About Memories & More

Trying something new...

June 1st.  Can you believe it?  Summer is my most favorite time of the year...and it's here!  I love the longer days...the warm weather...even the hot weather...I love the flowers blooming & the fact that it's time to have a garden again...I love Movies on the Square (downtown)...I love that it's light out when I walk before 5 am...ahhhh, sweet summer! 

Unfortunately, my to do list is longer than ever.  I have housework out the wazoo....dusting?  You should see the creative way the spiders have been making webs at my house....is it such a bad thing to consider them art?  And I've been pulling weeds to the point where I can barely move...yet they keep sprouting up...so I've decided that the start of a new month should be the start of a new plan...kinda like when you go on a diet....but hopefully successful!  It's so simple, too.  I'm setting a timer for all the projects I want to accomplish.  See, I turn on the computer to do my blogging...catch up on my favorite websites...and the next thing I know, it's time to get in the shower & get to work because I'm going to be late.  Every day.  No more.  Now I'm setting the timer on the stove for 30 minutes to do something so not fun but needs to be done.  This morning it was weed pulling...and then gave myself 45 minutes for blogging & surfing the internet (it's like eating a donut after taking a stroll around the block...probably not so productive, but sounds good!)  When that dinger goes off I'm off to get ready for work...where a whole 'nother set of issues begins.  I have lots to do at work but I seem to drop everything the second I get an email.  So today, I'm not going to check my email constantly...I'm going to close Outlook....I'll pick a random time to check it...ONCE.  And then once more before I come home.  I know.  Doesn't sound like much, but the thought of not having it on...well, it's frightening.  And let's not even talk about Facebook...not for me, today, thank you.  Let's see if I get my ever expanding to do list done...

How do you keep on task?  How do you get it all done?  Do you let the dust just pile up?  The weeds grow so tall it looks like wilderness?  How often do you check your email?  Facebook?  Leave me a comment & let me know what works for you (and what doesn't) and I'll randomly choose a winner...for a grab bag of scrapbooking stuff.  I'll pick a winner Wenesday, June 3rd at noon.  How's that for random?

By the way, on my to do list today is to post photos of the June classes.  They're up at the store...the schedule is post on the website here...I just haven't gotten the photos taken.  Gotta run...time is ticking!

Color Suggestions & a Giveaway

My house needs new paint...very badly.  I can help you pick out fantastic paper to match your photos, help you create layouts you'll love, create fabulous cards.  But picking a paint color for my house?  Difficult for me.  Very.

See the buckled paint next to the door?  And running down the side of the house?  That's thanks to some serious drainage issues this winter.  And those shake shingles on the side?  Hate them.  Always have.  And when the shingles come off, the shutters have to be replaced.  We painted the house a few years ago, but didn't use the best paint.  It's actually a little embarrassing.  We got this paint from Kelly Moore (I think) that's called Rhino.  Rhino is paint that is created from all the paint that gets returned.  They mix it up in a big vat, pour it into 5 gallon buckets, call it Rhino & sell it dirt cheap.  It's not a bad color...but it didn't last (and it was full of all this lumpy stuff & my brother was NOT happy with us for choosing it).  So.  Here we are.  Needing a paint job.  And my husband wants to get more Rhino...but from the City Landfill.  Did you know they mix all the paint that people recycle into their very own color & give it away.  Um, no.  So you need to help me.  Please?

Here's the front of my house.  My roof shingles are black & my gutters are white.  The windows are white, too.  And yes, I realize I need to do some serious yard work.  I'll get to it.  Someday.  Remember, the shake shingles have to go.  Man I hate them. 

To inspire you to help me out we'll have a little give away.  Leave a comment with a link to the color combo you think I should use (house & trim).  I'm a visual girl.  I need photos.  You can post them on your blog...send me to a link you found online...whatever.  You have until the end of the day, Tuesday, March 31st to post your entry.  And you can post more than one link.  I'll choose the color combo I like the most & that person will win a Remake Mat Pad from K & Company:

 
These pads are made from recycled paper & I love them!  They are a print on one side & a solid on the other...VERY versatile!  (And the 12x12 pads are what I have at home to scrapbook with because they give you 2 colors on every sheet...the 12x12 are solids...love that!)

Something you should know about me in advance.  I hate yellow.  Not in a million years will my house be yellow.  So if you'd like a chance to win a fabulous Remake Mat Pad, you won't send me yellow combos, because you won't win.  I won't pick you.  Even if you think, oh, she'll love THIS yellow.  No.  I won't.  Promise.

There could be more than one winner.  I could love a lot of the combos.  Let's see what you come up with!

Edited to add:  anyone can enter!  My best friends, my favorite niece, my sister in law...anyone with a good idea...I won't pick you because I love you, only the colors I like will win :)  So no yellow.

600th post

600 posts.  Can you believe it?  I can't believe I've had enough to say that I've written this many!  Funny thing is, now I dream about blog posts...think about them when I'm at the grocery store...you're lucky I don't post all that I'm thinking!  Here's a link to my very first blog post ever.

In honor of 600 blog posts, I'd like to have a random giveaway.

Post a comment telling me one thing you'd really like accomplish this year.

That's it.  Nothing deep...you don't have to jump through any hoops...just post something that you'd really like to accomplish this year.  Maybe you want to organize all your photos...or maybe you want to lose 10 lbs...or maybe you want to go skydiving.  Whatever it is, there is no wrong answer.  You have until midnight on Thursday night 3/12 to post your comment.  A random winner will be chosen & will receive a free Midnight Madness for you & a friend (worth $24).  How cool is that?

And me?  What would I like to accomplish this year?  I'd like to find balance.  At work.  At home.  In my checkbook.  In my scrapbooking (thus the challenge pages...there's only so much time for masterpieces).  With exercise.  So many things to balance, so little time.  But now that I've typed it...it'll be on my mind & that's a good thing.

Thanks for reading all I've had to say since January 2007! 

QuicKutz $1000 Sweepstakes Giveaway!

Ok.  This is AWESOME!  QuicKutz has authorized us to have a $1000 product sweepstakes giveaway...can you believe that?!  Now I bet you're wondering how you can enter this AWESOME sweepstakes, aren't you?  It's SO easy!  For every $10 in purchases between January 23rd and February 5th you'll receive an entry into the drawing...and for every item you purchase that is QuicKutz, you'll receive an extra entry...yes, you read that right! Spend $50 in the store & get 5 entries...spend $50 on QuicKutz & get 10 entries...see how that works?  You can also earn a ticket by signing up for our email list and updating your mailing address.  So make sure to verify our information before you leave (it's a free ticket, why not?)

So what exactly is QuicKutz?  It's a personal die cutting system.  We have 3 types of tools in stock:  the Squeeze, the Revolution and the Silhouette.  The Squeeze cuts shapes that are on 2x2 dies.  Dies range from $6.99 for single cut shapes to $12.99 for double cut shapes (it takes two dies to make the shape you're after).  And the Squeeze comes with an alphabet for $25 (it retails for $90).  Not a bad deal!  The Revolution (my FAVORITE) cuts everything QuicKutz makes for dies.  It retails for $100...we have it for $80.  There is an extra long 12" inch platform for cutting borders & the new 4x8 alphabets.  That platform makes your Revolution invaluable...you can cut around a dozen letters at a time...LOVE it!  And last but not least is the Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter.  It's similar to the Cricut, except that you hook it to your computer & it will use what fonts you've already got on there...you don't buy cartridges but you can buy digital downloads.  I have several customers who have it & LOVE it (maybe you ladies would like to leave a comment here so everyone knows how cool it is).  The Silhouette retails for $370, but we have it for just $175.  (it does not work on mac, sorry!) If you have any questions, just ask!

Here's the scoop:  one winner will receive the entire $1000 sweepstakes prize.  The winner will select their $1000 worth of product from a list provided by QuicKutz (it's 10 pages long...there's a LOT to choose from!).  QuicKutz will ship the items to you directly.  We will draw at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 5th.  You must be present to win.  And to thank you for coming, we'll have a fun little shindig for you all!  You'll have a chance to earn extra tickets & we'll tell you all about what I found at the trade show I'm headed off to.  Plus, you'll get to see the new store...which ROCKS!

The fine print:  You must be present to win.  Sorry, but I want to see the person who wins!  Tickets will not be given for previous purchases.  Only purchases made 1/23-2/5/09 will be eligible for tickets.  You can use coupons...you can use discounts...but tickets are handed out based on the final total.  No fighting or whining or I'll take your tickets away :)  Can you dig it?

PS We have TONS of QuicKutz in stock, but if we don't have something you're looking for, we'll order it.  Payment in full is required to order it.

Closed Mondays & a Totally Random Contest

And the winner of the totally random contest is....HollyPK!  Holly, shoot me an email about when you'd like to use your FREE Midnight Madness in September at aboutmemories@safeaccess.com.  Congratultions!  Who knew you had such a Pirate streak in you...you're so quiet... 

"In reality, as an acknowledged neat freak, I’d organize my sock drawer, clean under the fridge, deadhead the garden, and take an extra long walk around Kachina Village checkin’ out the neighbors’ yards.
In fantasy, I’d do something totally meaningless and frivolous. For instance, as a fan of Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean, I’d sew myself a ‘Jacqueline’ Sparrow costume, and plan a fab Halloween costume party where I could trounce around in my skirts and boots, swill rum from a label-less bottle, makin’ toasts like, “Take all ye can, give nothin’ back,” and “Here’s luck,” and “Shiver me timbers.” Something like that, that would make my husband say, “Where’s my sensible practical Holly, and what have you done with my wife?”

Posted by: HollyPK | August 30, 2008 at 07:01 PM"

Ah, the sweet smell of fall...with the changing seasons come changes at About Memories and More.  Doesn't that sound all serious?  Well, actually, just one change and it's not even serious.  Beginning Monday, September 1st, we'll be closed on Sundays and Mondays.  I know.  It's a terrible thing to do to you all.  But I had the sweet taste of 2 days off...in a row...when we tried this back in the winter and frankly, I just can't get it out of my head.  I cannot tell you how excited I am to be able to  have some time to myself...I love you all, I REALLY do!  But I'm coming up on 7 years of 6 day work weeks and, well, I'm beat.  Plus, our house will be EMPTY from 7:30 to 2:00...just me to work on whatever I choose...at the moment, my lofty goal is to REALLY CLEAN one room in my house each Monday...we'll see how long that will last...and then there's the scrapbooking I'd like to do for my family...and blogging (that won't stop)...or maybe I'll just watch movies all day & eat bon bons...who knows? 

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself
with a free day all to yourself?

Leave a comment & I'll give a free Midnight Madness in September to a random winner...but post it by Sunday 8/31 at midnight.  I'll announce the winner when I blog on Monday (I love blogging by the way, and doing in the peace & total quiet of my own home, well, that's priceless.)

Ooohhhh....and maybe I can have lunch with a friend now & again!  How sweet would that be?!  Sorry, totally random, my mind is wandering to all the possibilities!

If you come by on Monday & we're closed, we'll I'm sorry about that.  It kills me that you'll leave disappointed, but I hope you'll come visit us again Tuesday thru Friday 10-6 and Saturdays 10-4.  Everything else is staying the same...we still have a PACKED Fall Class Schedule (which I will have printed & ready for you this afternoon).  We even have almost all of the September classes up & ready for you to check out at the store...I'll post photos soon!

And bear with me a few more days...I need to change the voicemail at the store, but currently, I sound like a phone sex operator (not that I have any idea what that sounds like)...and really, I don't think that's the image I'm trying to project on my business.  But as soon as my voice is back to normal I'll take care of it.  If you notice some other random place I forget to change, just let me know.  I really just decided this a few days ago, although I've been agonizing over it for months.  Blog headers take time to change...gotta go take another stunning photo...Oooohhhh, I'm going to go to Buffalo Park right this very minute & get a photo of those lovely, but deadly sunflowers....gotta go!

A little giveaway...

Congratulations,  to kimbrygc!  You were chosen by random.org as the winner of our Bo Bunny giveaway.  Email me & we'll make arrangements for you to pick up your packet. Thanks everyone for posting!  Great ideas out there!  If you'd like to see what people had to say, just click on the comments under this post.

Oh, yeah, I promised to post my favorite scrapbook inspiration...well, it has to be you all!   I see the most beautiful photos & the most beautiful pages every single day.  Your stories inspire me.  Whether they're happy or they're sad...I am thrilled to see how YOU preserve your memories.  When you come & show them to me I am just so proud of you all!  And happy you chose to share with me, too!  You gals are AMAZING!  If I had to pick a publication I like, right now it's Page Maps.  There are TONS of brilliant page ideas in that book, just TONS!  But Ali Edwards will be dear to me always.  Her Life Artist book changed the way I think about scrapbooking & my life, truth be told, in the most postitive of ways! 

Have a lovely day!

I'm in the mood to be givin' somethin' away.  How about some new Bo Bunny My Darling papers?  Isn't this just darling paper...I know, cheesy , but it's very cute paper!

One sheet of each to the randomly drawn person who answers this question:

What is your favorite source of scrapbook inspiration? 

Post the name of the specific publication, person or website in your comments.  Winner will be randomly chosen on Monday, August 18th at noon.  Now don't be afraid to comment.  It's really easy!  Promise!  All you gotta do is click on the comment button under this post & leave a comment.  Your email address won't show, it just lets me contact you a little easier when you win!  (Just one comment per person, please)  You never know what you might find when you click on the comments.  Could be the little nugget of gold you've been searching for all along!  And when I post the winner, I'll tell you what my favorite inspiration is!

Ta-ta for now.  Sherry & I are off on a scrapbooking adventure in Payson, AZ called The Chocolate Retreat.  It's put on by Paper Metal Scrappers.  I met one of the owners a few weeks ago & she invited us to come along for the ride.  We're SO excited!    I emailed Sherry to make sure we're not eatin' clean this weekend.  Would be entirely too difficult while surrounded by chocolate & cute rodeo cowboys...oops...did I just say that?  It is rodeo weekend down there after all.  Come on, who doesn't like to check out a cute cowboy now & again?