Blogging in Style with Tania!

Rockford Half-Marathon Finisher!

2008-05-19T13:07:00.005-05:00

I DID it! Training, planning, running and running some more! I ran the FARTHEST I have ever run in my life. I am proud of myself. I have come a long way, baby. Thinking back to no more than one year ago, I:

1. weighed 185 pounds.
2. started losing weight.
3. started running.
4. Did a 1-miler, a 2-miler, a 5K, a 10-miler and now:
5. A Half-Marathon! (13.1 miles)

I am a sprinter, no question. I went, what I considered to be, fast. Here are my stats as a "middle-of-the-packer":

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FEMALE AGE GROUP 30 - 34 (500)
================================================================================

1 1396 Leslie Schaeffer 33 F 1:40:24 7:40
2 926 Jennie Bailey 34 F 1:41:56 7:47
3 1600 Colleen Carson 34 F 1:42:39 7:51
4 1529 Kelly Lucente 32 F 1:46:01 8:06
5 968 Sara Brackenrich 31 F 1:51:43 8:32
6 1264 Sheri McWilliams 34 F 1:52:04 8:34
7 1055 Melissa Dunbar 33 F 1:53:56 8:42
8 1555 Maggie Schnoor 31 F 1:55:11 8:48
9 1454 Jessica Svoboda 34 F 1:56:15 8:53
10 1319 Tania Paterick-Sterud 32 F 1:56:38 8:55
11 1524 Jeannette Zilli 34 F 1:56:43 8:55
12 1246 Mary Kate Martinelli 30 F 1:57:20 8:58
13 1206 Reetta Kylakoski 33 F 1:57:55 9:01
14 1472 Tricia Ulferts 34 F 1:58:56 9:05
15 1213 Pernille Lausten 34 F 1:59:08 9:06
16 1536 Kelly Speltz 34 F 1:59:52 9:09
17 1500 Megan Welbourne 31 F 2:01:04 9:15
18 1283 Gina Montano 31 F 2:01:09 9:15
19 1075 Jessica Ferguson 33 F 2:02:17 9:21
20 978 Jessica Buch 31 F 2:04:27 9:30
21 1249 Lorena Martinez 34 F 2:05:24 9:35
22 1043 Betty Dilley 34 F 2:08:13 9:48
23 1430 Juliana Silvestri 31 F 2:09:14 9:52
24 1370 Kelli Rolston 34 F 2:12:57 10:09
25 1260 Heather McLauchlan 33 F 2:14:20 10:16
26 1303 Marty Offutt 30 F 2:16:54 10:27
27 1437 Jennifer Slabaugh 34 F 2:20:02 10:42
28 1181 Cassie Kaltenbrun 31 F 2:22:49 10:55
29 1145 Beth Hild 33 F 2:23:13 10:56
30 1049 Heather Dowd 32 F 2:23:54 11:00
31 1507 Buffy Wicks 30 F 2:24:42 11:03
32 1228 Michele Long 33 F 2:24:48 11:04
33 1556 Becky Krueger 32 F 2:25:08 11:05
34 1135 Amy Hart 33 F 2:26:36 11:12
35 1173 Loren Johnson 30 F 2:27:57 11:18
36 1020 Kimberly Cook 34 F 2:29:08 11:24
37 1433 Mary Simpson 33 F 2:31:16 11:33
38 1048 Mary Lynn Doherty 34 F 2:31:20 11:34
39 1332 Aurelia Pocklington 30 F 2:32:20 11:38
40 1519 Ericka Yancey 34 F 2:32:47 11:40
41 1471 Christy Udell 32 F 2:32:48 11:40
42 939 Rebecca Barton 30 F 2:33:58 11:46
43 971 Anna Brahmstedt Akerlu 31 F 2:34:09 11:47
44 1134 Natasha Harroff 34 F 2:34:10 11:47
45 1359 Dalma Rigaud 30 F 2:34:37 11:49
46 388 Maia Youngbrandt 30 F 2:35:47 11:54
47 1322 Jacqueline Perez 30 F 2:38:31 12:06
48 1210 Imelda Lagunas 30 F 2:38:31 12:06
49 1302 Erin Obrien 32 F 2:44:12 12:33
50 1400 Andrea Schiller 30 F 2:47:42 12:49
51 1244 Tonya Markert 33 F 2:53:21 13:14

8:55 per mile pace! That's pretty good for never having run 13.1 miles EVER. And, did I mention that I've lost almost 60 pounds? This has been a banner year, full of emotion, discipline and training. Of course, it's no Boston Qualifying pace, but I am happy, because I wasn't trying to make the Boston Marathon. I was trying to finish my first half-marathon and go to bed in the evening without having a full-blown panic attack. Success achieved!

I am SO proud of the group that I ran with as well. Each of us (Laura, Reetta and Pernille) ALL managed sub-2:00 hour half-marathons! Success achieved! Laura even placed third in her age group (40-44)! SAY WHAT??? I am so totally proud that I was able to run with these gals. I am inspired by so many of my fellow ladies. Roscoe Roadies, way to go!

Want some pictures? Sure.

I really like this picture that Erik took. Here I am in my orange shorts, running into the frame. You can see the park (Davis Landing) where all the festivities were held and the bridge and River which we ran over to get to the finish. VERY cool.

Here I am waving to my adoring fans! I was WAY excited to see Indigo, River and Daddy cheering me on at the Finish Line! I really was. It makes my day and life to have their support; it really does.

There I go! HEY! See my time there? Yup. Under 2 hours! YAYAYAYAYAY! Training was involved. Do not attempt without appropriate training! LOL!

This is Laura and me. I am so proud of this Laura gal! She placed 3rd in her age group! WAY TO GO!!!

Here is the beautiful and stunning Maegan and myself. So the back story on us? We started in this crazy idea of joining the "Beginning Running Club" at the Y last year with Mary E. We began together running 30 seconds. That was it. 30 seconds. Now? After less than one year? 13.1 miles without stopping. a Half-Marathon finisher. Both of us. And to think we laughed less than a year ago that we couldn't manage to run 4 minutes without stopping. Amazing.

Look at this stunning group of wild women! Every single one of us managed to do 13.1 miles and received a medal on this glorious day. Sure, we're tired. Yes, we've trained. And DAMN. We look good!

Did I mention we all got medals for finishing? So cool. Unexpected bonus! I had no idea we would be getting finishing medals. I think we look like the best alumni cross country team out there!

The final picture, we capture Pernille and Andrea who eluded us for earlier pictures. We are in Davis Park getting massages, goody bags, meeting our husbands and families and connecting to go out to the Stockholm Inn after the run.

It was quite a day. Did I mention we ran 13.1 miles? The rest of my day was spent trying to eat, drink, rest and not panic since my body had been through quite an ordeal. It's the next day and the results are in. I'm alive AND I ran 3 miles this morning with the Beginning Run Club at the Y. Full circle, baby. Full circle.

Long Time Gone

2008-04-11T13:28:00.002-05:00

Here's a recent layout, since I haven't recently updated my blog.

TaniaJPS Designs 30% Off Easter Sale!

2008-03-22T14:24:00.000-05:00

It's here and it's ON! My first sale in 7 months! Stop by and check out my newest releases including the terrific: Sk8Urban Kit, Elements and Paper Pack!

Note: Advertisement Image is clickable! :)

Click HERE to enter the SALE at TaniaJPS Designs Store!

Here is a Preview of my latest and greatest designs:

Only 4 Days Until ADSR3!

2008-02-12T17:18:00.000-06:00

Check out my new blog for the 1970's Folk Babes! Only 4 days until the start of ADSR3! (The Amazing Digiscrap Race: Season 3). My partner Susan and I will be posting all of our inspirational layouts there. Prepare to be stunned and amazed. AND, if you have never tried digiscrapping before, prepare to START! I'll help you!

As to my running and rehabilitation...

I threw out my back and now my knee hurts since I've started running and training again for my 1/2 marathon. Also, 2 night ago I slept on my neck funny and now I have a "pain in the neck", literally that has my arms and hands going numb sometimes.

I think I'm falling apart. Not to mention that I've gained 4 pounds in one week.UGH. From 128 to 132 pounds. Too many cookies, chocolates, candy bars and sugar. Too many calories, really. Just need to vent.

I "Threw Out My Back" and a New Blog!

2008-01-26T21:16:00.000-06:00

Tale of Woe:

I threw out my back this past Wednesday. It's bad. It's really bad. Hopefully I'll be able to run and train again for the marathons. I did go to a doctor and am taking prednezone (anti-spasm), flexeral (pain killer) and sodium naproxen ("Aleve"). I don't know if I spelled all those words right, but I don't care. The point is, I can't walk. I can't sit and I can't stand without some degree of pain, discomfort or buckling of my knees. It really sucks.

The doctor said, "No running for one week." "No lifting more than 5 pounds for one week". My prayer is that after one week I *will* be able to run. Cuz right now it seems impossible and I am fit to tears about it.

HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF MY RUNNING LADIES! They who have been calling me and emailing me and driving me and offering their help...I am honored and blessed to know and run with each and every one of you. You know who you are and you mean a LOT to me. Keep training, though! 5 miles on Monday. 4 miles on Wednesday. Another 9 miler on Friday. You can do it. I know you can, because I've SEEN you do it. OK. Maybe not the 9-miler. But, I HEARD that you did it. How's that?

On the bright side, I am getting stuff done on the computer. I have finished a new digital scrapbooking kit for sale at NDISB called "Cherry Chocolate Valentine". I have even found time to scrapbook Indigo's Dance class using this new kit. AND I have had the time to create a blinkie and a new blog for the Amazing Digiscrapping Race, in which I am partaking with SusanS3js, my digital scrapbooking partner!

"Cherry Chocolate Valentine" - Page Kit
$4.95
Chocolate and cherries, pinks and browns, Valentine's Day and the people we love...what more could you want or ask for? Perhaps a kit that invokes all of this and more?

I love chocolate, pinks, creams and brown - I also love my family and friends and designed this kit with all of the sparkle and fun that reminds me of all these things I love. This has turned out to be my favorite kit to date and I hope you will love it as much as I do! Be inspired and thanks for your patronage to TaniaJPS Designs!

Included in this kit are:

* Five patterned papers
* Two coordinating solids
* Accents
* Glitter
* Borders
* Gems
* Unique and Beautiful Embellishments

Click HERE TO SEE CHERRY CHOCOLATE VALENTINE in the NDISB Store.

Here is that layout of Indigo dancing that I mentioned earlier.

Isn't she cute? I mean, honestly. :) I had a lot of fun using this new kit I made and hopefully you'll pick it up at the store and find enjoyment using it as I do!

Did I mention you should purchase this kit at the NDISB store? You should. Go now.

:::::*****:::::*****:::::

Finally! The Amazing Digiscrapping Race and my partner, SusanS3Js. So exciting. What on earth am I talking about? Do you want to do this too? Maybe you do. First stop? My new blog. Links and directions and further inspiration are there. Go see!

1970's Folk Babes: Amazing Digiscrapping Race Season 3: The Blog

Neva & Tom Paterick Wedding Photos

2008-01-14T22:09:00.000-06:00

Could anyone of my relatives please tell me the date of this wedding?

Preface to the photos: These photos were sent to me by my maternal grandfather, Thomas Edgar Shelton. Clearly, they had been stored away for quite some time. I have subsequently used various methods to try and correct some of the "coloring" and "aging" problems many of these photos have now some 30+ years later. Thanks to Kim Hill of CGEssentials for her lovely 1970's action. Only some of the photos are shown here on this blog. I am still working on the many other photos I received but thought that I ought to put these photos out there for my family and friends to see.

Tom Paterick and Neva (Shelton) Paterick

My favorite photo of my mom and dad.

My paternal grandmother, Dorothy (Dieck) Paterick, who raised me. Thank you Grandma! I love you! By the way, what a groovy outfit!

I spy Jim (James) Paterick in this photo.

Example of a "BEFORE" photo that I received. Use this to gauge my success in color correcting these photos! This is a solo photo of my mother, Neva.

What a difference, don't you agree?

Miss Me? Merry Christmas!

2007-12-21T18:23:00.000-06:00

I'm here! I'm alive! Here's an update and a layout and some pictures!

1. I hover around 129-131 pounds at the present time. Today I weigh 130. Personally, I like to see the number in the 120's. That's just my vanity speaking though. And, the fact that I am a bloated cranky mess doesn't help matters. Bah Humbug.

2. River is fixated on all things Santa, reindeer, elves, gifts and all of the "rules" that go with this Holiday. I mean, "How old is Santa?", "What if I open my eyes in the middle of the night? Will Santa still come?", "Can the elves make a real CARS race track?"...

Here's a layout to keep you visually stimulated. Then, back to updates.

3. Indigo is a "BIG girl". No exceptions.

4. If Erik doesn't love all his presents this year then, BAH HUMBUG and I think I'll go off in a corner, sulk a lot, then die a slow miserable (metaphorical) death from the distress of not being able to concoct the perfect present mixture for my husband.

Here's another and the ONLY picture in the world of my nuclear family. (Except for a Halloween picture with red eye and wild oily glares - which doesn't count). Actually, it's gonna be four pictures. It turns out that, after having resized these photos for the web, that they are ALL blurry. What a shame. Bah humbug.

Me and the Kiddos at River's school after his Christmas Program.

Effort 1 for a "Family Photo".

Effort 2 for a "Family Photo".

Effort 3 for a "Family Photo".

So, Merry Christmas to you ALL. To all of my Digital Scrapbooking friends and customers, thank you for your loyalty. To all of my family, I love you. To all of my Running Club friends, I am honored to have met and run with you and I am looking forward to running the MARATHON with you in the next year.

5. Oh yeah, did I mention that I am training for a marathon? HA HA! I am! ark your calendars: May 18, 2008. Me. Marathon. Rockin' it.

Since Forevah & The Running Club

2007-10-28T22:03:00.001-05:00

Has is been since forevah that I updated this blog? I think about it often enough but do I actually do it? Nahhhh.

Anyway. Progress on the weight front. I started at the hefty zaftig 185 pounds and am presently 133.5 pounds. *curtsy*. I have the running club and my various other Y activities to thank for that. And, on that note...since I know the legions of adoring fans that are following my blog are also, dare I say it, runners from the running club...I thought I'd put a shout out to my fab sistah Mary for running with me 4.5 MILES today all the way AND sprinting uphill the last 200 meters. Amazing. You rocked it, girl.

Now. Who wants pictures? Prepare to be alarmed.

*************BEFORE****************

*************AFTER*****************

And to be fair, I've done my research and in the "after" photo that I have displayed, I actually weighed 136.5, so imagine another 3 pounds off that frame, if you please.

IN OTHER NEWS:

I really have lost my scrapping and designing mojo. Someone please help me find it.

Update on my Lifestyle and Weight Loss

2007-10-01T21:01:00.000-05:00

In response to a forum post at "My Food Diary" (www.myfooddiary.com) about whether or not it is good to set mini weight goal tiers, I wrote this:

I know I did and it has thus far worked for me.

I started at 185 and set 5 weight tiers for myself. I chose numbers that were significant to me along the way:

Start weight: 185

First Tier Goal Weight: 161
...reason: I told my dad that I would diet and weigh this much for over a year, at times I simply lied to him that I was staying away from custardccinos even though I wasn't.

Second Tier Goal Weight: 155
...:This was the lowest amount I weighed after the natural birth of my second child.

Third Tier Goal Weight: 144
...reason: This was the amount of weight that my grandmother weighed when I was in High School. I told myself I would never weight more than that amount in my lifetime.

Fourth Tier Goal Weight: 132
...reason: Based on MFD criteria and ideal body weight calculators, this is supposedly an "ideal weight" for me. My dad agrees and hopes I'll achieve and maintain around this number.

Fifth Tier Goal Weight: 125
...reason: Purely for reasons of vanity. I weighed this much in college when I was my leanest and fittest.

My current weight: 136.5

Setting these goals has worked wonders for me. Obviously, this is anecdotal evidence of success. Nevertheless, try it for yourself! And, good luck!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that yesterday I just got my first pair of SIZE 4 jeans! (Thanks grandma!) I seriously skipped in the aisle.

Ahem. Hi.

2007-09-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

Hi. I haven't blogged in two months. What is wrong with me?

I have lost a lot of weight!

1. River has started Kindergarten.
2. River has already been promoted to the Gifted and Talented Program.
3. Erik is the Bruce Samlan Soccer Coach for River's Team.
4. The Eagles (as they have dubbed themselves) are 2-0!
5. First game score was 10-0.
6. Second game score was 6-2.
7. River scored none of those goals.
8. River was spotted holding his hands together behind his back and staring off into space.
9. Did I mention that River was selected for the Gifted and Talented Program?
10. Indigo likes Pepperoni.
11. Indigo eats pepperoni almost every day.
12. Indigo is starting to use the potty!
13. Indigo pooped for the first time in the potty at our local YMCA.
14. Indigo was naked.
15. Indigo was holding the sides of the toilet seat.
16. I was proud and disgusted at the same time.
17. I have lost 45.5 pounds since May 1st.
18. I really enjoy Thai-Style Chicken from Lean Cuisine.
19. Thai-Style Chicken is my favorite Lean Cuisine meal and I have tried a lot of them.
20. Erik is really into coaching soccer.
21. Erik and I just recently started our Fall Volleyball League.
22. We lost our first match 0-3.
23. 23 is my favorite number.
24. Indigo recognizes the color yellow, I think.

The End. I am alive!

31% OFF!

2007-07-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. And to celebrate this fact:

Yeah!!?? :)

:::$$$:::$$$:::$$$:::$$$:::

IN OTHER NEWS:

I apologize that I haven't blogged in since, forever.

1. I have recovered nicely from my umbilical hernia surgery.
2. River had his 5th Birthday.
3. I ran 1 mile in 8:18.
4. Indigo cries to get her way.
5. I love watching CSI reruns late at night.
6. I am entering a couple of races this summer still.
7. I went on a 14 mile bike ride.
8. I have surgical mesh in my abdomen and two bellybuttons.
9. I saw a naked soaped-up black lady in the McDonald's bathroom today.
10. The lady had bloody towels around her feet.

To Grandmother's House We Go

2007-06-24T21:12:00.001-05:00

"Over the River and through the Woods to Grandmother's House we Go..."

River, Indigo and I are traveling to visit Grandma tomorrow! I am going there to convalesce. I need to heal from my hernia operation.

I ended up with a hernia the size of a bratwurst and a half! The doctor ended up putting surgical mesh inside my abdomen and from now on I will have to alert airport authorities whenever I travel that I have this mesh inside me since it will forever set off the sensors!

It's three days out and I am still sore but I managed to walk 2 miles today! Slowly, of course. My biggest problem is constipation. Gross, I know. So, I won't go there. But you get the jist, right?

Anyway, I made a GROOVY new blog banner header today since I figured it was about time. I mean it's been a YEAR! That's like a milennia in the blogosphere, no? You like?

I also updated my slide. I figured it was about time to make some changes to that as well. You may notice all new layouts there and some oldies but goodies that I decided to keep around. No new layouts today. I'll report back soon!

Umbilical Hernia Surgery

2007-06-20T00:06:00.000-05:00

Yup. Umbilical Hernia Surgery. I'll be out for more than 3 weeks possibly. I'm bummed. I'm trying not to think about it too much though. I want to recover quickly.

Save the date: this Thursday, June 21st @ 1:30PM CST. Pray for me to be able to handle the anesthesia. Pray for a quick recovery too!

Other than that? Summer has taken a hold of me and I have become a VERY bad blogger! So, I'll quick share a layout I made today! I haven't scrapped in a while so I haven't shared in a while. I just bought a FABULOUS beach ball sprinkler. To be frank, I think I adore it as much as the kids do. We've been having a blast playing with it!

Credits and Comments can be placed HERE

Biggest Loser & Iron Women Challenge

2007-06-05T15:42:00.000-05:00

The verdict is in! I was the biggest loser on my team having lost 10 pounds in a 5 week period! However, the jury is still out until Thursday regarding whether or not I am the biggest overall loser between the 3 teams. I don't know. I suspect it will be a tie or someone will beat me by a smidge. We'll see!

Should I blog more? I was thinking of moving to typepad. Is it worth it? Do I have any readers with whom I need to stay in contact?

And lastly, I signed up for the Iron Women Challenge at the YMCA for the bargain price of $15 for the whole summer,. Yes, all of June, all of July and all of August for $15.00. Deal! Anyway, every week there are numerous challenges and my first was today. It was to see how many times I could bench press a 35 pound bar rythmically without excessive stalling.

Bench Press #35 = 75

Yay me! The trainer said the other gals had done approx. 50! You get one point for every press you can do and then it was on to the "row".

Leaning forward, I was supposed to keep my back straight and lift the #35 pound bar up to my shoulders and back down. This was more diifficult for me...

Row #35 = 60

Yay me again! Cuz I was told that the others did around 25.

I think it's cuz I have more "mass" going for me than the others than can propel weights around! :) LOL!

At the end of the summer the participant with the most points overall wins a full spa retreat and vacation. Incentive? Me thinks, yes. Plus, I have a goal weight of 125. We'll see how far I can get.

Pictures? Why not! Our last sunny day before the rains set in was last week and River decided to chill out running through the sprinkler.

::::On your slide::::

::::Get set!::::

::::GO!::::

I have a mind to scrap these, as you can imagine!

The Biggest Loser - Tania

2007-06-02T00:07:00.000-05:00

Wow. It's been almost a month since I've blogged. I guess my enthusiasm for blogging comes in spurts. Anyway, I have been involved in a "Biggest Loser" challenge at my YMCA. I'm on a team and everything. So far I was the Biggest Loser during Week 1 & 2. Then, in week three I plateaued (Where's Evan O'Dorney; the Scripps 2007 Spelling Bee Champion when I need him?) having lost only 1.5 pounds that week. So far in less than one month's time I am at a total loss of 13 pounds. I have MANY more to go. Trust me.

I have so much I could say, but really, it's midnight and I should go to bed. My blog always seems to be an afterthought. I come up with all kinds of wonderful entries in my mind and never seem to put pen to paper, so to speak (maybe keyboard to screen?). Yeah, so check it out. I made this goofy 3-D mini me. You can totally check it out at www.meez.com if you want to make your own. Cuz, why not - you've got time to kill, right? I mean, you're not busy at all...I can't imagine. :) ;)

Duuuuudes: that's totally me in my "More to Love" tracksuit. Sexy, eh? And at the gym. Religiously, folks. Everyday.

OK, Gotta go. If you do the Meez thing, you totally have to show me what yours looks like, K? Ciao!

National Scrapbooking Day - Sale

2007-05-04T14:20:00.000-05:00

You don't want to miss the biggest sale of the year in Scrapbooking, do you??? Check out all my stuff at NDISB and Oscraps - it's ALL 50%off. This only happens once a year, so don't miss your chance to own these designs at wildly affordable prices! I am also in the tail end of putting together my second release in the TRENDY collection! That will ALSO be 50% off and JUST in time for National Scrapbooking Day, tomorrow, May 5th. Pues, Cinco de Mayo, por sopuesto!

Click HERE to see the sale!

Netflixing It

2007-04-26T15:31:00.000-05:00

Netflix report anyone? I've been doing netflix for about 6 months total now. I actually really like it. However, if there were a Blockbuster in the area - I think I'd switch to that - since you can also take the movies to the store and get a new one. I like the option of not having to wait - instant gratification girl that I am.

I just returned this today. We watched it last night and frankly, I thought it was hilarious. Steve Carrell really is one ridiculously funny feller. My favorite performance of his was in the movie Bruce Almighty - so freaking hilarious. Anyway, I digress. So we watched this last night and I was expecting it to be a par movie just because of the plot and title - but really, it was wayyy above average. Certainly not the "best movie" I've seen, but really good, nonetheless.

I give this movie, "The 40 Year Old Virgin" an: A-

Wondering what my scale is? Sure, easy. Just like a standard report card from an F being worst to an A+ being the most top quality film out there.

Give it a look if you haven't seen it. Expect funny and enjoy.

Then I also so this lackluster film and can't explain why I even rented it except that I think Gina Miller said she liked it so much she rented it twice. CLEARLY, Gina & I are *not* on the same wavelength with this movie. I thought it was really boring and slow. Plus, the notion of Steve Martin sexually just give me the c.r.e.e.p.s.*shudder* I don't want to think about it anymore.

I give the movie "Shopgirl" a: D+

::::In Other News::::

We are heading out for ther weekend, so I probably won't be back until Monday. Not like I have a lot of blog readers though, do I? Should I be worried? I hope to have a great little sumpin' sumpin' for you folks out there come next Tuesday.

A Little About Me - Tag Style

2007-04-25T00:02:00.000-05:00

Nina tagged me over 20 days ago. Yes, twenty. Do I take the procrastinator award? Me thinks, yes.

Nina tagged me ( Thanks Nina!)

FOUR JOBS I HAVE HAD

Purchaser, Farmland: Dubuque, Iowa: USA
French Teacher: Salinas, California: USA
English Teacher: Naantali, Suomi: Finland
Digital Designer: My House, Illinois: USA

FOUR MOVIES I HAVE WATCHED OVER AND OVER

Clueless
The Princess Bride
Titanic
Dead Poets Society

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED

Wisconsin, Illinois, California, Iowa: USA
Naantali: Finland
Paris: France
Granada: Spain

FOUR TV SHOWS I LIKE(D) TO WATCH

American Idol
Survivor
The Amazing Race
...

FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION

Walt Disney World: Orlando, Florida
Molde: Norway
Nerja: Spain
Yosemite National Park: California, USA

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS

Indian
Swedish Meatballs
Gyros
Split Pea Soup

FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW

Paris
Finland
Back in College
Playing Tennis

FOUR PEOPLE I WILL TAG

Amy W.
Leslie and her Boyz
Theresa Hernandez
Cindy Simon

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

2007-04-24T14:37:00.000-05:00

And watch my ratings plummet since I haven't blogged in HOW LONG? What has it been? 2 weeks? Sorry. Spring came. I went outside. We were sicker than dogs for about 3 weeks straight and well...the excuses go on and on. I got to meet Ernie of Admin Shrek at NDISB fame. He was on a business trip to the Midwest and contacted us - so we were able to get together with him and get this - fly kites and blow bubbles.

Do I owe you a new freebie? I'll work on that. In the mean time, here's some pictures of our wonderfully eventful day last friday! River, my dear son, still asks when Ernie is coming back to fly kites again.

Here we have River flying the only kite that stayed up in the air long enough to take pictures, thanks to Ernie. After this experience, we broke this kits and the new kite I picked up the next day. Bummer. OK, we didn't break it. The wind and the ground did.

Ahh, the joys of having a kite flying buddy.

Ernie WILL make the biggest bubble. He's been practicing for hours!

Thanks for reading my quick post. I'm still working on my collection, in case you are wondering. It is coming along slowly but surely.

Artsy Fartsy Freebie: Tuesdays with TaniaJPS Designs

2007-04-10T15:54:00.001-05:00

Welcome friends and downloaders! It's Tuesday again and I have had a he** of a time! The free file sharing service I use, 4shared, thought that the first link I put up for download was illegal or copyrighted! I still don't know why. But, it has delayed this release by an hour. It's frustrating when something is automatically suspected of being illegal, copyrighted or pirated. In my case, this is ALL designed by me, yours truly, TaniaJPS. 100%. I'll even screen shot and post proof for them, if needed! Crazy. here's the preview of today's freebie and yes, it is ALL by me. I sell my designs at NDISB and Oscraps and would be very grateful for your patronage.

Click HERE to download this set of accents! You will find glitter, paint, markers and crayons. So much fun!

:::Family News:::

Indigo is still sick. She has thrown up once today and has had two diaper blowouts of diarrhea. Poor baby, having to celebrate her 2nd birthday so miserably.

She got a LOT of cool, cute and adorable clothers and toys for her birthday. I'll have to come back and share that with you later this week.

:::Amazing: the TRENDY collection, vol. 1:::

For those of you that have frequented my blog in the past weeks during "Tuesdays with Tania JPS Designs", you may have noticed that I am working on a collection to be sold at Oscraps and NDISB.

Have you seen the preview? Here it is! It is filled with supremely "amazing" stuff!

Click HERE to purchase a copy for yourself! Be among the first to enjoy the first volume in the TRENDY collection, Amazing.

Easter Birthday Sickness

2007-04-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

That about sums it up. Easter Birthday Sickness. We celebrated Easter, Indigo's 2nd birthday and for both 2 years of Indigo's life, I have pictures of a listless and sick Indigo on her birthday or at/on/near/around her birthday -- thus, a sick household on/around Easter. River was SO into the idea that the Easter Bunny was coming that he could hardly sleep. In fact, he woke up every hour from 8pm to 1am. I kept running to his room thinking he was getting sick too, since Indigo had already thrown up three times. We called the family to let them know next day's Easter/Birthday Party was off. Everyone came anyway. Call them stubborn.

The next day was a whirlwind. Easter in the morning, decorate and Indigo's birthday in the afternoon/evening. Fortunately, Indigo didn't throw up yesterday. But she did have a fever almost the whole day long.

Today, she's thrown up again, twice. Not to mention the two bouts of insane diarrhea madness poor Indigo had today. River is now running a little fever and both are "napping". I'll check on them. But, of course - for my family and friends out there, I'd like to share a few pictures.

The rabbit has arrived in great splendor. River is elated and up at the buttcrack of dawn to witness the glory of the rabbit's deliveries. He is anticipating the big Easter Egg Hunt. The Bunny has hidden 72 eggs in our house. The Bunny even left a note telling Ma and Pa where all the eggs are located.

River is an artist. He is 4 1/2 years old. He made all these eggs by himself and decorated them by himself. He did not, however, lay the eggs.

Indigo looks smashing in her Easter glasses and musical Birthday Hat. You can sort of see that she's sick in this picture. Poor baby.

Indigo got a woven hat and basket purse from the Easter Bunny.

The kids were excited to be "all dressed up" for the special day.

This is blurry but it shows a few things I wanted to share. Indigo is now wearing her Birthday Crown, is playing with and Easter Egg from the Hunt and is carting around her new Chick she got from the Easter Bunny. And what a pretty dress that Grandma Neva sent her!

River worked very hard on making this card special for Indigo. He wrote everything by himself. Notice his handwriting.

Here is the cake that River helped me make. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. River picked it out himself for his sister's birthday. Too bad that she was sick and had trouble eating or keeping anything down. I had some of his cake though. It was delicious! Notice the candles! River was insistent on getting a number two candle and placing two regular candles on the cake. Very sweet.

Two "helpers" teaching Indigo how to blow out the candles on the cake! OH the joys of learning how to celebrate your birthday!

Grandma and Diane came, despite our efforts to call and tell them the day was "off". Everyone ended up coming anyway and they left this afternoon after having helped clean all the dishes and do some laundry for me! Thanks Grandma! My sincere hope is that noone else gets sick. Looks like River's getting sick now.

I just went and checked his temperature. He is at 101.7. Sigh.

Fabulous Freebie: Tuesdays with TaniaJPS Designs

2007-04-03T20:14:00.000-05:00

Welcome Friends and Fellow Digiscrappers to Tuesdays with TaniaJPS Designs! This week's freebie, I hope will be sure to inspire! Please try to leave a comment if you download - I am a comment hound! :)

Further, thanks for your continued patronage of my designs at NDISB and Oscraps!

Click HERE to download this paper set and ribbon.

I'll be back later this evening to add more to this post. In the meantime, enjoy!

Fantastic Freebie: Tuesdays with TaniaJPS Designs!

2007-03-27T19:21:00.000-05:00

Oh yes It's Tuesday night and the feeling's right...oh yes It's Tuesday night...oh what a night...(low bass voice: "oh what a niiiight"). Here is the Freebie for this week. Personally, I think it's a stunner. Your freebie is the first two papers from the SECOND installment of my first-ever designer collection: the TRENDY collection. Please just drop a comment if you download and thank you for your patronage at my NDISB and Oscraps Stores (clickable linkies in the margins).

Click HERE to download the Fantastic Freebie v.2! Enjoy and please send others to my blog for a link to the download!

Shopping Spree!

2007-03-26T21:39:00.000-05:00

I have REALLY been digging in my shopping heels lately. Since the advent of the known forthcoming of the tax return, we have been devising schemes in our family of just how and on what we are going to spend our money. Today...I made a run back to Menards and a first trip to Target. Oh Boy. Too much to handle. I feel like I am on overload and with the two kids in tow, it's ALWAYS an adventure to go on little outings like this.

River and Indigo needed sandals for the new season and their new sizes of feet. :) Here's what Indigo got: Pwitty White Fwower Sandaws! with Whinestones!

River, having tried on three pair of sandals and a pair of groovy flip-flops (they were too big (so sad)) ended up getting these and is already loving them!

River INSISTED on getting a "handsome Easter outfit". He was jealous and upset tat Indigo and the girls should have so many cool Easter things to choose from but the boys didn't. In the end, I decided that instead of him throwing a coniption fit in the middle of the store, I hung up five "Perfectly Dressed" outfit for him to choose from and let him puruse the gallery. He immediately snatched up this one. Who knows why? I like the orange one. But as long as he's happy and feels like he's "handsomely dressed" for Easter, then I'll be happy.

Then we bought cute shirts , pants, shorts, onesies, sweat pants and workout clothes... lots of stuff. I even got stuff for me! I got a pair of just past the knee length Mossimo sweats for working out, a pair of Prospirit Red sweats for working out, a brown Prospirit sweat-wicking t-shirt for working out (do you sense a trend here?) and one black Mossimo tank-top. It was mosly a LOT of awesome clearance finds, so I can't find any pictures of those.

I also went to Menards. The funniest thing? River kept singing the Menards song...cuz they play it over and over on their loudspeaker system there...

"You save big money...you save big money...when you shop MENARDS!" I love that he sings it in tune as well. So funny and so cute, simultaneously.

We've been laying down stepping stones at the base of our deck. I bought 30 more stepping stones (they'z pricey too!) It's a project I've been working 3 seasons on! They're called Flagstone. I can't find a picture fo them either! Bummer. Does that mean I have to take my own? :)

Anyway, OHHHHHHHH! And I finished a HUGE project. I have wanted to buy, stain and install wall cabinets in my laundry room since the day we first saw this house and noticed a wide open space in the laundry room above the washer and dryer where cabinets should be (but weren't). I know that the builder was trying to save money and raise profits, so they skipped putting cabinets in our laundry room. But now, after TWO YEARS, I finally went and bought the cabinets, stained them (beautifully, I might add) and had a neighbor friend come over an help me lift and drill my new sparkly cabinets into the studs in my wall! All in less than 24 hours! YAY me!!! I'll definitely have to take a picture tomorrow (with better lighting, my excuse for the time being). Yeah. Good stuff. Busy weekend and busy Monday. And a whopping 77 degrees to boot! Stay tuned for tomorrow's Tuesdays with TaniaJPS Designs freebie here at my blog. Until then!

Amazing Freebie: the TRENDY collection, vol. 1

2007-03-21T14:04:00.000-05:00

Well, "Tuesdays with TaniaJPS" Designs got delayed a smidge to Wednesday this week, since I've been putting together the plans for my first Designer Collection! These two papers in the "Amazing Freebie" are the first two papers being released in my TRENDY collection. I have a lot of fun and beautiful designs in mind for my TRENDY collection and it (the collection) is inspired by all the digigals around the community commenting on layouts in galleries! The idea is that we use certain words to describe how we feel about layouts and my hope and desire is that I can create some AMAZING, FABULOUS, ELEGANT, WHIMSICAL, FANTASTIC, A+, AWESOME, GROOVY kits to go along with how we see our digital world! You get the idea, right? ;)

Click HERE to download the freebie and as always, thanks for your patronage at my store at Oscraps and NDISB! Thanks also for leaving a comment, if you are able.

I've also been busy with innumerable things around the house, with the family and running errands all over the great states of Wisconsin and Illinois. You know how the Spring Fever sets in and bites you in the bum? Well I got bit with the bug bigtime! Around the time of the first warmup this Spring Season (abot 2 weeks ago now?) I simply could hardly stand to be indoors anymore and I was out and about - away from the computer for almost a week! Then it got cold again, and I was back indoors - then I came up with my TRENDY idea and now, it's warming up again outside.

Erik (my DH) and I have also had a bit of the shopping bug hit us! We're expecting a tax return so we are having fun coming up with endless ideas of how to most efficiently/excitingly use the money. We have a lot of ideas in mind. So far, we have gotten a few small things:

River has scored a new mattress and foundation for his bedroom. Can you believe my neighbor friend and I pulled off a mattress and foundation set from his old bed with the date of - - get this - - 1960 on it? Yes. 1960. My grandmother gave us the bookcase headboard, frame, foundation and mattress for free when we moved into this house 2 years ago. River has been sleeping on a mattress and foundation manufactured in 1960. I am so GLAD to sit in bed and read with him and not almost collapse to the floor under my weight! Really, the coils were shot.

I also scored a 19 in LCD flat-panel monitor! YAY! You'll never guess how much! $110.00. What a deal! Of course, Erik and I jumped on the offer from one of his co-workers, when he said he was "selling" his "old" monitor since he had upgraded to a 22 inch monitor. I was like, where's my checkbook? I drove to my husband's work and handed it to him. Here honey, have him bring it at lunchtime. He did. He brought it home that evening and voila! I have a new monitor. Yay me!

We're also thinking of getting a whole new Power PC for the basement as well as outfitting our kitchen "command center" with a 22 inch monitor, thin client and bluetooth keyboard. Erik has all kinds of design schemes in his mind.

I'm considering buying a full-version of CS2. I'm hoping they will go down in price a bit since CS3 is coming out shortly. That would put me out about $600 dollars right now.

We also need cabinets for our laundry room, blinds for our living room and bay window blinds on our patio doors. I'd also like to consider getting groovy ceiling fans for selected rooms. Maybe four - kitchen, River's room, Indigo's room and our bedroom. That would be good.

Or we could just save the money. Sounds boring though.

We're also considering getting me a tiny new little laptop. We'll see.

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day (St. Paterick's here) in style. River was a "Leprechaun" for the day and we went all over town to Starbucks, Sam's Club, Best Buy, Walmart and home for dinner with neighbors all in one day's time with both kids. We had fun watching River hand out shamrocks and lucky leprechaun confetti to anyone and everyone everywhere we went. He made a lot of people smile, not to mention that he wore a BRIGHT green mullet wig for the day. It was rad.

...cute...

...very cute...

...cuter still...

...even cuter still...

...the cutest?...

:::::Sweet Shoppe Reward Points Entry:::::

I enjoy garnering points by tagging back to the SSD blog and answering the "From our blog to yours" prompts from two weeks ago now, I am getting to this entry! Here's a LINK to the SSD blog if you want to get involved in the fun!

Songs that describe my week:

Last Thursday: What the heck did I do last Thursday? I don't even know. I need a song that talks about having a sieve for a memory...I Forgot to Remember to Forget... by Johnny Cash. I don't even know that song but seriously folks, I like Johnny Cash so I'll have to check that out!

Last Friday: Well, River has Preshool every M,W,F so I know at least that I took him there and picked him up. What did I do after that? I dunno. :) So, River likes to make up songs...we always listen to Kids Stuff on Sirius Satellite Radio in the van, so I'll go with...I'm Not Perfect...by Laurie Berkner. She so totally rocks.

Saturday: Went out on all the shopping trips with the fam on St. Paterick's Day (yes, I spelled it that way on purpose)I'll go with...It's the Second Week of Deer Camp...by Da Yoopers, only because they talk about "drinking, playing cards and shooting the bull but never shooting no deer". I was drinking with some neighbor friends that eveing, so that songs funny and it will do. Even though I don't hunt.

Sunday: Erik went out almost all day and we completely rearranged the garage and the house and the basement to make room for Grandma's stuff that we were hauling in, since she was moving out of her house into assisted living and giving up all her material things to her kids and grandkids. I was TIRED from all the bending, lifting and rearranging. Not to mention that I still had to cook and clean and watch after the kids. I'll go with...Help! I Need Somebody...by the Beatles. Reazlly, I'm lazy. If I had the money, I'd hire people to do the rearranging of my house.

Monday: Back to preschool and busy busy busy buying a mattress and foundation for River and setting it up only to find out that the foundation was TOO BIG and I'd have to go back the next day and get an appropriately sized foundation for his new mattress. Arghh! So, Once upon a Mattress by the 1959 Original Broadway Cast seems to fit the day.

Tuesday: Well, that was yesterday. So, of course, I got a new foundation at Slumberland and I bought River new tap shoes (his first dance shoes ever) for his Tap Dance class that night. Then, a friend came over to play with River and Indigo. I cleaned up dog poop in our backyard and watched American Idol at night. So, let's see. What song goes with that? LOL. I don't know. Maybe "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" by Frank Zappa? Sure. why not? Only that there wasn't any snow. But whatever, I didn't want the kids racing and running in any dog poop and I don't know any songs about that. Maybe I'll have to make one.

Wednesday, Today: ...Preschool again. The Kids are watching Peter Pan and I am trying to get this blog post finished along with my Amazing Collection Freebie out. I think I need to clean the kitchen after this and get dinner started. It's almost 4 PM. I can't believe it. Where did the day go? Oh...and I went to Pilates today. My lunch is beeping. Can you believe I am eating lunch at 4PM? I know...big ol procrastinator me. Where Have all the Flowers Gone? by the Kingston Trio will be my song for today...I just feel like, where did the day go? Seriously.