First Sponsor - Handmade U

Handmade U's first Sponsor!!!

Eve at Evalicious was the first person I thought of when I starting looking for sponsors for Handmade U. Since we are working on mostly Handmade Journals at our First Semester I thought of all the artists I've purchased journaling kits and embellishments from and Evalicious is at the top of the list.

Eve makes fun kits and the cutest embellie's to decorate your journals, scrapbook pages, pretty much anything needing embellishing!!

Take a look at her shop and give her some love. We'll have a goodie or two from Eve as one of our Raffle prizes at Handmade U!!

Thanks EVE!!

-Rach

Handmade U

Hi Everyone,

Please click on the Handmade U button on the left side of the blog to see all the information regarding my first ever Art Event!! First Semester at Handmade U enrollment has begun, and the small cozy event is nearly half sold out! We have two more spaces at the lodge, and about 9 spots left for those that want to join us and stay at a nice reasonable hotel nearby.

It is going to be fabulous, you don't want to miss the inaugural event!! Many more semesters to come!!

Hope to see you when the school bell rings!!!

-Rach

Denver Birthday Weekend

Hi -

I have a client meeting in Denver nearly every year on or around my birthday. I enjoy it because I love celebrating with my client who is a friend and her consultant who is also a good friend. This year was no different. We had a great meeting and fun dinner.

Then Jim came in Friday for the weekend to celebrate my birthday which was that Saturday. I picked him up early Friday and we went straight to Snooze for breakfast. It is really one of the best breakfast places I've ever been to. They have very imaginative dishes, made with the freshest of ingredients.

They also allow you to do half dishes. I never can decide between pancakes or an egg dish.....At Snooze I didn't have to choose! I had one piece of cinnamon roll french toast, and one eggs benedict! YUM! We actually went back Saturday morning too!

Friday night we had dinner with one of my best friends Megan, who I've known since 7th grade. She and her boyfriend Mark joined up at Cuba Cuba, one of my favorite Denver restaurants.

We decided to have our engagement pictures taken at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO. Red Rocks Amp. unfortunately had a concert being set up so they wouldn't let us inside for pictures, but we got some great shots around the park, and then in the small town of Morrison.

Kevin from This Modern Life Photographers was great. We are actually having Kevin and his wife come take our wedding photos as well.

The photo shoot was a lot of fun, though it was really windy, I guess it gave me that windblown "natural" look :)

We ended my birthday at a movie - Win Win, which was good, and then dinner at White Chocolate Grill.

It was a fun day, unfortunately ended with a little stomach virus that put me out early and most of Sunday. However it didn't damper the weekend fun overall, and I was glad Jim was there to take great care of me! Thanks Jim :)

Here's to another year of great birthdays for everyone,

Cheers,

Rach

Broadway in Omaha

Hello Everyone,

This April Jim and I attended a production of Les Miserables at the Orpheum in Omaha. The theatre is beautiful, although the seats are tight....once you're in you're in!

I really enjoyed the show, I really didn't know much about it before that night. I did recognize many of the songs.

I am excited we have tickets for Wicked that is coming to the Orpheum this June.

Even more exciting is our trip to New York that is coming up, we are seeing the preview of Spiderman! I'll share with you that trip soon!

Seen any good shows lately??

-Rach

March Trips

March was a busy month. Jim and I drove down to Tulsa for two of his nieces birthdays. The first evening we stayed with my friend Lisa and her husband Doug. We had a nice sushi dinner and hung out for a bit before we crashed from the long drive down. Thanks Lisa!! I enjoyed meeting all her furry babies!

Saturday we had two birthdays parties so it was a great chance to meet most all of Jim's family. Here is our "meet the parents" moment.

The weekend after Tulsa we drove to Appleton, WI for one of Jim's best friend's son's baptism. Jim is the godfather and was part of the celebration. Here is Ed & Jen with their beautiful son.

Here is one of my favorite photos of Jim and I at the Baptism.

With so much time on the road, we started listening to the Hunger Games. I just finished the third and final book. Anyone else read/listen to them? I thought the first book was definitely the best of the three.

What other books are your favorites for road trips?

-Rach

February Brave Girls 2011

Hi Brave People!

It seems like forever ago that I was in the Mountains of Idaho visiting the smiling faces at Brave Girls Camp for my second year!

I convinced (without much arm twisting) my friend Lisa Stanton to come again with me! It was a year before that we met at Brave Girls' the first time.

My friend Kara Ward also attended Brave Girls'. So nice to spend time with her!

Rachel McCarthy who I met last year at Spark was also there. Many referred to her as Curly haired Rachel :) !! There were many name doubles at BGC that week.

I also met some fun new ladies, two of which are below. Megan and Kirsten. They kept me cracking up all week long! You don't say! I was lucky enough to see Kirsten recently for dinner in Lawrence, KS.

The cabin we stayed in was huge! The BG team turned a garage into this amazing art room!

There was a beautiful kitchen for Kathy and the team to create tasty food and treats for us!

Thanks to the whole Brave Girl Staff for taking great care of us and putting on a fun talent night to end our week with you. Inspiring to say the least!

Thanks to all the other Brave Girls for sharing and caring! Love you! The week was just as I expected, a wonderful retreat, a time away for reflection and creating meaningful art. I encourage you all to go!!

-Rach

What a difference 4 months can make!!

Hi Everyone,

I am still alive, very much alive. I can't believe I haven't posted since December, well I guess I can believe it, but I have missed you all!

I've been busy. Those that know me know I am typically "busy", but I have been "BUSY!!!"

In January I met someone very special, the love of my life, 9 weeks later we were engaged, and now we are well on our way to getting married on November 12th, 2011. After all these years of looking for the right person, it really does sometimes just smack you in the face, in a good way :)

Hugs -

Rach