random cool things..

1. Friday was my turn post at the Work In Progress Blog. I got to talk about my tried and true favorite little tools.

2. Scrapbook Trends picked up one of my pages for their January 09 issue. Wo-hoo!

3. I know it's August but...I couldn't resist getting the new American Crafts Christmas paper and embellishments. I am going to have to enter a Thicker Addiction Rehab soon.


4. I get to go to St. Louis this month for work to help train some other Event Coordinators. Can't wait to see the other stores.

5. Going to my neighbors to drink Captain Morgan and Diet Coke tonight. I love Holiday Weekends.

back home - again.

the last two weekends have been fun but busy. the weekend bfore last, i had to go to Elmore, Ohio for a bridal shower. my mom and i left early and decided to sneak in a trip to Hobby Lobby in Bowling Green before the shower. i found a few things i *needed*, as usual. on our way out of BG, i saw an old Ben Franklin store on the Main Street. i convinced my mom to stop even though we were cutting it close to shower time.

it was like a step back in time. there was an old candy counter and fountain. millions of wind up toys and junk galore. my kids would have LOVED it. the scrapbooking aisle was horrendous. my mom found a bright orange christmas tree marked half off. (it is now her "halloween tree" - more on this goofy matter in another post.) just as i was being told we had to go because we would be late for the shower, i found the "trims" section. there were two aisles of old ribbon and lace that had been sitting there for 20 years or more. most of it was .5 per yard. yes, a nickel! i grabbed a few that spools of punchinella and lace that i loved. if i would have had more than 30 seconds to pick, i'm sure i would have left with more. i got the thread for 1.50 and the stickers for .99. score!
now i'm on a hunt for old ben franklin stores to see if they are all the same. there's one in oberlin that's calling my name.

last night we got back from a weekend in chicago. steve's brother ran in the accenture triathalon and raised over $6000 for Parkinson's research. steve's mother has the disease so the entire family went to cheer him on.

i love chicago. friday we shopped. Lego store for Coop, Niketown for Max. Emmitt played on the playground behind Water Tower Place. we wore the little kids out on Saturday and hit the Shedd Aquarium, Millenium Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo all in one day. max opted out and went to see the Cubbies play instead. it was a family weekend but I still managed to sneak in Uncle Fun and Paper Boy. Didn't get to go to Windy City Scrapbooking even though it was less than a mile from our hotel. Sunday we were at the race all day, had late lunch at McGee's and headed home since the kiddos had their first day of school on Monday.

i'm a star

a scrapstar actually!

I love the girls that run this challenge blog and decided to try out for their latest DT call. Lucky me got picked to join the 7 other talented ladies!

Our first challenge?!?

HOT FOR TEACHER
in honor of going back to school and all the fond memories that go along with it, our challenge this month revolves around special teachers in our lives. maybe you had a teacher that did something that shaped who you are, or took your education experience to another level. maybe you had a crush on a teacher in school (it’s time to admit it!) or maybe there is a special teacher in your life right now that deserves a place in your scrappy memories! your challenge is to create a layout based on that person and tell why they have had a significant impact on your life.

I jumped right in and used some of my new KI Memories Back to School Products! I decided to dedicate my page to Mr. Redman my 5th grade teach at Central Middle School in Amherst, OH.

Thanks for stopping by! Next post will be about my AMAZING trip to Ben Franklin in Bowling Green, Ohio. No joke!

why my grandmother is great

because she NEVER throws anything away...i find treasures at her house every time I visit. I guess when you grow up during the depression you learn the value of things.

The last time i visited she gave me her Underwood Typewriter. This oversized beauty can type legal size paper (and 12x12!). I researched the typewriter online and the best that I can tell is that it was made around 1920. After a little cleaning and polish, I put some paper in to test it out. Lo and behold, it still works! The ribbon is a little faint and the keys stick a little but it adds so much quality to the print. I can't wait to use this on a layout.




It gets better...my mom and oldest son Max went to see her last week and dragged this back from Fremont as well. It was given to me from a dear family friend who is a big time quilter and collects sewing machines. Meet my new sewing machine - the Singer Slant-O-Matic 401.

Ths baby was the last model made with all metal parts. The manufacturing date is around 1957 whcih is pretty obvious given the style of the cabinet. I have read nothing but good about these machines on the internet. The parts are so strong it can sew through leather and several layers of thick fabric. Again, after a little cleaning, it was ready to go. My mother came over and gave me a little sewing lesson. (I hadn't used a machine in over 25 years!) I am SO excited to finally be able to stitch on my layouts. Watch out world! I'm gonna be the next Jill Hornby.

mia

MISSING

Have you seen this woman?

Last seen selling flowers with Hare Krishnas in San Francisco August 1, 2008

Description: 5'-8" Skinny caucasian woman, blond hair, freckles, always smiling. Wears cool t-shirts and flip flops. Has a stomach tumor from eating tons of junk food. Listens to cheesy radio stations. Known to sleep like a sloth. Loves the 80's. Collects stickers like it's her job.

$5000 Reward for information leading to her Recovery.

1-800-come-homeshelly.

the lucky winner

is...
Lori W said...
WOWZA! look at all that great stuff!!!congrats on the DT!!:)Lori (lorwilb on SIS)

Lori - send me your address so I can hook you up with the RAK. Thank you everyone who left comments and stopped by. It was fun to see who actually reads my blog...so fun that I will do this again September 1st for the WIP September reveaL.

This is a little mini a I started to document the renovation and improvement of our house through the next few years.

Have a great week!

it's a party

have i mentioned how happy i am to be a part of the Work In Progress Design Team?

in celebration of my first month as a design team member i am giving away this little package of goodies. it's a HUGE mixture of hambly, pink paislee, KI, making memories and a whole lot more. leave me a comment by this Sunday 11pm. i'll pick a winner and announce the lucky person Monday evening.

Here my layouts for the August Kit. I am in love with the new KI Bloom...

Thanks for stopping by!