NHL Draft 2026

So, in June, we went to the NHL Draft.

Both fun and boring. Fun because you got to see what was going on. Who was talking to who, deals being made etc. I have some pictures somewhere that I need to find and post.

We knew it was going to be long and boring so we didn't take Nick.

He responded with this......

Yeah, he's ready to play. He ran around with his helmet on. I almost signed him up for the Junior Kings but he needs to wait about 5 more years.

I did sign him up for the USA Hockey program. They can find a program for him around here. Unfortunately, they are all associated with the Ducks. So I might find myself driving up to LA to get the Kings program. As a parent, I cannot enroll my son in a Ducks program. I just can't. I want a strong hockey player not a brute or crybaby.

Hate birthdays

I do. After 21 I just kind of felt like that was the last milestone. 25 hit me hard because I was a quarter of a century old. Wow!

I got lower insurance rates at 25.

Then 30 hit.

This year I turned 33. Two more years to 35. 35. Thats almost 40. I'm not ready to embrace that yet.

But I finally embraced celebrating my birthday. Nick helped decorate my cake this year. This is my favorite cake. Chocolate cinnamon with homemade frosting. I could just eat a bowl of this stuff and skip the cake.

So Nick wanted to help decorate. Can you see the evidence of cake testing on his face?

There's the frosting blob that covers up the finger hole where he licked the frosting.

And the snail. He's obsessed with snails. He walks around saying that snails 'love him'. I have no idea where he got it so don't ask. And every cake needs a snail right?

I think he was going for a flower on this one. MIght have had some help.

Getting crafty with the Slice

I saw this at the Winter CHA show in Anaheim. Making Memories released fusible web making it possible to cut fabric with the Slice.

I have some friends expecting so I thought I'd come up with some cute onesies for them.

Dino

Moon (I need to get some yellow fabric and cut a star)

BOSS - every baby needs one of these

I'm working on some other designs. I've ordered the fusible web in bulk and I've been at the fabric stores shopping...

I find time to craft

Even if it is at the last minute. I wrapped some handmade fathers day presents the night before. My new favorite wrapping paper is Kraft paper. It goes with everything!

I got my roll at the Container Store. I think I paid $4 for this huge roll. I'll be wrapping presents in it for a while. And did you see the woodgrain one? Must. Get.

I had to dress up the kraft paper though. I love using it on my layouts because the neutral color brings out the colors of the patterned paper and embellishments.

I used Graphic 45's Perfect Gentleman line to wrap these gifts.

And some October Afternoon for these.

Forgive the ugly background. I was up late doing this so I just snapped pictures of them before going to bed. No fancy stuff here!

Tech Baby

I'm getting him started early.....

No more techie girl.....

I've hung up my techie girl hate (for now). Its back to filling orders, taking orders from a three year old and trying to enjoy a little summer with the family.

Its been a busy three months. Crazy in fact. I've tried to find times to get together with friends to scrap and fly kites with Nick.

Here's a quick recap.

We:

Went to see the Kings battle the Cansucks in the first round of the playoffs. My Kings weren't able to pull it off. But I saw playoff hockey for the first time in a long time. Lets hope this is a regular thing.

Went to Bodhi's first Birthday

Sawyers Birthday and Bens Birthday

Planted a garden

Flew a kite

Ate popsicles

Cleaned the backyard for summer (disclaimer: he LOVES to clean. I can't stop him so please don't call CPS on me.)

Played in the sandbox

Raised butterflies

Blew Bubbles

Tortured Rascal

Ate Yogurt

Blew more bubbles

And the summer is just getting started. I've got a hundred pictures just perfect for my summer mini. I'll need to narrow that down this week.

From techie girl to scrapper

Almost 4 years ago, I got my 90 day notice at Capital One Auto. I worked in the IT department. I made the decision there to make the switch from techie girl to creative girl.

I had thought about opening my own scrapbook store for a while and when an announcement went out on some message boards I belonged too saying that a local online store was for sale, I jumped at the chance.

Unfortunately, while trying to investigate and get paperwork together, I lost out. Two other women purchased the online store which left me at a crossroads.

I could either:

start my own store or look for a job.

And then I found out I was pregnant. Technically unemployed and pregnant doesn't look so hot on a resume.

So I jumped right in. I got my license and tax id. I did everything. I went from techie girl to business owner overnight. (And you know what? I'm so glad I got my own store because its mine. I started from scratch and built this place.)

I bought a shopping cart and hired a web designer.

I bought product and 'hired' a design team.

I was no longer techie girl. I pay Michelle for that! What a relief to be able to create instead of fix things.

So when I started getting reports of Norton saying my site was unsafe, I went into Techie Girl mode again. I pulled out the IT hat and went to work. Side by side with Michelle.

She's awesome by the way so if you ever need anything done.....

We finally pinpoint the problem with the help of Norton and now we need to fix it. Don't worry, the site itself is safe. Stupid Norton doesn't like Google Analytics.

So I had to reconfigure my Google Analytics and remove it from the Gallery page. In the process, poor Michelle learns there is a recent upgrade for the gallery software and she installs it for me.

What we didn't realize was that this upgrade would pretty much erase any setting I had in place before.

The new software is amazing though. SO much easier to configure - if you can find everything you need.

So, a week later and everything has been backed up, restored, cleaned and configured. But we're still working on the configure part.

Techie Girl needs a refresher course!

I feel like one of my end users calling in with a problem. I feel like I know nothing. So Michelle and I are working together at night to resolve the issues with the new gallery.

Banned users, images not showing up and other small issues.

So for a while, I'm Techie Girl again.