Live Chat with me Friday plus "I'm a Nervous Wreck" contest

Hey Everyone,

Join me on Friday September 28th from 4-6 p.m. (MST) for a live online chat. I'd love to answer your questions (e.g. "Is David Venable as cute in person as he appears to be on TV?"). Go to www.creatingkeepsakes.com/mb to join the chat.

I've been a nervous wreck the last four weeks with Steve's new "adventure." Tuesday was the worst day of all. Okay--so since I'm having a contest around this new little activity I won't say any more.

The first 10 people that correctly guess what Steve's been up to will receive our "just in the warehouse" December Kit of the Month (post your guess as a comment using the link below this post. Be sure to include your email!) I saw it yesterday when I was at work and it truly is one amazing product. It's a lot of really cool stamps with all kinds of cool doodles, flourishes and accents for your pages. The cutest I've ever seen! I'll create a page using the stamp kit with Steve's photos on it when I announce the winners! Hurry and cast your vote so you can have a crack at this prize!

Good luck! And talk to you tomorrow.

Lisa B.

Big Surprise When I Got Home!

I was gone most of last week (Memory Trends and QVC). Some of my girlfriends from Utah went to Philly with me and we spent a couple of extra days in Philly, Gettysburg and Amish Country.

So, I got home late Sunday night to an extra member of the family.



Steve and the kids have been begging for a Beagle for years and Saturday night they couldn't resist. I've been saying "no" for the past four years since we moved in this house. A stray black lab showed up on the front porch of our last home and we called the pound, then ended up adopting her. Molly was a wonderful dog but lots of work and lots of dog hair! And--I was the one who paid the most attention to her. Two years later, a neighbor was moving to Reno on 20 acres and begged to take Molly with her. We decided it would be best since we were moving and our new yard wasn't fenced in at the time.

So--I've been resisting a dog--a cat and rat were about all I could handle. Steve said that one day I'd come home to a Beagle puppy ... and he followed through on his promise!

Now we have Maggie and since I've been home she's had numerous accidents on the hard wood floor, rugs, neighbor's carpet, sister's floor. But--I have to admit she's darling and Steve and the kids are quite smitten by her. I'm sure I'll warm up to her as well! She really is a great little dog--doesn't yelp or whine at night and loves hanging out in her crate.

So--that was my big news. Let's hope there are blessings in heaven for taking care of animals (I know there are for children so there's got to be for pets!).

Here's a photo of Kade's big Homecoming Dance. It was Saturday night and they had lots of fun. His "friend" lives two doors down from us and we are good friends with her family.



I put all my Fall/Halloween decorations up yesterday. I'm loving this time of year. And--my neighbor Allison Norton brought down the yummiest cookies. Had to share the recipe--perfect for Fall.

Molasses Cookies

Cream together for two minutes:
1 cup shortening
1 cup butter
2 eggs

Add slowly and cream for five minutes:
2 cups sugar

Add to above mixture:
1/2 cup molasses
1 t. salt
4 t. soda
2 t. cinnamon
2 t. ginger
2 t. ground cloves
4 cups flour

Roll in balls, then in sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. These are light and fluffy. Warning: You can't eat just one!

Happy Crisp Weather!

Lisa B.

Life is Crazy Busy (and good)!

Life has been crazy busy! Last week I had the amazing opportunity to create a Rememberance Album for the little girl who passed away in the car accident (see blog entry two down)--it was displayed at her visitation and funeral. My sisters, Angela and Becky, stepped up to the plate and helped since I only had a day to complete this (I was going to the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Phoenix--loved meeting all you Arizona gals and Mike the scrapbooking guy!). The book turned out so beautiful and was an amazing experience putting together. (We used the new pink line from My Mind's Eye.) I know a little angel was watching over us. I would love to show you some pages but want to be respectful of the privacy of the Grant family at this difficult time.

Here is another little book I put together for the family. So many people were visiting the house and the mother wanted to have everyone write their memories of little Paige. I'd just purchased a cool little book from Target made by Real Simple. It's called a "4x6 Index Card Wheel" and was perfect for gathering memories. It contains 75 index cards in four different colors. The cards "fan out" and there's a removable bolt so you can rearrange the cards. I added her name on the front and the word "memories" over the "Real Simple" leather label. I also put archival pens in a pencil can (black beans were in the bottom so they wouldn't move around) next the book. I loved this book so much that I went and bought several more--also great for anniversaries, weddings, baby showers, birthdays, etc. (and very affordable).



Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the funeral (I was in Arizona) but Kade went and said it was very spiritually uplifting but very sad.


What else is happening on the Bearnson front? Football, football and more football. Kade plays varsity football at the high school and Collin plays for the 8th grade team. (Steve is one of Collin's coaches.) Collin's last game was against the PG Vikings. Collin's best friend, Cooper, plays for this team and on the last play of the game tackled Collin really good. As you can see, Collin got a bloody nose and a black eye the next day. They shook hands after and told each other good game and Kris, Cooper's mom, got a good photo of them. (She needs to send it to me--I didn't have my camera.) Oh, by the way. Collin's team won by two points.



I'm off to Memory Trends in Las Vegas tomorrow. Then straight to Philly and QVC. I have four hours on Friday--4 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. EST. And--lots of new items!

Talk to you soon!

Lisa

September Kit of the Month

Wow!! I just got done putting together my September Kit of the Month (Travel Journal) and had to share my results. I plan on giving the album and storage tin to Kade for Christmas. It's the perfect reminder of a perfect time together.

Okay - so I just have to let you know how much VALUE is in this kit. First of all, it was so simple to put together. Everything is precut, prefolded, already embossed, etc. There are three different color schemes making it easy to coordinate your trip's photos with the right look. Wait until you see everything that's included in the kit - storage tin, spiral chipboard and cloth album, stickers, die-cut arrows, magnets, pockets, stamps, rubons, binder clips, envelopes, files tabs and the list goes on. There's a special place for receipts, postcards, tickets, brochures, emergency numbers, money spent, and flight information. There is so much stuff left over - enough to make several more projects.

I plan to keep several of these kits on hand for future trips. How great would it be to create one album with all your trips from 2007, 2008, 2009, etc.? Or use an entire album for one trip.

This has got to be my favorite kit of all times. It was patterned after an album that Kerri Bradford created before a trip to Scotland and England last year. I kept looking at the album our entire trip wishing I had one as well.

To see my album or the creative ways that other gals have created their albums, go to www.lisabearnson.com/kotm and click on the "see kit details" button.

Have fun and Bon Voyage!

Lisa

We've had a rough week

First of all, thanks so much for all your advice on Collin's sign. I read all your comments and decided the best thing to do was take the TV out of Collin's room. I haven't been too worried about it being in there since the actual TV portion doesn't work and he only has selective games to play on his Gamecube. However, I love your advice to put it in a more public place. Collin's been in California and got back late last night. So, after school I approached him and said I think we should take down the sign because it's not really truthful. He said, "That's okay, Mom. Nobody really comes in my room anymore!" I then had a great conversation about why nobody comes in his room--because they think the games are broken. I then had the opportunity to tell him how I can look back on my life and see how 100% honesty has brought many, many blessings. He was great about it and totally understood. So--the TV and Gamecube are going in our family room. I have to admit that part of the reason why it hasn't been in a main room is selfish--I don't love the sound those little games make!

As for Kade asking the gal next door to Homecoming--she said YES! She came over the next night and filled his room with balloons--each containing a Riesen candy. He had to pop all the balloons and open each candy. The very LAST candy he opened said, "There are a million Riesens why I'd go to Homecoming with you, but the number one Riesen is You are the Best." Such a cute way to answer. Sorry I can't show a picture which leads me to my next subject.

Last Wed. night I had a friend come in from Baltimore (loved having you here, Amy!)for four days. We rarely get rain, lightening and thunder here, but Wed. night it was really bad. We heard a huge kaboom, followed by a sizzling sound and realized our house had been hit by lightening. Scarry. Since that time we've had no internet, TV, or telephones that work. The weird thing is the electricity still works. So--we are working on getting that fixed. Right now I'm using our neighbor's internet.

This pales in comparison to the horrible event that took place while my sons and husband were in California this past weekend. Kade plays Varsity football for Lone Peak and his team went down to San Diego to play a high school team on Friday. The majority of the parents went down to support them--including Collin and Steve. (They lost during the last few seconds--13-7.) The next night (Saturday night) was a BYU football game near LA so Collin, Steve and Kade went to the game along with most of the parents. The mom of one of the football players and his five-year-old sister opted to go to the Broadway "Wicked" instead of the BYU game. Kade and his teamates rode by bus to the BYU game and passed a horrible accident. Little did they know it was the rental car of the mom and little 5-year-old sister. Tragically, the 5-year-old was killed. The mother broke several ribs and was released from the hospital yesterday.

We all have been so upset by this news. Kade remembers last Friday night his teammate's little sister running up to her brother and throwing her arms aroumd his neck to tell him "good game." Life is so short and precious.

Let's all hug our kids a little tighter and longer tonight.

Lisa

My Labor Day Weekend plus Need some Mom Advice!

How was your long weekend?? I had the best Labor Day ever! Sage, Brecken and I went to Midway, Utah Saturday, Sunday and Monday (my mom and two sisters joined us). There is a HUGE celebration called Swiss Days that happens every Friday and Saturday before Labor Day in Midway and it's lots of fun (and really hot :)!). There are tons of cool boutique booths, great food, live entertainment, etc. The dad from High School Musical was the announcer--my kids loved seeing him! If you're ever in Utah over this weekend, you must go. But--leave the men at home. They might get bored with all the shopping. The girls and I also got manicures and pedicures, played lots of fun games, went to church (love the Swiss style church up there) and hooked up with some wonderful friends--all of whom I've met through this wonderful hobby called scrapbooking. (Love ya Carrie, Lisa, Lisa, Jennie, Marty, Laurel, Janalee, Beth, Sunny and Mel!)

The guys all stayed home and played in football games, practiced football and watched the BYU football on Saturday (the Cougars won!). 'Tis the Season!

Last night, I helped Kade ask his "friend" (she lives two doors down!) to the Homecoming Dance. We got this cool gift bag that said "The World's a Playground and You're the Guest of Honor." When it opened, a song about being the "guest" started playing. Inside the bag we put a Queen and Company cosmetic bag (pink and so cute) filled with "Riesen" chocolate caramels and a princess Pez dispenser. On each of the Pez candies, a different word was pulled out which equaled this sentence: "There's no Riesen you shouldn't be my guest at Homecoming. Please Say Yes! Kade." We tied matching balloons to the top of the bag and my little girls went and rang and run last night. I caught Brecken spying in the window so she could see Taylor's reaction! We're waiting for her answer!

Okay--so here's my question. My 14-year-old son, Collin (on the left of the photo), is truely one sweet kid.



He's sensative, funny, a hard worker, a peacemaker and always is asking what he can do to help me. Several times this summer, I heard him sticking up for the underdog in front of his friends when they were saying unkind things. And, he's a great football player to boot! Don't get me wrong, he's not perfect (you should see his closet!), but really a nice kid. With that being said, I don't know what to do about this situation. Collin has a TV and Gamecube in his bedroom which is a pretty small room-the Gamecube's his and the TV belongs to the family. I was surprised when I saw this sign on his door a couple of weeks ago.



I asked him what was wrong with the games and he confided that nothing's wrong with them, he's just tired of Sage, Brecken, and all their cousins and friends coming into his room to use the Gamecube, then leaving it a mess.

So--Collin has a point. And for the past three weeks, no kids have entered his room so he's had the Gamecube to himself, plus a fairly clean room. But, the more I've been thinking about it, the more I'm not sure if he should leave the sign on his door. It's deceptive--something I'm trying to teach my children never to be involved in.

What would you do? Need your advice.

Lisa B.