Hot class

Okay so do you want to take your scrapbooking to the next level of design. Go sign up for this class with Cathy Zielske. She is hilarious. If I didn't have so many other things going on this fall I would totally take this class. If you sign up, let me know!

Now I'm off to finish up some pumpkin muffins for the tasting party tomorrow. I picked the pumpkins from our garden so they are fresh and yummy. I'm totally getting into these fresh ingridents!

End is near...

I can feel that the end of summer is near. The weather has been cooler, our teacher friends have returned to work, some leaves have started to fall to the ground & Jameson has his preschool open house this coming weekend. The odd part about the leaves and the weather turning is that it is still August, not typical for these parts. I love fall though so I'll take it as early as it wants to come. Makes me want to pull out my favorite jeans and sweatshirt and go to a football game (not to actually want the game though - more of a people water than sports - ha!). Speaking of watching, we're going to a Braves game this weekend. I'm so excited. I love watching baseball. My mom is coming in to visit and she is the true baseball lover in our family so it is only fitting that we would go to a game together.

In other news, I've been busy getting things ready for my Heartland Select tasting party this Saturday (if you're in the area - please come!), finishing some ADPi projects, chasing after a sneaker wearing skateboarder & preparing for a trade show next weekend with HS. I also got to test out how much the Cricut could do. I made the above banner for Jameson's school to help advertise. It was neat to use so much vinyl. I am really enjoying the larger bug (couldn't have made some of the letters on the little bug).


So about the sneakers and skateboard. We headed to commerce last night to get some shoes for the boy. I really wanted him to have something like sperry boat shoes so he had some 'dress-up' type shoes. It was quite the struggle to get this croc wearing kiddo to even try on the shoes. By the 3rd visit into the shoe store James wanted him to just pick out shoes. He talked him into these sneakers since they look like spiderman. And because he tried on the shoes his daddy said he could get the skateboard he'd been talking about. So when we got home he showed us all the 'tquits' (aka tricks) that he can do. He is quite entertaining, lets just pray there aren't any hurt parts from riding this fun wheeled toy. It is interesting how much this boys loves toys with wheels. As I watching him last night I was thinking about how almost all of his favorite toys, since he was a baby, have always had wheels.

Earlier today we had lots of friends join us at the pool. It was so nice to see so many of our church friends gathered together. This little cutie to the right is such a doll - I love those cheeks! And the 3 musketeers eating popsicles. I love these kids!

The digital design team that I'm on is having a call for more hybrid artists. Come on you know you want to give it a try.

08.08.08

I love these triple number dates! Jameson was lucky enough to have been born on one (5/5/05). We've joked that if he plays sports we know what number he should be. Until then he will continue to do silly things like play 'moodict' (aka music) with his squishy alligator. He did this for a good 20 minutes. Such a funny kid!

To celebrate today we had pizza at the pool with our cousins, two of which are staying the night. They giggle so much when they are together - love that! Now we're home and are watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics. Someday I think I'd like to actually attend, just for the experience. Until then I'll enjoy these sweet faces snuggling together!

And you all know how much I love etsy (yes my store has been reactivated). Another fun new find was shared with me today...functional, yet adorable patterned camera straps (thanks for sharing Myra!). Cotton Candy is pretty cool. She uses lots of modern fabrics, including some vera bradley ones. Thinking forward to Christmas, I'm thinking that when I get to shopping I'm going to attempt to buy or make as many handmade things as possible. Have you found any fun links lately? Please do share!

I've been doing quite a bit of creating lately - I know big surprise. I've been doing some fully digital pages and some completely paper. The page to the left with pictures from Jamie & Keith's wedding, was actually in a spot light thread - a first for me. I love the mix of having both digital & paper things in my 'toolbox'. However I know that I will never be fully digital. I had been doing so many digi stuff and after doing quite a bit on the computer I could tell that my brain was not 'level' and playing with some paper last night was the total cure. Funny how that works for me but it does.

So I'd mentioned that we'd been spending quite a bit of time on at the lake. I thought I would share a few fun pictures. One day the 'moms' had our turn with the really big Mable (this things is huge). Picture this, 3 grown women on a tube being pulled by the boat that is being driven by 1 hubby along with the other 2 husbands and 8 kids. It was quite a scene. We wished we could have gotten a picture of the boat because not one person was moving about or talking - that would most likely not have been the case if the adult roles had been switched. So the 3 of us did get knocked off one time - and it was a big one. I personally flipped all the way, up and over the back of the tube. We had a good time. After our ride we switched out the tube so that James could try wake-boarding. He loves the water and it was great to see him relax a bit and enjoy himself. I was so proud of him, he got right up!

Earlier today Jameson & I were out for a bike ride (luckily it was on in the mid 80's here today so we could be outside without being in the pool). He is totally into taking bike rides. We met a few of the other boys in the neighborhood who were also out just riding around. One of them was walking along, without a bike or shoes. I asked him why and he said his bike broke. So we got the golf cart and fixed his bike for him. Then the boys stuck around the house to play with Jameson a bit. He so loves to hang with the big boys. And these 3 boys are always so sweet to entertain the little boy. They actually said they like playing with him because he messes back with them and talks to them. I am pleasantly surprised since they are two 12 year old and one is 9. I wouldn't think they would want anything to do with this 3 year old. They were actually trying to encourage Jameson to take his training wheels off because they think he is so good on his bike. And speaking of bike rides. I took a few pictures earlier this week of both of my boys riding together. Look at that adorable little bike!

To practice a little photography I found a friend that has a lantana in her yard that has been attracting butterflies by the hundreds. There were so many of them they were calling me to take a few photos. Here are a few of my favs.

Heartland Select!

My new business adventure is selling an organic juice. The company's name is Heartland Select. The benefits that people are seeing from this juice is awesome. It is made from muscadines.

I'll let the pamplet tell the details...

Does Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, or Alzheimer's run in your family? Do you suffer from joint pain or allergies?

Here is your opportunity to do something good for yourself and your family. Don’t miss your chance to prevent disease, improve your health, and get in on the ground floor of this amazing product launch.

Heartland Select is loaded with Antioxidants. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) or antioxidant score of Heartland Select is 3764 per 2 oz. serving. For most Americans, one 2 oz. serving of Heartland Select, the leading functional beverage on the market, will more that double their daily fresh fruit and vegetable intake quotient.

Heartland phytochemicals “phyte” (fight) inflammation. Inflammatory diseases include: Allergies, Atherosclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, Alzheimer’s, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Fibromyalgia, Psoriasis, Colitis, COPD, and Gout.

Heartland Select phytochemicals promote heart and blood vessel health, reverse Metabolic Syndrome, and “phyte” (fight) Diabetic complications.

Finally, the Muscadine phytochemicals in Heartland Select have anti-Cancer properties and both treat cancer and prevent the development of cancer.

Now is the time to take action! Secure your order now for prevention. Learn how you can get your products for FREE and how you can even make a substantial income!

Source – “Muscadine Health: Healthful Benefits of Muscadine Products” by Diane K. Hartle, Ph.D. et.al. © 2008. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

If you're in my area next weekend, we're having a tasting party at the pavilion in my neighborhood. Stop by! Or if you're interested in getting in on the ground floor with me...drop me a line!

Questions? Give me a call or drop me an email. Official site opens October 2008 ~ temporary site.

Random!

Okay so this is going to be a totally random post. A bit of an update on the Ohio trip and a few stumbled upon sites with blurfing (blog surfing).

Wordle - so cool! You can put in a website, type in any words you like and it will make a random mess of the words. I put in the blog address and this is what it spit out. Go try it out!

Ice Cream in Ohio...every single night that we were visiting with our family in Akron we enjoyed good old fashioned ice cream. The second night after we got home, Jameson said "can we get some ice cream tonight." James & I just laughed because we knew that was going to happen. We luckily keep the freezer stocked with a variety of skinny cow treats.

Photography...I'd mentioned a few months ago that I was taking an online class at BPS. We're about a month into it. While I was in Ohio I was lucky enough to get together with my friend Myra (we went to high school together!). She is taking an online class with Candice Stringham. So when we were together what would we do other then take some pictures. The best part about it was that we didn't have any kids with us so we took pictures of each other. Since we're both the photographers in our family, we're rarely in the pictures. The profile picture of me was taken by her as were the pics in the double photo desktop example from last week. (Jameson showed up right at the end of our photography play so Myra grabbed a few of the little man & me.) Here is my favorite shot that I got of her.

Cedar Point! It was so much fun. We're not really amusement park type people, however that might be changing as Jameson gets older. He was was really into it. He loved the roller coasters best but the awesome splash zone was a close second. One morning James & I headed out (thanks MC) for some adult time. There were lots of us all together = silly bunch of peeps all waiting in line for over an hour for 3 minutes of entertainment. Overall we had a great time visiting with lots of extended family.

I got to spend some quality time with my girlfriends (thanks D&D). We were scrapbooking - I know big surprise but hey we all enjoy it! I so treasure these girls. My college roommate Jaimie now lives just outside of Columbus. At the last LALR weekend the group decided that we need to keep scrapbooking together. Without this hobby I know that I would not have stayed in touch quite this much with these gals. Since I live 600 miles from all of them, it is tough with us all having such busy lives. Having set dates to scrapbook together is our connection. We've already started talking about when we're going to do it next. I can't wait! - no photos from this gathering but I did find this one of Julie from 5 years ago. It was at a crop Jaimie organized when she was selling CM. Maybe next time we'll remember to take pictures of us since this time we were all so focused on creating things and chatting like a bunch of school girls! It was awesome. There is just something about being surrounded by friends that you have history with that is comforting to the soul.

We spent quite a bit of time swimming too. Jameson really enjoyed the pool at my mom's house. Since we weren't in public he felt like it would be okay to go without a suit. Really I think he would never wear clothes if we didn't make him. We also go to swim a bit at my cousins house. Their pool has salt water - very cool. Morgen did her first 'flip'. And luck for all of us I captured the whole thing with my handy camera! Thanks Keith, Cathy & Aubrey for having us over! Another day we were on the lake with Papa Jim. These Jarvis boys love their boats. It was fun to watch Jameson playing with so many men - he is a totally guys, guy.

Thank you to everyone that made time for us while we were visiting. It was great to see you all. I know there were lots more that we weren't able to see, it seemed like we were there long enough but there is just never enough time. Maybe next time or you're welcome to come visit us here...we'll be at the pool for the next four weeks for sure!

There was more that we did but I'll have to save that for another day. I have some other exciting news to share with everyone about a new business adventure we're going on. For now we're heading back to the pool to practice jumping!

Autism

This past week we found out that our friend Trey has been officially diagnosed with autism. Even though this is becoming more common, it does not make it any easier to know that a direct friend of mine is living with this everyday. Trey has been dealing with health issues for about a year now (he 2 years old now), seizures mixed with some developmental delays. I went to college with Elise, Trey's mom. She and her hubby James were both in our wedding. They are our friends. I know that with God's help they will get through this. I was reading another blog this week of someone that has a special needs child. A quote struck me, it said “i tortured myself thinking that in order to fully love her, i needed to be able to understand her head.” So many times we find ourselves feeling bad for people with special needs children and like this quote says, we think it is hard to fully love them because we don't fully understand them. The more I'm around children with special needs I know I am wrong in thinking this way. They are just as easy to love as any child...they were created by God to teach us all so much. They remember to stop and smell the roses and truly take it all in. Not worrying about trivial things.



"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)


Now here is the part that we can help to make a difference for Trey. His parents have found a school that will be able to help him be the best Trey that he can be. Their family is putting together a few different things...a Chinese auction, golf tournament in western Pennsylvania and participating in a walk-a-thon in Columbus, Ohio this fall. The main thing that I'm hoping we can help with is the auction by donating anything that could be sold. I'm planning to make an album or something creative. Will you join me? For more info please contact Elise's mom, Karen at weave_kws at hotmail.com. Or drop me a line and I can help out as well. Thank you in advance for reaching out to this family.

Busy week!

Wow we've had a busy week. Lucky for all of us it has been well documented in photos (over 1600 pics in my July folder - crazy I know). And in case anyone has forgotten, which I have not, I will eventually get to recapping our travels in July. I started the post but haven't gotten it all the way done.

This past week Jameson participated in a local soccer camp. It was through Challenger Sports. All of the coaches were awesome and the local families that helped organize the event were great. Jameson was a bit young this year but still had fun out there. His session was an hour long for 5 days. That was plenty long for this young 3 year old. The first picture is of him with the cleats and shin guards on. I wasn't sure if he was going to wear them or not. Once they were on, he decided it wasn't for him. The coach didn't seem to mind if he wore is crocs so that is what we did.
We're excited for next year as I'm sure he will enjoy it even more then, and might even wear the proper equipment. We'll have to wait and see. Maybe these will still fit then?! ha.

Another accomplishment for the little man this week...he jumped into the pool all on his own. He was just hanging out at the steps and then asked if he could jump off like Jeb. Normally when he says this he asks me to come over to hold his hand. Not this time, he jumped right in and got out and did it again. It is so cool to watch him do this on his own. - no photos of this event, I was in the water!

Something else fun from this week was visiting the garden that we'd helped to plant earlier this summer. It is a bit overrun by weeds but there were still some good crop. We brought home 3 rather large zucchinis. They were yummy too. I made a zucchini bread boat recipe and cranberry zucchini bread (delicious!). If anyone has a good recipe with zucchini, I'd love to see it. This seems to be the best thing coming out of the garden so far. Check out that huge bumble bee that was on the pumpkin flowers. So cool!

And the main thing that we've been doing with our time this week...relaxing at the lake!