Happy Holidays to all my family and Friends

Happy Holidays to all of you, friends and family that I am so blessed to have in my life. A Friend sent me this poem. It is perfectly befitting to all of you who I love and care for so dearly, so I thought that I would share it with you:

My Friends, My Angels

I believe in angels

Those helpers who are near

Exactly when they're needed most,

Then seem to disappear.

I know them when I see them

Whatever their disguise

They're patient and encouraging

Resourceful, kind, and wise

Yes, I believe in angels

The kind that heaven sends

And I'm surrounded every day

By angels I call friends.

God gave me someone special

When He gave me

A special friend like you

Have a Blessed Christmas (and Hanukkah too)
and happiness the whole year through!

~Author- Unknown~

If you are reading this and want to "lift" this poem for someone else...please do.

I had a wonderful Christmas day with my family. I hope that your holiday season is filled with many blessings.

*P.S. If you are looking for some scrappy fun. Go to tally scrapper now! Everyday until new years I will be giving out some Tally love (prizes). So come on by and join the fun! Look for the thread called "going out with a Bang !"

**P.S.S - If you are acquainted with "ms. Cheryl" who won the RAK on my blog this last week..please send her my way. She won the RAK, her link doesn't work and I would love to send her goodies. Thanks !

With much love,

Christine

For those last minute gals at heart

EDIT: WE HAVE A WINNER ! THE LUCKY GAL IS MS. CHERYL!! PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH YOUR MAILING INFO; Thanks to all who played. I am going to add just a little bit more of a bonus in the RAK. Cheryl I am waiting for you :) Iam really touched by all the sweet comments :) Thanks for all participating !

So I have been meaning to do this..it is a small little thank you/Happy Holidays Rak for my bloggy friends and/or readers. Tell me what you want fo Christmas and I will randomly select a winner on Sunday evening. It surely won't get there by Christmas,but defintely in time for you to scrap some Christmas goodness shortly after !

If you link this giveaway to your blog, let me know and I will enter you twice ! :)

And..Happy Birthday to my Friend's Illyse and Susan ! Today is your special day..you rock !

Love you all !

(((HUGS)))

Christine

December fun..December...RUSH

Gosh again guilty as charged. I am so behind on things. This past moth I have been sick on and off and it has really taken a toll. I am behind. Hopefully my excuse for next month won't be the same ! So much has happened and there is not enough time to share it all.

Let me start off by saying thank you to Jeanne at Scrapbook Supplies Direct for submitting out work to Cosmo Cricket ...and Thank you Cosmo Cricket for sending us so many goodies. I just got mine in the mail on Sat. and I can't wait to play with it ! Also I need to say thanks to Quickutz... May I just say it...YOU ROCK ! I have had some trouble with my Silhouette. I met up with a wonderful rep from QK and talked to him about it and guess what..VOILA...they are sending me a new one! Just like that ! So thank you...just in time for Christmas. Gotta love you guys !

In other news, since Thanksgiving...we have started singing... All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...in regards to Adam that is. So cute...he is missing booth his front teeth and he thinks that it is cool. Like he is some kind of big kid now.

Adam was a Sheppard in The Christmas play in religious ed. He was the first kiddo to start the play...he maintained an very serious exterior..but was very excited about it all.

Nicholas participated in a jeopardy like program called "a walk through California" in school last week. His teem won..so that made his day :) Here he is on the "expert seat".

Last night we took the kiddos to see the Christmas Lights in nearby Brea. It was a lot of fun. They enjoyed themselves as well as we did ! We took a bunch of pics..but most came out kind of blurry. However this one..which was kind of a mistake..is my favorite because it shows them in their true colors......

I am feverishly trying to get a few Christmas presents made and the rest shopped for. I am a little more than half way there. Also got to get those Christmas cards out. Watch your mail !

AND...there is some Scrappy goodness...here: There is a fabulous Christmas giveaway @ papermonkey. Follow this link ! http://blog.papermonkey.org/index/2008/12/happy-hauladays-my-biggest-giveaway-ever-.html

Lastly, my dear goofy friend, Illyse is turning 40 on the 18th ! Can you believe it... If you love her like I do, why don't you go on over to her blog and wish her well :)

Be back in a few days with some more things to share....REALLY I MEAN IT !

(((BIG HUGS)))

Christine

Time to catch up and share some goodies :)

HI all my friends out there who are s very faithful. It has been awhile since my last post so I will get to it right now !

First of all to do something that I haven't had the chance to get to..til now. I've been tagged by my friend Susan from Scrappydoo2u. Here's how it works:

Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
Answer the five sets of five (this is the easy part)
Tag 5 people in the last section by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. Now for my answers..the truth shall be revealed !

Things I love
Scrapbooking & Papercrafting
My very boyish boys
My husband and family.
All my dear friends

80's music

Things I don't love
Narrow minded people

The horrific financial cuts from education

The war "that isn't over..but we did win it ya know"
Prop 8

Cleaning the bathroom

Songs on your iPod/Playlist
Duran Duran - New Religion

Franz Ferdinand- take me out

English Beat- Mirror in the Bathroom

Ok Go !- Here it goes again

U2- Pride

Favorite Foods/Drinks
Diet Pepsi with lime
Starbucks Passion Fruit Iced tea/no Sweetner
Pizza

Pasta

Salad

People I am tagging...
Yenny of Papel y tijeras
Alicia of Alicia Delano designs

Nancy of Life as a scrappin' engineer mom

Shirley of Standing on the edge

Tina K of A Handmade Tale

And in other news the new kit at Tally Scrapper is available TODAY ! It always sells out..so check it out and get on there! HURRY..you won't be sorry !

Here are a few things that I made with the kit.

If you go on the site you can see what the other talented design team members have created !

Family news: Nicholas and Adam got their report cards yesterday and did FANTASTIC. I have been saving them a special and little bit bigger of a treat than usual for a special occasion. Well this was the occasion..all A's and B's. They both seem to really enjoy reading and are reading above grade level. Good boys! I am so proud of them. SO.... I gave them Wii Fit. We all have been playing it since last night. Now I am going to see if I can use it a lose a bit of weight and build some strength myself. :)

Umm let's see what else....

*my mom just left today from a little visit. We had a very nice time. The boys are already missing her. :(

*Joe is biking as always...but today the winds are very strong about 30 mph at times...he is going to be wrecked !

*Today is Adam's last soccer game....woohoo. (oops did I say that out loud?) It happens.

* Last weekend Nicholas went to a birthday party...the boys were taken in an SUV-LIMO. Livin' large eh? They went out for Pizza and video games and then dessert at The Melting Pot, a fondue place. Anybody ever what happened to the birthday parties with ice cream and cake, and pin the tail on the donkey ?

* I am enjoying my term on both my design teams. I find it rewarding and a lot of fun. Okay that is it for now !

(((Big Hugs)))

Christine

A bunch of Ghoulish goodies AT Scrapbook Supplies Direct

HI all , time for my post to show you what I have been up to on Scrapbook Supplies Direct. Well the new kit has been released and it is ready to go. It has so much in it and so many creative projects to make. The entire kit will come with everything you need including tutorial sheets with photos to show you how to make each and every creation. This will be a great way to pump out those Halloween photos right after the holiday. Here are a few projects that I made just for that kit.

Now these are only my creations, but there are so much more to see, to do , to make. Leslie our guest Designer for October has made a wonderful selection of goodies for you as well. AND of course our fabulous Susan has also shared her expertise. This kit will have you working your fingers to the bone..which seems highly appropriate for an October Halloween themed kit. Don't you think :)

Also our Halloween Hoopla will be coming soon ! There will be games and prizes..and a lot of fun. You won't want to miss it. Halloween weekend we'll have lots of
games (riddles, bingo, scavenger hunts, and more),
challenges, swaps, and of course give-a-ways!
This year our grand prize will be a
PhotoBook Maker (valued at $100.00)!

It's a yummy treat for anyone who loves to create their
own books. Best of all it only takes ONE ticket to win!
(Tickets are issued to the winner of contests & challenges)
Many prizes!!!!
The mailing for details will be going out soon, if you'd
like to be in on the HOOPLA .... sign up for the newsletter now!

New kit @ Tallyscrapper, a challenge and everyday life !

Well I just need to get with it and post now don't I ? So here I am sharing some of the things that I made from the Tallyscrapper kit this month. It is a fabulous kit and sold out immediately (as usual) Their kits are HOT !

I am also hosting a challenge at Tallyscrapper called "Skeletons in the Closet" It is an altered item challenge. And there are great prizes ! Here is my sample journal for the challenge.

Go check it out !

In other news, something amazingly touching..beautiful happened to me on Friday. I am still in disbelief about it all. To make a very long story short.... When I was a kid I was very good friends with a boy who lived down the street from us. He was a lot of fun and completely geeky with me. We were friends from grade school - high school. After high school we both went to college in separate directions. We saw each other once after our first year of school and that was that..sort of lost touch. Then few years later someone that we knew in common had told me that my friend had tragically died. I felt a huge loss and was so saddened by it all. I became a bit upset with myself for not keeping better contact with him and by then it was too late. BUT THEN FRIDAY HAPPENED .......

On Friday an old friend of mine contacted me via email and told me that our long lost friend was actually alive and well. Someone..who I can't remember told me an awful rumor. I swear if I knew who that person was..."we would have a talk". Anyway regardless of that all, I found out someone that I thought had left us,maybe 15 years ago, is here. I contacted him by email and we have been talking now for the past 3 days. I cannot even begin to tell you how blessed that I feel. I feel like now I have another chance with someone that I "lost".

As kids we were really great friends and complete dorks...here is a pic of us trying to "recreate" a Calvin Klein, Obsession" add.

NEED I SAY MORE ? I think that were were like 15 here ? And no we were never boyfriend/girlfriend..more like brother/ sister. So anyway for the past 3 days we have been catching up and I am so tickled by the whole thing. Who knows the reason things happened like they did..but I do believe that we were brought back together for a reason and I am grateful.

And last famous pic of Mr. Adam and his missing front tooth !
And can't forget Nicholas up on the Rock wall...woohoo. He made it to the top !
Bye for now !

(((HUGS)))

Christine

So much fun..I am INSPIRED

Oh my goodness..just got back from Inspiration Unlimited yesterday. It was so amazing. Classes were taught by Layle Koncar, Teresa Collins and Janna Wilson. Their individual styles differed so greatly,yet each andevery singlie one of them inspired me in one way or another. Aside from all of that, they were all so personable, nice ladies and Layle is a riot. Love her sarcasm..a girl after my own heart. Teresa will talk to anyone and is genuine with all, and Janna she impressed me with her charm. She is so pleasant and just about the happiest/fun person that I have encountered in awhile. How refreshing to meet a bunch woman who are not full of themselves. They are all so successful in their own rites..but no one of them has let it get to their heads. I would defintely take a class or go to Inspiration Unlimited again.without a doubt. AND KUDOS TO GINGER, this was her dreamchild..it was a fantastic event and I can't thank her enough. Well done Ginger....you ROCK !

I had so much fun with my girlfriends. Illyse, Jenn and Donna were all there too which made it all the more fun. Here is a pic of us with Teresa. Donna was with her mom some of the time so she is not in the shot..that really would have completed it.

We all had a bit of a lucky streak and won some prizes as well. My biggest win was this.....

It was fun, and well worth it..can't wait til next year..I am SO THERE !

And in other news...this is big...well at least big to me....... I made the Design Team on my Beloved Tallyscrapper. I have been there since it opened and I am so excited to be a part of it. My kit is on it's way and I will have a tutorial coming out on the blog soon. I am so darn excited, that I just can't get over it. So those of you Tallysisters that voted for me...thank you so very much. I heart you for so many reasons and you just made my day a little brighter.

Family stuff...Adam lost his first front tooth. Oh my gosh too cute. He looks so funny and cute at the same time. I will post pics later. He is waiting for the tooth fairy to come tonight. Maybe pics tomorrow.

and Lastly... please visit this blog for an amazing Blog Candy that you don't want to miss. Don't be intimidated by the German, it is translated below in English for you to read. These are very generous ! Check them out here.

A Ghoulish RAK and a goody box for me !!!

Today I got the box from Best Creations to make them some goodies. Oh my gosh they are so very generous ! Look what they sent me !

I can't wait to start scrappin ! Look at those new papers...ooh some are flocked, they also have overlays...eegad. I can't stand it ! I love their new stuff and I am honored that they put trust in me to make some goodies to display for them at shows and their website. Tee hee. I will even have some goodies left dfor me when I am done. I am one lucky gal !

AND NOW TRY YOUR LUCK...go HERE..to win some ghoulish Blog Candy at scrapznstuff. A nice treat..no tricks ! :)

Okay good night I am so tired.

Oh my ! Can't believe it !

Well the past week has had its ups and downs for sure. But I will only talk about the good stuff..because it feels good. And i am focusing on the good. Anyway on Friday, I was contacted by Best Creations paper co. to design/ make some samples for them to use in some trade shows and other things. Wow..can you believe it ? That really felt good. I am so flattered by that. Screamin' Susie's..who I still really miss (side note) had an account with them and a fond relationship with the company. Anyway, way back when they saw some of my layouts/projects and asked to bring them back to the owner and well months later..voila..they have asked me to make a few things for them. Yippee ! I am thrilled.

So... I am on cloud 9 feeling kind of good and 2 days later I find out that I was chosen for the DT on a new website called Scrapbook Supplies Direct. They are a new online store and message board trying to get out there and noticed. So I am now here to shamelessly promote. Join the board and grow with us...... :) There is even a little RAK giveaway on there that I am hosting..go check it out :) The girls there are great. Susan the DT coordinator is a great gal and FUNNY. Jeanne,the owner, is selfless...... she even put aside time to talk to me on the phone the day the Hurricane was expected to hit her area. WOW ! And just to help me with some techie problems that I was having with my computer...IMAGINE THAT !

Umm well Nicholas is now officially 9. He got his coveted Nintendo DS from my parents, and some games from his lil' bro. and Granny. We got him ROCKBAND for the Wii. He and my Dad played it together and here is a pic of that....certainly a site to see.

Now that Nicholas is choosing BIG EXPENSIVE GIFTS..we don't do the big million friends party thing anymore. So on Friday we will be taking 3 of his friends with us to ROCK CITY, an indoor rock climbing place, and then $5 Pizza from Little Caesars..maybe getting him expensive gifts is the way to go...no gigantic party planning really takes a load off.

Well I am off for now...too tired...had a headache just about ALL DAY. Not fun. But then again..focus on the good..focus on the good :)

(((HUGS)))

Christine

Shame on me !

NO I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. No I am not giving up blogging. I am just a slacker. I have been overwhelmed with school starting up, getting my classroom ready and life in general. So yep..I neglected my blog. So much has happened, so many pics to be shared and now they are yesterday's news. Whoops. So here goes nothing.

School stared and I think Adam is thrilled, Nicholas..not really. But he will live. Here are a few pics from the first day of school.
School started for me too. My class is pretty decent, sweet, just a bit chatty. Tonight is back to school night. Gotta get everything into gear. EEK !

I of course, have been scrapbooking. Sent some time at The Scrappin' Table. Had fun visiting with my friend Michelle and cropping with some other girls. There is a lot of great new product in there. AND kudos to my friend Michelle, the owner of The Scrappin' Table, who donated to Adam's soccer fundraiser basket. All the moms were thrilled with it ! I would have put my name in the raffle,but it would look kind of peculiar if I won...don't ya think? Thanks Michelle it made a great raffle item !
Here is a goofy layout,that I just love...just cause it is a bit out of the box for me...but now I am on a doodling kick...

Well this weekend my parents are coming in town tomorrow to celebrate Nicholas' b-day. He will be turning 9. Oh dear...where does the time go ? Then on Sunday I am having a Stampin' Up party. It should be a lot of fun and chaotic. Did I mention my best childhood friend is coming in town to stay with me on Sunday..so out will walk my parents, in will walk April and then the party (Stampin Up) will get started..oh my !

Well for now this is my update...goodbye for now my friends and hugs to all of you !

Teeny Tiny update

Well last night was my very last class at Screamin Susie's which of course was bittersweet. It was hard going in there knowing that it would be my last one,but uplifting knowing how much I have been appreciated. Brent and Susie have been so good to me, so generous and I know that I can confidently call them my friends. The attendees of my classes have been so complimentary and so easy going. I can honestly say that they have made it a lot of fun for me as well, so I thank you. Those of you who have been faithfully coming to my classes, you know how to contact me and please do not hesitate to do so. I would love to hear from you and I will definitely keep you in the loop :)


Sorry for such a quick little post..but I will be back with more news...soon !

Thanks to all my friends old and new :)

Christine

Wanna RAK ?

Go here to see one hot chick and a giveaway too !
http://scrappydoo2u.blogspot.com/

What's New ?

I've have been really lazy about updating my blog and I can see that some of my faithful friends in blogland have been checking up on me. We have..I have, been busy, taking on projects at home, going here and there and basically I just haven't gotten myself in gear. So here I am !

I just finished reading this book.

And I would have to say that not only is it a good read, but it is very eye opening. As a mother of a child with Asperger's I found this book something that I could really relate to in many ways. The "Aspie" mind is really complex and amazing at the same time. John Elder Robison, The author, is a highly gifted individual and right now I think that I may be his #1 fan. He is humorous in his aspergian way,which I have learned to appreciate. I think that anyone who is curious and wants to know more about how the AS child or even adult for that matter, works and thinks, should read this book. It helps the reader to understand how an Asperger's individual thinks, relates to social issues and struggles for things that we all take for granted on a daily basis. The book has a lot of up and down moments, but then has you laughing 5 minutes later. J. E. R. is the older brother of Augusten Burroughs, the author of ,Running with Scissors. Read the book...you will be enlightened.

Speaking of the Asperger's Child..hmm. Well my son, Adam, quirky, intelligent and secretive has decided to let me in on a little secret.....umm HE CAN READ ! I don't mean sight words I mean books, pages, short paragraphs. He apparently has decided that it was time to reveal that he could read the other day. If you know Adam, then you know that he does not allow himself to make mistakes and does not take risks in front of others. He must be infallible (according to him). So being that he just finished Kindergarten, I would expect him to be an emergent reader. When school ended he was reading short word lists. And perhaps sentences like "The dog sat". But the other day he decided to suddenly reveal to us that he could in fact read more...a lot more. He read 9 pages of a Curious George book. He read the word suddenly, heard (which you can't sound out) etc. That little stinker ! I guess he had to reveal himself once he knew that he was "ready".

Took the boys to Legoland the other day and had a blast. It was perfect because we went in the middle of the week and got there as soon as it opened. We spent from open til just about close there and got to do EVERYTHING that we wanted to. The boys enjoyed themselves, lines were never too long and the Roller Coasters there are quite doable for me. I just can't hack the big stuff anymore.

Been scrappin' here and there. And I have been having fun doing so. Celebrated my b-day and Jennifer's scrapbooking with the girls. Janet, Illyse, Jennifer and I had a great time and Susie's. Here are a few layouts that make me happy.

My sweet niece, Sofie

Nicholas at art camp

My 38th birthday

And Lastly... I will be teaching a few classes in August. So come and see me at Screamin' Susie's.

Just Tinkering/Girl Time
Mon. Aug. 11th
7-9 p.m.



• You're all wet !

• Thurs. Aug. 14th

• 7-9 p.m.




• 'Love to you' Botanical gift card set

• Mon. August 18th

• 7-9 p.m.
  
  

  So I guess that I am off for now. Drop in and leave me a comment..I see you there, so come and say hello :)

(((Big hugs)))

Christine

Happy Birthday to me

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Nancy Scraps, Jenna Lee and Mama in Pajamas :) Sorry for the late post girls and thanks for playing ! Please email me your snail mail info !

July is a good month, it is my birthday month,


we celebrate Independence day, we are well into summer vacation, new products are released at CHA , I love the sunshine, going to the beach and I just generally feel good. To make the month even better I have had a bit of a lucky streak too ! I was published in scrapnart (yippee..they rock). I got a surprise b-day gift in the mail from my sweet Alicia, my twin sister separated at birth, (Dilly as some of you know her). I won a RAK..cute little clay buttons..yay ! From Inkster :) Not to mention that two sweeties I know, Dawn and Jenn gave me a blog brillante premio award....AND BOY DOES IT FEEL GREAT !

So first let me nominate a few new bloggy brillante premio friends....

1. JennaLee for always having a gentle disposition, being incredibly artful and creative (yes I made up the word artful).

2. Michelle for always being honest with me, for always being a lot of fun, for always being a sensitive and caring gal and for having the courage to take on new challenges and diving in headfirst ! YOU GO GIRL !

3. For Ms Tina K. for being a giving and caring person. For being extremely talented and supportive.

4. Stephanie for being a sweet girl that has got the whole world ahead of her and for always greeting me with a smile.

5. Leah C. because she is creative, talented, giving and sure of herself and I like that !

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST.....

Illyse and Jennifer who of course have already been nominated because the are so ever worthy of this award. I cannot go without mentioning my girls! You rock and you know it chicas ! No need to tag me back ladies...you don't need to go through the moitons.l.just know that you are loved !
Now here are the rules to follow if you have been nominated: 1) Put the logo on your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you -Click on Jennifer and/or Dawn's name.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on yours
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs




So now that I am completely a wind bag (tee hee) I wanted to say, since I have been doing all the receiving...it is time for me to do a bit of giving..PAY It Forward...know what I mean? So here's a little RAK . Please leave a post on my Blog and 3 lucky winners will receive a set of Basic Grey Romani Monograms. Not bad eh ? I will draw on Monday July 21st :)...so check back !

Thanks you to all those friends who have made the last few weeks grand. Sometimes we all need a little lift.

I will be posting a few new classes in the next few days, so check back !

Lastly ALOHA to my friend in Hawaii ;0) Who knew that I would get a visit from there. Ain't sitemeter grand !? It is so much fun to see where all my visits come from !

Take care all !

(((HUGS)))

Christine