still me

halloween parties (the beginning)

Today was the big Halloween party at the Little Pals Preschool... the anxiously anticipated event FINALLY arrived today, and Connor was all ready with his "spiderman" costume.  I volunteered to help out in the class room as there were several party stations and games set up including:  ghost bingo, pin the fangs on the vampire, cupcake decorating, pumpkin bowling--and the like!  the kids have a great time... holy cow...they could not be cuter! i am convinced 4 & 5 are the funniest of ages...and i have one of each! i have to enjoy it!   As you might have guessed, i was the only mom dressed up...but if you think i am going to pass up an opportunity to wear black lipstick and a giant blingy spider ring... you don't know me very well!  SO above is a shot of me and Connor; my shoes-- i opted for comfort... oh, and funny story: i bought those cute orange and black tights this morning at WalMart to make my costume complete... and like seconds before we needed to leave i pulled the tights on and they only came up to my mid-thigh! GASP! upon closer examination, they were kids tights--so i had to cut the top of the tights off.  --but all good!

the party at the preschool was absolutley adorable... and perfectly planned and organized! Miss linda is so awesome!  i loved being in the class room. there are 8 kids in the class, and it's just a great size. each kid gets tons of attention and they are all so cute, and happy.  i mean, just look at those cute kiddos!!

For the snack, Miss Linda had a "Monster Stew" and if you can see it, she had 8 jars filled with different "monster parts" ... like eyes, finger nails, hair, fingers, bones etc. etc. (which were really cheese puffs, marshmallows, candy corns, pretzles, m&m's etc. -- each kid got to dump the jars into the pot... and then the kids got to eat the snacks. they LOVED it! such a cute idea.

then it was time for games... my favorite was the cupcake decorating- each kid got a little container of frosting and all the little toppings in a little bowl-- they could make a monster...cutie cute. Connor named his cupcake "stinky".
what a LUCKY kid connor is!! it's just such a huge blessing...  i love that since Connor is my  youngest, i can easily help in his class... i am excited to help in Capri's class too on Monday. so, as i said... the Candy- this is just the beginning!  Let the parties begin!

make PAPER elements!

welcome to wednesday- which means that i have a NEW epsiode airring today on My Craft Channel! compared to last week's marathon episode, this one is quick and packed with some fun ideas! --the kind of ideas for things you can make using scraps of paper and a few things you most likely have around your house! (sewing machine...old books, etc)...

my mom is this really awesome seamstress and quilter, and i knew early in 10th grade with my first sewing class that i would not be following in her footsteps-- (that was right after i realized i wouldn't be following in my dad's piano playing footsteps either!-- huge disappointment to my folks)... In any event, i have put my sewing machine to good use on my paper projects... none of which require a pattern, measuring or even a straight line! So when you have a few quiet minutes (or 11 of them) --maybe as you are waiting for REVENGE to start tonight... you can check it out!

this is a cute page i made a year or so ago using some of the same techniques... love this photo of my cousin Nanci and her cutie little thing Paige on her first bday...

i have to give a shout out to Little Black Dress kit club who's kit this is designed from. LOVE them! i am not sure if you know them- of have heard of them... but they had a FIRE and EVERYTHING for their Oct kit was BURNED!! holy smokes!!  Sounds like they are on track for November... they are just so awesome --i wanted to let them know they have been in my prayers... and i am wishing them tons of love!!

loving these...

connor is the 'snack helper' tomorrow at pre-school, so i was trying to find something that i have here on hand to take to school... i am kinda out of food... but i have had this bag of cinnamon rolls in my freezer for awhile:

these are the kind that have to rise for 2 hours before you can cook them-- so i did it a little different today. i moved them to the fridge for the day, and then once they were pretty soft, i pulled them out of the fridge. i cut each roll into quarters, and put each of the small pieces into my mini-cupcake tin.  i needed them to rush the raising process- so i heated the oven to 175 degrees, turned it off and let them raise for about 45 min. (until they were double in size). I then baked them at 350 for 8 minutes.

i took the creamcheese frosting that was included in the package, and mixed in some food coloring and while they were hot, spread a little on each mini... and couldn't stop myself from adding sprinkles.

when they had cooled just enough, i removed them from the tin and placed them in mini-cupcake wrappers that i had on hand. (SO CUTE!)

you might have seen me make these fabulous tiered treat towers last year-- i used cute paper plates and cups and serving trays that i picked up at Target (last year) not sure if they have them this year again- i think that the cinnamon-y flavor is just SO perfect for these crisp fall days, and will be a perfect little snack for my little snack helper to bring to his class...

my family ate these all up tonight- so i guess i am making more tomorrow- i'll be sure to time it so they get them straight from the oven! YUM!

Happy Birthday COLTON!

It’s hard to believe that we are entering the last week of October… Oct 22^nd is the day that 14 years ago…I became a mom!  Not sure what I more crazy… that he is turning 14 years old, or that in only 2 short years, he will be driving! Yikes!   In order to celebrate this momentous occasion, eric and I decided to get a bunch of his friends together and surprise him!  Being a Sat night, it would perfect for a party… and being so close to Halloween, what better kind of party, than a Zombie ‘flash mob’ party! 

Of course, nothing can be simple! It was also ‘October Break’ and so Thurs/Friday the kids were out of school. The plan was for me to take the 3 youngest kids to St. George for a little R&R, and the boys would be at a Rugby clinic Fri/Sat. So, all the orchestration was happening ‘remote’. Luckily, we had a few really great kids that managed to spread the word, and  facilitate all the communication with 23 teenagers WITHOUT facebook!  I was able to line up a choreographer, make up artist and ice cream machine---all with only 48 hour notice and a couple calls.

Keeping it all a secret from Colton is really where the trick came in!  the challenges included (and not limited to) : 1. Making sure that Capri and Connor kept their little mouths CLOSED 2. I could wake up early enough to drive home from St. G on sat, and meet up with eric perfectly in order to coordinate pick up and drop off of the ice cream machine and 15 passenger van – and get him back to the Rugby camp with out the boys wondering where he went… and 3. Getting Colton home from Rugby, showered, and back out the door to see a movie that he “didn’t want to see” quick enough to give me TIME to get all the furniture rearranged, house decorated, ice cream machine set up, toppings prepped and all the kids in the house!  (HUGE thanks to my folks who arrived just in time to help with all of the above including vacuuming and taking Capri, Connor and Quincy out of the equation)

 

Mission Accomplished… pretty much all the kids arrived before 7:15. Most of the cogs to the whole project were in motion… Ani (one of the instructors from my Gym) came to teach the kids a dance – after the kids were all outfitted with Zombie Make up thanks to a make up guy from one of the local haunted houses—our plan was to hit a grocery store or 2 and do a ‘flash mob’ style dance. I have to hand it to the kids- cause they definitely got the dance dialed in and they were stoked.

I am sure it goes with out saying, but the soft-serve icecream machine was a big hit! We had oreo, butterfinger, reeses, kit kat, marshmallows and Halloween sprinkles to top choc or vanilla or swirl!

I knew that something would got NOT as planned, and the Make up guy did get lost, and set us back a little… as well as my not arranging for music on the go for the dance!—the good news is that we were behind sched a little, but the manager at Smiths totally let us play the music over their intercom… and Ani arranged for a big boom box thing- and we were able to dance inside and outside the store! They put on a great show!  After they were all danced out we hit a corn maze and had the kids home before midnight…

(the girls were still darling even with the scary makeup!!)

if you can believe it... this is colton- the make up guy gave him a latex piece to make the birthday boy EXTRA freaky!... and don't worry, Eric got in on the action:

Colton was stoked- he kept asking how we managed to keep this all from him, and you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face—he loved it! I was SO impressed what great sports all the kids were, and what great kids they were. I think that it’s good sometimes to do something that is really memorable! Something that you can look back and laugh! And maybe even shake your head. I am going to have to take a little break from throwing birthday parties for awhile!

I have a bunch of video footage, and photos and I need to edit it all into a fun Halloween video- so watch for that! Until then, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Colton… I love you my Sweet… Here’s to a wonderful year of being 14!!

So i am working on a video w/ the dancing... the transformation into zombies... they party!!... but here... meet the zombies!

 

Episode #3: Use your handwriting!!

It’s Wednesday… which means that today is a new episode airing on My Craft Channel!

Today I will be talking about one of my little passions…’handwriting’. Ever since I was young, I loved to practice my handwriting…coupled with a fascination for journaling…I loved to mix different pens and colors of pens and write, write , write. Write!

On Today’s show, I will be talking about 5 Tips to improve, or at least think about them as you are writing on stuff!  These are my most FAVORITE handwriting techniques! –as you may know- several years I wrote a book called “How to Love your Handwriting”. You might even have it! (I think it’s a pretty great book).  It is a 2 part book- with a workbook in addition to the chapter book…anyway—when I have taught handwriting classes, and even in the book, I talk about lots of things you can try, but these are my TOP 5!! 

So be sure to head over to My Craft Channel today, and you can see me demo, and talk about these techniques…and then you can also download this little handy-dandy reminder sheet if you want to keep it in a place you can refer to it as you are creating!

i think that handwirting is important... i LOVE this... this is from a scrapbook that my mom made back when she was in college... her handwriting is the SAME still... and it's just such a connection for me to see her writing-and know...yea- that was her!

this is something that my mom wrote in my little brother's scrapbook... it's something that i didn't remember... but you have no idea how much this little blurb means to me!!

I know that many of you reading this today HATE your handwriting… maybe it’s not pretty….maybe it’s messy, even illegible… but you know what- PENMANSHIP can improve for anyone! You might feel silly ‘practicing’ your handwriting like an elementary student…but adding your handwriting to your scrapbook pages- even just in a card that you give to someone- I mean, seriously- a hand written card? When was the last time you got one of those… and didn’t you just kinda love it? it’s totally special. And it makes a difference. It’s personal. It’s YOU!

Ok… stepping down from the soapbox!  you can download this here... Download HS5tips

 

Enjoy the show!

note: found these on overstock.com... my favorite pens!

 

 

want to WIN a spot in the GIVE class??

so.. Jessica Sprague just sent out this email... and i thought i'd pass it along in case you aren't on her list:

 

Hello Friend!
   
This is a VERY SPECIAL EMAIL to let you know of THREE chances you've got this week to win free stuff! Entering each giveaway is so easy, too, and of course each entry is free!
 
 

Entry 1: Win an Epson PictureMate Printer

The first chance to win is on my blog. I took a little Epson PictureMate Charm 4x6 printer on the road with me (and on planes and in cars) on my family's 2 1/2 week trip this past summer. Now I'd like to GIVE ONE AWAY to one lucky person, courtesy of Epson!



All you have to do is head over to my blog, and leave a comment on the post that answers the question: Where would you take your Epson PictureMate?

Click here to head straight to the blog entry to leave your comment. I'll choose a comment at random and let you know on Saturday who gets a new printer!

Entry 2: Win Tuition to Mouse Paper Scissors: GIVE

The second chance to win is at the JessicaSprague.com Facebook page! I'm giving away a spot in the upcoming Mouse Paper Scissors: GIVE class that Heidi Swapp and I are teaching. It's an $80 value, and we'll ship the kit to your house for FREE!

All you have to do is head over to the JessicaSprague.com Facebook page and LIKE us!

Click here to head straight to the Facebook page, click LIKE, and you'll be entered. I'll chose a fan at random and let you know on Saturday who gets a free class! (If you've already registered, we'll give you a refund!)
 
Entry 3: Win Tuition to Mouse Paper Scissors: GIVE
 
The THIRD and final chance to win is at the Heidi Swapp Facebook page! Heidi Swapp is also giving away a spot in our upcoming Mouse Paper Scissors class!
 

All you have to do is head over to the Heidi Swapp Facebook page and LIKE her!
Click here to head straight to the Facebook page, click LIKE, and you'll be entered. She'll chose a fan at random and let you know on Saturday who gets a free class! (If you've already registered, we'll give you a refund!)


Have a wonderful day! Get your entries in by Friday for THREE chances to win!
 
************************************************

i hope you will like me! (wink)

and check back here on SATURDAY to find out if you are the lucky one!

last call!

i have been telling you about the newest class in the family of "Mouse, Paper, Scissors": GIVE.

 

the class is almost full, and kits start shipping this week! We want to get them to our international friends!  we have students all over the globe! it's SO exciting--the kit is full of SUCH wonderful goodies!! what do you think we'll be doing with a set of magnets, a burlap sack, a mini candle...and even pearls! it's filled with love from our favorite companies such as Pink Paislee, Tattered Angels and Ranger! and even a couple things you can't even BUY! the value is OVER $55. {and the class is selling for $67.99 after discount!}... hello!?  with the yummy fabulousness of this kit...we will be making 5 fantastic projects- all perfect gifts, right in time for the holiday season! (warning, you might not want to give them away!)  you will need Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements... and you don't have to know how to use it! 

take a look at these kit peeks!

projects range from  stunning wallhanging and home decor to a everyone-needs-one clever little bookmark! the class will run "instructor led" from November 14-30...so we will be moving and shaking! but at the same time, the class is ALWAYS available to you...so you can be cranking them out on Christmas Eve if needs be!!

while you will be creating BEAUTIFUL gift-able items, that is not the end of the GIVING. all that you learn, and how you grow from the lessons is a GIFT TO YOU!! it's a win, win...WIN!  So...act fast! Nov 14 feels like a long time from now, but it will be here in a blink! 

Jessica and i would love you to join us! (she has a very inspiring, fun blog post today!)

 

 

today

working on something FUN! had to find a great spot!

What amazes YOU!?

I really find myself being amazed all the time!

Today I worked for hours with a graphic artist 1000 miles away and while I watched her screen, and gave direction and feedback- we were able to completely finish the packaging for my NEW products that will release in January 2012.  Looking at it all… the products, the different looks, the possibilities…in the fabulous package… it was amazing! i can't wait until i can show it off!

There are amazing things that happen everyday all around…little things like tomatoes ripening in your garden… and big things like video chatting from an airplane. I think it’s FUN to look for those things- document them…and take time to be amazed!

I am happy to announce another something ‘amazing’… I think that the capability and opportunity and even just the CONCEPT of teaching classes online still AMAZES me! I taught my very first online class in 2007 when Stacy Julian invited me to be the teacher of the year-long class I entitled “A year to Remember”.  Since that time… I have explored online teaching in many different ways… everything from you tube videos, many of you watched the LIVE Ustream webshows last year, I have given short tutorials on my blog, and more recently—prepared project-based webisodes for My Craft Channel!  I have loved  team teaching with the wonderful Jessica Sprague as she brings her talents and combines them with mine in very structured, daily, instructor-led class complete with video instruction! I LOVE sharing my ideas. I LOVE to teach them- and maybe it’s because I LOVE how the challenge pushes me, and forces me to focus and expand! So… I am SUPER excited about the opportunity that Stacy has offered me to be one of the ‘4 experts’. I will be teaching a 12 week class that is primarily a Scrapbooking class. The class will run from April thru June…our focus in the class will be on paying attention to small details- and ‘Observe’ --and from those ‘obervations’…LEARN. And from that wisdom, and truth and understanding…we will make beautiful, inspiring and amazing scrapbook pages- and ultimately learn to watch, listen, feel and look at life in a different (productive) way.  I know that April seems like FOREVER away- but it will be here before we know it.

 

So… Stacy kicks things off in Q1 with “twelve”…I can’t wait to see what she has in store. I love to listen to Stacy. She is a visionary, and I love her approach and perspective. Every time I talk to her, or listen to her- or spend time with her… she makes me want to be a better person. I could use 12 weeks of that!

I am the Q2 girl…and it will be perfect for Spring. This class will not be designed to take over your life- but to allow you to factor it into your life- it will challenge but not overwhelm. It will change the way you look at your everyday! my class is called "the art of observation"

Nic Howard is a Kiwi, and her perspective is so unquie simply because she is from the other side of the world. It’s worth just to listen to her talk! (I love her accent!) she does beautiful, jaw dropping work—I am looking forward to her approach. She is adorable!

The One and Only Becky Higgins is wrapping it up with Q4.  Becky is amazingly talented. I have to credit Becky for inspiring me to take my scrapbooking to another level. I can still remember the first time I scrapbooked at her house—and listened to her talk, and was strengthened by her passion.  I am really in awe of this woman on many levels- and excited to take her class.

 

There is a lot to look forward to for 2012.  It’s going to be BIG! go here and watch the little video intros. 

 

Head over to the BPC blog and enter to win in the ‘4 favorites’ giveaway.  (of course my favorite thing involves cookies…)

 

taking a minute...to relax, enjoy

Just got out of the bath, and the air smells so good from the bubble bath, and I am cozy-ed up in my most comfy pj’s. Today I spent the majority of the day at the studios for My Craft Channel filming yet another 7 episodes for future enjoyment!! I am SO excited about the projects and ideas that I will be sharing coming up!!  Here is a little preview—it’s SO much fun to prepare for these segments! It really pushes the envelope on my creativity!  i put my 'cinch' to some serious work this go-around!

Tonight, I finally have all the “big” projects that have been hanging over my head- behind me!  I have this amazing feeling of relief and accomplishment! It’s been a crazy few months, and finally today, I feel like there is this space in my brain that I can actually THINK!  I tell you what- I wish I could either bottle or frame this feeling so i never forget; so that I could draw from it in the future! I know that this feeling won’t last long, but I am totally relishing the feeling! 

Of course- I have a whole list of  “want to dos”  and I hope I can get to some of those little projects- and I even hope to get in a work out and make a meal! Going to get some rest!