wanted to share...

some fun family pics we took while we were on vacation. We were so impressed with Mike (The Digital Orange) the second we met him. When he got there Avery was on the carousel but when it was over, knowing Avery, she started running around & he chased her all over Balboa Island-snapping away!

I'm so excited to enlarge these photos all over our home. My favorites are the side by side ones of Quincey and me and the one of Collin with Q&A. Click here and here. But ignore his blog post title-he's a big jokester.

Thanks to Aunt Charity being there to help too.

ps I'm glad you enjoyed a good laugh from the previous post:)

Scrapbooker's Fantasy

After yesterday's post, we couldn't resist...

Could you imagine...

if men really acted like this? What if... apron-clad, folding laundry just so, flexing with their shirt off while they vacuum the house. haha! Don't get me wrong, Collin cooks and cleans but it's how they say it in this book that cracks me up!

Collin and I were in hysterics reading this book at Urban Outfitters on vacation.

I had to buy it... the title is what kills me.

bff

Happy Birthday to my super-cute, stylin' sis-in-law Bethany!! (say that 10 times fast).
This is a little mini album I made for her about her bff, Julia. She'll add the journaling to the blank tags.
Used all Making Memories 5th Avenue Collection-love it!

Speaking of bff, it was fun to chat with my friends Mary & Melissa this past weekend. No matter how much time passes between calls it always feels like old times.

I would expound on this important subject but Avery's literally pulling my arm from the computer! :)
Have a fabulous Monday!

Pray for Nie Nie

Sometimes things happen in life and you can't comprehend why? All you can hold fast and steady to is the comfort in knowing that God has a plan for each of us and hears our prayers.
This beautiful girl, Stephanie, and I became friends in 6th grade. I ran into her a while ago at the mall and she's the same friendly, cheerful girl I remember. We keep in touch through blogs-she's such an inspiring mommy and wife.

I'm posting this as a request to pray for her and her husband who were in a private plane crash. They survived but are both hospitalized with severe burns. Steph and her husband are in for a long recovery (months). If you would please say a prayer for them as well as their 4 beautiful children it would be greatly appreciated! Nie Nie's blog is linked here and her sister keeps us updated here.
Thanks.

knee highs aren't just for the lunch lady

I've gotten quite a few emails about making bows... here's how I make nylon headbands that are so soft and stretchy-perfect for babies.


Q-Biscuit gives it two thumbs up.


I'm not a professional bow maker, so if you are, please leave us some tips:)
*Start with one knee-high length nylon
*Pin together the toe to the bottom of the elastic part that would sit right under your knee if you were wearing them
*Sew in a loose setting so you can gather it
*Cut off that extra nylon piece
*Pull the top stitch to gather the nylon
*Then simply glue the flower to the nylon OR
you can glue a piece of ribbon around the seam then interchange clips with flowers on them.
Capiche?

I'll show you how I make the flowers on clips in the second installment of 'Liz's attempt to make her girls not look like boys.'


it's late... nigh-night!

beach bummies

Back from the annual Kartchner vacation to Newport Beach. Needless to say it was a BLAST!!

Avery cracked me up the entire time we were at the beach she ran around in the water then she would run into the sand-rolling in it, jumping in it, getting it in her hands and studying it... it was hilarious!! I've never seen anyone so excited. She ate the sand like it was candy and drank the water like 7-up. We spent the first day teaching her not to eat that nasty stuff. Then she would crash under the canopy about 2:00 everyday and take a nap to recharge her batteries for more running and jumping!

Loved snuggling up to these cheeks and playing with these beach babes!

When Collin wasn't chasing our silly sand crab around he was out on the waves boogie boarding and learning how to surf. I happily waved from a distance. :) This vacation I officially became a mom-under the shade with kiddos, taking photos and too tired to boogie board with the ocean-surprisingly I wouldn't have it any other way!

In a nutshell it was a fabulous vacation full of trips to Yogurtland-our new obsession, Hippo Cookies from Balboa Island, carousel rides, taking family photos while the sun set behind us, bike rides, food, food, food, & shopping!

"K? K?... BeBe? (Bethany)...Gigi?...Poppa?...Em?...Wruss?...Chetti (Charity)?"

Avery is walking around the house calling out for her family she misses seeing all day! I'm sure they miss her too, but not the 6 am wake up calls! :)

We fled the coop...

and ran off to the beach!

I taught these cute scrapbookers this cute mini album class this morning and a 2 page layout class. It was a blast! Some of my class was CKU students and others were part of "Lisa Bearnson Adventures." It was a fun morning! Collin played Mr. Mom and quite possibly was scared out of his mind, but everything went perfectly. I think it was good for him! :)
Have a fabulous day!

the Envelope please...

Wow...thanks for the participation ladies!! Lots of comments! And believe it or not I skimmed through all of them over the past couple days! There was SOOO many awesome summertime memories, it was fun living vicariously through your comments!

Onto business...the ginormous box of goodies goes to....melanie33!!!!!
Mel, Send me an email and the goodies are on their way!
Cheer up Charlie if you didn't get it, this was so fun I'm doing another giveaway here soon!

Anyone going to CKU this week?? If you are come say hi! :)

some of my faves & a giveaway!

Some of my favorite stuff from CHA!

American Crafts paper, why do clouds make me happy so happy? Love their always fabulous thickers!

Scenic Route's new line came just in time since I am working on Christmas stuff for CK right now! I loved the contrast with their girly/boy paper lines.

Cosmo Cricket's new lines are so stinkin' fun! Love their wood grain paper. Why is it that I want wood grain on my pages & on my floor! I love this wood-grain rug from Pottery Barn, actually I'll take the whole office! ;)

Oldies but goodies. Just now getting my hands on the Bloom line by KI Memories. It is one of my all-time favorites! And the Martha Stewart lace border & butterfly punch!

Since I need to make room for some new supplies what better way than giving it to one of my fabulous blog readers!!

It's impossible to fit it all in the picture, trust me, this is my yummiest giveaway yet! :)

Leave a comment with your favorite memory so far this summer!