Winter CHA 2008, gallery show, and rock climbing, oh my!

I submitted a layout to Scrapping the Music challenge #6 and it was chosen for the slide show Show some lovin! I've been tagged a lot lately and those are towards the bottom of my very long post. Today is my 60th post here on my blog!

I've been super busy since the DT announcement. I will post what I've been up to when I get the OK from EBB. I am really excited about going to Winter CHA in February! I've decided to set a goal and plan to have my product line designed and displayed at Winter CHA 2009! For those of you non-scrappers, Winter CHA is a convention where all the scrapbook stores go to view new products and order. Basically a bunch of really talented designers go and show off their newest stuff!

Lisa is such an inspiring artist in my life. Lisa and her friends, Jackie, Jesse, and Ashanta decided to set their house up as an art gallery and threw an amazing show Thursday evening. Here they are with DJ Foolish Genius.


I was totally surprised and thrilled that our color photo professor Arthur Takayama came to the event. We had a mini Photo Club Reunion. From left to right: Cindy, Lisa, Arthur, and me! Lisa's cross processed and double exposed photos are behind us. Cross processing means you take photos with slide film and process it in negative film chemicals. It is also considered cross processed if negative film is developed in slide film chemicals.



There is so much incredible eye candy in this house. Check out the couch support! No working cameras were hurt for this couch leg.


I celebrated Amy's birthday at Mission Cliff's this afternoon and I managed to fulfilled a dream of mine. I have always wanted to go to a rock climbing venue and never had anyone daring enough to go with. I tried climbing the full size rock shown below and it was way too hard for me. I got about half way and then thought I was slipping. I have a slight fear of heights but am completely addicted to adrenaline, so I was able to overlook that.


I successfully reached the top of the "kids" rock which was half the size. Here I am with Romero's sister, Carol, who is visiting from Brazil, while studying abroad for 6 months.

I am so honored that I've been tagged three times since my last post. Rachel, Cathy, Misty, and Melissa all want to know more. ;) I have already filled out the fours survey but I think a lot of people missed that because it was posted right before my big "retreat" post. I'll fill in anything else that I can. I'll add some other random facts to make up for it.

10 random facts about me:

• I love to organize.
• I got into photography because my grandparents were into it.
  
• I've worked at Christmas by the Cove for 8 years.
• I should buy stock in Kleenex because of my allergies.
• I started wearing glasses when I was 8 years old. I got contacts at age 15.
• Everyone I know tells me I'm an old soul.
  
• My favorite state in the U.S. (outside of California) is Arizona. I love Sedona and the Grand Canyon. I stayed at The Wigwam Resort and fell in love with their pool. It was so hot that they drove us to our rooms in golf carts!
  
• I went to Tijuana with my family for the day when I was 8 years old. I recall that the cabs didn't have seat belts and didn't stop at the stop signs. People were at the public bathrooms selling toilet paper and some guy "helped" us cross the street and begged for money.
• I traveled a lot in the west coast because my dad was a traveling salesman for hospital product companies.
  
• One day I was swimming in a pool at a hotel in Anaheim and a little kid asked what my dad did for a living. I told them "My daddy sells binders." I didn't understand that they were medical charts so that's what I called them.
  

Here are the Fours.....

Movies I Could Watch Over & Over
1. Hitch
2. Any Harry Potter film
3. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
4. Mrs. Doubtfire

TV Shows I Watch:
1. Home Improvement reruns
2. What Not To Wear
3. Orange County Choppers (Dan loves this show)

Favorite Foods:
1. Fruit
2. Zucchini Pancakes (the only way I eat zucchini)

Favorite Colors:
1. Purple
2. Turquoise
3. Pink
4. Red

Places I'd Love to Be Now:
1. Lunch
2. Scrapbooking
3. Taking photos
4. working on the Christmas store's website

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) - Ursula Volvo
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) - Cookies n' Cream Oreo
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) -MJAC
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) - Purple White Bengal Tiger
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) -Jeanne San Francisco (pronounced Jean, french spelling)
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) -Jac Mi
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) - The Turquoise Dr Pepper
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) - Henry Charles
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy) - Coolwater Snickers
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) - Jeanne Joseph
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) - Freeman Fresno
12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) - Christmas Sunflower
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) - Grape Dress shirty
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) - Special K Palm Tree
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) - The Photography Cloud Tour

New member of EBB Creations Design Team!

I excitedly announce that I was picked for the EBB Creations design team for the next 6 months! I am so happy right now, I can't wait to get started! Everyone should check out their store and forums because they have a wonderful community. I just convinced Enrique at EBB Creations that he has to carry Hambly!

Dan and I went out to Chili's again to celebrate and I have had a wonderful night! Here are some of my submissions that I can share:



This is a mini album that I made for Elizabeth who just celebrated her third birthday. It is a compilation of some of my favorite photos that I have taken of her over the years.






Here are the other talented girls that I will be working along with:

Stacy Cohen
Tautchia Coleman
Jill Cook
Sandi Counceller
Lily Goldsmith
Stephanie Ruda
Jamie Schwartz

The Retreat! It's a long one...

I thought some might be amused to see what my room looked like as I was packing my scrap stuff up. Dan decided that it looked like a scrap store threw up in it.

Kristi, Sandy, Misty and I rented a purple SUV and drove to Bradley, California. Our fearless driver Kristi got us there at 11pm on Thursday. Kelly, Cathy, Amy, Raquel and Jen were already scrapping when we arrived.

Friday we all decided it would be fun to have an outing so we drove, in two cars, to Paso Robles. We stopped at Walmart for our scrapbook shopping fix and then had lunch at the Mexican restaurant Lolo's. We met a lot of pleasant locals and enjoyed the company. We had a great waiter named Justin too!


Then we went back to the house to scrap for many hours. I goofed off a lot, as did several other girls. I am so happy I was able to meet so many of my online friends!


No one had cell phone reception but Sandy was determined to find a signal. I love this girl! She had me laughing so hard this whole weekend. I am uploading a ton of photos to flickr. To see the rest of our weekend, click here.

The beautiful Lake Nacimiento that we stayed near.


On Saturday Kelly, Cathy, Kristi and I decided to drive back into town to go to Michael's and the dollar tree. I was hoping to find some thickers that Jessica said she found there but I had no luck. Then we went back to scrapbooking. We had a great time! If I was to recap every moment this blog would be a five pager so I'll keep the stories short.

I did get a seven layouts done but I can't show them just yet. Here are some teasers.




I had the pleasure of having Misty stay at my house Sunday night since her flight to Alabama was for Monday afternoon. We were supposed to meet her friends Katy and Travis at Pier 39 but they got stuck in traffic and couldn't make it. Dan, Misty and I decided to take BART and then MUNI to Pier 39 anyway.
There was a group of sailors playing music that made for a fun atmosphere. We ate dinner at the Pier Market and then went to see the sea lions. I saw some adorable skull knee socks but they were sold out. I was so sad!



I took Misty to see the Golden Gate Bridge and take a few photos. I love to pretend that I am a tourist! I can't wait until Misty and Wes can come back and visit!

The 4's

Tagged by Lizee

Jobs I've had:
1. Salesperson at Christmas by the Cove
2. Receptionist/Admin Assistant at Alain Pinel Realtors
3. Freelance photographer/videographer
4. Working on this one now...

4 Movies I could watch over and over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. Under the Tuscan Sun
3. Pride & Prejudice (2006)
4. The Incredibles

4 TV Shows I watch:
1. Friends reruns and DVD
2. I Love Lucy
3. America's Next Top Model just the photo shoots
4. Dirty Jobs

4 Places I've lived:
1. Pacifica, CA only place I've lived

4 Favorite Foods:
1. Cereal
2. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
3. Burritos
4. Jello!

4 Favorite Colors:
1. Purple
2. Orange
3. Turquoise
4. Yellow

4 Places I'd love to be right now:
1. Italy
2. Germany (with Jessica)
3. Utah (with UC and Kristin, among many scrapbook stores)
4. Death Valley, Ca

4 Names I love but could/would not use for my children:
1. Shannon
2. Leif
3. Andromeda
4. Belle

I've already tagged so many people in the past that I will leave it up to anyone who would like to answer these questions!

Its almost time to leave

Here is my first pair of shoes that I altered. Its really just 5 different colored sharpies, but here they are!


Dan and I went out to dinner at Chili's on Monday night and had so much fun ! We haven't been there in a while and we really like going to different places . Our waitress had so much pep it surprised us. I ordered a strawberry lemonade and with much enthusiasm she said "Awesome!" I thought I had just told her she'd won an award.

Yesterday I played an amazing game of scrabble with my grandma. The exciting part was that I used up ALL of my tiles before she did!


Then I got to see the new location of My Daughter's Wish . I'd like to think of it as an adventure but Dan just calls it getting lost. I get amused because that is just the way I learn ! I know I've been getting a lot of stuff lately. I have to say its a combination of my birthday and the fact that I'm gearing up for a big project I'm working on this weekend. Plus the holidays are coming up and I figure I can make some little pretties!


The store was a lot bigger and had more light. I love going there because the people are so incredibly nice and helpful! They have some amazing classes! I wish I lived closer.

I'm packing and preparing for this weekend so I've been incredibly bust organizing. My most favorite thing to do! Give me an organizer and I'm happy. On a totally random note, here is a picture of my albino dwarf hamster Banana Hammock.


Happy 3rd Birthday Elizabeth! I got to see her for a n hour today while I gave her a present.


Josiah started teething while I was visiting. I thought these pictures were too cute not to share.


I did find out that there won't be an internet connection where I am staying so I'll just have to post about the weekend when I return on Sunday.

In advance, I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to several important people who are celebrating this weekend. Happy Birthday to my Aunt Sandra, Zena, Ryan, Misty, and Kelly! Hope your day is fabulous!

Sumission sneaks

Some sneak peeks of what I've been up to. I'm hoping to be able to share everything around October 10th at the latest. How did every one's weekend go? Mine was full of fun scrapping! I am looking forward to my scrapbooking retreat so I'll be preparing for that today.


I've added something new to my Etsy shop! I think I'll probably have to make myself one soon. It measures 6x6 and I think it will be great for loads of things! And its cheaper than a the competing albums by 7gypsies and Rusty Pickle.

I got a really cools surprise just a few minutes ago. The mail was already delivered for the day and then our mail guy dropped this off. Dani rocks! She totally surprised me with the clear stamps and I love them. Thanks!
For my birthday, Leo gave me a wonderful present-a gift certificate to Beverly's! I had such a fun shopping spree. I can't believe I was able to wait so long before going. I got some amazing stuff today.
And in case you are wondering why i have a pair of shoes in there-I had some money left over so I bought them at Target. Too cute to pass up.

Bind It All and more

Friday night was Golf tournament night for Paradise Valley Spas. Both my mom and Dan work there so I was their guest. I brought Dan's flash since I knew people would ask me to take photos. Here are a few fun shots from the night.

My mom is wearing the purple jacket. :)



If you want to see a great musical, check out the movie Guys & Dolls! I had the pleasure of shopping with Kristi and picked up this exciting new toy, the bind-it-all. I've been drooling over it for a while and got it with a coupon for the retreat! Kelly and I are scrapping tonight. Woohoo!
Some other stuff I picked up during some quality Kristi time.

And just a little peek of something I've worked on for the past few nights... I am quite pleased with how it turned out and should be able to post real photos in a few days. Wish me luck on all my dt submissions. Everything is due tomorrow! Have a wonderful weekend.