Baby I'm a Star!!!

Okay, so not really, but I sure felt like one last night!Here's a link to last week's article on the show I'm in....


http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=101&SubSectionID=329&ArticleID=20410&TM=51550.7





I was in 4 numbers as a "Lady of the Follies" and just had a blast. I haven't danced in 20 years but used to love it as a kid and teen. I had forgotten just how much fun it is. Friday night's show wasn't without it's glitches (it felt more like a dress rehearsal than a real performance at times). My "Gentlemen of the Follies" partner for one number was so drunk even before the curtains opened! We stumbled all over the stage but I just smiled because it's all in fun, right? Well just a bit later, a lot of us were on stage and heard a very loud THUMP in the wings (the audience heard it as well). He had fallen off his chair!!! Can you even imagine? Joan (the owner of the dance studio) was so mad off at him I'll be surpised if she lets him back next year. At all 3 performances he was a huge flirt too, sometimes going over the line. This is my hairdresser's husband too! And our daughters dance together in the company.





Anyway, all that aside, I did have way too much fun this weekend and I know that each show got better and better. I only have this one photo that was taken with my camera....

...(I'm the lady in red)... this was for our presentations as "Ladies of the Follies".

I hope that the photographer that was snapping pictures at rehearsal and all 3 shows will share his photos with us. I'm sure he got some great shots.

Just like livin' in paradise...

or not really so much! HA Just taking a moment to slow down and appreciate that I exist. I'm enjoying my venti caramel macchiato (with extra caramel) and finally finishing my breakfast (at just before 11:30 a.m.) and just realizing that even though I continuously fill my life with too much, I am happy. And really, that's all that matters, right? I am supported by my family who loves me and I'm just so grateful that I'm able to do all that I do. :-)

A glimpse into my life as it is at the moment:

Last week Crafts Cottage was involved in the first ever shop hop in Western WA (Northwest Paper Chase!!) and I think it was a success. Even with my insanely busy life I managed to get to all 16 stores and I actually cannot believe I did that! I took 2 carpools from the store the first Sunday and the 2nd Saturday of the event and together we hit 12 of the stores. Becca and I did the other 4 on different days because they were closer to us, geographically. We had a great time getting to know new friends better and doing a little bit of shopping (mostly paper - lol), seeing other stores and meeting store-owners for the first time. I know Crafts Cottage will be involved again next year because we had a blast with this event and having 250 paper crafters now knowing that we exist over here on the peninsula is awesome for business!

This weekend is the Rhody Festival Coronation. This is my baby this year for the Festival. I *think* I'm ready... No, I really am. I've had a bit of help with last minute details but overall I've been pretty organized and hope rehearsal goes well tomorrow. I know the program will be fantastic because we have 3 wonderful candidates this year. I'm so excited for these girls!

Next weekend is the Dance Studio annual Fantabulous Follies and I'm in 2 numbers - kind of exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time considering I haven't danced in front of people in over 20 years! I love the jazz dance and I had to buy an evening gown for my grand follies-esque entrance, so it'll be a lot of fun.

Easter is that weekend, of course! Fortunately the kids are older and Easter isn't as huge of an ordeal as it was formerly because I haven't planned for anything yet - no baskets, no candy - what a lame mommy! I'll pull something together next week.

Chaos in Christy-land

WHEW! Well I plowed through hundreds of emails but my inbox is cleaned out again...not for long, I'm sure! I can't bare not to read everything, even if it means that it all piles up during my absences. Let's see how quick of a catch-up I can give here...

Last Friday was day 1 of the first ever Western WA scrapbooking shop hop, called the Northwest Paper Chase! Crafts Cottage (my mom and I) have been in on the planning (with 16 total stores participating) from the beginning and after the first weekend we are convinced this will be a grand success and we'll definitely do it again next year! I took a carpool to the greater Olympia area on Sunday (6 of us) to visit 6 store and we did it in about 5 1/2 hours! I'm taking another carpool to the greater Seattle area to hit 6 more stores this Saturday. It's been a blast!

Becca's dance studio is on spring break this week so she's complaining her body aches from lack of exercise...dang the girl dances something like 8 or 9 hours a week (4 days), you'd think she'd appreciate a break! I'm in rehearsals for the adult studio show, Fantabulous Follies, this week; the 3 performances are the 21, 22, and 23 (yes Easter!) of this month.

Rhody Coronation of the new court is the 15th and I'm the coronation program chair -- it's been a learning experience but I'm being told I am far too organized. We'll see! The Judge's Interviews are this sunday and I'll be happy to have that part completed and crossed off my list so I can focus on the actual program. I have hours of decoration-preparation yet to complete, which is giving me restless nights of sleep! I just feel like I need to be crossing more off my to-do list faster. I've never directed a stage show and I'm suddenly feeling that's a deficit I didn't consider when I signed on. I'm sure it will turn out great but I'm second-guessing myself right now.

I've been tanning (I know HORRIBLE for me) for the Follies show because I don't want to glow on stage in my gorgeous red gown! LOL Where did this vanity come from most that know me want to know. Uh, the thought of all those people staring at me makes me feel a little vulnerable and scrutinized! Yeah, get over myself!!!

My family misses me, my friends miss me, even my dogs miss me...I have not been at home before 8:30-9pm since last Thursday night. :-( I may skip my crop Friday night just so I can sit on the couch and snuggle with my people! But I have too much that I need to get done for coronation to skip it, like cutting out letters for the front of the stage, making magic wands for the impromptu questions...all crafty things that my friends can help me with at the crop!

LADF Dance Convention in Seattle

Disregard any references in this Smile Box to birthdays or growing older because I couldn't find just the right Smile Box so I chose this one and made the best of it. haha Enjoy! I captured some great shots I think...

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

It's been a long time

I think when I got so busy and stopped blogging on a semi-regular basis I lost the one or two people who frequent my blog so I'm going to try to keep on bloggin' on and see who notices!

Let's see, Halloween and Thanksgiving came and went. The holiday season was not typical for me in 2007. I was just not into it at all. Steve and I got an early start on shopping so there was relatively little shopping in December, and thank goodness for that, because there were parties to attend and the store was pretty busy, although we did see a drop in sales from 2006, probably mostly due to the missing ferry in PT.

I upset my mom at one point during the holidays. :-( Like I said I was just not into the family thing and all the traditions we usually celebrated in years past. My life has gotten so chaotic and so many people pull me in different directions at the same time, it gets me down after long periods without a break.

I'm getting that much needed break right now, though. I had carpel tunnel surgery on my right hand on January 4th and have not been working at the store or at the studio since. I haven't been driving or leaving the house much either. Everyone keeps asking if I'm going crazy yet... Honestly, no, not really! Are you kidding?! This is a vacation for me. An excuse for everyone to lay off me for a bit and not have any expectations put upon me. I know it's all looming on the horizon and pretty soon I'll be back in all my chaos, but for now I'm just gonna enjoy the down time.

Happy New Year!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

My cute kiddos

Make a free ecard - it's easy!