A Kiss on the Chic

Love, Tuesday...

 

Is it Summer yet?  The weather here in So. Cal sure makes it seem like it.  I hope all of you are enjoying wonderful weather around the world, wherever you are.  I'd love to hear what the weather is like in YOUR part of the world, so leave a comment at the bottom if you like, that would be FUN to see!  It's 79 at 4:30pm here in So. Cal...

(No, this is not my backyard, just a local winery)

Here it's been a "top down" type of day here... (as in convertable mini-cooper's top down, hehehe)  I've had the pain privelage of driving the little cooper ever since Victoria got in a 2nd fender bender a few months ago.  She's scared to death of driving the little thing so until we can sell it, I'm driving it and she's driving my Jeep.  I kind of agree though, it's just too small and has horrible blind spots.  So today was a "top down" day in the cooper and I do have to say that it's pretty FUN to drive like that!  Not fun getting groceries in it or picking up the drycleaning, but I'll take advantage of the nice weather while we have it still.  :)

So today was suppossed to be another day or organizing...  I need to clean my craft room because it's a MESS.  

Which by the way, I'm thinking of changing the name of my "craft room" to something more Artistic...  say Artist Hollow, my Studio, Girl cave??  lol  I don't know, something a bit more fun.  I see all these ladies call their scraproom a STUDIO and think I need to come up with something cool...  Any ideas??

I'd like to be DONE with the clean up so I can finish this:

Love this line by Pink Paislee!  Speaking on PP, I just got my box of Giveaways from Pink Paislee for our event in Italy!!  So thankful to them for that!!  

Lastly, I bought of few art supplies today at Michaels that I want to play around with:

Martha Stewart has a whole set of stencils.  I did not know that!  So this is going on my "to do" list tomorrow. (or tonight if I can convince the kids to have pizza for dinner and watch the UFC fight with daddy while I clean my ??? room)

Shouldn't be too hard to do...  :)

 

Have a GREAT Tuesday everyone!

 

Hugs,

Laura

 

P.S.  Check out the updates on the Italy Event Blog... Italy Event   So excited and STILL can't believe my DREAM is becoming a REALITY!!

 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day!!

Since I'll be enjoying Mother's Day with my mom and MIL tomorrow,  I thought I would come on here and wish all the ladies out there in BLOG LAND a warm and loving Mother's Day to you all!

It is such a blessing to be a MOM and it's the BEST job in the WORLD!  I truly believe it's such a calling to raise our children in the "ways of the Lord" and I still can't believe I've been enstrusted with 3 daughters.  Growing up I always WANTED 3 GIRLS!  I know it's silly, but it's true.  It had something to do with a certain 3 girls I grew up with that I really loved spending time with.  (You know who you are :)  They are still close sisters to this day and that is my PRAYER for my girls!  

 

My girls showed me again today how special they are.  They cleaned Lance's offices today while I was teaching at Paper Tales!!  That was SO nice and it made the rest of my day so relaxing.  I don't know about you, but some days I feel like I'm not the best mom in the world.  I raise my voice,  I say the wrong thing, I don't listen enough... But today they reminded me that I'm not doing such a bad job as a mommy...  I've always tried to raise them to be kind to others, that the THINGS of this world are not important, that life is about giving, caring and sharing.  That MEMORIES together are more precious than GOLD.  Well,  I had a GREAT conversation with one of them today about that and how it's not the "things" or the "brand names" that matter.  She told me of some freinds of hers and what they "care about" and said she could care a LESS if something she wore cost $5 or $50 and if it was from Target or some fancy store.  In fact, she said she'd RATHER spend $5 on something and SAVE the rest!  Whoa.... that almost made me cry!  Good for you girl!!  When there is so much "desire" in our society for the "things of the world" and especially for girls who want to "fit in", I was SO PROUD of her!!!  It's not easy having that attitude in this day and age.  There are friends who HAVE everything, including "those brands", who don't have to clean their room or wash a dish, or lift a finger and get everything they want.  But I'm trying to raise my girls to learn how to DO THINGS.  So happy that they "get" that and are even HAPPY that I am THAT kind of MOM.  Yup, a few tears were shed today...

So moms, your kids LOVE you, even for the things you may think they don't like.  They WANT to be guided, have boundaries, LEARN from you.  SO happy to see a bit of perspective from their side today.

And speaking of being a mommy and "NESTING"...

I created this album yesterday with Prima's new "resist canvas" and some lovely Webster's Pages yummies and some paints and Glimmer Mists!  The colors just made me HAPPY and the theme really came to me as I was thinking of Mother's Day...

I was going to teach this at Paper Tales or make this a Project Kit, but I only have 4 kits left!  So if you want one, I'll be putting them in my Etsy shop on Monday or you can email me and let me know and I can set one aside.  

Have a WONDERFUL day tomorrow!

 

Hugs,

 

Laura

 

 

 

Love, Tuesday... (and I have a KIT for Sale!!!)

I am on a ROLL ladies...

I just got done with the Tiffany Event for 70 ladies and guess what?

I'm TEACHING AGAIN, this weekend at Paper Tales!

Here's what I'm teaching:

It's all the BRAND NEW (and SOLD OUT) Heidi Swapp "Sugar Chic" line!!  I've created an album with THE most pages EVER from 2 of her memory file folders and lots of other pages inside!  So I'll show you how to bind it all together into a GREAT album!!  

I'm teaching this at 11am on Saturday, so call Paper Tales to sign up today!  619-222-2150

Here's a SNEAK inside:

There will be a few changes/additions to this album because I didn't have some of the HS items in when I created this album.  So her cute BOWS, and bubble STICKS will be included!!  Also, the front cover will have the word "FABULOUS" from her sticker sheet instead of the flag, which doesn't really show up good...

SO, for those who CAN'T make my class this Saturday...

THERE'S A KIT FOR SALE!!

This kit will be up for sale in my Etsy Shop in about 30 minutes!!  Now all this stuff is SOLD OUT everywhere, trust me...  So if you want this KIT, grab one FAST!  It will COME WITH all the stuff you see (and some you don't because for some reason the 12x12 papers aren't showing up) AND the project kit instructions OR you can make your own scrapbooking pages with it!  So go check it out, I'll only have a LIMITED AMOUNT in my Etsy shop!

And lastly, I wanted to mention that I may be in the Michigan/Chicago area in August and would LOVE to teach some classes while I'm there!  So if you know of any stores that would like me to teach or if you can get a group of ladies together, let me know.  I'd love to meet some of my blog friends!!!

Have a GREAT  Tuesday!!

Hugs,

 

Laura

 

 

A Tiffany Affaire Weekend...

WOW.  It was a jaw dropping weekend ladies.  I really did feel my jaw drop, many a times, when I saw what Kim put together for this event!  I have been to a couple of Kim Caldwells Events, but only to do a make-n-take for her so I didn't get to see ALL that is involved in her beautiful events.  AMAZING.  If you ever get a chance to sign up, DO IT!

This "Affaire at Tiffany's" was from Thursday thru Sunday at the Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach:

It's a fun hotel with a cool vibe and a beautiful outdoor area and room where the event took place.  Kim had a whole outdoor setting, complete with a "Tiffany's" shop that she had handpainted for a fun photo op

Here's some lovely ladies in front of it. Victoria and I took a couple pictures in front of this too, but I'm not sure how I will be getting the pictures to share with you.  

This was Thursday's Tiffany Soiree and Vendor Night.  What a great time to meet all the ladies and take a look as some FAB things to buy from such talented ladies!

The jewelry that was there for sale was GORGEOUS!!  Here is my little table and you can see the beautiful backdrop she had inside the room too...

And here's a "A Kiss on the Chic" kit club lady!!  

Lisa came up to me at the end of the Vendor night and said she saved me for last!  How sweet!!  Lisa has bought almost ALL of my kits over the years and it was SO great to meet another Kit Club Friend! What a JOY it is to meet all my friends who have followed my blog, bought my kits and become friends.   I hope to do this in the coming years around the U.S. so I can meet more of you! (that's a bit of a sneak peek at 2013!!)

The next day was Friday and I taught at 2pm so Victoria and I got the kits ready (so wish I would have taken a picture!!) with cute white pizza boxes and turquoise tulle.  They looked so cute sitting on their chairs when they all came in from their lunch break!!

The class went GREAT and even though I was nervous they would like the class, it seemed like everyone had a good time and I was SO excited to see THEIR take on the class project!

Here I am with the album, sorry it's blurry.  I had Victoria take some photos with my iPhone and they didn't really turn out...

Here's some of the ladies working during the class.  I was SO impressed with how CREATIVE these ladies are!  They really took my class to another level with their vintage papers, wallpaper, jewels and more!  Here's a couple examples of what they were doing with their albums:

Here I took a picture of the album on the "dessert" table on Movie Night.  I LOVED all the turquoise and white candy Kim found for our Breakfast at Tiffany's pajama party!!

Friday night was the first night of "Swaps" where you could make something and you swap it with another lady.  They had it all set up and it was such a FUN night watching all the beautiful creations these ladies made!  It was really UNBELIEVABLE!!  I decided I would participate in the "Bottle" swap and unfortunately didn't have time to make mine until about an hour before the swap.  Now I thought it turned out really cute, but let me tell you ladies... If you go to one of these events, be prepared.  I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into and I felt VERY bad for the lady who got my bottle, because I don't think it was anywhere near what these ladies do for their swaps...  So sorry Cheryl!  I don't have a photo of my bottle, but I'll see if I can get one from Cheryl at some point.

Then on Saturday Victoria and I had the day to PLAY.  We went to the Grove and the Farmers Market and just had a BLAST. 

We ate breakfast at Morels at the Grove

and had a Croque Madame that was OUT OF THIS WORLD!  We've always had Croque Monsieur's before, but the Croque Madame just adds an egg to the top.  We weren't so sure about that, but went for it and couldn't believe how YUMMY it was!!

So yummy...

Then we did a bit of shopping at Zara, a European store that has such great clothes!

and then we were hungry again, so we went to the Farmers Market for some French Crepes! :)

We almost hung out until dinner so we could eat at the Greek place for dinner, hehehe... But we had to get back for the Breakfast at Tiffany's Pajama PARTY!!

This was another night of SWAPS so we watched the ladies exchange slippers and eye masks!  What a bunch of FUN ladies this group is!  Victoria enjoyed these ladies so much and we really feel so happy to have been a little part of this weekend!

Check out the bed Kim rented just for us to have for our Movie Night!!  

So FUN seeing the excitement on all the ladies faces!  Check out those slippers that they made!

And this sweet lady was SO much fun all weekend.  Check out her eye mask!  She brought so much JOY to this event and is just another reason why we had such a GREAT time!!  Kim really brings together the NICEST ladies, I don't know how she does it!  These ladies really were so friendly, not a cat fight in sight!  hehehe...

Here's a photo of Kim and us teachers on the pretty pink bed the last night.  Just a great group of teachers and ladies I know I'll be friends with forever! What a fun time and memories I will always treasure.

Thanks Kim!  xoxo

Hugs,

 

Laura

Following your DREAMS...

 

I AM living my dreams!  It sounds so cliche' to say but it's true.

I feel SO blessed to be doing what I LOVE to do...  Staying home with my girls and being a "homemaker" is what I've dreamed of since I was a little girl.  I didn't have dreams to be a Doctor or a Lawyer, I always wanted to be a mommy!  I went to college for Interior Design, I worked in several jobs, started my own Wedding Coordinating Business and all while getting married and having our first baby.  Then after Victoria was born, we decided to make the decision for me to quit work and stay home to raise the girls.   It was a HUGE sacrifice financialy, but we wanted to do it.  I remember there were years where we didn't have much money, not even $20 a week for "extras".  It was hard but it was SO worth it.  Then as the girls got older I found my love of scrapbooking and that became a DREAM as well.  To be CREATIVE, to teach others what I fell in {LOVE} with was an added dream, or bonus!  

Now looking back on the last 17, almost 18 years (yes Victoria is almost 18!) I realize that I sometimes have to be REMINDED that I am  "Living my Dreams" ...

What made me think of this today is that I am SO busy, I am running around getting ready for a HUGE event next weekend.  This weekend is another volleyball tournament AND another party at our house.  I am getting the Italy Event together on a daily basis and ALL of  it takes a LOT of work...

But it hit me today that when you try to LIVE YOUR DREAMS, it DOES take work!  It's not a bad thing at all.  It's a "good thing" (in my Martha Stewart voice)...  Living your dreams takes work, but it's SO worth it when you feel so BLESSED by it and fullfilled.  Sometimes in the middle of the things you LOVE to do, it gets a bit crazy, but I kind of stepped out of it today and realized that even with all the work, I LOVE IT.  I love that I am blessed to be able to do all of this.  

I found this article that pretty much sums it up.  It also talks about NOT following your heart/dreams.  There's a cost to following your dreams, but also a cost to NOT following your dreams.  If you have time, read it.  

 Following your dreams

All this is to say...

 

Yes, I'm BUSY.

Yes, I've got a LOT on my plate.

But I'm showing my girls that you CAN reach for your DREAMS.  That you can also WORK TOGETHER towards SHARED DREAMS.  We all dream as kids.  Our brains work that way and I don't want my kids to ever stop dreaming.  So I want to tell them that DREAMS ARE POSSIBLE, and GOOD TO HAVE!

I want them to GO for their DREAMS.  I want to encourage their DREAMS and I don't want to be a "Dream Stealer"...  

Yes, these are my random thoughts today.  I felt I needed to put that in writing for my girls and for anyone who is working towards their dreams.  Just stay positive, stay focused, PRAY and ask the Lord for guidance.

 

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

 

Hugs,

 

Laura

P.S. Our CREATIVE RETREAT is filling up!  Two more ladies want to come and two ladies signed up last week!  But... I still have a few rooms left, so it's NOT too late!!

Creative Retreat in Italy