8/7/09 - I'm at Convention!!!  There is so much I would like to share, but I'll have to wait until I'm home first.  :)  I'll try to add a few new projects while I'm here and will add our Make-n-take projects when I get home.  (I have to finish putting them together.)  Look for more updates soon!!!

Oh, in the meantime... check out the new mini starter kit!  Click on Join and my password is: verbarendse .  Let me know if you have any questions!

6/5/09 - It's the last day of school!  Hurray!!!  This means that by the end of the day, I will officially have a Senior (AHHH!!) in High School, an 8th grader and a 2nd grader.  Crazy!  I'm so excited that summer is here, but it does mean a very busy schedule for the Verbarendse Family...  both girls are in softball with games almost every Monday and Wednesday, Dyl is starting baseball next week with games every Tuesday and Thursday, (he'll add swimming lessons to his agenda in a couple weeks), and then Kaity and I will be taking golf lessons this summer.  Busy, but fun!

I will still have time to stamp and am excited for Convention in August!  As soon as my preview items arrive, I'll post some samples to get you excited for the new catalog that will come out in July.  (I just realized I never posted my Regional projects, so I'll get to that this weekend!)

Hope everyone has a fabulous summer!!!  Let me know if you need any supplies for your cards, scrapbooks or other fun projects!

4/9/09 - I was lucky enough to attend the Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar in Minneapolis on Saturday and it filled me with a TON of ideas!  I can't wait to share them with you!  I will be hosting a card class on Sunday, April 19th, so let me know if you want to come and see some of these fabulous techniques and card designs!  I'll post some soon.  (I have two projects I need to finish from Saturday using the set they gave us, Best Wishes and More.)  

In the meantime, check out my projects link to view some cool videos!  Oh, place an order with me by April 19th (cannot be online) and you can add an 8 1/2 x 11 paper pack (one color) or a Classic Stampin' Pad for FREE.  Only available through me!!

2/20/09 - WOW!!  Can you believe it is already 2009!  I think I've gotten into the habit of hibernating in the winter now that I live in Minnesota.  I don't think I've had a class or workshop since... October???  Crazy!  I can't let anyone miss out on Sale-a-bration, so I have a couple events planned for February and March and they are both FREE!  Remember that you can order online through this website by clicking on the 'Shop Now' link at the top right corner.  This is a great way to view our products AND anyone who places an order during February will get a FREE catalog with their order. 

I hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine's Day.  Bryan went to Seattle with our middle kid, Miss Kaity, for a fun Father/Daughter trip.  Dylan thought it was great, because he got to sleep in my bed the whole time.  :)  We tried to hang out with Kylie, when she wasn't working.  Bryan even sent me flowers while he was gone! 

Well, our snow started to disappear, but now it is back.  At least it's pretty and not below zero... at least for now.  Hope everyone is staying warm or out having fun in the snow.  (or sunshine, if you're lucky!)

12/9/08 - I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We had Bryan's folks surprise the kids by visiting the week of Thanksgiving.  Bryan even surprised me by having his brother join us, too!  It was a fun and relaxing week with family.  I'll get some pics up soon.

Now that we are in December, my mom is here this week and my dad is coming to town on Thursday!  We will be celebrating Christmas with them a little early.  We'll even get to have a white (and cold) Christmas!  We probably have at least 6 inches of snow out there and when you get snow in Minnesota... it usually stays awhile!!  Mom and I were busy shopping like crazy today!  The malls weren't too bad, but I hate parking in the snow!  It's hard to find a close spot this time of year.  

Remember that you can always shop through my website!  You don't even have to worry about parking.  :)  The retired list is now available with 10% off (for a limited time) and you can get free shipping with a $70 order!!!  Delivered right to your door... while you stay nice and warm inside!!

Happy Holidays, everyone!!

11/19/08 - Okay... I’m getting really bad at this lately!  Things have been a little crazy over here now that school is back in session.  With three kids, I get three different schedules... going to school and coming home.  Not that it is a good excuse or anything, but it sometimes wears me out!  I’m also working at Gap Kids, so that occupies some of my day now, too.  I really will try to get better at posting on here a more regularly. 

It’s late, but in case I don’t post for another month, I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas.  :)  I am very thankful for such wonderful friends and family.  I’m so glad that many of you like to stamp with me.  It’s a great stress reliever... sometimes...  :)   Happy Holidays and try to stay warm!!

10/6/08 - OMG!  It’s been almost a month since I added anything to my journal.  I added a couple new cards during this time, but not as often as I would have liked.  I did add a TON of samples today, so don’t forget to check them out!  :)  A lot of these samples were from my World Cardmaking Day event on Saturday, the 4th.  I really liked the cards we created.  My guests also made two cards using the Flower Power Card Elements kit, since it is 20% off through the 11th.  Let me know soon, if you want to order any of these kits!

I’ve also added the scrapbooking pages we made at my September Scrapbooking Class.  The next one, on the 21st, will have a fall/halloween theme, so be prepared!!  My oldest daughter, Kylie, just went to her homecoming dance this weekend, so I need to get those scrapbooked, too!  I’ll make sure I post them in my gallery, so you can see how beautiful she looked.  :)

Hope that everyone is enjoying their fall.  The trees look gorgeous over here in Minnesota!  I need to get out and take some photos!  Oh, speaking of more photos, Dylan finally lost his first tooth (and his second) right after school started, so I need to get those in an album, too.  He also learned how to ride his bike without training wheels!  What an exciting September for him!  

I should go take photos of Kaity playing tennis, so I have something fun she is doing in a scrapbook!  Have a great week!!

9/11/08 - I’m a couple days off from my ’scheduled’ updates, but I didn’t think you’d mind.  :)  Have you heard the exciting news???  You can now order directly through my website!  How cool is that??  Now, when the kids (and husband) are all sleeping and you are busy stamping/scrapbooking/crafting away and you suddenly realize... I need some more Whisper White cardstock or I really think this stamp set that I keep seeing in the catalog would be perfect for this scrapbook page... now... you can go directly to my website, click on the ’Shop Now’ button at the top and buy the things you need anytime... day or night!  Plus, it will be delivered directly to you!

Speaking of scrapbooking... I’m taking names for my first monthly scrapbooking class on Tuesday, September 16th.  The cost is $5.  We will only be making one 2-page layout, but if you are like me... one layout a month is still better than my current amount... none!  Plus, maybe it will inspire me to scrapbook a little more.  Don’t forget to RSVP by the 14th, so I’ll have plenty of time to prep.  I’m keeping these layouts relatively easy, so you should have plenty of time to finish.  If you want to bring pictures with you, you will need:  eight 2x3, one 5x7 and two 3 1/2 x5 pictures.  We will be using our new Washington Apple paper, so the colors will be So Saffron, Ridinghood Red, Pumpkin Pie and Bashful Blue.  This layout will work for Back to School, Summer, Apple Picking, camping... pretty much anything you need.  Hope to see you at this fun event.  Have a great rest of the week and let’s hope for some sun this weekend!

9/2/08 - Boy, has the weather changed over here!  It was a beautiful Labor Day weekend, but it was VERY humid and muggy yesterday and today it is a lot cooler and pouring rain!  Today is also the first day back to school for my little chickadees, so I guess it’s a good day for a downpour.  :)  

My in-laws came for a visit last week, so they timed things perfectly!  We were glad they weren’t planning on arriving the day before, because there was a HUGE fire on the street they live on and 10 houses burned down!  It was so sad and scary to see!  (Bryan and I were watching it all happen on www.ktvb.com) That was the street I grew up on and some of those houses were there when I was a kid...  My sister, who bought our house in Boise when we moved to Minnesota two years ago, even had to evacuate!  They live in the same neighborhood and the wind was blowing her direction.  This was good for Mike and Kathy (my in-laws) who lived two - three houses away from the edge of the fire, but very scary for my sister and her husband.  Luckily, both of their houses were fine and only smelled like smoke for a couple days...  Thank goodness!!

Now back to last week...  There was only one rainy day while they were here and Bryan even took a couple days off to golf with his dad.  We even went to the Minnesota State Fair on Dylan’s 7th birthday.  What a fun way to spend his birthday.  I can’t believe my baby is SEVEN!!!  He just got on the bus this morning for his first full day of 1st grade.  They grow up so fast!

I also can’t believe that I am home ALL day without any kids...  I may actually find some time to stamp and post some new samples next week!  The only sample I think I have for this week is the cute card I made for Dylan’s birthday.  Check out my gallery to see it!  I hope everyone has a fantastic week! 

8/18/08 - What a beautiful weekend we had in Minnesota!  This is the month that I love here!  The weather is usually very nice and I love sitting out on my back patio with a drink, while I look through my amazing new catalog and listen to our fountain in the background.  Very relaxing!  (Which is needed in my household of 3 kids!!)  Don’t forget to check out my updated Creative Projects and my Calendar of Events for next month.  I’m starting a brand new monthly Scrapbooking Class in September.  For only $5, which is a real bargain, you will make a really cool 12"x12" 2-page layout to fit the season.  Our layout for September will feature our new Washington Apple Designer Series Paper.  I’ll probably have some fresh apples available to snack on during this class, too.  We do have THREE apple trees out back!  Well, enjoy the last few weeks of summer!  I know I will!

8/11/08 - The NEW Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog has officially arrived!!!  It is beautiful!  If you don’t have your own copy, you can view the online version by clicking on the link on my home page.  I will try to update my website every Sunday evening/Monday morning, so check back weekly for new projects, events and more!!!  Don’t forget to come to my Open House on Saturday from 11 - 3!  I’ll have lots on display!

 6/29/08 - My parents just left for Boise this morning after a crazy week with my family.  I think they will both agree that life in our household is never boring!  They saw lots of sports! (Dyl’s soccer games, the girls’ softball games, a Twins game, one day of the Women’s Open in Edina, and even golfed themselves)  Hopefully, they will both have time to sleep today to get ready for their normal lives.  :)  It was definitely a fun and eventful time.  

My update on my stamp room:  Walls are painted, countertops installed (the BEST part!!), the shelves are in and the free standing shelves are back in.  (Not exactly all the stuff that was on those shelves has made it back in yet... You have to have some goals!)  I’m not sure when Bryan will get to my ’custom made’ cabinets... He’s custom making them, so... we’ll see when he has a spare weekend.  Maybe he’ll have time over 4th of July!  Just what he wants to do on a three day weekend.  :)  I do have to say that I feel very lucky to have a husband who is willing to do this for me.  It looks awesome in there already!

Hope everyone is having a great summer!  I can’t wait for Convention 2008!!!  I leave in one month to head to Boise and then I am driving to Salt Lake City with my mom, sister and two other downline members.  We are going to have a blast!  I’ll be sure to give you the scoop on all the new catalog goodies as soon as I can!