ScrapLady

I am a 43-year old single woman in Sioux Falls, SD, who loves to archive the memories of loved ones and the major events of my life in scrap books. I started scrapping after going to a craft/scrap book event at the mall in Brookings, SD. The first scrap book I ever made was an ABC book for my first nephew. A is for apple (pictures and images of apples), B is for ball (lots of pictures stickers of balls of every kind) and so on with every letter of the English alphabet.

I really do enjoy playing with a variety of colors, paper, and ribbons, stickers, and other embellishments. Actually, I find it quite relaxing and even therapeutic to work with these materials, so when I heard about "swapping" from one of my newest friends, and saw some examples from her past swaps, I was very excited to learn and do more!

During the week, I keep myself pretty busy as an English teacher, but due to my physical limitations I now serve local students of Sioux Falls, SD as a substitute teacher. I believe in education and language development and enrichment, and want EVERY child to have the right and experience of a free, excellent education. The abilities to read and write are truly gifts and should never be taken for granted! I tutor in the skills of reading, writing, and basic math skills about 10 hrs/week as well. It pleases my heart greatly when parents go the extra mile to provide additional help to their students in the area of language arts.

I am also fluent in American Sign Language. Just last night, I chatted (silently, in ASL) with a former deaf student. I'm not sure what I'll do/how I'll apply my unique knowledge of sign language. In the past, I've taught (to a class of Deaf students, and to hearing students who were learning ASL) interpreted, and consulted.

Finally, but certainly, not of lowest priority in my life, is the fact that I am the primary care-giver to an 11 year old Brittany Spaniel, named Bailey Josephine. For the last five years, I have been learning to accept my personal boundaries dealing with a disability called Cerebellar Ataxia, (atrophy and degeneration of the cerebellum) which makes me tired and in pain quite often. Bailey is is an absolutely wonderful pet and best friend. I can't imagine my life without her love and companionship! She is 12 years old, and I love going to the dog park and watching her play and beg for my lunch! She loves sandwiches and chips!! She's also a huge fan of anything with milk in it---like ice cream!!

My favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy. I just really am drawn to some of the characters. I love Meredith's honesty. She is so transparent yet she keeps herself guarded just enough. I can usually really relate to her. Except I haven't known the pain of having my husband die. She dealt with that loss in some very real ways--just running away from it all is something I'd like to do sometimes too! I alsoo really like Blindspot. The main character is a mystery to everyone---including herself!! Wouldn't it be interesting to be like her. She has figured out her name now--Taylor, but who was, and more importantly, who IS Taylor? Will she help the FBI or was she trained to fight against them?

I really like Enya's music, but when I looked her up on the internet just not it identified her genre as Celtic/New Age. I enjoy her mystical overtones, but the fact that it's considered New Age kind of scares me because I really like Christian worship music like that from the International House of Prayer with singers like Kari Jobe, Misty Edwards, and Nicole Hackett. I also enjoy soft slow instrumental music like harp, piano, or guitar. I went to an orchestra/symphony last year for the first time and I really enjoyed it. I didn't think I would, but violins and cellos make beautiful music I decided

I need a cup of coffee in the morning for sure. And I will admit I like "FooFoo" coffee. (lots of sugar and flavored cream) I'm a yogurt eater--nearly every morning before work. I really enjoy Chobani's Flips yogurt with caramel, white chocolate chips, or almond slices. Mmmm, that's great! I love cheese and will put "extra cheese" in nearly ever casserole I make. Cooking for one is challenging, but I'm getting better at it, and if i have left overs I can always bring it for lunch the next day!! I realy appreciate a good sweet red wine right before I go to bed. If I'm a ;ittle "tipsy" after I have a few drinks--oh well--I'm going to bed anyway!

I am a Scrap Booker! So I love

*Cool stickers (alphabet letters, numbers, and borders too)

*"Teacher"y things (I know many of you don't like teacher things, but since I am a substitute teacher, and a teacher at heart, I LOVE school-designed/teacher-type of things (stickers, paper)

*Thin "Cereal box" cardboard so I can make Homemade Postcards

Colored Duct Tape, or Washi Tape

*Anything about Brittany Spaniels (that's the kind of dog I have. I know there's not a lot of Brittany stuff out there, so I love anything about Britts!)

*Doggie stickers (any kind of doggie)

*Markers (thin Sharpies)

*Lavender; i love the smell!!

*Ameretto flavored coffee cream!

*calendars

*sticky notes

*Flowers (purple ones are my favorites), but NOT plants--I don't really have a green thumb

*Lots of things to do but no energy to do them

*Making "important" phone calls, like to credit companies

*Yellow; there are times when it's a good color but overall, I don't like it.

*Tomato; but I like tomato soup

*snakes (anything like it; salamader-type mammals!)

*high heel shoes: I don't think they're attractive even! I couldn't wear them anyway; I have terrible balance.

"The best teachers are those who SHOW you where to Look but don't tell you what to SEE"

"It's not about being better than someone else; it's about being better than you used to be!!"

"She used a pencil to think, a pen to speak, and a paintbrush to sing" This was in a Swap I just received!!

I love postcards!! I like them naked....but being in an envelope is fine too. I didn't know there were so many cool ones out there! I also really like note-cards and usually keep the front flat piece and use it in my scrapbooking!! I'm not much of a tea drinker, but I still like to receive tea pouches that I can pass on to my partners!