Toot, layout and weekend!

Hi everyone! (sometimes I wonder who will ever read this... I just don't have time to promote my blog a little bit more).

Anyway, here I am again with a few layouts, I did more so if you want to see all of my layouts check my gallery.

So here are a few of my layouts, for the credits check my gallery:

(uhm.... this is or rather was me...)

This last layout was made with Melissa Bennett's new kit Autumn Mist. It's available at the Digishoppe and you should really check her store out... she has amazing stuff! (So ok, I may be a little biased because I am on her CT but I really do love working with her designs!).

You know what I am really excited about? Next week on Monday I am going to meet one of my best friends from elementary school! We were 12 when we were 'split up' because we were going to different highschools and I don't think I have seen her ever since. In Holland we have this website called Schoolbank. You can put down info about yourself and add the info to the schools you have attended. Everything is narrowed down by year and that's how I found Ilona, or rather she found me! Of course we used to live in the same neighbourhood when we were young but guess what... she's living about a mile away from me now! She has two boys, just like me... she has a bachelor in Communications, just like me! She works for the local government and I design and coordinate training for the local governments in Holland... It's all such a coincidence! I am so curious how Monday will turn out... I am all excited!

And then there is more: LOOK AT THIS:

Petra is such a sweetie to put this on her blog for me! Of course it's up to me to decide who I am paying this foward to... and I do have a few favorite blogs, apart from Petra's of course! I have many favs but here are 2:

Ellens Blog... ok she's not so active as a blogger anymore b/c she has lots of other things to do... but her blog is a little special to me! Perhaps I can talk her into a little post every now and then, lol.

Sunflower blog.... I don't know if she's a new designer but I just recently discovered her stuff and her blog and I love both!! So the 'I love your blog is for you too!

There's one more blog I loved by a girl named Karen and she posted on DST also... She had amazing photos on her blog.... Sorry but I have lost the url so I cannot show you!

That's all for today!! I am off work and at the hairdresser's tomorrow and shopping too!! Have a great weekend!

Hi,

I just wanted to share my bookshelf with you... I read most of the titles in Dutch and I couldn't find my Shopaholics favorites but still, here's a selection



Have a great day!
Karen

Pssst... my blog rocks!

Pssst, are you there? I am at the office but just had to share this rockin' news with you! Petra has something on her blog. She's passing on this to me:

Can you believe this? Me, the rocking blog award?
I just warned myself that I have been neglecting you all lately, that I have been neglecting sharing my stories and layouts... I promise to do better in the near future, just this week I have such a busy schedule... tonight going out for dinner with a friend, Wednesday to the hospital with our oldest son and at night we have a friend over for dinner. Thursday I reserved for the Stand up and Scrap Contest! Friday is just another working day and Saturday my youngest has a party of his little friend Christian. Sunday we'll go to our friend's house (yet another one) and visit the Haar Castle and have dinner at their place... hmmm... I hope my blog fits in!

Have a nice week!
Karen

Not a lot of news...

Hi... sorry I have been so lazy to post on my blog lately... I have done some layouts... I have been working... I have been busy with my family and all that but there's no excuse, I hope to get more time as nights get longer!

After some breaks I am back to work, the summer is finally over and one of the boys is back in school (daycare never stops for the other one, lol). My youngest does not like daycare at the moment. At the age of 2 he had his own group of little friends, 2 boys and 2 girls and he was the youngest. The two girls had turned 4 before the summer but one was staying in daycare until school started again, that was last week. The other boy will turn 4 at the end of the year but next month his parents are taking him on a long trip to Australia! So no more friends and every morning when he wakes up - even still in his bed - he asks me if he has to go to 'school'. 3 days a week the answer is YES, just because I have to work, pay the bills and he did like being on a trip? Those things have to be worked for you know? He cries... But the silly thing is that I get ALL stressed out and when he's at daycare he totally forgets about everything he cried for in the morning and starts playing with other kids... Leaving me alone with my guilt and mixed feelings.... Oh well... just 5 more months and he'll be in the 'real' school too!

Oh and yesterday I had a super night... we went to a restaurant called TOF in Gouda and we had a great meal. It was sort of farewell dinner (just the 2 of us) because my friend Petrina is moving to Aruba... finally!

Karen

boys on film... fabeltjeskrant

You might nog understand the word Fabeltjeskrant but it is a children's programme (or used to be) when I was young.... and it has a revival now so the dolls are for sale and my boys are enjoying the songs:

Hi! We're back from our break... in fact we have been back since last Friday but I was still in the mood to be away from the computer... Today I worked again and put the pics on the computer. Here are some!

We stayed in one of the northern provinces of Holland, I always love being there, it feels more relaxed than in the busy western part (where we live). They boys had a great time, also because the grandparents were on the campsite, near our chalet. We had bicycles for 2 days and visited the Boomkroonpad. It is an artificial path on the same height as the top of the trees.... very exciting for kids! On the park there was lots to do for the kids, Koos Konijn was the mascotte and did a dance every morning at 10.00 am and after that it was arts & crafts time. In the evening Koos was there again for the minidisco. The morning we had to leave we hear sobbing from the room next to ours, Mauro was sobbing because he didn't want to leave... poor kid!

I also did these layouts from our vacation:

Did you notice the kit I used??? I already got some parts of the kit because I am on Royanna's CT and let me tell you, it's SO WORTH IT... so download it in September from Divine Digital!!

Here's the sneak peak:

You can read more about this Daily Download here

I have 2 weeks off this week, tomorrow and Friday... I was hoping to get a haircut but my hairstylist seems to be quite popular because there's no time for me.... I just called too late, oh well... perhaps another time and it leave me with more time organizing ACDsee or doing layouts.... and perhaps cleaning the house...lol!

Let me know what you think about this kit and the layouts!!

Karen

Bye bye!!

Hi all!

Yes yes yes!! Petra is off to Mallorca and tomorrow we're off to the north of Holland, Drenthe to be exact.... Ok so not exactly the sunny spot you'd love to be at on a vacation but we already had Greece in June so we're not complaining... hopefully the weather will be OK here.... So we're out of town for a week... then it's just another week until school starts again!

So about two weeks ago we went to the Zoo. I have plenty of animal pics but thought I'd scrap my boys first... The Polar bear b/c I scrapped Mauro 2 years ago with a pic on the same Polar bear... and the horses b/c they were more popular than the REAL animals (at least with Mauro).

This one is for Sherry Ferguson, I am on her CT....

Credits can be found at DST

This one is for Royanna Fritschmann (on her CT too)....

Credits at DST

Did I tell you we will be going to Prague for our 10 year anniversary in December? I booked this great hotel near the Old Town Square.... it's called the Three Drums... at least I hope it's great (could still cancel it, lol)....

Bye have a great week!

Karen

Wow... this looks like something I would like to have! It's called CyberClean and for about $5 it cleans your keypad over and over! I saw it in a magazine and looked it up on the internet... It looks like something we had as a toy when we were little kids. It was called Slimy!

Not much news for now as the kids are at home... One is watching Pokémon (he's 5) and the other one is bugging me... he wants to play a game on the laptop :)

Hae a great day!

Karen

Hello everyone!!

I was just giving someone tourist advice because she is going to NY next weekend... I sooooo would love to give her a shopping list...lol! GAP Kids... some nice sneakers.... coffee from Starbucks...hmmm I really need to find an excuse to go...lol! See one of the musicals 'for real' (Dutch translations suck.... how can I listen to Dutch lyrics when I usually hear the songs on the radio or cd in English... it's just NOT it!).

Just finished this layout for Sherry Ferguson. She's a great designer at OAKS and now that DST is down most of the time you have time to check her out :)

She just released this funky paperpack I am in love with, just click on the picture to grab it:

I mad this layout with these papers and the stars are also Sherry's (hurry, now on sale for only 1 buck!!)

Then I got this today:

The picture is clickable to get it... So how did I get this? A while ago I bought all of Micheline's PSP Scripts, she offered such a good deal that I really could not refuse. So I PM-ed her and asked her if she would sell me the scripts and she did. Today she PM-ed me a coupon to get her latest script also, isn't that sweet?? I mean, she didn't have to do that and she did!

I can't wait to use the script, it says there's a description included... I'll show you when I get something done.

OK Thursday tomorrow. Andy is going to visit his parents who are back from their trip to Germany, they always go to the same campsite on the Rhine near Koblenz.... Perhaps Lorelei is more famous. Grandma offered the youngest to stay over with them for 1 or 2 nights but it seems as the oldest is going ('so I don't have to go to the daycare, mom... )... We'll see who comes back with dad tomorrow... you'll never know! Luckily they fit the same size of clothes, well almost so they can decide until the very last moment...

Going for a nice cuppa now and then off to bed... Have a good day/night!!

Karen

PS... I am a real WANNABE for Micheline's guest CT:

New layout, lifts with a twist.... new blog layout

My blog has been a mess the past weeks... Last night I tried to redo it with the help of Petra's blogger code and it's 99% better.... Just my CT's are still at the bottom but I will try to fix that later....

Weekend now.... This morning we went to IKEA for the $1 breakfast and the intention of buying a small desk for Mauro. We now know what we want but haven't got it yet... we were too much in doubt about the right size. Perhaps we'll get it tomorrow as they are also open on Sunday this week. We have also looked for large closets to divide the attic. It means more space and we don't have to build a wall. It is also more flexible, if we want a large room later on we can remove the closets.... It's a bit more expensive but I think it's the better choice! After breakfast the boys went to the ballpit and we did our round in IKEA.... that works great.

Tonight I did the Lift with a Twist, here's my layout:

Credits can be found here

No more news for today.... the kids will sleep over at their grandparents tomorrow night because I have some things to do for myself... can't tell you what... some people might be reading along, lol! The weather is going to be great so enjoy it!!

Karen

Prague, Paris, Prize and a bit of a cold...

Yes,

I am having a bit of a cold... nothing serious, it just feels a bit numb inside of my head... I think I'll just turn in early... oh well... I have some European capitals to share with you....

Prague!

Yes, yes, yes!! In December dh and I will celebrate our 10 year anniversary!! We try to get a weekend-with-no-kids once a year, usually financed as a birthdaypresent for both of us (we're 8 days apart so we usually celebrate it together) from my parents.

So where to go?? Last year it was Paris (more of that later in this post). We also did New York, Glasgow, Barcelona, London, Vienna...and we each have been to Rome. On our wishlist (or rather, mine :)).... Madrid, Budapest, Prague, Stockholm....

In Europe we're now dealing with Low-budget flight companies... a good thing for us. Companies like Ryanair and Easyjet make it easy to go to the rest of Europe, sometimes you only pay taxes! But you have to be flexible, the hours the flights are, are most times not very convenient hours for a short trip... you want to make the most of your days right??

Today I found my dreamflight and booked it!!! We're going to Prague with SkyEurope! Now I have to find the best deal for a hotel so if you have any suggestions, please let me know!!

It's not until December, but I like that time of the year... just before Christmas is a good time because we both love shopping!

Paris

So last year it was Paris. I am Royanna Fritschmann's CT and got this Tour d'Eiffel kit (it's for sale at My Digital Muse) from her and made this layout:

Credits can be found here

Grunge didn't fit with these photos so I made it a bit different... I like how it turned out.

Prize!!!

A couple of weeks ago Petra had her first blogversary, do you all remember?? I won a WW prize!! I totally forgot about the prize until she asked me if WW already contacted me. Oops! No I hadn't heard from them. Yesterday I got mail from Gina from Weeds and Wildflowers and I was BLOWN AWAY!! Because they'd been too busy to send out the mail to me I now get a GiftCertificate of .... $20.... WOW!! I didn't expect this and think WW rocks so I am really really happy with this!

You see... I already got to the point that I am browsing their shoppe and thinking of what to get... These are my favorites!

Have a great day!!

Karen

DST is one... so I dedicate this post to scrapbooking!

Happy birthday DST!

Ooh yes!! Today is DST's first birthday... I discovered it this morning and I am going to take a look again after I finished my blogpost... So let's dedicate this to digital scrapbooking and show you some layouts.

A new thing

But first I show you something handy....

Try this link: http://karenkool.favorietje.nl/

I know some of us have had their own favs page for a long time but I didn't think I needed it... Now I am messing around with my favorites because I have so many... so I decided to put all my scrapbook favorites in one page with one link... What do you think... would you use this? Of course more links have to be added (want to be on my site... let me know), but it's a start! I hope it will turn out as useful as I hope it will be!

On to my layouts

Lets start with the last one, I did this one for Nancy Comelabs challenge, read about it on her blog:
It turned out like this... what do you think?? All pictures were taken last Saturday when we went to Belgium for a weekend break. We promised the boys to go to Plopsaland. It is a themepark with TV characters and the boys love to go there. It's a 2,5 hour drive (which is quite a distance for us Dutchies), so we usually go there once a year. This year we bought an annual pass so we can go more often. This weekend we were there 2 days, overnight we stayed at the Novotel. The downsite of this trip... ?? Our 3,5 year old thought he could discover the park on his own and we lost him not once but TWICE!!

I always thought my boys wouldn't run of, until now they always stayed with us. Luckily I had put my phonenumer on his arm with a pen and was called within 5 mins. that someone had found him and he was with 'Lost Parents" (your read it right... LOST parents, lol... it's all about the kids right?)....

Next are some layouts with pics from Greece:

A portrait I made of the little runaway boy:

And two portraits of my boys made by a photographer at the daycare center:

And Mauro's 5th birthday (one at home and one at school)

And the last one, my boy took pictures with his FP camera:

All credits can be found here in my gallery at DST

All for now... I have a day off tomorrow and my boy needs a haircut first and then we're probably off to the Zoo, I have free tickets! So I will probably come back with lots of pictures... again!!

Have a nice day....

Karen

Make-over and more...

Hi all!

Sorry it has been a while but work has been hectic. I think and hope I have solved most of the issues there and everything and everyone is on track now. We're designing a new class or course as we say and it is a lot of work. But we're getting there!

Last month, just after I got back from Greece we had graduation of our students. I work at a school for people who work for local governments and the image of these people is often not so good. They are seen as dull, boring and not very hard workers. Since we know all these organisations inside and out we know the opposite is true. We worked with the stereotype at the graduation and offered free make-overs. Of course I am not a graduate but well... the make-overs were free for everyone! So first I went to the make-up artist and then... the hairdresser. Let me tell you my colleagues were looking at the with their hands over their mouth, it looked like they were in shock but I had fun (of course I didn't loose all of my hear, lol!):

Ok, this was almost a month ago but I just got the photo today... Now on to some photos of my little boys!

Pictures were taken bij Natascha Hogervorst (NH Delooks) and were taken at Daycare.

Aren't they cute? I mean, the boys are cute, they are mine... but the little vehicles!! Love the motorbike... I will never ride one but in the far forgetten past I was on the backseat of a motorbike driving through Switzerland and I will always rembember these times when a see bikes.... Lol... that was 18 years ago....!

No layouts for today... I have made some but I will post them later this week!!

CT Call for Ilona Havenaar

Not much time to write a blogpost but I think you should know this:

layouts, layouts, layouts....

Yes... I owe you some layouts I know...

I have only been at work again for 1 week (I had to think about how long it was... seems a lot longer) but I feel hectic again... do you know that feeling? This weekend was fun and since Thursday afternoon we had only 1 boy or none at all.. First 1 stayed with their grandparents, then both and now again the other one.... Mauro had the Friday off school so he was able to visit his grandparents. Grandpa celebrated his 64th birthday on Saturday so he was able to party! We arrived during the day, had some coffee and cake and left the other boy there too...

In the evening we headed for the town of Weesp, it's a small town near Amsterdam where our friends Don and Ellen live. This town has a gorgeous town hall



I have been inside the town hall for work before... but only now realized how beautiful it is.

The party was fun but we didn't know many people, the music was good though and they had two singers, mainly Dutch music. We didn't get home too late and were able to sleep in this morning because there were no kids to wake us up... :)

In the afternoon we headed for the village of Cothen again... in this month famous for the cherries. June is the cherry month and now we're in July is count down to the last cherries of the season. What is fun is that they are sold straight from the orchards. Look at these photos to get an impression:





They are delicious!!

Now on to the layouts I promised you:



Credits can be found here


Credits can be found here


Credits can be found here



Credits can be found here



Credits can be found here

That's it for today... don't forget to check Petra's blog and her 1st blogversay!!

Hallo hallo...

I am scrapping away, I will post the results soon! Remember Petra's Blog Party this weekend... a little birdie told me she's giving away some great prizes!

Today I found the meaning of my birthday... I think it comes close :)

Your Birthdate: April 29

You have the mind of an artist, even if you haven't developed the talent yet. Expressive and aware, you enjoy finding new ways to share your feelings. You often feel like you don't fit in - especially in traditional environments. You have big dreams. The problem is putting those dreams into action. Your strength: Your vivid imagination Your weakness: Fear of failure Your power color: Coral Your power symbol: Oval Your power month: November

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Greek night at the Sidari Village Hotel.

DSC03346
Originally uploaded by Karen Kool.

Sidari Beach Sunset

DSC03383
Originally uploaded by Karen Kool.

The boat to visit the caves.

DSC03428
Originally uploaded by Karen Kool.

Paleokastritsa Beach

DSC03423
Originally uploaded by Karen Kool.

We drove to this village by car and took a small boat to see the caves.

DSC03259

DSC03259
Originally uploaded by Karen Kool.

Corfu!