Tuesday, January 31, 2006

January 31, 2006

CHA...Day 2

So as I sit and write this I am sitting in the Sprint Store across from the Convention Center. They have wireless and my cool DH just uploaded all the latest photos so I can share them with you all.

WOW, what a day MF has had. I am so tired, my feet are killing me, I have a class at 8PM tonight and I have spent more money today then I have in a long, and I mean long, time.

So, do you want to know what I bought or who I met???? Well, lets start with what I bought. So SBO is now the proud owner of 15 new Strano Ribbons and 15 new May Arts ribbons. Gregg can not believe that we bought so much. I just could not stop. I had to keep matching it to paper after paper that we had bought earlier. LOL

We cleaned out Crate Paper by buying every line they have come out with. All six lines, paper, embellies, and collections. Carolyn....OMG you are going to flip when you see this.



Then it was off to Two Bugs In A Rug. Bought 4 of the their lines. Super nice couple and boy was their booth hopping. Country French, Groovy, and OMG I can remember what the other two are. Can you tell that I am tired.

Then we headed to Strano Designs and put our order in. While I was there I took a picture of Sarah T. little book. BTW Sarah, both Ali Edwards and Donna Dowery both picked it up when they were visiting the booth. They loved it.



We are looking at some Nascar paper. Very cool. What do you guys think??



Also went to Junkits and check out some of their new stuff.



Then it was off to Heidi Swap. Bought the entire set of her new clear stamps, in her own handwriting, plus other stamps, large flowers, tape, chipboard, eyelet setter tools, etc. Can't remember here either.....too much was purchased. Or maybe I was too overwhelmed by meeting Heidi herself. Check out the little something I got for Sharon (Scrapchick). Hey Sharon...Heidi said she missed you.




Hey Nikki, I am off to 7 Gypsies tomorrow. And JA, I went by Ziage.

Have a super night ladies.

Monday, January 30, 2006

January 30, 2006

CHA...DAY 1

Hey Laides, Well we made it to Vegas late last night. 11pm Vegas time but 2am our time. So needless to say we were very tired. The flight went great. No bumps, no nothing. YEEPIE!! Man are there lots of people in Vegas, WOW. Even at 11pm the airport was hopping, and the cue for the taxis was a hoot. We waiting for about 1/2 an hour, not that bad. We arrived at our hotel and had to wait a huge line to check in, UUGH. Then our room can not be any further away from the elevator. But, enough of that stuff. One to the excitement.

So we arrived at the convention hall at about 9am. Went straight to BG, OMG...we could not even get near the place. But, we did go back later and ladies no need to worry. We bought every new collection, new rub ons, more die cut tools, and chipboard monograms.

We then with Jennifer Strano from Strano designs. She showed us all her ribbon and we check out all the new colors she has added since we met in Manchester back in May. She mentioned Sara Baker and how she fell in love with baby Ruby last year. She even had Sarah's matchbook album she sent her on display. Will get a photo of that when I go back to put our order in. She has even named a ribbon after Ruby, we will be adding that to the store for sure.

We visit American Crafts, Makng Memories, Fancy Pants designs, Sweetwater, Carolees Creations, Rusty Pickle, 7 Gypsies, and a few more but I can't remembers.

Some highights from today.

Sweetwater is so sweet. Got to ge me some of that. Awesome papers and little album kits. Adding those for sure.
















At Making Memories they have added a new line of home decor items. Huge chipboard letters in differnt words that you embellish plus frames, clocks, boxes, etc. Very cool.





















Then in the MM booth I happen to run into this lovely lady. Donny Dowery. Very cool, considering what I went through to get my hands on the large computer disks that she make albums out of. I told her how awesome her book was. She was very pleasent.

















I have more to upload but it is 3:45 our time and we have not eaten lunch yet. We are also going back for a reception and key note speaker. So off for now ladies. Hope you are all well. More to come.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

January 29, 2006


We leave in one hour.
Vegas and CHA here we come.

But, before I leave I wanted to show you all what I almost packed in my suitcase today.....NOT!


Friday, January 27, 2006

January 27, 2006

2 more days....until the plane takes off for one wonderful, creative, and uplifting experience. Someone better get me a martini, and fast!

It has been a fun day at the office of SBO, LOL. I have scrapped a little, not much work going on here. HE HE HE. But, I did just add these wonderful twills to the store inventory. How bad can your day be when you are holding 500 yards of the coolest twill, ever, in your hands.



Took this picture from, yes you guessed it, my bathroom. Just has the coolest light. Using this as my Photo of the day at SBO.

Enjoy you day ladies.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

January 26, 2006 (WAT at SBO)

Wicked Awesome Thursday

Well, today was an awesome day at SBO. Man did the DT just go all out this week. So many fun and exciting layouts to look at in the gallery

I just had to do another layout of Belle. The photo of this layout does not do her justice, it is so much better IRL. Thanks for looking everyone. Enjoy.


OH, BTW...3 days and counting until we leave for CHA.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

January 25, 2006...4 more days and counting

YaHHHH. 4 more days and counting. 4 days until Gregg and I go to CHA. I can't even believe it. I am so excited to be going. I keep getting all these post cards in the mail from all the companies that are going to be there. They are advertising all the new products they will be releasing. So many to look at, so many to visit, so many to dream about. What should we add to the store, what should we stock up on.....I can't take it!!!! How will I decide....

So we leave on Sunday. Non stop to Vegas from Boston. Me and the DH, I can't wait. It is the first time we have been away in about three years. My mother always takes care of the kids for us when we do away. Usually just a weekend here and there. But since my dad got sick with Cancer my mom has been taking care of him. BTW, she retired last week. She has worked at the same place, Harvard Business School, since 1957. Hard to believe someone could work at the same place for so long. She is the most dedicated, and hard working women I have ever met in my life. She is an inspiration for those who want to give up but shouldn't, and DON'T. She just keeps on truckin, no matter what. Love you MA.

Grannie Annie is taking care of the kids for the week, at our house. And Grandpa is coming with her. He is moving in to the study while we are gone. He is being a good sport about it. The kids can't wait. One week with Granny, what more could they ask for. It is even better then Disney. LOL

So make sure to check back here each night next week. The CHA update will be delived via my blog. Nightly updates on what we know you just can't live without. Have a super night everyone. Thanks for visiting my part of the net.

Monday, January 23, 2006

January 23, 2006



Scrapbooker Online Photo of the day. A silk alium I have in my bathroom. Boy, I have been in there lately taking lots of pictures. Fooled around with my photo editing software on this one. You can tell I have a ways to go. Enjoy!!

Sunday, January 22, 2006

January 22, 2006

So this is what the back seat of my car looked like today when we were on our way home from the park. The human like dog on the right is the oldest of the Fabbri children, Belle. She will be 11 in June. Enjoy.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

January 21, 2006

The Dream Skirt




I had to post my dream skirt for all the ladies at Scrapbooker Online

This is also my photo of the day.

This is my dream skirt. For this month that is. I have wanted a new jean skirt, not too short, not too long, a little flip on the bottom.. Cute enough to be casual. But also able to wear it with boots and a nice blouse, which would let me get away with wearing it to work. Well, I sent Gillan, my best bud, out to the mall last weekend. I described the skirt and told her to find it for me. We were all at the mall for Gail's Build a Bear party. And I ofcourse, could not leave the party to go shopping. but my best bud was let off the hook. LOL

Well, her adventure began and ended very quickly when she walked into Ann Taylor Loft, where else? My favorite shop of all time. AND THERE IS WAS, STARING HER IN THE FACE. We ran in after the party, I slid it on and WOW, it fit. And...And...And....It was only 20 bucks. It was like Christmas all over again.

Friday, January 20, 2006

January 20, 2006


OMG, it has been 12 days since I last posted. What have I been thinking. UUGH!

I just took this picture for Photo of the Day at SBO. Julie Ann was feeling lonely in the POTD thread so I thought I should join her. Pretty crappy photo, Gregg said it looked good on the camera after it was taken. And I am too lazy to get the kids to take another. Gregg is working on some new parts of the SBO site and the kids are watching TV. It is quiet and I just don't want to drag them away again. Sometime a crappy photo is better then a crazy house. LOL

I have been so crazy busy getting ready for CHA. Gregg and I will be making our first trip to there next week. VEGAS baby!!! I am so excited. I can't even believe I will be walking amungst the booths of all of these wonderful companies. Meeting people I have talked to on the phone for the past year, laying eyes on all the new products being released. It sounds kind of goofy but I get pretty emotional when I think about it.

I have informed Gregg that when I walk through the doors of the convention floor don't laugh at me if I begin to cry. I have been driving home from work latley with no music or talk radio on, and when my mind starts to wonder to CHA I get teary eyed. Does that sound totally out of wack or what. LOL

I keep telling myself this is just one more stop on the fantasic ride called Scrapbooker Online

So Grannie Annie and Grandpa O'Connell will be moving in on January 29th. They will be hanging out with the kids while we are gone. They are so excited to visit, and the kids just can't wait.

BTW, no spell check when using this comp. Sorry.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

January 8, 2006...my decorating style


Nikki at SBO is doing an exercise with all of us every Sunday. She is giving us journaling prompts. This sunday it is to journal about our decorating style. I guess mine is Pottery Barn meets the bargain shopper. I love the look of Pottery Barn, but refuse to spend the money.

All the walls in my house are some shade of brown. I like the color of dirt, it hids little hand prints and anything the dog may bring in. My trim is white and I am in to crown molding and waiscotting. Earthy warm tones I guess. Here is a picture of my house at Christmas. I love the way it looks with lots of candles burning and the lights down low. Another way to hide the dirt. LOL And, don't think it looks like this all the time....because it sure does not.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

January 7, 2006

Gail made her first penance today. Penance is one of the sacraments you make in the Catholic Church. You basically tell the priest all your sins, what sins does an 8 year old have? He then forgives you and sends you on your way with a few prayers to say.

So we are in church and Gail is getting ready for her turn with the priest. She looked so cute when she sat down with him. I was teary eyed. I watched her do her thing and then she came back and said he told her to say an Our Father as her penance. That was all good...we said it together. Our Father....

I then asked her what she told him were her sins. She said. "Oh Mommy, I told him I needed to be forgiven for the time I hit Grant in the head with a pipe".

"So Gail, what else did you tell him?"

"Nothing Mommy, that was it."

Don't you just love kids! I am sure the 11 priest that were their today were having quite a laugh at home tonight with all the things they must have heard.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Bargain Friday (1/6/06)


Well, I have always considered myself a bargain shopper. When I was younger and Jill (My Best Girlfriend) and I would go shopping, it was never for the most expensive. It was for the "Most" stuff, and for as cheap as we could get it. Well, now that I am all grown up, Ya Right, things have not changed. And with my love of Target Shopping, my obsession is still alive and kicking.

Grady and I had to get a new battery for the van today, so on our way home I decided to stop in are Target of course. Not that I needed anything but I love the $1 area when you first walk in the store. I was in such a hurry the other night that I ran past there without stopping. But I did catch a glimpse of some small round tins with clear window tops. Could they be the round magnetic tins I have wanted to get for my scrap room? I had been eyeing them in the Pottery Barn Catalog and at home stores but they were way to pricey, and you never see them on sale. Anyway that night I did not have the time to stop, so I went on my way.

But, today we had some time. So we stopped in. And OMG, they are the magnetic tins. They come in two different styles, solid and mesh. So I filled up my basket. Yes, I did give one to a lady who just wanted one, but you know I was there first. LOL.

I BOUGHT 20 OF THEM. All they had. And if I see more, next time I am in, I will buy them also. They were only a 1$ and they are bigger then the spice size ones I had been seeing. I am so excited. Now, I need Gregg to make me a metal board so I can stick them to it. THESE IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

I would recommend them if you are looking for something for you embellies. Way Cool. And the best part of all...the price labels on them are made of the really nice labels and they peel right off. Wow, I am having such a good day.

Oh Ya....We hit #65 on the Scrapbooking Top 50 today at Scrapbooker Online. I am loving my Bargin Friday so far and it is only 1 pm.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

January 5, 2006

OMG, am I sick or what. I have had this horrible cough for almost a month now. It has sure taken a toll on me. I think it all started when Grady went back to daycare. He was not there three days and his nose started running and then it all went down hill. Grant got sick, then Gregg, then me...AND THEN, the 24 hour bug hit right after Christmas. UUGH!

I am hoping I am on the downside of this. I am back at work and they are going to kick me out of here if I do not stop coughing. Sorry guys.

Well, I did want to jump on and say Happy New Year to everyone. I am going to try and post regularly, cross your fingers everyone. Hoping that 2006 will bring good cheer to all. Gregg and I are looking forward to a wonderful year with the kids. We have already started our camping plans for the summer. Booked up in NH for the 4th of July, and hoping to get to Pine Acres in MA as many times as possible. We love it there. See, looking forward to nice warm weather is already making me feel better. Way too much cold and snow in MA for me right now.

Enjoy your day!!