Summer Nights

It won't be too much longer before it starts cooling off. Even here in the Bay Area, we are having a taste of the cooler months ahead. But, as I sit watching the clouds roll in from the North, I'm reminded that it is still summer by the crickets chirping outside the windows. Summer has always been my favorite season (mostly because of the warm weather and long days). That will happen to you if you grow up in the Midwest with our bitter cold winters. Jade won't be returning to school for another week, but as Labor Day approaches, there's just a feel of Fall in the air. 

Jade spent another week here with John and me and I enjoyed every minute of it. She's always been the one that's brought the family together. Last Sunday, John and I had my entire family over for a barbecue that resulted in lots of laughs, full bellies (from the delicious NY strip steak, chicken and corn on the cob that came from the grill - thank you, my Johnny!) and some really good quality time spent with family. When I was Jade's age, I didn't really care much about seeing family and staying in touch with them, but its changed for me now that I'm older. I value those bonds I have with what little family I'm close to. The night slipped away before I could get any photos (oops), but I did end up taking a few photos between shopping and our dog, Pei begging for our French toast on Sunday.

Layout: Shabby Princess Easy As Pie Template, Blog Template Challenge Four
Papers, Glass Dots, Ribbon, Ric Rac, Cardboard, Flower, Button : Carrie Stephens Designs from kit: Spontaneous Delight  
Overlay & Alpha: Shabby Princess from kit: Two Soon
Frames: Leah Riordan Designs, Funky Floral Freebie Kit 
Stitching: Shabby Princess from kit: Happy Go Lucky 
Journaling strips: Shabby Princess from kit: Harvest Spice


Title Font: Upper East Side, Internet
Journaling font: Vani, Internet
Photography effects: Color processing, Picnik.com

It's Been Too Long

I'm not going to try to make up for the last month that I missed. It was a whirlwind of an adventure with some ups and downs. My scrapbook room (also serves as our guest bedroom) is now almost complete sans the temporary table I will be using until John can make my custom desk. I've been hauling my supplies out to the family room and scrapping there since moving, but have spent more of my free time learning Adobe Photoshop Elements and working on some digital scrapbook pages. It sure is less of a mess to clean up at the end of the day, but there are still so many things to learn that I want to take a college course on Photoshop so I can delve in deeper. 
For those that know me, I really don't do anything half way. I usually jump in, head first.


I spent an incredible 10 days with Jade visiting after July 4. My cousin and second cousin were in town from Alabama and so Jade and drove up to my mom's to have dinner with them and my aunt. See layout below. I spent some down time while I worked to get some medical stuff worked out since I don't have any established doctors in San Jose yet. I've moved from Chicago to San Francisco, SF to the East Bay, the East Bay to Orange County (4 different residences there!) and now back up north to San Jose and never realized what a hassle it is! Trying to establish all of my doctors, dentist, hairstylist, etc is not an easy task... I finally got around to going to my new hairstylist, Amber Robbins from diModa Salon in the Willow Glen district. She cut my hair using a razor - something I've never experienced before and I love my haircut!! I highly recommend her if you live in the South Bay. The bottom layout was from a trip with John to New Orleans that we took at the beginning of June. 


Other than that, I've been spending most of my time with the love of my life. He's had some time off work, which we've spent working on the house, spending time with his dad, going out for dinner, walks at the dog park, watching a meteor shower at midnight laying outside by the pool, shopping and relaxing watching sunsets together with a glass of wine. I couldn't ask for more! I know how lucky I am to be in a relationship with someone so amazing - something I've missed all of these years. It's like discovering love for the first time. Without further adieu, check out my latest layouts. I hope you like!
Cheers!

Template: Shabby Princess Ad Inspiration - Template 1
Papers/Elements: Shabby Princess Happy Go Lucky Kit
Font: CK Emily Pen

Template: DigitALE Template 1 @ digitalessandra.blogspot.com
Papers: Always Be Neighbors Designs - Purrrfect Princess, Grungy White; Dizzy Scraps Designs, Reuniting Paper 13; Kristin Rutten, Spring Creek Design, Love U Lacey Gray paper; Summer Eve Kit (Wood plank paper *altered*) imagic reflections - http://dynamisimmortal.wordpress.com; Lynne Callister - Creative Designs - Refugee Kit @ lynnescreativedesigns.blogspot.com
Elements: Ornament and frame - Jennifer Furlotte of Pixels and IceCream; Clip with flower and ric-rack - Maurine Stettler @ LetMeScrapbook.blogspot.com; Stitched Circle - Bon Apetit Add On Kit by Britt-ish Designs available at ScrapMatters.com; Yellow Stitched Border -  Always Be Neighbors Designs - Purrrfect Princess; Chandelier (altered) - A Taggers Scrap @ itsbacchus.blogspot.com; Stamp - unknown
Font: SF Twelve Again, 30 pt.