Candid Thoughts

Winner of book

I wish I had a book to give away to every single one of you that posted! I encourage you to check it out at your local library or buy a copy and then pass it on. I feel that this is such an uncharted territory but one that all to soon my little guy will be exposed to and can not educate myself enough in this.

The winner of my copy is:

Missed the Oprah show but have seen the book. My Husband and I both would love to read this. I had it in my hand at Costco last week and put it down unsure if it would be a good read or not. Now we will have to go back and pick it up. Thanks!

Posted by: Jen Gough | Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:54 AM

Thanks Jen for posting, drop me an email, I will ship this out to you Media mail.

Pottery Barn does it again

.....How cute is this chair??? Love it! Just thought I would share today. Found this in the new Teen PB catalog while I was flipping through it last night.

Makes me wish I had not bought the cute one from Ikea in February for my art room! I am sure if my hubby heard me saw that he would roll his eyes and stop my catalog delivery of Pottery Barn! lol

Good thing I only look and not buy....well...most of the time anyways! lol

A Beautiful Boy....

...have you read the book?

Did you catch the Oprah's show when they were on? I saw a bit of it and so wished that I had caught the entire show...so while I was in California and had a couple hours between classes, I walked over to Barnes and Noble and bought the hard copy of this book.

Stunning story about a young boy that turned to drugs...crystal meth to be his choice of drug.

I grew up in a very sheltered world, but know that our children today are facing these issues at a younger and younger age.

If you have not read this book and raising a child I strongly recommend this read.

I would love to give my hard copy away. Post here if you would like to be in the drawing.

Share your thoughts on the book if you have read it...I would love to discuss this book with other readers out there.

More info at the author and son here.

Upcoming workshops!

Just wanted to share what is coming up in the next month or so. Time is just flying by super fast.

I am counting down the days for Scrap-a-Ganza event in Amsterdam for the 3rd time and new this year in England for the first time! If you are in England and have never attend a Scrap-A-Ganza, you can still get more info here.

Along on this tour I will also be teaching in between at Yvonne's wonderful store "Scrapbook Nederland" on June 9th! I would love to have you join me!! There are several classes being offered at this event. You can get more information here.

On June 10th I will be teaching and hanging out with one super cool and fun store "Special Memories". I adore Manita, the store owner and looking forward to spending the afternoon and evening at her store, she is just a sweetie! I do believe all the classes are sold out at this store, but she may be able to squeeze in one or two more if you are interested. You can get more information about this event here.

It is also on the schedule to fly down to Spain to teach at an adorable shop in Javea! Anke has been working with me to visit her store for over a year, so I am super excited for this to work out!

If you would like to take the brand new "Pieces of me" journal scrapbook class and a fun Creative Cafe Summer Memories class this is a great time to sign up! For more you can visit 1 World Scrap to register!

I have more exciting news about upcoming workshops I will be teaching here in the States, I will put those in a new post. :)

Happy Mothers day!

Mothers day....to me this day is better than Christmas...I cherish this day....something that with out the gift of adoption I would never have been able to take part in celebrating as a Mother.

So I also take this day to celebrate our birthmother....she is such a special lady and my life has forever been change due to her love for Drewie...

My day started with Drewie serving me breakfast in bed with Daddy's help...so cute. I received an adorable handmade book from Drewie about why I am special to him and also a little handmade coupon book they made in school...so fun!

The bad thing was I have been plagued with migraines off and on all week and had a mean one this morning that just would not go away...so I was in bed until about 1pm today....but the Meds kicked in and by 4pm we cleaned up, packed up and headed out to enjoy a nice dinner out at the Olive Garden.

Drewie was such a sweetie and we had a wonderful dinner. He was so snuggly and cute...we played tic tac toe and other games on the kids menu while waiting for dinner. Ordered yummy Spinach dip with warm bread as an appetizer, which Drew just loves to do...we seldom get an appetizer...so he really thinks it is a big thing when we do.

To top off dinner I let him pick out a rich delicious desert and we all enjoyed it to the last little crumb. :)

After dinner to walk off all that rich yummy food we went over to Target. I picked up some way cute Chocolate converse tennis shoes for Drew and several great pair of swim trunks! It was a perfect day! :)

Oh I all most forgot to post...Drew had both a Baseball game on Saturday and a Soccer game and they won both! Way to go Drewie! Shot a few pics of both events...I will post a couple pics early this upcoming week.

BTW...I know that many have been asking me about a Sports class kit...I am excited to tell you...I will have one to offer this summer...stay tuned...it is coming soon! :)

Growning so fast...

Here is my little Dude....he is growing so fast on me this year...makes my heart ache! I need to scrunch him up and carry him around again in my arms...sigh...

We had to go out and vote this evening for a school millage and the weather was so beautiful that after we had gotten a quick bite to eat we walked down town to enjoy the last few minutes of sunshine this evening. So glad I grabbed my camera as we were heading out the door.I shot some awesome pics of Drewie this evening...will share more in a couple of days...I need to catch up on some work before I play. :)

Winner of the Creative Cafe stamp set!!

Yeah!!!!! I am so excited to announce the winner of a brand new 5 x 5 Creative Cafe stamp set donated by Hampton Art!

So since I have made you wait a week already...with out further ado....the winner is....

Connie Fisher!

If I can only pick one!!!!--then I would say the Family stamp set would be my favorite. But I must say I do love them all!!!

Wish I was going to see you in Calif., but I guess I will just have to wait for Sarasota. We are so excited!Have a safe trip - and thanks again for enabling me!

Posted by: Connie Fisher | Friday, April 25, 2008 at 05:29 PM

Congrat Connie!! Can you please email me with your shipping address!

Winner of "Pieces of me" kit for Drive Thru Thursday

A huge thank you to all who participated in the Drive Thru Thursday last week!! I loved reading all the fun things you all went out of your way to do.

It was so fun while I was teaching in different stores how many students came up and shared their Drive thru stories with me...I loved hearing all of them!! :)

Due to being on the road, I was delayed in posting a winner for this.

The winner of the kit is:

Mellie the planting is a great idea. We are grandparents to children that live not so very close. My husband and I volunteered to plant strawberries with the elementary school 4-H club. They were so cute calling us Miss Judy and "Rock" that is my husband's nickname. We also planted pansies around the school sign in front. Schools need so much help and even if you have no children in school your spare time is so appreciated. You actually have fun doing these little things for them

Posted by: Judy Rock | Friday, April 25, 2008 at 08:48 PM

Congrats Judy!! Please contact me with a shipping address!

Home...it is a beautiful thing!

After somewhere around 18 hours of air travel, I am home...it is a beautiful thing! :)

Wonderful to see my hubby!

Wonderful to feel my little Drewie's hand slipped in to mine, holding on even in public ...that is a big thing...at age 7...it is not cool to hold Moms hand in public. *wink

Sleeping in my own bed...waking up and fixing breakfast for my little dude before he heads off to school....it does not get any better than this.

Tuesday I will pull winners...today I am still just trying to get through emails, restock the fridge and spend the evening with my family. :)

Thank you!

Thank you all so much for all the wonderful birthday wishes!!!

My in-box was also jam packed full of private messages for all across the states and so many wonderful wishes from so many girls in the UK and Holland...thank you...It totally made my birthday so special!

I am still on the road teaching here in CA...had a great time at Green Tangerine in Rocklin and now here in San Jose gearing up to teach for the next two days...it is going to be fun!! ScrapLovers has planned a very fun weekend for all of you!!

I need to announce the winners for the stamp set and also the "Pieces of me" album for Drive thru Thursday!!

I will get that done as soon as I am home...most likely Monday...sorry to draw that out...but I have not had a chance to compile all the names in a hat. :)

Head home on an early flight Sunday at 6:20am....really really looking forward to getting home to see my guys...I miss them something fierce!!! Hugs to my guys!! :)

Wishes for the Birthday Girl!

Hello Everyone. This is Eldon, Melodee's husband.

It is Melodee's birthday today (can you believe it?)

     Happy Birthday to you,

     Happy Birthday to you,

     Happy Birthday Sweet Mellie,

     Happy Birthday to YOU!

Drew and I are both missing her today, and hopefully she will feel these "hugs" through the internet. 

In fact, maybe you would like to give her a "hug" too.  Just post a birthday wish here, and she will see it.

Melodee is such a special lady: The best thing that ever happened to our lives. We love you Melodee!

Sneak peek for London and Amsterdam class...

I know all you ladies have been waiting for a sneak peek at the family favorites class!

Here is a peek at the cover. :)

June will be here in just 4 quick weeks...I am sooo excited to be making the trip to the Mini Sag also in London this year!! Maybe you all can teach this American girl really how to speak english! *wink* I totally dig that way you all talk!!

See you all very soon! :)

Heading to CA!

I am so excited to be heading out to Sacramentoto teach several classes for Mills Repco event, Green Tangerine in Rocklin and wrapping up a 8 day trip in San Jose teaching for National Scrapbooking Day!!

I will be in Rocklin at the Green Tangerine on Wednesday 4/30  and ScrapLovers in San Jose on Friday and Saturday May 2-3 ..... and here is the awesome news, they will have all the new Creative Cafe stamps and Art Warehouse stamps by Danelle Johnson in stock!!

Stop by and pick up some fun hot stamps and say hi! I think most of the classes have sold out...but you may be able to score a seat yet at The Green Tangerine!! PHONE: 916-771-8010

IF you are not going to be in CA and want to purchase the stamps on-line, you can get them at one of the first places on the net at "The Scrappy Gourmet"!! And...they are 10% off right now! They just went up last night and some I see have already sold out and are not showing up...but there are still plenty of styles left...so go on over and check them out!

http://thescrappygourmet.com/cart/index.php?main_page=products_new

Here are a couple of my faves, post which one of the ...oh...15+ new sets is your fave if you can pick just one...lol... post to this entry to be entered into a drawing to win 1 Creative Cafe set. Drawing will be held mid week:

 

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Happy drive-thru Thursday!

So...it has been a bit since we have had an official drive-thru Thursday here. Have you all been keeping up with your Thursday random act of kindness?

Spring has finally made it to the mid Michigan area!! The tulips and daffodils are starting to bloom...makes life just seem so much happier as you are out and about the city.

So am my usual challenge stands...the traditional drive-thru pay for the person behind you challenge, today I am also going to challenge you to go buy a flat of flowers or some other spring blooming bulb, shrub or tree and here is the best part....donate your time and flowers to your local library, school yard etc....plant them for them...if possible!   

Sound fun? Lets go out there and make America beautiful! :)

I have a very fun give away for this week...I would love to share to one lucky person in a drawing my brand new "Pieces of me" class kit. This kit is over a 50.00 value...packed with so many fun items!

Come back and post your random act of kindness to enter to win. I will draw a winner sometime early next week. I will be on the road teaching in Sacramento, Rocklin and San Jose, but hope to have Internet access from time to time.

Happy Thursday! :)

psst...tomorrow is Drive-thru Thursday!

Get ready!

See ya in the morning with a challenge! :)

photo taken last year at the tulip festival in Holland, Mich.