Independence Day Layout

What? Did I really do another layout and it has been less than 24 hours?! Yes, you are seeing that correctly! I think I'm finally getting my mojo back and I'm super happy scrapbooking. I have another project that I am almost finished with that I can't wait to share, but for now I just have this one-page layout. I wanted it to be two pages like the sketch from Kiwi Lane Designs, but I didn't have enough of the Bo Bunny paper that I was using.

Here is the sketch from the Week 26 DT Doodles:

And here is  my layout: 

I had most of the templates that the sketch called for, but I had to improvise in a couple of spots. The templates that I used were:

Happy Trails 2A

Chestnut Drive 1A

Strip Set 2 inch

Tags 1

Adventure 1

My photos were 3x3 and 4x6

The paper is the Anthem line from Bo Bunny and I am completely in love with it! As you will see later I made a whole mini-album with the patriotic-themed paper. 

The star brads and the glitter brads were just in my stash. I'm not sure what brands they are (I'm thinking American Crafts on the bigger ones).

Thanks for stopping by and looking! Feel free to leave a comment.

DT Doodles -- Week 27

I've never played along with Kiwi Lane's weekly challenge, but I thought after all of the fun I had last week with the blog hop I would join in on this as well.

I pulled out my Fancy Pants My Family paper pack that I bought at the Scrapbook USA expo a couple of times ago. I really love this paper because it has a different texture and weight than most of the other paper I'm use to working with.

Here is the sketch from Kiwi Lane that I followed:

And here is my interpretation:

I had most of the templates that the sketch called for, but I had to improvise in a couple of spots. The templates that I used were:

Bracket 2

Large Bracket 2 and 3

Cascade Trails 1A and 1B

Strip Set 2 inch

Adventure 5

Wildflower 2T

My photos were between 3x3 and 4x6

I can't get over how easy this layout came together and that now I want to go back through all of the weeks and do all of the sketches! I've definitely got some mojo going now and I'm super inspired to keep getting my scrap on :) 

Friend Making Monday (on Tuesday)

I was in such a good routine of keeping up with my blog and then the end of the school year happened and  I've embraced the laziness of summer and, honestly, my blog has been neglected. I'm dedicated to changing that, though, by starting up again with Kenlie's Friend Making Monday. 

"If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!"

Easy Answers

1.  Are you a planner, or do you prefer to see where the moment takes you?  I'm definitely a planner. I would like to be more spontaneous, but I like to know what I'm doing and when I'm doing it and how I can get the best deal possible.

2.  How often do you blog?  I was on a really good roll of blogging on Monday and Wednesdays, but lately it has just been if I needed to. I'm going to work on blogging at least three times a week, especially to show off my craftiness and to journal about my weightloss. 

3.  Do you color your hair?  Yup. I haven't done so since May and it is probably in desperate need of at least a root touch-up.

4. If you had to choose between running or riding a bike, which one would you choose?  I'm not sure. I like to run and I like to ride my bike, I just need to get a new seat for my bike so that my butt doesn't hurt as much and I could ride for longer.

5.  Have you ever traveled outside of your home country?  Yes -- I've been to Canada and Mexico and then last year I went to Paris and Italy. I'm headed to Germany in October and the Ireland, London and Paris in March.

6.  Do you like weddings?  Yes. I've only been to a couple, but I think the union of two people is a beautiful thing and something to be celebrated!

7.  What is your favorite guilty pleasure on TV?  Do I even admit this? Right now I would say that it is Big Brother. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that in light of the awful people on the show this season, but I just can't get enough of it. 

8.  Are you good at math?  My first thought would be no, but even DC has said I have been getting better at Math lately. I would say that it is due in part to the Math endorsement that I took through the school district.

9.  What is the last movie you watched?  Watched? or just had on in the background? The last movie that I actually sat down and watched was Madagascar 3 when I went with my mom, DC and the kiddos to watch it in the park. Before that I had taken the kids to see Epic and before that it was Monster's University. Do you see a theme?

10.  Share five adjectives that your friends would use to describe you.  Friendly, crafty, dependable, honest, trustworthy -- at least I hope that is how they would describe me!

Bonus:  Did you celebrate Independence Day?  If so, what did you do? We went to the city park and participated in the "races." They divide everyone up my ages started as little as 1 day old and you race to see who can cross the finish line first. LD placed 2nd in his age group. EM got a little disorganized and might have been the last one to finish. We went to the pool in the afternoon and enjoyed some hotdogs and fireworks at home in the evening. I would say it was a good holiday all-in-all.

Kiwi Lane Designs Blog Hop

I remember the first time I came across Kiwi Lane Designs -- it was at the Scrapbook USA Expo in Salt Lake City a couple of years ago. I had quickly walked past their booth and didn't give it much though. That is until one of my friends bought a few sets of the templates and was designing with them at our table. I was intrigued and quickly made my way back over to the KLD booth to see the templates in action from the pros. I was sold ever since!

I have a handful of designer templates, but was super excited when Kristy asked me to be part of the July blog hop and I was given the opportunity to work with the Happy Trails set. I love the happy vibe I get from these templates. They just make me smile :)

See what I mean?! Aren't you just happy now?

Just a little tip -- sometimes I try to use my templates with the paper face down. I inevitably always mess it up. The easiest way for me to trace my templates with my doing it exactly how I want it over the paper with my pencil and then I just ink the edges of my paper to cover up the pencil marks. I'm pretty sure I saw that at the expo from the KLD experts and it is something that I have used ever since. And I just love the look of it -- it really adds definition.

Here is one other layout I've done recently with my templates.

Thank you for so much for stopping by my blog! Don't forget that a random winner from ONE of the blogs (including the Kiwi Lane blog) will be given a $25 gift certificate to the Kiwi Lane Shop. So leave me some love and hopefully you win so you can pick yourself up some awesome KLD templates :)

In case you didn't start at the beginning of the blog hop here is the entire list.

1. Kiwi Lane http://kiwilane.com/here/blog/
2. Monique Liedtke http://moniquesscrapbook.blogspot.nl/
3. Jennifer Budge  www.thingsthaticreate.wordpress.com
4. Cari Locken    http://myandmythoughts.blogspot.ca/
5. Jennifer Nicholes  craftingmoments.wordpress.com
6. Regina Mangum http://thestampinbean.blogspot.com/
7. Becki Adams http://beckiadams.blogspot.com/
8. Julie Ann Cordero www.ourlifeinscraps.blogspot.com YOU ARE HERE NOW
9. Jessica Laureano http://scrapping2boys.blogspot.com/ GO HERE NEXT
10. Gail Owens www.glowormdesigns.blogspot.com

Shinob Kibe Saturday morning hike

I have lived in Washington City for a while and I've always been fascinated with a funky looking formation. I remember when I was teaching Utah Studies and I found out that the formation had a name, Shinob Kibe, and I tried to find out as much information as I could about it. I, however, had never really thought about hiking to the top of it until recently. 

This is a view of Shinob Kibe from Foremaster Ridge.

And this is a view of Shinob Kibe from the soccer park that is nearby.

Some information on the hike that is either from my own experience or compiled for various sites:

Some history about the formation: According to the Washington County Historical Society, Shinob Kibe was named for a Paiute deity was was known as a protector of the tribes. Shinob means "Great Spirit" and Kibe means "Mountain." Shinob Kibe was a sacred place the Paiute Indians and they would use it as a refuge where they would go to get away from their enemies, specifically the Navajos who were known to capture Paiute women and children to use them for slaves.

In the 1930s the Civil Aviation Authority made a huge concrete arrow on the southern edge of the top. It is no longer used, but a pretty cool historical marker.

Length: from the trailhead to the summit it's about .75 mile

Hiking time: I was able to do it in about an hour or so.

Difficulty: Going up got my  heart rate going some, but nothing too strenuous. Going down I was a little more nervous because at times I couldn't exactly see the trail and there was a lot of loose rock.

Where to find the trailhead: I guess you use to be able to go up on the other side, but now it is private property so this is the only way to climb it. In Washington City you turn south on 300 East like you are going out to the Fields. Then you are going to make a left on Indian Springs Drive and then another left on Red River Road. It will curve until it becomes Apache Drive. From there you are going to make a left on Pocahontas and then a right on Paiute Drive. Paiute will end and there is a little white gate that I have read is sometimes open. I just walked around the gate and then just a little bit further on your right is a large rock marking the start of the trail.

My overall impressions: I really enjoyed this hike and I will definitely be doing it again in the future. It really wasn't that difficult and the payoff. One thing I could have done without all of the grasshoppers that were attacking me, but I just kept thinking that I was invading their home and they weren't really hurting me -- just more of an annoyance.

I did read that there was a log at the top that you could sign, and I found the log box, but I couldn't open it and I didn't see anything else.

Photos from the hike:

A view looking out towards the Fields.

Kind of looking back toward Hurricane.

The Fields. I really love this photo!

Looking out over the mesa toward Washington City.

Proof that it was really me up there taking these photos!

Looking toward Washington City and St. George.

Do you see the trail? It's there -- I promise!

Looking up at the top from the bottom.

And to prove how good the hike can be for you -- I went and weighed in afterwards and had a pretty darn good week! :)

Friend Making Monday (on Sunday)

Wow! It's certainly been a while since I've blogged. I was doing so well and then with school ending and trying to get into a summer schedule I just haven't spent much time on a computer (I do continue to check Facebook through my phone, though!)

Anyway ... here is my Friend Making Monday on summer fun!

1.  What is your favorite summer fruit?  Cantaloupe! I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day! YUM!

2.  Do you know how to swim? Yes. I took lots of swim lessons when I was younger. I haven't done much more than just being lazy in a swimming pool lately, though.

3.  Do you prefer sun or snow?  The sun! I really love the warmth of it on  my face and just relaxing.

4.  What temperature do you like most inside your home?  It is set to about 79.

5.  Is it humid where you live?  Nope. It is super dry here. 

6. What is your favorite food to put on the grill?  I love hot dogs on the BBQ. In fact, I might go have one right now :)

7. Do you prefer to wear a one-piece  or two-piece swim suit?  I would LOVE to wear a two-piece, but for now I'm wearing a one-piece when I hit the pool.

8.  What is your favorite summer drink?  Pink lemonade (okay ... that's my any season favorite drink!

9.  Do you prefer the pool or the ocean?  The pool, for sure! I don't love the ocean because I don't like seaweed and anything else slimey that might touch me in the water!

10.  What are you looking forward to most over the summer?  Just getting my house organized and relaxing. It's nice not to have to worry about work and getting everything done when I have the whole summer to do it!

Friend Making Monday

1. Do you use coupons?  YES! I go through phases where I am better at using coupons sometimes than I am other times, but I love a good coupon.

2. How often do you weigh yourself?  Daily – it helps to keep me on track and motivated.

3. What was your favorite TV show as a kid?  I really loved Boy Meets World. I can’t wait for the new Disney show about Girl Meets World! I’m so stinkin’ excited!

 4. How often do you drink alcohol?  Like couponing – it goes through phases. I’ve had a few more drinks lately than I had been having, but I’m probably done with that now.

5. Have you ever met a celebrity or public figure that you really admire? Yes – I had basketball player Jeff Hornacek a few times. We met Will Smith  in Wendover, Nevada when he was filming the movie Independence Day and I met Rob Thomas most recently.

6.  If you had to choose between only your cell phone or only your laptop all week which would you choose?  My cell phone because I could use it to make calls, text and do all of my internet surfing.

7. What is your favorite brand of detergent?  Whatever is cheapest – probably  not the best answer, but I don’t have a preference.

8. If there was a movie about your life, who would play the role? I swear I’ve answered this question before! Easy – Lauren Graham. I adore her and I think we kind of look alike.

9.  What book are you currently reading?  It’s called Baby Proof by Emily Giffen. It’s pretty good, but I’m ready to be done and move onto another book.

10.  If you could spend one day on vacation anywhere in the world, which place would you choose?  Just one day? I would go to China and walk along the Great Wall.

Don’t forget to head over to Kenlie’s blog and post your link to your answers there!