Do you want to know my middle name?

Here are the rules:
1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).
3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details.)

A - Achievement focused
N - Nurturing
N - (still thinking)
E - Emotional

You've been tagged! Regina, Julie, Naureen, and Debbie!

New Scrapdango Design Team!

Please join me in welcoming the new and continuing Scrapdango Design Team which includes the following very talented ladies...

Please note some designers have specific team roles
they have been assigned in addition to design responsibilities.

Sugar Kit Team
Julie Detlef - Design Team Leader
Dana DiGennaro - Kit Planner
Lisa Turley

Spice Kit Team
Debbie Gaydos - Sketch Designer
Naureen O'Neale

Sugar/Spice Kit Float Team
Terri Bradbury - Forum Leader
Tara Thynne - Event Coordinator

Newsletter Editor
Sandie Roberts

Newsletter Writer
Orgin Call

Altered Artist
Chrys Rose

Roadside Memorial for Rebecca Murphy

It was a Wednesday evening about two weeks ago, sometime in the early evening that I was driving towards home, only a few blocks away from home and I came across a pink shoe in the middle of my lane. It struck me as odd because it appeared to be a new shoe. I had been down that road probably 4 times already that same day and the pink shoe wasn't there earlier. I wondered how it would have gotten in the middle of the lane and not along the roadside. My car straddled the shoe as I kept driving towards home. A little later I got a call from my son asking to pick him up at the MAX stop so he could come over for a bit. After picking him up, we came closer towards where I had seen the pink shoe in the road earlier and I found myself wondering if he would notice the shoe in road as I had. As we came closer, he said "There's a shoe in the road!" I told him, "Yes, I saw it earlier. Kind of weird, huh?" He agreed. When you see shoes in the road or alongside the road, they typically look worn and dirty. This shoe looked brand new. We visited for a short-time (you know it is hard to get an 18 year old boy to spend much time with his Mamma) and we headed back towards the MAX. He then realized he left some items at my house he needed. We turned around and headed back toward home. We again neared the pink shoe in the road on our drive back. I was drawn to that shoe. I don't know why. It was bothering me that it was there. I found myself wondering...is it possible...could someone have been hit by a car? Most of this road has no sidewalks, very poor lighting, it is a heavily driven road with a major bus line running on it and most cars drive 45 mph on it, rather than the posted 35 mph. On my third pass over that pink shoe, I took a little peek towards the roadside, looking in the ditch area to see if I could see anything. I didn't want Scotty to think that a shoe in the road would make me paranoid enough to think there might be someone dead or dying in the ditch, so I was very discrete. I couldn't see anything, but I wasn't sure. Scotty got what he needed and as we headed out again, I decided it was too late to let him take the MAX home so I drove him all the way back to where he lives. It was quite late now, sometime around 11:00pm as I came upon that pink shoe in the road for the fourth time now this evening. I looked a little harder this time towards the ditch area but it was so dark, I couldn't see anything. I thought I was being a bit weird thinking that someone would be there. No person in their right-mind would think that. When someone gets hit by a car, there is always help there immediately. I decided it was just a pink shoe in the road. The next morning I awoke to the sound of helicopters flying overhead. We don't live far from the Hillsboro Airport which is where the local news stations dock their copters. I knew something was going on. Several hours later, I headed out to the local store. I was stopped by a police officer and detoured down an alternative road. I could see up ahead lots of vehicles, police cars and a large area was blocked off with that yellow crime scene tape. I thought, "Wow! Something big has happened!" I wanted to be sure to watch the news to find out what was going on. Later, I realized I had missed the 6:00pm news so I headed to the internet to checkout our local news. There it was - a girls body had been found in the ditch on 198th in Beaverton. Reports said it appeared that the girl had been hit by a vehicle and left to die. I then remembered the pink shoe in the road. I felt my body trembling, shaking from the inside out. Reports also said that after collecting information door-to-door in the neighborhood that they were able to determine that she had laid there in that ditch for at least 12 hours before her body was discovered. What led police to the body? The police received numerous calls during the early morning commute time about a pink shoe in the middle of the road. When they checked it out, they found the body of Rebecca Murphy. Hit by a vehicle along the road, left to die in a ditch and left there for more than 12 hours before discovered. I have found over the years that my intuition, my sixth-sense, if you will, has typically been right-on. I wish I had listened to it this time. I wish I had looked a little more closely. Could I have found her, possibly saved her life? Rebecca Murphy was loved by many people. There is now a roadside memorial for her at the place where she was hit. Tips from local people led the police to the person who left her there to die. And, she will forever have a place in my thoughts. Jovanna wanted so badly to place a rose along with the others at her roadside memorial. I was slightly frightened to do so because we could get hit by a car in the process. However, we picked a time when the traffic was at it lowest, were very careful and we placed a rose from us, along with the many other flowers at the roadside memorial for Rebecca Murphy.

Get Crowned at Scrapdango!

In celebration of our 2 year anniversary, Scrapdango is hosting a month long crop extravaganza! Come check out our version of CW's "Crowned" Scrapdango style! Come join us for 4 weeks of Crowned Competition ScrapDango style! There will be weekly pageant competition challenges to challenge your creativity and each week someone will be SASHED Princess of Scrapdango. (Prizes involved too!) In Scrapdango's version of Crowned, NO ONE gets sent home. You all have to live/scrap and experience PAGEANT LIFE with each other for the 4 weeks for the month of February. You can find more information on this fun event at our Forum and you must sign in on the "Crowned" Forum thread to participate. So toss in some makeup, evening gown, and bathing suit, along with your scrappin bags and pick your bedroom in the Crowned House here at ScrapDango!

It Turned Out to Be a Good Day!

It turned out to be a good day! I got to have "me" time and my therapeutic fill of creativity! I was able to work on some upcoming Scrapdango kit designs. We are so excited about February 2008! Not only is it our 2 year anniversary but we have some outstanding kits! Here is a sneak peek at the February Spice kit and a special project using that kit! We will provide instructions for completing this project on our Forum. I created this particular card set as a future gift for my son when he graduates from high school(do they have a smiley with your fingers crossed???). Each card has a letter that spells out g-r-a-d-u-a-t-e. My plan is to take pictures of him at his graduation ceremony (again, fingers crossed) with his cap and gown and with his friends and fill the photo spaces up on the cards with those photos and then give to him as a graduation gift.

Take Two!

So, today is starting out much like last weekend, except it is Saturday. Jovanna is with her father again. My boyfriend got a call to come into work. I was beginning to feel like I was experiencing dejavue. Could it be true? Would this day truly be THE WHOLE DAY TO MYSELF! To do whatever I want to do, when I want to do it, minute by minute I could decide what it was "I" wanted to do! Or, might it end up like the last time I thought I would have the day to myself? We will pause for a commercial break and when we come back, you will find out what really happened.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

What Carrie means... You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

Try it out yourself - What's hidden in your name?

On a brighter note...

After my last post, I decided I needed to brighten my day just a bit. I finally got started on my "Year in the Life" Challenge (more information here) and I created my first two cards. Resolve and Winter. This was so enjoyable. Took only a few minutes and my plan is to keep my cards in a Maya Road lunchbox tin when they are all complete.

A half-day in my life...

My friend Suzanne posted a Blog Challenge at O' Scrappy Day this week where we are supposed to focus on the first half of our day and include details about what it looks like, feels like... The truth, it wasn't grabbing me. Probably because the way my life goes isn't exactly what I like to describe for others. My intention was to skip this challenge and wait for the next. But, after this morning...I decided to take Suzanne up on that challenge.

It is Sunday. Last night I took a new medication to help with insomnia that I usually struggle with in the first few hours of trying to sleep. I slept very well, deeply, like I haven't in a very long time. No alarm clock because Jovanna was with her father to give me a little bit of respite. So, I was able to sleep in this morning. Just as I was beginning to stir, my boyfriend got a call to come into work. So, now I am waking. What? No way! That means Jovanna is with her Dad all day and my boyfriend is working...that means...THE WHOLE DAY TO MYSELF! To do whatever I want to do, when I want to do it, minute by minute I could decide what it was "I" wanted to do! My excitement began to grow deep within me as this phenomena was beginning to hit home.

I checked my email, logged in to the Scrapdango Forum to see's whats happening. Then, I thought I think I will go for a ride to my favorite place (Starbucks) and get a Tall Mocha with 2 pumps chocolate, 1 pump white chocolate, 190 degrees, with whip and pumpkin spice sprinkles on top. Mmmm... I love that. After returning home, I took a couple of updated photos of our upcoming Scrapdango February Kits, did some photoshop on them, and then as I was posting them I got a call...the caller id said "TJ". So, my heart sank in my gut. I knew what it meant. This is Jovanna's father and it meant that he would be bringing her back to me. She has Autism Spectrum Disorder and Aspergers. She is on the extremely challenging end of the spectrum. She was screaming, throwing things...the usual and he was on his way to bring her back home. It wasn't but just moments before I heard our precious labrador, Zoee, move towards the door, trying to sniff the air filtering in at the base of the door. She knew someone was here and since she wasn't barking or growling, I knew it was a familiar scent to her. The door busts open, things go flying all over the room...coat, the food I had sent with her dad the night before, and then she began yelling at me to get her something to eat and yelling complaints about her father.

So, unfortunately, my anticipated day of doing whatever I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it, minute by minute deciding what it was "I" wanted to do, was cut short. I should have known it was too good to be true.

Portland Bridal Show

In the Portland area today, we had our annual Portland Bridal Show. It is a very big deal here. My parents own a large wedding photography business and so this weekend is the launch of the new wedding season. I worked the booth with my dad today, handing out brochures, CD's, talking till I just about lost my voice. I am so exhausted! Wiped out! It was so nice to see my dad at the show though. You know, we came so close to losing him this summer and they didn't give him longer than 3 - 6 months to live and the end of the rainbow was one year. Well, we are approaching one year in a few months and he is still kickin'! He looked good today, strong and he was in a zone! It gave me great joy to watch him do what he loves most and the fact that he is still here and still loving it is everything. We took a picture of him at the booth but the only camera we could find was one of those disposable ones (LOL - we are professional photographers using disposables!), so when we get it back I will put his picture up.

Scrapdango is up to something! We will begin offering a monthly project kit which will include altering and other paper crafting projects. This month our Widget Club product is the NEW and totally fun Acrylic Albums and I know...they look intimidating, don't they? Not sure if you can figure out how you are supposed to put one of these together, right? Well...you can! Soak this up! Here is a peek at the featured "Alter It!" project this month using the Scrapdango January Sugar kit, the featured Widget Club product Pageframe Designs Acrylic 6x6 frame and the Sugar Kit Add-On pack!

This "Love is in the Air" Acrylic Album is just in time for sweethearts day and if you are not sure that you can do it, we will be completing this project together at the Scrapdango Forum before Valentines Day! Here is a peek at the inside!

Blog Challenge

My new friend, Suzanne, at the Scrapdango Forum has challenged me! She is running a blog challenge and I will do my best to keep up with her:)

My favorite wall hanging in my home is this sweet lil' cow picture. I love, love, love cows! I have them everywhere! I don't exactly know why, but somehow they make me feel happy when I see my cow collections. For many years, that's what I got for Christmas and Birthdays...cow gifts because it was a sure thing I would like it. I collected such a collection that I needed another home to display and house all my cow paraphernalia.

I had to make a very hard decision when it was time in my life to downsize. I donated and gifted lots and lots of cows. I only kept a couple of my favorite moo moo's and this is one. I have no idea where I got it, sometime around 1995, but it is my favorite and it has lasted through three relationships, two kids, four moves and she's still with me.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a wonderful and joyous new year! Scrapdango turns two years old in February. This is an exciting time for us! We will send out our 24th kit this month! Wow! What a ride it has been. I am so thankful to have this opportunity to work in the wonderful world of scrapbooking. I had no idea when I started this venture whether it would be successful, whether I could transfer my business skills to a new industry, whether I could find my way in a very competitive market. I started Scrapdango on a shoestring budget and there were times when money was so tight, I wondered if I would have to throw in the towel. Yet, I hung in there because I believed I had the right idea - bring the scrapbooking community the finest coordinated products and assure our kits are functional and motivational and are what real scrapbookers need and use. I want our customers to feel like it is Christmas every month of the year! The scrapbooking community is beginning to recognize Scrapdango and now that we are preparing to pass our 2 year mark, it is apparent that we are here to stay. Simple Scrapbooks Magazine featured Scrapdango in Dec/Jan issue that just came out. You can see that in the Club section of the magazine. I want to thank all those who have contributed to Scrapdango's success. First off, I want to thank Dana DiGennaro. When she came on as a designer last year, she quickly took on a greater role and showed her interest and skill in kit designing. She is on top of the market and knows what hot and what's not. I couldn't have done it without her. I also want to thank our whole amazing Design Team and those designers that contributed last year also. I have had such an incredible opportunity to work with some talented artists who are inspiring! I want to thank Terri Bradbury for her Admin support on our new Forum over the last several months. That would be an unrealized dream without her! And thankyou to all our Scrapdango members and supporters!

We have some very special kits planned in celebration of our anniversary. Here are the Sugar and Spice Kits for January...

Featuring none other than Cosmo Cricket - Hey Sugar!

Featuring the hard to find Sonburn - Urban School Daze!

Our Design Team has done an incredible job with these kits. I was so motivated by them I even got some scrapping done. Please check out our Designs at Scrapdango Design Gallery.