Our Vaca in DC and the Sisterhood

Well, we are back from our vacation to the East Coast... we've been back for almost a week - although it doesn't seem like it! I think we needed a week to recover! We had an amazing time though and came home with tons of memories and, of course, quite a few photo's as well! I plan on making a photo book digitally using most of them - but you know I am gonna have to play with some of the pictures using paper and scissors, scrappin' 'em old school!

Our flight from Seattle to Detroit was a red eye and we did not get any sleep whatsoever! Not that we would have anyway- (just couldn't get comfy on a full plane!) but there was this single Mom with an inconsolable baby... I felt bad for the both of them - but also for the rest of the passengers! It also made me very thankful that not only is my daughter older, she is a great traveler - always has been! We changed planes in Detroit and flew in to BWI in Baltimore around 9ish on Monday morning... we were feeling pretty exhausted and once we gathered our luggage and caught the train to downtown, we were then left to wander the streets, looking for our hotel! Luckily it really was only a few blocks away and they let us check in early - which meant sleep - glorious sleep! We spent our first day there, after napping, walking around Inner Harbor in Baltimore. That was fun and a great little area... We began to get text messages and phone calls in the late afternoon from friends and family - concerned that we may have been in DC that day - using the Metro system that had the accident. We were not anywhere close to DC on Monday and had no pans of using that particular system while traveling around - but we DID need to use the light rails and other trains during our trip - so I purposely did not turn n the news or read the paper... I have an active imagination and do not need any extra visuals to help out!

Tuesday and Wednesday were our planned days to go in to DC... we commuted via the Marc - which was about an hour ride into Union Station. Wow... Union Station is pretty impressive on its own! A huge hub of activity and buzz! We managed to get almost everything on our list done while in DC! We saw the Capitol (but not inside!), the Washington Monument, the White House, the World War 2 Memorial, the National Archives, the Lincoln Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, as well as most of the Smithsonian's! We didn't get to take in the National Zoo, the National Aquarium, or the Library of Congress. We would have liked a bit more time to drink in the art and to wander some of the Gardens - but we had full days and all had a great time! My top three favorites were definitely the Lincoln Memorial, the World War 2 Memorial, and the Room of Remembrance in the Holocaust Museum.

On Thursday we could have taken the train in again - but decided to explore more of Inner Harbor and just take it easy! We ended up taking the water taxis all over the area - including going to Fort McHenry - where the Star Spangled Banner was written. Pretty cool! We loved Fells Point - a quaint little port town with tons of history and, of course, crab cakes! We did a bit of shopping and finally (FINALLY!?!!!) found a Starbucks! Yeah - day FIVE... and I finally got to have coffee?! We also heard of Michael Jacksons' death... which left my daughter in tears... even surprising herself! We were fans BEFORE the renewed frenzy after his passing - but it was sort of a joke before... I mean - people made fun of her... and now everyone has his songs on their ipods!

Friday we rented a car and headed to PA! Wow - Washington State is a green state - but nothing like PA! It is gorgeous and lush there! We drove to Hershey and met up with the Sisterhood! My group of girlfriends I 'met' online via SparkPeople.com! We had become fast friends and chat online every week and after about a year, finally decided to plan a Scrapbook Retreat so we could all meet in person! Most of them are over in the other side of the country - so it made sense to meet over there... 10 of our 12 were able to make it and we had a BLAST!!! Not much scrapping got done - but still?! Actually there were a handful of productive scrappers - you know who you are! - but most of us just enjoying chatting in person and hanging out! As much as we would love to do it once a year - realistically it is more likely we will do it every other year, or every three years!? We'll see... we will definitely do it again though! Chatting online now - though it is more fun - is just not the same!

While I was with my girlfriends, the fam' traveled to New Jersey and New York for some sight seeing. Yeah... it was stressful and almost deadly - but they made it and even ended up having a pretty good time! It was great that the two of them got to spend some one on one time together! They got to see the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State building, the New York skyline, take the subway and have breakfast on 33rd & Broadway and walk around on the New Jersey Boardwalk! They gladly headed back to PA on Saturday afternoon to check into a hotel and catch a movie and just unwind! They came to get me on Sunday - just missing most of the Sistahs (or is that Sissers?)... thanks again Robin for staying with me! We hung around the area for lunch and a bit of roaming and then went back to Baltimore - ready for our flight home on Monday! I DID get to see fire flies on Sunday night... no pix sadly - but still - that is one thing I wanted to see that I was doubtful was going to happen!

Our flights home were nicer - quieter... and even after having car trouble on the way back home - we were so happy to BE home again! We left our hotel Monday morning at 9:15 Eastern time and crawled into (our OWN!) bed around 4am Eastern time! It was a LONG day!

So - we are back home - and back to our normal life - which right now is full of changes and challenges, but we are so thankful for the great vacation and memories made! Now we are faced with car shopping, job hunting, and refocusing on projects at hand! I will be jumping into that Wedding album job next week and have completed five themes/books for Hoorray.com so far! Look for Hoorray to relaunch the new site soon - featuring digital scrapbooks where you simply drag and drop your photo's - quick and easy! I just completed a Friendship Cafe book that I am really excited about, as well as a PuppyLove book for you dog lovers out there!

I will include just a handful of my favorite pix from our trip...
Enjoy - and Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

The fam at Inner Harbor

The fam at The Capitol in DC

The Botanical Gardens - DC

The Declaration

WW2 Memorial

The White House

Lincoln Memorial

KK @ Lincoln Memorial with WA Monument in background

WA Monument

NY Skyline via the Staten Island ferry

Statue of Liberty

On Staten Island Ferry

New Jersey Boardwalk

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Crops
I love these girls!!!

Lastly - as I posted in my last update - I read the Operation Beautiful blog and decided to play along... so here are a few of the Post It's I left along the East Coast...

Getting Ready for the East Coast, Baby!

We are in countdown mode now - leaving for DC/PA/NY in a little over 24 hours! I can't believe it is finally here! I am the first to admit to the fact that I should know more of our American History considering how badly I have wanted to visit our Nation's capitol. I have wanted to go to DC since I was probably around 8 or 9, but I just didn't come from a family that traveled! We lived about 3-4 hours away from extended family and rarely even saw them? My parents were just not the "let's hit the open road and go somewhere" kind of parents. Our road trips included stress, and handwritten blood types and wills and who the kids should go to in case of accident or death!? Good times... good times!?

So - somehow, whether I was aware of it or not... I picked a husband who loves to travel! While we are not yet able to GO as far or as often as we would like, the desire is there and we have 'gone' more than anyone else in my family, that is for sure! I explained to him early on the importance of Family Vacations and we have been consistent to take at least one or two a year. Usually they are within driving distance and fairly low key! The point of a vacation is to relax and unwind, right?!

Well - along came SparkPeople and I met up with a handful of delightful, fun, creative women (you know who you are!) on the same journey of weight loss as I - and we all hit it off and became the Sisterhood! We are the self-proclaimed Sisterhood of the Traveling Crops! We talked for quite some time about traveling crops and retreats and finally began planning one. At first we thought it would be an annual event - but reality is setting in before our first official Retreat and we are realizing maybe every OTHER year is more realistic? At any rate... the location picked was just outside of Hershey, PA (Yeah - didn't I say we were all trying to LOSE weight?! LOL!?) I really didn't want to have to travel that far on my own... and since i have always WANTED to go to DC and it is so close... we just decided to plan our summer vacation around the Retreat!

We leave Sunday night... take the red eye and arrive in DC on Monday morning... we have plans to stick around Inner Harbor on Monday... go in to DC on Tues and Wed (and maybe Thurs too!?) and then we will head to PA for my Retreat! While I am busy scrapping with the Sisters.. my fam' will take in some sights in NY! I have to admit to being a little bummed that they are going to NY without me... but I am also super excited for them! Besides, I am pretty sure that I will be having a great time with the girls!!! So - while I am not so sure how much RELAXING we will squeeze in to THIS trip - we will hopefully get to see all of the things on our wish list!!!

Once I return home, I will dig into that Wedding Album job I have... all the papers are so pretty and it has taken some serious restraint not to start in on it now... but once I am in, I am all in! I will also continue to design for Hoorray.com - look for them to launch their new website in early July... and check back here for some Freebies/Prizes from them soon!

Oh - and lastly, while we are gone - we are packing up a new Post-It Pad and plan to put it to good use via Operation Beautiful all over the East Coast! For more info and to play along - check this out:

http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/06/operation-beautiful.html

So... I hope you are all enjoying your Summers...
getting some rest and rays
and Scrappin' Happy!
~Karrilee~

Hey?! Turns out I LOVE to Scrapbook!?

It's true... it's really true!

I hadn't Scrapbooked - as in paper and scissors - in AGES it seems!? Since probably February!? I was able to order the "Wisteria" line by Basic Grey for my client - can't WAIT to see it all in person! However, since I ordered it last week - I knew I would need to print out my own photo's and get officially caught up again! It's a little deal I have made with God... I love the business - but never wanted it to take off so much so that I didn't have time or joy in scrapping my own stuff! So - I printed out photo's from March through my recent California trip last week and got busy! I 'kitted' everything Thursday afternoon, and made a birthday card (using a SparkPeople Bday SWAP Shape!) and I was able to finish 5 LOs at my Scrap Happy crop... Friday was my online chat/crop and I was able to finish up the other 7! Oh yeah! I am all caught up, baby! ...And as an added bonus - it turns out that I really DO love Scrapbooking! I mean - I really do still love it! (Believe me - this is good news to me! LOL!)

Here is what I did:


A Speed Scrap Challenge:


and my own pages:

























So - while my 'little one' was away at a friends' b'day party - one of her youth group leaders' came to pay Kayelyn back for tee-peeing her car. Only - Kaye's 'vandalism' was rather impromptu and lacking - while Vals' - well - not so much?!






After that, Dave and I went out for dinner... it was a GORGEOUS night in Yakima... it had been super hot all day and the sun was out... a few clouds in the sky - a slight breeze - perfect weather for outdoor dining! So we drove downtown looking for someplace to eat outside and impulsively decided on Santiago's... nachos and a beer - mmm - not so Spark friendly - but I had 'room' in my ranges and it just sounded good!





So - we sat down, placed our order, and it began to sprinkle. OK - fine... a little rain is not a big deal... and so we moved to sit under the netting... and then came the DOWNPOUR! I am talking torrential rain!? It only lasted for maybe 15 minutes or so... but we had to move inside... when it cleared, we bravely moved back out and thoroughly enjoyed a great dinner outside together... definitely made a memory there!

This morning we went for a jog, walked to Starbucks and enjoyed our morning coffee with the rest of Yakima in the sunshine! Nice! Hope you are all enjoying your weekends and have stirred up that love for scrapping too!

Now that I am all caught up - I can get back to designing for Hoorray (until that Basic Grey box arrives anyway!) Work, work, work! Good to know I really do still love it!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Quick & Lazy Update!

Hey there everyone... I am back! Had an AMAZING time in Cali!

I am still catching my breath and processing... and haven't created one thing since before I left! I will get back into the swing of things this week! I have my monthly Crop on Thursday - so I will HAVE to print out some photo's and play a bit at least once this week!

I have picked the line I am going with for my client - so I will be ordering supplies for her album, and working on creating more LOs/Papers for Hoorray.com as well!

I am off to enjoy some sunshine and am taking the lazy way out... I am cut and pasting my update from another blog to fill you in on the writers conference! One of the things I did in preparation was to enter their Writers Contest... the theme was simply the Kingdom of God. I did not win - but included it in my update below! Enjoy and Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~


There is a stirring in the Body of Christ.... a growing hunger for more power to be manifest in our lives! In order for this to happen we must learn to flow with God’s Love. Jesus has given us the keys to unlock the Kingdom of God. He has equipped us for every good work which He prepared beforehand for us to walk in – to accomplish with Him – to bring glory to the Father! God has given us the keys that, if we would use them they would enable us to operate in two realms right here, and right now! We have been offered a gift to receive the kingdom, and all that it represents. We have the ability to tap into heavenly realms while operating in earthly realms. The keys, and the Kingdom as Jesus said, really ARE at hand, if we’re willing!

We’re being drawn ever closer to the heart of the Father and are called to release the Kingdom of God into every area of our lives. We’re being called to do this by letting His Love spill out and over in greater levels. As I was praying with the Lord, asking Him about this move of God, He assured me that the Kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world! He said that in the earthly realms, much of life really is like that famous line in the Godfather: “It’s not personal – it’s just business.” However, in the Kingdom of God – it’s not business, it’s just personal! Our God is, first and foremost, a personal God! He is relational and desires to have friendship with us. When we rise up in our intimacy with the Lord, He calls us closer to His heart and shows us the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is not business, it is PERSONAL! Our God desires fellowship and intimacy. When we grow in our friendship with God, He helps us to unlock the realities of Heaven and causes us to see our Authority to pull them from one realm into the other! Look at the story of Mary and Martha. Mary understood that God is Personal, while Martha was all about the Business. Of course the ‘business’ needs to get done, however how much more powerfully and effectively is it done when we do it WITH the Lord, out of intimacy? I have no doubt that if Martha would have also chosen the ‘better part’ of intimacy, the Lord would have accomplished the work that was at hand. In fact, I’m pretty sure that He would’ve rolled his sleeves up and pitched in because He loves to do that! He loves to partner with us in Kingdom work!

In the kingdoms of this earth, ‘business’ is almost expected to be ruthless and cruel. It’s how we get ahead; how we get things done. But when we operate out of the Kingdom of God, Love is our compass and being personal is at the heart of everything we do! As Meg Ryans’ character in You’ve Got Mail said in response to that Godfather quote, “And what's so wrong with being personal, anyway? Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.”

The keys to the Kingdom are Righteousness, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17), and how can we live these out if they are not first built on Love? When we begin to operate in the Love of the Father and freely give it out, we begin to see the Kingdom of God at hand. We begin to see lives changed, hearts healed, minds transformed; we begin to see heaven on earth. We have the joy and honor of tapping into the Kingdom of God for any situation we face right here in the earth, and grabbing hold of the heart of the Father. The next move of God I believe will be the combining of two realms, walking into the kingdoms of this world, and tearing the veil to reveal the Kingdom of our God. Many have stated that this move will be a releasing of the Love of God, and is that not what we all need: a personal revelation that the Kingdom is at hand, for you and for me? It’s not business – it’s personal, because what we really need; what we simply must have, is an ever increasing measure of His abiding love and His abounding grace to fill us to overflowing, and to spill out onto others to reveal His Kingdom and bring glory to the Father!

I just returned from a week at Bethel church in Redding, California! It was amazing... God sent me to a Writer's Conference and all of my favorite authors were there... and as a bonus, it was held at Bethel church! Bethel has this unique atmosphere... you can actually tangibly FEEL the Father's Heart beating for you there! There is a strong sense of community and love... they really DO live in the Kingdom there... and I really DO pray that just by being there, I received an impartation... the Kingdom of God is not business, it's PERSONAL... because HE is personal - and He is especially fond of you!

I actually did something...

I did actually do something scrap-related... sort of!? Well - it counts, but it's mostly thanks to a SparkPeople Cricuteers Spring Shapes SWAP - otherwise - well... at this point, I would have just bought something?! Yes - it's true... that is how sad it is?! I am really just that busy!?

Here are a few cards I made this week:




I also worked on an entry for the Writer's Conference contest... I can't believe it is only a week away already!? I am so excited! Not only do I get to hear some of my favorite authors speak, but I will get to experience my first ever Writer's conference... plus I am so excited to just be able to attend the church that this conference is being held at... then there is the whole Road Trip with a girlfriend part too! The only bad part is I will have to miss my first official Conference Call with the company I am now working with... I am really bummed about that one. It IS possible for me to still try to connect - but it will all depend on the time they decide on and where I will be at in the Writer's schedule!

I have been spending a LOT of time on the computer lately - but it sure doesn't feel like I am accomplishing much... I know I am - but it's the learning part before I get to create part that makes it tough to see progress for me! I also have been working on finding papers/supplies to coordinate for my new clients' photo's! And boy does she have photo's!? I am still trying to cut some out!?

I've been trying to press through this plateau - I am sure you are all just about as sick of hearing about it, as I am of being stuck IN it?! I lost 2#s this week... so one more pound I will have hit the 75 pound loss mark! It's just taking SO stinkin' long to get there?!

Oh - yes, and the other thing this week that has captured my attention is my baby is turning 14?! Oh yeah... it's true! She is AWESOME... God made her to be Awesome and she is stepping into all that He has for her... tonight, as I type - she is having a sleep over that is surprisingly quiet (uh-oh?!) and we're planning on hitting a matinee tomorrow with all her peeps! She totally rocks and we'll be celebrating for days and weeks... it's true - the tradition continues!
I hope to actually SCRAP something soon... even digi-style... just something?! I miss it... maybe I just need some inspiration... what have YOU been working on lately!?

Scrap Happy and Be Blessed!
~Karrilee~

How did YOU celebrate National Scrapbook Day?

Wow - how did I let so much time go by without an update - and how did you all not leave me smack for it?! LOL!? I read Frenchies last comment and it was like a "Thanks! I needed that!" slap in the face - in the most friendly way possible - of course!

I have not forgotten about you all... I have been super busy with life and business - and yet have somehow managed to not really Create much lately!? Last Sunday I was in my first ever 5K... I can't tell you how amazing this is to me... I would have NEVER thought I would even WANT to do something like this?! I did not run the whole time - maybe a little less than half really - but I set a personal goal for myself and crossed the finish line (running!) and made my goal time... so I was a happy happy girl! I have also recently purchased a Heart Rate Monitor... so I am hoping this little gem of a watch will help me to FINALLY overcome this plateau I hve been stuck at for I think over a month again!? Yikes?!
So - here is me with my sis before the race! Fun... we will definitely participate in more to come... and I was a little surprised to find I have hidden within me a tad little bit of a competitive spirit?! Who knew?! (Shut up Darcie?! LOL!?) I am now planning on actually training a bit to increase my running times... I usually don't run for much longer than a few minutes at a time... but I pushed myself past that in the race - and so now I know I CAN!

Anyway - between fitness stuff, and Bible studies, preparing for a writers conference in a couple pf weeks, Spring finally showing up - and this new opportunity with an online photo company... I have been going in all different directions! I did sign my contract with this company but I have not yet begun working... once I do - I will let you know where you can find my designs, I promise! I have had fun creating some birthday designs lately and playing with my PSE software! (Thanks again, Vi! You ROCK!)

I DID get my newest clients' Wedding photo's - stacks and stacks of them! So - while I didn't do any Layouts yesterday - I did celebrate Nat'l Scrapbook Day by sorting through photo's and gettign an idea of what needs to be ordered for her album, and I made some birthday and Mother's Day cards as well... I will upload some photo's soon! I have a few photo's I can print out to scrap old school... but I haven't gotten around to that yet - so you will be happy to know that I am not 'all caught up' technically... you know once I print them though - I will be! I am just waiting until I have more than 4 pages to do! LOL!

Anyway how did YOU celebrate NSD? Did you do anything special? Did you hit any sales - online or in person? Did you get together with friends and scrapbook? Let me know what fun was had by you and your friends!!!

I am hoping to get my photo's printed and some actual scrappin' done soon! Once I pick a line of paper and supplies - I will order for my client and will want to really get my own stuff caught up again before I work on her stuff... so I will have something new soon(ish!) to upload soon! Of course, I have my daughters' b'day next week, a new bible study starting up in a week, a trip to CA coming in two weeks (which will hopefully stir me up to write), my neices' graduation coming up, our trip to DC/PA at the end of June which includes my Scrapbook Retreat with fellow Sparkers... I can't WAIT! But - once I get something CREATED... I will upload, I promise!!!

Until then...
Scrap Happy, people! Life is good!
~Karrilee~

Learning a new trick...

Well - I have been wanting to learn how to design digital kits for a little while - but hadn't dabbled much in it. Then, thanks to God and Vi - I won Photo Shop Elements 7.0 - a perfect excuse to learn this program and see what I could design on my own! I have played with Digi Scrapping and love it! I have a lot of kits I have downloaded off the net and love them... all for personal use and most were free! But I am an artist and while designing the pages for clients is still my passion - to be able to design the materials TOO is just too fun!

I was contacted by a company looking for scrapbook designers and so that, along with the new software to learn, really put a fire in me this week to set aside some learning time to see what I could come up with! Not sure what will come of the possible new venture - but I am loving this new aspect of scrapping - even if I just do it for myself and a few clients!

Here is a layout that I came up with this weekend... it is pretty basic I know... not a lot of stuff going on - but everything on there, I made! I designed the papers, made the brads, drew the clipart, etc! So - for my first ever design project, what do ya think?

I personally love it! I see a few things now that I uploaded it to tweak - but overall - for my first attempt - I am happy with it! I can't wait to play more! But alas, today is Easter - and we are off to spend the day with family... just wanted to update you with a little something to let ya know I am still alive and well!

Happy Easter! He is Risen!
~Karrilee~