Smiling...

April 30th is the last day to use Close To My Heart's Studio J - our digital scrapbooking program. For those who know me as a consultant, Studio J has been a part of me, and an integral part of my business, the past several years. I have believed in this program, tried my very best to share my passion and love for it to all who would listen. Studio J means much more to me than a product-line -- it has helped me grow into the consultant that I am...and indeed become a part of me. My love for this program, and it's capabilities, have given me the strength to go completely out of my comfort zone; to speak with passion; to find courage; to teach; to inspire; to share my creativity, to test my limits (and it's limits) and to allow myself to shine brightly. As I bitter-sweetly say good-bye to something that I have loved with all of my heart, I can only quote Dr.Seuss: "Don't cry because it is over. Smile because it happened." And I am smiling...because it did happen. And it changed my life! Thank you Jeanette for your dream and allowing me to share in that dream, if only for a little while. And thank you to Brian Holman and Monica Wihongi, and the entire IT Team, for sharing this journey with us. I am forever grateful.

A little girls prayers

My heart is quite heavy tonight.  My 8, almost 9, year old daughter is struggling with understanding why Cancer "chooses" those that she loves dearly.  It has been a conversation in our family the last few weeks as the children, and Jay and I, have been praying for a little girl with Leukemia.  This very present in her mind, she knew that one of my scrapbookers, who she adores, starts chemo today.   And to add to it, Abby was told on Monday that an individual at her school who she is very close to also has cancer.  Her questions were so simple but her heart was so heavy.  She wants to make everything better and doesn't know how."Can't the doctors just give them medicine or fix them?"  Oh sweet little girl, I so wish it was that easy.  

She decided that she is going to walk with me at Rockingham's Relay for Life in early May.  This is something that she can do.  And, now she is very excited "to help".  Her brother is teaching her how to make awareness bracelets to honor those who lives have been affected and she has decided that she is going to start making cards to bring cheer to her loved ones.    She has such a big heart.

As for me, I pray that her prayers will soon be answered.

Polar Bears = complete happiness!

Revisiting a favorite blog post from last November 26, 2014.

So, as most of my followers know, my 8 year old son is passionate (which is really an understatement) about Polar Bears!  He has been studying, watching and loving polar bears since about 9 months old and has stayed very true to his passion.  For several years, Gabriel has asked to dress up as a polar bear and this year we were lucky enough to actually find a costume.  He has almost worn the costume out in just a few short weeks!  When he saw the Coca Cola bears earlier this week on a commercial, he joked that he was a Coca Cola bear.  Then the forecast came in.  And it was to be a "big" snowfall for this early in the season-- and I couldn't resist getting him a few bottles of Coca Cola and letting him have his own little photo shoot!  Gabriel was one happy little polar bear and Mommy, who likes to help the children follow their passions and dreams, couldn't help but smile!

Since the post, I have now scrapbooked the pictures that we took that day and realized when I started seeing Cocoa Cola's new Christmas commercials that I never posted the layout here on my blog.  So, here is the layout - which is by far one of my favorites, and the most meaningful, layouts that I have ever had the pleasure of creating.  Gabriel LOVES looking at his pictures -- so much that I have had to replace the flip flaps at least once -- and they are quite durable.  I have even found the layout in his polar bear cave!  Preserving these cherished memories are why I am so passionate about scrapbooking!

To see larger views of the photos, click on the picture and it will open in a new window.  My apologies for the reflections - I have not found the perfect angle for photographing my art inside of protectors and flip flaps.

Full spread with all flaps closed.

Main layout - left side

Main Layout - right side; closed

Right page with open side flaps

Right page -vertical flaps

right page with vertical and horizontal flaps open

Right page - horizontal flaps

journaling details

the little details

Supplies used:  Snowhaven Paper Pack, Snowhaven My Stickease, Black Shimmer Trim, Red Shimmer Trim, Black Glitter Paper, Ruby Exclusive Ink Pad, Artfully Sent Exclusive Stamp Set, Black Sparkle Flourishes, 4" x 6" Flip Flaps, Large Flip Flap Assortment, Black Sparkle Assortment, Stuck On You Puffies, Silver Sequin Assortment, Ruby Washi Tape, Silver Washi Tape, Liquid Glass, White Shimmer Trim, White Enamel Shapes and Studio J for photo processing.

Our Love Journey close to home...

For the last few years, our family has been "chasing" LOVEworks Sculptures across the state of Virginia.  For our 25th LOVEworks sculpture, we visited a traveling sculpture at Showalter's Orchard in Timberville, VA.  There was just something about this one...it overlooked the Shenandoah Valley which is a part of where we now call home and it's location was breathtaking.  We visited the sculpture twice - first with my little nephew Xander, and then again in the early evening with a photographer who thankfully agreed to photograph my unusual request.  Caroline did an amazing job of capturing the kid's fondness, and passion, for the letters and I for one, was so delighted with the pictures!  What an amazing way to celebrate our 25th LOVEworks!

Want to join us on our journey?  Visit:  www.virginiaisforlovers.org for LOVEworks locations.

An act of love...

The past week and a half, I have had my share, and quite a few other's shares as well, of migraines.  And although when I have a migraine, I would like the world to stop, it cannot, as I have to take my kids to and from school and make sure they get to their other activities and commitments.  Yesterday was one of the worst of my migraine days and I can say it totally took the wind right out of me.  My son, Gabriel, was very concerned about when this "round" would go away and I would feel good again.  He asked several times throughout the evening if I was "better" yet.  As that wasn't the case, he went to bed very sad for me - which was indeed touching.  This morning, I went to grab my things to take the kids to school, and I saw Gabriel's favorite, and most well-loved Percy (what he calls his polar bears) tucked ever so gently into my purse.  I couldn't help but to smile as he is so protective of his Percys.  I asked Gabriel why Percy was in my purse and he smiled ever so gently and replied, "Percy can be here to hug you today while I am at school so that you can be better when I get home." Such a simple gesture from such a sweet and gentle hearted little boy.  Certainly enough to melt a Mommy's heart.  Love you sweet boy.  And yes, Percy's hugs did make Mommy feel better.

Celebrating one's namesake

As a family, we did not have a summer vacation planned this summer, however I asked my children at the beginning of the summer to make a list of realistic (and yes, we had to review what realistic means) things that they would like to do.  Their list were quite long, as one would expect for three little people, and of course, some were out of our bounds, but we found some grand adventures together as we checked off some of the items on their lists. 

One of the items on Abby's list was to take flowers to her Grandma Margie at the cemetery.  She also wanted to take a flower to my Mommy Ann who she never had the privilege of knowing, but whom she asks about quite frequently.  Abby's middle name is Kniceley and she was named for both of these ladies as well as my other Great Aunts, Uncle and Grandfather who shared their name.  They each had an amazing influence on my life and naming my daughter for them collectively was a way that my husband, and I, chose, to honor them.  Abby has always been very proud of her namesake and it is very important to her.

The kids, my mom, and I were finally able to make it to Crewe yesterday.  When visiting the cemetery, each of my kids wanted to leave a special treasure -- Abby had already chosen the roses, Nicholas asked if he could leave one of his bracelets, that he made, for his Grandma Margie, and Mommy Ann, and Gabriel asked to leave a "memory" stone that he found.

I am blessed that my children have such fond memories of their "Grandma Margie" - she was indeed an amazing, loving, and cherished woman - and that we are able to celebrate those memories together.  I am equally blessed that they want to celebrate my mom's mom, dad, and aunts and uncles that are no longer with us.  My heart is indeed full.

Let the Countdown begin....my Shamrock Crop is almost here!

I am so excited to share that my signature Shamrock Crop is almost here! Just one week away!!!  I am dreaming in green!! Aren't you?  Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, this year's crop is sold out but all week I will be sharing some of my excitement and some specials for those who are unable to attend!!  After all, we need to share the Shamrock love!

So, for those who haven't attended my Shamrock Crop before...you might ask what makes this crop special?  For starters, the crop is held at the historic Mimslyn Inn in Luray, VA.  It is a fantastic, quaint hotel tucked away in the Shenandoah Mountains.  The meals are absolutely amazing (You MUST try their Chicken Cordon Bleu) and the hotel staff serves up delightful southern charm and hospitality.   

The crop, since established, has raised funds for the Muscular dystrophy Association, and ALS: both, organizations that I am passionate about, have very personal meanings to me and being very dear to my heart.  When I talk about my crop, the question that I have heard the most is "what do Shamrocks and MDA" have to do with one another and what do they have to do with scrapbooking?" I have an answer for that: the MDA does a fundraising campaign each year called Shamrocks for Dystrophy -- this campaign is what inspired the "connection".  And from the moment that I decided to transition my passion for Close To My Heart from a hobby to a business, I decided that I wanted to find a way to use my business to not only support my family, and as a career, but also to enable me to raise funds for causes that are "close to my heart". This crop has given me the opportunity to do just that--year after year.  I am truly blessed by this!

That being said, and my "whys" all out there, I delight each year in spoiling my customers - they are treated to random "happies" throughout the weekend, specially planned snack break-outs, a secret scrapper exchange, contest, prizes and so much more.   And each year, I try to "trump" my previous years activities.  I love seeing the surprise and smiles on their faces for the smallest gestures.  

Beyond the atmosphere, the good-will fundraising, the scrapbooking, and the "happies", this crop is about the people.  The friendships and relationships that have developed from this crop are priceless and what I consider to be my greatest accomplishment, or crowning achievement, in my Close To My Heart business.

The 2016 Shamrock Crop is now has a wait-list as we are looking at moving to a larger space at the Mimslyn.  If you would like to be added to the wait-list, e-mail me at; inallsassiness@gmail.com. 

Coming back from winter hibernation...

My apologies for being absent so long....life has been busy for us, and I am sure for most of my readers.  Once Christmas was upon us, we were super busy and since school started (did it really begin..it certainly seems that with the cold weather and the snow the kids are home more than at school!) I can't seem to catch my breath!

So one of the highlights of our New Year's break (those few days between Christmas and New Year's) was a whirlwind of a trip to Jamestown for my boys--and daughter--but mostly the boys.  Nicholas had asked to go to Jamestown for his birthday which was in November and we just couldn't seem to pull it off.  We thought we would go during the Christmas season so that they could see how the "Jamestownians" decorated for Christmas.  Such fun!

Our whirlwind trip began in Luray, and along the way we visited the New Kent Visitors Center's LOVEworks sculpture then we continued to Williamsburg where we spent the night.  We spent New Year's Eve in Jamestown which was a blast.  We went from there to Hopewell and Lynchburg for their LOVEworks Sculptures then to spend New Year's Eve with my Grandmother which has become a tradition with our kids.

On New Year's Day we left Crewe and visited Farmville's new LOVEworks sculpture then to DeCards Vineyard in Etlan before finally returning home.  It was indeed a whirlwind of a trip but fun nevertheless!

Click here to see our family's LOVEworks Journey.

Celebrating the iconic Coca Cola Polar Bears!

So, as most of my followers know, my 8 year old son is passionate (which is really an understatement) about Polar Bears!  He has been studying, watching and loving polar bears since about 9 months old and has stayed very true to his passion.  For several years, Gabriel has asked to dress up as a polar bear and this year we were lucky enough to actually find a costume.  He has almost worn the costume out in just a few short weeks!  When he saw the Coca Cola bears earlier this week on a commercial, he joked that he was a Coca Cola bear.  Then the forecast came in.  And it was to be a "big" snowfall for this early in the season-- and I couldn't resist getting him a few bottles of Coca Cola and letting him have his own little photo shoot!  Gabriel was one happy little polar bear and Mommy, who likes to help the children follow their passions and dreams, could't help but smile!

Gabriel's first book.

My son Gabriel was asked to do a special project for school: something that illustrated his creativity and one of his best pieces of work.  He decided to write a story about a Polar Bear - a polar bear named Percy.  He wrote a touching story and we decided he could best share his story in the form of a book.  Luckily, the Mommy in me, saved some of the now-retired Close To My Heart 6x6 memory keeper accordion albums for such special moments and I certainly couldn't think of a more special occasion then as a place for Gabriel to share his story on.  He copied each paragraph into the new book and added an illustration to better share the story.  With each page I witnessed his pride grown.  He was so proud of his book and I am so proud of him!  (to read each page, click the pictures and they will open larger in a new window)