Tales From the Bleachers

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

I love a good snow storm, especially when I don't have to go anywhere!  I don't work again until next week so I'm just going to finish up Christmas shopping, most likely online.  Just a few more things to get.  And Kyle is so hard to buy for.  That's who I will be shopping online for!

I'm just finishing up the last of the Christmas decorating here at the Noesen household.  It's taking me longer than I thought.  I'm easily distracted-I think that's the real problem!!

Wanted to share a little project that i made for Sweet Tooth with my favorite Christmas papers from Reminisce, "Santa's Workshop".  I found the little star chipboard book in the dollar spot at Michaels.  Added some stickers and a little bling and it's ready for pictures!

Thanks for looking!  

Now stay warm and dry!!!     

Hawkeye Christmas

Katie and her roommate wanted a Christmas tree.  I managed to find an extra in the basement.  I have several extras to be exact, but this one was just right for them.  4 1/2 feet and pre-lit.  What more could you want??  Ornaments.  Well, this year, I needed every dang one since I have the tree that won't quit growing!!  Still can't get over how much bigger it is here.  But enough, get over it, move on.

She found a couple of dance team ornaments and that gave her the idea for a Hawkeye tree!  I was willing to part with a couple of gold ones, but that was all I could spare.  So a trip to Hobby Lobby was necessary.  And this is the result.

We found some clear glass balls for $2.  Added a little black and gold making memories glitter and swirled that around.  Then we cut 1/4 inch strips out of several Reminisce papers, curled them and stuck them inside the glass balls.  We also added a little black and white curling ribbon.  A little black and white gingham ribbon around the top and 'Viola', we have Hawkeye ornaments!!    They turned out really cute.  Katie was so pleased and adding our hand made ornaments to s few store bought ones, makes for a fun tree.  

The papers that I did use were:

From "French Kitchen":salt and pepper

From "Happy Easter 2009": cheerful dots

                      field of daises

From the "Iowa Hawkeyes" Hawkeye stripe

                                     Go hawks!

Tried to link them to the pages of the papers, but big surprise, it didn't work.

Hopefully, I will get a chance to see it this week.  The girl will be busy!  One more week of classes and she will be a graduate of The University of Iowa!!  And she is walking, on December 19th.  At first, there wasn't going to be a ceremony for winter graduates but they changed their minds.  Looking forward to it:)

Awesome contest from Reminisce!!!!!

Look what Reminisce has to offer now!!!  Incredible contest!!  AND you can use your a;bum as part of your Design Team application.  Go for it!!!!

The $1000 Reminisce Dream Travel Contest

 
DREAM TRAVEL CONTEST 

 

Using our BRAND NEW travel line PASSPORTS create an album of the perfect vacation highlighting the places you dream of visiting or the amazing places you've been to and you could win $1000!!

Reminisce has produced the most comprehensive globe trotting collection ever, PASSPORTS.  Passports collects 72 of the worlds most traveled destinations.  From regions in the US to the top European destinations we researched the most traveled locations around the Globe and bring you a cohesive and easy to use line to highlight all your travels and more!!

CONTEST RULES:

1. Each entry must contain a minimum of 10 PASSPORT destinations in an album format. The size is completely up to you. The majority of products utilized should be Reminisce PASSPORTS, however, additional Reminisce products, cardstock, and minimal outside products may be included.

2. Entries are due no later than January 8, 2010 and winners will be announced January 11, 2010.  Email your entries toinfo@designsbyreminisce.com (Please keep in mind your Dream Vacation Album entry may also be your entry for our 2010 Design Team Contest, but remember those entries are due December 20th.)

3. Be Creative and have fun!! We can't wait to see where you dream of heading next!

 

Grand Prize

$1000 Cash

 

Runner-up

$250 Reminisce Prize Pack

3rd Place

$100 Reminisce Prize Pack

4th Place

$100 Reminisce Prize Pack

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, I know Thanksgiving was four days ago.  I'm just a bit behind schedule, as usual.

Had a truly wonderful Thanksgiving. 

 The usual suspects were here:  All three kids.

 
  My parents (the lighting for this picture was awful-must remember to take pictures while it is daylight!)

 

 my brother, Toby and his boys Michael and Danny. 

Michael and Danny are two of the only six cousins my kids have.  The only two that they regulary see.  They are always excited to see them.  I grew up with lots of cousins and know how much fun they can be.  I wish they had more, but they sure love the ones they have!

Jim and I cooked the usual Thanksgiving feast: turkey and stuffin, which is Jims job.  I bake the apple and pumpkin pies and we each share in the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole.  Nobody has to ask what's for dinner, because it's pretty much the same every year!  If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!  Food was yummy if I do say so myself. 

After dinner was eaten and the kitchen was clean, we sat down for a few games of Dominos.  Such fun and what competition!!!!

 

Not sure who wound up winning, but there was lots of laughter and that's what counts.  but I'm pretty sure Grandma was in the hole the most.  Because she, and I quote "Got stuck with all these friggin points".  The kids were practically rolling on the floor with that one.  Poor Grandma will never live that one down!

But Grandma was pretty excited when she got to talk to her sister via Skype.  Both were a little unsure of it, but I think we'll get them to do it again!

Hope your day was as wonderful as ours was!!
 

  

Happy Monday!

It's a beautiful day here in Iowa.  November 23rd and the high should be near 60 degrees today!  And then a chance of snow on Thursday.  Yep, pretty normal for Iowa!:)

Wanted to share some news from my favorite scrapbook company, Reminisce.  They are now on Facebook, they've introduced a fabulous new travel line, Passports, and they are having a contest with big prizes!!!  Go here to check it out!

  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reminisce/204870800618?ref=mf

(Please work!!)

Okay and now my font has changed.  I can work with this.

Wanted to share some things I've been working on lately.

 

This is a mini album I did using the new "Monsters" line from reminisce.  Cute, cute papers!

 

And this layout features their new "Barnyard Buddies".  LOVE this paper and love the fact that the backside is so versatile.  Just patterns that could be used for anything and everything!  The pictures are of Molly about SIXTEEN years ago at a petting farm in Wisconsin.  She wanted to bring all of the animals home, especially the donkey.  There wasn't room for him in the mini van so he had to stay.:)  She was so cute.  

Looking forward to Thursday.  I'm hoping my nephews will be here.  And of course my parents and brother.  No extras this year, which makes me a little sad.  I always enjoy being mom to the kids who can't make it home for Thanksgiving.  

Getting ready for an interview on Wednesday.  A promotion at work is in the works if I can impress.  Or just not embarrass myself.

Have a great day!!
 
 

Remember Me????

Wow, it's been awhile!!  And typepad sure looks different.  I wish they'd give me a break and quit changing it!!!!

So.  What's my excuse this time:)  Just busy I guess.  Between following my beloved Hawkeyes, working at Talbots and keeping up with Sweet Tooth, this blog has fallen into the neglected pile.  I'm bound and determined to keep up though, because it is fun to go back and relive some times in my life!

The last home football game is this weekend and the weather for it is going to be fantastic.  At least for November!!  Now keeping fingers crossed for a win.  And I think they will do it!  It's been such a fun season to follow the Hawks and win or lose this weekend, I love them and am so proud of how they have represented our state.

I am in the running for a management position at Talbots and have my interview next week.  It will be a part time position and will basically just be a key holder position, but I'm excited.  Now let's hope they like me!!

Shelly and I hosted a Sweet Tooth crop last weekend and had a blast!!!  One of the best groups of women ever!  They made Shelly and I feel so good and that we are doing what we should be doing: creating and providing scrapbookers what they need.  Easy ways to preserve and share their memories and good thoughts. 

Just wanted to share the layout that all guests at the crop received.  It was designed using new product from Jillibean soup papers and fun corrugated alphabet.

Must get ready for work.  Can't be late!!  Wouldn't look good, now would it!
 

Shelly and I will be hosting another crop in November and would love for you to join us!  We will be hosting the event at a beautiful venue in North Liberty-South Slope.  I have posted our flyer with all the info.  Let me know if you have any questions! 

Fall Crop Retreat with Sweet Tooth Scrapbooking     

Mark your calendars for November 13 & 14, 2009!

You are not going to want to miss out on this big event!! We've already pre-registered several guests for this Fall Retreat at previous Sweet Tooth Crops and now it's YOUR turn to get in on all the action!!

Isn't it time for you to relax with your friends? If your house is like mine you've been busy running kids around to their events, helping with family gatherings, and planning vacation-NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. Come and relax in the comfort of friends in a gorgeous surrounding at the South Slope Community Room in North Liberty, IA.This is our Biggest and Best scrapbooking event to date! Save the date to pack up your bags and set off to the best scrapbooking weekend of the year!

What's Included:

• Sweet Tooth Exclusive Crop layout & card kits and a sampling of Reminisce's newest product lines valued at over $50.00
• Friday night dinner from Olive Garden. Lunch on Saturday from the famous Hamburg Inn #2, and pizza on Saturday night. Beverages and Candy provided throughout the weekend. (Vegetarian choices too).
• Make-n-Takes from some of the leading scrapbooking companies
  a chance to SHOP all weekend long from a variety of vendors like Scrapin' Rebels, Creative Memories, Tastefully Simple, Mary Kay Cosmetics, plus others and of course we'll be there with TONS of new kits too!!
• Lots of door prizes
• Saturday morning shop the shelves at our EXCLUSIVE Reminisce Warehouse Discount Sale. (We're bringing the warehouse to you-so no time lost driving to the warehouse!)
• Stock up on the newest releases, and the hottest Reminisce products at fantastic prices.
• Plus, adorable t-shirts commemorating this fun event (Gilden 50/50 in sizes that fit S-3X)

Registration Begins on Sept. 1, 2009 at $99.00
Friday, November 13, 2009 4pm-12 midnight
Saturday, November 14, 2009 10 am-6pm

www.sweettoothscrapbooking.com

Need a hotel? Holiday Inn Express is extending a special rate of $99.90 to our croppers the weekend (regular rates begin at $139.90 a 30% savings). Each room has a mini fridge and microwave and hot breakfast is also included. To receive this rate, call the Holiday Inn Express at 319-625-5000 and ask for the Sweet Tooth Rate. During your stay you may enjoy their indoor pool, whirlpool, 24 hour fitness center, high speed wireless Internet access, and Express Start breakfast which features hot items such as biscuits and gravy, cheddar cheese omelets, sausage patties, and our signature cinnamon rolls. Guests also appreciate additional perks including free passes to local health clubs and discounts at area restaurants.

Adventures with Cindy

Life at our house has been crazy the past six weeks or so, with family things and work so I was REALLY looking forward to getting out of town for a couple of days with my daughter Katie and my friend, Cindy and her daughter, Joanna.  Time to de-stress, relax, sleep in-WRONG!!!!!

My friend Cindy lives in Peoria, so we had planned to meet along I-80 so that we only had one car in Chicago.  Katie and I got off late-no surprise to those who know me-but it was mainly the fault of the DOWNPOUR we were having at the time.  So we head down I-80, 30 minutes behind schedule.  Still POURING (I have to use caps to EMPHASIS how bad the conditions were)we hit construction.  Yuck.  Cindy calls-they are at their location and we are still 45 minutes away.  FINALLY roll into the Flying J truckstop in LaSalle, Il and there they are.  Such good friends!!!!! 

 We pile in my car and we are on our way!!!!!!!  Not so fast.  We are planning to pick up I-39 to the tollway but NO, Cindy (meaning ME) is heading south and not North like she should be.  Were we talking too much?!?!?!  After trucking along for about 20 miles, we make an illegal U-turn and we're on our way again.  Things are going well, not much rain or construction.  Oh and there was the I-pass that I drove through but that's no bid deal, right??  We take our exit to Oakbrook and we are on our way to the mall.  Not so fast.  We are driving along in a soft rain, in stop and go traffic and have you figured out where I'm going with this???  BUMP!  And that's all I'm going to say because our insurance companies are still chatting.

Finally we are at Oakbrook and we see Nordstrom in the distance.  All is right with the world again.  For the most part at least.  Because we are now about 3 hours behind schedule, we power shop for a couple of hours and then head downtown to our hotel to get ready for dinner and Second City Comedy Club.  We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard on E. Ontario and I highly recommend it.  Clean and great customer service.  While in line at Starbucks a young lady overheard us discussing where to have dinner and she suggested a place called Big Bowl.  Excellent mandarin food!!  And really good drinks:)

The food was so good and the nice manager, on hearing it was our first visit, sent over a complimentary appetizer.  Something with mushrooms that Katie actually shared!!

Here are my friend Cindy and Joanna.

If you are a watcher of Monday Night Football, you will probably get a glimpse of this young lady.  She is a member of the three time National College Dance Team from Tennessee and they were asked to perform the dance for Monday Night Football.  Joanna even choreographed most of the dance herself.

After dinner, we grabbed a cab (no Bone Collector driver, thank goodness) and headed to the show.  I had seen Second City before but the others hadn't.  They weren't thrilled with our seating arrangement.  Just a tad cozy.  I ordered the girls this and it helped a bit:)

It was mostly ice.

The show was HILARIOUS!!!!  And very naughty!  The 12-14 year old boys next to use I'm sure heard things they've never heard before.  Or maybe they had, but the woman with them was mortified.  Don't think she got the memo on the content of this show.  Fun evening!

Got a early start to shopping the next day and really had a nice time.

  The weather was hot but sunny and breezy.  Customer service was great in every store we were in and we were in a lot!!  I bought a jar of face cream and Katie got the rest!  We were worn out and really enjoyed out lunch at where else, The Cheesecake Factory.  Here are the girls waiting for their table.

But, like all good things, it had to come to and end.  And we took a shorter route to LaSalle.  Even though we had a very bumpy start to the trip, we had a great time.  I just hope it isn't another year before we can do it again!

New Reminisce Projects!!

I had fun creating new projects for the newest Reminisce lines: Christmastime, Safari, Trick or Treat and my favorite, Autumn Forest.  There are one more Halloween line and one more Christmas line you should be sure to check out.   I love the glittery paper and stickers and the chipboard stickers are covered with foil.  Love it!!

Don't you just love my cats!!  This layout uses lots of the new Safari line.  Can't wait to print off lots of the pictures I took when Katie and I went to the Omaha Zoo last month.

My little hippie, Molly about 10 years ago!  The Trick or Treat line has lots of fun paper and stickers and I especially love the 3-D stickers they have.  And they also have a awesome laser cut Haunted House-I think you need one!

Last, but not least, a project with my favorite line-Autumn Forest.

You HAVE to check this line out!!  They have the cutest little animals.  Baby deer and squirrels!  And I love the colors.  Fall colors are my favorite.

This past weekend we moved both girls out of their apartments.  I'm still sore.  And our garage is full.  And we have Kyle and Alex here for a couple of weeks.  Their apartment situation didn't work out so they are still looking.  And sleeping on the floor, which really distresses me.  So I think I will be making a trip to Target tomorrow after work to buy some type of mattress.  Or maybe Bed bath and Beyond.

It's late and I work in the morning.  Gotta get that beauty sleep!! 

I'm not a good blogger

I'm finally taking the time to update my blog.  I will confess that I feel like I can't post unless I have a picture or two, but how many pictures of my kids and my pets does anyone really want to see.  But then I remembered, this blog is for me.  So get ready for more pictures of my kids and pets!!

Life has been crazy in the six weeks or so since I last posted.  Katie and I took a quick trip to Colorado to look at the University at Boulder.  She's thinking Grad school and would love to go there.  I would love to follow her if she does, but thinking the hubby might not want to leave his job right now!  We had a good trip, saw some beautiful country and had some AWESOME meals.  We ate every one of them outside, which was great.  No pictures right now.  I'm working with a new computer.  I have a MacBook Pro and haven't put too many pictures on it yet.

I've had a birthday and an anniversary in the past few weeks.  I'm 50 now and I don't like it.  I've been married 29 years and I do like that:)

Jim's mom passed away on the first of July.  Very sudden and totally unexpected.  Very sad for Jim.  He was very close to his mother.  Boys are like that I think.  And it's pretty neat.  We spent quite a bit of time in Dubuque and saw a lot of his family that we rarely see.  That was really nice.  She was one of 13 siblings and the ones that are still with us are a really close bunch.  Our time with them was sad, but good if that makes sense.

This is Jim and I with his Uncle Bernard and wife Lori.  They are such a great couple.  They had just been in Iowa City two weeks before Mary passed and we had a great dinner with them and our girls.  Now aren't you impressed that I actually have a picture on my new computer and I was able to upload it.  Patting myself on the back!!

Well, what do you know, a picture of my kids:)  Why does my son insist on buzzing his head?????  He is so good looking with hair.  Good looking without it, but I'd really like to see him grow it just a bit.  They were a great support to their dad and I think they really enjoyed meeting family.  At first, they looked like deer in the headlights.  Imagine seven siblings and their families descending on you all at once!  It is a bit overwhelming but good.

Last weekend Sweet Tooth and Reminisce hosted a crop at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville.  We had a GREAT time!! We had some regulars and some new folks and they all couldn't have been nicer.  That is what I miss the most about Reminisce the store.  I miss the people and love when we can have these crops and they all come!!

Here's a bunch of the gals getting ready to ride the carousel.  It was part of the Bingo game we played, plus there was a free coupon for it!!  I was the proud mom, watching and waving:)

Reminisce has some great new lines coming out and I've had the chance to play with them!!  I don't have the pictures of my projects on this computer yet, but I do have a couple of layouts I did with the Under the Sea collection.

Okay, it's late and the cat won't stay off my lap!  I don't want cat hair in it so i'm signing off.  It won't be six weeks this time.  I'm sure you can't wait!!