Your Challenge

Challenge...So, on Mother's Day my Mother-in-Law had these napkins. I figured that this would be a good start for a challenge.

Here are the rules:

Colors: Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, and Chocolate Chip.

You must use circles on your card in some way.

You must use ribbon.

You must use vellum or a transparency.

AND you have until Sunday June 1st to complete it because I will be cruising all next week! I hope to have some updates for you from the ship...no promises! Have a good one!

In the Mood

I am feeling the need to scrapbook today! So I am posting a few of the recent scrapbook pages that I have created. They are fun!

I found this cute "My Husband" embellishment at Archiver's and I just had to get it. It was only .39! So I built this page around that embellishment. That's always fun!

For this layout I wanted to use these clear letters. I have had them for a few months now and I haven't had the perfect place to use them so I figured that this layout would be the place. I really like them. I took a permanent marker to the edges so that they would stand out...I'm too impatient for paint!

And of course it's the season of graduations and wedding so here are a few graduation cards that I sent to my cousins today! I found those cute little graduation hats at Archivers too. They were $5 for 10 of them!

Tomorrow I will be posting your next challenge so come back and check it out!

Weight Loss

Today marks a big milestone in my weight loss journey!

In the year 2007, I only lost 10 pounds. (I wasn't too motivated.) BUT...so far in the year 2008, I have lost 20 pounds! I hope to hold steady through the cruise (maybe) and then come back to lose 10 -12 more this year!

It's so hard...but it really does feel good when you can go to the mall (like I did on Sunday) and try on clothes that are 2 sizes smaller than a year ago! YEAH!

How was your Mother's Day?

How was your Mother's Day? I know I'm a little late but I just had so much to blog about this week!

Mine started on Saturday (the day before Mother's Day) when I received this card from Jessica. She is working with a student ministry training and discipleship program at our church called Kairos. She has been on staff with them for almost 2 full years after completing the program. She has also lived with us for those past 2 years.

I guess we aren't the traditional host parents. We are younger (a few years older than Jess) and are more like roommates than parents. But it's a family joke that we are her parents and sometimes it's fun to play like she is our daughter. I can only hope that my kids turn out like her! She is super.

Anyway...She left to go out of town for 3 weeks and she left me this card for Mother's Day!

Isn't her message so cute?! (I think you can click on it to make it larger.)

I made these to hold pictures that I gave to our grandmas for Mother's Day. They are just little envelopes that I made out of designer series paper. Tied with the wonderful satin ribbon! So cute!

These were the cards that I gave to our moms. They loved them!

Here is Samuel with his mommy. Aren't they cute?!

And here is me with my Mother-in-law. We did try to take a good picture. But the photographer (Sam) wasn't being very nice so the others turned out a little weird too. This was the best. But I kinda like it! And check out my shirt. I got it at Old Navy a few years back...love it!

Here is my mom with her mom.

Here is where I attacked my mom. She's not too sure what is going on.

The gradnkids got Grandma this t-shirt. It says, "Best Grandma of the Best Grandkids". So true!

And we ended the day by giving our mama a smooch. That is my little sister, Erica on the left.

Wicked Review...

I have to admit that when I heard about Wicked, I wanted to see it right away. I had to wait about a year in order for it to come to KC though. So for Christmas my parents gave me a ticket and I couldn't have been happier. I have had a copy of the CD for a few months prior to Christmas and had memorized some of the songs already.

The CD takes you through the story to a certain extent but it doesn't fill in the gaps. So you kinda make them up as you are listening. You think that this is what happens, you think that might happen, and so on.

Well from the beginning of the musical I knew that I had it all wrong in my head. I had it pegged as a drama and it was a total comedy. I think that misconception came from starting to read the book. I didn't really get all that into the book. It was hard to read. But I loved the twist that they put on it for the musical! It was more my style!

Here you can see Glinda (Katie Clarke) and Elphaba (Carmen Cusack) as Glinda sings "Popular"...one of my favorite songs! This picture was taken in Kansas City so these are the girls that we saw as the characters. This song was so funny mostly because Glinda was flying about like a giddy little school girl. It was hilarious. My sister and I laughed out loud numerous times...and we weren't the only ones (most of the time)! HA!

Another favorite part was during "Defying Gravity" when Elphaba learned to fly. It was just a great set design and lighting and singing...it was amazing. This picture isn't from KC but it was exactly the same so you can get the picture too!

Then I have to say that our Fiyero was rather ummmm...HOT! His name is Cliffton Hall...look him up. There were some picture that I couldn't save to add to the blog but I did find this one when he was singing "As Long As You're Mine" with Elphaba (although this wasn't Carmen or in KC). Anyway...he's HOT! I know because we had binoculars! (Thanks mom!)

If you have never seen Wicked, I highly recommend it. I can't tell you all about it or I would give away secrets! Or atleast get the CD...you won't be disappointed!

Challenge Results

Well here are the results from the challenge that I posted last Friday. The Challenge was to create a card or scrapbook page using the colors: Basic Black, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, and you could add in Basic Grey if you wanted to. Then you had to use patterned paper (or make your own with stamps), use words/numbers as a focal instead of an image, use a tool that you haven't used in a while, and use an embellishment. I have to say that I love these colors!

This first card was created by my mom, Kathy. She used a patterned paper that she had in her stash as well as using the Always stamp set to make some patterned paper of her own. She used the Happy Everything stamp set to make the words of her focal point. Her embellishment was that cute black and white polka dot brad. Her tool that she hasn't used in a while was the paper piercer to make the faux stitching. Very cute!

This card was created by Jessica, my neighbor and stamp club member! She used the patterned paper that you can get as a Level 1 hostess gift. She also used the hostess stamp set, For a Friend to create the words of her focal point. She had two embellishment: Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon and a cute jewel brad for the middle of her flower. So cute!

This is the card that I made for my sister for her birthday (Happy birthday Erica...if you are reading this your won't receive your card until tomorrow!). I used a black and white paper that I bought at a local craft store as well as textured Wild Wasabi cardstock to make the larger circle (I love textured cardstock). My focal point "24" was made with chipboard stickers that I had in my stash. I also used rub ons to have the card say, "Make a Wish". My embellishment was a large jewel brad. My tool that I haven't used in a while was the Coluzzle! I have to admit that I love that thing!!!

This scrapbook page was created by my freiend, and Stampin Up mama, Colette. She took some of the patterned paper that I had used. She used our trusty little Cricut to create the word "Friends" on her scrapbook page. Her embellishment was a few jewel brads. And the tool that she hasn't used in a while was the piece that roughs up edges from the cutter kit. You can see the rough edge better in the picture below. (Hey Colette...I saw Josh and Geri downtown yesterday!)

I thought that this was a really neat way to do journaling! Love it!

This is a scrapbook page that I created. I used a patterned paper that I found in my big box of paper that I hardly ever use! I'm a patterned-paper-aholic! Is that a real disease? Anyway...I used the acrylic "r" that I have had for a few years now as a focal point along with the quote, "Live, Laugh, Love." It's my favorite quote. My embellishments were black and white flowers with big jewel brads in the middle of them. And the tool that I haven't used in a while was my silver gel pen to write out the quote.

This was a fun challenge. I will have another one this week! Thanks for playing along and I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

If you need a good laugh...

Check out this blog. This family is so funny! http://www.escaping-jerolyn.blogspot.com/ It's a very entertaining blog...she always has a good story!

Have a great Tuesday!

Rrrrrr...

These are a few of my favorite pictures from this weekend.

This weekend my nephew had his 6th birthday party. It was a Scooby Doo Pirate birthday party. So there were costumes involved...

Look at that HOT pirate!

And I took this really cute picture of us together! Love it!

The Countdown Post!

There are so many things to look forward to in the next few days! I just have to blog about my excitement...maybe that will help me focus better at work...maybe!

1 MORE DAY until I see this...

That's right, I get to see Wicked! I have been waiting for this moment for about 1.5 years when my mom announced that it was coming to Kansas City! (Maybe it wasn't that long ago...but it feels like it.) My mom saw it in Chicago and gave me a copy of the soundtrack. I love the music so much! (Have I ever mentioned that I think I missed my calling in life?!! I should have been on Broadway. Or atleast in the chorus of a local production! HA!) Well ever since I got the soundtrack I have loved to crank it up and sing "Popular" in the car at the top of my lungs! I also practice singing the chorus part in the song "Loathing". Oooo...I'm so excited! I will rave more about it tomorrow I'm sure! (AND...dinner will be at Chipotle before the show...what could be better?!)

12 MORE DAYS until I wear this dress in her wedding!

Ever since 7th grade we have talked about our wedding days. She got to experience mine 4 years ago and I'm so glad that I now get to experience hers! It should be so much fun! I have been working out and really watching what I've been eating so hopefully the dress is a little looser than the last time I tried it on! I will keep you posted! And...congrats Kristin!

13 MORE DAYS until we set sail on The Vision of the Seas!

I'm so excited! Although there is a lot to do. I still need to research a few hot spots for each location so that we know what we are doing when we get off the boat. Or maybe we will just wing it! HA! Either way...I'm very excited to get to spend Sunday to Sunday on vacation with my husband! YEAH!

78 MORE DAYS until I go to SLC for the SU Convention!

I super excited about this too! Can't wait to post about all the new things that I will be learning there! WOO HOO!

July 29th - August 3rd

Guess where I'm going...

To the beautiful Salt Lake City in late July, early August. I will be attending...

The Stampin Up Convention. After last year in Denver I had decided that I didn't need to spend any money on Convention in 2008 because I had already been to Salt Lake City. But they started saying all these great things like, "It's the 20th Anniversary celebration and you don't want to miss it." "Convention Attendees will get to see the new catalog first." I have to admit it, Stampin Up really knows how to peak my interest!

So I got online and found a roommate, Tina. I'm very excited to meet her and we are still looking for two more roommates so if you know of anyone needing a room, please let me know. I signed up for Track 6 like my roomie did. And now I just have to get ready to be with all of these crazy people...

So if you are in the SLC area OR you will be attending convention this year, we need to schedule something so that we can hang out!

Friday's Challenge!!!

I think it's about time for a challenge! I need some new items for next week's WOO HOO Wednesday! So here is your challenge...

I was looking at the Crate & Barrel website because, let's just face it, their stuff is really cute. Well I stumbled upon this chair that is much to expensive for me to buy. BUT... it's not too expensive for me to pull from this picture a great color combination in order to make a card!!!

The colors are Black, White, (you can add basic gray in if you want to), and Wild Wasabi!

Here are the other specifications of the challenge. You must use: 1 style of patterned paper (if you need to use a background stamp to make your own you can do that too), Letters (no images), at least 1 embellishment (brads, ribbon, something cute), and a tool that you haven't used in a while.

Have fun with this and send your creations to demokimsu@yahoo.com by Sunday at midnight and I will post them all for next week's WOO HOO Wednesday! You have all weekend to create! HAVE FUN!

Fondue Night!

So the hubby has been asking for a fondue night for a while now and so I decided that it would probably be fun this week! So here it is...our 3 course fondue night!

Here is the table before we started the first course.

There is our group from left to right...Erica (my little sis), Jessica (our roommate, intern with our church), Me, and Sam (my hubby)...also Gus is on the floor under the table.

Here is our first course...Mexican cheese fondue. We dipped bread, celery, carrots, and apples in the cheese...YUM!

Our second course, Meat fonue. We just had chicken that was marinated in lime, garlic, olive oil, and other things. We also made a Thai Peanut Sauce and a Honey Dill sauce. We also had Ranch dressing and salsa for the meat too. We cooked the raw chicken in olive oil. YUM!

This is Jess. She posed like this...so we all had to...aren't we cute?

And here is our third course, the chocolate! We had White Chocolate with toffee pieces! Let me just tell you how yummy this was!!! I will be having the leftovers tomorrow and that's a promise! It's really easy. You take 12 oz of White Chocolate and add a half cup of toffee pieces. We dipped bananas, apples, strawberries, and graham cracker sticks in it!

YUM!

Look at that face....so cute!

5 Things About Me

I am loving these little quizes that you have to fill in...Here's another one...

What was I doing 5 years ago?
May 2003...I was just getting ready to start 2 months of summer school and then I would graduate! And...I'm pretty sure that I was planning a wedding somewhere in there too!

Five things on my to-do list today (or things I did today):
1. Clean up the dining and family rooms...and when I say clean I mean clutter and dust!
2. Watch Grey's Anatomy.
3. Have fondue with my hubby, roommate, and sister...should be a fun time!
4. Pack my stuff for scrapbooking tomorrow.
5. Get some sleep!

Five snacks I love:
1. Almonds
2. String Cheese
3. Blueberry Cheerios (direct from the plant...we coat the flavored ones here and we get a whole bag that is just coated ones...it's much better than having them mixed with the healthy ones!)
4. Granola bars
5. Candy...although I don't eat it often these days.

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Tithe to church and give extra to missionaries that we support.
2. Order one of everything in the Stampin Up catalog.
3. Build my dream house.
4. Hire someone to clean my new house...even pick up my clutter...that would be so nice!
5. Of course I would build "The Scrap Nook". This is a building that Colette, Margie, and I have been dreaming about for years! We would all have individual stations that we would have all of our stuff in that we would never have to pack up and haul everything to a crop ever again! There would also be facilities for us to host our crops and for other events. We would have a fenced in playground in the back with supervisors for the kiddos. AND...(we just came up with this one 2 weeks ago) we would have a Sonic fountain for those yummy Sonic drinks that we love so much!

Five bad habits I have:
1. I'm a nail bitter.
2. I procrastinate.
3. I would rather scrapbook than clean my house...good thing the hubby doesn't have high standards either!
4. I am addicted to too much TV!
5. I blog and work...ha ha!

Five places I have lived:
1. Gardner, KS
2. Kansas City, MO
3. Maryville, MO
4. Kansas City, MO
5. Grandview, MO

Five jobs I've had:
1. Customer Service Rep with Kerry
2. Customer Service Rep with ADM
3. Stampin Up Demonstrator!!!!!
4. Youth Director
5. Lifeguard/Swim Instructor...for 9+ years...and LOVED it!

All About Me Alphabet

A: Attached or Single: Attached - 4 years with my Sammy!

B: Best Friend: Samuel Hunter Ryden. I know that seems a little cheesy but he really is my best freind. He's the one that I can't wait to spend time with and that understands me the best.

C: Cake or Pie: White cake...yum!

D: Day of Choice: Saturday

E: Essential Item: Chapstick!

F: Favorite Color: Right now I have to say that I'm loving Taken with Teal. I love to scrapbook with it and I love, love, love to wear it!

G: Greatest Accomplishments: Awards I received in college for Residence Hall stuff, graduating college.

H: Hometown: Kansas City, MO

I: Indulgences: Candy...it's just too good!

J: January or July: January. It's the start of a brand new year which brings about new resolutions for the year. While these resolutions may not make it through the year, they usually make it through January! Plus my birthday is in January.

K: There was no "K" (the best letter of the alphabet) so I'm saying "K" is for Kim!

L: Life is Incomplete Without: SCRAPBOOKING!

M: Marriage Date: March 20, 2004

N: Number of Siblings: 1 sister, Erica (I also have a bro-in-law, Jer and his wife Val and a sis-in-law, Krystal...they count too)

O: Oranges or Apples: Pink Lady Apples

P: Phobias or Fears: I have a fear of being startled. Does that make sense? I don't like it when people sneak up on me or hide from me in order to scare me (Sam)...I think he will stop that now...last time he did it he scared me so much that I started crying! HA!

Q: Quotes: My favorite is "Live, Laugh, Love."

R: Reasons to Smile: Day day off work, scrapbooking, weddings, seeing Samuel, taking pictures.

Season: Spring

T: Tag Four Friends: Any one who wants to do this.

U: Unknown Fact About Me: I don't know that there is very much that is unknown about me. Hmmm....In college me and my roommate lived in room 420 our freshman year. We decided that we would have a different kind of 420 party to celebrate. We had the party on 4/20 @ 4:20 in our room, 420 Perrin Hall. Although we just had cookies, pop, and freindly conversation. And to this day we make sure that we tell each other "Happy 420" on 4/20. It's a bond that I will never forget!

V: Very Favorite Store: TARGET! I could spend hours in there looking for the best deals! It's rather addicting...Target stuff.

W: Worst Habit: Diet Coke with cherry from Sonic OR biting my nails.

X: X-ray or Ultrasound: Well...I've never had an ultrasound. And I've only ever had xrays of my teeth and I hate going to the dentist and paying for xrays. So I'm going to go with ultrasound on this one!

Y: Your Favorite Food: I love anything Mexican...YUM!

Z: Zodiac: Capricorn

A Late WOO HOO!

Here is the card that I received for WOO HOO Wednesday this past week. It was a card made by my mom, Kathy. She gave it to my cousin at her shower this past weekend! SO CUTE!

Friday's 10!!!

1) Having a garage sale today so this post is coming to you LIVE from my garage from my laptop. If you are in the Gardner area you should stop by and look at our great stuff!!! We price most everything under $5. And now we have most things half price...which is a BONUS!

2) This guy came in about an hour ago and wanted to know what the price was for everything that we had for sale. That caught me off guard a little so I was like, "What are you going to do with all of this stuff?" He said, "I was just saying that to see what you would say." Ok crazy man! And then the funny thing is that he didn't buy anything at all...NOT one thing!

3) I'm tired. I need a nap!

4) Tomorrow is also going to be a long day...I have a shower in the morning for my freind that is getting married and then at night we are having her Bachelorette Party! WOO HOO!

5) We just sold 2 picture frames, lotion, body spray, and notecards for a total of 50 cents! We are cheap!

6) I know that I didn't post anything for WOO HOO Wednesday. To be honest, I was really busy that night cleaning out my crawl space and I was too tired to post anything. But I do have one card and I promise that I will post it this weekend! PROMISE!

7) The wind needs to stop blowing! I mean...it blew a speaker over! Come on! But we are really getting our exercise today going and running after things and picking them up to put back on tables.

8) One of my garage sale customers said, "How long have you lived here?" I said about 4 years. She said, "We looked at this house when it was on the market." I told her that I was glad that she didn't buy it! HA!

9) It's May 2nd and it's freezing outside. Yesterday it was 80 and today it's probably 60 with a cold wind blowing! BRrrr... My sister is covered up with a blanket! Brrrr...

10) It's Friday! What more could you ask for?!!!!