35 RoCkS!!!

Two surprise parties in one year!!! I've never even had one before! My All About Me Class threw me a birthday party last night in lieu of our last class - too bad I was up from 2am to 5am trying to prepare for the class... had I known...

I've never been showered with so many fantastic gifts! Here's my loot from the class...

Oh, and that paper plate in the background - does NOT signify that I am 40! (thank you very much Angie!) But seriously, it's too cute NOT to scrapbook! The class probably bought them to taunt me because they know I would never buy paper plates that expensive!

I debuted my January layout class last night. I'm NOT promising a monthly layout class - that's too much pressure! And I didn't have high hopes for this one, so I only have six spots. Mary W, Terri B, Teri R and Bobbie W snagged the first four seats last night. Let me know if you want one of the last two spots. I'm showing it here before putting it on the store blog. The layout is PaCKeD with cool products, the cost is $22 and it is scheduled for Wednesday, January 13 - Happy New Year to Us!

Here's a layout I did with one of my Girls Loft kits - can't remember which one now, but I cut the flowers along the bottom out of the patterned paper and popped them up on pop dots. I used the Tiny Attacher to staple on the ric rac flower "stems" and I was off! The one new tool you MUST have is Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher! I use it on EvEry layout - make sure it's on Santa's list :)

A few months ago I moved into my very own scrapbook room - or as my sister Ashley calls it - the disaster area! After fifteen furniture moves, a massive purge of supplies, and hours of "organization"... I can now show you three VERY LIMITED views of the room. Just so you understand, any areas not photographed would still be considered disaster areas. But if I continue to make one section a week photo ready - here's the key - without dumping stuff into the previously photographed areas, I may have a pleasant room one day. We can all dream...

Morgan's first grade play is tonight and then we are finally celebrating the Ironman's birthday. Morgan is convinced the cake is for HER and I just keep reminding her that it's ALSO for Daddy's birthday... Ah, six year old girls...

Our "B&B" night...

St. Francisville was wonderful as usual, even if it was drizzly and foggy. I found a new store called Grandmother's Buttons. It is housed in an old bank building and the old bank vault houses a mini button museum. It was so cool. The rest of the store was filled with funny gift items, but I could have spent half the day reading about the history of buttons... but Ironman was with me, so that wasn't happening....

Whenever we stay at a B&B we try to find one with a separate cottage. Less chance of hearing a neighboring guest having a coughing attack... or whatever else may be creating a disturbance...

Ironman booked the cottage at The Cottage Plantation. The grounds were very pretty. I just loved these red berries with the weather vane in the background

Now, imagine this with me. Four poster beds with fluffy down comforters, a fridge filled with sweet treats or maybe some cheese and wine, large mahogany armoires, a cozy sitting area nestled around a wood burning fireplace, a porch with rustic wooden rockers for lazy afternoons... Now turn your attention to...

Exhibit A

and...
Exhibit B

So I was a little shocked when I walked in, but hey, it was quiet and the bed was comfy. What's more important? I dare not make a disparaging remark, Ironman may not book anymore overnight getaways...

But Ironman addressed the elephant in the room as we were leaving for dinner. He said, "So this is what a cabin would look like if we went camping, and instead of a tent, we stayed in a cabin..."

So there, I finally went "camping" with Shane - just in time for his birthday tomorrow! Everyday is an adventure as long as you can laugh!

It's been so long, and I have so much catching up to do...

I celebrated my thirty-something birthday this week. Shane with the help of friends, Ashley and Jen pulled off a COMPLETE SURPRISE party. Last week was one of those terrible ones - in a funk, nothing going right, wanting to crawl up in bed and go to sleep - BUT instead of the fetal position, Shane had me prepped for Back to Back Shaw parties. A casual one at Walk Ons on Friday and the fancy Christmas party on Saturday. Ashley bought me clothes for the fancy party. I was so uninterested in the party at Walk Ons that I dragged my feet getting dressed and made us over a half hour late. I walk into this...

TOTALLY GOT ME!!!! My mood changed in a flash! Here are the girls:

Notice Denise touching my sister... Ashley does not allow ANYONE to touch her - my Mom even has to warn her before giving her a hug. The touching was just a theme throughout the night...

I got a beautiful picture frame from the girls, and everything else on my wish list from Shane,
Ashley, Jen and Mom, but I was most surprised about...

That's right... Leopard Rain Boots... I don't have to try to steal Denise's anymore - she bought me my very own. So when you see a cool chic walking down the street in these cool kicks - it's probably me!

After drinks and dinner at Walk Ons... We - oh yes - 8 adults - headed to Laser Tag! OMG - it was SO frazzlin fun! Of course most of us needed oxygen after each game, but it was a blast.

Melanie got a little carried away with her Shane lovin... But, I can't blame her... He's the best... And he doesn't seem to mind at all...

Luckily Shane planned the shin dig BEFORE my actual birthday on the 8th. On Monday night, I came down with some violent, awful, terrible virus. I was down for two and a half days. So NOT what I planned for my birthday!

Luckily, today, I was able to "redo" my birthday with a scrapbooking day with Melanie and Denise at Scrapbook and Co. I didn't create all of these today, but here are the latest...

That about wraps it up. Shane and I are heading to St. Francisville tomorrow for a little R&R. If you hear my mom crying for help, take pity on her. My girls are slightly high maintenance!

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Birthday to my Avery Bird....

I can't believe you are FIVE today... I love you Sweet Pea...

Karma...

Isn't it awesome when it's fast??? I've been helping a friend with a big project, and karma was right there waiting for me... Sometimes (rarely) everything just comes together perfectly... Avery's 5th birthday party was just that thing!


We did Build-A-Bear (although no one actually built a bear - we came home with two puppies, a horse, a reindeer and Frosty the Snowman), ate Raising Cane's (it's so funny how the little girls say the entire name) and then we decided to try a picture with Santa.


It was quarter to 9, and Santa's workshop was deserted... Santa talked to each girl, listening to all of their stories, asking if Morgan bought new teeth with her money from the tooth fairy, asking Kate about the horse she just built, he asked Ryleigh why her eye matched her dress, and he asked Avery R is he could take home her reindeer to help him on Christmas Eve...


Then he got to the Birthday Girl. He focused on Avery for over 5 minutes. Even singing her Happy Birthday! We got all five girls in the picture with Santa - all smiling and looking perfect! The girls may forget, but it will be one of my most treasured memories of all time!

I love progress...

Some of my projects are coming to life!

Here is a picture of one wall in my breakfast area. The frame is from those two pieces of wood Angel and I drug out of the project green lumberyard and shoved into my car. I bought the precious birdhouse at the Broadmoor Craft Fair. I think there is just enough red in the decor to match the adjacent red wall! I love red!!

Here's a peak at the red wall - and the vintage typewriter alphabet and stocking that Susie Harris made. I met her in person at Broadmoor and as if it was possible she's even cuter and sweeter in person!

Here's another sign Susie painted for me. Since me and Ironman just celebrated our 12th anniversary, it's a nice addition to the mantle.

The screen/corkboard is finished and hung, but it's not picture ready quite yet - as a matter of fact I don't know WHEN my scraproom will be photo ready! It starts at the top of the priority list everyday, but it seems to fall off by about 9am...

We took the girls to see Disney on Ice yesterday. Avery is so cute and comments throughout the show. When she saw Ariel, I think she yelled "Ariel" louder than anyone else. Not sure what's up with Morgan... She threw a fit at the school Thanksgiving lunch saying she had too many visitors and we embarrassed her, then at Broadmoor, she was clamped to my hand for dear life and later told me she was scared in the big crowd. And then at Disney on Ice, I don't think she cracked a smile the entire time. Don't tell me this is a "phase"! I can't handle that yet! And please don't let her need as much medication as me to function normally!

When I summarized Morgan's recent behavior to Ironman and GiGi, as well as mentioned the dark circles under her eyes, her constant tiredness and her grey coloring. They both agreed. Wait a minute... everyone noticed my daughter looks like a walking corpse, but no one thought that we should discuss this... I'll be calling the pediatrician this week to see if she possibly should be tested for an iron deficiency - or anything else for that matter. Do Moms have to do everything??? Don't answer that....

The move at Scrapbook & Co is coming along... Painting, packing, planning and maybe just a little swearing! But everything will be fantastic when the store reopens on Black Friday.

Don't forget - on Saturday from 9-12, the scrapbook garage sale at my office. See my previous post for more info.

Take care - in case I don't get to post again before Thanksgiving... Enjoy your family and be sure to laugh the calories away!

Garage Sale - SCRAPBOOK STYLE...

So, it has come to my attention that I have WAY too much stuff. And since I can't stop purchasing more things, I must sell off some of my scrapbooking stash. As you might guess, I am not the only one with this particular problem. So a few friends are getting together for a scrapbooking garage sale - with the ultimate goal of making money to spend on MORE scrapbooking supplies!

So stop by my office (10761 Perkins Road - upstairs) on Saturday, November 28 from 9 to noon.

Please bring your own bag and cash would be lovely!

As it gets closer, I will posts specifics about some of the items we will have for sale. Please pass this along to anyone looking for some good scrapbooking deals! Thanks!