~ lovin' it! ~

~ WOW Wednesday ~

So, as you can see I've added a slide show & I have to say that...

1. It was a lot easier to use than I thought &
2. I really like it.

In school, I asked the kids what they would like to try in 2009 and they came up with some great ideas.
For me, I knew that I needed to show a little bit more of my work and I knew that this slide show was pretty common on most blogs.
So, this was my try in 2009.
By no means is it going to be my last, but it is my first and it was quite successful. Yeah me!

Let me know what you think.
Should I scrap it {file it under G} ? Is too much? Do I need more pictures and of what?

Next topic for today's WOW... My appology.
I'm really sorry that I've been gone for so long.
I promised not to dissapoint & I did.
I fell behind in everything scrapbooking and A Unique Flair, and I have no excuse.
As I said in my first post of this year, I want to make my life better and I've made a committment to myself to do so. Part of this is to scrapbook on a more regular basis, devote time to my blog for me & my followers, and come up with some awesome crops to help us all spend sometime doing what we love... scrapbooking.
So, I've started a new project ~my wedding album~, and I'm starting to plan my annual Crop Scrappin' for MS!. I'll have some photos and details shortly.

I hope we all have a better & healthier New Year!
talk to you soon,
Cindy

~ fabu friday ~

Fridays, in general, are great because they signal the beginning of the best part of the week... the week-end! I am always excited about the week-end; I make plans to meet up with family & freinds, or I plan to go outside to have some fun in the sun {especially now that the sun is out}, or I make plans to dome some of my easier & more entertaining house chores like gardening or dusting {believe me, when I'm in my gardening get up I'm very entertaining!}

Notice how I plan to do so much... yep, you guessed it, it usually doesn't turn out the way I planned. But, this is why I think Fridays are so fabulous. I enjoy making great plans and knowing that although I may or may not do what I had planned I'm still happy it's the weekend and not at work.

So, on Fabu fridays I'll post some photos of my previous week-end & give you my plan for the week-end to come. Hopefully there'll be lots of fun stuff to share & scrapbook about as time goes on!

Here is today's fabu friday plan...
1. do some gardening this week-end & plan my new retaining wall
2. go to a friends for a BBQ saturday evening {this is already planned}
3. go to the park & have a family play date on sunday

I can't wait! It's going to be such a great week-end!
I hope you have one too,
Cindy

~ wow wednesday ~

This is hump day, the middle of the week, the day we all feel a little blah... wow wednesday is here to change that! I'll be posting great news and really good stuff, anything that makes me go WOW! Here it is:

• My 'sense-ational' sunday is a hit & I'm a link on Emily Adams's blog Trend Watcher! Check out her comments!

• Our next Mommy's Scrap Club is scheduled for Friday, June 13th, 2008. The theme for the evening is "Let the Sun In". Come and join us, in studio, for a fabulously fun night of scrapbooking fun! {p.s. it's only $8 dollars!}

• There's a great crop planned for Saturday, June14th, 2008! A friend of mine, Barb Plett, the owner of Themecrops.com, is planning a 14 hour crop full of fun! Check it out!

Have a great day & know that the week is almost over!
Cindy

~ dt entry & catch up ~

My Luxe Design Team Entry is in the mail...

I created 3 new entries and sent in two layouts that I felt were very reflective of my current scrapbooking style. I'll post photos of them a little later...I'm just so glad that's done. Now, all I have to do is wait to hear the decision. {Is there anything worse than waiting?}

I'll let you all know what happens... now I'm off to get ready for the Brandon Charity Convention.
By the way, I'll be taking class participants at the event. I'll have 5 extra packages for each class. So, if you'd like to sign up there, be one of the first 5, that's all I have room for!

My Mary Kay Crop last friday night was fabulous. Chrissy Novak set up this great evening to reward her consultants. She wanted her team to have great recruitment albums and you should see their work. {at this point I would show you some layouts, but I was so busy having fun that I forgot to pull out my camera & take photos... I know shame on me, I'll do better next time!} We had a great time creating these albums and the girls were so impressed at each other's interpretations & creativity. I'm so glad I got to spend time with you ladies. Call anytime, my scrappin' studio is your scrappin' studio!

Alright, my list of things to do this month is almost done!
I'm still working on my website & I'm just not liking it right now.
Anyone know of great flash player web templates I can use? {free ones of course... I'll pay if I have to, but I want to try all of my free options first.}

See you later,
Cindy

~ inspired again ~

Hello again,

Here are a couple of shots of my little girl reading. I'm so proud of her... a reader already. {What more can this teacher ask for?}

Yes, I know she's only 9 months, and that she can't {technically} read, but she flips the pages when we read together & she gets so excited when she sees her books. To me that's a great beginning to the love of books & reading.











I was so happy to see her reading that I took these shots, and then, once again, I was inspired to scrapbook based on the colours she was wearing.

I love blue, all shades of blue. It's my favourite colour. {green is right behind it, if not the tie for 1st!} And here she is wearing blue with just the hint of pink in her bib!

~ 8 months - 8x8 layout ~

I just replenished my supply of Admiral Bazzil & I knew I had some light blue stripes {turns out it was checked paper, but it was the right shade of blue so I went with it!} I had bought the chipboard 8 {on sale of course} as part of a set at Scrapbooking by Design & it gave me the 3rd colour ~ green.

I think this is so cute {what can I say I think lulu is super cute} and I've decided to use the rest of the chipboard numbers to help me document her1st year. I like that I can make a quick layout with one photo, list her growths & be colourful at the same time!




I hope you find inspiration in your everyday life, and that you take the time to enjoy it & of course scrap it! :)

Onwards, a little update for you...

I've decided on my final pieces for the Luxe Designs DT application, and I can't wait to show you guys. I think I have to wait until after the decision has been made, so it'll be a while, but you'll see them. I hope to do a couple of classes with these creations. I've finished a couple of them & I'm working on my album (3rd piece) now.

Also, I was mistaken on my numbers for the Brandon Charity Convention. As per the numbers recently sent to me, my classes have been waaaay out numbered. No problem though, I'm still honoured that 22 people have decided to pay and take my classes. See you there!

Well, that's all for today. Talk to you tomorrow!

Cindy

~ new logo 2 ~

So here it is ladies & gentlemen... my new logo!
Along with my new logo is my new blog layout & style.
I know this style will give me more room for tips, inspirations & photos.
I hope you enjoy it!

Let me know what you think of my new logo & blog, and I'll put your name in a draw for some fabulous prizes! Draw will be on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. ~ central time. Hope you win!

{goals: 1 more thing down... still a few to go! :)}

See ya later,
Cindy

~ getting started ~

Guess who woke up with a runny nose & sore throat this morning... yep, it doesn't take long to catch a cold when you're constantly cuddling a sick little one. Oh well, I'll get over it... I have to. :)

I've begun modifying my new website. I'm really excited about this.
My brother-in-law set me up with a fabulous new logo, business card layout and various other stationary goods. Here's what you'll be seeing soon, up above & on the website...

What do you think? Thank you Pedro!

I've also typed up my questionnaire & paragraph for the Luxe Design Team. I really hope I can join this DT. It would be so great & inspirational.

2 items on their way... a few more to go!

Cindy

~ moving on ~

I have been so busy in the past couple of days {walking everyday, swimming lesson, grocery shopping, filling out forms, researching website designs & so much more} that I haven't even noticed the time flying by. To top it off, Lulu's been sick. This morning she woke up with a runny nose; thus making my time {business, scrapbooking, general down time} more precious.

So, to my imaginary, yet very real checklist I say...
1 item accomplished {Scrappin' for MS}, and several others to go!

These are the other items on my list this month...

• new website
• mommy's scrap club
• mary kay crop
• business re-registration
• tax preparation
• supersities walk for ms
• luxe design team entries

Not to mention cuddle and care for my little one, myself & my hubby... {we all know we're getting this cold somewhere down the line}. Here's hoping I do these well.

Off I go,

Cindy

P.S. No one sent entries for this month's challenge so... we'll see you next month, with a more exciting challenege!

~ drum roll please... ~

Ladies & gentlemen,
I'd love to announce our fundraising totals...
$600.55!
THANK YOU...
to everyone who came to Scrappin' for MS,
to everyone who made generous donations,
& for your overwhelming support!

Here are some fantastic moments & gals on Saturday...

~ Frances & I ~

~ silent auction table: 8 fabulous prizes ~

~ registration table with freebies~

~ where we stocked up on fluids & snacks ~

~ my class: examples, paints & of course ribbons galore! ~

~ cindy & her cricut machine: thanks for sharing! ~

~ the scrappin' hall ~

~ the gals scrappin' away ~

I hope to see you again next year!

Lots of love & thanks,
Cindy

~ busy little bee ~

{Why do I keep doing this to myself?

You'd figure I would have learned this lesson long before lulu arrived and yet here I am, once again, trying to get my last minute things done for tomorrow's event... and I'm going crazy!}

Okay, on the positive side now...

I've received more than generous donations from various businesses and friends around the city & province, and I know that the Silent Auction is going to be huge! I had intended 5 major prizes, but as I look at the overwhelming pile of goodies, I think there's going to be 7 or 8 great prize packs up for auction. Yipee! Whoever wins is going to be sooooo Happy! I'm giddy just thinking about it!

I have a very good friend {also doing the Supercities Walk for MS}, who is going to be helping me tonight with last minute packing, organizing and stress relieving. Thank you Frances, You are trully a blessing, and one of the reasons I'm not actually spinning my wheels right now.

My mother {another angel from God} is taking Juliana for the evening tonight. And although this is no hardship for her by any means, I am trully grateful that I can focus on making this event successful tonight & not have to worry {every minute} about lulu. Thanks mom!

Whew! I got that out and now I feel a whole lot better!

Yesterday, as part of my goals to go walikng everyday, I met some friends at St.Vital Park. Here are some shots of us near the duck pond!

Remember: you need to enjoy your life... I do!

Cindy

~ I need to...~

Hello everyone,
I've realized that I've spent too much time working on my business the last few weeks, and not enough time playing with my daughter, enjoying time with my family & maintaining my own health. So, here are goals I've set for myself so that I maintain a good realtionship with my daugher, husband, family in general & of course myself:

• get down on the floor with my daughter for a portion of the day; explore her world a little.
• be diligent in writing letters in lulu's journal; she'll enjoy them later & I'll have something for my scrapbooking.
• stay up a little bit for some extra time with the hubby; he's a night owl...me not so much.
• go out to visit family at least once a week; a lot of my family is at home too & I can go out instead of leaving the responsibililty to them.
• be diligent in my wednesday night yoga sessions; I forgot about it last night...oops!
• walk for 1/2 hour everyday; it'll get me out of the house and into some fresh air & sunshine...{it'll also have lulu sleeping a whole lot more :) }

It's Thursday and I'm already enjoying my life a little more!

Cindy

PS: 2 more days to Scrappin' for MS! So exciting!

~ one thing leads to another ~

Today has been a great lazy day!

I started by waking up with my little sunshine {lulu}, playing with her in her room {so dad could sleep a little longer}, and then having a great breakfast {waffles & bananas}. Once she was settled back in her room, I started surfing the net, reading blogs & finishing off my coffee.

I happened upon the Creating Keepsakes Magazine site & checked out what they were looking for in the next couple of months {Becky's Sketch is what I think I'll try for this year}. I then moved on to their CKU section & checked out their 2008 dates. I started to reminisce about my time at CKU-Teachers in 2005 & I pulled out my scrapbook of the event.

~ my scrapbook and layout of Emily Adams & I ~

One of my favourite classes was that of Emily Adams. I loved how she inspired us to shine & be true to ourselves. I've never forgotten that, and I hope to live true to myself always, especially when I'm creating & then preserving the special moments in my life. I also remember meeting some other fabulous & inspirational women at CKU-Teachers... Stacy Julian {I still have the little jar of sprinkles she handed out to remind us to not only teach, but to always put a little sugar on it} & Lisa Bearnson {check out how cheesed I am at meeting her...yes, she had to bend down to my height so that we could have picture together}

~ layout of Stacy & I ~

~ layout of Lisa & I ~

SO... after a little reminiscing, I checked out Emily Adams' blog & found out that she is now with Luxe Designs {great stuff}, and that she & her co-worker Pam will be choosing a Design Team for Luxe Designs. So, ladies & gentlemen, I'm going to, once again, throw in my hat & try to be a part of this Design Team. I'm a little scared and yet I know that I can do this. I just have to plan my projects well and create. I'll let you know how it goes.

I then realized that my week as "Sister of the Week" was done. I loved it. I'd like to thank the gals at Sisterhood of Scrap for a wonderful time! I'll be playing the games this week... Can't wait to start!

Last, but not least...

There is one week to go for Scrappin' for MS! I cannot wait & I hope all of the registrants are as excited as I am. I'll post final details here within the next few days.

Talk to you tomorrow,

Cindy

~ april's fool ~

Yep, I was fooled today.
This is pretty easy as I'm easily duped by friends and family... I trust them what can I say.
A friend of mine told me he and his wife were expecting and I literally jumped for joy. I pass the phone to my hubby, only to be given his rolling eyes and the phrase, "yeah... yeah, April fool's to you too buddy!" I then gave myself a shake, realized the date & muttered something impolite. Oh well!

SO I move on... I've been reading some blogs today, and one leads into another as I happen upon one I know I'm going to love from this day forward... Ali Edwards. Her work is fabulous and so inspiring. My layout ~us~ is scraplifted from one of her layouts published in Creating Keepsakes. Take some time to read along and be inspired... I am!

Cindy

~ Scrappin' for MS ~

I'm so excited about this event. Here is my story...

I have a great friend, who has been living with Multiple Sclerosis.
I used to work with her and she was like a mom to me {giving me advice, compassion and the much often needed, kick in the butt} and I love her dearly. Several years back, a group of gals at work decided to start fundraising for MS by participating in the Super Cities Walk for MS; we've been walking ever since. We walk the St.Vital Park Route as The Victory Chicks. Here are some photos from our walk in 2006:

~The Victory Chicks~

~ getting ready ~

~ fabulous & inspirational send off ~

Scrappin' for MS is a Scrapbooking Fundraising event, facilitated here in Winnipeg, MB., to help me raise as much money as possible. It's taking place on April 12th, 2008 fom 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. {more details here} My goal this year is $400. I've advertised for this event through my website, my facebook profile & events, word of mouth, and now via this blog {I hope people are reading this}.

As the date is coming up, I only have a limited amount of space left. If you'd like to join us feel free to send me a message & I'll get back to you ASAP. If the date is too soon for you to even consider registering for this event, please consider donating to the MS Society. Whether its through me {pledge a walker online} or directly to the society is up to you, but your help would make a world of difference.

I'll let you know how it goes and I hope to hear from you,
Cindy

~ yippe! ~

I'm a SISTER!

I've been reading the Sisterhood of Scrap Blog for a while, & I finally entered their challenge to be a sister. {remembering my goal of publication of any form this year}

Well, I was chosen. Yipee! I'm so excited & honoured!



The layout challenge was to use a question mark and 2 pieces of ribbon, fibre or ricrac. {my favourite embellishment!} Check out their blog for my entry & mini bio for them. If you've never been on their blog, you've been missing out on some great scrapbooking inspiration.

Well, ladies & gentlemen, I've reached one of my scrapbooking goals for this year:
I'm a part of an online community!

Thank you Deanne, Carla & Susan for welcoming me into your community!
I'll try my best to be as inspiring to others, as you all have been to me!

Talk to you soon,
Cindy

~ so much to do... ~

It's monday, and I'm the typical monday person... I hate them.
Okay, maybe hate is too strong a word. I thoroughly dislike them.
I finish sunday planning the following week. {i say planning, but with my 8 month old. lulu, planning is relative to her moods & demands}

Anywho... I always want to do as much as possible at the beginning of the week so that by friday I have some time to scrapbook. {again, this is hoping lulu sleeps well on friday} So, by the time I finish planning my week, I take a look at moday's to do list & I shudder. I would rather rewind and go back to friday instead of starting all over again with monday!

On the bright side... I just checked off one item on my list for today... blog!

Oh, some other news... I submitted a layout for a challenge.
This year I'm going to be submitting some of my layouts for publication. It really isn't something I want to do for me per se, but I want my business to grow. Based on my research as of late, credibility in the scrapbooking industry comes from such things as publication & design team membership. So, I'm throwing my hat in the ring and I'm going to try my best to get published at least once this year. I'll keep you posted!

Well, I'm off... Talk to you later!
Cindy

~ new logo ~

I just received my new logo & I can't wait to reveal it.
This of course means more work on top of everything else, but I think I'm up for the challenge!
Talk to you soon,
Cindy