Homegrown Hospitality

Mail, Doodles and Mom & Dad

whew..I am falling wayyyy behind on blogging, doodling, mail, BUT...an extended, added on deadline that was done last week, is now...done again...I had to put together some finishing this's and thats and here was the last of the last (for now) ...luckily, my valentine was off on Friday, so he came over and helped??? and my parents came into town to catch up on the boys baseball games...Ben told grandpa he was going to hit him a home run, and sure enough, in Benjamin style, first at bat...hit a home run! 

Okay, so I got a thumbs up...or rather a "Shout it from the Mountain Tops" from the high & mighty of that place I work for...but I am re-confirming that...so maybe, just maybe...later today....we will see.

Now I need to catch up on PTA stuff, school carnival stuff, laundry...and I am in the middle of moving rooms around...I officially have no more studio, and today will put Ben's bed into his first very own bedroom...I am packed up in piles & boxes...I am excited for him to be able to have his own room, but have a sneaking suspicion that he will not sleep in his own room...I am thinking of renting some space from him....we will see...

as for mom & dad in town, they are back home and dashing off for a week in Cabo...The boys and I HATE when they leave and Ben always asks why they had to go and move...here are a few random shots from our traditional Dana Point excursion...breakfast at the brig and walk around and check out the boats...We have been doing this since Jack was just a tiny baby!

good thing God gave me LOOONNNNGGGG arms to wrap around and get pictures like this!!!!

okay, so I am going to go now...If I get any green lights, I will be back....thanks for hangin in there with me...gotta go ....happy Monday!

Does someone have a ball pump

because I feel like I have dropped the ball on so much...I need to pump it up...the ball, the one that is out of air.  Now, I know that I have not really dropped the ball, maybe just bounced it too much...hmmm..."lightening my load"...maybe I should practice what I am preaching (which reminds me that I need to doodle last weeks lesson)...doing what I am doodling...It is part of my simple complicated-ness...those of you who really really know me are probably thinking...what is new..."My English speaking Shepard"Andrew calls it being hopelessly over committed...

Yes, I admit it...I am hopelessly ....in love, over committed, ball bouncing, baseball juggling, cake baking, sock matching, bible studying, wedding plannin..God Lovin...it is me...SIMPLY COMPLICATED...you have heard me refer to it, and I will continue to claim it...but I am grateful and just whining to you right now...but I am almost over it...because I need to take the cake out of the oven...(Insert silly smile)then back to life and off to bed...

and I want to tell you what is going on in my crafty little world...I really do..especially right now....I just made the silliest, cutest ,dumbbest thing ever, and when you finally get to see it, you are going to giggle...it really is NO BIG DEAL, but sometimes the smallest things are, well...you know!

I am so lucky...I am so blessed

Gosh you girls...I am so touched by all of your comments!  I have been extremely blessed by God, who made me what I am, and who has put me where I am today.  I am so blessed and so excited to see the way GOD works...in such a manic world, I see so much good...I am blessed to have the job I have, to be home and near for my boys and for being available and energized to do the things I want to do with them on top of the things that need to be done with them   I am so lucky for the awesome friends I have and the team that I am part of at the boys school..for my family that is always just a phone call away...

Never, not even for a moment, do I take it for granted.  There are millions of crafty creative souls out there in the world and I am just me, just one like you, doing what I love...for the love of paper...for the love of fabric...and for the love of homemade, homegrown and heart Soaring feelings..I am excited to be able to share more with you very soon...

I am so touched, as is Miranda, for the extreme generosity you have shown.  I am so happy to doodle for all of you, and apologize for not getting them all done and in the mail, but they will get done! There are lots of great things to come, and it is all starting to settle in my head that it is all happening...I thank you for keeping the faith in me, and for joining in on the creative journey with me...

stay tuned friends...

oh, and today is April 23...Happy Earth Day. AND..two months from today I will be married to the boy I fell in love with when I was 15...

I guess I need to get on the ball & better start planning...just kidding...kinda...hey I called the rental place today...and the invitations are 50% done...I am not worried...nothing can phase me, I am getting married to him....23 years later....la la la...(insert blue birds flying around with ribbons)

"D" day, Trouble shooting and sock rocks

today is the day...deadline....everything needs to be packed up tonight and shipped tomorrow FED EX Overnight......I am still in the same corner of the living room, fresh from the shower and ready to roll again today, and I just finished writing a little something, but I NEED YOUR HELP...and I am going to "hurt" two birds with one sock (a sock that is rolled up to represent a rock)...

so first, when trying to export my email address book from my home PC, over to my lap top, it must have gotten stuck in the wall between my work room and the living room, because I can not find it in either computer, and right now, I do not have any more minutes to look for it....

so, I need you to email me something...here is my email address...

stafoya4@cox.net

and...prior to beginning my post here in typepad, I took a look at the stats for my blog...and it shows that there have been 51,075 lurkers out there...wow, that is alot, and so, I am going to aim high on this next request

as I mentioned, I just finished writing "something" for that thing-a-mah-jig thing that I have been teasing you all about for the past few months...BUT...I need your help in proofreading it, and then telling me if you understand it...BUT, I can not "POST" this piece of writing, because duh...that would reveal way to much right now, and I don't want the scrapbook police to come arrest me, because then I would not be able to ship my stuff overnight tomorrow, which would cause me to miss the deadline and get fired from a job that I have been putting my heart and soul into for the past 38 years....

so, in aiming high, I need 100 comments...and for those 100 comments, I will email you the piece that I just finished writing for your input, and then in Mid-July, late July and early August, when all this comes to fruition, you will be rewarded for your services!

so, ready...set....POST!

Just Checkin In

Good Saturday Evening...Just checkin in from the corner of the living room...as I keep on trying to wrap up loose deadline ends, I have merged into the living room because there is no floor, nor desktop space to do anything in my other work space....I have a table in the living room, stuff on the couch, a pile on the big cozy chair, stuff on my table in the kitchen and piles on the kitchen counters...I took a few breaks today..one to sign up the boys for soccer, two baseball games and church..and the lesson today was a continuation of "Lightening the Load"...hahahahahahahahaha..although, my load is lightening...I need to get most of it in a box, because my head is overflowing with thoughts and ideas for the next part of my journey...I am awaiting a green light from my project posse to give you more details on what I have been working on, but for now...I guess I can just mention that sometime in the month of July, maybe the second week or so, if you are local, or semi local...or hey, from a far & distant land...plan to come have some fun with me...but I gotta know who you are..so if you are interested, I am going to start keeping an interest list....that means you will have to post a comment, or email me....How will I know if I don't know....

I plan to take Monday off, and answer a long list of overdue emails and I owe some of you some doodles....okay break is over...back to work....leave me a comment...

God is smiling...even in tough times

I know that it sounds absolutely crazy to think or say that God is smiling on us right now, with the way the world is at this very moment, but my faith, his word and the generosity & good works that you have demonstrated assures me that he is.  We cannot not change the world, but we can be good role models for our little worlds in hopes that we can influence those we directly effect...This is why I LOVE LOVE LOVE the industry that I am in, not just scrapbooking/crafting industry, but more importantly, Gods Industry of Good Works.  Yes, there are contracts, politics, policy's,just like the everyday job stuff we deal with, but it is the soul of the industry that I LOVE...the good that you get from it, the "heart Soaring" moments of when you have completed a page, a project, a journal entry, when you get that perfect candid shot of your kids, or family, when you reach out to someone to make them feel better and it works, when you smile, and it causes a chain reaction ( like when you yawn & the person next to you does...hey I had to add that in to let you know it was me!) the incredible generosity of you, to do something for someone you don't even have to know, you just do it because it is good....you all know what I mean, and I applaud all of you, even the ones that just read but do not post comments....I would love for you to email me though....because of this....

the winning bid for the Random Thoughts book I thought was going to be shipped to Arizona....but read this...

I'm so excited I can't stand it!!  My whole hope and intent on winning this auction was not so you could personalize this awesome album for me, although I would LOVE  to have one of your albums, but so that you could personalize it for HER....Miranda.  What a special way for her to document her life journey and just a reminder to her that there are sooo many people rooting for her and the many others that suffer from this debilitating disease.  She is such a courageous young lady don't you think.  I love this Pay it Forward thing.  It makes me feel so giddy inside.  So if you could please find a special way to personalize the album for Miranda and make sure she receives it, it would make my day.

Hellloooooooo...is that wonderful?  He is smiling.....so I am asking you this...please either post a comment or send me an email at stafoya4@cox.net about good stuff, a note for Miranda, anything, and I will insert into the book and give it to her with the donations that you all have contributed....

okay, and the winner of the Sea Glass Necklace goes to my friend Lain..and let me tell ya, she is SCRAPHAPPY ( and a writier for Simple) and a mom, a wife and a total nut!  Congrats and thank you for your $65.00 bid...thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!

and I have been working on another album, but at the same time that I am incredible filled with happiness and heel clicking emotions, I also feel like this....my deadline was extended just a few inches ( Thanks Marissa) so it is total crunch time and I thank God for charging my batteries because with 5 baseball games, spelling tests, deadline, PTA meeting..yata yata yata...I need the recharger....but it is all good...good things to come...just hang on a little bit longer...

lastly, thanks to Lara & Deena for your contributions to this cause for Miranda...I will been presenting on last thing, hopefully on Sunday evening...(after I pack the book to ship here (hint hint)

Congrats & Item number three..

okay, so, the winning bid for the SA chipboard & Magazine goes to Yvonne...thank you Queen B for bidding and donating to such a great cause...please send your address and information to Lara here and our next item comes to you from one of my best girlfriends, Deena...and I was lucky enough to score one of these beauty's for my birthday...Deena makes them herself and there is alot of love ( and hammering glass) to make this such a special item...for you, or for someone you love....the picture is a good one, but honestly it is a really beautiful piece, and I am so thankful to her for not only giving me one, but for donating to Miranda's fight against this debilitating disease....so here is the picture of the sea glass beauty....we had an early morning bidder start the bidding at $45.00...thanks mom!..okay, so we will run this until tomorrow morning at 7:00 am...

This little book is headed to

ARIZONA...WOW-WEE...this is amazing....you are all so awesome...unbelievable...together we DO make a difference....incredible...God is smiling on all of you....and I have been blessed with e-mails from two friends with something to contribute...so, for Item item two...compliments of Lara Cousins in South Africa...(insert screeching breaks) South Africa...is that amazing...we are would wide...this is so great!....

Hi Stephanie,

I am really touched by your cause, my mom has rheumatoid arthritis (and her name is also Stephanie!)  I’d like to help out in your fund-raising efforts. I’ll put together a kit of South African scrapbooking chipboard products, including a spiral bound mini album of my design.  I’ll also throw in a copy of SA’s newest scrapbook magazine, launched last month of which I have just been appointed Editor . Whoever wins the auction, I’ll send it directly to them

okay...here is a little info from Lara : Lets Call this "SA Friends Across the World" and the bidding starts at $40.00....(this includes an album, tons of chipboard pieces and the new South African Scrapbook mag...from the Editor herself!!) 

This Lil auction will run until 7:00 am tomorrow morning....when we will get to Item Three....

here is a sneak peek...(and lucky me, she made me my very own for my birthday ) it is beautiful...sea glass colors...okay...details tomorrow...oh, and today...my friends is "the" day"...my deadline day for the thing that I have been working on....so I am a juggling momma today...keep me in your prayers that I keep all the important stuff in the air...and one last things, which I know I don't have to ask, but need to...

please keep the 1000's of people in Virgina, and around the nation in your prayers...need I say more....I just have faith that God is near to all of them...

GREAT things.....

WOW...WOW..WOW..I am so floating on that heart Soaring stuff that this awesome crafty craft craft stuff gives me because of all of you...it feels REALLY REALLY good to do good doesn't it?  More people should do it .....okay, so I forgot to say when this little auction is over...but now I have more things...so for the "Random Thoughts" book, let say that tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m CALIFORNIA time, that will close and the next item will go up....one coming from one of my best girlfriends Deena and another book ( with 39ish 9 x 9 pages)...from me...I was so moved by the generosity, that I could not help but sit down late last night and start creating......pictures to follow....and here you super duper bunch of scrap makin, time givin, family lovin bunch of girls....is the #2 on the lesson from this week...in Technicolor and in B&W...enjoy....

p.s......if you look at the comments posted from yesterday, there is one from Miranda....sweet!

wow..I am so happy...thank you all so much for this...together, we can all make a difference, make a change, leave our mark...doodle, scrap. sew...whatever...it is all good!!!! Hugs to all of you...if you were all close, I would have you over for a cupcake!!!!...wait what...cupcake...oh, I have a picture of a cupcake...hmmm..hint???? maybe...more to come.... you girls make me happy...really happy....

For a Good Cause...**EDITED**do I hear 55.00

I am late with my doodle & journaling for you from yesterdays lesson at Church, but I have something else I would like to talk about...a good cause...that is, I have been praying & waiting for something, and I have found it.  Many of you have made purchases through my cafe press store and I make $2.00 per item for each item purchased.  I have been thinking about where to apply those funds, to Pay it Forward, and I got my answered prayer in an e-mail yesterday from my mom regarding a very very dear friend named Miranda & her ongoing fight with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis...she was diagnosed at age 13 and is now 15...yikes, can you imagine?  anyways, her Grandma is my mom's best friend from Elementary school (they are still best friends 500 years later..just kidding mom!)and the email was about Miranda's team raising money for the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Walk in just a month...so that's where your money (from Cafe Press) is going...to help find a cure...and, then I thought, gosh, I have something else I could "auction" off that is not tagged for that special project thingamajig that I am currently under a deadline for...and it is this...remember the cruise I went on a few weeks back?   We did a complete 9 x 9 album with the theme "Random Favorites"  with the polka dot Bazzill Chicks and I am happy to auction this book off...it has 22ish completed pages and to complete it, I will happily doodle/personalize this book & and add some other goodies with it for the winning bid...the $$ from this will also go towards Miranda's team....oh, and one last big thing...Miranda is a SCRAPBOOKER....so let's unite...for a good cause....post your bid in the comments...starting bid is $45.00....

and I will post later the lesson, but in all fairness...here is the journal/doodle page for you, in B & W to color, and in color....

enjoy!