French inspiration.

Sort of. =)

I've been seeing occasional updates from Heidi Swapp's facebook status as she's been enjoying an amazing adventure in Paris. I doubt I'll ever get there in my lifetime, so it's been even more fun to click through her pictures and enjoy it through the computer screen.

I happen to be a BIG FAN of anything pastry, and the crepes and other delicious food in Paris just got me inspired. So yesterday I pulled out my recipe for cream puffs and then whipped some cream, filled them with pistacio pudding and drizzled Hershey's Special Dark chocolate over them and we all enjoyed our French Inspiration.

I doubt they tasted anything like what we'd find in Paris, but they were tasty nonetheless and they were eaten so quickly I didn't even take a picture. {The photo you see above is from xtheowl on flickr.com. } My sudden urge for cream puffs just happened to be the perfect way to "celebrate good grades" that my kids brought home on their report cards too. I never like to miss an opportunity to let them know we're proud of their effort and hard work.

Poor Wyndham though. She's been sick all week with some sort of tummy bug. She's keeping liquids down fine, eating little bits of food- like crackers and milkshakes, but wasn't up for a cream puff with the rest of us. She's still not herself today and we're really hoping she perks up soon. It's no fun to see her in tears and unable to tell us how she feels. But I'm sure we'll whip up some more cream puffs when she gets back on her feet and is ready for a treat. She will have earned hers for sure!

This has nothing to do with me...

...except that I have a fondness for Heidi Swapp. This is her cousin, Kristy Glass, who somehow managed to get all the beauty and talent that has escaped me in this lifetime, and she is in the midst of trying to 'win' a contest to be the host of a show called "Real Saavy Moms". Now that's a show I could actually see myself watching!

Anway, she needs lots and lots of votes to win this fun opportunity. So, while I do not know her, I would love to have her fair skin and beauty, and most of all her good fortune of being in the same family as Heidi Swapp. =)

For the simple joy of getting in on 'her game', I am posting a link which you can follow and then vote for Kristy, as well as find out more about the contest she's in and the show she hopes to be hosting in the near future. You can vote each day, until April 20th.

Now I will get back to thinking about what I really want to say. =)

Box of happiness~

I apologize to my non-scrap readers today...and most likely to my 4 male readers too. This post is all about scrap-stuff, "Swappy stuff" in particular, because fankly, it makes me happy.
I've been smitten by Heidi Swapp's products for a little over a year now, and especially so, since I start actually scrapping back in early May of last year.
Here's some 'shameless' Swapp promotion from me today, because I really think this story needs to be shared with other scrappers. I personally really like Heidi Swapp and all she stands for, and her desire to keep her life balanced. She's a role model for many of us, I think. And so energetic and stylish to boot. I was happy to get in on a recent limited edition scrap kit that she offered through her website/blog. I ordered the 'Birthday Girl' kit and some extra tape rolls, and was so excited to open my box of goodies when they came about a week later.
I started pulling out the contents and realized after about the third item, that something wasn't "right". Turns out that I got the kit and about 8 other items...which I hadn't ordered....and was missing the extra tape kits. I called Advantus- which is the company that handles Heidi Swapp's products...and was treated so great by the customer service lady. She told me she would figure out the whole thing...and by the next afternoon, she called to apologize {more than once} and told me that my tape rolls would be shipped out ASAP and to keep the rest of the products for my inconvenience.
Basically, I ended up getting an extra $25 dollars of product for the additional shipping cost- which was about $6.00 more than I was supposed to pay on my original order. Of course I was 'happy' about this little inconvenience, and just had to pass this on to all my scrap bloggers. I am sticking by my love of all things Heidi Swapp, and now owe her parent company, Advantus, a thank you. For their great customer service, for their desire to make things right, and for their timeliness in making that happen. It seems that too many times, at least in my experience, that customer service is often where companies 'fall short' in the eyes of consumers. {Just ask me about being inconvenienced by airline companies, particularly Northwest Airlines, if you really want to get me going on that subject!}, but it's true. Most businesses seem to make the customer have to bend over backwards to get a resolution for whatever the problem is. I just want to applaud Advantus (Heidi Swapp's line espcially) and say thanks for making me a 'more than happy' customer in the end.
And now for a little more 'scrap talk'...
I got a prize package in the mail (Thanks, Lainie!) from a scrap challenge I *won* last week at "ScrapHappy". Go stop by that blog for some lighthearted challenges and scrap insights. Of course, be warned, you are pitting yourself against me at times if you take on the challenges! =)
Also, keep your eyes and ears posted for any information that I leak here about Scrap In Style TV. In the last 24 hours, I've been getting acquainted with the *masterminds* behind this concept/website/show, as well as getting to know most of the other talented design team members. It's been a riot to post messages, answer questions, and 'see' the personalities of all of us come out in our message board setting.
Can I just say that I think we are all in for a treat?! Scrappers or not...this is something you are going to want to see! My biggest fear is that Chip is going to yank me off of this Design Team before I hardly get started, simply because I am having so much fun on the message board with all the other crazy ladies!
I'm telling you. If I had known scrappers and all the products could be SO MUCH fun, I would have gotten in on it 10 years ago. Still, I'm not going to be miffed about all the fun I missed out on all these years...I'm just gonna have 10 times more fun NOW- just to make up for lost time. =) I see nothing wrong with that.
There you go. A little Swappy love and scrap talk here today. Just for sticking it out, I may have Chip 'guest blog' here in the next day or two. Maybe he can give you all some hot golf tips or divulge some 'real dirt' on me. =) You wouldn't want to miss that!

"Playtime"...

Okay. First I have to clarify the whole 'GOD' on the Starbuck's cup from yesterday. Seems more than a few of you had questions about that. It really does say, "GOD"...but that's because I wrote it there when I got home. You know me. I just never know when I might scrap a page or use a little 'inspiration' like that cup for something. So, I took the opportunity to write God on the cup because it was so true for me. As much as I enjoyed my latte yesterday, it was the reality of God's presence that gave me the 'boost' I needed in my life at that time. Sure, the espresso did it's thing, but it was the time I spent connecting with God, and not only reading the Bible, but I really felt Him guiding me to things He wanted me to read and understand. That's what I meant by God showing up at Starbuck's. I just think it's a great idea for us to really notice Him at times. Since His presence was so obvious to me, I just added Him to my cup! I think maybe more people should take a 'shot of God' in their cup each day. Just think of the implications of thousands of people 'drinking in' God before work starts, or as they drive down the expressway on their morning commute. I wouldn't mind hanging around the watercooler if all my coworkers had gotten their "God-fix" already. So, that was that, and I just wanted to make sure everyone was clear on that post. {Good thing I've got the comments turned back on for that, huh?!}
I have to share some photos from today. Wyndham drew a cute little figure all by herself. I've been noticing that she is drawing more and more pictures, shapes and letters that I can decipher. It's so great to see that emerging. I know she's got so much inside she would love to get out if only her brain would cooperate with her desires more. It's all a part of her life as a result of her head injury, and the amazing thing to me each and everyday is how much she takes life in stride- even though I really believe she wishes she could do more much of the time. She doesn't let it discourage her though, and I am very fortunate to be able to say that. Many parents and families struggle with kids who have severe behavioral and emotional issues in addition to the gross and fine motor skill delays. We just keep loving Wyndham the way she is; we keep pushing her as much as she tolerates with therapy and school, and in the end, we are blessed to see progress little by little. I just have been so proud of her taking the initiative and expressing herself in small ways- like with this MagnaDoodle. She loves when we praise her for her efforts- there's nothing I love more than seeing her face glow from her accomplishments! She's earned everybit of our 'gushing' at times. =)
The next picture is Bella posing with a box of "prizes" I just got in the mail from Sizzix. They sent me an email and I got to create a wishlist and then they mailed out the product as a belated congrats for being a finalist in the Creating Keepsake's SOY contest. I don't know who was more excited to see the things in this box- Bella or me. I had her take a picture of me doing a little "Elsie-thing" for all the die-hard scrappers that read this. =) Now I get to learn and play with a new die-cutting machine and some of their fun products. I picked a cupcake/ice cream cone set for one of my selections...and Bella was all over that one. She wants to make lots and lots of cupakes now. I'm sure we'll have something scrappy to show you in the next couple of days. God and Starbucks and new scrap products and cupcakes. Yep. All is well in Nitty.Gritty. Land. today. Next thing you know Heidi Swapp is gonna drop by! {I'm joking...just so you don't start leaving me some crazy, excited comments wondering why Heidi is coming to my house. =)} I suppose I could use a shot of "her" in my next real Starbuck's. That'll be sometime next month, by the time I get another morning off. =)
Oh. One more thing. I don't want to forget this, and I almost did already, so I'm noting this for myself here...but it's cute, so you can read it too. I said to Isabella yesterday as she was trying to get a cup out of the cupboard, "Why don't you just ask me for help?". To which she replied, "I did. In my own mind." I think that's how I treat God sometimes. I know I need His help, but I sometimes forget that I need to actually ASK for it sometimes. And yes, He does know what I'm thinking or what I need...but sometimes He's just waiting for me to recognize my own inabilities and weaknesses and say it outloud to Him. It's amazing how much I learn from my kids.

My "process" and a peek at my mess. =)

I can't blame my kids for all the chaos around my house. Here's a glimpse at my scrap room/playroom, and as you can see I'm in the middle of a little project. Just playing around and having fun- using some of my Heidi Swapp goodness. =)
If after reading my previous entry you got the picture of me sitting in a corner with my Bible, praying and singing hymns, I apologize for that. While it's true that I read my Bible regularly and have daily quiet time and I try to squeeze in some meaningful worship too, it's not like I am out of touch with the world around me- as if I live in a monestary or something. {Which I think would be an enjoyable thing to do for a couple of days sometime....}
What I was trying to say is that I make time for things that are important to me and the way that I function best. I never watch television (or very rarely watch tv...my kids watch plenty of kids' programming) and I admit that I spend a lot of time on my computer, however, I still manage to stay on top of most of my day to day activities. I work around my blogging much of the time, and will do other things at the same time. Like empty the dishwasher or change a diaper while my photos upload. Or I browse magazines (I have Rachael Ray's open next to me right now)or even glance at the newspaper. I find that there are things we all do each day, and I am learning to 'weed out' the things that I find just eat up my time. Like telemarketers on the phone. =)
I find that I can be the most hard on myself when it comes to being a good Mom and "doing enough" for my kids. I find myself feeling guilty once in awhile that I am doing too much for myself. But then I snap myself back to reality and look at the facts...I am home almost constantly for my family. I get out to grocery shop once or twice a week, and that's about it. Seriously. And I feel guilty?! What am I thinking?! =)
I find that if I am baking and doing activities and cooking dinner and have all my laundry caught up, well then that's when I'm "good". On a side note- it's been 2 weeks since we've had fast food in our family- partly from watching "Super Size Me" and the other part due to helping Chip stick to eating healthier. We're all eating better around here and I recommend it to anyone. Not that we were really fast-food hounds before this, but still, we are really watching what goes in...and it makes a difference- physically and mentally. Back to being "good". I just have to say that there really isn't a scale out there in regards to being at the top of our games- as people, no matter what you do, or where you are at in life. I am learning that society paints pictures for us...the corporate Mom who has 2 kids and a housekeeper and jets sets around and has a perfect Pottery Barn/Cottage Living white interior home....well, I love you if you are that woman or family. But the truth is that 'real life' isn't always perfect and pretty and I am practicing being content at every single moment that I have- because that is what I have. It has helped me actually 'do more', because I am less concerned with perfection or living up to unrealistic expectations.
I said it yesterday...ask my family and friends. I fail everyday. And yet somehow I still find simple joy and happiness in the midst of my shortcomings. I have lots of room for improvement- thank goodness for that. Because I think if my life WERE perfect, I wouldn't like it half as much. =)