CHA was AMAZING!

And that was mostly due to working for Junkitz! They rocked! I absolutely love Stacey & Kenny and would work for them in a heartbeat.......except they're in New Jersey. They made you feel like you've known them forever. Sue, Debbie and Kelly were super helpful for us "newbies" working the booth. I was amazed at the three new product lines that came out, Extreme Boy, Salsa Celebration and Fanciful. I cannot wait to get my hands on some of this because it has left me totally inspired! Thanks again Stacey (aka My Twin) for a wonderful time, even though it was super busy and draining. See you next year!

Can you tell which one is me? Apparently neither could a lot of people! From the side and behind we looked very similar and people kept coming up to me call me "Stacey". It was pretty funny.

Extreme Boy----LOVIN IT!!!

Salsa Celebration--LOVE IT! Sorry it's sideways!

Thank you, thank you very much......

I love this picture of Stephanie with Elvis! She was so brave to jump in there and take a picture. First off, she's 19 and we were in Imperial Palace in Vegas. Total no, no. Secondly, I just had her finish a cocktail so we could go in. Not that she couldn't have the drink, it's just, well you get it. Then we walk into a parade of impersonaters coming out of a show. Now you can see why I thought she was so brave. Love it!

Sick Family

Let me just say my kids & husband have been soooo sick! I'm really surprised I haven't caught anything! Ryan had a horrible cold that just kicked his butt. Austin started coughing last week and it got worse over the weekend and then Zach started up. Needless to say, they have Bronchitis!!! Austin has been home the last two days trying to get better. His 9th Birthday is on Thursday and he's soooo worried that we'll have to cancel his party. I doubt it, he's been on antibotics for two days and by Thursday evening he should be much better.

Today being that he's home and not deathly ill ( no fever, just a bad cough) I went through his toys and we "tested" the old ones to see if they still work. I was so happy to dump a lot of broken remote control cars and now we're charging the three that still work. We bagged two big bags of stuffed animals and dumped a lot of broken toys. I was hoping to find a place to donate stuffed animals that are in brand new condition. Such cute ones too! So if anybody knows where children might need a new stuffed animal, please let me know. I was thinking of calling CHOC.

Onto scrapping stuff!!!! So I was just on Junkitz blog and saw the sneek peaks.....oh such cute stuff!!!! http://www.junkitz.com/designers/blogger.cfm?username=spanassidi&topten=topten I am soooo excited for CHA. Plus I'm going to a dinner with some of the girls I know on Sunday night. There will be some people there that I don't know yet (Leslie Ashe) and I'm really excited to go hang out at Buca Di Beppo's. Gotta run, hope to post more later!

Time Flies!

It's been another week since I've posted! Still hanging in there with the dieting and exercising. I walked the other night......man was it COLD!!!! There is a lot coming up that I'm super excited about. First, Austin's Birthday is on the 25th. We're having pizza and a sleep over. NO SCHOOL on the 26th!!! Then on the 27th I have my MOMS International Luncheon. Should be fun. Hanging out with the girls is always a blast. Then there is CHA!!!!! (Jan27th-31st) Woo-hoo!!! So I haven't really spilled the beans on that one. I was asked to volunteer a couple of days at the Junkitz booth. DUH! Of course!!! I'll get to hang with the very talented Teresa Collins (which I so love!) and hopefully learn some insightful things. I love CHA, it's like the Disneyland of scrapbooking. Except you can't buy anything. But you do get to see all the new stuff, and who doesn't love new stuff??? Plus you get to do make-n-takes, demo products and meet all kinds of great people in the industry. So excited I can hardly stand it.

I have lots of plans to scrapbook this weekend and desperately need to upload some layouts to share. Wait til you see the one with Stephanie & Elvis! hee-hee

Day Three

Of exercise. It's a love/hate relationship. I love the way I feel when I'm done, I just wish everything was here in my home instead of having to go to the gym. I really need to find more home (or gym) weight training. I was reading SHAPE last night from October, (I bought for my trip to NYC that somehow got lost and never read?) to help get me motivated to lose that last 10/15lbs and they had some really great key points about how to eat and think like a slim person; (I'll share the short version)
1. Figure out why you want to lose weight-do it for you & no one else
2. Consciously change the way you think about yourself-carry a journal and write down positive thoughts
3.Take Charge
4. Identify your triggers-stress
5. Stop the eat-panic-eat cycle-"Now I've blown it, I might as well..." don't diet sabotage
6. Keep an accomplishment list-little things like, I ate fruit instead of cookies, I took the stairs instead of the elevator

So easy and makes sense, just need to do it. I did feel this way when I started Jenny Craig a year and a half ago, now I'm just kind of gliding.....glad I'm not gaining. I'm really hoping to have that flat bikini tummy this summer. That was my goal for last year. I'll try again for this one!

Back on track

Today is the first day where I'm getting my working out back on track. I so desperately needed too. I already went, started light since it's been....uh, four or five weeks! I'm going to sign up for this boot camp at my gym. It doesn't start until February, so I have time to build my strength back up. I'm so hoping that taking this class will help me finally get rid of those last 10-15lbs. I've been the same weight for a year now. Which is good, but I would really love to actually be my goal weight.

The boys are back in school. I miss them, but love the peace and queit. I feel bad, I made them both wear jeans and it's HOT today. Actually it's more of a dry Santa Ana winds feeling. Yuck.

Well, I'm going to try and go scrap a little before I have to get Zachary in two hours. Have a great day!

Happy New Year!

Ok, again I'm late on the well wishes. I hope everyone had a great New Year. I scrapped with some friends on New Years Day and that was a good time. The kids are still out on vacation and return back to school on the 8th. I'm really enjoying them being home. Ryan went back to work on the 2nd to a new building. Unfortunately it's not totally done, but it is really cool. We checked it out over last weekend.

So today I did something to myself that really freaked me out. I'm in major cleaning mode-putting decorations away, still reorganizing the boys' room.....it was a pajama day needless to say. Any ways, the boys have this heavy duty Little Tykes toy box. The lid was flipped upside down on top of the chest and while I was cleaning, it slid down and whacked me right in the shin! YOWZERS!!!!!!!!! Holy @&JNA*&%$!!!! It hurt so bad....I could feel to the core of my body. I'm on the floor trying my best not to cuss, cuz there's the boys wondering what's going on with mom. Zach is offering his blanket and puppy doggie for comfort and I'm just rolling around grasping my leg. So I lift the leg of my pj's and I have this EGG sized swelling that's turing black and blue. Austin grabs an ice pack for me and I'm trying to put it on but it's just so painful. Then I start to feel queezy....so Austin gets me a glass of water. Then I really start to feel like I'm gonna puke. So I hobble into the bathroom and start dry heeving. Now I'm freaking out. Because with the nauseated feeling and the heeving, I'm now shaking and sweating and feeling clamy. I'm thinking I must have done something else? Did I break a bone??? Now I'm so hot I'm taking my shirt off and feeling like I'm going to pass out. Poor Austin is standing in the doorway keeping Zachary out. Thank God he's a strong boy. He asks me, "Mom, do I need to call an ambulance?" "No, I'm ok, just give me a minute, and keep your brother out." So I lay down and let it ride out.....about ten minutes later I hobble to my bed and I call my friend that's a nurse and she said I was fighting the pain and seeing the swelling freaked me out and I basically panicked. Let me tell you, that was the scariest thing ever! I have had panick attacks, but nothing like that. So my leg really hurts and now I have a big ole knot.

No big plans for the weekend....I bought a "pre-cooked" Turkey to make on Sunday. Ryan got a gift certificate from work before Thanksgiving for a Turkey, I'm just getting around to it. :) I'm hoping to maybe get some more cropping time in this weekend. Have a great weekend!

The Good....and the Bad

Let's start with the good! My mother-in-law is buying us a new TV! Woo-hoo!!!! Our TV sucks sooooo bad it's not even funny anymore. When we won it two years ago we thought we were the luckiest couple. Well.....not so much anymore. The thing sucks. Half the time we can't get it to come on and the other half we have to leave it on F-O-R-E-V-E-R! So we're getting a 37" flat screen LCD, something, something, blah, blah, technology. I so don't understand, but I'm thrilled none the less!


The bad. Why is it after 9 years of being divorced he can still get under my skin? I won't go into details, but it always has to do with money. I'm so tired of it and I will be resolving this issue on Tuesday. Enough said.


Well, I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and is safe. Austin is with his dad until Monday. Kind of bittersweet because I've always been with him to ring in the New Year. I can't wait for Monday because I get to scrapbook with my friends all day! First time this whole Christmas break. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Ok, so I'm really late on that one. We've been so busy it's insane! Today I have a little free time before running off to a birthday party and getting my haircut again. More on that later.

My sister flew in on the 22nd from NYC and just left last night. As typical sisters that we are, we got into it the first night. My sister got a phone call while we were shopping that a friend wanted to go out. Well, being that I'm not "fun" I was ditched and off she went. Not a good thing. So I kept my distance all week. What a bummer, cause I was really looking forward to spending time with her.

December 23rd-two packages arrive; 1. a gift basket that has a bottle of Don Perignon, Godiva Chocolates and a bunch of other posh stuff. 2. a gift from his friend, an authentic 49er's Jersey! That made his whole day. Later that day we had Christmas dinner with my dad's side of the family. That's always fun. The kids decorated a gingerbread house, so cute!

December 24th- Austin left with his Grandma for the day (my ex's side) and returned later that night. He had a great time and was really excited about all his gifts. It's also Ryan's birthday. We did a few small things in the morning and then had lunch at the Yard House. He was wearing his new 49er's Jersey because the game is on later. I suggested he stay for it and walk home since we live just a few blocks away. He did just that.

Christmas-a total whirlwind! Had an awesome time, everyone loved their gifts.

December 26-shopped with my mom. What's the day after Christmas without a little shopping? We've done it for years and I love it!

December 27th-took the kids to see Night at the Museum. It was really good and a film for the whole family! Had the 2nd part of my Michelle Hill class. Super cute album, can't wait to put my Christmas pics in it!

December 28th-Took down the crib and changing table and put two twin beds in the boys room. What an all day event! I love the way it looks, but I still need to get some storage ideas since I no longer have the crib to shove things under and the changing table to stack stuff on. Dinner at Souplantation with my family. My sister loves this place and since their isn't one in NY she enjoys going when she comes to town.

And that brings me to today. We have a birthday party at Hullabaloo's and then I have a hair appt. I'm not digging my blunt bob. I'm going to have her put more layers in my hair. I love the length and look, it's just too straight for me. Well, have a nice weekend, hope I didn't bore everybody....that is if anybody reads this? :)

Notice anything different???

Saturday night my husband had his Holiday party at the Irvine Marriott. It was decorated really pretty, but the food was awful! It kind kind of had that buffet taste to it. Blah! The kids stayed the night away so afterwards we went and saw Borat. Very interesting. Not as funny as I expected. I suppose that's because they've shown all the funny parts on TV. After the movie we're walking to the car and guess what I do? Fall. Yep, and HARD. My knee & side of my thigh are all bruised and I scraped my hands pretty bad. My shoe got stuck and I just ate it bad. I'm so sore and it's made it hard to sleep.

Friday I took the kids to Disneyland. I love when it's decorated for the holidays. They had such a nice time and finally got to see Santa. Austin asked for an electric guitar. Oh boy am I in trouble! Zach was really quite and didn't say much. I was surprised he jumped right up on Santa's lap. It was really chilly and I couldn't shake being cold all day, so I left at about 8pm. I had enough of being cold.

Well I guess were on the countdown to Christmas now. Seven days and counting.

It's done & over

My birthday. Phew....it's over. I'm happy to report that I love my gifts. I got a gift certificate to our gym, which will either buy me A.) 2 sessions w/a personal trainer, B.) 5 sessions with a group trainer over 5 weeks, or C.) 8 sessions with a group trainer only lasting 3 weeks. I'll figure it out and book it for the new year. Can't wait, our gym is also being remodeled and getting new equipment. **LOVE, LOVE the new Gwen Stefani CD** My kids gave that to me. I also got a few small things that make me happy......like MAC's VIVA GLAM HOLIDAY LIPGLOSS SET. http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/collections/collection.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY20045

Today I finished up Zachary's teachers' gifts. I'm so happy that's done. I hope they enjoy them!

Ok, now for the important stuff........ NIP/TUCK......Oh my! I am SO happy Christian is no longer with Michelle! Woo-hoo!!!! The way the show ended made me soooo happy! I was wondering where the show was going considering they just finished their 4th season. Great show by the way, so well written. So my doctors are setting up a practice in Beverly Hills. If only it were real! I'm still crossing my fingers on that Ebay auction. Maybe a big windfall will come my way before it ends tomorrow!

Tomorrow is a mellow day for us, Story Time w/Ms. Lin and then Zach has a follow up appointment at CHOC. Have a great day tomorrow!

I'm 35

Wow. Who would have thought? 35 just doesn't seem befitting to me, I'm more like, 22! I'm in a funk, it could be the age. It really has been bothering me for sometime. But 35 is my year, I just know it! I have plans/goals for the next year and really want to see them through. Well, I'm off to help my dad with his ipod and teach him how to download music. We bought for him for his birthday.....that was back in JULY!

Christmas Tag

I saw this on Erika's blog, so I thought it would be fun to do!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Sits them under the tree
3. Colored lights or white lights on tree/house? colored this year, I prefer white, but Ryan took the kids to buy new ones because all my old ones were pretty burned out.
4. Do you hang Mistletoe? no
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually I start the first weekend in December
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Candied Yams...mmmm
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Breakfast w/Santa and then going to my Grandparents house to decorate their tree. Does anyone remember Buffums? That's where breakfast was.
8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, but only from family that we don't see often.
9. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I was in Junior High. I finally realized I was getting everything I asked for.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? My poor tree.....since my divorce way back, my tree is very girlie. Lot's of pink/silver/gold/white/frosty/glittery. Now it's a mish-mosh of ornaments, homemade school ones, baby's first, second, third, etc.....I guess what a tree should look like.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? True Cali girl.....HATE IT!
12. Can you ice skate? I don't know? It's been about, oh gosh, 23 years since I last ice-skate.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No, but I do remember crying when Santa would bring me exactly what I asked for. I'm such an emotional person.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with my family and now enjoying it through the eyes of my children.
15. What tops your tree? An Angel my Grandma bought me. She got one for all the girls.
16. What's your favorite holiday tradition? I love baking, going to Disneyland, playing Holiday music every chance I get.
17. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both!
18. What is your favorite holiday dessert? My Aunt's peppermint bars. Starbucks has something similar, but my Aunt's are way better!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? All the songs. I love my Frank Sinatra CD and my Amy Grant one the most.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Pass
21. What is your favorite Christmas special/movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! I do like the newer version of Miracle on 34th Street. We must own a dozen Christmas movies.

My Christmas present

I found what I want. Ooooh if money soooooo weren't an object or if I hadn't taken that NYC trip....or maybe I'll work partime to pay for this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200054952519 What dream come true!

I changed my blog layout a little, hope ya'all like it. I'll work on adding more tomorrow!

Random Stuff

Not much really going on, but I wanted to share that I did find out more about my friends' boyfriend that died. Apparently he took his own life. He had been clean & sober for years and in the last year slipped and was doing drugs again. He & my friend did break up and he couldn't deal with the pain. It's really sad and unfortunate because there is help out there and he just couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. So sad.

I've been working on a few little projects for the kids teachers; mini holiday albums. I finished one today and started a second. Hopefully I can crank it out and be done with that one this week sometime. Zach's school gets out next week, so his last day is Dec 13th. Austin's isn't until the 21st so I have more time.

Next week I turn....gulp.....35. I told Ryan this year we switch ages. He's turning 32 on the 24th. He made a comment about this lady looking "old", she must of been 40! GASP! Oh no he didn't!!! I was really apalled, but mostly teasing him that he could think 40 is old when his wife is practically 35. I really thought I'd have another baby by now or one brewing, but it just seems like were so stuck in a rut. We didn't expect to be renting as long as we have so it makes it hard to make that leap to have another child. So our goal is to be out of this place in the Spring/early summer. I don't care if we rent again, just a bigger place would be nice.

What's on everyone's Christmas wish list this year? I would love a new paper trimmer, a personel trainer and Julian McMahon. :)

Some sad news.....

Today has been one of those days. It first started with a disagreement with Ryan then my "terrible two" Zachary having a melt down at the library, then a phone call from my mom about my Grandma having another mass of cancer and then an email from a friend that her boyfriend died. My two year old and my husband aren't really anything major but it just seemed like things kept getting worse today. As you all know my Grandma has lymphoma. Well, tomorrow was to be her last treatment of chemo. She had tumors throughout her whole body and last week the Dr. wanted to do a catscan. Well, they found a mass in her colon. It's cancer. So a week from tomorrow she goes back into the hospital to have it removed and then has to stay in for a week. I'm hoping she'll come out here to recover. (she lives in Palm Desert) I just want her to be healthy so bad. She's such a fighter, I know she'll be fine.

Matthew Zorovich was 38 and had one daughter, Izabella who just turned 3. My friend Annette was dating Matt and was madly in love with him. The kind of love that you think only happens in the movies. I don't know all the details but I'm torn if I should call her.( I did email her) We haven't really talked much in the last year. We used to work together about 8 years ago and became friends instantly. We both left that company and lost touch. About 2.5 years ago we ran into one another at Disneyland and were elated! Kids the same age again! Her daughter Zoe is about 6 months younger than Austin and her daughter Izabella is 4 months older than Zachary. We started hanging out again, talking on the phone, but as time would tell we mostly just communicated via email. I've met Matt a few times and he was so charasmatic and kind. I'm absolutely heartbroken for her loss.

With that sad note, I'll take my achey body to bed now. I took an "Abs Express" class night...ouch!

Rainy Monday

It seems to be our first official winter rain today. The weather has just been miserable with all the heat right up until a week ago. But today it is a nice brisk 58 degrees! I have a sweater on....a sweater! And I got to use my raincoat for about a whole minute when I took Zachary to school. Speaking of Zachary, he's back home. Tummy ache. It seems to be going around. My stomach feels icky today too. I thought about decorating for the holidays today, but with two tummy aches, it's gonna have to wait.

Yesterday I scrapped with Illyse & Christine at the Red Bee. I completed four layouts in about 6 hours! I'm so happy!!! I had a ragging headache when I first showed up and thank god Christine had Excederin....I forgot I had some at home. Well, once it was gone.....I was ON FIRE! So some of these are kind of basic, but I'm just really glad to have them done. I had been saving the Basic Grey Paper forever, so I'm really happy I got to finally use it. Have a great day!

The Chicks Rocked!

The concert was so awesome last night! Aside from being nervous about being in downtown LA by myself all my nerves were gone once the concert started. I was sad to see it end but it was such an amazing time. I had the best seats too. I thought they were going to be up above, well they weren't. They were on the floor about 4 rows up off the right of the stage and about 40 rows back. I also was sitting with "industry" people. My whole section was empty for the longest time and then this group showed up with passes hanging around their neck. Someone said that it was the cast of "HEREOS & The UNIT". Which I did recognize two people from their commercials. The Asian guy and the Cheerleader. I was disappointed because a lot of them were rude. Talking a lot and getting up to be with one another. Then I over heard some say they didn't even know what the Dixie Chicks sing? They all had back stage passes which made me want to throw up. They so wouldn't appreciate meeting them. And one more thing.....they just sat there during the concert. Because none of them knew the music, they just sat there. Sad, someone else would have paid to sit in those seats and had an amazing time. Well I still had an amazing time all by myself.

Almost Turkey Day!

Is everybody ready? I'm not. I need to start chopping veggies for a dish I'm bringing to my mom's tomorrow. The thing is, I really don't want to right now. I'm in such a funk. I just realized I forgot to subtract 3 checks in my checkbook and if that's not bad enough, my credit card payment came back because DUH I forgot to put a stamp on it. I have never done that before. Not a good thing, it's due tomorrow and I'm sure they charge to make a payment over the phone. Ugh. You'd think staying home you could manage to stay on top of things. So I suppose with that said.....I shall now go chop an onion, a bell pepper and a carrot. You're probably wondering what I'm making. It's a corn casserole. I so love this dish. If you need a new yummy dish, I can send you the receipe. Have a great day!

It's been a week......

I've been so busy that I haven't had the chance to update this. Zachary is sleeping so I have some free time to update this......we just got home from Oak Glen. It's so pretty there with all the fall foliage. The only bummer is that apple picking season ended two weeks ago. But we made it a worthwhile trip. We sampled some apples, apple butter, apple donuts, apple cider and I bought an apple pie! The kids got to pet & feed some deer....or I fed the deer. Zach was a little afraid. Next year we'll definitely go early to make the most of the trip. Oh, and on the way back we stopped at Collective Journey. Wow! That's one heck of a scrapbook store. Got a few goodies, but not too many.

My cousin Stephanie is here from Seattle. On Sunday we went and picked her up from the airport and took her to my Grandma's. We stayed and visited for a short while. She'll be here for 9 days. It's so nice to have an out of town guest.

I got to scrapbook on Saturday afternoon at Oasis. Man I love that place! I finished four layouts and four really nice ones that I love! Here's one of them. On Sunday I'm scrapbooking at the Red Bee. I sooo cannot wait! If you see Christine, tell her congratulations, she made the design team for the Red Bee!!!! Yeah Christine! I think she's more excited that she'll get to go to CHA.

I know this is all over the place, but I'm trying to keep it short. :) Friday is THE CONCERT! Woo-hoo!!!! It so sucks I'm going all alone, but that's a true fan. Hopefully people won't think I'm weird if I ask them to take my picture. Dixie Chicks here I come!