warning: picture heavy post #2

so before i jet off to the doctor, because my blasted ears that have been giving me trouble my entire life decided to fill with fluid the day that i left for CHA and caused me horrific pain in the air and required me to shout at most of the people i talked to while there because i couldn't hear, i thought i'd post some pics. (holy wow...is that the mother of all run-on sentences or what, lol?!)

i don't even know where to begin really...it was all kind of a blur. but here we are at Tortilla Joe's for dinner on Monday night...seriously, for Disney, YUMMY Mexican. (and i'm pretty picky as i LOVE Mexican food) is the lighting perfect? nope. but we had an awesome time and i love these people to pieces. oops...this one wasn't supposed to be placed in this part of the post, but i can't figure out how to change it, lol. refer back to this one in a bit.

now on to the good stuff.

to be honest, there wasn't too much i was CRAZY over. but the ones that i did like, i LOVED. Jenni Bowlin comes to mind (of course), a few things from Anna Griffin, the sticker books at Pipnk Paislee...but Teresa Collins has a couple of sets of these chipboard die-cuts and i MUST have them. maybe it's the ledger base, maybe it's the black & red. not sure, but i want them. ASAP, lol.

did i mention there was a full-out FIRE evacuation on Monday morning?? the show had just opened and the alarms went off. must be an error, right? ummm, wrong. apparently someone got crazy in the kitchen playing chef and caught some grease on fire. we were only outside for about 10 minutes, but it was long enough for most of the crazy scrapbookers there to whip out their cameras and start snapping pics, lol.

now. being that my local scrapbook store is 2+ hours away in Detroit (Scrappy Chic...if you're ever up that way, GO. you will NOT be disappointed, and i only wish i lived closer!), i'm often limited as to what is available nearby. case in point: Melissa Frances products. it's quite possible that i could be in love with most of what she had at the show...quite possible, lol. but here are my top 3 from her booth.

the ledger/GRAPH die-cuts...

the GRAPH chipboard letters...conveniently manufactured in a classic font... GRAPH/ledger mini album with various shapes and tags tucked inside... is anyone noticing a theme? graph. ledger. must have. immediately.



7gyspies still remains in my heart, lol...and this corner? well, it represented nirvana for a mini book afficionado like yours truly.

new to the scrapping world, and displaying at their first show...JilliBean Soup. lots of classic colors and designs you can use over and over again. best part? she's 'local'! (at only 2 hours away, i consider that local in the scheme of things) there wasn't anything in her booth i DIDN'T love.

now for some fun pics.

we went over to the 2peas cupcake social on Monday evening...and honestly, the prizes & giveaways were a-flowin'. is it coincidence that Steph, who fears stamping the way i fear flowers, received a generous package from Hero Arts with SEVERAL sets of stamps? i think not. in fact, i'm convinced it's a sign from above, lol. we sat with the lovely Tina Cockburn (who was kind enough to snap this pic of us) and a young gal named Candice who brought us all to tears with her candor and wit. thanks for a fun time guys...

ran into Lord Vader and one of his peeps at the Creative Imaginations party. i was laughing too much to get more pics, and to be honest, i was intimidated by their light sabers...which they were wielding like they meant business. also not in the picture is the funniest person ever...the guy playing Luke Skywalker. if you were there, you know what i mean...he was a BIT too into his part. the man would NOT crack a smile...and as soon as he saw a camera pointed in his general direction, the game face was on. if he truly had wanted to BE his character though, he should have stayed off the cell phone...i mean, everyone knows they had other means of communication, duh.

now this next pic was taken by our main man, Greg. EK Success was kind enough to have these comfy leather couches that we would head toward when we needed to give our feet a break, and he happened to walk by and catch us there. if you've been to the Studio blog (just scroll down to the CHA Day 4 post), this scene probably looks familiar...except we were in random fits of hysteria in the video that he shot while pretending to be on his cell phone, so we didn't know until we saw the scene on the blog what he had done. but the reason for all of the laughter was that while he was taking pics of us, he caught Kirsty in what we'll call an unflattering shot...and between her comments and the actual photo, we could barely contain ourselves. the photo is on Nic's camera, and despite much pleading from Kirsty, will remain in the annals of SC history for the 4 of us to refer to when we need a good chuckle.
now, being cooped up in that convention center is stifling after a bit. so Monday afternoon we had gone back to our room to freshen up a bit before heading back out for dinner...and we remembered someone telling us that Scrapbook Oasis wasn't far from Anaheim. so we Googled it, and then Googled the estimated cab fare...umm, $40+ EACH WAY plus tip and nixed that plan. but then i thought...'hey, a rental car can't be that much', and there were like 5 of them right around our hotel. so Steph called, and with her military discount, she was able to get us a car for $28 for the entire next day.

how could we say no??

so despite the temptation to rent a convertible so the 4 of us could live Thelma & Louise style, we picked up a sassy little Pontiac something or other with some get up and go...and we got up and went.

to the beach.

Newport Beach, that is.

i had never dipped my toes in the Pacific before...so i was giddy about the whole deal, lol. here is a fun shot Kirsty took of Nic, Steph and i just chillin' on the lifeguard stand...

(now would be the time to refer back to the pic under the pier.)

i had never been under a pier, so the whole concept was just pure fun. we acted like fools, taking lots of silly pics with little inhibition...and Nic thought to snap a pic of me to prove i was there, so here it is.

we never did get to see Scrapbook Oasis...because though their website said they opened at 10, we hadnt read their blog which mentioned they weren't opening until 4 due to the show. but that's ok...we wandered around the Newport Beach area for a bit, had lunch together at a little cafe and then off we went back to the convention center. it was just the break we needed to refresh ourselves a bit.

and in the meantime, we were able to make some pretty unforgettable memories.

i love these guys.

warning: picture heavy post #1

well, in case i was about to forget what snow was all about, Mother nature was kind enough to drop an additional 10 inches on Northeast Ohio Tuesday evening...just in time for my flight home yesterday. i have a ton of pics/stories/good times to talk about concerning my stay with friends during CHA, but i'll post about those tomorrow.

i decided to treat myself to a couple of new things before i left...i'd been wanting a new necklace for awhile now and couldn't decide between these 2.

so i figured what the heck.

and i ordered them both. :)

they arrived just a few days after i purchased them, and i can't say enough about the seller...eliwill over at Etsy. (her real name is Elizabeth Williams...and i adore every single thing in her dang shop) i will DEFINITELY be buying more...her style plays right into my vintagey/old stuff taste, and i see that she is now having a special if you order before February 8th. check out her store HERE...you will NOT be disappointed!!

this would be the Sadie necklace... and may i introduce you to Diana, lol??

so we were in California for Reveal Night on Tuesday...having a blast with everyone during all the mayhem. here is what i came up with for February's kit...and i have a TON of stuff left over.

a mini about my brother, Brett...i have a million stories about this guy, but i can't possibly fit them all into one book, lol.

(the following picture proves that i have no shame, lol...that would be me dressed up for my Senior Prom. Mr. Harper was on the other side of the room, patiently waiting while i snapped a pic with Brett...don't be jealous of my Jessica McClintock Gunne Sax dress and humongo hair)

a favorite picture of my Dad and i...

a funny tale about a nickname...

a layout using pics that Allie took...

my sweet Mom and Dad on their wedding day, 1968...

i have to say, i am really enjoying scrapping older pics lately. it feels good to get some tough feelings down on paper...and at the same time play around with the awesomeness that is my kit.

hope you're having a great week...more to come tomorrow!!

last minute ramblings.

i can't believe it...i booked my plane ticket way back in July, and i leave tomorrow! totally stoked to meet up with Nic and Steph at the airport before heading over to meet April, Scarlet, Greg, Amber, Kirsty, Davinie, Stephen and Lorie. chatting with them online just about every day is WAY different than getting to gab in person...i have a feeling we'll just keep chatting until our lips fall off, lol.

i know it's kinda late, but here are my sneaks for February's Studio Calico kit...it goes up for sale Tuesday night at midnight EST...don't forget!! everyone will be online even though we'll be in Anaheim...and Joy, Tina and Jenn will be holding down the fort on the Live Chat board. (hmmm...is that another mini i spot, lol?)

i REALLY can't say enough about this one...i got every add-on, and i love every single piece of them.

so until later...

adios Ohio...

HELLO Cali!!

notes.

a few things that need to be addressed:

note to self:

you have a ton of things you need to get together before leaving early next Saturday morning. laundry being the main concern, but don't forget to get all of your layouts done for SC ASAP. oh, and snap a few pics for sneaks and post them Tuesday.

note to body:

ummm, i'm leaving Saturday for a trip to California to see some friends. so, being sick really doesn't fit into the plan. therefore, please get on the ball and expell this cold from yourself...because it isn't cool to carry Kleenex around Cali.

note to Mother Nature:

really. i know that you blessed us with a mild winter up until last week. i get that. but is it really necessary to KEEP dumping snow on us? it's pretty...it's fluffy...it's getting old.

note to my car:

don't be sneaky anymore. that whole starter going out thing was a bit inconvenient this week. i mean, i'm glad it was covered by the warranty and all, but still...let's be friends again.

addendum to note to self:

don't forget to write a few sweet notes for Allie & Mike while you're gone.

the list goes on and on...

on days like this.

it's on days like this... that i wonder if we'll ever have another day like this...

school was cancelled here for today, and i'm thinking it's safe to assume tomorrow will be a bonus

day as well.

predicted high today : 6 degrees.

predicted high for tomorrow: 0 degrees.

yowza.

we don't have bus service for our school district, so the biggest concern is for those kids who don't have a way to school other than their 2 trusty feet. now normally, Allie would have been excited about a snow day, but she was all geeked up about a field trip to Valley View for a visit to learn all about the old canal system. SO, she's a bit salty about staying home today...but i'm hoping they'll rescheule the trip. hopefully the cold will only stick around for another couple of days and we'll be back to the 'balmy' temperatures in the 20s, lol.

so far for today we have a Guitar Hero World Tour concert scheduled, some artsy time planned and grilled cheese with tomato soup on the lunch menu. i mean really, is there anything ELSE to eat on a snow day?! that was always what Mom made for Brett and i when we were chilled to the bone...so the tradition continues on. right now i can hear her having a jam session in her bedroom on her karaoke machine...she sounds pretty good and i'm thinking maybe the Jonas Brothers should thinking about adding her to their tour.

LIVE...TONIGHT AT THE ARENA...we present the JONAS BROTHERS + ALLIE!!

ok, ok...maybe not so catchy, lol.

if you didn't make it over to Studio Calico to check out the sneaks of February's kit, 'Fortune Cookie' yet, make sure you head over and have a look. more new EXCLUSIVE SC paper, stamps and just plain ol' good stuff. i'm working on a few things and should have some sneaks of my own this weekend sometime...but i promise you, you don't want to miss out! every single one of us is in love with this kit...you have to love that April & Scarlet manage to keep outdoing themselves each month.

and i just want to send a thank you out to this lovely gal who nominated me for the 'Lovely Blog Award'...i always get a kick out of seeing who actually reads this blog, lol. even better, i like being able to find new blogs to visit...you click on one, which takes you to another, and another...and before you know it, you've bookmarked a few that you keep wanting to check back on!

side note: does anyone know why sometimes when i post here, the double space in between paragraphs doesn't show up when i publish the dang thing?? i HATE when it looks like one big run-on paragraph...so i'm sorry!! i'd love to know what i'm doing wrong...so if you have a fix for me regarding the double-space, let me know please, lol.

stay warm wherever you are and enjoy!

:)

faves.

so my dear friend Cilla over at Studio Calico issues a challenge at the start of every year for us to post our favorite layouts/projects from the previous year...it's fun to go back and look at your work and see which catch your attention right away. so without further ado...here goes!

this little album about 10 random things i asked Allie was fun to make, uses some of my favorite colors and was a cool way to capture kind of who she is at 9. this one makes me smile...look at those cheeks. am i right?!

this is one of those 'therapeutic' layouts that is about the words...not necessarily the page.

let's see...punches, paint, sewing, Collage Press stuff and this sweet picture. what's not to love?

again, another one about journaling...and borders, lol.

now, this one doesn't 'say' much...but to me it's significant. that stinker will still hold her Dad's hand, but has given up completely on her mama...sigh.

Allie and my Mom...these 2 are as thick as thieves, and yet i'm not sure that either of them know how lucky they are for that.

a fave color combo here...and a picture of just chillin' on a weekend.

hmmmm...punches (again), sewing (again) and a quick reminder of how much changes in a year.

this mini means alot to me because she still refers to it randomly when she may be having a rough day. it makes my heart happy to see her taking my advice...and believing in herself.

so there you have it.

we're working on an all-out blizzard here in Northeast Ohio...basketball was cancelled this morning for Allie but Coach Mike (dad, lol) says we're still on for the 4pm soccer game. it has slowed just a bit, so maybe they'll get a chance to work on the roads before we head out.

i'm just looking out my window for the mailman...with the hopes that he has a lovely SC box filled with February's kit to play with on this snowy weekend.

enjoy!!

:)

some things never change.

and the Roller Skating Rink here in town would be one of them.

they still have the same run-down lockers.
they still haven't renovated the bathrooms.
and they still rock the disco balls like nobody's business, as evidenced above.

we go ice skating about once a week...Mike & i always loved to go when we were in high school, so when she was 3 we though we'd take her. THAT was a nightmare...and after about 1 lap around we decided to have her take a lesson or two.

fast forward to today, and while she isn't able to take lessons anymore because she isn't quite old enough for the next step up (and didn't want to repeat her level again because she would be 'bored'), we still love to go for Family Night. problem being that while our ice rink is 'indoor', it has 2 'open' walls that are just fencing that is covered with tarp...so it gets COOOOOOOOLD. and after being invited to a few birthday parties at the Roll Arena, Allie decided she liked doing that as well...so we went on Friday afternoon.

it.
was.
packed.

apparently everyone else had the same idea during Winter Break.

but we strapped on our rental skates (which are ok...but not as comfy as the ice skates we own because they aren't ours) and hit the boards.

people, let me tell you...when i hopped out there and the music started up, and the disco balls started spinning, it was like i was 12 all over again.

difference now is that there isn't anyone manning the turntables in the DJ booth...just some teenager clicking choices on a laptop. with more modern music of course.

that was, until i heard the opening notes of 'Thriller' start.

and it was on.

i don't know what came over me...you'd have thought i was born on skates. i was weaving and flying around that rink...only tipping my toe to brake every so often when some hazardous beginner would jump in my way.

the only thing missing was 'Jump' by VanHalen.
and my white skates with the purple wheels and purple yarn pom-poms on the toe that i made myself.

wonder if those are at my Mom's house?

it was hard to get a clear pic of Allie in her glory...she too is a speed demon, just like when she's on the ice. this is the best i could do...

it was funny, because you would think with our fondness/comfort level of ice skating that roller blades would have been the first choice. but for the life of me (and Allie) that break thing on the black of a roller blade causes me to almost break my neck every time. so we rolled old school...and it felt good.

thinking about going ice skating tonight...it's official.

we've got the fever.

New Year, new outlook.

so 2008 came & went.

and lots of good things happened in 2008...so many cool opportunities, tons of good times with my family & friends, a bit more travel than i'm accustomed to (but i love it), changes in old habits that have resulted in an immensely positive outcome...much to reflect on that reminds me that i often lead a charmed life.

but there's always the bad along with the good, right? that's just the way things go. things like the loss of a friend, a hospital admission from hell for a loved one, subtle reminders that while pain in your heart may fade it never quite disappears, a work schedule that seems to get crazier week by week and threatens to test every ounce of patience in my body...you get the picture.

did the good outweigh the bad??

you bet it did.

and i can't get hung up on the negative...because it just isn't good for me. or anyone, for that matter. so i have to focus on the positive. the everyday blessings that belong to me and me alone. the things that continue to push me to look past negativity...and lift me back up when i fall on my face.

because it's going to happen, right?

you can't control much of anything...except how you interpret it and let it affect you.

a very dear friend helped me to realize this. she and i talk quite a bit, and it just clicked.

so that's my intention for 2009.

ok, so with that out of the way lol...

i'll be honest, this was a rough month for me to get my assignments done for Studio Calico...between the aforementioned insane work schedule, hospital stay and the season in general i was whooped. so here goes...

this is probably the single most simple mini book i have made to date. i dig simple...it fits in with my new philosophy, lol. i used the Jenni Bowlin mini album from the Glossary add-on and the papers from the Footnotes project kit, a fave pic from each month of 2008, my trusty Martha Stewart pointy circle/seal punch and went to town. i journaled a few tidbits from each month on the opposing pages and used the bicycle stamp from SC to kind of help it all 'flow' together. oh...and i used some paint, lol. :P

honestly...this was too stinkin' easy and can be whipped together in a few hours.

a few layouts...

see that arrow rub-on on the photo?? ummm, that would be me on the Giant Wheel at Cedar Point this summer. now i'm here to tell you, i will ride ANY roller coaster at that place...but i will never, i repeat NEVER go on that again. crazy, huh??

as for the rest of the weekend, Allie has talked me into taking her roller skating tomorrow. we went a few years ago, but she LOVES that place. it was a lesson in the fact that i am not as young as i used to be. so do a favor for an old lady...

pray for me, huh?

(lol)