a little bit of me.

{buy-this-book!} :)

This....  is out - available now in bookstores, and on amazon:

 

...And here is a sneak peek of my work in it...  one of my favorite pages to be included in the book:

Happy September Everyone!!! (...even tho it's 11:17pm CST on August 31....)  :)

{...continued}

So I totally never meant to make anyone worry - and thank you for the concerned emails...  :)  I think in the grand scheme of things this is so minute...  but i still felt horrible making the decision to step down from the ScrapSupply design team.  Wendy (the owner) gave me a position there over 2 years ago -- before I had even ever had a page published -- and for that I'll always be thankful.  I told her this today - that I adore her - and the site - and will still be visiting regularly to see all the fabulous-ness going on over there.  Just won't be there in a monthly layout capacity. 

And that's my story...

That...  and the fact that I just discovered that adding in a shot of espresso to my Caramel Frappucino at Starbucks is a really....  REALLY good thing.

:)

{...}

Tough decisions are never easy.

Prioritizing is always hard.

And even though I dont want to make a choice...

i have to.

...And that kills me.

((and this is probably making sense to no one except for me right now...

and that's ok.))

{baby-boy-belly}

beautiful,

beautiful,

beautiful,

beautiful,

baby  boy...  (to be!)

I had the pleasure of taking some maternity shots of a girlfriend on Saturday - after we celebrated her impending arrival with a shower...  a few of my favorites from the shoot can be found ---> here.

{i'm still here...}

i'm still here...  just buried under a pile of work...  and another class tonite...  but wanted to say CONGRATS to all of the new ACDT girls ---> listed here!

You all will LOVE working with AC and Sarah...  She is the best...  and, really...  is there any other paper line as delish as American Crafts?!?!?!  i think not...

Will post more later on this week...

Oh, and PS - the rebel is home safe and sound....  SO thrilled about that!

{little peek & some info}

A little peek of some new Imaginisce...  YUM!  Had fun playing with this line...

Also...  wanted to post the info (for those of you in MN who asked or may be interested!) on my two upcoming classes in early Fall...  Here it is:

---------------------

Boutique-Chic Inspired Tag, Card, and Photo Décor Class:

“Boutique-Chic” describes a current and hip style of paper crafting that takes its inspiration from one-of-a-kind unique boutique-style shops.  The style blends an eclectic mix of patterned papers, funky elements such as felt flowers and rhinestones, and encourages fun, freestyle doodling.  Join me for a 2 hour workshop where we’ll explore this popular trend and create a tag, card, and fun photo décor piece using the boutique-chic principles.  Cost: $20 *Please bring scissors sharp enough to trim felt and ribbon with AND a preferably black & white photo to create a 2-inch diameter photo tag with. ********* Dates:  October 17 (Tuesday) and 26 (Thursday)

---------------------

Holiday Card Class: Cards and Tags that can be easily replicated for the Holiday Season:

Get your holiday card-making groove on a bit early this year.  Spend 2 hours in this class and leave with an unlimited supply of card ideas!  During this class we’ll create 5 holiday themed cards that can each be replicated with ease, including: 1 Holiday Gift Tag, 2 Christmas Cards, 1 Family Photo-Display Christmas Card, and 1 New Years Card.  Cost: $15 *Please Bring a 4x6 landscape-format photo of your family, children, pet or whoever you’d like to display on your card! ********  Dates:  October 30 (Monday) and November 7 (Tuesday)

---------------------

So excited for both of these classes!  The Boutique Chic class was partly inspired by Danielle’s article in the August Issue of Memory Makers -- I had so much fun contributing a layout in that style to the article/issue, that I decided to turn it into a class!!!  :) 

If you'd like to sign up and reserve a spot, you can call Memories-N-More at 651.464.3424

{A&F}

These "they-look-so-darn-comfy" cropped pants are flat-out CALLING MY NAME at Abercrombie....

I need to make it over to the A&F store sometime this week...

Does anyone else (in the "post-22" age bracket...) shop at Abercrombie?  Is it just me who absolutely LOVES their clothes (their pants/skirts fit me SO perfectly!!), yet feels like the BIGGEST POSER shopping there?

I swear... that I walk in, and can *immediately* hear the salespeople discussing my poser-esque-status & making fun of me...  :)  And, every time I go into the fitting room, I have the strangest feeling that the "she-shouldn't-be-shopping-here-because-she's-(WAY!)-over-23" alarms will sound as an additional safety measure to alert everyone to my poser ways.... ;)

My usual plan of attack is to hurriedly walk in (all the while AVOIDING the perfect looking 'model' at the front of the store who's pretending to fold t-shirts), grab some stuff, hastily decide, and check out as quickly as possible.

That said, I still LOVE their stuff...  and... At least I can admit it.  ;)

------

PS - thank you for all the "i'm-as-messy-as-you" comments...  helped me to embrace the mess (that, um, did NOT get cleaned up today... hehe)...

PPS - For those of you who emailed me about class descriptions and dates - I should have the next 2 classes finalized by the end of the week, and will post the class descriptions here...  thanks for the interest!

{need-to-clean}

Does anyone else's scrapdesk ever end up looking like this:

Yikes.  Thinking that it's REALLY time to clean up the studio.  haha.  That's definitely on the agenda for Monday morning...  :)

Spent most of today (Sunday) cleaning the house, doing laundry, and baking.  Everything always seems to build up until the end of week when I take care of it all at once -- just seems so much easier that way... :)

Also working on 2 brand new classes to be scheduled in late October and early November - each will be offered twice, and I'm super-excited about them...  ;)

And - got the GOOD news late last week that my poor little Rebel will be fixed (for $195 - not so bad - and what I was pretty much expecting after reading other reports of the same issue/problem) and returned to me within 7 business days -- so SO thrilled about that....

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend...  and be sure to leave me a comment, and tell me that you desk has looked this messy too...  (feel free to lie if necessary!!)... :)

{caffeine-freak?}

ummmmmmmmmmmm.  i consumed *almost* an entire 2 liter of diet cherry pepsi today.  (and its only 4pm)...  anyone think i have a little problem?!?!?!

------------------

DISCLAIMER:  I did, however, get a LOT of work done... :)

{a little bling}

...a peek into my "bling-bling" card class that I'm teaching tonight...  (this is "celebratory" bling...):

Have been loving the whole teaching experience...  it's been fun to branch out and try something new...  Hoping that everyone has enjoyed my classes as much as i have... ;)