My daughter and I arrived home from our fabulous Spring Break trip to Clearwater Florida. I have to honestly say I was a bit torn...how could I NOT want to spend a week in Florida...with my daughter that WANTED to spend a week with me... well guilt is my middle name and I of course felt a bit guilty that I left my husband, the rest of the family...my job...I rushed getting my March kit out and I worried that I might have missed something in one of the kits...I am telling you it took my brain til Tuesday to stop yelling at me...I had a wonderful time and completely enjoyed myself and ... RELAXED! I did not realize how much I needed these few days and how grateful I am that Sara invited me to share this wonderful adventure with her. It was a special treat for both of us. It is rare in our big family that we spend a bit of time in one on one time.
As we were leaving Clearwater yesterday I realized that we would be arriving home late last night and I had not planned ahead. I had not purchased any of the required elements for Easter dinner. Now my family would have been happy with pizza but I am of course a bit of a traditionalist and ham...spiral ham ... is kind of a big deal for me. I am not quite as bad as the mom in Christmas with the Kranks although my kids might answer this differently! There are traditions that I created in my family that I would feel badly if I couldn't carry them out for almost every holiday! I think my family might miss them too ... maybe not as much as I would LOL
Soooo.. I called my mom and she gathered the ham...spiral ham and my tradition was on its way! I was able to pull together Easter Dinner pretty quickly this morning and had dinner on the table at 2:00 in time for the 9 of us to sit down and enjoy. The happy banter of family dinner was wonderful. My daughter (not the one with me in Florida...the other one) seemed surprised that I was able to pull this off.. and everyone laughed as she asked "How did you do it? giggles all around... no really Mom, how did you do this?" I told her it was Mom power and some help from Grammy LOL
Yes, the Easter Bunny even filled an Easter Basket too... no handmade eggs this year, no individual chocolate bunnies (they were all gone when I got to the candy section) so instead I added healthy dried pinapples and banana chips, Lindt chocolates (can't go wrong with those!) and a few Peeps for good measure. Perfect!
As I looked around I thought about how fortunate I am ... rested and tanned... and home with my family all around me...at least for a few hours before we all head off in our seperate directions again.
This was a bit of a nostalgic post and not a bit about scrapbooks....except...sometimes the words are more important than the photos. Hugs, Cara
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March 23, 2008
March 19, 2008
March 08, 2008
March Kit: The Hugs Book
I spent today working on the details of My Hugs book. A hug is really important to me and decided that my HUGS BOOK 
would be about things that I hug or give me hugs. What will you put in your HUGS book? I completed the basic book last week and shared the photos but today I added the details and photos and journaling. This was really a great experience. I decided that I wanted to share it here as well as in my book. I will get photos for you tomorrow but here are the details about what is inside. As you now I sign my emails with a hug. I have been known as the hugger. When my children were little I was always holding and rocking and telling them how much I loved them. But like everyone else, as they grew things got busier and there were less times to say I love you. They got too big to rock! When my first child was a senior in high school I decided that I was going to bring hugging back. I started hugging hello and hugging goodbye...not when I left the room but when he left for school or came home for the weekend... and it felt great to have an excuse for a hug. Remember I have 5 so pretty soon I was hugging alot. I kept it up and I am happier for it. But I have found that hugs do not have to be in person, involve arms or even touching. It is a feeling, a sense of comfort and strength and support. And it is a two way street...I find I feel just as warm and fuzzy if I give a hug or receive it! So there you have it, my hug philosophy! Now I am creating a book to share that philosophy too. I wanted to put things in my HUGS book that I hug or that give me hugs. I gathered photos of... my children of course! my dear husband ... my mom.. my sister ... you expected all that right? Well then there are my three Shih Tzus, Marley, Gertie and Belle and Jack their kitten, and I bet you would be surprised that I included... you! My online friends and students. I have developed such friendships and relationships with folks that I may never meet. So .. each page gets a photo either on top of the letters, peeking out from underneath or on the board book pages. The journaling in this book is the star though. I describe hugs and try to explain the feeling that each of the relationships offer. Bert is my husband of 31 years now. He can offer me a hug with his eyes ...the look... and the support and strength that travels across a room in that look are as strong and supportive as a big ol bear hug. Ah the wonder of the hug. So make sure that you offer hugs today ...with your arms or with your eyes...but share a hug. Hugs, Cara Any huggers out there? Look for photos tomorrow.
March 05, 2008
Custom Wordbook Time line
Generally your custom books will be to you within 2 weeks...but guess what? I am going on Spring Break with my college senior daughter!! I know tooo coool huh? Her roommate and her mom and Sara and I are heading to Clearwater Florida for a week of laying in the sun...that is it...just sun and beach!
Well that is really nice Cara but how does that effect us ...except that we might be jealous if you live in the Northeast like you!??!
All orders placed by tomorrow THURSDAY will ship BEFORE I leave on the 15th ... the others will have to wait til I return all tan and relaxed. I will ship any CUSTOM WORDBOOKS ordered after Thursday when I return.
Just FYI .. March kits will ship before I go so you can work on them while I am away. I will be available and have email but hey...I am supposed to be on vacation so I might not be here as much as usual. Ok, enough yapping about the beach. Can you tell I am excited? Dreaming .....
March Kit Preview
Guess what? March has two offerings this month...traditional Board Book kit and a brand new offering... Are You Really Board? Kit Both are available in limited numbers so be sure to get in on these quickly.
March 04, 2008
Announcing a new contest!
I love contests and free stuff! I have decided to come to you for some advice. As you know, I teach at big events and conventions and this year my classes will be at Creating Keepsakes Conventions and Great American Scrapbook Conventions These classes are all planned out and submitted and organized and... ya you get the idea.
Buttttttt.... I am delighted to announce that I am going to be teaching at selected Croptopia Getaways events through out the year. I am actually going to be teaching on Croptopia's October cruise too! This past weeked I spent several days with the Croptopia ladies and I am so excited to be able to work with them on some upcoming projects. So here is the contest... most of these events are crops and that setting allows us to offer unique and unusual classes. It is a more cozy setting, folks are relaxed (you know all the chocolate and jammies?!), everyone has ALL their stuff with them so classes can include things like go to your stash and get blah blah blah ... I have the ability to include more intricate projects as we have more time... I have a few ideas but I want to know what you are thinking! Here is your chance ... post a comment telling me your wildest dreams for a class...do you want projects or do you want techniques? Are you looking for design and layout ideas? Journaling? Digital? For fun record your answers in the survey below too but I won't know who you are! Please be sure to offer your suggestions in the comment section to be eligible to win! I will randomly choose one of the comments and that lucky submitter will win ... Oh ya, what do you win? Well you will win a FREE...yes FREE kit from me!
March 03, 2008
Thanks Croptopia Gang!
I had a wonderful time in Mystic Connecticut at the Croptopia Getaways Winter event! What a wonderful event and group of women. I was set up in the corner of the cropping area with area for make n takes 
It was a wonderful set up...thank you Susan! The classes were held right at the table and Board Book 101 produced some unbelievable books! 
I am excited to announce that I will be joining Croptopia Getaways on their first Scrapbooking Cruise in October. My fun Cruisin book will be one of the classes I will be offering as we sail along but there are many more secrets as well! I will be sharing time gets nearer. There are a few more cabins available. What are you doing in October? Come on along!
