Off to Greener Pastures

I'd like to say that might be what I'm doing, yet I really don't know what I'm doing. I love to craft, I love to scrapbook, I love making things with my hands for others and myself. I love knowing years from now, someone might look at what I've made and it will bring them joy. B/C that's what life's about bringing joy into other's lives. At least that's what I want my life to be about. I want it said in the end that I did bring JOY into the hearts of others with my words, my actions, and that I was an inspiration to another to bring joy to others as well. It's kind of scary knowing that maybe if there was no tommorow that I didn't accomplish this, that I didn't get to reach my soul's aspirations before my last breath. I think that would really hurt a lot more than most realize. I guess that's why I'm always going after big dreams and that I can't dream in a box that my adventures are always in wide open spaces that contain no boundaries. My heart doesn't know how to contain itself. When I think of the things that I've ventured into sometimes it becomes overwhelming and a feeling of unsuccessfullness fills me, yet then I look forward and say to myself that was just a stepping stone. The stepping stone to my next adventure, the next turn, the next soul's aspiration. I believe there is more to life than the life we live everyday, that if we challenge ourselves to reach every once in awhile it's then that we realize our potential and then just keep reaching. Sometimes I might reach too far and fall and when I fall trust me I fall hard, probably just as hard as I climb. But I don't take the falls and just lay there, saying "I've fallen and I can't get up." trying to reach for the panic button, instead I get up (well of course after crying for a few hours) and say this is just my next step.

Life is literally what you make of it. What you make of it. There has always been two choices I've given myself in this life and that's I can either choose to be happy or choose to be miserable. I of course choose to be happy, I mean who wouldn't, yet many make the choice of unhappy.

A Lot Has Happened ...

My trip to Gulf Coast Scrappers last weekend was exhilirating! It was definitely the boost I needed for myself to keep creating. Our store did fabulous! As far as the comments, we really rocked and I can't wait to go back. My husband had no problem walking into a room full of women with 3 kids and said we should do it more often. Yeah, I think he just liked the attention. My daughter was even bribed with chocolate to go to a scrap table, so her and I had a little chit chat afterward about not taking candy from strangers (Just Joking, Christy).

These wonderful women were up for any challenge and I gave them one here using lace embroidery made by my Nanny, here are a few examples: (They did awesome!)

So after four days of being there with my wonderful customers/volunteers/friends and my husband & kids.

I really needed some down time, so you might have noticed we were closed a little longer than planned. First off, upon leaving on Sunday, my husband's truck had a little problem, well let's say a $1500 problem. We had to leave it at the hotel with my wire racks in the back to rush off in the van with the rest of the store to my godchild's birthday party in Houma (could not miss that - b/c I would then be voted the worst Nanny in the world). After the party was done, my van wouldn't start and so began our misadventures with chaffeurs from all over. Oh, and did I mention we also were heading to a wake and a baseball tournament for my son. Yeah, JOY, JOY! Oh, and also just to let you know yes I was an emotional wreck after only having 8 hours of sleep in 4 days, I kind of looked like Diane Keaton in Something's Gotta Give when Jack Nicholson leaves her and she cries for days -well I only cried for a few hours I'm not that bad off. Kind of funny title to the movie, now that I think about it, Something's Gotta Give - story of my life. So, to make a long story short, of course Super MOM came to my rescue yet again to save this poor pitiful damsel (did I say AGAIN!) and toted us around all five of us and $2000 later we got our vehicles back and were up and running by Wednesday, mind you my husband lost 3 days of work, so that royally sucked. But being the wonderful prince he is, he made light of it and said that maybe it was God's way of saying we needed to spend more time together - well, maybe I'll send Him the bill, next time. LOL

So, by Wednesday I was finally able to put everything back in the store and it took me nearly three days to put it back together to only take it apart again for Girls Gone Crafty. Oh, well. Then on Saturday, my dog, Smokey gets a hook stuck in his lip. WHAT>>???? I know - crazy! After my dad wrangles Smokey and manages to get the hook out we all head to my nephew's wedding, I know I can't believe I'm old enough to say I have a nephew getting married and wait it gets better, I'm going to be a great Aunt as well, did you hear that or read that???? b/c if you are old as I am you might need your hearing aid or glasses!!!! Where did my life go? Things just seem to be moving so quickly and my legs are moving slower. Even on the dance floor, never did I think I would say that! But I just don't have it like I used to, I know I'm not 80 but I used to really keep up with the young ones and give them a run for their money, but now I'm out on the dance floor asking what is that song and when did it come out and learning it came out like a year ago.

So Like I Know...

I promised you fabulous blogging for all eternity and that everyday would be filled with tips and wonderful life changing things. Okay maybe not, but you get my point.
But let's be realistic here, my children are so whacking me out it's unreal. Like who knew your kid could seriously mass produce boogers all over the counter. Before I left for Sisiversary I thought "I think it might be better if I just shoot myself in the foot and then that would take my mind off of my wacky children." Though I adore them, they can sometimes really make it hard for a mom not to get reported to social services.
(editor's note: this is all in humor, please do not take the aforementioned story above too seriously, The Scrap Boutique is not held accountable for this person's actions - Kelly told me to tell you that LOL)

So, off to tell you a little more about what's going on here, we are about to celebrate a year at The Scrap Boutique.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! isn't that exciting one year - like I've said before that's a big accomplishment for me I don't ever stick to anything longer than a year, just ask my mom. I'm actually quite surprised I've kept my husband for as long as I have or my children for that matter (ref. story above). I think I've might have had like more than 25 jobs and I'm only 32. And no my mom wasn't some kid slave boss working me in some China sweat shop, I've just held down 3 jobs plenty of times.

What is goin' on?

Yeah, we're back. Like really back to the real world. I can't even begin to tell ya'll everything but I'll try to tell our story - it goes a little sumthing like thiiiisss:

It started at 2AM on Friday

A road trip with "Tellma"

Of course she was the censored version telling me where to go
I don't think my version, "Tellma Uncut" would be so censored (though Mandi does a great impression of it, that we might be able to patent that baby)



On our road trip it wouldn't have been complete without a few scrapbook store stops and dancing and goofing off

Honestly, we had so much fun driving up there, we thought if we didn't have to pick up Paula at the airport in Nashville we might have turned around and ended it there.

So our ride though long was well worth the trip to a hotel full of women squealing like high school or sorority girls, with the other pageant girls running around with their screaming mothers. While I was mistaken for being apart of it, I promise you I wasn't.

So the guessing of sisters began as we entered the hotel and all I could do was just guess who was who b/c of the microscopic avatars or those who post their feet or other creatures.

We met our wonderful roomie, Mandi, who's stripper name is CandiMandi (she might be on Rock of Love 3, if she didn't have such a hot hubby) LOL
She was a wonderful addition to our old bittie group

We went downstairs to eat crappy chips that left an after taste in my mouth like I had been chomping on some leather like a dang cow. Needless to say I didn't get a frickin' doggie bag.

So, we started the event and it was like madly involved creativity everywhere and trying to meet all the sisters in between put my mind in a whirlwind.

We learned a lot from this event though and are super excited about bringing some of the ideas to our event GIRLS GONE CRAFTY

That night I ended up dancing like I thought I was 14 again to Vanilla Ice and paid for it later and sang or shall I say rapped "Baby Got Back" like I knew what I was doing or that I was from the 9th ward or something.

Sang another with Mandi "I love rock n roll"

Went off to our rooms to pass out at 1am or later can't remember

Then woke to 8am crop call and classes.

The games and extras were all wonderful and we really made some fun stuff which I'll post some of my classes later. But in general the creativity was THE BOMB.COM.

Kelly & Paula enjoyed Gigi's class the most and thought it was so inspirational and wait til you see what Kelly did, she actually let go of her inhibitions and really put herself out there.


Paula had to go smoke a cigarette after she couldn't get her frickin' stapler to work on her Hambly flowers in KL's class, but no harm done. I got it b/c I got it like that. LOL

At some point in the night I passed out and woke up with my scrap stuff laying besides me and Mandi, which scared the crap out of me, b/c I don't know if ya'll know this but I don't usually wake up next to a woman, so it kind of freaked me out. LOL

I'm such a suck up, but Ash is like my new obsession along with Jen and all the other fgirls

(sorry didn't have pics of all)
But as far as the ladies that we met I've got several bff's now!

(especially this lady here, TinaLynn)My Washington Women, who were funny as Heck!Mandi (again, yet too cool not to put up several times) and Bekka (someone I really wish I could have gotten to know more)My home girls Holly & Sasha And Paula is a Shot Calla, Shrimp Haula, Scrap Balla!!!!

And Kelly can take a sista out with an elbow!!! Daaanga! Watch Yourself! Show me whatcha workin' wit!!!

Until next time ...

I'll be back with more store info soon, we are still trying to catch up.

I said I would do it ...

I'm finally posting pics of my scrap area. I did a little clean sweep through it after the SOY contest basically hit it like a tornado, although it could have been my two year old that did it.

This is a hall closet converted to a scrap space, the only thing I have missing is a TV and computer, but that will come in due time.

Learn Something Every Day!!

Well, what have I learned this week ...


actually let's just say in the past couple of days ...





Lesson #1: That I should pay close attention to how I say things and maybe put some of my educational background to use when I communicate.


ex. Hunter asked what was I sitting on and how long would I be sitting there, I was responded dumbfoundly, "What?" Hunter: "You just told someone on the phone that you were kind of going to sit on it for awhile."





Lesson #2: Never underestimate the superiority of a child.


ex. I have probably told Hunter a thousand times to not jump off the top of the sofa, but he doesn't get it. I came into the living room to witness Seth fussing at Hunter to not jump off the top of the sofa, b/c he could quite possibly break his legs and never play baseball again. It worked, now why didn't I think of that.





Lesson #3: That which is left out will always be destroyed by two year old.


ex. Layout on Table + Claire = Disaster & New Layout.





Lesson #4: Never ever, ever use staz on ink when said two year old is around.


ex. White walls are now black.





Lesson #5: Don't think for a minute, think in seconds b/c that's all it takes for it to whiz by.

Carrot, Egg or Coffee

You might have seen this on an email somewhere, but I just thought it was so appropriate for our Frappachino Friday:

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst , you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?