just way too adorable!

tonight we went to Meet the Teacher night at school. Hudson was sooooooo excited that it's finally time to go back to school. He's just going to be in his 2nd year of preschool so it's still the coolest thing ever to him. He was jumping up and down screaming "we're going to my school! We're going to my school!" over and over. Too bad that none of his friends were there tonight, but he still had a blast back there. Now he just has to wait 3 more days until the first day of school.

**********

oh my! now do I have some enabling for you today?

First off, I'll start with the Teacher's Pet project.

isn't this mini, Penelope, soooo cute?

it's my entry The Funky Playground's Teacher's Pet , week 1



you must be a Funky Playground newsletter subscriber to get the password & receive this and any other Teacher's Pet mini kits you want... sorry, I can't even give it to my CT... you have to get it this way ....

I submitted mine with 5-10 minutes to spare before the deadline & mine was the 96th ............. so that means at least 96 freebie minis

just go HERE:
http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5054

if you make a layout with this, please upload it HERE: http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=523

thanks!!!!!!!

Suzee Q's Stuff blog has already linked up my mini, along with a whole bunch of other ones that she loves. She has a fab blog with links to lots of freebies and daily downloads too.

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another freebie for you..........
Nachtstern (Mara), one of my sweet CTMs, made a 2 pager 8.5x11 QP set for all of you with an old kit of mine, Today.... please be sure to leave her some loving on her blog if you grab it... thanks




http://www.4shared.com/file/57052614/a4af7c8e/SaraEllis-DareToDreamToday1.html



http://www.4shared.com/file/57052612/4dccd9bb/SaraEllis-DareToDreamToday2.html

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and....
how about a whole lot of Gotta Pixel fun??????

Help me make your dream kit.... along with 4 other talented GP designers... see HERE
Everyone who participates will receive this collaboration kit for free. (who knows what it will look like... that's up to all of you)

***
and............. how about a little Luau fun???????
you can win this.....

In addition, you will be entered into a drawing to win the following:

Grand Prize
1 - $10.00 coupon to Amy Sumrall, Sarah Meyer, Jill D-Zines, Michelle P and Sara E.'s stores ($50.00 worth of free products)

First Prize
1 - $10.00 coupon to Lynne, Cherie, Jen and Paula's stores ($40.00 worth of free products)

Second Prize
1 - $10.00 coupon to Kristmess, Michelle S and She's Full of Scrap's stores ($30.00 worth of free products)

get more info HERE

Rest in Peace, Randy

Randy Pausch, "The Last Lecture"
if you have never seen his lecture or heard about him... you NEED to...
who cares how long it is, it is a MUST see

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080725/ap_en_ot/obit_pausch


you can also see more about him on You Tube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

exciting deals...

ok... ya know how I love my deals at The Gap.... well, tonight I ended returning some PJs before I clocked in to work... they were just a little too small for Griffin for when it starts to get cooler in a few months .... they were long sleeved with pants............................. I wasn't really intending to get anything else... BUT........ I just happened to snag a super cute first day of school outfit for Hudson for dirt cheap... a super cute short sleeved button up surfer style shirt with cool navy shorts........with their markdown prices and my discount... they were only $5 ... oh, I love that place!

I am so ready for school to start too.. only one more week, plus a couple days..... it's crazy how early school is here.. and only a couple months off for summer... but I'm so ready for it... and so is Hudson


****************

out of three boys, I only have one who has chosen to suck his thumb... I'm so glad the other two never did & never really cared for pacifiers either....

wellllllll... Hudson will be 4 in September and he loves his thumb way too much when he's tired at home... he never sucks it at a friend's house or anywhere outside our house (except for grandparents homes).....
and... last summer it became infected & cleared up after antibiotics.... and we now just finished his medicine tonight for this summer's infection, his nail fell off at the pool today too................. you'd think that he wouldn't want to suck it anymore because of what happened, but he's addicted!
I know I won't have to worry about him sucking it at school or anywhere else... but... we'd love to have him break the habit

his pediatrician just says he'll hopefully grow out of it... and if he's still sucking it by 7, we can entertain the idea of putting a device in his mouth... ... we don't really want to think about this

sooooooooooooo... all you thumb sucker (or finger sucker) moms..... do you have any magical advice?

****************


Friday Dollar Diner Deals

Every Friday Scrapdish offers up 6 coordinating goodies from different designers..... for only $1 each

and look what was chosen for this Friday.....
my So Very Summer mini kit .......... what a super fab deal for everyone!

Featuring:

Great Grids Blocks Template #3 by Melinda Staley

Notepad Alpha by Rowena Field (Willro & co Designs)

Caroline B: Date Marker

Sensory Delight: Cool Paper Set by Correen Silke

Beaches & Cream by Kristmess

So Very Summer (S4H ok) by Sara Ellis

Also check out all of our other great dollar deals available every day in our
Dollar Bin

******************

oh my... I LOVE my new CT so much!!! They've only been part of my team for a day now & they are already producing some super cool layouts for me to go with a super fun kit that I'm releasing on the 1st....

here's a little tease of the kit... just a tease... :)

funny stuff

a little bit perturbed after going to the grocery store (Frys) today....
my yummy generic store brand cheapo macaroni and cheese used to be 3 boxes for a dollar ..... and now it has a stinkin' tag of 69 cents with a "price cut" label down to 50 cents.... hello! how is that a price cut? ok, I guess compared to the 69 cents, but to the 33 cents like I usually pay most every week? nope

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ok.............. now.. after that little rant... time for some funnies............

I found this at DST today...... soooooo funny!


All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite enough time to consider how their online name might appear!

These are not made up.



Check them out yourself!

1. 'Who Represents' is where you can find the name of the agent that represents any celebrity.Their Web site is: www.whorepresents.com

2.'Experts Exchange' is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at: wwwexpertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a great pen? Look no further than 'Pen Island'.
It can be found at: www.penisland.net

4.Need a therapist? Try 'Therapist Finder' at: www.therapistfinder.com

5. Then there's the 'Italian Power Generator' company.

Check it out at: www.powergenitalia.com

6.'IP computer' software, there's always: www.ip_anywhere.com

7.'The First Cumming Methodist Church' Web site is:
www.cummingfirst.com

8.And the designers at 'Speed of Art' await you at their wacky Web site: www.speedofart.com

congrats to my new Scrap Silly Sisters!!!!

Congratulations to my newest Scrap Silly Sisters!

*sparky_mom
*mom2aTrio
*Boilerbabe
*nachstern
*ccmentor
*momofthecrazy4
*kaetter84
*enique
*misty
*pcisneros
*Imzadi

Thank you to everyone who applied!!!! It's always so tough picking and choosing through the applications. I appreciate all of you greatly!!!!!!! Every single applicant should have already received an e-mail from me. If you did not, please let me know.


******

on Monday I finally decided to take Hudson and Griffin bowling for the first time.... dh came home for lunch and decided to stay home from work for the rest of the day and join us.... it was a great family time... too bad Cooper wasn't there with us.. .. it would've been perfect then...

I was bummed I wasn't able to get a good pic .. I tried a couple shots and then my camera died :( ..... I'll have to try again another time....

the boys had sooooo much fun... they squeeled a bunch with every try .... Griffin didn't have enough power behind his ball, so a got stuck in the lane, but it was very cute anyway...... every single one just puttered slowly, knock down a few pins and then just stop... it wouldn't even make it all the way through the pins most of the time

get this... Hudson scored a 76 and Griffin a 70....... Hudson used the bumpers & Griffin's went so slow & straight I don't think they ever bounced off of one bumper

**************

I just realized that Imzadi gave me a super cool award on the 19th......I was a bit slow seeing it, wasn't I? I'm supposed to post all of the rules and share it with a few other blogging friends... but I'm going to bend the rules a bit & wait til my next blogging to do that

Congratulations Melissa

Congrats to Melissa!

She was the only one yesterday that left me her e-mail address so she automatically receives one of my Gap Friends and Family offers!

Do you love the Gap???

Look at the banner....
I finally updated it to match my store banners... YAY!!!!!!!!

**********************

Remember the monsoon I mentioned a few nights ago????
Well... here are some pics...

flooded backyard...


more flooded backyard, dripping off of our patio overhang...


just a teeny bit of standing water on our patio and backyard....
Griffin had a BLAST jumping and running in it


Hi... I'm wet.. how about you?


***********************

Only a few days left for Gotta Grab It...

Mix and match your PERFECT kit! Pick from 70+ element, paper and alpha packs, mini kits and more, all using the same color swatch and theme, and build your pefect kit. This month's theme is DENIM!


how cool is that???

here's a gander at my goodies........

Gracie Mae


Grabba Edges


and... Grabba Chirpie






(detailed images available for each goodie of mine)


From July 14 - 20 EST/EDT, the Gotta Pixel Designers will bring you one huge collaborative effort to bring you exactly what you need and want. There is something for everyone to pick from! A smörgåsbord of artistic talent and at a great price!

View all the products!

*****************

and.. only a few days left for my Creative Team Call...



Find the details HERE

*************************

As many people know, I work part time at The Gap. Well, our Friends and Family program is coming up soon and I've got a special for you. I just realized that I have 2 extra offers leftover, so I'm letting a couple of you lucky blogging friends have them.

Here's the scoop...

All friends and family participants receive 25% off ..... it's good at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy (including outlets), and www.piperlime.com for all three days (August 1-3rd)
........ AND... an e-mail invitation will be sent to you by Gap

it's now called Give and Get............. 5% of whatever you purchase during this time will go towards a charity I choose...we have 5 to choose from & I haven't picked mine yet (it will most likely be Dress for Success or Boys and Girls Club of America)

it's a pretty cool program, don't you think?

all you have to do is leave a comment here.... and the random number generator will pick two lucky ducky people

**deadline - very soon.... 9pm PST/midnight EST TONIGHT, July 18th
**I don't want this to go to waste, so please only try if you will definitely use it
**you MUST leave your e-mail address and first and last name so I can notify you and Gap can send you an e-mail invitation

a title? do I really need a title?????

Today I took the boys to a super cool toy store by us. I've never been there before, even though I've heard fabulous things about it. It's not a typical toy store with junky toys that you find everywhere else. It has some Melissa & Doug items, Rokenbok, and lots of other brands and toys I've never seen before. Hudson wanted a garbage truck so badly. It was pretty cool.... BUT....... it was $72. Hello! It's from Germany and it's pretty large and heavy, but that's a little crazy of a price when I know that it will end up smashing into other trucks and walls. His big dream is to become a garbage truck man after his 4th birthday. He really really loves garbage days.
Anyway, this fab store has open playdays a couple times a week. They let all the kids run around and play with all of the sample toys and ride-on toys, there is also a story time too...... and the best part...we (the parents) can all sit and chill if we want because the employees guard the door and also play with the kids......... AND we don't have to pick up anything afterwards. I know the whole gig is that they hope each of us buy something. I didn't today, but I'm sure I will in the future.


**********************

Our first big monsoon hit a couple nights ago. Half of our backyard turned into a lake, a highway had to be shut down because it was totally flooded, and a school close to us had part of the ceiling cave in. It was crazy. One of the worst ones, if not the worst one I've seen in the six years I've been here. I did take some pics. I just haven't uploaded them out of my camera yet. I'll try to share them tomorrow.

**********************

ok........... here's my reality tv bits for the night... you know I'm a reality tv junkie....it's so crazy sad

I just finished watching the premier episode of From G's to Gents on MTV. It was pretty entertaining to watch these thugs on the quest to better themselves. Now, it's time for Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood on Oxygen. It's so entertaining because there are soooooo many similarities between Tori and my sister. It's pretty comical.

**********************

It's Gotta Grab It time!!!!!!!!!!

Mix and match your PERFECT kit! Pick from 70+ element, paper and alpha packs, mini kits and more, all using the same color swatch and theme, and build your pefect kit. This month's theme is DENIM!


how cool is that???

here's a gander at my goodies........

Gracie Mae


Grabba Edges


and... Grabba Chirpie






(detailed images available for each goodie of mine)


From July 14 - 20 EST/EDT, the Gotta Pixel Designers will bring you one huge collaborative effort to bring you exactly what you need and want. There is something for everyone to pick from! A smörgåsbord of artistic talent and at a great price!

View all the products!


Contributing Designers

Acmdesignz
Amanda Geils
Amy Sumrall
Ann Cobb
Beth Kern
Cherie Shields
Connie Prince
Elka Romero
Isabel Mendez
Jen Maceyunas
Kathryn Estry
Kimberly Cameron
Mad Scrapper Designs (Robin)
Michelle Pieters
Michelle Swadling
Paula Yagisawa
Princess Sophie
Sara Ellis
Sarah Meyer
She's Full of Scrap
Silvia Romeo
Sweet Digi Scraps (Liz)

******************

please scroll down ..... my CT call is still open! don't miss this fabulous opportunity!

funny time ....and a call

WARNING....
ok... I haven't mentioned this in a while... but I feel like I need to..........
by blog header is soooooooo outdated.......
are you interested in revamping it for me? If so, leave me your e-mail address and let me know which kit of mine you'd like to use.
I'd love ya forever :)

******

It Is So True !

You know you ARE LIVING IN 200 8 when...



1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7 Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list



AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING at yourself.


Go on, forward this to your friends. You know you want to .

**************



Creative Team Call

I need:
* enthusiastic scrappers who LOVE my goodies
* 2 - 3 layouts/month posted to at least 3 galleries
* scrap sassy silly smiles

If interested:
* e-mail me at saranohw(at)yahoo(dot)com
* include a link to your best gallery and your present required CTM commitment(s)
* label subject line “Silly CT Call”
* deadline July 21st

Extras:
* can mix and match products
* can use other designers work also
* receive Gift Certificates to pick what you’d like to work with
* 3 month “trial” with option to stay longer

my Gotta Pixel store, my Sassy Street Studio collaborations, and my AS It Is Designs collaborations
my Scrapdish store


**************

Feel free to scroll down........FREEBIE in the previous post :)... and a big coupon

FREEBIE time........ (clap clap clap)

This morning I took Hudson and Griffin to Ikea for breakfast. It was the first time in a few months. Who knows why it has taken so long. I love that place and it's only about 5 minutes away. It is yummy and super cheap! I ended up with two kiddie breakfasts (almost the same size as mine), a regular breakfast, Loganberry Juice, a new big plastic tumbler cup for my dh, and a new set of plastic cutlery for the boys... all for under $10. So cool!

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Oh... speaking of fab bargains........ it's the extra 25% off time at Gap.... at least in Phoenix. You might want to check your local stores. All merchandise currently reduced is an additional 25% off. I get my employee discount off of that too. I swear, I can't afford not to work there. I've picked up tees for the boys and me for $2-4, jeans for Griff for $3 and $10 jeans for me. I so love bargain shopping, especially for brand spankin' new clothes too!

**********

Did you watch the finale of The Bachelorette? I've missed the last couple of weeks because of work. I was suprised that DeAnna chose Jesse, but so happy too. I watched After the Rose last night and they are soooo cute! I really loved Jason too, but it looks like Jesse is one hell of a catch too.

**********

OK now, last week I added So Very Summer to GP. Amy Sumrall has had her half in the store for a couple of months. I was way behind with mine, but I love how it turned out.





just for my bloggin' friends....
my part is 40% off until midnight July 15th, coupon code is SE_blog_7272 ... you must use it on the "view cart" page ................ enjoy!

**********

and now... what you've been waiting for.........
I haven't offered a FREEBIE here in a very long time. Lucky for you everything on my EHD was lost in space for a couple of months until my dh hooked it all up again. Woo-hoo!
sooooooo... during my co-Designer Spotlight in May, I placed a few add-ons in my Gotta Pixel store to coordinate with my Daily Download kit. One cute little pack didn't get added since it was stuck in never never land until just recently. That is now yours here. Aren't you a happy camper??






















A Springy Shindig: Flowers
includes 1 ribbon stem, 4 plain flowers, and 6 ribbon embellished flowers

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stay tuned.........
my first regular CT call in quite some time is coming later this week