Digital Scrapbooking

Ok, I'm going on a Digital Scrapbooking phase. If you're not sure what digital scrapbooking is, it's just like regular scrapbooking (where you cut out paper, glue down stuff, etc ...), only you're 'cutting' paper and 'gluing' stuff using Photo shop.

I still need to figure out how to print them all out, and put them in a book of some kind ... but I'm having fun for the moment.

This is from our October '08 trip to Chicago for my brother's birthday.

Jackpot at the thrift store

In Illinois, one of my favorite things to do is go to the thrift stores.

I've found some great stuff there, from Empire Strikes Back bed sheets, to Victoria Secret PJ bottoms (which I'm wearing right now).

Now, I've had this Chicago Bears hat forever.  I'm assuming I stole it from my brother.  I'm guessing it's from the 80s or early 90s.

When Julie and I hit the thrift stores in early October, I went right to the bed sheet section.  I was hoping to find some retro looking sheets, that I could turn into a skirt or something.

I found his scarf in the bed sheet section.  I saw the orange and blue and I thought, "this could be a cool Bears scarf".

Then I picked it up, flipped it around and notice the patch.  I almost peed my pants.  It's the same stupid Bears patch!!!  

It's a set, and I found it 10+ years later.  I couldn't believe it.  It's a miracle!

YouTube Tuesdays

This song is 100% real.  It is on an Eddie Murphy CD from the '80s.  Well, back in the '80s it was on a tape.

My friend Julie had the tape, and this was our favorite song on it.  This video is not real (some yahoo on You Tube made it), but the song is real - no joke!

Julie actually still has the tape!  We wanted to listen to it at her '80s party, but nobody had a tape player!

Even though the song is called "Boogie in your Butt", it's not a gross or nasty song.  It's just goofy.  Give it a listen!

Bags!

I scheduled our trip to Illinois to coincide with a noon Bears game.  Julie and her family occasionally have rockin' Bears parties that I've heard so much about.

Dennis, Julie's dad, grilled a fantastic roast.  He started at 9am!  Notice Jonathan is wearing jeans and a winter coat, and Dennis is wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  Those crazy Illinois-ians!

I've played bags (or cornhole) before, and I wasn't very good.  I played on a plastic board before.  Mitch (Julie's husband) had a really nice bags set, made of wood.

I realized that I can dominate a bags game!  Julie's brother and I won 3 games in a row.  I even got 3 out of 4 bags in the hole one round.  I was pretty proud of that (until Mitch got 4 of 4 in and shut me up big time).

Notice the 3 orange bags 1/2 way in the hole.  These are beanbags thown from about 30 feet away.  I would say it's impossible to get 3 stuck in the hole like this ... but Julie's brother manage to do it!

The Bean!

I'm a little behind on my vacation blogging.

Jonathan and I were in Chicago on 10/3.  He had never been there before, and I hadn't been back to the city since I moved away.

I was most excited to see "the bean".  I forgot what it's really called.  Cloud something?  

Anyways, it's kind-of a famous landmark, and I'm a total sucker when it comes to cheese ball landmarks!

You can see how cold it was outside (in the 50's!  Gasp!).  The bean was super cool.  I'm typical Amber fashion, we got lost trying to find it.

Totally Radical!

Julie already downloaded some photo from the '80s party!

Here is the entire group taking the traditional YOU MAN photo. It's a family tradition ... long story ...

For some reason we're doing a kick line. From left to right is Jonathan, Julie, me and my broth er Corey. Jean shorts or "jorts" as everybody calls them were very popular.

Here is Julie and her husband Mitch slow dancing - '80s style! Mitch was dressed up a little Bret Michaels and a little Miami Vice.

Balderdash!!! From bottom left: Tom (Julie's brother), Jonathan, me, Jeremy (Julie's other brother), Mitch and my brother Corey. When I was in 2nd grade Julie's family moved in across the street. Julie and I are the same age, and Tom & Corey are the same age. Jeremy is in the middle. They are pretty much my 2nd family. And Corey spends a lot of time with them b/c our parents live so far away.

Totally Tubular!

Last night (until 2am - yes, I stayed up until 2am!) my friend Julie hosted a party for my brother's 27th birthday. It was an '80s party. Unfortunatly Jonathan and I aren't really party animals, so we didn't come prepared with any '80s gear.

Thankfully, I had packed a cheesy '80s looking Kwaj t-shirt to wear. It was a size small. Since Julie let me borrow a polka dot tank top with bows all over it, Jonathan tried on my Kwaj t-shirt. It fit him like a glove ... a really tight glove. So Jonathan's got on the tightest t-shirt ever, and a mullet wig. The wig didn't last 10 minutes b/c he claims it was itchy. Jonathan was pretty sexy with a mullet! All the girls at the party sported side pony tails.

I discovered the wonderful game of Balderdash! It's hilarious. My cheeks were killing me the rest of the night from laughing. It's easy to play, but hard to understand. Basically, the person who's turn it is has a card. He reads a movie title from the card, like FANGS. Then everybody around the table makes up a quick synopsis (sp?) of this movie FANGS. For example: A small town in Nebraska is infested by tree snakes // A NYC Cop is actually a vampire and learns to love again // An unpopular teen turns into a wherwolf and learns to play basketball ...

These 'answers' are all read outloud, and you have to pick the real one. The person who was 'it' has the real answer on the card. Everybody at the table tries to pick the real synopsis of the movie FANGS out of all the fake ones. Again, it's fun to play but hard to explain via blog. I highly, HIGHLY recommend you check it out. It's a great game for about 4-7 people.

Today it's off to the thrift stores!!! Jonathan is really excited - not!

Sweet home ...

... Chicago!

Jonathan and I flew in to Chicago tonight. We landed at 9pm and we arrived at my friend's house at 10:20pm.

We have to wake up tomorrow at 6:45am in order to catch the train to Chicago! Tomorrow my friend who I'm staying with (Julie - check out her blog here) and my brother have to work, so I'm going to show Jonathan around Chicago. Not that I'm a great tour guide, I've only been there a handfull of times myself.

I've never seen that "bean", so I'm pretty excited.

Then we're celebrating my brother's b-day tomorrow night. Julie is throwing him an '80s party!

Good night!

Aquascape

My friend Julie works for Aquascape in Illinois. They are a super sweet company that creates gorgeous back yard ponds (and I'm sure other things I don't know about).


Ironically, even though they are from Illinios, they come down every year for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!

Who wouldn't want this kick butt rock waterfall in their backyard?


This year they did a huge display about saving rain water. Enjoy the photos!

"Hello Aquascapes employees!"

Find of the century!

One thing I discovered about Illinois is the abundance (sp?) of rockin' thift stores! I need to find some in Florida that aren't gross.

Here's the find of the century from a thift store. Total cost for a fitted and flat sheet = $3.

Now I need to buy a twin bed and become a 8 year old boy. (ha ha ha).

P.S. For the non-Star Wars fan, these are from Empire Strikes back.

Slip 'n Slide

Warning: If you're about to use a Slip 'n Slide, make sure you stretch first! We had a party on Sunday night, and Monday morning my upper arms were soooooooooooooo incredibly sore. What a wimp I am!

These photos are myself, my friend Julie and her boyfriend.