What's Nycole Up To These Days?

Will Scrapbook for Food

2009-12-26T10:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend, my sister and I were discussing how much we wished that we could trade our talents for the other persons' (she cooks well and I get my scrapbooks done.) This was the beginning of our "idea."

She will make me a freezer meal in exchange for a scrapbook layout. (Two layouts if she supplies the paper and embellishments.) When my mom caught word of our arrangement, she wanted in on it too. So I will be receiving meals from two wonderful cooks in exchange for what I love to do. What could be better?

Well, I thought I'd put the offer out to anyone else that is interested. If you'd like some scrapbooking done in exchange for your cooking skills, I'm game. Seriously. What would be better than trading with someone for something you need? If you want to play, let me know.

My Heros....Guitar Heros

2009-10-27T11:17:00.001-07:00

Jordan will be a musician someday, I just know it. While at an arcade in Las Vegas, he spotted the Guitar Hero game. Of course, he wanted to play it. But since he doesn't quite know what he's doing, he needed a little help. So daddy played the guitar that was actually in the game while Jordan jammed out on the other one. (This ensured that the game would not end in 3 seconds.)

My men-they had so much fun!

Cornbelly's 2009

2009-10-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite fall traditions is to visit Cornbelly's before Halloween. This is where we visit the "Big Scary" and jump on the big pillow. This year, Lily, Kari and Grandma came along. We went early in the day and avoided the rush of weekend people. We had a fantastic time!!

My Afro

2009-08-05T12:09:00.001-07:00

Yes, I admit...I've always wanted an afro. This weekend, I decided to go for it. Here's how it turned out.

I hope that I will like it for awhile. Those curls are so tight I think they'll stay with me for a good long time. Woo-hoo!

My Funny's Coming Out!

2009-06-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

So, moms-you'll appreciate this. When I get frustrated with my son because he's being naughty or not going to sleep or something equally heinous, I'll scold him and tell him it's not funny. (Usually because his response to my scolding is a darling little half-grin. I can't blame him, I'm sure I look like a nut when I'm on my rants.)

So, anyway, a few days ago we experienced an especially tough afternoon and he would NOT take a nap. As I was tucking him into bed for the forty third time, his little eyes peeked up at me over his hands which were tightly pressed over his mouth. I asked him what was wrong and he mumbled something behind those hands. More frustrated, I asked him what he said again. This time, he separated his fingers just enough to allow a few words to sneak through. He said, with that same dangerous smile, but with serious eyes, "my funny is coming out" and then he quickly put his hands back over his mouth to not allow any funny to come out.

I laughed out loud, scooped him up out of bed and tickled like a mad woman. Gosh, that kid!

Introducing....Rattlesnake!

2009-06-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

One day, Jordan was happily pulling out random items from the linen closet. As he stumbled across one item, he shreaked with joy. "Mom, look! It's a rattlesnake!" that caught my immediate attention. I was reassured to see that he had only found an old sock filled with rice. You know what I'm talking about. You heat the sock up slightly and put it on your aching muscles. They are great not only for that, but it looks like they entertain children as well.

So, this even happened over a month ago. I thought he might have gotten over his new friend, but they have actually grown pretty close. Jordan tucks rattlesnake into bed at night, makes me brush his teeth (and I found out one day after a fit of laughter that I was brushing the wrong end of him), and tuck him in for naps.

On the way to school, Jordan asked if rattlesnake could come with me to the store (my usual routine while Jordan attends preschool.) Of course, I was thrilled to have the company. So upon arriving at school, Jordan hopped out of his carseat and buckled rattlesnake carefully in his place. I smiled to myself while peaking back in the rearview mirror. I'm such a lucky mama.

Singing in the Rain

2009-06-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or have we gotten an unusual amount of rain this spring? I'm not complaining-I love it! But the timing always seems to be exactly when I bring the lawnmower out to cut the grass. This was a few weeks ago and literally moments after I got started, the downpour came.

Jordan and I watched the storm from the garage. He even ventured out into it a few times with the umbrella.

A Bad Influence

2009-05-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

Since Jordan was about three months old, he's been a thumb sucker. Shortly after discovering his thumb, he found that his pointer finger fit nicely in his nose at the same time. So he has assumed this position whenever he is tired and ready to sleep. He gets that distant look in his eyes, fingers take their places and his head tilts sideways slightly.

Although I think he's adorable, I'm sure other parents don't want their children following the example of my little brain excavator. So imagine my horror (or hidden enjoyment) when I saw Pyper doing the same thing. I caught her three times, but of course did not have a camera handy or available fast enough. So, I posed the two on the counter after lunch and convinced them to reenact their thumb suck nose pick stance. Jordan had no problem getting into position, but Pyper, being less practiced, made her own variation.

Either way-I'm sorry Andy and Ashlie! I may have created a monster! But she's still cute!

Getting Ready for a Night On the Town

2009-05-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

While I was combing Pyper's hair, I told her that she looked pretty. Jordan wanted to be pretty too, so he hopped up on the counter. After they were both adequately prettied up, I snapped a quick picture.

We are going to dinner tonight. This ought to be fun...I'm outnumbered. Wish me luck.

Welcome, Pyper!

2009-05-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

For the next few days, we get to have Pyper in our family. Ashlie and Andy went to New York for a little trip, and Pyper is staying with us. She woke up this morning and asked where her mommy and daddy were. When I said that they had gone bye-bye, but she could play with me and Jordan, she had a look of TERROR on her face. It melted my heart. We did what we could do distract her from the lack of her parents.

She and Jordan took a bath and had breakfast. Jordan is so excited to have her here. He keeps showing her some of his favorite toys and is watching over her like a big brother.

We went to the park after lunch time when I decided they weren't quite tired enough. So after about 30 minutes of romping around on the playground and running on the grass, they went down for naps.

That brings me to now. I am enjoying a few minutes of quiet while the little munchkins sleep. It won't last long before we'll be at it again!

Mothers' Day Program

2009-05-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

Jordan's preschool class had a program today for Mothers' Day. It was so cute to see my little guy singing songs and just being such a big boy. He gave me a cup with seeds he had planted. I'm told they will be radishes someday.

After the little program, we got a quick shot. Yes-I do have shorter hair.

Bird Nest in the Barbeque

2009-04-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

While doing some spring cleaning, I came across this happy little home a few weeks ago. I told Aaron that he got to clean it up. I reminded him a few times over the course of about a week or two, but he didn't get around to taking it out.

Then, this weekend, we took a peek inside to find an egg! I called the Tracy Aviary and they told me that once we touched it the bird would not return. Well, we like to barbecue and were not keen on the idea of allowing a bird to take up residence there. So Aaron promised to clean it out. The next day when I looked to see if we had more eggs, the egg was GONE!! I swear, nobody has access to our porch (there are no stairs into the yard) I looked all over and it was not anywhere to be found. I'm pretty sure Mama Bird was ticked and came back to get her egg.

Anyway, Aaron then cleaned it all out and we thought it was over. But the next day, we noticed a few more twigs that had magically appeared. A little later, there were more twigs. So we keep throwing them away and she keeps bringing them.

Talk about a serious battle of territory! In the end, we will win. But I hope it doesn't require grilling a bird.

Paper Wreathes

2009-04-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Check out the prototype for my newest creation...the paper wreath. I'm thinking about making a bunch of these for my show next week...whaddya think? Is this something you'd buy for your house? How much would you be willing to spend? It's about 12 inches across and cost me exactly six dollars to make.

I'd love any feedback I can get before I make these. Maybe I'm the only one that thinks it's pretty cute?

A Naked Workout

2009-04-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

....so, I bought this aerobic workout video. But who uses it more? Me or Jordan? You guessed it-Jordan! Today instead of taking a much needed shower, he put in the "exercise" video and went to town. While sitting at my desk attempting to get some work done, I was overcome with laughter at how serious he was in following the moves-naked and all!

Oh, he's going to hate me some day!

My Policemen

2009-04-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

At preschool today, Jordan learned about police. This is a subject he knows a bit about-especially the cool flashlights that they have. (He routinely steals daddy's flashlight and runs away laughing like Swiper the Fox.)

On top of getting a very cool police hat and badge, Jordan was the Special Helper at school. This means that he gets to open the door when class is done. It's a coveted title that each classmate yearns for and gets a turn at every few weeks. He was ecstatic as he showed me his name tag proving this special honor.

Aaron kindly posed for a picture with the J eating lunch. I have to say, these are the cutest policemen I have ever seen!

Father and Son Band

2009-03-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm a groupie. I'm in love with the cutest drummer and guitar player in the world. Here they are, for your viewing pleasure, performing in my very own living room. Check it out!

Sick.

2009-03-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

I shouldn't make promises and not follow through. Last week, we did make several of my mom's recipes. But I didn't post about them. So sorry. We made Ritz chicken, tuna fish casserole, meatloaf and spaghetti. Everything turned out great!

This week, we are sick. Jordan started it with a fever and runny nose. Now today I have a sore throat and headache. Yesterday I kept Jordan in bed and even let him eat chips and drink pop while watching Dora. He wishes he was sick every day! Today he seems to be doing much better and has tons of energy. This is a problem, since I am tired and wish nothing but to sleep all day.

Oh well! Just please don't come visit. I don't want to go down the stairs to open the door. Besides, you don't want to be stunned by my beauty. Trust me.

A Week of Mom's Meals

2009-03-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

Now that my mom is gone, I'm really missing her food. It was SOOO nice to have them live so close and convenient for dinner. I got very spoiled. Anyway, in her honor, I've decided to cook one of her meals every day this week. (Except Wednesday. Aaron and I will celebrate our nine year anniversary and are going out!)

So, tonight was night one. Aaron worked, so I was able to make whatever I wanted. Which worked out well, because we had barely anything in the house, so I had to be creative. One meal my mom makes that I love (and Aaron does not) is tuna fish gravy over toast. It's an acquired taste, I realize. So just humor me.

Here's the recipe, in case you're interested.

1 can of tuna fish
2 cups of milk
1 Tbs butter
1 tsp flour

Boil tuna fish and milk. Add mixture of flour and water to thicken. Remove from heat, add butter and a ton of pepper. Let sit for a minute until thick. Pour over toast. Enjoy!

Speaking of Fish....

2009-03-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

...isn't it funny how my men sleep like dead fish? They have the open mouth fish face that just begs for a picture. Aren't they cute?

Anyway, it's time for a quick update. My family (parents and siblings still at home) moved to MEXICO last week. Yep, Mexico. While we are here battling cold and snow, those losers are frolicking on the beach somewhere. I hope they get all get sunburns.

Seriously, I'm very sad to see them go. Jordan still doesn't understand and asks daily if we can go to Grandma's house. It sucks. I hope they come home soon.

On another note, I'm moving right along in school. A few weeks ago I got the wonderful news that I PASSED my math class. It was one I struggled with for the past six months and even had a couple tutors helping me along the way. But I finally made it and can move on. Now I'm taking Accounting, which is actually pretty interesting. I'm also taking Geology to satisfy a science credit. It's rather boring. But now I can tell you approximately how old a rock is, if you care.

Aaron continues to be a great daddy and hubby. He and Jordan play "monster" and frequently fill the house with squeals of delight. (Yes, both of them.)

We are all itching to get out and enjoy warm weather. A few times this week, it's been above 55 degrees and Jordan and ridden his bike while I work in the yard. It's only a matter of time before we can do that on a regular basis.

Oh, this picture is Jordan after being caught in my makeup. He told me he was a tiger. Rawr!

Welcome, Elliott!

2009-03-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

The time has come for Jordan to have his first pet. And since I REALLY don't want to clean up pet hair or scoop poop, we thought that a fish would be a safe bet. Jordan and I admired them one day at good old Wal Mart, but did not find one that was perfect for our family. Then, last night, Aaron surprised us both with Elliott.

Putting the tank together and transferring this little guy into his new home was no easy task. Luckily, Aaron took most of the work upon himself, ensuring that our new friend would find his new diggs accommodating.

After about an hour of cleaning, arranging and transferring, Elliott was happily swimming in his new home.

Wish us luck. I really don't want to be flushing this sucker anytime soon.

Jordan Says the Pledge

2009-01-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

Only a proud parent such as I am would absolutely HAVE to share this with the world. Isn't he precious!?

Happy Hannukah!

2008-12-31T18:23:00.000-08:00

Last year I was better at photographing each night (there are eight, by the way). But this year I was not as organized. Anyway, here is one picture that captures the mood from each of the nights.

Jordan loves to light the menorah and was even able to do it by himself a few times! (With Daddy standing nearby to offer assistance.)

Preschool Christmas Program

2008-12-22T09:22:00.001-08:00

Last week, Jordan was in his very first school program. His proud parents braved the icy roads and basked in his delight as he sang songs about the alphabet and Christmastime. It was wonderful!! He was even given an "acting" part (OK, so all the kids were too) and was a present. I guess he didn't like wearing the red nose and reindeer antlers, given the enormous pouty face captured here...

Our little guy is growing up!

Alvin's Attempted Suicide

2008-11-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

Jordan carries his Alvin doll with him all over the place. I kinda feel sorry for the doll, actually. Because Jordan does not cuddle and love it like one would expect to treat such a beloved object. No, instead Jordan will slam Alvin's head on the ground as he walks or throw him over and over. He's not a violent child, he just gets excited and likes to take out his extra energy on the poor chipmunk.

So today, Alvin finally had it. While Jordan was bouncing on the bed, Alvin jumped out of Jordan's grasp and lodged himself in the ceiling fan. But to no avail. Jordan summoned help immediately and Alvin was reunited with his abuser, I mean friend.

While up there, I did notice how completely nasty the fan blades were. At least an inch of dust had accumulated here. So I took the opportunity to clean them while Jordan resumed throwing Alvin in the air.

Trunk or Treat

2008-11-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Our ward held a trunk or treat a few days before Halloween. We went, and took Lily and Kari along too. It's a good thing we did because Halloween turned out to be a dud. It rained and Jordan was only mildly interested in collecting candy. Here is a quick shot of the kiddies before they went off to beg for candy...

Organ Man

2008-10-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Aaron has been a ward organist for almost as long as he's been a member of the Church. But he's never had any formal lessons (a fact that may surprise many people!) He had the opportunity to spend an hour at the Tabernacle with one of his musical idols, Dr. Clay Christiansen. He was able to play a few songs and get some helpful tips from Dr. Christiansen. After their session, we got to take a tour of the Tabernacle. We went behind the pipes to see how it all works behind the scenes. It's pretty amazing that this place was built by pioneers in the 1800's. Along with me and Jordan, my parents and Lily and Kari got to come watch. It was neat to see everything and for Aaron to have such a great time. My mom took some video, but I can't figure out how to rotate it-so it's sideways. Sorry! But the sound is still good. :-)

Swingin' With Grandma Raisins

2008-10-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

This week, we went to St. George for some training for Aaron's work. During the day, Jordan and I spent time with Grandma Raisins (Jordan's name for Diane) at the park. she taught Jordan how to pump his legs on the swing.

One of Jordan's favorite parts of the trip was riding the elevator at the hotel. He thought that was just great. He was thrilled to count the floors as we went up and down. What a smart kid! He also dug the luggage cart since he was able to hitch a ride with dad.

My favorite part of the trip was the nice weather. It was perfect-in the low 70's most of the time. It was a welcome change from the cold weather we've been experiencing in Salt Lake lately.

Big Scary

2008-10-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

OK, I've slacked on posting for a few months. Sorry!!

Yesterday we went to Cornbelly's for our annual fall tradition. Last year, Aaron took Jordan through the "creature" which is this giant inflatable dragon thing that you walk through. It's got scary music and sounds playing and it's very dark inside. Jordan called it the big scary and talked about it constantly.

This year, when we got there, Jordan saw the Big Scary off in the distance. He clung tightly to my leg, but said he wanted to go see it. When we got close enough to hear the music, he changed his mind. But when we started to walk away, he kept turning back. He finally settled on sitting on the ground next to the Big Scary and watching it. Every once in a while, he'd get the courage to go poke it and then run back to me. We spent at least fifteen minutes sitting there watching this thing.

Finally, we were able to go play and do other things. Jordan went on various slides and kiddie rides. Aaron took him on the cow train ride and then out for ice cream.

So, this year we did not go in the Big Scary. But at least Jordan can sleep peacefully at night.

Summer Scrapbook School!

2008-06-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

Come learn how to make a variety of mini albums, scrapbook layouts and other fun goodies!

Classes are fun for moms and teens.

Classes will be held at Nycole Rosen’s home
(contact me for address if interested)

For more examples and ideas, please visit my website nycole.etsy.com
(Enjoy 20% off any purchase during class)

Please bring your own paper cutter and adhesives to class. Don’t forget your photos!

Register for some or all classes by contacting Nycole. (If you don't have my email address, leave a comment here and I'll contact you.)

Space is limited! Be sure to register early.

Class Information

Accordion Albums- Make a ten page accordion-style album that will fold up and fit in your purse. Use it as a brag book to show off pictures of your family! Cost-$10.00 Tuesday, June 24th 7:00

Gift Tags- Make two different styles of gift tags that are perfect to top off your presents or add a little note to a plate of goodies. Cost-$5.00 Tuesday, July 8th 7:00

Altered Altoid Tin & Mini Scrapbook- Turn an empty altoid tin into a work of art! Make a mini album to fit inside and proudly display your photos. Great to fit inside a purse. Cost-$10.00
Wednesday, July 9th 7:00

Paper Bag Album- Use brown lunch sacks to make a darling album complete with space for journaling, photos and even hidden pockets to store memorabilia! Cost-$10.00 Thursday, July 17th 7:00

Ring Bound Album- Empty cereal boxes make awesome scrapbooks. Nobody would ever be able to guess that recycled boxes are used for these beautiful albums. Cost-$10.00
Tuesday, July 22nd 7:00

Matchbook Scrapbook- These mini albums are made like a book of matches. The pages flip open to reveal your photos. Cost-$5.00
Wednesday, July 23rd 7:00

Tic Tac Toe Altered Tin Game- Create a game that your kids will love to play! Perfect to carry in your purse to use at church, doctor office, car trips and more! Cost-$5.00
Tuesday, August 8th 7:00

Word Book- Bring out those cereal boxes again! This time, create an album that spells out a word such as “LOVE”,” “BABY” or “FAMILY” Cost-$10.00
Tuesday, August 12th 7:00

Scrapbook Layout-Learn some techniques to make coordinated and balanced scrapbook pages. Great for beginners on up! Cost-$10.00
Thursday, August 14th 7:00

A Day at the Fair

2008-06-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'll come back to family highlights again later. I've not been great at keeping this up. Dang.

This weekend, we went to the Eagle Mountain Celebration. They had carnival rides, cotton candy and anything else you can think of that induces nausea! Jordan had a terrific time on the rides!!

Pyper, the Crayon Eater

2008-04-29T10:46:00.001-07:00

This is my darling niece, Pyper. Yes, she eats crayons. (She also drinks water from her dog's dish-but that's another story.) Pyper is the daughter of Ashlie and Andy Stroman. She is a little over one year old. She loves Elmo and Baby Einstein. Her bright red hair always elicits comments from strangers anywhere she goes. She is in love with her mommy, but is truly a daddy's girl. To learn more about this munchikin, you can visit Ashlie's blog where she often raves about her Little Miss.

My Brother Nate

2008-04-24T06:21:00.001-07:00

This is Nate. He's my 17 year old brother. He's an awesome drummer and a rad guy. He spent a few days with me last week before leaving for a vacation in Ohio.

We should have known he would be a drummer. When he was a toddler, he used to "head bang." By this, I mean that he would rock front and back and bam his head into the car seat. He would do this anytime we got in the car to go anywhere. It would usually put him to sleep. He's always had an uncanny sense of rythm.

Nate is a loving person. He always considers the thoughts of others around him and is often the first person to give me a hug when I enter the room. I love Nate.

Me...From Jordan's Point of View

2008-04-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Jordan has taken an interest in the camera-but not as the subject of the photos. He'd rather hold it and push the buttons. I showed him how to do it, and then he wanted to take pictures of mom. So, here's what we've got.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to highlight one person in my family. Each post will have a recent picture along with a few tidbits about the person. If you're interested in how the ole' family is doing, stay tuned.

Give Your Altoid Tins a Loving Home

2008-03-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am again seeking your unwanted and under-loved empty Altoid tins. I promise to turn them into beautiful works of art and will ensure that they are adopted into loving homes. (OK, I can't promise that, but I'll try.)

Here is a photo of some of your tins that have been transformed and are ready for release into the wild. Since I am down to only one empty tin in my possession, I am very eager to take empty tins off your hands. I went to Costco yesterday, but they did not have any. I wonder if they moved them or if they won't carry them any longer. I will have to get a new supplier-and fast. I have several orders that I need to fill, so I need to get my hands on some tins soon.

I do offer one dollar store credit for each empty tin you give me. This can add up, especially if you eat lots of these curious little mints. Please contact me if you have any tins and we can arrange the pickup.

Thank you so much, my cyber friends!

Let's Have a Party!!

2008-03-05T05:59:00.001-08:00

Are you interested in learning how you could get free scrapbooks from my shop? It's easy! Host a party! You can earn 10% on your friends' purchases to use on products from my store. Do you work? If so, I'd love to come by your office and show your co-workers how fun and easy it is to buy my pre-made scrapbooks.

If you haven't heard, I'm also offering my custom scrapbooking services. You provide me with the pictures and their details; I'll give you finished scrapbook pages. This is a great way to get caught up or just get started. (This terrific service also makes great wedding gifts for the newlyweds-I love making wedding albums.)

Book a show with me soon-my schedule is filling up quickly with shows. By the way, my mom and I have teamed up our efforts. She makes awesome handbags. Check her out. She'd also available to do home parties-or we can come together!

When Mom's Away the Boys Will.....

2008-02-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

Wear pink pajamas and go to McDonalds for a late night snack!!! Busted, Daddy!

OK, back up. Here's the story. I am tending my little sisters for the weekend while my parents are in Las Vegas. I took Jordan with me to spend the night, but Aaron was home and bored, so he called and offered to come get Jordan and bring him back home. I liked this plan, since that way I wouldn't have to share a room with the J-man. (Not that I don't like to share a room with him, but if I'm near him, he won't sleep. He wants to play.) So, I had dressed Jordan in Kari's jammies since I had not brought his along with us. This pleased Aaron so much, that he promised pictures.

This morning, when Aaron brought little pink boy back to me at my parents' house, Jordan was very excited about getting pop and fries and chicken. I wondered what he was talking about, but Aaron was outta there and gone before I could ask. Hmm. Then, when I came home later today, I saw the camera in the kitchen (not in it's usual spot) and took a look. Sure enough, there was the evidence on the "boy's night out."

This is not the first time Aaron's been caught, though. When we had a shitzu dog, Aaron once fed her some hamburger from our sloppy joes. People food was strictly forbidden, and he knew he was risking death by feeding it to her. So, when he heard me coming down the hall, toward the kitchen, he dropped a piece of the hamburger in the dog's water so she would dunk her face in to try to get it. (Baby's fur was white, and the sloppy joe was, well sloppy, and gave away her little treat.) I instantly saw what had happened. They both slept in the doghouse that night.

Nycole, Where Have You Been?

2008-02-05T12:56:00.000-08:00

Wow, I don't like to admit that I can't do it all, and do it all now. But I'm slowly realizing that I am not super woman and juggling all the things I'm doing is taking a bit more out of me than I thought it would. So, I'll update you on all that's going on in my little life.

Jordan celebrated his third birthday last week. His cousin, Pyper turns one today, so we combined their birthday celebration. We had a birthday party with friends on Saturday, the 26th. It was an Elmo-themed party, and Jordan had a blast. His favorite part was blowing out the candles. On Sunday, we had family over and celebrated both Jordan and Pyper's birthdays.

School is also keeping me busy. I am now in week six (so a little more than half way there!) in my English class. We are writing formal reports, and I chose to write about living frugally. No surpise there, I'm sure. I'm enjoying the class, and have registered for a communications class. That one will be a correspondence course, rather than the online. I'll see which format I like better. After the English class, I'll probably take an introduction to Business Management, since this is a prerequisite for another HR class I want to take this summer.

I got some new added responsibilities at work. I now am doing some projects for the Human Resources department. I love it! Since this is what I am going to school for, it's a great opportunity to have some "hands on" experience."

I'm still making and selling my scrapbooks. In fact, this Friday and Saturday, I'll be a vendor at the "Oh Sweet Sadie!" show. I'm hoping for lots of shoppers, since I'll need to pay for my next class pretty soon.

I am also keeping busy with my calling in church. I am the enrichment leader, so I coordinate several activities each month with the committee. We have the annual RS Birthday dinner coming up in March, and it should be lots of fun.

I'l try to post more often. I'm sorry I've been so slow at updating. But I promise it's not because I am sitting in bed all day watching soap operas!

My First Week Back to School

2008-01-11T07:23:00.000-08:00

I've completed my first week back to school. I am taking English Composition. Here's is a summary of what I have learned:

As I look back on this past week, I am very excited! I was really nervous to begin school, since I am a little bit older than the average student. But after learning about my classmates, I realized that I am not such the minority after all. There are lots of people attending school later in life. I am also pleased to be able to complete my coursework from home. With technology advancing as it is, we are so lucky to be able to log in and attend class in our jammies. (Yes, I admit to wearing them a time or two while writing or completing an assignment. At the moment, I have fuzzy socks, blue pajama pants and a green sweater on. I look spectacular!)

I enjoyed (yes, enjoyed) reading about sentence fragments and the other topics we studied this week. I am a bit of a grammar nerd, and often very critical when reading material. It was nice to see that I, being the stickler that I am, left a period off one of my sentences. I would like to go with the story that it fell off, but I don’t think that will fly. Experiences such as that are nice to remind me of the little things such as periods.

I am also looking forward to writing the formal report. I am especially glad that we were able to choose our topics. Had I been assigned something to do with sports or politics, I’m afraid I may have failed miserably. (Well, maybe not. We do have Google, after all.)

Wal Mart-Self Inflicted Misery

2008-01-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

As I push my overloaded shopping cart through the overloaded parking lot, dodging cars and abandoned carts, I mumble to myself that I will *never* set foot in Wal Mart again. Just a moment later I sigh to myself and realize that I have made that promise before. But this time, I mean it! Let me just share with you a few experiences I have been through....

The Wal Mart where I used to live was not horrible. Well, ok, it was. But it was bearable because it was three minutes from home and I was able to go when it was not as busy (like in the middle of the night!) But that store was always filthy and the staff were less than thrilled to be there. Who could blame them? I was once standing in line, after a gruelling 30 minute ordeal just to buy about ten items. (Since these stores are so MASSIVE, if you want toothpaste and milk, you have to walk half a mile to get from one item to the other. Add an unhappy toddler to the mix, and you have misery only a mother can understand.) Of course, there are only three of the twenty eight checkstands open, and each one is about five people deep. So I pick the one that looks the most promising-the self checkout. I have faith in my checking abilities, so this shouldn't be hard. I watch as the people up to bat are struggling with the machine. It's almost a fight. They look puzzled, then give in and ask for help. But help is slow to come. Finally, they get it done. The next few transactions seemed to go well, until the one right before me. They have one item-it's a microwave or toaster or something. But it would not scan. They look frustrated and look for assistance. When someone finally makes it over, she announces that this machine would be down for at least an hour and to go to another line. By this point, there are at least five people behind me-who high tail it to the nearest line, leaving me at the end. The poor guy behind me, who had deodorant and gum, threw his items on the ground and left. I followed.

Another great thing about these super stores is the apathy it's customers have for the appearance of anything. If they pick up a gallon of milk, and decide in the electronics department that they don't really want it-the milk is tucked away between a Celine Dion and Chicago CD. I once turned down the aisle where the laundry detergent is kept to find an elderly woman struggling on the floor. She had slipped in spilled fabric softener and could not get up. She was absolutely horrified and embarrassed, but willing to accept my help. I offered to talk to the store manager for her, but she refused. She left the store as quickly as her blue laundry fresh soaked bottom could take her.

Speaking of spilled stuff-just today I managed to step into several eggs that had made their way to the ground. Had I not been avoiding careening carts with several other shoppers, I may have noticed the small war zone at my feet. But no, I was a woman on a mission-to get my eggs and get out. So when I slipped on the yellow mess, I was less than happy. Luckily, I had my SUV-sized shopping cart to grab on to.

Have you ever tried filling a prescription at a Wal Mart pharmacy? Don't. I'll be transferring mine elsewhere and pay the extra money. By the time you wait in line, you just as well could have circled the store, in it's vast entirety, several times.

But even the pharmacy cannot compare to the photo center. I send in digital prints online to be printed in an hour. But I don't usually to pick them up in an hour. Sometimes I wait until later in the evening, several hours later. I've even gone in a day or so after turning them in. At least a third of the time, however, my prints are not ready. There's usually a handwritten (and poorly spelled) sign on the counter that says the one hour service is down. And if it isn't down, then you can bet you'll still have to wait. Last week, I walked up to the counter, and I was the only customer. (This is hard to believe, but trust me-I must have smelled bad and kept everyone else away.) There were two people in white coats working the lab. They were both on their cell phones texting. I'll assume not to each other, but who knows. It took me pacing back and forth, clearing my throat and finally jumping on the counter squawking like a bird to get their attention.

I have to say, Wal Mart in the winter is the worst. Nobody wants to be in the cold, so they don't spend the extra fourteen seconds to walk their cart to the cart corral. The result is a shopping cart maze. You can bet that there will be at least half a dozen parking spots in the lot that cannot be parked in because they are full of empty carts. And the space between cars is also jammed. Those pretty landscaped islands? Those are surrounded by carts that have been propped up on their back wheels, the front wheels up on the mound of dirt. What gets me, though, are the carts completely in the middle of the road or blocking someone's access to their car. Especially when it's two feet from a corral. Seriously, how lazy have we become?

So why do I continue to put myself through this Hell? In constant seek of the best deal. But today I paid 2.85 for a gallon of milk. Then I get home and see the ad for Smith's-they have it on sale for 2.50. Maybe it's time for me to start comparing a little more. It's probably not saving me much money, and shopping elsewhere would really save me the heartache.

Join The Club-Scrapbook Page of the Month!

2008-01-01T18:34:00.001-08:00

I'm very excited to introduce to you the Scrapbook Page of the Month Club! This will be a super-easy and fun way to get caught up on your scrapbooking. I have copied and pasted the description from my listing, since it covers all the details. I may have to limit the number of memberships, so I can fulfill the orders. So if you're interested, sign up now!

If you've been meaning to get caught up on your scrapbook, but just don't have the time then this membership is for YOU!! Let me do your scrapbooking for you. Husbands-this is a KILLER present for your wives if they have been overwhelmed by the idea of completing scrapbooks, but have wanted to.

You can take advantage of this membership in one of these two options:

*Monthly Option-
Each month, let me know what theme you want. If you have a specific event you need done we can work out the details. You'll receive a two-page 12 X 12 layout each month for a full year.

*One-Time Option-
Let me know what twelve themes or events you want and I'll create twelve 2-page layouts for you to receive all together. This option is great for someone wanting to catch up quickly. Please allow 1-3 weeks for completion.

If you want your photos printed and added, that can be done as well. (Cost varies on number and size of photos.)

Two single-page layouts can be substituted for a two page layout if desired.

The shipping fee is a one-time charge. This covers the monthly shipment. If you opt for the one-time package, contact me prior to purchase to reduce the shipping rate. .

Photos in this listing are samples of pages I have done, and are not actually for sale. If you like one of them, I'd be happy to do something similar for you.

Please visit my website to order your membership package!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

The day is here! We started bright and early at 7:00 with the presents and candy and DRUMS!! Santa brought Jordan a drum set-and he loves it!

Since I should be spending time with family and not on the computer, I'll throw a couple photos up and sign off.

Peace out, Merry Christmas!

Nycole Rosen, CSP

2007-12-19T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have been studying for the past few weeks to take the Certified Staffing Professional exam. This program is offered by the American Staffing Association to teach labor and employment law as well as ethical practices applicable to the staffing industry.

Back a few years ago when I was a corporate trainer, I taught classes on employment law, so I thought this would be a piece of cake. However, I learned a lot of new information and found it to be more challenging than I expected.

Today was the day. I passed the test! It consisted of 100 questions that were to be answered in two hours.

I am relieved that I have that behind me. I wanted to complete my certification by the end of the year so that I could focus on my first class in January. Which, by the way, I just registered for. I'll be taking English Composition. I figured that was an easy class to get me started.

So, Merry Christmas! Enjoy the rest of 2007.

Happy Hannukah!!

2007-12-14T13:52:00.000-08:00

Since Aaron was raised partially Jewish, we like to celebrate some of the Jewish holidays to honor that tradition. Jordan loves the lights!!

Hannukah just wrapped up, so I thought I'd share a picture of my sweet guy.

Mazel tov!

Cheerful Noise

2007-11-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

Moms, you know what cheerful noise is. It's that "vroom vroom" sound of your little son driving his trucks along the back of the sofa. Or it's the sweet melody being hummed by your tutu donning daughter as she twirls around the room. And surely it's the laughter of your children as they play together nearby. All of these sounds are music to a mother's ears.

I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to spend most of my time at home and to hear all of these sounds and experience all that goes along with being a Mom. But sometimes it's difficult to juggle doing "mommy stuff" along with my job and scrapbook business. This is why I'm so excited to have found Cheerful Noise.

I met a lovely lady recently, Paula Fellingham. I immediately admired her confidence and overall passion for life. So when she told me about this opportunity, I was intrigued. She told me of this concept where stay-at-home moms, working moms and working-at-home-moms discover solutions that work and make money raising their children. What? Finally get a paycheck for all the hours I put in as a Mom? Get out of here!

So, here's how it works. Every month, you receive a kit. Inside you'll receive heart-lifting, family-strengthening materials like a book, CD, a decorative vinyl piece for your wall, inspirational quotes, online movies and articles, parenting tips, etc. You'll also receive a Cheerful Noise Discount Card that will allow you to save money at various retailers. (And you KNOW how frugal I am, so that is a definite perk.) So far, I love it. I'm always scouting out material to read or help motivate me and teach me new things. And here it all is-coming to me directly for about 40 dollars a month, plus shipping. I know that will be money well-spent.

Now, here's my favorite part. For every woman you connect to Cheerful Noise you'll receive $20 per month as long as she's a member. This can be an easy way to help your friends and neighbors better themselves and make some money at the same time. Hot dog.

The company will launch on December 1st, but Early Bird Membership begins on November 19th. You can bet I'll be there. Check out the website. I'm super excited and looking forward to getting my first packet of great stuff. If you're interested in learning more, contact me. I'll keep you updated on how it goes.

Come to the Scrapbook Open House this Thursday

2007-11-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

I'd love to see you join me this Thursday from 6-8pm at my home for a scrapbook open house. I'll have all my premade albums that you love available for purchase. There will also be some lovely handbags made by my mom and darling baby headbands from my sister.

It will be a lot of fun, so be sure to come! If you don't know where I live, contact me and I'll give you the address and directions.

My Halloween Hero

2007-11-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Jordan had fun trick or treating-but what kid doesn't? He was only up for going to a few houses, but that was more than enough for us! After the excursion, he dug through his treasure to find the chocolate sucker he wanted.

After eating it, this is what his darling face looked like.

Introducing....MATCHBOOK SCRAPBOOKS!

2007-10-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

I've found another fun thing to make-and I've made a few! These little scrapbooks are made in the style of matchbooks. They flip open to reveal the inside pages. They are ready for you to add your pictures or whatever you want.

I'm having a blast creating them. Since they are so small, I can use my scraps to put them together.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be busily creating and building up my inventory for the holiday season as well as craft fairs I'll be attending.

This Friday and Saturday, I'll be at the Robert G Sanderson Center for the Deaf's annual bazaar. I've been a vendor there for four years now and have enjoyed it. I hope that it will be well attended and I will sell a whole bunch of stuff!

I'll be having a home show next week. Most likely on Thursday. (I've been postponing it wanting to wait until my basement is finished. Hopefully it will be ready by then.) If you're interested in coming, let me know and I will get you the details offline.

Missing the J

2007-10-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

Last night, Jordan went to stay with his Aunt Ashlie, Uncle Andy and Cousin Pyper. He'll be there until tomorrow when I go up to Logan to get him. Unless I break down and drive up sooner. I miss him. But I am getting a lot done in his absence. It's amazing how much you can really get done when you have uninterrupted time.

But while I am missing him, let's enjoy this great photo I took last week. He is lining up paper cups in the kitchen. I think this is amusing, because I am told that I used to do this with canned food when I was a wee one. But I had to take it a step further and pull all the labels off the food. My mom tells me that they had many meals with surprise side dishes. Sometimes it was green beans, sometimes it was soup.

Home Sweet Home

2007-10-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

OK, we've been here in the new house since the end of June. And I'm now finally getting around to post a picture. I really wanted to do it before snow hit, so I'm getting down to crunch time.
Anyway- here it is. Home Sweet Home. We love it. Our basement will be finished in few weeks, and then we'll really love it! For the past few days the rest of the house has been covered in a thin layer of dust while the walls were being sanded and whatever else they do. Anyone that knows my OCD tendencies can understand what a nightmare this has been for me. But it will all be worth it soon.

Party Time!!!

2007-10-08T16:10:00.001-07:00

For this week, October 8-12, I'll be having an online party. No need to RSVP, just visit my shop when you have a chance. For every purchase you make during the week, your name will be entered into a drawing. On Friday evening, I'll draw a name of our "Mystery Hostess." The lucky winner will be announced on my blog and will recieve a ten dollar gift certificate to my shop.

I'll be making updates here on my blog, so be sure to check back. I may even include people that post interesting comments in the drawing. I look forward to hearing from you all!

Garbage Day!

2007-10-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

I love garbage day. It's a day when I can feel "reborn" sort of. Out with the old garbage...begin with a clean slate. Yes, I know I am beyond strange. But you love me anyway, right? Right?!

Can you imagine my delight when Jordan began to display the same love of garbage day? I can't say that he loves it for the same reasons, since he runs to the window and watches intently as the truck comes noisily down the street. He giggles as it picks up each can and tips it upside down. But I smile inwardly just knowing we share in this happy day...even if for different reasons.

Jordan & Pyper's Bath

2007-09-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

Ashlie stayed over last night with Pyper. Today is our semi-annual pilgrimage to the Scrapbook Expo. We're super excited!

So, anyway-last night we put Miss Pypes and J in the bath together. Jordan has been taught by his daddy how to clean his crack. And he always does. But this time, he made sure to clean his cousin's crack too! Pyper didn't seem to mind, though. She just let him scrub away while she smiled for the camera.

What cute kids we have! And when they're old enough, they will kill me for this post.

Basement Progress

2007-09-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

About three weeks ago, we started work on our basement. (Well, not US-we have a wonderful subcontractor doing it.) So far, it's gone very fast and we've been thrilled. I am so excited to have it finished. We'll have a guest bedroom, bathroom, family room and theater room. (Yes, that's the Man Room.) It will be nice to have a 100% completed home. We're having family here in December, so this will really be a good thing. Yipee!!

It's BUDGET Time!!

2007-09-22T20:01:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited when I can save money. And when I can convince my dear husband that my penny pinching habits are not so bad, I'm even more thrilled. So when he agreed to let me create a tracking sheet and budget, I went all out. I have created a nifty little spreadsheet that I input all our spending into and it calculates how I am doing at keeping up with the budget. If anyone is interested in a copy, I'd be happy to share it. It's cool.

This weekend my parents came out for a quick visit. My mom's uncle died, so they cam out to attend the funeral. We got to spend some time with them and hopefully convince them to move back. We'd sure like to have them here. So if you guys are reading this....STOP! Go get packing and get back here. Seriously.

So, I got a new computer and it doesn't have a program to edit my photos on it...yet. But I'll work on it soon and get some pics uploaded. I just realized we didn't take any pictures with mom and dad were here. I guess they have a reason to come back-FOREVER!

I was invited this week to visit an office and sell my scrapbooks. I left there with nearly 300 dollars in custom orders. So if you don't see new things posted often, it's probably because I am working on things that are already ordered. But if you want something, let me know. I can always fit you in.

Bock Bock, Chicken Pock!

2007-09-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well, the "spider bites" on Jordan's arm and legs got bad enough that I took him to the doctor. After one quick glance, he said they were chicken pox! Jordan had the vaccination when he was one year old, so this should only be a minor case. So far, he has not been scratching them or bothered at all. I'm hoping that does not change. Well, he is very contagious. We will be sequestered to the house until he does not sprout anymore bumps. Feel free to call, write or otherwise communicate with me...as I will not be able to venture into public with him for a few days.

This gives me time to really hunker down and get more stuff made. The holiday season is approaching, and I will be busy before I know it. I really need to boost up my inventory before the shows I'll be doing. No better time than now!

Color Me BAD

2007-09-11T12:48:00.001-07:00

Yes, that's Jordan's artwork on my wood floor. You're lucky I didn't take a snapshot of the mess he made with his dirty diaper. At least both were washable. Little stinker.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

2007-09-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's my birthday. And to start the day off, I watched the sunrise from my bedroom patio. It was beautiful. This past week, we've had Aaron's mom stay with us. We had a great time visiting the Farmer's Market downtown and doing yardwork. Yay! I got some ivy planted.

But anyway, back to the important stuff. My birthday. So, if you haven't gotten me a present yet, don't worry. You can visit my shop and pick something up for yourself. I'd love to make some sales on my birthday.

Meet Dustin

2007-09-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

I have a younger brother that I just recently met. His name is Dustin. He's an absolute sweetheart, and his wife and daughter are babes! I'm so excited to have them in our lives. We met for a picnic yesterday and got this lovely photo. We'll certainly have more in the future as we get together again.

A Look Back In Time

2007-09-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, how time flies! My little man is turning three in a few months. I feel so old! (Nah, not really, but the grey hairs I found today don't make me feel better.) Anyway, I found this old clip of Jordan in his "chunkier" days. You can't blame the flab on lack of activity-this kid was a bouncer!!

Ahhh, Saturday

2007-09-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Saturday,

Thank you for showing up once a week. You always come just in time; when I'm tired of the work days, and everything that leads up to you. I love how you don't complain if I want to sleep in (although Jordan sure does!) You are also forgiving if I want to just stay in my "comfy clothes" and not even glance at my makeup bag.

Although you would be perfectly satisfied with me lounging about, I appreciate your acceptance of my OCD tendencies. I love to use you as a day to get chores done. When I was younger, I used to hate chores. But now I rather enjoy them. I feel fulfilled and accomplished when things are in order and done.

My one complaint about you, Saturday, is that you never stay long enough. Goodness knows Monday wears out its welcome. But you leave before I was even getting used to you. The one good thing is that I know you'll return next week.

Until then, I'll have my pretty pink toenails to remind me of you.

Love,

Nycole

Calling All Altoid Tins!!!

2007-08-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

I am approaching the busiest shopping season and am running horrifyingly low on empty altoid tins. If you don't understand why this is a problem, you must not visit my online shop often enough. Shame shame.

Anyway, I use these empty tins to make scrapbooks that I sell on my online shop. But the tricky thing is that I don't even like altoids.... so I am asking those of you out there that do like them to save me your empty tins. I give one dollar in store credit for every tin you send me. These can add up, so get eating!!

For The Love Of Lily

2007-08-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that my parents have adopted two little girls from China. Through their experiences, they have faced the challenges of the paperwork and red tape involved in the adoption process. Because of the knowledge they have gained, and the love they have for Chinese adoption, they have set up a foundation, For the Love of Lily to financially assist families in the adoption process. They also will do annual trips to China to help build foster homes and orphanages.

I am doing my little part to help by selling these fancy schmancy bracelets and bumper stickers. All proceeds go to the foundation, so shop away! If you are interested in purchasing something, or making a donation, please contact me.

We Saw CHEESE!!!!!

2007-08-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

OK, so my last post told you about "cheese." But if you're too lazy to read it, I'll recap. Jordan adores the show "Signing Time." It's a great program developed to help teach children sign language. (And since Aaron and I both sign, we'd really like to help J to learn too.) So, anyway, there is a song in one of the videos about pizza and it ends saying "don't forget the extra cheese." It's his favorite song. Ever. So he calls the video cheese.

Now to the good part. Last week while at the zoo, I saw that the cast from Signing Time would be doing a live performance at the zoo. So I marked my calendar and we went. During the show, Jordan was mesmerized. He refused to sign along (although he knew the songs), he wanted to just stare in wonder. But after, while taking a potty break, he happily sang the songs to me.

After lunch and a bit of a stroll around the zoo, we were headed back to the car and saw a line of people waiting to have their pictures taken with the cast from the show. So we hopped in line and took our turn. He got a big smile when it was his turn and yelled out "Cheese!" Rachel (the lady in the movies) gave me a puzzled look. I explained the situation to her and she accepted her new name happily.

A Day At the Zoo

2007-08-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last week, my sister, Ashlie and I took our kids to the zoo. It was such a trip down memory lane! This was the same zoo our mom took us to while we were growing up. Many things have changed, but a few things have not.

Jordan's favorite part of it all was the train. Grandma Diane sent him a conductor hat, which he LOVES. He wears it all the time! And on the train was no exception. Even little Pyper enjoyed the zoo.

We found out that next week, the cast from "Signing Times" will be there. This is the series of videos in sign language that Jordan adores. He calls it "cheese" because they do a song about pizza and end with a big loud "CHEESE." I will definitely be taking him to the show.

I know I have had requests to put pictures up of the new house. I'm lame...but I'll do it. Sorry for the delay. I've been spending the last little while preparing for the big "Erin's Slumber Party" that will be this Friday. I'll be doing a workshop on making my scrapbooks, along with selling them. I hope it's a good turnout-last year I did pretty well. I'll give you an update later.

Potty Training

2007-07-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, gang....it's that time. I have had it up to here (points to head) with cleaning up poop from the walls and crib. Not to mention the expense and hassle of diapers. So we are taking the plunge and putting on our big boy pants.

Jordan has done very well since we moved with going pee pee on the potty when I change his diaper. We just haven't pushed it very hard. But I am getting low on diapers and refuse to buy more. So it's time to kick it into high gear.

As we speak, Jordan and daddy are at the Arctic Circle enjoying a "go play." It's his first outing without a diaper. Cross your fingers. If anyone has any sound wisdom on this experience, feel free to share. I'll keep you updated-as long as I am not cleaning up poop all day!

My Library

2007-07-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've always dreamt about having a room in my house with floor to ceiling shelves full of books. I have finally seen this dream through! We are in our new house and I have scavenged all over town at yard sales to gather my collection. I'm excited about it and realize it will take several lifetimes to read them all. But they are mine. All mine. :-)

Living Out of Boxes.........STINKS!

2007-06-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad we close on our house this afternoon and can start moving tomorrow. I'm really struggling with having everything I need in boxes...and not being able to find them! But things really are moving along well. I'm excited and looking forward to the new adventure.

Once we get settled, I'll post some pics of the new place. I think you'll like it.

"go drive"

2007-06-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Aaron has made the mistake of showing Jordan just how much fun it is to sit in the driver's seat. (Don't worry, he's not pulling a Britney Spears; they stay safely in "park" in the driveway.) So now whenever we get in the car to go somewhere Jordan asks to drive.
Sorry kid, you've got 13 1/2 years to go.

Come see me at the Saratoga Splash tomorrow!!

2007-06-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Yes gang, I'll be out in the 100 degree weather all for the love of the sport! I'll be participating in the Saratoga Splash and I'd love to see you there!

I'll have my accordion scrapbooks, altered altoid tins, paper bag albums and gift tags. I'll even have a table set up where you can put together one of my kits and take home your own album that you made yourself!

I'll be there from 10:00 until whenever we get kicked out...I'm guessing most of the afternoon. See you tomorrow!

Harvest Elementary, 2105 N. Providence Dr. ( Harvest Hills Dev.)

All Packed Up and Nowhere to Go....

2007-06-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for the Downtown Farmer's Market this year. It will be my first year participating. (Unofficially, since I missed the application deadline. I'll be hanging out just outside with the other loser vendors.)

So I got all packed up, checked everything off my checklist and considered myself ready. I then checked the website to be sure I had the right address. That's when I saw that it doesn't start until NEXT weekend.

Wow. What a proud moment. I guess I'll be extra prepared for next week. Now, nobody buy anything so I don't have to go digging things out of boxes.

House For Sale

2007-05-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we put our house on the market. It is bittersweet, because we have been here for so long and love our friends and neighbors. But we are also excited for our new home and the adventures that await us. Within a few hours, I already had two families tour the place!

This morning I had the carpets cleaned, so it's looking pretty good! I think it will only be a matter of weeks, maybe days before this place goes. *sigh*

man car

2007-05-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen. The Man needed a Man Car. Here it is. The angry looking, black bundle of testosterone. Meet "Black" (as named by Jordan).

Our Cute Little Family

2007-05-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

No, we didn't drug Jordan...he made that darling face on his own.

Last night Aaron was sworn in with the Saratoga Springs Police Department. We're so excited for this new adventure! It seems like a great group of people and a wonderful opportunity.

We're starting to look for houses in the area. We have our eyes on one in particular... we'll see what happens!

TAG, I'm IT!!

2007-05-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

I've been blog-tagged. (Actually, I was tagged several days ago, but am just now getting around to it.) How it works is once you are tagged, you write seven things about yourself in your blog. You then tag seven others to do the same. Look to the bottom of this post to see those that I have tagged. Have fun!

1) I am a novice sign language interpreter. I took a few classes, but mostly learned from the people. I enjoy opportunities to interpret occasionally.

2) I HATE cheese. All kinds. Except for Western Family Mac N Cheese or low doses of cottage cheese. Other than that, I can't stand the stuff.

3) I have two adopted sisters from China. My parents have five biological children, then the two girls they adopted. We're a wild bunch!

4) I am an obsessive frugal, penny pinching, bean counting, coupon cutting cheapskate. I will use something up or wear it out far beyond it's use before replacing it. I also try very hard not to spend money. I guess I'm hoping to put it all away for retirement or my son.

5) I am allergic to clutter. Too much stuff puts me into hysteria. I don't save much of anything, and sometimes it gets me into trouble. I've been known to throw away important papers or keepsakes in the name of clutter. Don't leave your crap out for me to find...or you may lose it forever!

6) I'm a great singer. Too bad you'll never hear me, though. My only audience is the shampoo bottle and bar of soap in the shower.

7) I'm finally liking my short haircut. I've kept it long for so many years, I needed a change. It's been very easy to do in the morning, but not all that attractive. (Come on, you know you've wanted to tell me so.) But it's finally taking on a style that I like. Now I have to figure out how to stop it from growing so darn fast.

OK, enough about me. Now let's hear about YOU!! Check out these awesome blogs to learn interesting facts about these folks:

dustandclaysomethingpretty

rainsend

Lane Designs

rufusandroxie

2chelle

Saint Kitten

Murray High Arts Fest-What A Blast!

2007-05-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back. I spent yesterday at Murray High School's fourth annual Art's Fest. They invited several local artists to demonstrate their work and sell it at the event. I had such a great time showing the students how to put together the accordion albums. I'm hoping to be invited again next year. It's fun to get back into the High School scene....and not have to be a teenager all over again.

Pimpin' My Ride

2007-05-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

Check me out! Thanks to http://monsterpromos.etsy.com I now have my URL on my vehicle. So if you spot me around town, wave and smile!

Come Learn How to Make My Scrapbooks!

2007-05-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Join me this Friday, May 18th from 9am to 3pm at Murray High School for the Murray High School Arts Fest (5540 South State Street.) I'll be demonstrating how to make the accordion style scrapbooks that I sell in my shop, nycole.etsy.com. If you'd like to make one yourself, I'll provide the supplies and instruction for only $5.00! Or, if you'd prefer to buy them already made, I'll have them for sell as well.

I look forward to seeing you there!

I Love Messy Faces

2007-05-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

Today Jordan went to his first friend birthday party. HIs favorite part, or course, was the cake. It had orange frosting, so it matched his shorts perfectly!!

Life Changing Decisions

2007-05-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

We found out yesterday that Aaron has been offered a job at the Saratoga Springs Police Department. He applied for this a few months ago and has been going through the long process to be considered. Of course, he accepted and is very excited! It's bittersweet, though. He loves where he is now and the people he works with. But the move will be an advance in his career and is a great opportunity.

For now, we will stay where we are. But in the fall we may consider moving. For the next couple weeks I'll help him tie up loose ends and then get him ready for a new place!

Yippee!!

Just Hangin'

2007-05-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

I know this picture is super blurry, but the pool room was very foggy and this pretty much captures what it looked like in real life. My boy hangin' on the edge of the pool.
This weekend, we went to visit my sister and her husband in Logan for their baby's blessing. We stayed at a nearby hotel and took advantage of the pool.

P.S. I'm in a better mood today. But only slightly.

grumpy me

2007-05-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

I'm having a bad day. No reason. Nothing in particular is going wrong. Maybe it's the weather. It's cold and rainy. I like rain, but not cold. And I keep dropping things. Have you ever noticed when your day is going rather crappily that you can't hold anything? It all jumps out of your hands. Like even the object you are holding doesn't want to be around you. But I digress.

We are going up to Logan this afternoon to stay the night. Tomorrow my little niece, Pyper, is being blessed. It should be a fun occasion. My mom made the blessing dress. I hear that it's four feet long. For a 3 month old girl. Yikes! But it's rumored to be beautiful.

When I read this post back to myself, it even has a grumpy undertone. I do apologize for that. If you want to make me happy, go shopping on my site. I always do a happy dance when I sell something. (Well, after I stare at the computer screen in awe that someone actually paid money for something I made.)

I hope to be in better spirits tomorrow. We'll see....

Impatient Stinker

2007-05-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

Jordan learned how to climb in (and sometimes out) of the tub when we visited my family in Ohio last month. I forget that he knows how. So when I started the bath and went down the hall to get his jammies and a diaper, I should have known that he would climb in. Clothes and all.

Me and my boys

2007-05-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

Since I'll probably refer to them often, you should get acquainted with my husband, Aaron and our son, Jordan.

Jordan turned two in January and is a bundle of energy. He keeps us busy with things most two year olds do. He loves to sing and is learning sign language (his parents are both fluent in ASL.) In the mornings, Jordan goes to preschool and makes art projects, sings songs and eats snacks. He loves it.

While Jordan is learning his ABC's, mommy goes to work for a staffing company. I do various administrative tasks for the national organization. Sometimes I coordinate new office openings, create presentations or run and share weekly data. It sounds boring, but I love it!

Aaron is a full time police officer and part time radio DJ. He keeps busy with all his jobs and activities.

Well, Jordan just woke from his nap, so I am off to hang out at the playground.

Ciao!

Well fine, then. I'll BLOG!!!

2007-05-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

I don't consider myself a dummy when it comes to computers. But I've not felt the strong "urge" to join the millions of folks on the internet that "blog." Until now. I guess I've just heard enough about them and seen some pretty cool ones that I finally decided.."what the heck." So here I am.

I have been pretty good about writing in a journal religiously since I was about 10 years old. But lately I've slacked. Actually, I do keep up with recording what goes on in my life-but more in a scrapbook than actually writing it out.

So, we'll see. Maybe this will take and I'll keep up on things. Maybe not. But throw some love my way, and I'm sure it will help motivate me to keep coming back.

XOXO
Nycole