Homegrown Hospitality

Breaking News

before I share, I must thank you all for sending me the fun, silly and sassy e-mails about the new line of embellishments that I designed for MAMBI!  Iam flattered and happy to hear the positive comments about them.  On that note, although there will probably be more embellishments, papers, stickers, etc. in that same style coming from them, I am no longer designing product for them.  As quickly as my job started with them, it has ended, by my choice.  It was a bittersweet decision that only I made, and it was rather quick and without much notice, at all.  There were many factors to my decision, but ultimatly, it was made and I am moving on...

so, as bittersweet (as in chocolate) goes well with salty items (like popcorn...did I say popcorn?  If you have been following my leads during the past month, you will know what I am talking about...so are you ready for a sample?

well, here is a handful.. .I have been named  "Founding Editor" of .....(...oh, I cant tell you that yet)  but it is being brought to you by the great people at Creating Keepsake/CK Media & Paper Crafts Magazine....and that is all I can tell you for now...oh, and it will be on a newstand near you in mid-summer....and I need to thank GOD, my family, my friends and all of you who have shown incredible FAITH in me, and for the things that I absolutly LOVE LOVE LOVE to do... and if you are a "local" reader....my LSS "Timeless Treasures" is going to throw lil ol me a fun little launch party for this...I will give you details later int the year...as it gets closer....

as for now, I need to continue doin what I am doin, plan a birthday party, finish up my term as PTA President, plan a school carnival, live through the next 8 -10 weeks of dueling baseball schedules, oh and plan a wedding...and get married.....(insert smile)

thanks for lettting me share!

when there is nothing you can do but PRAY

okay, so I have so much to say starting with Sunday....I woke up at 2am and was so sad...not sure why, just was...so I turned on CNN ( the only people that seem to be up when I am) & I watched an entire hour about Anna Nicole Smith..that whole story breaks my heart...at 3am had this strong and incredible force/feeling to watch last weeks church service (you can watch archived lessons on the computer) (I was in AZ the week before so I missed Pastor Rick's message) anyways, I was brought to tears as as sat for the next hour as Pastor Rick taught "How God Heals our Hidden Wounds" ....and then I did something really odd and out of the ordinary for me especially now at 4am in the morning)  I cant not believe that I am going to tell you this...but I will...Britney Spears has REALLY been on my heart lately...a very sad sorry...and for some reason I just want to talk to her, to hug her...to remind her about GOD, because I think she forgot....so, I got online and looked up a facility that she reportedly is at & I spoke to a counselor for a good 25 minutes about how heavy she was on my heart, and although they couldnt confirm or deny anything, I continued to talk. After I hung up, I was sad for a minute, but then that incredible force came over me and I was reminded that all I could do was pray for her. and I re-read all of my notes from the 3am messge from Rick...

How can you reach someone that seems to be unreachable even if they are right in front of you?   You must have FAITH (and prayer) ....it is a necessity. because without it, you have doubt, and if you have doubt, you can not be positive...but as long as you have faith, you have the confidence necessary to conquer anything.

remember this....

I have more to say but will stop here....for now....have a great day

just a post it note for now

here is a lil something to start you day...

Random thoughts on a Friday...

another week has come to an end, but not before a field trip to the canyon for the second grade "Rocks & Soils" trip....Ben is so excited and tells me that he HAS TO WEAR jeans, long socks, shirt and sweatshirt because Mrs. McDowell said so.  I am so glad to hear that he listens and follows directions of his teacher because just yesterday, as it was RAINING and pretty chilly for us,  he did not want, nor did, listen to me on my suggestions for a rainy day wardrobe!...he wore shorts, a t-shirt and I had to wrestle him like a crocodile to get a sweatshirt on!and speaking of Ben, he has a birthday coming up and he wants this guy to be the theme of his party.... in all honesty, I'd rather "make" his invitations, but thought that he probably wanted to go take a trip to the party store to pick out the invitations, but he said that he wanted me to make them!  (insert smile) so here is the beginning...we have this super neat "learn to draw Nickelodeon Characters" book that I got for the boys at the book fair, and I took advantage....

in other ramblings...

here is what i believe will be my wedding invitations...

just don't know exactly where it is going to be...and in creative news, I squeezed out a book between Good News Club, Teacher Appreciation week planning and another SICK KID...now Jack is under the weather and I am hoping that he will be waking up feeling better....I knew he was really not feeling well when he skipped batting cages...but, it is a book about them...

and here is a little snippet of a page

and of course, a daily reminder......from the ol' bulletin board

have a great day friends!!!

Good things & Reminders

Good Things - Kids go back to school today! They are ready, and so is mom...I admit that we have had a great time since last Friday, even though we have had bouts of coughing, sneezing, aching, stuffy heads, etc. the weather has been fabulous and we have spent alot of time between baseball, handball, kickball and walks...It has got to be good to be a kid...three days off school and a two day school week....but as I say it must be good to be a kid, I was unpleasantly reminded of being a kid as I oh so gracefully ( iam sure!) fell over the leash and the dog while running and landed smack dab on the sidewalk. I am sure that it was in slow motion and I looked like gazelle getting attacked by a crocodile...so smooth I say...but my reminder of being a kid is evident on my right elbow, and my right knee...I forgot what it is like to have "raspberries" and I was clearly reminded how much it hurt to get into the shower and have water hit them for the first time...I will be more consoling with the boys the next time we have raspberry issues!

another Good thing is all of the great comments I received from yesterdays post...I have been "mind wrestling" with myself regarding options, opportunities, doing more meaningful things, and finding that "Heart Soaring" feeling...it is really so simple to do. I just get compacted with every day life...but, when I stop, focus, pray & just speak from the heart...it is received so well...thank you all for brighting my day.... here is a lil something that will go out to someone
who left a comment yesterday regarding one of her favorite verses. ..please e-mail me your address...in fact, all of you who left me a comment, send me your address...

and here is just a little peekie peekie of things to come ( and don't jump to conclusions silly girls...I am NOT pregnant)

Good things & Reminders

Good Things - Kids go back to school today!  They are ready, and so is mom...I admit that we have had a great time since last Friday, even though we have had bouts of coughing, sneezing, aching, stuffy heads, etc.  the weather has been fabulous and we have spent alot of time between baseball, handball, kickball and walks...It has got to be good to be a kid...three days off school and a two day school week....but as I say it must be good to be a kid, I was unpleasantly reminded of being a kid as I oh so gracefully ( iam sure!) fell over the leash and the dog while running and landed smack dab on the sidewalk.  I am sure that it was in slow motion and I looked like gazelle getting attacked by a crocodile...so smooth I say...but my reminder of being a kid is evident on my right elbow, and my right knee...I forgot what it is like to have "raspberries" and I was clearly reminded how much it hurt to get into the shower and have water hit them for the first time...I will be more consoling with the boys the next time we have raspberry issues!

another Good thing is all of the great comments I received from yesterdays post...I have been "mind wrestling" with myself regarding options, opportunities, doing more meaningful things, and finding that "Heart Soaring" feeling...it is really so simple to do. I just get compacted with every day life...but, when I stop, focus, pray & just speak from the heart...it is received so well...thank you all for brighting my day....here is a lil something that will go out to someone who left a comment yesterday regarding one of her favorite verses. ..please e-mail me your address...in fact, all of you who left me a comment, send me your address...

and here is just a little peekie peekie of things to come ( and don't jump to conclusions silly girls...I am NOT pregnant)

Do You...

here is a shot of the giant bulletin board that sits directly in front of me, right above my computer.  It holds lots of little and big things and is a good reminder for me as I often look up from the computer and think ( or daydream).  So, are you living a life that defines your purpose?

While in AZ, I went to Chandler Christian Church, and although the surroundings were different, the lesson was so familiar.  It was about our purpose & how to serve, both to the people around us and to God.  I had heard the lesson before, as they use the "Purpose Driven Life" curriculum, but it was nice and refreshing to be reminded of the things that I have learned, and try to live. Reminders are needed in our lives....good ones, and not so good ones.  It keeps us in check, keeps us aware, and keeps us praying....

In Creative news...I can not find my floor, I can not see my desktop and I am going to STOP all projects today and straighten up...so that I can continue.  I am accumulating a BIG pile of stuff that I am going to get rid of, so if you are interested in some misc. stuff, just leave me a comment....never know what cha' might get....

stay tuned friends....popcorn is still popping....it is a big bag...

While I was gone...

we took off for the long weekend..sick kids and all...just loaded up the car, tossed in the dog  and headed East to grandma & grandpa's house..even though the road trip started with a car sick dog...it was very nice and very needed....the guys golfed and the girls lounged..got a massage..sat by the pool and napped...had a bit of red wine and nibbled on macadamia nut crusted crab cakes and toasted french baguettes topped with fresh mozzarella,  vine ripened tomatoes and fresh basil, drizzled with balsamic vinegar & Olive oil...

here is a shot of our last night...sitting on the patio at dinner time...

and then it rained 1/2 the way home...but we met up with a double rainbow. ..and now I am glad to be home...rejuvenated and ready to work on LOTS OF STUFF.....

Wanna know what I am working on...well, personally...I am working on planning a wedding...mine that is....let's see...from today, there are _____ days until June 16....2007.....how many days??? First right answer gets a lil something in the mail...and professionally, well, a little something new is that I am working with the super fun girls at www.frecklefriends.com and will have a gallery up soon, and I am working on a few other things....stay tuned...

EDITED...THANKS LYNN...EMAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS...

"If"

Would it not be awesome if the manufacturer could guarantee that "every kernel will be popped" in the bag of microwave popcorn?  That would guarantee pure goodness in every bag...that fact of the matter is that there will always be kernels left on the bottom of the bag, and those kernels are really just as important as the cute white fluffy salty pieces of popcorn that sit right above them.

so with that said...here is a fun page a made last night that reads...

If I could only teach you guys both one thing, it would be to  "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your ways " proverbs 3:5-6

I live by this verse and rely on my FAITH for so much.  With that said, I have had to make a "career" decision (that is one of those kernels" at the bottom of the bag) at just about the time that the big question was "popped"...I am talking in code still, and as soon as I can, I will open the bag for you.....for now friends, remember to rely on your faith and live with the belief that GOD only tests us in order for us to grow and develop....Iam thankful for all of my kernels....and rejoice that not all of them pop, or I may weigh 10,000 lbs! ( when I eat popcorn, I like to add M&M's)

and on the issues of LA LA LA LOVE....THANK YOU ALL for your super duper wishes & congratulations...I must say that I have always felt a little "too old" to have a "boyfriend" and prefer to call him "My Valentine" and once I introduce "Our Story"...a little bit at at time....you will understand that he is way more than a boyfriend.....He was one of those Kernels at the bottom of my bag but in the center of my heart in my teenage years (he was my "first Love"...the kernel that was stubborn and just would not pop) so, I took  it out of the bag, tucked it safely away...moved on with life ....and well...21 years later..here we are...it popped.....more to come...

here we both are in...1984...yikes. I will expect a ton of hair comments..

..here we are now

BIG LOVE NEWS...

Here is my way of telling you what happend here on Friday evening...

( the one I love)...

which is this guy....

(asked..."Will you...")

and I answered...."yes!"