EARTHQUAKE! it's really just a little shaker...

For those of you who are concerned... Yes, we had an earthquake in So Cal today. It was centered around Chino Hills, which is approximately 30 minutes west of us. We felt it.

My 3-year-old was talking about the "noise." You could hear the rumbling, a couple of things shook, but my trusty hanging lamp didn't budge.

As of right now, there is no significant structural damage reported, nor are there any major injuries. We like to shake things up a little here and there in Southern California, and we sure did today. So some of the grocery stores (and probably my hubby's work) will have a lot of cleaning up to do, but hey! they get paid to do it, right? lol! At least no one was seriously hurt.

Over here (where I'm at...) we haven't felt any of the after shocks, but I have supplied you with the following links to see not only the epicenter (in bold red) and the aftershocks, but to also see a list, which provides the exact times and depths of the quakes.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Maps/US2/33.35.-119.-117_eqs.php

Here is an actual map:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Maps/US2/33.35.-119.-117.php

These links are pretty neat. I usually use them to show my older girls, but they're not here right now, so they totally missed it. Some people prefer the news sites; I think these are much more cool! Oh well... Toodles for now! lisa

I Joined a New Group!

I've been waiting with bated breath, but I finally got the news last night! I have been accepted into a great group in Yahoo Groups... Scrapbook Bingo! They do all kinds of stuff and support one another with new ideas and compliments. This group is extremely active in RAKs, challenges, swaps and BINGO! Woohoo!

I'm so excite and can't wait to really participate. They are a wonderful group of people from all over Northern America. Thank you for letting me join!

Also - for those of you who got the 10% off coupons from eBay, today is the last day to use them. Don't forget! Every little bit helps (enable us, that is...)! Toodles for now! lisa

What Would You Like?

The sun is shing, the birds are chirping... WAIT! It's the SQUIRRELS!!!!!!!!! Anyway, the day is still beautiful, and the sun is still shining.

I've been updating and adding items. What would you like to see? Most of you are lurkers out there (it's ok, I lurk elsewhere, too...). But today, please let me know if you'd like to learn something (if so... what?) or hear about something (if so... what?). I love to research and try new things.

It's up to you... SPILL! Toodles for now! lisa

Congrats Aaron - THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR!

Michaels Sale AND BONUS

I am so excited! I did go to Michael's after all. I got 3 carts... Pooh and Friends, Pooh Font Set and Walk in My Garden. Beautiful Stuff.

I was bummed and couldn't get Doodlecharms, due to the fact they didn't have any in stock. So... I had to choose. Only I didn't! I'm doing a favor for a friend, so my friend purchased the carts as a down payment. What a friend! Thank you!!!! Me and my girls will love it forever!

When I got home, the first thing I intended to do was tear open the plastic packaging to read the handbooks and see all of the nifty stuff inside, as well as the project that is included with each handbook.

But, as I tore off the plastic encasing, meant to protect the cartridge's box and contents, a smell came forth. It reminded me of being a kid again. The smells of summer, as I like to call them... when you open that new package of vinyl blowup pool toys... the smell that comes out. It is something new, and you know it is going to be something fun! Well, people, Cricut is fun! So are all of the cartridges. They are all new toys to us! Yippee! Let's PLAY!

I am thoroughly joyed that I did, after all, get the Pooh Font. I really would like the Campout, but for now the Pooh Font will do. It has 3 different fonts (one of them being "wood") and the Pooh and Friends babies. How cute that will be. I was thinking I would probably use the wooded font for our camping pictures. This will be an excellent solution.

Also... I got some of the Studio G stamps (how can you resist a $1 deal?) and a couple of mini punches. Every month or so, Michaels swaps out their $1 bin stamps and replaces it with another series. I love Studio G stamps! The mini punches were a nice surprise. I had seen them there before (in the $1 bin with the stamps) and had to check out which punches I had at home before making my big purchase. However, as I watched them being wrung up, I was super happy. I saw the price ringing up at $.60... 40% off! WOOHOO! I was getting good deals everywhere.

I am still excited... even if it appears the CDS (Cricut Design Studio) BONUS is a download. I haven't installed my own copy yet... a little afraid. Let's see how long it takes Provo Craft to send me my free copy. Until then, I think I can wait just a little longer... lol! Toodles for now! lisa

Cricut Cartridges $40 (and there's a BONUS!)

Ok folks (fellow scrappers, Cricut fans, and gift fairies)... the sale at Michael's that I griped so much about not being there begins TODAY! Yes! From Sunday (July 27) through Saturday (August 2), Cricut Cartridges are "50%" off. According to Michaels, that means they are $40.

And... there is a BONUS! If you don't yet have Cricut Design Studio (CDS), you can get it for free! Purchase 3 Cricut Cartridges and get CDS FREE! (I believe it is a CDS rebate.). However, if you already have CDS, don't frown on this deal... it's still selling on e-Bay for $40 and more!

Good luck ladies and gents... I'd see ya there, but I already spent my $$$! Boo hoo.... Toodles for now! lisa

The Latest on Walmart Crafts!

So, walking into my local Walmart today, the fabric department is still there and dwindling. They still have quite a bit of stuff. Their dept. manager saw me and came rushing over. She was spilling with excitement. They latest update is... the ARE NOT getting rid of their fabrics. Apparently, it has been put on hold, yet again, and several stores are keeping theirs. One whole wall of where the fabric used to be is now USC stuff... go figure (nobody would think to look there!). Lots of other items have been pushed out, however... most of your really inexpensive things...

... to make way for Martha Stewart Crafts. Ugh. I like some of her stuff, but her colors (in scrapbooking) seem to me to be just too bland. I personally don't care if my "ecru" and "egg shell blue" have uppity names. Just coordinate it, brighten it up, and give it to us. There are still die-hard MS fans out there. Good for you. However, her stuff seems to be a little pricey for the looks of it.

Walmart is still clearancing out their Disney Cricut Cartridges. For the 5th month, they are still $49.00. I guess everybody's idea of "Clearance" is different. I would've thought they would've lowered the prices by now, especially since certain craft stores have sales of them for $39.99.

Also regarding Cricut in the Walmart stores, our local store has finished putting in their Cricut section. When they started selling the Expression, it was a much lower price than it is now. Hey! At least they have it. And a little fyi... their mats are only $7.67 and $12.67 for the 12" and 24" (respectively). Their tool kit is also only $18.88. That's a good deal. Michael's and Joanne's have it for $24.99 each and their 12" mat for $9.99.

Besides the MS line, they brought in Recycled and K&Co - cute stuff!

Let's see how long this lasts... Toodles for now! lisa

"Feelin' Hot, Hot, HOT...!"

Yes, I am, and in more ways than one! It has been still rather hot here (temperature-wise). But that's not all...

I "heard" that Michael's was having a $40 Cricut cartridge special until Sunday (July 27), so it would go through Saturday, right? Uh... no. When I went to Michael's, they had no such sale and told me it was last week. Bummer. It's ok, though... it's money I didn't need to spend. LOL!

Then... those dingy television stations just go flipping around their programs, changing days, times, etc. Uh... yes I have TiVo, but I didn't change priorities, because it recorded just fine, based on the days and times the shows were set. Yikes! Can't they be consistent? So, some of my programs didn't get recorded, because I thought everything was cool... WRONG! Oh well... ce la vie...

Next up... my tears are hot. My girls are leaving for a week. I'll miss them. I'm taking them to my mom's tonight.

But now I'm hot and ready to go to get some scrapping done. Beginning Sunday afternoon! I have some new stuff and the Cricut Design Studio that I'm dying to try out, just haven't had the time. Now I can. Let's get HOT and scrappin'! Toodles for now! lisa

Going, Going... Almost GONE!

Here, the summer is going by so fast. The kids here (we are on a "modified" traditional schedule) have been out since mid-June. They started summer school a week and a half later (June 25th). They will finish this Friday. New packet pick-ups for the 2008/2009 year are Monday, enrollment/registration is the following week (August 3-6), then they go right back to school mid-August (the 13th!). It was a rush! It is almost gone. Where did it go? I believe it went away with the lower gas prices...

The girls are excited though. I've been showing them things that were revealed at the Summer 2008 CHA!

Cricut is coming out with a "Tinkerbell and Friends"cartridge! Rey loves Tink, and so does Renee (the other one), so I should be able to do some awesome things with that, provided I can get one. I was a little bit disappointed though. It appears that the friends are her woodbound pixie people. I was hoping for a little bit of Peter Pan, Hook, the Crocodile, some Lost Boys, Wendy, Nana, and the bunch... I guess I thought her friends were a different lot. Duh! (Huh?)

Then... I got another major blow by Cricut! I was so excited about the Hello Kitty cartridge. I some of the shapes and fonts on the cartridge and was delighted. Then... I got on a website that was taking pre-orders. Whoops again! Apparently, they are dividing it up and are doing a "Hello Kitty Greetings" cartridge and a Hello Kitty Font cartridge. Ugh! I'm not that wealthy!

But... Cricut is coming out with a Pixar Cars cartridge. I am also really excited for that. There is no font cartridge to go with it... just the shapes. Still pretty cool.

Cricut also came up with a deep cutter (yeah! I'll finally be able to cut that magnet sheet I've dreamed of cutting...) and an embossing folder? and a stamp maker? We'll see how this stuff goes. I have to read more on it...

I've been watching for lots of the other lines. Pretty neat stuff. There is a really cool "icing" to go with my chalks. Love the chalks! Lots of really cool neato new papers. Bazzill (a line of cardstock - mostly) came out with a 12x12 sheet of "Swiss Dots." Yippee! I can do so much with that, as I don't have a Cuttlebug to emboss, so I am SO glad for this!

Besides watching CHA over the internet and not winning anything (I'll try to stop harping on that one any day now...), we did go to Juan's 25th Annual Family Reunion. It was pretty ok. The weather was much cooler than here, and it seems there were more people than last year. That's always good. My 20th High School Reunion was that night also... I skipped it... no desire to go. It was too expensive, and I don't believe in the "fake" formal things.

I let the girls (mine) pick out a pattern last week and cut up their shirts. I had to approve it ahead of time (of course), but they picked out a modest girly pattern. Much cuter than those ugly crew necks! So... we cut up 5 shirts here. I took my scissors... just in case. Sure enough, I did about 6 shirts at the Reunion. I could have done more, but appeared busy. I wanted to enjoy myself, take pics, and socialize! Not work... [Here's a link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-FN-J283XU (youtube). I'm not sure about infringement rights and such, otherwise I would've downloaded the video directly to my blog... I'm sure I'll figure it all out as time goes on; however, any comments to direct me in the right direction are also welcome! Thanks!]

The food was so-so. It used to be everyone brought homemade items. I get it. A lot of people don't have time anymore, so now you see a ton of store-fried chickens, rotisseried chickens, purchased baked goods, pizza, salads, etc. I made homemade garlic bread sticks and brought spaghtetti sauce for dipping. Other people must have liked it... I didn't have any to take home.

I got some great pics. I can't wait to print them and put them into pages associated for family. Some of them are really cute. Marissa discovered Barbies there. YIKES! But to see her play happily with other kids was great. She really entertained herself with all of her "new" friends. Juan actually played volleyball this year. So... I took the action shots (you just can't tell he hit the ball out of bounds!). They will go great in my book.

It's amazing that something I thought "just" happened (last year), happened again so quickly. It was anticipated; it came and went really fast; and here we are... anticipating another year. Time is going... too fast. Gotta go! Toodles for now! lisa

CHA - Didn't Win! But Learned a Lot!

Maybe I didn't win any of Making Memories' fun give-a-ways this weekend, but I came back from my virtual tour of CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) this summer with a lot more knowledge, an imaginery bank account (like I'd have the money to buy everything I saw...), and a child's impatience, knowing I have to wait for the new products to show up at my local store.

(Sigh) Waiting is not something I am good at.

There are so many new lines going out... it's gonna be a great year! The neatest thing I've seen so far is the Slice by Making Memories. Yes... all of you... I already have the Cricut, but the Slice is Nice, too! This is a hand-held, WIRELESS digital cutter. It's only 5 inches and weighs under 2 pounds! The problem is... I don't know how much it costs just yet. Plus, you have to get the design cards for it... this could interfere with the purchase of Cricut Cartridges??? NOT! I'll wait and see how the prices go. In the meantime, they (Making Memories) is currently taking entries for a free Slice. They are giving away 8 of them on 08-08-08! Isn't that a hoot? Four 8's? LOL! Here's the site to register to win your own. http://whyslice.com/. I know it takes away from me winning, but I gotta share! Who knows... maybe since I don't have much luck, one of you will! That would be great.

I'm still exploring what other new treats there were. It's really hard when you are on the outside looking in. Maybe one day... I'll have the "validation" to be able to get in there, myself. At these conventions, only the trades people are allowed, not a simple someone like myself. Sales are not allowed on site; orders must be shipped. How boring! See it here: http://www.chashow.org/eweb/StartPage.aspx.

HOWever, this is one of the lucky ladies I've recently discovered. She has a great blog, designs really well, and was of the select group that got to attend CHA. How fun to make scrapbooking your life! Check her out (Laura McCollough) at http://akissonthechic.typepad.com. She's also from the Inland Empire, so check her out, post a comment, and scrap away! Anyway... Toodles for now! lisa

CHA Started Today!

My oh my... do I wish I was in Chicago right now. Many new things are being shown to crafters from around the world! CHA Summer has begun!

I know the Making Memories booth is going nuts! It is so full of new things. Luckily, on their blog, they are updating us (for those who can't be there) and having contests throughout the day to win product. Check it out! http://makingmemories.typepad.com/makingmemories/2008/07/index.html.

By the way... if there is anyone out there who can tell me how to embed links into text, without the above "copy-and-paste" method, please do tell... thanks!

And Provo Craft has announced lots of new stuff, too! Hello Kitty! and Sesame Street will be added to their list of cartridges. So will other types of blades! Yeah! I'll finally be able to cut into that magnetic sheet I've saved for my Cricut! Another blogger, Linda, has some great info on her site, too! Check it out! http://just- a-scrappin. blogspot. com

I'm really excited with all of this new stuff! Yikes... so glad I don't live near the Joneses... lol! Toodles for now! lisa

Camping is FUN!

Last weekend, we headed out to the "hot" town of Bakersfield, to a camping site called "Buena Vista." This is on Webb Lake, off the Kern River, in Kern County. It was warmer than my house (105 degrees), but with a breeze, it felt much cooler than home. We got there at 5pm with the heat still on, unloaded the trailer, set up the tents, and started dinner. How peaceful can it get?

Like many others in today's economy, we didn't venture too far. However, there is just too many of us to have a "stay-cation". I'm glad we got away.

There were 10 of us total. My mom and her hubby, the five of us (Jr & Renee didn't come), and my sister, her boyfriend and a family friend. A rather diverse bunch, we enjoyed each other immensely and didn't grate on the nerves too much. Jolene and Cynthia taught John and the girls a new game. It was fun to watch, and I love getting "silly" pics!

Although I love my phone, television, computer, and scrapbooking/crafting/sewing stuff... it was so nice to have the quiet and enjoy friendly time with everyone. We were worried that Ms. Marissa might have a hard time, but she absolutely loved it. She wants to go "again and again and again and again!" I told her daddy... when her birthday comes, don't ask her where she wants to go. I'm not camping in January! But the little girl loved it! She loved playing with her flashlight, playing in her mini tent (only for daylight hours), sleeping in the sleeping bag, and going to the lake.

I got some really great photos. The last day, there wasn't anyone else in the swimming area, so I got to take my camera wading in the water, and got those really awesome shots... I really do miss my SLR! Right now, I've got a simple point-and-shoot digital. The delay kills me sometimes, and I don't have as much flexibility with it, but I'll just have to save up... uh... yeah! As it is, I've added the Cricut Camping Cartridge to my "wants" now, so I can scrap it all with my Circut flair!

But, we all had a great time, and can't wait to go again. We'll be going again in September to Agua Caliente in Palm Springs. These are natural mineral spring pools that stay around 90 degrees! Yippee! Woohoo! I can't wait. To have a spa session with everyone else for just the price of a campground. What a deal!

Anyway, we did have a wonderful time, enjoyed the peace and quiet, enjoyed each other's company... got great pics (even of some people acting rather "silly"), and then had to pack up and come back to reality. Uh... the life! Toodles for now! lisa

Did I forget to mention?

Yah! I did! Some of you have been with me through a lot of my trials (Divine Intervention, etc.). Uh... I got my car back a while ago... just as the gas prices started creeping (jumping!) up! Ugh. What used to take me $80 to fill my tank now takes over $100!

I know... for some of you in other countries, we complain too much. Your prices are much higher. But... we are not used to paying $4.50-5.00 a gallon. YUCK! And now... it's much too hot here (usually at least around 100 degrees F) to walk or ride bikes anywhere. Yes... I like excuses...

But anyway, I realized for those looking here, I hadn't disclosed the transportation issue. It took a little over a month. AND $500. Even though it wasn't my fault, the insurance has had a difficult time getting in touch with the at-fault driver, so we have to wait and maybe never get reimbursed for our deductible. (Sigh...) And so... with all of the problems we had, we also changed insurances. We are getting a lot more coverage for a little less and much lower deductible at a more reputable place. Yeah, us!

No... I didn't lose much (weight). I go back and forth. Such is life, or maybe it's just I'm not quite ready to give up the hefty me... hmmm... have to think about that one. Anyway... just wanted to catch ya'all up on that one. Toodles for now! lisa

The Weirdest Thing... on Craigslist

I went to wake up my girls this morning, as they weren't up and about when they should be (summer school... ya know!). Rey told me she didn't want to go and why. Apparently, she had received more than a handful of phone calls (via her cell phone, which has a LB number) since before 5am this morning. People kept calling, a few even yelled at her. She asked me to look on Craigslist for a "Harley". Someone had told her about this ad.

I couldn't find it. So I started calling the numbers. Someone finally answered and was kind enough to cooperate with me and apologized profusely for calling my daughter. But... he did give me the location of the ad.

Why did all of these people call? Well... the ad was listed under free stuff! It tells of a non-working Harley Davidson that someone would have to fix up, that just needs to be gone, because "the wife is nagging." Who wouldn't call on that. I can definately understand the frustration the people felt. There was no way to contact the person through e-mail. Only a phone number was given... THE WRONG ONE! And so... Rey has been instructed not to answer any other phone calls today (except from the numbers she knows), until this problem is solved.

I have written to "Help" at Craigslist. I have flagged the ad. Hopefully... something will get done soon. It is kind of scary, though. Anyway, thought I'd share... Always check your ads before submitting. Toodles for now! lisa

UPDATE! Well, Craigslist did an auto e-mail response with a bunch of FAQ's and a link for further assistance at their help forum. Someone nice enough responded to me in the forum, and I followed their link which sent me to a form on Craigslist, and per their instructions, I put a 911 in the e-mail subject line. It is now off the posting, and they are sorry for the problems. No problem, only 1 1/2 hours to fix it, after I knew about it... but 3 1/2 hours for wrong numbers... yikes! Anyway... problem solved. Toodles for now! lisa

It's Been 3 Months!

... Well, almost! Life has been extremely hectic, and I've been inundated in the small-world style of politics (people never see the full picture, only what they want to see... they just don't "get" it! and... they think they are being fair, but if they never see the big picture, how can they truly judge what is fair?). And that is my political view. Enough of that. I've had so many problems and things happen over the past couple of months, I just sort of gave up, so today... I stretch my wings again, and vow to try to not complain.

I am here, it is now, the past is gone... There are no excuses if I haven't posted or kept in touch... sorry. I just get frustrated and anxiety hits. Go figure. Where are you? What are you doing with your summer months?

Here it is in a nutshell the brief past, with lots of stuff missing (there's just too much to go through, and I don't want to harp on the negative)... Stacy got her braces off, Rey commenced to High School, Jr graduated (believe it or not!), and Renee is in a drum & bugle core. Marissa is still growing, and still doesn't want to potty train. She does occasionally want to go "sit."

I still have my squirrels, but except for a couple of peaches, a couple of blackberries, and one large tomato, we've been ok. My backyard is green, the grapes are coming in (we'll see if they last!), I have more tomatoes ripening, squash coming up, other seeds sprouting... hopefully, this will be a more productive year.

In the front, the cannas, callas and gladiolas are beautiful. The lavendar has grown so much. Much of the seeds I planted, however, have not sprouted... probably due to birds. Oh well... It's still pretty.

Scrapbooking? I've been working on a couple of pieces of projects, but haven't done much. I have made LOTS of cards, though. And I forget to take pics of most of them. I still love my Cricut. I got the Zooballoo cartridge and absolutely adore it! It is a font and shape cartridge all in one compact thing. Super cute stuff can be made from it. Here're some pics of cards I made...

Anyway... I started this much ealier today, and still am not finished. So, now, it's just kind of thrown together. I won't try to "catch up" this time... just go on! Toodles for now! lisa