Some Sad News

I have been wanting to tell you this news for the longest time, but I swore to my cousin that I wouldn't tell anyone. But, since she sent a newsletter out over the weekend, I am allowed to leave the cat out of the bag....

My cousins scrapbooking store, Kinnon Keepsakes is closing its doors. I know a few of you scrapbook a little (or a lot), and with the way the economy is you haven't been buying as much supplies (I know I haven't), so visit the store and get the great deals on paper, tools, embellishments, and even paper racks! You won't be able to beat it anywhere else!

To all of you that visited us at Kinnon Keepsakes over the years, we appreciated you shopping and supporting your local store rather than at the big chain stores. I have meet some wonderful people working there when the store first opened. Everyone has been so kind and you basically feel like my 2nd family. I will miss everyone!

The good news is that we are still having our largest event of the year. CROP FOR A CURE! We hope you can make it to raise money for breast cancer. This years event will not be held at Kutztown University, but at the Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital NEW Kasych Education Center.

Please visit www.kinnonkeepsakes.com for more information on the Crop for a Cure and information on upcoming sales that we will be having at the store.

Keep Scrappin'!

A Bridal Shower and One BIG Party!

One of my best friends is getting married! I am so lucky to be a part of this celebration between Kristin and Scott. The festivities began on Saturday with Kristin's bridal shower. It was held at the Hoffman House at Muhlenberg College where Kristin used to work. It was the most beautiful place to hold it, with lots of sunlight coming in, and lots of room for all of her family and friends. Kristin and Scott's wedding is a destination wedding to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, so our theme was a beach/tropical theme with palm trees, seashells, and the bridesmaid dress color of pink coral color, and the groomsmen tux color of tan. Such clean and refreshing colors. We had appetizers and punch set up in one of the front rooms where the guests could mingle and catch-up before Kristin showed up. It wasn't a surprise shower for Kristin since she had to drive to Pennsylvania from Virginia, but she didn't know the details. After Kristin arrived and went around to visit everyone, we sat in the large dining room and played our first game. Then Kristin opened up her gifts from everyone. We then played another game. After that we had a buffet style lunch with yummy tropical foods to go along with theme. We had played one more game after lunch, and then out came dessert. A yummy vanilla cake with a raspberry icing and cool-whipped icing. We also had mini cheesecakes topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream. TO DIE FOR! Everything turned out so well, and everyone was so relaxed and had such a great time.

Next weekend is Kristin's bachlorette party up at Penn State! Can't wait! :)

There was another big party that I had gone to after the shower on Saturday at my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Danny's house. It was my Aunt Sharon's 50th Birthday, my Uncle Danny's 60th Birthday, my Uncle Danny's two son's 35th and 40th Birthday, and my Uncle Danny's mother's 80th birthday year....plus a few other milestone birthdays and anniversaries. So in any event, they held one giant party. They had a local band called the Aardvarks play in their garage later on at night! How cool is that!?!

Here Jenna and I are showing off our Pudding and Jell-O shot pile! hahaha! :)

Creating Keepsakes Convention - Valley Forge

I know, I know! I am a little behind on my blogging and posting my pictures. And...I know I keep saying that I am busy, but I honestly am. This summer has not been very relaxing for me. It's one thing after another. I can't wait for September. You should see my calendar. There is NOTHING scheduled! Whoohoo!

Two weekends ago, Kinnon Keepsakes was a vendor at the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Valley Forge Convention Center. The girls set the booth up on Thursday during the day, and then after work I came down to help work the booth on Friday and Saturday. This was the first time that I was able to take a class at the convention. I have no idea what the name of the class was, but the instructor was Stacy Julian, Editor and Creator of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine. What a cool girl! She was so much fun, and her class was so inspiring. She taught us how to get 1 mini album done in about 2 sittings (not 2 years like what I do!) We had about 30 minutes to complete 10 pages of mini album, and each time we completed a page we had to yell "whoohoo!", and she would "whoohoo" back! Haha! So much fun. But like I said, it was so inspiring, and this is something that I am going to have to try.
After the class she gave out some door prizes, and I won her new book, called the Big Picture. She autographed it for me! SWEET!

Here was our large booth at the convention. The main product that we sold is by QuicKutz. It is a personal die-cutting system that we sell at the store and it is a huge it. Look how pretty we made it...all matchy-matchy with pink and brown!

Here is CJ demonstrating the Revolution Tool, and the new 4x8 alphabet set! You go girl!

Special Day

It was this little girls' special day on Sunday. Miss Lily Alice was baptized. Her Pappy is holding her in this picture......just look how cute she looks in the cute little pink dress! My cousin Todd, and his wife Patty are her godparents.
Here is Lily's grandpa holding her.
And this cake! I gotta tell you about this cake! I think that this was the BEST cake I have ever ate! I am not much of a cake eater, but if it has cool-whipped icing, and strawberries in it....then you most definitely know that this was a good cake! I could have licked my plate! But I didn't.....I wish I did though! :)

May God Bless you Miss Lily Alice!

An exciting weekend!

I had gone to the beach this past weekend and it was definitely an exciting one! Jenna's brother Michael came along with to the beach this weekend so Brian could have a playmate. Here are the two best buds showing off their cheesy grins. Someone on the beach had found a conch shell and gave it to the boys to play with. Here is Michael showing off this slimy snail.
This picture is actually from the weekend before. Look at this jellyfish! I have NEVER seen a jellyfish so big before!

This is Jesse's new favorite thing to do...floating around on the raft in the pool. Haha! What a dog.
Saturday night we took the boys to the boardwalk. I was playing around with my camera to test the different scenes I can use on my camera. Here is a picture of the ferris wheel and the roller coaster using the night scene. Turned out pretty cool!

This past weekend was the 20th Anniversary of Wildwood's Christmas in July Boat Parade. At the end of the parade they held fireworks at an island that is across from our house. Well the grand finale never ended. With everything being so dry from the lack of rain that we have been having that the sparks created a fire. I wish I took some pictures from the fire at night, but the pictures below are from a helicopter dumping water to scorch the fire on Sunday morning. It was pretty cool to watch. I don't know if you can see, but in the 2nd picture, the helicopter is scooping up the water from the bay (look on the right hand side of the picture). It did this all day on Sunday. Back and forth, back and forth.....It was pretty neat to watch this. I have never seen anything like it, and it was pretty amazing at how close that helicopter can get to the water to scoop it up, and then watch it dump it out.

MIA

The last couple of weeks have been busy, and not much scrapbooking or picture taking has been done. Tonight I plan on working on 3 layouts for August's Fast and Fabulous for a class at Kinnon Keepsakes. Stay tuned!

Championship Baseball Game

Brian's baseball team had a fantastic year. They won every single game. They had to play 2 play-off games, and if they won those games, they would make it to the championship games. They had won the 2 play-off games with no problem. On Saturday June 28th was the Championship game. They played against the Lower Macungie Red Sox's at Emmaus Community Park. Unfortunately, Brian's team didn't win the championships, with the game being 12-8. What a game though! These boys were such good troopers. They did not let this loss bother them one bit.

The two pictures below are from one of the playoff games. Brian is up to bat...
He made it up to 2nd base...
My cousin Amy, and her two little ones, Gabe and Miss Lily came to watch Brian's championship game...I love this picture of them! Looks like Gabe is up to something! hehe!
Here is Miss Lily all happy, but looks quite confused...
Ooops! Someone pinched her.....I think it was my mom! Too cute!