Laura Vegas

first i have to share a layout … just because i’m loving it so much! i did this last night … love how it all came together so perfect!

now for the winners … erin and melrose!

just wrote the names down on scraps … so you’ll have to trust me on this one. and i can’t tell you what i’m sending out … because i still havn’t thought about it. but i will get something together today. so email me your addresss and i’ll get some fun scrap goodies out to you in the next few days.

and now for the questions!

kori asked … "so have ya started yet (your MM idol project)?"

erin b asked … "what do you do when you have creative-block to get your creative mojo back?"

deneen asked … "after you become the next MM idol what will be your next big goal?"

sierra asked … "if you could travel anywhere on vacation, where would you go?"

eileen asked … "how do you stay sain (sp?) with so many kids around all day?"

• anyone who knows me in person would never tell you i’m sain! lol! i’ve been doing this daycare thing for over 5 years now. and while i love all the awesome kids i’ve been lucky enough to watch … there’s times i wish i was back working in the grocery store. lol! there are moments when i have kids making all kinds of noise (which we know i can’t function with too much noise! lol!) and yapping at me non-stop … and i think if you were to look at me, you’d actually be able to see how hard it is for me to just focus on something other than those kids … to pretend i’m somewhere else. lol! i’m literally taking deep breaths and trying to stay calm and relaxed. i also rely heavily on nap-time! i’m pretty good about getting everyone on schedules … back when i had about 6 kids here (babies on up to 4 yr olds), i had them all on the same nap schedule. it was a thing of beauty to get everyone down at the same time and be able to sit and have my moments to myself to hear myself think! oh yeah … and having a yummy frappacino to sip on certainly helps me get through my day! lol!

dina asked … "if you didn’t have all those cuties to take care of, what would be your dream job?"

• seriously my dream job would be something in the scrapbook field … with maybe some photography on the side. i would love to work for a major manufacturer … like when you actually get paid to design. maybe have a few magazine assignments going on. possible get back into the teaching. do some photography … some photo shoots here and there. all things scrapping would be so much fun and make me so happy to just create all day. either that … or i’ve always thought it would be so fun to work as a "roadie". go on tour with someone … i’m thinking tim mcgraw … and work on the stage setup. maybe sit way up on high and work the lights. lol!

melrose asked … "what kind of camera do you use to take those adorable kidlet’s pictures?"

• i have the canon digital rebel xt. it actually has taken me a long time to learn the darn thing. lol! i have several lenses … but lately seem to keep my 28-135mm lens on all the time. and i use my external flash about 99% of the time … it’s a canon speedlite 430ex. definately a learning curve when going digital. i’ve had my camera about a year and a half … and i’m just these past 2 months of so getting more comfortable with the thing. lol!

dale anne asked … "do you specifically set a time to scrap everyday or just whenever you can find the time between looking after all the kids?"

• i usually do something scrap-related every day … whether it’s taking or playing with photos, reading my scrap magazines or idea books, thinking of scrapping … and sometimes actually scrapping. lol! i used to scrap a lot at night … but now the only time i do anything at night is if the girls are gone and i’m home alone. i do find that i can get some little things done during the day when the kids are napping. and now that alyssa and sarah are older they’re so busy doing their own thing … so a lot of times i can do a little scrapping in the evening. although i think i do the most on the weekends.

jenn asked … "have you always loved reese’s peanut butter cups, and how many have you ever eatten in one day?"

• omg … i looooooove reese’s! i love chocolate … and i love peanut butter. so if i can have them both at the same time it’s even better. how many have i eaten in one day? that’s a scary question. lol! i’ll be honest … i can eat a ton of chocolate. i’d say the most has been about 6 packs (of 2 each). but i’m sure i can eat more. are you challenging me!?!?! lol!

katy asked … "i’d love to hear more about the kids you look after, how you find child minding and how you fit your scrapping in around it?"

• the kids i look after. right now i have a gangle of girls that have been around here forever … ashlen is 8, amanda is 6, ariana is 3, adyson is 14 mths, and the new baby girl is 3 mths. all my boys left me a while ago … but i do have a new boy around who is 2. i’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of great kids in the past 5 years … and the majority of them have all stuck around. meaning i don’t have a big turn-over rate. lol!
• child minding. you mean children are supposed to mind you? lol! i’m a very easy going person … but i think most of the kids know when i’m serious about something. i don’t think i come off super strick or mean … although i’m sure i have my moments! lol!
• as for fitting in my scrapping … honestly i’m not very good at balancing life. sometimes i feel like there is so much going on … between my girls, daycare kids, school, softball, soccer, joe’s umpiring and golfing, and all the other stuff like housework and cooking. my mind is very scattered too … so the majority of the time i’m completly overwhelmed with "stuff". so much to do i don’t know what to do … so i do nothing! lol! but i do crave time by myself. i need time by myself to hear myself think and gather my bearings. sometimes i feel quilty for that … but it’s essential to my well-being. so really … i just try and fit things in when i can and when i feel motivated.

thanks everyone for participating … fun questions! and just a reminder … voting goes up again tomorrow morning for MM idol. i’ll post my finished project in the morning. my hints … a 14 month old and some paint! lol!