Cleaning - again!

Well I decided that today was the day to finish tackelling the 2nd room in our house aka: the office :) Anyway I had been debating about moving somethings around in there to see what would happen. In the end I moved something and put it right back, and in the process of doing that well this is the end result: MESS :( I'm not sure if it was better before I did all the re-arranging and then putting it back to it's original spot or not. Either way it is pretty depressing looking at all my "stuff" trying to figure out where I should put it. I know this much it sure isn't going back into cardboard SU! boxes if I can help it! I took it out of them for a reason, and don't want to have it in there again for another year before I decide to try do something about it!

My problem is, mainly my house is so small that is it hard trying to find places for everything with out keeping it sitting in a box :( I actually need another bookcase but don't know where I would put it if I got another one. Having another book case would solve the problem with half of my shelf storage in the closet being taken up with books.  My fabric needs a better home than a box.... don't know what though :(  One thing I do know is that someday when we get our own house, living in a little house is going to make me really know what I want/need in that house! LOL :)

Now I purposely took pictures of the mess for everyone to see so that I get it all cleaned up and can post end result pictures! haha  :) But.. not till it is all neat :)

Inspiration

Well, I've been getting emails that give me inspiration for cards. Usually I just look at them and leave them in a folder in my email, but since todays was super easy I figured I could quickly stamp sometime before leaving home this morning. So here is the inspiration:
 
and then obviously the card that I made:

So I followed the out-lay, kinda, sorta LOL :) Then after I had made this one layer card I though hmm what if I wanted to jazz it up a bit more, so.... of course I have to make another card or two to see what I could all do with the simple card to make it more fun/advanced!

Regional Projects

Well since I havn't shared the projects we made at Regionals yet I figured maybe I should :) We had six Make 'N Take's to complete during regionals and here they are: 4 cards, a cute little gift holder, and last but not least a scrapbook page. All super cute and fun projects using the stamp set that we got!

So there they are! :)

On to Act 3 - Recruit Crew

Well, today was the day that we had to send in our Report for Act 2, I have to admit I did not so great, which makes me sad. At the same time I'm excited because I know my Report for Act 3 will be all completed, because I have a workshop booked for it.

Today I spent some time on the phone, looking for some more Church Bazaars that I could possibly go to. I didn't have to much luck, but I did make a few flyers for one of the local schools. I decided that because HELLO how could the kids not have fun making the cute little Countdown favour boxes from the Holiday Mini, I would make a few flyers and bring them down to the school. Now I wait, and hopefully in the next week or so I hear from them. I spoke to the secretary and she was going to discuss it with the teachers. I decided that because I was doing it for a school, that maybe I would give them a little discount if they buy 4 packages. Mind you I tend not to do this, but once in a while.......I figure who knows, if it gets me 4 pkgs sold I'm super happy, then the fact that ALL those kids take them home.. hopefully another score for me! Now we wait!

Another event on my Calender...

So, today I decided that after talking to my upline, Julie last Friday that I would see what I could find out about Craft Bazaars. The interesting thing was that when I got an email in my inbox today from a Pampered Chef Rep. I decided to email her and ask her what she knew aka if she knew of any events. Well no sooner did I send her that email and I got a phone call within seconds from her. She gave me some helpful tips of where to start. So I looked on Craigslist and found two, of course they both happen to be on the same day which was really to bad, but it is what it is. Then it came down to making a decision, I decided to go with the one in Kennewick and see what happens from there. So another day booked on my calender, so now November 13th is taken as well! YAY :)

I won something - So exciting!

Well I've entered some odd # of contests on blogs for quilters hoping to win some fabric somewhere along the line. Well that dream came true when I saw that I had an email in my inbox this morning from Jera. She has a blog called Quilting In the Rain and has some fun projects posted on there as well. A little while ago when I found her blog I saw that she was having a give-away for some fabric. So I decided to enter and see what would happen. Never expecting to win something, but I did! I came in second place so that means I don't get to choose which jelly roll I want but hey at least I get something LOL :) Now I wait till she has time to mail it out to me! Eeek :)

Regional

Well, since my blog likes eating my posts I'm hoping that I can actually get this one posted and it doesn't eat it, because it is going to be a long update!

So since you already saw my swap for regional I'm not going to go into more detail on that one, other than to say that I finished it on Thursday morning the day I had to leave for Portland. I always seem to leave those things for the last minute and it was absolutely no different this time around. I only made 15 because I hate coming home with stacks and stack of swaps that just get shoved in my drawer and in the end I never look at them again! I do think that I got some nice ones in the end so that worked out pretty good. For a lot of the others I went to look at the board in the back with all the swaps from the swapdrop basket and took pictures of the ones that I liked!

Anyway Thursday afternoon I had hoped to get out of the door between 3:00 and 3:30 but knew that would probably be pushing it, and what would you know I didn't get out of the door till 3:50 LOL :) First stop was to fuel up so that I could make it to Portland and back without having to fuel up. There was actually some gorgeous scenery along the way and so I had to take some pictures because the leaves/colors were amazing!

So there you have it.. some pictures of the scenery.. pictures don't do it justice,  but at least you can get a bit of an idea!

Anyway so driving into Portland by yourself as you are trying to read a map, which the directions aren't telling you the same thing as the signs are proved to be a bit stressful. Every time when the road would split I would end up having a panic attack because I wasn't sure if I was going the right way or not LOL :) Anyway in the end it turned out that I sure did take the right exits at the right times etc. because I ended up at exit 302A with no problems :) YAY!  I had decided that for the first time ever I was going to share a room with some SU ladies that I had never met before, and I thought that was kinda scary as well.. because what if I didn't like one of them or all of them for that matter haha. Turns out I got along with them just fine!

When I got there we went out for dinner yet, since none of us had eaten, they decided to go to the Red Robin since that was just down the street. For me, well I told them to pick because I had never been and so if that is where they wanted to go then I was cool with that as well! Anyway Cathy told me then that the first Red Robin was started on the UW campus, which I thought was a fun little tid bit of info since John had gone to University there, and I've been there a few times myself! (on campus that is) After dinner we went back to the hotel and I helped Cathy finish her swaps, since she still had a "few" to do. Once they were done we just sat around and chatted for a little bit, and then off to bed. Sleeping proved to be a thing not to do that night, since I couldn't really get to sleep due to the Light-rail being right outside our hotel window.. so between the "trains" going by, and the cars driving over the tracks lets just say that I didn't get to much sleep that night :( It is a sad day when that happens haha :)

Anyway, the next morning we were up bright and early getting ready, so that we could be standing in line at the convention centre so we could be some of the first ones in the door so we could get good seats! Typical for any demonstrator even that I've attended so far! haha :) Anyway, we got right in the front few rows thanks to a little help from a fellow demonstrator who is in our SBStampers group since she was demoing, and could get in early!

So here is a picture of some new friends that I made Cathy, and Crystal. I should have gotten one taken of all of us.. but umm just to say I forgot so sad..

They were super busy mounting stamps so they didn't notice that I had taken this picture LOL :)

Anyway, as a demo like always when we attend a SU! even we get some fun stuff! LOL :) Anyway so we got a Make 'N Take package, with 6 projects, as well as a Stamp Set, which we use to make them. The set that we got this time was called Day of Gratitude. So here is a picture of this nice set...

The throughout the day Stampin' Up! had some really great topics/speakers which were very inspiring, and we also had some fabulous Prize Patrols of which I won a Stamp Set! YAAAY :D Anyway needless to say I was super excited to win something in the first Prize Patrol but sad at the same time, because I knew I couldn't do anything with the set. I had won the set called Fang-tastic, and since I don't do Halloween what was I ever going to do with the set. In the end I decided to wait it out and see if someone else from our group won something that I could possibly trade a set with. When someone did I was really happy, so I went over and spoke to her, and told her that I would never use the set, asking her if she wanted to trade, but making sure she knew that I wasn't pressuring her to swap sets in anyway. She had to laugh and she told me that if she did that I would have to live with it mounted her way haha :wink: because all the sets that were given in Prize Patrol were clear sets. Anyway she thought about it and about 15 minutes later she came to me and gave me her set Tags til Christmas, I was so unbelievably excited LOL :) So anyway here is a picture of the set: 

All complete with some fun pink ribbon.. I mean how can you go wrong when it has bold pink ribbon on it LOL :)

Anyway now some fun things that everyone in attendance got, a container of glitter brads and a Portland Pin, we were super duper excited when we got told we got a pin LOL.. and I'm sure lots of people who don't understand what gets us demonstrators so pumped about little things will roll there eyes at me/us, but there was a lot of cheering going on. I have to tell you that my hubby and SIL kinda rolled their eyes at me when they saw the pin, couldn't figure out why I was so excited about it. Anyway so here is a picture of the pin.. and then a peek at the brads as well!

Can you spot the pin that I got??

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Yup you guess it.. the Portland one of course! haha :) here is a closer look at the pin.. I love it, because I'm not one of these people who is all about the "green" movement because I think it is a bit over-rated, I figure yes we need to live responsibly but hello somethings are the way they are today as well, and you can't avoid them. Anyway enough said.. here you are.

I love that is says: I'M A STAMP HUGGER!

Finally here is a picture of our brads that we all got!

Another fun thing for me was that I also finally got to meet my U.S. upline, Julie Gunhus she was absolutely all I wanted her to be! LOL :) A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Thanks so much for passing her name on to me Lisa, I can't even begin to thank you enough!  So of course like at any event that Shelli Gardner - Stampin' Up! CEO attends you try to get a picture with her, and talk to her for a little bit, because hello it isn't every day that you get that opportunity. I told Julie that I wanted a picture with her, Shelli and me. So we go over there and waited a little while in line to get a picture and to be able to talk to her. Anyway, when we got there, Julie tells her that I'm her new downline, and that I am also a Canadian demonstrator etc. Anyway long story short Shelli was super excited, and had to give me several hugs LOL :) Anyway, in the end I spoke to her a few more times, and hope that I can make her dream for me come true. She told me that she expects me to do some big things, and some day she wants to see me be one of the top demonstrators.. LOL :) I'm sure she tells more people that, but she honestly couldn't get over the fact that right now I'm running a Canadian business, and an American business! To tell you the truth I'm amazed that things have been working out so well, so far anyway, too!  Anyway no more suspense here is the picture of us :)

Anyway so between everything that I got that day to take home, lets just say I'm a super duper pumped person right now! I'm so exciting about my business and can't wait to build it.. hold workshops.. stamps clubs in my home etc. Some of the amazing tips/ideas that we got definitely helped give me different ideas of great ways to incorperate booking statements, recruiting statements, and many more into my workshops. The biggest piece of info that I walked away with was that I need to learn how to make it sound/look like anyone can be a demonstartor, which is Glenda Travelstead's philosophy. She did a mock workshop for us, based on the basic demontrator template online. She was absolutly hilarious and oh so funny to watch/listen too!

Anyway a few more pictures of some of my favorite SU! people.. LOL, I've heard several of them speak at other events, and think they are both amazing!

Shannon West - who I've listened to more often lately due to the recruit crew

and also a picture of Shelli while she was up on stage..

 as well as the fun little box project that she demo'd for us!

 

So I think that is most of my story that I have to share with you. Here is a picture of the Convention Centre and then that is all I've got for you this time.

I have to admit not a picture of the whole place because it is huge! LOL :)

frusturation

Well I'm just going to say I'm getting really frusturated with my blog these last few days.. between trying to post something Saturday and today and it eating my post and not saving it for me.. well it is making me really frusturated and angry! :(

Regional After Effects

Well like any typical event that SU! puts on, or has something to do with SU! I come home super duper excited and hyped about everything! Today is no different, after a day filled with lots of fun, and hanging out with friends I've come home with lots of new ideas of different ways to incoorperate booking statements, recruit statements, and even a different way to do a workshop. Anyway, I'm not going to go into detail tonight, because I'm super tired right now and need to shower and head to bed. Needless to say I didn't sleep very great last night which is a sad day for me LOL :) Anyway we had the lite-rail track right outside of our room which causes a ton of noise so very little sleep for me, so now I'm happy to be home, and even more happy for my own bed.

I have some pictures and fun stories to share but that is going to have to wait.... and a hint, a picture with a V.I.P who we SU! people all LOVE because she is so amazing!

Portland Regional - Here I come!

I'm super excited to finally be able to go to a SU! event that the company is putting on again! It has been a long while since I have and I've definitely been missing it! Anyway so today I'm heading out for the Portland Regional and decided that I would share my swap with you. I only made 15 because I hate coming home with tons and tons of swaps that I have no idea what I'm going to do with them all, so we shall see. Hopefully I can find some really cute ideas! So here it is.

Workshop #2 booked

Wow! I know I can do this.. let's get the show on the road, the more workshops that I book the happier and more confident I become! Now I just need to get some booked for the middle of November... if this keeps up I think John is hardly going to feel like he is seeing me at home anymore LOL :) Good times, I'm so happy though..

Now the part that I'm not so sure of being able to get.. but I figure I can.. getting several recruits! Seriously there should be no reason not to get any. I'm really starting to wish that there was some small craft events that I could go to with my products and get some classes started as well. Although for now workshops are easier because that means that I don't need to worry about where everyone is going to sit in my little house! Anyway time will tell and we will cross that bridge when we get there! In the mean time.. keeping my fingers crossed that I get a few more booked!

Workshop Booked

Well, I'm super excited! I have my first workshop booked for her in the U.S. for November 5th... eeek! I'm so excited. I'm hoping that I can get another one booked this afternoon, and I know I should have another one for later on in November as well! This is definitely making me super excited! Now I need to start creating!

I'm thinking that I need to get something made in MDS and get it printed though so that everyone can see what the end result looks like as well... A calender? hmmm probably because that might just be the easiest way to go.. or maybe a quick easy scrapbook. I have to see what I decide to do.

Anyway off I go to see what else I can get done. Who knows maybe even a few more workshops.. good times!

Un-ending mess..

Wow! It honestly seems like I'm never going to get through with sorting and throwing out things/garbage.. aka clutter in my office right now. Today I spent another 1/2-1hr sorting through a box, and through a few piles of things and I have to admit it looks better now, but there is still piles of papers/scrapbooking stuff etc laying around. One of these days I'm going to be SO happy because I have got it all cleaned up, which means I can sew on the table in the office again, and not have to put the extra leaf in my diningroom table and end up leaving it that way for a whole week. Tomorrow is another day, and hopefully I can get a few more things sorted so that it gets a little bit neater in there!

I have to admit that cleaning out the office and sorting through boxes is making me take a whole new look at things that I am keeping, because everything that I keep is going to have to be tossed or sorted again someday.  So right now it may seem painful at times but I know that I'm making progress while making myself analyze my saving habits which is definitely a good thing. Less clutter, less mess, less to deal with another day.. in the long run, it will make me a lot happier! As long as I keep telling myself this I think I can do it!

Right now, well I need to go get a few other things done :)

Eeeek!!!

I'm so excited!! I got my Etsy Store open with my first item posted! YAY! :) Anyway here is the link for those of you who have been waiting. I hope to get some more items listed in the next few days once I get them finished.. for now there is just a CapriSun bag there!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlisesCreativity

Etsy

Well tomorrow has come and gone LOL.. so now my Etsy store shall open on an other tomorrow haha :) Anyway I'm working on a bunch of stuff to post in my store right now... some Capri Sun beach/reuseable grocery bags. Several aprons are started and half finished, so hopefully there will be several items posted on there in the next day or so. Right now I could post my Capri Sun bags if I had the handles for the bags.. which I don't and since I don't have the car today I'm waiting for John to get done work so that I can run to Walmart and get some materials.. once I have that the first items will be posted and I will put the link on my blog here, so that who ever wants to can go take a peek! :) Until then.. this is a teaser...

Three different size bags for now.. once I have these all done I'm almost out of Capri Sun Juice bags that we emptied so that means I better go buy some more and start drinking them asap!

Cleaning/Organizing

Well these days I'm feeling really good about myself.. I'm not exactly always getting everything I want to get done in a day.. that being said the reason I feel so good is because I've already dumped out 4 kitchen sized garbage bags of "JUNK"!! I finally decided that anything that I have no need for and won't ever use again.. or that I haven't used in a while has got to go. Honestly I still have way to many boxes of stuff cluttering up space in our little house, and half of it I haven't looked at since I packed it before I got married, and probably never will again. So I decided anything like that is GOING, because I'm tired of boxes parked in my office creating a clutter! Eventually/hopefully things will be more organized in there so that I don't have to think about where I can find something that I need, which right now is in a box etc. So far I'm doing pretty good.. now I just need to get rid of.. aka sell my retired SU! products that are in boxes in my office.  My brain has plenty of helpful ideas, but now I just need to see if I can't get something to work out for me! Anyway tomorrow is another day and I'm sure I'll spend a little time cleaning up again, like I have been these last few days!

Soon the excitement begins..

Well, I plan to make tomorrow my big day! I am going to open up my Etsy shop.. I need to finish an apron first and then the news will be out.. I'm currently working on a business card that I can send/hand out to everyone I meet, which has me super excited! Here is a quick look at that (it isn't completely finished due to my site not being up yet):

I used My Digital Studio to create it, and really like how it turned out.. now it is just going to need some fine tuning etc. and then off to the printer ::wink::

Anyway for now my Etsy store will be selling, several different styles of cute aprons, as well as nursing cover-ups. So if you are looking for something fun like that let me know and I can definitely get you set up with either one, or both! ;)

Taking a Leap

Well tonight was the night that I decided to take a leap and hope that everything works out! Recently I decided that building my Stampin' Up! business was something that I seriously wanted to pursue, when I got an email about the Recruit Crew. Tonight was another step on the journey.. I started my U.S. Stampin' Up! website: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/alisescreativity/ (there is also a link to your right). Unfortunately for my Canadian friends you can't order through this site.. but you can always go online to: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx and select me (Alise Van de Bruinhorst) as your demonstrator.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, and I will be more than happy to (try) answer them!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Well, no more Starbucks necessary for the Pumpkin Spice Latte once you have this recipe!

If you are like me and love the Pumpkin Spice Latte this can save you a ton of money, because now you can make it at home!

Anyway here is the recipe:

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
2 cups milk
4 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine.)
For Iced: Brew your coffee or espresso and let it sit out for a few minutes until it reaches room temperature. You could also put it in the fridge or freezer to speed up the cooling process.

In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on low heat, stirring, just until the sugar and pumpkin are desolved. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry about it – just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk.

Pour into a cup filled with ice. Add the espresso or coffee on top.

Top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.

For Hot: In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry about it – just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk.

Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Add the hot espresso or coffee on top.

Top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.

Enjoy! [:)]

Recipe was found on the following blog: http://www.acozykitchen.com/

Now happy Latte making!

Global Threat Levels Explained (humerous)

I found this online somewhere and decided to share it with you, because there is some interesting ones LOL :)


The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats, and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross". The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940, when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards". They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender". The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing". Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides".

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs". They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile, and as usual, are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies "just in case".

Canada doesn't have any alert levels.
New Zealand has raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA". Due to continuing defense cutbacks, New Zealand has only one more level of escalation, which is "I hope Australia will come and rescue us".
Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!", "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Sentimental

Well if there is anyone in this world that is way to sentimental at times, it is me!! I absolutely hate it that I am that way, but how can I not be about my bridal bouquet, when it looked as fantastic as it did on my wedding day (see picture above in blog title). I would never have traded my bouquet for anything, so I had my mom keep it and dry it for me after my wedding.. lets just say, my own fault that it didn't work out better because I didn't leave more specific instructions on how to dry it etc. So the centre roses got a little moldy and started falling off. Mom brought it to me anyway the first time that they came for a visit after the wedding, but told me that if I were her I should throw it away.. What do you think I did.. haha nope I kept it as a matter or fact for another whole year and almost 3 months!

Till today, it is declutter time in my house so it just had to go which made me very sad.. so I took a few pictures of what it looked like now, and then pulled it apart contemplating what would happen if I went out and bought some fresh roses to put in the centre and dry. See I told you someone is way to sentimental! Anyway so need I say more, I threw it away before I could ponder that thought anymore!

Here are the pictures!

 

So there it is..

Jalapeno/Habanero Hot Sauce

Well same as with the Tomato Sauce, I looked online and came up with my own recipe from there. I have to give my hot sauce an atomic rating according to John LOL :) I'm telling you though it is super duper hot! I tried a tiny tiny little bit on the tip of a spoon and let me tell you I didn't know how fast I needed to grab a glass and get some milk in it and into my mouth! IT WAS ON FIRE ::PHEW:: I think I lost a few tastebuds on the tip of my tongue through the process as well. I also found out that breathing any of it in while chopping, or even rinsing it down the drain.. well not so pleasant and I spent the next few hours hacking because of the fumes! Anyway enough said.. here is the recipe and some pictures :)

Habanero/Jalapeno Hot Sauce

1/2 cup Red Onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Oregano
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp Sugar
1/2 Cup white vinegar
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
15 Habanero Peppers, finely chopped
12 Jalapeno Peppers, finely chopped

Chop 1/2 the Habanero and Jalapeno Peppers, put the rest through blender to make a paste. Add water till it starts to blend well making a thick paste. Add this to the pan with the finely chopped peppers, mix well adding the rest of the ingredients. Bring to boil, and then cook on medium to low heat for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Pour into Jelly size jars and can.

I think I doubled the recipe, and ended up with exactly 12 jelly jars full.  Keep in mind that I didn't do exact measurements for the peppers and if using bigger sized peppers you will use less than what I did.

Now for the pictures:

This last picture doesn't really have anything to do with the Hot Sauce, but more with the previous post where I had a picture of my Parsley.. I had an ice cream bucket full that I dried.