Create Kate

Only a few more sleeps...

Until Kah-Mei and I head out for yet another adventure. We are like Bill and Ted in girl form ;)  Meeting up with Angela, Shannon (the elusive E-Scrapper) Rachel and Tia. Have never met Miss Tia before so I'm excited for that. Another night of talking until the wee hours and little sleep but it will be worth. It always is. I have to say I am so thankful for scrapping and all of the girl time it has brought into my life. I love getting together with the girls and just shooting the breeze. Looking forward to stopping at Treasury of Memories on the way too- LOVE that store- love it!!!  Between TOM and Photo Express I'm all set for scrap stores. Those places rock! 

We are going to head into Seattle for a little mini tour as well. Should be fun as I have never ventured into downtown. Always spent time around the outskirts and missed the action. And the pub dinner Saturday night should be fun. Meeting more obsessed scrappers is always good. Yay! 

Been having fun with some digital stuff this week- love that when I get into a groove. Feeling good that way lately so it's all good.

OK anyone of my close friends can attest to my ongoing saga over getting a digital rebel. I have wanted one forever, but alas I work off of a teacher's salary and well, my mortgage always seems to come first. darn. Anywho, so I had some money in my fund, but once again house troubles popped up and our deck needed some repair. the seal was coming undone and DH did not want water seeping into the garage. So goodbye rebel fund, hello nicely sealed deck. Just means I need to submit like a crazy lady and design lots right? right. It'll happen one day. I'm thinking I may just have to eventually bite the bullet, use my credit card and get the darn camera. Goes against my nature as my Dad always taught don't make big purchases unless you have saved the money first. Pay off the credit card at the end of everything month. etc. etc... I can hear his voice now telling me, it'll happen. He has a Pentax *st ds so to him it's no big deal. he's got the digital slr already ;) Gotta love him though for getting me interested in photography and spurring my passion for art. thanks dad!  Love ya!

Speaking of parents, they are coming tomorrow for the weekend and Kenzie kept asking me before bed tonight, "Is it tomorrow yet? Is it tomorrow yet? " I just know that all day tomorrow will be spent saying "Is it time for Grandma yet?"  Makes me so happy to see how much she adores her grandparents (on both sides too) Gotta love family. I know I do.

Well that's my update. School has been good. The strike ended and we went back to work on Monday. I think both sides met fairly close to the middle. And now I'm just putting my trust in that the govt. won't walk away from our contract once again in June when it expires again. Let's hope.

over and out. 10-4 good buddy.

Strike Duty

I was thinking about the calls for CK for school pages last night and thinking I don't have much to report on the school front right now as we are on strike. Then I thought, hmmmm that may make an interesting page. A whole different perspective on school. I know I'll be documenting for my own books somehow. It's been over aweek now and it looks like it will be at least a few more. Today is a day of support from other unions in the province as well. Getting my warm clothes and umbrella ready as it will be acold wet day out there in the rain. But, in the end, it's important as what is happening is crazy. Not good for teachers, families and most importantly children. It's about them in the end.

Memory Trends

Phew!!  So glad to be home, but had such a fantastic time as well!!  This was my first time at a Trade Show of any sort and it opened my eyes to how big the world of scrapping is, and Memory Trends is the smallest of the shows! It was fantastic to catch up with some old friends, meet some new ones and just visit. Long days, late nights and little sleep.

Here is a quick recap. And remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas so some of the stories behind some of the photos well, let's just say they are staying in Vegas ;) 

A2Z:

Had so much fun with these ladies!!  Heather and her family were wonderful. Her sister Heidi has so many ideas and I love that- great job girls- can't wait to work out some more fun stuff!! 

I also have to give props out to my buddies at the Fontwerks both- I love those girls!!  Kah-Mei is a dear friend of mine and I think I am one of the luckiest girls in the world to have had her fall into my life. You know I love ya sweetie!!

I also got to meet Melissa Diekema- FINALLY!!!  After many many many hours on MSN. And M, you are just as sweet in IRL as you are online- love ya!! 

Katie Pertiet's new stuff for Foofala:

OMGoodness!!  I knew it was going to be great as I expect nothing less from Katie. It looked fantastic in real life and I am just too happy and excited for her. She has welcomed me into the digital world so much and has basically been a fantastic mentor to me- thanks Katie!!

Friends and hi jinks!

Oh my too much fun!!  Saw Tricia at the Daisy D's booth doing make and takes that ROCKED!  Also saw barb sporting her lovely decorated crutches over at Imagination Project- loved those!  And Jen was working it at the Autumn Leaves booth.

 

And onto the hi jinks:

OK had a fantastic dinner at the Cheesecake factory on Monday night. Laughed too hard at Laura and her salad. Snicker, snicker. I also must pause here and say that Laura is the funniest girl ever! She made me laugh more times over the past few days. Can't wait to see her again. I also predict big stuff for her- her work is truly truly amazing and Kah-Mei was one smart girl adding her to the Fontwerks team!  It was wayyyyyyyyy too funny as we had a table of about 17 women and were seated next to a table of about the same number of men in fora convention from Seattle (although they tried to convince us they were the the men from the show- Thunder from Down Under- tee hee!) Here's Kelly having fun.

The next night was the Pub dinner and oh my the goodie bags were so so generous- thanks so much to everyone that contributed to them!!  And thanks to Jan for organizing the event. Got to sit next to Amber McDonald- a fellow digi girl so that was fun!!  She is too sweet! Check out her stuff at Citrus Blossoms Then we headed out for some fun on the strip - wow! Too much fun!

Lastly, the final night I had dinner with Kah-Mei, Melissa and Erin at the BEST restaurant ever- Rum Jungle. Erin recommended it and I will now follow that girl wherever she tells to go as it was amazing!!  So delicious!!  Thanks Erin and Kah-Mei as well ;) Love you girls!!  We then headed over to see the Shark reef- pretty darn cool if you ask me!!   

All in all- a fantastic trip! I'm worn out! I'm beat and I'm happy. Came home to more busyness with a house full of in-laws for the weekend and a big dinner coming on Sunday night- wish me luck!

I know there is a LOT I am forgetting- it was so much crammed into so few days. Met so many wonderful people. A big hi to everyone I saw and thanks for making me feel so at home.

Excited!

Ok quick post to say check htis baby out:

A2Z website!!!!

There are some layouts, photos etc.... more to come and a featured designer next month- Man I am so ina happy place right about now! 

I have to say that through all of this I have learned some huge lessons. EVERYTHING happens for a reason. When one door closes another opens. Just when you think you are down, something amazing comes along and hits you right in the middle and picks you up.

So many cliches but boy are they true- cliched for a reason right?  See you all in Vegas- come by the booth and say hi!!! 

Hot dog!

Had a fantastic weekend- scrapped 4 paper pages, hung out at Photo Express and laughed until I couldn't laugh anymore!  The girls there are fantastic- hilarious! And I need to say for the record that Michele is one of the most generous people I have met- her goodie bags were amazing!  And Kah-Mei too- thanks so much sweetie! Got totally silly and even planted a big smooch on Kah-Mei! Snicker, snicker! They had a studio in the back and we had a photo shoot and man was it ever fun. This is just one of the many pictures. Also got to see Fontwerks new stamp sets- WOW! Love them all. And, lastly, I scrapped my pages for A2Z for Memory Trends!  So excited about my paper debut next week. I can't quite believe it is all real yet. I  don't think it will sink in until i get  to Vegas next week and see them on display. It's scary/exciting/nerve-wracking all rolled into one. My head has been swirling all week with the excitiement. Plus, I'm more than excited to see some of friends IRL again. It's been almost a year now and I miss them!  I'm also new to the trade show scene so I'm ecstatic about getting to see it all firsthand. Can't wait!!  Can you tell I'm excited?????