NSC

Means "No Shopping Challenge"!!! Yes, I am really in one, hosted by the wonderful Cindy of WhoGAS. No, I have not stopped spending--we are allowed to buy certain things, like organizing doodads and adhesives. Plus I am still buying class stuff. The biggest thing I want to get out of this challenge is to take some time away from gazing at the shelves in a store to gazing at my own shelves and in my own drawers to assess my "collection".

Cindy really makes it about organizing, advising that we need to think of things in terms of if we will ever use them--how much "in love" with something am I? That will determine whether or not I need to keep it.

For me, some things just aren't going to get sorted as I would like right now--this challenge is only a month long! LOL But I am going to try to change some things in the interest of making stuff easier to use. That's why I bought it, right? To use it? What a concept?!?! LOL

Here are my goals (some are new, some are old):

• Find those stupid black stickers I bought at Scrapbook Oasis like 3 months ago--arrggghhh it so bugs me that I can't find these $1.99 stickers....( I found the ruler & the doodling templates)
  
• Re-org the chipboard letters. I'm moving the foam alphas back to a drawer. That will free up 36 mini drawers in which I will org all my alphas, numbers, and punctuation. I can't wait to see it all in action!!
• Purge the sticker collection-I managed to fit almost all of it onto a Clip It Up (with top extension) tonight plus one large ziploc of extra stickers. It was all in a HUGE rubbermaid tub before...some progress has been made. (Goal for Week One) COMPLETED
  
• Use the stickers in that big Ziploc to make page kits or just use them up
  
• Re-org all my drawers (already sorted by color) so they are more user friendly. And Matt has thrashed them.
  
• Go through my page kits and scrap--I have page kits that have been in there for a couple of years--they need to get done so I can make new ones to scrap new pics.
  
• Pakc and label all the purge stuff to go in the Yard Sale at the Scrapping Lounge on April 19th--I can't wait to get it all out the door!

Off to crop tomorrow, here! I am so excited the WhoGAS crew is coming up to the High Desert this month. We'll take a little field trip to Scrapbook Blvd if everyone is up for it and hopefully we'll get a ton of pages done. Xaver is making carne asada too...yummy!

Here are my BEFORE pics:

Messy Floor:


Messy Drawers:

Messy Shelves:


Messy Room:

A Little Bird's Tale

That's the name of the new paper line for Heidi Grace that is so stinkin' cute I just had to make something with it! Then I saw the new Maya Road tree shaped books...and so here's a class!

This book was just so much fun to make, full of felt, acetate, flowers, Heidi Swapp goodies, bling, and more! " A Little Bird's Tale" mini book class will be at the Scrappin' Table on May 10th -- just call in to sign up at 714-961-8011. Space is limited so don't miss out! (Perfect gift for Mother's Day too)

another little peek....

Monterey In A Day

Yesterday we had to travel to Monterey, CA to settle some unpleasant personal business. We figured, "why waste 12 of hours of driving on yucky unpleasant stuff?" so we packed up the kids and headed off at 4am yesterday!

I had kind of forgotten how long of a drive it is--it is SERIOUSLY long! LOL Xaver and I were both stationed up there at the Presidio when we were in they Army -- that is where we met -- and I used to drive down here to see my parents every few months--I don't remember it being that far!

After several Starbuck's and bathroom stops, we finally got to Monterey at about 1030am and spent a few hours handling the yucky business.

But then, we had a little fun! We went downtown and then tried to remember our way around the peninsula--ALOT has changed in 12 years!! We could not get to Pacific Grove to save our lives because the roads had changed so much--many of them were one way streets now and there were all kinds of new stop lights. It was really confusing!

We finally made it over the hill and to one of our favorite sandwich shops ever--Compagno's!! It is at the back gate to the Presidio and everyone who ever comes to the base knows you just have to eat the chicken cordon bleu sandwich. The mom makes it every day by hand and it is just the most scrumptious thing ever! The store was really empty when we first went there with only a deli counter and a shelf with some chips--now it is packed to the gills with chips, sodas, and loads of military garb and pictures. I even spotted one of my old drill sergeants (and lifelong friends) in a pic! That was too cool.

Xaver and I each got a chicken cordon bleu and Katie and Matt got a grilled ham and cheese. We then took a drive across Asilomar beach and then stopped to eat in the park at Lover's Point. After we ate we walked over to the beach and the kids played a little while. It was Matt's first time at the beach and he had a blast!! Katie got soaked as well--Xaver and I stayed clear because the water was chiiiiiiiiillly!

At about 3pm we headed home -- we all had lots of stuff to do today so we knew we had to get home before midnight.

On the way back home Xaver had to stop and get his pic with this farm worker painting. We saw it on the way up and thought it was pretty hilarious...I'm calling it "Deez Cabbages"...

We had a blast and turned a not-so-fun reason for a trip into a fun trip after all!