Thursday, September 30, 2010

It has been

One of those months. I have reformatted my PC again. It is unfortunate that I realized after the third format in about 8 weeks that I was reloading the virus every time from my back up drive. Oh joy oh joy! So this means I have been slow on blogging and slow on creativity as I reload the software. However, I have it down to a system and an actual piece of paper that says the order and what to load and drivers etc etc. So basically I am venting because I need to burn off some steam to try and keep working tonight. So thanks for sticking with me. It promises to have a happy October. I just can’t wait for fall. And hope it is an awesome month to catch up.

Enjoy!

Chris

Last two files for the July-Sept QMC

The  last two files are loaded to the QMC for this quarter! Woooohoo! You have until the 15th of October to download. So current members jump on in.

 

Enjoy!

Chris

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Gramps

Many know this is my blog of therapy. As I thought of my Gramps today I was
flipping through some pictures. Often you could catch him glancing at my Nan
with love. And Dance they would and smile they would. And some of the times
the pictures just never quite caught the glance of "CHRISTINE, my love, Put
down the Bloody Camera" in a purely british accent.

With love
Christine.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Oh how I miss him..

Sunday is my grandfather's birthday. Gramps. A couple years ago he was released from his pain and taken to heaven. I still tear up at the thought of not having him across the table at the holidays. I miss hearing him sing "cheryl crows: all I wanna do is have some fun" he would hum it and sing the words with a british accent. He gave me my first job at his plant in the office. My first truck was from his plant a chevy scottsdale. It hauled butt when you hit the gas and was miserable to steer when I ran out of gas and this happened often for a girl in her school years. It had no radio so my brother and sister and I would sing goofy songs. We used to play golf where he and my Nan lived on the 9th hole. We would go out just at dusk, kick off our shoes and walk around on the green with our bare toes and putt a little with my grandfather showing us how to hold the putter. We spent our summers here from wisconsin and stayed with my grandparents. We rode in the back of the hatchback z280 then seat belts weren't an issue. My grandparents had a matching set. My Gramps was a lot of the "male role model" for us because my Dad lived so far away when my parents parted ways. I just am not sure if I miss him for his part in my life or that he won't be a part of my son's. That his sound advice gave me a rashin of "get yourself together christine" when he wanted to know if I had called my new guy back which is now my hubby. He was so right. That I was told after my baby shower that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the british couple as they had talked to everyone in the room. That the only baby shower my grandfather ever went to was mine and he oooohed and ahhhed over every little outfit with great comedy because he was told that's what you do at a baby shower. He hung through while most of the men had disappeared to play pool. Yes I miss him. Happy birthday Gramps we still miss you lots. And still... All we wanna do is have some fun because you showed us the way. With your dancing, with your smile, your pep, your "in the pink". And from my heart, With love.. Your miss america. Your granddaughter. Christine
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Monday, September 20, 2010

X: And today is the day....

Today is the day. I have disabled the Quarterly Membership from the store for July-Sept 2010.

If you would like in… Here is the secret link for your last chance to join July – Sept 2010.  (The Oct-Dec special will post soon.)

 

If you are new to my QMC, you can download at 4shared or at the forum. Make sure to download the pdf link from the store for more info.

 

We are at file 27 out of 20. Yes, I like to add a little icing on the cake. My goal is always 29. And I almost have the last few wrapped up.

 

So current members PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE….  jump on in and download the files already loaded. Thank you again as always for supporting me and my family.  

 

#01 - Polynesian Parrots
  #02 - Zebra Inchies & Border
  #03 - Parrot
  #04 - Corners & Such
#05 - Mini Album Sing
#06 - Rocket Cuts
#07 - Never Give Up
#08 - First Snuggles
#09 - Tea Pot Card Front Set
#10 - Tea Party Title and Border
#11 - Ribbon Sided Gift Box
#12 - Meow Who?
#13 - Ho Ho Ho Holy Night
#14 - Rocket Book
#15 - Closed for Cleaning Doorhangers
#16 - Lake Adventures
#17 - Lake Peace
#18 - Lakeside Fun
#19 - Swimming in the Lake
#20 - Color Corner Set
#21 - Color Edge Set
#22 - Beauty is Within
#23 - Haunted House Title and Front Gate
#24 - Card Fronts 760
#25 - Cupcake Wrapper Tea Party
#26 - Cupcake Wrapper Zebra

#27 – Angel Paper Piecing/Stained glass

#28 – Oklahoma … prepping for upload

#29 – Michigan … Prepping for upload.

 

Most members will tell you these aren’t just a word or a shape in a file, but extra layers and additions to the file. I try to pack a value in to the $10.00 for the promised 20 files. If you want to see these files you can view them on my facebook fan page… In this album…

 

 

Enjoy!

Chris

www.visualdesignsbychris.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Visual-Designs-by-Chris/122459284866

 

Friday, September 17, 2010

National Constitution Day!

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

 

This is one of those days I use my right to have an opinion. You may not agree, but I am an American so I have rights. Thank you to those who have worked toward that end.

 

Well today. September 17th. Is National Constitution Day. It does not get a lot of play. There isn’t a section at Hallmark. There aren’t many celebrations around the constitution,  but the thing that bothers me the most….

 

April of last year on Earth Day, my son came home from school complaining that he got bad papers for the day because he was forced to spend the day doing his bellwork in the dark. A few days before we had been talking about penmanship and practicing and looking at a paper and deciding yes or no that it was something we could read easily so the teacher could us. Thus having good penmanship. And for light they sat with the doors open. The door is on one side in the shade and the window is on the other in the shade of a tree. For Earth day they frustrated me. I love my son’s school district they are absolutely phenomenal, but doing homework in the dark and sitting in a class where the air has been turned up to compensate for “earth day” is a bunch of BUNK. If you want to celebrate earth day. Get your kids dirty with earth and have them help plant, have them run mad outside for “earth day” but to sit in a classroom in the dark and work on writing and doing bell work. ABSOLUTELY ridiculous.

 

I have read that the schools that gain federal funding are required to teach the constitution and it’s basics. I don’t think it has to be taught on any specific day, but I do believe they are required to teach it.

 

Today my son came home and I asked. So … Did you talk about the Constitution today? He stared at me quizzically. He said. Welllllll… what’s the constitution. And in that lies the answer. ( I am sure he will come out after pondering the question and ask me if it was the one from that National Treasure movie. J)  Luckily we are those annoying over achiever parents that spend time with their kid and do homework, read, flash cards etc to help him embrace school because we do it with him.

 

So maybe you wouldn’t have anyone to send a “Happy Constitution” Hallmark Card to.  (although I am sure Maxine from Hallmark could come up with a ton of good ones) But maybe just reading it to say you had would be reason enough to celebrate. I asked 7 different people today in my route to pickup a few things for the weekend. 6 said they had never read it. Three of those 6 said they might have sometime in school. They were all shocked I asked. I asked folks at the feed store, the dollar store, Michael’s and the grocery store. I have read it. I haven’t memorized it which I don’t intend to, but I have read it. Tonight I plan to find a kid rated version and print it out and for reading. Read it to my kiddo. At the age of 6, the constitution is what Mom & Dad says.  He may not get it now, but when he is my age and realizes a lot about life the constitution will mean something to him.

 

So here are some things that might interest you if you are slightly prone to celebrating a day the promotes our rights as they were written in the Constitution. Because it the highest law and it belongs to all of us as citizens of the United States of America.

 

 

This is the gov’t page…

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/

 

This is the page that has a ton of links that have been compiled.

http://www.usconstitution.net/

 

Tonight and this weekend, I will be enjoying many of my freedoms because of this important document. How many can you Enjoy!

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Enjoy!

Chris

 

 

Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Sunday do's list

Yep workin’ on the Sunday do’s. I got a little extra done. I canned for the first time. Some praline syrup which I think would be good on ice cream, brie, pancakes. Yum. Still working on the laundry. Well to be honest. Way behind on the laundry.

 

A super fun burn of my time today. Driving to walgreen’s I won a basket of goodies from Walgreen’s. I bought some mascara and eyeliner and I was entered in a drawing. Wooho! So went to pick it up. I am not sure in any way what to do with some of this stuff. So we shall see, but makeup it is so expensive it is fun to get it in a basket and tinker and then decide. WOW not so me! Haha.

 

And a few weeks ago I was asked to post my menus if I have time as they would help others when planning is stressful. Very interesting hadn’t thought about it. So here is this coming weeks. Not a lot of great new recipe attempts, but a lot of use of our bountiful basket.  Hope you can use it.

 

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Sunday night. – grilled burgers and grilled corn (bbasket)

 

Monday  - Spaghetti & Noodles ( Hubby will be gone and he is not a fan of red sauce. So easy for kiddo and I. Going to add mushrooms (bbasket) and meat to the sauce to add a little punch to it. And fresh shredded mozarella)

 

Tuesday -  Make your own as I plan to work on canning applesauce and pie filling. Cooking dinner will be my last thought (So might thaw out some bratwurst we have so the hubby can grill and maybe the corn from the basket)

 

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken & Whipped Butternut squash and Tinfoil apples (bbasket) warmed on the grill. Gonna make all the butternut squash up and have the leftover for lunch for me for the next few days.

 

Thursday  - If not, Salmon, Salad(bbasket) & Rice

 

Friday – Possibly movie night at school (If not, Fajitas: green and red bell pepers (bbasket), onion in pan) Marinate meat and grill. Have to see if I can get some tamales to compliment this)

 

 

Rough Shopping list:

Hamburger meat

Burger fixins

Corn on the cob

Spaghetti noodles

Noodles sauce

Mozarella cheese to shred

Bratwurst

Sauerkraut ?

Bread/buns for burgers and bratwurst

Chicken

Butternut squash

Cream

Butter

Salmon

Salad fixing (whatever is left from basket fixings)

Rice

Tortillas

La crema media

Red green peppers

Onion

Fajita seasoning
Vegetarian Beans

Cheddar Cheese

Meat for fajitas

 

 

Just a quick list of needs and the nice thing…. I have everything but the salmon. Woohoo!!! But however we might be out of cheddar cheese by Friday as my kiddo is cheese maniac. Ahhh. As am I. so he comes by it honest. I am gonna call and beg my Dad for some curds on his next visit.

 

Love that!

 

Enjoy your week!

Chris

 

 

Friday, September 10, 2010

Mutton Bustin'

Picture from the Camera Guys. I video taped it for the kiddo. Will upload that next week.

Enjoy!
Chris

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Rodeo pics

My friend Heidi took these two pics at the rodeo this past weekend. We came how with a 2nd place Mutton Busting prize and one very excited little cowboy. We also had a wonderful time dancing the night away and staying in our little RV and some friends camped also. Lots of friends came down to cheer on our little cowboy. So wonderful. I will write more later in the week because I, also, brought home a cold. Feel just miserable. So I am gonna conserve energy for getting ready for scouts tonight (my hubby volunteered to be den leader. Love him.) and workin’ on some more QMC files. I hope you like the pics. I am gonna see if I can get some print worthy copies and put them up on my family wall. We hardly have any pics of the three of us and I love that you can see my kiddos dimple on his cheek in the side one. Heidi worked the picture a little in photoshop and it just rocks.  Thank you Heidi you are the bestest.

Enjoy!

Chris

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

QMC File uploads

I am coming out of my mass confusion because I had so many files running all together at once. So here are the most recent uploads to the QMC in the forum and 4shared. Hopefully more to load tomorrow. WOohoo! We are rolling! Enjoy!

Chris

Friday, September 3, 2010

It's Finally Friday!!!

Let’s just say it has not been the greatest of weeks. When your hubby walks out the door on Friday reminding you to duplicate your hard drive in your computer because everything is fresh from a recent format for the “next time you crash it”. It means it has been a little bit of a chaotic week.

Not much to say except I plan to write this week off the books.

 

With that being said…. I’ll get to see my handsome hubby in his wrangler’s this weekend and plan to spin with him around the dance floor. And watch the kiddo jump in and ride a little muttin’, hang with friends and just ENJOY….. Bring on the weekend!!

 

So have a safe and happy holiday weekend. I hope you find some time to craft. If you have no idea what to do we have just a few spots left in the  third group for the planner swap. So if you want a monthly planner that you can choose to cover the month with pictures and make it into a mini album. Well now is the time… jump on in.

 

Off I go to get something accomplished on Friday… I am ready to sing the song. It’s finally Friday…. I’m ready for a wild weekend!!  My favorite version is George Jones. Here are the words if you need an anthem for today! And if you wanna here it…. Here is a link to listen… Sing with me folks! WOoohooo!!

 

IVE GOT A HUNDRED DOLLARS SMOKING IN   MY BILLFOLD

I KNOW I OUGHT TO SAVE IT BUT ITS   BURNING A hole

RIGHT THRU MY POCKET AND  INTO MY SKIN

COME MONDAY MORNING ILL BE  BROKE AGAIN


CHORUS:

ITS FINALLY FRIDAY IM   FREE AGAIN

I GOT MY MOTOR RUNNING FOR A   WILD WEEKEND

ITS FINALLY FRIDAY IM   OUT OF CONTROL

FORGET THE WORKING BLUES AND LET THE GOOD TIMES   ROLL


VERSE 2:

I GOT A LITTLE SUGAR BABY   DOWN THE ROAD

SHE IS SETTING ON READY AND  ROCKING ON GO

WE'LL DANCE UP A STORM AND   LATER ON TONIGHT

WE'LL BE WORKING ON DOING ALL THE WRONG THINGS   RIGHT


CHORUS

REPEAT INTRO

VERSE 3:

MONDAY ILL BE HURTING WITH MY   HEAD IN A VISE

TUESDAY ILL BE WANDERING IF ILL   EVER SURVIVE

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY ILL BE SLOWLY   TUNING IN

FRIDAY ILL BE REVING UP MY MOTOR AGAIN  

CHORUS

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Wooohoo!! Another new month...





September brings with it the feeling of fall!! and all the wonderful times to go with. So the first you will be interested in greatly if you love Halloween is the September Grab Bag.


I wish I could say what is in it, but I can say it is filled with so much Halloween items you just want to dress up today!!! So Grab it in September and you can have all the October decorations and layouts and cards made. Children (and many Adults) love Halloween because it is the time to dress up, giggle lots and enjoy the treats and tricks. We think you will love this one as much as they do.

Enjoy!
Chris




Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com GSD KNK WPC AI SVG SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!


My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on..... Enjoy!


And our cutter file "freebies" are kept in the forum. We add to them as we can.

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