MapQuest Stinks and other tales from CHA

Sorry for the posting delay-I am still recovering from our whirlwind trip to Chicago and am now finally getting back into the swing of things.

First off: 22 days left until I leave my hubby for Toby Keith (ok-not really, plus kids on the tour bus? Not gonna work so well)

What can I say about CHA that hasn't been said on other blogs? It's big, it's overwhelming and everywhere you look, there's new people to meet. Oh, and cool new scrapping stuff too-lol.

Quick recap:
Sarah and I left her house at 4AM-ish. Quick stop by Tim Horton's for coffee/morning fuel and went to pick up Melanie. Drove and drove and DROVE. MapQuest said 7 hours. Well, my @ss! More like 10, but I guess they don't account for the crazy Chicago traffic. Took about 18,462 pictures of the Sears Tower because we were stuck in a jam and it was there. Expect a Sears Tower mini album in the future.

Got to the hotel at 12:30-ish, checked in and caught the shuttle to the convention center. Since we went to the show to promote Canada's Crop for Kids, we divided up and began visiting the booths. My first stop-well, Maya Road of course! Duh! Caroline and Jessica were so welcoming and sweet and the new MR products are to DIE FOR!!!!! Seriously, I could have just stayed there all day, but then I think Caroline would have been filing a restraining order, so I set off to look some more.

Since I can't possibly remember everyone, I'll just blurt them out-Jen, Wendy and Michelle at the Gel-a-Tins booth-my girls. Rocking stamps!! Very cool.

Vicki Boutin (my favorite girl!) and Layle Koncar at Scenic Route-loved them!

My pal Renae Clark at the Flair booth! So nice to see her again. The two other girls I met (believe one was gabbyfek?) were also total sweethearts.

I ended up hooking up with Sharon-the owner of Buffalo Stamps & Stuff (whom I just so happen to design for) and Wheeeeeee! She let me help out ordering goodies for the store. The lovely Amy Howe took our order at the Basic Grey booth-can't wait to get my hands on the new collections. I also dragged her back to the Maya Road booth so she could hook me up. :)

Celeb spotting? Well, I think it's safe to say Erin Lincoln is my pal, and her husband Matt-very nice guy. I wonder if he could talk to my hubby about become more scrapping tolerant....hmmmmmmm. Loved chatting with both of them.

Finally got to meet Danelle Johnson and Melodee Langworthy at the Creative Imaginations booth. They were just the cutest, even if they were swamped at the rockin make n take table. So nice to finally meet them both.

Well, my little guy is feeling under the weather, so I'll have to leave this as a To Be Continued......

Chicago, Chicago!!! *off key singing*

31 days until I'm drooling over the Tobymeister in concert!

I'm off to pack my bags, but one final check in.

Since I was totally NOT planning on this trip even being a remote possibility, I had to throw together some business cards at the last moment. I was aiming for artsy, set subtle here, and most folks know I'm a transparency freak.







That's my badge id too.

Well-see everyone on Monday!

The countdown continues....

32 day until I toss my underwear on stage at Toby Keith!

totally kidding about that *wink*

In other news, I'm going on a little road trip this weekend to CHICAGO!!!! Mega thanks to my pal Sarah, she invited me to tag along with her to CHA! I can't begin to tell you how excited I am. So, if you see the freaky pink haired girl wandering the floors of the convention, please don't hesitate to say hi!

Did I mention HOW excited I am?

Damn.

It's STILL hot! UGH!!!

Amanda went to the annual Darien Lake KISS (98.5-a local radio station here) the Summer Hello concert last night. I've been teasing her since I bought the tickets that I can't believe I had to pay good hard earned money (which I so could put toward scrap supplies)so that she and her friend could go hear the insipid screeching of Ashleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Simpson and a bunch of washed up ex boy band singers trying to go solo. *gag*. Not my idea of fun, but I'm not 18 anymore either.

So, I ask how the concert was, and imagine my fiendish delight when she told me they left the show early because Ashleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee gave her a headache.

I'm still giggling to myself over that.

And today, I'm starting the official countdown:

33 days until I see Toby Keith live in concert.

Let the drooling commence now. Be jealous. It's ok. Really.

Going, Going, GONE!

Off to crop with the Scraptivity girls today.

Oh, and stop over and wish my freind Kim a very happy birthday today, will you?

Time Well Wasted

An apt descrition for the phenomenal Brad Paisley show last night. I had the best time. The weather was gorgeous, the cheap wine was flowing and I just enjoyed the Hell out of every moment. I paying dearly for it this morning, but no regrets.

Make sure to stop by Danelle's blog this week to win free stamps from her new collection being released at CHA. Her circle stamps are very cool.

Playing Tourist

I love living in Niagara Falls. Even though most of the fun stuff to do is right across the border, I love the fact I can walk five minutes outside my door and be hiking in a fantastic gorge. But, there are certain touristy things that I have never done.

Tomorrow-I'll be doing two of them for the first time. My online pal Adelle is headed into town, and I get to play tour guide for her. We'll be lunching on the top of the Skylon Tower, followed by a trip on the Maid of the Mist. Should be lots of fun-maybe I should buy a t shirt?

Bargin of the Day

I've been eyeballing these cute garden tins at Joann's for the past few months, but the original price was $19.99. Tonight I stopped in and found them marked down a whopping 80%, so for $3.99, I got a cute embellishment container for my desk. I may go back and pick up a few more this weekend.

The MIA List

(1) I've spent the last 4 days uploading over 2000 photos to my Picasa web albums for safekeeping andd burning CD backups. This locks up my dinosaur computer and gave me time to do stuff other than being online.
(2) I spent 6 hours on Sunday in the ER with Charlotte, who had a 105 degree temperature. She's just fine now.
(3) I think I'm fireworked out-been going at it since July 1st (Canada Day). The kids LOVE fireworks.
(4) I took NO photos at all this weekend/holiday and just enjoyed being in the moment.
The little ones love thunderstorms almost as much as fireworks.
(5) I ate entirely too much ice cream this weekend.
(6) Lots of people are looking for Making Memories Ledger Paper.
(7) Strangely, we spent a lot of time with Charlie's ex's former inlaws this past week and had fun in the process. After 6 years of healing on his part, I now have a welcome place in the "family".
(8) 4 more days until Brad Paisley-yum!
(9) 3 more days until I meet a long time online friend :)
(10) Getting a new roof puts a cramp into naptime.