10 Random Things Friday...

Ummm, i gotsta, gotsta hurry and i should have done this (post) last night but i didn't because a new episode of "First 48" was on and if you know anything about me, you know i LOVE me some police 

drama!!!! 

Ok....

1. This is why i need to get busy:

("trash", so i don't try to eat out of it, i guess?!)

 i can hardly stand to show these, it is OUT OF CONTROL!  i'm in a downward spiral with photo's. i have soooooooooooo many and i just can't keep them in a box. at this point i am sooooooooo behind that i am going NUTS trying to get them in albums. i have given up doing the xtra fancy pages but i'm a little psycho about making sure they are in date order.  there are stacks and stacks and stacks of pages waiting to go into albums.  as much anxiety as this causes me, i know most would encourage me to just give it up- but it is NOT happening, i'm in too deep!

(paper only- you know, so i don't put "trash" in it!)

2. I'm going to start this book (in LARGE print edition! cause i'm 42 now)

 after i finish this.

3. i put food coloring (1 drop) in my soap to make it fancy and match my kitchen.  i'll let you know if my hands are blue by the end of the month.

4. i'm giving this mascara a try-it says "AVEC volume boosting complex" and because i am a marketing person's dream and believe EVERYTHING they put on packaging... i bought it!

(it's by Rimmel London)

5. The Mister is getting ready for a BIG hunting trip... have ya ever seen so much camo?

6. from my yard

7. i've got this long skinny laundry room, it needs glamified! here is the before, the after is still in my head.  the walls are chocolate brown, i'm going to try and think around that because i HATE to paint and the mister wasn't keen on hot pink walls...

8. one of the projects in that sewing book of kids clothes. i want to dress like this, so therefore, Darling is going to. shut up, i know i can't sew, but in my mind i can and that's where it counts, right?

9 have i mentioned my awesome friend Chris who drew this picture of my daughter (when she was 3 at an Easter egg hunt-my daughter, NOT Chris).  i need to get it framed, it's a goal before the end of this year!

 let's look a little closer, because it is awesome!

10. PLEASE take a look at the above tab, the one about the kids hat drive. if you would facebook, blog or twitter this information, i will LOVE you forever!!

(this photo is from last years hat drive. the poor little one in the front isn't so happy about being in a baby pile!)

i'd also like to announce which orphanage will be receiving the hats this year:

Chengdu City Children's Welfare Center.

IF you have ANY questions about this hat drive, please email me!!

chinamommy_04@yahoo.com

My Memories Suite 3 GIVE-AWAY contest!!!!

HERE

(Soooooo excited about this!!)

Like I told you before, I was given (yes, GIVEN for free) a copy of My Memories Suite 2 to try and then the option to do a give-away.  Trust me friends, if I didn't like it, I would tell you.  Thankfully, I have GOOD NEWS about My Memories Suite 2- ❤I LOVE IT!!❤  I feel like I've only begun to scratch the surface with this software.

I jumped in right away with the albums that are right in the software, all you do is drop and drag your photos!  There are all kinds of cute embellishments, tons of fonts, background papers, and options, options, options!  This software is SO easy to figure out- Yes, even for ME!!  For you regular readers, you know I've had a certain piece of scrapbooking equipment since Nov that I have yet to even turn on due to being overwhelmed by all the learning I have to do.  My Memories Suite 2 had me making an album in minutes, minutes people, not months!!!!! Once you're ready to move on, their website is FULL of amazing digital scrapbookings kits full of embellishments and papers.

Ok, enough of my blubbering-let's get to the GIVE AWAY...

What this includes: your very own copy of My Memories Suite 2 (which retails for $39.97!!).  That's right, you get the whole software package for FREE (if ya win, that is!).  You have until AUGUST 29, 2011 @ 5:00PM to enter this give-away!!

ALL you have to do is 1. head to the My Memories site and let me know what digital scrapbook kit you like best.  That's it, go to their site: CLICK HERE!, check out all the AMAZING digital kits, let me know and you are entered for a copy of the software!

Now, let's say you want MORE MORE MORE entries, here's what else you can do:

(make sure you leave a separate comment for each one that you do!!)

2. Become a new follower of chinamommy

3. "Like" chinamommy on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/chinamommy

4. "Like" my memories on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/mymemoriessuite

There you go, 4 ways to get an entry, easy-right??!!

AND... 

Want to KNOW more?  Take a look at My Memories youtube video's right 

HERE!!!!!
Ok, go tell the world!!!
Oh, and.... if you want to go ahead and BUY my memories suite 2 here is a code for:
$10 off the software 
AND
$10 off a purchase in their store!!
The code is: STMMMS83174 (just cut in paste it when you check out!).
Ok, I DO get some kickback on this when you use my code, so dude:
USE MY CODE!!  not only that, share my code and when i buy a place in maui you all can come over for a BBQ!!!

Scrapbooking Nerd-fest

I don't know...is scrapbooking dorkie?  You know how you get to a certain age and you're all like "is that still cool?"  Why is everyone looking at me weird?  Is it because I'm wearing 1 sparkly glove?

or why does everyone keep staring at my awesome boyfriends mullet?

My brother always calls us crappers, I then have to explain "we're scrappers that crop, not crappers that scrop" (although, I am NOT saying I'm a scrapper that doesn't crap...I don't need Jamie Lee and her yogurt, if you know what I'm sayin').  Well, regardless of what the world (or brothers) think, I LIKE it!  I like getting together with my goofball friends, I like gettin' crafty and I like looking at all my pictures!  This weekend we cropped Friday night from 6-midnight and Saturday from 9 AM - 9:30 PM, dorkalicious fun!

Friday night Cheeky green and I ran over to Qdoba and I ate a baby.

So this is the only picture I took this weekend-shocking that it's a self portrait, I know! We also got together a couple Friday nights ago and I had a salad...

(Cheeky taking a picture of it...)

that I totally flipped onto the floor...

and here are the dorks taking pictures of it...

Yeah, that's my work space...a little chaotic, yes?!

Today is laundry day so I'm hanging out in the kitchen working on MORE pages, I've only got about 8 more of these boxes FULL of photos....

So, do you still scrapbook? Did you ever? How do you display the pictures you take (and actually print!)? I don't even want to think of the amount of photos my friend "momof5" has...

Ok, off to get nerdy!

Let me introduce you to....

the AMAZING Mrs. Danielle Thompson!!

Do you know this lady?  Let me tell you, if you don't, you SHOULD!!  Honestly, I can't even express to you how amazing I think this gal is!  I first came to "know" her when she submitted pages to scrapbooking magazines years ago.  I knew the second I saw her pages that I wanted to see more of her work... I was immediately taken with her fresh, whimsical style.  Even though Danielle no longer scrapbooks, she's moved on to bigger and better things!

Go check out her blog here:

Thompson Family-Life

and then jump over to Modern Kiddo to see her FREE download for these amazing printable ornaments (yeah, I know I'm late, what else is new?!)

Modern Kiddo

and... 

 her Kitschy Digitals Blog

I know, I know... You're welcome!

(all pictures here are BY Danielle who, after checking out her blog, will make you realize how BADLY I must learn how to use my new camera and photoshop!)

Have you met my weird-o friends?

No, not really!  Or maybe... I mean, I never take the term "weird-o" in a negative way, do you? I like quirks, I like unusual people, I like funny, I like creative, I like mischievous!  I like people that can laugh at themselves and I like people that don't have a lot of secrets- hey, I tell mine!!  I don't like boring, I feel the need to fill the space with chatter, wait- I always feel that need, but still, boring people BORE me!!

  Wouldn't you rather hang out with this... guy?

or maybe this one?

or...this cutie?!

maybe all these men would make your husband jealous?!

Perhaps this gal would be better

You could talk about your stuffed animal collection, as long as you don't mind the SMOKE!

I love how the Internet has connected like-minded people...  

Anyway, check out the links below and see 7 things about each of my very interesting pals!!

http://bundlesofblossoms.blogspot.com/2010/08/7-things-about-me-im-sure-you-didnt.html

and

http://inmyminditisfunny.blogspot.com/2010/08/award.html

and

http://melisthepositivepessimist.blogspot.com/2010/08/award-for-me.html

If I didn't include you in this award (AWARD-doesn't that sound prestigious?), don't be insulted, chalk it up to the fact I had a brain fart and just couldn't think of anyone else as I was typing out my list!  If you want to play along, grab the list, add to your blog and type in your own answers... or use mine if you're lame :)

No, I still don't know how to use my camera, I spent the weekend hiding in my studio (the pollen is about to take me down!) catching up on darlings scrapbooks, crocheting, and cutting the fabric for my camera strap re-do!

I have too much to quit now...

As I went down to my studio yesterday my mind was spinning... WHAT should I work on 1st?  My granny square blanket? 

My crochet skirt? 

My baby hats for China? 

Paint?

Paper clay? Jewelry? learn to draw? Toilet paper roll mixed media idea?... 

Honestly, I have SO many ideas that it makes me jittery and I end up doing nothing... Are you other artsy mama's like that?

When I got to my room the GIANT stack of pictures started screaming...

You know, I have 1 child and pretty much have taken a picture (or 5) of her doing everything from eating her 1st sandwich to her just being cute.  Needless to say, I have thousands of pictures and of course, feel the need to put them all in a scrapbook!

(this book is JUST our 1 week trip to Hawaii...)

I will say lately, I have allowed myself to just PUT THEM ON PAPER and then I'll go back and embellish them later, later could be when I'm 80...

I know so many people have gone to digital scrap booking, but with the amount of supplies I have, I honestly feel like I NEED to use up a few more before I start down that road...

One stack of paper, not including the piles of paper stacked on shelves and in paper carriers!

1 (of many) totes full of embellishments

ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon!

1 of many cabinets full of doo-dads

GLITTER: never enough!

files full of more doo-dads...

cricut cartridges...yeah, I've got a few :)

(HEY: GP mom-of-5: recognize that Qualex box?)

So, as you can see, I'll be stickin' and pastin' the summer away working on my totes of pictures!

Oh yeah, if you feel the need to make fun of me for being a "scrapbooker" go ahead!  I make fun of it too, but I will say if my house is on fire the dog is on his own- I'm grabbin' my photo albums!!

Darling and I are off to the "$4/bag book sale at our local library".  The Mister and I went last Saturday and got a huge stack.
 I'm reading "The Book of Bright Ideas" by Sandra Kring.
i like it!

Have a great day!
and

a little plug about my BABY HAT DRIVE 

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat (you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. email me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com for my address.

3. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA next fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

Art Supply outlet, say WHAT??!!

Yesterday Cheeky Green and I went on a quest, a quest to find the allusive "THE OUTLET"!  I'd heard stories but wondered if it was all an urban legend...  Well, after 3 hours of driving in a 2 mile radius of where we had eaten breakfast, the shaggin' waggon was out of gas (except when we went up a hill then the tank said it was 1/2 full... never trust a 17 year old Volvo with something to prove!).  We chugged into a gas station in the FANCY town of EGR - just ask them, they'll tell you!  They're a town full of fancy folk so be careful outsiders!  Anywhooo... Cheeky ran in to the station while I pumped the old gal full of gas.  Being the "GREEN" girl that she is, she didn't buy that map, oh no, she just stole a peek!  Back on the road, and within moments we were arriving in the toe of the ghetto.

We stopped off at Mahogany's Island of Beauty.

Cheeky got a weave.

Saw this cool folk art house

and then.... there it was, sun shining down on it from Heaven:

THE OUTLET!! (right across from Lee Auto- not to be confused with Lee's Auto-duh!).

Here's Cheeky with her goods.  Yes her mouth is open, she couldn't keep it shut long enough for me to get the picture!  I have no time for those quiet shy gals with nothin' to say!  When my friends and I are together, I like to think 9,437 stories are started and not a 1 is ever finished!

All the ladies shopping at THE OUTLET learned a valuable lesson today:

Some of my goodies:

wooden cherries for my cutie-cupcakes and some "doll" pegs.

.45 cents each!!

Elsie Flannigan

Claudine Hellmuth sticky canvas- anyone used this?  I don't know what to do with it, but you know I had to have it!  It's usually 12.99, they had it for $5.75 and 40% off that!  HELLO!!

some fun papers.

All their scrapbooking supplies are already at least 1/2 off and then they were another 40% off, so it was super cheap!!

I also got a whole set of crochet hooks so tiny you crochet thread with them... don't even ask me why!  WHY? Because they were $2, that's why!

And here's a little update on my kitchen remodel... 

The tile is the last part to be finished... well, the all new stainless appliances I'm dreaming of with be the last, but I still am working on that... :)

The 1st row is almost up.

the mess is makin' this girl a little crazier than usual...

IF you squint your eyes, you can kinda imagine what it will look like when it's done!

The mister has to go around SEVEN outlets!  So funny because I'm use to living in OLD, OLD houses where you're lucky to have 7 outlets in the whole house!

After these are all in place he'll get those glass tile accents put in... so excited to have this done and my kitchen back in order so I can (NOT) cook in it!

Film Festival in Saugatuck, Michigan this weekend!!

http://www.waterfrontfilm.org/

It's a tradition we do every year... so fun!  I'll try to get a lot of pictures- last year I took 1 of the Mister going into an porta-potty...I have NO idea why!

Are you doing anything FUN this weekend?  I hope so!

See you next week...if I'm out of the fetal position.  Darlings last day of school is today and the thought of entertaining an only child all summer is somewhat of a daunting task to say the least.  But then again, my friend- G.P. mama who has 5 gets the trophy (and the medal and the crown!!).

and...

a little plug about my BABY HAT DRIVE 

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat (you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. email me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com for my address.

3. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA next fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!