Karen Grunberg's New Class

You might know her at A Million Memories as Karenika. She is on the AMM design team and is probably one of the kindest people you would ever meet. What is great about her is that she is so dang talented, creative, smart but most of all very humble and approachable. She has always gone out of her way to help me when I needed it or answer any questions with sincerity.

Well, Karen is teaching a new online course at NYC Scraps about mini books called "Holiday Mini Book Formulas". If you know anything about Karen, she is all about the journaling. She is the kind of person that takes scrapbooking seriously because it is all about the story and the art is all very personal. It is not to be judged because it is just about YOU. She is sincere in her writing, pages and mini. The story behind the picture is what you get. You really do get a sense that you are right there along with her and her family. You can check out her challenge blog too. It is called Creative Therapy . I encourage you to go and read it. The challenges are always thought provoking and will definitely get you thinking.

So I hope you check out her class, you sure don't want to miss this. If you love mini's and getting those precious stories told, then this is the class for you!

Pic's for Stacy's Challenge

It is so hard to pick from hundreds or thousands of pictures I am hoarding in my computer. But so far these are a handful that have caught my attention. Every single picture represents moments in my life right now. Memories I want to remember and look back on and makes me smile. Let me tell you a bit of what they mean to me.
I celebrated my 30th birthday this year. A very big event in any one's life. I have read and seen people go crazy over how old they are getting and yet I did not share their worries. I did however wanted to look good and loose a bit of extra pounds. Just so I can look back and say..."dang I was HOT!" when I am old and wrinkled up, lying in my warm comfy bed next to my sweet husband, looking at my soon to be mini album holding this particular picture. I didn't feel the pain of of adding another year into my life. I was proud to be 30 years old! In fact I think I told everyone I knew. So this picture not only represent what I look like, but it also reminds me of how I handled getting older, being totally happy, feeling healthy and just perfectly content about everything in my life.

This picture was a self portrait of myself, flying solo for the first time in a very long time, on my way to my first big scrapbook event.....Winter CHA Anaheim '08. I had the whole area to myself, got to put my feet up, relax and drinking a cup of Grande Cafe Mocha from Starbucks. When I look at this picture, it reminds me of how excited and nervous I was at the same time. I left my kids for the first time under someone else's care for more than 4 days, meeting on line friends, getting to go to CHA for the first time, meeting all the talented artist I look up to..that inspires me and most of all a time for myself to enjoy...guilt free and doing something that has to do with what I love to do...scrapbooking.

This is by far my favorite picture of me and my daughter. I remember holding my camera to take this, because I didn't know how to use the self timer...so silly. When I look at this, I see the similarities we have as far as features. But most of all I see what I have been blessed to have in my life and into this world. I see the happiness in my eyes and in her eyes comfort, trust and peace. I am so lucky to have this bond with her and how I see a bit of me in her. When I look at her it gives me joy to know the reason of why I am here and the purpose of my life. And that is to be the very best mom I could be for my kids. This picture just makes me happy!

Aaaah, our FIRST home! This is not bragging in any way, just for the record. I am so very proud to be a first time home owner. This house represents all our hard work as a couple. We started out with nothing and here we are today....we own our very own home. We bought this house when Jorge was away for school in Texas. So I was given a month to get a realtor, drive to Georgia from North Carolina, stay in a hotel with kids, find a house (that met all of Jorge's specifications ggrrr), do all the paper work, close, buy the house...all the while lugging around a 1 and 5 year old kids, in the middle of summer. Anyone who has close on a house knows the pain of what I am talking about. I was so proud of what I was able to do by myself, specially not knowing anything or have any experience on buying a first home. But besides that, Jorge and I are the first, in both our families children to own a house! We are both raced by single moms, poor and immigrant families. This is a BIG DEAL for us! And we did together.

But after saying all that, it also brings another memory I am not looking forward to. Due to my husband being relocated, we are now having to sell this house. Our FIRST home! It makes me sad to know that when we do sell it, it will no longer be ours. It brings up all other emotions that I am still not allowing to feel, due to the fact that it has not SOLD yet!

Jessica Sprague Stories in Hand Free Online Class

I just signed up for this class and I cant wait to start......wooo hooo! You know how I was saying I wanted to start creating more meaningful pages and just projects that tell real stories that I want my family to treasure for ever. Well this is perfect! OMGosh! I cant believe I stumbled upon this today. Coincident......I think not! So, I don't know if you can't tell, but I am really excited about this. It starts on Nov. 9th and its a 2 week class. The back story for the class is on her blog is HERE if you want to read more about it. And remember its FREE.... FREE .....FREE! And if you want to sign up, you can go here: www.jessicasprague.com

I know so far I have posted a few things that I want to do. And normally I would just say them and then end up not going through. But, this time its different. I am glad there are so many ideas out there right now, concentrating on meaningful pictures, pages or just stories you want to remember and share. I am so happy about this. My head is literally about to explode, I have so many ideas in my head. I am so inspired and just ready to tackle this. So, I have so much I want to do and I need to get focus, cuz I'm SERIOUS! I am doing this and all these challenges and classes are gonna help jump start my MOJO when it comes to changing my scrapping habits.

Hey, so check out the class and see if this is something you want to do. Do it with me! We can encourage each other and keep each other going. Leave me a comment if you want me as your classmate and a link to your blog. LOL! Hope to see many of you there! Good day folks!

New Martha Stewart Edge Punches!

Ok, so I passed by Michael's last week and happened to see that Martha had some new stuff. I looked really quick and there they were,,,,new punches! I picked up two of her new edge punches and I think they are AWESOME! Cant wait to play with these babies. She has some other cute one's but I am trying to be good. They were 30% off so I got the double scallop for $6 and the scallop dot for $10. Good deal, eh! I have had so many ask to see pics so here they are. Hope you guys find some at your Michaels.

Here's the double scallop.

And here's the Scallop Dot.

Give Yourself a Present!

I love Stacy J. and she inspires me to do better as a scrapper. I love her books and blog! So..... I decided to join in on her new challenge going on. Luv the idea and what it means. I must be honest and say I have not done anything creative in a long while and most of all meaningful to me or my family and friends. And lately, that is what I crave, look for and hope for. I have been really thinking about the things that I should or shouldn't do as a scrapper, asking myself why I create things and the purpose behind them. In short, I want to create things that have meaning and will be treasured and love even when I am long gone.

I know, I know....so dramatic! But seriously, I have really been thinking about this and this is the direction I want to take from now on. Will it be hard, yes! I'm pretty sure breaking any bad habits will. Taking the necessary time to create meaningful projects...that's hard..check! Finishing anything I start....hard.. check!

So this might be just what I needed. So I will be picking my 10 pictures that represent me "NOW", will post them here (having a hard time downloading pics right now) and then off to make my mini. Will post my mini when I am done. Hope you all decide to check it out and look at the challenge and see if this is something you want to do!

Here is it:
You have everything you need right now to be vibrant, happy and fully engaged in the creative process of life. Sometimes you just have to slow down, look around and realize it! Here’s what I want you to do …
• Snap ten or twelve photos of your life right now. Or find recent photos that you've already taken.
• Compile these photos in one of these super-cute Bazzill Mono-Mini albums (keep reading)
• Keep or carry this album with you, tucked in your purse or desk drawer for one full year.
• Promise to glance through the album every time you stumble upon it or pull it out.
• On October 1st, 2009, create a scrapbook page about your experience.

For more info here's her blog: Stacy's blog

Oh, on a side note I also want to do Ali's A Week in the Life...! Yea, I know there's so much I want to do. But that's how I am, I need idea's, list of things to do. Otherwise, I'll go crazy. LOL!

News from AMM!

Becca's class 5 Fall Favorites is now up!

You can buy the class here http://www.amillionmemories.com/product.php?id=10352 for $14.99. You can also buy the kit here http://www.amillionmemories.com/product.php?id=10353 for $18.50

A Million Memories October Kit is gorgeous so check it out!

Limited Edition kits!

Hope you like them! You can find the add-ons here: http://www.amillionmemories.com/product_line.php?id=1093

You can get the October kit here: http://www.amillionmemories.com/monthly_kits.php

Pumpkins and a park!

I was finally able to find a place that sells pumpkins. Yeah, I know who thought it would be sooo freaking hard! Anyway, I was hoping to take the kids to a real farm so they can pick out their own pumpkins, do a hay ride and a corn maze but no luck. This is the closest I could do. I drove to South Carolina for the kids and we had a great time. We also discovered there was a beautiful park 10 minutes away from the pumpkin sale so I had to check it out and it was gorgeous. I took some pics of the kids, but they were not very cooperative at this point. They gave me all thier energy taking pics with the pumpkins so that ok. Will have to go back on a better day, when I have more time and kids are more rested and not rushed!

Oh, at one point I thought I had lost all the pics I took for that day...well I did, I lost them cuz I accidentally pressed Format disk in my camera and erased all the pics. But I found something that can fix that problem and it was only $29. Anyway, I digress. Will talk to ya about that later, will probably have to post about that cuz that is awesome. Anyway, here are some pics I want to share with all of you!

Here's a picture specially for you baby! A picture of Isaac holding a pumpkin that resembles a certain body feature! >LOL...Isaac calls this pumpkin.....PUMPKIN BUTT!

Here are some picture's from the Living History park that I was talking about. I love that park and will take the kids again on a better day when its not too gloomy for more pictures. Love, love, love it!

What month is it again?

Yeah, I know what month it is.....it's October! So I am a bit disappointed with myself for not posting for quite some time. But I'm back and ready to go at it again. I do want to apologize for not keeping up with my blog....to the what????? a handful of you that still lurk or accidentally stumble upon my blog. teehee!

So much has happened....but no excuse...no excuse. I'm GUILTY as charge! There will be some changes happening in my blog soon, so please be patient. I am hoping to update my blog, just to keep it fresh and new. Change it up a bit! Well I will be posting some of the things that are going on at AMM (take note....to do list!) and some of the stuff that has happened that I have not been able to share with you all. OK.... that's about it. Be back with some new stuff soon!

The BUZZ @ A Million Memories

A Million Memories Sept Kit

Little House In The Woods

by: Jennifer Findlay

This kit is so versatile, picture below is what the back side of each pattern paper look like. So you have the choice of which side you like best. The only bad part is that its so hard to pick, because each side is soo cute you might have to get 2 of the kit just so you can showcase each side of the paper. : D

You can find them here: AMM Kits

The Perfect Day Class
by: Patti Hutchinson

For more details here's a link for ya:
http://www.amillionmemories.com/forum/v … p?id=19856

Basic Grey Giveaway
School is back in session. A lot of us have little ones that started Preschool and Kindergarten this year. Today was my daughter Chloe's first day of Kindergarten. I dropped her off and then walked home crying like a baby! LOL. I'm grateful for this day. I want to celebrate, so I'm going to give you all a chance to win this new paper collection by Basic Grey.Here's the catch (yah, there's always a catch) ~ tell me something that you are thankful for. I am thankful that my daughter is in remission and that she was able to start Kindergarten on time. I am grateful that she made a few friends at school today and that she came home happy and ready to do her first homework assignment with a smile on her face. I will choose a winner next Tuesday night, September 9th.

Link below is where to put your comment:

http://www.amillionmemories.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=191721#p191721

Design Team Sketch a Day Challenge

This is still running and you have until the 15th of September to get your LO's in to qualify to win. All you need to do is upload your LO to the corresponding thread and to the Check In thread for your LO to qualify. Below are just a couple of samples of the sketch we have for you.
For more info go here:

http://www.amillionmemories.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=19404

Becca's Sketch

Hilde's Sketch

BLUE DRESS

So I had a little photo session with Miss Isabella today, just before taking her to school. It's BLUE day at her class so we had to pick the perfect outfit for her to wear. I thought she was gonna wear this for picture day but, I dont think they will have one at this particular school. So anyway, this blue dress is so dang cute I just had to take pictures of her in it. I wish I would have remember to take pictures of her yesterday, it was PINK day yesterday and she had on pink from head to toe. So cute! Darn! Anyway, here it is.....her blue dress!

A Million Memories Sketch a Day Contest

We have some exciting plans and hope you will join in on the fun. So get ready! Hold onto your seats because we are about to challenge you!

We love sketches and we know YOU love sketches, so we are giving everyone at AMM the opportunity to get your hands on as many sketches as you can handle! Our amazing Design Team will be designing their own unique sketches for you to use EVERY SINGLE DAY for the next month. With each sketch that you use, you will get your name thrown into a drawing, and at the end of the month, you will be eligible to win the GRAND PRIZE. You don’t have to do every single sketch, but the more you do, the better your chances are of winning.

Sound fun? Here are the details: Do a layout, card or project based upon the sketch of your choice. Post your project in the thread of that sketch in the DESIGN TEAM SKETCH FORUM and in the “CHECK IN�� thread. The “CHECK-IN�� thread is going to be where we keep a tally of how many submissions you have for this contest. Easy enough?So get going! GO check out the sketches and go win those goodies! The winner will be announced on September 19th! For more details go here: http://www.amillionmemories.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=19404

amillionmemories.com

DINNER AND A MOVIE

Saturday was our official Anniversary and I am glad we had the chance to celebrate it....ALONE.... TOGETHER. The only thing that was bad, was that I didn't get to take a picture of it. HOW SAD am I? How could I do that? I cant believe, an avid scrapbooker and picture maniac.....ME....didnt take any pictures.

We got to dress up a little and when I say dress up, I mean not in our jeans or shorts. hee hee hee. We had a couple of people offered to babysit the kids and of course we took the chance. We got busy during the day trying to look for places we could go to that we normally don't get to go and finally came down to this fancy smancy French restaurant in a hotel somewhere and Bonefish Grill. I really didn't feel necessary to go to some place fancy and spend crazy money on food so I asked to go to the latter. Bonefish Grill it is!

It was actually not bad and pretty good on the price I might add, for someplace a little nicer than the norm. It may not have been fancy or totally overboard but it was nice to just sit there, talk, laugh and spend time together like that. Jorge had quite a few of their drinks so he was good but I myself cant drink before eating. The food was GREATE! Jorge ate all his but I couldn't. After eating the appetizer (fresh fried calamari) and sharing Jorge's clam chowder soup, I barely touched my dinner. But it was great. I think we are going back there again. It was a seafood place and we decided it was best to order everything seafood instead of pasta or steak. DUH! We had a great time and we even had a chocolate brownie with ice cream that our waitress had put a candle on for our anniversary. It was really sweet of her and we blew it out together. I secretly wished for a hundred more anniversary together. Fingers crossed it comes true. : )

After dinner we went to the movies and we saw the new Batman movie (The Dark Knight). We have been wanting to see it for the longest time and boy was it worth it. Nothing like a grown up movie you can just sit and enjoy with out any interruption from the kids. It was kinda long and a bit weird not having the kids but it was great. Man, batman looked good in that movie. I really enjoyed it.. can you tell. And that's it, nothing crazy! Just a great time with the one I LOVE!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

ELEVEN year's together baby!

Today is our JOTP anniversary and on the 16'th is our church wedding anniversary! I must say that, it has been such a fun ride with my hubby. And time has gone by so fast and I can't believe it's already 11 years ago since we first got married. Jorge truly is my best friend and knows me so well. Can't help but smile and laugh when we are together. I have so much fun and act like a teenage girl in love when I am around him. No plans tonight, but hopefully this Saturday we can get away for some needed alone time. Looking forward to a nice dinner and a grown up movie (not a cartoon). Yeah, we are boring like that...but it's alone time and we will take it. LOL!

Happy Anniversary My Love!!! No trade in's yet! Woo hoo!

School's back in sessions

So today is the first day of school for my kids. Bitter sweet for me, since it is Isabella's first year of Pre-K. I will surely miss our fun times hanging out at home. She was my shopping and running around buddy. She did everything with me and I cant believe she is such a big girl now and already in school. I must say she has been waiting for this day for soo long. For as long as she can understand what brother was able to do, being at school, she has wanted to go to school too and do the same things brother gets to do.

They woke up early and their clothes were clean and pressed, ate breakfast and got to take some first day of school pics to share. Let's see how long I can keep this up, ironing and waking up early and not rushing them. I hope to keep this year stress free and hoping that waking up early and making them breakfast and getting both of them ready wont be soo hard. I am sure if I just keep to my schedule I can do. I am a night owl and luv to stay up. So wish me luck! They were both very excited to go to school. Unlike all the other kids I know. Isaac gets to ride the school bus which is awesome since the bus stops right in front of the house and Isabella has to be dropped off and picked up. I said goodbye to her like 4 or 5 times and she was just looking at me like. OK already! You said good bye so many times already! And the other kids were holding on to their mommy's and daddy's, but Isabella had none of that. She was ready! I am a little sad and emotional today. But I am sure after my grocery shopping, cleaning up the house and preparing for dinner will erase that sadness to tiredness. Is that even a word? hee hee

Basic Grey Giveaway

A Million Memories is having a fun giveaway! Here are the details:

I always look forward to the Fall! This line inspires me to create projects for the Fall and I LOVE IT!

OK, if you'd like to win this line of papers, all you need to do is post a photo in this thread (http://www.amillionmemories.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=18876) of a photo that reminds you of the Fall. I will choose a winner on Monday, August 11th. The photo does not have to be taken by you.

Here is your prize:

This is one of my fave line from BG so I think this is an awesome giveaway! So dig out those photos and maybe you can win the entire line.

Funny video

I guess I have been really thinking about my kids and how both of them will be in school next week. This is a big deal for me, since I wont have a baby with me at home. Anyway, I was digging through pics and saw this video of my son's Thanksgiving School Show when he was in Kinder garden. Isabella was only 1 years old. There is a FUNNY part when I catch her dancing and well you see her reaction. My kids and I have been having a fun time watching it over and over again laughing at Isabella's reaction. Watch and see what I am talking about.

Maybe its just being her mom, but I really thought her reaction was so funny!

Bad bad blogger!

I know right!

Sorry I have not been around. Life has its tendency to throw you off your game. Hence the reason for why I have been absent. After CHA, I come home to semi messy house with so much catching up on laundry, cleaning, cooking and taking care of my babies and yes that is including the biggest baby of them all my husband. Only to find out he was leaving for San Antonio for a week just a day after I got back. URGH!

So that means no rest. Kids are still on summer break but we finally got some time to get ready for the new school year. I can't believe my babies are getting so big. Isabella will start her Pre-K in about a week from now. She has her school exam this Saturday and then Monday we do our parent conference in her school and then a couple of day after that she starts school. Isaac is going on 3rd grade and he cant wait. I took them shopping this past Friday and Saturday. WE got everything for them during our TAX FREE weekend. Yay! So happy I was able to get everything they needed for school supplies as well as clothes. Not a lot of clothes but enough to sustain them till one of the grandmas come over to spoil them rotten. I am planning on taking pics of Isabella trying out her outfits and figuring out which one she will wear for her first day. I am so oober excited for her. She is just dying to go to school already and everyday she ask...."am I going to school today?" Aaagh stop growing up little girl.

Anyway, another new thing for us is, our realtor has decided to terminate her contract with us to sell the house. SURPRISE!!! I mean, ok we were not happy with how it was going as far as selling the house but this was a surprise. Did not see that coming. We gave her a chance becuz she is a friend. Oh well! So now we are in the process of finding a new realtor. It is not going well. Tomorrow I will have to decide becuz I have no time to mess around, wasting time we need to sell this house. If it was up to me I can go and rent it out right now. So that I can pack up all my crap and take to storage, move to an apartment with my kids and live off of what we will need until we have to move to Washington. It is going to be hard and hectic around here for me. Jorge is heading out to San Antonio only this time he will be gone for 4 months. YEP! You heard me right 4 freakin months for Officer school. So by the time he is done with that we have to pack and move to Washington State. NO time and no messing around. I am hoping with Jorge being gone and both kids in school I can get a job part time and or take some online classes and try to finish up my associates. Agh! who know what will happen.

So there you have it. My crazy life in a nut shell. I am playing with AMM August Kit right now but have not gotten very far at all. I am working on a mini and I am very excited about it. You know I will post my stuff when I am done so I don't need to remind you I will. Thanks for listening to my crazy blabbering and complaining and venting. But before I go here is a pic of AMM's August Kit Sophistication and also Kimmi Anchord is doing an online class for AMM starting Aug. 25th. So here is a sneak for that as well. Enjoy and have a great night!

AMM's August Kit above and Kimmi's online Class (10 tips for summer fun) at the bottom.

To find more info about the kit and online class, you can go here: amillionmemories.com