Homegrown Hospitality

Sunny Spring Break...

just checkin in...word on the street is that Timeless Treasures has received their shipment of Home & Heart...and I was excited to actually see it on the newsstands at Joann's here in Chandler....my mom bought five more issues...I just made her promise not to say anything to the check out lady....

the angel game was super fun...and hot but we were in the shade almost the entire time...LUCKY us!

I got my early morning doodling done this morning for a fiskateer event on Sunday.....had a little bit of coffee with my dad before he shot off to work...(p.s. his has the coolest work place ever...he took the boys and I on a tour via a little cool golf cart, but I could not take any pics because I had the DD (dang dog) on my lap the entire time...

okay, off to the Chandler Skatepark and then we are going to hit the pool...sorry that there are no pictures of us right now, but I did hijack a few from my moms computer...this is us last summer in Maui...oh how I dream of being there every year...aren't there some scrapbook stores there that need me to come teach something....and a picture of Jen & the family in Kauai...I have never been there...are there any SB stores there that feel they need to teach them how to doodle or something???

for now, we are going to continue to enjoy blue skies & warm weather...it is perfect...and my valentine is flying in tonight!!!! (he is SUPER bored and I think a little lonely...last night when I talked to him, he was mopping the kitchen floors.....?????????????????? hmm...

okay we go...have a super day!

Sunny Arizona

well, we made it here, with onnly a few dog incidents...after pulling over, I under my breath said "This is the LAST time we bring the dang dog"...and Jack proceeded to say "You said that last time mom.." so I asked him to remind me of that next time...

nevertheless, we are here and it is beautiful...and we are off to the Angel game....Have a great day....

p.s....I spotted a Hobby Lobby on the way in, and so the boys dont know it yet, but after a long HOT day in the AZ sun...guess where we are going to seek cool air....opps...mom just told me it is a bit farther than we want to go...so we will go there on Saturday while the boys are golfing....

k...time to go....

have a super day.....

One Month To Live...

isn't that a scary question....and my first instinct it to say that I would not want to know.  But wait, I don't know. My second quick instinct answer is to gather up all of the people that I love and go right here...(Maui)...I have lots more, but I will pace myself...

Today could be the day...or maybe next Tuesday....

ew, I just hate thinking about it, as I am sure most would say...in fact, I do not think about it....

anymore...

you see, as a young girl, I had a real real real hard time with death and the possibility of death for those whom I loved.  It was a messy little situation for a few, well more than a few years and unfortunately, it lasted alllloonngg time.  I was one of those girls who could never last the duration of a slumber party....my mom & dad got those late night "can you come pick her up" calls...and it was not until I was physically placed on a van of jr. high students from my church youth group that made its way up to the local mountains to confirmation camp..that trip changed everything. The good news is that I made it...and from that moment I was okay!  What a relief for me and for my poor parents.  I can say now that maybe that was the first official time that I relied completely on GOD for my protection..and for the protection of other while I was gone.                                                               I probably did not think that at the time, but I can say that clearly now...and that is a really good feeling!

so...back to the question...and the book....One month To Live...we are going to start a 4 week study on the book at church starting Sunday, so if you wanna to follow along with me, go out and get the book!  I cant stop reading it and it is one of those 1 chapter a day for 30 days books....maybe I will read it completely and then go back and start over at one chapter a day....

now for those of you that have already read it...is it me and my obsession for paper, or have you found that this book is a wealth of topics for scrapbooking?  or for journaling?  I am amazed that in the 15-20 pages I have already read, it is has given me a ton of topics & titles for some great layouts...hmmm????

and of course doodles....but I am going to pace myself so that I can go through the book with Saddleback and with you...but here is an intro doodle...

wow...what a lot of really good little things to take with you each day...and what alot of COLOR!  yikes, I have been diving into lots of color lately...just flapping my creative wings....

okay, so onto other things...today is my kids camp class at Timeless Treasures...then we are hitting the theaters to see Whorton hears a Who...and then I have to make a big drop off at the post office, tonight I am doing a Fiskars training with my Freckle Friends and then ...we are off to AZ for spring break...the boys are so excited they are cranky! we, the boys, the dog & I will hit the highway way before the sun comes up tomorrow and then John will meet up with us on Friday...we are going to take in some sun...some Angels & Diamond Backs spring training games, kitting for the cruise and relaxation, maybe...nevertheless...we are all excited to get there!

pray for safe travels for us, and that the dog does not have any accidents in the car like the last trip...bbllaaahhhkkkk!

I will be back later...

for now...just ponder the photos...and ponder the question...

.

What would you do if you had one month to live?

Happy Easter

Hello Spring...Hello Saturday

I do not want to brag...but I think that I live in the best place (besides Maui) in the world....it is Saturday morning...and it is absolutely B...U...T....FUL here.....it is supposed to be 85 today....the radio is on, the birds are chirping, I am creating away, I just finished an on line chat with one of the the true gems in the world (Stacy Julian) and I am eating jelly beans....which is good protein right? beans are good for you ...aren't they? (okay, I need to go brush my sugar glazed teeth..p.s. I am eating them on the side that I did not get the crown on..just in case my dentist reads this!)

okay, so last nights drawing was really fun for me...and my whole family...and honestly I wish I had a prize for all of you...maybe someday, but for now, I am packing up the 3 prizes and the bonus doodle...here it is...and although it looks huge in the photo, it really is just 4 x 6....but cute anyhow...

and speaking of cute...my valentine headed off early this am to help his cousin Craig build some little motorcycles (OMGosh..I did marry Jesse James...I knew I loved him!) but I could not let him leave with a little something for Craig...so in the spirit of using "what cha already got" (which we all have)...I went out to the shead-teau (which is a paper disaster) and grabbed some scraps...

paper & a little box (don't have an easter basket or easter grass on hand...no problem)

a couple  1 1/2" strips of paper...my handy dandy ATG gun....and a nicely manicured finger... some pink tissue paper...gingham ribbon (gotta love gingham!) a couple handfuls of candy... some clear cellophane and of course a doodle...whaaalaaa....

so go grab some scraps...do something a little fun and unexpected...spur of the moment ..and happy easter...to all of you...love you all!!!!

drum roll please....

I printed them...Valentine folded them

and Jack...picked a winner...(that sounds yucky!)

   

congrats to Yvonne......how exciting...and I know that Ben is going to get sad because he wants to pick one....and well then Valentine too...so let's do a second place and a third place....

k...hold on...okay..I am back...sorry it is a little after...You should have seen me running outside...what a dork...hey it is all in the name of you out there...okay...

winner number two.... Shanna Pritts...

and number three.... is Sandra...and I will double check that Sandra...but CONGRATS and thank you all for playing...I swear I wish I had presents for all of you...

oh...and coincidently...that silver bucket that is holding all of the names....first person to tell me what page it is pictured on and what is inside of it...I will doodle something up for you right now....

ready....go! (gosh, I love scavenger hunts!!!)

Scavenger hunts & color explosions

Happy Good Friday...I missed you yesterday, but I read all of your comments & emails....thank you all so much for the fun pictures, phones calls, "merchandising"....this is day four of the Home & Heart Scavenger Hunt...personally, I have not seen it on the newsstand...and honestly have not put in nearly as much effort as you have, but I have my $5.99 ready to support my own cause....I hope that does not sound selfish....cause I do not mean to be...

keep those comments coming in....we have until 5:00 tonight for the drawing...and the prize pack is growing...everything the winner gets will be stuffed into a cute little bag.... hmmmm...

now yesterday I missed blogging, but for several semi-good reasons...first of all I had to pack up and finish the last little things for the August Issue of  H&H....who knew that going to the post office would be so exhilarating...except for kinda what happened there...not a big deal but...when you go into our post office, you pull a number...then machine is right by the door, and still after almost a year, people do not see it...so I get there and I pull #10...get up to the waiting area and notice that they are on #9, and there is a lady standing there...I figure, oh she probably does not know...so when they call #10, I hold my hand up, the lady turns and looks at me, and I say, "oh, it is okay, go ahead"..the Post Office lady kinda gives her the "look" over her glasses, kinda shakes her finger at her...anyway...go back to when I walk in and pull a number....there is a man that followed me in, so unless he is blind, which obviously he wasn't or he would have walked into the door jam, he did not pull a number.

so, after I say "It's okay, go ahead" to the lady....this man says to me (and pretty loud too) "excuse me, Ma'am. I have to go to work today, and I am in a hurry, so can I go ahead of you?"

now, I know that it was just a question...and no big deal, and I totally am okay with letting him go before me....but there was no one else in the post office...just the two people at the counter and he & I....and for some reason, his attitude it just hit me wrong....I guess it was his tone...I guess the three large boxes I was juggling indicated that I did not work? I mean, I wasn't even in workout clothes, sweats, in fact, I was wearing a skirt & a sweater and was looking pretty much like I was heading to an office myself....oh bother...he did not ruin my elation that I was done with my work...in fact, maybe my extreme delightfulness irritated him...yeah, maybe that was it...so i let him go ahead of me...

okay...so in other news...I have been working on some things and am the special guest at a new kit club for the month April....here is a little sneak peek at what I have been working on and I have been having so much fun playing with color and deviating from my normal life color pallet of Dk Red & Sage Green... I cannot show you anymore though, but in the layout is me & my sis...and today is her & Jason's 10 year anniversary....

Happy Anniversary to you both...

remember I told you that I was going to tell you what we did last Saturday...well, for months my brother in law had been working on a special surprise for my sis for their anniversary... (click on this picture to see her expression)

yes, he planned a surprise party for her...and it was so beautiful, my mom & dad flew in,

she had no idea....and it was such a fun party...so special, tearful, crazy good times..and our kids had a blast...they danced the entire night...

in fact....to increase your chances of winning the drawing tonite, take a lott at the picture of my boys & my nieces dancing and tell me what the picture has to do with new issue of Home & Heart...EMAIL me your answers at homegrownhospitality@cox.net and I

I will throw your name into the drawing....

okay...I have to go...I am becoming a queen this morning at 8:00...as I am receiving a crown....from the dentist...yippee.... 

p.s....if you are usually the one talking all of the pictures, when the opportunity arrives to jump into the picture....take it!

Home & Heart Scavenger Hunt-Day Two

Today is day two of the Home & Heart Scavenger Hunt....thank you for ALL of your comments....Let me just say that some people out there are seeing Home & Heart in other areas of the magazine rack....and while I cant TELL YOU WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT....I am hoping that you will tell yourself what to do...are you pickin up what I am puttin down????

I am a teenie tiny bit fussy at this very moment because the 2009 future of this magazine is based on the sales of this issue....I have even sent an email to those in high positions to start a "Save the Home & Heart" campaign...I can not begin to tell you what is going on in my heart & head with all of this HORRIBLE school stuff that we are dealing with and now this...holy moly....be careful if you see me on the street...go ahead and ask me anything specifically about these two issues & make sure that you have alot of time and an open ear, because my words are fueled with passion.  It is a good feeling to have, but so hard when you want changes and sometimes....well, it is what it is...okay...fussy is over...

about the prize....I don't want to show it all because part of it is also something that my cruise friends will be getting and I wanna surprise them...but it is pretty cute....anyway...here are some of my home photos of the project that I showed you yesterday..inside the tin are four mini books....super cute! okay...keep those comments coming...the boys and I will do a drawing, let's say at 5:00 California time....

Today is the day....

March 18, 2008...

the official newsstand date for the new Home & Heart Magazine (aka Homegrown Hospitality)...

now here is what I know....as of last night..it still had not surfaced around here, although I know that Scrapbook Oasis did have it...key word did...as they are SOLD OUT (ask em' to order more!) Timeless Treasures, my home store, still has not seen them...BUT I know that they are out there....and will eventually be at the following places....JoAnn's...Michael's..Wal-Mart...Barnes & Nobles...Rite-Aid...Albertson's....Ralph's...Pavillions....and assorted other stores, hopefully including your local scrapbook store and don't forget that you can ORDER it on line at the Papercrafts, Simple Scrapbooks & Creating Keepsakes home pages.....

and to remind you...here is what it looks like....

On behalf of it being the big day...and the fact that I like scavenger hunts....I am going to do quite a big give-away on FRIDAY......so here is the deal....for the next three days...I wanna know where you have seen it, I wanna know if you bought it & where...heck, if you have a camera phone, I would LOVE to see how it is displayed....

send me the pictures...send me your comments...send me the scavenger info above and leave a comment...I will print out all of the comments on FRIDAY (comments, not emails...) and have Ben pick one....and the winner will get a pretty big prize including all of the items (and more) from this collection on page 16 of Home & Heart.....

Thank you all for your support...for you always kind comments...for your prayers and your friendship...the future of Home & Heart is solely based on the "performance" of this issue, and I would LOVE to hear all of your feedback on it!!!

Have a great day.....