Homegrown Hospitality

No Matter what....

Regardless of anything else....there is GOD and there is this:

It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all

There is just one moon &  one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to everyone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all

makes you sing it, huh?  Should be the world theme song.  Basic facts.  pure happy to the point facts...in a sometimes not- so- happy hemisphere...

I am just glad that we are, together, spreading a little goodness across the globe...in little ways.  I am hoping that you read some of yesterdays comments to the post I wrote, but in case you didn't, I will copy a few on to the tail send of this post..

okay, so, about two hours after I posted yesterday...some kindness was delivered to my door ...from this lovely lady..."just Because"...Thank you sooooooo much...I have already been fiddling with my goodies....I was sooo surprised and so flattered ...Thank you again!!!!!!

.......here's the updated map... we have lots of new friends out there & so if you left a comment, and have a blog, well, I some them to the list on the right side of this page under "Kindness Blogs..Go visit a few and say hello.

and lastly for today...a little bit of good info for mom's out there who may have kids that do not eat enough fruits and vegetables...

V-8 Fusion....throw some in a blender with some rainbow sherbet (or not) some protein powder & ice....and you have got the best "trick & treat"  drink ever.....my boys thought it was soooo cool that they got to have it for breakfast...and I thought it was equally as cool that they were getting a full serving or fruits AND vegetables..(thus the name "trick & treat" )

okay, that's that for today...off to mess my my Junkitz box...if you were one of the readers that sent me an comment yesterday, please email me your address for your laminated "little reminder"

and I will leave you with comments from yesterday, and in one of those comments is a challenge from another reader:

have a great day....

"I'm sending cards to my friends and family so they have something fun in their mailbox instead of just bills and junk mail!"

"I spent the last day of our grandkids vacation,baking them(all 5)cookies and they had a party on the deck with the'good'china and glasses..They got to invite neighbor kids too.."

"Getting ready to bake treats for the teachers for the first day of school. Thought it a good idea to start the year off on a "Sweet" note !"

"I took 2 bags of groceries to a friend who's hubby is in the hospital fighting for his life. They have 2 little boys and I know the last thing on her mind is going to the grocery store and cooking. I challenge your readers to find someone in the next week to take dinner to...it doesn't have to be homemade, in fact I did the frozen Bertolli meal kits plus bread, salad, and dessert, so they can have it whenever they need it. Anyways...we all need to eat and we all know someone who is stressed and tired and would LOVE to have someone cover dinner for them, even for just one night."

Kindness Across America...and Beyond

I think that it is high time I start this up again....The Kindness Across America Challenge....I am typically not a message board reader, nor will I make any comments on where or what I have been reading, but it seems that lately, in the scrap booking world, and the world in general I suppose, there are always those situations ...

it is high time to start spreading some cheer...kinda like Holiday Cheer.  I know, I know,  it is hard to bring up the word" holiday" when it is 100 degrees outside, but there is always a little room and allota need for cheer...so let's spread it....like butter on hot toast.  Okay, rambling...sorry...

so here is the last updated map I have:

and there many states that need some color....so if you are reading...and you see your state in white...I would love to hear from you...and in trade for you spreading some kindness around...I have some goodies...I have been doodlin & laminatin....

 

Let's all work together make some happiness across the map....If I had an airstream, I would drive across the states, pit stoppin here & there to scrap and bring cookies..but I cant...but let a girl dream....

and on the medical front, I am happy to say that I personally went down, got those films in my own hot little hands, delivered them safe & sound to the surgeon and am now waiting until Sept. 13 for my procedure, with the hopes of a cancellation along the way so that I can get in earlier....but I am good with waiting...

and lastly...a little family team work...

 

I know you may thinkin...a skirt???? but really, it came right out of the goodwill bag...too hot for pants and I only wear shorts when I run, and I didn't wanna get paint on those!

have a super duper day.....and for us so. cal peeps...be ready for rolling brown/blackouts...it's gonna be a hot one...

oh, one more P.S...this time next week...The kids go back to school and I will be on the way to Creative Escape to hang with the Chicks...and I see that Margie is goin too...Fun times to be had....

Trying not to be a drag

WARNING:

I am a bit full of sarcasm this morning....maybe a little more than a bit....but it is okay...right???  I will get back to more inspiring, crafty & fun stuff later.. for now...I give you this...

this is a really terrible picture of me thinking...okay, alright already....enough, funny... haha...come on now...I am trying to ride this wave of life with a smile (okay, a grin of sorts) because you know what....

the Imaging center has um, LOST MY MAMMOGRAM films....

Laugh with me....I know that all of this is going to turn out in my favor...I just know it....yes, they have, well, I mean, they are looking for them....not sure exactly where they sent them, but they did send them...just not real sure where....I think the words the Record's Dept. guy said was "we are not real sure where they are"

and about 7 minutes prior to this conversation with the records dept. I received GREAT NEWS...I got all of the authorization codes (plus a couple extra) I need....we are ready to roll with the consultation, the procedure...the whole enchilada....

but

we cant do a darn thing without the films.

Now, I know what you are thinking, they are digital, they have records of that.

I give you SIMPLY COMPLICATED definition number, oh I don't know, #374....

they did my mammogram with the "old-school" machine...with the regular ol' black and white x-ray type films...no digital here....I guess they can get better results with this type...well that is all fine and dandy to get better results, but you gotta have the films to be able to read em...

needless to say, I am riding this wave of life...with a delirious smile...I have LOTS of fun new things to play with today, scrap wise, I received my plan for HGH issue #2 today...so I am excited to work on that...we are going school show shopping today and I am grateful that my kids do actually wear out their $50 plus school shoes....and my Shed-teau, well...It is about 99% built ...(not the actual studio inside) but the structure, roof, electrical, drywall...and I am soooooooo grateful to have a super super husband and just as fabulous brother in law to do this for me in the 89 degree plus sun...even if I have drywall paper paste, drywall dust &  tar EVERYWHERE...they are a blessing to me...

okay...I am off to start making calls...my sarcasm is gone, and I am ready to get the day going....

thanks for being super troopers and listening & reading my blah blah blah's....I know that I write and talk in circles....it is just me....never try to explain it all to anyone...they would never understand it....it is all part of being me....Simply Complicated...

love,

s.

BREAKING NEWS....THEY FOUND THEM...HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!!!!!

Seriously...just a bunch of blah blah blah.......

that has nothing to do with scrapbooking.

first I will post this.

okay...I have long arms, wide open and ready to embrace the problem.

So, what is the problem you ask ?

well, it seems that the HMO needs one more authorization besides the 500 that have already been approved.

An authorization for what you ask??? a consultation...but wait, I already had a consultation...I know, I met with a surgeon, she was wearing  jeans that had been be-dazzled and a tank top, and I just knew...but do not judge a book...

anyways...it turns out that she does not have Internet in her office to check with my insurance for an authorization, nor a fax machine to fax the reports back, BUT, they eventually got the authorization...so I called to make the appointment for a biopsy....WHOOPS...they requested the wrong procedure (remember "simply Complicated) so, they re-submitted...and I had waited 5 days toooo long for them...

PLAN B....I made an S.O.S call to my original dr.  on Friday..they re-submitted and whamo, today, I received the authorization for a Stereotactical Biopsy...so today, I called to make the appt....but wait my original mam-o-candy-gram, ultrasound and MRI are from a different group, therefore,  I need to have a consultation with the new group....and of course...to get a consultation, well, I need an authorization....

now I will post this:

I mean seriously, ya know, really, it makes my arms hurt...thats the weird thing that happens when I begin to feel the stress...for some reason, I feel drained and my arms hurt...is someone "punking" me? I have Never, Ever had a single problem with an HMO...and with one semi shaky and one VERY SHAKY pregnancy, I have seen my share of HMO service at its very best...and honestly, I am not sure if it is the HMO, or the several different receptionists involved here...or just a darn test of my Ali Edwards "Word of the Year" and PLEASE do not get me wrong...I am not in any way trying to place fault on anyone...I am a bit delirious at this point...come on people...just give a girl a stereotactical biopsy...

now, I can say for sure, if this were something that my kids needed....I would be BEATING down the doors and raising heck until someone did something...but as far as this goes, although I am frustrated, tired of calling them, and them, and them, and them...I am still weirdly calm about this.  I cant figure, nor do I guess I really need to....it is just a very odd calm.

sorry for my ranting and rambling....I do not expect posts or comments on this, as there are many many better things to do then take up time on commenting...just kinda a little vent here....free's up a little mind space...so that I can give you things like this....

like for Susan...

and for the Humble Family

 

and for those of you who wanted to download the postcards from the magazine...

here they are... enjoy!!

thanks for reading, thanks for praying, thanks for laughing, thanks for understanding....and here is one last little thing to end my day today, and that made my shake my head and just stop and laugh:

ready for this.

I ordered pizza for dinner and ran to rite aide to get some drinks.  There were LOTS of people in line and one checker, so I just started to watch the people around me.  Up walked/stumbled a guy and he had 3 of those huge beer cans in his hand.  He dropped one, and tried to juggle the others not to drop those.  anyways, he picked them up, two more checkers appeared and we all kinda sorted into separate lines.

of course, the stumbling man decided to stumble over into my line.  He dropped the huge can again, and this time, it burst...and sprayed allllllll over me.

giggle with me won't you....goodnight friends.

Sunday's Best...

 

Happy Challenge Saturday

well, I awoke bright and early, like any other day, and posted this long ol' post for you...and whamo, typepad decided it did not want to participate, and then I had to leave to go get my lil dudes & hit Coscto to restock the shelves here at ol' mother hubbard's cubbard...and well, now that it is close to noon...most of ya are probably out and about enjoying the day...but I will try again now...and then head to the back to paint the trim on my lil "Shed-Teau", which by the way is making fine progress...

okay, so when I mentioned in the title, the world "challenge" was referring to me being the guest challenger at www.frecklefriends.com for the weekly challenge....so...now is where you can head on over there to see what the challenge is....go to the message board, click on design team challenge, and then click on "Homegrown Challenge"....now, I am not going to tell you what it is...BUT here is my end result:

and if I dont mind saying...I think that this was a very fun (and clever) way to journal....

and I have never been one of those people that has been, or has "tagged" someone....so I am extending this challenge to Lain...this seems like something right up her ally.....so run with it Lainie...show em whatcha got.....and anyone else that wants to play....come on....it is the weekend...let's play...

and I really want to see what all of you come up with....so share it with me....please....

off to paint....

Weekly Recap

Thank goodness it is Friday....this means my boys  come home tomorrow....I am sure that they are less than thrilled that

a) they're vacation is over

and

b) they have a nine hour drive ahead of them..

on the medical front...still WAITING for the Biopsy auth...don't get me wrong, they did get an auth. on Tuesday, but being that it is me, the almighty "Simply Complicated" one...it is not a normal biopsy you see, they must take from several different areas....soooooo...it was the wrong auth. that they submitted...sooo....waiting for a new one...The lord is testing me on my waiting skills....okay, I got em...skills....let's move on...shall we...

so the boxes...welp...let's see...here is what box #1 had :

The nice people at "Simply Renee" sent me this "clip it up" double decker embellishment organizer....the little clips are deceiving, by size they are tiny (and they send you a trillion) and they are as strong as ever!!!

Box # 2 had a Purple Cow inside of it...a whhhaatttt?  yes, a purple cow laminator,  and really, Ana Caberra does a superb job being the spokesperson for this product, but really, should there ever be a need for someone to take over, it should be me...I was laminating everything yesterday...luggage tags, backpack tags, chore charts, 8x8 pages...I caught myself wandering around looking for things to laminate...and I am really excited about the chore chart...I am going to go get some dry erase markers for the boys today and they will be able to make and wipe, mark and wipe, etc. My brother in law was over and thought, "wow, they will be thrilled", but really, they will...a "cool" way to get the jobs done....

okay, onto box #3 (it's kinda like Let's make a deal)

BUYERS REMORSE.....I was all caught up in the QVC 24 hr. show a week or so back, and I bought this.... especially because I could pay for it in "3 easy payments"...okay, truth be told...I don't die cuts...you saw what happened to me with die cutting the old school way.... so, yes, I have buyers remorse and I am going to see if I can return it...if not, well, then I will try and sell it to someone out there...

and then there was box #4...I ordered some of my own stuff from Cafe Press...had not done it before and thought maybe I should.  First off, thank you to those who have purchased items in the past...I appreciate your business, and the $2.oo profit from each item does go to a good cause, BUT (there's that dreadful BUT) I am not happy at all with the artwork, colors, screening, etc....the quality of the apparel seems to be fine, although the large...is um...LARGE...but the colors are drab, they look really washed out, and well, I am just not happy, so I will be discontinuing my Cafe Press store at the end of the month...which is in about 1 week.  I am going to look into other options, and if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

okay, and then just a little product review for ya...The lovely-est patterns that make my heart flutter...sounds a little silly...but it does....that is the dork-y part of me coming out....I give you... "Confetti"..from MME ( the Kaleidoscope Collection)...I grabbed all of the patterns, went over and grabbed one of the new American Crafts 12x12 albums, and whaaa-laaa...

my life colors...if they made these colors & patterns into fabric, well then heck, what more in life would you need....I am only kidding!!!..kinda.

okay enough rambling for now, I must get to work, as must you...enjoy your day...happy beginning of the weekend and remember to smile at everyone you see....it brightens up their day!

Today is about Freckles & Original scrapbooks

weird title..but it all comes together as you will read....so back in January, at my first ever CHA show (Craft & Hobby Assoc. for you non-scrappy's)...I was approached by this super cute girl that came to meet me because she had been reading my blog...anyways, she gave me her card and told me about Freckle Friends....well shoot, say no more...if you know me and my shoulders....I have enough Freckles for alllll of us....anyways, a while later that day, I wanted to meet Michelle Hill, so I waited as she was into a conversation with two other girls...when they turned to me, so I moved closer, did the whole "star struck" duh, just wanted to say hi...silly me...and I said "I read your blog" yada yada yada....and the two girls standing with her said, "Well, we read your blog"....Short story short....they were the owners of Freckle Friends....and short story later...I was asked to be on the design team....It is about the only time I get to do layouts of my own stuff.... they all came to the HGH party at Timeless Treasures...and guess who is on the design team now....super star Amy Tan...as in Amy Tangerine.....hold on, let me find her site for you...

www.amytangerine.com

www.amytangerine@blogspot.com

anyhows, that is fun exciting news...her stuff made me think to the wayyyyyy back, to me, in pre-school...in what must have been the inspiration for Amy Tangerine....here is the tie in between Freckles & original scrapbooks....to find the picture I want to show you...I headed to my scrapbook, that my mom made me yearrrrrssssss ago....ready....I know you are going...ohhhh, I have one of those...or ohhhh, I made one of those....I wonder, like everything else...could these possibly make a comeback????? do you think???? I swear, it almost makes me want to get out the batting and the templates and make one, in today's time, of course....anyways...check this out...on the inside cover...oh, I tell you, this book has been looked through so many times... 

okay, so here is the picture that I was looking for....the one that I was reminded of when I mentioned Amy Tangerine

I feel the need to stop here and comment on this little ditty of a picture....

first...the shirt, we all had them, in red, with our names ironed on them...my "a" was backwards in my name, and it is so stinkin cute....mom still had them hanging in the guest  room....

okay, second...the two girls standing right next to me are Kelly & Brooke...Kelly was my best best friend until we were like sophomores or something in high school....and standing next to here is Brooke...Brooke and I went to High school together, and she just had her first baby...congrats....and the baby's name is Pipa...SO CUTE...anyways.....they're mom's are still best pals and came together to see me at Timeless Treasures at the HGH party....Is that the best...Judy and SHARLENE...I capitalized Sharlene's name because I realized after the party, that um, I wrote Charlene in her magazine....what a dough-dough...and she was so nice, she did not say a thing....

anyways, a few more thoughts abouth the picture....

check out my hair....total Carol Brady shag...my mom said I would keep nothing in my hair, therefore I had an instastyle...all the time....my sis & I laugh about this Carol Brady style...hey, maybe I inspired Florence Henderson to have a haircut like this....hmmm...

and my cheeks...whoooo-wee...and the little belly....wow...I am , um....cute?  well, that jacket iam am wearing is cute...and If I could get my hands on one of those today, I'd wear it....

needless to say...I love this picture, the scarf around Kelly's neck....the perfect posture and extreme confidence that Brooke seems to be showing...either that or she is thinking, no way...I ain't gonna wear that silly little shirt, I have an outfit....and stylish at that!

the only problem is...I don't know where we are, or where we were going....The bus tells me we were on a field trip...but that is all I know....mom??? were we are the petting zoo?  It seems faint to me, but I am thinking that it might be where we were going....

so cute...I am glad my mom kept all my things together in a scrapbook for me...THANKS MOM!...

tomorrow...what are in these????

Takes a lickin....

Way back in December, I did this little doodle of myself when I thought about what makes my heart soar....what extreme, giddy, happy feelings I have when things are goin well, creating at a cruising altitude of 35,000 ft. (just had to say that cuz I have heard it so much lately!) what delights my heart...like that feeling when you see your child really happy, or you know that you have made a difference, or heck, when you make a really cute project or a super cute page....or you hear of a new baby being born, or that true love feeling when someone gets engaged or married....

I could go on...and on...but your know what I mean...so, this is my interpretation of me...I put a wedding cake as my head, because it is darn hard to draw a face...it could destroy the whole picture...so I saw fit to put a cake where my head would go....

so what makes your heart soar?  What delights your heart? Make makes you want to skip & jump on a big pile of books and wear flip flops even if it is raining...

what inspires you...defines you...what is your purpose...what makes you tick...like a Timex...and keeps you tickin when you take a licken....for me...my God, my family, my church, my friends....even silly stuff likes smells...smells of White Shoulders...the perfume my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Billings used to where....or Estee Lauder that my grandma used to wear...(or heck...Old Spice...that my dad STILL wears...(although my mom did try to persuade him to try something a little different...how can you beat the 3.99 stocking stuffer)...stuff like that...the BIG things...and the super small things....Heart Soaring...even if & when your heart is sore...

I miss my kids.  I have not heard from them for 6 days.  They are in a remote part of the Sierra's where there is apparently no cells...I read Lisa's blog yesterday about her kids going back to school and i made me think about all the times I am telling them to shhhh...and stop...and go out side...and to quit arguing....and to pick up there stuff...and to close the fridge...and to close the door cuz the air is on...and for 6 days....I have been silent...although I felt an extreme rise in my happiness yesterday at Kids Kamp...My little scrappers of America really made my heart soar..in new directions....and It made me happy on what seemed to start out a s a very draining day....

so think about that today...what makes your heart soar...makes you tick....just plain makes you happy...like a leprechaun clickin his heels....

have a super day...

love,

s.

Hint #1 & Hint #2

Hello from Home.  I love to be home, and as grateful as I am to be able to go places for work, I am always so happy to be Home Sweet Home...It was a VERY BUSY and quick weekend, and trip to Utah, but I am full of Inspiration, energy and ready to go...I feel like I am at the starting line and the gun was just shot....so off I go...and you all know how it goes...cant really tell you too much about what I am making, doing, writing, but I often beat around the bush and give hints....plus, I will need LOTS of input from readers, as (Hint #1) there will be ALOT more commentary and articles in HGH #2...which is set for newsstands (Hint #2) in MARCH...I am thinking some of you will be a bit disappointed about that date, but remember..."Good things come to those who wait"....Waiting, remember....it is okay to wait...and I am going to do 110% for you on the blog...keeping you up on the latest and greatest...maybe work on some online/in-store classes....just gotta get a little more organized...which, should, by the picture, tell you that it will be soon.... and let me add that there are still shutters, planter boxes and plant hangers to attach to this  "Shed-teau"...(say it with a french accent) you see, I have been calling it my "Chateau" and the guys keep calling it a shed...I BEG YOUR PARDON...It is SO NOT A SHED...Don't let it hear you say that....So I made a concession to them for all of the hard work in the 100 degree sun...."Shed-Teau" but you HAVE TO SAY IT WITH A FRENCH ACCENT.... oh, and the inside...that needs to be done...but judging a book by its cover...it is PERFECT!!! Can you picture it with CHRISTMAS lights on it...and landscaping...HOLY MOLY...cute stuff is gonna come from there....stuff like this...

a $1.00 box I got from Joann's...Lightly painted it Cream.

then I took a couple 12 x 12 brown (because I have LOTS of brown) Bazzill Cardstock and cut them into strips measuring 3 1/2"  x  7".  Folded them together and attached them front to back to make an accordion style mini book with 12 squares ( which gives you 24 total..12 on front, 12 on back. 

Then I went through my scraps and cut 12 squares of coordinating papers  and using kraft color (my fav.) I cut 12 of those squares, all measuring 3 x 3 and attached them to every other brown square. make sense so far...pattern/kraft/pattern/kraft...you got it...

okay..her is a peek...of the first square...

okay, now for the pictures....this is an INCREDIBLE way to use all of your double shots, extra pictures that are sitting in a box, etc....I went through the box of extras I had and pulled out my favs of Jack.  I used my 2 x 2 square punch (which really cuts a 1 3/4 inch square?) and punched out all of the pictures...so cute!

then, using Kraft cardstock ( did I mention..it's my fav?) I cut out strips measuring 2" x 4 " and fold them in half to create a little "Card" . 

Now these alone are too stinkin cute....originally I was going to journal on the inside of each card, but, due to my recent QVC purchase of these.... "Self Adhesive Chipboard Words" from Words & Crafts/Magnetic Poetry

and based on the "One Little Word" concept, I decided to look at the picture and pick a word that applied to my feelings for the picture...not hard to do when, if I may say so myself, every picture is so stinkin cute...duh!

so, I distressed (which I do ALOT) each little chipboard piece and stuck it to the inside of each little photo card and then adhered it to the patterned paper square.

alright, so here is where I will stop and let you see the finished results...I did journal about the "word" and the picture on the every other kraft square, and this is where you can do the same, or add more pictures...how ever you do it, it will be perfect...and I am gonna make one for Ben, my Valentine, my nieces...maybe even random Holiday pictures, and then hang it on the tress, although...as you will see be the picture, it is VERY LONG, but looks AWESOME as you are pulling it out of this tiny box...

okay, so there you have it, and this may very well be a class, so if you want to hold on, until specifics are done, then you can come make it with me at TT, or try one yourself...so stinkin cute!

do I have anything else to say....well, I always do, but I think I have filled you with enough "blah blah blah" for now...thank you thank you for all of your prayers...I am gonna make the next call today...drat.

love you all...thank you more than you know....

s.

p.s. tomorrow we will talk about these girls....my Freckled Friends....