CKC Fort Lauderdale!

Im back from an awesome and probably the longest vacation taken- Helen and I went to CKC (Creating Keepsakes Convention) in Fort Lauderdale. It was a 2-fer trip I like to call it, maybe a 3-fer...meaning...1. To get away, get refreshed, and take classes 2. Really get away 3. Take my son on vacation to visit his relatives.

When the opportunity came up for Helen and I to take a trip, I picked the other side of the country!!! But it was great- It was Helens 1st time in Florida- Becasue of the long flight, and lack of choices for flights, we actually got to be Florida tourists, before and after the convention---Heres how it went...

Luckily we had Joan, Masons Grandma (My EX's Mother) take us to Hollywood beach the 1st day! (ignore dates on pics- my camera wasnt set!)

The next day we hit Everglades Air Boat Tours... to see alligators..yes real ones...I had done this tour 7 years ago, but it was just as thrilling to have an alligator swim up to your boat...mason wasnt too thrilled, his Cousin Christian was with him and did enjoy it ....ohhh also-- my camera WASNT on zoom....thats how close you are to the gator!

Then, as Florida weather is, it started to rain...not a sprinkle here or a sprinkle there, but think about how much water comes out of a shower head...yes! it was pouring, but it was warm rain, and beautiful....well the boat started dripping- Helen was on the edge and got SOAKED!

We got off the boat and made a run for the gift shop- we were drenched...mason really liked the rain..not the THUNDER..Never in my life have i heard such loud thunder! Did you notice the before and after pics, no rain vs. rain..thats how fast it comes!


Later that night, we went to a restaurant called the Rustic Inn, Mason and Helen wanted to try Gator and Frogs Legs... I had a kids meal burger!!! (ok i tried tha Gator!) Mason also had Crab, and they give you mallots and bibs!

We stayed at Shirleys Condo, (masons Great-Gram) and there were these HUGE slugs that come out at night!!!!

On to the convention, We took 13 classes and 3 crops-




Thursday Night Crop- We made and entire 6x6 album


Friday Classes-(reviews to come)

One, Two, Three..4x6:

Fun and Fast Tips for Journaling:



Always and Forever




Playful Pages




Not Your everyday Clipboard




Scheming Around




Stretch your Supplies




Focus on Family and Friends





Saturday Classes

Home Tour


One Day at a Time




Clearly Visable




Pushing Limits




4 Album enhancing Techniques

Our Favorite teachers by far were Megan Hoeppner from Simple Scrapbooks





And Emily Of Creating Keepsakes

The last night after the last crop, we got the giggles...we had been plotting for the days that we were at the convention center, to take some fun photos with the carpet..... Ill let the pictures tell the story....






Oh and then Helen Felt like she might want to leave her family and move to Florida and get a job at the Convention Center...here is her audition....(See, we had the giggles!)


It was back to the Dania Beach the next day...I played in the sand with the boys, feeling like a kid again, just enjoying! When it the last time I did that???? I dont know! Here was my favorite view lying on the beach...


And here was Helens favorite view when we went swimming at Shirleys Condo (Hahaha - Ill explain this pic more later!!!)

Back to the airport , on the plane, did i mention i HATE FLYING!!! And back home !!!

Stepping outside my Scrapbook Box

Today We had an AWESOME class by Prima Instructor/ Prima Donna Tricia Ladouceur from Canada. We used Glimmer mist, watercolor pencils, Prima Paintables, and prima...of course I dont get to use my flowers on layouts much becasue of all my boy pages, so it was real fun. It was a blast to be a student for once....I cant wait to take tons of classes at CKC- Ft Lauderdale in June !!!! Ill post my project here later...but want it to be a surprise as it is a gift for mom....

Mothers Day..Irony

Happy Mothers Day to me!...Just when I dreamed of lounging in bed all day, being served by my family, and having the day off..reality hit...have the day off? HA!!! Let me tell you about my day!


It did start out quite devine, I was served M(pancake) O (heart egg) M (pancake) with a latte, topped with a foam heart.

Not too bad eh???? So then it was lets decide what to do..go to the beach? the snow....ahhhh just lounge??

Well, I decided it would be fun to do a home project together as a family..we had about 1000 bricks in the backyard...lets make a fire pit!!!! Summer is coming, and we can have fun times out int he backyard...

As the boys started working....I went to wipe the dirt of Masons head..but it wasnt dirt....

IT WAS...... HEADLICE...EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! (Photo taken from the internet)

I was horrified!!!! I have never had lice myself, nor have the boys ever had it...I ran to Target.... and talked to the pharmacist about my little Mothers Day presents...

I came home with....








Im horrified!!! So I spend the next 2 hours cutting the boys hair and treating them...










dax finished the inside of the firepit, and we clean up and head to a mothers day dinner at my FAVORITE pizza place.. PIZZA BELL!!!! YUMMMMMYYYY





















After dinner, we hit the Walmart...and get the boys new Pillows....













so now here I sit, after feeling quite itchy, with Rid X on my hair...just in case my darling boys decided to give me the critters for Mothers day.... and Im finishing up the loads of bed linens, and sheets which all had to be washed out...










AHHHHH..Happy Mothers Day 2008!!!!

NSD 2008

What is NSD? NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!!

I have been planning 4 crops in the store, as well as co-coordinating a Cyber-Crop online at http://www.faithsisters.com/

My former Leaving Prints uplines Karma and Sunny, with Michelle are co-coordinating with me!

But most excitingly (is that a word?) The Good Day Sacramento Girls will be out at our shop this FRiday!!!

Helen teases me that I am "star-struck" but it's not that..yes I am a loyal Good Day Sacramento Fan. For the last 5 years I have sent in a Christmas ornament (handmade) to their Good Day Tree, they always want people to send them in...It was cool to hear my name on air as they showed my craft... Then when I got the shop, I added the Scrapbook Addict name, and they would read that too...then...we moved the shop to West Sac and I met Kelly Chapman last year, who called us, and came into the shop....and was just so down to earth, and sweet, and I felt like she could easily become a part of our circle of friends ( and she was a former Miss UTAH)

Kelly came out and did a segment on us last year, and she came out for a Cub Scout event we were running too...

This last year I made another ornament for the tree..I usually add pics of all the anchors, and this year I forgot one. Chris Burrous is the 'spicy' anchor. You either love him or hate him, his personality is a lot like Dax's. So since I forgot Chris, they made a fuss in a fun way about our shop. To make up for it we made Chris his very own ornament, and filled a Scrapbook Addict mug with candy. Again getting recognition from them on the air.....(AKA Free Plugs)

So recently, another anchor Lisa Gonzalas came into the shop...now I didnt know it was her, as she was in sweats and a ponytail...I helped her out, but in the back of my mind kept thinking"Where do I know her from???" I finally realized who it was after talking to Sharon our tenant neighbor at Blue Paradise tanning.

I sent in an email to the station (they like to read emails on air) asking if the anchors liked to be recognized in public places...or perhaps they like their privacy..later that day Marianne and Julissa strolled in to the shop...

Ok, maybe I was "star-struck" but I think more it was just the realization, that I know who they are, and now they know who I am...And I appreciated their recognition and support...

The 3 gals are coming out Friday to scrapbook! We all have scrapbooking in common and it dosnt hurt to have local celebrities patronize your place of business.

So Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!!

Impact...

Sometimes you don't realize the impact you have on someone. Unless they tell you. This week, that happened. Suzie is the sister of not only a friend of mine, a customer, and a volunteer of the Scrapbook Addict Store. When Suzie comes to town, she stops in to say hi and give hugs, and on special event days ... scrapbooks with us. I guess we have made an impact on her... it makes me aware just a bit more of the impact you can have on someone....Keep Scrappin Suzie!

Enjoy- (letter and photo used with permission)

hi - kim and dave destiny tyler

when are you spend the whole night with me

kim and destiny tyler , how is robynn doing fun

let me know are you comeing up two my house

and please call us let us know a bout comeing up

or e mail mom two let me know i willy miss you

kim and dave destiny tyler . i love you guys

let me know comeing up pick A date i love two

spend the whole night with you kim on thursday

may 1 st 2008, i welly misst sarah castro helen porter

i am ready two go scrapbooking addict. i am ready

two going your house, i am ready two go two the

party we are goa haveing so much fune.

will you please write two me again???

will you e mail me back okay

love A hugs and kisses

susieann

Family Favorite....Brian Regan

My mom and dad got us hooked on this comedian a couple years ago, and you can often hear his jokes being passed back and forth in converstaion. Last year Mason and I caught his show on the Comedy Channel, and he was hooked. Brians comedy is very clean, and his comedy focuses mostly about real world situations, and wonders...


Our family favorite is "The Clock"





Anyway- I heard a commercial on the radio, that we was coming to Sacramento - This being on a Friday, and the show on Sunday...I thought , It would be a fun outing for me and Mason but I'd only go if we had reasonable seats, the venue it was held at was LARGE! I have to admit, my luck, got me Row B seats! This is techically 5th row from the Stage...





Mason and I had a BLAST, and I would go AGAIN!

Grandma, Salt Lake, Snow...

My Grandma passed away at the end of january, she actually passed the day before her birthday. So I had to fly to Salt Lake (I HATE FLYING) and attended her funeral. It was bitter-sweet. I know Grandma is free now, and it was wonderful to see my Clan of People, We actually had all the cousins there (-1 ) for the first time since we were little kids. Grandma was buried next to Grandad in Riverton, Utah. I put a can of Spaghetti-O's and the game of "Sorry" in her coffin. (we all place something symbolic )

I remember visiting my Grandma, and she would give us Spaghetti-o's and she would play "Sorry" with us. I just figured out, that she never won a game.

The Funeral on Saturday was cold, but clear. But Sunday...DOWN CAME THE SNOW!!

I had a rental car, and dropped my sister at the airport for her flight Sunday at 6am, as I headed back through Salt Lake to Riverton, the snow got harder, and thicker, and by about 9600 south, there were spin outs on the freeway, and I could hardly see. My exit was 106th South, so I white knuckled it all the way to "Jim's" Restaurant where the family was meeting.

After breakfast (which Grandma had paid for as part of her last wishes) I followed my cousin Tania and her husband Bryan to Aunt Sharons. (We were all hanging there Sunday, until our flights that evening) Sharon lives on 126th South..so needless to say it was a blizzard by they time we got to her street. Bryan drove right into a 4 foot snow drift in his rental... we were laughing, at the fact that we would remember this!!!

By 4pm that day, the roads were clear, the sun was out, and all flights were on time.

What an eventful weekend!!!!!

I was tagged....

I was tagged by Robyn at http://happyhouseofhaas.blogspot.com/

Geesh!! This was HARD!!!!!!!!

Seven FactsShare 7 facts about yourself: some random/some weird!
1.) I come from a family where there has only been 1 divorce in at least 3 generations or more back (both sides)
2) I was a Navy Brat
3) I used to be a red-head until about the age of 3
4) I am petrified of flying, and high bridges
5) Was better at being "one of the guys" in grade school-high school
6) Ive lost 115 lbs since 2005
7) Wanted to play volleyball in the Olympics....darn im too short!


Name GameList one fact relevant to your life for each letter of your name.
S= Sassy and Silly
A= Adore my 3 sons..Mason, DJ, Kennedy
R= Resourseful
A= Adore my St. Bernards Holly and Honey
H= Hardworker

This is from Karmas Blog---How Fun!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car), Tipper Windstar
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie), Mocha Chocolate Chip (Sorry Karma - were gangsta twins!)
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name), S-Cas
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal), Red Giraffe
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born), Julie Ruth Port Hueneme
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first), Cassa
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink), The Venti Mocha Frapachino - LOL!
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),Donald Ray
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy), Pear Berry Laffy Taffy
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ), Diane Ray
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter), Mansfield Manhattan
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower). Fall Jasmine
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Strawberry Jeanie
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Oatmeal Pine
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”), The Scrapbooking Crisp Tour

Hot off the Press....

My Store was just featured in Scrapbook Business Magazine- This is a national pubication sent to all scrapbook retailers... Written by yours truly....enjoy!

This is just a moment, when you work so hard, that you can just say AHHHH ....

Page One

Page Two

Go Raiders....

Mason has been asking to play football for a while

now, so this year he joined the West Sac Jr. Raiders! He had been playing tag football at lunch recess, and I told him, tackle was a whole lot different. He had his 1st game Saturday, and they won 40-somthing to zip. They ended up calling the game, running the clock, and scrimmaging for practice the rest of the time. He got his first hard hit, and now has a 5 inch bruise to show off..I was so proud to see him shake it off, take a breath, and stand back up with his team. I dont know how long he will want to play football, he is defanitly finding himself in who he is, he plays chess, the saxaphone, and now football.

So proud...this mom is......

I DID IT!!!!!

let me back track...aug 10 2004-- the day before my 30th bday- I was all set to go and do this thing, oh sure I had been told "your body is a temple", "you'll regret it", "it hurts" oh yea...did i mention "it hurts". I just wanted to have it be the last dumb thing i did in my 20's ...since I had many dumb things on my list...
SO im all set to go, and the babysitter cancels----
fast forward....today Aug 11th, Im 33 today, and I just did it!! The design in my mind for years, something to represent me, what I am most proud of. After all, it will be with me forever.
So with Dax's design, he transformed my boys into my favorite flower,star jasmine, and with a celtic twist ( i just love spirals for some reason) and whala we head down to http://www.forevertattoo.com/ on 16th and Broadway...
So here it is, still puffy and red, but I did it, and Brent my artist was just awesome...he was silly, steady, and swift!!!!
Did it hurt? Yes! But I have endured worse pain in my life, and this was just a visual sacrifice to have a permanent tribute to my sons.

I finally did it!!!

How old are you???

My friend Linda sent this to me today, its pretty cool... turns out it says Im 30 and will live to be 80...hmmmmm 50 more years of scrappin!

http://www.peterrussell.dreamhosters.com/Odds/RealAge.php

Yes, I am addicted to Scrapbooking.

I found this online....funny.....

Warning Signs That You May Be Addicted to Scrapbooking
1.If you write to the friendly folks at Cropper Hopper to suggest a 2000 square foot tote transportable only by tractor trailer... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
2.If you tried to bribe the school principal to let your unborn child have a graduation diploma early because you found the best page embellishments on sale this week...you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
3.If you use 40 rolls of film to capture those special moments at home during a 24-hour period... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
4.If you keep over half your supplies hidden in the trunk of the car while simultaneously hiding the keys from your husband... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
5.If you force all 45 members of your extended family to sit on Santa's lap at the mall because it would be a great scrapbook page... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
6.If you refuse to take your child to the emergency room without grabbing your camera first... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
7.If have tried to explain the benefits of skipping meals to save more money for scrapbook supplies... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
8.If you carry one camera for black and white photos, one for panoramic, one for 3-D photos, and one for color close-ups with you to the grocery store... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
9.If you're now wondering why you don't have a 3-D camera... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
10.If your idea of a dream date is a man who loves to hammer your eyelets and refill your Hermafix ... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
11.If you try to glue your child's tooth back into his mouth because you want a better "before and after" page ... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
12.If you refuse to take any more pictures, even at your daughter's wedding, because you need to catch up on the ones you have first... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
13.If you are considering hiring professional writers to do your journaling... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
14.If you think that you must take your scrapbook supplies with you for a romantic weekend away... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
15.If the only recipes you collect any more are crop snacks... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
16.If own 8 different tools that cut a perfect circle... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
17.If you have figured out how to scrapbook while driving your car... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
18.If your kids know the only way they can participate in anything is to agree to have Mom there taking pictures... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
19.If you believe Becky Higgins should have her own cable channel... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
20.If your career aspirations include selling punchies and paper piecings on eBay... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
21.If you think it makes sense to leave tags on new clothes because you are going to return them right after you take the pictures of your kids wearing them... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.