{{Michelle Cochran-Wells}}

I am here...

Sorry that I have left you guys hanging.  I've been super busy with CHA ordering (Craft and Hobby Association Show).  Man, there are some super cool new products!!!!!!  As a matter of fact, I have a surprise for all of you for next month.  How would you all like to be some of the first to receive the new My Mind's Eye stuff????  Sound yummy?  They have a great new lineup for CHA and I've been PROMISED that I can get my grubby hands on it ASAP...

What cha think?  I'll post more soon!  Happy Wednesday!

Browsing through some pictures tonight and came across this one taken by Sean over the X-Mas holidays...just me and my boys hanging out (one on each side) on a blankie on a Saturday morning watching Wow Wow Wubbzy on Noggin.  Love these shots into our everyday lives.  Love these kiddos.

Happy Thursday! 

Add-On and Project Kit Updates

Hi, guys-
Boy, you all are wanting those add-on and project kits!  Way to make a girl feel good on a rainy day in Georgia.  However, we do not have but a handful of the add-on kits remaining so if you want them then grab them now...probably less than 25.  We now have it added to the website if you'd like to take a gander at it and order directly from the site instead of emailing us.  Also, we have decided to hold off on selling the project kit for this month as it was going to take us a while to get all of those kits together.  We didn't want to delay shipping out the normal kits any more than we already have due to that lost order that we encountered this month from our supplier.  We will put the fabric scrapbook project kit back up for sale next month...promise!  So, if you have ordered that kit you have not been charged; nor will you receive it this month.  Just wanted to let you know.

We've had a dreary, rainy day here today.  You know, the kind that makes you want to sleep all day? :)  Not gonna happen with two little boys though.  Hehe. 

Kit pics and updates (grab a coffee...this might be lengthy)

**NOTE: I tried to add these pics to the SIAB website, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting onto our server for some reason (too many of us doing too many things at one time, I think...me uploading, webmaster working on the new site, etc.).  So, below are the pics of the January kits.  The monthly paper kit can be purchased on the SIAB site, but all others will just require an email from you to us stating that you want the add-on or project kit included in your shipment.  Sorry about the site issues.  Without further ado, here are the January selections...

First off, here is a picture of the January kit (5 days late, mind you, due to a lost order):

It is simply yummy.  This kit is packed with paper.  Forgot to put the ribbon in the picture, but it is included.  Kit contents are a bit different than what is listed on the site (see previous post).  We took out the little alpha stickers and threw in this pack of Scenic Route chipboard letter set instead.  Didn't think you'd mind.  ha.  Anyway, I love both sets of paper in this kit and am itching to play with it.  Hoping to do just that once I finish working on our new blog and website, but more on that in a minute.  We have a small handful of these kits remaining if you are on the fence about it.

Other interesting add-ons and project kits for the month of January:
Add-On Kit ($10)
Kit includes: Lime/Pink Damask Album, 6- 8x8 Making Memories Garden Party papers, borders, 2 yards ribbon, alpha sticker sheet (varies to match kit), Autumn Leaves Mod Flowers, American Crafts Rub-On letters (Ricky or Ned, Jr.), K & Co Sentiments Stickers (approx. 20), and tags
This is a great bargain; especially considering that the Rub-Ons cost almost as much as this kit!  Please email us if you are interested.  This kit will be available for add-on with free shipping until Wednesday, Jan. 23, 5pm EST.  Email us if you would like to include this in your order.

New Website News:
We hope to have the new website up and running as of February 1st.  Trust me, that's pushing it.  Jason is redesigning many of the pages on the site and each one takes FOREVER to redesign so it's been a long road.  There is just so much time that goes into taking on a project such as this AND continuing to operate on a daily basis.  I think that Jay and I are both drained.  I've been staying up until around 3 or 4am every day trying to play catch up.  I'm getting closer.  Our new blog is almost complete and has lot's of fun little stuff on it.  I've always wanted a blog that had fun links and informative information on it so once the new one is complete I'm hoping that you will enjoy it so much more than this poor 'ol little lame blog!  So, anyone have any ideas as to our new name?  I'm soooo excited that I'm having a hard time holding it in.

Personal Stuff:

We actually got snow this week...don't laugh, but it was maybe all of a quarter of an inch.  Ha!  Hey, this is Georgia and we'll take what we can get.  Of course we had to document the moment since it was Eli's first snow.  Jack thought is was quite fun, too.  Wish that you all could have seen me trying to hold two kids and set up a tripod! 
The boy's have been waking up at just crazy, crazy hours this week (midnight, 3am, etc.).  Not sure what is up with that, but I sure hope that our normal sleep schedule returns soon or I may end up crazy.  I am normally like the Energizer Bunny at night because that is the only time that I usually work, but this week has about did me in. ;)  Plus, the Australian Open is on and I've been getting a serious dose of tennis each night.  Thank goodness for Starbucks.  Gotta love that place.   Also hoping to order these tonight, too.  Tried them on today, but they didn't have my size.  So, so comfy!  Anyone have them?  Well, that's it for now.  I'm off to try to catch some zzzz's.  Wish me luck.  Oops, Jack just let out a cry.  Guess my zzzz's will have to wait!

Oh, and one last thing.  Jack is starting to talk a bit more.  He's definitely a late talker, but we've found that he CAN talk when he WANTS to talk!  Anyway, my parent's were watching him the other day in the car while I ran in the library and Jack was all over the place opening doors, messing with all the controls and my Mother jokingly said to him, "Jack, you're mean."  Jack's reply, "I'm MEAAAANNN."  How funny is that?  He's such a silly little boy.  By the way, he and Eli are really starting to ham it up together now...laughing at each other all the time and actually watching tv together now.  Too bad that it's the Teletubbies because I hate them, but they seem to be mesmerized by their voices.  So dang cute!  I'm loving it!

Nitey, nite, or should I say good morning!? 

Which do you want first?

The good news or the bad news?  I always like telling the bad news first because then you have something good to look forward to afterwards. :)  See how logical that was?  Okay.  Here we go.  Deep breath.  Bad news:  Remember how the January kit WAS going to have the complete My Mind's Eye Valentine line in it (it had two sep. lines that made up the entire line)?  Well, it's not.  You see, somehow my order to them got confused in the system and by the time I became aware of it, well, MME was too low on inventory to fill all of our kit orders.  I was bummed....until....here's the good news: our great supplier at Scenic Route came through for us in a pinch.  Yep, so instead of getting all paper from MME you will now be receiving all the paper from the MME Adore line (along with the vintage die-cuts) AND most of the paper from the Scenic Route Loveland line.  PLUS,  I felt so bad for the mix-up that I went ahead and added another bigger ticket item to the kit.  Totally made me feel better. :)  I hope that everyone is happy with this solution.  Turns out after looking at the paper that I like the Scenic Route paper better than the Kiss and Tell from MME anyway.  Funny how that worked out, huh?  So, I apologize for someone's screw-up and I do promise that this will still be one rockin' kit!

Project Kits are coming along.  I need to photograph the kit and project and we'll be ready to accept orders unless you've already emailed that you would like one.

Lot's of folks curious as to the changes that are coming up for SIAB.  Shall I tell more?  Okay, just a little bitty tidbit...we'll be getting not only a new website, BUT a new NAME!!!!!  I'm soooooooo thrilled that I can't wait!
Hope that you all enjoy it as much as I do.  The site is really coming along and it feels good knowing that we did EVERYTHING associated with the site in-house and it is exactly what I had envisioned.  We will also have a matching blog that will allow you to order items from it through Paypal...kind of like the 10 items or less line at the grocery.  How cool is that?

Oh, and last, but certainly not least...little man Eli turns 6-months old today!  Can you believe that?  He is going to be tall just like Jack.  I'll look like a munchkin to them before too long.  LOL.  He's all over the place, too.  I think that crawling is coming very quickly.  He has also figured out a way to get his arms out of his carseat while I'm driving.  Gotta stop that one somehow!  He's like a little Houdini (did I spell that right?).

Plus, my dear 'ol Dad had a birthday last week, too.  I haven't gotten the chance to blog much here lately so I wanted to be sure to get that one in!  Happy Birthday, Dad!  You don't look a day over 30. :)

Now that I've told you all about some of my goals and actually fulfilled them, what are some of your goals for 2008?  Have you begun fulfilling them yet?

What cha doing?

So, what are YOU doing on this beautiful Sunday?  You would think that I wouldn't be as chipper as I am since I've been working my booty off this weekend!  I came down to Atlanta for somewhat of a business retreat this weekend.  I've had so many goals for this little business of ours for sometime, but have never actually been able to take the time away to sit down and actually put pen to paper (or mouse to laptop, rather!).   So, with the kiddos visiting at the Grandparent's house I've had free reign to think this weekend.  But, boy do I miss those little dudes!!!!!!!! 

Any of you wondering what I'm up to?  Come on, just say yes to appease me, please.  hehe
Here's a sneak peek:
*New Website
*New Blog Design
*Some new other fun stuff (Facebook, MySpace, etc.)
*More product
Okay, okay.  That's enough for now.

I hope to be able to share with you all very soon!
Happy Week!

January Kit Contents and Monthly Project Kit

Wow.  I just finished updating the site with the new January kit contents.  I don't believe that we've ever had this much paper in one kit, but I just liked it ALL so you guys got the entire line for the month.  Hope that you enjoy it!  I tried to post a pic of the paper, but the My Mind's Eye website wouldn't let me copy the picture for some reason.  We hope to have a pic of it by Saturday.  Things that make me drool in this kit: those darn vintage looking die-cuts from MME and the cute little felt bag with a birdie on it.  Can't wait to show you all these goodies!

Also, I really tried to come up with a cute scrapbook project for this month.  We are all about V-Day around here so I wanted to capture that in some type of album.  Soooo, with that said, we'll be creating a FABRIC scrapbook using felt, quilted fabric and fleece.  Plus, throw in some really cute embellishments (think rick-rack, polka dots and more) and voila you've got yourself a super cute little scrapbook for just about any occasion.  And, no, it doesn't have to be for V-Day.  So, you may be asking "how in the world do I adhere photos into a fabric scrapbook?"  Well, we'll be ironing them onto our fabric "pages" using special printer paper that will be included in the kit.  I do not have the picture taken of this album yet, nor do I have the pricing for it, but it will debut hopefully in the next day or so.  I will provide a link here for you to order if you wish.  A good estimation of the cost of this project kit would be probably around $15 (or very close).  If you know already that you may be interested then please email me so that I can start a list of those wanting this kit.  This will also give me an idea of the interest in this project in order to obtain more supplies or not. :)

So, on a personal note.  Today was not one of my better days.  I think that as a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom that you sometimes feel that you are letting your kiddos down.  Today was that day for me.  I couldn't seem to do anything right.  I have to admit that I more than once thought that maybe I should still be in corporate American doing my engineering thing.  I mean, I know that I would have a VERY TOUGH time leaving my children with someone other than me (no flames, please...personal choice, right?).  Man, it was a long day.  I'm not sure if I just had grumpy kids or a grumpy "me."  The kiddos were in RARE form today so I'm hoping that it was just a fluke and that today will be a better day.  Today about did me in.  Luckily, after an hour of much needed yoga time (while Jack kept trying to push me over during the balance poses...LOL) I felt soooo much better.  Maybe we just all needed a break.  Oh, and add a sick hubby to the mix and I've been a one man band for a couple of days.  Yikes.  Sick hubbies are no fun at all in case you didn't know.  Well, enough whining.  Here's to a better day today...yep, it's already 3am so I'm off for a snooze.  I sense a Starbuck's in my immediate future, huh??  Happy Wednesday!

Holy Moly! January Kit News! Contest!

So, we at SIAB took the month of December off to regain our sanity (believe it or not, but you guys keep us hoppin'!), right?  Well, we've decided to come up with a most amazing, super-duper kit for January.  You guys know how much I totally love the Valentine holiday so it was only fitting to have an awesome kit that celebrated love, family, blah, blah, blah.  hehe.  However, it could so totally not be Valentiney (I made that word up, can you tell?), too.  Two totally different color schemes on this one.  Anyway, if you are a member then sit down because I'm going to give you a little hinty about the kit...there are a total of 18 sheets of patterned paper in it!  That's unheard of!  Lot's and lot's of combos with this kit.  Oh, and I'm so darn excited about those little vintage-looking die cuts!  And, if all plays out well this weekend (read: hubby watches the kiddos while I get to create) I'll be sharing a cute and fun little project kit for the month of January, too.  Maybe the break did us good, huh?  I shall keep you all posted, but I will tell you that I didn't go totally wild and order gobs of extra supplies for this month so there aren't a ton of kits left for the general public after we calculated all of the new memberships that are starting this month.  Wow.  We are blessed and we so appreciate each and every one of our customers!  Here's to a great January kit!!!!  More to come soon.

Contest:  Tell me what line that this paper is and I'll throw you in something cool with your kit order this month!  Deadline to enter is Friday of this coming week.  One entry per person, please.

On a fun note, we spent the afternoon and evening in Atlanta with me getting fitted for a bridesmaid's dress for my little bro and Brittany's upcoming wedding.  Also took some time to hit IKEA downtown.  Man, going to downtown Atlanta brings back college memories from GA Tech.  Man, I hated that place.  Parking was murder.   Worked my butt off in those classes.  Anyway,  we got several things we needed from IKEA and then met back up with Jay and Britt for dinner.  I must admit that I automatically knew that Britt was the one for Jay when she won my kids over.  Jack is a hard sell.  He can read you like a book.  Yea, he's only two, but he can tell if you are cool or not, and obviously Britt is cool b/c he was laughing his hiney off with her tonight while they danced around the parking lot together.  :)  So cool.  So cool to see that Jack is comfy with her and Uncle Jay.  Cool to see him plant a big one on her cheek (and Jay's) before leaving.  Love that.  I miss my little bro.  So nice to catch up. 

Goofy outtake of Jay and Britt at XMas...they really aren't as mean as they look!