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New Stuffs, week of 3/29/14

I promised myself I was going to do it right and get this post done for a change. I've been lax about it and I need to get myself together. Besides, this is such a pretty and versatile kit you deserve a closer look at it!

The new kit from HotFlashDesigns at A Cherry on Top this week is called Digging in the Dirt. It's theme is gardening, but it's versatile enough to use for ANY outdoor layout. It will also work well for either masculine or feminine layouts.

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The kit is on introductory special in the HotFlashDesigns store at A Cherry on Top. You can also buy just the elements, just the papers, or just the alphas. Let me give you a better look at those.........

I've lost my heart to this kit. I hope you "dig" it too! It's too cute to miss. Take a look at it in the store now or check out the fantastic layouts my design artists have created for you in the posts below.

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Tuesday starts.........

New Stuffs, Week of 10/11/13

New stuffs, week of 2/23/2013

New Stuffs, weeks of 8/10 and 8/24

Gold star day.........

Only in two categories though. The rest remains to be seen....... I did a stupid thing yesterday. I decided to go to Trader Joe's at 5:39PM. Just in time to encounter all those people who were there to pick up a little sumtin sumtin for dinner--just like me. With spring weather, I had a hankering for some fresh produce of some description.

I grabbed two pre-made salads and a package of pre-cut stir fry veggies. I also grabbed a package of frozen pre-cooked shrimp, some grape tomatoes, and some coconut oil. The coconut oil was a gratuitous purchase, but I've been wanting some for a while. I liked that it was organic......... Anyway, last night I had a "chopped Italian salad" for dinner, augmented with some extra grape tomatoes. And, today for lunch I did the stirfry.

I didn't see a whole lot that was "Asian" about the stir fry veggies, but maybe I just don't recognize it when I see it. There were lots of peppers in there. I was okay about the red ones, but I'm a little concerned about the green ones as they usually talk back. What I did see that was "Asian" was a few slices of water chestnut, a bit of bamboo shoots, about 3 snow peas, and one baby corn. Other non-"Asian" veggies included chopped onions, baby carrots, broccoli, and mushrooms. I made some quinoa and whomped up some teriyaki sauce and chowed down. It was quite tasty. I have enough quinoa for a couple more meals and enough stir fry for another meal. I almost forgot to mention that I added some of my frozen shrimp to the stir fry for just a minute or two. Just long enough to thaw and warm them.

I let the veggies cook at high temperature for a few minutes. I happen to like veggies when they are browned a bit. It seems to bring out the natural sugars in them.

I feel good about all this. I know I need more veggies in my diet, particularly veggies that are low in carbs. And for last night and today, I've done well, so far. I think I might have my second salad for dinner tonight. So, I am on my way back to the low-carb lifestyle where I belong, at least most of the time. I am hoping to see an increase in energy and other good results from getting myself in hand.

I priced flowers at Trader Joe's. From some blogs I read, I'd gotten the idea you could grab those there for not too much money. I really wanted a bunch of daffodils I saw there, but they were not in water. I was afraid they wouldn't last...... Other things I liked were more expensive than I wanted to pay. Not expensive by anyone else's standards, but my budget is limited. I squeeze every nickel and I couldn't pay $6.99 for a bunch of inedible flowers. Hey, I could eat a couple of pretty good meals for $6.99!

Anyway, I think I've decided I'm going to be a fairly frequent visitor at Trader Joe's over the next 3-4 weeks. It costs more there than going to El Cheapo. But I have much more confidence in the quality of what I am buying. I am making a determined effort, because of my health, to eliminate from my diet things that I can't pronounce and that is much easier at TJ's.

Got a new kit all uploaded in the store at DigiScrapBoutique. If you haven't been there, you should go look around. There are lots of talented designers. I do like uploading and putting stuff in that store. The process is quick and relatively painless. I recently re-worked an older kit and I mean I really worked at it. It has about double the elements including a bunch that are new. Even the elements  that were in the original kit got re-worked and have better texture, better color on them. I've always loved this particular kit, but now I'm also really proud of it. It's called JoyfulJoyful. Here's a link to it in the store.  And here's a look at the kit preview:

Now doesn't that LOOK Joyful? It sure does to me! Hope you like it. It's a fun kit.

Apparently I am unusual...........

This is no surprise to me. I've always known I'm unusual. But I've found yet another way in which I am unusual and I don't like this way very much. For the last few weeks I have been attacked by what appeared to be a case of malaise. Just a downhill slide. I haven't been hitting the marks in any part of my life. Not keeping up with the house very well. Not keeping up with design very well. Not keeping up with exercise very well. Not sleeping well. Always tired. And so on..........

I have had a lot of heart to heart talks with myself about it. I have wondered where my goals went. Where was my self discipline? And I have been very disappointed in myself.

Disappointed in yourself is not a fun way to live. At least in my case, it results in a lot of negative self talk. Honestly, I have enough negatives in my life without spending time beating up on myself. And this is really not characteristic of the woman I've come to be. I just couldn't figure it out.

Saturday I woke up with "a sore throat". Sunday it was worse. Except it wasn't really a sore throat. I still had allergies but no runny nose, no chest congestion........ And, actually, my throat wasn't sore. It was more my neck than my throat. Kinda like an extreme case of "I slept wrong"......... I admit, I couldn't figure out for the life of me how one could get a sore neck (front only) from sleeping wrong.

Well, last night I got the answer. And it's darned frustrating. I have been taking niacin for several weeks. I did some research and found that it lowers LDL cholesterol, raises HDL cholesterol, and helps clear arteries. This is all good, right? It is particularly good for a woman who is walking around with a stent in her chest. But, last night I discovered a downside--it works against the thyroid. Can you imagine?

I have known for years that a) "normal" thyroid production operates on a scale; b) that taking meds at the high end of that scale raises blood pressure, but lowers cholesterol. Well, truth be told, I've blamed my blood pressure problems on thyroid stuff for years. And I've resigned myself that until my thyroid is doing the job it should do, I will have blood pressure problems. So, I've been more interested in lowering cholesterol. I prefer my thyroid meds on the high side. Not so high that it pushes me beyond the normal range, but edging up toward the point where it's topped out.

I have literally experienced a 100 point drop in cholesterol with an increase in thyroid dosage and a low carb eating plan--in the period of 30 days! Yes, I watched that happen in my own body.

Well, here's the fun part. Raising the thyroid med dose lowers cholesterol. Taking Niacin lowers cholesterol. HOWEVER, taking Niacin lowers the effectiveness of the thyroid production! Now isn't that weird? They are, apparently, mutually exclusive, at least to some degree. I am postulating that there is a war going on in my thyroid. And, where is the thyroid located???? Exactly where my "sore throat" occurred, front and center on my neck.

I know that taking a high dose of Niacin requires frequent liver testing, so I kept the dose I was using well below the recommended cut-off. Nevertheless, now I am dealing with this war. So, I am going to reduce my Niacin intake and see if the "sore throat" goes away. I'm betting it will. But, I am torqued that Two substances my body obviously needs fight each other. What is up with that?

So, I think I may have found the reason for my malaise. And it isn't lack of self discipline. My thyroid meds have not been able to do the job because of the Niacin. Bah! So, I will try doing the Niacin only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. We will see if that helps. If not, I am going to have to discontinue the Niacin. I REALLY don't like that because my current level of thyroid meds is absolutely at the low end of the scale. This doesn't seem to have had any good effect on blood pressure and it's bound to have a bad effect on cholesterol because that's just the way things work. But, thanks to the "sore throat" and some research, I have figured this whacko thing out and should be feeling a bit more nike me soon, which is good news...........

Hey, do you remember when I was working on a collab kit a while back? Well, that's the new kit in the store this week. And it's darned cute. I pulled together 4 color palettes and gave my partner the choice. I was a bit "afraid" of the palette she chose, but she was absolutely right. So, for a fun combo of design styles, check this out:

This kit is in my store at A Cherry on Top. You can also find it in the DaeDesigns store at Scrapbird. And who IS DaeDesigns, you might ask. Well, none other than Ms. SarahWhithers who is on my Creative Team as well as several others and well known to many of you. The preview is linked to my ACOT store. Just click and shop. As always, you can buy the separates as well--just the elements, just the papers or just the alphas. Everything is on introductory special for a limited time.

This layout is by Laura who lives in snowy Ohio. She was happy to see a spring kit so she could "think spring" instead of think "snow days". Beautiful springy photos are highlighted with bright colored elements from the kit. Do you love the blended papers from the kit? I know I do!

Here's a fabulous 2-pager from Lori. I LOVE the big photo on the second page and the cute little cluster at the bottom of the journaling. Those gorgeous green frames are included in the kit. I think they're really special and so are Lori's clusters, created to draw the eye to the darling photos on the first page of the layout.

So, that's it for today. I'm working hard to try to pull myself together and get something done. Say a prayer for me............ YOU be BLESSED today.

New Stuffs, week of 12/28/13

I have a gorgeous kit, newly released at DigiScrapBoutique this week. I want to give you a good look at it.

Here is the kit preview:

The kit is on special at 30% off for its debut. Don't miss the special price.

Here are the parts of the kit. You can buy just the elements, just the alphas, or just the papers if you wish. They, too, are on special at 30% off.

See, I told you. Beautiful stuff. If you want to see about 20 layouts my fabulous Creative Team artists created, be sure to check my morning posts below. Breathtaking. Truly breathtaking!

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New Stuffs, week of 11/22/13

New stuffs, week of 5/11/13

New Stuffs, Week of 7/13/13

New Stuffs, week of 10/26/13

We are doing two Halloween kits this year. Last week, I showed you the kit at SBE, All Hallows Eve. This week, I have a new kit up at A Cherry on Top called Bats in my Belfry. I think you're gonna love it, especially as you follow along this week with the layouts my Creative Team did with this kit. They do such gorgeous work!

You can buy the whole kit or you can buy the separates. Let me show you those as I always think they also give you a better look at the kit contents.

And just in case you're REALLY feeling in the mood, here are some embossed papers that are available as an add-on at a very special price.

For a really good look at these embossed papers, see the layout by SarahWhithers below for the morning of October 28, 2013. Gorgeous, y'all.

So, don't forget to visit my store at A Cherry on Top. Look around, kick the tires. I think you'll like what you see!

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New Stuffs, week of 10/20/2013

New stuffs, week of 1/26/13

New Stuffs, week of 9/21/13

New Stuffs, week of 10/20/2013

Late again. Sorry, after that 3 hour upload, I just couldn't face it! It's a real shame though because this week's kit is a real winner.

I have a Halloween themed kit for you this week. I just love the color palette of this kit. You know what that means, right? Yup, bright colors. I give you ALL HALLOWS EVE, new in the store at Scrapbook-Elements.

Yes, as usual, you CAN buy just the elements or just the papers or just the alphas. Any of the above would make a great addition to your stash!

And, yes, of course, we have some gorgeous extras with this kit............

Remember, with the stackers and clusters together, you can create your own custom made "quick page". And just look at how gorgeous that word art/title pack is!

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New stuff, week of October 22, 2012

New Stuffs, week of 5/25/2013

New Stuffs, Week of 10/11/13

Hey, ladies, I apologize. I am getting this post to you a bit late. The end of tax season is eating my lunch!

Do you like "pretty"? Do you like purple? If so, you've come to the right place this week. The colors in this week's kit are a little more muted and the patterns a little softer. This is a wonderful kit if you'd like to scrap any feminine layout or any layout fir heritage photos. It's also versatile enough to handle a masculine layout and I'll defintely show you one of those this week. Anyway, I'm brain fried so I need to stop talking and just show you this beautiful kit.

The kit is on sale in my store at A Cherry on Top. 

If you want, the papers, elements, and/or alphas are available separately, also at sale prices. I'll show you those too.

Check back later as I do have a marvelous freebie with this kit!

EDITED TO ADD:

"Later" has arrived. Here's that freebie I promised you. I really hate receiving small freebies. This has enough papers to be classified as a "mini-kit" by some designers and some really nice elements too. It coordinates with As Time Goes By, the kit featured above so if you need additional elements or alphas or whatever, check out the store at A Cherry on Top.

You can find the page on Facebook for HotFlashDesigns here. I hope you love this and feel it's a worthwhile freebie. I'd be thrilled if you took a minute to say thanks!

 

New Stuffs, Week of 10/6/13

In the fall, many of us gather up our kiddos or grandkids and head out for a family expedition of apple picking at the local orchard. This week's kit is called Pickin' Apples and it's designed for memorializing that sort of family activity. Of course, it can be used for other things as well!

You can buy either the full kit or just the elements, just the papers or just the alphas in my store at Scrapbook Elements. Here are the "separates" so you can get a closer look at them.......

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New Stuffs, Week of 5/19/13

New Stuffs, week of 3/23/13--Easter!

New Stuffs, week of 9/28/13

This week's kit at A Cherry on Top is nothing if not CUTE. It's release is perfectly timed to give you the perfect kit for scrapping trips to the farm with the kids, your backyard garden, and if you live in the city and are "secretly" raising chickens, you can scrap that too, LOL. And, don't forget those Saturday mornings when Dad gets up and fixes breakfast or those evenings when the menu at your house includes breakfast-for-dinner!

Of course, the kit is on special and if you prefer, you can purchase just the papers, just the elements, or just the cute alphas.

All the pieces of Urban Farmer are also on special, same as the kit. This is a FUN kit. Don't miss it!

At Scrapbook-Elements, we have a few new items as well. I've added some fun frame clusters, stacked papers, and templates there that coordinate with the Color My World kit. Check 'em out:

Here's the kit if you missed seeing it last week:

And here are the fun and a little bit funky specialty items. Remember, a frame cluster and some stacked papers make a "custom" quick page.

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New stuffs, week of 1/26/13

New Stuffs, week of 9/21/13

New Stuffs, Week of 9/1/13

New Stuffs, Week of 7/13/13

New Stuffs, Week of 6/8/13

New Stuffs, Week of 9/1/13

If you have little ones who go off to preschool everyday or who are starting preschool, kindergarten, or the lower primary grades, you will love this kit. It has, as far as I'm concerned, some of the cutest graphics I've ever seen.

As always, you can buy the full kit or you can buy just the elements, just the papers, or just the alphas.

We also have some extras for you that are just darling..........

How's that for some really CUTE word art? You can make these smaller and just use them as an embellishment on your page, or you can use them in lieu of spending the time to do your own title work.

We also have some darling themed templates for creating those "school" pages. You don't want to miss these.

All of these items are available in my store at www.Scrapbook-Elements.com.

 

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New Stuffs, Week of 6/30/13

New Stuffs, Week of 5/19/13