Well filming my SOAR video was a fun experience.  Especially with two boys running around.   Here are a few of the out takes…

I just thought I would clue everyone in as to what has been on my mind this month.   On December 1st, one of my favorite photographers/bloggers, Me Ra Koh, announced the SOAR! Scholarship.  It is a wonderful opportunity for three women.   It provides them with the tools, the wisdom, the confidence and much more to start a photography career.   Prior to SOAR! Me Ra selected a woman who was Running on Empty to attend each of her photography workshops.   But this time she upped the ante.   So far 73 women have submitted videos showing why they should SOAR! in 2010.   I am one of those women.

For the past three weeks it has been all my mind could think about.   What would make me stand out?   What photos to include?   I setup and filmed clips of myself.  I bribed my children to play quietly while I filmed.  I also bribed them to appear on camera which resulted in me having to bride them to get off camera.

This is my video.

I really have mixed emotions about it.

I don’t know if:

• I did enough to put me in the top three.
• I could have done more.
• I should have said more.

I do know that:

• All of the SOAR! videos displayed wonderful creativity, touching stories, breathtaking photos, and each one showed an amazing woman.   All of the women are so deserving of this scholarship.  View all the videos here.
• I feel like I’ve been on an emotional rollar coaster.  And it is not scheduled to end till January 1st.   Its a long ride.   I’ve been here before though.  Since following her blog, I’ve entered the Running On Empty Mom contest 3-4 times.   I try to think positive and be confident.  But the day the winner is announce I go from sky high to hitting the ground.   So I have mixed emotions about January 1st.
• I did the best I could with the resources I have.
• I chose the best photos I have.   I am not a professional.   I am a mom with a camera, a momarazzi.   I have a year of experience with my camera.   But I have potential.   I was so happy with the photos I took at the museum last week.  It was my first time in complete manual mode.
• I felt good seeing myself on camera.   I didn’t feel self conscious.  I was happy.
• I tried.  I put myself out there.   The only thing they can say is “No” and there is always someone else to ask.

I know that I made the leap.   I just hope 2010 is my year to SOAR!

The Henry Ford Museum is one place that my family cannot get enough of.    For mothers with boys, it is a god send.   It is one thing I love about having boys.  They are amused by trains, planes, and machines time and time again.

We can spend 15-20 minutes just pretending that we are on an airplane.

Then we move on to build our own cars out of K’nex.  Then we test them out on the tracks.   I love the look of determination.

The Lego exhibit is one of our favorites.  We will be sad to see it go in January.   Everett amused a group of school girls who dared to enter his castle.

My little prince.

His brother was more interested in this guys who was standing so still.

There is a new addition to the museum for the holidays.   Last year they had the model trains.  This year it is an amazing Lego city complete with four trains.   You could look at this for hours.   There are tiny details from the Rockstar on the balcony with a glass of champagne, to the kitty on the roof, and take a look at the street names (Novi Rd).

I hope someone will wipe his nose prints off the glass.  He couldn’t get close enough.

Boys and their toys!

I hope this gives you all a laugh on this rainy Hump Day!

This one is for all the scrapbookers, stampers and anyone who has children who like crafts.    Recently, Stampin’ Up has partnered with Build-A-Bear for an exclusive line of stamps, papers, and die cuts.

As an introduction, my boys and I were invited to a special workshop at the home of a local Stampin’ Up Demonstrator, Susan LaCroix.  Only a few Stampin’ Up demonstrators throughout the country were picked to host this wonderful family event.   Susan has been a demonstrator for 7 years.   She has a wonderful home and a basement studio that anyone would envy.

YES! Those shelves behind Susan are stocked with stamps !!

Our evening started out with popcorn and a movie featuring “Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure,” an animated TV special.    It is a wonderful film and all the kids sat glued to the TV.   Hal Moose dreams of being part of Santa’s reindeer team.  One evening he decides to make his way to the North Pole.   His sister Holly follows him to keep him out of trouble.    There is a bad storm coming on Christmas Eve.  But Holly and Hal help Santa and the elves save Christmas.

Following the movie, we had the opportunity to try out the Stampin’ Up Build-A-Bear projects.    The kids enjoyed Build-A-Bear coloring pages.

They also made their own Build-A-Bears using die cuts.   The kids made Beary Merry Santa Bears and Boy and Girl bears in coordinating outfits.   I could see little girls loving this.  They could make their own paper dolls (well bears).   It would also make a wonderful project for girl scout troops.

While the kids were busy with their own project, the moms were able to make these Beary Special Christmas Cards.  I think this will make a wonderful card for my son’s preschool teacher.

We were able to try out a variety of the Stampin’ Up products including the Papers, Ink pads,  Beary Best Friends stamp, the Watercolor Wonder Crayons, and Scallop Edge Punch.  Just to name a few.  Being an art student one of the most useful tools was the Aqua Painter.  It would be a great tool for watercolor painting.   It is so messy having the cup of water.   The Aqua Painter is available in two different sizes and holds the water right in the pen.

Many people think they aren’t creative enough to do scrapbooking and stamping.   But all of our cards turned our wonderful.   Even those who complained about their lack of artistic abilities.   Susan’s demonstrations were very easy to follow.

By the end of the night, the kids were full of cookies and Build-A-Bear fruit snack (yes they make Build-A-Bear fruit snacks).  As the evening wrapped up, a few of us left with wonderful gifts from Build-A-Bear – the “Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure” DVD, a Holly and Hal Moose Story Book, and Sparkles, a cuddly Build-A-Bear with light up Merry Christmas Shirt.

It was such a wonderful relaxing evening.   It would a great girls night out/in.  We all left talking about getting together to scrapbook again.

To find out more about Stampin’Up, please visit these websites:

• If you live in the Metro Detroit area, please visit Susan LaCroix’s website.
• For those of you outside of the area, please visit the Stampin’ Up website to find a local demonstrator.

Here are a few additional samples made with the Stampin’ Up Build-A-Bear products: