14.0

"If you were a cartoon Character, who would you be?"

My first thought is Betty Boop, a sassy giggly gal with a great pair of knockers. She's a little on the dumb side though, and that's a little too Jessica Simpson for my taste.
Can I be Mulan? She kicks some major ass, and she's pretty cool for a disney character--she has a mother and everything....and actually gets to be the hero of the story.

If I can't be Mulan, I'll just be one of Mary Engelbreit's cartoons--I heart her. :)

Blog Challenge 13.0

Waking me up in the morning is something few, very brave people have tried. I'm growly and have no interest in leaving the comfort of my warm bed and dreams. I hate waking up. Jason has the undesireable task of waking me up every morning. He gets up about 45 minutes before me in order to shower and dress for work, and right before he walks out the door he comes and tells me it's time to get up........I usually beg for 5 more minutes.

I'm just not a morning person...many will attest to that. (those that have survived the wrath of waking me up) I'm just more of a night person--I can party all night with full energy! (just give me the morning to sleep)

That being said, I need to fill my coffee cup again.

Blog challenge 12.0

Televison addictions, must-watch? Inquiring minds, i.e. JOZ wants to know. :)
Well, on Monday, Jason and I must watch Prison Break.....besides the fact that it's a great show....there's a certain Wentworth Miller (see "it's getting hot in here" blog) that needs to be drooled over. Tuesday--it's whatever is on FX at 9---depending on what season it is--that's either NIP/TUCK, The Shield, or Rescue Me...........all amazing dramas. I think I get a day off on Wednesday--or is that the night that the new 6 degrees show is on? If so, I'm now addicted to that. I believe Thursday nights is 'til death....which turns out to be a hillarious comedy, and I'm diggin' "happy hour" that comes on after that........my addiction then skips a couple days until Sunday, when I have to visit the Desperate housewives on Wisteria Lane.
I sadly am starting to now get addicted to Greys anatomy though too---which is sucking up more time---I wish I had more willpower and could turn it off--but I can't.....and with 4 tv's in the house I can always multi task!

Tuesday "Mourning"

Well, it's official. My Chicago White Sox 2006 season is dead---soon to be buried in their dress blues. The Minnesota TWINkies clinched the central division wild card last night, and celebrated as if they'd won the whole division (but that's another annoyance for another day).
Sadly, My Sox will not be back to back World Series Champs...................but I'll always be part of "Ozzie's Possee", and I'm a south sider 'til I die. :)

A moment of silence now for the 2006 season.

And now a look back at a layout from earlier this season--sportin' some south side pride with my brother patrick.

let's hear it for the BOYS! Blog challenge 11.0

Yeah, yeah, I've got a big ol' women's symbol tattooed on my ankle, true--but that doesn't mean that I don't have love for the lesser, I mean other sex, lol.........................so per Joz's challenge today, I'm gonna show a little love.

Jason and I are polar opposites, and as they say opposites attract....we complete each other.
My husband is pretty darn wonderful, if I do say so myself. :) He fondly refers to my scraproom as "the other man" and supports my obsession greatly.


My Dad is a rockstar, and I can't say that enough........he's my hero. I can honestly say that without my Dad I wouldn't be where I am today, and honestly I'd be lucky if I made it out of childhood alive. I'm so lucky to have a Daddy like him. :)


My brother Stephen is one of my best friends in the world. Even though there's 6 years between us, we're pretty tight. (yep, you've seen him on my back in dublin and conquering a mountain in western Ireland lately in layouts!) A lot of people have jealousy issues with their younger siblings--but not me--I think Buddy (I've called him that since he was born) deserves the world. He's just as sweet as can be, and he cracks me up--and he's a good drinking pal too, now that he's 21! And of course it helps that he's a huge baseball nut and has played since he was just out of diapers. I love him to pieces!


My brother Patrick is just about the cutest Irish boy on Earth. He's 19 now and we've really become close over the last year. It was hard when he was younger as we didn't live together, but now that he's out on his own, we've really bonded. I think he's tons of fun and I have a great time every time I get home to chicago and get to see him. He made a big announcement today, and I just want to tell him how much I love him and support him and think he's the coolest.


My best friend Erik, is truly the best friend anyone could ever ask for. One of my favorite quotes, "friendship is one soul living in two bodies" totally applies to Erik--------we're such a pair, and I love him like no other. When he moved out west 6 years ago, I cried for days, afraid I was losing him. Even though I miss him tons, we're still the best of friends, and see eachother on special trips---sometimes LA, sometimes vegas.........you never know when "pebbles and bam-bam" will strike!

I love ya boys--I give you crap a lot (cuz let's be honest, you need it), but I love ya.

Blog Challenge 10.0

PRIDE.............Joz wants us to talk about people we're proud of right now, well that's easy!!!!

My little sister Irene. She may only be 4 foot 11, but don't under estimate what she's capable of. :) "Beaner" just moved out to California to persue her dream of becoming a clothing designer. She's starting fashion school there next month. After spending the last couple years at college in Normal, Illinois, she decided to focus in on her major interest and is going head first towards her dreams, and I'm way proud of her!

Blog Challenge 9.0

We had soup for dinner last night.............and that can only mean one thing, Fall has arrived. I fought it as much as I could, not wanting to let go of summer. I'm not ready to bundle up, to run the heat, to go on hayrides......I want to run barefoot in the yard yet........smell the sweet aroma of corn on the grill and listen to children giggle as they run through sprinklers in the neighborhood.
It's not that I don't like fall, because I do. It's beautiful, the colors and the smells--but it's the fear of what's behind it......6 long and cold months of Minnesota winter, that I'm just not prepared to welcome. Fall is so short lived, and on it's tail roars in winter with a bitter bite.
NO, I'd rather it stay summer for a while.
That in mind, I did a couple "summery" layouts last night. :)

The best feeling and the worst feeling

I started making "the calls" this morning..................it's such an amazing feeling, being able to give people so much joy with a phone call. "oh my god, are you serious? really? thank you! thank you! thank you!" their excitement is contageous and I can't help but smile ear to ear and want to jump around in their kitchen with them.
At the same time though, I know when I'm done making these calls, there's going to be a lot of dissappointed people because their phone didn't ring. This was so tough--so much tougher than I ever imagined it would be. The amount of talent that is out there is ENORMOUS and if I could fit it all onto our design team I would............then again the company would go broke, but I'd do it. Looking back at the pile of applicants that didn't make it, there are layouts in there that I could only dream of doing--ideas that blow my mind--journaling that made me weep--moments that made me laugh out loud! We'll being doing guest spots on a monthly basis, and I'll be making calls throughout the next year to some of those amazing scrappers............I just wish I could have had them all on the team at once.

To those of you who I've talked to, and will be talking to, Congratulations. I'm extremely excited to have you as part of the team!

To those of you who did not make the team this year, please know that this was so very hard---please know that you are so very very very talented, and I appreciate every ounce of effort that went into your beautiful entries that I've been gushing over for weeks.

it's getting hot in here! (blog challenge 8.0)

well, Joz is feeling a little Randy today (actually I have know idea what her husband's name is..............hahahahaha............oh I do so amuse myself) anyway she said to post a hottie........
THIS I CAN DO!

ladies, I give you Wentworth Miller...............star of Prison Break.........pause to admire his beauty--oh how I love thee. He so yummy.
or would you rather

Andy Garcia, my latin love---he can have me any way he wants--as long as he talks the whole time---oh how I love that voice!
or would you rather

dear Matthew...............southern 'gentlemen'........who one might hope wasn't so gentle (down girl!)
or the true hottie of my heart, my husband Jason.
Is it getting hot in here?

Blog Challenge 7.0

Happy Monday! Okay, it's monday.........and really, lets be honest, that means back to the saltmines and back to business and I wasn't exactly JUMPING out of bed this morning....but seeing as I've been on anti-biotics for three days now for three days and laying around like moss on a log , it's about time I got my butt in gear! So like it or not, HAPPY MONDAY!!!

okay, Joz's challenge today--she asked us "if you were a fortune cookie, what would your fortune be today?"


NAUGHTY FORTUNE COOKIE!!! Life is like a bag of fortune cookies, you never know what you're gonna get.................or is it................nevermind. Okay really, drumroll please................


And isn't that the truth? Those goals and dreams seem so far away, so distant, so unachievable...but really--it all starts with that first step, that first commitment, that first yes, that first foot on the pavement. It's all about goals. And really, it makes me want to revisit mine---What am I doing to get closer to them, to achieve them? Do I even remember what they were? That's what I'm going to do today--look at my goals--and if I don't like them, revise them........give them actual time lines....and make a first step. After all, that thousand mile journey begins with one step......and god knows, we can't argue with a fortune cookie.

oh yeah, I certainly can't forget my latest Ireland layout....oh what--you thought I was done--oh no! Here's one of my favorite spots in Dublin.....MMMMM thirsty---well, I need something to wash down my fortune cookie now....a Guinness should do!

Blog Challenge 6.0

My Style? Joz wants to know about my style........well after being on the road in atlantic city this weekend, amogst those who thought it was okay to leave their hotel rooms in a chenile jogging suit and, then being sick in bed with the flu for the last 2 days and waking up with such a knatty mass of hair that I was convinced I had a squirrel trying to build a nest, but he died of suffication, in there......................I think I have no style right now.............I have eye boogers and drool and monkey breath.

oh, my scrapping style? Oh, to scrap....what is that like? I haven't even seen my scraproom in a week sadly. I do know my style is uniquely me though...........I don't color in the lines, never have--------I like to alter everything and anything----I never was a fan of using things the way they came. Tabitha paid me a great compliment that she loves the different things I do with my letters.........good or bad, I'm always trying new things. Most things I try are happy accidents, truth be told. I guess that's how you could sum up my style, a happy accident.

Sorry I've been a bad blogger this week--blame it on work and the flu.....I'll make up for it next week, I promise!

Blog Challenge 5.0

so, I'm a day late on this challenge, and most likely a dollar short--but what can I say, I'm a busy girl who's stressed to the max right now with work............fingers crossed after this weekend everything will be better.........but I make no guarantees, so don't come looking for a refund! :)
Okay, so yesterday Joz said, "With all the T-Shirt craze and using them as inspiration for layouts, I'm wondering if you were a T-Shirt slogan, what would yours say? If you can make a LO of it, go do it and post it on your blog too. But we can just keep it simple...So write about what famous T-Shirt slogan would you be? And do you live by it?"
OOOH, so many to choose from and so little time! Oh, what is it? what is it? maybe, "I'm not an alcoholic, I'm a drunk--alcoholics go to meetings"........okay, maybe that's not it........although I did have one heck of a time in the pubs in Ireland! Hmmmm, what about "I wish you were a beer."..............oh, right, same problem--might I add that it's been one heck of a day and I can't wait to go home, have so dinner and a beer..................mmmmmmmmm beer (insert Homer Simpson drool here).....okay, I've got it!
"Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive".............yep, that about sums it up, I'm a goofball, lovable and loud. Well intentioned, but slightly skued. I like to keep a smile on my face as much as possible, and those of you who know me know that I like to keep other people smiling as well. I work hard, sure, but I also know that IT'S JUST PAPER........I can't lose too much sleep over sales. I try to make lots of people happy, but in the end, I know some people are stubborn and you can't please them..........all I can do it shrug my shoulders and say "I tried". That's all we can ask of people, try.................oh, and darn it---have a good time while you're doing it!

Speaking of my favorite past time (besides scrapping), here's my latest layout. My brother and I are on our way to the Pub in Dublin, but, by the looks of it, we may have already been there!

Blog Challenge 4.0

Today on STM, Joz said Remember that Heinz commercial? Anticipation.......is making me wait...keeping me waiting....So I wonder.... Argh! Do you like waiting? Why or why not? What are you waiting for today? How do you handle anticipation?

OH, I hate waiting.........hate it! I'm so impatient! Especially when it comes to gifts, always have been. I was that awful little kid that used to unwrap her presents before christmas, play with them, rewrap them and act surprised on christmas morning. I'd search the house for hidden presents.................I can't handle knowing there's things out there for me, but I can't have them yet. I'm still like that. My husband has to hide presents at his office, in fear that I'll get my sticky little fingers on them! Once he's wrapped them--he'll booby trap them so I can't get into them, or he'll know.

A couple years ago my parents had a holiday present shipped to Jason's parents house for us. It came direct from an online company, so it wasn't wrapped, and was in a UPS box. My mother in law decided that just wasn't right and took it upon herself to wrap it. (breath chelsea, breath--do not vent frustrations about mil in blog!) I jokingly asked her what it was, and she basically challenged me to find out--saying "the UPS box is in the entry way.................you won't figure it out"...................oh yeah? she apparently never saw me playing battleship and "pig" pong weeks before christmas as a child, she knew nothing of my detective skills, my shrewd ways of runing every surprise...............hmmmm, a challenge. I grabbed the UPS box and headed straight for the computer.........I could hear her laughing at me upstairs, "ha, there's no info on there--I don't know what she thinks she's going to find"............it was fuel to the fire--and I was determined! I went to UPS.com and put in the tracking #, unfortunately it didn't give a company it came from, just a city---ah, but that's a start.....in order for UPS to deliver they have to have a pickup and delivery phone#, this I know, both of which should be printed on the box. AH-HA, a 1-800 #......I looked up the 1-800 #, which quickly told me the name of the ELECTRONICS company that it was delivered from.....now we're getting somewhere.....I went to the electronics company's website, entered my father's name and guessed at his password, and was right on the first guess (yes, I'm evil, I know).............I walked up the stairs victoriously with an evil smirk on my face and said, "I can't wait to open that 5 disc DVD player next week"............She was livid to say the least....................yeah yeah, I know, it was childish and awful of me.....but she pushed my buttons and challenged me, and neither me or Marty McFly can turn down a good challenge.

oh, back to the original point.................................I'm no good at waiting. :)

Blog Challenge 3.0

Ah, September 1st.................it seems like such a big marker doesn't it? Closing the door to summer and sprinklers, and opening the window to let the fall breeze in? Summer came and went so quickly. The trees on the hilltops of Mankato that looked like fresh bunches of broccoli not long ago, are starting to look like vegetables past their prime, and are turning colors with the cooling temps.

Looking back on the last month of summer is today's blog challenge for STM. Joz says, "WOW! I'm happy, aren't you?! So going into the new month, let's do some reminiscing and projecting. So, to reminisce - what were you happy about or what was your major accomplishment in August. To project - what will be your main focus for September. You can list as many things as you want." HMMMMM, August...what did I do?

well, I traveled, that's for sure!
Ireland was a dream come true....the scenery, the history.........the Guinness. Ever since I was a young girl, I'd dreamed about going to Ireland.......the place where my ancestors sailed from. The land they loved so much, despite a soil and crop that failed them. 10 days on the Emerald Isle wasn't nearly enough and I hope to go back someday soon.

if you'd like to see all the Ireland photos (because you have way too much time on your hands, here's the link http://chelseaandjason.myphotoalbum.com)

I also got my third tattoo while in Ireland, as planned. Some people, including my parents and sister aren't the biggest fans of tattoos, but I've always love ink. My body is a living scrapbook page--and I want to decorate it and mark the moments of my life. People always say, "but what if you're 60 and you hate it" First of all, I hate that comment..........I'm not a 18 year old sorority girl who's getting a tiny shooting star tattoo to match my bff "Buffy"..........I think about my ink long and hard before I get a piece, and I'm committed to it. They tell the journey of my life and moments that defined who I am, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Scrapwise--I did 7 Ireland pages so, which isn't bad as far as I'm concerned considering I just got back on the 15th. I did my first "real" photoshoot............... my friend Laura, who has now given birth to a beautiful little boy, Peyton, wanted some pictures done to document her pregnancy and called upon me. I've got a long way to go, but I was happy with how the pics turned out for my first psuedo shoot.

What I'd like to do this month:
Scrap:
1. KEEP TAKING PICTURES! with Fall blowing in it's a perfect opportunity for nature shots, and outdoor photo shoots....and with John and Tracie getting engaged any moment, I'd love to take some photos of them.
2. Read photo tutorials online and study up on my owners manual and photo book (hmmm, speaking of Tracie, I think I lent it to her!)
3. Scrap a page or project atleast every other day, so about 15 this month.
4. Keep up on the blog challenges, I'd like to do 90% of Joz's.
5. SUBMIT!!!!!!!!! ( I so haven't done that in a really long time)
Life:
1. um, get my but in gear and start working out again, I've slipped, that's for sure
2. get organized---my desk is a mess, so is my closet!
3. start writing letters again......the kind where you actually pick up a pen and paper, what a concept!

I'll update you on my progress....................if it doesn't go well, I'll blame it on the "dog eating my homework" :)