Lisa's Blog

What can I say? You all are so darn smart. The mystery man is David Archuleta's dad, Jeff. (Some of my family members thought it was Robert Downey Jr.) David's brother was playing against my son, Collin, in a 9th grade basketball game. (It was very close but Collin's team came out on top. The Timberline Grizzlies are undefeated.)

Jeff Archuleta was very nice. We chatted for 10 minutes and he told me about David (he wasn't at the game because he was in NYC for the Macy's Day Parade). He said his new album is doing great! A dear friend (thanks, Jana) gave it to me today and I have to say it's the bomb! You must run to your nearest store and grab a copy! The songs "To Be with You" and "Angels" are my favorites.



Here are the winners:

Karen 11:21 a.m.
Mikie 10:34 a.m.
Shell Bray
Amber 12:15 p.m.
Ada in Coastal CA

Please e-mail your addresses to vgrothe@ckmedia.com and a wonderful recipe album will be sent to you. Please put "Winner of Recipe Album" in the subject line.

Several of you asked how you can purchase a recipe book kit. The kits are from American Crafts and I can get you a killer deal. If you're interested in finding out more about this kit, e-mail vgrothe@ckmedia.com. Please include "Killer Deal on Recipe Book" in the subject line.

Speaking of other great deals, have you checked out the on-sale items at Creating Keepsakes lately? Go here for more details and click on the different categories on the left hand side. Perfect gifts for the holidays.

Also, my dear friends at American Crafts and Quickutz are having blow-out sales this Friday and Saturday. I've seen the stuff at American Crafts (hip, high-quality and inexpensive) and know this is one sale you won't want to miss. Items like albums, ribbon, Thickers, embellishments and kits will be available. The products at Quickutzs will be 50-80% off. If you live in Utah, make sure you stop by.

American Crafts
Friday December 5, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday December 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
476 N. 1500 W.
Orem, UT 84057

Quickutz
Friday December 5, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday December 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
7 South 1550 West
Lindon, UT

Have a Terrific Thursday.

Lisa B.

P.S. The holidays are in full swing here at my house. Sage, Brecken and I made a large stack of Christmas books and we are reading one a night. The one we choose tonight called "A Christmas Dress for Ellen" by Thomas S. Monson made me cry like a baby. Really inspiring.



I also signed up to be a bone marrow donor tonight for our darling neighbor, Jane Brown. Jane is a 9-year-old who has a rare form of leukemia. Please pray for her and look into signing up as a donor. Really worthy cause.

Our family is also making homemade gifts for each other again this year. It's fun seeing what everyone's coming up with!

Meet Brittany Bush.



Brittany is 19 years old, from Idaho Falls, Idaho and has battled Cystic Fibrosis since she was six months old.


Brittany has to leave her home every three months for an extended stay at a Salt Lake City hospital. Treatments are administered to her to clean infection out of her lungs. The older she gets, the sicker she gets. During her hospital stays, she never knows if she will be able to go home. Brittany's time is short.

Several months ago, Brittany's aunt who is a dear friend of mine (Verlena Jackman) asked if I had an extra "All About Me" scrapbook to give to Brittany. (This is a scrapbook I sold on QVC a few years ago. Probably most of you have one like it :)!) She was in the hospital again and very restless and agitated. Verlena thought this might be a fun thing for her to create while taking her mind off the pain.

Not only did Brittany create this album, she fell in LOVE with scrapbooking. Brittany's most prized possession is this scrapbook. She said:"When I'm no longer here in this life, this is a way for people to remember who I am and what I loved."

Here are some of her pages (thanks for scanning them, Verlena!):






Every time I look at Brittany's scrapbook, I get chills. What an amazing legacy for her to leave for her family.

Here are a few important things I learned about Brittany. She met her idol, Clay Aiken, on her 16th birthday! (They even had cake together and he sang her Happy Birthday!) Her favorite color is blue, she adores dogs and bowling, and is addicted to SCRAPBOOKING! She loves stickers, embellishments and any type of scrapbooking product.

Please help me make Brittany's Christmas a very merry one by sending her a note of good cheer. And, if you have any extra scrapbooking products, she loves everything (stickers, die-cuts, flowers, etc.).

Here is her address:

Brittany Bush
308D East Oak Street
Shelley, ID 83274

(I posted a different address earlier but found out Brittany and her mom just moved. If you sent it to the other address, no worries. It will be forwarded to Brittany.)

You all are the best. I still see Brian (the guy you sent the stickers to on Valentine's Day) and he always gives me a big high five and tells me thank you for the stickers. He uses them everyday.

By the way, I want to have a little contest around this fun opportunity. I read the book Christmas Jars last year and it made a huge impact on my life.




It really is a must-read book. My family has been doing this project for years--saving our coins throughout the year, then giving the jars of money to a family in need during the Christmas season. I now love that there's a book around what our family has been doing for years. Next Monday night for Family night, we are inviting some other families over and having a "Christmas Jar Scavenger Hunt." We will go around the neighborhood in pairs and collect coins in jars. The key is this--only coins can be donated (then it doesn't put anyone out). After an hour, we will all meet back at my house and everyone will count their collected money. The pair with the most money will win a fun prize. The money will then be donated to a couple of families we know need some extra help. I'm so excited!!

I purchased three extra Christmas Jar books that I'd love to share with you. Please drop me a note by Thursday night (midnight)
telling me you've sent Brittany a card and I'll enter your name in a drawing. Again, three lucky scrapbookers will win this amazing book.

Sorry this is so long! Hope you're having a great week. I know mine is filled with a Kurt Bestor concert, "A Christmas Carol" at the Hale Center Theater, Christmas caroling and a homemade meal to four of the widows in my neighborhood, a cookie exchange, meal at church, a work party at my home and at the end of the week a Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert! Whew! I love this time of year.

Sincerely,

Lisa B.

P.S. Wait until you see the December Kit of the Month! Stay tuned.

P.S.S. I'm getting ready for a big QVC day on December 31st. Shutterfly and Creating Keepsakes have teamed up for some amazing projects. Stay tuned again for more information on these products.

P.S.S. The sale at American Crafts was so great over the weekend they've extended it throughout this week. They are opened until 6:00 p.m.

I am so touched by the amazing response for Brittany. She received her first package on her front porch the night I posted my entry and needless to say, she was thrilled. (Thanks to the sweet gal in Shelley who delivered it in person! Another friend is also delivering a package in person--thanks Judy!) She is so excited to get her letters and goodies. Her aunt will keep me posted on her reaction!

Here are the three winners of the Christmas Jars book.

Marta
Reina
Teri M.

Please contact vgrothe@ckmedia.com with your snail mail address.

I'm hosting a CK Christmas party at my house today. Also going to a cookie exchange party tonight. I'm low on time today so I'm taking these:



They are a recipe I got from Becky Higgins. Everyone loves them and they are fast and easy--my kind of recipe. They aren't really a cookie but they'll have to do tonight!

Here is the recipe:

PRETZEL HUGS

1 bag pretzels
1 pkg. M&Ms
1 pkg. Hershey "Hugs"

Place pretzels on baking stone or sheet. Place a Hug on each pretzel and bake at 200 degrees for about 8 minutes (just watch for the Hugs to melt). Remove from oven and promptly place a couple of M&Ms on each pretzel, pressing into the melted chocolate. Allow to cool before serving. At room temperature, this takes SEVERAL hours. I would recommend making these the day before you plan on eating/delivering. Or you can put them in the refrigerator to speed up the process.

Have a great weekend!

Lisa B.

Last Friday the Creating Keepsakes team came to my house for a festive little Christmas party. Just had to share the photo we took:



This is one of the most creative, dedicated teams I've ever worked with. They are the folks that do all the planning, editing, designing, graphic layout, etc. for the magazine and special issues. And yes--that is Elizabeth Kartchner (2007 Scrapbooker of the Year winner) on the front row with her adorable baby.

Hey--just wanted to let you know some of the newest, coolest, must-haves that are on the market.

Brian Tippetts, CK's editor in chief, has a brand-new book called "Get Creative with Type."



It's unlike any book I've ever seen because it's solely dedicated to the art of typography. Not just fonts. We are talking stickers, rub-ons, stamps, chipboard, and so on. And, who better to write it than Mr. Tippett's himself. I've worked with Brian for 20 years (yikes--are we that old, Brian?) and for as long as I've known him, he has been the master of font choices. He has a knack for choosing the right font in the right place (something that most of us struggle with). This book is simply amazing. You'll be so inspired when you finish looking through the beautiful pages--you'll just want to get out all your font mediums and roll up your sleeves and scrap! Oh, and I forgot to mention the bonus CD included full of fonts, paths, templates and more! Plus the all-star designers who created pages for the book: Ali Edwards, Amanda Probst, Amy Martin, Deena Wuest, Elizabeth Kartchner, Heidi Swapp, Jessica Sprague, Kelly Purkey, Laura Kurz, Maggie Holmes, Mou Saha and Nacole LaRue.

Go here for more information about this fabulous book.

Also, check out Month by Month scrapbooking by Amanda Probst. Another favorite new book.

Also brand new on the market is our December Kit of the Month: Little Stories. My pal, Carrie Heaphy, "invented" this product and brought it to our Kit of the Month team. We loved it so much we made it into a kit for you to enjoy. It contains 12 board-book scrapbooks, all the stuff to create amazing albums, plus a beautiful box where they all are stored.

First of all, check out all the stuff you get with the kit:









Love the box and all the little books:





Think of all the possibilities: month by month scrapbooking, anniversaries, sports, birthdays, homes you've lived in, qualities you like in a person (a book for each quality) and the list goes on and on. Here are some of books from Carrie and her friends:





Go to Kerri Bradford's web site by clicking here for more great examples. (Scroll down.) Go here for more information on ordering this amazing kit.

Okay--so one more great deal if you live in Utah. This one isn't scrapbooking relate but if you're into fitness and want great attire, you must go to the HUGE Icon Fitness 90-day sale. Honestly, the best quality fitness attire for the most killer prices that I've ever seen. And--everything is name brand (ProForma, Nordic Track, etc.). Their store is at 799 E. 6600 S. in Murray, Utah (David Archuleta's home town!). It's next to RC Willey and west of Fashion Place Mall. When I see a good deal, I just have to pass it on!

Hope your holidays aren't too hectic and stressful. Remember to take time for your own "Silent Night" (theme of a new Amy Grant song!).

Sincerely,

Lisa B.

Three days ago, I was frantically running around, trying to get what felt like thousands of presents and Christmas cards packaged and sent. I also was in the middle of a huge 6th grade crisis at my daughter's school, plus was trying to get to two basketball games (both boys play on teams) and make a treat for an open house later on that night.

In the middle of all this mayhem and madness, the doorbell rang. There stood my five-year-old neighbor, Carson, bundled in a jacket, shorts and towing a suitcase.



"What are you doing?" my hubby and I asked. He looked at us with big eyes and said, "I need to talk to the Big Guy. I'm running away and I'm coming to live at your house." (This was all said in the cutest five-year-old voice I think I've ever heard.) The "Big Guy" is Kade whom Carson loves and adores. Unfortunately Kade was still at school. I invited him in out of the cold (just check out the wheel marks in the snow) and asked why he was running away. He replied, "Because my mom is being silly and won't take me to buy presents." I told him that his family would miss him very much if he lived at our house and that Santa might not find him. He was certain that a letter could be written to Santa and that he'd still find him.

Carson then showed us what was in his suitcase. The contents were typical of what I'd expect from a little boy--except for one thing. He'd packed three shirts, one soccer jersey, one pair of shorts, a blanket and a pillow. Then the item that was unexpected.



I totally choked up and could hardly speak. There nestled in all his stuff was his greatest possession: A picture of Christ. I reflected about this sweet, innocent act all day. No matter how hard Carson's life was that day, he still remembered who to turn to when things don't go as expected.

Because of this experience, I've slowed down a little bit more these past few days. I've put together two nativity puzzles with Sage, I've read more Christmas stories to my family, I didn't get upset when the dog ate the newly-decorated gingerbread house and I've greeted everyone I've met with a smile.

Oh, and the Big Guy got home from school and gave Carson hugs and attention, then convinced him to go back to his house (along with a little prodding from his dad).



Please share with me some of the activities you've done this week to help you remember the reason for this season. I'm glad a five-year-old boy helped me to slow down a little bit.

Hey--you must check out this new kit of the month from Creating Keepsakes.



The kit is called Project 365 and it was created by none other than the wonderful Becky Higgins. It comes with so much stuff--a binder and everything you need to capture every day in 2009 (hence the name Project 365). What a wonderful time capsule for your family in such a doable format.

Go to Becky's web sit click here for more tips and information about this kit. It's not available until January first so put a big mark mark on your calendar on this date!

Have a great weekend!

Love, Lisa B.

Yesterday was the best Christmas ever! The kids didn't get up until 8:30 a.m. (yippee!), we had a lovely morning opening presents, I took a long, luxurious bath with my favorite bubbles, then we braved the snow and went to both families houses for snacks and dinner. We seriously got the biggest snow storm ever! If you didn't get snow, we'd love to send a little your way.

Probably the most memorable present my kids and hubby got were Shutterfly Photo Books that were designed by top Creating Keepsakes personalities. I was able to customize them in a short amount of time (no longer than an hour or two) and the results were mouth dropping. These are some of the beautiful coffee-table books that I'll be featuring on December 31st for the QVC Today's Special Value.

I created this Year in Review for each of my children:

Click here.

I made this book for my step-daughter, Stefyn. It's "A Trip to Remember" book featuring the trips we shared in 2008.

Click here.

Sage will be receiving this ABC book for her birthday on January 21st:

Click here.

I created Kade's baby book 18 years ago and have to admit, it's not my favorite. Many of the photos are not very good quality plus I cut them in fish and balloon shapes. I am so excited to present this to Kade on Sunday, his 18th birthday. I simply scanned in all his baby photos, and within an hour had this beautiful, updated book. The best part is the other one is still intact.

Click here.

Kade got this "Play Hard" book after his football season in November.

Click here.

This is a "Tribute" book that I created for my husband. He loved it!

Click here.

So, here's my little game. Look through the pages of my books and find a family activity that scared the heck out of all of us. Please let me know the book name, the page number and the name of the activity. You have until Sunday night at midnight to play. At that time I'll have all the comments posted, then choose three names (the first person to enter the correct answer will automatically win). The three lucky winners will win a 8 x 8 or 12 x 12 photo book from Shutterfly!! I will give you a code, and you can create your own book! I will post the winners on Monday.

Just a little more information about my QVC shows next Wednesday (December 31st). I will be offering Shutterfly Photo Books created by Creating Keepsakes for the TSV or Today's Special Value (exactly my books that you previewed). There are eight designs to choose from (you don't have to choose the design when you purchase the book--you can decide that later) in 8 x 8 or 12 x 12. They are being offered at a stellar price, plus you get five extra pages absolutely free.

Here is my schedule (all Eastern Standard Time):

12:00 am--Creating Keepsakes Photo books will be featured as the TSV for approx 10 minutes at the top of the hour on the one hour show
3:00 am--Creating Keepsakes Photo books featured as top headline for 10 minutes on the 1 hour show
7:00 am--Creating Keepsakes Photo books featured as TSV hit (mention)
10:00 am--Creating Keepsakes Photo books featured as TSV hit (mention)
12:00 pm--Creating Keepsakes Photo books featured as TSV hit (mention)
3:00 pm--Creating Keepsakes Photo books featured as top headline for 1 0 minutes on the 1 hour show

Again, these amazing Shutterfly books are super easy to put together and are gorgeous in design and quality. We will send you all the information you need to create your own book--all you need is computer, internet connection and digital photos.

See you on the 31st!

Lisa

What a week this has been! It's been full of snow, snow and more snow!

Here are photos of my children and their cousin at a nearby park--they were making snow angels, having snowball fights and sledding behind the four wheeler. Love seeing all my kids play together--so fun for a mom!




Other activities this week included a sing-along at Cheerful Charlie's house (my neighbor who plays the organ beautifully),



our coin scavenger hunt (five families collected $1,300.00 in one hour--we were able to give it to three families), a caroling party to widows in our neighborhood, a high school reunion party, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" play and a special family night at my parents house.

Tonight we had several family members and friends over. We had great food (Brecken and I baked and cooked all day).



We also had a talent show, sang carols to various musical instruments (actually noise makers my mom brought over!), and did a puppet show while my dad read the nativity story from Luke.

The kids always get new pajamas.



And the kids always sleep together downstairs. Tonight kooky Kade dragged his mattress downstairs. My hubby and I laughed so hard when they were all sliding down the stairs on it.



Hope you've had a peaceful Christmas Eve and that your children, too, are nestled in their beds.

Stay tuned on Friday when I'll be announcing a fabulous Shutterfly giveaway in conjunction with the Today's Special Value on QVC on the 31st.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!

Love, Lisa B.

See my post two down!

Thanks for playing my little game. I know it took some time--I appreciate your efforts.

Okay--so my question was a little tricky since my family has had so many scary experiences in the past year. So--there are really three answers that could have worked.

1. Our Ding and Dang hike at Goblin Valley (Steve's Tribute book, page 10).

2. Ali's sleepwalking at Lake Powell (A Trip to Remember, page 19).

3. Losing Brecken at Temple Square (A Trip to Remember, page 22).

So--here they are the winners (I took from both sections):

Mommyme (first person to respond with a correct answer)

Beth Owen
Ormond Beach, Florida

Johanna (8:23 a.m.)

Please send your e-mail address to Vivian at vgrothe@ckmedia.com and she will send you a code that will allow you to create your own book.

See you on the 31st at 12:01 a.m.!!

Lisa