My New Toy!

I'm new to scrapbooking and making cards, etc but fell in love with it.  I really didn't want to because I get obsessive compulsive about things and have to have everything ever made to go along with it.  I went into scrapbooking knowing this and expecting to just start off little. 

Yea, that happened for the first day or two then I went crazy.  I knew I would.  I started buying clearance die cuts, using coupons, etc until I amassed a nice little stock of supplies.  Of course it still wasn't enough...   

I bought the Cricut Expression.

I love it. I was tired of buying expensive die cutters, even on clearance they can be pricey (when you want a whole collection!). Anyway, I was iffy about the Expression because of the price and the price of carts but through some research I was able to find out about programs you can use that allow you to totally bypass using carts. Well, you do need one inserted in the machine for it to work though.


The programs are called Sure Cuts a Lot (1 & 2, SCAL) and Make the Cut (MTC). I purchased Make the Cut because there were more options according to users. It cost $58 to download off their site and $10.99 to have the CD sent as well.  I am very pleased with it. The possibilities are endless. You can download files online and cut away without having to spend money on carts and be limited to what the carts offer. There's tons of sites out there with cuts to download (SVG, true type font, vector) and you can use jpgs as well by using the trace option in MTC.  MTC also takes the fonts you already have on your computer and pulls it into the program so you have those available. 

Check out the links below:

Make the Cut
http://www.make-the-cut.com/

and

Sure Cuts a Lot
http://www.craftedge.com/products/products.html


Comparison - MTC vs SCAL
http://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/cricut-software-comparison/


If you are interested in the programs read reviews on both first.  I found tons of sites that reviewed and compared both programs.  I chose MTC.

In all, had I had to buy carts I don't think I would have bough a Cricut.  Because I don't have to spend money on those pricey carts the machine was well worth the cost.

12 years ago...

12 years ago, last month I set off on a life changing journey.
I went into the Marine Corps.
Crazy to think that it was actually me...
It really was a whole other life.

While in bootcamp I met and bonded with many of the other girls.  I have to say girls because a lot of us were right out of high school.  Bootcamp was a tough 3 months of physical and mental torture but we made it through.  I truly believe having each other and going through it together made the experience bearable.  It was an amazing time and great memories were made.

I bring all this up now because I was in search of one of my bootcamp friends on Facebook.  I found her and she responded.  That one connection lead to many many more.  A few weeks ago we had a Facebook bootcamp reunion.  Each connection lead to another.  It was amazing catching up with these ladies that I went through so much with.  I am absolutely amazed at how we all turned out and what everyone is up to now.  A few are still in the Corps and only 8 years away from retirement.  How awesome!  Others of us have gone on to have kids, have careers outside of the military, and obtain an college education.

It was great catching up.  

I am not one to be all gung ho but Once a Marine Always A Marine and Oorah Devil Dogs!  Hehehe

Some pics from bootcamp.  No we were not allowed to have cameras but I was sneaky!

Scrapbooking Adventures

Cover

I fought it for years just like I fight almost every fad.
I put up a good fight until this weekend. 
I now scrapbook for fun...AGH!

I never ever thought I would enjoy it.
All that work...YUCK!
But...
I love it!

I purchased some items this weekend to start my new adventure.




Here's pics of my first steps into scrapbooking:

Slimming down

Ahh, so I have finally committed myself to slimming down.  I have been at it for almost a month now and am actually enjoying the workouts and the results.  My clothes are fitting me again and I am feeling much better about myself.

My workout routine consists of 3 days of weights which takes me 1 - 1 1/2 hours or so to complete with each day concentrating on a different area.  I also do 1 hour of cardio 2 - 3 times a week.  I change cardio up each week/day depending on my mood.  I may do the elliptical or a class. 

I absolutely love being back in charge of my body.  I have been watching my food intake and trying to keep it healthy.  There's been days where I can't help it (BBQs, friends coming over) but I have done great so far.  I originally started with counting calories on my phone via an app (Android phone) but now know pretty much what I need to eat to keep my goal calorie intake for the day, especially on days I go to work.  I keep the same meal plan for the most part on those days.  I eat 6 times a day, all small meals or snacks to keep me from binging.  So far I have not binged once!  Yay me!

This has been a great journey for me so far.  I am set on keeping this lifestyle up.  I may eventually cut back on going to the gym so much but I definitely will keep active.

I want the old Kasi back.
The one who felt sexy!
She's on her way!

Visible results?

I received my first compliment today about how my weight loss effort is noticable. I kick my own ass at the gym. It's nice to know it shows.

The abuse of LOL

I have come to notice that many people abuse the use of LOL and LMFAO.  I think I used to be a culprit as well.  I stopped when I realized how freakin' annoying it is to see every sentence, no matter the context, end with LOL or LMFAO.  I'm talking about seeing this on Facebook, MySpace, and other social networks.

I remember way back in the day before the days of Facebook and MySpace.  Back when social networks were vary basic, the mIRC and AOL chatroom days.  Remember those?  From what I can remember this is where we began using acronyms for various actions such as "laugh out loud" - LOL.  Back then, I'm talking mid early to mid 90s and even late 90s and early 2000s, it was cute and new.  People used it as it should be used, when something was deemed funny.  So, yes, that make me sound so old...mIRC...before the days of mass cell phone use.

Why do people use LOL or LMFAO after they "say" such things as "I walked to the store" e.g.,  "I walked to the store.  LOL!".  Can someone tell me why that is LOL worthy?  Now if there was something absolutely absurd about this person walking to the store then maybe it would be LOL worthy but it's likely not worthy of an LOL or anything other than a plain old period.

Please please people keep your LOLs and LMFAOs to a minimum.  Don't use it in place of an exclamation point.  It looks idiotic sometimes.

Where to begin?

This is my 3rd attempt at writing this.  I have a few things to write about however I don't feel like writing about all of it right now.  I guess I can just list it so when I do decide to write I know what to write about.

1.  Bedroom (did I write about that already?)

2.  Hawaii

3.  Weight loss

4.  School

5.  One last thing but I will have to wait to post about that.

Maybe I'll get to these soon.  Maybe not.  One day though.