scrap room & scrapping some. More cleaning then scrapping, but I've decided I've got to keep my supply buying down to a minimum (disregard above paragraph). I guess that's why I've also been surfing the net checking out the cool 3M Scotch ATG 700 adhesive guns? Yay.....I'm still looking for the "perfect" adhesive, but aren't we all? So, as soon as I find a decent price, or a local craft store that offers a 40% coupon starts to sell them, it'll still be on my "wish list." Anyone wanting to part with their's, feel free to mail to my house!!

I've also been reading a TON of scrapping magazines. There are times I feel I can't get enough of them & will read 3-5 in a week & want to buy more!! HUH? What the heck am I gonna do with all of them? I mean, come on, I'm gonna forget half of what I read within 2 minutes of putting the book down. I'm getting smarter though.....I'm marking my pages with Post-It notes, which isn't a new thing to me, but maybe it'll work this time? I just love reading them though, so inspiring with the beautiful work, great techniques & wonderful ads. It does get depressing though, because I devour them, all the while a bazillion ideas are going through my head. Then it's time for me to pen those ideas to paper & nothin'!! I mean...........where does it all go? The ideas that is? If you see them, please send them back to me, because I do miss them.

And, we still have our ALL ABOUT ME challenge going on over at Scrapfabulous. It's NEVER too late to start a scrap album about yourself, so I hope you'll go over & join us. The layouts being uploaded are really great. We're also giving weekly prizes away, which is always a fun thing!!

Here's to all you Fathers out there reading my blog (ya right!!)............HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

Our weekend..............

was spent here, very relaxing, but extremely HOT!! Yep, that's why we spent the 3-hours at the water's edge. AND, this photo is compliments of my wonderful, 7-year old, who went approximately 25-30' into the water to get this picture of us. The other mothers were very leary of her dropping my Canon Digi SLR Rebel, but they forget she's the daughter of a scrapper:) Fine photo!!

I also listed a few paper auctions on Ebay & found time to clean clothes out of closets that I also need to list on Ebay. Having girls means having TONS of clothes!!

I'm also working on design team projects for Scrapfabulous. Totally lovin' the July kit, which will have some awesome Rusty Pickle papers. You won't want to miss this kit.

And, last, but definitely NOT least, we're still hosting our ALL ABOUT ME challenge at Scrapfabulous. Don't forget, if you go here & introduce yourself, say you joined because of my blog.............I'll send you a nice little RAK. Hope to see you there & thanks to those who have joined....your RAK will be on it's way!!

A Challenge & Shrek 3!!

I've already mentioned that ScrapFabulous is hosting an "ALL ABOUT ME" challenge here. This challenge is designed to get you started on an album about YOU!!! Your family will thank you for it....I promise. So, we're into Week #2 and the challenge has already been posted. Here's my layout from the first week.

Here's the deal.....................for those of you that go here, introduce yourself, mention my blog & participate in this challenge, I will automatically send you a nice RAK. This is on top of the Random drawing RAK that ScrapFabulous is doing weekly during this challenge. So you stand the chance of getting 2 RAKS...............nice!!!

AND, I went to see Shrek 3 today & totally LOVED this movie. Worth seeing again, if I do say so myself, not to mention the quality bonding time spent with the family.

I hope you all have a very blessed weekend!!

July Guest Designer.......................

ScrapFabulous is looking for a July Guest Designer. The theme for the Guest Designer contest will be “Freedom” in honor of Independence Day.

All layouts submitted must showcase either the 4th of July celebration, a soldier’s story, or what it means to be “free”. Layouts must contain at least two of the different elements involved in scrapbooking such as: - chipboard - ribbon - rub-ons - stickers - stamps - cardstock etc. Any patterned paper or color combination will be accepted. So, don’t be afraid to get creative ladies!


After you’ve completed the ONE perfect layout, simply upload it into the July Guest Designer album in the ScrapFabulous Gallery.

The contest begins May 31st and ends June 6th so hurry up and enter!!!

The lucky winner will not only receive fame and glory but will also be featured on our Designer’s webpage and receive the free monthly kit from ScrapFabulous along with a 15% discount on store product with FREE SHIPPING. Once the kit is received the July Guest Designer must complete either 3 layouts or 2 layouts and an altered project to be showcased for the July Kit. Also, you will be required to participate in the message board hoopla and praise layouts uploaded into our gallery.

A Challenge & a coupon

I'm a tad late in posting this, but please go by ScrapFabulous & check out the new ALL ABOUT ME Challenge we're running for the next 6-weeks. There are PRIZES involved!!! See, your family not only wants, but NEEDS to know about the person behind the camera. So, here's your chance to tell your story.

Starting Friday, June 1st, I will post a challenge every Friday. You will have until midnight, the following Thursday, to upload your project into the gallery. A winner will be picked every week!!! Even if you can't get your project uploaded by the deadline, I hope you will still participate. Here's your opportunity to scrap about yourself & I hope you'll take advantage of it.

Also, Just Let Me Scrapbook is having another sale. Details below:

To celebrate Memorial Day last Weekend, take 25% off your ENTIRE ORDER by using the code HOT25 at the checkout! This is really good timing with all the new products that have arrived this week.. and with much more expected soon! Be sure to share the code with your friends!
It can be used through Monday, June 4.

Now, back to my normally scheduled weekend activity....dance recital!!