Dead Reckoning

There will be mild spoilers in this post.

So I picked up the new Sookie Stackhouse book the day it came out. I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, all that waiting was for naught. If you know me well, I'm a huge Alcide fan from this series, and Ms. Harris dashed all hopes of a Sookie/Alcide hook up here. The book was slow from the beginning. It was disjointed. I have never been a big Sookie/Eric fan, so I'm glad to see that the end may be near (please don't kill me, Eric fans!)

Amelia, who is one of my favorite characters, showed up, and then pissed Sookie off. Granted I could see Amelia doing what she did, but sometimes I think Sookie flies off the handle for the wrong reasons at the wrong people. I understand why she was upset with Amelia, but come on. Amelia is as rash as Sookie used to be.

Alcide appeared for one scene and although I love Alcide no matter what, and still do in this one scene, I feel that Sookie is very unfair to him. Yes, he didn't think his actions through, and yes, he should have known better, but really? We all know that Alcide likes Sookie, so why would her first thought be that he wants to be with her so his pack can have a shaman? She can believe that Eric loves her (and not just for his own selfish purposes, which I'm not convinced of, but I guess she is) but she can't believe Alcide would love her for herself? Yes, he screwed up WAY back in book 5. But what the hell has Eric put her through for 11 books? I wanted to smack her!

And then there was the whole thing with Bill. I honestly was happy Bill would get his happy ending with Judith, but nope, now he's back to loving Sookie forever. WTF?

And then there was Eric. Never was a fan of his, and now I can say I'm definitely not. If Ms. Harris' goal was to kill any of my liking for Eric, she succeeded. And apparently at the end, it's being set up for a phasing out of Eric and a phasing in of Sam as Sookie's Happy Ending. Don't care! Sam's a good guy, but I don't feel he and Sookie have chemistry. She should end up ALONE since that's how she apparently likes to be!

One person (aside from Alcide) that I really liked in this book was Dermot. I can't wait to see how this plays out. In the end, I give the book 3 stars. Not great, not bad. Just good.

iNSD wrap up and some scrapping

If you are looking for the blog train, it's one post down :)

Did you all have a fabulous iNSD? I did. I did some scrapping, I did some shopping and generally just had a blast. I am glad it is over though. I don't know how all the designers do it! Tracy put out a TON of goodies this weekend, and still had time to host a speed scrap, a chat and a progressive challenge. I mentioned Tish's grab bag in the blog train post, so today I'll show you my layouts with Tracy's stuff, along with a couple layouts I did for fun! (Warning this is a long post)


Using Star Struck vol 7 - Cami in May Templatetopia by Trixie Scraps
Spring in the Meadow by Trixie Scraps
Ric Rac from The Sneezin Season (recolored) by Trixie Scraps
Alpha from Daisy Crazy by Trixie Scraps and Madame Wing (retired)


Using Large and In Charge vol 1 in May Templatetopia by Trixie Scraps
Fishy Friends by Trixie Scraps


Using All About Me: The Littles by Trixie Scraps
ADSR Sketch by Scrappin Digi Kreations


Using everything from Trixie Scraps iNSD Grab Bag
Leaves from All About Me: The Littles


Using Southern Spring FWP collab by the SBB designers


For Tracy's 6 hour progressive scrap. I used Spring in the Meadow by Trixie Scraps and Friends are like Flowers by Trixie Scraps and Connie Prince(retired)


For Tracy's Speed Scrap at Gotta Pixel. I used Spring in the Meadow and Southern Spring.




Both of the above are made just for fun using Jady Day Studio's iNSD Grab Bag called Blessed to be your Mother. It's a beautiful kit, and I adore how both came out. I also used a freebie template by Jady Day Studio and Gimme Layers Singled Out vol 2 by Cluster Queen Creations respectively.

So what did YOU get this weekend? I hope you had a great NSD weekend and shopped and scrapped until you dropped!

Happy iNSD and a Pixie Chicks Blog Hop!

Hello everyone and happy iNSD! I just love iNSD, not just because of the sales, but there are always so many gorgeous kits and grab bags that come out this time of year. Have you seen the new grab bag from Pixiemama Designs? It's berry delicious!



Now, onto the freebie, which is what I know you came for ;)I made you an alpha and a cluster frame that coordinates with Carpe Diem, the collab between Pixiemama Designs and Digilicious Designs.



You can click on the image above or just click HERE

I also have one more thing for you! Click HERE and you can grab a great coupon to Pixiemama Designs store!

In case you get lost, here's the list of blogs:
You should have come from Tish's blog - http://pixiemamadesigns.com
Amy - http://amiesscraps.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE
Valarie - http://fleurdescrap.blogspot.com/
Kim - http://scrapinmamas.blogspot.com/
Deanna - http://flowerscrap.blogspot.com/
Jen - http://jaredandjenday.blogspot.com
Missy - http://jrmminga.blogspot.com/
Melissa - http://mmhula.blogspot.com/
Jaya - http://scraps-by-jayaprem.blogspot.com

The Hunt is On!

Well... the hunt for a decent full time job that is. I'm actually rolling along pretty well on my way to getting a full time job. They want to interview me next week and have me take a second assessment test. After that, I'll find out if I get hired or not! We would have to move, but it would be a good thing for us. We would be closer to my mom, as well as in a bigger metropolitan area, so there will be much more to do with the girls.

What else is going on? Well I've been BAD about writing. I have two stories in progress and I just haven't had time to write. Between school, kids and work, I feel like there's just never enough time. Hopefully that will change over the summer and I will finally finish up those projects.

Have you read any good books lately? I've read some awesome books. If you are a fan of Cassandra Clare and her Mortal Instruments series or her Infernal Devices series, and you haven't read City of Fallen Angels yet, do it now. It's amazing. Also, I highly recommend picking up Andrea Cremer's Nightshade. If you like werewolves, witches and a love triangle, then you don't want to miss this. I grabbed it because Ms. Cremer grew up not far from my hometown and they featured her in the local paper here, and I was not sorry I did. In fact, I got my copy autographed by her back in February, and it's now one of my most prized possessions!

Last but not least, I've been competing in the Amazing Digiscrap Race. My team mate and I have been having a lot of fun. Here are some of the layouts I've done (each is linked for full credits):

I'm a bad blogger!

Yes, yes I am. But I'll tell you a little bit about what I've been doing. I decided that I want to read 75 books in the year 2011. I've already read 6, almost done with the 7th and they have all been by Rick Riordan. Yes, I re-read the Percy Jackson series, and my BFF gave me the first book in the Kane Chronicles for Christmas. I'm just finishing up re-reading the first Heroes of Olympus book again. After that, it's back to school reading, like Hamlet and Philosophy stuff. Yay!

I'll show you a few pages I've done as well!



Both using Baked with Love Bundle by Pixiemama Designs


Using Pigskin Party and Standing Alone vol 1 by Trixie Scraps


Using Pigskin Party by Trixie Scraps

Halloween costumes and more...

We finally bought the girls their Halloween costumes this weekend. They decided they wanted to be fairies, and I think they'll be adorable!

On to some layouts for the week. Leticia released a beautiful fall kit called Bountiful Blessings this week. I just loved the colors of this.
Here is my page:


Jaya also released a new kit this week called Memories. This had such pretty colors!
Here's what I came up with:


That's it for today!

Some Layouts!

My poor blog has been neglected for awhile now. I'm back to show you some recent pages I've done:


Using Every Day with You by Trixie Scraps


Using A Boo-tiful Night Bundle by Trixie Scraps and JennCk




Both using Seeing Double Vol 2 and Autumn on the Lake by Trixie Scraps


Using BFF 4Ever, BFF 4Ever Alpha and Everyday Frames by JayaPrem's Hangout


Using Drip Drop and Drip Drop Bonus Alpha by Inspiredbydominic Designs

I think that's about it for now. I will be back next weekend with some more layouts I've done, and if I ever finish the book I'm reading, maybe some thoughts on that as well!