Homegrown Hospitality

Which Month Is It???

I forgot to have the boys pick a winner (ew!)...so this morning, I had Ben pick TWO ( double ew!)...

Tricia Gray & Patti Smith....COME ON DOWN....you are the next contestants on the ......

Can you totally picture them...Look at Tricia...she has her hands over her mouth, her eyes look like they are going to pop right out of her head...and oh my gosh...Look at Patti.....she is running back through the audience high fiving everyone....

don't you love the visuals I put in your head.....Man, Bob Barker is looking old and he has the most long & skinny microphone (just like Richard Dawson on Family Feud)

okay, enough visuals....I am a little punchy this morning...got up too early thinking it was the last day of July, only to get an email from BPS regarding our "Having More FUN Class" with the "Hello, it's August" Message, so I listened to it and then thought, well, I should kick off August with a doodle, proceeded to do a couple, scanned them in, went to edit them and noticed that my computer said July 31....and then, well, I do not know...I guess you could say I am all ready for tomorrow....

so, I then decided, after getting my "Foundation for  a Better Life" quote of the day, that I would doodle a little something inspired from that...

so here we are....July 31, 2008....with a doodle using the broad tip of the pen...

I like it...and I even added in the color...PINK...I need to start building back my relationship with the color PINK due to the fact that I am busy planning the "Pinkapooloza" with my new friend Missy for the first weekend in February 2009 in Virginia/Washington DC....details to follow...

okay, back to the doodle...see my "two-cents"....well, it is true, and I need to remind my own self of it sometimes..I have been taking closer looks at things and finding the JOY within the JOY....One of my best non-scrappy friends son is in the US Little LeaugePlay-Off's and we have gone to two game this week...they played WA and then NV yesterday, won both games and it is so fun...I don't have any kids on the team and I am shouting, screaming and cheering...I even got bad chills when when of the boys hit a GRAND SLAM Homer yesterday, the mom started to cry and I felt like a proud mother bird....I don't even know the kid, but it was pure & genuine joy & so fun & exciting...plus our kids are having a blast catching the foul balls.....another example of the little things...

so that is my "Finding the BEAUTY" in Life....

and take a look at this beauty....am I not the BIGGEST DORK?????? It's okay, I accept it, embrace it and have been known to flaunt it (Like when I tried to sing the National Anthem to Kamryn & Delaney in the Hanna Montana Microphone last weekend) it is my finished class project using my pal Teresa's SPOOKTACULAR line....

I just need to add one little pom-pom to the top of my cute lil hat!  and I don't wanna show you anymore because I want you to come take the class...even if you don't have Halloween costume pictures...see that shirt I am wearing on the cover...it is paper that I cut out...oh and the hat, too(in case you thought I was wearing it for reals!)

Class dates, locations & $$ coming soon!

okay..off I go to put on my BSDO(beauty school drop out) cape...It is time to give Ben his Football BUZZ!!!!  Practice starts tomorrow!

Have a great Thursday, embrace the day and find the beauty.....

Today's Post is sponsored by the letter

yes, the letter S.

first word that comes to mind is SHAKING.  yes, we had a doozy of an earthquake yesterday, and anyone who knows me well (including the shoulder of my friend Sarah that I placed a death grip on during yesterday's trembler) knows that I do not react well to earthquakes.  Let's just say that I was soooo glad to be out on a baseball field with a lot of good friends and that besides the swaying football field lights, we were fine. Just rattled. really rattled, especially because NO ONE could call out...no service at all....makes you feel really insecure....but within minutes, I received calls from mom & dad in AZ and my friend Michele got a call from her bro. in Michigan...CNN was johnny on the spot with the news...

moving on...

S as in SORRY for the blog post yesterday...& I want to tell you that I am just normal and frustrated but not ungrateful.  Please do not think that.  I pinch myself & say my prayers everyday for the blessings that I have been given...with that said,

I don't HATE the cover....yes, I don't LOVE the cover, but it is because my eye (that was trained by Terri Gick of MAMBI) sees too much white space.  When I look at it....I see too much white.   Don't you??

moving on to something else....like that cute frame of kids on the cover...I am proud to tell you that it is a project done by my friend Annie.  You see, I don't have any SAY in the layout or cover of this, so I was super excited when they sent me over the shot of the cover and I realized Annie's project was on the cover....I think that I may have disappointed her a bit with my non-love for the cover, but on the contrary, I love that she is sooooo excited about it....sorry Annie..big hugs to you!  I am proud, happy & grateful to have you as a contributor....

okay, and since we are on the subject of Holidays.....Iam finishing up a project for a class that I am going to be doing at Scrapbook Oasis, Timeless Treasures and maybe even Pink Pineapple & the Scrappin Table(they don't know that yet but I am gonna call them today).....here is a sneak peek...

it is SWEET, SPOOKY & SPARKLY....Full of Techniques and pretty dang cute, if I don't say so myself....and I am using the new Spooktacular Teresa Collins line...a little MAMBI and alot of LOVE....these classes will take place in Sept...as in October I will be chasing tigers in South Africa....who know, maybe even in August....so tuned for dates...I will hopefully have those up later today or tomorrow...

and one last thing, I have a special secret for someone out in blog land, but I cant tell you yet, or it would not be a secret... (hey, I had to tell you...there were too many S's in the sentence!!!)

If you have any great "S" stories, "S" words or anything to say...leave me a comment....I will have the boys pick a name from the comments.....I have SOMETHING to give away...what is it.....A SURPRISE!

Sarcastic, a little Cynical but completely Sincere....

well, here it is, almost august and the last issue of Homegrown Hospitality, I mean, Home & Heart oh wait, Holiday Home will be hitting newsstands soon. 

When? I am not sure.

Where..well..I do know that Michael's, Joann's, maybe some Border's, Barnes & Nobles & Wal-Mart will be carrying it...some Targets, some Pavilions, most grocery store chains...but as far as Independent Retailers go, you will need to check (OR ASK) them to bring it in.

It's called Holiday Home....from CKMEDIA...and it looks like this....

No, not that "Warm & Cozy" yummy Holiday magazine melt your heart look....not what I would have wished for, but it is what it is, and maybe it is a good thing...

Maybe the thoughts put into this cover were that the sight of a holiday magazine in August would make people cringe! YIKES....Maybe September would have been a better month...who knows!

I am so sorry for my thoughts, but I am just being honest....the really great thing is...inside the cover are great, fun, EASY, lovely projects for the upcoming Fall & Winter months...so

Do Not Judge This Book By It's Cover

I promise you.you will be thrilled with what is inside. Just pretend that the cover looks like this...

A really cute covered porch with a dark red front door, a cute screen door with a big overfilled fall wreath hanging on it...lots of pumpkins (not jack-o-lanterns)  lining the walkway, dark green grass on the lawn covered with fall leaves, a chill in the air...maybe a cute picture over to the right with some yummy pumpkin bread and Hot Cider in a big cute mug with a super cozy quilt.. (Can you feel the chill in the air).

or maybe..

picture a big farm, cozy country kitchen, a big ol' pot of chicken soup simmering....kids at the kitchen table decorating gingerbread houses (or maybe just cookies) mom's at another table (or the big giant island in the middle of the big country kitchen) making cards, or something out of paper...cookies coming out of the oven..in the blurry back ground, a big ol' fire with a Christmas tree with white lights (you can have colored lights if you want) and the sound of football on the tv...(okay, you can make that homemade CHEX party mix, too)

I think you get the picture of what is inside my head...I am telling you, that what is beyond this cover, came from my heart...and the hearts of many who contributed....so I hope that you find it, enjoy it and love it.  It is the last one, and that makes my heart hurt.  alot.  More than you will ever know.  I still believe that things happen for a reason, but, again, just being honest, I am so "fit to be tied" (whatever the heck that means).  Yesterday was a VERY stressful, very anxiety filled afternoon in regards to some of the people I deal with. I want you to know, that from the creative side, it is VERY VERY VERY hard, to be the artist, and know the inside details of this business.  It makes me crazy and very cranky.

remember, just being honest here...that is what this blog is about...not just scrap booking, paper crafting or creating things....It is all part of the job, part of the territory and part of learning.  It is just so frustrating it makes me want to SPIT.  sorry.  that was gross.  I have dealt with this type of frustration in my life before and I recognize the warning signs, You just want things to change soooooo bad, again, makes you wanna spit...and they just don't,things that is..change....It is like playing tug-o-war with life....without gloves...you get blisters & sore muscles..and who cares who wins, it is not about winning, it is all part of life...but I do not like this part...At least all of this frustration & anxiety gives me ammo to train...and to run...

ahh...there is my breath of fresh air.  I pray when I run...not just for me...for lots of people and for lots of reasons...it gets me in my zone pretty quickly.  and then the time goes by fast.  If I could carry a notebook and a pen for all of the ideas that jump out of my volcano while I am running, that would be great!  Training for TEAM HAM is going well..I just got an update regarding Micah (you can read about it here). 

I guess I should clear up a little mis-understanding.

I do not know the Hester's personally...not yet anyway.  I came across their story on Heidi Grace's blog and was instantly connected. It is God working. I feel it, I see it and I am sure of it. I felt (& feel)  a very strong pull to their story and the fight they are fighting.  I want to contribute, give back,  help and do more....I have been incredibly blessed & I am extremely grateful to God for a life that allows me to stay home & raise my kids, to be married to the love of my life (and a man who understands me and loves me for what, who and why I am even if I am a huge crazy flip flop wear, Hanna Montana microphone singin, American Doll playin.. girl) and blessed to have a job that reflects my dreams, my passions and my purpose.  The frustration I felt yesterday just fuels my tank to dig in and get going...to do more, to show my appreciation for the lucky creative blessed life I have.

At Etnies Skatepark last night, as I sat and watched Ben skate (& listen to all of the 12 year olds sounding soooo coool dropping f-bombs left & right) I had a total Stacy Julian "Big Picture" moment....(for you papercraftin peeps out there, you will know what it means) For you non-paperlovin friends...it would be like seeing a flower bloom before your eyes, or maybe a baby chick pecking itself out of a shell (okay, I am getting to National Geographic-ish here)...the thing is...all of the frustration...the conflicts, the resolutions, the good, the bad, and the ugly...all of it...knowing people, or not know them at all...believing in something with your whole heart....It is all part of life..it is how we learn and how we grow. It's not about LUCK, it is about being BLESSED.

now speaking of luck...& to lighten up the end of today's post, yesterday, before the skate park, we went to the pool, but it was closed again...because of "CODE BROWN"...so we headed to the beach club...and it must have been my lucky day because within 10 minutes, bird poop landed on me...TWICE.  Once on my arm and then again on my blackberry as I was dialing ...(i never made that call!). 

Have you ever seen bird poop on a blackberry??...I guess if you live on a farm or have a garden you have.

I suppose that is my lesson for the day....Life is filled with yucky things & sweet things...it is all part of life...Like Bird Poop on a Blackberry.

Have a super day.

 

Monday Morning Confessions

good morning...Hope you all had a great weekend...we spent some time with my family for my niece's birthday...mom & dad flew in and flew out, we had a little family slumber party and had a good time.  I took 150 pictures of the birthday girl & the festivities and I am excited to announce that "Elizabeth" (my middle name and Auntie Krista's middle name) is the new name for the newest "American Girl" doll that arrived at my sisters house....It is a "Just Like You" American girl...

no, not just like me...just like her...although, if they have a girl with short hair, I just might want it...I confess that I played dolls with the girls, and Ben, for quite a long time....I actually just like to change the clothes and braid the hair...& Ben was impressed at my braiding skills..(He does not realize that his lovely momma is a beauty school drop-out!)

enough about dolls....onto other confessions...

In the past few days, actually Saturday and now today, I have had two major "Jessica Simpson" moments....I won't share the Saturday one with you because my mom, my sis & I all "pinky"swore that we would never tell....and then today's...I kill myself...So I got SKYPE, this cool chat/phone thing so that I can talk to Lara in South Africa (BTW, it is 3:14 on Tuesday there!) anyways, she gave me some AWESOME news on where we are going to be staying for three days while in South Africa. (go here to check it out) and as I was trying to log onto this site, I told her "All I can see are two HUGE tiger eyes" (insert screeching break sounds)

Lara replied....."There are no tigers in Africa"

deep breath.

so now I know, there are 11 languages spoken in Africa, and no tigers!  I think I am ready to go!

okay, another exciting confession...I really really really got some good ol' fashioned pile organizing done yesterday.  The Shead-Teau is looking WWWAAAAAAYYYYYYY better...I made some HUGE progress yesterday...worked for HOURS.....still have HOURS to go but felt really great with the progress....and I came across a ton of mini books that I have done for classes, etc. so I added them to my entry way basket.  I think I need to get another basket! 

okay, I have one last confession and then I need to dash off to get my run in...

I still have many emails to answer, packages to send, and general junk to do...If I owe you an email, or a anything, at this point, I am so sorry for the hold up...You are all very important to me, and I am so sorry for the delays and excuses...I am trying to get my corn in a row....or is it "P's & Q's"..or is it "dotting t's and crossing I's"...You know what I mean....sorry for the delays...I am tryin to get caught up on everything....I am trying hard to focus and ignore that dang circus music in the background....

one last confession then I am really going...

I now know why Micheal Jackson has been MIA for the past year or so, apparently, he has been teaching Delaney some of his popular dance moves...(check out the toes...& the ponytail)

Saturday Morning Scraps & Silly's

There is a garage sale down the street so Ben is down there entertaining lil' Abbie while I am finishing up cupcakes & wrapping duties before we get on the road to my sisters....

I mentioned that Jen, Suezi & I dashed down to the American Girl Store while in Chicago... and here is the card that I just made for Kamryn...all you need to make a card like this is a bunch of scraps, a doodle on scrap cardstock, ribbon, polka dot fabric, hole punch, sewing machine

whallaaa......(I used a TON of ribbon so my sis can take it & use it on her own projects!!!)

oh brother...Look what Ben just walked in with from the garage sale....He was so excited because when he asked Paul "how much??"...Paul said "For you Ben, FREE "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I told Ben he can keep it and as he was running out the door back down to the garage sale,

I told Ben to tell Paul "My mom said NO MORE STUFF!"

party pooper..i know.

have a super Saturday!

T.G.I.F. and everyday before Friday

T.G.I.F...what about TGIM, TGIT, TGIW, THIT...why just Friday??? I know it is because it is the beginning of the weekend....and "Everybody's Workin For the Weekend..." (you know you love LOVERBOY!!!!) but I am certain that GOD would appreciate it if we would thank him more often for EVERYDAY.....

anyways...today, I am thanking God that it is Friday.  Just another day, but simply that, another day, so for that, I am thankful.

I skipped blogging yesterday, sorry.  I am stilll soooo overstimulated with the after effects of CHA.  I can't seem to get myself back to work.  I had to re-send some packages that got lost in never-neverland & just did not have a whole heck of alot to say ( I bet you are thinking...do you now???).  But all in all, it was a pretty productive day, although the Shead-Teau still appears to have been hit by a category 5 storm. I accomplished my morning stuff &  then I hauled the kids to the beach.  They are so dang happy at the beach, and actually, I am pretty dang happy there myself because I am able to think, or not think...relax and plan, sit and stare and just be...oh, and of course play pop-er-rot-zee with the boys...We played our own version of Wipeout...Nice form, huh???

and here are my favorites of the day...Ben with a cute freckle-y nose... and my cute (& very dark skinned) Jack. 

Okay, with all the family business out of the way...now something more creative, craft-like, paper-ish..okay, I teased you about Prima, and yes, the fact is... I am almost official....like 99% "Prima Donna"....can you picture me, flip flop wearing me, holding the title of "Prima Donna"...yes, in my own Homegrown way, I will be able to show you how to use, teach you how to love & create using Prima Products.  So....if you have a store that you would like me to come teach a  Prima class (& we can add some "doodle-ish" things too!!!), just email me at homegrownhospitality@cox.net. ( and put Prima in the subject line).

I also received the dates for South Africa...14 days..yikes...14 days...I need to stop here and ask you to start praying for me.  um, 14 days.  I mean, I am grateful & blessed to be able to go around the globe to teach what I love &  what I have a passion for...but I am the girl who loves her little home sweet home....My saving grace is that I have complete faith in God to help me through this....and I have complete faith that Lara will take good care of me...and that my Mother in law will hold my hand....but it is leaving my boys & husband....actually, I know Valentine will be fine, and he will take good care of the boys, as will their dad.....okay...stopping there.  JUST PRAY for me, for all of the little details that surround his big trip....

I am going to just show you  few sneak peeks at the mumbo jumbo I am working on...I LOVE American Crafts because EVERYTHING they have, I can doodle to.  Does that make sense??? here is a little shot of the new "Everyday" line...and it is just so easy for me to doodle something inspired by their products...

and HOLD THE PRESSES.....speaking of "Inspired"...did you see Donna Downey's blog post yesterday.....holy cow, does she look awesome or what??????  It sure does inspire me to go work out (which I am going to do with Kathy & Carly at 7am in the garage-mah-hall (so I need to keep typing)...here is a little something something that I created using my Bind-It-All/Zutter (I bind everything these days!!!) and new October Afternoon (man I wish they would update their website) 

and well speaking of Zutter....here is my fun friend Nan from ZUUUTTTEEERRRRRRRRR (my fall back career will be as a game show voice-over person) ...and I am not sure if I shared these photo's with you, but a few more from the show & the Fiskateer dinner....

   

and the training for Micah is going well...YES, I am training for another marathon and along with my sis...I forgot to tell you that Lain is also gonna run...and Stacy is still 80% in...and Heidi has had a little set-back, but I have faith that it will all be okay...and let's see....I tried to get Steph"with an e" to run, she said she will cheer us on...Ali...well, she will cheer us on too...and who else wants to come....the marathon is the SUNDAY after Thanksgiving...a reason to run (or walk) off those unwanted holiday calories....in fact, walking is just as good (better on the body I must say) and Janelle, Micah's mom will be walking...come on...it is for such a good cause....go to theTeam Ham site for all of the details....

okay...I gotta go...time to work out....

will you all do me a huge favor and leave me a comment....I KNOW you are out there.......I look at my stats....so leave me a little hello....something....where you are at...where you'd like me to come teach....just a little something...

oh, one more thing....my mom & dad are coming to visit tomorrow.....yippeeee........we are all going bowling for Kam's birthday.....

k, gotta go...bye.....

leave a comment...

k..

bye.

Random Thoughts...

Yesterday Ben said to himself (but loud enough for me to hear) "Well, today is the first day of being a real football player".  He said it as we were getting ready to head over to pick up his football gear & equipment and he was so cute and so stinkin excited he could hardly stand it.

This is why I scrapbook. 

Practice does not start until the 1st, but when he woke up this morning, the first thing he did was this...and this is why I scrapbook. (p.s, as I am typing this, he is "trying" them on again...)

he wants to wear this to Kamryn's birthday party on Saturday to show Grandpa, but I negotiated with him and we agreed that we could take it with us, but not wear it.  We will be bowling, and well, I think the shoulder pads may get in the way...but hey, had I let him wear it bowling, it would have been a really good example of why I scrapbook.

I also did a little scrappy scrap scrap in my "Look at Me" project. I painted the Zutter Canvas Cover to coordinate with the new Cosmo Cricket"Jack's World" line...and I started stamping again....me and my "barney" colored embossing gun went crazy with these little monsters... These guys are silly, huh?  I can almost hear them making squealy noises....and they will look just right inside the pages of this fun book..(that is little Ben in the picture...eating his favorite cereal...cheerios before Kindergarten 10/2004.

these are the memories I like...just everyday moments...that mean nothing really to you, but to me, and to Ben, they are HUGE, even if he is just eating Cheerios....and who takes pictures of their kids just eating???

me.  It's okay. 

Today there is a challenge up at Simple Scrapbooks via Stacy Julian on scrapping a picture with song lyrics, and here is mine...although I can not get logged on the site to post it...

it is a great photo that I took through my dirty windshield driving to Arizona. A long road, heading into a storm, and right in the middle of the photo (you have to look close) there is a rainbow!!!Love it....

and...via Scrapscene, a challenge from Scrapblog to scrap a CHA moment, regardless of whether you were there or not...and here is mine...

a mix of more new October Afternoon, and some fun Prima letters....and speaking of Prima..well, no confirmation yet, but um..well, never mind for now...

okay, I should go...got my run in early this morning and need to head out to the Ol' Sheadteau to clean up, purge, reorganize and try to figure out where I am going to tore all of the new stuff I am brought home...

oh, and one last reason why I scrapbook...

because times goes by too fast....I know I took of picture of Jack at the beach last week..but I cant seem to find him in this picture..

okay, yes, that is him, all 12.75 (almost 13)...where has time gone??? let's see, I can vividly remember putting him in this basket and taking pictures of him back in April...of 1996...It is very hard being a mom. watching and letting them grow up....very hard.

decompression-complete

It has been two long days since I got home from a convention center full of paper and all things crafty and my decompression is now over.  I went from one over flowing event to a very quiet & empty home (oh, well with a dog, a fish & a bunny) and it has been a little hard. Luckily today, the boys come home and the chaos that I am used to will begin.

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

I predict that within 10 minutes of arriving home there will be some type of disagreement on which play station game to play and within 15 minutes Ben will be bored and Jack will inquire on what we will be doing today..and tomorrow and you know what, I can not wait! (I should be careful what I wish for!)

so,onto creative matters of the day....l

look what Making Memories has on their blog today..(hee hee) and while I am not going to get all "Elsie" on you, I did get a little crazy with a paint brush,a couple of Zutter Canvas Boards and a few of my favorite new lines...

Here is Mr. Campy by Cosmo Cricket

I kinda surprised myself with the faux woodgrain I painted on the word "summer" & I can so picture myself driving that car around with the cute little trailer packed full of all things scrappy...

Here is Night Light by October Afternoon

and a few American Crafts lines that "I am working on"...all of their designs are sooooo doodle "compatible" wouldn't you say???   

This "XOXO" red, pink and brown line is what I am going to use for a trip I am taking to teach in the Washington DC/Virgina area in February 2009 called "Pinkapolooza" Details coming soon.

Okay and a few more shots of downtown Chicago...It is soooo clean and neat and beautiful..I just cant put it into the right words...

okay my friends...off I go...get a load of laundry in, get my shoes on and off for a run....have a really great Tuesday!

Move over Ed McMahon....

the Making Memories Prize Patrol was ALL OVER the CHA floor...

and look who won a fully loaded Runway Bag and a SLICE.....whoooooooooooowhooooooooooo..... 

in other news...I am siting here going through press kits from October Afternoon....Cosmo Cricket....American Crafts....Pink Paislee... & I need to stop here and tell you that  am totally and completely over stimulated.  I need to decompress...so while I do that.,

you can go here and watch this...

oh and TIP 1 & 2 OF THE DAY:

1.  if you want to see how your "frizz control" hair products work in rain or humidity...go to Chicago...

2.  If you are in Chicago, running down Milwaukee in a skirt & flip flops from the Blue line to the #66 bus on your way to the American Girl store in the pouring rain & you don't have an umbrella...just pull out your gallon sized bag of protein powder like Suezi did and cover you head......duh!

p.s...I just have to make a comment about something...go to the post from yesterday and look at the picture of Ali & I.....would you take a look at the length of my arms in that picture..good gosh!!

Home*Sweet*Home

I am home...and I love to be home...but I have to say, I love Chicago.

we had a blast and I have so much to share, but really, I need to hit the couch for a few hours....so, I will share a few photos now and then LOTS tomorrow...

and I must tell you...I did it...I met Heidi Swapp. I said hello.  I had a conversation with her....a pretty long one in fact. a few times. I even told her what a dork I have been for so many years....so here is the photo....

and the crazy thing is, the next morning..she asked me to take this picture...so while I was taking this picture, I asked Suezi to take a picture of me, taking a picture of them

whatadork, I know, but it is okay!

alright here are a few others...and then it is nap time....

 

okay...I will give you all of the great details tomorrow....nap time!