Alter This

Fabulous Friday!

Wanted to post a note about my sidebars information {look left and right lol} they are NOT correct.  And i don't have any kits yet for sale but i am working on getting them on here and updating my teaching schedule. 

My teaching schedule is wonderful and i feel blessed to spend time traveling and teaching.   I am equally excited to team up with Croptopia Getaways for a new adventure!  I will still be teaching on 2 cruises this year {One out of Rome, Italy and one this May to the Carribean}   I cannot wait to announce our new venture - stay tuned it will be very soon!

I can tell you that one of first events will be a Mixed Media Cruise to the Carribean! I am teaching along side the fabulous Michelle McCosh, Owner of Everything Scrapbook & Stamps in Lake Worth Fl, she is an amazing Artist and friend! We already have some attendees for this event just announced yesterday! We want to keep it small so don't wait!

 

In other news, as you may know one of our biggest shows is just around the corner, so i am knee deep in projects for our new booth "Splash of Color" in Anaheim, CA this January!  I am also creating some new dies for Accucut Craft [i love both these companies so much]. Of course, my home is chaos and my studio a complete MESS!  But i love all the excitement!

Before i sign off i wanted to thank you for all your kind emails about my mom and my weight loss.  I am happy to report that as of this morning i am down 37lbs...I am fit, strong and looking forward to working hard into 2013 on my fitness goals!

Somedays my feet look like this when i am done...

I have lots of news to share about our family but that will have to wait for a few days.  In the meantime, a quote and a few photos of our "assistants" {who will be joining us for a Santa visit and Christmas tree selection tomorrow}

 

Hmmm who gave them the cat nine tails? lol

“Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”–John Maxwell

Going to see Pink in March ...just added this track to my running playlist {love how fit she is after giving birth, oh and of course he eye candy lol}

Have a great weekend!

A Year in Review

I have decided to relaunch my blog and try and catch up on all that has happened over the past year.  There have been some amazing highlights but of course, some equally difficult lows.  

The past 1.5 has been a hard journey for our family.  My mom had been diagnosed with lung cancer almost 10 years ago.  A smoker, she fell in and out of remission and treatments throughout that time.  Last year she began what would be her most difficult treatment that would eventually take her life.  In February I said goodbye to my mom one last time.  Losing her has been very hard and I miss her everyday.  Her death was the third loss over the past ten years, having said my goodbyes to my dad and my only natural sibling, Stevie.    

I have faced many tough times over the years, but the death of my mom was different, it left me looking at my lifestyle and my health.  Fighting cancer was something I had done 15 years earlier and I had come out a survivor - something no one at the time expected.   But her death made me realize how fragile our bodies are and I wanted to transform myself and see how far i could push my will.  There began my journey to transform my body and my mind.  While it is true that the road is usually difficult, nothing in life comes easy and I knew in the end it would be a blessing. 

Over the next few weeks I promise to share more of what  has been happening in our family, but today I will start with my personal journey to be fit.

My Journey begins.....

Beginning in the Spring, I set out to make some significant changes in my life.  I wrote a list of my goals on paper, knowing that this would make it real to me.  After returning from Germany in June, I began a journey to self awareness of where have i been, where am I right now, and where I want to go from here.   I knew right away where i would start and which goals would be at the top of my list.

First step was to commit to tackling the one goal that would be the most difficult.  It would take all of my willpower and alot of sweat and determination.  I set out to change my body, I didnt want to just lose weight but i wanted to sculpt and tone - i wanted to be fit.  A big goal indeed.  First,  I looked hard at my eating habits, logging all my food choices.    I knew i was a carb and sugar addict I also learned that my body was craving the sugar high and knew I had to change that.  The challenge was to give my body that same high but from something positive - fitness! 

I needed to totally prepare myself for the road that was ahead, I knew there would be times i would be tempted to not exercise or fall back into my eating patterns.  And i knew that my travel schedule could make it very difficult to keep up with my goal.

I pushed the limits of my body, lifting weights and running in all types of weather.  It slowly became a lifestyle...it was simply part of my day.  I am happy to report that as of today I am down 36lbs {to put it in perspective that is the weight of one of my twin grandbabies lol}  I can tell you that it has made a big difference and I see dramatic changes in my body as a result of my weight loss.  Some would argue that i was not fat, but i was uncomfortable in my clothes.  I am proud to fit into a small/medium top and putting on a size 6-8 jeans feels amazing!  I now look at food as fuel and nutrition - my body is a temple and I have changed my life for the better! All of the runs, the crunches and the lifting were well worth it. I like the fit women that I see when i look into the mirror but i love that i set my mind to change something I didn't like and even though it was difficult at times, i did it!

There have been many who have inspired me along my journey with their encouragment and motivation! I will forever be grateful for their help along the road. My husband who runs nearly every day has been a constant by my side sometime pushing me beyond what i thought capable.   He is my biggest cheerleader, giving me words of encouragement when i felt the scale or my body was not changing fast enough {he told me recently that my body is more fit than the day i married him}.  

Recently,  i have received emails from friends asking me for advice with getting started.   I hope that my story will be an encouragement to anyone who wants to create their journey and see their dreams become a reality.

One of the most important things to remember when starting out is to know before hand that there will be hard days.  Write down your goals with small steps..I put down small losses as goals, 5lbs, 10lbs all felt great when i could see the goals becoming a reality.  You need to mentally prepare yourself that the scale will not always move each week, in fact some weeks it may go up some.  That was very hard for me. Nothing is more important in this journey than persistence!! You will be tested, you will be tempted to eat the wrong things, you will want to quit, but if you hold on, you will reach goals, and what a day that will be!

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. -Lou Holtz

Where will my Journey take me in 2013?  

I am not finished with my fitness goals, i want to challenge myself with a tri-athelon and some road races.  Something I could only dream about before now seems within reach.  I still have areas on my body that will work hard to tone more.  I am going to join a gym and take classes that are outside my comfort zone - nothing is impossible if i set my mind and work hard.

In the process of becoming fit,  I have added years onto my life and to me that is the best reward! I want to live my life with a passion for making not only the most of each moment - but to make the most of this temple - my body! Today I am taking time to look back and not lose sight of the beautiful transformation that has taken place. 

I will leave you with this.  Every person who has made a change in their life remembers a specific point in time where something just clicked and they knew this was the moment to change.  This is that moment for each of us. Now - today - is the day for change. Forget what happened yesterday and focus on the daily changes you can make that will bring you closer to your goal.

"It is NEVER too late to become what you might have been!" - George Eliot

And a favorite song I listen to while running on my Ipod:

Surprised??!!

So I know what you're all thinking -

"OMG she's finally updating her blog!".

Sorry to dissapoint you all but this is not Cheryl - it's her friend, Dawn. I am hijacking her blog! 

Some of you may know me, I help Cheryl in her classes (usually getting thrown under the bus for something missing from a kit!) (;  

Cheryl and I have known each other for several years. We have alot of laughs together. We come from similar backgrounds and share several things in common: Chocolate, papercrafting, chocolat, Blue Moon, el chocolate, photography, la cioccolata, shopping, schokolade (are you sensing a pattern here?)

We have also shared many adventures. I like to compare us to:

Lucy & Ethel

   

Laverne & Shirley

and

Thelma & Louise

For those who know Cheryl, let's have a little fun! Leave a comment on who you think represents Cheryl the best in each pair. 

I will share some of our adventures as the weeks go by (unless Cheryl changes her password and locks me out!).

I am also going to help her get more kits up on her blog so you can create some of her beautiful projects at home. If you are lucky enough to have Cheryl coming to a store near you, make sure you take a class. If your even luckier and she is teaching close to home then you will get to be entertained by both of us!

In true Cheryl tradition,  I end this post with a quote:

"A best friend is a sister that destiny forgot to give you!"   

Is this thing on?

I know, I know, I am sooo bad at updating my blog ....geesh. Everytime i post i vow to keep up with this little olde blog of mine and then my life gets all crazy and well i don't blog. I have to be honest though finding time to post a quick hello, or where i am teaching, or the "assistants" photos are sooo much quicker on Facebook. So if you want more frequent updates visit me there!  Updating to Facebook is so easy - most days I do it from my phone! 

Now onto some updating - shall we?

Lots of emails asking where i am and where i am going (concerns over my lack of blogging)?I have been home since Christmas {well other than two weeks in California in Jan/Feb}.  I have enjoyed my relaxing time with my family and friends!  The "assistants" are getting soo  big!   They love to watch Toy Story and Monsters, Inc, laughing when i recite a line or two {watched these way too many times}  In fact, they love Toy Story so much i bought them both a talking Woody - which they take to bed on their sleepover nights!  

Here are a few photos from this past weekend!

 

Braeden and Brody....

Serious Brody

Silly Braeden

These two are so fun to be with - they are still not talking much but they do sign to us...and i love that!  They have a whole life ahead to be chatty so i am fine with their twin language until then!

My time home is about to come to an end...i leave Easter night {after moving my oldest son to his new apt} for California for a few days.  I will be bouncing around between 7 states over the next few weeks - coming home for a few days at a time. 

Here are a few of the classes i will be teaching:

Birdhouse altered book is one of my newest dies from Accucut Craft!

I am using the new BG Curio collection with new Petaloo Flowers, May Arts Ribbons and Luminarte paints!

Butterfly Album is another die from Accucut Craft!

This time i am using the new Mable Collection from My Minds Eye, Petaloo flowers,and Luminarte!

Altered Inspired Butterfly Canvas Album uses the new Petaloo flowers, Memory Box stamps, IOD Devotion and Luminarte paints!  A really fun class with lots of techniques!

And the gorgeous new IOD Beach Cottage is the base of this Envelope book!

You can find me here

Cat's Creations - April 27- May 1st {texas}

She Scrapbooks - May 6 & 7th {Florida}

Whole Lotta Scrap - May 12-18 {Oklahoma}

Scrapbook N Such - May 19-21 {texas}

Okay signing off I have a concert to attend - one of my favorites {perhaps you have heard him on my blog?} James Blunt {swoon}at the House of Blues!! And if that is not enough Christina Perri will be prior to him!

Til then keep creating those memories!

Blessings

Cheryl

 

Honey....

As most of you know, ever since the assistants were infants, we have kept them overnight a couple of days a week.  Even with my hectic travel, we still try to maintain this schedule with them. 

Yesterday they arrived for their Thursday sleepover {Tuesday this week as Thursday is their birthday}. After changing them and giving them breakfast, Braeden hugged me and finally called me "Honey" {a name for grammy}. 

Melt.my.heart! 

 

Assistants at the Zoo with Stef!

Last day of August!

It is hard to imagine my life without these two adorable boys.  It is even more difficult knowing they will be turning two in only 9 days, where has the time gone?

I am so focused on remembering everything about their first two years with hundreds, okay thousands of photos of every milestone! This past Summer has been wonderful with my new camera and these two moving so fast I have managed to take nearly 10,000 photos. Yikes!

Here are a few favorites over the past couple of weeks!

 

bye bye!

 

Braeden

Brody

New haircuts!!! Brody looking adorable!

Playing at the beach this past weekend - perfect weather!

These two love the water

 

Grampy making sandcastles...:)


A quiet moment.

And those quiet moments will be getting shorter - these two are starting to talk. Some words this past weekend, brother, momma, boat, ball, thank you, Braeden. 

I am grateful to have enjoyed most of the Summer with these two with only a few weeks of travel.  That being said, my travel schedule is about to take off, so for now i am going to treasure all these great moments over the past few weeks and keep them close while i am away.

I have received quite a few emails to purchase kits -- thank you for your support.  I will be adding some more later today -- be sure to check out my sidebar.  I am also updating all the stores that i will be visiting - thank you for all the requests to teach I am honored!

Have a blessed day!

It is that time of the year!

Love this time of year when all the new scrapbooking products start being released! All the excitement to see each collection and new tools! I am looking forward to the CHA show, so if you are at the show make sure you drop by and say hello - i will be  working for Creative Imaginations demoing in our booth!

I have been busy creating with some of the new products for both Creative Imaginations and Petaloo! And in my spare time {ahem} i have managed to create 3 new dies for Accucut!

The first two are my new Album builder dies and are truly one of a kind! Layer on the shapes for an amazing 3-D effect.

 

This album can be fall or Halloween just by switching out the front layering piece.

 

My second 3-D layering die ~ Snowflake Album!

The album building die series allows you to purchase only the front covers as the inside die {shown below} remains consistent for each of the books. 

And my new "family" tree die that is 3-D as well! The die allows you to layer the top of the tree add little birds! This sample i used Creative Imagination's new wood veneer and ran it through the Tim Holtz bark embossing folder for an even more realistic trunk! I added our new cinnamon brown Luminarte dauber to color the wood and bring out the dimension!

 

 

I can't wait to head off to Chicago and the excitement at the show! 

Marah Johnson and myself will be co-teaching a class using my flower album die and lots and lots of IOD loolah,Christine Adolph Boho Girl, Petaloo's beautiful flowers and the gorgeous luminarte product!

 

The details for this class and others can be seen here.

And I can't leave you without posting some favorite photos of the assistants..

 

Fascinated with the ants....kept them busy for awhile.

 

Brody...:)

Lookout!!

Braeden waving goodbye to Brody!

 

Have a blessed day!

 

July already?

Time is certainly flying by....June went by way too quick.  I love everything about Summer, warm weather, days spent at the beach, spending time with family and friends and cookouts!  In my opinion our Summer Season is far too short, I find myself wanting the days to slow down a bit! 

I am happy to have the ability to enjoy the Summer with my family until the end of the month when my teaching/traveling schedule starts back up!  I always loved reading during the Summer and just finished the book "Prayers for Sale" - loved it and highly recommend it for your Summer read.  Right now I am enjoying "Three Cups of Tea" [was recommended by a friend].  I am a fast reader and was thinking of dusting off that library card of mine and head over to what used to be a favorite hang out for me! snicker...  What are some of your favorite books you are reading this Summer? 

Summer also means that CHA is just around the corner.  I have been creating with some of the beautiful new products that Creative Imaginations will be releasing at the show - look for the sneak peeks on the Creative Imaginations blog later this week! And look for a big announcement and link to our new Petaloo blog! 

Lot of great things planned with some fun challenges, giveaways and sneak peeks of their amazing new products!!

This fourth of July was incredible, we were lucky to have really warm temperatures, and lots and lots of sun!  I love to look over photos from the previous year and came acorss this photo from last fourth of July  - can't believe how much the boys have changed.  They are going to be two this September and have lost their 'baby' look. 

 

July 4, 2009

 

July 4, 2010

More favorites from this past weekend!

 

Braeden telling a tale to Brody {in twin language}

 

The cutest face.....

 

Braeden pointing {which means i am going to take off on you}

 

Brody giving himself a "mudd facial"...

 

Brody has his eye on Samuele's ice tea...

Beach bums!

QOTD:  "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - Things I had no words for". ~ Georgia O'Keefe

Check back soon for some sneak peeks...

Until then, have a blessed day!

I am back!

I am not even going to start this blog post and mention my inability to update my blog...i am just going to move on and write about what makes me happy, hmmmfph!  Those of you that have sent me emails letting me know the # of days since my last post...you crack me up! 

Since March i have traveled quite a bit, Florida, minnesota, texas, oklahoma to name a few.  I enjoy this part of my job so much - creating and meeting fabulous ladies who share the same love of papercrafting! A huge thank you to everyone for their support of my classes.

I am home now until mid July enjoying my family, the beautiful Summer days, my two adorable "assistants" and lots of creating!  CHA is just around the corner so I am working with Creative Imaginations new releases which by the way are FABULOUS!  Last week I sent over some drawings for some new dies with Accucut! Very excited about this release - I just wish i could share some sneak peeks - unfortunately it will have to wait a few weeks as I have been sworn to secrecy!

This weekend I am teaching at Right at home Scrapbooking for their summer retreat getaway! It is hard to believe it has been nearly a year since i have taught at RAH!  I am looking forward to spending some time scrapbooking with friends, demoing our new Luminarte paints, and teaching two classes!  The first class, Inspired traveler uses the new Art Warehouse collection and some fun techniques!

 

My second class, All Things Grow with Love, starts with my new accucut petal flower die, Brand New IOD Loolah Collection and Petaloo's gorgeous flowers!  

 

If you have not visited the Creative Imaginations blog lately then you are certainly missing out! Each month we are offering two prize packages for 2 winners. What do you have to do you ask? Just create either a layout or card {or both} using our card and/or layout sketch using at least 80% CI product and post it in either our June card gallery or our June layout gallery! 

And of course a post is not a post without my two assistants! I received a new camera for my birthday {a beautiful new Canon SLR}, so i have been spending some time learning all the new settings.  Here are a few favorites from Father's Day!

 

One of my favorites from the day.....Brody {left}

 

Braeden taking advantage of his brother ...it backfired a bit. :)

 

3 balls and they have to wrestle for one.

Braeden and his silly faces.

Mirror image?  Love this photo
 

Sweet Brody.....

Have a blessed day!

QOTD:  "Focusing on what we already have and are grateful for right now is one of the most powerful things we can do to alter our life in a positive way." ~ Mike Robbins

Spring is in the Air!

After nearly 10" of rain this past weekend, I am very happy to see some sunshine and warm weather to dry up some of the big puddles...errr small ponds that we have left in New England! 
With 60 degree weather, It feels like Spring and looks like Spring, but I have lived here long enough to know tomorrow can bring 2 ft of snow around here...*sigh*. 

The past few days I have been busy creating some classes for my very full teaching schedule.  With Spring here {unofficially}, Summer is only around the corner.  I couldn't resist creating a new class using Christine Adolph's new Oceana and our new wood veneer.  "Under the Sea" is a fun beach house {about 8-1/2" high} that incorporates all the beautiful blues, corals and greens and a wood roof!! The base of this book was created using the arrow die from accucut as well as several other new accucut releases including waves from my beach pail die!

I will be teaching "Under the Sea" at the following stores, Everything Scrapbook & Stamps in Lake Worth Florida April 9 or 10th {call the store for times} and Scrappy Boutique  in Orlando, Sunday, April 11th.  I will be posting sneak peeks of the others  classes later this week! 

Yesterday was an Accucut shipment day! And guess what was included? My new flower die!

 

 

Just a reminder i will be teaching two classes during the Tim Collins Spring Show in Framingham on Friday, March 26th {open to retailers only}. Here is a sneak peek of the Birthday class below.  I used the CI Studio Basics Birthday Line, new wood veneers and beautiful Petaloo flowers!

 

I will also be teaching for Colorful Creations on Saturday, March 27 - two classes! Classes are getting pretty full....check with the store directly for availability!

Okay off to create...but of course i must post a few photos of the "assistants".

 

Happy Spring everyone!

QOTD:  " A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." ~ George Bernard Shaw