GCD Studios give-a-way!!!

...head on over to the GCD Studios BLOG... they are having a great give-a-way and you could win this...

TGIF and BLOG CANDY WINNER!!!

Margee' said...
Great cards! The first one resembles my life!
August 27, 2009 5:16 PM

CONGRATS Margee' you win :D

Please email eryn@unitystampco.com and let her know you were a BLOG CANDY WINNER on my blog and she will get your new UNITY STAMPS :D Happy Stamping!!!

Well finally its Friday...I have been waiting for this day for what feels like FOREVER...I go in this morning for the 1st part of my Bone Scan and then again this afternoon for the 2nd part...I am anxious to see if I have a fracture or not...I really don't want to hear that news...and I want to try to get back to my running...with only 5 weeks left till race day I am really beginning to feel anxious.

I still have to finish up Camryn's dress for the 1st day of school and I'm hoping to work on that sometime today too...this week has just flown by! And I'd also like to clean the house from top to bottom sometime before the end of the weekend so when the kids go back to school on Tuesday I can just sit back and relax :)

Ben has his Football Jamboree on Saturday in a neighboring town about 1/2 hour away - right in the middle of the afternoon...so that kinda makes getting things done difficult...but here goes the last weekend of summer!

lol - and now I'm just talking to myself because I had this little conversation yesterday with the girls and I found out that so many people don't even read blogs...and they just look at the pictures...well sorry no pictures today...just a conversation that apparently no one reads ;)

Hope everyone has a HAPPY FRIDAY...and I pray that today when I'm out driving I DO NOT run into any crazies!!! Some of you who I've talked to recently know exactly what I am talking about!

HIP HOP Everyone :D

Well this is it - the last HIP HOP - but new things are coming! So with that today the "Design Team" is sharing some "Sneak Peeks" from the September KOTM and let me tell you this coming month's kit will NOT disappoint you!


...on the inside of this card I used the cute telephone from "Everyday Adorable"

...and paper from the Carnival Ride Collection by GCD Studios it worked perfectly for this card!

...and I really LOVE how this one came together! I should take to my favorite coffee makers and friends: Sarah, Dallas, Justin and Chase over at STARBUCKS - I love those guys!



I used BG, Kraft, Quickutz Nesting Label, WeRMemory Keepers,and Machine Stitching & Ribbon :)



Well that's all I have for you folks - thanks for stopping by...now its time to head on over to see...



** JULIE **

...but someone will be a lucky winner of some awesome BLOG CANDY so be sure to check back in tomorrow to see if its YOU!!! :)

50 Cupcake Name Tags Done :D

I just finished up 50 Cupcake Name Tags for a non-profit organization that contacted me after seeing Camryn's cupcake invites for her 6th Birthday. When Lynn from the NC Foothills Blue Star Mothers asked me if I would make these name tags I felt honored and was more then happy to help out a great charity. After having a chance to read what this group was all about and what they did, I felt even more honored that I was asked . To make the name tags I used some bazzill cardstock, Bo-Bunny Pattern Paper, American Crafts Buttons and of course the BIG Polka Dot Cupcake Stamp by Unity Stamping Co. They are having a charity crop called “Cropping for our Troops” for about 50 women as a fundraiser for the charity. They are in need of donations for the event and also for the charity.

Scrapbook Royalty is also taking dontations for this event/organization. You can go HERE to visit their site.

There are so many soldiers and lots of young soldiers that don’t have anybody to send them care packages or the stuff that they need. If they are in a small place in Afghanistan, they do not have a PX so there isn’t any place to go to get gum, snacks etc….

The chaplains contact this organization and asks on behalf of these soldiers for supplies and care packages. They are in dire need. Some may have no family, some may come from families with insufficient funds etc, and so they get nothing. This Charity provides care packages for these men. They work through the chaplains that work with the men.
So if you would like to donate towards the charity, it is tax deductible. She will give you the write off info. If anyone wants to make a donation, create a donation or read more about this charity go to Blue Star Mothers NC Foothills Site!

Celebration after Celebration

...Mid-August we have one celebration after another :)




For this Digital LO I used: Crystal Wilkerson: Hawaiin Luau Papers, Tiny Spots & Funky Florals along with her June 09 Office Supplies which are available at JessicaSprague.com and Sande Krieger's Kraft Background & Stitching.

Stuart and I celebrate our Anniversary August 15th and then Stuart's Birthday is the 17th...so it seems like there is just about 4 day's of celebrations in a row...this year was no different!

Last Saturday, we drove to Prosser and did a little wine tasting...11 years ago we were married at a small winery it was fun to get out and do some tasting...we went to a new winery that just opened this past week...Stuart knows the owners so we got the grand tour...I was kicking myself for NOT having my camera with me...I could have gotten some great photos! The kids were with us and that wasn't an issue - not for us or the owners, "see it pays to know people," but the looks on other people's faces was priceless! lol

We tried several different wines and then chose our favorite to bring home and enjoy later. We also stopped at Chukar Cherries...sampled too many before deciding on the "Raspberry Truffles".

On the way our of town we stopped at one more winery and grabbed one more bottle of wine...this one is AMAZING :) Its a Late Harvest Riesling...super sweet - really yummy!!!



...then we headed over to Stuart's parent's house to visit with his brother who was in town briefly...he has some gift for us from his recent trip to Europe...such fun gift THANKS Ted!
And since it was our Anniversary Stuart and I went to the movies and saw The Ugly Truth...it was funny and Stuart and I both seemed to enjoy it :)

...then on Monday, it was Stuart's Birthday...but it was also Ben's 1st EVER FOOTBALL practice...so before we could celebrate...we went to practice...



Ben will be a Richland Raider this year...and to our surprise his cousin Jakob was also drafted...so the boys will be playing on the same team...WATCH OUT!!! lol

Stuart played for the Richland Raiders 24 years ago...it looks like the Dezember's will be carrying on the Raider tradition for this generation. (and I'm sure when Mason's old enough he'll be playing too!)

...practice ran real late...issuing out equipment took forever...which meant making Stuart's Birthday dinner was going to be late...but we managed :) Stuart's request for his Birthday this year was Fish Tacos...so we found and bought some Mahi Mahi and cooked it up and dinner turned out real tasty...unless you asked Mason. Stuart also wanted a DQ ice cream cake...but I really was wanting some Costco cupcakes...so I got those too. The kid wrapped Stuart's gifts themselves and couldn't wait for him to open them...Mason was so funny he whispered to me and asked me if he could just open up his and give to Stuart instead of waiting for him to open it - lol
darn that waiting! :)


For this digital LO I used: Crystal Wilkerson: August 09 Paper Collection, Template Version 01 and June Office Supplies and LivEdesign's Scribbled Alpha which are all available at JessicaSprague.com along with Crystal Wilkerson: Birthday Doodle Brushes and Sande Krieger: Stitching.

Its time to HIP HOP!!!

Wow it feels like I just posted last weeks HIP HOP post...time is just racing by!

Today I made a LO using the 1st Official Scrapbooking Kit for Stores...called "Le Chic Vintage" its a kit FULL of great stamps made especially for the scrapbooker and Card Maker too! It will be available September 1st for purchase.



Now its time to head on over to see...

** NATALIE **

Another digital LO to share...

Here's my August LO for "Celebrate the Seasons" class over at 2Peas...I used lots of stuff by Crystal Wilkerson and the Brown Bag Alpha is by Pamela Donnis.

...today has been one of those days...a lazy day...still no running for me :(

The kids and I went to STARBUCKS this morning...and then went antiquing...but we didn't find any treasures...when we got home I needed something to quiet them down a bit so I decided to put in the movie that was supposed to be for tonight...popped them some popcorn and that did the trick!

Stuart comes home early on Fridays - and we all went out to lunch and had a NICE lunch - expensive but nice :) We found the main part of his birthday dinner...and he ask me if we could just have it on Sunday...and I looked at him and said..."How many Birthday's do you want?" He answered...FOUR - lol....whatever!!!

...then later this afternoon we went and took care of the cats we've been watching, Ben mowed their lawn...I cleaned up a yucky mess on their carpet...I'm not quite sure what it was...but it was gross!!!

Then I've been really lazy the rest of the day...so not like me...I hate just sitting...but my foot isn't allowing me to do much else :(

An Early Birthday Celebration

This past Sunday, we went over to Stuart's parents house to celebrate his Birthday EARLY :)

...we had kabobs, with shrimp, chicken and beef...even hotdogs for the kiddos...fruit...veggies...you name it we had it. I also made an antipasto salad and a jello salad...and some yummy cupcakes...and now we are already looking forward to what we are going to eat on his real Birthday!

We were happy to spend the evening with Stuart's parents and Grandpa and even our friends who has just moved into town the day before from Spokane.

Now I just have a couple days left to figure out how to make the main dish for Stuart's Birthday dinner on his real birthday - wish me luck!



Credits: Template from Amanda at MandaGirl.com, Brushes by Carla Dudley, EVERYTHING else by Crystal Wilkerson. tfl :)

Its Thursday again!!!

It's time to HIP HOP!!!

We are already well on our way into the month of August...I just don't even how that happened! We have less then 3 weeks of our summer to go and school will be starting - the summer is just flying by!!!

Today, I first want to share a Birthday card with you using the August KOTM and the new summer release MORNING GLORY by GCD Studios.




and here's a LO :) Here I used GCD Studios "VINTAGE BOY" and that darling bicycle comes from the August KOTM!



(sorry about that glare on the photo...its really hard to take a picture of a LO that's base is a transparency lol - and especially hard when you don't have any patience like me ;)...)





...and take a peek at the August INCENTIVE KIT!!! "Sending My Love" can be yours...all you need to do is...Sign up in August as a NEW MEMBER for the Kit of the Month and get THIS adorable kit for FREE! It's as easy as that :)






Now it's time to head on over to see...



** Brooke **

Plaaaayyyy Baaaallll!!!!

...as Mason would say :)

We went to the Dust Devil game the other night and Mason was the little voice that got to shout out those two little words before the game got started! It was so funny before he actually said "Play Ball" they talked to him a little bit and asked him what his favorite part about coming to the Dust Devil games....and he shouts out HOT DOGS!!! Everyone laughed...




Ben's team had their end of the season party at the GESA Stadium and they watched the Dust Devil's play Spokane...before the game started they all got to run on the field with a player and so did some of their siblings...Camryn was really scared and even started to cry right before it was time to go...but she was brave enough in the end and made it out there on she own...



...and then it was time for the National Anthem, looks like Mr. Mason forgot to take off his hat...



We had a fun night!

A digital LO to share...

Mostly everything I used to make this digital LO can be found over at JessicaSprague.com..I added just a couple elements by Carla Dudley from her Capture+Record Digital Kit.

One light bulb at a time...

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would . With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American .
Good idea . . . one light bulb at a time . . . .

Check this out ... I can verify this because I was in Lowe's the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments . They were all made in China . The next day I was in Ace Hardwareand just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there . They were made in USA . Start looking .

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job . So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track . Let's get behind her!


My grandson likes Hershey's candy . I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now . I do not buy it any more .. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now . I have switched to Crest .. You have to read the labels on everything .

This past weekend I was at Kroger . I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets . I was in the light bulbaisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value . " I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price . The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland , Ohio .

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here .

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets . . . yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada . The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA ! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!

(We should have awakened a decade ago . . . . . . )

Let's get with the program . . . . help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U.S.A.

(my mom pasted this email to me and I thought I would share it with all of you :)...)

It's time to HIP HOP!!!

...are you all ready for 100% happy!!! That's the kit I used today on these LOs :) This is the NEW kit "found ONLY in Stores" and it is AWESOME!!!

Click HERE to find a store where you can grab this kit for yourself :)

I couldn't wait to scrap our little trip to the strawberry fields we took to Spokane in June, and I just LOVE how the LO came together! The hardest part was narrowing down which photos to use...I have so many more photos...I just might have to put together a mini of this wonderful day.

...and I also have a Birthday Day Card to share today using the August KOTM...

I used the NEW CHA RELEASE "Sunny Days" from GCD Studios.

Unity Stamping Co. never ceases to amaze me...they continue to produce fun stamps to work with...I love them all :) I'm looking forward to seeing all their new CHA Releases! How about you?

Now its time to hop on over to see the amazing work of...

*** Jimmi ***

Kenny Chesney's Sun City Carnival Tour 2009

...and I got to see him in Seattle...he was AWESOME...his opening acts were...Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Genty and Sugarland ...and I must say that SUGARLAND was by far my FAVORITE :D They were amazing!!!

...so let me backtrack a bit and say that on Friday morning I got tickets to Kenny Chesney (THANKS to Jon) and I knew that Gina my twin sis just LOVES Kenny Chesney...so I knew I had to call her and invite her along...Gina and I hadn't talked in about 2months...but I knew she would WANT to go and I knew this was the right thing to do :) PLUS I knew that we would have a GREAT time together!!!

So on Saturday morning we jumped in the car and headed to Seattle at 10 am...but of course once we got there we got stuck in a traffic jam for about an hour because it was Seafair Weekend and the airshow was going on...they closed the highway and we were STUCK...until it was over!

When we first got there and found our seats we were so happy that we were in the shade...since this past week the Pacific Northwest had been going through a heat wave and even the Seattle Area had been seeing temperatures into the 100's in some areas...


...but that didn't last as long as we had hoped!

Lady Antebellum came out first...


...then Miranda Lambert, was a bit disappointed that she didn't play my FAVORITE song (crazy ex-girlfriend...lol...and no I wouldn't consider myself the crazy ex!)


...then Montgomery Gentry


SUGARLAND was next and...
...by now we were back in the HOT SUN!!!


...as I mentioned before SUGARLAND was AWESOME!!! I would definietly go see them again...


...we were hoping that by the time Kenny Chesney came on the sun would be down and it wouldn't mess up any of our photo ops :D lol
Well the sun went down and it was time for Kenny to come out...


...and finally after 5 hours...it was time for Mr. Kenny Chesney himself!!!












What a great concert...I'm not sure how we did it - but some how we beat the crowds and we got out of there fast and back on the highway with no troubles at all. Gina was dropped off at home and I was home and in bed at 3:03 am.

Summer Baseball has come to an end...

...and we ended the Richland Rattlesnake Tournament in 2nd place!!! :D That's a great way to end the season ~

We started the tournament Thursday evening...played again two games in over 100 degree heat on Friday and it was HOT!!!

Most of this Summer Ben has played 3rd Base or Left Field...he said he liked playing at those spots...but...there's always a but lol



That darn fence was always getting in my way when I was trying to take photos!






{In the 2nd game on Friday}
During the regular season in the Spring...Ben's position was catcher...finally he got to show his "stuff" this summer :)






When both games where over and we finally got back to the car so we could head home it was 125 degrees in the car - I started the car and got the air going...I tried to take a picture but for some reason but camera wouldn't focus...by the time it did it already dropped to 124...

...and yes I do see all that dust...my car is really dirty lol...looks like Ben will have a job to do this week :)

I gave the coaches their "Thank You" gifts after the game on Friday because I was going to miss the games on Saturday because I got tickets to KENNY CHESNEY...I was really torn about going...I didn't want to miss Ben's game - especially if he got to play in the championship game and what do you know...he did :( but Stuart and I kept texting each other and I was kept up to date on what was happening...I still wish I was there cheering him on!!! Ben was really great about it all he said, "Its ok - you go to the concert mom and have fun, I'll call you!"

Here's what I made the coaches...


Saturday morning the boys had a semi final game and they won ~ so that meant they were to play again in the championship game and of course this weekend was the HOTEST weekend so far of the summer...it ended up being 108 degrees...Stuart had to deal with all the kids by himself...I don't know how he did since I was off to Seattle enjoying myself at the concert...but since I came home and everyone was still alive - I guess he managed pretty well :)

Next weekend is football tryouts...and then football season starts on the 17th...so we have 15days of NOTHING :D no practices NO GAMES...I keep asking myself why do we do this to ourselves...then I remember that we aren't doing this to US we are doing this for our children!