Bits and Pieces

This week has not been my favorite week, but it's looking up. Tonight I head to Oregon to celebrate my lovely friend Nicole's 30th birthday. That's her heading this post, isn't she the cutest? I am so looking forward to a little bit of time with my girls, hanging out at the coast and traipsing around soggy Salem, which I hear is saving the rain just for me....I can't wait!

You probably won't see any blogging out of me until mid week next week. But until then, here's a little crafty goodness. Apparently rejection...I did not make the SIS design team...gets my creative juices flowing.

Love

This is what my lovely husband brought home to me yesterday, along with some TheraFlu, to cure my blahs. Isn't he sweet?

Blahville

Welcome to Blahville, population one.

So I have a bit of the blahs it seems...maybe it's because I'm feeling yucky with a sore throat and body aches, maybe it's because my house is a disaster and I don't have the energy to deal with it and that's depressing, maybe it's because I got some bad news in my inbox this morning.....whatever the case, I'm just hoping they leave soon.

What do you do to cure the blahs?

At least I have something to look forward to....I'm heading to Oregon on Thursday to visit my girls and celebrate the 30th birthday of the blog stalker extraordinaire. I can't wait!

I am slowly going crazy.......

Ok, you choir geeks should get that post title....

Things are a bit crazy around here. I've been super busy since returning from CHA and we're on weekend number two of nothing getting done around the house, so the mess and clutter is starting to drive me a bit nutty....

Spent this past weekend being crafty, working on my last "Project Fashionista" submission and helping Stephanie and Kimberly design, create and address 50 baby shower invites. Here's a peek at the invites...we raided my left over wedding invite stuff and between Steph and I we had tons of pink and brown papers...I think they turned out pretty cute.


Not much else to report. Today was my long work day, so I'm a bit tired. I'm hoping to get some scrapping done later this week and get caught up on 52 cards and Paper 08. I've got a few projects to finish before heading to Oregon next Thursday....no rest for the weary it seems!

More CHA

I know I've been a bad blogger this week, but it's been a bit of a crazy week. I did manage to finish two big projects this weekend, so that's a nice relief. It did come at the expense of things like a clean house and groceries though....what can you do?

Here's a picture heavy post of some CHA goodness. I'll be back to regular blogging routines next week. I'm off to shower and finish laundry.

A cute little framed paper display from the Heidi Swapp booth:


This is for you Heather....the Heidi Swapp booth was full of black, white, pink, houndstooth and polka dots.


Autumn Leaves has a new line designed by fabric designer Heather Bailey. These papers are gorgeous. I can't wait to play with these!


Some American Crafts goodness:


Fun ATC's in the Hambly booth:


Hambly's new colored rub-ons. I just stood and stared at this booth for several minutes. So much inspiration!


The fun photo covered fridge from the Love, Elsie booth. Lots of fun display stuff in her booth.

KI has tons of new lace papers that are pretty fun. Lots of fun new flocked papers and papers with little bits and pieces die cut out.


Yummy October Afternoon papers. I was in this booth a lot, as it was often our rendezvous point and I never got tired of looking at things. There design team is the best too!


Isn't this the cutest little thing? Made with Making Memories 5th avenue goodies.


The cutest little door from the Making Memories booth. I totally loved there booth. Lots of fun stuff. They have a new travel line that I really liked and had an old suitcase lined with the papers. I didn't get a picture of it, but you can see it on Nik's blog.


Lots of stuff I didn't get pictures of, I took only 2 pictures with people in them...I totally should be fired as a scrapbooker! I think though this lack of picture taking was in part do to serious camera envy. All the ladies I was with had there fabulous DSLR's and I just had our little point and shoot. Someday....

CHA story--part 1

I'm so tired, this is going to be a quick, photo less recap of CHA. I had so much fun at CHA. It was pretty crazy. Lots to see and do. I met tons of people, including SC girls and SIS girls and lots of big name scrappers. Pretty fun! I was so lucky to be hanging out with Emily, Heather, Vivian, Mary Kay and Houston from Denver. They were also so wonderful to let me tag along and I really had a great time getting to know them.

I saw lots of great product. I'll post pictures of some of my favorites later, but they include Sassafras Lass, Hambly, SEI Dill Blossom, Heidi Swapp houndstooth, October Afternoon, Pink Paislee and Crate Paper. Some other cool things...Piggy Tales has gone green, recycled papers and organic inks, the new chatterbox line is totally different for them and pretty fun, I totally need a Bind it All...I know this even more after playing with one at the Teresa Collins booth....oh and this little guy:

Guess who's getting one of these...for free? Oh yeah, I won one! I'm totally indebted to Heather on this...here's the story. Making Memories was giving away 100 of these at the show. You had to be wearing your free slice t-shirt to win one. You could win at their daily raffle or by getting spotted walking around in your shirt. On Sunday, after the rest of us took of our shirts...I didn't wear mine long as I was swimming in the XL t-shirt....Heather, who kept hers on, was chosen as a grand prize winner by the MM spotters. They just walked up to her and handed her the a scrap bag full of goodies and the voucher for a slice. It was pretty exciting. On Monday, at the afternoon raffle, Emily and I got there just as they we're starting, so Heather handed me her ticket...since she'd already won...they gave away tons of prizes, some slices and lots of other MM product. The very last number they called was my ticket..the one Heather had handed to me! So crazy! Technically I think Heather won twice, but my mom says it was my good luck that she handed me that ticket! So excited! I'm not a die cut girl, but this machine is amazing! I won't get it until July when it gets released, but I can't wait to play with it, especially if I purchase the noteworthy cartridge.

Stay tuned for more reports and some photos...

Leaving on a Jet Plane

It's been a crazy couple of days! This little trip to CA couldn't come at a better time...I need a getaway! Tomorrow afternoon I leave for CHA and I can't wait! I'm so excited to get to meet some of my online friends and to see all the cool new products. I'm planning on taking lots of pictures and lots of notes on the must have items and new releases. You can bet I'll spend a lot of time fondling things in the following booths:

Hambly
Heidi Swapp
7 Gypsies
American Crafts
October Afternoon
Pink Paislee

I return late Monday and will jump right into a full work week. Between work, Valentine's Day, my mom's birthday and working on my project for Round #3 of "I wanna be a Fashionista," I'm not sure how much blogging will happen next week, but I will be sure to post some pictures sometime during the week.

I'm off to pack...happy weekend!

Weekend Accomplishments and PSA

Another busy weekend comes to a close and I'm off and running on a rainy Monday morning. I have a lot to do this week and want to check things off my list before I leave this weekend for a couple days at CHA. I'm so excited I'm going to CHA and am eternally grateful to Ms. Emily for inviting me. I can't wait!

This weekend I managed to:
do several loads of laundry
clean the bathrooms and kitchen
mop floors
dust the house
clean up my scrap space
bake cookies
scrap with Heather, Angie and Kelly
do my 52 Card
complete 1 round robin layout
finish 1 layout that's been on my to do list
knit several inches on my scarf
watch Superbad with Shawn
submit my Fashionista application and project
start some canvases for a secret project
surf the internet

Whew! Can you tell I didn't watch the superbowl...got a lot of stuff done around the house instead! Here's one layout I did this weekend..had the journaling in my head for awhile...some wishes for my 30th year:


This week's 52 Card prompt "Struggle" came from Andrea. I will admit I had no idea what I was going to do for this card and than it hit me...the weekly stuggle with my to do list, work, me time, balance.....


I really like this little quote and have been on a quest to simplify things lately:


And now on to my little PSA. Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. If you live in a state that is holding primary elections tomorrow...GO VOTE! I mailed my early ballot Friday. I meant to send it in earlier in the week, but I was still investigating candidates. I won't discuss politics, as I know I have differing views from some of my blog readers, I just want to encourage each and everyone of you to vote. It's important. I belong to a generation of disillusioned voters, but if you don't vote, you can't complain. The system may be broken, but its the system we have, so you must work with it.....go exercise your right and VOTE!

Happy February!

Here's a look at my calender so far this month. Unfortunately didn't get to include Jessie's arrival on the 8th, but at least I'll see her on the 28th when I head to OR. I'm so excited for this month! It's going to be a busy one, but full of fun and adventures!

You'll notice the Super Bowl is not on my calendar. Honestly, I could care less...even if it is here in Phoenix (well, Glendale) this year. This week has been a driving mess around this town and it's only going to get worse the next few days. If I didn't have to drive around town for work, it might not be so bad, but snowbirds, plus FBR Open visitors, plus Super Bowl visitors, plus the celebrity party and concert scene that comes along with the SB...argh!

I've yet to complete my 52 Card or Paper '08 for this week, been busy this morning with billing and other paperwork. I'm hoping to get some scrapping done tonight and tomorrow afternoon, so stay tuned for another crafty post later this weekend!

Happy Friday and Happy February!