Want to Join a Great Scrapbook Design Team?

In June of 2006 I started an scrapbook design team for the purpose of bringing together really excellent, talented, scrapbook designers who wanted to sell their work for profit.

At the time, the different sales venues were overloaded with premade scrapbook pages and paper piecing. Some were very good, but most were so poorly made, they were not worth the value of the products used to create them. It was difficult, and time consuming for anyone who wanted to buy ready made pages to sort through and find things they liked.

So I decided to start a design group. The purpose of the design group was two fold.

1. To better market and promote our designs.
2. To increase sales by making it easier for buyers to find really great premade scrapbooks, page layouts, altered items, and paper piecing.

At the time, I wasn't sure the group would work out. The concept was sound, but would anyone want to join my group and follow me?

Well, it was very successful. Here we are almost three years later. The group is still around, still growing, still successfully selling. The members are amazing. Some of our current and previous members have such things on their scrapbook resume as The Maya Road Design Team, published in Basic Grey's Newsletters, published in various scrapbooking magazines, scrapbook instructors for local scrapbook stores, Chatterbox "Make it Meaningful" contest winners... and much more. These scrapbookers are simply amazing. I felt blessed to be among them and I was in no way one of the best designers.

I am no longer selling for the group. I left for personal reasons about a year ago. I went through some difficult situations and I just couldn't get focused and it was no longer enjoyable. Since then I have started to scrapbook a bit but I have had a hard time scrapbooking with any consistence.

Anyway, I left the group in the very capable hands of my good friend Tammy. I got an email from Tammy the other day. The group is recruiting for new members.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who loves scrapbooking and would like to earn extra money. The group in an online group, so application is open worldwide. I wish anyone who would like to apply the best of luck.

Pocket Full of Papers - PFOP.
A scrapbook design team.
Selling on eBay, ETSY, and personal websites since 2006.

The Freak, The Scholar, and Learning our Manners

Last night I slept so horribly.

First off Aaron sneaks into my bed about 3 am or so, which wouldn't be so bad except in his half asleep stupor he never remembers to bring his pillow, so then he "shares" my pillow all night and typically sleeps right up against me. Squished.

Then, I totally had the same dream over and over that kept waking me... about Walmart having a big sale on Gatorade and I really needed to get my coupons together cause I was going to miss the sale. I know... I'm a freak. And we don't even drink Gatorade. (Not that I wouldn't buy it anyway if it was on sale!)

So this morning the alarm goes off and I literally drag myself out of bed so I can get the kids off to school. I go into the boys room to wake up Noah, and his bed is empty. I look over and he is sitting at his desk doing his homework. This is a short week and there is no school tomorrow so he had what is usually Thursday nights homework that needed to be finished so he could turn it in today. He woke himself up early so he could get it done, and he did.

It was a happy moment for me.

And an eye opener to how much he is growing up.

AS for right now I have a very angry boy, named Aaron, who is very mad at me because I won't drop everything to go get is breakfast when he says to me, "If you don't get my breakfast right now I am going to scream at you two times." Ugh. I'm not moving till he says please, and says it nice.

Update: Approximately 5 minutes ago, Aaron came in with tears on his cheeks, and a smile on his face and said, "Mommy, can you please help me get some breakfast?" I love when he's a sweetheart.

Aaron is a stud. Just so you know.

It's what happens when you wear all of your favorite clothes at the same time.




In all fairness, he did a pretty good job.

I mean, the hat is from Singapore and the boots have Godzilla on them, and we all know Godzilla attacked Tokyo or something... somewhere in Asia anyway, and Singapore, is like, a part of Asia.

The whale tail necklace is probably from Hawaii or something, and usually to get to Hawaii you have to fly in a plane... wait... it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman's wrist band.

The shorts and the shirt, actually match, and were probably both made in Asia.

Lots of Asians visit Hawaii.

So, you see, it's all connected. Ma'halo. Ma'halo very much.

For those not in the know, Ma'halo means Thank you in Hawaiian.

You are very welcome.

UPDATE

I am feeling quite a bit better. Things are looking better. I'm still waking up early and stressed every morning, because it take a while for my body to catch up and stop stressing quite so much.

I think it's important to note that my make believe friend TAMN is having her make believe twins today. Seriously.

Oh, and we're selling our Van.



It's a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. I know... minivan. It just screams mom-mobile.

But really, if you need the space, and don't want to have to deal with the gas mileage of a SUV, well then, the Dodge Grand Caravan is the best option out there.

We did our research when we bought it. Compared to the other 2005 mini vans, the Dodge Grand Caravan has the best safety rating, best reliability rating, and best leg and cargo room for the best price. Sure, the Honda Od.. van is comparable, but cost about 40% more...

Our van does not have the power doors, which is a really good thing, because the biggest problem this van had was in the power doors failing... If the power doors failed then you had to climb everyone in threw the front seats, or pay out the wazoo to have the doors repaired. We specifically looked for a van without power doors.



It also has the built in 5 point child safety seats in the middle bench. I can't begin express how convenient that little feature has been! No big, bulky, dirty, child car seats. Easy to store away, easy to use, easy to adjust the fit, AND comfortable seats for an adult when the child seat is not in use.


The van has 54k miles on it and has been well maintained. The oil was changed about 2 months ago, the tired have good tread, the brakes have been changed when needed, the windshield wipers are in excellent condition.

The dodge Grand Caravan even has a programmable garage door remote button build into the dash so you can program your garage door, and you never have to worry about your remote being stolen, or misplaced.


The 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan has tons of cargo space. It's difficult to really get a feel for how much room there is in the back of the van, but I'll try and give you an idea. Our family of 5 took a two week road trip from Idaho to Texas, and fit ALL of our luggage, camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, etc) AND a port a crib and pillows, and fit it ALL (YES, ALL) in the back of the van. And with young kids, we really don't pack light. And no, we did not take out the back seat.

We're asking $7800

Why are we selling it?
Well, back when gas was up to $4.00/gal and my husband was driving his full size pick to work everyday and bleeding us dry, we decided to get a car, and sell his truck. His truck is great, but it has a little higher miles. While we've had a lot of interest, we haven't been able to sell it. In the mean time, my husband has been working away on me, trying to convince me that we should keep his truck, which seats 6 comfortably, and sell the van.

We bought the van because we were going to be expanding our family. Now that we're not going to be having any more children, it isn't really necessary for us to have it anymore.


Click here if you'd like to check out the craigs listing.

Okay, so my post just turned into a used car ad. Hope you enjoyed it anyway.

Coping

So the Anxiety isn't gone. The problem that created the anxiety in the first place is pretty much not an issue anymore, but now a new problem has cropped up in it's place. It could end up being no big deal, or it could end up being very bad. Anyway, I'm tired of waking up hours earlier than I need to because the anxiety is so bad I can't sleep. I'm still not going to medicate. I'm afraid if I start I will never be able to get off it.

Anyway, I have found some ways to cope and most of the time I'm doing pretty well.

My friend Ann mentioned she was reading this really great love story so I went and checked it out. It's so awesome and well written. I think everyone should totally read it.... just don't try and read it all at once. I would highly recommend reading it now before the author realizes what she's got and removes it for publication. It's called Black Heels to Tractor Wheels By Ree Drummond. Start at the bottom and work your way up.

It's good. I promise.

@!%$$* Anxiety!

Hi,
My name is Camille.
And I have anxiety problems.

I try not to complain about it to much because I know so many people who have it so much worse than I do. At this point I don't need to be medicated, well most of the time, I don't need to be medicated. Most of the time I can handle life without any problem.

But every once in a while something will happen that triggers an "anxiety control meltdown" and I pretty much lose it. I can't handle anything, and I feel my anxiety completely take over every aspect of my life. It's like that feeling you have right after someone has jumped out and scared you, where you know you're okay, but your heart is still racing and you feel really jumpy and skiddish, and you can't really function because you thoughts keep returning to the memory of when you were first scared. It's like that... only it lasts for weeks sometimes. I have a hard time falling asleep, I wake up during the night, I wake up feeling that way in the morning.

Right now I am waiting on resolution to a particularly troublesome and anxiety inducing problem. I am hoping and praying the result will be favorable, and that it might be an end to the anxiety. I should have an answer in one week. Then, hopefully, I will be in control again. I don't even want to consider the answer not being favorable... I can't handle thinking about that.

So that's why I haven't been updating.

So I'm trying to catch up a bit today.

A cople week ends ago I was at Home Depot and I picked up the "do it yourself" kits for the kids.

Seriously, despite the overwhelming enthusiasm they have on their faces, they really did have a great time putting them together.

Noah made a football goal post, Jennica- a leaf press, and Aaron made an easel.


Thanks to one of my favorite new blogs I have started to try couponing. Couponing is the art of combining manufacturer coupons, with in store coupons, with sale prices, to get products for next to nothing or free. This was my first attempt. I can't remember the exact retail price of all of these items... it was around $75.00

I paid $23.00, and I got back $3.00 in instant "save on your next visit" store credits and a mail in rebate for $5.00... So in reality I spent $15.00. Not bad for my first try.

My second try didn't go quite as well. It was at Albertsons.. I was suppose to get a $10.00 instant discount for buying $25 in Nabisco/Kraft products, but I didn't get the rebate, even thought I spent over $30 in those products, and then I was suppose to get some register coupons for future discounts and I didn't get those. My kids were getting out of school and I was totally rushed so I didn't have time to get it figured out. Total bummer.

On Friday, I had a surprise slumber party for my niece and a couple of her best friends. She had no idea. It turned out great, and I enjoyed getting to know my niece's friends a bit. They are such lovely young women.

Anyway. That's all for now.

Herb Chicken in a Creamy Tofu Sauce Over Spinach

Herb Chicken in a Creamy Tofu Sauce over Spinach

Yeah, It really is good. Really good.

To start heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non stick skillet over medium high heat.

Once the oil is sizzling hot, add thawed chicken in a single layer.

Season with finely chopped herbs. Fresh are best, but right now I only have fresh rosemary.

I use Rosemary, Basil, and Dill.

Lightly salt and pepper.


In the mean time, add about 3/4 cup soft tofu, 1/2 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon (more or less depending on how thick you like your sauce) to the blender and blend till smooth.

Once the first side of the chicken is golden brown, flip it over, and season the other side.

Next, take about 3-4 tablespoons of sliced almonds, and crush them with your fingers and sprinkle over the chicken while it's cooking.


Once the chicken is golden brown, and cooked through, remove it to a serving dish.

Reduce heat. Reserve all of the drippings and oil, and pour the tofu/corn starch mixture straight into the skillet.

Stir with a wire wisk. Once it starts to boil stir for one minute and remove from heat.

Stir in about 1/2 cup of parmasean cheese.



Pour over chicken.


Serve with lightly buttered cooked spinach.



I started making this dish last summer and my whole family likes it so much that I make it three or four times a month.

Enjoy!