Saturday, June 28, 2008

Who Lives in a Pineapple

on my driveway??

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!

Absorbent and yellow and pourous is he?

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!

Seriously, I think all of Bikini Bottom is actually on my driveway now as Mr. T decided to decorate it with not only Spongebob, but Patrick, Squidward and Mr. Crabs, too. I think you can make them all out if you look closely!

Just one of the many things that made me happy today. :)

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Guest Designing

This month I had the honor of being a guest designer over at ScrapMagie.com, a wonderful Canadian-based website. Marina, the owner, is so charming and I couldn't resist when she asked a couple of months ago.

She put together several beautiful and chock-full kits, but I have to admit I liked the one she sent me best of all. It had all kinds of boyish goodness - Hambly transparencies and rub-ons, BasicGrey's Boxer (TONS!), new K&Co and some lovely My Mind's Eye. And I know alot of kit companies don't go crazy with the embellishments, but Marina sure did! She had brads, rub-ons, labels, stickers, and more. I was in awe (and especially in love with little scalloped labels from the awesome Jenni Bowlin).

Here are the samples I did for Marina and I hope if you have a moment, you go over and check out her bilingual site. You'll be glad you did! Thank you, Marina, for giving me this opportunity.

The first layout I did (Celebrate 4th) is using BasicGrey's Boxer along with their Chip Sticker Shapes. The next (Rare) is using K&Co's new Blue Awning line - very subtle, but oh so boyish. The "Out of Africa" layout features Heidi Swapp's World Traveler line - such cool paper on it's own, it doesn't need much more than photos, so I didn't do more! And then finally there's the LIGHThouses page that features papers by My Mind's Eye, rub-ons from Hambly and a Jenni Bowlin label.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

I love the Birthdays!

That was the official word on the way home late last night when I asked him if he'd had a good day.

My Turner is now a big six-year-old and oh-so-proud of the fact that it takes TWO hands to show you "how many" six really is. ;) While his actual party is Sunday (a Iron Man/Spiderman pool party), we still managed to fill the day with a bunch of fun for a six-year-old activities.

We started with pancakes made by Daddy, followed by a trip to the pool complete with hot dog concessions (his choice, trust me. ha!), then a quick nap before cake and presents. He insisted on a chocolate/chocolate cake with sprinkles and of course, that's what he got. (Check out the cheeks as he blows out those candles!) The day ended with a trip with Jammie and DD (my parents) to see "Iron Man" at the theater. He loved it and apparently it was the deciding factor in determining that he loved "the birthdays!"
I'm so glad you had a wonderful day, my sweet boy, and your mama will try and adjust to the fact that you're getting as big as you are, but have patience with me. I think it's much harder on me than you. xoxo

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Arizona is HOT!

Ok, so I know what an understatement that is...and trust me, I'm used to hot.

And humid.

But "Arizona Hot?"
Well, it's flaming hot.
And never mind that "dry heat" thing they try and sell you! That's just their way of trying to make you feel better!

Hot is HOT!

But that aside, it was an absolutely spectacular place to visit as I've never been to the desert.

I finally got to meet in person my longtime friend, Kim, who graciously picked me up at the airport and was my eversopatient tour guide for the day. I was in awe of the beauty that seemed to grow out of nothing. The flowers there were spectacular and thrived in those dry conditions...and sadly for her, I made Kim stop at each and every one for a photo. As gorgeous as it was, it was very strange to be in a place with no grass! We did the whole tourist thing, shopped the boutiques (so I could buy a piece of turquoise), bought shoes!, went scrapbook shopping at Scrapbooks, Etc (HOLY WOW!) and then ended the evening with a few cocktails at Tommy Bahama's with Laurie and Ally. It was an awesome day but let's just say I slept well that night! AND I managed to avoid purchasing scorpion suckers. (Don't ask.)








The next day I headed over the the Bazzill Warehouse for Creative Escape Preview Day. HOLY WOW!(again!) I can't even begin to tell you what heaven-on-earth that place is! Just imagine wall to wall stacks of paper (the "parent" sheets are about 2' x 3') in the largest warehouse you can imagine! I just wanted to roll around in all that yummy color! If I could have brought it all home with me, I would have! ;) Anyhow, preview day is basically a "dry run" for all the teachers so that we can get the kinks worked out of our classes before the actual event in the fall. I think that's such a wonderful idea and gives you just an idea at how committed Bazzill is to putting on a quality event. First up was Heidi, then me, Janet Hopkins and finally Laurie Stamas. I can't tell you what a treat it was to be able to sit in and take the classes of these amazing teachers beyond just teaching my own. The projects were absolutely phenominal and so unique. It killed me that I had to box all mine up and leave them at the warehouse until I come back in September. I want to play with them now! (Patience has never been my strong-suit!) We ended the day with a yummy dinner at Rumbi Grill and it was so nice to be able to sit and relax and catch up/get to know each other more.
Day 2 brought more classes with Jenni Bowlin (I LOVED hearing another southern accent there besides my own!), Tim Holtz and Jessica Guthrie (the Talent Search winner). LOVED these classes too and can I just say, that I have always loved Tim, but to take a class from him and get the "full experience" of his teaching style was off the charts! He's one dynamic man! After a quick dinner I collapsed back at my hotel for the early morning flight home. And now I can't wait to head back again in September!

(Btw, the warehouse photos were taken by Jessica - she was MUCH better about taking photos than I was - thank you for letting me "borrow" them!)

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day, all.

I wish I didn't rely on a special occassion to say what I am about to say, but if it takes a special day to get it out there to the men I love, then I am grateful for it.

I know I am a lucky girl and I don't take it for granted, I promise. I am lucky because I have had not one, but two, amazing fathers in my life. The first is my Daddy. I will always be my Daddy's girl even though he's been gone almost 9 years now. He was the most wonderful man with an incredibly big heart and he never. ever. not even for one minute. let me forget how much he loved me, not even when he was at his maddest over something ridiculous I had done. I am so grateful every day that God gave me such an amazing father because I know even though I lost him much (much much) too soon, some people are not as fortunate as I was/am to have had such a man in their life. He was my rock, my hero, the person I could always count on and I miss him so much that on days like today I still hurt deep inside.

And then there is the man who inherited me when I was just a rebellious 13-year-old snot. I wanted nothing to do with him, resented the heck out of him and was as trying as I could be so that he wouldn't want anything to do with me...or my mom by default. But he persisted (stubborn man that he is) and he wouldn't give up on me/us. He kept trying and kept trying and his kindness and gentle nature and huge, wonderful laugh eventually won me over. I have nothing but respect for this amazing man who not only is a wonderful dad to me, but the best grandfather my children could ever hope for. I can't thank him enough for loving us.

And that brings me to one more special man in my life. I hate to admit that I don't tell this man often enough how much I appreciate him and what a good Daddy he is to my boys, but I want him to know he is. He is the most involved, hands-on father that I know. He spends every spare minute (and then some) that he has with them and loves it. I'm not sure they realize how valuable that is quite yet, but I do. We are all so blessed to have him and I want him to know how special he is not just today on Father's Day, but everyday.

Happy Father's Day, everyone.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Cubs Rule!

I had to share this photo because not only does it makes me smile, but because it's so rare! ;)

We had simultaneous ballgames for all three boys tonight. I'm not sure who's more tired - the boys or me from running back and forth! Sadly I can't tell you who won or lost either, but I *can* tell you they took more dirt home than they left on the field!!
Ahhh, summer!

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Special Visitor

Last night I had a very special visitor (and no, I'm not talking about this cute duck family)!

It's not often that scrapping friends of mine are in my neck of the woods - usually I'm traveling far and wide to see some of them. But my sweet friend Reyanna is moving from Rhode Island to Texas (I KNOW!) and on her way, she stopped to visit! I was so excited to see her and quickly took her on a whirlwind tour of my tiny town. One of our stops was to a great farm where we always take the boys for their strawberry and pumpkin picking. There's a great lake with ducks and catfish as well as a petting zoo and more. Wasn't the sunset particularly spectacular last night? Of course we were visited by the ducks, special white ones who just had to be from Hollywood according to Reyanna because white ducks were only on T.V! ;) Too funny. And in keeping with tradition, I took a photo of Reyanna doing a handstand in Kentucky for her collection of handstand photos in every state she visits! HA!

Have a safe trip to Texas and a wonderful new beginning to your life, Rey! It was so wonderful to see you again!

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Hometown Tourist

Have you heard about towns trying to generate revenue by creating "hometown tourists?" I know quite a few that have done this and my small town has been one too. They've had this thing they call "Hometown Vacation Fridays" where you meet up on Fridays and find something new in the town you hadn't seen/learned about before. SUCH a cool idea.

And so it relates to me. I've been in quite a funk lately and having a hard time being inspired to create anything - a terrible predicament when you do what I do for a living. So my sweet husband gave me an assignment last night to try and break me out of my rut. He told me to go be a tourist in our town and to take at least 10 pictures of cool things I saw.

You know what? It worked! I had such a fun time wandering around and snapping pics here and there. I know some people thought I was strange, but I didn't care! I think i took close to 100 pictures in only a 2 mile radius (LITERALLY!) from my house...including one OF my house and all the infinate boy items there seems to be laying around now that school is out for the summer! ;)

In any case, I strongly recommend it! Go - be a tourist. Enjoy all the wonderful things about your own city! You'll be glad you did! (And if you do, email me or link me here - I'd LOVE to see!)

So with that said, I'm going to tag a few people to get it started (you girls can kill me later ;)):

Nic Howard, Kelly Purkey, Molly Peckham (I wanna see Hawaii, girl!), Suzy Plantamura, Stephanie Howell and Shannon Zickel (and anyone else who wants to play along ;)).

Here are what the images are starting with the top left going clockwise, then center:
1. Andrew Carnegie Library (one of the first Carnegie Libraries and it also has an 19th Century cemetary in the front yard), 2. Statue of Santana Lass. (Shelbyville is the Saddlebred Capitol of the World and we take our horses very seriously. This statue sits at a prominent spot where Main Street splits with Washington.), 3. Antique Clock at 5th & Main. Not sure what's special about it but I think it's cool!, 4. Columns at the stunning Wakefield-Scearce Gallery (My mom was best friends with CiCi Scearce growing up), 5. Beautiful Knockout Roses, 6. The plaque marking the historical meaning of the Shelbyville Fountain (also at 5th & Main), 7. Fountain in front of Shannon's Funeral Home. Alot of my family have been buried out of here, including my grandmother., 8. A House on Main that I want one day. It will be mine (or one alot like it!), 9. Shelby County Courthouse, 10. Antique Stores on Main Street (and yes, I stood in the middle of the road to get this!), 11. Shelbyville Fountain created commemorating the Public Works., 12. Historic Home on Clay Street (one of my favorites in town. I just love the ivy!), 13.(Center) A gorgeous Southern Magnolia Bud.

And a huge thank you to KP for her guidance in showing me where to create this awesome mosaic at www.bighugelabs.com. AMAZING!