JoyOfStamping

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…….

I was so excited when I heard that my dear friend Bethie was going to be in Orange County last Friday.  I was even more excited when she said that she had a few spare hours to spend with us! :)  (Go check out her blog.  She’s having a sale on watermarks!) And it was awesome to meet Bethie’s mom and sister.  They were both so super-duper sweet and funny!

I was also excited to see Valerie Stangle.  I glad she came up from San Diego to hang out with us. 

Bethie had to run to a function by the beach, so we stopped at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) to have some dinner.  I always enjoy the pizza and salads there!  Mmmmmmmmmmm. 

What a fun dinner to spend it with 2 eP friends!

It’s amazing how you could easily forget the simple pleasures of life.  It’s so easy for me to complain about having to clean the pool because there are so many leaves in the pool…… then realization hits!  People are loosing their homes.  People are scared for their LIVES.

If any of you have been keeping up with the footage of the fires, its very scary.  Foothill Ranch is home to eclectic Paperie.  I’m not worried about the product.  I’m worried about my friend/business partner, Daisy.  These are some pictures that Daisy took while picking her kids up from school.

Scary, isn’t it?  She has more of an update on the eP Blog.

The fires were about 7 miles from my house. But, these fires were yards away from Daisy.

To my friends and family, don’t forget the little things that make you happy.  Take the time to cuddle your significant other/children.  Enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

To our eP customers…… shipping may be delayed due to these fires.  Please let us know if there is anything critical you need right away……  I know Daisy is concerned about getting these orders out.  But, my concern is that she and her family are safe and AWAY from the fires.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Much Love….. Joy

OMG! Words cannot express how much I enjoy the retreats that Pine puts together! Last year was my first retreat and after having so much fun, I told Kurt that this is a “must” for me every year.

Who knew that SplitCoast could bring all of us “internet friends” together and form the type of friendship to last a lifetime. These are they type of girls that someone can laugh with, cry with, share with, listen to, and everything that a sister could be to me.

Pine, thank you so much for an awesome retreat. You did an awesome job putting it together. Maria andHB, the food was AMAZING!!!!! Cindy and Kookie, your classes rocked! LZ (aka Zap-star), thank you for picking me up, dropping me off and letting me stay at “The Crack House” To my other shistahs (Lana, AngFab, Kendra, Donna, Cindy, Robin, QC, Navy, Kar, Hootie, MY, Nancy, Tex, Suze, Piris, Stevie, Otter), thank you for your love and friendship!

Every year one of my co-workers/friends puts together a White Water Rafting trip to King’s River here in California. We are leaving today to head up north the the Fresno area for this expedition. We are spending the night in a hotel near the rafting spot and then rafting begins tomorrow and Saturday. These trips are always a blast…. but I somewhat chickened out of it last year. I went 2 years ago and here are some photos from our trip……

This is my husband Kurt with my sister Joyce right before we started rafting:

This is our rafting trip somewhat beginning……..

Then, they made us paddle harder…….

Next thing you know, we hit Banzai……..

And then this happens………

We had a great time….. But, you can see why I get a little nervous thinking about it. Pray that I return on Saturday in one piece……