I'm In RE-ME Mode

I was reading a book by Mary McDonough (she played Erin on the Walton's TV show) called Lessons from the Mountain.  As a fan of the show... lately in reruns even more than when the show first ran... I was interested in this book not only because of the show but also because Mary has dealt with auto-immune illnesses.   She writes very honestly & authentic sharing the good along with the bad.  The chapters that she writes about the pain, fatigue & isolation really hit home with me at the same time being such an encouragement.  We are all learning and growing from those in our lives & the "mountains" we must deal with and they all make us who we are at this point in life.  Mary is now a life coach & activist (speaking before congress about the dangers of silicone breast implants) in addition to acting and I loved her term "RE-ME".  That is what I am doing this year - no I don't have control over everything in my life but I can choose how I deal with it & make each day the best it can be.

 Along the same lines I decided to do Body Restoration the current course from Brave Girls Melody & Kathy - you can get all the details here.   Soul Restoration I was life changing for me to learn to be kinder to myself & set boundaries.  I have suffered from negative body image forever so I'm on a journey to accept who I am & be the best I can be inside & out.

I will be having some new mini book kits coming out at EMI Scrapbooking.... Some of my prior ones are available at the online Etsy store here.

Kit available that are pre-cut & bagged by the page with detailed photos:

Teresa Collins line filled with lots of fabric & interactive pages

Fully completed mini albums (these were the samples that was photographed)

December mini using Fancy Pants papers & diecuts

Family using Crate Paper 

(this is one of my favorites I've created... lots of Unity Stamp Co journaling spots)

 There are also several others available in the online store.  Go check it out the really are a deal and jam packed full of goodies.

I'm so looking forward to the first weekend in March (2nd & 3rd)... why... because Teresa Collins is coming to teach again at an EMI Scrapbooking sponsored event.  There will be 3 different classes taught & if you have never taken a class from Teresa I have to say they are absolutely incredible!  The kits are PACKED full of goodies valued at well over the price of the class.  Teresa is such an inspiring teacher.  She not only shares how to make the project in the kit but also lots of tips, techniques, and antidotes... she has such a fun personality & such a fun, honest & authentic person with creativity just oozing from her.  I feel like it spills off on me as I'm sitting in class lol.  If you are local to Atlanta or want to come for the weekend (we will be staying at the Holiday Inn so join us for the creative fun).  All the details are here there are a few spots left.

Last but not least I wanted to share with you a giveaway that a "Paperclipping" friend (we used to chat while watching Noell Hyman host her live online Paperclipping Live show on Tuesdays).  Lorrie Jonas is very creative & I wish I could paint like she does.....  Visit her blogs here for all the details of the giveaway.  There are some Spellbinders dies & a great art stamp so I know you will want to enter.

Well I'm off to do some creating... Hope you have a great day & do something creative.

Happy New Year & OLW

Happy 2012!

I love the promise of the new year.  Even though I'm not one to make a bunch of resolutions, since I feel they set me up for failure, there is just something fresh and full of possibilities on January 1st.  This year I'm trying to be easier on myself.  It seems I fall into the trap of always nurturing, comforting, and just plain being kind to others while beating myself up for little things.  So I'm making a conscious decision to treat myself as I treat others.


Each year I pick a word, inspired by Ali Edwards One Little Word, for me it's quite a process thinking about what really applies to my life now & will help make the subtle changes for the new year to be who I want to be.  I usually don't commit until the very last moment right before midnight lol yep it takes that much thought for me... it's important.  This little idea can make a big difference.

This year I've chosen AUTHENTIC.

To me it applies to being who I am and embracing the good, bad & everything in between.  "I am what I am and that's all that I am".... no I'm not Popeye the sailor man but it applies lol.

I have the best kids (they are grown men but will forever be my boys).  They bought me a new laptop for Christmas - similar to the one in picture.  No more little netbook that I actually played World of Warcraft on and did Photoshop for a while before the new Windows came out & the updates slowed it way down (my conspiracy theory of MS making the older computers so slow that you cave in and buy a new one).  I am loving it even if it isn't an apple.  I have the sweetest sons they are so thoughtful & take such good care of their mom!





I have been downloading some of my favorite fonts from Kevin & Amanda's blog on the new computer.  I like the casual handwritten look & use them all the time.

I went to the movies to see Sherlock Holmes 2 A Game of Shadows Saturday with my mom & sister.  The movie was really good & it was fun just us "girls" we don't do that enough.  Robert Downey Jr. is always so funny & Jude Law plays so well with him.  They really are the perfect pair.   The Studio Movie Grill had comfy seats, tables,  full menu, & bar - my son Andrew goes there all the time but this was my first time.  Yummy home style popcorn with real butter (though I didn't use it I was being good even if a little spilled out of the cup in the basket).  The ticket & food prices were actually cheaper than the mall AMC theaters so we will be going back again.

On the scrapbook creative front I'm working on some new mini albums for EMI Scrapbooking.  I can't thank Susan enough for allowing me to design for her - she is so good to me.  They will be available in the coming weeks.  If you are local to Atlanta be sure to stop on in - she has a great selection of all the new lines from our favorite companies.

Hope you have a great day & take time to be creative