{{Michelle Cochran-Wells}}

Bad, bad me and October Kit hint

How is your Saturday?  I've been a super huge bad blogger and thought that I could at least say hi today. :)  I've got deadlines and projects out the ying ying to finish before this coming week.  I promise I'll be better after that.  If you're going to be at SSSC in Huntsville, AL be sure to stop in and say hello.   I've had sooo much fun with these projects.  Well, off to finish up before the little dudes come home from an overnight stay with Grandma and Grandpa. 

First person to guess the paper for October will win the October prize pack with their kit...
HINT:   Give a hoot, don't pollute.

Happy Anniversary, Dear

Happy Anniversary to us!  Eight years together and still going strong.  Sometimes it feels like two years and sometimes it feels like twenty.  ;)  However, I wouldn't trade him for the world.  Sean, you're a terrific Dad and husband.  Congrats on sticking with me for this long. We decided to get a housekeeper for our anniversary gift to each other.  Geez.  How lame is that?  But, it's the best gift I've gotten in a while!  hehe  Remember when it used to be flowers, dinner  and a movie?  Now it's poopy diapers and sippy cups.  But, we wouldn't change it for the world!  I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime.  I mean, afterall, what other man would travel across the country with me to teach at scrapbook conventions and help package kits?  Probably not many!  And, yea, we are probably total dorks when we're together, but that's ok.  We kind of naturally come by that one, I guess, with both of us being engineers, huh?  At least he doesn't wear a pocket protector!

September Kit

Hi, guys!  Hope everyone had a great weekend!  We finally got the kit pic up for the September kit.  There are a lot of little things in this one (kind of hard to see in the pic).  For those of you coming to the SSSC in Huntsville in a few weeks we'll be using this paper in one of the classes (love the star paper!).  Most of you should have received shipping confirmations or even your package today or sometime this week.  We've had MAJOR issues (USPS website issues, blah, blah, blah...I could list twenty things!)  with the USPS this month so I'm crossing my fingers that all the kits arrive at their new homes safe and sound.   

Well, I'm off to pick up the little dude from school.  Today when Sean dropped him off a little girl came up and started patting him on the arm.  So cute.  Would have loved to had a pic of that!  Happy Monday.

Some Scrappy Goodness

Just a little fun for the weekend! :) 

Long week...

Boy, its been a long week!  Sean has been out of town and all of my tennis leagues started this week, too.  Busy, busy, busy.  So, I'm off for some much needed sleep and dinner at 11pm.  Crazy.  I'll try to chat more this weekend.  Hope you all have a good one!

Look closely

and you can see the crib that little Mr. Jack spent his first timeout in.  I say first because I know that it is most certainly not the last.  Yes, folks, my sweet, innocent, perfect Jack was pushing little people around  at Mother's Morning Out and got sent to timeout.  I can't help but laugh.   He is so much like his father that it is not even funny.  Even funnier is the fact that once in timeout he discovered the shutters on the window behind him and  decided that they looked like fun.  So, really no lesson was learned.  Ha.  Gotta love this age.   However, I am pleased to say that yesterday he did perfectly.  :)  But, he was on the RECEIVING end yesterday as he came home with a pop knot on his forehead so I figure it all balances out in the end.  All those little munchkins just give and receive the entire time.  Hitter one day, hittee the next. 

Kit update:
We have one late shipment arriving first thing tomorrow so kits should be ready to roll as soon as that one product is added.  Look for your shipment confirmations via email tonight and tomorrow.  This is a fun, fun kit!  The contents have been altered a bit on the website, too.  There is a fun little accordian album in this kit that I can't get enough of!

Okay, BRING IT ON! DT News, Classes and More

Happy Saturday!

First off, before I get to the Design Team news, I wanted to let you all know about the Simply Southern Scrapbook Convention in Huntsville, AL that will be taking place in just a few weeks.  We'll be there teaching some really fun classes that will be debuting at this event.  We've really bumped the classes up a lot so look for more goodies in each class along with some really fun, fun projects! :)  Anyway, here is the link. 
Simply Southern Convention and Workshops
I know that two of the classes are sold out.  Not sure what the numbers are on the other ones.  I believe that online registration ends today.  Hope to see you there!

Now, on to other news.  We are looking for a few new DT members for our staff.  Most of you know the drill...we give you a kit, you design for us.  That simple.  Nope, you're not going to be able to pay your bills with this gig, gals. :)  However, if you like getting fun scrappy stuff in the mail each month and think that you have time to complete at least five layouts with each kit then please apply!  I can see my inbox being flooded as we speak (that's a good thing).  As always, we encourage EVERYONE to apply...beginners to advanced, customers, non-customers, etc..  We wanna see it all.  At this moment we are unsure if we will only be offering monthly guest designer spots or long-term spots.  Probably a little of both. 

Requirements:

*Send us eight of your best pieces (layouts, cards, altered projects, etc.) to customerservice@scrapsinabox.com .  (Please keep in mind that we will not reply to your submissions)

*MUST be active member of scrap related message boards, forums, etc. (ie., Two Peas, etc.).  Please include your "handle" name when applying

*Must be able to photograph or scan in projects for submission (prefer scanning)

That's it...so, bring it on!  We'll have decisions within a month or so.  Hum, guess we should have a deadline, huh?  Submissions will only be taken from now until October 20, 2007, midnight EST.  Now, go get busy!!!

We've got some *new* things coming soon so stay tuned to the SIAB website. Hoping to incorporate a few more products into our store besides the monthly kits (hint, hint).

Well, enough for me on this Saturday afternoon.  Off to finish off class projects!  Happy Saturday!
 

Mother's Morning Out

Jack started his Mother's Morning Out program about a week ago and so far so good.  He didn't even know that we had left the building on the first day.  So happy that he is that way instead of hanging on my leg and crying for me not to leave.  He had to go and test everything.  As a matter of fact, when I picked him up three hours later the teachers told me that they had nicknamed him the "Little Investigator."  If they open up a locked cabinet door there he is peering in to see what's inside.  ha.  That's my boy.  Anyway, he seems to have a great time while he is there and I'm so happy to see him interacting with little munchkins his own age.  So cute.  Oh, and this program wears him out!  He is pooped by the time I pick him up and rarely even makes it through lunch without falling asleep.  Wow.

Eli was probably a bit relieved to get some quiet time while Jack was at school.  :)  Isn't he growing like a weed?!

On scrapbooking news, I've been on a creative high here lately.  Seems that afternoon nap time is my peak.  So, I've been looking forward to the boys taking their naps in the afternoon just so I can scrapbook...ahh, just ME time.  I think that I've been in a creative funk here lately and this is just what the Doctor ordered.  Do any of you ever feel that way?  Like you can't create because your brain is in a rut?  Perhaps it's because we as scrapbookers try to compare ourselves to the "celebrities" of scrapbooking.  You know what I'm talking about?  We get the latest issue of our favorite scrappy magazine and then everything goes to pot.  So, I've decided to try to stop putting so much effort into it.  Try to make a layout for me and not compared to everyone else.  Afterall, it's me that has to like the final product, right?  I've had to learn to let go but that seems to be the time when I get the most out of my work.  Needless to say, I've got a lot of layouts to share over the next couple of days. 

When you're in a creative funk what do you do?  I'd love to hear about it!

And, oh, on another note, we'll be announcing a search for new designers very soon.  We've got several openings now that some appointments have ran out.  Be on the watch for more information soon.  We'd love to see your work!
Happy Friday!

9-11

*Grand Central Station, NYC

I always feel compelled to blog on 9/11.  It had such a deep impact on our country.  A day that I and many of you will probably never forget.  I always remember where I was and how scared I felt.  I was stuck in Orange County, California on a business trip to visit clients.  Of course, on any other occasion, it is a wonderful place to be stuck.  On this occasion, however, not so pleasant.  I can't tell you how much I wanted to be at home near my family and knowing that it wasn't possible.  BUT, I know that my yearning to have been at home only pales in comparison to those who yearned for the ones that they lost.  I was lucky enough to be on the first flight out of Orange County on the 13th and the silence was unbearable for the entire flight...everyone on guard, the look of fright in most people's face, the silence of the usually busy airport, the extra security checks...I feel like it was just yesterday.  Today I am thankful for all those serving our country and thankful to be an American.  Where were you and what do you remember?   

Jack in the Box ;)

Not much for today except that Jack developed some sort of "funk" this afternoon which resulted in a high fever that subsides for a while with Tylenol and then reappears.  Poor little dude.  Sure sign that he's sick when he doesn't even wimper when walking through the toy section at Target today.  It's going to be a long night, folks.