Ding Ding - another update on our fantastic Sept. Retreat!

Snack and Shop with Tastefully Simple!

At the Boston Area Scrap Fanatics Crop on Saturday, September 16, 2012, Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant Sue Kristoff will be scrapping alongside you and sharing a variety of samples of tasty, delicious, and easy to prepare food products.  Try out some of the classic favorites like Bountiful Beer Bread, or sample one of the new products from the Fall-Winter catalog, such as Sugar and Spice Chai Bread.  Sue will have catalogs and order forms available for you to peruse and will be taking orders throughout the day.

If you’d like to preview Tastefully Simple’s offerings and get started on your wish list, please visit www.tastefullysimple/web/skristoff.  Note that at the time of the party (9/16/12), the Spring-Summer catalog exclusives will no longer be available.  If there’s a Spring-Summer product that you can’t live without, like the 29-Minute Citrus Marinade or the Smoky Cheddar Cheese Ball, you are more than welcome to place an online order anytime between now and September 14 using the link provided above.

Sue will also have a limited amount of cash and carry products including Bountiful Beer Bread, Absolutely Almond Pound Cake, Garlic Garlic Seasoning, Spinach and Artichoke Warm Dip Mix, and other select products for you to purchase and take home right away.  For both cash and carry and standard orders, Sue will accept cash, checks, and major credit cards.

If you have any questions about Tastefully Simple products, are interested in hosting a Tastefully Simple party, or want to learn more about earning a delicious income while sharing great food, please contact Sue at tastefullysuek@gmail.com or 978-549-2019.

Today is a reflective day for me.  I find myself pondering the need to feed my spirit.  I've come to this point  by way of my current job, which in itself has brought me many a blessing.  After being out of the work force for a few years, this job was my bridge back in.  It offered me complete flexibility in terms of schedule.  It's right in my neighborhood, just a 4 or 5 minute walk from the house.  It met my pay requirements.  Jackson, an English bulldog, is a daily member of the work force.  Sue, the owner is an awesome woman, strong, honest and fun-loving, easy to share a laugh with.  There are so many blessings, yet still I sense the need to move on.  Some may think I'm seeking a 'perfect' work environment, others may think I'm leaving what's too good behind me, but I think that life is too short and my spirit's calling is too strong to be ignored and that I must be true to myself.  I've been sitting with these feelings for a couple of months now and it's time to take some action.  So instead of sharing a layout, or a tid bit about our upcoming scrappy weekend, I'm sharing my feelings about life, giving you a rare peek into the inner workings of Carol.

It won't be long now until our weekend retreat at the gorgeous and historical Colonial Inn in downtown Concord, MA.  I cannot wait.  This weekend promises to be lots of fun.  Did you see the sneak peek of Lynette's project for us?  One word - a m a z i n g!  If you missed the peek, scroll down through the blog and you'll find the list of supplies you need to bring along with a teeny tiny corner of the project!

Also, after thinking long and hard about a door prize, I finally decided to go with this:

Yup, that's right - the Grand Calibur.  I have that machine and love the option of a larger cutting surface.  And one lucky attendee is going home with that baby! 

Did you know that along with the door prize ticket you will receive at registration, there are other ways to secure additional chances to win.   Earning extra tickets is easy.  Bring a get well/thinking of you card for Cooper Griffin and get an extra ticket.  Bring a layout using the colors in this color combo and get another ticket:

And, just added today:  purchase a ticket to our fundraiser for Cooper (Nov. 3rd at the Nettle Middle School, Haverhill, MA - $25.00 - 10am to 5pm) and earn FIVE extra tickets.  

So don't be left behind in the run for the Grand Calibur!  

See you all soon!

I learned something new today.  A layout that is not all distressed and layered is called a 'flattie'.  I guess that makes me a flattie because no matter how much I try I cannot seem to pull off that layered and distressed grungy look.  So without further delay, here's my latest flattie! LOL

Flattie or not, I like how it came out.  I have a 12 x 12 shadow box frame that I'm going to put it in.  And from here on out, my flattie will be proudly displayed on my living room wall! LOL

Okay, I've got chicken cacciatore on the stove and need to start eggplant parm next.  Have a wonderful day and don't forget to check out the latest happenings regarding our September Retreat!

Ahhhhh Saturday.  Sweet!

I'm up early, despite the fact that it's Saturday, because I love having an 'edge' on my day.  I've taken care of my houseplants, fertilized the flowers outdoors and started another layout.  And, of course, consumed my usual early morning pot of coffee.

I've got lots of loose ends to tie up for our Sept. Retreat and will get to some of that tomorrow.  But today is for playing.

I've been playing with monochromatic colors lately and here's my latest addition to Avery's baby book:

I'm actually pretty pleased with how it came out.

I've come to acknowledge that it's the simple, clean lines that come easy to me, even though I'm always chasing after the layered vintage/grunge look.   I have a great wedding photo of my Mom and Dad that I want to work on next.  I'm hoping I can do it justice as I have a 12 x 12 frame I'd like to put it in.  We'll see ...

Have a wonderful, blessed day ... and remember today will be what you make of it.  Make it a memorable one!

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!  I now have in my possession a sneak peek of Lynette's project that she designed specifically for BostonAreaScrapFanatics' Sept. Retreat.

I also have a list of the tools you will need to bring to class:

Crop-A-Dile
Distress Ink - Lynette used Antique Linen
Black Sharpie marker
Foam Mounting Tape - the roll, not the little squares - this project has DIMENSION
Strong hold adhesive - Glossy Accents, etc.
Tape runner or other dry adhesive
A piece of foam board from Staples, etc.  to be cut up and used for layering instead of tons of foam tape

And in the kit we will receive from Lynette will be:

A 16 x 20 canvas
Background cloth
1 - 4 x 6 black wood frame
1 - 3.5 x 5 black wood frame
Paper flowers
Black cardstock to mount photos
Wood button spools
Pre-cut papers
Chipboard embellishments
Metal embellishments
A foam brush
Color step by step photos to follow along with while in class
And whatever other incidentals she uses to finish up the project

And, if you want to leave with a completed project, the photo sizes to bring to incorporate into the finished project are:

(It's width x height)

2 x 2.5 (total of two photos this size)
2.5 x 2 (one)
3 x 2 (one)
2 x 1.5 (one)

Okay that's it.

I am so grateful to Lynette for doing this for us.

The sneak peek shows more detail than I could have imagined possible for the cost of the class.  She does NOT do this, as a rule.  But because we have met many times now and shared many a laugh, she agreed to do it for us!  So, please, show her some love at the Retreat!

And, for those of you that want to purchase an extra kit to make up for a gift, Lynette will have a limited number of additional kits available at the crop.

Now for the sneak peek!  Drum roll please ...

Has it really been 6 weeks since I've blogged?  That's not good, not good at all.

If you follow this blog, then you know I had a small accident in the kitchen, a few weeks back.  And, honestly, as ridiculous as it sounds, even though my finger tip healed, it still feels a bit creepy to type.  It's like that little bit of finger tip makes a different feel and touch on the keyboard and it kinda creeps me out!  I am getting a bit more comfortable with the feel though.  At any rate, I need to blog again.  I've actually missed it!

So what's new ... let's see ... well for one, it's only 25 more days until our September Retreat at the beautiful Colonial Inn in Concord, MA.  I am so looking forward to that weekend.  There's still lots to be done, but lots has been done as well.

The Letterboxing expedition is well underway.  Clues are written and typed up. Instructions are done.  The little tins to hide about are ready to go. And all that's left to be done is to package them all up into little individual packets to hand out at registration. And, I should mention that none of this would have been possible without the creative writing genius of Mishe Jascowski.  Thank you Mishe - you rock sista!

Oh and Lynette's project is done.  When she called the other night, she was gluing things into place and gave me a bit of a hint as to what the final project looked like.  This is what I know:  the base of the project is a 16 x 20 canvas and the colors are cream and black.  She will be sending me a sneak peek in a day or two and I promise to get it posted here as soon as I receive it!

I have received a photo of one of the MnTs from Joyce Combs, Close to My Heart Consultant from Portsmouth, NH.  It's adorable and after the Retreat I'll post a picture here for you to see.

I have one of my MnTs done and another planned out.  The floor and seating plans are finalized and now all that's left for me to do is pack the truck and off I go!

Despite the great finger tip incident, I've managed to get a little bit of scrapping done.  This is the most recent layout I've completed for Avery's book.  I loved working with mostly blues.  So pretty, don't you think?

That's it for now.  I need to get dinner.  But it feels good to know that I've finally visited the blog again!