It's been awhile!

SORRY!!! I feel so bad it's been a month since I last updated!! Being summer, lots of things have been happening on the home front.

First off to LA to see my brother, Dave, and picked up my mom who stayed with us for a month. Both live in Japan. Bonus: an international school get together was happening that weekend in LA! Saw classmates that I haven't seen since high school graduation (let's just say over 25 years but who's counting - HA!

Then, Craft & Hobby Assoc. (CHA) Conference & Trade Show...

My oldest son is learning to drive! WAHHAA~! He's enjoying it. It's another step towards growing up...look at that happy face! Hold on to your wallet, dear dad (aka insurance rates)! LOL!!

My mom and my brother, Dan, with his family for a VERY short visit with us. His boys were in summer camp here in the U.S. and were leaving from Chicago O'Hare the next day. My mom left the day after for Japan too :0(

Manufacturers' Events at Scrapbook News and Review Magazine has started but prepping for them has been hectic to say the least. So far, they have featured four - I have been fortunate enough to design for three of them :0) Lots of work and planning behind the scenes, I appreciate the leaders, organizers and the MI admin. for all the hours they put into it. We just had a SRM Press Inc. Event - amazing sticker manufacturer yesterday. Go take a look yourselves BUT IT WILL BE THERE FOR A LIMITED TIME (I think until next Wednesday, the 24th) so look NOW!!

Door County Wisconsin Vacation! Hosho decided to take us to Door County (only two days' notice - YIKES!) and he made all the arrangements! After a hectic few months, he thought the family needed a break (esp. ME!). I have a great DH but I'm bias! HA!! This was a sunset night at Egg Harbor WI. So peaceful and relaxing - loved it!!

Next adventure...the first day of school! I have two high schoolers now and they are on the same schedule this year! Our town has two school districts: one for elementary schools/junior high schools and the other is just high schools. Can you imagine trying to get the right kid to school while the other has a day off?! LOL!!

Are you still with me? OK as a reward - next post (give me a few days - lol!!) will be a giveaway so stay tuned!!

Playing Catch Up!

WHOA~! Quite the absence...sorry! Two BIG reasons: CHA and MOM! What a combo! LOL!!

CHA:

Spellbinders™ and Edgeabilities®!! SO EXCITED about these die templates and I will let the lovely ladies give you all the 411. SO MUCH to tell so they divided them into three segments.



If you can't see it, click on Edgeabilities: Revealing the Secret link.



Again, if you cannot see it, click on Spellbinders Edgeabilities Mix "n" Match link.



If you can't see the video, please click on Edgeabilities How To Techniques link.

MOM:

SO with all this excitement going on, I had to cut out and go to LA last weekend (coming and leaving with the ROYAL COUPLE...well, our timing was the same! Thank goodness, traffic was NOT a problem for me).

My brother had business in CA/TX and brought my mom with from Japan. We wanted her out of the heat and in safer air so she's staying with me in Chicago for a month. I just had to pick her up in LA!!! I had a total of a day and a half so we made the best of it. Once I touched down, we hit one of the shopping areas in the South Bay area and had dinner in Torrance. The next morning, we were off to The Getty Center (fondly called The Getty) for a few hours. If you haven't been, OMGosh...it's beautiful!!!

Some of the buildings and BLUE skies!

My brother, Dave, and MOM!!

From the third level, you see this garden...looks like a postcard!

Afterwards, we dropped mom off at the hotel to rest and the sibs went to an international school gathering in Torrance to see some friends that I haven't seen in 20+ years!!! WOW!

All the American School In Japan (ASIJ) alumni that attended the party
(one in front doesn't count! LOL!)

My classmates!! Miss them already! xo

So jammed packed and that's what has been keeping me busy and off the streets! HA!

Hope you all are having a wonderful week! Those of you going to CHA, come visit me!! I'll be at TaDa Creative Studios' Booth #1315 from 11am to 1pm (Tue & Wed) doing a cute MnT :0)

TaDa Updates!!

Just announced on TaDa Creative Studios Blog that they will participate in Creating Keepsakes FaceBook event tomorrow!! What event - CK's 40K Fan-Fare Party! They are celebrating their reaching over 40,000 fans - isn't that amazing?! WOW! Of course, there will be some giveaways - yes, TaDa will be participating in that department! LOL!!

To participate, you need to go to Creating Keepsakes FaceBook page for details, and then become a fan of TaDa Creative Studios FaceBook page. Easy Peasy!! Good luck~!

Another annoucement - CHA!!!!!!!!!

TaDa Creative Studios will be exhibiting their newest releases at the Summer 2011 Craft & Hobby Assoc. (CHA) trade show (BOOTH #1315) and we (the DT) are so excited to get our hands on them!!!!!!!! WOOHOO~! We have an idea of what it will be coming down the pipes BUT we haven't seen them yet.

So we will be just as excited as you will be starting on July 1st!! Mark your calendar to visit TaDa Creative Studios Blog - OK?!