Thursday, July 26, 2007
A humble reminder...
I pray that I also become more humble and thankful for my blessings. It's so easy to complain until we see others in a MUCH more unfortunate position.
I AM BLESSED.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
A bump in the road...
like an oddball
alone
empty
weird
like I didn't have anything of importance to say
unworthy
like I was on the outside looking in
like a prude
like I know nothing
worthless
like I didn't fit in
very obese
like everyone was staring at me
unhappy
That was after church...and had nothing to do with church. During church, I felt wonderful.
I felt refreshed, I felt renewed, I felt filled with the His message of letting go of my earthly
fears. I felt reminded that He is with me always. I am never alone. He is in control. So,
when I started feeling these negative feelings this evening, I prayed and ask Him to forgive
me for I am His child and as a child of Him, I should be rejoicing that by grace, He knows
me and I am His. I asked him to take these negative and hurtful feelings from me. I
asked him to give me the peace in my heart that I know He wants for me. None of these
feelings really matter. I am only here a short time and I know "this world is not my home,
I'm just passing through`". I thanked him for his goodness, for His blessings, for his
patience and for his grace.
I feel better and while writing this, this song came to my mind. One of my favorites...
~~~This World Is Not My Home~~~
This world is not my home I'm just passing through
my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
O Lord you know I have no friend like you
if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
They're all expecting me and that's one thing I know
my savior pardoned me and now I onward go
I know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
O Lord you know I have no friend like you
if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally
the Saints on every hand are shouting victory
their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
O Lord you know I have no friend like you
if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Come out and play with the SBO sistas!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Iced tea dreams DO come true...lol!

My newest "appliance" and it makes me terribly happy! I love iced tea (decaf, please!) and I've made it myself (using my coffee pot) for years but it never "tasted like the restaurants". That's was my complaint. I want iced tea that tastes like I'm sitting in a restaurant people! I think I also brewed mine too strong too and I could never get it right.
So, this week I spent the measly $18.72 at Wal-mart to get what I wanted! I fired it up the minute I got home and brewed myself up a pitcher! Super easy and tastes soooo good...just like the restaurants, lol! And look at the colors...aqua and white~how cute is that? Looks totally hip to me! ;) It's almost like an invitation to plug it in!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Little fish, big fish...

Saturday, July 07, 2007
Happy Birthday Marjorie and Kristin!
Marjorie is our resident Hawaiian sista on www.scrapbookeronline.com. She's sweet, beautiful, loves her grandchildren to pieces and we all wish we could live closer to her! From your friend way far away, I wish you the best birthday ever! Big ((hugs)) to you my friend!
Kristin is our NY Army wife sista who keeps busy at home with her children. Her husband is in Iraq fighting for our freedom, so I wish her as best a birthday as one could have. Her kids are making her a cake (yellow I hear! ;)) and decorating it allllll by themselves today. Can't wait to see it! Wishing you a wonderful birthday sistsa!!
Happy Birthday and I wish you both many, many more!
Friday, July 06, 2007
LET FREEDOM RING!

Can I just say how much I love Picasa2? Lovin' the collage thing. Man...so easy.
Another Independence Day that I'm thankful for all my freedoms and liberties. There isn't another country I'd rather live in!
It was really a quiet day for us. Hung around the house and watched the fireworks from our driveway. We have the perfect spot and it beats loading up the car and fighting the crowd at the park.
And like a dork, I had my tripod goin' on! Might be dorky but hey...I'm happy with my photos. (well...the power line in some of them kind of eerk me.)
Hope your day was a day of celebration!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
July is ALL ABOUT CIRCLES at ScrapbookerOnline.com !! July Contest rules & details: We know you love circles as much as we do, so we want to see your favorite layout using circles!! You can have circles as embellishments, your patterned papers, your photo shapes – even your layout shape.
Let’s see how creative you can get with your circles!!
* Only ONE submission per person will be accepted.
* Please forward journaling in plain text along with the photo
NOTE: No previously published work will be accepted.
1. All images will be displayed in our monthly contest gallery.
2. Open to US and Canada residents only.
3. Please include a supply list.
4. Our winner will be notified by e-mail and must respond within 2 weeks of notification.
5. Winner will be announced in our monthly newsletter and on our site.
6. Winning Layout: Our Design Team will select one winning layout. The winner of this contest will receive
a $25.00 gift certificate for our online store.
7. All entries must be received between July 1, 2007 through July 31, 2007.
*Submissions can be made by emailing July2007Contest@scrapbookeronline.com
Or by uploading it to the "All About Circles" contest gallery
MORE at www.scrapbookeronline.com
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Check out Simply Recipes.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Random, odd and off the wall ...


I love Betty Crocker's Ranch and Bacon Suddenly Salad. BUT, why do we have to have freeze-dried peas in the mix? I cannot imagine anything more gross and unfresh. When I make it, I pick through the dry pasta shells and pick out the peas. Ick. I even documented it...lol. But, since I love fresh peas, I throw a handful in when it's all said and done. But freeze-dried is for the birds. And I bet they'd even toss them aside.
Finally found a site that had the song I was looking for...and without video! YAY! I've loved this song "I Can Only Imagine" for a long time now. Hope you enjoy it too.
Saw this over at Krystin's blog and just had to try it out for myself. And frankly, I really don't think I like the results I got. LOL! Try it yourself, post back here and I'll check out your blog for the meaning of your name. Wishing you better luck than I had!
| Nicole -- [noun]: A person who falls into an outhouse and dies 'How" will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com |
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Father's Day/birthday gifts ordered...

Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Happiness = Hobby Lobby...



Monday, June 04, 2007
Scrapbooker Online's June Contest
School is out & we are celebrating with a June contest at ScrapbookerOnline.com
June Contest rules & details:
No more classes...
No more books...
Yep, that time of the year is already here with the weather nice the kids are ready for summer break!
Ourcontest this month is celebrating ‘School is out’! Submit a layout celebrating the end of the school year for your chance to win a gift certificate to Scrapbookeronline.com!
Your layout must be celebrating the end of the school year – any grade from pre-school to college, using any supplies and your layout must contain at least one photo.
NOTE: No previously published work will be accepted.
Only ONE submission per person will be accepted.
Please forward journaling in plain text along with the photo or scan of your layout.
All images will be displayed in our monthly contest gallery.
Open to US and Canada residents only.
Please include a supply list.
Our winner will be notified by e-mail and must respond within 2 weeks of notification.
Winner will be announced in our monthly newsletter and on our site.
Winning Layout: Our Design Team will select one winning layout. The winner of this contest will receive a $25.00 gift certificate for our online store.
All entries must be received between June 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007.
Submissions can be made by emailing June2007contest@scrapbookeronline.com Or by uploading it to the "School is Out" contest gallery.
MORE at ScrapbookerOnline
Good luck to everyone who applies! :)
Friday, June 01, 2007
All caught up





Card orders are completed, delivered and I am paid! Sure makes makes me happy when something I created is acknowledged; and for that I'm truly reaping what I've sown. It's a good feeling! Now cross your fingers that this will keep moving!
I completed an order for a very nice lady who had seen my graduation cards on display at Winan's (http://winanscandies.com). She called me (getting my number from the back of my cards on display!) and asked if I did custom orders. So she placed on order for 10 cards with their town's school colors. She picked them up last Friday and was very happy, which made me happy!
I also received a call from the bookkeeper at my brother in law's law firm. Apparently one of the ladies that worked in the office had went to Winan's for a coffee and bought one of my Mother's Day cards that were on display at that time. She brought it back to the office and they placed an order for 30 assorted cards to keep for fellow employees and clients. Every single, last card I made was a completely different design, so that was a huge challenge but they turned out nice. They requested 15 birthday, 5 get well, 5 sympathy and 5 thank-you's. I photographed them all separately but here's a sampling of them in stacks. Oh... and I asked my BIL if he was behind this and he said he didn't know anything about the order. That's awesome if it was totally without any "brotherly" initiation but even if he's saying that to be nice...bless him anyway! ;)
So at this moment, I have no cards orders, but I have other projects to work on. Non-paying, but nonetheless, projects. I have a circle journal that I need to finish and get sent off, I'd like to complete this week's challenge using felt and/or hand stitching on a layout (kind of getting late in the week now), as well as working on June's WAT layouts. I'd love to get them all done, but I doubt that will happen, but I'd like to try! The DT has a VERY fun kit for June and I can't wait to dive in!! :)
Our sista Nikki (sabren) has decided to step down from her DT position at SBO. Her and her family have wonderful things happening and I wish her the best of luck. I know she won't completely disappear, so I'm not really saying goodbye. :) ((Hugs)) Nikki! You can check out her gallery here. http://www.scrapbookeronline.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=348
Thanks again to Kelli (http://www.ksspecials.blogspot.com) for the blog push. She's a keeper for sure! Thanks girl, keep on me!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
MINI BOOK MADNESS at ScrapbookerOnline.com
May Contest rules & details: Submit a mini book that contains at least 50% Sassafras Lass Products! Your mini book can be any theme, any shape, any size – it just has to have at least 50% of Sassafras Lass products!
To celebrate our Sassafras Lass Mini book madness – all Sassafras Lass Products are an additional 5% off our already 10% off retail prices!! The sale includes the **New** Serendipity - Blue Boutique and Scrumptious lines!! Be sure to check out our store for the new papers & rub-ons!!
* Only ONE submission per person will be accepted.
* Please forward journaling in plain text along with the photo
NOTE: No previously published work will be accepted.
1. All images will be displayed in our monthly contest gallery.
2. Open to US and Canada residents only.
3. Please include a supply list.
4. Our winner will be notified by e-mail and must respond within 2 weeks of notification.
5. Winner will be announced in our monthly newsletter and on our site.
6. Winning Layout: Our Design Team will select one winning layout. The winner of this contest will receive a $25.00 gift certificate for our online store.
7. All entries must be received between May 1, 2007 through May 31, 2007. *Submissions can be made by emailing May2007Contest@scrapbookeronline.com Or by uploading it to the "Mini book Madness" contest gallery.
MORE at www.scrapbookeronline.com
**Please note - new products will be in the store May 1st and additional 5% off sale starts May 1st!**
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Here are a couple of photos. Click on each one for an up-close view!
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Friday, May 04, 2007
National Scrapbooking Day & SBOU Classes
Design Team Member Nikki Workman will be teaching another fun mini class being posted in our forums on Saturday morning. She will be teaching you how to make festive banner embellishments for your pages that can also be used as home décor items. And Guest Designers Patti West and Patty Bartlett will be hosting the Doublemint Twins Challenge. If you are a movie buff you don’t want to miss out on this one.
We also have a weekend filled with sketches to help you when you have run out of page layout ideas. We have many challenges planned that will center around all the festivities of the season. And like usual the message boards will be hopping.
We hope you can join us this weekend at Scrapbooker Online. We will be chatting in the chat room Friday night at 9PM EST, so please come join us, introduce yourself and make some new scrapping friends.
Link to the SBO Nat'l Scrapbooking Day Forum!
SBOU (Scrapbooker Online University) is also offering "Photography for the Cool Scrapper" class with Andie Smith again!
SBOU: Photography for the Cool Scrapper Class REGISTRATION FEE
Did you just purchase a new camera? Are you wanting to learn about photography and all those cool techniques used in the published layout of the top scrapbooking mags? Join freelance photographer Andie Smith as she teaches you the basics and helps your pictures to jump to the next level. Let’s get people to say “WOW!” when they are flipping through your albums. You will leave this class with a level of security about taking that next family portrait with success.
During the class you will have access to the private class forums, the SBOU gallery to share your work, and also e-mail access to your instructor if any questions come up. There will also be a weekly class chats during the month so you can share your ideas and thoughts with not only the instructor but the rest of the students in the class.
There is no class kit for this class. Just get your camera ready and make sure to take lots of notes. You will be moving a lot in this class so get those walking shoes ready, or gas up the car because you are on your way to taking some really cool photos!
We hope you will join us at SBO University for this fun and exciting class. Please feel free to e-mail mfabbri@scrapbookeronline.com if you have any questions.
More information here:
http://tinyurl.com/2wmvbq
And a new online class is coming to SBO in June!
"JOURNAL OF A SUPERHERO"
Coming to SBO-U JUNE 2007, Registration now open
Superman, ya he's cool...Spiderman is mighty fine (dude, like the black costume) but we think you might know someone even cooler. Really. Yup, I'm talking about a superhero and it's gonna be someone you know and love. We're going to delve into the world of writing under the disguise of a mini album and take a fun, tongue-in-cheek look at someone in our own life who may have a few super quirks.
My superhero is my daughter Kia and one of her superpowers is Acute Olfaction Abilities, which to the average gal on the street means, she has an abnormally good sense of smell. Simple. Maybe your husband’s superpower is the ability to smell fresh baked cookies from his work office. Jimmy may be part fish, and Erica might just know the genealogy for every toy in the house. Doesn't have to be out of the normal, it just needs to be something they do consistently. Superman, ya he's cool...Spiderman is mighty fine (dude, like the black costume) but we think you might know someone even cooler. Really. Yup, I'm talking about a superhero and it's gonna be someone you know and love.
The point of this class? The, what's in it for me, question? It's about writing. We are using this fun topic as a tool to explore writing techniques and help you uncover your own unique voice as we explore a topic that you can really become passionate about. This course will run for 4 weeks and the overview of the class is as follows (plus some sneak peeks):
We hope you will join us at SBO University for this fun and exciting class. Please feel free to e-mail mfabbri@scrapbookeronline.com if you have any questions.
More Information Here:
Saturday, April 21, 2007
There is no point in back-peddling for the last 8 years on this thing...okay, so that is exaggerating, I know. But it has been many months, so I'll just say that I'd really like to make an effort and blog my heart out. Kelli and Carolyn ...kick me in the hiney every now and then okay? I need it!
And speaking of Carolyn, the good ol' sista tagged me, so I can't very well go around not fulfilling my tagging duties, so here goes! ;)
Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. (It's really fun reading about everyone!) And I totally deleted the part about tagging 7 other people...what a pooper I am huh? LOL! Here's my random facts!
1. Drinking dill pickle juice from the jar makes me so happy!
2. Eating leftovers completely grosses me out. Especially if it has meat in it. You will rarely ever find leftovers in my fridge...ever!
3. I am in love with Siesta Key, FL. If it were possible, I think we'd move there in a heartbeat!
4. If the sound of chirping birds wake me up in the morning, it makes me so mad! I mean come on...woodpecker at the break of dawn? Can't he do that at lunchtime? Although, I really love the sound of Morning Doves.
5. I wish I knew my Grandpa on my Dad's side. A big part of me wishes I could just call him and ask him what he's like..especially now that he's dying of cancer. It burns in my heart even more. It's sad to think that he's a part of me, I just don't know what part. I wonder..
6. I have never been to a funeral...ever. And I've only been to one viewing when I was young.
7. Big crowds make me nerveous and I hate walking into one alone.
So, there ya go..that was fun!
Well, this is a perfect week to update...there are so many things happening and they all make me happy!! They also remind me (rarely do I ever forget though) that I have the most genuine, loving and caring husband. How did I get so lucky and what did I ever do to become so blessed? Dan had went to our local Winan's (there are 3 in our 2 neighboring cities and several others nationwide) a week ago, to buy a chocolate/coffee giftbasket for a customer. While he was in there, he saw a lady who was merchandising, walked right up to her (that is so Dan...confident!) and told her "my wife is a card-maker and she's very good at it. I can imagine her cards would fit here nicely, would you be interested?". She said "that sounds like a great idea". "Here's my name and number, have her call me and we'll set up an appointment to look at her samples". And just like that, my husband came home, told me everything, I called her and the rest is history. How amazing is that? Pretty amazing I'd say. And here's the history...
I went it to meet her last Wednesday, taking about 15 samples of all different captions, but keeping in mind the holidays that the shop would display for. I walked in and it's quite quaint but inviting. Everything is done in black, browns and creams. There's a coffee bar, a chocolate case, shelves lining the walls that are packed with chocolates and candies. There are small round tables for sitting with some filled with displays of boxef chocolates and bags of goodies. The two front windows are decorated for Spring with bright lime green, fuschia pinks, oranges and turquoise gerber daisies. There were girls working up gift baskets and the coffee machines were whirring away. I instantly felt welcomed the minute I met her. She said "Hi Nicole, I am so glad your husband approached me. I just can't wait to see your cards!". She was very friendly and after talking with her, I felt like I had known her for a long time. She went through my cards one by one and commented on all of them and I could tell she truly thought they were terrific! I was sitting there, dressed to the nine's, hair all curled and putting on my confident front, while all the time I was frightened as anything. LOL! She came across one that I had made for a housewarming, she gets up, walks to the front where there was a big chocolate basket that was in the shape of a house, and tucks it in...she says "now how cute is that?". Well, inside I am freaking out at this point! LOL! We continue looking through them and she comes across my Mother's Day card that I had made...all in fuschia, orange, turquoise and greens. She just loved it! Mind you, it was my most labor-intensive card. I had hand-cut the flowers from a sheet of BG paper, as well as machine stitched the stems. During the meeting, she said "Nicole, we have a client who orders 300 gift baskets at Christmas, I just know she would want anything unique and I think your cards would be perfect." In my mind I'm thinking.."300 cards!! WOOHOO! I might have to start making them now but hey..it's all good!" LOL! She also starts telling me that their colors aren't yet picked for this holiday and that holiday but that she'd like me to coordinate my cards with it, when the time comes. THEN, she says "Nicole, would you be interested in putting together my gift baskets in Oct-Dec? You could have as many or as little hours as you'd like. I think you'd be great, but I certainly wouldn't want to take away from your card-making." So, she told me to think about it. So, the meeting was quick and perfect. She said "I'm going to give these to Mr. so and so and I'll let you know what he thinks and we'll go from there." Okay, meeting is over, I'm walking to my car and (this is so me) fighting back my screams of excitement and tear of joy, get into my car, make sure no one can see me and ball like a baby!! LOL! I was so excited! I said a prayer and thanked HIM for a good meeting and asked for HIS will whatever it may be. :) So, she calls me the next day and leaves me a message (I was gone) and says that Mr. so and so thought they were FANTASTIC and wants to talk pricing AND AND...wants to know if I'd be interested in also doing their 8.5x11 advertising for their tables and windows!!! Well, like I wasn't exicited enough already, I'm standing there by the answering machine dancing around the living room, tears flowing AGAIN! I just can't believe it. So, I called Dan and asked him about pricing, talked my sista Carolyn and asked her advice and talked to Maryfrances who was so supportive!! Thanks a heap to all of you! I called her back, gave her my price (they will buy the cards from me, then sell them for whatever they want in retail) and she said she probably wouldn't call until next week...well, she called yesterday morning and said "Mr. so and so wants to place an order!" Well, I completely and utterly was just going crazy inside my head. So, he wants 24 of my Mother's Day cards and 12 graduation cards that'll match up with the area schools. AND my cards will be in ALL 3 stores!! They want the Mother's Day cards by next Friday, so I instantly freak out realizing that I don't have enough of that particular BG paper and I don't have enough of that particular May Arts ribbon do 24 cards, so I call MF and can I just say...MF, you are SO awesome for taking your time and truly being so supportive! Huge ((HUGS)) to you! THANK YOU! Also a very special to my Dan...you're quite a man, Dan the man! Love you and thanks for believing in me! ;)
So...that's my story and I'm definitely sticking to it! I feel rejuvinated (sp?), confident and blessed beyond words! Now, I just hope that they sell...but I also know that if they don't, it's for a reason. It IS for a reason and I WILL accept that!
And as ashamed as I am, I've never posted about being asked to become a full time Design Team member on Scrapbooker Online's Design Team. When Maryfrances asked me, I was SO stinkin' exicted (I'm sure there was more living room dancing going on!) and I'm having the time of my life. It's such an awesome experience and working with such talented designers, I feel truly blessed. And MF...well, she's a wonderful person to "work" for and a good friend. Thanks for giving me this opportunity. I hope I'm doing the position justice! Thanks so much!
This update has now taken me an hour to type up and for those of you who haven't fallen asleep by now, I'm sorry! LOL! But I've really loved every minute of it! Thanks again to Carolyn and Kelli for the push! And btw Kelli...so fun having you around SBO more! ;)