2Peas Challenge and Some Pink Sweetness and the Cruise Album

Todays 2Peas Challenge is to Complete these statements:

1. My current favorite song: I love lots of stuff...I can never pick just one.

2. The last book I read: Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson

3. What I'm wearing right now: pajamas because it's almost midnight and I'm about to go to bed

4. The last cd I bought: Bon Jovi--Have a Nice Day and Creed Greatest Hits

5. The last gift I bought for someone: was an mp3 player just for me! I went today and purchased it because Friday is my birthday. I am one happy chick too. It's just what I wanted. Having cranked up music in my ears makes walking the treadmill so much more tolerable!


In other news...a friend of mine recently had a new baby girl. Consequently, on Monday I spent way too long drooling over the little girl clothes in search of something perfectly pink and girly for her. Girl clothes...I love my boys but shopping for their clothes isn't nearly as much fun as shopping in the girl clothes. There's a severe lack of pink in my life...so any excuse to enjoy the frills is good enough for me. I'm so happy for them!

When I saw these two onesie outfits and their matching pants (not pictured) complete with ruffles on the backside, I just couldn't help myself. There is no other time in life when a girl can get away with wearing ruffles on her touche and not be commiting a major fashion "don't"...

The cruise album is coming along, but I'm not going to be able to finish before Joal's meeting. There's just too much to do in it. Luckily, he can share it at the meeting in September. I really like how it's coming along tho. Here's a little piece of it. I have looked at every cruise stamp or embellishment I can find but nothing was "right" to go with my "Color Me Silly--Believe" Basic Grey paper...so I had to get creative. (At least for me, this is creative...I'm usually a buy-it-pre-made-girl.)

I was looking for some clip art for another project in the MS Windows files and came across this little cruise ship on waves. It was originally a square image but I made it round. I knew I wanted something that would go into the Quickutz tag-rim to resemble the look of a small round porthole window. The colors of this clip art match the BG perfectly. I resized and duplicated the image about 40 times and then printed it onto white Bazzill for texture. I used the Quickutz tag die to cut out the images and then overlayed the black rim. Added the brad and poof...embellishment. (Yes, I impressed myself.) There's one of these tags on each two page spread.

I completed about a dozen tags before I realized that I should have cut a piece of transparency to go on top of the image and under the rim to look like the glass. Wish I had thought of that a litle earlier.

It's time to go. Today has started out with a bang...there's gum in the dryer. Wonder who did that?? I have to go to the library for new books and deliver my honey to the airport this afternoon...lots to do.

Happy Thursday!!

Blame it on the Shirt

I crossed over into a new level of dedicated scrapbooker today. See this shirt? It's the culprit.

Yes, I purchased this shirt for Grey for one reason.

I have paper that matches it perfectly.

At least it was "on sale".

But chances are great that I would have paid full price if it hadn't been.

Because I have paper that matches it perfectly.

Monday

It's Monday. I used an M's coupon to buy new scissors today. The boys had managed to cut pipe cleaners with each and every pair of scissors which basically destroys the smooth cut. Makes cutting ribbon next to impossible. So I procured a nice shiney new pair of Fiskars and they are h-i-d-d-e-n. I would tell you where but then I might have to do away with you. LOL!

It was a good mail day. I received a disk of photos collected from three different people on our cruise, basically doubling the photos selection for my cruise album. I am working on it right now, hoping to be finished by Thursday.

Also received a paper order from Cropoholics. If you need an online scrapbook store, I highly recommend Cropoholics. Great place with fast shipping.

Got a letter from my sister...wait no that wasn't a letter. A letter would have made me happy. :) This was a sock chain thing that I think I have to send other people socks for...why, I have no idea? Deb. Do I look like I have time to be shipping socks around the world?? (kidding.) Don't worry...I'm just annoyed because it came without a real letter. You know...handwritten...catches me up on the life of my favorite sister. You made me think I was in for a treat...and bam! Nothing! Gee. Thanks.

Cathy Z book in my hands, getting well-loved. The woman has amazing gifts. The things she does with ordinary words and a computer. So real and so casual. Simple does not equal fast, beginner or basic. Simple is a style statement. Simple=streamlined, low-cal, minimalist, proportional. Don't forget that.

New adventures in technology today. I *need* to have this little (9x9) cruise album done before Thursday for Joal to show it at his next meeting. (His request.) So the disk of new photos arrived today and there were some that I wanted to get printed right away. You know I think Winkflash is *the best* but it takes a few days. So, I remembered seeing an add for the WalGreens photo lab for 20 FREE 4x6 prints with your first order. Went to Walgreens.com and sure enough...I uploaded the ones I needed to the website and placed the order. I selected to pick them up at a Walgreens in my neighborhood...and within 20 minutes, I received an email saying my order of 24 photos was ready to be picked up. I paid 88 cents for 24 photos!! They look really good. I prefer matte finish and that wasn't an option but I'll live. They offer cool border options I might play with later. Nifty huh.

Happy Monday, everyone.

Run, Don't Walk...

Ya gotta checkout the 2Peas gallery of Aidansmommy aka Tina Cockburn.

And then see her blog with her beautiful photography. She really is all that and a bag of chips! :)

Don't drool. It'll cause your computer to malfunction.

Happy Sunday!!

I am the P and the T...

So Thursday night I was invited to join a small contingent of my fellow scrapbooking enthusiasts in judging the scrapbook competition of the PTA, a national organiation conventioning in Nashville this week. We browsed thru 28 huge (did I mention they were very large?) scrapbooks from school PTAs from all over Tennessee. It was very very interesting.

Before this experience, I had no idea that PTA was anything other than a local group of parents and teachers supporting their school. It is. It's a national organization. Very official.

Someone (I can't recall who) pointed out that I could be a one-person PTA organization, seeing as how I am the P and the T in my "school". LOL! I think that was after I asked if I could make a PTA scrapbook...Hey, I said it was a particularly inspiring evening. I was ready to get to work when I left. :)

It did remind me of several things:

--Scrapbooks are not about product. Since we were in a small room filled with very experienced professional scrapbookers (some would call us obsessed), the topic of conversation of course turn to product very often.

"Who makes this?"
"Boy, that's old."
"They must love thier x tool."

As much as we discussed product and style, every scrapbook in the room showed events and moments of kids lives at school. That makes each scrapbook very valuable in my opinion. The value is not what they spent (or didn't) or where they shopped or the quality of their cardstock...it's about the stories.

--The ability to follow directions should never be discounted. It's an important skill. Even if you are just entering a scrapbook contest.

-- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and contests are subjective. Don't base the value of a scrapbook or a scrapbook page on th opinions of others. Tell your stories and enjoy the process. Accollades are "gravy".

--Kids are beautiful!! Bright smiles, funny faces, fun activities...this is what being a kid is all about!

Thanks Michele for the invitation to be a "judge". I really enjoyed it.

PS. I'm now available for consultation if anyone is making a PTA scrapbook...I can be bribed with stacks of Bazzill. (LOL!)

Go Look Here

If you haven't yet taken a look at the Basic Grey Website and signed up for their outstanding newsletter, drop everything and go sign up for it it now. Their newsletter is awesome--it's published as a PDF and can easily be printed to read at your leisure.

Three companies I know of have outstanding newsletters:

2Peas
KI Memories
Basic Grey

Don't miss these. They will fill your mailbox with information and inspiration!!

Prepared to Write

Prepared to Write...I am. Andy--my brother in boot camp--can receive mail now so I printed a dozen or so envelopes out last night with his address filled in so I don't have to handwrite it each time.

Letters and postcards...I hope the PO is prepared forthe influx. LOL!

Photos of the America Book

Words Worthy of Remembering

I was born in 1972. I think it was a good year to be born but then I have no experience with other years, so what do I really know? I'm happy being 34...I've always been happy being whatever age I am. Seems to me there's not much point in fretting about age since you can't change it.

One thing I do think I missed out on, however, is the Presidency of John F. Kennedy. I have read quite a few books on the 35th President and the world in which he lived. I find it to be a fascinating historical period and am particularly fond of his many powerful speeches. America was being re-born, I believe, during that time. For better or worse, it was a vibrant and exciting part of our somewhat short history as a nation.

Because of what Joal does for work, I collect historical quotes that have to do with America, history, freedom, patriotism, the spirit and people of America, the founding fathers, great historical moments, Presidential points and all things that seem representative of America to me. I have a small scrapbook of these little pieces of America and I add to it regularly. Joal and I have some rousing conversations about them...ongoing conversations that we both truly enjoy (or at least I do.)

So, this evening I was shopping my favorite quote site for some fresh material for my little collection when I came across this jewel:

“The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.” ---John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Take a moment and re-read that. Don't miss it.

A few weeks ago when I flew to Atlanta, I witnessed something that illustrates just one of the the cost of our freedom in a very real way. I was sitting in the terminal waiting for my plane when I realized that there were way too many people and a crazy number of kids waiting at the gate for *my* plane. Jets to Atlanta arrive and leave about every 90 minutes from Nashville...so they are usually relatively small planes and there were way too many people at the gate for a plane this size.

I double checked to make sure I was in the right place.
I was.

I was completely puzzled until I noticed that a young woman and her three sons sitting in the chairs closest to the gate were holding small American flags. The kids were well-behaved but I could tell...those boys were hyped. (I have no problem recognizing hyped boys.) Mom was a little frayed, too. (I know that look as well.)

And then, I heard her say "Just a few more minutes, son, and Daddy will be home."

That's when I took another look around and it became obvious that the gate was filled with people waiting for the arriving flight. There was only one explanation for that because airport security no longer allows ordinary people to meet deboarding passengers at the gates.

They were Military.

Sure enough--just a few minutes later, the plane I was waiting for arrived and about 30 cammo-clad, pack-totin', boot-wearin' high 'n tight Army men emerged from it. It was a sea of green...faded green cammo.

If you've never seen an Army homecoming, you have certainly missed out. It was perhaps the sweetest thing I have ever witnessed. Shrieks of "Daddy!!!"...and lots of hugs and kisses. Kids from all parts of the gate broke free and ran full-tilt to the man they had been missing...their moms didn't bother trying to stop them. Husbands and dads and sons and brothers reunited at last with wives and mothers and fathers and daughters and sons and brothers and sisters. There were tears and laughter and I swear...I wanted to hug someone too.

It was a deep moment for me. Tears welled up in my eyes. My brother was a week from entering bootcamp and I was emotional about that, but on a deeper level, it was the perfect illustration of one of the costs of freedom that so many Americans pay willingly. I wish I had some photos to share--I know they would have been beautiful--but honestly, I wouldn't intrude that way. Those moments were just too prescious and personal. I am so happy I was able to witness them tho.

I will never forget that day.

So whatever your position on the "issues" in America--Whatever your chosen party or political leanings, I hope that you will always remember the words of the President and bear witness to the truth they declare. We owe a debt for the price that has been paid for the freedom we share and the ability that is hard-won and harder-kept to choose our own positions and speak our own minds on things that we care about.

The government sometimes seems like it's an entity of itself and is too big to moved by one person but that is simply not the case. We are our government if we choose to be. We each have a role to play in it. If you are not doing your part as a citizen of this land, someone else is going to have to carry your slack. It's your responsibility as an American to participate--not just to lay claim to her goodness and her opportunities but to share in the responsibilities of upkeeping those freedoms and liberties. Guard them. These character traits of America--freedom, liberty and justice for all have been hard won and must be protected in order to be kept.

For if they are lost, America is lost.

In Music News...

Little Big Town played Jay Leno Monday night...it was rockin', of course. Backing the band was our friend Steve Dale on bass, the great (a legendary songwriter and producer) Wayne Kirkpatrick on guitar and a guy we've met from church--Andy Hubbard on drums.

Phil Vassar has a new album coming out in a few days. I am a total PV fan. The man can definately write a song but when you look in his eyes and see him perform you k-n-o-w he's one of those guys who never quits. He has lots of potential to be a "bad boy" but he's so not one. He sings with such fire...like every part of him is right there singing for all he's worth. I love that. He's a master songwriter who understands the craft and can be really country or really rockin'. Since I go both ways--enjoying country and rock n roll--I like that.

This new album looks to be unique in that it's a collection of the hits he has recorded personally *and* the hits that he has written that have been recorded by other people. Can't wait to get it! "American Child" and "Just Another Day in Paradise" are among my all-times favorite songs. Like I said...Phil Vassar Rocks! and his arms. ...

Finally, I happened to catch a late night playing of the Video to John Corbett's new release on CMT and was wowed! Yeah...who knew? John Corbett...the guy from Big Fat Greek Wedding, SATC, Northern Exposure...he's a musician now. www.johncorbettband.com I'm liking his sound...and hating his side-burns. Oh well. Dude...razors are cheap. He's playing Fan Fair this year in Nashville...might have to check that out.

So, now you know.

Who Knew?

Julian (my ten year old) made me laugh out loud tonight.

It was just me and the boys for dinner tonight so I decided to make pancakes. Pancakes are usually a daddy-food. Joal makes jumbo pancakes, to put it mildly. His pan creations are about the size of the pan and generally as thick as three or four of mine. He adds in heaps of chocolate chips--which of course, melt in the cooking process and then while they are still hot, smothers them in peanut butter and drowns them in syrup. We jokingly refer to what he makes as "man-cakes"...cause you have to be a man to eat one. (Meaning...I don't usually indulge.) They are huge and they weigh a ton--we even have to get out the big plates. It's a regular heart attack on a plate. The boys love it when Dadddy cooks.

So my small delicate perfectly golden normal pancakes aren't quite as big a hit as man-cakes...but a treat nonetheless.

So J is munching away on his less than inspiring pancake when he suddenly gets a thought he must share.

"You are an excellent chef." he says, wiping syrup from his chin. "I like your mommy-cakes."

Mommy-cakes.
I can deal with that.

Happy Wednesday.

This and That

Several tidbits tonight...

I noticed today there have been some changes in the direction of what was once Simply Southern Scrapbook Convention. Location (it's moved to Cool Springs), date (moved to the fall), focus (less on scrapbooking, more towards paper arts) event name (like they need another name change)...it's all very confusing, if you ask me.

I have mentioned before that I have taken a magazine-sabattical. I let all my magazine subscriptions but Scrapbooks etc run out and did not renew. I always buy Simple Scrapbooks at M's...but that's it. I haven't looked at the others for over a year. There was a time when I had way too many magazines and it just got overwhelming. Anyway, I was checking out the convention site for the upcoming CK Convention in Nashville and happened to see the cover of the May 06 issue of Creating Keepsakes. It made me want it. Honestly, it's the best cover since forever. The cover work is done by Susan Neal and it is awesome. Great colors. Well-designed, beautiful layout that could and should be scrap-lifted as soon as possible.

On a totally separate issue, I love good home-made salsa. Seriously. Love it. I make it pretty regularly and it's one of the few things that I really like to eat when I make it. But occasionally, given the price of winter tomatoes, I don't want to spend the money to make an entire bowl. (Good salsa can get pricey.) So, occasionally I try out one of the pre-made, almost-fresh salsas offered in the fancy foods refrigerator case at Publix. I'm usually disappointed, although I will admit to being really picky. I'm not into huge chucks. I like an almost smooth salsa. However, not too long ago, I discovered an excellent fresh salsa from a small maker in Georgia that is outstanding. It's called Salsa Ya'll and it comes in a small square container. There are a couple different heat levels available. I try to get the mild one but the hots not too hot. The best part...it's made with cilantro. Now in my near-expert salsa opinion, salsa should never be made without cilantro. It's just wrong. For $2.99, I can have an excellent salsa with cilantro already made. How cool is that? Check it out.

Back to the CK issue...this was definately a great issus. It was great to see Ali's honesty, some older people pictures, some non-caucasian faces, and lots of multi-photos layouts. (Don't get me started on that one...) On the ad-watch--I definately want to checkout some of that Bo-Bunny stuff. How pretty! And the Doodlebug ad totally rocked. Paper Salon...oh wow. Now that is some super creative packaging. Genius. Colorbok...I need that blue suede album. NEED! Now I know why avoiding magazines is a good thing. LOL!

I think I missed the boat on the fresh face layout featured. Don't get me wrong--It's an excellently-designed LO but why is the photo black and white when the point of the LO is the little girl's favorite color? That one just totally left me. I was struck by just how many of the layouts in this issue are very Jenni-ish. Random...slightly off-kilter...artistic...sentimental. I love that. Whatever you do, don't miss the Mellette layout on the back page. It totally rocks. Stunning, as usual.

I recently ran across the gallery of an awesome pea-- *Celeste*. Check it out...she's bold and spicy!

Well, that's all for now. Little Big Town is playing Jay Leno tonight and I want to watch them. I've met their drummer. :)

Vacations

The blog assignment for the day from 2Peas is to write about your dream vacation.

My dream vacation involves one word: beach.

Almost any beach will do.
Although I've always wanted to explore the Outter Banks of NC.
And travel up the eastern seaboard.
Just give me time on the beach.
Alone, with DH.

Speaking of vacations.
We'll be cruising again in February 2007!
How's that for something to look forward to for a long time?

Delightful Dogwood

One of the churches near my house has the most beautiful dogwood trees in it's yard. Today we walked over and took some photos of it.

So that we might have Life Everlasting.

From the Gospel of Matthew...
Chapter 28

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

Surely Snappy Saturday!

Three more stores checked off my list today...what a perfectly fun day it was too.

First stop was at a new store in Hendersonville--Timeless Reflection. What a cool place. I have a special place in my heart for small unique places and this one is totally fitting the bill. Besides a perfect selection of Basic Grey and Bazzill (basic requirements, IMO), Michelle Luther has also assembled a remarkable collection of product from Queen & Co, 7Gypsies, Art Warehouse and others to arrive at a wonderful little store with great potential. A delish display of ribbons rounds out the array of fun stuff. I am totally drawn to this store. When I left, I had a buzz. I want to crop there ASAP.

Second stop was supposed to be Card and Cloth in Franklin KY but as it turns out, I had an old address. I tried to call but got the voice mail so we skipped it and went on to Bowling Green. I hope to catch it another day.

Next stop was Someplace to Remember in Bowling Green. I haven't been there in several years and boy, have they grown. The hours listed on their website are incorrect but it didn't cause a problem (for which I am thankful). I'm pretty sure they have everything, product wise. I didn't even have time to go to the basement...have to do that next time.

Final stop was Scrapbook Country, also in Bowling Green. It surprises me that these 2 stores are so close together but nonetheless, this one was interesting too. Scrapbook Country seemed like a very relaxed place...you can read about it on their blog...have I mentioned that I think every scrapbook store should have a blog? I have to wonder if Heather Thomas is related to Terri Thomas, one of my favorite people from The Memory Box days...have to check on that.

The scrapbookers of Bowling Green are lucky to have two well-stocked stores in their area. I taught in BG for a long time at a store that has since closed and I love the area. It's not what I consider a small town but it has that small-town community feel. I like that.

I'm working on my cruise pages--hoping to get a few posted this weekend.

Happy Easter.

Why Scrap?

So a few posts ago, my friend Tracie wrote a blog entry about why she scrapbooks. I am constantly interested in this basic information about my friends. I love knowing what motivates and how they approach what they do. I am happy that I am blessed with friends who scrapbook for all kinds of different reasons and use different approaches. Sometimes it's a little odd when they all get together...but I think it's a valuable experiece.

So tell the world...why do you scrapbook and what's your scrapping philosophy?

Why do I scrapbook?

There are so many answers but the short one is very simple--I like it. I come by a love of photos genetically. My mother has preserved photos in albums for as long as I can remember. To me, the best photos aren't posed--they are fleeting moments of time captured on film. They express a realness and a reality that might otherwise be missed if it weren't captured on film.

I believe that God has given each of us a story worthy of recording and that much can be learned thru the witnessing of the stories of other peoples lives. It's our responsibility to live it out and to record it.

Paper and pen are a powerful medium. I write our stories with the passion of a participant and a loving historian. I think of my scrapbooks as letters to my children in the future and to anyone who reads them. I think of the images and words as the parts of our lives that I value and want to remember. What I value, I want my children to value as well.

By personality, I am drawn to texturally rich things. I'm a tactile learner. I can't remember the answer to 9x7 but I can remember paper manufacturers spring releases from 2002. Go figure. Scrapbooking is the perfect use for texturally rich items, especially beautiful papers, ribbons and fabrics.

Scrapbooking meets a need for my soul. It's deep. It feels good to be good at something and to have what I do be enjoyed and appreciated by my family. It feels like a contribution (small, admitantly)...a way of saying "this is me and this is a piece of me". This world is filled with negativity and ugliness. Pain and heartache. I prefer to enjoy images of love and family and friends and good.

Scrapbooking provides connections. One word...Croptoberfest. Anita. Julie. Sabrina. Carla. and others. Quite by divine accident my life has been irrevocably altered by many of the women whom I call my friends by way of scrapbooking. No other area of my life has produced such relationships.

People have all sorts of hobbies and honestly, I know some people who need a hobby or two. But really, I don't think of scrapbooking as a hobby. It's part of who I am. If Bazzill and Basic Grey and Chatterbox and all my other favorite companies closed down tomorrow, I would still journal, photograph and embellish. I'd find a way.

So now you know.

Happiness in a Bowl

Pink ribbons!

Why do I buy pink ribbons? The liklihood of using them on a LO of my own is very miniscule.

But you know what.

I buy them because I love to look at them.

I may be surrounded on every side with boyhood but I love pink.

Pink and chocolate brown.

Pink and white.

Pink and green.

The world--my world needs more pink. Hence...my blissful bowl of pink ribbons!

Happy Friday.

And for my friends who are celebrating this the most holy week, Happy blessed Easter. He is Risen!!

Parental Involvement

Today the peas are discussing the answer to this question: "What is the biggest challenge facing our educational system?"

As you probably guessed, most peas first answer was "lack of parental involvement". Predictable. Everyone blames the parents, right.

I had to disagree. I spent 5 years being an overly-involved parent in my child's education and the system was still unable or unwilling to provide J with what he needed to succeed educationally, even with a heaping dose of parental involvement. Yes, that does still annoy me. It was a collosal waste of time and energy and I wish I had been able to see that earlier.

So now *I* am the educational system and the parental involvement is at an all-time high (lol). What does it say that the system says it can't succeed without more parental involvement however it has proven that it can't succeed with parent involvement *but* the parent/child can succeed without the system's involvement?? Let's think on that a bit, shall we?

2Peas Pick One Challenge

chocolate or vanilla? ---yes, please!
sandals or barefoot? ---shoes...
basic grey or scenic route? ---picking one would be like picking one of my children!!
primas or HS flowers? ---Primas...love them!
computer journaling or handwritten? ---there's a time and place for both...but mostly computer
Madonna or Gwen Stefani? ---neither, sorry
Leno or Conan? ---Leno (Conan is dumb)
Koolaid or Crystal Lite? ---Crystal Lite...no sugar.
American Idol or Amazing Race? ---neither
cat-lover or dog-lover? ---if I have to chose one, it would be dog-lover, but not intensely

I'm adding to the challenge...

hotel or camping? ---Hotel...with room service please!
SUV or Mini Van? ---Jeep!!
candles or baskets? ---baskets...filled with candles!
bottled water or tap? ---bottled
beach or mountains? ---beach
CK or MM? ---CK
letter stickers or letter stamps? ---lately, letter stickers!
love or money? ---love!

It's a Sure Sign of the Downfall of Winter

How does one do that??

This is sara*w's blog. Can someone tell me how she blurred the background of the two photos of her kids? Is it one of those 22 camera settings that I have no idea how to use yet...or is it an editing trick? I would like to know...

Thanks.

(Instruction manual...what's that?)

Proof is in the Pictures!

Baseball versus Lip...Lip was not the winner. Ouch!! The good news is that our dentist can work around a busted lip. Yep, that's how things go around here...the baseball met the lip the day before the dentist appointment. The other awesome news...J is continuing his lifelong streek of NO CAVATIES!!


Happy Monday!

Glorious Sunday Morning!

Yes, it's a beautiful spring Sunday morning in Middle TN--Palm Sunday too.

Yes, I should be worshipping at church with my family but I'm not. Yesterday evening around 9pm I was preparing for bed when I finally decided I'd had enough of the drippy nose and coughing so I took a new diabetic-friendly cold pill before laying down. About 11 pm I woke up.

Woke totally up and *had* to get up. I was totally buzzed. Buzzed...as in hyper.

Wired. Like I drank too much coffee...only I didn't drink any.

All night.

Can't sit still. I've cleaned. I've scrapped. I did laundry at 3am. I vacuumed downstairs at 4am. I would have washed the cars if it hadn't been so cold. I cleaned out closets.

I created this scrapbook page for the *One Step Further* challenge. If you want to read the journaling it's here at 2Peas. The challenge is from this blog...it's new and looks cool.

It's 9:25 am--about 12 hours post-pill. I'm still high. I've never felt this way before. Yeah, um, no drug history here. Sorry. My strongest kick usually comes from a little Diet Dr. Pepper. Anyway, I don't know how long this is going to last and honestly, I was in no shape to sit in church without fidgeting profusely. :) And what if I crash before getting home?

So, I stayed home. Even tho I really didn't want to.

Antsy, edgy, fidgety, wired, hyper, energetic, like I need to move some part of my body all the time...maybe this is how Julian feels. Oh my. I've been asking the Lord to give me more sympathy for my oldest child. Oh wow!

How's that for a little perspective?

"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed for I am your God;
I will strengthen you,
I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

--Isaiah 41:10

Computers...Can't Live with 'em...Can't Beat 'em with a Bat!

After all the mischief my last computer put me thru, I really thought I had earned a pass on computer problems for oh say the rest of my natural days....but apparently I was mistaken.

I've loaded several new things on my *new* computer lately...photo organization tools, fonts, camera gear, photo editing tools, mp3 stuff, song files, etc. Surely, my new computer for which I paid $$$ for... with every gadget known to man could handle a few drivers, right.

NOT!

Somewhere in the downloading of new stuff, my sound card disappeared.

*POOF!*

What's that line in the Montgomery Gentry song? I digress.

So, in an effort to get the sound card to reappear (because I can not compute without music) I had to do a mini-reformat and re-install every (*&^ driver. Remember that hair I used to have...well, I have a lot less of it now!!

Computers...tools of the devil, I tell ya...sent to test your charachter when you can stand it least.

But I won. I have music and I can scan at the same time. HA! Take that!!

PS Here's the Evidence

First LO ala "Creative Memories"...

Somebody tell me again why those photos had to be cut into shapes??

Dreadful as it is...I was hooked immediately!

My Introduction to Scrapbooking

The 2Peas challenge is to write about how you got started in scrapbooking. Well, that's kindof a funny story for me. I'll try to keep it short.

In 1996 just after Julian was born, I returned to my work as a floral manager in a craft store in Jackson, MS. Floral Manager was the official title...but the truth was I had at one time or another worked in every department in the store. My favorite part of the job was creating displays and merchandising. Anytime we got in new merchandise, I built the vignettes to support it.

Just after I returned from maternity leave we began to hear that we were going to be receiving a large quanitity of papers and scissors for something called "memory crafting". I had no idea what that was. The store manager was a man who was usually pretty astute when it came to craft trends. One day before our shipment of mysterious memory craft supplies arrived he delivered to me a few idea sheets and a very brief over view of the topic. I knew I would need more information, so on my next trip to the library I looked up memory crafting on the internet.

WoW!

Through that internet search I hooked up with a local Creative Memories Consultant and Pebbles in my Pocket. Not to long after that, I took the CMC's beginner sales pitch and created my first page. <> Chopped photos...lack of flow...severe lack of style...way to many deco scissor incidents...

Anyway...

The CM products were way out of my price range at the time and the consultant was a little too pushy for my comfort level so I abandoned that route rather quickly. Pebbles in my Pocket (at that time) offered a beautiful mail order catalog that was the stuff my dreams were made of. They sold beautiful cardstock packs, albums, adhesives, pens, die cuts, templates and included wonderful information about scrapbooking. I studied their catalogs intensely and I can still describe some of the layouts.

One of the first scrapbookers I came to admire was a Pebbles artist named Brenda Cosgrove. To this day, I admire her work so much. Years later, she won a spot on the CK Hall of Fame list and occasionally still has pages published. Last time I checked, she's still teaching at Pebbles in Utah. I've always said that if I ever get to Utah--when I ever get Utah, I'm going to go when I can take one of her classes.

My research also brought me a friend named Karen--a DOTS demonstrator. DOTS is the original incarnation of Close to my Heart. She taught me to stamp and was my first stamp and scrap friend. I do miss her.

The web was my main resource for information and supplies because it would be years before Mississippi got it's first scrap store. Jennia Hart's now defunct website The Scrapbook Idea Network was an invaluable source of information for me in those early days. Thankfully, we moved to Tennessee about three years into my hobby. Tennessee has many scrap and stamp stores.

But wait...remeber that day when my manager brought me those papers about "memory crafting'. His comments: "I don't think this 'memory crafting' is going to really take off, but we need to be able to sell this stuff quickly so we don't get stuck with it. See what you can find out about it."

Funny, huh. Funny to the tune of several billion dollars being spent on scrapbooking each year. I think I know why he decided to go back into real estate a few years later. :)

So, now you know...

Beautiful Spring!

Aren't these breath-taking? I so love tulips, especially the mixed ones.

Matthew 6:30, 33-34 (The Message)

30 If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Anyone interested???

There's been a great deal of talk at 2Peas about having scrap and stamp garage sales. I was wondering if anyone around these parts was interested in doing this? I can organize it if there's interest. Email me scrappinsarah@msn.com or leave a comment.

Influential Christians??

OK, does this article from The Church Report strike anyone else as being just plain wrong?? The 50 Most Influential Christians...what is up with this? Shouldn't we be looking to the Father for influence? Since when is it OK to be a respector of persons? What good can come form this list? Someone please enlighten me on that...

(And how could they have not added Dave Ramsey to the list? On second thought, he probably declined inclusion.)

God Speed Little Brother

The upper photo is my little brother when he was actually little in 1988. In the lower photo of all of us he's on the right end. (My sister is holding my youngest son.)

Funny how he's wearing cammos in the top "Christmas" photo.
And now he's going in the Army.
Tomorrow.

See that hair. It's wildly curly and thick. It's red. Redder than red. Flaming red. And he has the personality to match. Firey, sweet, big-hearted, risk-taker, thrill-lover, stubborn, rule-breaker...Andy.

Army Andy.

God be with you, my little brother.
I'm proud of you and I love you.
Even tho this makes me cry for a million reasons, I know it's what you want and I am happy for you.

I love you.

Embellish!

If I were writing a magazine, this would be it. It's new from Better Home and Gardens Creative Collection. It's positively delish!!

We Did It!

The surprise was achieved perfectly...he had no idea. It was a spendid moment.

Joal has worked for this company since 1998, when he graduated college. In an age where the average person stays with a company only 2.5 years, it's a rare thing to find a company that you can really stick with long-term--but he has.

We’ve had many conversations about doing something you love and something worth doing…and we are blessed that Joal is able to do both in this work.

National Write Your Congressman was founded by David N. Adamson--a man of great faith and great character, more than 50 years ago. He believed that America would be made even greater if more of her citizens would choose to be involved in her government. NWYC is an organization that makes it possible for the everyday citizen to make his or her voice heard on the issues he or she cares about. Their motto is God, Family, Country and they take it very seriously.

David N. Adamson has passed on but the company which is now his legacy is continuing his work under the strong leadership of his son and his grandson and many of his family members. The David N. Adamson Founder’s Award is the company’s highest award and it’s given to the salesperson who demonstrates the qualities that Mr. Adamson was known for-- It’s is not an award for production or sales, but a recognition of character and faithfulness to the work.

Almost 2 weeks ago, Randy called me to tell me that Joal was going to be receiving this award at the regional meeting in Atlanta. He knew I would want to be there but hadn’t previously been planning to come to this meeting. That’s when the secret-keeping started. I was so happy for him and could not tell him why. It made me a little nuts.

I called my mom to see if she could come over to look after the boys so I could go. It took some maneuvering, but she and Dad were able to come on Friday and stay until Sunday. I am so grateful. I could not have gone without their help on the boy-front.

Joal left for the meeting on Thursday morning not knowing I would bethere on Saturday. In fact, in previous years there was an awards banquet on Saturday night and he even mentioned that this year there wasn't going to be an awards dinner. They had decided to go casual for the evening meal and play WhirleyBall instead.

With the childcare issue addressed, Randy sent me a ticket to fly down to Atlanta on Saturday morning for the awards presentation on Saturday afternoon. I love to fly and it was the perfect day for flying. The blue skies in Nashville were so clear I think I could see Atlanta as soon as we were airborne. Atlanta is only a 40 minute flight so we were up and down very quickly.

Later in the afternoon, I was standing just outside the door or the meeting room when the awards presentations were being made. It's alwayys a touching time when the accomplishments of the sales force is recognized and this one was no different. The Founder's Award was the last to be given out. Only 3 people in the room knew about it beforehand...well, 3 inside and me outside the door. :)

Joal said later that when Randy started talking about the meaning of the Founder's Award, he started mentally clicking off who in the room could be a candidate. In the space of just a few seconds he thought of one possibility (knowing there were several previous winners in the room) and thought to himself, "It couldn't be me. I haven't been around long enough."

He was sitting in the back of the room, so he saw me as soon as I walked in the door, at the same moment as Randy called his name. I've never seen my husband that overwhelmed. It was a sweet moment.

There's a great deal of respect and affection between Randy and Joal and both got a little teary. After some photos and the opening of the actual award (the silver eagle sculpture seen above) he calmed a little and got in control of his voice. He said something brilliant...but unfortunately, neither of us can remember what it was. LOL! The moment was just a little overwhelming for us both.

It was a very special day. Joal's not usually impressed by awards and trophies but I think this was different because it's a recognition based on who he is by charachter and the way he works, not a measure of his success as a salesman. Sometimes being a salesman can be irritating, difficult and discouraging. It's good to be noticed as one who works thru that and helps others to do the same. It's a compliment. A very high compliment.

We drove back on Sunday morning. The boys had a great time with Nana and Pawpaw (of course). The boys wrangled them into a trip to Home Depot (that I think my dad barely survived--it's been a while since he contained little boys) and then they had lunch on the tailgate of Dad'struck. My boys love "tailgating". My mom left a huge bowl of cole slaw in my refrigerator that I am trying to make last as long as possible. Ahhh...what bliss.

What is it with long posts lately?? Sorry about that...someday I'll get back to scrapbooking.

Happy Tuesday.

Boys--6 Mom--0

Ever feel like you can't win? Gosh, once in a while my boys just run me ragged. Super parent, I am not, but I generally manage to outlast, outwit and outsmart a 3 year old and a ten year old.

Not today.

Today I am the fire-putter-outer. I can't actually get anything accomplished because I am running around putting out all these tiny little fires that they keep creating. I got one bathroom cleaned up (my Mom is coming afterall) only to find that G made a huge mess in the other one with his toothpaste.

Julian's bed is made after three tries, but G's closet is a disaster.

I ran the dishwasher at 2:15 am, thinking I could put them away when I got up. No such luck. The soap clumped in the dispenser and didn't get used in the wash cycle. So the dishes are gross and have to be run again.

Julian lost a tooth last night and G busted a lip. Julian has a bruise under one eye from a sinus problem he's been having. They look like battle children. Not to mention G took a writing pen to his legs last night. Purple ink. Lovely, dear.

My car needs to be vacuumed but the yard needs attention more. Why has it taken 2 years for us to get the fort painted?

Just one of those days...can't seem to catch up.

On the bright side, I did make one crock pot of chicken veggie soup that turned out good. I think I need a larger crock pot tho. The peas didn't fit. The boys woke up smelling it through the house this morning...and wanted some so badly that I let them have small bowls of soup for breakfast. Funny. That may be the healthiest breakfast they've had recently. We usually do oatmeal or cereal.

Well, I'm rambling. Joal just called. His first presentation this morning went really well. He said he wished I was there. HeHeeeHeee. This time tomorrow I will be there!!

I checked and there's a scrapbook stores about two miles from the hotel. How lucky is that??

Gotta run. The car alarm is going off. Funny. He was supposed to be taking out the trash. I bet the neighbors talk about us.

Happy Friday.

Fried Pies Rule in Georgia

NPR's All Things Considered is something I love and hate. Sometimes their liberal bias makes me a little ill and twisted but sometimes they run the coolest humanitarian stories.

LIKE THIS ONE!

If you want to feel good, have a nice little laugh and be a witness to the way the government is supposed to run, be sure to listen to the story that ran yesterday about Mrs. Willie Watts' Fried Pies in Georgia. You can just tell...that is a picture of southern woman gentility. Polite, using her gifts for her family, meeting needs of those around her as best she can, praying God's blessing on those who caused her setback. I'm betting she's a powerhouse of a peach!

Seriously, this is sweet. Almost as sweet as the topic.

Have you really lived a full life if you haven't experienced a fried peach pie?
I just don't think so.

My first thought when I heard this story yesterday afternoon was "pies over politics". That's apparently the key to get things moving on along in the Georgia legislature...bribe them with fried pies.

Wonder if that would work in Tennessee??

Love Like a Freight Train

When I was 18, I met a boy.
We went on a date.
We fell headlong into love.
We got married at 19.
Love hit us like a freight train.
Fast and furious.
There was no middle ground.
There was no "let's be friends".
We were very much committed to each other from very early on in our relationship.

We grew to be friends much later.
By God's grace.

Sometimes I get a little envious of people who manage to be friends for a long time before they discover that they really love each other. I wonder what it feels like to slowly discover love and not be slammed into it and bowled over by it. Seems sweeter and softer. A different approach.

Why am I thinking about these things? I have a friend who is getting married in a few weeks. We are the same age and she has never been married. She is one of the most sincere, gentle women I have ever known. She's beautiful and graceful and has many friends. The man she is marrying is a true gentleman--I've known him for as long as they've been friends. They were friends for 3 years before they ever started dating. They dated for 2 years before getting enguaged. True friends. Who discovered love. Slowly. Peacefully. No trains in sight. It's been a sweet thing to watch them.

However love comes into your life--I'm convinced it's a treasure. A gift. You can unwrap it slowly and enjoy the process or rip into it with abandon, allowing the freight train to carry you away. Both are beautiful.

My Moma's Coming

My Moma is coming on Friday!

I am so excited...I haven't seen her since Christmas. Dad's coming too (not that I forgot that)...I haven't seen him since Thanksgiving. It's killing me not to tell the boys that Nana and PawPaw are coming to visit but Julian can not keep a secret for three seconds. It's just not in him to shut his mouth no matter how important you tell him it is...so I have to wait.

When my mom comes, she cooks my favorite foods.
I have her recipes but it's not the same.
I can not execute Mom's signature dishes.
I rarely even try anymore.
I just wait and enjoy them blissfully when she's around.

Not that I put her to work when she's here. You have to understand...cooking for my mom is like breathing. She just does it.

So, tonight I purchased the ingredients for her cole slaw. My mom makes the most wonderful cole slaw...I'm somewhat of a cole slaw perfectionist. I love to try different styles and different mixtures but they are all measured against my Mom's Cole Slaw. And every one comes up lacking.

Nothing compares to Mom's cooking.
It's just food done right.

Saturday was Awesome!

Almost forgot to say...Saturday was amazing!

I'm still working as a local temp for CK, calling on all the local sb stores, reminding them about the convention in April. As if they could forget.

So, Saturday morning I had planned to head out early and make the southern loop. Unfortunately, here lately I've been having these odd "momentary personal vacations to the tropics" complete with waves of greeness...so J was concerned about sending me out all day alone. My little episodes come and go quickly (thankfully) but he decided to pack up the boys and come along as the driver for my trek. Sweet man.

We had a really cool time. We drove down to Smyrna first where we stopped at Scrapbook Nook. This is a really small store with limited merchandise but very friendly. Owner Chasity is in college...can't imagine running a store and being in school, but she does it. She offers classes and crops and if it was closer, I would visit more often.

Next we went to The Sassy Scrapper 2 in Murfreesboro. All I can say is WOW! This was my first visit to their M'boro location and it was awesome. Tons of product and beautiful sample layouts. While I was there, they were having a photography event--they had a professional photographer taking sepia shots. The work displayed was really nice. I wish I had been prepared to take advantage of that. (The boys were not dressed appropriately for pictures...trust me.) Owner Mary is very nice and helpful. She told me about the bus tour that's coming up in a few weeks. Three stores have gotten together to do a bus tour for the clients...how cool is that? Definately want to go back there soon.

I bought some BoBunny paper there that I have been wanting to get more of. It's the Boys to Men and Backyard Bubbles that is so pretty. I didn't buy enough of it the first time around and have been craving more. Backyard Bubbles is really cool and versitile. I feel in love with it the first time I saw it used in a LO by Doris displayed at Scrap It! (The layout is the one on the left called Gratitude. The flowers are punched from the BoBunny paper. What a smart woman Miss Doris is!!) And this awesome LO by the awesome Dee Gallimore-Perry. I'm glad to have more of it now.

I also picked up some beautiful pink cardstock and a sweet baby girl-ish pattern for a baby girl card I have to make ASAP. I think I need more baby girls in my life. Pink is just so pretty!

Our third stop was Scrappin' USA Superstore, also in Murfreesboro. This store has been around for several years and has always been very nice. Their expanded location is super spacious and comfortable. Their crop space is remarkable--always has been. This is one of the only places I have seen with high-back rolling office chairs in their crop space. How posh is that?

While I was browsing, I overheard an interesting conversation between a customer and an employee. The customer said something like "I see all these sample pages you have hanging up. Do people really take the time to 'do up' all their photos like this?" It was all I could do not to snort! The employee handled it pretty well. I'm not sure the potential customer was convinced that yes, some folks 'do up' things for fun...I think perhaps she was going to be buying an album for storage. Scrap the best, store the rest!! Her voice just gave away so much dread. You could tell she must have tons of photos and was fast on her way to thinking of scrapbooking as a never-ending chore.

I was thrilled to find refills for my Mrs. Grossman's album (8x8) there. I picked up three packs--that the album I'm doing for the cruise.

Our final stop was Creation Station in Franklin. Creation Station is located inside The Factory at Franklin, a swanky little place that is, to me, the very essence of "shabby Chic". My friend Sabrina says "it's where ladies who lunch, lunch". :) She's right. It's a high class collection of wonderful ecclectic stores and eateries and such. I could wander there for hours...and someday we should all go there for a day out, I think.

Creation Station has a remarkable selection of character scrapbook stuff...Disney, UT, etc and a large selection of albums...some I have never seen. The owner of CS wasn't available and the young woman working there wasn't exactly thrilled to be there. I didn't hang there too long and (gasp) didn't buy anything.

But...on the way in to The Factory Shoppes two things caught my attention:

1--I entered the shoppes behind the very naturally beautiful Kimberly Williams, an actress who may be best known for her role in the movie "Father of the Bride", (although she's held plenty of other roles) also known as Mrs. Brad Paisley. Isn't that cool? She's positively adorable. One thing is for sure...the Williams-Paisley children (should they have some) won't be NBA stars. I didn't bother her, just noticed. (Franklin has a law about bothering celebrity types.)

2--The Smocking Loft. You know I am always drawn in to textiles...they have fabrics and ribbons...I was so there. Didn't even think. Just went on in. Smocking is a fading art but they had some beautiful pieces on display. Again, baby girl need here. Dresses, frills and smocking--just wouldn't look right on a grown woman. :) Anyway, you know I collected a little ribbon while I was there...a couple styles that I've been admiring at Strano, The Smocking Loft had in stock. I even bought some pink.

What fun visiting all these stores. I haven't done this much shopping in ages. Can I just say I loved having a cheauffuer too?!

This is getting long (sorry)...so just one last thing: I posted a query on 2Peas about Bazzill matches for the new Basic Grey Color Me Silly and a helpful pea sent me a link to this page at Embellish It! Online. How cool is this?

It was a great Saturday.

Secrets

I stink at keeping secrets from my husband.

It's just so abnormal--we talk about most everything. Actually, we talk alot...more than most married people I think.

It's one of my favorite things about him. He enlightens me about sports trivia and he tells me in great detail about his work. We talk music, a little television, books and news. We talk about alot of things as a way of connecting. I tell him about scrapbooking, stores, styles, idea books, scrap-controversies, and 2Peas.

The thing is...sports trivia holds no interest for me. Zip. Zero. Nada. But you'd be surprised what I know about sports because it gives us something to talk about (beyond the kids) and it's important to him.

I'm fairly positive that my assessment of the merchandising in three different scrapbooking stores does not exactly glue him to the edge of his seat...but you'd be surprised at the things he notices when he ventures into a new store with me. It's obvious he listens because it's important to me.

I like that we talk a great deal.

But it does make keeping secrets difficult. Especially for me.

See, there's a secret I have to keep until the weekend. It's a wonderful thing that he's going to love. It's going to be an amazing surprise.

But it's killing me not be able to talk to him about it.

Deception is not one of my better traits. I'm thinking that's usually a good thing...just not this week.

Happy Monday.

There Oughta Be a Law...

The 2Peas Challenge today is to complete this sentence:

There ought to be a law...

--that prevents crazy outrageous pricing on bottled water. A 20-ounce bottle of water at the Preds game is $3. Come on. That's just outrageous. I don't mind crazy prices for other stuff...call it a sin tax or whatever...but jacking the price of water really hacks me off. It's water for crying out loud.

--People who use cell phones should have to pass a class called "Polite Use of the Cell Phone".

--Basic Grey should be required stock in all LSS.

Um, some people in my life need to get blogging!

You know who you are. Your poor blogs are being neglected and it's not fair. Don't neglect your blogs. I need to hear from you.

Don't make me call names...

Happy Sunday.

PS I had a happy Saturday...bought some ribbon...it was grand!! More later.

It's 1:35 AM and I can't sleep.

I rarely go to bed before 2 AM but tonight (or rather this morning) I am partcularly hyped up for some reason and I can't sleep. No sense in laying in bed when I can come downstairs and mess around on the computer...uploading photos, answering emails, and of course, blogging a bit.

And (insert drum roll) I'm organizing my scrap space. (It is in a purpetual state of needing work.)

I'm not posting the "before" photos...no way. You'd all be very disappointed in me. However, tomorrow (or rather later today) when the sun is up, I will post the "after" photos.

Have some mercy on me and be suitably impressed. (Sometimes a girl needs a little validation ya know.)

Please.

I'm establishing a "FREE" box for items to be given away (ya'll should come over) and a "SALE" box for items to be sold. Both are sizable.

I'm thinking of re-painting my inset wall (coughcoughJoal'sgonnashootmecoughcough)--it should have been white, not blue. I think.

Have to mull on that idea.

Happy Thursday. Joal's staying home today...we're going to McAlister's for lunch!! Good day ahead!!

7 Things that Make Me feel Snappy

Life is found in the details.
I'm so not a detail person.
Well, on most things anyway.
But I want to be...so here's my "Details of Life" post for the day.

7 Things That Make Me Feel Snappy

1--clean sheets and clean comforter on my sharply made bed
2--clean empty recycling bins in my closet
3--organized photos
4--all the library books in one place on the stairs
5--magazines organized in order in their boxes
6--all the plastics in my kitchen arranged neatly and all the lids accessable.
7--the cardstock arranged by color-logic

So what makes you feel like you've got it under control??

Happy Wednesday.

I Love them so much...why do they treat me so bad??

I am blessed to live in the land of abundant hobby and craft stores. Michaels, JoAnn's, and Hobby Lobby are all present in this area and I shop all three with some regularity, along with my favorite scrapbooking and stamping stores.

Of the three chains, Hobby Lobby is my favorite. Reasons? First of all, they carry my favorite adhesive (which is no small thing...it's getting a little hard to find). If you are dying to know...it's the Photo Memory Mounting Taper by Pioneer. Second, HL generally has good weekly sales, especially on craft/art supplies. Julian goes thru paint and art paper and brushes like a little painted tornado. I need to be able to buy them on sale. The third reason I really like Hobby Lobby is that they consistantly carry my beloved 12x12 sub-divided page protectors for 4x6 photos at the most reasonable price--$1.99. I have not seen them anywhere else at all. Recently, they even started publishing coupons in the paper. Lastly, I also like HL because they are closed on Sunday.

Today I felt especially lucky because they were offering individual rools of American Crafts ribbon for half price. Three yards for $1.25! How cool is that? See. I was good. Only bought 4. Dozen. Ha!! No really. Just 4 rolls.

I drive about 40 minutes to get to the nearest Hobby Lobby, passing both the other chains on the way. I have always been happy with the service and selection there so I don't mind driving the extra-long distance.

Until today.

The price of my photo page protectors has gone up from $1.99 to $3.49.

Two different customers in front of me were having issues and Miss Cashier was not being helpful to either. She simply stated her position and did not indicate an ounce of understanding towards either of their dissatisfaction.

Then, she rang up my entire order. My coupon was laying on the counter in plain sight before she started ringing items but apparently she wasn't looking. When she noticed it (after finishing ringing the items) she said "What did you want to use this on?"

Umm, in the history of mankind and coupons, when has anyone not wanted to use the discount coupon on the most expensive item?

With this thought running thru my head...but not out my mouth, I tried to be polite when I said "One of the packs of protectors..."

She looked at me like I had two heads. "OK well I'll have to start over then..." she sighs with obvious exasperation.

I totally don't understand this. But I digress.

No way I was going to hold up the line and be the third customer in a row to have an issue...not over $1.40.

"Don't start over." I said. "I'll use it another time." and put my coupon back in my wallet.

She finished the transaction without incident or apology.

So, here's my question: Why on Earth doesn't a major corporation like Hobby Lobby have a computerized cash register system? What are they thinking? Bar codes...every major store on earth uses a bar-code system...why not Hobby Lobby?? They are decades behind in technology. Why is that?

I'm totally baffled.

Michaels has fine-tuned the coupon acceptance thing down to a science. The cashier scans the coupon at the end of the transaction and the computer automatically deducts the percentage off the highest priced non-sale item. No brain power required.

It also prints a detailed receipt that is easy to read. Hobby Lobby receipts are a mish mosh of jumbled numbers. What a mess!

It's time to take the leap, HL. Jump into the age of computer technology.

For the sake of customers everywhere.

Please.

I'm begging here.

G3

G is THREE!!

We celebrated his birthday today with a trip to TCBY even tho technically speaking, he's been 3 since Wednesday. We couldn't celebrate without Daddy (and Daddy was not in town on Wednesday) so as far as G knows, today is his birthday.

Sneaky Momma.

We began discussing this birthday ice cream trip yesterday and when G heard about it, he got really excited, and then immediately really serious. In the serious tone, he informed me--"I don't want cwumbs in me ice cweam."

"Um. OK. No crumbs."

After some thinking about what he ment...cause I had no idea what he was referring to...I finally realized that his last bowl of yogurt had pecans. He doesn't like nuts and he ate around them, leaving them in his bowl.

Nuts=cwumbs.

Didn't you know?

:)

Happy Birthday G-man!! We love ya, little guy.

The Scrapbooking Demographic?

A few years ago Creating Keepsakes Magazine commissioned a study to determine what the *average* scrapbooker looks like. What they found was not suprising. The *average* scrapper:

--is 30-50 years old
--is female
--is married
--is a parent
--has a college degree
--scrapbooks for a few hours per month
--owns about $700 worth of scrapbooking supplies

Frankly, I don't know what the value of being *average* is.

Walk into any large crop (large being 100 scrappers or more) and you'll notice a few other "scrapbooker commonalities" right off.

--Scrapbookers speak a different language.
--Scrapbookers tend to be "fluffy".
--Scrapbooker carry cell phones.
--Scrapbookers like to share information.
--Scrapbookers love to laugh out loud.
--Scrapbookers have tons of "stuff".
--Scrapbookers are nosy by nature.

It has been implied by a few on 2Peas that there's something wrong with scrapbooking because it's shared by people who have much in common. Scrapbooking has a wide appeal to a certain demographic. Is there something wrong with that?

There's a book coming out authored by a man that includes some not-so-ordinary scrapbooking topics by some not-so-ordinary scrapbookers. In other words, these scrappers don't fit the mold, they aren't the usual scrap-demographic. Allegedly, this issupposed to put the book on "the cutting edge" and make scrapbooking appeal to a wider audience. Unfortunately, the PR for the book has been handled in a such a way that it makes an "us or them" statement.

We are a cretive group. We value art and photos and stories. Why does it matter if a fellow scrapper looks like me? Does it matter if their family unit is different than mine? I don't think it does. It's a non-issue. I can be inspired by pages that I find appealing, regardless of whether or not the creator fits into the normal scrapbooker demographic. Many of the "names" in scrapbooking are part of the LDS church, but on the flip side, many are not. Why is that a problem? Honestly, I don't think it is.

I have long held that every person (scrap demographic or not) has a story that is worthy of being told. That thought hasn't changed. For me, this book will not be judged on the type of people who contributed to it, but by the work involved. If the styles used are appealing, the book may have a shot on my very short list. If not, it won't.

I don't take kindly to the blind accusation that if this book doesn't sell well, it must be because it's so "out of the ordinary" and because it doesn't embrace the scrapbooking usual--births and birthdays, kids and pets. Sorry. That's the nature of the book business. It's always a long-shot.

If you don't appeal to the mainstream, don't expect mainstream success. Sometimes the "cutting edge" can be a slippery, dangerous place. Approach with care.

Little Brother

I'm not sure what to say. My mom called to day to say that my littlest brother (he's 6'2" , 20 years old and a fireman) has enlisted in the US Army and will be reporting for Boot Camp on April 5. It's not a sudden thing--I've known it was probable since Thanksgiving--but now it's real.

And I feel like I've been punched in the gut.

My father served in the Air Force during Vietnam. I've always been a supporter of the troops. Always. I admire so much about America's military men and women. I have supported this current military action.

Or I thought I did.

But the potential price just went up.

2Peas Challenge--Snack Foods

My favorite snack foods:
1--apple slices
2--frozen yogurt with granola
3--popcorn
4--bagel chips and tuna salad
5--peanut butter on crackers

That's What It's All About.

First, a little history…our church has a long-standing history of support for The Classical School of the Medes in northern Iraq.

Yes. That Iraq. (There’s only one.)

The school was started in 2001 by a Nashville-based non-profit called Servant Group International. The leader of SGI, Dave Dillard, is a member of our church. Dave has shared about CSM many times and I am always caught off-guard by his reports. Not because they are particularly startling by design but because anything not related to the war seems startling to me.

See, we hear about Iraq almost every day in the news, but in most cases what we are hearing is focused on the leaders, the factions, the politics, the adults, the death count, the ambushes, the hostilities. Honestly, as bad as it sounds, I have a hard time drawing a deep personal “connection” to the entire area. Perhaps it’s a lack of education or understand or just a basic desire to distance myself from war. Maybe it’s wrong. It’s not a lack of concern…more like I just don’t know where to start in understanding.

But it’s vastly different when Dave talks about SGI and The Classical School of the Medes. When he speaks, he’s talking about the children of Iraq. The children--something I can definitely relate to. We don’t hear much about the children of Iraq on television news. Dave brings photos of the children and I am always reminded how universal children are. No matter where in the world you go, when you shoot photos of children, you see the same characteristics: sweetness, fun, innocence, laughter, curiosity…beautiful Iraqi children.

So with this in mind, today I got an email from one of the Children’s Ministry leaders from church regarding the kids offering. It seems that there is a team of people from our church traveling to northern Iraq this coming summer to conduct a Family Bible Adventure (much like Vacation Bible School) for the children who attend The Classical School of the Medes, their families and friends. (Did I mention that 90 percent of the students at CSM are Muslim Kurds?)

From now until the team’s departure, the children of Christ Community will be contributing their Sunday offering towards the support of this team of travelers. They are also collecting supplies and books to be shipped to Iraq for the school.

I was completely bummed earlier today. I was wallowing in a selfish muck, emotionally. Things are a mess at home, I’m not feeling so hot and Julian’s in a total grouchy funk. I’m totally drawing a blank creatively. I’ve been working on cards and nothing seems right. I had plenty to complain about until this email arrived in my inbox. Then suddenly, I’m looking at the faces of children living in a war-torn unstable country and knowing I had no right to be feeling so bad.

I know what a wonderful time my kids have at FBA each summer. Kids being kids, I think that no matter where you are in the world, this fun summer camp-style event will be a welcomed event.

I hope so.
I pray so.

Sometimes God snatches me back from the brink of despair by reminding that my life is not about me. Ultimately, it’s not about paper and photos, as much as I like it to be. Life--real life is about His plan, His children and the world in which we live. It’s about children in Ethiopian orphanages and Iraqi schools knowing His love and grace...just like my own.

What have I done about that today??

Let the Scrapbooking Begin!!!

My cruise photos arrived from Winkflash today and all I can say is "Heather was right!" My friend Heather turned me on to www.winkflash.com and I am seriously impressed with this service. They have super fast turn-around time and very high quality, and of course, excellent pricing. I wanted to have them all printed in the 5x7 size. To do that at Wal-Greens costs $1.99 for each print. Winkflash offers 5x7's for 29 cents each. Happy as a clam, I am.

Happy Tuesday.

Could 2 People be any More Different?

Ever have one of those days (or nights) when you look at the person you are married to and think "what were we thinking?" and "could 2 people be any more different than we are?"

I love that man...I truly do...
but...
sometimes I marvel that we have survived the past 15 years.

It truly is amazing. Miraculous.

Just today our multitude of differences bubbled forth...

He got up at 7 am to go get coffee...I slept until 9.
I can't live without my computer/internet...he can barely check his own email without assistance.
He's been reading the same big book since Christmas. I've read 4 books this week.
He always gets his books back to the library on time. I like to think that my sizable overdue book fines go to support the library.
He uses Sweet n Lo. I use Equal.
He's happy to go to bed at dark. I would love to go to bed at sunrise.
He hates anything creamy...like tuna casserole or tettrizinni. I love creamy foods.
He has horrible handwriting. I don't.
He can remember peoples names for decades. I can not.
He plays 3 instruments. I play the radio.
He wanted us to get a massage on the beach in Mexico. I don't like strange people in my personal space.
His closet is a bastion of organization. Mine is volcanic.
He likes the sheets tucked under the end of the mattress. I do not.
He's right-handed. I am left-handed.

It never ends.
I guess Paula was right.
"Opposites Attract".

Books Book Books

So many great book-finds lately...I've been feeling so blessed to run across these gems.

My friend Sabrina turned me on to The Encyclopedia of Ordinary Life last night. I remembered reading something about it on Cathy Z's blog but it didn't stand out to me as something I needed to read until Sabrina explained it last night. I bought it today...and yes, it's very definately an excellent scrap-related book. I am taken with the concept. As I understand it, CZ is using it as the basis for a track at Creating Keepsake University as explained here. The book is one of those that at first glance you think will be a fun, easy read. You think you'll be pleasantly amused and then wham! It gets really deep and surprisingly honest and bare.

I have begun a list of possible entries for encyclopedically defining my life and I can't wait to see the results of some of the CKU's.

The other book I am currently reading for fun is "Circle of Grace" by Penelope J. Stokes. It's fiction and I am not very deep in but I was surprised to find it is the story of a circle journal. Four friends spend their four college years together and upon graduation declare that they will always be friends and always be honest with each other, keeping up via this circle journal. It's very rich and speaks to the rotations of life. I can't wait to read more.

In other news, a new McAlister's Deli has opened in Brentwood and we decided to go try it out today. McAlisters is a chain that was started in Mississippi and it's one of my favorite casual dining places. Their big ol' cups of iced tea are positively life-giving. Guess what? It was our lucky day. Turns out the official opening of this new location doesn't happen until Monday...but today was "Friends and Family Day"...meaning they were triaining all their new staff and everyone who stopped by today ate FREE! We ate lunch and did some shopping in Cool Springs. I tried to talk Joal into going back for dinner! Or at least another glass of tea...lol! Seriously, my love for this state was already intense...now it's even more complete. McAlister's is grand!!

So, tell me what you are reading??

What to say...

I love scrapbooking and I am particularly fond of the explosion of growth the industry has seen in the past decade. I love the countless stories of scrapbook-lovin' women who have made their way sucessfully in this business. I admire the guts it takes.

That said...someone should really define the term "over-exposure" to the Primedia folks. This (in my not so humble opinion) is taking things a bit far. What else will they think to smack Lisa Bearnson's photo onto next? Teeth whitener? Hairbrushes? And if Lisa jumps off a cliff, I guess we're all supposed to follow too, huh.

I wouldn't enjoy my Basic Grey purchases nearly so much if I was going into debt for them. Sorry. That would just steal some of the joy. Most. OK, most all.

And how many threads at 2Peas have been filed under the topic of "How do you hide your scrap and stamp purchases from your husband?" Doesn't a credit card with an itemized statement kindof make hiding purchases a little difficult?

I suppose I'll bebanned from scrapbooking circles soon. I've now committed both the "unpardonable sins"--I've let my subscription to CK lapse and I refuse to carry a Basic Grey credit card. Yep. Banned for sure...but I'm ok with that.

Already

2Peas Challenge--10 Things

Today's 2Peas Challenge is to list 10 Things Guaranteed to Put Me in a Good Mood! Here's my little list of 12 because I can never stop at ten of anything:

1-Ice cold Dr Pepper in the morning first thing--love the burn. (Most of the time I settle for Diet Dr Pepper tho.)

2-Watching my boys swing in the backyard...we waited so long for a back yard...it still makes me cry happy tears to see them swinging. (I'm a total sap, I know.)

3-A letter from my mom or my sister.

4-Good shoes...must be cute and comfortable.

5-Music I can groove to--generally something that rocks.

6-Joal having an excellent day at work.

7-Scrap night!! My friends come over and we party until dawn...err...well, at least midnight.

8-Pretty things--ribbon, a great photo, patterned paper (I'm about to dive into some Basic Grey that is making me really happy), Bazzill, fabric, furniture.

9-Freshly vacuumed carpet. I love it when it's clean. Probably because it only stays that way for about 3.2 seconds in my house.

10-Sonic Ice.

11-Children being adopted. (more on that later)

12-Julian, my 10 year old son, reading.

You don't have to be a pea to make a list of your own. Let's see your list.

Good News

The visit to the new pediatrician went extreamly well and I am very pleased. It occured to me while talking to the nurse that G has never had a sick-baby visit to the doctor. He had all his well-baby visits (the last one was just before his second birthday) but he's never been sick. What a blessing that is!

But, alas, the streak is broken. Today he has 2 infected ears. Joy.

He's napping now and I'm actually working on some scrapbooking before I have to clean up. Joal will fly in around 9. I've missed him severely this time but I am glad it worked out that he was gone while the boy was ill. The nights have been rough--G's been up and down many times each night--and since Joal wasn't here it was easier to not have to worry about bothering him too much. He's a very shallow sleeper and usually wakes up before I do when one of the boys stirs. I can go slow or even catch a nap in the afternoons if I have to be up during the night...but he doesn't have that option.

In other news, the bracelets for the Tennscrapbooking group just arrived. I have to get those out. They are pretty cool. (I have extra if you still want one.)

Happy Wednesday!!

Getting a New Pediatrician

We are going to see a new pediatrician today. The old one--the one we've been seeing since we moved here 7 years ago--has outgrown us. The last time we visited the office, I paid $110 for a 14 minute visit...after waiting for 30 minutes in the waiting room.

With a sick 2 year old.

At check out, "the new office manager" didn't know how to handle a non-insured/self-pay account. She made a huge deal about how different this is and acted as if we were an inconvenience to her. As I recall, I had had about all I could take of sick and grumpy children and I refused to apologize for her inconvenience. Sorry. Last time I checked I was paying the bill here...if it's inconvenient for you to take my money...apparently you don't need us a client.

That last incident set us on the path to finding a new pediatrician. It's one of several complaints I have about this office...but I stuck with it because it's less than a mile from our house and has very extended hours. But no more.

So, we are going to our new pediatrician today because G has what I believe to be "the croup". Such a lovely messy problem. Who knew there were so many shades of green??

Our non-insured/self-pay status is a long story involving a well-known medical insurance company tht dropped it's coverage of all it's subscribers in Tennessee without proper notification, effectively leaving us without medical insurance and for Julian and me...eliminating the possibilty of getting new insurance due to current health conditions. It was hugely wrong and illegal and we filed a complaint with the TN Insurance Commission but nothing came of it.

So we have chosen to pay cash for our medical events. It's a blessing that we are all fairly healthy and can afford this option. The boys haven't been to the doctor for a sick-visit for the last nine months. Joal gets a cold about 2x a year and we have an excellent GP whom he sees. I see him once a quarter for Diabetes testing and his PA for other things. We really like him and his staff. He is a Christian man and one of the most personable and caring people I've ever met. His staff is friendly and comforting. The GP actually gives us a cash discount, which we really appreciate. He has taken the time to understand our position--he knows that we don't want to pay for services we don't really need...but it's not a problem to pay for what we do need. He actually took the time to check out the medical co-op we are part of via the web and ask questions about it. I'll be glad when the boys are old enough to see this GP instead of a pediatrician.

Given our experiences, I am not a fan of the insurance world.

So today we are visiting our new pediatrician for the first time. I'm a little nervous...first day of school jitters and all. LOL! It's a 40 minute drive to Franklin but we'll adjust. I think it will be worth it. It's a not-for-profit children's clinic and one of the office executives is Julian's Sunday school teacher.

If you think of it, say a prayer for us...especially the slightly stressed mommy who got 1.5 hours of sleep last night and the daddy in NC.

Happy Tuesday.

I Have a New Theory

I have a new theory. Give a boy of any age a ball and he will find a way to have fun.

And the bigger they are, the more fun they will have!!

Yes, it was a beautiful day!!

Scrap Space

Did you see this beautiful space on 2Peas? I really like the lined baskets (and tagged) in all the different formulations of black and white. Very snappy!

I don't suppose it would be too difficult to create basket liners...ideas?

This I Believe

You must go hear this installment of the "This I Believe" series on NPR.

Paper Love

Love is a stack of SEI. I can't wait to get up to Scrap It! to snag some Winnies Walls and Paisley and Petals...love these retro papers! Have no idea how to use them yet...but it will come.

I so wish SEI made wrapping paper.

Found some Chatterbox papers at Memories in Bloom that is just too pretty. (below)



At Scrapbooks& More in Knoxville I found these beachy papers by Sandy Lion and K&Co... (below)



Papers just get better and better!!!

Scrapbooking on the High Seas

Scrapbooking really is everywhere...including Royal Carribean's cruise ship fleet. On deck 5 of our ship was a promenade of small shops--a perfumery, a liquor store, a fine jewelry store, a casual jewelry store, and a gift shop for acquiring t-shirts, postcards and other RC items. On the 6th deck was the photo gallery, where they sold camera supplies (and cameras) and displayed the shipboard photos that were available for purchase. I was impressed with the quality of the photos taken by the many ship photographers and we bought several, (like this one of us as we were waiting on the pier in Cozumel) even tho the prices were a little more than normal. The photo gallery also offered memory card to disk services and photo printing services.

The very first day, as soon as we cleared US waters, I made a beeline to the shops on deck 5 to check them out. (The shops are only open when the boat is in international waters.) Of course, my first thought was how wonderful it would be to have a scrapbook store on board--but no such luck.

Fast forward to the fourth day (our final full day). I took the days schedule with me to breakfast and was thrilled to see that RC was offering 2 classes on scrapbooking that day. I attended the morning class and found it a bit dull, but plenty suitable for beginners. The woman conducting the class was Angela. She showed an 8.5x11 album of perhaps 12 cruise ship page possibilities and each person attending recieved about 6 ocean-related diecuts and two pieces of cardstock. She had a few small thumb punches, the largest collection of deco scissors I think I have ever seen, some templates, tons of pens (non-archival) and glue sticks. Her handouts for the class included two pages of tips and ideas.

I heard several participants indicate that they use the larger CM albums so they didn't complete the pages as shown but for the most part, the other attendees received the project ideas enthusiastically. The class lasted about 15 minutes and then participants were free to work on the project for 30 minutes. It was very interesting to sit back and watch the others. I really had to hold back...everythng in me wanted to turn loose and really share about scrapbooking. The scrapbooking that goes beyond just having a place to store your photos...the projects shown covered only the very basic 5W journaling. There's so much more. You probably know how deep this runs in me. It was almost stressful to sit back and not intrude with my over-zealous desire to share what I love so much.

After the class I spoke with the teacher and found out that she is an "avid scrapper" and she teaches exclusively for Royal Carribean. She taught on a different ship the day before, got off it in Cancun, drive down to Cozumel and got on our ship to teach. She would be "catching a ride" with us to Galveston and would disembark our ship in the morning and board another ship at Port Galveston in the afternoon. What a whirlwind!! What a cool way to teach...it made me want to give some of those scrapbooking cruises a second look.

On the flight home the next day I was talking to Joal about all this and he suggested combining my two loves--the beach and scrapbooking--and call it "Beachbooking". Wouldn't that just be blissful? I have heard there are some stores on the eastern seaboard that offer beach retreats...maybe that would be a little more doable.

I thought it was really cool that RC offered scrapbooking classes. If ever there was a perfect time to explore a new hobby, it's on a cruise vacation. Afterall, you can only go so far with towel-folding and your body can only stand a finite number of massages. Why not scrapbook?

I took 80 keepable photos and we purchased a dozen or so shipboard photos. I have requested a compilation disk of all the photos taken by the man in our group who was the acting company photographer. Before it's all said and done, I'll proabably have a book of 30 to 40 pages. I am thinking of assembling them all in an 8x8 album. I'm having them printed in 5x7 and will be doing the journaling by computer.

Each member and spouse of our group was given a 12x12 RC leatherette folio containing 2 8x10 photos--one of our group on formal night and one of the ship. It's a very nice photographer's presentation folio so I'll probably leave those 2 photos in it and display it on the mantle for a while.

I captured all sorts of memorabilia--our shipboard passes, copies of our passports, daily schedules, menus, sand and shells from the beach, napkins, wristbands, etc. Lots of stuff to work into our book...I can't wait to scrap it all.

I feel pretty confident that we'll be going again next year and I have volunteered to produce several items for the group that would have made things easier on us. I'm thinking about the possibility of assembling a readymade scrapbook (or a kit) for the other couples in our group or perhaps teaching a class of my own for our group.

Ideas...ideas abound when I am feeling "up".

Later...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

We love you and hope you have a wonderful day!!