I WON!!!! I WON!!!!

I am so excited that I won my first challenge over at the Fiskateer board. I won some really cool Valentine's Day Papers and a punch for the cupcake card I submitted. This definately made my day! Thanks Fisk-a-Teers!!!

Scrapbook Junkie Sale!!! Yipeee!!!!

For those of you in the Houston area, I wanted to tell you about a very cool sale that the Scrapbook Junkie has going on:

From now through Sunday, Feb. 1st, you can get 1 item at 30% off. This offer does not include clearance items or stamps, but hey 30% off is a great deal. I am running over there tomorrow at lunch to check it out. AND the really cool thing is that everytime you spend $20 your name goes into a bucket for a drawing for a $50 gift card. You can earn 1 ticket per day on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Beth will announce the winner on Sunday evening!

I am so excited about all the lines coming out from CHA. I can't wait to get my hands on some of those goodies.

See ya at the Junkie!

Huge RAK Thank You

I wanted to send a shout out of thanks to my blogging buddy Jenny for the awesome box of scrappin' goodness that she sent me yesterday! Jenny you are the best. Thank you SO much!! Big Hugs!

Cupcakes

Here is a card I did for one of the Fisk-a-teer challenges tonight. Hope you like it!

Heidi needs....

Ok. so one of my best friends Wendy did this really funny post on her blog where she had gone to Google and typed in her name and the word needs (i.e. Heidi needs) and hit search. The results were hysterical. So I thought I would give it a try and I loved it. I had to post the results. It really made my day. You have got to try it. This is so funny and uncannily accurate.


Heidi needs more privacy—Man is that ever the truth. My household is comprised of 4 adults, two teenagers, two dogs and gigantic sucker fish. The only privacy I get is locking myself in the bathroom and even then someone is always banging on the door wanting something. I definitely need more privacy.

Heidi needs to shut-up—Yep that’s me. I say what’s on my mind, usually without thinking. I invented the adage “open mouth insert foot”. I just need to learn to zip it.

Heidi needs one more drink—Wait a minute, I need to three or four more drinks. Didn’t you read the part about the privacy.

Heidi needs to stop—I need to stop buying scrapbooking supplies. Honestly, I have more than I will ever use in a lifetime. But I am so addicted.

Heidi needs a lifeboat—I do need a lifeboat so I can jump off this moving ship and find some privacy on a deserted island. I do have great friends though, and they are definately my lifeboats. I appreciate you more than you know.

Heidi needs prayer—I do need prayer. We all need prayer. Prayer is what brings me peace amid my chaos. It is how I survive.

Heidi needs a break—I need a break from work, I need a break from housework, I need a break from the kids, I need a break from my Mother. I just need a break. Man do I need a break.

Heidi needs a reality check—Wait a minute, I am raising teenagers. Isn’t that a reality check in and of itself.

Heidi needs a new home—I don’t just need a new home because of all the wear and tear, I need a bigger home. Six people in this house with no closet space well lets just say it is cramped. I really need a house just to store all my scrapping supplies and that would solve much of the problem.

Heidi needs more power and some help—Man is this ever a true statement. Many days I feel like I am in the middle of a loosing battle. If I get one more eye roll from my 14 year old son, I will definately need the power not to strangle him! And yes I need help. More than you could possibly know.

Heidi needs Scrapbooking with Scrap Needs—OH YEAH BABY!!! Now you are talking!!

Thanks Wen for making my day. I loved this little exercise.

Valentine's Day Cards

After a day and half of tending to a very sick child, I managed to finish my Junkie projects. My oldest son has been very sick with a high fever for the last two days. While he napped I managed to crank out a couple cards, made from the left-over scraps from this months Design Team Projects and this completes my assignment. Hope you like them. Tomorrow I will drop off my completed projects.

This month's projects were definately a challange and I look forward to the next one.

Love Is In The Air

I am finished with the second part of this month's Scrapbook Junkie Design Team Assignment. The first part of this month's assignment was the Disney album, which I had a wonderful time completing, but this next project was my favorite. I had so much fun working with the Splendid collection of papers by Fancy Pants. It is perfect for Valentines Day and I just love the mixture of blue, aqua, red, pink and white. Thanks Beth for such a wonderful collection of materials. It was a wonderful challenge and I look forward to the next one.

HUGE GIVEAWAY at Creative Cafe!!!

Check out this wonderful giveaway from the folks at Creative Cafe!
You don't want to miss out on this.
http://mycreative-cafe.com/blog/?p=494

Another Award...Who Me?

My great blogging friend Jenny just sent me a Fabulously Fabulous Blogging Award.
Thank you Jenny you are just too sweet.


I need to list 5 Favorites:


1. I love the #4 combo at Chuy's Mexican Food Restauant. It is mucho bueno!!! My BFF Theresa and I love to go there every chance we can.

2. I love PRIMA flowers. I am totally and completely addicted. I can not stop buying them.

3. My favorite thing to do is Scrapbook (of course) Are you kidding me? I am so addicted!

4. Dolce & Gabana Light Blue. That is most favorite perfume. I schmels so good!!!

5. My most favorite toy is my camera. It is a Canon 40D and it rocks. I love talking pictures and making memories.



My nominees for this blog award are:

Laura
Beth
Robin

Scrapbook Junkie Design Team Assignment 2

I have been working all weekend on this Disney mini-album for the Scrapbook Junkie. We took a trip to Disney World in 2007 and I have at least 1000 pictures to scrap. This was definately the project for me. Here are some photos. Let me know what yout think.

Say Cheese!!!

Why do many people shy away from the camera and refuse to have their picture taken? Have you ever noticed this? Are you camera shy? Being an avid scrapbooker I take tons of photos; photos of everything, anyone, anywhere doing everything from the ordinary to the strangest things (all in good fun). I love to take pictures. I have a really good camera (Canon 40D), or so my hubby tells me (he bought it for me), and am just getting to where I feel comfortable changing the settings and playing to achieve different results. But I must confess, I am not the greatest photographer by any margin, an amateur at best. But regardless how good the photos are or not, I feel they are so important. Good or bad, in focus or out, smiling or not, photos are precious.

I rarely discard a photo. Really! If you were to look at my digital library you will see that I keep just about every shot. I just can’t bear to throw an image away. Throw away a memory? No way.

I take photos of strange things too. One year we went to Disney World and I walked so much that my big toe nails on both feet, having pounded up against the inside of my shoes for miles and miles, fell off. I took a picture of my beat up big toes. Ha, everyone thought I was nuts!

Then, when my favorite shoes finally bit the dust, I took a picture of them so that I would remember just what they looked like, before I threw them away (shhhh, don’t tell anyone, but if the truth be told, I kept the shoes, there are hidden in a box in my closet).

Or what about the photos of my feet down by the gas pedal in my car (wait, I just noticed something, I take a lot of photos of my feet, I wonder what that means), or the one of the note that my hubby left on my dash, the day after I backed out the drive way and hit my nephew’s car. Obscure memories? Yes. But they are my memories. I want to remember everything. Why?

Well for starters, I actually have a pretty good memory; it is just very short (big grin). So making lists, taking pictures, and creating reminders, is something I must do to survive the day.

Secondly, what if I can’t remember one day. What if I wake up one morning and cannot remember a single thing. Would not these photos be a reminder of my everyday life? Would not these photos be a reminder of where my feet have been? Just kidding y’all.

But seriously, what if I couldn’t remember my loved ones some day? Or worse, what if I lost my loved one?

When my Sister, Marlene passed away in 2000 at age 45 from cervical cancer, she left behind 5 beautiful boys that were desperately clinging to every memory they had of their mother and unfortunately she was one that would shy away from the camera. We struggled to find photos of her after her death. If ever you wanted to take her picture she would give you this disapproving look and would never smile. I never understood why, because she was absolutely beautiful. Every once in a while we would get her to smile and the results were stunning. We have very few photographs of her and I find myself everyday, wishing there were more.

Maybe you shy away from the camera because you don’t think that you are photogenic. I know that I used to feel the same way. The camera always saw things just the way they truly were and by gosh I didn’t want to know the truth. You can’t handle the truth. (She said in the authoritative tone of Jack Nicholson). I am overweight and that typically translates to unbecoming multiple chins, bulges in the wrong places, lopsided profiles, crumpled up clothing and the list goes on and on. But you know what…it’s me. Yep, that’s me, good or bad it is who I am. And let me let you in on a little secret. What you see in the pictures and what others see are two very different things.

We all have an image of what we look like, be it thin, fat, young, old, pretty, ugly, happy or sad. We look at ourselves with a critical eye. We scrutinize every inch. But think about it, if you were to see someone for the first time, in person or in photos, would you scrutinize every detail or would you see the big picture? Would you say, hey there is Heidi, or would you say, hey look there are Heidi’s chins. (Don’t answer that.)

A photo is not just an image of someone or something, but rather it is an image, overlaid by a memory, which is overlaid by an emotion. It invokes at response, a glimmer of a heartbeat, a fainted gasp, a whisper of a prayer. It touches our soul, our heart and our being. It can invoke happiness or pain, laughter or tears, silence or joy. It can make you feel faint or it can cause your heart to race. It is a place where you have been, or a place where we want to go. It is who we were when or who we wish we could be again.

It is a memory, simple yet complex.

So the next time someone turns to you and says, “Say cheese”, do it. Look at the camera and give it your best smile ever. Leave them with an image of who you are right then and right there. There is a reason why they want that picture at that precise moment. They see something in you right at that moment that they want to always remember. It is an image of you that they want to keep forever. So what if your hair is out of place or your clothes are crumpled. You look perfect to them at that moment. Don’t run from the camera. Embrace it, for you, for your family, for the years to come.

Design Team Meeting #2

Well tonight we had our second design team meeting. It was good to see the girls again and have a few minutes to chat. Since following everyone's blogs I feel like I know them all. I followed some of them around and played paparazzi.



Lizzie caught in the act of drooling over the Prima products!!!





Robin coveting the new Basic Grey Bittersweet.






And Laura checking out the wonderful 40% off table. You gotta see the great goodies that Beth has on sale.


Beth and Lisa had some great projects for us. I am so excited and ready to get to work. We each got two projects. My first project is a really cool 6 x 6 Disney Accordion album. I got some wonderful Creative Imaginations Signature Collection Disney Papers & stickers, some Reminisce Magic Die cut letters and some Hambly Prints acetates to complete the project.



The second project will be a Valentines Day layout featuring the Splendid Collection by Michelle Coleman at Fancy Pants Designs. It is so cute!



Lizzie was telling us that Paris Hilton is coming out with her own line of Scrapbooking and Crafting products and will debut at CHA this year. Have you heard this? I hadn't. Will she be the next Martha Stewart? We were speculating what her line would be like. Will it be all furs and glitz, jewels and gold, tiaras and glitter? I would love to hear what you think. Do you like Paris Hilton? Would you buy her stuff? What do you think would personify her style?

Wonderful Blog Candy

Check out Melissa's blog for some wonderful blog candy and be sure and wish her a Happy Birthday!!! She also has some wonderful Valentine's Day Cards. Thanks Melissa!!!
Heidi

A Piece Of NFL History...It Has Arrived

My youngest is THE biggest Indianapolis Colts Fan in the world. Seriously, he is more than obsessed. He is only 11, but let me tell you he is a football genius. I am not kidding. He can tell you who played what Super Bowl in what year, what the score was, who the MVP was, who the quarterback was, who the running back was. He can tell you for each and every Super Bowl that was ever played. He knows all this obscure football trivia and and can almost give you a play by play for each game. Not just the games the Colts played, but rather just about every NFL Team there is. (Grown men, love to quiz him). During football season he watches NFL network every waking hour (that we let him). In the off-season he watches NFL network or ESPN and keeps track of all the teams' training camps and the up and coming players coming out of college. He knows the stats. He has a fantasy team every year and one year even won the Super Bowl in his fantasy league, beating out his Dad. (That was too funny. )

He has played little league football for the last 3 years, playing Center, and his 14 year veteran coach (who played one season with the Houston Oilers) said he was the best center he has ever had. He collects Colts Memorabilia and is working on quiet the collection.

Two years ago he wrote Peyton Manning a letter and Peyton sent him an autographed football card. (I just love Peyton Manning, he is such a great human being.) That was one exciting moment around our house let me tell you. He then proceeded to write Peyton a thank you letter and Peyton sent him an autographed 8x10 black and white glossy that he has proudly framed and is sitting on top of his Colts locker that he got for Christmas.

Well, some of you football fans may know that this year the Indianapolis Colts got a new stadium, The Lucas Oil Stadium and the RCA Dome in Indianapolis was demolished (he watched it on TV and was very sad). Well in light of the new stadium the Colts were offering fans an opportunity to "Buy the Dome" and you can imagine his excitement and persistence when he found out. He seriously wanted in on that deal. So his Dad and I decided that for Christmas we would surprise him. We bought him a piece of home sideline turf from the RCA Dome. It wasn't available to ship until after Christmas so we wrapped up the receipt and put it under the tree with a note that it would arrive sometime after Christmas. He was completely floored when he opened the gift and life around my house hasn't been the same since. Every day he asks "Is it coming today Mom?" Well today was that day. It finally arrived. Let me tell you, this is one excited Colts Fan.

Now some of you might be thinking we are crazy, after all he is just 11, but let me tell you, this boy understands the significance and value of a piece of memorabilia like this. He touched it, caressed it, sniffed it and almost cried. As he was relishing in the moment he made this comment "Mom, do you have any idea how many of football's greatest players have played on this turf?" "Do you understand the history that was made on this turf?" I was dumb founded. "Well Gee Buddy, I don't guess I ever really thought about it in that way." (after all, it's just a piece of nasty stinky turf, okay so I am a football mom, not a football geek). He gave me and Dad a great big hug and said "Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad, this is the best gift ever and today was an awesome day." So, you tell me. Do you think he as an appreciation for this gift or what?

He carried that piece of turf up to his room and spread it out in front of his bed and sat on his bed and stared at it for what would seem like forever. I can only imagine what football highlights are going through his mind right now. And tonight when he sleeps, I know that he will have football dreams of legendary NFL Heroes, running the ball, yard after yard, touchdown after touchdown, tackle after tackle; the crowd cheering all the while in the background. He loves the game. It is in his heart and in his soul. He appreciates that piece of turf.

Now we just have to figure out what the best way would be to display it in his room (which is already wall to wall Colts Memorabilia).

If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

I Love This Dog

This is our dog Goldi. She is smart as a tack, totally lovable, fiercely protective, horribly spoiled, and totally thinks she is a princess. She is such a good sport too. She let us dress her up in a tutu on Halloween and never missed a lick. She is a Daddy's girl and knows when to turn on that pretty girl charm. We just love her so much.

I Love my January Kit from A Million Memories

When I got home there was a wonderful package waiting for me. My January Kit from http://www.amillionmemories.com arrived today and it is so wonderful! I just love the Prima Pebbles and Flowers, the Sassafrass chipboard and the Jenni Bowlin Rub on. They coordinate so well with the wonderful Jenny Bowlin Sparrow Paper, the Graphic 45 Playtime Post Collections and the Sassafras Lass Life is Beautiful Papers. This kit reminds me of the wonderful storybooks that I would read as a kid. I can't wait to dig in. If you have never tried this kit club, I encourage you to do so, you won't be sorry. They are packed full of wonderful goodies. And just in case you are wondering, I am not affiliated with them in any way, I just love, love thier kits.



Here is a pic of what was in the kit. Isn't is wonderful?

First Layout of the Year

I got to do some scrapping late yesterday evening while we were watching the Colts game and this is what I came up with. The holidays are over and we took our tree down today. I am so sad to have to go back to work tomorrow. I am going to try to get another layout done today. Wish me luck. This layout was done with the Basic Grey Urban Prairie Line. When I first bought it I only bought a few sheets of it. After having worked with it, I wish now that I had bought the entire line. It is so beautiful. I hope I did it justice.

Until Later,

Heidi

THE REAL ME in 2009

One of my resolutions for 2009 is to live a REAL life. So I looked up the word in the Webster's Dictionary and found this:

REAL 1: not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory; 2: genuine 3: being precisely what the name implies; 4: occurring or existing in actuality; 5: having objective independent existence; 6: in earnest; 7: genuine; 8: genuinely good or capable of success.

These definitions are precisely my aspiration for 2009. I want to be the genuine article. Never fake or phony. Always exactly who I am, good or bad, right or wrong, just ME. Those that know me know that I am pretty much an open book. I don't typically put on airs for anyone. If you have ever come to my house you know that I am not the hostess with the mostess. I am a "mi casa es su casa" kinda gal. For those of you that don't speak Spanish this translates to "My house is your house". In other words, make yourself at home. You are part of the family. You get to see us at our worst and at our best. Like it or lump it.

If you ask me what I think I will probably tell you. I will try not to be hurtful, arrogant or insensitive, but I will be totally honest with you. I usually have an opinion about things. I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinion, but I hope that you will respect it. I will respect your opinions. I may tell you where I disagree, but I will respect you.

I think I am a sensitive person. In fact, I think sometimes I can be too sensitive. But I am very aware of this and work hard at staying in balance. My feelings run very deep and when I am hurt it takes me a while to come to terms with it. I don't think I get hurt easily as I am pretty logical and accepting of where someone else is coming from, but when enough is enough, I am done.

I like to be in control. I don't necessarily HAVE to be in control. But I prefer it that way. If I don't get to be in control, my world doesn't necessarily come crashing down on me, but I may work a little harder than the average person to take the helm. I usually have some very definite ideas about how things should be and I will usually tell you or try to make it happen. However, if you disagree, that's cool too. Just tell me to back off and I will. I won't be hurt or offended, just tell me to back off. But tell me nicely and with respect, as I will treat you respectfully in return.

I particularly like the part of the definition where Webster defines the word REAL as "genuinely good or capable of success". I have experienced many successes in my life. I have a successful marriage, a successful career, wonderful kids, great friends and a beautiful home. Success. But there are areas of my life where I feel that I am not realizing my full potential. Areas where I have gotten very comfortable and reluctant to reach beyond where I am. This is going to change in 2009. I am going to take some chances and kick things up a notch. I am going to reach for success in areas that I have previously held back.

• I am going to be more competitive at work. I am not going to be complacent any longer. I am going to work harder, work smarter and use my time more efficiently.

• In scrapbooking, I am going to take chances and try out for more design teams. I know that I have the potential and talent and I am going to be more assertive and work to get my name out there. I am going to be REAL and honest in my layouts. I am going to be more expressive of my emotions and journal more.

• For my health, I am going to get my butt off the couch and out from behind the computer and get healthy. I am going to make better choices and work harder and dropping some much needed weight.

This coming year I am going to BE REAL, LIVE REAL, FEEL REAL, LOVE REAL, and CREATE REAL. I am going to work on areas where I may have made compromises and not been completely real with myself or others. I am going to make an effort to reflect that in my scrapbooking, my relationships and in my day to day life happenings. I don't want to be anyone other than who I am. So, this is me. This is who I am and who I will continue to be, KEEPIN' IT REAL in 2009.

Stay tuned....things could get real interesting around here.