CKC- Hartford, CT

CKC - Hartford, CT
Oct. 1st - 5th, 2008
Scrapbooks 'n Stickers Booth


Hartford is so beautiful. I really am loving the New England states. They are really filled with so much beauty. As we were coming in for our landing, I couldn't help but snap a few pictures out the window of the airplane. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed because I had expected some better color, but after talking to the locals, I'm about 2-3 weeks too early for the really good color.


Once I was at the baggage claim, Aly was there waiting for me!
We hugged hello and went to hail a cab.
(geez, I feel so New Yorker!)

I had to snap this pic of Aly and I in the cab, because I've not been in a cab since I was a small child (and I don't have a picture of that, I just remember doing it once on the way home from the airport in Tulsa.)


The Scrapbooks 'n Stickers booth looked really nice. I am really in love with my Bind-It-All section. I seem to have it down to a fine art now. And more booth pictures....
Yummy Fancy Pants! And KaiserCraft....(with Aly and Alex Ann!)


After my class on Friday, Angie from Boxer was the next teacher in my room. So, I had to get her to take a photo with me!She's such a nice girl! She and her mother work and travel together and I've had the pleasure of getting to know them while traveling this year. Angie's teaching this dog bone chipboard album class that is just so stinkin' cute!!!

When I came out of my room after class (and wasn't in such a hurry) I noticed the fantastic view out the window in the upper floor of the convention center. I told you it was pretty! After that it was back to the booth to take on my role as the Bind-It-All Queen! Ha ha!

Well, during explaining the fantastic features of the Zutter Bind-It-All...I made some new friends. But, I can honestly say this story is abou the funniest thing that has ever happened during my demo-ing. These girls were thinking of getting a BIA and they wanted to know if it would punch a clipboard. (which of course is a wood) Well, I went and got a piece of clipboard and let them try it. Well, they were so impressed...they could not believe that it could cut it. So, she wanted to see if it was really hard.....and she cracked it in half!!! (But, she didn't mean to. It embarrassed her. It surprised me. And her best friend really gave her a hard time!! So, they decided to use the 2 halves as keychains. (after all, we've already punched the holes in it with the Bind-It-All!) So, we decided to take it all the way, adding Best to one half and Friends to the other half!! And of course, they broke off a piece for me to keep!!! Ha ha ha!
(Hi Nancy and Lisa!!!)

And then, they bought the Bind-It-All!!!!
(of course they did!!)


The next day before we left, we received
the sweetest thank you card from some ladies from the crop the night before....and look what is says on the inside...... ....ahhhh, how nice is that?!? Thanks, Ladies!!


Now, when I travel, I often don't have time to shop and when I do, I am often looking for something specific. Now, you know you are a scrapbooking sicko when you get super-excited over
your purchase at the convention and it's THIS!!!! Yep, it's an entire box of Kokuyo Dot 'n Roller refills!!
(I'm sick, I'll tell ya!!!!!!!!!)

So, that was my purchase 5 minutes before the show closed!!

The next morning, (Sunday) I caught my flight home. It was early, really early! And I got this shot before landing in DC. How pretty is this photo?!

And then, when I was on the ground in Washington, DC...I looked out the window at the airport to see the Washington Monument!(See it thru the fog?)
How cool is that?! I was so moved, I almost wanted to miss my flight home and go sightseeing instead! I've always wanted to go to Washington, DC and now I know I must go there someday!
And I really want to take my family to see it.

Anyway, Hartford was a blast, but I was glad to go home for 2 days before I started it all over again! I leave for the next CKC on Wednesday!

I'm off....

....to CKC-Hartford, CT!!!

This is me at Gate A-8 at the Kansas City Airport. This girl has the weight of the world on my shoulders. As much as I love my job, I am seriously wishing I was staying home today. There are just times where you feel like you need to be home. And this is one of them.

But, I will go. And I will do my job to the best of my ability. And I will have a great time. Because that is me. And how can I not have a great time doing what I do? I just wish I was going into this trip as the happy-go-lucky girl that I normally am.

If you can't tell....I am exhausted! I slept one hour last night.
Big Daddy might have slept a total of three. That is not enough!! Big stuff going on in our lives. Can't really go there yet. Have to be careful what we say. Because you never know who's reading.

I'm sorry for the cryptics. But, it's what I have to do. If your a friend who has my email address, shoot me an email and I'll fill you in.

For now, call me overwhelmed.....

xoxo~
roxann

What a *FANTASTIC* trip!!

Another city, another CKC Convention...

Welcome to Valley Forge, PA!

I've never been to Philly before and if you can believe it, I never even made it to get a "real Philly Cheese Steak!"
And I didn't get to see the Liberty Bell, either.

I was actually pretty disappointed, but some trips are just like that. This one we were real busy and I taught a lot of classes, (6 classes for a total of 7 teaching hours) so we didn't even go out for a relaxing dinner until Saturday. And we went to this Irish pub and the food was so good! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Anyway...on to the good stuff!

The booth...we had lots of great product.
KaiserCraft...if you've not heard of them, check them out here. They really caused a splash at CHA-Summer!

Prima....flowery goodness. An addiction for sure!

Fancy Pants...YUM!! I just love the About A Boy line.
With a bunch of boys to scrap for, I am always looking for boy lines that I love. And this one fits the bill!
And of course, Bind It All! My single most favorite scrapbooking tool this year! What fun! And the Round-It-All is a close 2nd Place! And have you had a chance to check out the DreamKuts? If not, and you love to make cards....
this tool is fantastic!!!!! See all the Yummy Bind-It-All bags hanging on the back wall! Love 'em!!! This is Alex Ann. She was my roommate this trip and she's so funny! She's has 3 kids and she's like a super mom!


The best thing about a job you travel for, besides going to all the neat places I get to go, it getting to meet people. If you've met me in person or know me, you quickly figure out that I am a social butterfly. I am most happy when surrounded by people and if those people happen to be scrapbookers, than I am overjoyed because we all share a common bond. And this trip was a treasure trove for making and actually "meeting" new friends!

First, there are all the wonderful women in my classes! What a bunch of sweeties!!!! Smart and talented women, who could possibly teach me a thing or two about scrapbooking!

(and I met one new friend, who we both swear that we know each other, but couldn't find the connection....talk about driving you crazy! But, she and her friends were so sweet!)

Then, I had a red-headed beauty who was quick to chat and smile ever time I ran into her after class! I love people like her! (I just wish I was better with names.....it's just so hard when you meet hundreds of people in 3 days!!!)This is a pic of me and my friend Kelli! I met her thru the online scrapbooking site... ScrapbookerOnline.com. Those women on there are such a blast and so talented, too!

This is a pic of me and my new friend Julie. What a doll she is! She even offered to cook me dinner on Saturday night because she was grossed out by the dinner (if you can even call it that) that Alex Ann and I ate during the crop on Friday night. Isn't that so sweet!?

Julie is the mother to one little cutie-pie little boy and based on how sweet she was to us....I can tell she's a rockin' awesome momma! (and she's smart to boot -- a college professor!!) Like I said, I'm lucky to get to meet people like this! She sat with Alex Ann and I and kept us company while we worked at the crop. Then, she helped us with boxing stuff up and even offered to carry stuff. How sweet is she?!


I also met a new friend from Technique Tuesday...Sylvia! She was teaching the TT classes before and after my classes on Friday and Saturday (we were sharing the room!)

I wish I could have taken her class...I heard lots of good reviews! And who doesn't love Technique Tuesday?!

(and then I learned my friend Ana from TT has moved to my home state of Kansas...about an hour away! We are trying to make plans to crop together very soon! YAY!!)


One of the best things about this trip was my plan to meet up with Kim Frantz, who is a talented designer on the WorldWin Papers and The Paper Mill Store Design Teams with me.Since our team is spread all over the US and Canada...these opportunities to meet don't always present themselves. So, I was very excited to be able to hook up with Kim!

And we had a lot of fun taking this silly photo! (note to my boss, Kim H.....did you know the GGM works on leather purses and the RIA can stand in for a haircut?!)
I know...we are dorks! But, we were having FUN!!!

(and if you click on the FUN picture, you can watch a silly movie that Kim made of our short time together.....ignore me flitting around like a "Breck Girl"....nervous habit. Plus, I was checking on the booth to see if Alex Ann needed help.)


So, as much as I was looking forward to this trip already....I was OVERJOYED when out of the blue, one of my favorite scrapper idols sent me an email (yes, little ole' me) and asked if we could meet, since she was coming to the convention just for fun!!! And that was and easy answer for me....YES!

So, while I was talking to Kim...along came Emilie Ahern. (and Linda Barber was with her!) Turns out Emilie had been calling my cell phone trying to find me, but I couldn't get a signal in the convention center, so I didn't know. Bummer!
And she was looking for me!!! YAY! So, I intoduced Emilie to Kim and Emilie introduce Kim and I to Linda. (Linda works for Simple Scrapbooks and also is on the American Crafts Design Team. She's super talented, too!)

We all visited for about 10 minutes and took some quick photos. I love this one of Emilie and I.

Isn't she so cute?!?!
And she INSPIRES ME so much!
(and has two of the cutest red-head girls you've ever seen!)

And she has the same taste as me, too. She was wearing a shirt that I own, too. (It's one of my favorites...in fact, I had worn it 2 nights before while teaching my first class!)

Emilie....YOU TOTALLY ROCK!!!!!!!


Now, for the HUGE celebrity sighting story....

...so, on Thursday morning on the way to set up I passed a women on the way to the gym. She had her hair pulled back and at first it didn't compute. I smiled and said hi...like I would to anyone....and as we were equal to each other, I saw her eyes and I realized it was Stacy Julian.

Well, you know me and my mouth, and I exclaimed, "Shut Up! You're Stacy Julian!" (and I probably would have given her a playful shove when I said Shut Up...if we had been face-to-face, rather than passing each other!)

Stacy laughed.

I loved that I met her. Being real. On the way to work out.
Not in the "mode." I know "the mode." You have to get yourself there to successfully do this job.

It's hard being "on" all the time. When sometimes all you want to do is collapse. Or be alone. Don't get me wrong. I do love it. LOVE MY JOB. But, sometimes it is hard.

And I found Stacy to be very "real." Friendly. Accommodating to my Sophmoric crush on her. And she was kind.

I introduced myself. We discussed a mutual friend. (Hi Lain!)
I met her mother. (who Stacy looks like) No autograph. No photo. Just her time. And I was overjoyed!

Just that quick moment in the hallway, made me so happy! Great way to start the convention.

So, although I knew she was around...I didn't see her for a few days. She was teaching classes. I was teaching classes.

But, on Saturday morning, I was counting my class kits at a table and Stacy was at the next table over signing autographs and taking photos. So, I moved over next to her when there was a lull in the line and I was happy to learn she remembered me. (seriously, when you meet as many people as she does...I didn't think she would. But, she did.) And you know what...I found her to be funny, kind and genuine. Very Real. And that's good in my book!

I thought about getting her autograph. But, I don't have her book with me. Or a copy of Simple Scrapbooking.
So, I choose to skip that.

But, I did ask for a photo. And she was gracious and this photo makes me super happy! And reminds me of a woman who inspires me.

It's April, but I'm no fool!

Ok...I know that's debatable!! Ha ha!!

Seriously, can you believe it's April!?!?!? I CAN NOT!!

And it's like 40 degrees today w/ a cold North wind here in Kansas. Brrrr!!!


Well, I'm on my way out of town again. This time I'm off to the Creating Keepsakes Convention in St. Louis, Mo., by way of dropping M and G off at Gramma and Grampa's in Tulsa.
(serious detour!)
So, I'm off to drive the 4 hours to Tulsa. Then, tomorrow morning I head to the airport.

Trying to wrap up all that last minute stuff. Why is leaving so stressful?

Lots of stuff going on here.
Really a lot to tell.
But, I don't have the time to dedicate to it right now.


So....everyone have a nice week and I'll try to check in while gone!
Maybe even post to the blog if I have time!!

xoxo

Roxann

JET LAG SUCKS!!! & OTHER EXCUSES FOR NOT BLOGGING!!!

Where Do I Even Begin to Describe my time in Portland?!


The entire trip was surreal!

Yes, I know I’ve done this before. I worked for Kim’s company,
twice before. My first time was in Tulsa back in August of last year. And I can assure you that Kim had no idea before I showed up to work in her booth that I would soon become a permanent fixture!! But, I am so happy that it has all worked out like how it has!!


Kim and I really mesh well together. She’s a completely different personality than me, but somehow we seem to relate pretty well to each other. The things I like about her are her high business ethics, her generosity and her willingness to accept me, for both my strengths and my weaknesses. Believe me, she is seeing all sides of me. When we go to these conventions, we all see the best and worst of each other. Why? Part of it is the incredible amount of time we spend together. We are up at the crack of dawn, so we are ready to work at no later than 8am, usually and we work until 10pm. This is very hard and tedious work. There are so many things that have to mesh perfectly to execute putting together and dismantling this booth, and also the sales days in the middle. In a word, it’s exhausting. But, I loved every darn minute of it. (well, except for when a very full and very heavy box fell on my head!!)

But, aside from that, IT WAS FABULOUS!!!!

Here are some of the highlights for me:


~ Got to see my girlie, Kara! And the sweet thing brought me that cutie-cute scarf.
Although, she did sell it off me. TWICE. And I came home with no scarf.
I think I'm going to be forced to charge her commission for being a walking advertisement!
Ha ha! J/K, Kara.

~ “Officially started my employment with the awesome Scrapbooks ‘n Stickers team!” There’s no “I” in “Team!” Right, Kim?!!? (This woman is unstoppable! She runs her online store, homeschools her 3 kids & is a very busy “baseball mom.” She organizes her design team and store blog, manages her business for her online store and also, travels an incredible amount of days a year to run her booth and teach her classes. She even has an injury right now that should prevent her from lifting heavy stuff, but she insists in doing it, saying “she won’t ask me to do anything that she won’t do herself.” Including lifting the boxes she is not supposed to be lifting!! (she’s real stubborn!) But, for the record, I prevented her from lifting boxes every single time I could!!

Now all of this must seem inconsequential, but when you consider how often people suffer in jobs that they hate. Jobs that make them miserable. Finding this job like this makes me so happy!!!! I love it and plan to do this for a good long time! I am really a lucky girl!!


~I met Lain Ehmann, Contributing Editor for Simple Scrapbooks magazine, as I already mentioned in my last blog post. But she’s such a sweetie, decided to mention her again! (I even ran into her this morning at the airport…) And I'll be doing a *TAG* that Lain gave me very soon!! Hi Lain! Glad I met you Lain! You are so sweet and so cool! I hope I get to know you better and better!!

~While working in the booth, I was doing some “make ‘n takes” and I looked up and there was Ali Edwards! Yep, THIS Ali Edwards. (see book below) As Griffin would say, “Oh. My. Hotdog!!” (oh my, that sure made me miss him!) Anyway, Ali Edwards was watching me work and doggone it, I was so busy I didn’t even get to meet her and get a picture with her this time. (but, there’s plenty of opportunity to do that later!)

Hee Hee Hee......Hey, Ali Edwards, can I show you the Bind-It-All? How about the Glue Glider Max? LOL!! Yeah, right? As if she doesn't probably have every single cool scrapbooking tool known to creation already?!?! I mean, c'mon, it's Ali Edwards, for goodness sake!!!!!!

And, then last night, we were eating dinner at the hotel and she came in. She was staying at our Marriott! (And Lain was, too!) Welcome to Scrap-Celeb central!!!!!


~Speaking of Bind-It-All’s….holy moly, I love this thing!!
I have thought of about a thousand things I could bind up with the nifty tool!

Bind-It -ALL!!!!

I got one of those and a Glue Glider Max to bring home with me! I brought so much stuff home with me! In fact, I had to bring another suitcase home and my original suitcase's weight was so over limit, I had to empty some of it out when I tried to check it!

Which leads me to my sad, sad story from my trip.

So, when I showed up at the airport, I had taken things out of my big suitcase to make sure it's below the weight. I knew it was close, but thought maybe it was under. Nope. Over by 3.6lbs. Bummer!
So, the lady asked if there was anything I could take out to make it below the 50lb. limit.
I was a bit stressed, as I didn't want to pay a dime to send the suitcase home. And the huge line of around 75 people were impatiently waiting behind me to check in, as well. So, I hastily grabbed out my super-cool, hot pink WorldWin Design Team bag and slung it over my shoulder, I wanted people to see it anyway because it is so, so cool. I was planning to shove my purse in it to only have 2 carry on items in security. So, she weighed my bag again and it was now 49. 8lbs. Boy, I barely made it........

Then, I was to go from there and deliver my bags onto a separate screening area to get them checked in to head to the airplane. This was taking so long, I was starting to stress, as I only had 40 minutes to get thru security and get to the gate.

So, I ran to security and stood in the huge lines over there. I was s.t.r.e.s.s.i.n.g.

So, it finally is my turning, I'm ripping off my shoes. Taking off my sweater. Taking the laptop out of the laptop bag. Laying my hot pink bag up there. I walk thru the metal detector and it goes fine. So, I go to the end of the belt and begin redressing. Well, I look over and see my pink bag being put back thru the x-ray machine a 2nd time, then, a 3rd time.

And all of the sudden I realize what the problem is.

When I flew out, I checked this bag because it had Fiskars soft-touch scissors in it.
And a CutterBee Retractible Craft Knife.
And a Making Memories Paper Piercer Deluxe.
And in my haste to hurry and get through there not to miss my flight,
I completely forgot they were in that hot pink bag.



Well, apparently in the eyes of the TSA, these are the tools of someone up to no good.

And the TSA doesn't like them one bit.

So, they confiscated them.
She did apologize to me.
But, it hurt no less.

I felt like an idiot.
I was upset.
I just told her to do what she had to do.
But, I didn't watch. I couldn't.
But, I had no time to do anything different.

It sucked.

And by the time the "security fiasco" was over....
I ran to the gate where they were already loading my flight.


I flew into Tulsa to pick up my 2 youngest children.
I was so tired.
I passed out.

Then, I was to drive home on Monday morning.
And I woke up to sleet and snow.

So the drive home was slower than I had anticipated. But, I made it home at 4:06pm, just 2 minutes before my oldest child gets off the school bus and only 20 minutes before I pick #2 child up from tutoring after school. It was busy......but I was glad to see all of them.

Monday night, hubs and I went to bed early. We were both exhausted.
I missed him terribly. Him holding me was well-received by me.

Tuesday was my slug day. I unpacked part of my stuff. I laid around a bunch.

And today, I had a meeting at the school for child #2 and unpacked some more.
I gotta get my booty in gear and get my scrap work done.
I really want to do it, but I feel guilty doing that before my "house" work is done.
So...tomorrow, I hope to do that while doing laundry!! :)


Missed all of you!!

And I leave again in a week.....

A Quick Hi! and updatey from ME!!

Hi everyone!!!

We'll try this and see if it works. My internet connection seems to suck in this hotel.
Apparently hates pictures, because it won't let me upload anything to anywhere.
(well, it will do it, but it took me F.O.R.E.V.E.R.!!!! to upload my Design Team photographs tonight to the point of me wanting to strangle myself with my LAN cord!! J/K, of course! :)


So...I am exhausted and will have myself in the bed within 2 minutes of posting this!


Awesome day....started out with compliments in the elevator about the scarf that
super-sweet Kara made and brought to me as a gift for me! It's so cute and I love it! In fact, the woman loved it so much, she wanted one, too. And since Kara sells them in her Etsy shop, she happened to have another with her she had brought for herself! So....she sold it right then! So, I have a "twin" in Portland and when we all introduced ourselves, it was none other than Laine Ehman of Simple Scrapbooks!! How cool is that?!?! And...come to find out, Laine has an Etsy shop, too. I guess I should consider getting one!! :) (note to Laine: I apologize if I spelled any part of your name incorrectly!!! If you google it, it comes up w/ many different possible spellings!!)

So, I know you wanna see my scarf.....so I have to get a picture and post it. (I know, I know....last time it was my haircut I promised pics of, but now I have a new, rockin' haircut fixed by my hair stylist in Tulsa before I left! (another $38 spent on haircuts/tips for the week, for those who are counting.) Anyways, I'll try to get a pic tomorrow of the scarf and my hair. So, how's that for making it up to you guys?!

Oh, never mind...here's a cute pic of Laine rocking the new scarf right here on her blog. And look what she said about me..... "this cute girl in the elevator" is ME!!! :D


So, we got to the convention center and went right to work!

And.....about 20 minutes later, guess who walked right by our booth....close enough to TOUCH HER?!?!?! ALI EDWARDS!!!!
Yep, THE ALI EDWARDS!!!!

Holy Cow! I was so excited!
But, alas, I was working, so I didn't get to talk to her. Boo Hoo!
Maybe tomorrow......


Worked super hard!
Sold a bunch of reallllly COOL, Zutter Bind-It-All's! (like 40 or so, I think...)

Oh. My. Heck....this machine is *spectacular*!!!!
And my super-fabulous boss is giving me one!!!
Isn't she the best!?!?!?! (Thanks, KIM!)



Our other super cool thing we have in our booth is the
GLUE GLIDER MAX!!

Check this baby out at Scrapbooks 'n Stickers!!

It's awesome, it was given awards by CHA 2007, for Most Innovative New Product

and also a

Creating Keepsakes Magazine Reader's Choice recognition!

Believe me, it's so cool!

And talk about empowering....it's a scrapper's version of the WILD, WILD WEST!!!

"I can adhere 12x12 sheet of cardstock in 73 seconds with my new Glue Glider Max!!!"
LOL!!!

Ok....I must go to bed now. It's late. I'm 2 hours over in time zones and my body is rebelling!

Miss everyone....talk to you soon!

THE obligatory "CKC Happenin's" POST!!!!

Well, so I set off for Kansas City....

running late (I know, I know big shocker!
Shut up.)
AND
without printing any mapquest directions! (super dumb)


So, you know I left town somewhat frazzled.
Plus, directly before I left....it was POURING DOWN rain and freezing, so I got soaking wet and I had to go attend parent/teacher conferences with 4 of Logan's teachers, Jensen's teacher and the school counselor looking like a drowned rat! Needless to say, it was long and some of what I heard was concerning. (now don't go thinking my kids are terrible, they are not. But one is having some issues with reading and spelling......but more on that in the next post, I hope.....)

So, once I got on the road, I was constantly on edge trying not to get lost. And I did fine, until I took a wrong turn. I figured it out within 5 miles (it was dark....give me a tiny break) and turned back around to head the other way.

When I FINALLY reached Downtown KC, I was so confused.
And of course, it is huge and has roads closed for road work. I seriously wanted to cry I was so lost. Kara was waiting on me and although I met her in Tulsa, we are still in "getting to know you" phase. So, I wasn't sure if her phone calls trying to help me were to help me or because she was irritated I was lost and late. But, in the end, it was her info about a tower very near our hotel, that led me to our hotel! Thanks, Kara!! And thanks for not being upset with me!!!! ;-) AND Ironically, I have figured out the tower I was following was the KCTV news channel tower!!!! Ha! I cannot escape the media wherever I go!!! (in addition, on Friday....I am pretty sure I was on tv somewhere. A camera guy was filming me......) Oops, I skipped ahead. Back to Wednesday night......


So, I finally arrived and Kara and I got into our red Hummer H3 that our boss rented for the weekend! I had to call Ike and tease him not to be jealous if we picked up some guys in out totally *rockin'* Hummer!!! HA HA HA!!! As if.... NoT!


So, the word is, you don't do Kansas City w/out doing the BBQ! So, we went to a little BBQ joint downtown. We got a combo platter and Kara and I shared it. It was a bit of a letdown, because we expected it to be better than it was. You know the BBQ isn't good, if the best thing on the plate was the steak fries!
(on the good side, we had enough food for both of us with leftovers!)


So, we went back to the hotel. Got dressed for bed and we were talking and laughing and hanging out. K and I found out we enjoy the same type of music, so that was fun...sharing our tunes!! (reminiscent of trips in the church van on spring break, where you use a splitter and can listen to the same Walkman at the same time!!) Anyway, one ear bud for Kara....one for me! Both of us getting our groove on and singin' like fools!!

So, at one point, I go to the window to check out the KC skyline and you'll never believe what I saw!! (I screamed and started cracking up......so Kara and I had to run downstairs to take pics of this one..........) THE OSCAR MAYER WEINERMOBILE!! HEE HEE HEE!!!! I touched the weiner.



So, that led to more goofy photos....and this one of Kara and our RED HUMMER H3 isAWESOME!!!!!!!!


So, Thursday was "set up" day. For those that don't know....that means work your booty off to get the booth assembled, set-up and looking perfect!!! And, it's hard work. And I love it!!!


So, we get to the convention center and when we pull in,
I see this:
Just the sight of it, my heart starts racing!!!
If I saw it traveling down the road, I would have to seriously
fight off the urge to beg the driver to pull over and see what goodies were inside!!!! LOL!!! :-)


So, to set up for convention......you start with this: a concrete floor, some tables and booth supplies (what a mess!!) and when you're done....you have a mobile scrapbook store!! Here's the booth, only partially done..... Amazing!!!!
(in fact, the setting up of the booth brings out the inner "Gap window girl" in me.....did I ever tell you I used to dress the windows at the Gap?) Anyway, I really like it! I like things to be organized and pleasing to the eye....
so this job is perfect for me!!!!


(and can you believe all that stuff was in these 2 containers... aka the pod and the palatainer??)

So, here I am showing you the Fancy Pants.....mmmmm...I love me some Fancy Pants, don't you?!?!


And let's hear some ahh's and ohh's for the Junkitz!

And have you seen these yummy Junkitz Halloween papers?!? So stinkin' cute...and this is only part of them....

On Friday the show starts...... and in my normal fashion...I sold all the purple cow trimmers. Even oversold them.
Yea, I rock.


Unfortunately, I have no pics to share because I took no pics at the show at all. I didn't even take my camera because I knew I wouldn't be able to watch it like I wanted to. And if someone stole my precious Nikon D-SLR camera....I would be soooo upset!!


Here's a pic of me one of the mornings before we left. Don't ask me which day......I have no idea!!! Can you see my pinkish hair?


After it was all said and done.....Kara and I were exhausted!!
Here's our goofy butt picture of that....

I was feeling reallllllly crappy when we took this pic. I was super nauseated. And it just kept getting worse. By the time Kara and I went to Panera for lunch (I didn't eat) and I got on the road, I was reallllly feeling questionable.


Well, I didn't even make it back into Kansas before I puked all over KC, MO and to my horror, in front of about 15-20 drivers whizzing by on the interstate! HOW EMBARRASSING!!!! But, that just tells you exactly how sick I was!
I booked it home and made it in record time. I had to get home and I had to get home right. now. as. soon. as. possible!!


At first I was unsure, but after a full-day of ugly sickness....and then feeling a bit better, Big Daddy and I are fairly sure I had food poisoning. So, in the interest of learning,
according to the internet

THIS

--------------------->
is the germ
responsible
for my misery!!

It even looks disgusting!
(no wonder it made me sick!!!!)