Incredibly neglected...

Yep thats what the new title for this blog should be. Neglected is an understatement..unfortunately I now have NO time for scrapbooking, ever....just busy being a mom and a taxi, and working, maid, cook, you know the drill. I am trying to make a solemn promise to myself that I will update this blog at least once a week. I will start with an easier goal so I dont fail myself :S

I have been making a conscience effort to see every day as a good day....a better than good day, a GREAT day. It doesn't always work, but I keep trying like I should be trying. Wearing a smile is much easier than wearing a frown and it seems to produce much heartier lovely responses from all that you come in contact with. Almost two years ago, that smile was literally removed from my face for a long time when my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I didnt smile for a very long time. Now since she is cancer free and her two year anniversary is in February, I am working everyday to SMILE more. Go ahead and try it...see how good it makes you feel. See if you get good reactions from everyone around you. I dare ya to go out there and just smile. Obvious old quote, keep smiling...it makes people wonder what you're up to. Well I am up to nothing malicious...I am UP to living a better life for me and for my family. A better environment to be in, all around better for everyone.

I am NOT a writer and I have never claimed to be, but what I know is there are days where I would feel a TON better if I could just sit in front of the computer, and blog blog blog my feelings away.

I know my blog cant tune me out or just keep nodding and sayin Uh huh....I see, blah blah blah blah blah! I want to start a journal but not one on paper, fear of people reading it?!?!? Now how foolish is that?? I know some of you still have my blog bookmarked and its now all over the internet for anyone to read :S I think I will also be writing on this blog more about me and posting more pics of my family and such, using it for personal inspiration instead of personal gains (like scrapbooking). Yeah, that's what I will do, a few inspirations from my head, or desperations depending on the day of the week, a few snapshots of family and we'll call it good...that is if anyone else besides me will be reading it.

So for now, a photo about how our family spent the evening...all dressed in black and ready to support the Iowa Valley volleyball team!

Gawl I love thses kids of mine <3 But for now it's goodnite and hoping to post something more interesting later in the week!

April sneaky peeks for JBS papercrafting kit!

I was giddy with March's kit, and April tops that! I cannot wait to continue creating! But for now, here's a sneak peek!

March kit creations and a JBS CROP!!!

Thought I would share another layout I created with the March JBS Papercrafting kit AND the Hodge Podge mini album created using the March Project kit first...





I am absolutely inspired by March's kit and have not stopped creating since it arrived on my doorstep. LOTS more to come...
And for some exciting news......


We cordially invite you to "Be Our Guest" at our first ever online crop which will take place next weekend on our new and improved message board complete with chat room! Please help us spread the word! It's going to be great fun with lots of quirky games, inspiring challenges, and chats with our designers. We will be giving away lots of gift cards to JBS Mercantile, plus we have two amazing top prizes! First Prize is a Guest Designer spot for the April JBS Mercantile Kit Club ($75+ value) plus a gift box of new "Be Our Guest" goodies ($75+ value). Second Prize is a Guest Star spot right here on the JBS Inspiration Blog with a gift box of new "Be Our Guest" goodies ($75+ value). You can't win if you don't play, so we hope you'll find time to "Be Our Guest"

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!!!!

How bout a preview of March's JBS kit??

Just a short post for now....thought I would share a preview of the March Jenni Bowlin Studios kit!!

We have a WINNNNNNNNNNER!!!

For the Monday blog hop.......

The winner is #10........CRAFTY CAT!!!!! I did the whole random integer thing to decide my winner but for some reason blogger is refusing to post it here???? Just my luck for trying to get a winner posted in the morning, right?? ;) Contact me Crafty Cat with all your info so that you can receive your prize! CONGRATS!!!

BLOG HOP MONDAY!!!

Welcome to Jenni Bowlin Studio's CHA Winter 2011 Blog Hop brougt to you by our newest release, "Be Our Guest!" This is our largest release ever filled with all sorts of pretties from the patterned paper, stickers, rub-ons, bingo cards, and unique embellishments you've come to know and love to a new foray into acrylic stamps and project foundations. You can see the entire release HERE. To celebrate, we're offering you lots and lots of opportunities to win $15 gift cards to JBS Mercantile.

You can enter to win at the following locations:

Twitter : We will be giving away TWO $15 gift cards to NEW followers on Twitter. These will be sent to the winner and to a friend of the winner's choosing, so if you're already a follower of @jbsmercantile then get some of your friends to follow us too! We will also be randomly choosing a winner from those who retweet the "CHA Winter 2011 Giveaway" post.

NEWSFLASH . . . Jenni now has a Twitter account! It's @jennibowlin and we will be choosing a random winner from her followers as well! Follow her on Twitter HERE.

Facebook: Look for the post that mentions, "Be Our Guest Giveaway" and leave a comment to be entered into the first drawing. We will also be randomly choosing a second winner from our NEW Facebook followers, so tell all your friends!

JBS Mercantile Message Board: In the "Town Square," leave a comment on the thread entitled, "Be Our Guest Giveaway."

The JBS Inspiration Blog: Leave a comment on the "CHA Winter 2011 Blog Hop" post telling us which of our new products is your favorite.

I would like to give away a $15 gift card to JBS Mercantile here, too! We'll end it and announce all the winners on Friday. Just leave me a comment!

Get to hopping! and Good Luck!

I wasn't a stamp girl til NOW....

Check out the newest of the Jenni Bowlin Acrylic stamps....MUST HAVES!!








Just IMAGINE the possibilities!! I think the banner and the receipt are my favorites of them all!!

NEW Project Foundations from Jenni Bowlin Studios!

I personally cannot wait!!!!!
Hopdge Podge mini albums Jenni Bowlin style! Swooooooon!
A 5x7 bingo card for the base, the cover is a vintage reproduction primer cover, and inside we have a postcard, a seed packet, a photo frame, and a die-cut transparency plus two book binding rings to hold it all together




Tiny tart tins?????? GENIUS!! Wooden spools......amaaaazing!!

And finally there's the classic white on one side raw on the other chipboard. These come in small and large and the small size is just perfect to fit our die-cut pads from our fall release.

Coming out of hiding...

2011 WILL be a better year...I will blog, and life in general will be better, this I am sure of. I know I am in charge of my own happiness and my own destiny, and I no longer sweat the small stuff. 2011 brings GOOD health to my mother who is battling pancreatic cancer, my family and my mother are my rock, they help me live the good life...I see soo much hope and promise in everyone's eyes. It is definitely contagious. I feel the hope from them and I feel the promise from them, I feed off of that and I KNOW that 2011 is going to be a year to remember. We will all make sure of that!

With that said, in the next few weeks I will be revamping the blog, making a conscience effort to blog about life, about hobbies, about family, about scrapbooking. I realize how important documenting my life and my surroundings are, and I intend to DOCUMENT ;)

So for now, if there is ANYONE that still has my blog on their bookmarks, I AM BAAAAAAAACK!!!!! I have suffered thru the hardest year of my entire life, and I am ready to move on and be THANKFUL!!!

And since I have rambled on, I will leave a few of my favorite photos of recent days...