Makeup to mud in 3 seconds flat

okay, so I found them...

last night was a lot of fun with all the girls! Waiter was a little iffy but we had fun! Cannot wait to do it again. So I found that memory card that had the mess I made only days before our big party here at Christmas. wanna see the pics of why I thought Jimmy might freak on me?? These pics take up the entire basement, and my scrap room.

 

okay, so I better stop, I didn't realize I took so many of this disasterous mess. shockingly I have more. Does this scream for a need of cropper hopper or someone to come and make me over or what??? anyways, I'm laughing now, because remember when I said I had the time limit to clean it up. and I figured I lost weight because I never moved so fast in all of my life. This is my surgeon general's warning: For your health & safety, do not decide to search your scraproom for those silly 10 papers before Christmas where approx. 60ish people come to your house. And when your husband says you have 2 hours to clean it up because he's invited a whole bunch of people over for drinks, do it or you might not hear the end of it. Luckily, I did get it back together, because I knew that if I didn't I would never hear the end of it.

So we are just heading out to Flips, and then to do a bunch of errands and running around for Jimmy, so I won't get a chance to post any more pics today, so I'll show you my family album later. Also I will announce the details of my Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine some time this weekend. I have 2 to giveaway! sweet.okay have a great weekend!

CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER spring issue 2008

I just want to take a minute to remember a really dear friend to a lot of us. Trina Genest. I can't believe it has been a year. I am looking forward to all of us crazy girls getting together tonight to celebrate our times with her. Kim sent me a fantastic pic but for the life of me it won't upload. so I'll repost it if I can get it to work! But there are lot's in the Star Phoenix today. When Trina died last year, it really hit me so I did up a mini album for my family that night. Nothing excessive just one to document my love for them and what I wanted them to know if something ever happened to me. I'll taker a few pics today and show some of it tomorrow.

Also so it's that time of year again. The release of CANADIAN SCRAPBOOKER MAGAZINE! It's on store shelves now! Woohoo. I'm pretty pumped about this! For so many many reasons! Also you will want to get  every issue this year because they are holding a trivia contest in every one this year. And I've been privy to some of the prizes, HELLO! you don't want to miss out!

So what are the reasons??? I LOVE CANADA and this magazine shows off the people, places and events!First off, congrats to my friend Melina Perron of Melina Perron Photography (melinaperron.com) , Saskatoon. This is her photo of her daughter Mia on the front cover. Way to go! Next, there are some great articles by a few cool ladies I know and have had the pleasure to teach with. Cari Locken and Cathie Allen. And I mean the rest of the staff Heather, Mylene, Kathy and Connie have also brought you once again a great issue. And guess what? I made my first debut as a writer with them!!! Yes jumping up and down! Thanks Jackie & Katharina, this ride is adventurous and fun and I'm delighted to work with this level of talent and uber kind people! But I have to give a shout out to a few others:

Janine Wahl & Kerry Zerff, great takes on the cover, loved them. I didn't know who to root for since I think you guys are both great friends! But it was nice to see your guys' styles and personalities playing out on your layouts.

Jill Hildebrand, some fun & funky layouts in the mag! Way to go. I miss you so much. April is way too far away!!!

Andrea Beaumont & Donna Houston, had so much fun with you girls on the cruise, it was nice to see the memories again with your layouts in this issue!

Melissa Buhler, girl, when you left me the comment you should have told me that YOU are in the mag too! Way to go, I thought your layout was really great!and such a very smart idea! Love the numbers!

And one last shout out to Trisha Ladouceur, they have a wonderful article in this issue that talks about Canada's Scrapbooking Crop For Kids. Some serious money was raised! great fun was had! awesome people attended, and for me I have to say that Trisha (Fire & Ice Designs)  and her group of amazing girls really pulled this one off. I had so much fun, and it's neat to be able to maintain these friendships!

OKay, so I have been loving this weather, we cleaned the garage out yesterday, made a trip to the dump, a trip to Sarcan, we can park 2 vehicles in it again! Can you believe it? so where did we both park last night??? on the driveway. go ahead laugh, I guess we liked the look of cleanliness. We have been meaning to do this for 4 months now but everything kept us from it. So that is wonderful. I have been making thank you cards like crazy because there is too many wonderful people in our lives that really came forward for our entire family this past week. I even forgot to send a huge thank you to Tina for the flowers! They are gorgeous! I even whipped up some cookies for the kids last night since I have totally not done anything to make them feel special this week! When they woke up this morning they both wanted them for breakfast! As if... okay I gave in to one cookie but only after they ate all the fruit & cereal. It's amazing that they had room.  And the best part of this warm week, I have barbequed all week! LOVE BBQing!!!! It makes you realize spring is close.

OKay, well I have lot's to do before I get together with some fabulous girls tonight, so talk later. Oh but I do think that a contest is in order. I mean with the ability to hold all of this amazing talent in one book I have to give away an issue . agree?  I'll tell you tomorrow what my little contest will contain!  au revoir! 

Layouts

Here's a few layouts I did the other night at splurge, one I'm not done yet, so I'll have to show later, when I do finish it. I have only a few months left I just realized to get the boys "caught up". Does that ever happen?? In fact I never actually like using that term as it makes something seem so far away. But I just was thinking that with 3 kids under 4 I might have a busier life and maybe not as many late nights to scrapbook. LOL!  Or maybe now I'll be up more at night.

I'm trying a new thing that Jill told me about. grab a stack off your desk and work with just that. I'm too preggo to carry a huge bag to splurge anymore so this idea seems to work, and surprisingly I get way more done as I'm not focusing on what would look best and then hunting for it. Instead if I need to add a few touches when I'm home that's okay. 

nice weekend...

Wasn't the weather super nice this weekend? It was so nice to be able to enjoy the outdoors. Friday, the boys had a sleepover at Gramma Forrest's house. They were excited and so were we. We went to Yuk yuk's with a whole bunch of people, then out to Bud's for some live music. It was fun!

Saturday, we got a lot of stuff done and then I went to Splurge and had fun scrapbooking. I did a few pages that just need final embellishment touches. Jim took the boys to a Blade's game while I was gone. Guess they loved that!

Then yesterday we went and watched friends race their bikes on ice. That was awesome!!!!! When they brought out the quads and tubes I was so wishing I wasn't 6 months pregnant! I miss the old days of tubing on ice behind the quad. Next year. But this guy below is actually on the Canadian Superbike circuit and has won for Canada lot's. He's totally sponsored by Kawasaki and you should've seen all the bikes he came out with just to practice on, and he is only 16!!!!! Another little guy who is only 11 was racing mini bikes against adults and winning major prizes too. There were so many out there, both pro and just for fun. The kids loved this, and it was neat watching our friends. Even the girls got out there on the practice track the guys made on the inside.

I can't believe how fast they can still go on ice,

but they have the coolest studs in their tires.

Okay, the boys are out of the shower now, so off to school we go. Hopefully I'll finish my pages from the weekend and I'll have some scrapbook stuff to show you!

Cheers...

CHA goodies!!!

    OKay, so I am totally vegged out tired today! Ysterday was a good day, sad of course but it was wonderful being able to celebrate my granpa's life. People had such fun stories to tell, and it was great to hear them. comforting, lot's of laughs, the way I think the end should be. As I told Riley last night driving in, now we try to be happy, we were sad that it happened but now we are going to remember the good times. After the burial we had a family gathering at my parent's, and it was GREAT! maybe an odd choice of words for the day it was, but 76 of us were there reminiscing, talking sharing in the food, playing games. It was fun. I miss these gatherings. Obviously I wish it would've been for a lighter reason but I think we should still embrace this time together. I didn't even get home till almost midnight and there were still people there. It was neat to see cousins grown up and becoming so mature! we all even watched the lunar eclipse last night. how exciting!  I didn't get a chance to take pics of the albums before the funeral, it kind of took me right up until the time to finish so I will have to do that next time they are in my possession. But I was glad they were updated and ready for people to observe.

So let's move on. I hate dwelling on death,it kind of wigs me out. I know I'll have good & bad days but hey who doesn't?

So who is totally excited to see the new product hitting the shelves from CHA? ME! ME!Me!Me! What has been some of your guys' favourite pics? I have so many pics to start scrapping but now I almost want to hold off till some of those fabby boy lines hit the shelves. Last night everyone predicted I was having a girl. I was laughing. I would love that, I think I need some pinks in my scrapbook portfolio, but Jim & I must think it is going to be another boy because we haven't discussed girl names once! So I am going to give a few pics, but I will show all the links to these companies I like. Then you can explore the stuff more. just click on their name. (I'd love to show you everything but it would be imossible, so the links will allow you to look further at each company)

So it won't even be a shocker that I'm starting out with LUXE DESIGNS. I am smitten with them. I feel honoured to be able to play with their super stuff! I have never found a rub on that actually works better than theirs yet. Absolute TRUTH! And I would know deeming myself the rub on queen. I am excited for their stamp release. here's a few of my fav's.

                  

I recently was asked if I really truly like their line. Yes I do. I don't tend to scrapbook or even talk about companies if I don't. Do I look at a patterned paper in whole? NEVER. I always think what picture it might work with, or the colour palette that I want to explore, but I know that when I'm choosing their line, I can be guaranteed that they have patterns to suit everyone. some flamboyant ones and subtle ones. I like to combine many pp, so this is always an easy compliment for me. And what really getsd me about this company the most is their jotters! Absolute journaling made easy & cheap! They are almost a staple for me as I always post pone my journaling. But I realize it is important. and these little jotters, give you a decorated space to work with.

I'll just show one example as their is way too many. this was from their latest line for Valentines. See what I mean!

I am totally psyched out for the new Elsie lines; just because they are so orginal and funky. I don't think they are the ultimate for use everyday but I think they work for kids pages without having the traditional blah primary look. Plus I'm loving the Forrest line as we do a lot of camping and can so see using some of that cute stuff.

I also like the Cody line as it has such cute sports stuff!

My next line to look forward to is from Prima! I've already talked about Fire & Ice's new line for Prima Build A Book. Great concept! and the girls are a blast to party & scrapbook with! But Prima has released the Dude line which I love, but so many more great stuff. Actually I find this release to be more complete all around. The full paper,stamps,albums & embellishments lines. Which is nice because sometimes we do have troubles trying to figure out what works and what doesn't.

I'm really excited about the transfers from Crate Paper. I LOVE brown rub ons!

Pretty excited for the Grafton line from Scenic Route. To tell you the truth I completely missed the Salem line. pretty bumbed about that. I'd love to get my hands on some right now (like the whole line and stuff to go with it) Chantel (T.M.) do you guys have any in stock right now??? Let me know, an order needs to be placed!!! I think I missed out on this line while preppping for the cruise, must catch up! But then again, everyone knows how much I LOVE Scenic Route, I almost overuse this product. So it will be nice to see it in person!

I like Queen & Co's new felt ribbon. These are my FAV!

Especially since the boys LOVE soccer.

Can't wait to see Basic Grey's new lines. Lately some of them haven't hit my areas of scrapbooking but, still workable. but the archaic line is so up my alley! (especially for boys!)

I LOVE these dinosaurs!!!! Can't you just see them with the boys???

Who else???Oh yes, I almost forgot. Fancy Pants!!! ( actually embarassingly enough, this cutie boy named Mike from Asquith used to call me this in highschool! Kate, you are probably laughing now as you know who I'm talking about. But I had these pants that apparently drew attention, and he called me this for like 3 years.!!!) This is my choices from them:

this last one is a transparency that I can't wait to work with!!!

I was asked if I was gung ho about the new "Little Yellow Bicycle" stuff called Zach's line being that I search out boys' stuff. I found I only liked one paper. The numbers. And I didn't mind one of the rub ons. It's just not for me. It's more mature than what I use for the boys. So if you are looking for an older man crowd check out this link.

So LOVIN COSMO CRICKET!!!! no surprise. This Cogsmo line is so ME!!! Bright, good shades of primary colours for the boys. screams spring, colourful, fun! Love the Get Happy line and the Blackboard stuff. Fabulous!!!

Okay, I guess I have actual work to do today so I must run, but I am looking forward to the new Colour Core Cardstock (actually knowing my desire to distress I should invest in this company already!!!), Hambly of course, I was living the Hambly life this past year and loving it. Thanks Chantel!!! she has such an awesome selection at Treasured Memories in Edmonton (she ships everything!!!) and has kept my addiction satisfied. I have so many more lines that peaked my interest so it's going to be exciting when these things hit the store!

Okay, so that was great looking at scrapbook stuff, had fun with it. see you guys later!

thank you! thank you!

I have huge **HUGS** for everyone. It has been amazing all the support we have received from everyone. Thanks! The emails, phone calls, cards, flowers & food has all been so appreciated. I have to give a super big shout out to a few people; Cheryl Thompson, gramma Elliott & Jody Cooper ( Jody Kowalenko as I always call her! LOL) They made so much food for all of our family it has been so unbelievable. Seriously Jody, my kids might be asking to be your kids soon. I don't know how you guys have done this, I spent the day baking desserts & making lasagnas & chilis just for the event and I was exhausted! For all our family & friends that will be attending and haven't seen the obituary yet or we haven't talked to, the funeral is at 1:30 tomorrow at Mayfair Church. I have been working like crazy to update the albums I made for them so I hope to show you guys a few pages of that later this week.  Hope everyone has been doing well. See you later.

Thank you for all the kind words, my grandpa passed away this morning and is now in a much better place. I was glad I saw him again for awhile yesterday, I was able to say all the words that I wanted to. We had explained to the boys what was happening and Riley wanted to say goodbye to grandpa too, so I decided that it wasn't fair to shelter him from maybe something I thought would frighten them, instead we had a long talk about how grandpa was looking because he was sick, and why it was important to say what you wanted to say. I took them with me and the three of us were able to have some quiet moments with grandpa. The boys gave him hugs & kisses and told him how much they loved him, surprisingly he squeezed my hand and I knew he heard them. I myself had needed that moment again, and I was able to tell him how much he meant to me. I feel very blessed to have had another moment. When we were leaving Riley asked if he would see grandpa again, I told him no, that he would be in heaven now. I think he understood because he cried for awhile, told me he was sad. But then he told me not to cry because he was in heaven, "it's a nice place mom". I think taking the boys was a good thing for them (Jager might not fully understand but Riley did).

It's ironic because I have so many pics of my grandpa, but when I know of one in particular could I find it to show? no. But I'll leave you with this layout I did of my grandparents 3 years ago.

(why I titled it Forbidden Love is because gramma's family was Seventh Day Adventist of which my grandfather was not, they forbid them to date and get married. however they did. Over the years her family eventually came to love grampa. They lived their life so full of love even till the end...)

my heart is hurting today...

well it's amazing how plans change in a blink of an eye. I had all these little romantic plans for yesterday and what we would do as a family, a special supper, everything. But it changed, in a New York Minute. I have to talk about it today because I need to say words I didn't get to yesterday. and I think sometimes when I write it on my blog it's like a diary, it's easier than saying it, and since I'm not doing too well today I need to talk.

I received a call that my grandpa was not doing well, and that all the family should come in. This beautiful man will be 96 this year and has lived a wonderful life. He did make it through the night but it won't be too long now as his health is fading fast, and he now isn't aware of us I'm told. For me it was no thought about what day it was, my heart, me, I needed to be by my family, his side. and my own family is so supportive. Vday for us will be when it is a better moment now. and the boys are okay with this. such sweeties.

I think I'm strong, or maybe I pretend to be, I don't know. I don't shed many tears, as I guess I'm too much of a rock or stubborn. but I hurt yesterday watching my grandpa, watching my gramma by his side just loving him so much as if nothing has ever changed. I have a million things I want to tell him, how he has been such a role model for me, how he has always made me feel so special, how the music he played was so beautiful, the way he romanced gramma everyday was so envious, how I liked that when he was 85,he and I did hand stands against the wall (his strength was amazing) how I enjoyed living with them for my University years, how I liked his opinions of losers I dated and then how he knew it was right when Jim came along, I loved watching his absolute adoration for our kids, how he was so excited to see his first great grandchild, how his words were always so kind to everyone, never a mean word said ever, how he'd tell stories always, oh how I long to hear one more story, I could go on forever, but I didn't say these things to him. I couldn't even get them out. I just wanted to focus on being strong for gramma so she wouldn't cry, I just wanted to pretend that the inevitable wasn't coming. I tried to just act like this was another bump that he would be coming out of. I am so selfish right now, I don't like this part of life, I don't deal well with it. I guess that I have such strong relationships with those close to me, especially my family that it's hard to be real sometimes. Every part of me knows that he has lived a great, amazing life! Like Jim said last night, your grandfather was amazing, he swam across a part of the Great Lakes with his brother only to be turned back by U.S. customs. how many people try a feat like that? he kept reminding me of things I need to remember to pass on to our kids so they know how wonderful this great man is. We explained what is happening to the kids and Riley is so sad, he wants to see him, but unfortunately it would not be in his best interest as he is a little too young to see what is happening. So he is also walking around sad today. I want to have weeks more with grampa, but again that is just being selfish, so instead I pray that he falls asleep peacefully. I don't know what this week holds but I want to spend every minute there. You know it's funny, Jan.9th he had to go into the home because gramma is too petite to care for him anymore, he still is a large man (never an ounce overweight but built like an ox even to this day) he has been doing consistently the same for years, but I truly believe that his heart broke without being by gramma's side all day & night long. This is my absolute Valentine's story, their love has been so true for almost 64-65 years getting through absolute tragic times, through the depression, through everything, raising 5 kids. I want this. A love so true till the end.

I will end with this as I can barely see anymore. I am weak.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I LOVE this day! A day to celebrate love for each other. I woke up to this...

I am so spoiled and I know it. LOVE you Jim!!!!! & my mini men!!!!

And the sweetest thing is I don't have to wait till Valentine's Day to have this. Jim would pick me up from University every time he came to town and I would get spoiled with flowers or chocolates, and so much more. and throughout our marriage I am still surprised. It's wonderful. I love just walking by and having that little smile. So today we are going to give the boys their love packages. I think they get enough treats so we only gave a huge lollipop and art supplies, and fun factory passes. so they should be delighted. Can't wait till Jim gets home tonight!

I forgot that I have so many pics from Heritage Days. I'll show a few..

(face painting,milking the cow, kids dancing on stage, learning to make flour)

A quick hi!

Okay, everyone has been sending emails about when Scraptology is starting up again. Well in MARCH!!! woohoo. It's no secret that all of us have kids, 2 of us being pregnant, and a super busy photographer, life throws us a few curve balls. We are really excited about this year though as we are tailoring our classes so that you even get more bang out of them. FUN! In fact Melina is hosting an uber cool event at the studio in March. This is open to our family of scrapbook friends and for those who would just like to get to know her photography more. All of us will be on hand, and the food is going to be scrumptious.

Some of the things that we are going to do at this event is show you past classes, and you will be able to see some future classes and sign up. The best part is it is FREE! Sweet!

Just to answer a few of the emails we have all been receiving about it. Yes Pam is going to keep teaching her Fast & Fun layouts, Melina is going to specialize in cards & theme pages, and more surprises. I was asked if I'm going to teach the classes I taught on the cruise and at a few of the other events I went to. The following is my laid out plan: a Cosmo Cricket mini album (this one will be limited to a specific number count, once full it is closed,sorry. It's just that it was so heavily sponsored and I can't get more product)  a few fabulous Luxe product classes (hello yummy goodness in these ones) and a few more specific company classes. They've given me great product to work with and I want to share it.(and because of that I'm keeping the prices LOW!) Also yes to my acrylic album classes. I'm teaching one in March, May, August & possibly one more. I'm really pumped with this class as it is so product heavy( Luxe, Hambly,Prima flowers,rub ons, chipboard,acrylic, jewels, and more) it's unbelievable and I've been hugely sponsored on it so I'm providing it for the lowest cost out there in the market right now! (but you will be required to do some homework with this one before you come. Also, I will do a calendar with a new theme for next Christmas.  I'm also going to teach a class throughout the year called Now & Then. People have been asking me for help with their heritage pages but also keeping current so it will be fun. There are a few new ideas being tossed out that will be fun. We aren't releasing the schedule until after MAr.9th as we are going to talk about what you guys are interested and cater some new classes.

So if you would be interested in this event, sample new foods, see Pam's new jewelery collection,check out new product from fabulous companies and sign up for any of our classes, please come that night.