Thrifty Gifty Revisited!

Hi everyone,

I just got this super-cute email from my sister-in-law, Tami Comstock.

Hey Guys! Considering we are now 'officially' in the middle of a recession, I thought I'd apply the principles of the "Thrifty Gifty" Christmas projects to my Valentine gift giving. I crafted these two treat cartons out of the coveted Hot Chocolate container (big one) and an emptied-since-Christmas Almond Roca container (smaller one) to send as care packages to my loved ones that are living far away. I am filling them with treats and sweet little cards to brighten their day! As you can see, Chemistry did a lovely job of creating a rich and romantic palette and had just the right sentiments to express my love and fondness for them.

My only problem with Tami's awesome thrifty gifty is that since I started the Five Dollar Diet with Lindsay, my supply of Hot Chocolate and Candy containers has greatly diminished. Healthy food just doesn't come in as cute of packaging! Why is that, I wonder? Couldn't they sell Soy Chips in cute little canisters instead of potato chip bags? How about a heart shaped box of clementines or a decorative tin of oatmeal? What do you think?

Warning: Rated GR for GROSS!

I don't usually blog on Saturday's, but this hysterically, gross thing just happened. Are you ready?

Eric and I had just left our kids at home to run to the grocery store when we got a call from Ethan, our oldest. He explained that he had been eating some corn chips and thought he had chipped a tooth. Eric and I both wondered how one could possibly chip a tooth on corn chips. Ethan explained that he had the part of tooth that had chipped off and he thought it was from a baby tooth. We told him we would look at it when we got home.

So, when I get home, Ethan shows me the tooth part that had chipped off. As I am looking at it, I am amazed at what a big piece of tooth it is. It looks like he must have broken his tooth in half. I asked him to show me which tooth in his mouth was broken. He explained that he couldn't tell for sure. This is where the "spidey senses" started to kick in. How could he not feel a difference in his mouth with this much tooth missing, I wondered. It just didn't make sense!

I looked in his mouth and couldn't see a chipped tooth. At this point Eric came in and asked me what I thought. I told him I didn't think he had chipped a tooth, but somehow, this tooth part got into his mouth. Eric said, "Whose teeth are you eating Ethan?" And that's when all the dots connected.

Kate had lost a tooth earlier this week. She had placed it in a baggie for safe keeping until the tooth fairy came to pick it up. Eric was home with the kids yesterday and had given Jack and Abby some corn chips in a baggie to eat while they watched TV. Ethan found this bag and finished off the crumbs. And, another adventure in parenting was born....... I told you GROSS!

Spring Will Come Eventually

I am downstairs in my office looking out at the dark, grey sky and telling myself that spring will come. There is rain drizzling down the window and it's cold, but spring will come! Last year, our spring was very, very late...... it even snowed in June. One day, my daughter came to me, in tears, worried that we were going to miss all of spring. I told her what I'm telling myself now........ spring will come!

The above layout is of said daughter last year when spring finally came. I have used this photo before, but I just love it! I saw a project in Simply Handmade by Pamella Brown, that I used as inspiration (I love that magazine!).

I've included directions for my layout. You are free to download these and use them for yourself. If you own a store, feel free to make kits and or teach classes with them. The only thing I don't want you to feel free to do is charge anyone just for the instructions! Thanks!

Meet Kristen, Our Girl Friday

Since we have been making introductions, I thought we should introduce you to Kristen. This is the girl that Lindsay refers to as Radar O'Reilly because whenever you ask Kristen to do something, she almost always tells you that it's already done. She is the most organized person at Cosmo Cricket, definitely the most polite and just a fabulous employee....... although she is not my daughter as one gal at the trade show thought...... I would have been 14 people!!!

(I'm waiting for a photo of Kristen, but you may remember her as the young blonde with the Mickey Mouse ears from our videos.)

Anyway, here are 25 random things about her, by her:
1. I have an amazing husband and we have been married for almost one
year!
2. I have a birth mark in a shape of a football on the bottom of my
foot.
3. I love to dance! I started dancing at the age of four.
4. I played basketball in the 7th -8th grade. I was horrible and I
always got yelled at for dancing during b-ball practice.
5. My mom never spanked me- at least that's what she tells me. And I can
only remember one time when my dad was upset with me. I hope my kids will
be well behaved!
6. I'm the youngest of four children in my family.
7. I love running! My sister runs with me but she's super fast. The only
time I was able to keep up with her was a month after she had her 3rd
baby!
8. I love Thai Food
9. The only meat I eat is chicken and fish.
10. I have 2 nieces and 5 nephews
11. There is nothing better than reading a good book! My husband doesn't
share the same enthusiasm. He tends to get ignored while I read.
12. I grew up on a ranch in Idaho
13. My house is always clean. I'm a little OCD.
14. I wish I could play the piano but I'll learn someday.
15. I hate fire.
16. I've never broken any bones.
17. My husband taught me how to ride a dirt bike.
18. I enjoy going to Lake Powell with my family.
19. I hate grocery shopping.
20. My husband is a better cook than me.
21. My favorite TV show is Gilmore Girls and Jon & Kate plus 8
22. I'm always cold.
23. I took gymnastics when I was young but I stopped going after I did a
back flip and landed on my head. I was fine but it was a traumatic
experience!
24. I would love to have four children with my husband someday.
25. My favorite season is Summer- I love the heat!


Congrats Rebecca at 9:09 this morning, you are today's luck winner. It's a good thing I didn't post earlier, you barely squeaked into that drawing! By the way, for those that wonder how we choose the winners, I use a random number generator.

Tim Tam Temptation

We haven't given away a prize for a while, so I think we should do that today. But first, a Five Dollar Diet update.

Lindsay and I were strong all through CHA. We did not order cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory...... although others did. We did not eat any junk at Disneyland...... even as I watched my sister-in-law eating a chocolate-covered, frozen banana. We didn't even eat any of the Tim Tams that Cheryl from Aussie Scrap Source brought for us all the way from Australia (and that is saying something!). The $5 donation jar has only collected the one time donation from Lindsay's slipped profanity.

(Lindsay and I with our Tim Tams. This is the only photo I had, so please don't tease Lindsay too much for being caught in the middle of saying something! Oh and for those who don't know, Tim Tams are these super-yummy, chocolate-covered cookies.)

Eric and Lindsay both say that I am getting skinnier. I am starting to believe them since my pants are looser and I'm fitting into some that didn't fit before. I don't know what I weigh because Lindsay and I agreed not to weigh ourselves until April 1. But, Eric thinks I'm looking so great that he has decided to join us. It's nearly killing him!!! He has been "clean" for two days. GO ERIC!

How are your healthy efforts going? Let us know and you could win:
One package of Tim Tams
A Super Sweet Chemistry Paper Crafting Kit
A Scrumptios Snorkel Sampling
A Tasty Scarlet Blackboard Album

Now to hold you over until we find out the winner, feast your eyes on these fun projects by design team member Yukari.

Holding Down the Homefront

When Eric and I have to leave for trade shows, it is my sister, Becky, that usually watches our kids. Becky is Jon the Warehouse Guy's wife, professional photographer and a super baby sitter. My kids love it when she comes..... especially if she brings Jon who always takes them fishing. Unfortunately, this last trip was a bit rough since her little baby was sick. I checked her blog yesterday (she takes beautiful photographs!) and found the following entry, titled "Mary's So Sad."

I've been helping out my sister by babysitting her four kids. And with Mary that makes five total kids! I'm not so sure I'm cut out to be a mother anymore. Jon couldn't miss law school so I've been here since Friday by myself. Last night went something like this.

10:00-11:30pm Mary laughed and giggled (I have no clue what was so funny in the dark)
1:00-2:00 am Jack woke up and cried for his parents (I layed on his flour until he feel asleep)
2:00am Mary woke up
3:30 Abby woke up sick and then woke the whole house up (gave her some children's Tylenol mostly to drug her back to sleep)
4:00 Mary woke up
6:00 Ethan woke up to go to school
7:00 helped the girls off to school

And if you think Mary looked sad you should see me!

Becky has fully recovered and so has Mary. However, my kids are now sick and so Becky has her revenge!

Meet Eric..... The Man Behind the Camera

Now that we have established that I am not married to Lindsay, I thought I would introduce you to the man I am married to, Eric.

Here are 25 random things about him, by him:
1. The first record I ever bought was Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA.
2. I need to have my desk or work area organized before I can start working.
3. I am a huge procrastinator.
4. I don’t like change. That’s why I am on my 5th pair of Black Chuck Taylors.
5. I did not enjoy reading until I was 18 when I read the book My Name Is Asher Lev.
6. I am 6.6 although I always tell everyone I am 6.5
7. I like to shop from J Crew because they sell tall clothing.
8. The one thing I really want to own is an Eames Lounge Chair.
9. I knew, when I was 14, that I wanted to be an art director in Advertising.
10. When I was an art director I worked on accounts like Intel, Iomega and Extensis.
11. When I go to the movies, I love watching the previews almost as much as the movie.
12. I started listening to Elvis Costello when I was 12. My older sister had sent me home a mixed tape of his music and I’ve been hooked ever since.
13. I think vacuuming is relaxing.
14. I have 3 older sisters and 4 younger brothers.
15. My favorite foods are sweet potatoes in the winter time and Pesto and Mozzerella in the summertime.
16. I love typography.
17. My favorite color is blue.
18. I am a compulsive doodler. Without thinking I have doodled on my kids homework assignments, bills, insurance papers...
19. I don’t like crowds.
20. Unlike Lindsay or Julie I do not need or want to be the center of attention.
21. I cannot sing. It has been confirmed by several people.
22. My favorite radio show is This American Life. You can usually find it on a public radio station or you can download their podcast. Make sure to donate when they ask for your help.
23. I have four fabulous kids.
24. I work with my best friend everyday.
25. I’ve loved being part of building up Cosmo Cricket and can’t wait to see what happens next.

So, what do you think? Did I make a good catch? I think so and wanted to capture it in this fun album I made out of our new spinner cards. Since they are only a $1.49 retail, it's not too expensive to use them as pages...... or at least covers, although any one of these pages would be cute on a layout as well!