still me

impressed

i am not really a tech-junkie...
i usually like whatever works... for as long as it works for me, then i have to be forced to learn something new. for example... my husband was trying to convince me to switch to a mac about 4 years ago...but i was reluctant. i liked my computer, and i had all my stuff stored on it etc... and i can't remember where i had to go, but i was gone for the whole day... i came home to a new MAC and no PC anywhere... it was a sink or swim situation! now of course, i can't imagine not having switched... but it took drastic measures. so usually, i am just happy with what i have... i make due... i don't like to have to learn stuff... heaven forbid me have to READ an instruction book. that really kills me. so what i am telling you is that it's a miracle i am as connected as i really am... all probaby thanks to my tech-junkie hubby.
well, why am i telling you all this?
because again, i had to be forced to make a change- or try something new, cause i didn't want to have to figure it out... but i got a big fancy photo printer about 4 years ago... and i guess it never worked right... so i have never been the slightest bit interested in getting a nice printer- as a result... i never use enlarged photos... cause that involves planning and a trip to wal-mart... which i try to avoid...
i have a little mini-photo printer that i have enjoyed, and use to print 4x6 photos and smaller... and it's fine. well, i THOUGHT it was fine until last week.
what happened last week?
i had been talking to Shirley at EPSON... if you have been to a CKU you know Shirley! and telling her that i can't get excited about a fancy printer etc... and well... i ended up with a R1800 to try out.
it arrived... in a really big box, and i was scared to death... and it sat there, in the corner of my studio unopened for like 2 weeks i bet.
then... one of those moments of desperation arrived! the night before mother's day and no time to get the family photo printed at the one hour deal. i went to target to get a frame, and eric busted the printer out. by the time i got home, he had it all figured out and who-knows-what....but i have a mac, so i am sure that it just automatically had the right drivers etc... cause mac's are good like that! and i came home to a serioulsy STUNNING print out of my familiy photo.
we were AMAZED.
i am sorry... but i can't believe how much i love the printer.
i keep playing with it... and i can't get over how beautiful the prints come out. WAAAAAAY better than anything i would get from wal-mart... i would venture to say... it's not even about convienance, which is certainly a factor... but it's more about quality. i am overjoyed.
overjoyed enough to dedicate the two-and-a-half feet that the printer requires of my work space.

so...here is my thought.
maybe your husbands need one for father's day?????

i guess you will start to see elargements on my projects.
and i think it's totally re-newing my enthusiasm in photography... i have needed a little motivation to work a little harder. i want to create a photo collage wall in my family room... anyway.. i wanted to pass the info on... so fabulous.
i am SO impressed. i totally sound like an infomercial.
sorry about that... but it's totally legit.

we did a mini-class and demo at Analis Scraptique in Chandler today. i spotted an R1800 there in her studio... she knows what's up! i had a great time visiting with everyone there today! Susie had given her customers little wooden letters that spelled "she" and everyone decorated them and they were all hanging from the ceiling. it was so cool! such a cute store... PACKED with stuff. thanks for having us! thanks jana and kristen... and susie, sara and gail... good times!

well, happy memorial day!
my son told me that he is remembering soliders all weekend.. i really appreciated that reminder. we are celebrating in tucson as eric will particpate in another tri.
have a happy and safe holiday!

cheeseburgers

so, i have a confession.
i like mcdonalds cheeseburgers.
i was starving at lunch and with no apparent excuse... no kids that wanted to play in the play place, no errands to run, nothing... i drove to mcdonalds... all by myself and went through the drive through and got a cheeseburger value meal.
and man, it totally tasted good.
i even like the orange drink there.

i might be losing my mind.

school got out today.
summer is in session.

so fun!

I had such a good morning!
We finally got to view the final versions of all the ‘CREATIVE ESCAPE’ class projects.
Dang.
Good stuff!
I am thrilled..
The coolest thing about the format of this event… is that we have been able to plan the event as a whole. We have been able to give direction and create a unique set of classes, that all bring something different to the table.  You know that it is so hard for me to keep secrets… but I am being SO GOOD!!! I did get to share some of the secrets with some of the teachers today… and got to see their reactions… so that helped!!
Those of you who are signed up… and those of you who snatch up the last 80 or so spots will NOT be sorry! We are going to have a blast..

I am photographing the components for each class project, as well as posting the class descriptions around the beginning of next week.  So you can get a little feel for what is going on… as we get closer, we’ll post photo requirements and supply lists…etc.
So exciting!  But we really want there to be a WOW factor as you see the class projects for the first time! they are soo fuN!

I keep thinking that I am going to have a chance to get caught up… and then more stuff keeps popping up. We have to finish our CHA summer catalog by next Monday… I can’t even believe it’s catalog time already! I have wised up a bit, and enlisted a few talented ladies to help me make samples for the catalog and show. I have been looking at their samples, and it’s just making me want to scrapbook. It’s been so fun to have them email in their pages… and see the clever uses they are incorporating with the new products.  I am really trying to get the WEBSITE and NEWSLETTER updated and under control. Unfortunately, these things keep taking a backseat. Not good! Hopefully I can make that happen!

So… it’s past my kids bedtime, and they are still up… I am putting myself to bed early and hopefully going to have a fabulously productive day tomorrow… night.

happy mother's day

Yikes…
It’s been a long time since I have BLOGGED…
There has been so much going on the last week… blogging was not an option. What did I accomplish? I don’t really know. Seems like I was in a lot of meetings… had a lot of decisions to make and well- quincy turned 5.  That resulted in last minute (but very cute) invitations and planning… It’s amazing that the girl is already five.  Stunning really. Her life has gone by so quickly! Contemplating all this: 5 years old, losing teeth, kindergarten, etc. etc… on top of MOTHER’s Day… and being pregnant. I was a basket case in church on Sunday!  And I had to teach!

Quincy’s birthday focused on cute toes… (those of you that have had the ‘she’ class know how I love little toes!) we started the party off with pedicures, pink toes, topped with little jewels (gasp, heidi swapp jewels no less)… and I couldn’t resist these glittery flip flops I found at target and knew that the photo was worth whatever I was saving by not going to one of those party places!!! Wink…  lunch consisted of heart shaped pb&j’s and mini-goldfish and watermelon! And then just fun in the pool! Such a cute group of girls. Jodi made her rendition of the famous Magnolia cupcakes, and they were almost too beautiful to eat! (almost)…
Here are some pics… scrapbook page to follow. I can’t wait!

Saturday I decided I would like a family photo.  the weather is so nice, the desert is in bloom (achoo!!) and there is some new building starting behind my house where I usually do my photography, so I wanted to get a few pictures taken before the homes and road goes in (yuck!)… I have a friend who is just dabbling in photography (justifying equipment!)  and he was willing to come over and put up with my ‘control freak’ mentality when it’s about family photos. We got some great shots…I chose simple white and khaki.. it had been awhile and seemed summery and beautiful. ( alright, alright, I needed the photos for my CREATIVE ESCAPE  PROJECT wink… turning out SO cute) but, I think that the emotional button was this shot of eric and i.
me looking- well- pleasantly pregnant… the night before mother’s day… with my sweet husband… and after 11+ years… 3 kids already… he is so excited for this new addition… so happy- for us. It’s funny, cause I feel kinda like an old lady having a baby after all this time.  and I am tired, and a little (chuckle) cranky, and not getting near enough done in a day… and then I look at this photo. and it’s all OK. I think that Saturday night… after these photos were downloaded… it was late – and I started to think about mother’s day a little differently. I guess turning the tables, and realizing that I should really be thanking my little ones, for allowing me to be their mother. And for a day… celebrating THEM. I just loved the little school projects…tiny notes and pictures I rec’d.  and realizing…the TIME is so short. The moments are so fleeting.
And then they sing to you at church…and they keep asking me “what’s wrong mom!? Why are you crying?”… I remember thinking that when I was little.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! Do YOU have a recent family photo? you need one. To put in a new frame in your entry way. Or by your kitchen sink. I am off to buy new frames today.  I am going to re-arrange my entry table.

women to womenos

Hey... i keep forgetting to post this info about a fund raiser that i am involved in... Karen Russell... the amazing woman that she is ... has been putting together this huge project that has already hit about $10,000...
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY!
essentially, you pay a dollar for a chance to win... you can enter as many times as you wish. the prizes vary from donations from various manufacturers (including me) and also, there is this huge list of amazing scrapbookers that will be donating a page scrapped of the winner's photographs!

check out Karen's blog: karen's blog
or the women to women website: women to women

winners will be announced on May 14...
so..if you are interested.. it's an awesome project...

just for fun

well, this is what i did last night... i just wanted to scrapbook.
i do like it... i messed around with it for a long time it seems like. usually i am so decisive, and i just basically 'glue and go'... but i kept looking at it, and feeling like there was something missing, and not really sure what!! i think it's cause i haven't done a double page spread in a long time... but i think that above all other sizes, 8 1/2 x 11 is the most satisfying to me... i like 9x9... they go fast... but the rectangle shape of each page i like... i didn't take as many photos of baseball as i should have! (bad mom!) but i love this! i think it captures it! i need to do one of colton too! i used the sports chipboard theme...corners, chipboard stars... tape... fun stuff! i really like to scrapbook! it makes me happy.

tired.

i am tired.
i'd like to know where the burst of energy last week came from! but, sadly... it's gone.
this week, i have felt tired and unmotivated.
i guess it's a good thing that i capitalized on it while i had it!!
i have still been trying to get a little jump on the day, and still keeping up my list thing...but i am not near as productive as i was last week...
maybe it's the heat... wooo- it's gotten HOT! slows the brain down a little i think.

for you local girls... there is a great store call 'scrap therapy' in Litchfield... i am not 100% sure exactly where it is... but for National Scrapbook Day i will be there hanging out from 2-5 in the afternoon! (this saturday) i am bringing a whole bunch of old and new scrapbook pages and stuff for people to look through and we will be having a raffle where someone will win a yummy $150 (retail value) basket of HS product and someone will win a scrapbook page that i will create with their photos! so if you come, throw in a couple cute pics in case you WIN! i will be scrapbooking right there on the spot... so i can demonstrate how to use stuff and that kind of thing! i think it will be much fuN! it's a grand-re-opening i believe... from what i understand it's a beautiful store stocked with tons of fun stuff to buy!!!

and to continue the celebrations for natl' scrapbook day... i get to go hang out with cathy z and ali e as they are coming to town for a scrapworks party... Susan Keuter won the 2005 best in show contest and they are having their all-out celebration about a stone's throw from my house! so looking forward to hanging out!
so i have a fun weekend ahead of me... if i get all my work done!

baseball season is OVER! (happy sigh)... i truly love watching my boys play sports... Colton is shooting hoops every chance he gets... inspired by the SUNS playoff excitement! and i am really feeling like scrapbooking... totally itching... so, i might play around later... i think i always feel this way when i SHOULD be working!
but the little creative diversions are usually very fruitful! so, maybe i'll have something to share tomorrow!
for now... i am happy to have no where to go and already picked up some chinese take out for dinner... i am putting on my pj's early, and planning on messing up my scrapbook room!
i can work tomorrow!

happy may day!

today is not only the first day of the week (monday-i love),
and not only the first day of the MONTH!! (welcome MAY)
it's also the first day of my 35th year of life.
i totally love new beginnings... a chance to let go the old stuff, and look ahead- plan and be excited about the next series of challenges and opportunites!
april was a huge lot of work, pressure and stress. full of good growing experiences. things i am happy to have behind me! i'm ready for a new month, a new year!
i have been contemplating where i am, where i want to be... how i am going to get there.
it excites me.

i have to tell you... i am liking the morning thing (GASP!)
saturday, i woke up at 5:15am with NO ALARM CLOCK. go figure!
feels good to take control of the day.  i am tired no matter what, i think that psycologically, i feel like i am getting more done, i am more in control.  Sunday, i did sleep in til 9:30am. - and took a nap. but it's a day of REST!

i taught here locally, at Scrapbooks ETC. on saturday. it was fun to just do a regular class... no big event... nothing fancy... only 30 people, only 15 minutes from my house. it was good! taught about how to use masks, and- well, i love masks, and they are so easy and fun to use, so it's a little thrill to teach! especially, the spray paiting part... so fun to show people how to spray paint!!
jodi made redvelvet cake for my birthday, so we shared a little of that!  yummy! thanks jodi!

i got a couple LOUNGES for the pool for my birthday... comfy ones, with padding. and finally got the wireless internet extender, so i can work by the pool! (rough life)... and eric gave me a video ipod... supposedly it holds 75 hours of movies....  interesting! i think i am going to be fighting with my kids over it.  soooo, it was a great day! SO low key, which was exactly what i needed ! my folks came down from SLC, we BBQd and made homemade icecream (another all-time-fav)........................

deep breath...
here's to a great NEW year for me... ! lots to make happen!
thanks for all the happy birthday wishes!