New Post, Moving, Organization, Some Rambling

So it is official. I will be moving the second week of June. Barely the second week. I am looking at the 5th right now. I have a whole bunch of people coming in for moving estimates. I spent the WHOLE day today researching moving companies. What an eye opening experience.

At first I said I was going to pack the dungeon last but I changed my mind.  I'm going to pack up all of my stuff that I won't be using until after moving. I'm leaving a little out for some cards and such but then I am going to stamp some images and stick to coloring for a little while, while I wait for moving day.  I haven't been hauling, okay a little, but I'm actually disappointed in myself for losing will power. Well now that we are going to be in about a $1M yes that's ONE MILLION in debt due to two mortgages (Thanks Bush AND Obamad, apparently you both suck) I won't be spending a dime on anything I can't eat or at least my kids can't eat.  I would get a job but realistically I've been out of the workforce for over 10 years. I don't even know what I would do at this point that would allow me to make enough money to put my children in daycare.  It's just cheaper to keep them at home and the park is free and we can WALK to it!!! Right now I can barely walk up and down my driveway to get the mail without fear of a wild animal attack or just plain exhaustion (okay I'm not that lazy and out of shape)

The good thing is that I get a whole new chance to reorganize and decorate.  How much fun is that. I plan on filming (like I'm Scorcese or something) a bunch of videos showing my disaster now, how I pack, the new space and how I would like to set up and my organization process along the way until it's completed. Do you think that might be too boring?  Well I can't haul and I have to set up before I can create so it's all I've got right now LOL.  I will be disabling the LIKE/DISLIKE voting on my channel and make the haters have to type out a chicken anonymous comment and make the extra effort just to be a jerk - them being the jerk not me, uh err....

So please, my wonderful friends, cross your fingers, send out good selling vibes, send good Karma, prayers, thoughts, sacrifice a goat (okay let's not do that) what ever you have to do to help me sell my house. The move is not stressful at all, I'm actually looking forward to packing. The money situation is VERY stressful and I'm sure most of you if not all can understand. And yes I will celebrate the selling of this house with one very large haul! LOL

Drama and Design Team Whores

I know what you are thinking, what the hell kind of title is that.  I don't normally fall into the drama trap and pretty much stay out of it looking for the good in everything and understanding both perspectives.  However, recently there was a post on the Two Peas Forum that I just had to respond to.  It didn't insult me personally nor was I offended that she used the word whore.  What I was offended by was the fact that she thought that the men and women that try to get on design teams just to get free products were design team whores.  I mean really, if I thought I was any good, or on rare occasion get something accomplished, I would try out for design teams too. I guess it's because I'm part of the You Tube world as well as the blogging world and lots of people design for lots of design teams.  I watch these videos and read these blogs because I want to be inspired and enabled.  Isn't that the whole point of a design team.  Many readers of the Two Peas forums keep posting about how there are so many other crafters out there that aren't known because there is a world outside of  Two Peas.  Uh yeah, no duh.  There is also a whole world of crafters that exist outside of the scrapbooking world that use tons of scrapbooking supplies.  I like to do a little bit of everything.  One poster mentioned that the reason for the scrapbooking industry was to document your own personal memories.  Uhm, no, the scrapbooking industry is for creating a product and sell it.  That is the whole point of any industry.

If you are so against people trying out for design teams and selling out just to get free product by staging pictures and piling on product why don't you just sit there with your little blank book and a glue stick.  I will link the thread for those interested in reading it.  There are those that share their daily lives with us and some I care about.  Those are people that most likely care about mine.  Most "big name" scrapbookers or card makers or artists I don't really care what's in your pictures, I don't really care what is going on with your spouse or your kids.  This is a business and I care what you are offering, how to use products  and what you produce.  If you make boring pages of pictures and some journaling good for you but the reality is that no one gives a flying....pig? what or who is in your photos.  I hate when I am forced to stare at pictures that I have no emotional connection to and never will.  It bores me.  I don't care about your trip to Disney because there are 40 other people with the same exact pictures, me included.  Just show me what products you used and how you used them.  If you have a really cool picture and there is a fantastic story behind it then yes I would be very interested, but 1000 pictures of portraits of your kids, no.  And because I don't want someone to take this the wrong way, If I know you and I like you I probably am interested in your pictures and your life.

Also so what if people get on design teams to show off their work and get their egos stroked.  Many if not most are sharing their work because they like to share and inspire.  What is wrong with wanting a "great job" or "beautiful work" once in a while.  Wanting validation, praise, rewarding is human nature and giving this is kindness and generosity.  Looks like a win win to me.  Yes there are people that go a little overboard with their expectations and what they should be entitled to and credit they should be given.

So please, don't condescend or blame others for doing something you can't or are afraid you can't do.  Rock on you design team whores, without you there wouldn't be an industry and I  for one <3 you!

Here is the thread:  Two Peas in a Bucket Forum Thread - Where I went on a Rant

11 Things About Me ... Tag

I was tagged by Tracy.  The purpose is to learn more about our blogging friends.

There are 5 Rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.

5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you’ve tagged them.

1.  I have OCD and ADHD and my son has ADHD as well.

2. I had Bell's Palsy in my 1st trimester when I was pregnant with my daughter and couldn't do anything about it so my face is permanently crooked.

3.  I have dyed my hair every single color you could possibly imagine, but for the most part have kept it blue black.  I haven't seen my real color since I was 18 I have no idea what it is.

4. I used to read constantly until I got pregnant and then would fall asleep every time I picked up a book.  I've read maybe 4 books in the last 7 years.  I keep trying but it's not working.

5. I love horror movies, have been watching them since I was little, and big epic period pieces.

6. I have not watched any TV shows in over a year and maybe only 4 or 5 movies in that time.

7. I have had every type of pet you could imagine including dogs, cats, parrots, chinchillas, hedgehog, mice, rats, hamsters, snakes, dumpy tree frogs, fish. (um not all that the same time)  I worked at a pet store and later helped run a shelter.  My life was dedicated to animals and then I decided to have kids.  I now have 2 dogs and a cat and that's it.  I will probably always have at least one pet in my life.

8.  I was a straight A student in school until I hit college and then I barely passed with a degree in Psychology.  I iz a coleege gratuate.

9.  Even though I want to see the world I am terrified to travel.

10.  I'm a Jersey Girl through and through and have NEVER pumped my own gas.

11. l am completely unromantic.  I hate romance novels and movies.  Any overly romantic gestures from suitors from my younger days creeped me out and I thought they were stalkers.  I much rather have my husband vacuum the house than send me flowers.  I buy my own damn flowers.

 Now for Tracy's questions to me:

1 What is your favourite craft to do?  I have to pick one?  I have ADHD remember!

2. Where were you born? New Jersey, almost in the car.  My mother's labor with me was 20 minutes.

3. What is your favourite crafting tool?  My distresser.  Currently my new Prima one.

4. What is your least favourite household chore? The laundry, specifically folding and putting it away.

5. Sweet or Sour treats?  Sweet but I do like both.

6. What is your favourite movie?  Halloween from 1978 and Dangerous Liaisons. Weird, I know.

7. What is your easiest meal to put together? Broccoli and Cavatelli

8. What is your best project you have ever made...photo if possible :) Probably the card I sent you.  I loved that thing.  Would you believe I never took a picture of it!?

9. What is your guilty pleasure?  I love to wear a lot of make up.  Smokey eyes almost everyday, just because.

10 When is your best time to create?  Probably late night into the wee hours.  I don't get to do it that often but that's usually when I am most creative and focused.

11. What is your favourite season. Early Fall.

My questions to you:

1.  Do you consider yourself a crafter or artist?

2.  What is your favorite paper line of all time?

3.  Are you a DIY kind of person around the house or do you hire people to do it for you?

4.  Do you live to eat or eat to live and what is your favorite food?

5.  What was your favorite family tradition growing up?

6.  Do you have any famous or infamous ancestors and if so who were they?

7.  What's your favorite technique to use on a project?

8.  What is your favorite color combination?

9.  Who taught you to drive a car?

10.  Have you ever been a volunteer, if so what did you do?

11.  What one little thing will always make you smile?

Okay so I am tagging

My girl McCine 

Kat

Nikki

Pea

DeNetra

Tracy this one's for you!!!

A picture says 1000 words so here it is

Those are the 12 new colors for 2012 and the new carry case. And see that little brown box with the "D" tape.  Yes Tracy, that box is the one I was supposed to send to you 4 months ago LOL.  It is going out tomorrow.  I kept adding more stuff to it so I hope you'll enjoy it.  Other than these Copic items and a couple of $1.50 bin item's from Michael's I haven't bought a single scrapbooking item in 2 MONTHS.  Gasp! I guess I just don't want to add to the moving if someone buys our house soon.  Then again I don't want to miss out on all the new stuff coming out just because I don't know how long I'm waiting.  Oh what's a girl to do!

Mission Complete!

Okay it's ALMOST complete. My collection of Copics that is.  I now have every single color except the neutral grays, toner grays and the florescent.  I'll be able to pick the grays up quickly since they sell them in sets and I'm still not convinced on the florescent (I am being pulled in the direction of full completion though, really what's another 7 markers) Then I have to gear up for the releases for next year.  I then ordered a whole lotta paper and stamps, plus i'm starting my art journaling class and I really think I want to use copics as well as the water colors and acrylics.  I foresee a year of buying the refills now LOL.

I have also added to my dungeon so be on the lookout for a new tour video.  If I have to be stuck in the dungeon with little visiting creatures *insert shudder here* I am going to make it look as nice as possible.  I think I'm going to get some of those indoor/outdoor rugs as well.  What I would really like to do is move to Florida where it doesn't get below 60° F and have a room located above ground with windows.  I know, too much too ask for.  I may get desperate enough to take over the guest room upstairs.  Do you really need a guest room?  I have too much furniture now to combine a guest bedroom the the way the walls are, however we could buy a pullout couch. Decisions decisions.

Hope you had a great weekend and have a craftastic week!