Tuesday, September 9, 2008

On a personal note

The calendar has flipped to September, the leaves are beginning to turn and life gets busy! I usually look forward to September, as a time of
re-establishing routines and getting back into the grove of "regular life". I am not quite sure what regular life is anymore.

Sure the girls have gone back to school, and dance begins today, youth group meets for all 3 and there is order to the week. However when the calendar changed this year to September - I began counting days - not planing class schedules, or making travel plans for trade shows as would be "normal" for me this time of year. Surgery has been set for the 24th. I know that this needs to happen. I know that I have made the right decision. None of this eliminates the anxiety that comes when facing surgery of any kind nor the wondering "what comes next?"

This surgery is pretty much 18 months to the day from my first surgery, I am feeling good, and have nothing to complain about truly, I am facing the "best case scenario" for sure. There are still questions and wondering.

So often life looks much different than we think it should. We make plans we hope, we dream and then you hear the words "breast cancer" and the plans change in an instant - for a time the plans are made for you. You are at the mercy of the medical system, doctors schedules and hospital times. These plans get made for you and everything else gets put on the back burner. Surgery looms ahead and plans are made in the context of , can we fit that in before surgery, or that will have to wait until after surgery / recovery. Then there are the plans that simply can not be at all because the timing that has been dictated squelches them. It is o.k. - it is a small fraction of time when you look at the big picture. Dreams are still there and if anything else more important that ever. They are something to look forward to something to strive towards. Thankfully for me the hope is still there, yes it is cancer, however I have been assured from my medical team that it is not life threatening and we are taking the right path for treatment. I know that I do not walk through this valley alone, God is walking with me, family is walking with me, friends are walking with me. When I think of it in those terms it seems like a party. (o.k. that is a bit of a stretch, but IF we were all in the same place at the same time it would be a whopper!)

I will go into surgery on the 24th with the right attitude, do as I am told by the doctors (YES - I will!), listen to the home care nurse when she comes to visit and remember that it is o.k. for it to be about ME as I recover and not feel bad for the things I am not able to do.

I am buoyed by the encouraging emails and well wishes I receive - Thank you. 16 days and counting.... In the wait time I am living life, enjoying family and friends and getting ready for the Garage Sale here on Saturday!
Looking forward, looking up and genuinely happy to be able to do so!
Blessings
Di

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Garage Sale

Do you have a stash of craft supplies that you know you will never use?
Are you looking for a place to sell them?
If you are we have the solution. . .

Remember Me is hosting a Garage Sale

September 13th, 2008

10:00 to 2:00

Tables only $5.00 each.

So dig out all the stickers, glitter, paper, fabric, ribbon, blank journals, beads, magazines that are taking up space and bring them down and create a little cash flow.

Do not wait too long tables are selling fast. Contact
Dianna@remembermesb.com to book yours now. Not enough stuff to fill one table - pair up with a friend and share the table. Tables will be filled on a first come first served basis.


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Updates and other fun things.....

Wow today marks one month post store closure - we continue to receive emails, messages and good-byes. Thank you! Your support means the world.

However the store closing is not good bye, simply a closed door for the time being as we focus on health and family. Many have asked what I have been doing with my time, thinking that with the store not open I have nothing to do - not so! My standard answer is that we closed the store, we have not disbanded the company. The close out sale was a huge success, however not everything magicaly disapeared. I am busy working on ways to liquidate the remaining stock and figure out what is next for Remember Me. At the current time we are maintaing our Faithbooking group as well as our 88in08 group. Faithbooking will be meeting this Saturday August 16 @ 10:30. 88in08 will meet Thursday August 21st at 6:30 - 10:00 (or so....) both groups are open to anyone, do not hessitate to stop by we would love to see you.

Look for other exciting things to come


Saturday, July 12, 2008

OH One more thing...

I went to send a email blast and the site is down for maintenance.. pain in the anyways.

I wanted to post the LAST DAY SATURDAY SPECIAL....

In a nut shell FREE 8x8 CHATTERBOX ALBUM with any purchase of $50.00 or more.


one free album per person. great colours to choose from and 2 textures, suede or cord. Both lovely choices.

Everything is on sale and has to go!

Hope to see you today - I will be there for the better part of the whole day!
Blessings Di


Remember that 88in08 and Faithbooking will continue to meet.

Bitter Sweet

First things first.. it is 6:30 am I am up and enjoying the birds twitter outside my window. For many of you this is something you enjoy on a regular basis, for me however it is a rare thing indeed. I am usually up at the other end of the clock watching the raccoons scurry past our windows. It is a beautiful day.... bright, sunny full of expectation.

The perfect sort of day to lift the sadness in my heart. For today at 5:30 we will close the doors to Remember Me. It is bitter sweet, I know it is the right thing to do, I have to take care of my health for sure, but right is not always easy. This is not easy there are so many memories. When we first opened our doors in October of 1997 we were in a small room (14 x 12) we had a die cut machine with 20 dies, one rack of stickers, some cardstock and a rack of printed paper ALL 8.5 x 11 - it was June 1998 that we renovated the Ortho Active warehouse and office space and built the "NEW" store (currently our paper room), then about 6 months after that built a wall in the office to create what is the main part of our store. The "paper room" was then the workshop and die cut center. The last renovation created the Scraploft with seating for 40 and loads of room to spread out. Today will mark another mile stone.... a locked door.

I have poured my heart and soul into this for 11 years.... Mary and I met in the summer of 1997 and opened in October. It has been our baby - so many memories, so many WONDERFUL people, friendships forged, babies born, weddings celebrated, deaths mourned, laughs shared. I have loved being part of your lives.

There is something about sitting down with a bunch of women and stacks of photos that just begs for stories to be told, I have heard some amazing stories. I have traveled with you to all corners of the world, thank you for trusting me as you opened your heart and shared your stories. Continue on.... continue creating, continue recording and sharing your memories - it is your gift to give.

I will continue to post, and maybe even share some of my own layouts, more of my own story. This is not the end, it is just a fork in the road. The building is not going anywhere, the space is still available so if you have a private function & you are looking for space give us a call. We will be making the die cut machines and dies available in the future, in the mean time if you are in the area and in dire need of the die cut machines... drop by from 7 am to 3 pm Mon - Friday come to Ortho Active (right next door to RM) and we will make it happen.

This is not good bye, just a see you later!
Sure it is sad, but on the other hand change can be a good thing, it makes us reflect and re-evaluate, take stock and make life better. So that is what we are doing, closing, re-evaluating and creating something new.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the support, the memories and the fun - It will never be forgotten! It has been special and inspiring.
Keep creating!
Love Di

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Creative muse...

I truly know what it means to be "amused" while creating. I experienced it, that giddy feeling when something you make with your own 2 hands and a few fun supplies works. I mean really works, beyond what you imagine. Sometimes those little creative experiments just do not work like you want them to, or like you in visioned them to be. But when they work, it is so much fun!






Last month I was given a pair of shoes. Comfortable, sturdy, sensible, plain boring white shoes. I thought that they needed a little pizazz, something to make them not look so much like nurses work shoes.



I wondered what would happen with some Staz-on ink and a few rubber stamps. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say, and if it didn't work, I would have a great pair of garden working shoes. Fortunately the end results were awesome! Beyond what I could have imagined.

I used 4 different rubber stamps and 2 colours of Staz-on-ink. No select pattern as to where to stamp with what colour. I just started with the bigger stamp and stamped 2 or 3 images before stamping with the smaller images. Have loves Staz-on ink since it first came out a few years back. This project reminded me why - Staz-on gives a crisp image every time, it dries on slick surfaces and is water proof!




This project took me less than an hour, and it truly was FUN FUN FUN! It used my scrapbooking supplies outside of the traditional scrapbook box..... I challenge you to do the same, you may be surprised by the results.














Tuesday, March 18, 2008

30 Hour Crop

Fun and scrapbooking await!
30 Hours of Scrapbooking fun that is!
Gather your friends and join us.
April 18 - 19 , 2008
6 pm - midnight
We start at 6pm on Friday and crop through to Midnight on Satruday!
It is a fun time of cropping, super in store savings, goodie bags (value over $40.00), door prizes, snacks, with breakfast & dinner on Satruday.
Call now to reserve your space
604-520-5874
All this for only $60.00

Friday, March 14, 2008

Spring break and Easter

It seems quite odd to me that Spring break and Easter are all rolled into one school holiday.
We will be open the following Holiday hours over the next week.

Mon / Tues 10 - 6 (regular hours)
Wed / Thurs 10 -6 (regular hours)
Friday 1 - 5 - Good friday (holiday hours)
*Note no free for all tonight
Saturday 9:30-6 (regular hours)
Sunday CLOSED Easter Sunday
Mon 1 - 5 Easter Monday (holiday hours)


We wish you a happy and blessed Easter.
It would be nice if the Spring weather caught up with the calendar, it is not quite as much fun to hide eggs and treats in soggy grass. Have fun and take lots of photos.
Di

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Inventory...

That yearly event that evokes stress simply by saying the word. Truly it is not that bad, with a good crew and lots of good food and snacks it usually goes off with out a hitch. That is what we are hoping and praying for again this year - no hitches! Clear sailing, accurate counting and a record time.

We will be counting INVENTORY January 30 / 31st and the store will be closed!
We aim to re-open at Noon on Friday Feb 1st, please call ahead of time to ensure that we are in fact open!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Sales Classes & Clubs OH MY....

Wow 2008 is upon us and we are in full swing. There is so much going on I am not quite sure where to start......


Inventory will be happening at RM on the 29th (YIPEE!) This a fun night were we get to count EVERY SINGLE ITEM IN THE STORE!!! We really do not like to count that much so we are haveing a HUGE

PRE INVENTORY BLOW OUT SALE!!!
Starting on January 12th!!

EVERYTHING IS ON SALE
Min 25%
Going UP UP UP
40%
50%
60%
70%
Even as high as 80% on 100's and 100's of items~!

You will not want to miss this!
We are cleaning out!
(CHA is just around the corner!)
Please note that we will be CLOSED January 30 & 31st for INVENTORY!

The new calendar year looks to be busy! Here are some of the great things we are offering very soon at Remember Me.....

2008 Calendar Classes

Sunday January 20th

8 x 8 Calendar - Perfect for gift giving or being organized at home.

$45.00 includes all supplies except adhesive, please bring your favorite with you to class.



January 26th
MINI CD CALENDAR!
This is the perfect little calendar to sit beside the phone, on your desk at work or to pop in the mail for a special someone far away.

$18.00 All supplies included except adhesive, please bring your favorite with you to class.


January 24th
CARDS CARDS CARDS -for your Valentine
Join Rae and create 4 cards in class for those special someones in your life. Stamping, layering and "Faux" Crackled glass using UTEE will be featured techniques during class.
$10.00 6:30 -8:30










































Thursday January 24th 6:30 - 8:30









Cards Cards Cards - For your Valentine Sweetie









$10

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

KICK OF WINTER BOREDOM!

Kids this is just for you!

Friday January 4th, from 11:00- 12:30




Pencil Holder Decorating Class with Natasha!

$10.00 and you will make a charming set of these pencil holders perfect for your desk at home or school.
Come join the fun. Please call to reserve your spot.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Digging deeper....

I have been giving allot of thought to my scrapbooking (or lack there of) lately -Thinking about how I have to make more time to get more done (don't we all) and how I have been doing more journaling that reflects how I am feeling in the here and now. Observing things around me, life as it is happening and writing about it. Living life and telling about it.

I have always been a huge advocate of jorunaling, and using your own hand writing in your albums. Journaling is probably the easiest thing for me to do when creating a page ( I know I am the oddity out there) I often have the journaling done before I even have the page idea. Lately I find that I am journaling then finding a photo when I create a page. This is backwards to most people. Most will take their photos, and create the layout and journal at the end if they journal at all. I am wanting to take my scrapbooking to a deeper level, to truly leave a mark of my heart on the pages I am creating.

Journaling for me is the key to going deeper. I have several journals (books to write in) around the house, in the glove compartment in my van, in my purse so that I can write when the desire hits. Scrapbooking is more than getting the photos into albums for me, since day one scrapbooking has been a creative outlet for me. I love the creative process, the paper , stickers, embellishments, ribbons etc.. I know the importance of documenting life and events, recalling the things that are important in our lives. I want my albums to reflect who I am as well as what I do, all aspects of life, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Telling about the good the bad and the ugly so that when others look at my albums they see a well rounded person, not just the happy times. I want others to see the true me, my true family and how we deal with life. Not just the posed photos of family vacations and happy birthday photos.... Life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad, happy celebrations and not so happy ones. I want my albums to reflect all aspects.

I am on a new journey in the process of scrapbooking - not quite sure where it will lead but I will keep you all posted along the way. In the mean time here is a question to help you on your own deeper journey ( I would love to see your answers if you are willing to share post a comment if not journal (answer the question) just for you and your own scrapbooking journey......

This question is taken from a book I picked up at the Seattle airport recently called "IF. . . " by Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywell. It is a book filled with questions that start with IF... it is a great jumping of point for journaling when you are stuck.

IF you had to choose the single most valuable thing you ever learned, what would it be?

For me. . . I think the most valuable lesson I ever learned was that how I treat people is how I can be expected to be treated in return.
(The golden rule) I have found this to be true. If you treat people with respect you will be respected, if you mouth off and are rude, it will come back to you the same way (if not worse) If you care for people when they are hurting, they will in turn care for you when you are hurting. Being nice will get you a long way in life, it will see you through the good and the bad times.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

CONGRATULATIONS

To Cindy Lee- Webster who correctly answered "Changed the Sheets" her email arrived in my in box at 6:30 am on Tuesday! It must be true what they say about the early bird catching the worm! Way to go Cindy!
This was great fun, I laughed at many of your answers, thinking of the possibility of my dear hubby doing some of these things. Thinking it would be great if he did. Now that being said he does tons around the house, 98% of all the laundry and he keeps my van fuled ( I hate the smell of gasoline! EWW!) He is a keeper for sure!

Here is a sampling of what was said

Vacuumed the house
Washed windows
Cut the grass
Cleaned the oven
Hired a maid (OH how I would Love that!)
Made dinner
Cleaned the toilet
Scrapbooked! (Ha Ha Ha!)
Breakfast in bed!

Many of you answered correctly - next time I may not give as many hints! LOL No worries there will be a next time and a next time! It was very fun!
Thank you for making my day.
It is always good to know someone is reading!
Happy Scrapping
Di

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

New books and a book review




These titles have just arrived!




And the review is in... Thank you Marilyn for taking the time to read and report on "Scrapbooking your Family History the Complete Workbook"
"On a scale of 1-10. I rate this book a 12.
To anyone who is beginning or working on a family or heritage album, this is one book you don't want to miss.
Do not be discouraged when you open the book and flashy layouts don't jump off the page. This book is designed to help us bring meaningful journaling to our albums. The layouts in this album are beautiful in their simplicity and the messages that they convey.
The book features checklists, page planners and worksheets to help you. The checklists get you started with the planning of your album and the forms help you with family trees and organization. But the part I love the most about this book are the worksheets. On the left-hand page is a layout and on the right hand page a worksheet or a photo layout page to help you get started. When you read the information on the layouts you can see how the worksheets helped lay out the foundation for the journaling.
All the checklists, forms, page planners and worksheets can all be downloaded so you don't have to write in your book. Having them beside you as you read is a plus so you can jot down notes and ideas. So if you are creating a family album and need some motivation for journaling or planning this is one book you won't want to miss."

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Ah Vegas the city of lights....

Vegas the city that never sleeps - here are some Vegas facts for you - Just in case you ever wondered!

Number of slot machines in the city 197,144

Annual visitors to Las Vegas, in millions 36.7

Number of conventions hosted annually 3749

Amount in miles of lighted neon tubing on the Strip and Downtown 15,000

Year first casino was licensed 1931

Annual state gaming revenue, in billions of dollars 9 (that is a whole wack of cash!)

I just thougth those were some interesting if not somewhat random facts I found about Vegas. It is a place like no other, and one very interesting place to people watch. People from all walks of life, young, old ( I can not believe the number of stroller's people are pushing!) All that is interesting but we are here to work, and work we do - today we were in classes from 8 am - 6:30 pm. Our brains are full of tons of great stuff - here are a few photos from our day!



Di & Ali Edwards Jesica Sprague Pam @ FAO Swatrz
(Digi Dynamo!)



and to close.... the wraper of the Dove chocolate today " Smile and you will sleep soundly today"

I do not think there will be any trouble there tonight.

Good night all.

Talk to you soon ( photos tomorrow???? we will see what is coming and let you know)

Monday, September 3, 2007

Don't fall over... or faint!

I would not want any of you to fall over because it is only 8:30 and I have already sent the INKLING! That is one for the history books for sure - you better make note of it because the likely hood of it happening again is slim to none! You see it is a rare occasion that it is quiet enough in the house at this time of night for me to concentrate and get my thoughts together, but tonight for some reason the girls were getting ready for tomorrow!
Lining up books, paper, pens..... I am doing the happy dance here on the eve of the first day of school.

What a better time to tell you a little about what will be happening at our FALL CLASS KICK OFF this Saturday at the store....
If you are shopping / checking out the classes / working in the SCRAPLOFT (booked for private parties!) you will be enjoying

25% off all purchases (excluding class fees)
Save 10% off all class fees
Receive a FREE COPY of Rebecca Cooper's book - REAL LIFE SCRAPBOOKING if you spend $100. ( shop early there are limited copies available)
Meet TIM - Master of "SCRAPPY HOUR" and have a chance to do a FREE MAKE & TAKE
(What is "SCRAPPY HOUR" It is our new monthly scrapping adventure that will happen on the last Saturday of each month from 10:30 - 11:30 Each month we will feature a new product, technique or give you new tips for your old stash...... It will be an adventure to remember!)

Best of all - Class samples for the FALL CLASSES will be available for you to see!

We are looking forward to a great Day - hope to see you there!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

FALL KICK OFF

We will be kicking off FALL in a big way at Remember Me
Next Saturday (September 8th) from 9:30 - 5:30
Class Schedule
Samples to view
Savings on class registration
Make & Take
Discounts & Savings throughout the store
Prize draw
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend

September 1st

Sometimes we simply make life more difficult / stressful than we need to. Every once in a while as I wander through my blog reading I come across something that truly makes me think, THIS was one such entry. Melody Ross founder of Chatterbox inc, and current creative director is one of the most down to earth bloggers I read. Her "Today's to-do list" hit home with me I hope you will all enjoy it too.
I would add a few more to the list to choose from - clean, say NO if needed, LIVE!

It really can be that simple if we want it to be. We simply have to learn to say NO and stick to it.
Think on it a minute - let me know what you think.....
Happy September 1st!
Di

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Lessons from Chocolate . . .

I love DOVE promises their rich flavour and smooth texture do a little happy dance on my taste buds each time I pop one into my mouth. Unfortunately for me (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) they are only available in the USA. Thankfully we are only 40 minutes from the border, and Mary visits often enough to keep a little stash at the office. A little chocolate can go a long way in changing ones outlook on life. Especially these little gems!

Now I am a little particular about my chocolate, I has to be dark! Some may call me a chocolate snob. Oh well, it is a risk I am willing to take! Mind you I will eat milk chocolate, given no other options, it is not my preference. Sometimes a girl just has to do what a girl has to do! This chocolate preference was solidified when I heard that recent studies show there are health benefits to dark chocolate, which is the perfect justification for my little vice. All this aside the main reason I love DOVE promise is quite simple - there is a little message on each wrapper. Some are quite silly, others are quite insightful none the less each time I open one of these little treats I anticipate the little promise enclosed in the red or gold foil. For a while I kept the wrappers and just read them because they put a smile on my face.

Simple things in life!

It has crossed my mind on occasion that there could be a mini album waiting to hatch here too. Simply because everything in life deserves at least a page right? (NOT - more on that next post!) However I do believe that there is inspiration around every corner - this was just one little corner. I can see the album in the theater of my mind, one promise per page, with our without photos. It could be a mini album dedicated to eating chocolate, the history of chocolate, the process of making chocolate. . it certainly has possibilities for sure.

Simple lessons, simple inspiration!

Why do we make life so hard?

We really can learn lessons from chocolate as funny as it sounds.

Yesterday's promise read " Watch the Sun come up"
Others that have made me smile
"Create with abandon"
"The Best things in life are Chocolate"
"Exercise your heart today"
"Go against the grain"
"Eat Chocolate before bed to sweeten your dreams"
"Dance even if someone is watching"

Little nuggets that just make me smile, and take a pause in the middle of my day to think of something totally random.

It is just simple fun!

I think we all need more of that in our lives.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

More class photos