steph's stuff

And we have a winner!

I had my husband randomly choose a number and Reel Girl won! I've sent you an email and you will get the details soon. :)

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This sounds like such a fun class - I will love to be a part of it!

Posted by: Reel Girl | November 30, 2008 at 04:58 PM

A seasonal giveaway

Torm is one of my bestest buds. And she is teaching a really cool class at Get It Scrapped! It's called Souvenirs of the Season and guess what??? I get to give away a free class. :)

 

Here's some info about the class. Oh, and everybody in the class also receives a coupon for 20% off everything at IdeaBooks4U.com through December 31! And you can see the whole course description here.

Sharyn's class runs from Dec 1 - Dec 29 and Sharyn will show you what to gather and how to incorporate your "souvenirs of the season"--from gift cards to wrapping paper, holiday programs, postage stamps, special recipes and more—into your albums. Learn how to connect holiday mementos to the stories of your celebrations and get them onto pages that you’ll treasure now and in the future.

An aspect of Sharyn's scrapbook pages that makes them especially compelling and valuable to her family is the way in which she weaves in details about current culture, society and technology. Join her this December and see how she does this with holiday pages.

In addition to all of the amazing pdfs, you'll also get sketches (I love Sharyn's sketches!!!), a private forum and gallery. Plus, all of this:

• You'll get instructions, sketches, and inspiration that will have you saving and scrapping recipes, music, ticket stubs, programs receipts, wrapping paper, postage stamps and more.
• Revisit the history of various kinds of holiday memorabilia as well as your own personal memories of these. Learn what you can include and how to include it.
• In addition to including memorabilia you can hold, Sharyn will give you ideas for including memories of how you approach the season--from process and routine to ingrained tradition.
• Access to a private class forum where you can chat with Sharyn and the other participants about how you're getting through this holiday season and what "merry memorabilia" you're accumulating.
• Access to a private class gallery where you may post your work for others to see and get inspiration from what others are creating.

So, to enter to win this free class, please just leave me a comment on this entry and I'll choose a winner Sunday night. :)

random tags

LOL! I've been avoiding this one and Tania tagged me! Love ya, Tania!! :)

So, 7 random things about me:

1. Early bedtimes rock - My kids have an early bedtime and my life is so much better because of it. LOL! We learned early on that our kiddos need a lot of sleep and by being strict on bedtimes, we have happier, better adjusted kids. And parents. :) So, the two littles (age 5 and 7) head upstairs at 7:30 pm every night, with lights out between 8 and 8:30 pm. Emily (age 10) heads upstairs at 8 pm and she is allowed to read until about 8:45 pm.
2. Jobs suck - Okay, so this is kind of tongue-in-cheek. But, I am just so extremely grateful that we found a way for me to leave the job earlier this year. I can't remember the last time I was this content and this satisfied with my life. It's been years, I know that. I am happy. And very grateful to my honey every minute of every day for helping me to find a way to be home.
3. I worry a lot - I worry a ton. A TON. My honey rides his bike to work. All year long. As in - he rides in the rain, in the snow, in a blizzard, in any weather you can imagine. On the roads with the cars in that weather. And it kills me every.single.day. I worry from the second he leaves the house until I see his little green button on gmail chat go on on his computer. And then the worry and the panic starts all over again when I know he's on his way home. In the dark. Yes, he has lights on his bike. And on his helmet. But, it doesn't help me stop worrying. I'm afraid sometimes I'm going to die from the worry.
4. I am horrible at laundry - Seriously, I am horrible. I realize that it should be an easy thing. But, it's not for me. I always forget a load in the washer and it sours and then I have to re-wash the whole thing. Or I do it all and then don't have time to fold it and we live out of laundry baskets all week long and all I hear is "Mom, I don't have any socks. Mom, I can't find any clean pants. Mom, where's my chorus shirt?" ARGH. I suck at laundry. Luckily, my husband is the laundry master. He can wash it all, dry it all, and have it folded in one afternoon. All 7 or 8 loads of it. That's our Saturdays basically. Doing laundry. Thank God I found him.
5. I love handbags - Some people love shoes. Some people love coats or sweaters or scrapping supplies. I love purses. I could buy a new purse every single day and still not be satisfied. And I must have a coordinating wallet for each purse. I cannot stand a black wallet in a brown handbag. Can't stand it!!! For most of my adult life, I've stuck with black or brown purses. In varying shades and styles and I've had some cloth summer purses in tan or cream. But my latest adventure is with a red handbag and I'm in love with it!!! I found it at Target and I wish I'd bought the white one, too. Darn it - they're sold out now!!! I can't even find a photo of it online, but this is in the same color family.  
6. My hair is no longer blond - At least, I think that's the case. I've always had blond hair. Until I got pregnant with Em. And then it got this horrible dirty blond color. The minute she was born, I got some highlights put in around my face. And each year, the hairdresser has to put in a few more highlights. Last time she was putting the foil on, I swear the underneath of my hair was dark, dark brown. Whoa. At what point is it time to say that I no longer have blond hair and just stop highlighting it? I've just never seen myself with brown hair and it's going to be really, really weird. What do you think?
7. I am not the fun parent - LOL! This should come as no surprise to those of you who know me. I like schedules, I like routines, and I like to know when things are going to get done. This makes me the rule parent and Tom gets to be the fun parent. But, it's okay. I am the snuggly parent. :)

So, who is left to tag???

How about Janet, Wendy, Kay, Terri, Sue, and whoever else feels like playing along!

hurry, hurry, hurry ...

It seems as though Christmas is right around the corner. Thanksgiving is this week, Black Friday sales flyers are arriving, and just whoa. Suddenly, my insides are in a knot and I'm in a panic about getting everything done for the holidays.

I want to get a Daily December album done before the 1st of December and that means it has to be done this week. Another whoa. Photo above is a page from last year's album and the entire album can be seen on the left.

And, we're doing something totally fun and exciting for Thanksgiving as a birthday present for Tom, so I have to get ready for that, too. Get laundry done, get special clothes ready for 5 people, get camera ready, etc...

Panic. Panic. Panic.

But, I did take time to have fun this weekend with Emily. I took her to see Twilight and whoa. She's turning 11 in about 2 months and she is in full swoon mood over Edward. Full swoon. I do not share her taste. Give me Matt Damon anyday is all I can say.

Oh, and I didn't forget about the giveaway! Karen!!!!!!! Email me through that little link on the left under my photo and I'll get the tag album and some other goodies out in the mail to you. :)

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Favorite part of the holiday. That's an easy one--having all of my family home for several days at the same time. It gets harder and harder to do, but this year everyone will be here for a week!

Posted by: Karen | November 20, 2008 at 02:01 PM

Somebody is having a birthday

Somebody in my house is having a 40th birthday. And it's not me. :)

Happy Birthday, honey! I love you!

 

And don't forget to scroll down and leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. Or if you're on google reader, just go here to leave a comment.

A Daily December giveaway :)

So, you all may remember how much I love the Daily December projects. Last year, I did two of them! An acrylic album a la Ali and a digital album using Jessica's template. I have part of those albums uploaded on the left. I'll add the other photos soon.

This year, I am so excited to start another one! Just can't decide if I want to do digi or paper, though. LOL! But, in the meantime, I have been wanting to show you all some of the Creative Memories projects I have been working on, but they all have to remain private for now. So, I thought of another way to show you.

 

This is a Daily December tag book. It uses the coolest punch of all time - the Creative Memories Tag Maker!!! It is the coolest thing - it even punches the hole at the top of the tag!!! This little book uses all Creative Memory papers and alphabet stickers, as well as some embellishments from Maya Road, 7gypsies, and Making Memories. (All of the non-CM products can be found at ScrapSupply.) But, I wanted you to be able to see the gorgeous papers that I get to work with every day, as well as the tags from the tag maker. Creative Memories just has the best tools ever!

So, here's a peek at the inside tags.

 

 

 

And I'm giving this tag book away. :) All you have to do is leave me a comment and you'll be entered to win it. I'll leave comments open until Saturday and draw a winner Sunday.

***eta: okay, and thank you so much for the compliments, but i'm not really looking for lots of those. LOL! So, how about if you leave a comment about your favorite part of the holiday season, okay? :)

And some ideas for this mini Daily December project:

• a mini journal of the joys of the season - the back of all the tags are blank to give you more room to write
• a mini album - print out wallet size photos and adhere to the back of each tag
• hang on the tree - you can take the tags off the ring and hang them on the tree
• candle decor - tie one around a pillar candle to decorate the candle
• advent - use the first 24 as an advent calendar

Sneak peek

Oooohhhhhh, I finished up my little project for a giveaway tomorrow!!!! Here's a sneak peek. :)

And then there's this....

crowdSPRING, hire Kelly Purkey for your new Community Marketing Manager!

Go Kelly!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

 I saw this list on Elisha's blog and just had to do it. Copy and paste it and bold those things that you have done.

Neat!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ....at school
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

***Giveaway just a day away! Hint: It has something to do with a Daily December project.:)

ready or not ...

 

Winter is here. Although those leaves on my burning bush aren't giving up just yet.

Today was just a beautiful, quiet, peaceful day. Huge fluffy snowflakes drifting down all day long. Almost put me in the mood for Christmas. :)

the duh in dad

We had a very busy weekend - tons of stuff going on, an amazing concert that we attended (photos and post on that very soon), and lots and lots of scrapping assignments finished.

But, honestly, the best part of the weekend came on Saturday morning. Tom and Andrew were wrestling on the living room floor - this is what they do 90% of the time, by the way.

And, as they were wrestling, Andrew was trying to figure out how to spell "Dad." He's learning to read and just totally fascinated by the idea that you can tell how to spell a word even without seeing it. All you have to do is sound it out and you can figure out how to spell it.

So, he's wrestling with Dad and sounding out the word "Dad." And it goes something like this.

"duh." "aaa." "duh."

"duh." "aaa." "duh."

"du-aa-dd."

"d-a-d."

"I got it! D.A.D. spells "Dad"! And we all woohooed right along with him!

And then he turns around to me and says, "Hey Mommy! There's a "duh" in Dad!"

As I hysterically laughed myself almost right off the couch, I couldn't help but reply, "Yes, honey, you are so right. There's a duh in your Daddy!"