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Mug

2012-02-08T15:02:00.001-08:00

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Joseph's 2010 Highlights

2011-10-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

Joseph's 13th Birthday...Paintball!

2011-10-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

FND: November 2010

2011-07-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

(Playing catch-up)

November 5: Chick, Eddie & Johnnie with steak and roasted sweet potato, carrots and Brussels sprouts.

November 11: Chick, Steve & Gretchen and Diana for gingered cod over soba noodles with beets on the patio

Saturday, November 20: Jennifer and Jeff visited, so we moved FND to Saturday and included Pauline. Eddie served apps of seared tuna and we dined on trout almondine on the patio.

Jennifer and Jeff took Joseph back to Arlington with them to enjoy Thanksgiving, so there was no FND November 26.

I scrapped my collapsible arm chair

2011-07-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

The arm chair before...

And after!

The dog tags attached to the frame say "beat, " "the", "heat"

Products used: black fabric, Wrights iridescent medium rick rack, American Crafts white thickers, Versamark embossing ink, Stampin' Up heat & stick powder, Glick ultra fine Primsa glitter, UTEE, Prima rhinestone swirls, black button unknown, Autumn Leaves black brad, Ranger stickles, flowers (I think) from Hobby Lobby, AdTech hot glue.

So now I can watch fireworks in style!

Edible 3D Model of a Plant Cell

2011-02-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, but hey, sue me.

This morning Joseph submitted his science project .... two days early! He was motivated by design.

The assignment was to create a 3-D model of a plant or animal cell with 13 parts identified. Extra credit is given if it's edible, and his is completely consumable! He went with a pound cake (denser and less likely to fall apart), lemon icing dyed green for the cytoplasm then darker green for the vacuole, and various candies for the other parts: green Skittles for the chloroplasts, green Mike & Ike's for the mitochondria, white pearl parils dyed green for ribosomes, red gummy worms for Golgi complex; green gummy worm for the smooth endoplasmic reticulum; sugar-coated sour gummy worms for the rough endoplasmic reticulum, a green Hostess Sno-Ball for the nucleus cut in half to show the nucleolus and nuclear membrane; and red fruit roll-up for the cell membrane and tye-dye fruit roll-up for the cell wall.

He typed up a legend showing the parts identified with candy and made toothpick flag markers for the other parts.

I think the best part is the display box I got at Wal-Mart. Got to find and hold on to those recycle items that can be repurposed for school projects!

Scrapbook products used: Glue Arts GlueGlider Pro

FND: October 2010

2010-11-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

I just had a great idea: instead of trying -- then failing -- to blog every Friday Night Dinner, I'm going to do a monthly recap. I'll post the menus and guests and the photos that are worthy. And if I don't get everything right -- heck, if I get nothing right -- I'm OK with it.

So, here's October's proof that FND happened three and one-half times:

October 1 - Chick, Pauline, Steve and Gretchen for grilled shrimp apps with lupino beans, and outside for cod over lima beans, potatoes and asparagus. Gretchen provided Little Miss Cupcakes for dessert.

October 8 - Chick, Pauline, Sharon for grilled shrimp and humus nachos then outside for Eddie's famous pallella

October 15 - low key with Chick and Pauline for pork tenderloin over raviolli in a cream sauce.

October 23 we hosted the Oenophiles Fall Wine Dinner at Sunflower Cafe, so FND for 10/22 was cancelled per tradition. The food was difficult to photograph, but here's a shot of the scallop with baby watercress.

October 29 we had Chick, Diana an Jim over for pre- and post-Halloween party parties. Not an official FND, but Eddie made guacamole, spinach and mushroom quesadillas and beef tacos. Uh, no post-worthy photos.

That was quick and painless! I think I might be able to do this. So look for some posts of previous months for awhile to catch up.

The Eagle Eye: TV Coverage of Scott Re-opening

2010-10-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Eagle Eye: TV Coverage of Scott Re-opening: "We made the news! See the Channel 39 coverage of the Re-Opening of the Scott Campus "

Windows in the News

2010-03-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

Here's an example of how small an island Galveston is:

Chick has been coming to Friday Night Dinner for years and, on many occasions, told Eddie if he ever wanted to sell his house to give Chick first dibs. Chick lived on the Strand before the big Galveston downtown restoration over 20 years ago. He bought the third floor of the Magale Building built in 1870, and he grew tired of climbing the stairs. So when Eddie and I bought our home, Eddie sold his 2-bedroom bungalow to Chick.

Little did we know, while we were making wedding plans and moving into the new house and Chick was moving into Eddie's house, Eddie's brother, Kevin, was buying Chick's loft. See? Small island.

Kevin has wonderful plans for the space, but lots of demo has to happen first. He's been cleaning out the place for awhile now, and recently decided to see what was up above. The ceilings are 13 feet, but he was thinking of raising the fourth floor attic for another six feet. That's when he came across the windows: more than a hundred windows many of which are at least a century old, crafted of old growth woods no longer found.

Now we're learning that this section of the Strand was known as the hardware district, and the Magale Building was home to a sash window and door warehouse. Instead of moving out the windows years ago, it must have been easier to hole them up and build in an attic.

Stashing the sashes then has resulted in finding a historical treasure now, making for a newsworthy story. In addition to being on the front page of the local paper, the Houston ABC affiliate also did a segment on the windows.

Part of a Conversation from Last Night

2010-03-04T06:30:00.001-08:00

Topic: Negotiation Skills

Veronica: Well sweetie. You know what the means. In that respect, I'm liberal.

Eddie: I have another word for it.

V: What? Weak?

E: No. Foolish.

V: Weak. Foolish. Liberal. What's the difference?

FND: 10.02.05

2010-02-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

* friends * Steve & Gretchen weren't the only ones to skip the President's Ball (although last year we had a great time!) Instead they joined us and Chick for FND. We shared ski and scout stories. Their son, Sean, is an Eagle scout, and Steve remains active with the Bay Area Council's fundraising campaigns.

* food * The menu was a little convoluted (wow, I spelled that right the first time!). Eddie discovered these cute dim sum-type appetizers that are wrapped up in phyllo and tied with a bow of leek. And since it was the last FND before Mardi Gras (Vendredi Gras?), Eddie made a luscious batch of beef stroganoff and we had another King's Cake for dessert.

* fun * Gretchen is so funny. She works on Saturdays, and she drinks beer, even brings her own. And as an avid runner, she does a good job of watching her consumption. So much so, we woke up to a fridge of beer, but it's O'Doul's! She needs to come get her "beer" before we pour it down the drain!

FND: 10.01.29

2010-02-05T14:51:00.001-08:00

Better late than never....

* friends * My yoga buddies, Vanessa and Patty, were our recent guests for Friday Night Dinner. Vanessa just celebrated her 40th birthday, and she invited me and Patty and several other friends to enjoy relaxing pedicures then a very fun belly dancing lesson at Yoga Haven. Patty, ironically, lives right next door to Chick. She moved in about a month after Eddie moved out of his other house and Chick moved in. Small world!

* food * Eddie went with an oriental theme tonight: tuna on a new soy cracker he found that looks like a mini rice cake but tastes much better; and gingered salmon with peanuts and cilantro.

* fun * Although there was no belly dancing, I think the girls had fun! Who wouldn't!

Here comes the Sun (Salutations)

2010-01-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

National Yoga Day was last Saturday, but that's OK because Yoga Haven in Galveston is celebrating it tomorrow. I hope to be there. Read more about it in The Galveston County Daily News.

FND: 10.01.15

2010-01-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

We hosted the first Friday Night Dinner of 2010 with old friends and in Mardi Gras style.

* friends * Last Friday night, after a pedicure and belly dancing birthday party with girl friends, Eddie met up with us at Club 21. Before I found my seat, I found a familiar face. Martin Benoit, Mr. Everything at Lamar University when I was there years ago, had just moved to Galveston. Friendly as always, it was easy to catch up with him quickly and share our stories of how we each made it to Galveston. That next Sunday, while at church, I turned around and there was Martin again! Our paths has crossed twice in two days. He was destined to be a FND guest! And for old times sake, we invited Wanda, who we missed at New Years.

* food * Appetizers were smoked salmon on toast points (below) served in the lounge. For dinner, Eddie made pork tenderloin in a marsala sauce with a mushroom risotto, green beans and stuffed tomatoes.

Dessert was a delicious marzipan-filled King's cake from Randall's (yes, Randall's!). And wouldn't you know it, Joseph got the piece with the baby!

Then surprise! Diana texted and wanted to come over, so she stopped by for awhile.

* fun * I think Martin really enjoyed himself :-) At one point he said that he was looking forward to a home-cooked meal, but he didn't expect the level that Eddie delivers. He was impressed. But the best memory was the look on Martin's face when Eddie presented him with a to-go container filled with another serving of pork and goodies! Martin actually was giddy!

2009: The Year of the iPhone

2010-01-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

I can't, in all consciousness, note 2009 without mention of the iPhone, more specifically, my iPhone, my constant companion. I can't think of a device that has changed my life as much as the iPhone. And I can't wait to see what the future technology will bring. That's the feeling a device like the iPhone can evoke. Once the light goes on illuminating the possibilities, you understand that this device can replace your computer and will be a significant tool in your daily life.

I'm almost lost without my iPhone. Just yesterday, Eddie and I went to lunch and I left my iPhone in the car to charge. In our conversation between ordering our food and getting it, we needed the iPhone no fewer than two times: to check the weather in Llano, TX for Joseph's camping trip this weekend, and to start a packing list for our upcoming ski trip.

Checking email, texting grocery lists, alarms to get to school on time, identifying a song on the radio, listening to my favorite radios shows and podcasts, finding a restaurant, tracking traffic, locating the nearest Hobby Lobby, checking flight status, looking up definitions, texting photos on the fly, reading Shakespeare, watching YouTube....it's all on my iPhone. And don't get me started on the social media stuff!

And I'm sure I've only touched the surface of what this device can do with the hundreds and thousands of apps launched and updated daily. The iPhone certainly has affected my life, and I like it!

2009: The Year of Yoga

2010-01-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Although I took my first yoga class in 2008, my practice was interrupted by Hurricane Ike. I started fresh in January of 2009, so now I've had a full year of yoga. And now I can share some of the ways I believe yoga can help you in everyday life, and to live every day:

Flexibility & Strength - Yoga has many aspects, but for me, initially, I started yoga as a gentle way to move into a physical fitness routine. The self-paced, non-competitive nature of yoga allows you to jump in at any level. And as you build your practice, you will experience a continuous improvement in your flexibilty and strength. But this applies more to every day life than any other exercise I've experienced. Better posture, improved movement, greater energy are all physical effects I have experienced because of yoga.

For all bodies - Last week, when I had to climb under rafters and over air ducts in my attic, I was thankful for my yoga. Think of all the occupations and situations that require physical flexibility, strength and balance. I understand men have shorter hamstrings, for example, and other differences that limit their physical flexibility. I wonder how many occupational injuries could be avoided if those with physically demanding jobs embraced yoga. And for those who have injuries already, yoga is the gentle way to build strength and flexibility and ultimately lessen the pain of injury. My primary instructor's philosophy is to live a long, pain-free life. Yoga helps to keep him on that path.

For all faiths - Yes, the chanting is different, and there is a bent toward "the light within." But yoga does recognize a Creator, and for someone with a well-formed conscience, yoga can enhance the spiritual experience. There even are programs, like Yoga Fit, that have no spiritual component and instead focus on fitness. But As a Catholic Christian, I use yoga to help me strengthen my faith by increasing my awareness of my connection to God and others in addition to improved fitness.

For all ages - I admit: My body has changed, especially since turning 40. But in some ways, I feel better than I did at any other age, thanks to yoga. I hope to grow old continuing my practice of yoga. (It sounds much more appealing than Sweatin' to the Oldies or Sit & Be Fit!) And I would recommend yoga to people of all ages. I encourage Joseph (11 years) to do a few stretches in the morning before school. Who doesn't like a good stretch? Yoga is a series of stretches that helps you keep that great feeling for much longer.

Awareness - This is the area I need to work on the most. Every time I do yoga, I get more out of it than the time before, because I have taken time to listen to my body, empty my mind, and focus on being aware. But many times while doing yoga, my mind does wander to thoughts, ideas, things to do, even topics to blog about. In our 21st century lives, this is typical. But yoga offers an age-old remedy to help you reach the timeless goal of awareness.

These are just a few broad reasons to try yoga. Everyone will have their own list of benefits, and these are just the ones that come to mind today. But if I were to sum up what yoga does, it would be this: Yoga lifts you up while grounding you at the same time.

Nameste.

2009: The Year of Chick

2010-01-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

Eddie's dear friend, "Chick", is the reason for Friday Night Dinners. FNDs started, oh, about 1989 on Sundays with Eddie making the dinner and Chick bringing the wine. Today the roles are the same, but now the dinners are celebrated at the end of the work week. Being the CPA that he is, Eddie calculated that some time within 2009 Chick attended his 1,000 Friday Night Dinner. Unable to pinpoint the exact day, we decided to celebrate the milestone the entire year! And for our New Year's Eve party, I identified ~130 FND photos from 2009 , including shots of Eddie's culinary conquests, to display on the big screen. Below is the show.

Happy Blue Moon New Year, Part II

2010-01-02T15:48:00.001-08:00

June

Summer was off to a busy start with a trip to Arlington to attend GASC and to bring Gregory for a week of Camp Invention. Grandpa and Pauline came to Galveston to bring him back, so that led to a FND with Bert & Holly. Joseph started the Junior Lifeguard program. Then the Hugger family met up again for Sr. Mary V's jubilee.

July

In July, Eddie and I celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary. I continued with improvements to the Houston house, slowly but surely. Joseph competed in Beach Fest as part of Junior Lifeguard and placed in two of his three events. But the big event of the month was Eddie's 30th high school Reunion with his friends from O'Connell.

August

Most of August was consumed with the ramp-up of Joseph's new school. Because it's a new program, a full week of orientation was held so all students were ready to hit the ground running on the first day of school. I was at the school every day to help any way I could and ended up serving the year as PTO president.

September

The Paws Gala was so much fun! Canceled last year because (duh) of Hurricane Ike, the main fundraiser for the Galveston Island Humane Society was held on the first anniversary of the storm. In true Island style, the anniversary was commemorated with a big party! Eddie and I made it to Austin for a fraternity mini reunion and to watch the UT/Tech game with Ted.

October

Eddie was guest cook at the re-dedication of the Shultz kitchen and wowed everyone with his paella. My sister, Jennifer, and her three kids came to visit and among other things enjoyed a day of fishing with the guidance of our friend, Arthur. We hosted the 30th Anniversary Oenophiles Wine Dinner, this year at 901 Post Office, where they served the pink champagne on ice. Then it was my turn to celebrate a high school reunion. And - finally - my house went on the market!

November

Well, November surely has the fewest photos. There are the obligatory FND photos (this one taken outside), which I've surprised myself with my consistency. I think there are few event photos because the house was in minor turmoil while a new floor was installed in the kitchen and sun room and Eddie got a new tv and sound system. We've been in the house for a year-and-a-half, and we're still moving things around! Speaking of: I soon get a contract to lease my Houston house! Now the real work begins: moving!

December

Joseph became a member of Boy Scout Troop 123 this fall, and every December the Troop goes to the Texas City Gun Range for a day of shooting. Joseph and Eddie had a great time of gun safety, good aim, and male bonding. Joseph hit his first round of skeet and impressed everyone by hitting the first pull! For the first time in my life, I spent Christmas away from my Hugger family. This year we stayed in Galveston and celebrated Christmas at home. Christmas Day was spent with Eddie's family now that parents are back in their home. And the year ended with a final move-out from my Houston house. Hooray!

Happy Blue Moon New Year!

2009-12-31T14:25:00.001-08:00

It's been a hectic few weeks, but I'm taking some time to reflect on 2009. Not much of a year, especially compared to 2008, which included a wedding, a move and a hurricane. But, here it goes: highlights by month:

January

I'm starting off with this photo, taken early in the year and printed and posted in two prominent places: in the key holder and on my monitor. It set the tone for a new year, new family, new life.

After creating the site for Joseph's school, I held a training for the teachers and started another site called Galveston Now Open. It was a photo gallery displaying photos of signs businesses were posting around the Island to announce they had reopened after Hurricane Ike. By the time I posted 100 photos, life was almost back to normal. I said almost. Trucks continued to transport loads of sand up and down the Seawall to replenish the beaches in time for turtle nesting season.

February

Early in the month, a lady flipped her Lincoln into our nextdoor neighbor's yard. I was the first responder. We hear she's OK. There was Mardi Gras, of course. One of our favorite eateries, Sonny's, reopened. But the most life-changing event of the month was that Eddie and I got iPhones!

March

Grandpa came to visit and helped me with some improvements to the Houston house, which I've slowly updated, purged, cleaned and painted most of 2009. Grandpa also got to partake in a Friday Night Dinner (FND) and play with Joseph. Eddie celebrated the reopening of El Jardin!

April

Joseph and his 5th grade class went to Camp Kappe, and I went to CKC (my first) in Houston. The Grand Kids Festival was another sign of the Strand returning to normal. And of course, April is birthday month, so we did it fun at Schlitterbaun.

May

Rudy & Paco's finally opens! We don't go right away, but I've always thought that the reopening of Rudy & Paco's signaled the return of "normal". May wrapped up the school year with lots of end-of-school activities like May Crowning and Field Day. Also, I helped the 5th grade make cards to sell at the GCS Art Walk. Oh, and we hosted the May wine tasting. Not everyone is back in their homes.

(ok, enough for now. I'll recap the rest of the year tomorrow!)

Holiday Hybrid

2009-12-15T05:50:00.000-08:00

This is for my fellow scrappers in Circle Journal #7 over at Paperclipping.com. We all are to do a layout of "Holiday Moments," however we interpret that. I overcomplicated this simple task by finally doing a LO that I've wanted to do for years and doing it hybrid. Well, my computer (and my skills) are not equipped to do digi, so after various programs and versions, I was able to come up with the image below. It's now at Color Inc., and when I get the prints, I'll scrap it up with a 3D surprise, mail them out, and post the final here. So CJ7, thanks for your patience, and thanks, Sandy, for coordinating.

25 years ago...

2009-10-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

...I graduated from high school. The reunion featured the classes of 1980-1985, so even my brother showed for the festivities. I was voted most changed (again) and Andy was voted least changed (again). Eddie took loads of photos. Here are 50 or so.

Happy Birthday, Lillian Grace!

2009-07-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

My best friend's "baby" is one year old today! Here's a recent layout to prove that I have been scrapping. Can you believe that all these photos were taken on my iPhone, indoors, without a flash?

July flew by without a single blog post. Bad blogger! If anyone is interested, I've been doing lots of little things: painting the old scrap room, organizing the new one; gardening, which really equates to watering the dying plants; learning what I can about SEO (search engine optimization), sepecially since the release of Bing and the whole scary Microsoft/Yahoo thang; pouting that I didn't get to go to CHA but pumped that Noell & Izzy are doing such a great job capturing the show; seeing positive effects of yoga and twice-weekly muscle power; oh, and becoming one with QuickBooks and customizing reports.

School starts soon, so Joseph is trying to enjoy what's left of summer. He's in the water at every chance and earned two first place ribbons at BeachFest. Apparently, he's quite the runner. Basketball Camp was this week, and next week he's at Camp Thurman. Then it's orientation week at his new school. Uh, there goes summer!

Boys on the Beach

2009-06-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

Back from GASC Arlington: Pics & Thoughts

2009-06-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

I thought this LO was too cute not to post right away. This is one of two one-page LOs from the Queen & Co. Flower Power class, designed Jennifer Parks. When my sister showed me the kids' spring portrait, Gregory's green shirt was a perfect match for the Coordinations "grass". The bling and felt embellies are Queen & Co., and I added some touches of color-matching Stickles.

Not my style, but it's just too cute to pass up!

Needless to say, I also stocked up on my Stickles, picked up the coveted

Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch and this cool tool and its Little Sis from Creek Bank Creations. 1/2" Sanding Stick with rotating Belt (big Bro).

I also brought home Rusty Pickle from helping Kim, Libby and Jill set up the booth on Wednesday.

Thursday I did make & takes (stay & plays, as I like to call them) at Piggy Tales, but spent most of Friday in the booth on my feet.

Observations:

Huge array of consumers, some who came to the stay & play, didn't have knowledge of basic techniques, like sanding. Many said it was their first time at a scrapbooking convention. Some were overwhelmed and enjoyed sitting to do a relatively simple project. See, there are plenty of beginners out there, we're just not reaching them.
It was quiet! Thanks to the Crop-A-Dile, eyelet setters - and the banging noise that accompanied them - are a thing of the past.
Convention classes are not teaching experiences; they are assembly sessions.
People said the Piggy Tales Academy (kit club) was appealing to them because they no longer had a LSS near them. The monthly opt-out program also has the benefit of alerting you to what is in the kit so you can collect and print your photos by the time your kit arrives!

I'm hoping to go to CHA and CKC San Marcos. Don' t know how, but that's all details! Until then, I've got some scrapping to do!

Photo Contest at PTA.org

2009-06-10T07:54:00.001-07:00

Picture PTA Contest | PTA

For a quick blog post, I thought I'd share a contest that combines a whole lot of what we love. Photography. Family. Kids. Community.

Go here and spread the word.

Art Walk Photos & Weekend Plans

2009-05-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a little slide show of last night's Art Walk. Wish I took more pictures, but since my new camera battery mysteriously disappeared, I've resorted to the old one that holds a charge for about ten minutes.

So, what's going on in Galveston this weekend? Tonight is the 13th Annual Yaga's Children's Fund Wild Game and BBQ Cookoff, and Eddie is doing his own wild game for Friday Night Dinner: Bacon-wrapped quail on the grill. We've invited Facebook buddy Sonia and hubby Mike. With those two, there's no telling where will end up!

I have two more homes to tour on the Galveston Historic Homes Tour and I want to fit in the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA since I've never been and it's included with the Homes Tour ticket.

Joseph is altar server at Noon Mass, and Eddie wants to fit in a trip to Schlitterbahn, so that should wrap up our Sunday.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Art Walk at GCS

2009-05-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a little slide show of last night's Art Walk. Wish I took more pictures, but since my new camera battery mysteriouly disappeared, I've resorted to the old one that holds a charge for about ten minutes.

So, what's going on in Galveston this weekend?

Tonight is the 13th Annual Yaga's Children's Fund Wild Game and BBQ Cookoff, and Eddie is doing his own wild game for Friday Night Dinner: Bacon-wrapped quail on the grill. We've invited Facebook buddy Sonia and hubby Mike. With those two, there's no telling where we'll end up!

Recent Projects

2009-05-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Art Walk at Joseph's school. His 5th grade class does not have art class because of their schedule. So in order for them to participate, I raided my stash and led a card-making session. His class made plenty of greeting cards to sell to raise money for needed supplies. Here are some cards I made in preparation:

Joseph's birthday party thank you cards and variations thereof...

Thank you card for Jeyn at Piggy Tales, using their lovely Bête (Beast) Glitter Paper...

Polka dots chipboard from Prima Say It With Crystals packaging...

Here's another way to use your scrapbooking supplies. I used Karen Foster Design paint circles paper and alphabet stickers for "Art Walk", then scanned it in to Picasa 3. Straighten, enhance, add text and voila! A hybrid logo for our event!

When Cheese & Scrapbooking Collide

2009-05-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

I'm guessing that when cheese and scrapbooking collide, this is what it looks like. Eddie & I hosted last night's Oenophiles monthly tasting. And there was the obligitory cheese course. And, of course, Eddie asked me to make the labels. I've done it several times before, but this time I added the cartoon bubbles. And with everything in life, there is an appropriate line from When Harry Met Sally:

Harry: ...the words are still hanging in the air, you know, like in a balloon attached to a mouth.
Jess: Like in the cartoon.
Harry: Right.

It's Birthday Week! Let's Go Font Shopping!

2009-04-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, my son turns eleven on Thursday.
(Insert Spinal Tap line here: "It goes up to eleven")
Sorry. Had to do that.

Anyway, a small party at Schlitterbahn is planned for Saturday. Here is the invitation:

Other than white cardstock and Color Box Creamy Brown Chalk Ink and my HP Photoprinter, all I needed were some cool fonts. And Score! I found one of my favorite rub-on alphas in a font: Go Boom is a dead ringer for Karen Foster Designs' calendar alphas, which are no longer available. The blocked font is Starguides. Some other free fonts I downloaded on my recent trip to dafont:

Cake

3Dumb & 2Dumb

BradburySans Light

Sometimes all it takes is a quick "shopping trip" to the font shop to curb the desire to spend money. Consider it a scrapbooker's alternative spending plan!

iPhone and a blonde joke

2009-03-02T16:40:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted, so I've been a bad blogger. My excuse is worthy, though. Eddie got me an iPhone. I've had it for a week. I can't live without it.

That doesn't mean I don't have tons to say about the recent goings on. So I'll be back soon to rant, I'm hoping, in a very different way.

In the mean time, here's a link to a great blonde joke. Sometimes it's good to laugh at yourself.

Timing is everything

2009-02-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

Last night was quite dramatic! Our yard backs up to Ave. U, which runs east and west. The setting sun can be brutal to drivers, especially this time of year. The sun may have contributed to the crash that happened last night. I think it reflected in the driver's rear view mirror, causing the 78-year-old female driver to loose control of her Chrysler. The car clipped a large oleander bush on my next-door neighbor's back fence line, flipped over, then hit an oak tree.

I was in the sunroom on the computer when I heard the crash. Joe and Eddie were just pulling up in the garage. The driver was going east on Ave. U, and Joe and Eddie were going west. She had just passed them when she lost control. If Joe and Eddie were 2-3 seconds earlier, she would have hit them head on.

Even though I could see the crash from the sun room, I didn't know what had happened. I ran out to the garage and onto the street, where I found the car up-side-down. I couldn't see too well into the car because of the smoke from the deployed air bags. Eddie called 9-1-1. I soon saw a leg from the driver's side. Someone opened the driver's side back door, and I crawled partially in to see a lady was inside. Thankfully she was able to move and tell me her name. I held her hand and continued to talk to her until EMS took over. Emergency crews arrived quickly; police blocked off traffic, fire trucks and an ambulance were at the scene. The woman was soon taken away in an ambulance.

Police questioned Joseph, since he saw the car drive into the oleander bush just as Eddie was pulling into our garage. Eddie and I gave our statements. Our neighbor was not at home; boy, is she going to be surprised.

The car crashed into the fence, which was mostly down already because of the storm. Both of us are getting our fences replaced, and I had just been on the phone with the fence company rep, who was as city hall pulling our permits.

Timing is everything. Again, we are all very lucky.

Galveston, Now Open

2009-02-04T06:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I contacted Laura Elder, business reporter for the Galveston Daily News, and told her about one of my web sites, Galveston, Now Open. Today she posted about it on her BuzzBlog, and she might mention it in tomorrow's Biz Buzz column. Hopefully people will see it and let me know about more signs around the Island to be photographed. Right now there are 36 photos in the album; I'd like to get it up to over 100!

My Scrapbooking Wish List...for now

2009-01-27T12:36:00.000-08:00

I've been clearing out my old scrap room and setting up my new craft closet (read: less space for the same amount of stash.) And despite now having less space and adopting the "Light" theme this year, there are a few things I really want. I rarely purchase these wish list items; I guess there's fun in posting them, tho.

Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch
Fiskateer Kelly Jo has a You Tube tutorial how to do the treading water corners.

I'm pretty sure I need a Bind It All

and some of the Bind-It-All supplies, like
Binder Wire and these Bracket Shape Covers by Theresa Collins

I think I could do some real cute damage with these Scalloped Circle Giga Punches from Marvy Uchida

Of course, all the new stamps from Ali Edwards and Technique Tuesday will be hot sellers:

OK. That's enough for now. Speaking of hot sellers, I'm sure to post some of my predictions from last week's CHA show. After a look through my blog reader, I'll post my thoughts.

Randomness...

2009-01-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

Eddie's friend, Joe Jaworski, announced his bid for mayor of Galveston, kicking off the next election cycle. Local politics is more a part of my life than when I lived in Houston. In Galveston, you actually know and socialize with the players. And the issues are more personal. Gambling. Buyouts. Education. Sometimes there are no degrees of separation.

Eddie sent me this link on Right Brain v Left Brain. Can you see the dancer? Is she spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise. Does she change direction? Now, watch the image with another person, and see if they see the same thing you do at the same time. Eddie and I didn't. It's an exercise in perceptions. Very cool.

Tomorrow is National Yoga Day. I'm going to Sangha to participate in a series of one hundred and eight sun salutations. All proceeds will be donated to the children's section of Rosenberg Library, which flooded (of course).

Twitter from CHA! and a giveaway!

2009-01-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

If you Twitter and you're going to CHA, or just twittering about CHA, be sure to place the hash tag #chaw09 in all of your tweets. That way, inquiring minds can subscribe to http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=%23chaw09 and get all the feeds with #chaw09 in them!

There are several ways to check out the tweets from #chaw09:

In your browser, go to http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=%23chaw09
To subscribe to the feed, go to http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=%23chaw09 and click on the feed icon, and add it to your reader.
I've also added the feed to my blog in the sidebar, so you can come to my blog to read all the tweets from CHA.

To test it out, go to Twitter and post with #chaw09 in your update, then go to the feed and watch it appear. The possibilities are endless!

Learn more about feeds here.

Any questions? I'll try to answer them if I can.

Oh, and don't forget to post a comment, whether or not you'll be twittering from #chaw09. At the end of CHA, I'll randomly choose a winner to receive a 20-sheet pack of Bazzill cardstock #sbpga.

Life's a beach!

2009-01-20T05:33:00.000-08:00

Seagulls wait for dump trucks to offload sand.

Joseph, in the yellow shirt, had a blast playing in the fresh sand. Over time, the tides will smooth out the 5-ft. edge. You can see how deep the "new" beach will be from the seawall.

Yesterday, Joseph and I went to the Seawall to check out the beach renourishment (or beach reconstruction) close up. Hurricane Ike blew away the beaches that are a vital tourism attraction in Galveston. Instead of fine, fluffy sand, the storm left mile after mile of broken seashells, which is no day at the beach.

Dump trucks are bringing in 400,000 cubic yards of sand from other parts of the island to widen the beach to about 70 feet and 5 feet deep. (I'm guessing each dump truck carries 8 cubic yards, so that's 50,000 loads!) Dump trucks have been hauling sand along the Seawall since December 17.

The renourished beaches, coupled with the mild weather we've been having, have brought out the courious. Yesterday, a holiday for most kids, the beaches looked as if it was early summer.

Although the wider beaches will make the island more attractive, the project is really designed to protect the base of the seawall from erosion. The project must be finished by March 31 so it doesn’t interfere with the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nesting season.

If you want to read more about the beach renourishment, here are some links to recent news reports. Note: My husband, Eddie, serves on the Park Board.

Park board agrees to match state beach funds
State pledges $3M for beach reconstruction
State looking for funds to finish beach projects

Official Scrapbooking Hash Tags

2009-01-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

With CHA right around the corner, and lots of tweets going and not going, I propose official scrapbooking hash tags. Game? Any more to add?

#scrap = anything SBR
#chaw09 - 2009 CHA Winter Show
#chas09 - 2009 CHA Summer Show
#sbpga - scrap book product give away
#sbc - scrap booking contest

My latest project: GCS Web Site

2009-01-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I held a training session for the teachers at my son's school on the school's new web site I developed. Check it out: Galveston Catholic School. This has been a great experience for me. I was taken back to the days when I developed and delivered end-user training at Shell. I've learned so much by immersing myself in the enterprise solutions offered by Google. I got to see the light bulb of learning go off in the eyes of my son's teachers. I was able to impart something useful and exciting to people who truly appreciated it... so much so that we're doing it again next week!

MDF Initials

2009-01-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

I scrapped these real quick for Christmas gifts for all the kids.

Scrapbooking meets "The Office"

2009-01-09T11:47:00.000-08:00

I loooove Cosmo Cricket. Not just the product, but also all the people of the company. Lindsay (used to be with SEI) and Julie and Eric (the famous Comstocks at WRMemory Keepers keep it real and keep it really funny. These videos are proof. And they're doing a great job using their blog and video performances to create interest around their new products. They have made the ideal scrapbooking company. I hope Larry knows how lucky he is. (Note: CHA is the huge trade show in Anaheim, CA every January. My quote about CHA: "When a scrapbooker dies and goes to heaven, it looks a lot like CHA.")

Joining the bandwagon

2009-01-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

Everyone else is doing it; I might as well.

Ali Edwards picks one word to focus on throughout the year. For me, my word for 2009 is LIGHT:

I've gained a few pounds since the wedding, so I need to LIGHTEN my load.
I want to rediscover photography, focusing on natural LIGHT.
Christ is the LIGHT of the World; I want to bring more of Him into my world.
I'm burdened by stuff from my move. I want to release the stuff and LIGHTEN my footprint.
I want to really look into the eyes of my loved ones and see the LIGHT in their eyes.

So maybe I should call this blog, Light Here, Light Now :-)

Galveston, Now Open

2009-01-08T11:21:00.000-08:00

I've decided to do a photo essay of some of the businesses now open on Galveston Island. Survivors of Hurricane Ike, they are welcome sights to see! Check it out! Galveston, Now Open!

I need to get back into blogging

2009-01-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

Hanging out on the web, I learn something new all the time. Right now I'm learning (realizing) that I miss blogging. So now I'm learning how to export and import blogger blogs. So for now I'm re-publishing some of my favorite and relevant posts right here.

Published Work

2008-03-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

For a scrapbooker, getting published is a mark of honor. I remember first time I submitted, on whim, and my submission was selected. "A Good Day Shopping" appeared in a Memory Makers idea book on 3D embellishments...when 3D embellishments were made, not manufactured! I must say, my layouts that are selected for publication tend to be the ones that I did when I was "in The Zone," the place where creativity flows without thinking, without effort. I strive to be in The Zone on every layout, every card, every project. Below are some of my published favorites.

"My Son Has Planned a Work of Art"
Memory Makers
Celebrating Holidays Scrapbook Style Idea Book

"HOG"
Memory Makers
Scrapbooking Your Adult Years Idea Book

"First Tooth"
Carson Dellosa
Memorabilia Matters Scrapbook Idea Book

"Grandma's Letters"
Carson Dellosa
Memorabilia Matters Scrapbook Idea Book

"Sink Bath"

Scrapbook Trends Magazine

Texas 2008: GASC vs. CKU

2007-10-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

This year, CKU-Houston is scheduled for the same weekend as GASC-Arlington. So why does this matter? Well, I'm in Houston. The big show every year is the GASC in Arlington, just outside of Ft. Worth. It's one of the largest shows and I've attended every year since I discovered scrapbooking. My parents and my sister live in Arlington, so the June event has been my busman's holiday for years. I can't pass up free room and board and babysitting!

GASC, which in now owned and run by F&W Publishing, is getting head-on competition from the other major player, CK Media. Texas will be torn in two. The Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook Expo , usually the second week of June in Houston, is switching venues and seasons. It will be in Conroe, north of Houston, in October for 2008. But Texas scrappers may find themselves torn between the two early summer events.

The difference is in the offering. GASC is a traditional trade show, with a vendor hall plus classes running all three days. CKU is education-focused, filled with celebrities and lots of sponsor product. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Scrapbooking's Image

2007-10-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

Marianne shared how she would like to see scrapbooking portrayed in the media:

Scrapbooking is so often ridiculed because of the following it has created. Realistically, scrapbooking has been around for many years, in fact centuries, in one form or another. [We take] pride in our works.

I agree. Scrapbooking shouldn't be portrayed as a separate lifestyle, but simply as an extension of our lives. We're already taking photos; we're already making memories. Scrapbooking is a way for us to showcase and share them. Focusing solely on the creative aspect alienates newcomers. Scrapbooking is a great gateway to crafts, but it's not where it starts. It starts with a memory. And scrapbooking helps us appreciate the moments that become memories.

Another day, another attorney

2007-08-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

Another $5,000 retainer quote. Imagine the scrapbooking supplies $5,000 would buy?! I don't want to think about it.

The thing with all this? There is no light at the end of the tunnel.

I mean, the non-custodial parent stops paying child support at some point. In many situations, boom, responsibility is over. Turn eighteen, get the diploma, whatever. There is an end in sight to the responsibility, the "duty."

But for those of us who do the day-to-day parenting (especially those who do 100% of the parenting), it's like laundry: there is no end. We will always care. We will always give. We will always worry. And we will always put our child's needs above our own.

Scrapbooking supplies are a need, you know.

Wish me luck, tomorrow and always.

Long Live the King!

2007-08-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Today...is the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley.

I remember when the King died (ahem, I will not disclose how old I was, but I was young enough to not know who he was). It's one of those vivid childhood memories in addition to being a milestone memory, like "where were you when Kennedy was shot?" or "where were you when the Challenger blew up?" and, of course, "where were you on 9/11?"

When Elvis died, my family was having a small reunion at my parents' house. My parents had over-stuffed, dark brown Naugahyde sofas and linoleum flooring in the den. I remember my aunts and uncles spinning yarns about Elvis, debating the earlier hits and the "fat years." It was one of the first times I remember wanting to hang out with the adults to hear their conversation instead of playing with my younger siblings or creating Lite-Brite designs. If memory serves me right, I was wearing my pink, square-framed Coke bottle eye glasses. Eww!

Where were you when Elvis left the building?

P.S. A local restaurant, Chuy's, has several shrines of Elvis, built on their customers' love of the King.

What Memorytrends said...

2007-07-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here's what Beth Hess, editor of Memorytrends Magazine, reported as trends and hot products from CHA summer (my notes in orange):

The Craft & Hobby Association Summer Show provided an array of new product collections for crafters of all kinds. New yarn textures and colors are likely to inspire papercrafters. So, too, are artist materials. One of the hottest new scrapbooking products of the show is the IOD Paintables collection from Prima. These 12"x12" sheets of cardstock feature outlines of swirls, flowers, and more and are designed to be colored in with paints, markers, color pencils, chalks, or any other color medium. Co-creator Josie Celio says, "I forget how much fun coloring is until I started with this line. It's a form of expression many of us haven't used in a long time." Judging by the crowds watching the demos and placing their orders, others agree scrapbookers are ready to incorporate more of their artistic self and products they already own, like ink pads and pens, in this way. (Watch for more about artistry in journaling and scrapbooks in the September issue of Memorytrends Magazine.)

Other Products that stood out:
Glue Arts GlueGlider Max - a large adhesive gun runner
Dove of the East - Japan Collection
Other Trends Spotted:
Birds, Trees flocks of owls, bird-shaped chipboard mini-albums from Piggy Tales & Maya Road, penguin Christmas paper from Imaginisce
Swirls, Paisley
Calendar projects Karen Foster, Flair, and others; getting ready for Christmas gifts
Unique shapes in mini albums, board books, spiral journals, etc.
Storage, storage, storage - this category just keeps growing (and becoming more fashion-forward and in-line with today's decorating trends) I'm guessing that this product line offers a high return for both manufacturers and retailers, hence the flood

Cards with Piggy Tales

2007-07-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

Loving the Piggy Tales double-sided cardstock! Makes it uber easy to make cards!

Hot products to warm up our winter

2007-07-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the products and trends I think will be hot coming out of CHA-S. What do you think?

More of the warm, rich colors from January's CHA plus brighter blues (mentioned here)
Texture and more texture - flocked, glitter, embroidered, stuff that screams "touch me!"
More felt, velvet and lace, especially in rolls and ribbons, but also in flowers. Look for it from Queen & Co., Prima, Maya Road and others
More interactive projects - see-through pages, flip books, hide & seek flap book and barn doors from Piggy Tales
Anything transparent, like acetate, film, acrylic - the digital layered look goes beyond paper
Home printers and multiple ways to use them - think hybrid and transparencies
Glue Arts' Glue Glider Pro, which won the Art Materials Magazine Most Innovative Product Award - this is a must-have for serious scrappers
Prima - with a special eye on the new Printables - something very different for scrapbooking (let's cross over to the art material aisle and grab some water brushes for our distress inks!)

Come back for more as I add to the list!

The Mother and Child Reunion

2007-07-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

This Simon & Garfunkel song has been going through my mind all weekend. Today my DS and I are reunited after his two weeks+ at summer camp. Of course he had a wonderful time, and I enjoyed my break, but we both are anxious to be together again...at least until I have to remind him of his chores :-)

I have a layout already designed in my mind. I think I'll get him to help me on it.

Hands-Down favorite

2007-06-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

I'm thumbing through the August/September Memory Makers. (ACK! September?!?) Word is out that this is a phenomenal issue and that the new Memory Makers is on track to be an all-around great scrapbooking magazine.

I did my initial scan-through and immediately felt compelled to share with you my pick of the issue. Hands down his layout, "Hands-On Mom" by Linda Harrison (pg. 76), is my favorite.

There are so many reasons why this layout works, plus it's a PERFECT example to show beginners the basic rules of design and how they can successfully scrap that pile of photos. Do you see what I see?

Rule of thirds (the photos on the right axis; the title on the top axis)
Visual triangle (pink accents)
Great use of older photos (those square black and white prints have the processing date in the white border)
Poignant journaling - short, meaningful, heartfelt
Effective title - sums it up and draws the viewer to read the journaling
Good use of patterned paper - just one sheet of a tone-on-tone graphic

And if you look closely, you can see the repetitive use of circles inspired by the patterned paper: the hyphen of the title, the brads in the visual triangle, the rhinestones in the flower, and don't forget, the round blow-up pool in the photos.

Great job, Linda, and thank you Memory Makers for showcasing this layout.

I'll get to read in detail the entire issue, but I still see something missing -- from Memory Makers and the other consumer publications - - that could really help the scrapbooking industry. Can you guess what it is?

P.S. On a personal note (without any bearing on my decision to highlight this layout), Linda's page also is a comfort to me -- a single mother doing all I can to be a hands-on mom.

Tell me something I didn't know

2007-06-25T22:40:00.000-07:00

Beth Mauro, editor of CNA Magazine, reported from GASC in Chantilly. Here are some quotes of note:

No matter what your crafting niche I highly urge you to attend consumer shows whenever possible. There is nothing better than seeing the industry through (these) customers' eyes. When crafting is your business there is a danger of getting jaded when it comes to products and projects. A short trip to a consumer show is like a shot of adrenalin.

My favorite part was seeing scrapbookers of every age, color, size and level of expertise. We saw three generations of scrapbookers visiting the show together and plenty of new moms looking to start a baby book. The crops were packed. Over a three day period, hundreds of scrapbookers dragged all their stuff in for the fun of scrapping with friends and soon-to-be-friends.

and

Digital Scrapbooking 101 classes were full as were sessions on getting photos off of your digital camera (I should take that one) and photo retouching. The fact that that attendees that come to this show are hardcore scrapbookers should prove that traditional scrapbooking and digital scrapbooking can co-exist under one roof. Will next year be the year of Hybrid Scrapbooking classes?

It boils down to this:

Always remember the customer
Scrapbooking is for everyone
Never underestimate the passion of a scrapbooker

Don't let them define us

2007-05-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

We need to take a stand against the antiquated mindset that scrapbooking is "dowdy" or "saccharine". There is a sexy side of scrapbooking, and we don't need (nor do we want) Martha Stewart to prove it for us.

Remember the Panty Journal?

How about Scrap City?

Consider some of the scraponistas out there and their cutting edginess.

Here's me looking down my nose at the Wall Street Journal article. Dowdy? Pfh.

We missed out when we failed to own our own definition of scrapbooking. And we're still explaining that it has nothing to do with doilies.

Mike Harnett warns us of stereotyping the category. And we need to heed the warnings across the board, especially regarding product development and usage. Not every scrapper wants the latest/greatest.

The only stereotype I want scrapbooking to have is that it's an activity for everyone. Scrapbooking is so personal and personalized that it can be whatever you want it to be. But the common denominator remains: memories.

So don't let some Wall Street know-it-all or high-brow hot shot define your passion or label your look. Besides, I'm quite sure the writers of both articles saved clippings of their printed stories, even before their first by-line.

So, what are your thoughts? Got any proof to the contrary? What image should scrapbooking have? Let's create it!

Let's get real

2007-05-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

I'm pointing out the "reality" trend that has emerged in scrapbooking (perhaps a response to all those reality shows?). The trend has been looming, I mean, how many single photos layouts wallpapered with flowers can inspire Suzy Scrapbooker who only wants to organize and preserve her 3x5 snapshots of her teenager's ninth birthday?

To draw your attention to the recent surge, take these examples:

Tara Governo's Imperfect Lives (F&W) tells the kind of wonderfully human, less-than-glorious stories that often go untold. Its pages are full of honest, edgy, quirky, humorous layouts about real life
Tasra Dawson's Real Women Scrap and t.v. for busy women
Memorytrends April 2007 cover story "What Women Want...and how scrapbooking gives it to them"
The handful of blogs attacking and smacking celebs and wanna bes (and no, I won't provide the links...stay here and finish reading)

Here are some other observations. The number of inquiries for information for LSS business plans has decreased significantly. More hobbyists are waking up to the reality that operating an LSS is 99% retail and 1% scrapbooking. Real life (i.e., kids, the mortgage, aging parents, insert "any daily stress" here) or lack of business skills, foresight or critical thinking has pushed retailers to close their doors, and the predictions are realistic. Industry politicos worn of the impending doom; the number of LSSs in the US will be down to 800 by the end of the year; this vendor is not exhibiting at CHA-S, and that vendor is not going to Memorytrends.

All this is reactionary and old news in this cyber-fast world. What we really need is to be pro-active.

It’s raining men

2007-05-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Creating Keepsakes has announced its new editor. Replacing Tracy White is Brian Tippetts. Yep. A guy. He joins a handful of men making their way into the female-dominated world of scrapbooking. The guys have always been here; but now they’re getting face time.

CK started with Don Lampson. David Venable works side-by-side with Lisa Bearnson at QVC. And the first male Hall of Famer, Mitchell Kraft, was named in 2007.

F+W is doing it, too. David Pyle is now Group Publisher, formally held by industry matriarch Jeanne Wines-Reed. Steve Smith’s column, "Manly Memories," appears regularly in Memory Makers Magazine.

This sprinkle of men is just the beginning of the summer storm. There will be a gully-washing this year in the industry, brought on and carried out by the “guys who get it.” Are you ready to ride the winds of change?

My precious Winnifred

2007-05-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

Today, my beloved Winnifred died. She was my shadow. I miss her. I mourn her. I have spent the day crying. As much as I loved her, she loved me more. She taught me what it meant to love.

When I told my nine-year-old son that Winnifred died, he responded in a way that touched my heart. He's been keeping a notebook in which he's outlined letters to spell out his classmates names. He quietly brought me the notebook and showed me the names he has done so far, one per page. Then he turned to the next blank page, slid the notebook to me, and said doing Winnifred's name would help me. So I drew her name and together Joseph and I colored in the letters. Purple was Winnifred's color.

I added a few recent photos, and this make-shift memorial was created:

I've been working on a layout of Winnifred for some time now. I've scheduled some time on Friday to finish it and will post it as soon as it's done.

Pets is a hot theme in scrapbooking, now more than ever. And because of Winnifred, I know why.

The Gift of Scrapbooking

2007-03-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

It's finally Friday, and I'm relieved to wrap up a really crappy week.

My boyfriend's dog and faithful companion of over 15 years passed away on Wednesday after several days of seizures and constant care. Kiltie meant the world to Eddie, and I am humbled to be the one to comfort him in his deep loss. I plan to print off the many pictures I have of Kiltie and make a simple album so he can remember her and record his feelings for her. As a scrapbooker, I take lots of photos.

This week my child support case was elevated to a custody case and now involves lawyers. So far I have fought this battle alone. I have journaled my thoughts and fears as a way to express my frustrations. Journaling encourages me to search for the meaning of what’s happening in my life and to record my feelings at the time. As a scrapbooker, I journal.

I teach that scrapbooking is the creative preservation of memories using mainly photos, journaling and memorabilia. I truly feel that scrapbooking will help get me through the struggles of this week, just as it helps preserve the joys and celebrations of my life.

You know what I think? I think scrapbooking makes me a better person. Not a better person in comparison to other people, but better than I would be if I didn't scrapbook. It is times like these that I am so thankful for the gift of scrapbooking.

The week of "the call"; RIP Irv Rubens

2007-03-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Today is the day scrapbookers around the world (at least in the United States, Canada (excluding Quebec), England and Wales) who entered the Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame contest anxiously await a call from founding editor Lisa Bearnson. She makes "the call" to all 25 winners. If you get "the call," it most likely will change your life forever.

Scrapbookers that make the Hall of Fame go on to contribute to the magazine on a consistent basis, design the hot products we will lust for a year from now, and get book deals that feature their special style or approach. Some accept the HOF as a pinnacle and go on to reach other life goals, scrapbooking-related or not.

There will be the drama...of waiting for the call, watching the boards, counting the number of secret toots, hearing the disappointments, then the jealousies. It's the same every year.

And every year I am blown away by the winners - and the honorable mentions - and their ability to inspire and touch scrapbookers of all levels. Their pages are very powerful. And everyone who enters a competition such as the Hall of Fame pours forth their best and newest work. Just entering the contest and meeting the required assignments can be self-satisfying.

Congratulations to everyone who entered, and especially to those who get "the call."

P.S. I just received notification that the founder of Pioneer Photo Albums, Jason ("Irv") Ruebens, passed away at the age of 99. Born in New York, he started Ruko Camera Cases in the early 1940's and then moved on to California in 1960, eventually creating the nucleus of what is today Pioneer Photo Albums. Pioneer Photo Albums continues on strongly with his work ethic, and is still run as a privately-owned company by the family members who will greatly miss his presence.

ScrapbookING, yes!

2007-03-01T20:18:00.000-08:00

Here's an article that warns us that we --as a market/industry-- have gone overboard and scrapbooking is now alienating consumers. Perception has crossed from overwhelming to down-right frightening. From the author:

Scrapbooking is everywhere...There is even a television show about it, which I watched one time simply out of sheer disbelief.

Upon leaving the store, I had the urge to down a whiskey to counterbalance the act of purchasing scrapbooking supplies on a Friday night. But since I don't drink whiskey, I settled for a raspberry martini, which took the edge right off my uncomfortable foray into the world of scrapbooking.

It seems my old method of sitting down biannually with five photo albums and a shoe box full of pictures no longer cuts it.

...scrapbooking highlights my inadequacies in the craft department, takes too long, and makes my fingers and my neck ache.

It makes me sad, because there is only one rule in scrapbooking: If you're having fun, then you're doing it right. The author of the article was not having fun. And I don't know who looses more: that we loose a customer, or that she looses confidence in her capacity to creatively preserve her memories.

Scrapbooking is not about getting excited over the latest and greatest products. It's about finding and embracing a way to integrate memory preservation into our lifestyle so we become more passionate about our life.

Expanding the Passion @ Sea

2007-02-26T11:07:00.000-08:00

I caught this article from the Detroit Free Press...

Some people's greatest legacy is the memories they bequeath their children and grandchildren.
That's one reason for scrapbooking, a hobby so popular that a Google search reveals more than 850,000 Web pages devoted to the pastime.
Identifying a niche, Princess Cruises recently launched a maritime first, Scrapbooking@Sea. The scrapbook curriculum offers a regular series of onboard classes and a specially created kit with themed pages. Currently available on select ships, scrapbooking had proved so popular in field tests, says Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales, that the line now expects to roll out the program across its fleet of 15 vessels by early this year.
"In a cruise-ship setting, where passengers are on vacation and have spare time to try new things," says Princess spokeswoman Karen Tetherow, "scrapbooking is the perfect opportunity to pick up a new hobby."
Princess' Scrapbooking@Sea kit contains decorative papers, stickers and rub-on emblems along with instructions on how to build five vacation-themed pages. The pages can be used to create decorative backdrops for photos from typical cruise activities such as welcome aboard events, days at sea, shore excursions or formal evenings.

Fiction story tells the truth about scrapbooking

2007-02-16T20:55:00.000-08:00

Author Rebeca Seitz provided an interview on GoDeKalb.com about her new scrapbooking fiction book due out in early March. Prints Charming (WestBow Press) is about four women with very different life paths bound together by their love of scrapbooking. The book will be available at book stores everywhere and on Amazon.com. Rebecca is doing an extensive tour to scrapbooking shows and local scrapbooking stores to promote the book.

I had the privilege to pre-read the book and provide a quote for the cover. Prints Charming demonstrates the "power scrapbooking has to develop and strengthen relationships," and that story -- even in fiction form -- needs to be told. Prints Charming's distribution will be wide-spread, and many readers, who have never been exposed to scrapbooking, will have a positive and non-threatening introduction to our passion: fiction lovers, Christian book readers, crafters, etc.

So you can see

2007-02-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of companies and products I reviewed on the Diva Craft Lounge from CHA:

Theme: Quality through rich, luxurious textures

Papers:
Paper Elements
Daisy Bucket
Luxe Designs

Embellishments:
Felt: Tinkering Ink, Queen & Co.
Velvet: De Ja Views, SEI, Imaginisce
Chipboard: My Mind's Eye embossed chipboard; Magistical Memories food quality chipboard
Film in the PageSage press kit

Journalling:
Karen Russell Journaler's Notebook (MT release)
Graph papers: Scenic Route, Dream Street

Color:
Black & White
Aqua
Plums

Tools:
7 Gypsies punch
Bind It All
The Slice
Karen Foster's Scraparatus
*Purple Cow's Freestyle

Organization:
Clip It Up
Arccivo
*KFD's Scrap Apron
*ScrapEze vertical paper holder (MT release)

Give the Gift of Scrapbooking:
Love Books
My Book
Speaking Up
*Photopoly
*SEI's Minute Memories (MT release)

The asterisk indicates the companies/products that deserve mention but I didn't talk about because of time or because Diva Danielle and Jan covered them.

Of course, there are many other wonderful finds at CHA, and I would love to hear about your favorites!

CHA: I felt the felt!

2007-02-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

I'm recovering from CHA, so here's a quick summary. For a more detailed report, listen to my segment on the Diva Craft Lounge.

The theme of this year's show was Quality -- my guess, a tactile reaction to the fast-growing digital market. Look for lots of luxurious textures in paper and embellishments like 80 pound text double sided patterned papers, embossed chipboard, and textiles like velvet, felt and corduroy. Reoccurring color themes were in black & white, teal with everything, and rich plums, burgundies and ivories.

Think outside the box

2007-01-24T13:27:00.000-08:00

EK Success announced its launch strategy for the new Martha Stewart Crafts™ line of paper crafting, scrapbooking, and storage products, begining with limited retail distribution in May to all Michaels stores, followed by distribution to EK Elite independent craft and scrapbooking stores later this year.

Today...I highlighted this tidbit of advice offered to independents by Rob Krieger, president of Checker Distributors, in the January 2007 issue of Craftrends, page 34:

The strengths independent shops can use to their advantage...are their unique product selection, classes, and individual attention (emphasis
mine).

and he advises retailers to...

"Find suppliers who are directing their total sales and marketing efforts to make independents successful. Why depend on a supplier who is doing all they can to help chains be successful at your expense?"

Krieger goes on to encourage independents to "think outside the box" and lists suggestions like using the Internet to attract younger customers, choosing the right supplier ("Make every attempt to buy products and brand names that are not in the chains."), keeping up with trends, and offering unique classes.

I can't help but think that EK Success released word of the launch schedule as a way to avoid a communications fiasco a la Provo Craft and the Cricut. They're making sure everyone knows that the box stores will have Martha's product before they attempt to ship it to their "elite" customers. Thanks for the warning, EK, especially before you have thousands of independent reltailers decend upon you at CHA.

Independents need to think outside the box or the only place to shop for scrapbooking supplies will be inside the box stores.

Wanna see what I'm wearing to the Momus Ball?

2007-01-15T21:32:00.000-08:00

:-)

Ho-Ho-Ho!

2007-01-05T21:33:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from some of our holiday festivities...

Out on the town in a dress that's been in the closet for some time. Something E picked up for me at Syms, I think.

For the Junior League Holiday Ball, I wore the BCBG silk black halter dress that I wore to Momus.

Eddie's parents hosted a party with yummy pork tenderloin. The eight-foot flocked tree in the background was decorated with all gold.

Here I am Christmas Eve wearing one of my gifts from Eddie...a beautiful white sweater from Cache...we refer to as the Bjork top.

Memory Trends Highlight #3

2006-10-22T12:42:00.001-07:00

You've seen her creations all over the internet-- web sites and logos for scrapbooking enterprises in all segments of the industry. This is Michelle Williams (right) of Treasured Pages, and Cory (left), her new right hand! Spend just a few minutes browsing scrapbooking web sites and you'll see Michelle's work. I finally got to meet Michelle and Cory in person -- definitely a highlight!

Memory Trends Highlight #2

2006-10-21T12:16:00.001-07:00

There are so many nice people in the scrapbooking industry, and at the top of the list is Leah Fung. She is genuine, and sweet, and one of my favorite people in scrapbooking. We saw each other at the BHG Scrapbooks, etc. booth.

Memory Trends Highlight #1

2006-10-20T09:46:00.001-07:00

Here I am with Tracy White, editor of Creating Keepsakes. Tracy really is a phenomenal woman and the perfect person to lead the leading scrapbooking publication. We ran into each other in the speakers' lounge, where she was waiting to start a meeting with Lisa Bearnson and others from CK. She showed me how she uses her Memory Dock system, and we talked a bit about how to better intersect scrapbooking and lifestyles. Tracy is big on journaling (well, she is an editor!) and is an "in the moment" type of person. I'm honored to know her and share our passion of scrapbooking.

Memory Trends Highlights

2006-10-16T09:51:00.001-07:00

I'm back from Las Vegas where I attended the 7th annual Memory Trends Conference & Expo. Since it was the fourth trade show I attended this year, I'll only point out the highlights that made this show stand out from the others. Later I'll post photo highlights!

Speakers Badge - This was the first time I attended as a Speaker and got to don the coveted blue badge! Over 58 people signed up for my seminar, "Creating the Scrapbooker for Life," and hopefully the class offered a different yet positive perspective to the retailers who attended. I captured everyone's email address and hope to continue to communicate with them on a regular basis.

Diva Craft Lounge Live! - I was on assignment for the Diva Craft Lounge! It was fun -- and challenging -- reviewing as many exhibitors as possible looking for the latest and greatest products. Wednesday's DCL show was LIVE! with the recently-name Scrapbooker of the Year, C.D. Muckosky, Jan Mollet Evans, Thena Smith, and many more. It was a whirlwind show! And I got to meet Tom, Diva Danielle's husband, who helps considerably with DCL and other behind the Diva scenes.

My wonderful hosts! - I can't tell you how wonderful it is to travel to a strange city (and Vegas is different!) and be welcomed by friendly faces. In this case it was Fiona and her husband Ed, delightful daughter Dakota, and their new puppy, Bailey! Thank you, Nottoli Family, for your hospitality! Fiona and I did a fairly good job of keeping on track with the task at hand. We only went to In and Out Burger once, visited only one scrapbooking store, and made it to sleep before one a.m. most nights! It's always a highlight to stay and spend time with fellow scrapbookers!

More later...

Brown is the new Black

2006-10-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here is the trade-in I did at The Nest...LOVE IT! A lacey tank with hook-and-eye closures up the front. Goes well with jeans and my brown leather pants.

I never knew I was a "brown" until Eddie. My wardrobe has done a complete flip -- well, a double flip -- since we'd added both black and brown items. But I am liking the brown. Oh, and the photo...taken in the car on the way to the September Art Walk.

SBA helped to expand the passion

2006-10-04T21:48:00.001-07:00

Scrapbook Answers announced that November 2006 would be the last issue for the scrapbooking consumer magazine, which hit the scene October 2005.

Scrapbook Answers took the scrapbooking community by storm with it's fresh, fun and realistic approach to scrapbooking. Each issue included a CD jam-packed with additional features, how-to videos, fonts, and ideas. The product review section was appriciated by discriminating scrapbookers, plus the magazine was widely available in stores. It had a main-stream feel with content to inspire all scrapbooking levels.

I had the pleasure a meeting the editorial staff and working with the associate publisher. These are dedicated, hard-working, driven, approachable, passionate women. I wish them well with their new challenges and hope to work with them again very soon.

Last weekend of July

2006-08-03T02:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot of us on our way to a Momus party (return of the green cami). Early evening in the car produces pretty good light, eh?
And believe it or not, this was the only decent shot from the party...of Shane and me. Apparently he has this thing about showing his pearlies.

So after the party Eddie and I had sushi while everyone else went to the Original for Mexican. We ran in to Bill & Sherri and Jim at the Sky Bar. When we left to meet up wtih the others, Eddie couldn't get the car to open. The key fob wasn't working, and worse, the key didn't work either! We struggled for a minute or two, wondering if we should take a cab home. Was the electrical system shut down? But why won't the key work? Then he realized he had Sherri's keys, not his own! They both have Crossfires. Eddie had his keys in his pocket, but when we left the restaurant, he grabbed Sherri's that were on bar in front of him. If anything, it made for a chuckle later the next day.

Recent acquisition

2006-07-17T23:48:00.000-07:00

Intima is under new ownership, so there was lots new to look at when we stopped in a couple of weeks ago. I'm so proud of this green beaded top...I spotted first and kept going back to its display. I tried on several other tops (augh! I tried on every top at The Nest the other day), but this one was perfect! I'm so tickled that it caught my eye this time!
I've worn it a couple of times, including a recent Friday night dinner with Joe & Becca.

Deja vu all over again

2006-07-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

Today I received my pre-CHA copy of Scrapbook Premier. Like all the trade magazines I receive, I devour it cover to cover. This issue had no less than four articles -- all on different topics -- discussing what the industry needs:

hand holding
broader definition of scrapbooking
personal portable printers as a retail solution
importance of written instructions
competition vs. cooperation

I've been touting all of this for well over a year. In fact, I'm starting to identify what scrapbooking will be dealing with next year (should I tell...or maybe I already have?)

My boyfriend says one of my greatest assets is my ability to not say anything (drives him crazy!).

So, I'll do what my coach taught me. I'll bite my tongue, praise the concepts as fabulous, original ideas, and offer to help champion the cause. Besides, no idea is really original, and I'm thrilled that more people are doing the work and bringing the issues to the forefront. That's what we really need, right?

Happy 4th of July!

2006-07-01T09:26:00.001-07:00

Today...I'm sharing photos from last year's fireworks display. Enjoy!

Better than I thought :-)

2006-06-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Why is it photos can look so different than what you think is real life? I didn't think this dress was as wow as I think it is in these photos. I look comfortable yet sophisticated. The occasion? Just a switch in the Friday night dinner routine: Steve & Gretchen invited us, Chick and Smitty to the A Club.

The Pamper Zone on the Road

2006-06-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought we didn't take very many photos on last week's California trip, but I came home with way over 100. Here are some faves:
The first full day we toured the Russian River Valley and Martinelli was the first winery we visited (so consider this a "before" shot).

One of the many rich and famous people that blow their fortunes on making wine is/was Raymond Burr, who's guilty of offering a few good varieties.
Our last night in Santa Rosa-Sonoma we had dinner at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen. There's no corkage fee if you bring an area wine, so we carried in a Zin from Porter Creek, a favorite for both of us. I wore leather and lace; uh, E wore his, uh, new, uh, cottage rose shirt. We're still deliberating on that one.
For Italian in San Francisco, we went to a very tiny restaurant with yummy lobster ravioli. I wore my brown crinkle shirt and jeans. This would be considered an "after" shot.

HSN is a go!

2006-05-26T23:31:00.001-07:00

I got a confirmation that my presentation on the Home Shopping Network is a go. In August I'll head to St. Petersburg for the first of several appearances. That pretty much brings full circle my education!

I entered college seeking a broadcast journalism degree. I spent many hours behind a desk reading off a teleprompter, but I much preferred a behind-the-scenes role. My subsequent jobs required some face time, and none really on camera. Presentation skills are important to have in many types of jobs, but few lead to broadcasting. I'm so excited to have this opportunity.

The Wearing of the Pink

2006-05-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Photos Forever pampered scrappers on National Scrapbooking Day with pink slippers. Here's a group shot. My toes are the ones in the middle attached to the white pants.

These go with the pink, low-profile Scrapbooking Goddess baseball cap from last year that I embellished (of course) with ribbons and pins from all over. I'm building up quite a cropping wardrobe!

anniversary/birthday weekend

2006-04-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Eddie's office was closed Friday for Kappa Weekend, so he came to Houston for a long weekend. We had lunch at Fu's then picked up Joe for an afternoon of shopping for jeans. A run to Central Market yielded (surprise!) more food than necessary, so we knocked on Fred & Betty's door to share our picnic dinner of pesto salad, cheeses, and panchetta on their patio.

Saturday Eddie treated me to new brakes and an oil change for our one-and-a-half year anniversary. While my car was in the shop, we drove to the San Jacinto Day Festival, but we didn't stay for the entire battle reenactment. That night we enjoyed a late dinner at Benjy's (I got my dose of creme brulee!) where I wore my new Cache black lace top (see below). Sunday, Joseph's birthday, was low key for him as Eddie and I had tickets to the Spring Wine Tasting at Rainbow Lodge. Food and wine was wonderful as usual, but the heat kept the crowd away. I wore my bright Krizia top (see above) and Ann Klien white pants (one of Eddie's favories).

a weekend of ups and downs

2006-04-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

A weekend that was supposed to be filled with parties and fun instead was spent on the floor of the Galveston Veterinary Clinic.

I wore the Versace to Tandem Friday night. Here I am dabbing lemon juice behind my ears. Seems the bar didn't have any fruit mixers, so I made my own lemonade.

My dear sweet Winnifred was very sick this weekend. She was acting funny Friday evening, and by Saturday morning I decided to take her to the vet. An x-ray determined she had an enlarged heart, so we were sent home with medications. Instead of taking Joseph to the Grand Kids Festival, we watched Winnifred, but she only got worse. She paced and hacked all night. Sunday morning we showed up at the vet when they opened, and they immediately put her on oxygen and hooked up a catheter. Still, she wasn't improving, and as she passed out on my lap, the doctor ask if it was possible that she got into rat bait. Well, anything is possible. She tested positive for the poison, so now we were able to treat her properly. That involved shots of vitamin K and a plasma transfusion. By five o'clock, her vitals were stable and plans were made to transport her to the overnight emergency pet care center in League City where her oxygen and fluids would be monitored. So yes, I missed the Oenophiles spring dinner.

I don't think I've ever spent the night in my house without Winnifred there since I rescued her nine-and-a-half years ago. That Sunday night was lonely and very difficult, as my shadow was not at my side.

Monday morning I picked her up at 6:00 and transported her to my vet in Houston, who kept her all day for observation. Thankfully she did not have to go to another overnight care facility Monday night; instead Winnifred spent a restful night at home. Here she is Monday morning, still with the tubes in her.

Return to the grassroots

2006-03-23T10:02:00.000-08:00

As in most industries (local healthcare markets is a good example), there emerges two or three major players, aligned to provide a full range of services and to compete against each other.

Apply the model to the scrapbooking industry. Powerhouse (in this case, a publisher) holds consumer and trade mags and a consumer convention/education series:

Primedia has CK, SS, Craftrends, CKC, CKU
F&W has MM, SB Retailer, CNA, GASC

(Hijack for the obvious questions: are there only two? what's going to happen with Scrapbook EXPO and Scrapbook Premier? how do Meredith and Future play into this?)

Despite recent consolidations and eventual polarization, there will be an attempt to return to the grassroots.

Like in healthcare, where the hands-on interaction is crucial to success, there will be a need to provide the personal touch to the end consumer. This is not done with the "cult of personality," but with a return to the grassroots efforts. Therefore, expect to see both powerhouses make an attempt to seem small and personable as a way to reach new consumers.

But we all know that scrapbooking was built at the grassroots level. And just like the nurses who provide the care and bed-side manner, it's going to take individuals like you and me, not the figureheads, to hold the hands of the new scrapbooking consumer.

We need to be ready to hold some hands.

Yeah, that's what I want!

2005-11-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

I'm still pining for the IKEA counter top, which I think is every stand-up scrapper's dream!

Paperkuts, here I come!

2005-07-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today I reviewed Melissa's draft of the story she's doing in the October PK about my win. Hey! I finally made it in to PK! Soon it will be time to unveil my album. It's been over a year since I submitted it, and I've not made too many strides in improving my office. I'm hoping when Joseph goes back to school (in less than three weeks!) I'll be able to devote some time to my work space.

Cha-Ching!

2005-05-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here are my two checks: The honkin' huge one Office Depot officials presented to me at CHA-W in Atlanta, and the real one :-).

One of the great things about this check...other than it went in to my bank account!!...is the small print above the signature (which, btw, is "Charlie Brown"!!! ok so it's Charles, but it's still funny!). It reads: A SECOND SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR CHECKS OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS VALUE OR MORE.

My OD Entry

2004-06-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

test

2004-01-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

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