Happy Hour

Bedtime Stories

I have wanted to get this story onto a layout for awhile now....and the 3 croc felties made by Megan Klauer are PERFECT with the new Sassafras Me Likey. Thanks for looking!

Happy Pioneer Day!

I guess you can say this is where it all started...Nauvoo.

{Pageant 2009}

{For those of you who don't know Pioneer Day is on July 24th. It is a day to celebrate our heritage and also our ancestors who traveled westward for religious freedom.}

Deep Thoughts

I know that I haven't been sharing very much here on the blog lately....not sure why...it just seem to be so much easier to put pics and stuff up on Facebook....but I had to write my thoughts for just a bit. I have been reading tons of books this summer. It started with the last book from the Twilight series. I don't really have anything to say about that. Then I read a fabulous book called The Hourglass Door. This book is good. I couldn't put it down. It is also written my a girl that I went to highschool with. And funny story, when we were in highschool, I read a play that she wrote in our drama class, and I remember that play to this day. I thought it was amazing for someone writing a play in highschool. So after that book, I had planned on reading a light-hearted series that a friend had recommended...but then another friend gave me The Book Thief. Wow. The Book Thief. This is an unforgettable book. I always know that I have read an amazing book when I think about it when I am not reading it. After I finished this book on Wednesday morning, I had two experiences during that day that reminded me of stories from the book. And I just cried....literally had chills from the connection that this book had with my life today. This is going on my favorite-books-of-all-time list...{When you check out the link, watch the short interview with the author...amazing}

So now you know my other love in life: {yes I do have other obsessions besides scrapbook design} BOOKS. {I have The Hourglass Door if anyone local would like to borrow it}

Higano Seek

Ella: Higano Seek

Translation: Hide & Go Seek

Remember all that Heidi Swapp product?

We donated LOTS of it and we each picked our favorite things to bring home...Leave a comment on this post and you could win some of that stuff! {Enter by Monday, July 27th}

While You Were Gone

Ever since I started traveling, Craig has really stepped up with the kids for the weekend. They are excited for time with Dad on Saturdays. It even seems lately that they ask me when I am going out of town so they can 'have fun with Dad'. This past Saturday, as part of the Enviro-Kids project in the Quad Cities, they went to West Lake to kayak & canoe. Let me just tell you...they had a fabulous time. That night on the phone they couldn't stop talking about it and as soon as I was home on Sunday they wanted to show me the pictures. These pics were taken on Syd's camera and the video is priceless. Enjoy!

So You Think You Can Dance

My bro groovin' the E.T....phone home...phone home

This is what I go home for...thanks for the reminder Sherrie.

Then Georgia

Ate at a good local restaurant...

Taught some classes to some amazing students...

Made some new friends {hi Lauren & Mandie!} and saw some old ones {my friend Kathie!}

This one is for Candi...{saved HS product}

So the story behind all the fabulous Heidi Swapp scrapbooking products...Advantus was at the Scrapbook Expo and at the end of the show they threw all the HS products in the dumpster and put pink and white paint all over them so they wouldn't be resold...I am not sure why they do this but I know there were better things they could have done with the product...like donated them??? So after Lauren rescued all the product from the dumpster, we took it all out of the packaging and Lauren took the supplies to a local Atlanta special needs day camp. Again, I know that Heidi Swapp had nothing to do with this, but I am not sure why Advantus thought this was a solution for unwanted product.

***EDITED***

I was inspired by my friend Mandie's post...leave a comment here and you will receive a bunch of Heidi Swapp goodies...there was plenty to go around :)....leave a comment by Monday, July 27th {my birthday} and I will draw a winner!!!

First Texas

A few weeks ago I traveled to GASC with Rusty Pickle to teach at their 3 day event. It was good. Every time I travel it is good.
Before I started working for Rusty Pickle I had been to only a few places outside where I lived. I hadn't traveled much. Now I have been to several states throughout the country. And even though we are at the convention almost the entire time we are in that state; the best thing about visiting these places for me is the people I get to meet. Really. It is so fun & interesting to hear each of their individual stories. We usually laugh together & have a grand time...here is just a small view of the trip to Texas in June...
I was able to meet up with my good, good friend from CKU-Anaheim. Even though we only were together for 3 days, we connected. It was so fun to see her for a moment.

I had some friends that took my class from Puerto Rico. They were so kind and gracious. They say that scrapbooking is very popular in PR...I think I might have to go over there and teach some day :)

This is another friend that I met who came to Texas from Australia. She took two of my classes. Hi Margaret {waving excitedly}!!!!

And here are the pickle people...we had so much fun. Thanks Jill for being our tour guide and chauffeur while we were in the great state of Texas! Kaylie was my personal trainer while we were there also....we worked out a couple of evenings trying to keep our shapes after eating out for 3 days! And Libby, how I love Libby...she works so hard so we can play hard. Love ya girls...

Dear Hubby

I know my birthday is just a couple of weeks away, and you are always asking me for ideas, etc. So here are just a few things that I found that would make me so happy..
This is definitely the practical gift...since ours is taking forever to toast...and we have had it for over 14 years!

Now that I have the camera of my dreams....I would really like to learn how to edit my photos.

New camera needs a strap...found this at http://www.cottoncandybynatalie.blogspot.com/

Love this camera bag...Find this bag here: http://www.acmemade.com/catalog/CAMERA-CASES-BAGS,5.htm

And of course THIS would be the icing on the cake....

Thanks honey!

07.08.09 10:11:12

house is quiet...
C & C are asleep...
laundry...
helping me pack...
special movie...
life is good!

July Creations

{Aren't the letters on this layout cool? I used glossy accents by Ranger to make the letters look WET!}