still me

bed time yet?

end of day three: operation morning person.
i have had 2 more exceptionally productive and good days. (today, got up at 4:50)...
i am only mid-week into my experiment...but so far, i am finding pros and cons.

pros:
seeing the sunrise
quiet morning time
increased 'house-work stuff' productivity
i feel like since i am up, i better make good use of the time... it motivates me
up when the kids get up, in a better mood
i feel like i get a jump on the day, instead of feeling behind from the time i wake up

cons: (besides the obvious)
so hungry when i get up- not usually so hungry... i don't get that
starving by 9:30am (was eating cookies and diet coke for my mid-morning snack)
needing a nap by 11
i can't really be creative in the morning, at least not so far.
the time between 8:30 (kid's bedtime) and 10pm is VERY short...

i am really feeling pretty good... i haven't napped even once, but that is not to say i wouldn't love a nap. that is no different than usual. i think that the list-making is actually the key to my productivity. and i have found that it is critical to set realistic goals for the day. so i am thinking, if i need to be PRODUCTIVE, getting up early helps me. if i need to be CReATIVE...it has to be at night...

i will tell you, it's 8:25, and i am completely exhausted. i did have to endure a baseball team party at peter piper pizza... and well, no amount of sleep can help in that situation... today was my day to catch up on a million emails. i have to send out a HUGE, sincere thank you to all of you who sent me such kind, and sweet emails about the Scrap, ETC. event...i spent an emotional morning reading your thoughts and reactions to the 'she' class... so made my day!
i get a lot of emails asking what the 'she' concept is... and if kits or classes will be available on-line. so many emails, in fact, that i am working on some different ideas on how we can make that happen. i just haven't figured it out. it's not just a class... it's an experience... i keep thinking that one of these early mornings, i will sit at the computer and write it all out... what 'she' is to me, why, where it comes from, and how it changed my life... i need to do that. i am not sure i can even come close to expressing it. but i need to try... so, know that i am trying to figure something out!

i just had the best ending to my day.
seriously... and you'll know i am tired and pregnant when you read this... (LOL)
i lost my drivers license somewhere between here and alabama. so, when we came home, there was of course this huge security nightmare and i was so BUMMED about it, cause that meant that i would have to take the time to go to the DMV and wait in a huge long line and get a new license. i was just beside myself. emily and i even totally and completely unpacked my suitcase in the check-in line looking for it. ( don't you hate it when people do that...) anyway... eric picked up the mail on the way home from peter piper pizza... and there was an envelope from US AIRWAYS with my address hand written on the front, with simply my drivers license enclosed...so happy i cried!! that is some good karma!
so THANK YOU US AIRWAYS!

good monday morning!

i woke up at 5:04am. i did set the alarm so that i could snooze once. do real morning people hit snooze? they probably don't really even need an alarm!  it was dark and cold when i got up... i washed my face with my new anti-aging face system! (i hope that starts working as i gain a  year this week) ... and i got right to work on my list.  i really like having a list. and it was kindof a cool thing to walk around the house and write down all the things that need to be done, and leave for the morning. that was a weird feeling. usually i don't feel like i can go to bed until i have everything DONE.
ok... i have to brag about all the things i got done by 8AM:
put away clean clothes
pick up closet
fold sweater shelf
unpack from alabama
put away light box
put away all photography samples and gear
call andy about email
remove cardboard boxes
gather/remove garbage
towels in wash
pick up guest room
clean kitchen
clean kitchen fridge (really clean, like the shelves)
clean outside fridge (really clean- wow what a diff that makes...)
straighten scrapbook room, put away samples

that was pretty  much what takes care of the household items that were needed to complete... which put me in an awesome position for all the work-related items that needed to be accomplished... 3 items that were pretty serious, that are getting pushed until tomorrow... and a pretty decent agenda for tomorrow ready to go! sigh... all good!

as i quickly mentioned yesterday,
had such a great event in alabama! so fuN!
when monique first invited me to come to her event, i was intrigued... it sounded different and cool and in line with what i am all about... kind of a deeper side to the scrapbooking passion!
i have to admit, and i have told you before, that designing classes and creating projects totally stresses me OUT!  and this one was no exception... i tossed around so many different ideas and thoughts for what i would present... what DOES inspire me? where do i look? how am i motivated...
i had so much fun sharing inside my art journals, and a bit of my journey! and ... well, the SHE stuff, is so awesome to share.. the project was fun to do and just overall it was a feel-good!
and i got to listen to CATHY z talk about her deal... and, well, you know she just rocks... it was so fun to see so many samples of her fabulous work, and hear what happens in her mind. i felt SO inspired myself...it was fun to hang out with her just a bit... we shared a room, so i saw a lot of her, and not much of elsie or carrie... although i was freaking out, b/c carrie is getting MARRIED next week... and i was amazed that she was THERE... and teaching CLASSES in that kind of condition! i met her cute fiance! how fuN!...
i was truly impressed with monique's team... they decorated everything SO cute... and we had sent all the stuff to them to be kitted and prepped... and they took care of everything! it was great. they were running on like NO sleep, and they were still ready and willing to do anything! i hope they are all still in bed!
one of my favorite things was looking at all the samples in monique's store... she has a great  DT... and it was so fun to look around!  the people who were in attendance were so warm, so happy... i felt an awesome vibe there... i was so happy to have been a part of that!  so ... thanks monique... for having emily and i! we had a wonderful time!

well, it's amost 5pm...
i am tired.
i haven't taken a nap yet, even though i have been tempted. (and no shower or make up either)
going to the grocery store.... there is NOTHING in the house to eat! and people keep telling me they are hungry! and i can't even tell them to go find something... i am hungry, and you really shouldn't go to the store hungry!
shooting to be in bed again by 10pm.
you know...isn't there something about 'early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healty, wealthy and wise'? who doesn't need that!

10 pm- lights out

tonight starts my week of being a morning person.
i have 10 minutes before lights out!
i have already made my list for tomorrow. i want to see how much stuff i can get done before 8am, the time i usually rise.
i will post more tomorrow (blog post is on the list)... about what a wonderful weekend i had in alabama wtih monique and her amazing team! seriously, i had such an awesome time. i am truly exhausted.
i have been blessed with the abitliy to sleep on airplanes. we had 2 legs getting home, and i slept before the door closed and until touch down on both flights. doesn't get better than that!!
so... for tonight... thank you monique... and scrapetc girls....you were amazing
cathy z... i love knowing you!
em... you were a trooper...
steph, rana and erica... thanks for the recovery--you pullled it off!
all of you that attended... thanks for the opportunity to share. i loved it.
so happy to be home and ready to have a very productive and inspiring morning person week!
(you gotta love the optimism!)

beautiful morning...

this morning when i woke up... (and same thing yesterday)... i was so amazed at how beautiful it was looking out the window. it really is the best time of year here.  the desert is blooming, the air is cool and crisp and the sun is so radiant... lights up everything. and all i can do is look at it, because i am too exhausted to get up and take advantage of it!  so lame! i got to thinking about morning people today. you know these types... they are up at 5 am, writing you emails... chipper as can be! what is that? how is that possible? and yet.. i feel this little tingle of jealousy. for how happy, and energetic they are in the morning. because, quite frankly, i am a SLUG. (and usually grouchy as well!) 
so here is my idea. next week, i am going to TRY to be a morning person. i am going to go to bed EARLY. like 9pm. and then, i am going to wake up at 5am.  mind you... i am not CONVERTING to morning person-hood.... just going to give it a try... and at the very least, ENJOY these amazing spring desert mornings. drink them in!  maybe i will feel happier... more alive... maybe it will inspire me in new ways! you never know!
as for today...
i am leaving for alabama! i have to show you the cute 'she' inspiration book we will be making...
the ScrapETC. event is all about inspriation... and i think by now, it's clear that i am so totally inspired by the 'she' concept... so i will be talking about that... and how to start a she album and stuff like that... (this little quote book is made from a 'retro' frame kit... it's all-inclusive!)

the other class i am teaching is about the importance of PLAYing! maybe you remember all the playing cards that me and a bunch of my team and friends created for CHA summer/memory trends displays... to show the intense side of some of  the products... well, i made a little book out of some of mine...and i LOVE it! the messages on these little babies are so inspring and they are really fun to look at! so we'll be starting a PLAY book, and giving some challenges about conveying MESSAGES through your art... what is it that you WANT to say!.... say it! be heard!
so cute. i love it.
sooo
i think it's going to be an awesome weekend!
i am excited to  play with all of you who will be there!  so many of you have emailed me and i am exicted to meet you in person.  Monique is killing herself off to create an amazing inspiring and motivating weekend! let's make sure we all give her lots of LOVE... i know that my demands alone are enough to put her OVER THE EDGE! (i am very demanding, huh monique!)  LOL.....
so, i am going to exercise, pack and if the stars line up, get a pedicure before we leave!
see... if i were a morning person, this would all be done!
so nanci, and franni... you are my inspiration!

seriously... can you think of anything better??
bunch of kids running around having a blast!?
the pool is officially open for business... not for me, mind you... it has to be WAY hot outside for me to get in! it's still freezing cold water... but i am willing to sit out there...
maternity bathing suit and all!
the wireless internet doesn't reach all the way to the pool... i need to go and buy one of those airport extenders..

good times...
(great convertible weather)

already another monday?

It’s Monday again!
Where did the last week go?

You know that I love Mondays… and I am in fact, sitting in a clean house.
i did purchase these beautiful cleaning products from target over the holiday weekend... slowly but surely, the house is being taken over by pink... but, looks so pretty and clean!

… 24 is on tonight… and I believe there will be a confrontation with president logan. how exciting! LOL….

I was a lousy blogger last week, but I was multi-tasking like a mad woman and I did take a nap almost every afternoon… I had no choice. It was as if a huge force field would come over me and take over my motor systems. I hate being tired… I hate that feeling that you can’t function, can’t concentrate. EXHAUSTION! Even like my arms and legs… so tired. The list thing seemed to really work for me last week! So I am carrying it into this week! … I have to admit, that I feel so productive! It’s also helping the focus… I have thoughts of what needs to be done, and then I forget immediately… so if it makes it on the list, we’re in good shape! Last week it felt so awesome to have all those to-do lists crossed off…

I think that I am feeling a little guilty this morning from not doing any work at all over the weekend! And maybe a little overwhelmed for what is in store this week!

Cory turned seven on Friday! We did the birthday party thing… my little brother, his wife and my nephew came for the big event and easter break. It was so fun to have them here! I got a little *refresher course* on having a 3 year old in the house! (yikes) we had such a fun easter party on Saturday night at the park… complete with egg hunt and whiffle ball games… easter is seriously the best holiday in AZ! The weather was perfect. I didn’t do a very good job at taking photos… it’s so hard to take photos, and be hostess… so I have to see what jodi came up with.

I did visit a cute little new local paper-craft store… called Lucky 15 (such a cute name)
It’s on the northwest corner of Indian School and 7th Ave … the owner’s name is Meagan… check out a few of my ‘finds’… sequins, wood block stamps… and she throws in a fortune cookie! Love that… it's always fun to find a new little spot so stop by! (and just down the road from my hair girl... how convienant!!!)

this week... so much going on...
getting ready for my 'SCRAP ETC.' weekend... i am excited about it! i am really happy about how the presentations have come together, and the projects we are doing... i still have a considerable amount of work to get the powerpoints finished up etc... but i think it's going to be an awesome weekend! looking forward to that. never been to alabama!
i have such a hard time creating class descriptions as far in advance as most events require... without fail, i get pulled in different directions as it comes down closer and closer to the real deal! and i don't like to finish them too far in advance, cause then, by the time the event comes i am disconnected with the presentation and the projects. sigh...
i am teaching here locally at Scrapbooks, ETC. next weekend.. and just finishing up those projects... as usual, i am planning WAY too much for a 2 hour time slot. typical me!

so i am sending a congrats to my mom and dad for getting through another TAX SEASON! good job guyS! you made it... so excited for you to come and visit next weekend... the weather is perfect!

oh...
and i have to extend a WARM WELCOME to all of you who are officially signed up for the 'creative escape' weekend! it's so exciting... we are going to have so much fuN! the planning stages are pretty much over, and organizing, and making things happen is well into effect... um... it takes a lot of work to create an event like this... hello! but i am loving it... so much! i can't wait! there are still about 160 spots left... i think??? we are getting ready to release more details on the classes and some of the cool little details that we have been busily working out - before we announce! so stay tuned... i will let you know as soon as the info is up on the site. i know i have said this before, but i am so impressed with the bazzill crew, and how fun they are to work with... thanks guys!!

speaking of updated info...
i put some up close photos of the little mother's day album i made that was featured in the ME's Home Companion in a photo album... i may need to make the photos bigger... i know it's really hard to get the concept, and the project is not for the faint of heart! it requires some scrapbook saavy! (um, mom... don't look at the photos! it will ruin the surprise!)
i also put a bunch of old layouts up in a photo album... the photos are not great... i think i will devote some time to shooting more-and re-shooting these... i just got a new photo booth, and i feel a huge photographic project coming on! so, for now... please excuse the lousy photos! most of these were published in one place or another, but it was so fun to look back through... have you pulled out any of your old albums yet?

***to end on an exciting note!!!
i got to see (almost) all of my CHA summer production samples friday! they all arrived and i was thrilled! first, cause there is some fun cute stuff coming, and second... because i actually hit my deadlines this go-around... we are going to have product IN STOCK... new releases... IN STOCK for CHA SUMMER! gasp! i know, i can't belive it... i know i know, you will ask me to tell you secrets... but i can't! emily will get so mad at me! you know i can't keep secrets... sigh... i am stuck playing with all this cute stuff all by myself up here in my scrapbook room! (wink!!!)

well, blah blah blah... i have gone on long enough...
happy monday everyone!

love mondays!!

i know i have talked about this before... how much i love monday!
this is my t0-do list for today...
and you know...
i almost got it all done! i did some stuff that wasn't on the list, and i had to add it so i could cross it off, so that i could feel like i accomplished something!  i am not really a 'list' person... and it really helped me today!  i got a lot done. it's 11 pm and i am really really tired. didn't get to the grocery store.

i did manage to watch 24... such twists! i love it...
and, my house was cleaned... dang, that is so refreshing. i am SO thankful for that!

i have a bunch of creative stuff that needs to get done... and i decided that i really like 'challenges'...
i love to be given certain parameters, certain products and papers and colors to work within, and  then come up with something... i find that helps to narrow the focus of the creative process, and allow you to really expolore the limits of those certain products... i recently was given just such an opportunity!  you know that jenni bowlin has started her own kit operation!! she asked me if i would be a guest designer for her april kit in which she was using a few different heidi swapp products... and some Scenic Route, which i love. ...
when she first asked me i was thinking... no way... just cause of the women's expo and other events i am juggling... and then i realized that i really needed this opportunity for my sanity! i had so much fun and love the pages that i created for that! so go check it out: jenni bowlin's april kit

speaking of the women's conf...
wow - that was quite an experience!
and thanks Kristan for emailing  this pic of me when i was giving my presentation!
as i mentioned earlier, my presentation was geared for a more general audience... maybe people that were not already scrapbookers, but those who kindof hesitate to get into scrapbooking because they don't know where to start, or how to get going... it's so intimdating...
i talked about how scrapbooking is about creating a legacy- and living a life to remember... in a concious way... choosing how to live and in effect, what you will remember, and how you want to be remembered! 
i think that it takes tremendous effort to live a concious life... isn't it so much easier to go through each day robotically; doing what has to be done, and then  moving on to the next thing- and waking up and wondering where the time has gone....
i think sometimes i am totally guilty of this. my days melt together... i do what it takes to keep up... but every so often, i stop and REMEMBER. i have to ask myself questions...  it was those questions that i presented at the women's conf.  i created a handout to help people think about some of the areas i believe we need to be concious about. Download expo_handout.pdf

i have had a few requests to have access to this handout... maybe a challenge is in order???
what about creating some layouts that illustrate any of these questions... what would you take photos of?
how would you illustrate these elements of YOU? do you remember what feels fun to you? or the simple things that really make you happy? and what matters most...

as i prepared my presentation, i went through all my albums and pulled stuff that fit ! it had been a long, long time since i looked through all my pages and pages and pages... man, i had a blast. isn't it SO amazing how looking through the layouts takes you right back to those moments.  i photographed about 25 of my older scrapbook pages to illustrate my points... i may have to share them here...i was reminded how deeply i love scrapbooking. and how grateful i am to have the connections to those parts of my life. in such a tangible way.
seriously, scrapbooking is so cool!  i love it.

meeting baby aspen

the weather here in SLC is pretty lousy, and apparently it's affecting the flight schedules.  so i am sitting on the floor in the SLC airport eating a bag  of Lay's potato chips with Quincy, and she says "doesn't this just seem like a picnic!"... she has a lot better attitude than i do!
last week, my little sister, katie, gave birth to her first baby... a girl! a new niece for me! she had her while i was in chicago for CKU, and it was close to killing me that i couldn't be there and see her for myself.  so quincy and i jumped on some frequent flyer miles yesterday and 24 hours and probably about 200 photos later,  we are headed back home. 
dang, that is a cute baby!
she is just so sweet, so calm, so bright and alert! it was so fun to just sit and hold her!   they are so little and snuggly. that is pure bliss, holding a new one like that...
i am still trying to decide if it was making me feel excited... or scared to death!  i am pretty sure it's a mixture of both!  i am definately excited to get me one of those... but i think that short 24 hour glimpse brought back some serious flashbacks.  life as i know it, will no longer exist... at least for a while! (smile)
it was so fun to see katie and her husband clark adapting and parenting.  clark has to be the cutest dad... he is completely  smitten with his new little girl... he still has his hospital bracelet on (a week later) and just doesn't want to take it off... so sweet!
even a short visit is a good one... man, it's hard to leave that little bundle!
such a miracle.. 

(6 hours later)
i am home... and the bunches of photos i took today have been perfect for a quick little project i had to pull together tonight. i have an appearance on channel 3 in the morning, to promote the women's expo... and i am highlighting some of my products. we are showing some of my new paper,
self-adhesive chipboard, tape, photocorners, journaling spots etc... we have had some exclusive kits put together to sell at the expo! so that will be fun... alright... i gotta gather everything up for tomorrow... i think it will air around 8:30am.

fun stuff... cute baby!

missing OUT

i got this image in my in-box this morning from J CREW:

seriously... SO CUTE... only becuase i am PREGNANT do i see something that i really can't live without!!! how freaking cute are these? i am loving them with the sassy espadrills... sigh... i am having issues with the maternity clothes scene! typical... i know... there are so many different kinds of 'pregnant panels'. some really comfy, some ... horrible! take for example, the ones that have that stupid draw-string panel... you are supposed to pull it tight, then tie it in a slip knot type deal so that you can just pull the one end when you need to loosen it... (about a million times a day!) well, i have these totally cute camo cargo pants that i am loving... but they have that pathetic draw string deal, and i swear almost everytime, i in fact pull the knot tighter and am stuck trying to undo a horrible little KNOT, while i am DANCING by the toilet... sigh... and then there is these cute bermudas... SOMEONE BUY THEM AND ENJOY THEM for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

going HOME

It’s 1:30am, and I am breathing a sigh of relief!  We have a 7:30am flight to catch, so we are looking at a short night of sleep.

CKU-a Chicago is over…I love being a part of it! I love teaching the “SHE” track… it’s so much fun to be here, and introduce people to not only the powerful ‘she’ concept, but also the scrapbook products I love and lots of techniques of how to use them!  It’s seriously good stuff!  At the same time, it’s a HUGE effort! I am emotionally and physically exhausted—it’s hard to have this much fun!

This time, I brought Emily, liz and jodi to help me with the big make-n-take day and to teach the album track! With over 600 students that need to get through all the make-n-takes from 10-4 thurs  and 114 students in our track Friday and sat… holy cow, I think that we are ALL totally worn out. But just maybe, NOT QUITE as worn out as the students that have been attending not only their album tracks, but also tons of pretty impressive ‘elective’ classes!  All the sponsors here involved stepped up and produced some really cool classes! I got to take a quick peek at some of the other albums, and it was so much fun to see what else was happening… scrapbooking is so cool! I love it.

It was fun to have cathy here, see becky and ali… the junkits girls… it’s just a big party as usual!

So I have to share some fun pics..

Here is my team! What would I do without them? None of this would happen without them! They do so much… everything went smooth cause these girls do an awesome job of prepping stuff, pulling supplies together and making sure that the I’s are dotted and t’s crossed… I am SO blessed to have them! All I do is show up, and they make me look good! Make it look like I know what I am doing!

liz made 130 "she" rings out of sterling silver, one for each student to keep as a rememberance of the 'she' experience and reminder of who we are and who we want to be ... i don't have any photos of the rings... so i will have to get her to post them on her blog...(liz's blog).  it's a good thing that emily has done about a million make-n-takes in her day, so we benefit from her vast experience!  desite all the craziness of the make-n-take day, i was so happy that they closed the room down for 15 minutes to give us all a chance to eat lunch. it was a turkey sandwich and i got to load it up with mustard!

This is the 114 girls that were part of the ‘she’ revolution this go-around. This class is so awesome!  The pregnancy situation did not help the emotionally charged experience… you know that I was crying my eyes out! But it’s so awesome, I love how it effects people and inspires them. I loved hearing each persons story… where they are… what they are struggling with, and what the ‘she’ class is to them! It’s fabulous! 

This track is all about learning new techniques… here is a bunch of little piles of the elements that we created to start putting together the pages! So much fuN!

Check out this cutest cake that Denise made for the class (one was chocolate, and one was white)… they were yummy!

And this is a look at the kits before we handed them all out! Yikes… this is a lot of stuff!

Here is the café press clothing that most of the ‘she’s were sporting…

Here is all the awesome album track teachers, such a cute photo! I love it.

i am so thankful for the  opportunities to come to these kinds of things... teach, meet people... play a little! share ideas...
seriously, what did i do to get such a cool job?

now i gotta go back to reality-- lots of unfinished work waiting for me! 

thanks to all of you in my track! you were delightful, wonderful and beautiful women!