sugar buggy

Yes, it's true - I am 30.

2008-02-19T20:32:00.000-08:00

Today was the big day, I turned 30. I don't feel any different or older, I think I've probably been 30 for the past 6-8 years. By which I mean, in my pajamas every night by as early as 8:00pm - even on a Friday & Saturday night. It doesn't bother me. Maybe that's 30, maybe for some it's not. I could still be out there living it up - staying out til 2am, waking up with a hang over.

But it's just not me, in fact it never was, not even when I did party. Here are a few pics of me - livin' it up as a 30 year old.

Shaylynne posing for the camera, not exactly sure what this pose is, but she is sure to make it on Canada's Next Top Model some day - and no, she's not handicapped.

Teko looking like the sweet and dear little thing he so is not!!! But I love him anyway, soo cute!

It's hard to get a picture of Tinkerbell, she's like a sasquatch. As soon as she sees the camera she makes a run for the hills. Or in this case probably the coach.

Here's Steph trying to get a hold on her so we can capture her on film, but as you can see it was a struggle.

Buggy (Cleo) has issues with Tinkerbell that she just will not resolve, so she's become a permanent fixture on the back of the coach.

So all in all it was a great birthday, I spent most of the evening running around the furniture with Shaylynne chasing the dogs. So, I doubt I'll ever know what 30 feels like - because honestly sometimes I still feel like I'm 8, or 13, or 16, just ask my husband he'll tell you.

I hope the next 30 years on this earth are as good to me as the first 30 have been.

Baby Amelia or Shrek Baby?

2008-02-04T21:14:00.000-08:00

So I had a wonderful weekend with all my sisters, helpfully planning Elise's wedding. Marie even made it out from Calgary with my new niece baby Amelia, who I feel was the inspiration for the Shrek babies. No joke, this kid is it. I'm not trying to be insulting either. I loved those little Shrek babies!

And I love little Amelia, she is sooo cute!

Amelia, hands down cutiest baby ever (along with Jacob & Shaylynne of course).

n

Grandma Moves In

2008-01-28T20:44:00.000-08:00

I have been fortunate enough to inherit some of my Grandmother's belongings. This is her maple desk, I am so honoured to have it in my house, when I smell it, it reminds me of her. A top it is one of her many pieces of milk glass, the vase and tiny flower bouquet were also hers. Welcome home grandma, I'm so glad your here, and think of you and smile every time I look at it. (This is some of the first real, thought out interior decorating I have done in my house so I'm pretty proud.) The portrait of San Francisco isn't going to take up permanent residence there, I have some fabulous Royal Albert & Spode (Billingsley Rose), plates to hang above it. But I need those silly holders.

I have also inherited this tiled coffee table, I had wanted this for years.

Well I was just so proud I had decorated some small corner of my house I figured I had better brag. I hope to do alot of interior decorating this year. Since Kevin says we can't sell the house :(

n

So Hot For You - XOXOXO (Desktop)

2008-01-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about Valentine's Day but I find it very easy to come up with artwork. Here's my latest - "So Hot For You", all fiery red and hot pink. You can get it here at nbdesign.ca.

Enjoy,
n

Nicole Billingsley's - New Blog Header

2008-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Hello! Yes, it's been a while as always. But I've been busily working away. I hope to do lots of new design stuff this year!

The first is this new blog header, it came originally from the photo above. I'm pretty proud of the clean up job I did. I mean it was a photo taken with photo booth for crying out loud. I've blurred the background - cause no one needs to see my laundry!

What's with the windmills? I'd like to promote "being as green" as possible in our province, and I think everyone should do as much as they can.

n

A Christmas ornament so sweet and dear?

2007-12-17T20:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a christmas ornament that's just sure to please.
One of Santa's little reindeer tied to the hood of these two little A'holes truck. Oh, and it's animated & musical too, thank you Walmart!

Have a happy redneck christmas!

n

The Perfect Gift - (batteries not included?)

2007-12-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

So, I keep seeing this commercial for The Bay department store, all about buying the perfect gift this year. I just makes me want to hurl something at the TV. I boo and hiss every time I see it, (you can ask Kevin), because of course that's what Christmas has come to, finding the perfect gift - of course.

Forget spending time with family and enjoying each others company - oh, yah, and the whole "Jesus's Birthday" thing. Christmas has always been about finding the perfect gift.

Well look know further folks, Walmart has it - it's the "Talking Chimp Head"!

Your welcome,

n

Nothing says Christmas like a pickle!

2007-12-10T20:44:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, yes it's been too long again, but sorry I have a life. (Well sort of). Anyway I thought I'd post some great holiday gift ideas and decor items I found in some local flyers.

The Christmas Pickle! Why not start a new holiday tradition this year with a pickle. Apparently it's a long standing tradition that I knew nothing about! Find out what the pickle tradition is all about!

Nothing says Christmas like a pickle, (and nothings funnier either),

Cheers,

n

PS: More Christmas BS coming this week I promise - stay tuned!

Fugly Unoriginal Jersey

2007-08-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

So the new Canucks Jersey was unveiled today. I wish I was the one being paid the big bucks to come up with this masterpiece. I mean I wonder how long it took?

I mean, I don't know a thing about hockey, or even care for that matter. But when I see some fugly ass design, I'll be the first to judge. Two WELL KNOWN Canuck logos, plus the city name - why? ...SERIOUSLY???

My advice - if you have these two jerseys already you can save yourself the $150 and cut and paste the new one together.

Designing fresh new ideas/logos must really be tough for some these days.

All I have to say is... REALLY???

n

ColourLovers

2007-08-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

Ok so I've had my fun with Color Schemer Gallery, and I've finally signed up for Colourlovers.com after admiring it for almost a year. It's a great place to get colour schemes from.

This palette of mine "Shagadelic Groove" is making it's way to the top of the charts, it's currently #23 out of 115,291. I love this stuff! It's also a great place to connect with other people who love colour and/or are designers, artist, etc.

n

New Desktop - Butterflies

2007-08-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

So I've gone back to my roots on this one. Butterflies. The one insect I couldn't get enough of in my younger years. Some girls liked horses, some puppies. My thing was butterflies. And people would get me things with butterflies or point out things with butterflies on them all the time.

I haven't done anything major with butterflies because I got sick of it. But these colours inspired me to bring out my love for butterflies again.

Enjoy,

n

I'm back!...From Ireland

2007-07-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

The stash at work. I bring candy to the people!

So everything has come to a grinding hault again, but I have a good excuse.

I've been away, on vacation, in Ireland to be exact. Here are some pics of my favorite things from my trip, - candy!

In my 2 weeks spent there I would have to say it's a country that runs on these three things:

1. Booze (Guinness to be exact)
2. Cigarettes
3. CANDY (Marks & Spencer, - my fav)

Ireland and I got along great except for a few things,
- The weather, it wasn't sunny and warm but very reminiscent of home. Cold & wet.
- The snails pace at which it takes to get some where, Port Mann bridge as nothing on Dublin traffic.

All in all it was a great trip, I saw alot, and walked so much I thought I my legs would fall off at times. More to come, soon...

n

Oak Stables Assets

2007-06-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

New site up and really for viewing. I had so much fun designing this one & the logo! Lots of fun colours to work with! Check out Oak Stables Assets.

n

NBDesign.ca makes "The Daily Slurp"!

2007-06-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, my website was chosen to be added to some of the most beautiful websites in the world.

The Daily Slurp dishes up some of the most graphically beautiful websites around. Mine made the cut yesterday and I didn't even know it. Linda was so kind to inform me when she noticed today. I couldn't be happier.

n

Color Schemer

2007-06-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

So right now I'm addicted to adding pretty colour palettes to color schemer's gallery. This is a great little app. that I use all the time at work. It's come in handy a number of times. And I love the mac widget, so much fun. I love watching the number of downloads & votes.

Nerdy, twisted, lame...

Call it what you want but I love it.

n

I'm addicted to apples

2007-06-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

So I've been told by my co-workers I have an addiction to apples. I admit it, I have a problem. I love apples so much that I eat two a day, and sometimes I eat apple chips.
So this desktop is a tribute to my love for apples. And don't worry Lesa I'm starting my 12 step program next week. It will be hard to get through production without the apples. But maybe I'll try grapes or bananas,...kiwi's?

n

Invite

2007-06-05T21:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a cute little invite I whipped up the other day. I love making custom invitations.

So if you ever need one, let me know.

n

New Design & New Desktop

2007-06-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

So I've finally got around to customizing this blog. I know, your thinking..."she thinks she's so cool putting a picture of herself on it. Holy self-centeredness!"

Well, it's a little bit true, I won't lie. If you had only seen the before picture of me and what I had to do to it to make it look good, you'd be amazed. And I could show you but, no way I'm I going to purposely put a horrible picture of myself on the internet. Even if it is to show the wonders of my favourite application - photoshop!

Anyway, here is a new desktop. No roses this time.

n

Ample Bosom

2007-05-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

I found this funny ad in a UK magazine. I love the sheep in the backgroud.
Why not give her a call? What exactly is "First Class Post", anyway?

Too funny.

n

Molly Shannon on SNL

2007-05-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

I thought this one was the funniest one from her show.

n

New Desktop - Bruce Rose

2007-05-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, so did I mention I love roses.

This latest one is inspired by some vintage clip, and Cath Kidston fabrics. I love them. I wish I was going to England this summer so I could visit this shop.

You can get this desktop from my website.

Enjoy,

n

New Desktops

2007-03-03T17:46:00.000-08:00

It's been too long again, but oh well - I try.
I've got some new desktops ready for download.

Check it out.
Enjoy,

n

November 11

2006-11-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

I purchased my poppy today in front of the grocery store. The veteran was sitting down in a chair enjoying a banana. As I put my donation in the box he said to me "I'm just having a little break, I'm getting to old to stand up all the time".

I wanted to say "Hey, take all the breaks you need, you desire it, considering all that you did for our country."
I don't know what it is about Remembrance day but it always gets me, I believe we owe everything we have to those men and women who fought.

It made me realize,
as the years go by these veterans get older and older, eventually they will all be gone.

It makes me sad because for most people all Remembrance Day is, - is a holiday to spend shopping. I remember working retail and customers being annoyed that the store hours were shortened on this day. It made me sick, - the stores SHOULDN'T EVEN BE OPEN on this day! PAY SOME RESPECT. MAKE IT MEAN SOMETHING!!

I vow to never shop on this day, I wish others would do the same. I will never lose respect for them. So this desktop is in honor of them.

Download it from my website.

n

Shaylynne

2006-10-30T11:46:00.000-08:00

So, I can't seem to keep up with this posting thing. But who cares no one is reading it anyway.
Here is a cute desktop of shaylynne I made the other day, she's so cute!
So is Jacob, I will make one of him as well. Soon.

n

Halloween 2006

2006-10-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Halloween is probably my favourite holiday, hello - CANDY!

Aside from that, I love scary movies - classic scary movies. The other day I watched Halloween 2 until the channel cut out, right at the moment of some old ladies death. I thought I was going to die, it scared me so bad (loud static). And then it never came back on again, the channel was static for the rest of the evening. Very scary, but pissed me off at the same time.

Anyway, I've made this Halloween desktop and you can get it on my website, sorry this one's only available in 1920 x 1200 (big ass wide screen).

Happy Halloween,

n