My baby turned SIX yesterday...

Yesterday was Kaitlin's birthday! I can't believe how quickly she is growing up. We're having the annual family BBQ to celebrate her birthday on Saturday, but still wanted to make the actual day a special one.

She tells everyone "We changed my birthday to another day [Saturday] cause only Mommy and Daddy could come on my real birthday." ONLY? I guess we're not enough for her birthday! :-)

So, we sent her balloons at daycare and she was pretty tickled about that. She got some from Grandma and Grandpa Paulson, too.

After work, we took her mini-golfing for the first time - she scored a 77...okay, she cheated a little, but not much. She got it within 4 feet of the hole on her first shot on just about all of the 18 holes. I think she only knocked it out once. I think we might have a golfer on our hands!

Then, she got to choose the place for supper...so, of course, we went to McDonald's. Where else would a six-year-old want to go?

And we were off to Dairy Queen for ice cream after.

Once we got home we snuggled on the couch and watched "Animal Cops" - her choice also. She has this strange fascination with animal and cooking shows. She says, with much authority, that she doesn't want to be a chef. She just likes watching people cook.

However, she has OFTEN mentioned being an animal doctor, rescuer, or pet shop owner. She sure has a soft spot for animals...she is often on the verge of tears when she watches the shows that show animals being mistreated. It makes her sad. It is the sweetest.

Who knows what my little girl will be when she grows up, but I do know she's getting there way too fast.

At about 2 a.m., I heard Kaitlin get up and go to the bathroom. Afterwards, she came in our bedroom and climbed in and snuggled with me. She said, "Thanks for doing all those fun things with me today, Mom. It was a great day." Then she went back to sleep.

Justin heard and said, "That makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it?"

It sure does.

Page Out of Life Winner #2 & Ask the Author Answers

GIVEAWAY WINNER #2:
Well, with only ONE entry by the deadline, Beth Warren didn't have much competition for winning her copy of A Page Out of Life. Congratulations, Beth! Please email me with your full name and address as soon as possible.

ASK THE AUTHOR ANSWERS:
There were two great questions submitted that Kathleen Reid, the author of A Page Out of Life was happy to answer.

Beth Warren:
Do you have any tips for getting published? I'd love to get more work published...and also love to attend CHA, but it's hard to attend even to find work for a booth there unless you are on the design team. Any tips for either getting published or going to CHA?

KR:
As for CHA, I’ve never attended this conference and am going this year thanks to an invitation to sign books from Colorbok.

There’s a great website called Publishers Marketplace that lists the names of literary agents and the kind of work they represent. It’s very helpful. You can email an agent a query or contact them as per their specifications. Also, there are writing conferences all over the country; check out the National League of American Pen Women or workshops through a local college or university. Agents come to these conferences/events looking for new talent. Good luck.

Chris:
Even though I missed the deadline I am hoping you will still ask KR my question. I really want to read her book and haven't yet and the answer may sort of be in the novel itself, but wanted to know if this might turn into a "scrappy series" of books? That would be something I would be interested in! Thanks!

KR:
I’ve starting researching another book from Tina and Margy’s point of view. My working title is Shades of HOT Pink (Do you guys like that?? This is the first time I’ve shared it). Tina is a real challenge because I need to know a lot about the East Indian culture and understand how it affects the way she thinks. Margy is going to go to Turkey (where I went last summer) and somehow I want to tackle the issue of breast cancer in this one. Been thinking about which new techniques to include in my story. Any suggestions from A Matter of Memories readers??

NEXT GIVEAWAY:
Be sure to check back...I will be giving away the final two copies of A Page Out of Life in a single drawing and will post the information on how to enter soon.

Photo Shoot: Dancing Dream

A few favorites from a recent shoot...

A Page Out of Life Giveaway #1 and Ask the Author

GIVEAWAY WINNER:
Wow! I received ?? total entries for the first giveaway and some really GREAT answers to the question "How has scrapbooking enhanced the relationships in your life, either existing or new?".

But without further ado, the winner of the first copy of A Page Out of Life by Kathleen Reid is commentor number................










Congratulations, nachtstern!!














Nachtstern, please send me an email with your full name and address so that I can get your copy of A Page Out of Life out to you right away!

ASK THE AUTHOR:
And now, I have a special treat for ALL visiting my blog today. Kathleen Reid, the author of A Page Out of Life herself, has agreed to visit and answer questions from A Matter of Memories readers - that's YOU!!

And don't dispair if you didn't win a free copy the first time around - you've got three more chances! The questions that you submit for Kathleen in the comments of this post will serve as your entry in the next drawing! Only one question per person please.

But if you'd like a way to double your chances to win, make a post to your blog about this giveaway (be sure to give them the link to this post and leave a separate comment here with a link to that post). Don't have a blog? You could also post a new thread in your favorite scrapbooking message board and do the same.

I will except new questions through Saturday, June 7th at 11:59 p.m. CST and the second random winner will be announced on Monday. (We've got to give Karen a little time to answer your questions. :-) ) Be sure to check back for the announcement!

I have a ton of questions for Kathleen myself, but wanted to leave the door open for YOUR questions. However, I did ask Kathleen two questions just to get things started.

JMP: I understand that this is your second novel. How did you get your start as an author?

KR: I had no idea it was going to be so hard to break into the publishing world years ago! It took more time and effort than I ever imagined.

My first break came when I won an award at a writer’s conference in 2003. That changed everything. I sent out ten letters the next day to literary agents and two of them expressed interest immediately. I also received another offer of publication from a small southern publishing house!

As much as I loved Paris Match, I really only reached a southern audience. It’s my goal for A Page Out of Life to develop a national readership for my work.

Also, I’ve been working on the craft of fiction writing for nearly fifteen years. I have three full length manuscripts collecting dust on my shelf!! That’s more than a thousand pages of material . . .

When I completed this manuscript, my agent shopped it to several major publishing houses. I was fortunate that my work caught the attention of the fiction team at Berkley Books (a division of Penguin) Working for a company like Penguin Books is a real honor for me.

JMP: Are you a scrapbooker? What is your experience with scrapbooking?

KR: My scrapbooking really evolved as I researched and wrote the novel.

Back in 2004 when I started A Page Out of Life, I had always made beautiful traditional albums for my husband for our anniversary every year; I had also done baby books for my kids.

I’m a regular at Ben Franklin in Richmond thanks to my kids’ school projects etc. I saw all of these scrapbooking supplies, stickers and letters displayed.

I started talking to friends, reading about scrapbooking in magazines and interviewing people (e.g. Creative Memories consultants, etc.) who shared their passion with me. Then, as my interest grew, I started to read everything I could get my hands on from the book Scrapbooking for Dummies to Scrapbooks etc. magazine.

It was an “aha!” moment in my research when first I realized (in 2004) that no one had done a work of fiction about scrapbooking and second, that scrapbooking was an art form. Suddenly, thanks to my strong art background, I felt confident enough to write about it. (I was a tour guide at our Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for five years and absolutely loved it!)

I probably think Ashley’s response, initial skepticism, and then her decision to plunge right in very much mirrors my own experience. I considered myself “craft challenged” at first, thinking I could not create anything pretty enough or good enough to match what I saw in magazines.

As I wrote each scene and studied different techniques, I became more and more intrigued. But it was my friends at Memories Galore here in Richmond that really taught me everything that I know today! They answered all of my questions and really helped me every step of the way as I researched over the years. I worked very closely with one particular teacher, Dawn Hobbs, who’s awesome.

A couple of months ago, I made a scrapbook for each of my characters without pictures that I’ve used on television several times. I’m thinking of creating an album BEFORE I write the next book- it would be really interesting to try this approach to my craft of fiction writing.

Now it's your turn...ask away!

WeScrap challenge and an important reminder...

WeScrap CHALLENGE:
It was my turn to post a monthly challenge over at WeScrap yesterday, so here is my challenge for the month of June:

One of my favorite things about the 'art' of scrapbooking is DESIGN.

I am always on the lookout for design inspiration for new layouts and one of my favorite places to look is magazine ads.

Obviously, advertisers want to 'sell' their product, so they are going to do their best to make sure that their advertising is effective. You can bet that most of the ads out there are being designed by 'professionals'...so, why not steal (beg... borrow... whatever you want to call it) some of their expertise.

Here is an ad I saw (and LOVED) recently in an issue of Martha Stewart Living.


All layouts inspired by this ad are due by June 17, 2008. Post your submissions in the Challenge Contest - June gallery and label them JillMarie's Ad Challenge - 'Title of your project'.

Also, leave a link in the comments here if you don't mind so we can all be sure to admire your work!!

REMINDER:
Don't forget to check back in tomorrow for the announcement of the first LUCKY winner of the A Page Out of Life book giveaway AND a very exciting surprise visitor to the A Matter of Memories blog...

Hillary and Chelsea come to Yankton

It's not much of a secret that I've never really been that interested in politics...I outwardly relieved when I didn't get chosen to attend Girls State in high school and wasn't even registered to vote in my current county of residence until just recently. I think I registered Independent when I was in college (ya know, that whole 'independence' thing you experience when first going off to college), but pretty sure I never actually voted.

Maybe it's just part of getting older that I'm getting a little more interested (a.k.a. concerned) with who will be elected our next president. Maybe it's just part of seeing how much damage a president can do in 8 short years. Maybe it's just part of now being a mother and having my daughter's future to be concerned with as well as my own. Whatever it is, I am certainly getting more 'interested' these days.

Yesterday, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton came to Yankton and when my boss asked if anyone was interested in going to see her (she was scheduled to speak during working hours), I was actually excited by the prospect of seeing them IRL.

I'm not saying that I'm voting for her (we'll see...:-)), but I do have to say it was different to see them speak in person and adds another element to the equation.

I guess I'm just kind of small town, but being around that many men in black suits with guns (which of course were loaded and ready to fire), security guards and metal detectors was a little unnerving for me.

We got there a little late and almost didn't even get into the room where they were going to speak. The main area was packed, but they finally decided to let more attendees into a balcony area. It was only a good view if you were in the front, but I managed to sneak my way in there a few times.

It's funny, but they both seemed 'smaller' than I expected...maybe it's just because people you see on TV all the time seem to be 'larger than life' in a way. Then, when you see the in person, you realize they really are just people after all.

It was an interesting event. Clinton voice went out on her twice during the speech and she had to call on Chelsea to continue speaking...it was obvious that Chelsea is also well-versed in the principles of her mother's campaign. While she didn't quite get the crowd as 'riled-up' as Hillary, she certainly is a good speaker. I would imagine she has a bright and exciting future ahead regardless of whether or not her mother makes it to the white house.

On top of that, Hillary did have a bit of a faux pas when she introduced the wrong man as the Mayor of Yankton...a man that had been recalled by Yankton voters last December. It drew a very audible groan from the crowd, but she recovered quickly with the help of a nearby attendee that corrected her. The paper said that Hillary was given incorrect information by a staffer. Do you think that staffer still has a job today?? :-)

Despite these setbacks to the speech, she really does have some good things to say - supporting renewable energy, cutting tax breaks for big business, ending the war in Iraq and restoring alliances around the world...stuff that I can't deny that I agree with.

It will be interesting to see what happens after today's SD primary.

(Photos courtesy of the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan.)

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: A Page Out of Life by Kathleen Reid

REVIEW:
For almost all my life I've loved reading novels and for quite a few years now I've loved scrapbooking, but a novel about scrapbooking? I wasn't so sure...

Then I read A Page Out of Life by Kathleen Reid. It is a great book! The main premise of the book isn't about scrapbooking itself, but more so about the way that this wonderful hobby can truly bring people together and how these friendships and the creative release that scrapbooking can bring can help a person through some of the toughest times.

The novel focuses on several women which are part of a weekly scrapbooking group and the joys and sorrows of their everyday lives. I really found the characters the Reid developed to be very unique and complex in their own right, but yet could totally see the hobby of scrapbooking bonding these very different women together.

I also found myself really relating to some of the women depicted in this well-written novel. This book would be a great gift for any of the scrappers in your life...but don't forget to pick one up for yourself as well!

GIVEAWAY:
Before you rush out and buy a copy, you might just want to read a bit further.

I have four brand new copies of A Page Out of Life to give away!! Yes, FOUR! So, over the next few weeks, I am going to be holding drawings using the Random Integer Generator and sending out one copy to four lucky recipients.

To enter for your first chance to win, simply leave a comment below answering the following question:

How has scrapbooking enhanced the relationships in your life, either existing or new?

Only one answer per person please. But if you'd like a way to double your chances to win, make a post to your blog about this giveaway (be sure to give them the link to this post and leave a separate comment here with a link to that post. Don't have a blog? You could also post a new thread in your favorite scrapbooking message board and do the same.

I will except new comments through Wednesday, June 4th at 11:59 p.m. CST and the first random winner will be announced on Thursday. Be sure to check back for the announcement!