flashback 6.0 & birthday wishes

hello again! do you all know who Amy Tsuruta is? yeah, you know, the awesome Washingtonian who always has a kind word for everybody?

:D

she's been hosting a challenge over at her blog, and it's called "flashback friday." this week's version challenges you (thanks Yvonne!) to share:

**The first card you blogged about that featured an unexpected find from your home**

so here we go. i know this may look kinda normal to you, but that stamp on the lower right, in the circle... that's my unusual object, because when i was at my parent's house, i found this stamp that my dad had tucked away in some drawer or shelf... who knows what he would have used it for since he was a technical writer for Boeing before he retired a few years back.

anyway, that's the first card i could find with an unusual object to me... i know it might not count to some of you, so i dug up another post...

this one featured one of my first scrapbook pages (which i didn't know how to photograph)

do you see the ticket saying "keep this coupon" and the embellishment on that big pink strip at the top? that's a Baskin Robbins (31 flavors of ice cream) cut-out... i found it around the house and used it in this layout because i think i won some ice cream or something... haha, don't even remember!

and of course, i thought i'd share a new card with you too, so here we go:

this one actually went to my Principal for her birthday... it was a while ago, but i never blogged about it. i think i made this card while stamping with my friend Paulina who has some serious blog candy going on right now... you can win $40! you should head over and check it out!

anyway, i hope your friday is fabulous, and thanks for stopping by! :D

dude! upcoming CSN product review

hi there blog friends!

i have some exciting news about a deal from CSN stores... the full story (below) is delicious and embarrassing, so read on to get the juicy details. but just as a tidbit, did you know that CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish handbags, to Herman Miller chairs, or great cookware? yuppers, that's right... so keep on reading here...

but first,

can i ask you a question? why are good things so difficult sometimes? take blogging for instance... i love the encouragement and community i gain from being surrounded by amazing people, but sometimes i forget to schedule time into my calendar to enjoy those things. and the holidays... i'm a HUGE Christmas fan, but sometimes being with family is rough, and even though it's good/ you miss them... well it still, dare i say, sucks?

that being said, i'm glad to be back. maybe regularly, maybe not. i'm not gonna lie, i really don't know how this year is gonna pan out.

i just know it'll be fun. and awesome. and exciting...

oh yeah, like this amazing and exciting "FIRST" for me... i get to review a product for CSN stores!! i've wanted to do a review on something for like, FOREVER, and i never have... i mean, i've even offered my services as a book reviewer for my sister Cecelia, and i still don't think she's asked me (oh wait, there must be an email about that book tucked away somewhere...) but, that's not the point. i get to do a review. now, i'm not a resolution person, and i actually don't have many goals written down, except for maybe get.married.soon. (ha! after i find a guy! *goes looking...*) so when i heard about this opportunity to get FREE STUFF, i actually emailed my sister something along these lines (ahem, exact wording included):

"this seems fake. what do you think?"

...like, i rubbed my eyes and shook my head, pinched myself, looked over the details in the email, and then realized that i had accidentally sent the question to Cameron, the awesome CSN representative i'd been hearing from.

OOPS. hehe, CRAP. *hits head against wall, tries to unsend email, prays that it doesn't go through*

and then i sent the query FO' REALZ to my sister, and she zapped me back with:

"That's how I got my free pan and bakeware and coffee press! Doooooo iiiiit."

(you know in that crazy voice that that one guy does in that one commercial...? no remember? eh, oh well.)

and then i hoped that since i'd resolved wait, decided that i was gonna DO THIS, that Cameron wouldn't write me off as some crazy person which i so totally am not even when i do bounce around teaching my students things like when the clock says "12:34" you should lift both feet off the ground and 'make a wish.' yes, that's right, i teach 7th grade... i try to get to their level... HA!

and turns out, i'm not as psycho as numerous testings have revealed. so it's a good thing on both counts. 'cuz CSN stores have like, EVERYTHING! i'm totally hitting up the cookware... and maybe a shoe horn.

so here's a sneakie peak at what i PLAN/ HOPE to get from this deal-io (all of my wish-list is totally subject to change and my every whim which is totally understandable considering the awesomeness offered to me for FREE!!!)

a hand mixer. (which i don't have... hmm--problem? yes. soon to be rectified!)

a microplane zester (good for zesting things. Ree, the Pioneer Woman recommends them, as does a best friend of mine... freshly zested nutmeg topping whipped cream on top of hot buttered rum is like... HEAVEN. can i die now? just kidding... now, i may not get a pink handle, we'll see how i'm feeling about my favorite colors when i place my order :D ha!)

i say that the best part about this is, that when i do my review of the products i get from CSN, and when i use these items when i make cakes or cupcakes, or muffins, or icing, or on mixed drinks, or to get my shoes on, i'll think of you all and remember to blog more. (or at least that's what i'm hoping...)

and that, my friends, is all i think i can muster today. we'll talk about cards and scrapbooks later, and how my craft room is even more awesome than i thought possible, and maybe...

oh bugger, i'll just let you leave, and you can stop by later and see what i mean.

loves!

(oh, i almost forgot to ask... any thoughts on the new banner? i'm debating whether to lose the dotted background part... comments welcome! :D thanks dearies!)

DeNami Tag Blog Hop

welcome to the DeNami Design Blog Hop featuring tags! hope you'll find some inspiration along the away!

you should have come from Ruza's blog HERE, but if you missed her creation (or any of the others), then you can always start at the beginning of the hop at the DeNami Blog.

i had a great time making this gift tag--i used two DeNami stamps--"baby" for the sentiment "baby it's cold outside" and then on the opposite side, "you're so sweet!" fun stuff, huh? that polar bear with the cute little snow cones always cracks me up. of course there's some patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Jolly by Golly 6x6 pad.

don't forget that if you comment before midnight on December 11th (PST) you have a chance to win one of THREE $20 gift certificates to the DeNami Design website... how cool is that? be sure to leave some love along the way.

so now you're off to Kristy Smith's blog HERE, you'll be sure to see some eye candy there!

Merry Christmas and happy hopping! :D

welcome December! & vintage love

hi everyone! it's December now, and it's my favorite time of the year--Christmas! :D i've been so excited about Christmas for the last few weeks (or maybe even months) that i know i've had several dreams about my decorations, how things will work out when family comes to visit, etc.

are you getting excited for the season too? i sure hope you are... it's coming sooner than we know! :D

so i know a lot of people have been talking about doing a December Daily scrapbook album, and i've actually planned ahead to join the fun. in mid-November I made all my foundation pages and sparsely embellished some of them, so i'm all set to go! i can't wait to have a daily record of the things i do in December... whether they tie into Christmas or not!

so, i also have a card for you... it's sort of a vintage shabby card, and it would be perfect for a wedding or anniversary. the sentiment reads 'happily ever after' but it's hard to see in the picture. speaking of 'ever after,' during the snow storm here last week, i had a friend and her family come over to wait for traffic conditions to get better, and we watched that movie. a SERIOUS favorite of mine :D

oooh, see that doily peeking out? i'm loving doilies (just like everyone else :D) and thought it matched perfectly. there are also some Sassafras papers (not on the bright side of things like i normally do) and a graphic 45 tag too. i got to borrow a PTI set from Paulina for the sentiment, and i used some DeNami Design grosgrain ribbon for that sweet little bow :D

this card just makes me sigh... now if only i could find a man ...hehehe! :D

well, i think that's it for now... go and enjoy your first day of December--things will get crazy soon!

so thankful...

with Thanksgiving coming up, i thought i would share some of the people and things i'm thankful for... God has blessed me in so many ways, and i can't be thankful enough! so here goes a completely UN-COMPREHENSIVE list in no particular order:

• music! i really really love listening to music. i think it can change a mood right away. currently i'm totally digging Christmas music (and have been for at least a month), but the current favorite i just bought on iTunes is "Pennies from Heaven." hehe, so fun!
• my family--love them so much. my parents are awesome and supportive, and my brothers are super sweet and they never fail to make me smile. Peter and Joey still live close to me, and getting to see them brightens my day. AND! everyone will be together for this Christmas. Cecelia is coming from D.C., Lincoln will be jetting in from PA, and my grandma and my aunt are coming from NY. who knows when the next time me and my siblings will all be together like that again. it hasn't even happened yet, but i'm already thankful it's going to! :D
• Christmas! i love celebrating the birth of Jesus, and i love everything that it entails. i'm a fan of traditions, but i'm so totally excited to decorate in my own place in just my style. since i have a pink living room and bedroom, i'm thinking of going with a sweet and girly tree and decorations (aka pink and green!)--of course i'll be making some handmade decorations, and i'll have to share them with you :D
  

this one i found HERE was sooo pretty!

friends. this includes so many people. the ones that care about how i'm feeling and how it's been going, the ones who pray for me, the ones i get to meet up with and we don't skip a beat even though it's been ages since we got together, my sister, my daily best friend, my co-teacher, my crafty buddies... they help me in so many ways. i only hope that i'm half as reliable or steadfast as they are. i just seem SO lucky. actually, BLESSED.

sandwich grills. addicted and about ready to give them as Christmas gifts to everyone i know. they make grilled perfection every single time no matter what the contents! *LE SIGH*

scrapbook retreats--i counted up the actual 'completed pages' and even though not all of them are 12x12, i still had a record productive weekend: i completed 82 pages!!!! w00t w00t! :D

bursts of ingenuity when teaching or planning for school--it helps so much! i love doing something that makes students think!

coupons and sales. these make me so happy. good deals MUST be endorphin boosters, would you agree?

diet coke. helplessly addicted.

laughing--i am so thankful for laughter.

water polo with all its challenges and physical demands. i think what others say is 'insane' actually keeps me 'sane.' oh, the irony.

and YOU, my precious blog readers... you are a constant source of encouragement that i feed off of. i am blown away by your support. i love reading your comments!

oh, and you thought i wasn't going to share a card? hehe--nope, i've got one here:

i used tons of Sassafras papers that made me think 'vintage' so i de-hoarded a length of vintage lace trim and then inked up the edges, and finally i added a fun swirl stamp i picked up from Impress a year ago. i also added a few BG felt stickers--they're perfectly wonderful texture-wise on this acetate card. oh, and i used an EK border punch for the inside edges. fun stuff in sort of fall colors--what do you think?

so, what are you thankful for? i'd love to hear what has blessed you lately :D thanks for stopping by!

Christmas music makes me smile...

wow, i have to say, that participating in the DeNami Blog Hop yesterday was so much fun... if you missed it, then check out my card HERE. i seriously LOVED reading all your comments on my non-traditional Christmas card.

they made me smile. and they made me feel really special. :D

and then i thought, 'why don't i do this more often?'

because, you see, your comments are the fuel that makes me want to post... so here i am again!

this card makes me smile, and it's so simple. it has some Sassafras goodness on it, and features a PTI sentiment from Dawn's Signature Greetings... and it's so NOT a Christmas card--in fact, it's a birthday card!

so yeah. another thing that makes me smile is listening to Christmas music on the radio. see, i've been listening to my holiday tunes via CD in my apartment and in the car, but NOW one of the local radio stations is playing 24/7 Christmas music.

ah, be still my heart!

i will be happily dancing around to "Jingle Bell Rock" all the way through January :D

thanks for stopping by, you're the best!

DeNami Christmas Blog Hop!

welcome to the DeNami Design Christmas Blog Hop!

you should have arrived from Michele's blog. but, if you didn't start along with us, head back to the DeNami Design blog and follow all the way from the beginning. and, if you plain just don't know what's going on, check out the info below:

When: The blog hop starts on November 14th at 8 AM, PST. However, you have until November 15, 2010, 11:59pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).

Why: To be inspired by stunning DeNami Design Christmas creations and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

Prizes: We are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website! We'll be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then we'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

so it sounds like fun, right? i agree :D right now i'm actually enjoying a weekend of scrapbooking in Seattle... fun stuff, and i'm actually being productive too!

anywho, on to the blog hop card i made. this one features a non-traditional take on Christmas, but i love this DeNami stamp and glitter :D

you all know the Bing Crosby song, Meli Kalikimaka? yeah... that song is one of my favorites of the season, and truth be told, i've actually been playing Christmas music for a long time. now, i'm not usually one of those 'forget Thanksgiving people' and move to Christmas, but this year, even though i'm not forgetting Thanksgiving, i am really excited for Christmas. like, a LOT.

the above is a close-up... the rhinestones (love 'em!) are from my stash, and the letter stickers are from Making Memories that complete the sentiment. i love that hibiscus flower stamp... seriously so fun and cute, so i shaded it and glittered the center.

hope you have fun checking out the rest of the ladies along the hop--they have some seriously awesome projects to share.

next on your stop is Angela! you'll totally want to see what she cooked up for the Christmas blog hop!

have fun, and thanks for stopping by! :D