Thursday, July 27, 2006
Tattoo Pictures
Welp, here they are! The story goes like this. I got a tattoo on my ankle when I turned 18. It was cute, but not as elaborate as I wanted. Much later in life I covered it up with a realistic Lotus/Water Lily. Loved it. Felt like it needed something else on the inside... a cuff so to speak. Finally got it done. Now I need to go back and have the original freshened up to match the intensity of this one! YEAH! Here ya go... action shots! Click on them to see full size!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Am I really interesting AT ALL?
Hmmm.. I would have to say that yes, I do have some interesting qualities. Even better is the fact that my family is SO FRICKING WHITE TRASH that we could have an entire month of Jerry Springer episodes dedicated to us and it would only SCRATCH the surface. But enough about them... on to me!
Seriously though.. sorry to be lacking in postage. My gal pal and right hand man got sick and I had to work and incredibly AWFUL amount of days in a row. Topped off with a FABULOUS weekend off with no kids and just me and JASON! There was a small incident that did infact involve "bed - breakage"... but we will just move on past that.
I got my tattoo done on Monday and BOY does it look awesome! Did I mention how much it FRICKING HURTS? or... HOW HUGE MY CANKLE NOW IS? Oh yes, you read that right. I don't have an ANKLE anymore. I have a CANKLE. Looks like a cross between your calf & ankle. Swollen and fat. UGH... the heat doesn't help. Nor does walking around on it all day but what can you do??
I will be posting pictures asap... or rather... asaiptotc.. which loosely translates too.. as soon as I pull them off the camera... hehe
PEACE OUT
Seriously though.. sorry to be lacking in postage. My gal pal and right hand man got sick and I had to work and incredibly AWFUL amount of days in a row. Topped off with a FABULOUS weekend off with no kids and just me and JASON! There was a small incident that did infact involve "bed - breakage"... but we will just move on past that.
I got my tattoo done on Monday and BOY does it look awesome! Did I mention how much it FRICKING HURTS? or... HOW HUGE MY CANKLE NOW IS? Oh yes, you read that right. I don't have an ANKLE anymore. I have a CANKLE. Looks like a cross between your calf & ankle. Swollen and fat. UGH... the heat doesn't help. Nor does walking around on it all day but what can you do??
I will be posting pictures asap... or rather... asaiptotc.. which loosely translates too.. as soon as I pull them off the camera... hehe
PEACE OUT
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Ahhh.. the moon hath risen....
It's a full moon tonight and BOY do I feel it! I purged at the store today, throwing away racks and fixtures I wasn't using, clearing out room for new stuff, cleaning up my table area... etc. That felt good. Put some stuff on clearance, lowered some prices on other things... yanno.. basic blah blah.
I need to do the same here at home now.
We are waiting to hear when grandma's service will be. Man, almost 2 weeks now since she passed. Sadly, I didn't visit her as much as I should have in the past few years. Life happens and I let it be an excuse. I was just SO glad that I was able to visit and talk to her before she passed and to actually be there as she left us. She hadn't been the same person for several years but she was still grandma, even up to the end. Apparently she looked at Grandpa and Uncle Ricky and said - Oh gawd... - like... PULEEZE go away.. hehe... cracks me up to think about it. I am making the guest book for the service and found some real-pressed Pansies to use. Very excited about that.
May possibly be traveling to the East coast to help a friend move. Hopefully we will find out for sure in the next week or so.
So much I want to do right now... go to the beach with the kids, go swimming at MIL's, get a TAN, get a FACIAL, get my mustache REMOVED, get my HAIR non-3 toned.... oh well.. what's a girl to do? SCRAPBOOK.. hehe
I need to do the same here at home now.
We are waiting to hear when grandma's service will be. Man, almost 2 weeks now since she passed. Sadly, I didn't visit her as much as I should have in the past few years. Life happens and I let it be an excuse. I was just SO glad that I was able to visit and talk to her before she passed and to actually be there as she left us. She hadn't been the same person for several years but she was still grandma, even up to the end. Apparently she looked at Grandpa and Uncle Ricky and said - Oh gawd... - like... PULEEZE go away.. hehe... cracks me up to think about it. I am making the guest book for the service and found some real-pressed Pansies to use. Very excited about that.
May possibly be traveling to the East coast to help a friend move. Hopefully we will find out for sure in the next week or so.
So much I want to do right now... go to the beach with the kids, go swimming at MIL's, get a TAN, get a FACIAL, get my mustache REMOVED, get my HAIR non-3 toned.... oh well.. what's a girl to do? SCRAPBOOK.. hehe
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Today is a sad day....
~*~Pansy Foreman~*~This morning at around 3:15 am my grandma left us. She was surrounded by family, she was not in pain, her body just slowly shut down until she was finally gone. She is the last of the most influential women in my life to go. My mother passed 10 years ago, my paternal grandma passed last year and now she is gone too. I was very fortunate to be there with her. Both my brother and I were there, he holding her hand, I rubbing her shoulders and back, trying to keep her warm. I will miss her dearly, but I know she is with my mom now, her baby. No longer will she have to deal with the dementia that has plagued her for the past 11-12 years, no longer will she have to live with pain and confusion. No longer will she need to listen to those around her bitch and moan about this and that. She was the best grandma she could be. She was loving and funny. Sweet and sassy. She was the one that I knew would hurt me the most to lose. I will miss the spunky humour and witty one liners she used to pull. I will miss her cursing out my grandpa or my dad. I will miss the way if felt when she gave big hugs. I will miss how she used to scare us kids when she pulled out her teeth. I love you grandma... know that you were special and loved and WILL NOT be forgotten. Have a peaceful journey and say hello to mom for me. i love you
Monday, June 26, 2006
TAGGED!!!
Yep.. I have been tagged and of course I will play!! Thanks to my friend for the tag.. now on with the show!
Ten Things I Hate...
1. People who act as though their patronage alone keeps your world afloat. Working customer service since... FOREVER.... I have seen it all. Especially working at the casino for tips. I totally appreciated every cent I received... but PLEASE don't give me attitude if I don't get to you fast enough and then bust out the "I'm paying your paycheck right now" comment.
Nowadays... please don't come in with a problem and tell me offhandedly... "I spend a lot of money here".. honestly... I KNOW your stats and most of the time, you are NOT one of my top spenders and WHY DOES THAT MATTER TO ME? Each and every customer is JUST as important as the next.. whether you spend $400 or $4. PERIOD...
2. Whiners.... I am not an empty well ready at the drop of a hat for you to unload on just so you can feel better and I end up feeling like crap! I will do my best to analize the situation, give you my take on things, offer opinions if you are asking and support you in your quest.. but DO NOT keep whining and not doing anything about it. I have never bought that phrase "Play with the hand you are dealt".... find different cards and go with it!! ps.. no whining also includes small children who are of my loins who don't want to do what they are asked and only want to whine about it.. knock that crap off and just do it. Life will be easier if you don't piss me off.
3. Haters.... I honestly don't use the word HATE in normal everyday conversation. I don't like it. Hate to me consists of having a VIOLENT reaction to something or someone.. and honestly, that is scary to me. Not that I haven't had it.. oh say a few years back.. hehe.. but I cannot STAND haters. People who make rude comments about someone because they are slightly different, race, sex, or otherwise. Can't we all just get along??
4. People who sweat the small stuff.. This is a relatively new dislike for me. I have absolutely been one to sweat and bitch about the small stuff... until I learned to utilize a VERY important phrase. LET IT GO. I understand that the dumbass in the Expansion in front of you just cut you off, but is it necessary to race up next to him and flip him off? Rev your engine and scream obscenities? Nope. I understand that there are people that may come in and annoy you from time to time.. but a sale is a sale and customer service is IMPORTANT... GET OVER IT. It means NOTHING to you.... let it go and you will feel soooo much better!
5. Disrespectful kids. The kind like the girls I ran into in Target the other night. My friends took me out and we of course hit Target afterwards. We are a bunch of clucking cackling hens when we are together, and these brats were mimicking my friends at the end of an aisle. Until I walked up behind them and mimicked THEM and said "You girls are SOOOO funny!"... and they got red and shuffled off. YES, I remember being 14 too.. but I would never have been so bold.. my friends on the other hand... whoooo weeee. I know they don't realize that they too one day will be as ANCIENT as we are but come on... don't act like a nitwit. This applies to kids and their parents too. ugh
6. Skow Walkers. Please move to the slowlane on the sidewalk so I can get by you. Thank you
7. Drug addicted parents. You shouldn't be allowed to pro-create. If you are lucky enough to have decent kids... you shouldn't sluff them off because they won't enable you. GROW UP.
8. Slow Checkout Lines... Why is it that I ALWAYS pick the lane that has a major malfunction or otherwise idiotic people?? WHY??
9. People who hit cars and then don't tell you. Someone side-swiped my perty mom van in my parking lot. I know there were a MILLION cars here that day but you COULD have left a note.
10. Friends who disrespect their other friends. Don't treat my friend like an ASSHOLE just because your life is a MESS and you are too big of a PUSSY to do anything about it. My friend ISN'T a bad mom, nor is she a bad FRIEND.. and how she put up with your attitude for as long as she did is beyond me! Just know that next time you call her.. she will ask you the TOUGH question and I bet you won't be able to turn that crap around on her again! HAHA
So there you have it.. my hate list for today.
Ten Things I Hate...
1. People who act as though their patronage alone keeps your world afloat. Working customer service since... FOREVER.... I have seen it all. Especially working at the casino for tips. I totally appreciated every cent I received... but PLEASE don't give me attitude if I don't get to you fast enough and then bust out the "I'm paying your paycheck right now" comment.
Nowadays... please don't come in with a problem and tell me offhandedly... "I spend a lot of money here".. honestly... I KNOW your stats and most of the time, you are NOT one of my top spenders and WHY DOES THAT MATTER TO ME? Each and every customer is JUST as important as the next.. whether you spend $400 or $4. PERIOD...
2. Whiners.... I am not an empty well ready at the drop of a hat for you to unload on just so you can feel better and I end up feeling like crap! I will do my best to analize the situation, give you my take on things, offer opinions if you are asking and support you in your quest.. but DO NOT keep whining and not doing anything about it. I have never bought that phrase "Play with the hand you are dealt".... find different cards and go with it!! ps.. no whining also includes small children who are of my loins who don't want to do what they are asked and only want to whine about it.. knock that crap off and just do it. Life will be easier if you don't piss me off.
3. Haters.... I honestly don't use the word HATE in normal everyday conversation. I don't like it. Hate to me consists of having a VIOLENT reaction to something or someone.. and honestly, that is scary to me. Not that I haven't had it.. oh say a few years back.. hehe.. but I cannot STAND haters. People who make rude comments about someone because they are slightly different, race, sex, or otherwise. Can't we all just get along??
4. People who sweat the small stuff.. This is a relatively new dislike for me. I have absolutely been one to sweat and bitch about the small stuff... until I learned to utilize a VERY important phrase. LET IT GO. I understand that the dumbass in the Expansion in front of you just cut you off, but is it necessary to race up next to him and flip him off? Rev your engine and scream obscenities? Nope. I understand that there are people that may come in and annoy you from time to time.. but a sale is a sale and customer service is IMPORTANT... GET OVER IT. It means NOTHING to you.... let it go and you will feel soooo much better!
5. Disrespectful kids. The kind like the girls I ran into in Target the other night. My friends took me out and we of course hit Target afterwards. We are a bunch of clucking cackling hens when we are together, and these brats were mimicking my friends at the end of an aisle. Until I walked up behind them and mimicked THEM and said "You girls are SOOOO funny!"... and they got red and shuffled off. YES, I remember being 14 too.. but I would never have been so bold.. my friends on the other hand... whoooo weeee. I know they don't realize that they too one day will be as ANCIENT as we are but come on... don't act like a nitwit. This applies to kids and their parents too. ugh
6. Skow Walkers. Please move to the slowlane on the sidewalk so I can get by you. Thank you
7. Drug addicted parents. You shouldn't be allowed to pro-create. If you are lucky enough to have decent kids... you shouldn't sluff them off because they won't enable you. GROW UP.
8. Slow Checkout Lines... Why is it that I ALWAYS pick the lane that has a major malfunction or otherwise idiotic people?? WHY??
9. People who hit cars and then don't tell you. Someone side-swiped my perty mom van in my parking lot. I know there were a MILLION cars here that day but you COULD have left a note.
10. Friends who disrespect their other friends. Don't treat my friend like an ASSHOLE just because your life is a MESS and you are too big of a PUSSY to do anything about it. My friend ISN'T a bad mom, nor is she a bad FRIEND.. and how she put up with your attitude for as long as she did is beyond me! Just know that next time you call her.. she will ask you the TOUGH question and I bet you won't be able to turn that crap around on her again! HAHA
So there you have it.. my hate list for today.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Happy Anniversary!
Just another day right. WRONG. Today is the anniversary of the opening of my store!! 1 year ago TODAY we opened the doors and had QUITE the crowd.... and a year later I am still SO glad I did it.
This weekend marks a huge milestone for us! I am proud of myself for having come this far. I feel confident that I make wise (most of the time) store decisions... that our customer service is awesome, that our prices are great and that we bring a different energy to this business. PAT ON THE BACK. But I didn't do it alone. NONO. My amazing girls Cindy & AnneLise have been right there with me... as well as my business savvy saviour Lynda. The very first Design Team Members Valerie, Cyndy & Debbie brought amazing projects to the store for all to oogle and awww over. Yet let's not forget my customers. THEY MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE. They support the store with their patronage and suggestions. Their enthusiasm keeps me going and I appreciate every second of that! THANK YOU ALL.
Happy Anniversary Scrappin' Attack!!
This weekend marks a huge milestone for us! I am proud of myself for having come this far. I feel confident that I make wise (most of the time) store decisions... that our customer service is awesome, that our prices are great and that we bring a different energy to this business. PAT ON THE BACK. But I didn't do it alone. NONO. My amazing girls Cindy & AnneLise have been right there with me... as well as my business savvy saviour Lynda. The very first Design Team Members Valerie, Cyndy & Debbie brought amazing projects to the store for all to oogle and awww over. Yet let's not forget my customers. THEY MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE. They support the store with their patronage and suggestions. Their enthusiasm keeps me going and I appreciate every second of that! THANK YOU ALL.
Happy Anniversary Scrappin' Attack!!
Did I mention...
that the rest of that day from the post below SUCKED BUTT? Oh.. I didn't? Oh well, now you know.
On to bigger and better things.
I love my friend Dacia. Can I just tell ya a little about her? SHE ROCKS. She is an AMAZING mom, not without normal MOM issues... she is amazingly SMART & SAVVY... she is an amazing FRIEND.... she is an amazing KNITTER.... she is an amazing WOMAN... and she is SPECIAL TO ME.
She has not had the best year so far. I felt and stated that 06 would be powerful... well it has been, but not always in a good way for her. I know she will persevere. She already has. SHE knows she can count on me when it is time to rant, logicalize (is that a word?), laugh and cry. I feel truly blessed to have her as a friend.
THANK YOU DACIA... for being you
On to bigger and better things.
I love my friend Dacia. Can I just tell ya a little about her? SHE ROCKS. She is an AMAZING mom, not without normal MOM issues... she is amazingly SMART & SAVVY... she is an amazing FRIEND.... she is an amazing KNITTER.... she is an amazing WOMAN... and she is SPECIAL TO ME.
She has not had the best year so far. I felt and stated that 06 would be powerful... well it has been, but not always in a good way for her. I know she will persevere. She already has. SHE knows she can count on me when it is time to rant, logicalize (is that a word?), laugh and cry. I feel truly blessed to have her as a friend.
THANK YOU DACIA... for being you
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Today will be a good day...
Despite my lingering cold... which turned into a very dry throat and lack of voice... it is soo beautiful outside this morning!! The cat is sitting on my armrest (very hard to type) and purring like a crazy cat... I want to clean up the yard a bit today and finish the last bit of laundry. I need to go to the store and help Cindy in a bit because yesterday Bazzill came (all 273 lbs of it) and KiMemories... and Notions... yikes.
Naturally our regular UPS man was gone so they loaded us first and delivered it late. Hate that. I had just enough time to get Ki in the computer and Bazzill out of the boxes. Not to mention the fact that I had a surprise visit from a friend who needed help with wedding invitations... so guess what else I did yesterday??? Oh yeah.. and it was busier than a weekend day too! WOWSERS...
So anywho... hopefully I will get a chance to take some pictures of my projects and load them up... we shall see!!
Naturally our regular UPS man was gone so they loaded us first and delivered it late. Hate that. I had just enough time to get Ki in the computer and Bazzill out of the boxes. Not to mention the fact that I had a surprise visit from a friend who needed help with wedding invitations... so guess what else I did yesterday??? Oh yeah.. and it was busier than a weekend day too! WOWSERS...
So anywho... hopefully I will get a chance to take some pictures of my projects and load them up... we shall see!!
Monday, June 12, 2006
The weekend is over....
But WOW what a weekend! I picked Margie up on Friday morning and off we went to Horton Plaza! Lunch and Nordstrom here we come! Had fun talking and walking around! Headed back home to get ready for the crop. MAN was that fun! We moved the tables completely around and made a big circle. Margie was SO MUCH FUN! But of course I knew that, it's the reason I love her and invited her out! Her card make n take was tooo cute and the goodie bags and prizes were a nice bonus for the ladies!
The next day was a whirlwind! I absolutely LOVE my Boho wall hanging... the pictures I chose were AWESOME and the project was sooooo elegant! Alea was a big help (for the most part) that day and the ladies loved her... especially since she was so anxious to give away prizes! LOL
I have to find pictures for the 2 album classes but how much FUN was that? I love the Friends album because who woulda thought to make it out of a box? SERIOUSLY??? The paper mod podged on there sooo easily! The BE album is such a great concept. I have a ton of ideas... Be Unique, Be Strong, Be determined, Be an Original, Be Independant, Be Silly! Can't wait to finish that one up!
I was sad to see Margie go... she is so much fun and I love her to pieces! But hey... we will see her again at Memory Trends for SURE!
Yesterday was supposed to be clean-up day but alas... my cousin Joe came to town!! So we hung out with him at my Aunt Nancy's and then headed off to dinner with the whole fan-damily! Too fun! I started gettting a cold on Friday night but fortunately it wasn't too powerful... it just kind of gave me a sore throat and now I have a bit of a sinus clogging going on. (shrug)
I will be posting pictures as soon as I get my camera back! Hope everyone had a great weekend!!
The next day was a whirlwind! I absolutely LOVE my Boho wall hanging... the pictures I chose were AWESOME and the project was sooooo elegant! Alea was a big help (for the most part) that day and the ladies loved her... especially since she was so anxious to give away prizes! LOL
I have to find pictures for the 2 album classes but how much FUN was that? I love the Friends album because who woulda thought to make it out of a box? SERIOUSLY??? The paper mod podged on there sooo easily! The BE album is such a great concept. I have a ton of ideas... Be Unique, Be Strong, Be determined, Be an Original, Be Independant, Be Silly! Can't wait to finish that one up!
I was sad to see Margie go... she is so much fun and I love her to pieces! But hey... we will see her again at Memory Trends for SURE!
Yesterday was supposed to be clean-up day but alas... my cousin Joe came to town!! So we hung out with him at my Aunt Nancy's and then headed off to dinner with the whole fan-damily! Too fun! I started gettting a cold on Friday night but fortunately it wasn't too powerful... it just kind of gave me a sore throat and now I have a bit of a sinus clogging going on. (shrug)
I will be posting pictures as soon as I get my camera back! Hope everyone had a great weekend!!
Monday, May 29, 2006
It's been a week...
Since we got back and we are finally finishing up around the house. Most of my shows have been borrowed and watched, laundry is slowly thinning out, projects are getting finished, some groceries have been bought and rooms are getting cleaned. Fortunately we cleaned before we left so it was pretty much just getting things back in place and in our routine again. I wanted to post a few pictures from the trip. We had so many amazing days... from the Redwoods to the Waterfalls to duck ponds and Hangman's Tree. Here are a few of the scenic photos from Yosemite.
Above is 1. Yosemite Falls 2. Yosemite Valley (El Capitan on the left, Half Dome in the middle and Bridalveil Falls on the right 3. Us hiding behind trees in the valley.
Below is 1. Alea standing in front of the Lower of Yosemite Falls 2. Alea all wet from the river 3. Jarrett in front of Bridalveil Falls 4. Jarrett all wet from the river
Saturday, May 27, 2006
So it's been awhile... but
I do have a good reason. I was preparing for our VERY FIRST big family RV trip! We drove the 101 all the way up to Arcata to pick up my brother who graduated from Humboldt State University. Then we drove the 299 (beautiful right along the Trinity river) to Auburn to visit my Aunt & Cousins. Then to Placerville to stay with my cousin Kelly and her family for a couple days. Then back west to Sunnyvale to visit with my Uncle and then.... then we spent 5 days in Yosemite! WOW. Can I get a HELL YA?? It was AMAZING. The kids were great (for the most part) during all of that driving and visiting with people they didn't know. The RV was kicking... a fabulous home away from home. We saw so many beautiful sights and animals that I think I will dream of trees and waterfalls for the next 10 years!! I will post a few pictures as soon as I edit and transfer them onto my home computer.
Also, if anyone is interested or knows someone who might be, we a having a special guest teacher coming to our store next month for our anniversary. Margie Romney-Aslett from Making Memories will be hosting a fun filled crop and teaching 3 amazing classes on June 9th & 10th. Full details can be found on the Sassy Skool page of our website! I need to know by next week because we are in danger of not meeting our class minimums... so tell your friends!
I am off to work for now... catch ya later!
Also, if anyone is interested or knows someone who might be, we a having a special guest teacher coming to our store next month for our anniversary. Margie Romney-Aslett from Making Memories will be hosting a fun filled crop and teaching 3 amazing classes on June 9th & 10th. Full details can be found on the Sassy Skool page of our website! I need to know by next week because we are in danger of not meeting our class minimums... so tell your friends!
I am off to work for now... catch ya later!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Wow I am sick...
Really sick I tell you. Yesterday I took a sick day and stayed in bed for most of the day. Last night I started feeling a bit better and today my head doesn't feel ready to explode. This is a good thing. Plans are underway for our trip.. the RV is mostly ready and we have some loose ends to tie up here before we will be ready to go. I just found out that Alea will miss most of the Star testing and makeup (oh woopy do) and we have to talk with her teacher about homework. Jarrett's 5th birthday party was a success and was very NON-stressful. We like it that way. Park party requires little clean-up.. LOVE that. I am still feeling blessed with my life.. but not so much with this cold.. hehe
HUGZ
HUGZ
Friday, April 14, 2006
Change IS good...
I was reading Margie's blog this morning and she got me thinking... I have been talking an awful lot about change in my daily life lately... and the really cool thing I realized is this... CHANGE IS GOOD. Plain and simple. Most people fear it, fear the outcome it may bring. But doing something different with your life, from the smallest to the largest things is doing SOMETHING... and that feels good to me. I look back at how DIFFERENT my life was 10 years ago, 5 years ago, 1 year ago.. man the changes I have made!
10 years ago I was reeling from my wedding, my mom's death 4 days later and her funeral 1 week after that. Upset at the fact that my step-dad had been arrested AT her funeral and at that time was currently in jail. I was freaking out at the fact that while I had always taken care of my brother, I was now COMPLETELY taking care of him. I was scared, confused and worried. Worried at how my brother was dealing with our mom's death and step-dad's jailing. Worried at how Jason and I were going to make things ok as a family with all of the loss and stress going on. I was angry that my mom wasn't there to see me get married, that she died before I could really get to know her, that my family members were such hypocrits and attention getters. ugh
5 years ago I was just 10 days away from giving birth to my 2nd child.. my son. I was relaxed in my pregnancy, confident in my ability to mother, excited to meet this new person. My brother was in college, spending his free time finding out who he was spiritually and mentally. My husband loved me and we were happy. Alea was in pre-school and was such a joy.. most days! We were living with my father in law and anticipating our new arrival, and eventual purchase of our first home. While there was a bit of tension in that house (we only lasted 4 months there), there was an air of excitement at the changes to come. Life was good.
1 year ago I was happily working at Scrapbook Junction... blissfully unaware that in 1 month.. just 1 month I would make one of the biggest decisions of my life and purchase the store from Lynda. We would take a chance and hope for the best. I was a little nervous about my impending lack of employment, but I was also excited to look for somewhere new, somewhere to meet new people and expand my horizons. The kids were great, both in school and doing well. My brother was now at the university, with only 1 year left before he graduated. Jason still loved me and was doing awesome at work. We didn't want for anything but maybe a bit more time together as a family. Again, life was good.
4 months ago my life changed again. I found my spirtuality. I started finding out who I REALLY was. Who I had been and who I wanted to become. Jason was right there with me. He was tapping into places he had never been within himself. Cory was our guidence counselor and classmate all at the same time. The 3 of us have never bonded more closely than when we did at Christmas time. The months since have been a struggle and awakening.. it is amazing. I am constantly reminded at how blessed I truly am. To have family and friends who love me. To be able to come to work (ha ha) everyday and love what I am doing. TO BE ME.
This makes me want to scrapbook... good thing I am here at the store today... LOL
10 years ago I was reeling from my wedding, my mom's death 4 days later and her funeral 1 week after that. Upset at the fact that my step-dad had been arrested AT her funeral and at that time was currently in jail. I was freaking out at the fact that while I had always taken care of my brother, I was now COMPLETELY taking care of him. I was scared, confused and worried. Worried at how my brother was dealing with our mom's death and step-dad's jailing. Worried at how Jason and I were going to make things ok as a family with all of the loss and stress going on. I was angry that my mom wasn't there to see me get married, that she died before I could really get to know her, that my family members were such hypocrits and attention getters. ugh
5 years ago I was just 10 days away from giving birth to my 2nd child.. my son. I was relaxed in my pregnancy, confident in my ability to mother, excited to meet this new person. My brother was in college, spending his free time finding out who he was spiritually and mentally. My husband loved me and we were happy. Alea was in pre-school and was such a joy.. most days! We were living with my father in law and anticipating our new arrival, and eventual purchase of our first home. While there was a bit of tension in that house (we only lasted 4 months there), there was an air of excitement at the changes to come. Life was good.
1 year ago I was happily working at Scrapbook Junction... blissfully unaware that in 1 month.. just 1 month I would make one of the biggest decisions of my life and purchase the store from Lynda. We would take a chance and hope for the best. I was a little nervous about my impending lack of employment, but I was also excited to look for somewhere new, somewhere to meet new people and expand my horizons. The kids were great, both in school and doing well. My brother was now at the university, with only 1 year left before he graduated. Jason still loved me and was doing awesome at work. We didn't want for anything but maybe a bit more time together as a family. Again, life was good.
4 months ago my life changed again. I found my spirtuality. I started finding out who I REALLY was. Who I had been and who I wanted to become. Jason was right there with me. He was tapping into places he had never been within himself. Cory was our guidence counselor and classmate all at the same time. The 3 of us have never bonded more closely than when we did at Christmas time. The months since have been a struggle and awakening.. it is amazing. I am constantly reminded at how blessed I truly am. To have family and friends who love me. To be able to come to work (ha ha) everyday and love what I am doing. TO BE ME.
This makes me want to scrapbook... good thing I am here at the store today... LOL
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Ok.. I swear I will keep up!
There has been soo much going on lately, but really, when ISN'T there a ton going on in my life!
First things first, we had our busiest month EVER last month! So many new products coming into the store from CHA! I love getting all of the new products and trying to figure out where to put it all (ok, maybe this isn't my favorite thing)! I love it when new customers come in and say WOW after walking the store! That always makes me smile! I love it when frequent customers curse my name because I have so many new goodies! LOL
In short... I LOVE THIS STORE!! I have so many ideas and fun events coming up it just keeps getting more and more exciting!!
QuicKutz is coming for an hour to do Make N Takes on National Scrapbook Day! Kirk Pead will be here conducting make n takes and giving away prizes! Their new Spring Gift Set is SOOO cute! You MUST see their promo!!
Margie from Making Memories is coming in June and I CAN'T WAIT!! I love her spunk and style and of course, who doesn't love MM products?? I can't wait for her to meet my customers and friends, who are equally full of spunk and sass! I hope we can show her a great time while she is here, she always makes our trade show experience SO MUCH FUN!!
As for life.. well, things are going ok. Talk to me next week when Spring Break is over and my kids are back in school! LOL
Really though, these next few months will mark so much change. We are taking a family trip next month up North to see my baby bro graduate from college!! We are driving the family up in our WAY under-used RV and towing him back. On the way back we plan to stop and visit the family in Sacramento area. 2 WHOLE WEEKS! I cannot wait! Most of all, I miss my brother and can't wait to have him just a few minutes away instead of days. Things are falling into place and I just can't wait to get going!!
Ok, enough of that, I am off to put a class together! HUGZ
First things first, we had our busiest month EVER last month! So many new products coming into the store from CHA! I love getting all of the new products and trying to figure out where to put it all (ok, maybe this isn't my favorite thing)! I love it when new customers come in and say WOW after walking the store! That always makes me smile! I love it when frequent customers curse my name because I have so many new goodies! LOL
In short... I LOVE THIS STORE!! I have so many ideas and fun events coming up it just keeps getting more and more exciting!!
QuicKutz is coming for an hour to do Make N Takes on National Scrapbook Day! Kirk Pead will be here conducting make n takes and giving away prizes! Their new Spring Gift Set is SOOO cute! You MUST see their promo!!
Margie from Making Memories is coming in June and I CAN'T WAIT!! I love her spunk and style and of course, who doesn't love MM products?? I can't wait for her to meet my customers and friends, who are equally full of spunk and sass! I hope we can show her a great time while she is here, she always makes our trade show experience SO MUCH FUN!!
As for life.. well, things are going ok. Talk to me next week when Spring Break is over and my kids are back in school! LOL
Really though, these next few months will mark so much change. We are taking a family trip next month up North to see my baby bro graduate from college!! We are driving the family up in our WAY under-used RV and towing him back. On the way back we plan to stop and visit the family in Sacramento area. 2 WHOLE WEEKS! I cannot wait! Most of all, I miss my brother and can't wait to have him just a few minutes away instead of days. Things are falling into place and I just can't wait to get going!!
Ok, enough of that, I am off to put a class together! HUGZ
Saturday, March 18, 2006
OMG... I think I forgot my password!
No really though.. don't you hate bloggers that don't update? Well, don't hate the blogger.. hate the blog... or something like that! Sorry, I have been super super super busy. I have to keep up with the weekly updates on the store-front and always seem to forget to come here to update! Also, it is tax time and well... that is scary. Also... I am addicted to Toon Town.. so that eats up a lot of time.
Things are going well, though I think I have a major arm injury. That probably isn't a good thing but hey, laugh or cry baby, what are you going to do? Will be calling the dr. next week. Oh yeah, got a speeding ticket. First one ever. Love love love the Sheriffs. Ugh. Jason has his surgery on his gallbladder in a little over a week. I think he might be a bit freaked out. Understandably so.
So many new products in the store and I am in serious purge mode at home. I will take pictures of my NEW AND IMPROVED scrap room as soon as I finish. All inspired by DD. Love her. Ok.. it's late, I am outta here!
Things are going well, though I think I have a major arm injury. That probably isn't a good thing but hey, laugh or cry baby, what are you going to do? Will be calling the dr. next week. Oh yeah, got a speeding ticket. First one ever. Love love love the Sheriffs. Ugh. Jason has his surgery on his gallbladder in a little over a week. I think he might be a bit freaked out. Understandably so.
So many new products in the store and I am in serious purge mode at home. I will take pictures of my NEW AND IMPROVED scrap room as soon as I finish. All inspired by DD. Love her. Ok.. it's late, I am outta here!
Thursday, February 09, 2006
WOW.. long time no post!
Sorry about that! Things got really crazy hectic leading up to the CHA trade show! But anywho, here I am in all of my glory.
I did something AWESOME last night. Let me just share. Have you seen the QVC Lisa Bearnson album set? The 4 albums that autodeliver every few months? The first one is "All About Me" and features Heidi Swapp products, the 2nd is "All About You" featuring SEI, the 3rd is "All About Family" featurning Memories Complete and the 4th is "A Year in Review" featuring American Crafts. So of course I ordered it because it was the Today's Special Value and I love all of those companies... and honestly, how can you go wrong with an album that is already planned out and you just have to put it together per their instructions? I put my All About Me book together last night. Granted, I need to add just a few pictures and my journaling.. but people... I completed a 20 page album LAST NIGHT!! That is AMAZING! So I had to share.
In other news... pictures of the CHA show are up on the site HERE, and the re-cap with all of the goodies I ordered is HERE.
Yes.. that is Heidi Swapp signing my TSV.. cuz I love her and she is just so darn CUTE!
Enjoy... I am off to teach a card class tonight!
SEEYA!
I did something AWESOME last night. Let me just share. Have you seen the QVC Lisa Bearnson album set? The 4 albums that autodeliver every few months? The first one is "All About Me" and features Heidi Swapp products, the 2nd is "All About You" featuring SEI, the 3rd is "All About Family" featurning Memories Complete and the 4th is "A Year in Review" featuring American Crafts. So of course I ordered it because it was the Today's Special Value and I love all of those companies... and honestly, how can you go wrong with an album that is already planned out and you just have to put it together per their instructions? I put my All About Me book together last night. Granted, I need to add just a few pictures and my journaling.. but people... I completed a 20 page album LAST NIGHT!! That is AMAZING! So I had to share.
In other news... pictures of the CHA show are up on the site HERE, and the re-cap with all of the goodies I ordered is HERE.
Yes.. that is Heidi Swapp signing my TSV.. cuz I love her and she is just so darn CUTE!
Enjoy... I am off to teach a card class tonight!
SEEYA!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
ALI EDWARDS ROCKS!!
I spent almost all day yesterday with 2 of my FAVORITE scrap gurus! Ali Edwards and my fabulous table-mate Tara Whitney!! I had a BLAST!
Laurel & I drove up to Irvine for 2 classes with Ali yesterday. Perspectives & Photos I Love 2005. We were both so anxious to get up there and get going! Little did I know that my fave photographer would be the one with an empty spot at her table! At the FRONT of the class!
The classes were both amazing and after seeing the morning project I wish I would have taken that one also!! I wanted to take these classes mostly because I completely admire Ali's amazing style and because it is so "free" from what I normally box myself into doing. The projects were simple yet elegant and everything came together fabulously!!
SO.. yesterday was ALSO my 10 year wedding anniversary. Before I left I casually said to Jason, "Happy Anniversary hon". And he went white. Now we didn't get presents or anything because next weekend we will be celebrating it up in Vegas for CHA. So I wasn't trying to make him feel badly, but I guess it had slipped his mind on the date! No worries!
After my fabulous day with all of the great scrappers at the classes, I came home last night to find this... and boy did I cry! Not only did I have a GREAT day with Ali, but I came home to find that MY HUSBAND HAD MADE ME A CARD and BOUGHT ME MY FAVORITE FLOWERS!
but mostly... he MADE me a card...sniff sniff...
SO... Happy Anniversary to ME and we are off to head downtown for some US time!!
Laurel & I drove up to Irvine for 2 classes with Ali yesterday. Perspectives & Photos I Love 2005. We were both so anxious to get up there and get going! Little did I know that my fave photographer would be the one with an empty spot at her table! At the FRONT of the class!
The classes were both amazing and after seeing the morning project I wish I would have taken that one also!! I wanted to take these classes mostly because I completely admire Ali's amazing style and because it is so "free" from what I normally box myself into doing. The projects were simple yet elegant and everything came together fabulously!!
SO.. yesterday was ALSO my 10 year wedding anniversary. Before I left I casually said to Jason, "Happy Anniversary hon". And he went white. Now we didn't get presents or anything because next weekend we will be celebrating it up in Vegas for CHA. So I wasn't trying to make him feel badly, but I guess it had slipped his mind on the date! No worries!
After my fabulous day with all of the great scrappers at the classes, I came home last night to find this... and boy did I cry! Not only did I have a GREAT day with Ali, but I came home to find that MY HUSBAND HAD MADE ME A CARD and BOUGHT ME MY FAVORITE FLOWERS!
but mostly... he MADE me a card...sniff sniff...
SO... Happy Anniversary to ME and we are off to head downtown for some US time!!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Sniff Sniff...
Welp, my brother is officially on his way back to Arcata for his final semester at Humbolt State U. I miss him when he is gone. This time it has been exceptionally hard to see him go. BUT... we will be going up there to see him graduate in May.. so I will look forward to that.
What's done is done. Step-dad is officially moved out of FIL's house. Locks have been changed. Words have been exchanged. As soon as I get my darn voice back, final words will be exchanged between him and me. I am feeling like a huge load has been lifted. I also feel sadness, but he has brought this upon himself and I can't change that.
These past few weeks have been spent dealing with all of the crap that we as a family have been avoiding for years. It feels good to be catching up to the present and moving on. I feel like we are in "cleansing" mode and that is a VERY good thing.
I am not sure what will happen in the next few months... but I have a HUGE feeling that 2006 is going to be an AWESOME & POWERFUL year...
BRING IT ON...
What's done is done. Step-dad is officially moved out of FIL's house. Locks have been changed. Words have been exchanged. As soon as I get my darn voice back, final words will be exchanged between him and me. I am feeling like a huge load has been lifted. I also feel sadness, but he has brought this upon himself and I can't change that.
These past few weeks have been spent dealing with all of the crap that we as a family have been avoiding for years. It feels good to be catching up to the present and moving on. I feel like we are in "cleansing" mode and that is a VERY good thing.
I am not sure what will happen in the next few months... but I have a HUGE feeling that 2006 is going to be an AWESOME & POWERFUL year...
BRING IT ON...
Saturday, January 14, 2006
My life just keeps getting weirder and weirder...
I have had the most undescribable 3 weeks.
Starting with Christmas, continuing with family bull crud, what I thought was peaking with the meeting with my dad, only to find out that no... it isn't over. Not by FAR.
My step dad is stealing from my family. He will dodge it, point the finger elsewhere, and try his best to manuever out of the blame... but he is STEALING from my family.
UN-FLIPPING-ACCEPTABLE
So now... the next week will consist of taking care of family business so that this man, this THIEF, this LIAR, will have NO access to us anymore.
Amazing...
Yet another day in the saga of my white trash family...
Starting with Christmas, continuing with family bull crud, what I thought was peaking with the meeting with my dad, only to find out that no... it isn't over. Not by FAR.
My step dad is stealing from my family. He will dodge it, point the finger elsewhere, and try his best to manuever out of the blame... but he is STEALING from my family.
UN-FLIPPING-ACCEPTABLE
So now... the next week will consist of taking care of family business so that this man, this THIEF, this LIAR, will have NO access to us anymore.
Amazing...
Yet another day in the saga of my white trash family...
Friday, January 13, 2006
I've been TAGGED!!
Ok... so let's just say that today has been surreal... had the showdown with my dad... amazing... I don't even know where to begin with that!
AND THEN... I come to check the stats on my website and WHAT? 312 views in one night? What in the WORLD happened? I look and see where they are coming from and GUESS WHAT! CATHY ZIELSKE TAGGED ME? Ok ok... she said it was random... BUT STILL! So here we go.. and might I add that Cathy is an AMAZING talent, totally funny in person and someone who keeps it real.. and that means a lot! SEE YOU AT CHA GIRL!
Hillary
Valerie
ShabbyChic
Tina
AND THEN... I come to check the stats on my website and WHAT? 312 views in one night? What in the WORLD happened? I look and see where they are coming from and GUESS WHAT! CATHY ZIELSKE TAGGED ME? Ok ok... she said it was random... BUT STILL! So here we go.. and might I add that Cathy is an AMAZING talent, totally funny in person and someone who keeps it real.. and that means a lot! SEE YOU AT CHA GIRL!
Four jobs you have had in your life:
•Pizza slinger for Little Sleazers (pizza pizza)
•Clothes slinger for Lame Giant (that's Lane Bryant for you lucky gals who don't have to shop there)
•Clothes slinger for Clothestime (ages ago)
•Sales clerk in the men's dept. of Sears... the BEST way to meet guys... hehe
Four movies you would watch over and over:
•Shawshank Redemption (I have to agree, and I actually just watched this 2x last week!)
•Garden State (SO REAL... SO TRUE... I love this movie & soundtrack)
•Galaxy Quest (well that was a helluva thing)
•Wedding Singer (you spin me right round baby right round...)
Four places you have lived:
•El Cajon, CA
•Lakeside, CA
•Santee, CA
•that's it... I have lived within a 10 mile radius my entire life... bland eh?
Four TV shows you love to watch:
LOST...
ANY CSI...
Bones....
House...
Four places you have been on vacation:
•Newport Beach
•Hawaii
•Utah
•Washington
Four websites I visit daily: (only 4???)
Donna's Blog
Ali's Blog
Cathy's Blog
Tara's Blog
Not to mention Renee's, Stacy's, Margie's, and so so many more!
Four of my favorite foods:
•On the Border's Chicken Epanadas
•Gaetano's Pizza
•Ichiban sushi & teriyaki chicken.. man I am hungry
•Tortollini's from Bucca
Four places I would rather be right now:
in my bed.. snuggled with the hub... sleeping soundly
otherwise... I am good.. right here right now is the most important place to be!
Hillary
Valerie
ShabbyChic
Tina
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