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!