Week(s) in Review

Yeah... it's been a long time since I updated this!  Anyway, here are my weeks in review.  For the last 5 weeks.  Wow... has it really been that long?

I have to say, I'm liking how doing this is stretching my creativity as far as multi-photo layouts is concerned.  I'm thinking of eventually putting up .page files for those creative memories Storybook Creator Plus users to use as layouts for themselves.  Anybody game?  I don't know what it would take for me to make these photoshop compatible... I'd have to work at it.

Kits for Sale - and a Freebie!

Most of this post has been taken directly from my Picture Perfect blog.  You can see the original post here.

The reason I am here today is to promote my new store at Ivyscraps! Yup! I have a store. I got 8th place in the contest, and as a result I was asked to sign on for a 6 month contract with IvyScraps. I'm not sure what will happen after the six months is up, but for now I'm contributing to the monthly mega kits (just sent in my contribution for the May kit last week... it's a good-er), and trying to still keep doing some of the challenges as I attempt to continue 'catching up' in my scrapbooking. Thus far, I have 6 kits in my store. Here they are... and you may recognize the first 5, although they have been revamped and reworked before putting them in the store. ;)

Daddy's Hands - Personal Use only ($1)

This kit is a bit bigger than the original from the contest... with 7 papers and 11 elements, it's a nice mini for scrapbooking those masculine pages... kids spending time with daddy or grandpa, working outside on vehicles or even day to day things. It's a fun kit with a 'handsome' edge.

Doodlebugs - Personal Use only ($2)

Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than with these fun little creepy crawlies? These bugs won't bug you, though, as they are super cute... perfect for kids pages, spring photos, even baby pictures. Add a bit of whimsy to your scrapbook with these colorful critters. This kit has also been revamped from the contest, with 6 butterflies (2 types of each of 3 colors), more ribbons, an extra flower, bird, sun, and bee, as well as 7 papers (vs. the original 4). I'm looking forward to putting up a coordinating kit later with many more papers and elements... I've been working on it lately, and I'm excited with how it's turning out. :)

Lost in Time - Personal Use Only ($1.50)

Another revamped kit from the contest, this one has an extra 2 papers, ribbon, and button from before. I also added a 'string' tie on to attach to the buttons as needed, to make it look tied on. It can be used on it's own as well. This kit is great for those heritage pages, and it has that country feel to it. Personally, I love that large flower print paper... it took a long time to make, and I think it turned out great!

Birdie Blues - Personal Use Only ($1.50)

Yes, this one was also revamped from the contest. I added 2 papers and a nest of eggs to the fun. I love the spring feel to this kit, and it works great for Easter pages. I also think it has a bit of a fresh feel to it, don't you? And definitely a little bit 'country'! I couldn't help but think that this will be perfect for scrapping my daughter playing in puddles on the farm.

Romance - Personal Use Only ($3)

My first full sized kit. At least, that's what I'm calling it. I'm not really sure what the line is between a mini, a full size, and a mega. But with 14 papers and over 30 elements... full size it is. The above pic is of the elements... there is one below of the papers.

This kit is glamorous, bold and romantic. It's great for date nights, girls nights, or just for fun.

I really modified this kit from the original in the contest. I made the floral paper and satin one into 3 different colors each. I added another 2 plaids to the first, made 3 lacy papers, and put another heart paper in with the embossed one. As for texture... they've all been revamped. I added plenty of new elements as well, including frames, swirls, and a border. There are more ribbon colors and fabric elements as well.

Summer Fair Fun - Personal Use Only (Free for April)

DigiDes hosts the color challenge over at ivyscraps, and this week's colors inspired her to do a rainbow kit... you can pick it up for free for participating in the color challenge when you click the link. I thought the colors reminded me of summertime, and couldn't help but make this fun kit full of things you might find at the fair. Mmm... it's making me hungry (I haven't had cotton candy in ages). My personal fave is the train track frame. I have so many ideas floating around my head for more papers and elements for this kit that I may have to make a 'sequel', ha ha. Otherwise known as an add on. This will no longer be for free as of May 1st, so get it while you can!

Well, there you go! Six kits for sale! Wow... I've been busy. Now if only I was caught up on my scrapbooking instead of still working on June 2010...

Here are the things I finished this last month...

18. visit Festival of Fools

April first we went over to the Festival of Fools, and we had a GREAT time.  The kids both had their faces painted, and although I couldn't eat mini doughnuts (shucks... Lent is at the wrong time it seems), we had a great time shopping, and watching the different street performers,
30. Start creating and selling digital scrapbook kits
April 3rd I officially put one kit up in my new store at IvyScraps.  I need to post the kits yet, but if you look for Scrappy Sab at Ivyscraps.com (under 'store'), you'll find a few there, including a free one (for the month of April only).
 

81. Create a system that works to keep our van clean/organized (or relatively so)
Yup... on the 6th I went outside and thoroughly cleaned the interior of our van, and on the 8th I bought a few things to help organize in there... some bags to hang on the back of the chairs (mesh) to store things in off of the floor, a basket for garbage, a notepad (because I'm always needing paper when in the van and there never is any), and I have some cleaning supplies in there too (a water spritzer, microfiber cloths and a duster... for windows and such when I'm bored in the passenger seat... yeah... weird).  Lotion and tissues are now in the van as well.  Things we've needed before that I didn't have.

Things I'm working on this month.

51. Don’t use any bought salad dressings for 3months… make own - I started this already in the beginning of the month.  Actually, we haven't bought any salad dressings now for many months, but we've been using up what we had and making some of our own.  So, now I need to do this for a few more months... and to be honest, homemade tastes WAY better.


52. Colon cleanse for 1 month (or other detox method) - I've started detoxing and such, and while I had a colon cleanse in mind, it doesn't ship here, so I have another I aim to buy this week.  In the local store.  And I'm thinking of adding in some fiber supplements to take daily for awhile, and maybe if I can find a 'cleansing tea' or something.  I need to research that one more thoroughly, though.
53. Try 20 new recipes (4/20) - I did 3 new ones this last month.  One pasta with asparagus, one salmon recipe, and a chicken recipe.  All in our latest Kraft magazine.  Mmm... love that mag.

58. Catch up on scrapbooking (digital) - slowly but surely.


63. Do a ‘week in review’ scrapbook for one year (at least) and print it

Yeah... I've been doing this, but I haven't been posting them here.  I should again... I'm not sure why I haven't.  Ah well.  Just watch, you'll all of a sudden see a month's worth of them up here all at once.

65. Make a belly dance costume - Got some fabric... now to start sewing the one, and making a pattern and such for the other.  Yeah... two of them.


79. Organize all old baby clothes, donate stuff and store the rest by gender/age - I really wanted to do this last week, but didn't find the time.  I figure this is a good thing to do in the evenings while chilling in the family room.


I hope to be able to work on a few things soon.  Right now I've got the spring cleaning itch... and I cannot scratch it.  Well, I suppose I could, but it would be so pointless right now.  Oh, when will that reno be over?
Today I'm attempting to get as much normal stuff done as possible... kids are napping right now, and I have bookwork to do.  Sigh.  Till later, then.  Hopefully I'll have some fun stuff to post soon enough.

A Cleansing

Anybody out there like spring cleaning?  Ok... rephrase that.  Anybody like the aftermath of a good spring cleaning? 

I've been itching to spring clean my house.  It IS spring, after all.  Unfortunately, I cannot.  Or at least, it's not worth it right now, since we are renovating the office.  Once the dust has settled and the walls/ceiling mud is done, sanded, and all painted (and the floors are put in), spring cleaning of my house will commence, but until then... it isn't worth it.

Did I mention the layers of drywall dust that coat everything in sight, even when no dust has been stirred in that room, and after dusting?  Yeah.  Not fun.  Dust everything in sight just to have a new layer coating it all over again days later.  Nope.  Not happening.

Ok ok... I admit... I've been dusting anyway.  I can't help it.  I can NOT operate in a dusty house!  Especially the kitchen, ick.

Anyway, I digress.

This post is not about cleaning houses (mainly because I can't really do mine right now, and it's driving me nuts).  No, it's about cleansing bodies.

I have an item on my 101 list... to do a 30 day colon cleanse... and I aim to do it.  Soon.  Ok, within the next month (hopefully).  In addition to this 'cleanse', I want to detox.  Although, you can't do much of a detox if you have a clogged colon... right?  So, I'm taking things one step at a time, doing what I can at home right now without one of those detox/cleansing kits.  Those kits are expensive.  And the most recommended kit, the one I really want to buy, is Dr Natura's Colonix program and Toxin Out program.  Unfortunately, they no longer ship to Canada.  Boo.  I've done the colonix program over 5 years ago, and it was great.  Now I can finally do one again, and they don't ship here.  I may just have to use Mike's Parcel Pickup once again.  It would be in within a week.  That said, to get 2 colonix packs for me, one for my husband, and one Toxin out for each of us, plus 2 packs of Vitamin D pills (on sale, 60 pills each at 5000UI per pill for $9... which is better than the exact brand of 240 pills at 1000UI each for $10, since I have to take 5 of the suckers a day... blech), costs almost $300.  Ouch.  But if I get renewed energy, sleep better at night, and if this eczema finally leaves me (if only for a little while), it would be worth it, right?  Still... ouch.  Although, the cleansing kits at the health store in town aren't much better in terms of cost.  A 7 day colon cleanse is $25.  Bring it to 30 days and... well... pricey (they even say that 7 days isn't enough for a proper cleanse on the box).  A 30 day cleanse for the liver and kidneys (I'm not sure the kit does heavy metals as well...) is $55.  Which is the same price as the Toxin Out program when purchased with the Colon cleanse (which is a high recommendation in general... which I would do anyway).  And it doesn't include the flora pills to replenish good colon bacteria, which the Toxin Out does (each bottle is almost $20).  So, I guess it would be cost effective.

Still... $300....

Anyway, right now I'm trying to do things at home to help my body detox and cleanse... somewhat.  And to lose weight and gain energy.  I haven't been working out much... in a long time.  I've been doing belly dance, but that's about it.  Well, Monday I decided to put myself on a strict regimen. 

- Each morning, I dry brush myself to start the day (although not as thoroughly as described here... mine only takes 2 minutes).  I do a better one before showers.  I also make sure I drink a full cup of water before I do anything.  I follow it with a second cup before breakfast. 

- I keep track of my water consumption, aiming for 70 oz per day. 

- I have heard of many benefits of drinking tea, so I make sure to have one cup of green tea per day. 

- When I went to a micro-analysis years ago (man... has it really been 10 years?), she taught me something to help stimulate the colon.  A belly massage of sorts.  I do this for 5 minutes a day, prior to belly dancing, which I do prior to a major workout.  The massage is supposed to take place with your body at a 45 degree angle... butt up, head down, on your back.  I use the recliner with pillows stuffed underneath.  M thought it was hilarious. 

- The last daily thing I do... is a workout.  Ever heard of the 30 day Shred with Jillian Michael's?  Yeah... that one.  Bought it before I got pregnant with Bram, started it, got to about 15 days, couldn't do anymore (I was pregnant... didn't know at that point), and haven't picked it up since.  Yeah.  Did day 2 today.  MAN that is ONE HARD workout!  M thought it was great.  I have Pilate's balls I use as my weights (too cheap to buy a set), and M grabbed some balls from her toys to hold as she did the workout with me.... awwww!

I also want to do a mineral soak (ok, fancy name for a soak in a hot tub filled with Epsom salts... my sis in law told me that to detox with this you need to have about 10 cups of the salts in there for one bath.  I think I am going to be buying the barn's brand.  Much cheaper than what you pay in the store for them to add a little bit of dried lavender to).  There are a few recipes out there.  I don't know if Epsom salts really help you detox, but they do feel wonderful in the bath, and if it helps me relax, that will reduce free radicals in my body and will promote well being... right?  So, cheap salts... great.  Here is a recipe for a 'detox' bath.  Seems a bit like a soda bath as well, huh.  Here's another page with other 'bath' info.  I want to do an acidity test on myself to see if I'm overly acidic.  If so, I think I'll try that apple cider vinegar bath... although it doesn't sound too appetizing.

So yeah.  Here I go, attempting to do a bunch of weird things that probably have not been tested or have any scientific merit in cleansing the body.  But hey, I'm doing something, right?  Baths are relaxing (which is good), dry brushing is stimulating (another positive thing), the massage I have noticed IS affecting my... ahem... movements (and only on the second day, yes), tea is just good, and water... well, that IS proven.  So is exercise (in terms of making me feel better, too).  Although, right now my muscles are sore.

I'm looking forward to doing a colon cleanse.  Weird... I know.  (hey, if I can't clean my house, I might as well clean my body, right?).

Anybody else have strange detoxing methods they've used that worked for them?