Guest CT!

[First off, thanks for the well wishes for the guys. They're both doing much better.]

I am on Lie Fhung's Guest CT this month. What this means is that I get to promote her by creating layouts with her stuff for this month! I just adore her stuff. She is on my 'Top Four Designers to Work For' list (because I couldn't limit myself to 3 and couldn't come up with a 5th). You want to know my list?? ScrapArtist, Ztampf (Lie Fhung), Designer Digitals, and Meredith Fenwick! Yes, I'm ambitious. LOL!

I created this LO for Ztampf! My first on this CT, telling everyone All About Me.

Credits:
Everything from Ztampf.
Background: Branchessa Paper Pack
Frame: Evening Falls kit

Font: Scriptina and Retro Rock Poster (I can't stop using this font. LOL!)

Boo

Both my guys are sick :( M brought the germs home and DH gladly accepted them. M started coughing last Thursday and it sounded like it was coming from deep inside him, not the regular cough. He also had slight fever two nights in a row. He and DH stayed home Friday and we took him to the Pediatrician that evening. He was already wheezing a little. DH was just starting to get the same on Friday, and it's full blown now. Yesterday was the worst day for him.

M didn't sleep well last night and neither did we. I'm so tired. The guys become so needy when they're sick. I'm over it. Please get well soon, the two of you. I feel my throat is starting to itch too. Please No!!

When is DH going to develop his immunity? I rarely get sick but he is completely the opposite. Even Mehul is getting better about selecting the germs now. Some are just not worthy of bringing home to the parents. LOL!

Oscars Fashion

This time there weren't as many badly dressed elements as I had hoped! I missed the beginning of the red carpet segment on E! so forgive me if I don't include someone.
Here are some of the best dressed - in my humble opinion ofcourse.

I just loved the shimmer in her gown and the sparkly bit at the top. I'd have done earrings instead of the pendant but still, she was Stunning!


I love her hair, the dress was just perfect.


Love the way the gown cascades.


And here are some not so nicely dressed.

Is this the belt of the Baby Bjorn Ellen was offering to hand out? Did the seat fall off? What's that awfully ugly thing in her hand?


Did she look in the mirror after trying that dress?


I don't hate the dress but the hair? OMG! Shall we say 'Kool Aid!'


What's up with all the flowers? And the back? I can feel the cockroaches. Ewwwww!!!


And lastly, he was holding her the entire time he was talking and posing. Like she was going to run away!


To keep the tradition going, I again fell asleep right before the best awards were about to be given away. Always happens, no biggie {Rolleyes}

Do I have a life?

You be the judge. I have watched 56 of these movies. This meme has been circulating the blogs for a few days now. I wanted to post it earlier but kept having other things to post. This is ideal for a Sunday Meme on Oscar night!

It's been said that allegedly if you've seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x's by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, change the header adding your number, and post it.

( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
( ) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
( ) The Princess Bride
( ) AnchorMan
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(X) Anger Management
( ) 50 First Dates
(X) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Total so far: 5 out of 22.

( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
(X) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
(X) Harry Potter 1
(X) Harry Potter 2
(X) Harry Potter 3
(X) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
( ) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch

Total so far: 12 out of 43.

(X) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
( ) Signs
(X) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
( ) Robots
( ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(X) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
(X) King Kong

Total so far: 17 out of 66.

( ) A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
(X) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
( ) Flubber
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
( ) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
(X) The Whole Ten Yards

Total so far: 22 out of 90.

(X) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
( ) Sixteen Candles
( ) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
( ) Ocean's Eleven
( ) Ocean's Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
(X) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
(X) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(X) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George

Total so far: 29 out of 121.

(X) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(X) E.T.
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
( ) Wizard of Oz
( ) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3

Total so far: 35 out of 147.

( ) X-Men
( ) X-2
( ) X3
(X) Spider-Man
(X) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
( ) The Little Mermaid
( ) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2

Total so far: 40 out of 165.

( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old Virgin
(X) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Total so far: 47, out of 181.

( ) Base-ketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard

Total so far: 50 out of 200.

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
( ) Hook
(X) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
(X) Kill Bill Vol. 1
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness

Total so far: 52 out of 220.

( ) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
( ) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
( ) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
( ) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
(X) The Matrix
( ) The Matrix: Reloaded
( ) The Matrix: Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal

56 out of 239

I thought I'd score much less than this because I don't watch movies that much. Same case with Hindi movies as well. I'd much rather do something else. 95% of the hindi movies are just too stereotypical. While watching the movie, you start having dejavu. In the recent years, there have been *some* movies worth watching but they can be counted on your fingers. Shrug.

I'm not proud of watching all the 56 movies mentioned above. Kill Bill? Predator! Elf. Scary Movie! Yuck. I have probably 'watched' (and what I mean is listened while stitching) more Star Wars but I can't tell them apart. LOL! Oh, and I thought I had seen '28 Days Later' because the name sounded really familiar. It's a FONT I own!! Tells you what I'm doing when I'm not watching TV! LOL!

DH has watched more than 100 of these movies. Often he brings home movies and watches after M and I go to bed. Poor guy. I wish I could watch with him but I lose interest about 10 minutes into the movie. Unless it's LOTR or Harry Potter or something.

Happy Oscar Watching!

Just a Layout or two..

My newest font discovery. Check this out! Isn't it the Coolest Font Ever! Best thing, it's FREE. LOL!


Download here

Used it in both these layouts.

123 Play

Credits:
Background: Meredith Fenwick
Slide: Marcie Reckinger Rustic Autumn
Leaf: Marcie Reckinger Rustic Autumn
Buttons: Marcie Reckinger Rustic Autumn
Clock Element: Marcie Reckinger Rustic Autumn
Binder Clip: Marcie Reckinger Rustic Autumn
Florish: Michelle Coleman
Flower: Michelle Coleman
Ribbon: Diamante Designs
Frames: Anna Aspens Work hard play hard
Spiral Brush: Diamante Designs
Flower Overlay: Diamante Designs
Paint Circle: Ash Scraps
Play Alpha: Meredith Fenwick Grungy Alpha
123 and Inspire Font: Retro Rock Poster

Rock The House

Credits:
Background: (Slightly Recolored) Miki Ferkul's Vagabond at SBE
Envelope and Coin purse: Miki Ferkul's Stuff It at SBE
Swirl: Miki Ferkul's Spirits Enlightened at SBE
Grungy Frame: Anna Aspens Work Hard Play Hard
Butterfly: Amber Clegg's Charmed Freebie
Fonts: Retro Rock Poster

We've got a potluck this evening. I'm taking Paneer Capsicum Jalfrazie. Yummer.

Answers

Jenni: What crafts did you do (besides make ball point pens ;)) before coming to the US and how did that change after your move here?

My sister (A) and I were very into crafts. We didn't have any particular hobby per se, but we were always doing something. Making Rangoli and Henna patterns comes to mind. Every year, we'd make this colorful Rangoli on Diwali. It is made on the floor with colored powders, flowers, rice, etc. and then accented with Earthen Lamps. The design is first chalked on the floor and then filled with these. Loved that. I still try to do it here and she tries to do it in her home now. We made a lot of wall hangings using various materials. Using ribbons, beads and thick rubber rings, using cardboard cut and shaped into something and decorated with velvet papers, mirrors, beads and golden threads, many different ways. I don't have a single picture of the wall hangings :( I do have Rangoli pics back home though.

Cross-stitching only started after coming to the US. A had bought me a long stitch kit when I was visiting India, and I finished it in like 2 days after coming back here and went to Michaels to look for more things like that. That's how I discovered needlepoint and cross-stitching. :) Back in 2002!

I think the major difference in doing crafts has been that here I do it as a hobby, as something that relaxes me. There it was more about decorating our home with beautiful, handmade things. And the projects were quick! We gave away more wall hangings than we kept.

Karin: What got you started scrapbooking? What is your favorite project thus far?

Always wanted to do it. I just loved browsing the scrapbooking aisles at Michaels et al. It looked very detail oriented, very interesting hobby. Not to mention, I had all these photos of M that needed scrapping. When I heard about digital scrapbooking, my initial reaction was that it would not be as enjoyable as traditional. But once I tried it, I found it fit like a glove. I was comfortable with Photoshop already and this was just what I needed. No mess, no fuss. I don't have to obsess about my writing being messy, or ink running, or glue and glitter getting into my hair! Ctrl + Z is my best friend ;)

My favorite project! That's tough. I have a few Layouts I *Adore*.
Besides the design, I love it because I took this picture on his second day, he was sleeping in my lap. Just brings back memories.
This was my first Creative Team layout. This photo is my favorite EVER! Any LO with this is a hit.
I just love this LO. This was the first layout done by me that I loved. Mind you, this was after doing about 30 or so!

Thanks for the questions. I really enjoyed going down the memory lane on the first one, and talking about my new passion in the next.

Anniversary Gift

This is what I gave him this morning. He LOVES it. It's going in the MBR. I had made the layout 11x14 size but this frame only had 10x13 opening. I *love* the way it turned out.



This isn't the first poster I've done though. I did this one ages ago. Love that photo :)


We had decided to go to Flat Top Grill for lunch. It is located near my previous office in Arlington. They have this buffet with rice, noodles, etc, and uncooked veggies, meats, and sauces. You load your bowl with everything you want and they'll cook it for you the way you want. They even have a special area to cook vegetarian stuff (a luxary for me!). I had been there multiple times when I was working there and I just LOVE it. Girish hasn't been so I wanted to take him there. Well, we started late from home because we weren't particularly hungry at lunchtime. We had a late leisurely breakfast and then I soaked in the tub for about 1 hour. Ahhh. Anyhow, we got there and found out that they closed down 2 weeks ago!! I was very dissappointed. It's place has been taken by some Ali Baba Restaurant. The new owner tried to convince me to eat there! LOL! I got out without looking too disappointed I think. I'm sure he's having a hard time getting customers.

So we drove around the entire town trying to get to the next priority - P F Changs. The food was really good but I'm still bummed about Flat Top. There is no other location in this area.

And then it was time to get Mehul from the daycare so no movie today. Maybe this weekend if there is any good one. Maybe not. We have the monthly GTG on Saturday.

I'll answer the questions in the previous entry tomorrow! Thanks for participating :)