The Memory Bee

5.29.11 Remembering

It's a beautiful weekend here in Buffalo; perfect for getting a handle on the flowerbeds and flower boxes... ohhh... I am so sore!

I'm thinking about the soldiers that have served and are serving our country and feeling so sentimental. I'm so thankful for them and their sacrifices... it's something that I sure don't take for granted anymore. I'm missing my soldiers A LOT! They'll be home in about 3 weeks for their pre-deployment leave. I can't wait!!

I'm so proud of the hard work that they put into their jobs as medics and so proud that they are serving our country. They'll be deploying in July to southern Iraq... oh, my.

I decided to make the windowbox red, white, and blue in their honor this year.

We also trimmed and dug and spruced things up, and I finally have roses!! It's about time! I also planted a sweet lilac bush near my picket fence and a new pincushion flower. Love it!

My other weekend obsession is Pinterest... I'm loving it! It's a virtual filing system for ideas, pictures, inspiration, techniques, how-tos and more. I love having the ideas I see online organized! 

Are you using Pinterest yet? You don't have to have an account to browse. 

5.21.11 Exploring the Paris Flea Markets

Now that I'm home for a bit, I have time to go through my pictures and share some of our adventures in Paris from April. One of the things I was most excited about was being in Paris on a Saturday so we could go to the flea market... I had such a mental picture of it ahead of time, and it wasn't quite like I'd imagined... I think I would enjoy it even more another time because I'd know what to expect. I had heard that it was expensive but wasn't really prepared for how ridiculously expensive! Of course, I did manage to find a few deals and things that I love!

We went to the Porte de Clignancourt, officially called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen... the largest of the flea markets. The best section was made up of narrow alleys of booths with everything you can imagine. Here's a photo tour... (some pictures taken by me and some by Michelle.)

That's an entire booth of keychains!

and a fabulous lunch...

These are the treasures I found there...

this gorgeous Havilland cake pedestal...

Would you like to go to the flea markets with me next year? I'm thinking of planning a London and Paris shopping trip for next April! Email me if you'd like to be put on my information list... :)

5.18.11 Island Wonderland

What a wonderful Wonderland Laurie and her incredible staff threw at Scrapbook Island over the weekend!! Every detail was just delightful... they did everything possible to make every person feel special! 

From the treats to the food to the decorations to the service to the prizes... just above and beyond! Thank you SOO much for including me... I had a blast! Here are the lovely Island girls... thank you for the beautiful flowers, Laurie!

Melanie brought my favorite gummi candy for everyone then pulled out a 5 pound bag for ME! Wow!!

I loved being able to spend time with good friends!!

Leilanie made me a precious gift... an album full of pictures of my family! Thank you so much... I will treasure it!

In addition to the Alice in Wonderland banner that I taught the whole group (I have a very few extra kits if you're interested, email me!) and taught two workshops... so fun to see lots more people there! Thank you all!

Two of my favorite people couldn't join us for the weekend because of work and family commitments but I'm glad I was able to get a little time with Rocio and Erin! Love you guys!

Once again... thank you Laurie from me and all your customers for a job WELL done! It was perfect in every way! Can't wait to be back soon!!

5.16.11 Inspired pics

Before I share pictures of the fantastic weekend at Scrapbook Island, I need to share a few pics from a few days ago at Inspired in North Carolina. I know now why students have returned to Donna's event year after year (sadly this was the last year for the event in its present form... she's going to have smaller, more personal events at her studio in the future.) It is a great opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and try something completely different! I was able to do just that and take a couple classes before I headed out early for California on Thursday night. It was also so fun to see so many students and friends from across the country!

Peggy Lucas and I shared a room... it was so nice to have lots of time to chat!!!

Margie and Christy also taught workshops with me... they got to play too!

It was so nice to Paolo again! We spent lots of CKUs together in the "old days."

Here's what I created... (it's ok for just trying is out!) The first class I took was with Trish Baldwin where she taught us encaustic "stuff"... not sure what to call it... we collaged and layered wax and stamped and waxed and it smeared and I embraced it. I will celebrate it as my first attempt with this medium.

The second class I took was with Suzi Blu... painting princesses. Good thing she gave us already-drawn faces to color and then we added paint... I will finish it at home eventually (maybe :)

I took a late night flight to the West Coast and when I arrived, this lovely disaster with my suitcase welcomed me to San Fran! Luckily only one thing was damaged (they better reimburse me for that!) and they replaced the suitcase. I loved the comments on Facebook about what people thought happened to it! So funny! I finally made it to my hotel at 4am Eastern time!

Stay tuned for pictures from the Wonderland weekend at the Island!! I'm on my way home from San Francisco tonight on the red-eye. Hope I get to sleep!

5.11.11 Inspired!

Here we are at Donna Downey's Studio... what a cool place and a dream come true for her and her students! It's full of inspiration and great products and fun! Last night I taught a full class of fabulous students... lots of familiar faces from CKU days and stores across the country and met lots of new friends. I love what I do!! 

Today I'll be teaching two workshops at Donna's event, Inspired!, and then get to take classes on Thursday before I head out to CA for the weekend at Scrapbook Island. I have to keep reminding myself where I am and where I'm going!!! I'll be teaching the two workshops from Inspired! at the Island on Sunday... they are open to the public (meaning that you don't have to be signed up for the weekend NSD event to take the workshops on Sunday.) I'm not sure if there are seats left in those workshops but you can call the store to find out. I sent extra kits if you just want a kit (that comes with directions!)

5.9.11 The winner is...

Kiss #1 -- followed by Kiss #2!

Posted by: pamelajane | May 07, 2011 at 09:27 PM

Congratulations!! (Thank you Random Number Generator!)

5.8.11 Happy Mother's Day!

I hate to admit it but I never really liked kids... never liked babysitting and wasn't even sure I wanted to have kids myself. It's ironic that I taught school for many years and loved the kids there... I guess because they went home to someone else! Eventually it just seemed like the thing to do (have a baby) and SURPRISE! I couldn't possibly have loved my sons more... I loved everything about being a mom and tried my hardest to cherish every moment. I remember rocking them in the night and singing "Jeremy's a sweetie pie" or "Brandon's a sweetie pie" which was our family's little song to sing a million times until they fell asleep. I remember reading countless books at bedtime, Fisher Price little people, scraped knees, skateboards everywhere, first little trikes and then bigger and bigger bikes. I remember Freckles and beany babies (I love you gifts) and lots of fun. Even in the hard times, I was thankful that God had made them MY sons and knew that HE would make up for the rest after I had done my best.

I wish I was together with both of them today like we were in this picture a couple years ago...

I love these pictures with Jeremy...

and with Brandon...

These pictures are so typical of trying to get good pictures of the two of them...

Now I'm so thankful for the men they have become and happy to have a new role in their lives... to encourage and cheer them on and to pray... a lot!!

and now I have a daughter to love too!

I wish my mom was here too but she'll be home soon and we'll have the whole summer together. I'm so thankful and proud that she is my mom... so thankful for our friendship and all the model she's been to me of a faithful wife and her trust in God. I love these pictures of her as a young girl! (that's her on the left)

I hope you all feel loved today!

If you would like to enter to win the Cath Kidston wedding tea towel, please leave a comment on the last blog post... I'll be choosing a random winner from those comments. Thanks!

5.6.11 Wedding goodies from London

Now that I'm finally home for a couple days, I can take pictures of the things that I bought in London to commemorate Will and Kate's wedding and share the pictures from our wedding party. Hey... I'm a fan!!!

Helle, Michelle, and I (and Diane who is camera shy and the daughters) stayed up all night to take in every minute of the celebration! Michelle had a proper British spread for us... so good!

Do you think I'm the only person who took pictures of the TV screen? 

LOVE this overhead shot!

I'll be able to drink my tea in style in one of the three wedding mugs that I bought...

I love that the coach is trailed by teapots!

A t-shirt and tea towel...

How about some soaps and a Christmas ornament...

and last but not least, some postcards and a "throne up" bag. Just had to get it! 

I bought an extra Cath Kidston commemorative wedding tea towel to send to one of you lucky blog readers. Just leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a name next Monday (5/9) at noon EST. Don't be shy! What was your favorite moment of the event?

5.2.11 What a weekend!!

This will certainly be a weekend to remember... almost sounds like the script of a Disney movie! We started out with the wedding of a prince and princess and ended with the death of the villain! In between we had a whole lot of fun at Paper Tales with such a sweet group of ladies celebrating the store's 3rd birthday and in my classes. Again... a HUGE thank you to Michelle and Kallie and Diane and Julie and Randi and Helle and Dawn and all who worked so hard to make this weekend so special for everyone. It was so nice to see everyone who came down from the LA area too! Thank you! I can't wait to return!! :)

Here's a few pictures of our time together... (the rest are in the album on the left.)

Yesterday Michelle and I headed to the beach for breakfast and then on to the mall for a little shopping and today is one last day in paradise before the red-eye home tonight. I'm looking forward to being home but it's been a fantastic two weeks of a little work and a whole lot of fun!

5.1.11 Happy May Day!

I can't believe it's May already... April is a blur (but a good blur!) I'm sitting out in the sun at Michelle's house in Point Loma, looking out at the city of San Diego... so beautiful and feeling incredibly blessed. A huge thank you to everyone who came to the classes this weekend at Paper Tales and Michelle and all her gals who throw a great celebration! It was wonderful! Lots more pictures to come of that, but first I want to share about Pizazz! in El Paso... What a gorgeous store! Not only do they have a huge assortment of scrapbook supplies, but also everything you'd need to throw a fabulous party, buy a special gift, order invitations, or collect your favorite Vera Bradley bags! The store is loaded with eye-candy... I could hardly take it all in!

I love this hutch in the classroom! Thank you again to Sue and Francie and all the students... you made me feel so welcome! Can't wait to visit again someday!