Friendship................

1 week......

I cannot believe that I have had nothing to say for a whole week..... I am sure I have had something exciting in my life happen?! Now that I stop and think it has been pretty non eventful. I do know however that there is not enough hours in a day to accomplish everything that I want to accomplish. Working full time, two kids, a husband, a cat, a house, a yard and a scrapbooking obsession, how in the world do you fit all that in a 24 hour time frame????- no sleep maybe, but then the evil Tami would appear! (Yes, hard to believe that there is an evil side to wholesome me). The weekend is just around the corner so it is time to make the 'LIST' of chores to do..... it is pretty bad that I have to make lists to remember what needs to be done, or what needs to be bought at the store. I am nothing without a list, although it has not come down to me having to write down 'use restroom today' so things are still good! In the past week I have done some creating.... you should see my scraproom.... tornado city times 10!! I will share a layout I did about me and maybe if I get up the nerve I will take a pic of my scraproom mess and share the sorrow..... yeah sorrow because it means I will have to clean it- no wiggling of the nose or snap of the fingers to whip this room into shape! Happy Thursday ya'll!!

"TRANSFORMER-Jayton in disguise"

I tell you what..... if you have a young boy who is in to the whole super hero & Transformer mania that most young boys are, this is the coolest gadget ever! My friend Tina bought Jayton a voice disguise Transformer helmet. He can put this thing on and talk and it changes his voice to a deep, robotic Transformer voice, or you can push different buttons and the actual Transformer voice will make a statement. He loves this thing and has been wearing it most the evening since he got it. Then Jeff gets home and is putting it on and Jayton wants it back and Jeff is saying " just a minute, let me do this......" and it is like the two of them are fighting over who gets to play with it. (Maybe it is for boys of all ages 0 - 100) Anyway, had to share he is too cute with this huge helmet on his head. Now I need to find him the whole costume get up to wear and he will be set. I think we have a Halloween costume in the works and it is not even August!!

We're back!

Hurray we are back from our trip to seattle..... this was Jayton's first trip to Seattle and it was the second time that Ashlyn has gone. She was three the first time and does not remember a thing about the trip. We took the kids to the Space Needle, Music experience and science museum and to the famous Pike Street market. We also did a ton of shopping, the store choices are far better in the Seattle area then around here. We rounded out the trip with a Mariners Game, and we road the Seattle sounder (train) to the game. The kids thought that was cool- us too, we did not have to mess with the traffic!! I think that the kids had a wonderful time on the trip. I enjoyed the time off and being away from the scorching heat we were having in the valley. The temperature is much cooler in Seattle.

Check out my Slide Show!

My students were GREAT!

I taught a class tonight a the store and the gals who came (my students) were great! I called this Christmas in July- to get a jump start on Christmas gifts and the handmade ones are loved by everyone. We made a 2008 calendar using the Junkitz decor boards- I love them. They are so versatile to be made into many different projects. Most of the gals are planning to make several more as gifts- how exciting. Now Ashlyn wants to make one..... my little scrapbooker. She wanted to come straight home after my class ended to make hers. But, I had to be mean mom and say shower, brush & bed. We are heading to Seattle so she will have to wait a few days to be creative. I am exhausted though, this was my largest class yet and them gals wore me out! So- good night ya'll!

Check Mark

You are probably thinking ' check mark'? Where could she be possibly going with this title. Well, I made an attempt at one of my ultimate goals...... and it is to become a design team member. So, hence check mark! Kristi O would tell me all the time to go for it! She first wanted me to try for scrapbooker of the year- ARE U CRAZY GIRL.....! Baby steps.... so yes I took the plunge, stepped out of my box, moved my cheese and all those other expressions. The design team call was for Ally Scraps (link is on my blog to the left). I had to choose 5 layouts which was so hard to choose- I had my son Jayton help pick- he did well- mostly agreed though on whichever one I pointed to then wanted to look through all the scrapbooks. So that is my announcement. I am proud of myself for even trying. Win or lose I will let you all know. They make a decision July 15- I will be in Seattle at the Mariners game on that day-so I won't know anything until I get back-..........anyway keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed for me.
Tami

That was then... this is now!

I cannot believe that I am doing this.... the only reason is to show the new scrapbookers that I have met recently and comment on my creativity and blah, blah, blah. I love the compliments , it is a confidence booster. But just like you I was a new at this once too and my first scrapbook pages make me cringe. But after 8 years scrapbooking and the last four years being more of a scrapbook 'addiction' I have gotten better-not perfect or someone who could become infamous in the field of scrapbooking. I can see it now.....my own line called Tami Sue! LOL! But, really the more you practice at something the better you get. Michael Jordon did not pick up a basketball at age 5 and do a perfect lay up and slam dunk- he practiced and became a master at his trade. I have my good and bad days- Good is when I have ideas literally jumping out of my brain & then the bad when I just stare at a blank page forever. I get inspired by pages I see in magazines, my scrapbook buddies, online galleries and even an everyday household item can spring an idea! So, keep on scrappin'- and please do not laugh to awfully hard at my first ever layout......or at least be close to a bathroom if you might tinkle if you laugh too hard.

TTFN

A full day

Today was a full day of fun! I went to the monthly/Sunday crop that Cori & I have at Crop Paper Scissors. I think I accomplished a lot. I managed to do a few recipe swap cards, I altered a picture frame for a co-workers birthday gift and did a fun layout that I will share..... Ashlyn did three layouts all by herself and did a really great job for an 8 yr old. She is getting better and better the more she scrapbooks. I love the monthly crops- it is a scheduled time for me to have 'me time' and do what I love. I also love to do the SMART GIRLS CROP that the store has. All the girls that attend are wonderful and it is a night of laughter and time to scrapbook without interruptions. I guess scrapbooking is my guilty pleasure- yet I do not feel guilty...... uuummm?! Anyway, after being at the crop from 10 - 4 I met Jeff & Jayton at the boat launch and went out on our boat for awhile with them. That was my first trip on the boat all summer! It has just been hectic and when I think about all the things that I have planned to do this summer each weekend it seems like summer is going to be over just like that. Then winter will be here before I know it- uuugghh! I much prefer warm weather........ don't you?

FUN IN THE SUN

Today I was mom of the year- or so it seemed. I took Ashlyn, Jayton & cousin Caylie to the waterpark in Moscow. We were there several hours. I just love the waterpark in Moscow and so do the kids, they have a blast! Ashlyn has been getting much more comfortable in the water, going under and attempting to swim and just letting loose- I never thought she would ever feel comforatble in the water. Even last year she was still clingy and deathly afraid. I am so proud at how far she has come. I do not want to push her, the more time she is spending in the water she is developing her own courage and confidence. That is how I learned. Like mother, like daughter. Jayton was non stop going down the little kids water slides.... he would go down the frog, then bounce over to the tube slide. Back & forth, back & forth for hours! I got some great pictures of Jayton to scrapbook. But, Ashlyn & Caylie kept hiding from the camera, don't they know how important it is for me to get the perfect shot to scrap! LOL! Right now I really need to pack for the crop Cori & I are doing tomorrow at Crop Paper Scissors. I have been putting it off. Tomorrow I hope to finish my recipe cards for the recipe card swap I am hosting and maybe attemt to scrapbook the cruise, I still have a long ways to go on that scrapbook. I took a million pictures! Wish me luck- or better yet come into the store tomorrow and scrap with some fun gals!!

It's you, It's me-read on you'll agree!

Found this searching the web & thought it was cute- had to share!

Tale of a Midnight Scrapbooker
(Cheryl Miller)
It's nine o'clock, the baby's in bed."Let's go also," my husband said.
"That sounds great!" in a hug we engage."Just give me 10 minutes, I'll finish a page!"
Thirty go by, my borders complete;I lay out my pictures so nice and neat.
I add paper for color and a sticker or two.How about a die cut, now that should do!
But then an idea pops into my head-One more page, then off to bed!
I glance at the clock; it's 11:09! This is it; I'll draw the line.
But my fingers keep cutting- the ideas are pouring;
From the back room, I can't hear the snoring!
I look back at my work; I've done quite a bit.It's midnight now- and time to quit.
I clean up my desk and turn off the light.put my book on the shelf-
'til tomorrow night!

Women can't have too many......

......'Purses' ! Tonight I hosted a purse party, yes the things women like myself need in every color, size & style. Well, Designs by Jamie is just the one gal empire that can create a purse that your own creative mind can design. It was a great time and I think all my friends that came throughly enjoyed themselves and cannot wait to receive the purse that they chose the fabric, size and style on. Check her blog ( I have a link to the left). Jamie is such a nice person with some wonderful talent! The gals and I also snacked on some yummy cheesecake and dreamt about being somewhere cooler, it was a hot one today! Thank goodness for air conditioning...... as a child I cannot recall thinking it was ever too hot outside. I must be getting old!!

Hot dogs & Apple pie......

Well, today was like any other day- I did nothing special or spectacular this 4th of July. No hot dogs and no apple pie, the true American fare...... I did however clean every inch of my house, I mean every room and I even did a layout with the 4th in mind..... the supplies were from the page of the month at Crop Paper Scissors and the photo (surprisingly) was taken while on a trip to Vegas last month! I am still learning how to post layouts on this blog so bare with me while I share the layout I did today.

Sick- On my day off!!

I cannot believe my luck..... I had yesterday off to finish the laundry from our camping weekend, and deep clean the house and many other tasks I tend to put off. Guess what! I was a sick mommy.....I won't go into details, but the day off was not a fun one. So this morning I am feeling better and getting ready for work. Now my 4th of July will consist of all those things I had to put on the back burner on Monday. Don't forget that the new page of the month for Crop Paper Scissors is available on the 6th!! I cannot wait to get mine. It is just the motivation I need to scrapbook- when there is a deadline I accomplish lots!
Ta Ta.......for now!

Glad to be home....

My family and I just arrived home from a fun-filled weekend camping. I love to go camping but man is it hard work! Loading, to go. Unloading when arrive. Loading to leave. Unloading when reach home. The kids had a wonderful time playing and riding their bikes. We had a chance to go fishing but only caught one, they fish were just not hungry. Saturday night we watched the firework show over Winchester Lake. Jayton fell asleep though and missed the whole show. It was extremely cold outside that night too. But in comparison to Friday night the weather was mild. We had a storm with huge hail and high winds. The radio was putting out tornado warnings. Thank goodness the storm passed quickly. The bonus on the storm was I had a chance to go in our camper and scrapbook. Yes- I do bring things to scrap into the woods! Scrapbook materials are like Visa cards........ can't leave home without it.