Homegrown Hospitality

two words**EDITED**

these two words are front and center in my mind today

we have had a whirlwind of a weekend over here at our house, and so much to share and blog about...that it is honestly toooo much!...There is so much happy & turmoil going on around here, that I am seriously feeling like a bottle of Italian Dressing...half & half...oil & vinegar....salt and pepper...so like in my previous blogs, I am taking the victory with the defeat....the good with the bad...the ups and the downs...RIC RAC...that is what it is...RIC RAC....

so here goes..in a semi-condensed version...

Happy St. Patrick's Days...the day to wear green...so that you don't get pinched....The day of Luck....and yes, I am a LUCKY girl....LUCKY to live where I live (NO...I do not mean in the O.C....I mean in America....) LUCKY to have the family & friends that I have...Lucky lucky lucky to be able to do what I LOVE...for a living...LUCKY to live close to the school my boys attend (so that I do not have to pay $3.87 per gallon to fill up my BIG car )(that I am LUCKY to have) LUCKY that I married the boy of my dreams and LUCKY  that my kids seem to love him a whole lot..and LUCKY to have a wonderful new family ...and lucky

to have an extended family that has LOTS of fun together and lucky that the creative passion & desire in my head and heart never seem to run out  and I can make a cake instead of heading to Coscto....(D!) even though sometimes, it exhausts me...it is all worth it in the end!

LUCKY that it was not any more windy yesterday then it was because the cotton candy machine on the driveway was blowing beautiful pillows of sugar ALL OVER me, the trees, the guests and it was hilarious....                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                    we had a crazy fun huge pizza party for Ben's birthday and we were all LUCKY to have great weather until about 4...and then  a huge lightening storm rolled in and honestly were very LUCKY that the lightning bolts did not hit the house...because it was CLOSE! so we unplugged the jumpie and closed the garage...I will share what we did on Saturday tomorrow..

now, for the PRAYERS...our state is such a disaster in regards to EDUCATION......disaster is not an appropriate word for it...I could doodle up some choice words for it...but I am going to redirect that creative force into painting signs to help support of teachers......

our school district, and our beloved little school....was hit by a tsunami of pink slips....it is horrible, awful, dreadful, awful...arghhh....we need to pray....pray pray pray pray pray.......pray for clarity...pray for strength, pray for the right things to happen...pray for decisions...and pray for 19 BILLION dollars to show up...specifically 19 million for SVUSD...pray pray pray!

I am going to go now...and pray...and paint.....signs wont make a change (statewide), but it will show our support and that makes a difference.

                                                   

A definition of Simply Complicated

I know I have many new blog onlookers this week, so I thought I would go over my definition & my self description of Simply Complicated. 

I am finding as I do my bible study homework that it kinda goes along with my bible study for this week in a round-a-bout way....take the word

now, many of us, including myself, are our own worst critics...that in itself is being "Simply Complicated"  taking the very simplest of things, in our eyes, and complicating them.

Sometimes we seem to self inflict ourselves with trying to be perfect...and when we are not, well then we consciously and unconsciously start wearing & carrying around our faults and imperfections...carrying them around in cute tote bags, wearing them on our shirts like the "L" on Laverne's shirt...broadcasting it loud and clear because we feel like it is a label, and well, we cannot possibly be any good because we have made mistakes...and for gosh sakes, heaven forbid not  be ...

well, my friends...I am here to remind you of something you probably already know...you just forgot to remember...

Nobody is perfect. (insert another duh)                                                                   BUT, I also think that the word "PERFECT" has gotten a bad wrap, because it really is a wonderful word....

a great word....

a perfect word...you see, this is the definition of perfect:

gee...that definition does not say anything about the way my hair should look, or the way my home should look, or the way the landscaping is, or the way the writing on my scrapbook page looks, or the way the cake is decorated, or the way the clothes look on our bodies, or the way my nails are manicured, or the way the report was done, or the way the pillows are placed....

or maybe it does..

maybe we should look at things a little differently. 

Maybe we should notice that the way things are...are just fine!  Learn to be okay with things, learn to embrace life and the goods and bads.  Please do not get me wrong, I am NOT saying to "just settle", but simply to not be so hard on yourselves, on others..on things.... but to be okay with them, and if necessary, make some changes.  We are allowed to do that!!! God lets us have do-overs...remember that we have the ability to be reminded, to realize, and to re-adjust our perception and definition of PERFECT...

God looks at us perfectly, even though we are not...so why do we Simply Complicate ourselves and our situations?  Human nature maybe, & yes we ALL have some scratches and dents...but at the end of the day...we are .                                                                                                                                                                                       

just the way he made us...with the abilities to re-do, re-work, remember, remind, re-define, re-think, re-adjust and start living...

two things to remember as you go on todays journey....the definition of the word PERFECT

and this basic fact....It takes a wounding to be healed....

Have a super PERFECT day!

p.s. $5.00 from each "Perfect Sweatshirt" will go into Miranda's Tip Jar....you can get yours here....and each time you put it on, remind yourself of the defintion...and that you really are!

DUH!

what a great day yesterday...

thank you all for your super nice emails and comments...I am going to try my darnedest to answer all of your emails...what a crazy morning with the whole Diva Lounge...crazy...but ended up being just perfect!  Really...it was totally "Simply Complicated"...and in the midst of all of that crazi-ness, I was trying to text Deena to get my kids, as it is minimum day schedule because of conference week....well, I don't know how to do a dang thing on my phone, plus that, I was holding the phone to my ear with my right hand, and trying to text with my left...(if you missed the interview, you can go to www.DivaCraftLounge.com and listen to it...I am about 15 minutes into the broadcast if you want to fast forward through all of the technical difficulties)

man, I really am a dough dough bird!!!!!!..but that is okay....God made dough dough birds, too....

no matter what..it all turned out fine, which is kinda what my post is about today...going full circle...taking the hits with the misses...the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat....

we had an AWESOME lesson from Beth Moore yesterday in bible study...it was one of those WOW moments, that many people should be able to see....actually everyone should see...

Basically, it was about the fact that GOD has made a promise to us and that he desires for us to live in a place where we get to enjoy fulfillment...The only requirement is that we practice faith induced obedience.

duh, that is it.

now stop for just a second and think about how we tell our kids over and over and over..".if you would just do it right the first time"

....sound familiar? and the fact is...they do what they are going to do....sometimes right...and sometime not so right...and at the end of the day, no matter what they have done, or not done...we still love our kids.

duh...so does GOD!

The basic rules are right there for us, God tells us the right stuff...over...and over...and over...and well sometimes, we follow those rules...and sometimes, I guess we think we have a better solution....

duh...we don't....

but at the end of the day...God still loves us and has hope for us....all we have to do is start BELIEVING GOD, not just believing in him...and the best part is...we get do-overs!  Ain't God grand?

DUH!

so I learned two super new words in study, in Hebrew...Gilgal means Circle...there are circles and cycles that we go through in life...and really, unless you have faith, your circle will have a hard time spiraling back up when you are in the downward motion of your circle...(been there myself...it is true)

now stop and think about playing jump rope ( i know, I am a dork..) you start in the downward motion with faith and a good hold on the handles...your strength brings that rope up and around....you have to have faith that you are going to pick up those feet, hop over the rope and come full circle...if you don't, you will trip.....

okay, so you have made it full circle...or are beginning to (there right now for me...) we have to travel the full circle of life's up and downs to get to Hayah which means a few things...healed, renewed, to live...to exist...to enjoy life...

sounds good, huh?  Just like when we tell our kids...if you'd just do it right the first time, then you would have more time to play outside...

we need to do the same...so that we have more time to play outside. duh.

so, I have for you....a little activity !  in honor of the circles of life...a doodle for you...that you can color in yourself...

alright, so onto other things....I have added a "Tip Jar" up there by my photo.  What is a tip jar you ask and why does it say Miranda?

well, as some of you know, we have a very very close family friend, who is very young, and is battling Juvenile Rheumatory Arthritis and her name is....Miranda.                                                             Last year HGH was able to donate almost $300.00 to her team and I would love to top that this year....She and her team, the Mighty Montiels are participating in the Orange County Arthritis Walk  in May, so I am challenging the readers of Homegrown Hospitality, to help raise money to benefit her team and this lousy disease!!!   

You may remember back in February I auctioned off a Valentine's Book and goodies and Heather Clawson was the winning bid with $100.00 (thank you Heather!!!) so the tip jar will start with $100.00 in it...now I will be putting  few more items up to bid on, but I don't want you to not be able to contribute to Miranda's fight...so...the tip jar is right up there for you to drop a little something into...

Let's help her and the 46 million people (300,000 are children!) raise funds to support research.... 

Have a super day!

whooo..whhooo...Diva Lounge...

where are you????

I am sitting here...on pins and needles...it is now 12:06 and they were supposed to call and check the lines at 11:50...no call...sitting...no call.....waiting....no call...okay, I will wait until 12:03...okay...I call them...

"I am sorry, due to telephone facility problems, your call can not be completed"...

OH MY GOSH....

they can not get ahold of me............I run to find my cell phone...where it is...oh my gosh...i put it on silent before bible study...where is it....where is it...WHERE IS IT...oh, it is in the pocket of my jean jacket....where'd I put it...my jacket...where is it....oh I am wearing it...

quick dial, they are probably trying to get ahold of me....right now!!!!!!!!

dialing...ring...

""I am sorry, due to telephone facility problems, your call can not be completed"...

OH MY GOSH...my home phone and my cell phone are not working...oh my gosh why is this happening??????????????

so from my cell phone, I call my home phone....it is ringing, oh waiting my phone is ringing....hang up cell phone, answer home phone....

it is me, me calling me...from my cell phone.

the Diva phones are not working....

so Diva Craft Lounge, if you get your phones up and working, you can call me on my cell phone....I will be at the skate park....

Holy Moly...

because I am still just tooo giddy to speak, look here....Thank you to Jodi, who by the way is a contributor to Home & Heart.  She is the person who nominated me to be featured on Today's Creative Blog and I am just so excited, and happy, and just, thank you , thank you, thank you Jodi...

gosh, just this weekend I was awarded Queen of Sweets , and now being featured on Today's Creative Blog this...and also today is my "Voice Appearance" on "Diva Craft Lounge" at 12:05 PST....

Holy Moly...I am in one of those "I am going to bake everyone I know a dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies" moods.....

What I am feeling at this moment is not because I am featured here or there, but is exactly what I want Home & Heart (and HGH) to convey....it is the passion & desire that fills me to do what I do...and when it starts to spread, and get recognized...then I feel very blessed and hopeful that in a big ol world, i can reach out and make a little difference..whether it be with paper, batter, dough, fabric...whatever....

to put it in regular trailer park martha words Home & Heart magazine is like that good old swing on the porch...the place you like to go.  It is a home cooked meal, a freshly baked pie, right out of the dryer, plain ol feel good kinda magazine, that happens to be filled with projects and ideas that will hopefully inspire you, articles and blurbs that will remind you, and if nothing else, and great way to sit and end your day with something lovely to look at!

I just have to get the name right, because last night, I sat down and doodled a new doodle, and when I was finished, I realized that I wrote Heart & Home....whhoooppppssss......so here is a new doodle, to connect you with Homegrown Hospitality & Home & Heart....

okay, so off I go to start another busy day in the life of a paper slingin, lunch makin, bible studyin, dog walkin, clothes foldin, scrapbook page makin, husband lovin mom....Heading to drop off kids (first I need to wake them up) then to bible study & then to the skatepark, where in my lawn chair I will sit with my laptop, typin away at the finishing touches of the August Issue of Home & Heart.....it is chock full of awesome things for the fall...including Halloween, Harvest time and the most wonderful time...of the year......love it!!!!!!!

p.s. don't forget to listen in at 12:05..... www.DivaCraftLounge.com

p.s.s....If there is not a store near you that carries Home & Heart...you can of course order it right here.... or type in http://www.papercraftsmag.com/shop/item.ihtml?idx=746 and they will mail it right to your door!!!

Taking a closer look....

even though today is not the official "Newsstand" date for the debut of the Home & Heart magazine (formally Homegrown Hospitality) I have been getting emails that it has started to sprout up here and there...so I thought that we would take a closer look and I would answer some of your questions....

First off, the #1 questions is

Q: "Why the name change"

A:  Great Question...and the answer simply is, the way "Homegrown Hospitality" sat on the newsstand (I thought it was flying off of the newsstand myself) , you only saw the upper left hand corner.  It was green, you could only see the word Homegrown and the letters HOSP....so, either readers thought it was a garden magazine, or a magazine about Hospitals...(in the craft section???)  Now, I have personally spent many a day in the hospital & my sarcastic self could have taught you how to display flowers for friends in the hospital, how to re-use the glass vases that come from the Hospital gift shop, how to crochet a blanket from the ol' hospital bed...but after a vote on the Paper Crafts website, over 500 of you voted, and the name Home & Heart was the winner.....

Q: "Where can we find "Home & Heart"

A:  The magazine will be "officially" on newsstands March 18th at Wal-Mart, JoAnn's, Micheal's, Barnes & Noble, Albertsons, Pavillions, Ralph's, Rite-Aide, and few other grocery chain locations and will be carried at your local Scrap booking Stores.  If you do not see it at one of the locations listed above, please please please ask them where it is...you see, sometimes, it is in other areas of the store, it may be sold-out (that would be so very good...just ask them to order more!) or it may not be displayed yet....you can also order it online here.

Q: "How do I get a Subscription?"

A:  Because Home & Heart is a quarterly publication, subscriptions are not available.  Now...should this issue sell it's little heart out(hint hint) ...well then...you just never know what will happen...BUT, at the same time...if this lovely little issue does not perform well....yes, you are reading that correctly...I am not so sure what I can and cant say, but I will say this....

This issue of Home & Heart NEEDS to fly off of the shelves and into your Home & Heart....so go out and pick one up...for you...and for a friend...and for a friends friend...and for their friends....

I am asking you to join in with me in the revolution of living the good ol' Home Sweet Home way of life...of living the life you love...to remind you to sit and have coffee with your neighbors, to celebrate the smell of cut grass (as long as you don't have bad allergies) to celebrate with the ones you love....to spread some kindness...to remember the moments...to cherish the good and not so good, because all that it is, is what we are made of....

okay...and I have a Charity & Felicity baby update....and some pictures, too!  For you newer blog readers, I have a blog reader named Nancy, that I now call friend, that had her little lovely babies at 27 weeks...and we here at the Homegrown Blog have been praying and prayin and prayin and keeping up with their progress...

Today marks 7 weeks of life for our sweet little girls.  They would be 34 weeks gestation.  They are working hard at growing and are being good girls! 

Who is who in today’s pictures? Felicity – Left and Charity - Right

Felicity weighs 3lbs., 15 oz. and is eating like a champ – even some feedings from a bottle at this point. Charity weighs 3 lbs., 13 oz. and continues to have a distended tummy that is of concern.

• Both girls are off of all breathing apparatus and have less frequent “forgetting to breath” episodes.
• On Saturday, they graduated from their incubators and were put into a crib together – see pictures!  This is so exciting as it shows us real tangible progress.
• We are waiting for some definitive info from the Ophthalmologist about the ROP on both girls.  Once we have that, I will include it in my update. 

How is Trinity doing? She seems to completely understand that she has two baby sisters and will tell anyone she meets what their names are. I’m not sure she understands that they will come home soon and change her life forever! When she asks to see them, we take her to the hospital and give her as close a look as possible, through the glass. When we took her this weekend, she asked, “Will they be standing up when I see them?” She washed her hands really well the other day and told me, “It’s because the nurses want me to for my baby sisters.” 

Is there an update on when they’ll be home? The nurses tell us it will move quickly now, barring anything unforeseen.  Roughly 3 weeks, or sooner, if they do well.  They have to be able to breath, stay warm and eat on their own.  We have two checks in the box this week, so keep your prayers going. They are working!

How can we pray? Pray for compete healing of the ROP (eye disorder).  We have seen improvement and will continue to pray that no surgery will be needed. Pray that Charity’s tummy will mature.  She looks very uncomfortable and we want to bring her home healthy. 

As always, we are so indebted to you for your commitment to us.  Thank you also to Stephanie for the awesome new doodle – it is posted prominently on their hospital crib

Thank you for your phone calls, emails and prayers.  You are keeping us strong.

it made my eyes a little watery when I saw the corner of one of my doodles for them in the upper left hand corner.  Please keep these little flowers (and the entire family) in your prayers.....

have a great day...

A plain Ol' Great time...(and a really long post)

I cannot put into words how incredible of a time I had on Saturday at the FantasyLand Event...yes...the word EVENT.... I had been using the word CROP to remind you, invite you and explain to you what it was...and I extend my hand out for Melanie & Elena to slap it, softly....because from the moment that Donna & I entered the San Marcos Boys & Girls Club at 8:00 am on Saturday morning...we just smiled...the entire....day...and night...long...(pictured are two of the many little fairies that did "fly-by's" all day long...and the precious little fairy on the left was a patient of Rady's Children's Hospital for 2.5 years fighting Leukemia & undergoing Chemo....and today, she is in remission)

the efforts that these 100% volunteers put into their EVENTS is indescribable and so just know now, that next year...when this event comes up again...I am so in...and not just because I want to teach again, but because it is one of those things, that in such a big world...there are things like this...that help you feel like you are making a difference...plus that...you are in a BIG room with many many women that help to create such a fabulous environment...

well done my royal friends....well done...I thought about Melanie and Elena all day yesterday and how they outdo themselves, day in and day out....and something that they said to everyone to explain "why" they do this...."Melanie & I could get full time "Corporate" jobs with Salaries and Donate 100% of it, or we could do this, have fun with it and make a difference...."  wow...I am certain that God is smiling down at them....on a regular basis!

so... I have some extra little kits from my class...and I will put them up on ETSY after I am finished posting this, and the funds from the sale of these kits will go to the Scrapbook Royalty Fanatsyland Event....I have not heard yet how much was raised, but will let you know as soon as I hear. 

You can also read Jennifer's blog to get her recap of the event...I giggled when she wrote that in 15 hours, she got 1.5 layouts done...and yes, that seems about right...there was just so much to do, talk about, eat, and enjoy, that it did not matter....

and speaking of layouts....donna made me a beautiful layout of a picture that we took right there at the event...and printed right there...at the event..because there were photo printers, right there at the event...to use....

now, sitting next to Donna was a treat, it was like sitting with a human art pallet...she just completely ooozzzeeessss...like a tube of rainbow paint....and although our styles are completely different, we have come to realize that we have the same heart....it is just that she is like a peacock...and I am a dough-dough bird....(Iam totally serious...just try to imagine it...) and we fit together just perfectly...and.....

she won the "Queen-of-a-Lot" for her basket of goods that brought in the most donations for that part of the event....

and, ut um....I won the "Queen-of Sweets" by one button...for my trillion Chocolate Chip Cookies that I brought....and I would like to thank Gold Medal Flour, the people in Hawaii at C & H, all of the chickens in the world for their contribution of Large Grade AA eggs...for the people in Mexico that make the dang best Vanilla...I will be there in a few weeks to get more..." oh, they are telling me to wrap it up...

Donna has a picture of me, accepting my award...a pair of Fiskars scissors with the words "Queen of Sweets" ENGRAVED on them....and we both would have been crowned with Tiara's...but...the box of tiara's....went...missing....

so...here are a few more photos from the wonderful day.....The GREEN smiley face at the very right is "king" Jesse...she was our tables "fairy Godmother" and was at everyones beckon call...the table Donna & I crashed was the "Shrek" table, therefore Jeese wore a Shrek Green Uni-tard...who knew that was available????and she had a shrek mask.....she was wayyyy cuter than any "oh-ger" I know...thanks for all of your hospitality King Jesse...hope you pass your class!~

and this lady here...on the right...is Danielle Forsgren, CED, Chief Executive Diva,  for Diva Craft Lounge, and I am going to be a guest on her Radio/Internet show this Wednesday, at 12:05...and the thing that BLOWS me away, is that crafters from 66 COUNTRIES...listen in....I am going to have to make a new map for that one! here is the address www.DivaCraftLounge.com and I will be on this coming Wednesday...yikes!

okay...that is probably enough for today...I want to remind you that I am going to add some kits to ETSY, but give me about 25 minutes....have a super day!!!!

and three Cheers to my friends, and Scrapbooks Royalist dynamic Duo...Melanie & Elena...

oh, and p.s.....GOOD LUCK to Doona today....she starts her new job...at Prima.....she is the now the real "Prima Donna"

p.s.s...this just in....Home & Heart has been seen on the newstands........

Extreme Makeover

first, thanks to all of you that know all of the words to "Queen of Hearts"...as the comments were comin in, I sorta giggled thinking that there were going to many of us singin that song in our heads...ALL DAY LONG...

thanks for playin though....I will do more giveaways next week...

so onto other things, like our dog coco..it was high time for dear ol' coco to have his check-up, shots...and a full makeover...yikes...you see, our dog likes the water and has ALOT of fur, so that equals ALOT of matting...so the groomer had her hands full...Here is what Coco looked like right as I was taking him in... actually, looking at this picture, he looks pretty cute...cuz look at him now...it will grow back...it is just hair..but I swear that his balance is off, he is totally not himself, he "fishtails" like a big rig goin down the highway and slips on the floor like he is running on ice...poor thing...but a month from now, he will be sooo cute!

and I am ALMOST ready for tomorrows  trek down to San Diego for the Fantasy land Crop with my Scrapbook Royalty Friends!  The goal is to raise $32,000.00 to Rady Children's Hospital.& the Boys & Girls club.  I would be completely done packing kits and baking cookies, but my Simply Complicated Doodle loving self decided that I should make everyone a little name doodle...

This kinda thing helps me relax, believe it or not...

okay...I gotta go...I have to put on a Room Parent Meeting in two hours....pray for me...and for our schools...and for our district...and for our state....we are heading into a Horrible Budget Crisis....I am not a political person...but come on people....we all need to do alot of PRAY'N!!!

Have a super day...I will be back with ya on Sunday!!!!

H & H sneak peek....and a giveaway...*EDITED*

Good morning....because of your great comments and emails regarding the search for Home & Heart...I have decided to give a another peek inside the pages...

This comes from page 24 and reads:

These centerpieces were a total group effort..everyone got involved, from my valentine to my nieces to my kids and my mom.  We painted a solid color on plain terra cotta pots, then used an antique glaze, old t-shirts and gloves to simply "wipe" the old world look onto them...I found the class lanterns and candles at Pier One.  The day before the wedding, we played "Rose Parade" and placed rose buds into the water tubes, then lined each pot with a baggie and filled them with soaking wet floral brinks (aka Oasis).  Finally we raided my sisters front yard for refresh Rosemary...a little here, a little there, a rose here and a rose there...Not only were they homemade and handmade...they smelled beautiful! 

now, here are some "snap shots" of the process....    

those roses were beautiful and we had a trillion of them...all in buckets on the driveway of my sisters house...at one point, I just sat in the middle of them and smiled....and that is where my bouquet was born....but I will save that for another day....

on to important things like...Netti Pots...Jack was way more successful at it the first time...and did it several times after that...although right before bed, we ran into a situation where one side was totally "plugged up" and the water had nowhere to go...it was kinda wired yet very interesting to see how it works...sorry for all of the details...but I do recommended it....

okay...so let's see...Today is Good News Club day so I need to review the verse I will be teaching, I also have LOTS of mail to take to the post office box....and I HAVE TO FINISH THE CLASS KITS for Saturday...I did get real crazy with glitter and big playing cards... and used them as attachments to the giveaways that I am wrapping...and in my head...I keep singing that song by Juice Newton...."playin with the queen of hearts".....if someone can give me the next verse to that song...I will send you an issue of H&H...WINNER WINER CHICKEN DINNER.....Susan C....an everyday poster and early bird wins the mag.....congrats!!!

good luck & have a super day!!!!!

Scrapbooking, Sinus & Netti Pots**Updated**

good sinus infected morning...this is your scrap booking, antibiotic taking, Netti Pot shopping host...

This is going to be quick because I am headed to Rite-Aide to pick up what I thought was, for some very old reason and "Chia Pet" type thing.  I have no idea why I thought that a Netti Pot was a plant, but it is so not that!!!!  after all of your recommendations, I researched it...and I am on my way to buy one...actually two...because I have explained it to Jack, as he has the same thing I do...but in reading about the Netti Pot...it also helps headaches...and my Jack has gotten severe migraines since age 6....soooo, with a willingness to help that, he has told me that he will also try it....and well, I think that Netti Pots are the type of thing where, each person should have their own!!!! Maybe I will pick up a chia pet while I am there for kicks!

In the land of scrap booking...I received my KOTM for March so that I could do it and preview it for you...but it just came yesterday, which I believe was...March 4th...and I have heard that they are almost OUT of this kit...so, I am still going to show you what I have done ad recommend that you head on over to the site....I was surprised that they are 12x12 layouts and are actually pretty cute.  Of course, the beauty of these KOTM's is that you can apply you own style of scrapping, techniques, embellishments, etc to the existing kit...they great thing is...it is already layout out...so all you have to do is plop your pictures down and do a little journal...or if you are like me....a little more...still keeping it simple.  One more nice thing for this distressing simply complicated scrapper is...all of the papers have white cores to them, so you can distress everything...or nothing....

okay, so here is what I got done in between naps & sneezes....

pretty cute, huh?  I am liking the pages I have done...fast, easy & cute and they give me inspiration for  layouts that I can do later on...

okay..Off I go....to buy a Netti pot....

okay..Rite-Aide was out, so I hit CVS...came home and did it...at first, I had salt water coming out my nose and my mouth ( I swear it leaked out my eyes, too!) and I kinda gagged and swallowed some of the salt water that was trickling down my throat, then after I was done, it kinda felt like I had been pummled by waves at the beach, like I had not snuffed (the reverse of sniffed) all of the salt water out...and now, about 10 minutes later...I can breathe....It is crazy! this one says to do it a few time a day, and I may do it again later...but once is enough for now...I dont like salt water all that much!