nature gives to every season.

My first post for Crafting Family! I used My Mind's Eye Lush flocked papers, which are gorgeous. You can buy them here.

I also used {Ippity} A Moment in Time, Unity August 2010 kit AllYouNeed, & Papertrey Ink faux ribbon stamps. The tulip is cut from Walk in my Garden.

One for the Money [review].

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I started reading the Plum series by Janet Evanovich years ago & stopped around book 12 because that was the extent of what was published at the time. I lost interest waiting for the next book to be released.


When I saw the previews for One for the Money, I immediately wanted to see it. I also immediately started re-reading the series. I just started Lean Mean Thirteen.


I was nervous about the casting for this movie. I didn't mind Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum, although I found her in and out Jersey accent to be annoying & distracting. She described having a Jersey accent as "nervewracking." What bothered me most was that neither Ranger, nor Morelli, seemed right. There was no chemistry between Plum & either men. It was awkward. Neither of the men were as I had pictured them from reading the books. Ranger wasn't as buff & smokin' hot & Morelli wasn't as lean & Italian. Italian for Heaven's sake. & he had blue eyes in the movie! I also felt Ranger seemed too young. He was Special Forces & two months older than Stephanie in the book. He looks like a baby in the movie. But I do think they dressed him accurately.

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I was also annoyed that there seemed to be so many parts of the book removed. It felt choppy to me. There were also many things that were so different from the book, which is to be expected to some extent, but they bothered me. Like how Morelli had a red Jeep. Not a blue Explorer. Like how Morelli is Italin & had dark hair & dark eyes. Not blue eyes. In the book, Lula is brutally raped & nearly murdered & left on Stephanie's fire escape outside of her bedroom window. In the movie, they push her out of a truck in front of Stephanie's apartment & the truck speeds away. In fact, she doesn't even have a fire escape in the movie. Benito also stalks Stephanie throughout the book. You're afraid of him. He's a really scary guy. In the movie, there is none of that. He calls her once.

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When the movie was over, I was disappointed. Maybe I set myself up for it because I was so, so psyched to see the movie. I love the books so much. They are hilarious. Literally laugh out loud while you read them. Compared to the book series, the movie came up short.

Get Hippity with {Ippity}!: guest designer.

Today I am guest designing at Get Hippity with {Ippity}! This was for sketch challenge #20 using new stamp set Let your Heart take Flight. 

I originally created a card with this sketch but I hated it. I don't know if it was the stamps or the sketch or the combination of the two, but this was a challenge for me. So I trashed the card and started over and I'm much happier with this result. :)

Flaunt Your Cause [link up].

My cause is obviously Love of Labs.

I found them when we decided to become a foster home & then ended up adopting our first foster, Bentley. I do home visits for potential adopters, we still foster, & we help with fundraising.

April 2012

Their mission statement:
Love of Lab's (LOLIN, INC) mission is to reduce the euthanasia rate of Labrador Retrievers and Labrador mixes throughout animal shelters/animal controls in the Midwest (ESPECIALLY INDIANA). LOLIN will accomplish this goal by spaying and neutering dogs we rescue from shelters and educating the public regarding adoption, heartworm prevention, sterilization for all pets, and responsible ownership. LOLIN, INC. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3, IRS deemed Public Charity, and your donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the IRS. Love of Lab's obtains our operational funds through adoption fees, donations, and various fundraisers ONLY.

I know there are precious animals in shelters all over. Labs are special to me. I grew up with a Lab, Austin, & after we had to be put to sleep, we got Hunter. A few months later we found Ally at a shelter. Hunter & Ally live with my mom. I am obviously biased but I think Labs are the best dogs. The first few years are rough because they have so much puppy energy in them & they love to chew, but they are sweet & smart & they're so darn cute!

Love of Labs was started in 2005 & is mostly volunteers. Volunteers drive to shelters & pick up animals. Transport the animals to foster homes or to be boarded until a foster home is available. Volunteers do the home visits & work with the applicant's to find a good match. Volunteers foster the dogs. Sometimes the dogs are transported from other states; Bentley came from Alabama! Before this, we had no idea that teams of people who didn't know each other & had never met, would get together to plan a transport to save dogs. It's amazing to think about.

Some of the available Labs right now.

what I'm loving Wednesday.

Linking up...
+ Summer weather is finally here!
+ Which means I sat outside in the sun today for a couple of hours & got some sun on my face.
+ I also finished the 12th book &
+ We're getting ready to watch this:

Also,
+ I'm getting a new blog design from this girl.
+ I got some Lush to play with for Crafting Family & it's gorgeous stuff!
+ I started using this stuff last week & I think I can see a difference already.
+ A sneak peek for a project that will be posted Sunday:

Crafting Family giveaway!

Yayyyy! Crafting Family has hit a milestone today....200 LIKES on Facebook! Woohoo!

This is cause for celebration! I'd say a giveaway is in order! 

 Christina is going to pick four random winners from our list of 200 fans this Friday, May 18, 2012! 

The giveaway for each winner is one of our 4 My Mind's Eye Lush kits! (Turquoise, Fuchsia, Orange & Navy)

Post a comment to Crafting Family's Facebook status or wall telling us which is your favorite color. I have them all here & we they are ALL gorgeous but pink is still my favorite color :)

in honor of nurse's week... [conversations with offenders round 1]

I thought I would share a few conversations I've had with offenders over the past few months.

Offender: Do you think if I asked the Dr he would prescribe me some Ashley?
Me: No.
Offender: Why? Every time I see you I feel better! I bet you could cure cancer!

 Overheard officer1 say to officer2: Watch out for Ashley. She's a firecracker tonight!

 Me, to the offender with Boxer's fractures in both hands: Hmm... who taught you to fight?
Offender: Nobody.
Me: Obviously!

 Me: I need to see your ID.
Offender1: I told you my name. I wouldn't lie.
Me: Yes you would. You're a prisoner.
Offender2: Ugh. We can't be trusted because we're prisoners. *rolls eyes*
Me: Well at least I didn't say it's because you're black.

Offender, singing: They see me rollin,' they hatin,' tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty-
Me: Pretty sure they did catch you "ridin' dirty." That's why you're here.
Offender, frowning: Yeah. True.

Offender, talking about how he gets released soon: I'm really gonna miss you, Ash. I'm gonna think of you every time I see a squirrel.
Me: A squirrel?! 
Offender: Yeah. Because you always wear a ponytail & it reminds me of a squirrel's tail.

vacation 2005.

Going back in time for a trip to Chicago back in 2005 with my mom for my 21st birthday. Used the Color Me Scrappy color scheme:

I used some of SC fountain square, as well as Papertrey Ink faux ribbon & Unity stamps set time for travel.

it's nurse's week!

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announcing...

Crafting Family  announced their design team:

-Ashley Hamm <----- ME!
- Kimberly Fordyce
- Jessie Mitchell
- Kimberly Stokes-Jara
- Silvia Carazo Bolaños

Our returning members:

- Tiffany Ballard Call
- Laura Carazo

Pacers.

For the NSD challenge Go Graphic at Studio Calico & the sketch challenge there as well. I used SC boardwalk, Unity "throughout all generations" & Unity "A Love Beyond Measure."

Cowboys Stadium.

Using this sketch from Page Maps but I turned it into a two pager. Not something I do very often but I knew I couldn't fit all this onto one page. These photos are from our trip to Dallas back in November.

I used {Ippity} here and now & included the stadium map from our brochure from the tour. I used Cricut accent essentials for the journal spot & the scalloped border. That's probably my favorite cartridge to use.

April running stats.

Total Distance:	6.63 miles
Total Time:	1:10:05 min
Run Distance:	6.63 miles
Run Time:	1:10:05 min

Stitch Fix review #1.

I read about Stitch Fix & it sounded like a fun thing to do. Basically you pay $20 for them to style you. You fill out a survey about your sizes & colors you like to wear & different styles that you like or want to try. They charge you $20 & ship you five items. 

I read this part:
We work with the best up-and-coming labels and brands -- the kind featured in magazines and on stylish celebs-- but our average price point is an accessible $75. We'll even try to keep the prices of items in your Fix close to what you're used to spending (no promises that it'll be exactly the price you want...we want to add some adventure!!) But, if you are into $30 accessories, and $100 dresses, we’ve got you covered. Are $100 tops and $200 necklaces more your style? We do that, too! 
but I guess I didn't think it would truly be THAT expensive. 

Imagine my surprise yesterday when my package arrived & the total was $248! For three shirts, a cardigan, & a ring. Of course the $20 applies to your purchase & if you buy all 5 items you get a 25% discount so the total was $166.

I tried everything on & they sent some cute stuff. [Except the ring. It's ugly & too big. The cardigan is too small.] Not really my normal style but cute stuff anyway. The only thing I would've considered keeping if it was in my price range was the navy tank. The detail on the back is pretty.

So needless to say, it was a fail.  I may try it again some time but I wasn't in love with any of these items. Here is a referral link if you want to try it for yourself: referral link

between the drinks & subtle things.

For a challenge at Tally Scrapper to use the song "we are young" & to use a black & white picture, which I failed on that part.

I used my Cricut accent essentials & home accent cartridges. I also used some of Studio Calico metropolitan, Unity Dec 2010  kit of the month, a moment in time by {ippity}, & Papertrey Ink simple valentine.