QueZZtion of the Week - November 23, 2008

Thanksgiving is upon us in just a few more days. It's one of those holidays where we run around crazy in order to prepare our homes, our meals...and let's not forget...mentally prepare ourselves for the impending takeover of our homes. Or, maybe you don't have that preparation as no one comes to you, but instead you go somewhere else. Whatever the case may be, in the midst of knowing who you will see and what all needs to be done, it is sometimes easy to forget that the true purpose of the holiday is written in it's name....

It is time to be THANKFUL. This gives me my question: What are you thankful for this year?

On that note, I'll begin: I'm thankful for....
- my husband, who sacrifices time we could have together to make an honest living and provide for us so we can clear up debt
- my family, specifically my mother who listens without judgement, my father and sister just for always being there, my grandmother who is still with us, and the extended family I was able to reconnect with this year
- my job for providing me headaches (oh, wait... not thankful for that part, except that it means I HAVE a job) because I get to be with 24 third graders all day, many of which show their affection and make me realize how important I am in their lives
- my old friends who have remained by my side through the years
- my new-found friends who have blessed me by letting me into their lives
- the roof over my head
- my ability to go back to school to (supposedly) better myself
- and the furball in my lap (my cat), who shows me daily her love and provides me comfort when I most need it.

Secret Santa Swap - Amended

OK people have suggested that we revise the terms of the Secret Santa Swap to be more wallet n eco friendly. Here's the revised terms (the "What" part revised):

***
Secret Santa Happenzz Swap
Who(does it): Whoever wants to!
What (do I have to do): Get your person a scrapbooking gift (from their wishlist if possible), value is to be $10.00 to $15.00. Also a handmade card. You can also include any handmade items you wish. OR create a Secret Santa bag of scraft toys for your person with a value from $10.00 to $15.00 that come from your stash and which may include any handmade items you wish. Please also include a handmade card. Use your person's wishlist to generate ideas of her likes and scrafting style. You might even find items from your stash that are on her wishlist.
When (do I have to ship this by) (do I have to ship this by): Parcel Post must be shipped by December 12th. Priority or Express must be shipped by December 17th.
Where (do I ship it): To your super secret special assigned gift recipient (to be assigned).
Why: Because giving is groovy!
How (can I join in this ultra fun event): Please PM me by midnight Monday 11/23 (as in late night Sunday 11/22). Send me your mailing & email addresses. I will assign Secret Santazz shortly thereafter. Santa names to be randomly picked.

***

Please note that I know even putting together such a bag, & shipping it, will still be an expense both of time, energy & money (though less $ than buying a new pressie), so NO PRESSURE or OBLIGATION to those of you who still don't want to, or can't, participate. But if you already unsubscribed to the Secret Santa Swap PM, kindly let me know ASAP if you want to participate now given these newer terms.

:o)

Secret Santa Swap

I posted this in our main chat thread but wanted to post it here for easy finding/reference. NOTE: MARLENE’S QOW is below the TRAKking posts further down the page - be sure you check it out!!

Okay some members have thought a Secret Santa Swap would be a nice idea so let's do it! Last year's QueenMel-led swap was a success so I am lifting a lot of this straight from what she did last year. Goshdarn* that QueenMel rocks (*I originally said "daaamn" but got bleeped). Anyway, I will also be sending this to each member via PM to effectively reach out to members who have been too busy to read the thread as often as they’d like.

Secret Santa Happenzz Swap
Who(does it): Whoever wants to!
What (do I have to do): Get your person a scrapbooking gift (from their wishlist if possible), value is to be $10.00 to $15.00. Also a handmade card. You can also include any handmade items you wish.
When (do I have to ship this by) (do I have to ship this by): Parcel Post must be shipped by December 12th. Priority or Express must be shipped by December 17th.
Where (do I ship it): To your super secret special assigned gift recipient (to be assigned).
Why: Because giving is groovy!
How (can I join in this ultra fun event): Please PM me by midnight Monday 11/23 (as in late night Sunday 11/22). Send me your mailing & email addresses. I will assign Secret Santazz shortly thereafter. Santa names to be randomly picked.

Thanks & look forward to another fantastic holiday for SHCG!

Unofficial Interim TRAKking for Sept & Oct

I posted this in our main chat thread but wanted to post it here for easy finding/reference. NOTE: MARLENE’S QOW IS RIGHT UNDER THIS POST! Be sure you check it out.

As it’s been a while since our beloved QueenMel came by (miss you, babe!) I've done some unofficial interim tRAKking for Sept and Oct (actually Melissa did post all but the critique component for Sept); tRAKking is a great resource for everyone to note participation. Mind you, my method doesn't hold a candle to QueenMel's precise methods. As I said when I’ve done interim tRAKking in the past, QueenMel: I hope you realize I am NOT trying to step on your toes by doing this, I was only doing this for my own benefit and thought I'd share because I thought the group would benefit as well!

As you all know, there are 3 guidelines to being in this group - posting 2 scrafty projects a month (hey we're a critique group, we gotta have stuff to critique!), critiquing others' works and checking in weekly. I didn't track everyone's critiques of works but chose a random LO smack dab in the middle of each month to see who critiqued it. For Sept. I chose Jesse’s Friendship for 10 yrs (for Jesse, I chose my Xmas Day 05 pt 3). For Oct. I chose Lisa’s Great Britain Vacation 2006 Day 8/Arthur’s Seat (for Lisa, I chose Marlene’s Gotta Wear Shades Monochromatic LO).

Again, QueenMel posted all of the Sept. tRAKking excluding the Critiques part, so I’m filling in the blank in the method described above. October will look different because I am only putting forth a rough picture of the numbers that QueenMel regularly tracks: I am only going to state the month of the last check-in in the Main Thread, and whether or not the person submitted the scrafty minimum of 2 items in the LO thread (as well as whether or not a person critiqued the random Oct. LO). I’m sorry it’s not as scientific as Melissa’s methods but it’s difficult for me to catch up on works already posted without having followed along and I’d like to give everyone some sort of general picture on activity…

September Unofficial Interim TRAKking
(Random LO: Jesse’s Friendship for 10 yrs; for Jesse, Sharon's Xmas Day 05 pt 3)

Sharon:
Check-Ins: 4/4
Submissions:3
Critique of Random LO: yes

Christy
Check-Ins: 2/4
Submissions:4
Critique of Random LO: yes

Brenda
Check-Ins: 3/4
Submissions:5
Critique of Random LO: yes

Tiffany
Check-Ins: 3/4
Submissions:1
Critique of Random LO: no

Lisa
Check-Ins: 3/4 (went to Italy)
Submissions:2
Critique of Random LO: yes

Queen Mel
Check-Ins: 2/4
Submissions:1
Critique of Random LO: yes

Janet
Check-Ins: 4/4
Submissions:0
Critique of Random LO: yes

Amanda
Check-Ins: 4/4
Submissions:6
Critique of Random LO: yes

Jesse
Check-Ins:3/4
Submissions:2
Critique of Random LO: yes

Marsha:
Check-Ins: 4/4
Submissions:2
Critique of Random LO: yes

Marlene
Check-Ins: 4/4
Submissions:2
Critique of Random LO: yes

Chris (Pledge)
Check-Ins: 4/4
Submissions:2
Critique of Random LO: yes

October Unofficial Interim TRAKking
(Random LO: Lisa’s Great Britain Vacation 2006 Day 8/Arthur’s Seat; for Lisa, Marlene’s Gotta Wear Shades Monochromatic LO)

Sharon:
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: yes

Christy
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: no
Critique of Random LO: no

Brenda
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: yes

Tiffany
Last Check-In: Sept
At least 2 submissions: no
Critique of Random LO: no

Lisa
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: yes

Queen Mel
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: no
Critique of Random LO: no

Janet
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: yes

Amanda
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: no

Jesse
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: 1 submission
Critique of Random LO: yes

Marsha:
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: yes

Marlene
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: yes

Chris (Pledge until 10/24)
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: yes

Deborah (Pledge)
Last Check-In: Oct
At least 2 submissions: yes
Critique of Random LO: no

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That’ll help people tRAK participation until the super-duper goddess of tRAKdom, QueenMel, returns! Hope it helps.

Now for the fun part, the RAKking. Well, the last time I did unofficial tRAKking I awarded Janet for Mar/Apr/May, not realizing that QueenMel does her RAKs quarterly, meaning according to her, I won for the 3 month period ending March, and Janet ended up winning by QueenMel’s count, for Apr/May/JUNE…oops on me. So the next RAK to be awarded is for the period of the months JULY, AUGUST and SEPTEMBER. QueenMel previously posted July and August tRAKking. Janet is disqualified because she won last time, as are any pledges (I’m disqualifying myself). No one participated 100% in that time. There are two members who participated the most for that quarter – One had a month where she critiqued all but 5 LOs and checked in “only” 3 outta 4 weeks, the other had a month where she only posted 1 thing to the LO thread and checked in only 2 outta 4 weeks. But these 2 do shine in their level of activity in the 3-month period ending September, so… I’m RAKking them both! Please congratulate CHRISTY and JESSE for splendid participation during JULY, AUGUST and SEPTEMBER!! Christy, Jesse, please PM me your mailing and email addresses.

AND, I’m giving a slightly bigger RAK to you both than usual. Why? It’s because it was about one year ago that I was voted to be the coordinator of this group and I’ve loved it sooo much! As our former leader left last year, I actually PM’d 2 other members urging them to step up to take her place… I was rather surprised when I was voted in myself. But I embraced the challenge. This group has stretched my creativity so much, I've had so many firsts - ATCs, swaps, challenge responses, challenges hosted, contest entered - all because of this group. But not only that, this group has put me in contact w/ you marvelous and incredible women. We've supported each other creatively and personally. It's been beautiful to be a part of this group and it's a real joy to serve as coordinator (difficult as it gets at times). I am truly thankful to know you all! Scrap Happenzz is such a happy spot in my life - Happy Anniversary to Me!!

QueZZtion of the Week - November 16, 2008

With the holiday season coming upon us, there's so many great holiday movies. I love watching March of the Wooden Soldiers on Thanksgiving Day, the old Laurel & Hardy film. I've been watching it every year since I was a little girl. I also love watching The Christmas List with Mimi Rogers, she makes a list of all her wishes and each one comes true! So tell me, what's your favorite holiday movie?

i love black friday. i think everyone should go out on black friday and go shopping and get all the good sales. it is just plain fun. there is a lot of excitement in the air and people are out mostly to have fun and get their stuff. i have a link to the black friday adds. my quezztion is: go to the black friday site-
http://bfads.net/
and tell me what you would buy if you had $500.00. to spend. the stores are listed on the left hand side of the screen just click one and the sales will pop up.

QueZZtion of the Week - Nov. 2, 2008

Pardons for being a day late w/ this, galzz... Today I'm asking about "What Lies Beneath..." - no this is not an underwear, nor a horror/suspense film, QOW. Talking about something more ordinary - list & discuss what is under your BED right now! Perhaps you have confessions, or even organizational wisdom, to share. Just curious.... ;o)

I'll start. Under our bed we have -

- A heated mattress pad which was a GODSEND when we lived in the 'burbs a few years ago. These days in our city home, our heat is pretty rockin & it doesn't get as cold so this doesn't get much use...

- My several pairs of cold-weather boots. Yes you warm-weather babez, some of us hafta own more than one!

- A box of my old journals spanning from college to present day. They used to be in my closet but I was fishing them out so much for sb journaling that I moved them here.

- A list of guitar chord progressions for a song & an Eddie Bauer catalog - these fell off from DH's nightstand, he's such a cutie...

- Enough dust bunnies to knit a pair of gloves! I try to sweep under there but sometimes during the express cleaning jobs it doesn't always happen....

How about YOU?