Thursday, February 28, 2013

My Precious is Back!



My Precious is back!  My Precious is back!

For those of you who don't know, back in January my external hard drive crashed (link to post here).  You know, the one where I backed up ALL my photos.  Yup, everything GONE.

My process has always been:  Back up onto CD's, then move the photos from my computer to my external hard drive.  Well, I became busy (and who wouldn't be, with three small Peas?), so I was behind on my backing up.  The last CD was for May of 2011.  So, when the EHD crashed, I lost from June of 2011 until December of 2012, PLUS all of my youngest Pea's baby photos (yes, he was born in 2010, but I had a separate folder for his first year pics that I didn't back up either). 

So, after crying and throwing multiple tantrums (yes, I am a closet 2 year old), I worked with a couple of places to try and get my photos back. 

Yesterday, I met up with one of the techs from Cerberus, and we went through what they were able to recover.  There is one more folder he's trying to work through, but I got the majority of my photos back!!!!  Best. Day. Ever.  The only thing I don't see so far (I haven't looked through the photos he's currently working on) are my youngest Pea's baby photos.  I can see it now..."Mommy, why do my brother and sister have big baby scrapbooks and mine only has 10 pictures in it?".  Poor third Pea.  This makes me sad.  I'm really hoping this awesome tech guy can find them.

But, right now I will do my happy dance and go through the photos that were saved...and BACK THEM UP!!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Slacker

I'm sorry everyone for being such a slacker these past couple of weeks!  There have been some things going on (which I will share with you in the near future), and I've been buiding up my inventory for this Quartermania Event (check out that post here).  It's been hectic, but I was able to get a crap load of headbands done...

 
I am also finishing up some Boo-Boo Bags.  These take a bit longer, as they have more parts to sew...but I love them anyway!  Just need to fill and sew the rice sacks, and sew the outsides together...
 
 
 
For Quartermania, I have to auction off 5 baskets of items!  Here are the items some lucky winners will get:
 
1.  One Dozen Spring Themed Cookies
2.  One Dozen St. Patrick's Day Themed Cookies
3.  Mother/Daughter Headband Set
4.  Mother/Daughter Scarf Set
5.  Therapy/Boo Boo Bag Set
 
This week I'll focus on the cookies and the presentation of my items...I'll have more pics to post throughout the week!!


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Quartermania!

I love holiday weekends!  We were so productive today!  The hubby organized the Peas toys, while I cleaned up the kitchen, sorted through school artwork and did some sewing.  I was working on my sandwich/large snack bag (different from my sandwich wrap)...I'm still working on placement of the "pulls", which help with separating the velcro.  I will try one more idea I have tomorrow. 


 
Sooooo, I've been hesitant about participating in craft shows right now because I really need to focus on building up my inventory.  However, this event came up and I couldn't pass it by!!!
 
QUARTERMANIA!!  I've never actually been to one, but everyone I've talked to that's gone said it's a blast.  This will be my first official event, so I'm super excited!  If you're in Central Jersey and you're free on March 2nd, please come and support me!  Here is the information, as per the Facebook event page:
 

What is a Quartermania Paddle Fundraiser? It is a cross between an auction, a raffle, and a home party! Local direct sales vendors, as well as local businesses, will be auctioning off new items for only 1-4 quarters per bid! You can win items retailing up to $100 for mere quarters! If you like Bunco, Bingo or Tricky Tray's--you will LOVE Quartermania!
 
Location:  New Egypt Elks Lodge #2457
105 Lakewood Road
New Egypt, NJ  08533
 
Saturday, March 2nd

 Doors Open at 5:00pm and the “Mania” starts promptly at 6:00pm

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5 each - you will receive 2 game paddles
...
Additional Paddles may be purchased for $2.00 each
MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND.
50/50
Cash Bar and Food, Snacks & Drinks will be available for purchase.
 
***Don't Forget to Bring Your Quarters!!!!***
Feel free to forward this invite on to all your friends!!!!
For more information contact Melissa Conk at melt1313@gmail.com

How It Works:
- Each item up for bid will be displayed for all guests to see.
- There will be a brief description, retail value and how many quarters you will need to bid. Guests that want to play will give their bid (quarters) and hold up their numbered paddle.
- When all bids are collected, the auctioneer will draw a numbered ball from the container. If the number on your paddle matches the number on the ball drawn, you've won that item! If a matching numbered paddle is not held up, the auctioneer will draw again, until we have a winner.
- Once we have a winner all balls will be placed back in the container and go to the next item to be auctioned.
 
Just send me a quick email or post in the comments section to let me know if you can make it!!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day!  It was a close one, but I was able to get all my heart cookies done for the Peas' classes!  I think I was happier with how the larger love bugs came out...


I'm sorry I've been MIA, but it's been a bit crazy around here!  Now that it's calmed down a bit (hopefully), I am going to catch up on sewing inventory (and maybe cleaning and laundry).  I finished two more cookie orders...Mario cookies (you can see what they look like here) and R2-D2 cookies...

 
The R2-D2 cookies were new for me...and fun to make!  A huge thank you to Sweet Sugarbelle's tutorial on how to make these cute cookies!
 
Communion season is coming up, so I've started practicing some cross designs.  I have a few orders already, so I need to be prepared!  I think I've figured out the cross design for the girls, so now onto the boys!
 
 
Okay...I'm exhausted!  Until tomorrow...


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Surprise party cookies

Last week I mentioned that I was making cookies for a surprise party (find that post here)...the party was today, so now I can post the rest of the cookies!!

Starfish

Surfboard #1

Surfboard #2

Surfboard #3

Sea Turtles

 
As you can tell, the party was a luau theme.  I loved making all of these designs, but I think my favorite was the sea turtle!
 
Coming up this week...
 
Valentine's cookies
Mario cookies
R2D2 cookies


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Cookie Crazy!

Phew!  It's been a busy week!!  I've finished an order for a surprise party, and I have two more orders (plus mass amounts of Valentine's Love Bugs) for next week!  Communion season is also coming up, and I am starting to finalize my Cross Cookie designs.  Lots to think about...too bad laundry and cleaning aren't part of my thought process.  Sorry family.

Here is a sneak peek at the surprise party order...can you guess what the theme is?

 
Tonight I will be bagging and tagging these cute cookies...I will post the others this weekend.  Next weeks orders will include Mario and R2D2.  I'm super excited to work on them!
 
Now it's time to get to the bus stop to pick up the oldest Pea.  Here's to hoping I can get her to sit down and get her homework done...

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Love Bugs

Between the scrapbooking crop yesterday and Superbowl Sunday today, it was the perfect time to keep experimenting with my Valentine's Day cookies!  I served up some love bugs and lace hearts yesterday, and I will be doing the same today...



 
I also made larger heart cookies...I'm thinking the love bugs might be better using a larger cookie.  My goal this week is to try a larger love bug and lace cookie to see which look better...then it's mass production time! 
 
But first...Superbowl celebration and decorating cookies for a surprise party!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Happy Groundhog Day!

Yay for an early spring!

 
Day 33:  Happy Groundhog Day
 
Today was a productive day.  I had an all-day scrapbooking crop, which was long overdue.  I have a wedding album to complete for someone, so I was finally able to sit down, with my scrapping ladies, and work on the book!  And now...the Peas are in bed, the hubby's in bed (not feeling well), so I will continue my scrapping solo.  Yippeeee!!