Change....

is sometimes hard to accept. I know myself that I have had difficulty accepting certain change in my lifetime. But, sometimes change is a good positive thing! I have ALWAYS used Creative Memories albums, but guess what .......they changed them to true 12x12........how AWESOME is that! No more trimming off a certain portion to make my layouts fit just so! They have also come out with the most awesome (is that proper english?) lines of pattern paper....oh, and I can't forget to mention the Swirly and Monogram alphabet stickers! Check out the changes that CM has made or is in the process of making! You WON'T be disappointed, I Promise!

I have LOVED creating for Creative Memories over the past 6 months! The team there is wonderful! I find myself to be truly blessed! It is my passion, and so lucky to be able to do something that I truly LOVE! I LOVE the direction this company is going, and so glad to be going in that direction with them! I was reluctant at first, as I hadn't previously cared for what they were producing, but now I don't only use their albums, but their WHOLE line of goods! I am finding out the designs are perfect, the quality is top notch, and the people are wonderful! Take some time and browse through their website, and tell me what you might like to see, and I will do what I can to show you that product, and how it can be used!

Here is a little card that I recently put together using all CM product, and misc. ribbon from my stash!~

Enjoy!

30 Days of Christmas.....

I can't believe that I am talking about Christmas already! The Design Team at Creative Memories has been busy busy working on ideas for the Holidays, and starting last Saturday November 1st, began our 30 days of Christmas, where a new idea will be posted DAILY here...
http://projectcenter.creativememories.com/projectcenter/30-days-of-holiday-projec.html

Enjoy! :)

Family Fun....

was what we had last weekend in northern MN! Life has been kinda hectic in our house........football fever had hit! One got home at 6 from football, and the other started at 6! So, our family time was pretty rare! Thank goodness that they both turned in their football gear this week! Tonight we actually ALL get to sit down to the dinner table together at the same time! I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it will be!

Dennis and I decided to take advantage of the MEA weekend , and the kids not having school.......so, we took them on a little get away! Of course at 12 and almost 15 it is NOT cool to stop and pose for the camera! So, the boys had to take goofy shots! We missed out on fall colors by about a week, but the park was still beautiful! It felt very cold (about 50)...but the boys insisted on walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi!

One hi-light was that we stopped in our favorite little town.......Nisswa! They have the BEST little candy store around(The Chocolate Ox)!~ Hubby gets sour balls by the pound and the kids get whatever tickles there fancy on that day! I got to *taste* everyone's pick to make sure they made good desicions! lol

Make sure to take time once in while with your family.......make memories and HAVE FUN!

Seeing Purple.....

No, NOT the MN Vikings......

For the last 6 months I have been involved on the committee for the Memory Walk. So, last Saturday morning was the BIG event here in Central MN! With just under 600 walkers, and a BEAUTIFUL fall day, there were alot of families that came together to walk in memory or in honor of a loved one!

I had the best job of all..........photographer! As much as I would love to, I am not able to post any photos, as they are for the Alzheimer's Organization! When I think back to the day, this adorable little couple comes to mind. A man and woman guessed to be in there early 80's started out the walk by her pushing him in a wheelchair. The confused look on his face spoke volumes about the disease. However, when I went to the end of the walk to take photos, there they both were walking side by side and HAND IN HAND. -that is the only way one can get through this nasty disease........side by side and hand in hand.

Do you know someone who has been affected by Alzheimer's or dementia? If so, I challenge you to reach out to them and their family.......walk beside them........and hold their hands when they need it!!!

Saturday morning I got Josh outta bed and told him he was going to come with me to be my "assistant". He was a great help, but more than anything.......when we got in the van to come home, he said "mom, that was a fun morning". Coming from an almost 15 year old about spending the morning with mostly elderly, that was HUGE!

Homecoming....

This weekend was Homecoming here! Despite the bronchitis, I pushed myself to go to the game. It was a great football game, with an even better halftime performance by the marching band (of course I am biased).

It was unseasonably warm (85 degrees), so we sat under the stars with only t-shirts! Of course, our home team WON!! Following the game was the Homecoming dance for the high school .....so, Josh had his first BIG dance night! When I was in high school Homecoming was a semi-formal affair, but now-a-days it is not anything like that! They all went wearing their Homecoming t-shirts! Josh had a date, and tells us it was great FUN, but that is all the details he will share with us!

His friend Brittany is a total sweetheart, and spent the day hanging out with our family yesterday! Today we were back to FALL.....with cool temps, and a heavy sky. The trees are really changing.....I love this refreshing time of year!

Accomplished....

When I get into projects like this one, I feel so much accomplishment when I am done! I don't know what makes me feel that way. I do know, however, that we will have plenty of salsa goodness to enjoy during every college and NFL football game this upcoming winter! My "mater" plants STILL have loads of fruit on them, so I am thinking about putting my Gram to work when she comes to spend some time with us later in the week! I remember when I was a little girl, and I would go with Gram to the basement to pick out a jar of beans, or pickles, or peaches, or pears! I loved her cellar with all of her canning goods in it! Mine will never look like that, but the idea of canning brings me great joy!

Michelle St. Clair found me out....

so I have to share with you my WONDERFUL "official" news......

I am absolutely THRILLED to be designing for Creative Memories!!! It is not like you remember it to be! Trust me! The product is awesome, and I am having the time of my life with it! I never thought I would be a digi scrapper, but have been dabbling with the Storybook Creator! Check it out ladies!