Noodle Soup

That whoosing sound you hear...

...is my November flying by. Holy time warp, Batman! Anyone else feel like if they blink they might just miss an entire month at this time of year?

I'm working my way back into the usual daily groove, after a week off from school. Five jam-packed, fun-filled days were spent in beautiful Lake Oswego, Oregon, visiting my sister and her family. 

This is what welcomed us to our basement digs. Because my sister is secretly Martha Stewart, I think.

There was lots of fun cousin time

...and plenty of outings. A favorite was the cook your own pancakes restaurant.

We were also pretty impressed with the cart escalator at the two-story Target.

And the kids all made their own blown glass Christmas ornaments! (See, I told you...Martha Stewart, right?)

Oh, and we had pie for breakfast on Thanksgiving.

It rained a bunch, but even that was fun!

(photo edited with my new favorite phone app, Halftone.)

 

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I'm launching into full-blown Holiday Mode. I've got a good chunk of my Christmas shopping done, a peppermint mocha by my side, and a couple of fun projects on my table. It's a good time of year!

If you're looking to make (and scrapbook) some fun holiday memories this season, be sure to check out the new 12 Days of Christmas class at Big Picture Classes. (I'm Day 5!)

    

For the 12 days leading up to Christmas, you will receive an email from a BPC teacher with a photo prompt and a list of supplies to gather. Preparing specific holiday pictures and products as Christmas approaches will help you focus on the present moments and the joyful anticipation in a more thoughtful way—without feeling any pressure to scrapbook right away! Then, starting on December 25th, you'll get to "open" a new handout each day, designed to guide and inspire you in pulling together pictures and products to complete a dozen different layouts.

Tomorrow's the day!

Just one final reminder that the super fun TRUE SCRAP cyber event kicks off tomorrow!

My class on taking and using cell phone photos is on Friday at 4pm Eastern time, and I can hardly wait to share it! Plus, I've got a pretty cool surprise up my sleeve for the students who are there during the live class...just sayin'. ;)

There's still time to sign up, so if you've been waffling, do it already! You'll be glad you did!

Apple Season

It's apple season! And I don't just mean the crisp, juicy fall fruit...although, I do love those!

Check out the "apples of my eye" from this past week.

 

1. You betcha I jumped on the the iPhone 4S bandwagon!

The main reason I upgraded is because I just couldn't resist the 8 megapixel camera. Especially since I'm teaching a class on taking and scrapbooking phone photos at True Scrap this week. It's necessary research! ;)

(And btw, if you're not signed up for True Scrap yet, it's not too late. It starts this Thursday. Just click through the link & join the three days of classes, make & takes, fun, and inspiration!)

 

2. I bought this cute apron at Target, to put me in the mood for fall cooking and baking. 

Who am I kidding? I'm always in the mood for stirring up some fall yumminess in the kitchen. But now I'll look super adorable doing it! This would make THE CUTEST teacher gift...if both my kids didn't have male teachers this year.

 

3. Meet my new favorite breakfast food: the grilled apple-and-cheese sandwich!

I'm sure I'm not the first person to discover this culinary delight, but I concocted it on a whim a couple of weeks ago, and it's a keeper. I make it with my panini grill. Just layer cheddar, thinly sliced apples, and more cheddar between two slices of good, whole grain bread. Healthy, satisfying, and sooo good!

Do you have a favorite fall recipe, either with or without apples? I'd love it if you'd share! My new apron needs to be broken in. 

Lucky 13!

According to Random.org, lucky commenter #13 is the winner of the True Scrap registration fee...

Congratulations to Carol in Seattle! Email me (the link's under my picture over there in the sidebar) and I'll hook you up!

And as for the sneak peeks I promised, here's one of the phone photo layouts you'll be seeing in my class if you're signed up for True Scrap:

I had a blast jam-packing this class with info and ideas that I can't wait to share with you. 

And...

Here's a teensy tease of another fun project I'm involved in which will be revealed very soon. Exciting!

 

Phone pics, freebies, and other fun stuff

I've been busily working away on my phone photo class for the True Scrap event. I'm such a fan of phone photography lately, so I'm really excited to share how I'm using phone pics in my scrapbooking!

 

(one of the crazier phone pic examples from my class)

For the uninitiated, True Scrap is a unique, LIVE, online papercrafting event. We bring amazing A-list instructors direct to your computer. You'll have the ability to learn, interact, and experience the excitement and inspiration of a live event, all from the comfort of your own home -- all for one low price! With 17 cutting-edge classes, five virtual make-and-takes, and a pre-event virtual crop, attendees get the best of live scrapbooking events without the hassle -- or the high price tag. For more information and to see the newly released event schedule, just click here.

And! If you register by this Friday, 9/30, using one of my affiliate links in this post, you also get a spot in your choice of either my Take Note or Mo-Mints self-paced class at Big Picture Classes, courtesy of yours truly. Just click on my link, sign up, and email me a copy of your True Scrap receipt along with which class you would like, and I'll hook you up.

But wait, that's not all! Act quickly (by 9/30) and you also get a set of amazing Ginsu knives! a chance to win one of a dozen fabulous prizes, such as

 

• Simple Scrapper download - 1 year Simple Pages / Simple Projects subscription to 1 winner
• 1 free class (choice of Keep Calm & Stay Organized, Light Your Fire, or any class in the next year) to 1 winner (courtesy of Jennifer Wilson and Erin Bassett)
• Hero Arts digi goodies (courtesy of Jennifer McGuire) 
• Paperclipping membership (courtesy of Noell Hyman)
• Digital Scrapbooking Basics (courtesy of Paula Gilarde)
• "Exposure" online photography class (courtesy of Katrina Kennedy)
• Jenni Bowlin October kit, plus vintage holiday release (courtesy of Lisa Dickinson and Jenni Bowlin)
• Scraphappy membership (courtesy of Lain Ehmann)
• 4 classes in each of Online Card Class and Inspiration Showcase (courtesy of Jennifer McGuire)
• Pass for two to Shimelle.com class of your choice (courtesy of Shimelle Laine)

 

Enticed yet? Because I have one more awesome prize opportunity for you! Visit the True Scrap page via one of my links, and then come back here and tell me which of the 17 classes sounds the most irresistable to you. On Sunday, I'll choose one commenter at random to win a FREE PASS to True Scrap! (If you've already purchased, your money will be refunded).

I can honestly tell you I would not be participating in or promoting this event if I wasn't 100% convinced of its fantastic value. The inaugural event last spring was an amazing experience for instructors and students alike, and the fall event promises to be even better!

So click, comment, and I'll be back on Sunday with a winner and maybe a sneak peek or two at some other stuff I've been working on. ;)

Where's the pause button?

I feel like September is getting away from me, and I can't seem to catch up lately. Anybody got a pause button?

The kids started school last week...

Speaking of pause buttons! Reece started 6th grade (holy textbooks, Batman...his LAST year of elementary school!) and Taite is now a 2nd grader.

As for me, I'm trying to find my new groove now that I have some kid-free time again. I've got some fun projects on deck!

Today's the day!

Spawn of True Scrap, the sequel to the wildly successful True Scrap spring event, is OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!

If you're familiar with True Scrap, just click on the awesomely retro-chic poster to check out all the great instructors we've got lined up this time around. If it's all new to you, read on...

 

The True Scrap events are a groundbreaking and unique way to experience the fun and education of a scrapbooking convention, without travel expenses or the inconvenience of lugging all your stuff to a convention center.

Through the magic of the internet, we're able to assemble an amazing array of teachers from all over the globe in the same virtual venue, Oct. 20 - 22. 

The October True Scrap event features a live keynote interview with the fabulous Cathy Zielske, 17 live classes from industry favorites, plus 5 make & takes...all at set times over the three days, just like at a scrapbook convention. You'll receive all the date/time/supply info ahead of time via email in a pdf event guide. The difference with this virtual event is you participate from the comfort of your home! Schedule some "me time" in your jammies and a mud mask, arrange a mini retreat with some girlfriends, or tune in while the kids play nearby...this is your chance to craft your very own, tailor-made event that fits perfectly with your lifestyle.

If you aren't available to play along live for each and every session, no worries. You'll also receive recordings of the whole shebang afterwards, so you can catch up on any sessions that you missed, or re-watch your favorites.

Intrigued? Click on over to the True Scrap website now!

 

**When you use my link to sign up for True Scrap, I receive a percentage of the sale. This is my only compensation for teaching at the event. I would very much appreicate you using my links so I can continue to bring you fun and informative classes through this venue!

 

Summer, the abridged version

So, as you may have noticed from the sound of the crickets chirping over here, I've been on a bit of a blogcation for the past couple of months. Sometimes life, and kids, and teaching, and summer have that effect.

Here's a brief, abridged photo recap of my summer thus far...

I taught (and ate cupcakes) with the super fun Wendy Smedley at GASC in Chantilly, VA. 

 

I had lunch (and ate cupcakes) with the fabulous Angie Lucas, while she was visiting her family in CA.

 

We embarked on a Harry Potter movie marathon, watching all seven films before going to see the final one in the theatre.

 

Reece has been playing in a summer basketball league, with practices twice a week and games on Saturdays. That's him in the far right corner, in the red and white. And yep, he made that shot!

 

Taite and I went to see an Andy Grammer concert. If you don't know who Andy Grammer is, you totally should, because he's awesome. Go look him up on iTunes, or check out his super fun Keep Your Head Up video.

 

(We got to meet him after the show, too!)

 

Taite played along with the activities in my Kidding Around summer kids' class at Big Picture Classes, filling up her Smash album with all kinds of creative goodness.

 

 

We had a blast at the county fair...

 

...and tried the giant maple-bacon donut! It was delicious, but probably should've come with a side of Plaxil, or a defibrillator or something.

 

We've also done a LOT of this.

 

And this.

 

And I've managed to squeeze in a bit of this, even if it is on the couch in my jammies, with a cat in my lap.

I'm currently working on some fun new class stuff, including a session for the next True Scrap event, which will take place online October 20 - 22. Keep on eye on that link, because it will be updated with the latest info very soon! Registration opens September 1. I'm not sure exactly how much info I'm allowed to reveal just yet, but let's just say the keynote speaker rhymes with Schmathy Schmielske.

 

What have you been up to this summer?

I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Everything's bigger in Texas...

...including scrapbooking, if last week's Great American Scrapbook Convention is any indication.

I spent several days teaching there on behalf of Big Picture Classes, and seriously had so much fun! You should've seen the crop room...adhesive and photos as far as the eye could see.

...and that's only about half the room!

This was a particularly fun group of students from my Mo-Mints class. Laughter is 99.9% guaranteed in my classes, by the way!

I also taught my Take Note journaling notepad. Check out the colorful array of supplies awaiting stamping and border-punching shenanigans from the next group of students...

And I had the pleasure of co-teaching a Top Titles class with the fabulous Elizabeth Dillow, instructor and hotel roomie extraordinaire!

 

Oh, and also fellow Mexican food lover and goofy photo poser!

As if that weren't enough, I got to test-drive my brand new suitcase that I'm completely gaga over, and got this fun shot while waiting for my shuttle at the Dallas airport.

But wait! There's more! I got to hang out with the adorable Monica McNeill, who acted as our chauffeur and tour guide for an evening. She hooked us up with some adorable shops and some truly awesome Texas BBQ.

 

Wishing you could get to a Great American Scrapbook Convention, but there isn't one near you? No worries, Big Picture Classes has you covered! You can take all of the fun classes we taught there (and are teaching again in a couple of weeks in Chantilly, VA) as BPC self-paced projects. Just follow my links above. You'll have to find your own BBQ, though. ;)

Nursery Rhymes from the Morrison Asylum

Me: Haven't you heard of Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, how does your garden grow? You know...silver bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row?

Taite: Who would grow taco shells in their garden?? 

Reece: It's not like taco shells were the weirdest thing in her garden. Hello? Bells and maids?

Taite: I wish we could grow a maid.

 

I can't make this stuff up, folks!