Scrapbook News & Review

So I am just tIcKLed and have to share with someone...or everyone...

I am going to have 4 layouts published in Scrapbook News & Review coming out October 24th!!! I recieved an email yesterday regarding the publication and while I am so excited to be a part of it, I am bummed because my husband is out of town for a 3 day drill weekend and left his phone behind. So of course the one person I want to share with most isn't here to cheer me on. Bittersweet I suppose.

Anyway, this is only the 2nd online submission I have made so I was excited to be selected for the issue. From my understanding it is for an article revolving around different scrapbooking styles from Modern Clean lined, to Shabby Chic, Digital or Ecclectic. I think I am falling into Shabby Chic, maybe Ecclectic though. We will just have to see. But they picked 4 out of 4 of the layouts I sent to them for consideration.

Like I said I am just tickled because I have won a few contests before but this is my first publication...look out Lisa Bearson here I come!!!

BTW, I of course can't post the layouts as they have the rights for them for the magazine but I will scan pics of the magazine once it comes out to share. Kaia is also excited to be the model in the magazine since she is in most of the pics but Blaklie, Boston, Chelsie and myself as well as a huge family group shot will be in there.

NWA Craft Fair Weekend

It's official craft fair week in the Ozarks! There are craft fairs at Spanker Creek, War Eagle, Bella Vista, Embassy Suites, Clarion, and Frisco Station Mall. Definately enough crafts to keep anyone consumed for days browsing, seeking and being iNsPiReD. The website to get all the details is http://nwacraftfairs.com/. Of course beyond the crafts there is always the FOOD. You MUST buy a  large bag of Kettle corn to share and bring home. You must consume a Funnel Cake while you are there as well as a jumbo corn dog. We also did yummy egg rolls at the Bella Vista Craft fair and Fried Pickles at War Eagle both of which we delightful! No "real" food I suppose, but great snackies.

One of my favorites this year was at Embassy...since I have a little girl I am biased because they had so many booths of frilly pink things it just made me hApPy! Check it out if you have a girlie girl for sure.

I also grabbed cards from some of my favorite booths so here are Katie's top 5 booth.

Tammi Crystal Designs (tammy crystal designs.com)

Trendy Glass Soldered jewelry - shhh...this is a secret I would rather keep to myself but I am going to share since they are so aWeSoMe! These items make fabulous personalized gifts for all the women in your family. Buy a few of the chains and you can buy the charms for all seasons and mix and swap them out depending on the time of year.

Southern Traditions Woodworking (southerntraditions.ar.com)

Furniture - I guess because we are considering moving to a new home and needing massive amounts of furniture this appealed to me. You could add personal touches to the furniture for your home at a very reasonable price.

 Dumpster Divas

I got so many ideas while weaving my way thru these ladies little booth at War Eagle! They had lots of Zebra, Shabby Chic, Hot Pick, Repurposed items that were eye catching and well priced. My daughter was going nuts over the Twilight props they had on their vanities! Again if you have a girlie girl this was a place to be! They also had a massive antique trunk that would have loved to go home with me, but maybe another time : (

Cherry Apple Berries (cherryappleberries.com)

Clothing - These are trendy, affordable and personalizable items for everyone! Stocked with hit t-shirts and available to order any logos you would like.

Lollitops (lollitopsusa.com)

Children's Items - no matter how many times I see this product I can't get over how clever it is! It is a fashion invention for little girls, great for gifting and available in an array of options. Check them out for any little girl in your life.

Honorable Mention:

My Hodgepodgerie (www.myhodgepodgerie.com)

Gifts/Goodies - while there were several booths doing the embellished diaper wipe cases this booth also had some adorable wristlets I fell in love with as well as a tie tshirt for little boys that was rockin'.

Another Las Vegas Trip...part duex!

Okay so a trip to Vegas would not be complete without the dressing up each evening to hit the town for the fabulous dining and nightlife! Here are some of our favorites...

We hit Freemont street one night which is so old school Vegas, and Jon's favorite...Andy got hit on (or made fun of, not sure which) for his BOLD paisley top! It was a biker rally in town too which made for a very interesting mix of crowds.

 

Another evening we went to dinner & show with the whole crew which was hysterical to use one word! Half of us stayed at the Encore (part of the Wynn) so we went there for dinner and to see Le Reve. The show was like nothing I have ever seen before! Amazing acrobatics, music and multi-faceted performers doing water trips, diving, gymnastic and more...blew my mind![gallery columns="4"]

 

Another Las Vegas Trip!

Wow, I can't believe we made it to Las Vegas twice in one year! I know we just went in June for our anniversary but we couldn't pass up a trip to go with the Tillman's on their anniversary as tag alongs...then our boss and crew decided to tag along as well so it was the whole gang! Here are some of our favorite pics from the trip. We did a lot of hotel hoping, great dining out, saw the show Le Reve, visited hoover damn as well as the Boneyard (the place where all the old Vegas neon signs go to die).

 

Hoover Dam & the Boneyard

[gallery columns="4"]

Hoover Dam was one of those "must see in this lifetime" places so I am glad we went. The views and lanscape were breathtaking. We could see fish from the top swimming in the crystal blue waters. We enjoyed listening to the Dam Gift Shop employees jokes about the dam this and the dam that...play on Vegas Vacation!...one went something like this...

"Did you know someone threw a dog of the dam yesterday?"

"No, really?"

"Yeah, they said it had too much dam mustard!"

haha...it was a great atmosphere and work enviornment I imagine getting to joke all the time!

 

As for Boneyards, it surpassed all my expectations! We got some amazing photographs, it was so insipiring and colorful. But we also learned a ton of Vegas history which was enlightening as well. It sounds like they will be continuing to work on establishing a more formal museaum for these signs (rather than the rough fenced parking lot it is currently housed in!). I would add this to your must to in Vegas list for sure!

I will work on a second post of other Vegas pics soon.

Enjoy