Ooooo Scrap!

Yeah, I still play with my paper from time to time. Its a rare occasion, but I do.

Finally getting around to uploading my March goodies.

Using some of the older My Minds Eye. I hoard papers as they come into the store but I'm pretty bad about using them. Finally dug these out to make a few layouts before I use the new Quite Contrary lines.

And the new Cosmo Cricket lines. I love the garden line. I bought my son these crazy chia plant things at Michaels. He thought it was fun to water them.

And its never too late to work on your Valentines Day stuff. My son got a bunch of Valentines at school this year - his first time. So I made him a little folder to keep them all in. He likes looking at them and needed a way to keep them all together.

Layouts coming soon.....

But for now, music thats on my iPod.

These keep me going when I'm filling orders late at night (which I should be doing now but I'm blogging instead.)

Happy Easter

Took Nick to have breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Along with a million other kids, one that threw up and the mother seemed determined to finish out the experience (even though it was free). We left as soon as the projectile vomit was cleaned up and we saw the mother and little girl coloring at one of the tables.

I'm not a huge germophobe but there are some things I just can't handle......

The worst part is, Nick can't stop telling everyone he meets about 'the little girl at the mall who threw up.' Its like a greeting. 'Hello! A little girl at the mall threw up! She threw up all over the place. Mama, I don't want to throw up.' *sigh*

Since they didn't have the photographers there we had to go back later this week to get the 'official' photo.

Spring? How 'bout Summer....

In So Cal, we seem to jump right into Summer. It was in the 80's last week and in true California fashion, we drove down to the beach to check out the new season and some sunset views.

I am not a fan of the beach. I hate sand. Its sticky. And the water is nasty. Yuck. But the views are nice. Thats about all I like about the beach.

I braved the sand and stinky, nasty water (and 300 giggling teens from a local high school having their Spring Break bonfire) to get some pictures. There are days when I remember (not so fondly) my high school days and the MTV/Laguna Beach-esque activities. Who was dating whom, cheating on who, driving what kind of expensive car and the bonfires on the beach.

We found a small section of beach to enjoy the waves and sunset before we were descended upon by screeching teenagers.....

I tried to write our names in the sand and as I'd stand back to get the photo, some of those oh-so-cute teenagers would come running through and walk on my writing. Frustrated? You bet. So I scribbled our initials in the sand. B(ryan) E(rica) and N(ick). BEN.

I know what it means and thats all the matters. We finally gave up on finding a quiet piece of sand to enjoy the sunset and headed to Rubys.

They gave him 3D glasses with his kids menu and some lady came around doing caricatures. I need to find a way to upload a picture of that.

New Chucks

My kid is WAY cooler than I ever was.

He has his first pair of Chucks.

Easter Eggs.....Martha Style

So I saw this issue of Martha Stewart Living and I couldn't resist.

I had almost everything to get the job done too. I picked up the vinyl at Michaels and borrowed my dads electrical tape. Don't think he was too fond of the 'manly' tool being used to dye eggs but whatever.

Gather your supplies. If you have masks you want to use (like Time Holtz or Heidi Swapp, they need more adhesive on the back to stick to the eggs) get those and adhere tot he eggs. Otherwise, get out your diecut machine and punches.

I used the Cricut vinyl because its thin with decent adhesive.

I also used electrical tape. Trim it so you get thinner strips and adhere to the egg. The circle punch is the 5/8 inch punch and I used this to make a polka dot pattern on the eggs.

I suggest you get the vinyl adhered well before you're ready to dye. You will need to use the popsicle stick that comes with the vinyl to make sure the vinyl is tacked down to the egg shell. Be gentle. I poked a hole in one egg.

Ready to dye!

You can do the multi-colored eggs like Martha by removing the vinyl and replacing it somewhere else on the egg. Let the egg dry totally before doing this and dipping it in another color wash.

Here's where a trusty assistant might come in handy.....

Your eggs will look like this when you're done. Don't worry about the mistakes you see. I'm covering them up. See Part 2 of this tutorial to see what I did!

More funny stuff from 2 year olds mind....

First, GiGi is doing fine. They even eat lunch next to each other. And I met her the other day when I picked him up.

'Mama, dis GiGi.'

So she's met the mother now. We'll see how long GiGi lasts.....

Each week, they have a new theme in his classroom. One week it was the Farm and they sang 'Old MacDonald' all week long. Then it was 'My Bonnie lies over the ocean....'

I get serenaded on the way home each day.

So this week, he comes home and I mention dinner. He starts singing a new song.

(to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle)

Thank you, Thank you

For my food

Not sure if there is more to that but those are the only 2 lines he says.

Me: Do you pray before you eat lunch at school?

Nick: Yeah! (everythings an emphatic 'yeah!' said in a high pitched voice.)

Me: How do you pray?'

Nick: Mama, I pway.

Me: What do you say when you pray?

Nick: Oh baybeee!

ZING! I certainly hope thats not what he says when they pray.......

Kids say the funniest things.....

My kid is no exception. I really should be writing it all down but he just hits me with zingers all the time.

Look, he's 2 1/2 and he says things 2 1/2 year olds shouldn't be saying. No, I'm not teaching him bad habits. An occasional bad word slips out but thankfully, he hasn't repeated those yet. I'm getting better about catching myself.

Life has ways of throwing you curveballs all the time and my life is no exception. I was handed a wonderful opportunity at the end of January that I couldn't pass up. It might even lead to something better but my lips are sealed for now. No, it has nothing to do with the business but it will only make it better, I promise.

With this recent change, I needed more time during the day so I sent my son back to daycare. He's been home with me for most of the 2 1/2 years with the exception of a 6 month period where he went to daycare.

He's reached the point in his life where he needs other kids to interact with and a 'school' setting. I didn't want to be the parent who dropped their kid off at kindergarten and said 'have fun!' I wanted to ease him into this.

Well, 4 weeks later, he pretty much runs the place. They don't know what to do with him in his room. He's a handful which is pretty much what I told them when I registered him but they poo-poo'd me. Anyway....

So in these 4 weeks, the kid has managed to take over Tutor Time and the Twaddler room. He's ready for the 3 year old room but he isn't potty trained yet and shows no signs of ever wanting too. I've been warned that boys are tough so I'm prepared for the long road ahead. His teachers, however, are not.

Just the other day, he tells me he has a girlfriend. But he pronounces it 'gawrlfred'.

Nick: Mama, I hab gawrlfred.

Me: What?!?

My Mom: What did he say?

Me: I think he said he has a girlfriend.

Nick: Mama, I hab gawrlfred.

Me: Really? Whats her name?

Nick: Gigi

My Mom: Is GiGi pretty?

Nick: Yeah!

My Mom: What color hair does she have?

Nick: Red

My Mom: Red? Is she prettier than grandma?

Nick: Yeah!

So the next morning, I drop him off and inquire about GiGi. Her real name in Genevieve and she's there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She has curly brown hair and really big brown eyes. She's cute. I guess she's in Nicks Circle Time group and they sit next to each other. How sweet.

Now I get twice a week reports when I pick him up about the fun things he and GiGi do together. I guess she's the only one he lets cut in front of him on the slide and he holds her hand on the playground.

Watch your daughter! My son is on the lose!

Hoping for Gold.....

Well, my hoping paid off and Canada won the Gold medal for mens hockey. Before you go off calling me a bad American and all that, hear me out. I'm part Canadian. Its in my blood. Its why I love this sport as much as I do.

I would have been happy if either team won but......

Seeing this kid with his GOLD medal just makes me happy. And hopefully thats the last time he's forced to hug Niedermeyer. Gag.

Don't know who Drew Doughty is? You will in a couple of years. He's on everyones radar now and he's being compared to players like Bobby Orr. Not a hockey fan? No worries. It'll all be about Drew-nation in a few years. This kid is a natural. Not many players can just relax and play the way he does. He doesn't get all worked up during games. He says it stresses him out. Here are a couple of interviews with Mr. Doughty.

Okay, no more hockey for a while. I promise. At least until the playoffs start......

Right Now.....

Wishing, hoping, praying for a finals game between the US and Canada....

Would love to see Drew Doughty get the gold at 20 but then Dustin Brown should win too.....

Love watching him compete.... (and I'm not a snowboarding fan)

I'm totally craving some of this...

I love listening to him....

I really want one of these...

I'm reading this....

Just finished this...

and this...

I love all of his books.

Finally somewhat caught up with the business. Those orders just never stop! But I love it. It means the changes I made this year were needed. Fresh faces, fresh products...just a breath of fresh air.

Had a scrap date last Saturday and another one on the 27th. Looking forward to it.

On the Homefront.....

January was not just about CHA...okay so it was but I did spend some time with family. Made some changes for the better. My word for 2010 is ME. I know it sounds kind of selfish but it seems like I'm always doing stuff for others whether its at work, in my personal life, for Nick, for the business etc. I have to beg and steal an hour away to get a pedicure. Ladies 8 weeks is just TOO long to go between pedicures - especially when you're on your feet as much as I am!

I hardly scrap anymore. Someone who owns a scrapbook store told me that when I first opened and I believed her - to a point. I knew I'd have a lot LESS time to scrap but there was no way it would disappear entirely. WRONG.....

Other than the few things I did for the booth, that was pretty much it. The last time I sat down and worked on something fun, for ME, was December 19th with Cori and Lisa. I know, right?

Now that the madness of the expo and CHA are over with its back to ME.

I have an all day crop this Saturday and another one on the 27th. I need to be doing more than blog banners......

Some cute pictures of Nick from January:

Washing lemons with my dad. Meepaw. Check out the jammies and the boots. Best. $7. I. Ever. Spent. At. Target. Seriously, he wears them all the time. Just kills me when I see him clopping around the house in them. They were the smallest size they had so he needs to grow into them a little but he keeps them on somehow.....

Is this the start of his NHL career? I've got these saved just in case he makes it big. I want to show everyone where he started....

Learning to ride the trike he got for Christmas. His feet don't really reach the peddles yet....

At the Tip a King event. These guys are the greatest! Really took time to talk to Nick about hockey. He was just impressed that they played and liked to ask them 'you play hawkee?' They added a new thing to the even this year with 'experiences'. You could face off against Jarret Stoll or take a couple of shots on the goaltenders. Kind of cool and Nick got to 'play hawkee'.

P.S. - Aren't they the cutest? I love my boys!