Friday, March 31, 2006

What's up?

Sorry, I have been soooo busy the past two weeks that I haven't updated my blog at all.
* work - a lot has happened, can't really go into details, but the unexpected has happened and one of my co-workers was laid off. Now, for a city job, that is NOT common...
* sb stuff - have been working my tail off with QK projects and will need to do some assignments for the new SA destination today
* Meeting with Inken - my girl today. We will be scrapping YEAH!!! It's so nice to scrap in company again.. the past week I wasn't able to as I had to work on projects with not released QK goodies
* Heading over to Scrapbook Oasis tomorrow for 2 classes with Elsie. Totally looking forward to meeting her and seeing the class projects! Her pages are all so fun and colorful!
* My studio has transformed once again in a big old mess. Why, oh why can't I keep it clean? I so envy scrappers who can scrap and have a neat, clean room. When I create everything flies left and right... YIKES. Definitely need to work on that.
Other than that, not too much has happened in my little world... I survived my first "Scrapping Mid Life" crisis - you know when you feel like you never, ever want to touch anything scrapbook related again. Well, it only took one good night of sleep to get me out of that funk ~ smile!
Have a great weekend everyone! HUGS!!!

Monday, March 20, 2006

QuicKutz Retreat

I got back home yesterday evening from my QuicKutz retreat and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW! What a fabulous company, what a fabulous group of designers and people, and what a fabulous retreat. I have had the time of my life!








We all arrived on Thursday between 3 - 4 p.m. in Salt Lake City! We were picked up by Andrea (our DT Coordinator), Michelle (Marketing), and Heather (Product Design). We drove from Salt Lake to Orem and after briefly checking into the Hotel had dinner and a chance to get to know one another! The next morning we toured the plant - It's so impressive to see the steps behind the finished products and the amount of work that is involved in getting them out to customers. And trust me... there is a ton of work involved that none of us was aware of! Very impressive! Afterwards we went to the warehouse - OMG! I felt like a kid in a candy store. Just looking at a cart of pink and black squeeze tools, at shelves full of dies and seeing the people behind the scene who work to make it all happen!
Once we were back at the QuicKutz headquarter we started with our classes. Each of us had to teach a class and had prepared 25 kits for a 6x6 double spread layout, so we all ended up with an album about each other! A wonderful treasure to remember this amazing trip by. My theme was sewing on layouts. The classes all were fun and it felt good to sit down and work aside each other. During the entire day of classes, the QK girls handed out scrapbook goodies from various companies. We were told to bring an extra suitcase. I should have listened ;) We got so much sb goodies that most of us had to purchase an extra suitcase to bring all the treasures back home. I am still in awwwwweee!!!!! We also got our headshots taken by the FABULOUS KELLI NOTO! Let me just tell you that she is AMAZING!!! I hope that one day in my life I will be able to operate my camera like her but trust me, I have a long road ahead of me! She is simply amazing! I can't wait to see all the fabulous headshots she took!
In the evening we went out for dinner with QK employees and the team and the founder Natasha and her husband! It was such a blast! I think I haven't laughed this hard in forever! Afterwards we got together to sign each others books (the albums we had created).
The next day we had focus groups in the morning and we got sneak peaks of all the goodies that are coming out for the remainder of the year! YOU WILL LOOOOVVEEE all the stuff that is coming out! We all were literally drooling over it!
We had a make and take before lunchtime and than went for a little shopping! I think most of us felt bad to even think of spending money after all the free goodies we received. We stopped at Pebbles right after lunch and than had to go to Walmart for luggage ;)Afterwards we went up the mountains a little and took some pics and went to dinner for sushi! I am not a fish eater at all but boy, that chicken terijake was the best thing I have ever had! YUMMY!!!
In the evening we got together at the conference room that we had at the hotel and just chatted, laughed and had a blast. The next morning we went to see the Tabernacle choir in Salt Lake and had a wonderful breakfast buffet afterwards. Our flights left between 11:30 - 5:00. We got dropped off at different times, and I ended up spending a few fun hours with Linda, Celia, Sam and Jamie at the airport. I nearly peed my pants from laughing so hard! We were goofing around until we all had to split up for our flights!
Truly an unforgettable 4 days with amazing people! I feel like I have made so many new friends and have had the chance to meet so many amazing designers, people and the QK family!
Thank YOU all who made this retreat so fabulous!
Linda - you are such a doll - I so enjoyed chatting, hanging out and laughing with your. You are amazing and I love you girlie!!
Jamie - my fabulous roommate! You are such a sweetie and a doll! Thanks for everything! A big hugs and squeeze to you
Kelli - you are amazing! Send some photo mojo my way - pretty please ;)and did I say that you are amazing!
Celia - omg, you crack me up! I am still laughing just thinking of all the conversations we had! You are one fun girl to hang out with!!!
Angela - you are way cool! Best of luck with your sb store - I know it will be a big success! ...and keep those gorgous layouts and cards coming! YOu are amazing
Shanna - I am not going to out you, but YOU have made me CRY from LAUGHING so hard! You are hilarious and so much fun to hang out with!!
Leslie - our room is 438 - come on over any time LOL ;)))
Sam - give a big hug and squeeze to Assi!!! ;) was so great to finally meet! You are a doll
Shannon - if you ever need a babysitter, call me! Your little guy just made me fall head over heals in love! He is such a cutie and you are an amazing mom!!!!
Angela - You are a sweetie! So glad we were able to hang out and laugh together!
Kristin - you just amaze me with your sb business. YOU GO GIRL!!!! So good to meet you, you are a true sweetie
Holle - just gotta love, love, love that accent girl!!!! Glad we had a chance to meet although we missed you the last day! Hope that being away from Hayden wasn't too hard and glad that you got back home safe to him!
Yoriko - that girl is a sb celebrity in Japan... we saw books and books and books of her work! Wow!
THANK YOU GIRLS! YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!!
To Andrea, Heather and Michelle - YOU are the BEST! Thank you all for this wonderful weekend, for your constant support and for your amazing work for QuicKutz! I am so grateful to be part of it! THANK YOU!!

Sunday, March 12, 2006

The countdown is on

... ONLY 3 1/2 more days and I will be leaving for Utah for our QuicKutz retreat. I finally finished all my 24 class kits today :) The are all nice and neatly on the floor. (I should take a photo, huh?). I am getting excited to meet the design team and the QuicKutz employees. We all will be flying in on Thursday between 4 - 5 p.m. and staying until Sunday late afternoon. I haven't seen the final program yet, but from what we heard about last year it's going to be a lot of fun. We will be touring the plant, meeting everyone, have focus groups and each of us teaches a class. My roomie is Jamie and I am excited to meet her and the rest of the group. Alhtough I have been going back and forth the last few weeks between excitement and nervousness, I am finally at the point where I am just looking forward to this! 4 days of fun! 4 days to meet and hang out! Days filled with creating, meetings, idea brainstorming sessions, shoppings and photoshots. Dang, I am one lucky gal!!!!! I have never been to Utah, so I am really looking forward to it! And I really can use this little get away ;)
I will report back with photos next week and maybe give a little sneak peak of the class kit later this week ;)
Hugs everyone! Have a great weekend and be good!

Friday, March 10, 2006

Friday nights with my friends...

are the BEST!!!! I am getting ready to head over to Ang's house tonight to meet with her and Margarita to scrapbook and precelebrate Ang's birthday! Wooohooooo I can't wait!!!! My XXL is packed, I am pretty much ready to go and I decided I will CREATE something just for myself tonight ;) We'll be ordering in some food and not sure what else we are all up too, but I tell you, we are known for late night field trips ~ grin!! .... let the Party BEGIN!!!
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Thank you all for your comments and emails!!! My dad is doing a little better from what my mom emailed me! Still in pain and on the road to recovery but a little better each day!!! Thinking of you and sending you hugs dad!!!

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Prayers needed!

If you believe in positive and healing prayers, please include my dad in your prayers. He had a total knee replacement operation this morning and is still in intensive care. My thoughts are with him... I wish I could be there right now in person to give him support and hope for a speedy recovery, but since I am here, I am calling on everyone who believes in healting prayers. Please, please include him - to a speedy and full recovery Dad! Love you and you are in my thoughts, prayers and in my mind - all the time!
Hugs, Syb