JoyOfStamping

Every year, I get soooooooooo nervous before the trip…. and actually DURING the trip.  But, after it is all said and done, I can’t stop thinking about how much fun it was!!!!! King’s River Expedition puts on an amazing program.  The staff/guides are absolutely amazing.

The water was crazier than I have experienced.  And because it was the first hot day on Friday, it melted a lot of snow and the 2nd day was even CRAZIER.  Here are some pix from the first day.

Group Shot:

Front Row: Nephew Anthoni, Me, Brother-in-law Damon

Back Row: Dawn (she popped out of the raft at one point going down the rapids), Brother Jay, Guide Jason (he was a rookie), Kurt

Here are some pix from the rest of the day.  You can click on the images for larger view!

Can’t wait for next time…….

Well, as I sit at Disneyland waiting for a parade, I am so excited for what the weekend has in store for us! :)  Today is a perfect day…. Sun is out…. I’m at the happiest place on earth.  They are having a victory for Kobe and the Lakers.  What could be better than Lakers AND Disneyland? Being from SoCal and being a sports freak, I grew up watching Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers.

Here is a pic from my birthday party last year…..

Then, after the parade, we are heading to go white water rafting.  You can see more pix from this blog post…..

Wish me luck and hope I get back in one piece!  LOL!  Have a great weekend everyone!

My dear friend Jami tagged me!  I was told to go to my digital photo files and pick out the 6th photo in the 6th folder.  This “task” would definitely vary as to which computer I am on….. I am currently on my MAC and my 6th Folder is named “2006 - MKE”.  How appropriate for this blogpost since it was with fellow SCSers.  This was the 6th picture: Pine holding Sophia (Bethie’s baby who was passed around like a sweet doll).  Hi Lana and Robin!

This trip was one of the best trips ever!!!!!  I was fortunate enough to travel to Milwaukee for the Stampin’ Up Regionals, even though a few of us never actually made it to the regionals.  Travel was insane, since there were so many storms throughout the country.  And don’t ask 2 California girls to travel to -14 degree weather.  LOL!  But, it was a ll worth it!  I would not change this experience for anything!

Here are some fun pix from the trip:

 Look how much Prinny got to eat.  Bet that Chicken Marsala was good!

Bethie and Otter

LZ and Hooty

Back Row: MY, Hooty, Lana, Maria, Prinny, Robin, QC, Pam Becker 3rd Row: Tex , HB, Otter, Sue, LZ, Baby Sophia, Joyce 2nd Row: Kendra, Cheryl, Jenn, Me Front Row: Pine, Bethie, Suze

The 6 I choose to tag are:

Cambria

HB

Heather McNally

Kendra Wietstock

Kisa Peters

LZ

 Here’s the deal ladies:

•Open your photo folder on your computer
•Open the 6th folder of photos
•Select the 6th picture
•Post the picture on your blog with a description
•Invite six friends to join the challenge
•Link your six friends to your blog post

WOW!  I cannot believe that it is January 8, 2009 already!!!!  Where does the time go?  It’s crazy!

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First of all, January 8 is a very special day…. It’s my dear friend (and amazing business partner) Cambria Turnbow’s Birthday.  Be sure to stop by her blog and tell her Happy Birthday!  I can’t tell you how honored I am to call her my friend.  She is one of the sweetest,most talented, and incredible people!  Just hearing her voice makes me smile.  Cami, I hope you have the bestest day EVER!!!!!

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I also had to share what I did yesterday!  OMG!  It was an AMAZING DAY!!!!!!!!  I have been to Disneyland well over 200 times….. I’ve had an annual pass since 2000.  My sis and I go there almost every other Monday and just enjoy the day with my nephew and cousin.   We have our Disney Monday crew.  We love to people watch and we just love the “magic” that place holds.  Disneyland is also extra special because that is where Kurt proposed to me!

Well, yesterday was ALMOST as special as my engagement day…….   I have always wanted to go to Club 33 at Disneyland, which is an exclusive member’s only club.  I see the door and always wondered what it looked like behind that door.  Daisy and her family made that possible for me and a few friends yesterday. It was Tim Holtz’s birthday yesterday and we were able to celebrate his birthday at Club 33.

What a fun day!  Although I had been to Disneyland a couple hundred times, I learned sooooooo many new things yesterday.  Daisy worked there for 12 years and gave us some behind-the-scenes info.  Tim taught me a few tricks  to make my Disney days more efficient and fun.  And hanging out with everyone was the BEST.  Everyone was so laid back and easy going.  I’ll never forget this special day!

Till next time……

Have I told you lately how much I love Imaginisce? LOL!Their images and papers are so fun to work with. This is their new baby line called Baby Powder. Their cardstocks are made perfectly for cardmakers since their patterns are nice and small. AND most of their papers are either glittered or flocked. So, as you can tell, I couldn’t make just one.

 
My sweet friend and fellow Gallery Moderator Tracy has tagged me. I’m horrible at these things, but I’ll give it a try!

Five things in today’s ‘to do list’:

• Upload new items to the eP website
• stamp a birthday card
• send out a couple of cards
• prepare for Disneyland tomorrow for my Grandma’s Birthday
• send out my e-vite for my July Stamp Night

Snacks I enjoy:

• Sour Patch Kids
• Pringles
• Tootsie Rolls
• Skittles
• Kit Kat
• Twix

Things I would do if I was a millionaire:

• have my dream home built (one that includes a craft room and a basketball/volleyball court)
• Buys Season Tickets to my favorite Sports teams
• Take a vacation to visit some of my favorite stamping friends
• pay off debt

Places I have lived:

• Philippines
• California

Five people I am tagging:

• Cambria Turnbow
• Heather McNally
• Bev Barton
• Otter
• HB

I can’t believe how much this stamping world has touched my life. I am so lucky to have met so many amazing people that I can truly call friends. Life has been so crazy busy lately. I have not even had time to have “me time”. It was the first time in a long time that I felt “special”. This was an amazing birthday. I have never received so many e-mails and messages. I received so many amazing cards. WOW! I am a lucky gal!

It’s not about the “gifts” I received, but the friendships behind it. Stamping has really brought special people to my life. Reading Taylor’s Blog yesterday brought tears to my eyes. I am the lucky one to have her as a friend. Then, I went to visit Jami’s Blog and see this beautiful card and sweet blog post. THEN, I come home, and I see these beautiful flowers. Thank you Jenn and Beate! You have no idea how much this put a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. These flowers meant so much to me! WOW!

And look at this cute SMALL portion of what my dear friend Lana sent me! She always knows how to put a smile on my face! (pssst….. check out her blog. It’s amazing AND she’s giving away blog candy) Lana knows exactly what I like and always puts together the most amazing packages. She also has one of the biggest hearts. She can definitely crack me up! I am so lucky to have her as a friend.

Again, I am a lucky gal! Stamping has brought these wonderful people in my life….. and I am grateful that it has brought YOU into my life, too!!!!!!

It will be a while before my smile is wiped off my face!!!!!! THANK YOU!

I can’t believe how fast time is flying. Another month gone…. another year has gone by. I can’t even believe that its been almost a month since I have stamped…… Life has just been so super duper busy.

My sweet sister and brother threw me a little birthday party. I’m a big sports freak and I’ve been a Laker Fan since the Magic “Showtime” Lakers! So, they decided to do a Laker Themed party. Most everyone was decked out in their Laker shirts.

Here is my cute little nephew Andrew in his Laker Gear. Headband, wristband and all.

This is my brother’s middle child, Bryan. He’s got his Kobe MVP shirt on.

This is my brother-in-law’s brother all decked out in his Laker Jersey. I didn’t take too many pix last night or else I would have shared more. Maybe once I get my cousin’s camera downloaded, I can share more.

It was a VERY exciting game. The end of the game was controversial. But, of course, I was just glad that the Lakers won.

I’m hoping to be able to stamps soon. That will be my birthday gift to myself. LOL!

Till next time…….

It was a busy time for me just one year ago….. Daisy and I were finalizing some small details before we opened up our store.  And my sister was getting ready to give birth to my adorable Nephew, Andrew (aka Drew).  I can’t believe that both are turning one in just 2 short days.

We spent the last weekend celebrating Drew’s birthday.  He had a Handy Manny party.  I had never heard of him until my sister told me that he was from PlayHouse Disney.  I saw one episode with Drew and he started dancing as soon as the song came on.  The party was VERY fitting for him.  The only tough part was that there weren’t a lot of decorations for Handy Manny.  My sister learned her lesson.  We had to be creative with the goodie bags.

eP will be celebrating its birthday THIS weekend.  The party starts on Thursday, so be sure to sign up for the newsletter (found on the home page on the left hand side) because their will be some fun things coming.

Thanks to everyone for making this past year so successful!

Although my trip to the Philippines was fun, there’s nothing like being home and sleeping in your own bed! :) 

This trip to the Philippines was for my dear cousin’s wedding.  We spent so much time hanging out with family that I did not take as many pictures as I wanted to.  The scenery can be so beautiful, I wish I could share more of it.

This first picture is of the Taal Volcano in Batangas while we were in Tagaytay.  I wish it wasn’t so cloudy that day.  On a clearer day, you can see the Volcano in that big hill/mountain.  There is actually a lake in that mountain and then the volcano is in the lake.  Isn’t that crazy?  I wish I had a better picture.

These little huts are called Bahay Kubo.  This is where we like to chill and relax.  A lot of my relatives had one in their backyard that we can just relax and “talk stories” all day.  It’s a nice shade from the hot-sticky sun.  This one was taken at a restaurant.  That’s why there are so many.  Usually there is just one.

One thing my husband Kurt enjoyed most about the Philippines is golfing. (comes in 2nd to the $10 hour body massages)  The courses are so green and beautiful.  He took this picture at one of the golf courses in Cavite.  He enjoyed having a Caddy and an Umbrella girl.  You can’t beat the service in the Philippines.

My cousin picked us up from the Airport and he had just gotten the flu.  So, the next 4 days of us being home, we weren’t jet-lagged, we were down with the flu! :(  But, at least we were sick at home vs. on vacation.  Now its just back to the grind.

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to stamp more.  Since starting eclectic Paperie last year, I rarely get the opportunity to stamp.  I want to be able to enjoy the products that we carry and actually take the time to really TRYwhat we have!  LOL!

Happy New Year!!!!! :)  Wishing you the best in 2008.

Hi there!  I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth!  LOL!  I have been on vacation in the Philippines.  We are here for one of my dear cousin’s wedding.   Sorry I don’t have any pix to share just yet….. I forgot to bring my connector to my camera. 

We spent this past week in the Province where Internet connection is scarce.  It was nice spending time with family and enjoying the “simple life”.  We saw many rice fields, fish ponds, goats, caribou, and beautiful GREEN scenery.  I was itching for my laptop and my Internet at first….. but after spending time there, you really learn to appreciate what you have at home.  It was amazing to see kids playing in the streets, having a blast, while kicking a CAN around.  No ball, no Nintendo….. just a can.  I taking running water for granted, not to mention the public facilities.  The Philippines is beautiful in so many ways.  Totally opens your eyes to a whole new world.

I will be back next week.  I can’t wait to share pix of our experience here.

Till next time…….