Happy Belated Mother's Day

Whew!!

I survived... but just barely! What an eventful week.

Mega Meet was awesome (and expensive if my credit card is telling the truth)... It was fun to be a part of. I got to see some old friends, do some great shopping, and experience the life of retail. I had a great time and I got some fabulous stuff... Look for it to show up here in the next month or two.

The Scrap for A Cure fundraiser came out much better than I had hoped. We had about 20 people there and I believe everyone left with a prize - including me! {I won 2 raffles and 2 auctions. I really wanted that beach bag for the trip next week and I won. AHAHAHA There was no chance I was going to lose it!} I taught two classes: Scrapbook 101 and Using Sketches. Both classes seemed to go over well with the participants so that had me very excited. We had entries for every one of the 5 scrapbook challenges and got to give away some great prizes. Best of all, Tracy was able to raise quite a bit of money towards her 3-Day goals. We have 2 more to do and I am very confident we will be able to get Tracy, her Mom, and my sister to their fundraising goals so they can participate in the 3-Day! Thanks to everyone who donated prizes for the fundraiser. I truly appreciate everything!!Then, Sunday was Mother's Day. My hubby and daughter treated me to yellow tulips, a necklace with earrings, and breakfast at Panera. After church, we hung out, took a nap, and made dinner together. It was relaxing and fun. I wish we could have gone outside to ride Annde's new bike but it was pouring!!! So, we decided to do a Mom's Day redo in June, complete with brunch and the bikes. I can't wait... :) I also bought myself 2 Mother's day gifts: Lisa Bearnson's new book: 50 Moments that Matter Most and some scrapbooking clothes {a shirt that reads "be nice to me or I will crop you out of my pictures" and a sweatshirt that reads "scrapbook queen" on the back"}. The book is sooooo inspiring! I recommend it to all scrapbookers!

Well, so long for now. I must grab some grub cause my tummy is very grumbly!

the Scrapbook Zone, Sandy and Stacy x 2!

Today, I had my first experience with working retail: the Scrapbook Zone at Mega Meet. Here's the booth - right inside Mega Meet's front doors. {That's Kevin, the owner, doing last minute checks.} Since I have no retail experience, I obviously had never run a cash register before. I guess it's a good thing that I am quick learner on anything technical, eh? Luckily, I didn't have to learn too much to get it going and sell, sell, sell!! I had a blast! There were times where we had lines across the floor and others when we were all waiting for a customer. The paper pack, fibers, and the Jolee's seem to fly off the shelves... what a deal... My feet are a little sore (I guess flip flops aren't the best choice!) and my back is a little stiff from bending down to make change. It was definitely a great experience, though. I just love how excited everyone was to be shopping! Tomorrow, I will be too! While the booth was slow, I ran over to registration to pick up my stuff and ran into Stacy Julien. I really wanted to go to her Opening Speech last night but things just didn't work out. Stacy (fellow DT and Prima flower hoarder) did and said it was very inspiring. I would have to agree from what she passed on from Stacy's message. I truly believe that all would be lost and I would lose my mind if I wasn't as organized as I am.... Apparently, Stacy Julien agrees! Kindred spirits, eh?
Here's a picture of us... (Too bad, I didn't grab my program and get her signature, eh?)The other funny thing that happened is that the whole design team ran into each other at the Zone booth!!! Sandy ran into me at the booth first. She got there early and was shopping - I even had her do a little for me!! {Kevin couldn't believe I was sending her off to buy me a Cricut bag when he was willing to give me a discount! Aahahaha... just joking, Kevin! Of course, I will buy it from you!} Then Prima girl (aka Stacy) showed up and the two of them shopped until the slave driver let me go for lunch. I had a blast at lunch - Sandy showed off her organization system (goin' copy that one!!) and Stacy dished the dirt about the classes she took. Then I went back to work and sent them off to scope the stores. They did some shopping and then I snuck away (with Kevin's permission of course!) and did some shopping. It was fabulous fun!! I can't wait to do more with these two ladies this year!
Tomorrow - I will get to be a shopper and then head over to set up for the Breast Cancer crop. No sneak peeks today, ladies... its getting close and there is still a bunch to do. I really hope it all goes well on Saturday. The 3 Day is so important!! Who knows: The money from this year might actually find the cure for Breast cancer and spread on the cure to all other forms.

Off to catch some ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZs....

Team Reach's Logo

A while back, I saw a doodle by Stephanie from Homegrown Hospitality of Romans 5:3-4. It's been adopted as Tracy's Team Reach quote. I've been meaning to do something for Tracy using this verse. I've sketched something a bunch of times but it always ends up looking just like Stephanie's. So, since I really like what I've been working on lately for the crop, I came up with this using the same digital components as the name tags (Sweet Genevieve, Melanie Wellman, and R Farrer). Let me know what you think... Team REACH stands for the 5 words highlighted: Rejoice, Endurance, Attitute, Character, and Hope.

It's goin' to be great!!

So, I got to help Kevin, Amy, Katie, and the team set up today at Mega Meet. I can see how it becomes absolutely overwhelming... aisle after wonderful aisle of nothing but scrapbook stuff. I know I'm going to have to hit at least the Piggy Tales, Cricut, and SEI booths - I walked by them on the way out and couldn't believe all the great items for sale. Good thing I get paid Friday when it's my turn to shop?

Anyway, the Zone has a fabulous location: right next to registration. There is so much fabulousness there too. (Is that a word?) There's EK stuff all over, including a massive Jolie's section and paper packs, in addition to the Hero Arts, Scenic Route (MY FAVORITE!!), Clear Stamps by Autumn Leaves (I just love Katie and Rhonna's sets), American Crafts (pens, brads, ribbon, and Thickers!), Prima flowers, and so much more!! I was blown away!! Luckily, Kevin let me pre-shop since I am working all day tomorrow on the cash register and wouldn't get a chance. Here's some of what I bought for me!!

But, I didn't just shop for me... I managed to snag some great additions to the goodie bags for the Crop for A Cure Fundraiser Saturday. Yesterday, I did the sneak peak for the name tags. Today, a show a sneak peak of one of the ingredients in the goodie bags:

And, I snagged something a fellow DT member, Stacy, has been lusting over. That's right, Stacy, I have the new Primas!! AHAHAHHAAHA They are absolutely awesome, in bright colors with raised flourish dry embossing. I couldn't resist!! I'll buy you some, for a small fee, of course! Wouldn't you like to get some in your DT bag, next month?

I did a lot of lifting and positioning today and tomorrow, bring on the customers. I have my badge and I'm ready to roll! If you are there, swing by and say HI! I would love to see you!!

Off for now... back with more tomorrow!

The Excitement starts tomorrow!!

Tomorrow, I get to start experiencing Mega Meet! I am so excited about it. I can't wait to see all the new stuff and find out how I will be helping on Thursday. Then, I get to shop on Friday! I am even picking up some cool things at Mega Meet for the Crop for a Cure Fundraiser for Team Reach. Fabulous! Just 4 days 'til the crop. I finished some really get signs and name tags. Check out the pick below... The names are on the front and a fact about Breast Cancer is on the back of the tag.


Thanks to R. Farrer (Pink Oct 07 Kit), Sweet Genevieve (O'Scraps Nov 08 Grab Bag, Journey of the Heart Kit), and Melanie Willmann for elements of the signs and name tags. Also a big thanks to Stephanie over at Homegrown Hospitality for showing me how cute doodled name tags could be... :)

Well off to sleep... Expect a news report tomorrow! :)

Whew! I need a day off from my *EXCITING* weekend...

This weekend was FABULOUS! (My new favorite word...)

My hubby surprised me on Friday night when he took "his girls" out to eat at Applebee's. (They have 4 things on the menu that Annde will eat...) It was a fun and relaxing. I came home and packed my stuff. It was a good thing too because at 3am, we lost power. {Apparently a branch came down on a power line 4 houses down.} And, the dork we live next to decided to start his generator... at 3 AM! Does he really think his refridge couldn't stay cold for 4-5 hours without power so that the rest of the neighborhood could get a few more hours of sleep? ARRGGHH!! Some days, I really want to punch a hole in that damn thing it's so freakin' loud! He ran it the rest of the night and all day until 5pm when the power came back on. And he wonders why he didn't get invited to our little picnic last night!

So, after little sleep, my hubby got up and took my daughter shopping. Yep, Daddy Daughter shopping day. And it went really well. I was surprised because I expected at least one meltdown from one of the them and it really didn't happen. He took her to Osh Kosh and he said it was a "kid in a candy store" - oh no! Is this what I have to look forward to? A clothes hound? - she saw the sundresses and took off... tossing them over her shoulder to my Mom-in-Law and saying, "I want this!" and "This too!!"... then it was socks and undies and shorts and shirts and soon, Dad was $100 poorer. And it took a total of 15 minutes!! ahahaha Then, while they were shoe shopping, she found a mirror on the bench, sat down, pulled the colored lip balm out of her little Easter Purse {she took it along to hold her "Mommy day $" and 5 of her Favoritest Pets (Little Pet Shop)} and proceeded to look in the mirror while smearing lip balm all over her lips (and face of course). My hubby, Mom-in-Law, and Pop-in-Law were laughing their butts off but didn't take a single freakin' picture!! I even sent the pocket-sized camera with him and all 3 of them own camera phones! Sigh... I'll have to find another way to scrap it... :)

Where was I, you ask? I was at the Scrapbook Zone's 6th Anniversary Crop Party! It's the first time I've scrapbooked in a store and it was awesome. I sat with Stacy (my DT buddy), two of her friends, and my BFF, Tracy. We had a great time. I will post what I got done as soon as I finish journaling them (tonight). I only got a mini-album for my sister and 3 pages done but I had so much fun doing the make-in-take and the games (I was the only member of our group not to win! Sigh!!). I will definitely do that again!! :)

After church on Sunday, I planted hostas (thanks, Mom-in-Law!) and went to the silly Neighborhood Membership meeting. I have to go or I can't buy a key for the "Park"... where we drop our boat for the summer... It's a 2 acre park with picnic areas, playground, boat ramp, docks, etc. I say it was silly because sometimes, okay... every year, someone says something that I can't believe they actually said or believe. This year's winner was, "My 18 year old son is responsible enough to have a bonfire with his friends without supervision throughout the summer. After all, this park is an extension to each our backyards, right?" Okay... first of all, that's great you think your child is responsible. Can you REALLY say the same thing about all his friends? Can you really say that all of them should be able to set a large fire in a lush area (although there is a small fire pit) and that with peer pressure, there will be no funny stuff or drinking going on? Are you sure that they will properly put out this fire each and every time? If you are so convinced, keep the bon fire in your own real backyard... not in mine! I could not believe they discussed this for 1/2 hour and then passed it! The park closes at 10pm and the sun goes down at 9-ish. Is someone really going to have a bonfire in 1 hour? AHHAHAHA Next year, I am going to put forth a motion to ban all bonfires unless a board member is present and it ends on time. It will piss off this family and probably a lot of others, but what the heck! I don't like the idea of fire during the summer... We've had enough accidents in this world with underage drinking...

Sunday night, the barbeque with the other-side neighbors - Tim & Jan & Nickie & Kyle - went well! There was so much food and fun. Definitely something to repeat! We ate steak, chicken, shrimp (all but me and Annde), potatoes, corn, asparagus... Everyone was very full and very relaxed by the time it was time to call it quits. It's so nice to have a neighbor to share fun experiences like this on. When we move, it will suck that we can't bring them with!

Well, I'm off but I will try and post my stuff from this weekend with the exception of the mini-book. {My sister deserves to see it first!! I'll post it Friday...} I have to do nametags for the crop this weekend, Steph-style! You can check out her stuff at the Homegrown Hospitality link to the right... She's got the cutest tote bags for sale too... check out the link on her page. I am definitely getting one for me!

Design Team Pages For April and a Little Bit More...

Wow! I can't believe how fast the month of April flew by!! Can you believe it's already May? This month is full of absolutely fabulous things to look forward to (and scrap, of course!).

This Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day and I am going to spend it doing what I love: Scrapbooking!! It's also the Scrapbook Zone's 6th Anniversary so I will be celebrating both events at the Zone all day cropping! For the All-Day crop, I decided to bring my Best Buddy, Tracy as a Mother's Day/You rock gift. We are going to have SOOOO much fun!! This will be the first time that I've done an All-day crop at a store. Stacy, my fellow DT member, and I are going to crop together for the first time too! Fabulous!! I am kitting and printing pages like mad to have enough stuff to do for 12 hrs! Sunday, we're FINALLY having the neighbors over for a Grill-Out Lunch (Poor Jan is working 7 days a week right now and she's on 2nd Shift)... They have been so good to us since they moved in last year and we really want to thank them for everything they've done for us.

Then, next week is the Mega Meet. It will also be my first time! I am going to help Kevin from the Zone set up the booth and then work the booth - I've never done that either and I am sooo excited!! - on Thursday. It gets even better because I am taking my customer on Friday to it too! How great is that? Mixing business and pleasure!! Then on Saturday - IT'S FINALLY HERE! The Team REACH Breast Cancer Crop! I am going to be teaching 2 classes at the crop too: a beginner's class and a class on using sketches. I probably won't get much cropping done - My plan is to finally finish the 2 Cruise books from last year so that Kevin W. will stop harrassing me (just kidding, Kev!)...

Next week is also my Sister's Birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUSAN!! (I am going to finish the last part of your present at the Zone crop and get it out to you super fast!) And then Sunday is Mom's day! I can't wait to spend the weekend with my fabulous daughter and hubby. Even if we just fly a new kite or grill out, it will be great!

Then - to follow up those great experiences, we're doing Virginia Beach for Memorial Day. You better believe I will be taking lots of pictures! We're going to see some friends - the ones who set me and Steve up on our first (blind) date... We haven't seen Tim, Robin, and the girls for over 4 years so I can't wait to see them and catch up. I can't believe they've never met Annde?!?!? Plus - it's Tim's birthday so we will have a great celebration! (aka - parents night out with Aly and Mel watching Annde :) )

So, look for more exciting posts from this month!

Since I haven't posted a layout here in a while so I figured that I would slap some up that I did for the Design Team and for various contests at Coordinates Collections:

This page was done using my DT kit for April. I love the colors and what the page documents: my child's rapid growth over the last year.

This next DT page was done from our first day outside when the weather finally warmed up here in Michigan. I love the felt pieces with the stickles...

This next DT page is not really me but I actually love it! Using the new Basic Gray line, I documented my daughter's likes and dislikes at the age of 4. While she's not quite there yet, I doubt she will suddenly like taking naps or eating veggies! AAHAHAHAH... Although, she did just find out she likes orange and red peppers. That's my girl! I liked the Bazzill paper (pink) that had the flowers and circles punched out of it. Instead of using the whole sheet, I used just a corner of it to embellish. I really liked how it turned out.

This was actually a really fun DT project. It took me 2 weeks to decide what to do with this great package of wood panels. The front is some of the fun Annde pictures from the last 6 months, each documenting an Annde trait. The back describes why I chose those traits. It came together really well... It will be up at the Zone if you want a closer look at it...


This next page was done using the Coordinate Collections Kit "A Few Good Men". I love how bright this paper was and how well it coordinated with the sweater Annde was wearing for the Family pictures taken that day... Here is Annde posing next to the page:

It's almost Friday so I hope that everyone has a fabulous weekend and tune in Monday for the 411 about the Crop... See ya later!!