Pickle Contestant & Pickle Box Contents!!

So some of you out there may not have heard the latest news yet...I turned in some scrapbook designs to Rusty Pickle(for you non scrappers..RP is a major manufacturing company for scrap products) and have been selected to participate in the finals of the Design Team contest.
I know, I can't believe it...the top 12. It is such an honor for me to be a part of this contest. I have always loved their products and now I get to play with them and create.
The team of 12 will be competing in what they call the "Amazing Race" over the next 2-3 weeks. You can visit www.rustypickle.typepad.com to take a look.
Scroll down to see the names of the top 12...
Once we recieve our mystery clues for each item, we will know what to create and with what product line.
After we do that for a couple weeks, they will then select the top 6 to be on their Design Team.
That basically means that they will send you product and you will design with their product each month.


This is me and the chocolate Santa delivering my much awaited "Pickle" box. I couldn't wait to dig into it..its a big box of delicious paper goodies.
The poor man must have thought I won the Publisher Clearing House Sweepstakes the way we acted when he drove up.
Hugo ran out to stop him for a picture, I ran out yelling at Hugo to stop him and Ash ran out with her camera to take the picture.
He must not have been to messed up about it cause he was fixing his hair. haha!
Thank you Mr. UPS man!! (Ash you cut off his head).

This is me and my box...

Cutting the box open...

Inside the box...yes, it has wings, that's a sign. lol!!

The first thing a girl is to do...spread it all out as big as you can to take in all the colors, smells and deliciousness..
this shows all of it still in the paper packs.

So the next thing is to open up each package and really spread each product line out to look at it individually to get my inspiration rolling.
So that's exactly what I did...twist my arm already.
This is 3 chipboard books, 5 tags, and a huge bag of buttons.

This is their "Chocolate Covered Cherries" line..
I love it and have been waiting to play with it.
This includes:
12 sheets 12x12 paper, 3 different colored sets of letter stickers, 1 12x12 chipboard hearts,rub-ons,ribbon, 4 sheets die-cuts.

A closer look...

Mayflower:
2 sheets 12x12 chipboard shapes,12 sheets patterned paper, 4 sheets cardstock stickers,1 set clear stamp set,ribbon,2 mini file folders,rub-on alphas.

Game Time:
11 sheets patterned paper,1 clear acrylic arrow,2 12x12 sheets arrow chipboard, 2 sheets cardstock alpha stickers,2 cardstock stickers, 2 sheets cardstock tags.

Pirate Princess:
18 sheets 12x12 patterned paper,ribbon, 2 mini file folders,2 sheets cardstock sticker tags,2 sheets cardstock alpha stickers,2 sheets stickers,2 sheets cardstock coupon stickers, 2 sheets 12x12 chipboard shapes.

Rockin America:
2 12x12 chipboard shapes,6 sheets cardstock alpha stickers, 2 sheets cardstock stickers, 1 sheet cardstock tags, 4 sheets diecut metallic patterned paper,12 sheets patterned paper.

French Market:
Brown Accordian book, file folder tabbed pages, ribbon...the rest of it is on the next picture.

French Market, con't:
Swirl rub-ons,12 sheet patterned paper,2 sheets cardstock stickers,2 sheets cardstock quote stickers.

Under the Stars:
10 12x12 sheets patterned paper,2 sheets cardstock sticker sheets,2 sheets stickers,2 sheets cardstock alphas.

CandyLand:
12 12x12 sheets patterned paper, 1 sheet rub-ons,1 cardstock sticker page,2 sheets coupon tags, 2 cardstock tag sticker sheets,10 sheets cardstock alpha stickers.

Pop Star:
12 12x12 patterned paper,1 sheet stickers,2 sheets cardstock tags, 2 sheets alpha cardstock stickers,Rub-ons,days of the week rub-ons,ribbon, 2 12x12 chipboard shapes.

So there you have it..the mysterious "Pickle Box"...a total of 9 different paper lines with embellies, in addition to the chipboard books and tags.
I am very excited about this opportunity to create on a greater level with Rusty Pickle.
I will give it 110%. Thanks RP!!!

The race is about to start sometime next week..keep checking back as I will be posting during the race...I have to wait to see if I am able to post my projects on my personal blog.
If not, I will still be posting just to check in...so pop back by, and feel free to leave comments for support.
Let the race begin!!!

Til next Time with T!!!

My Happy Birthday!!

Well, I had another birthday yesterday. I'm not sure what happens to the time in our lives but it flies by so quickly.
I am so happy that I could have Travis and Ash here to celebrate with me. Since my family left for Nashville over a year ago, our family gatherings have just not been the same. We try and we do have a good time with just us but it's just not the same, the kids agree.
So I was so thankful to celebrate Shine's bday, Brooklin's bday and mine with Travis and Ash here. I can't even believe that when I think about it. That is huge. Three bday's during a week visit.
Thanks so much Travis and Ash for making the jump to come here to help celebrate the kids birthday and mine just so happen to be during your stay as well. I know you spent your own money coming here. Really it means a lot to us all. Shine was so surprised you would do that for her. Thank you!!! I couldn't ask for a better present.

Anyway, these are pictures of my birthday celebration...I will be posting Shine's and Brooklin's later..over the past week between me and Ash we have taken approximetely 1200-1500 pictures...I know when I type that it sounds crazy but we have been uploading everytime we turn around.

This is the birthday cake Mema had to hide in her bedroom so I wouldn't see. It was as yummy as it looks. (Not nearly as good as one of Mema's cakes though).

Nice surprise!!! I really had no idea...

This is some scrap stuff from mom...I have been searching for this pink adhesive gun for awhile and I love the stamps and paint. Always!!! Thanks Mom!! Lv u!

I love this man. He has brought so much to my life...well, both men..the little one on the right pops in just about every picture.
They are both just alike anyway, so you see one, you see the other.
I am so thankful for Hugo...Babe, I love you.

These are "our" flowers...Hugo used to bring these to me at the bank and my office would smell amazing. Well, maybe that's because he brought 3 at a time..we both love them.
(Brooklin saw them on the table and said,"Mema look at the Lillies.") Smarty pants.
I love the smell of them...they fill the house..thanks babe!!

These goodies are from Travis, Ash, and Shine. I love, love, love them all. The Fleur De Lis is one of my favorites, the bracelet is gorgeous, and the earrings match it all.

I sooo love, love, love this adorable purse...Rick and Sis got this for me. I love it, the leather is so soft, the shape is so different and I don't have a red one. Perfect!!! Thanks Sis and Rick. Love u!!
Wish you were here to celebrate with me too.

I love these two. Somehow, sometimes I still think I am their age. Travis has become such a part of the family, he fits right in.
Travis, Hugo told you to run, just like Rick told him, but neither of you listened, so sit back and enjoy!!!
Thanks again to you both for making this past week so special for me and my kids. Ash, your genorosity reminds me of your mom. Now we have two in the fam. Lv u both!!!

Ash n Mema...so happy to see our family together.
At least part of it together.

Ash and Grandma...so cute!!! This is such a cute picture, then Ash decides to try and scare Gma...so she screams really loud, we all jump and look at the next picture....

She screamed and Ash just laughed...then Gma laughed too. It's good to see her laughing out loud.

Shine and me...I love you Shine!!!

This picture is great...these are genuine laughs from the kids...Shine just wants to make sure she is smiling for the camera. Gma just doesn't know which way to look. Hilarious!!!

I had such a great time with my family on my birthday!!! Love the cake, the presents and most of all my family being together. There's nothing that takes the cake better than that.

I will be posting alot more of the events that have going on in my life. We have had a very busy end of school year.

Til next Time with T!!!

Happy Birthday Michael!!

Happy Birthday to my best brother, Michael!!!

Michael, I hope you have a great day today on your birthday!!
We miss you and love you bunches!!!!

Til next Time with T!!!

Happy Birthday Brooklin!!

Happy 5th Birthday to our Brooklin!!!

Sissy, I hope you have a great birthday!!
We love you and are blessed to have you in our lives.

Til next Time with T!!!

Memorial Day Fun!!

We decided we would go to the lake on Memorial Day. Hugo, Kameron, and Brooklin wanted to go fishing, me and Shine just wanted to sit and relax in the sun. So here are some pics of our day.

Hugo in the drivers seat headed to one of his most favorite places in the world...the mountains...

We made it to the water..after a short hike from the car down the water...carrying all our belongings..everyone had to carry something...no 2 trips here.
Notice the back of Kameron's jeans..he decided, well, the mountain decided for him, that he would just slide down. Who needs to use their feet?

There they are prepping their hooks...sissy wasn't a bit grossed out from the worms for the fish hook or lizards that crawled out from under the rocks...I had to put the pink shirt on her so no one thought she was a boy. Love that girl!!!
Me and Shine on the other hand...freaked out. We were enjoying the sun and relaxing. Mr. Lizard was very close to my foot, he was trying to decide which way to go as he and I both stood still..
He must have heard my thoughts of, "Come over here and I'll stomp ya!!" cause he ran like lighting.

Love this man!! Very much!!!

Gotta love those baby bottle pops from the gas station. Shine's vote was for the beach this day, but we couldn't trick her that this was the beach.

The boys favorite place to be.

Sissy waiting for dad to cast her line.

Shine and Kameron working on their skipping rocks techniques.

Where'd the kids go..Dad's got 3 lines in alone?

See Shine..walking on the rocks.

See Shine falling on the rocks...

Shine and Me...(ok, I know I look a little raspy...but that's how it goes when you have 5 min to get ready and who's looking anyway)(btw, fyi..I do have clothes on, my straps are under my arms)

The correct position.

Thought this would be a fun photo...looks as though he is really smoking that, huh? Can't wait to hear the not-heard comments on this one flying round out there...haha!! No it's not touching his lips.

By this time, we moved locations b/c Hugo's line kept getting caught on the rocks and breaking. There was quite a bit of traffic in the water as well...so we decided to just go to an area where the kids could play in the sand and water.
You can't be present in sand without building a sandcastle..and...

The older sister getting the younger brother drenched...

It's ok, he got her back...he went in after her and she slipped on a rock and went under later...haha!! that's better than what he could have done.
We enjoyed watching the water bucket fights.

Look at the big, sneaking, brut in the background...not sure which one she planning for but I do see her horns coming out of that angel skull.

Sissy is planting her "shovel garden"...she plants one of these everytime she has sand and a shovel.

She loved the water, then went to lay down in the sand to cover her entire body...face included..several times.

And here she is..all covered...not sure what she has on more..water or sand??
Allow me to mention, we have no towels, no extra clothes for anyone and of course their are no swimsuits..so everything you see is what we have. hhhmmm!!
Who's car should we be getting into?
My vote is Unle Ricks!!! Those in favor please say "I"

My Fred Flinstones!!! The band-aid is from the shoes I wore to Bethany's wedding.

Poor Kameron...he chose to allow his two sisters to bury him in the sand in his boxer shorts...someone school him, please!!!

The look on his face goes something like this,
"Why did I think this was a good idea?"

All the swim suits my kids have and they are at the lake in the underwear...remember, always an adventure when you're with us.

This is right up sissy's alley..bury my big brother? I'm there!!!

The finished product...I was hoping the big dogs that just arrived a little before this would not come over and pee on his head.
However, I would have laughed my butt off..

On the way home, we stopped at a BBQ place that had fish and chips...we all shared a little snack til we got home to dinner...
(hamburgers, mac salad, corn on the cob and chips...the norm on this holiday)
However, all that play, sun and full tummy's...here's the final picture of the day. Hey, how'd we do that so fast?

I know there are a lot of pictures on this post but I wanted to be sure to share our day with everyone, especially our fam in Nashville.
So there you go sis...you asked for all the pics there you are.

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day!! Lots of food and fun!!

Til next Time with T!!!