AYM/3 Title Page

Here is the photo of the title page for A Year of Memories/3 class. You can see here where I put the stitches if you look closely. You should be able to click on the photo to view it larger.

TSRCC

The topic this month was to use a song title as your inspiration for a layout.

 My layout was titled "Someone Like You"---my favorite song of 2011 by my favorite artist---Adele. I punched the hearts and then stitched them down.

 "Happy Birthday" was the title of Linda's page. She did them and night so the lighting was not good. She is going to change the green background to match.

 "Girls just want to have fun" is  Kathy's layout about her trip to Chicago.

 Kathy chose "Chicago" as her title and did a second page about her trip.

 This is Kathy's layout from last month which called for the use of a number. She based the layout on her granddaughter's 16th birthday.

 "Baby Makes 3" is Pam's layout from last month.

 Jan did her layout based on the song "I'm Walking On Sunshine" about when she was a little girl.

 Jan also did a second layout this month and coincidentally also chose "Happy Birthday" as her title.

Barbara's title is "I Hope You Dance." She journals about how moving to Tennessee was a leap of faith.

The challenge for next month is to complete this statement for your title: "A Day With____" You can use any colors, but we are supposed to use strip journaling. Also, we are to include a hand-made embellishment.

AYM/1---Mindy's Layouts

On this layout, Mindy wanted her photos to look like pictures hanging on the wall.

 O.M.G (exclamation. pronounced ‘oh-em-gee’)- An exclamatory phrase originating from texting or typing the abbreviation of ‘oh my gosh!’ Typically used to express shock, awe, disbelief, disappointment, or even excitement over a piece of information received from the person with whom one is conversing. A favorite phrase of the reality TV family, the Kardashians… and me.

Along with their catch phrases, the Kardashians are known for their quirky personalities, great style, and media drama. Though they are a very polarizing pop-culture staple (some people love them, and some people hate them), I believe that most girls/women between the ages of 12 and 40 (including me) love them. When I was in Miami for work I even made a special trip to visit their boutique “Dash” just so I could say I had been there!

One of the newest “girls night out” crazes is BYOB. painting classes. The way it works is that you and your friends bring your drink of choice and get a 2-3 hour step-by-step class on painting a picture. It seems like it should be impossible to screw up a painting when someone is telling you exactly what to do and where, but you’d be surprise. I can’t decide if the “beverages” make painting easier (because it relaxes you) or more difficult (because of obvious reasons). Though you shouldn’t expect to see mine or any of my friends’ paintings in The Louvre any time in the near future, we always have a fun time when we are painting together.

On a semi-related note, while in Dominican Republic for a family vacation, all the girls in the family (sans Mom) took a finger painting class. The guy who was teaching it made it almost impossible for anyone (even 6-year-old Elizabeth) to mess up their painting. However, even when we walked away from the class with practically identical pictures of a sailboat on an ocean in the sunset, we still managed to argue over whose picture was the best!

Mindy tried her hand at stitching for the first time on this layout. Her journaling is hidden with pullouts.

I was first introduce to the work of my favorite designer (and, let’s be honest---total obsession), Marc Jacobs, when I went to visit my incredibly stylish and metropolitan friend, Caty while she was in school in New York City. We stopped by Marc Jacobs’ East Village store and I was instantly blown away. Not only was the store itself fun (t had a free photo booth inside!), but his designs were the perfect mix of whimsy and class. One year for Christmas my mom bought me his perfume, “Daisy,” which I quickly made my “trademark scent.” Even today, Marc Jacobs remains my favorite high-end designer---who can resist his creativity, philanthropy, and the fact that he’s totally hot? I decided back when I first fell in love with him that when I really “made it” as a financially sound and responsible adult, I would buy myself a real Marc Jacobs purse. I have to admit that I stole this idea from my friend Caty, but hey, if the goal of a Marc Jacobs purse is what it takes for me to become “financially sound” and “responsible,” then a Marc Jacobs it will be! And I’m almost there!

I am the proud aunt of four nieces (Jordan, Morgan, Victoria, Elizabeth) and one nephew (Mitchell). Because of them, I can safely say I NEVER want kids. Okay, now before you completely chastise me for being the worst aunt (and possibly human being) ever, it’s actually a compliment! They’re so cool (and sometimes dare I say it, even “cute”), why on earth would I want to ever have to be exposed to the drama and rebellion that lies just beneath the surface of every child and, heaven forbid, actually have to deal with it? I have this all figured out. When they are teenagers and getting grounded by their parents, I’ll still be “cool Aunt Mindy” who sends Mardi Gras packages. When they are back from college for Christmas and get in trouble with their parents for throwing an out-of-control house party, I’ll still be “cool Aunt Mindy” who can rap the lyrics to all the latest hip-hop songs. And when they are young adults getting lectured about the importance of “budgeting,” I’ll still be “cool Aunt Mindy” who, well, is just plain “cool” (or so I will have them believe). Plus, having nieces and nephews is the perfect cover for going to see the latest Disney movie or having Justin Bieber on your iPod.