05/15/2012
04/17/2012
We have a WINNER!
Have you had a chance to peek at the NEW April Moments Product Kit? We showed you several projects using the kit. How about showing you a few close ups of the actual kit?!
This kit is filled with bright, colorful, spring papers! Papers that can be used for spring, mothers day, birthday, girl, teen, graduation, summer, baby and more! I am always on the look out for double sided pattern paper that fits a wide variety of projects and this paper fit the requirement!
It also includes two 12x12 sticker sheets. One is filled with three different alphabets and quotes the other shapes and images. A great variety of themes and colors on both sheets. I LOVE tiny alphas and the teal alphas are just calling my name. :-)
The kit also includes additional sticker sheets, a clear stamp set, rub ons with jewels, flower embellishments, cardstock, envelopes, clear sheet protector and embellishments!
Ribbons, buttons, die cuts, index tabs and more!
Now for the fun part... last week we posted several ideas using the kit and invited you to comment giving you a chance to WIN a free kit. We also opened the comments up on our FACEBOOK page and can't believe the response. WOWSERS!
The results are in and our winner is......
TONYA ROACH
Congrats Tonya! Email kim@expressthemoment.com to claim your kit!
Stay tuned ladies... more goodness to come!
{kim}
04/07/2012
Spring has SPRUNG with ETM!
Is it just me or does Easter arrive earlier and earlier each year? Here in Idaho, our weather is so unpredictable. It is rare that we celebrate Easter without braving snow and rain as well. You know those cute pictures of kids you see with adorable dresses hunting for eggs? Our pictures includes snow, our children wearing coats and trying to avoid rain puddles. Seriously.
Think for a minute about how you celebrate the Easter season. What memories come to mind?
While you do that... take a peek at a few projects the ETM design created using this months Moments product kit. If these projects don't give you Spring fever, I don't know what will!
This months Moments kit is filled with bright, fresh, colorful paper and embellishments. There are so many possibilities with this kit!
Each month, we create a variety of projects with the kit. I am always amazed at just how much Nancy, Amanda and Alicia are able to design and LOVE seeing the variety in their designs.
Amanda always designs pages that help us remember to document those little moments in our lives. I know that my family is always anxious to start riding bicycles again after a long dreary winter. This spring, take a few pictures of your children enjoying the ride!
The kit is filled with bright spring papers but don't let that limit you. Amanda is a pro at thinking out side of the box. I LOVE the above page and how she used the papers to create a layout about her son. The colors are great for boy pages, baby, spring, birthday and more!
Above is another example of a great page that is not Spring. Amanda is engaged to be married in August. I love how this page documents just how excited she is!
This page could easily feature pictures of your little girl, grandchildren, your sister or your mother. All you would need to do is switch out the alphabet stickers. So cute!
The above picture was taken in 2003. My daughter was 4. Isn't she adorable? This was back when she would allow me to buy her a cute new Easter dresss. :-)
I asked you earlier, if you had a favorite Easter memory. Did you think of one?
Our thoughts turn to our Savior on Easter Sunday. It has always been important to me that my children understand the importance of the day and how we are to remember him. Egg hunts, baskets, candy, new dresses, that is a side note to what is most important.
When my kids were younger and my Mom was still with us, she loved to organize egg hunts for her grandkids. Our job as parents is to teach them of Christ, her job is to fill them with candy!
One of my favorite memories is when Katelyn was about the age in this picture. My Mom was a school counselor at an older school here in Idaho Falls. The building is so unique and has two levels with lots of nooks and crannys. Typical Idaho style the weather was cold and dreary so my Mom organized a hunt at her school. Our family was the only people in the school that morning. My kids ran the halls (don't tell) looking for all sorts of treasures she had hidden. We then went into the gym and played all sorts of games and ate lunch.
To this day, my kids still remember that egg hunt with Grandma and no other hunts really compared after. Now that they are all teenagers, they certainly don't care much about hunts anymore but if asked they will tell you that was their favorite Easter memory with Grandma.
Tell me how you celebrate Easter. I understand we are all of different faiths and understand the variety of traditions associated with Easter because of those faiths, but does any one year stand out to you?
Spend some time taking a lot of pictures this weekend whether it be hunting for those eggs or on a quiet Sunday morning when you are just enjoying time with your family.
Leave a comment and you just might WIN a FREE April kit!
{kim}
03/27/2012
A Rose Family FAVORITE Recipe!
When Darren and I were first married we "house sat" for several families. By this I mean we would stay at their home, take care of their children, cook, clean and manage the home while they were away on business or vacation. As a young couple, this was a very good way to earn extra money AND also prepare us for our soon to be family of our own.
One family that we babysat several times was the Parry family. I loved this family. I still do! They had five children their oldest being in junior high and youngest being in kindergarten. Their mother, Renee was and still is a hero of mine. As a young adult and soon to be mother, I looked up to her in so many ways. I remember being so impressed the first time we sat for her family. She had a complete weeks worth of menus ready for us. Several meals already prepared and only needing to be cooked. She had prepared freezer meals along with side dishes making my job pretty easy!
One of the recipes she had prepared that week was Chicken Fettuccine. It was a family favorite of theirs and Darren and I loved it too. SO... that week I spent time browsing her recipe books and writing down several recipes I knew I wanted to try on my own. This Fettuccine recipe has become a family favorite for almost 20 years now. It is the meal I make when I am asked to take a meal to a friend or family member. It is SO easy to make. Very affordable and I usually have the supplies on hand. I usually double the recipe, make the first dish that night, and freeze the second dish for a future quick and easy meal when I need to save time or I will be out of town.
I serve the Fettuccine with a green salad, green beans and garlic bread. :-)
HINT: If you right click on the image, you can print and add to your family favorite recipes. I am working on adding a printing feature to my blog so check back often for more recipes!
AND if you are in the ETM Recipe Kit Club (Click HERE for details) you can print this recipe and add to your binder kits!
NOW... for the next recipe...
I am a busy woman. Not only do I own and operate Express the Moment, I work three days a week at our family owned Restoration business taking care of all bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, etc. PLUS we have three teenagers, church responsibilities, our home, etc. I am busy. We are all busy.
I don't enjoy cooking. I HATE to bake and am always on the look out for quick and easy recipes. Recipes my family will enjoy and recipes that are healthy. Last week while grocery shopping, I found these new season packets by McCormick.
(picture shown is empty packet but you get the idea)
I tried the recipe on the back of this packet tonight.. and guess what!? It is delicious!
CHICKEN PENNE
1 pkg Chicken and Penne Recipe and Seasoning Mix
2 cups penne pasta
2 tbsp butter
1 lb chicken tenders
1 can petite diced tomatoes ( I bought Oregeno and Garlic), undrained
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1. Cook pasta as directed. Drain well.
2. Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken, cook and stir until no longer pink. I added pepper and garlic season to my chicken as it cooked. I like seasoning!
3. Add seasoning mix, tomatoes, cream and cheese. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until blended.
4. Stir in pasta, toss gently to coat. Serve with additional parmesan cheese.
Be sure to look for those season packets! It was a quick and easy meal. We loved it! I believe there were 4 0r 5 flavor ideas to choose from. :-)
PLUS any recipe that saves me time in the kitchen is quickly added to my family favorites!
{kim}
03/18/2012
More inspiration with March moments kit...
when i start to scrapbook the first thing i do is pull out my photos that i want to work with...i look at the photos and see what colors i can pull.
from there i start collecting paper first, then embellishments that coordinate. i lay it all out together and then start building my page. sometimes i already have an idea or a certain look i want to create, other times i just start from scratch.
i LOVE using these page protectors...you can fit a lot of photos!
i added some embellishments on top, with pop dots for dimension!
for this page...i knew exactly how i wanted to design it, it's one of my favorites! so summer-y!
when i make cards, i always use my scraps-it's perfect fit because you only need small pieces of paper!
{alicia king}
03/16/2012
We have a couple of WINNERS!!! PLUS New Contest!
Happy Friday my friends!
I love Fridays. It is the day of the week that I take a deep breath and feel a bit relief that the week is coming to an end. I also look forward to the weekends especially Friday night because it is usually the night I get to spend some along time with my sweetie.
I want to take a minute and THANK each of you for supporting ETM. I LOVE getting to know each of you. LOVE your posts and hope that we are inspiring you along the way.
TODAY we have two WINNERS from our Facebook page.
1. Kelly Button: You have WON a free sample of spring papers by Echo Park!
2. Angie Hill: You have WON a freebie from ETM for being a Facebook fan!
Be sure to email me at kim@expressthemoment.com to claim your goodies.
NOW.... let's talk about the weekend.
Tonight and all day tomorrow I am attending a women's conference with two of my sisters and dear friends. It has been a long week for me. I was so sick at the first of the week and now just tired from trying to catch up. I am looking forward to this event because I know that my heart and soul will be replenished. I need that.
I get to listen to several of my favorite authors speak and share their stories. I don't consider myself much of a reader but when I do read, I read "self help" books. I read a lot of parenting books. Books about how to improve our selves and how to become better mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and friends.
I will be taking notes all weekend. I will be listening to beautiful music. I go out to lunch with my closest and dearest friends.
So.. my question for you is WHAT DO YOU DO TO REPLENISH your soul? Do you read? Craft? Spend time with friends? Family?
Leave a comment HERE on the blog for this contest. I am going to find something special this weekend at my event and find it your way if YOU are the WINNER!
I hope each of you have a wonderful weekend. OH and be sure to take a peak at the below posts. Read more about the NEW Finding Good kit we are accepting orders for. Our value kits. Our club kits. Get to know us a bit! REMEMBER all new orders receive that FREE clear stamp!
{kim}
03/14/2012
Tell me a bit more about the NEW "Finding Good" Gratitude Journal Kit
I know that several of you have more questions about the NEW Finding Good Gratitude Journal Kit that I have been advertising. I want you to know that I am here to answer all of the questions but most of all want you to understand how excited I am about this kit and how passionate I am about it!
A bit of history.
I have always kept a journal for as long as I can rememember. I am going to be honest and tell you that I have not always been faitful and recorded my thoughts daily, but I have always had an on going journal if not two or three journals. I love reading through my old journals. More then my own, I LOVE finding and reading through journals of my ancestors!
In September of 2008 I had the opportunity to attend Creative Escape in Phoenix, AZ. It was one of the most amazing events of my life! One of the classes I took was taught and presented by Kollette Hall. The entire concept of the class was to create a daily gratitude journal. She shared so many personal experiences and talked about how her daily journal had helped her through out her life. This concept hit close to home. At this time in my life, I was very discouraged and feeling like I had failed in many ways. I was having moments where it is a lot easier to focus on all of the bad in our lives then the good.
I remember coming home from Creative Escape and talking to my Mom about that class. She struggled in so many ways and was the type of person that always focused on the negative in her life. I remember telling her that I wanted her to start keeping a journal like I was going to and we talked about being more grateful for all the little things we have be blessed with in this life.
My Mom passed a way only a couple of weeks after that conversation and my world shattered.
If there was ever a time I needed to focus on the good in my life it was now. I knew I needed to spend time each day focusing on something good even if it was something as simple as having a bed to sleep in. Having a warm home. Being able to drink water that day. I felt so overwhelmed (and still do) with life and all the BIG issues and problems that I found myself forgetting all that I have been blessed with and continue to be blessed with.
So... I did it.
I decided to start journaling one thing I was grateful for each day. Did I miss a day now and then? Yes. Is that ok? YES!
The following year, we designed a similiar album project for our customers. Each month, when customers received their monthly product kits, we designed two new pages for the album. Our customers loved it.
NOW it time to visit this project again. Time for each of us to spend more time being grateful.
Here is how it will work:
This journal will be designed to fit an 8x8 leather bound album by We R Memory Keepers. You will be able to choose either a green (as shown) or red album. Album includes page protectors. More protectors will be available.
We will design a cover page which will be the first page in your album. The below image is this years cover page. So cute! You will simply created the page as shown and add a photo of yourself to the page. We will supply all paper, printed quotes, directions and a color copy to create the page as shown. So simple. So easy.
You first kit will also include a daily journal notebook. This notebook can be kept in your purse, or maybe by the side of you bed. Somewhere that you will remember to journal something you are grateful for each day. Remember it doesn't have to be profound. Something simple. Maybe you will have a day where you express more that is in your heart. Maybe you have a day where you are grateful you were able to shower by 5 pm because you have a newborn! It is your journal!
The key is just to remember to journal each day.
Your kit will also include supplies to create three more 2 page layouts. Each layout will have a pocket page on the left side of the layout. At the end of each month, you will slide your journal pages in the pocket on the left side of the page and add a few photos to the right side of the page and you are done for that month! So easy!
The layouts will be quick and easy to assemble. Again, we will send you all papers, embellishments and items needed to create the page we did. Each layout will be 8x8 in size and fit in your binder. By the end of the one year time, you will have a complete 12 month gratitude journal to cherish for years to come.
We have the journal kits listed on the website. When you purchase the kit, you will indicate the color choice of your album. The website description also reminds you of when each kit will ship and the prices of the kits.
PLEASE join us and sign up for these kits. I am so excited about this project and can't wait to hear more from each of you and how your daily journalling is helping you. TRUST ME you will find yourself a much happier person when you make an effort to focus on the GOOD in your life each day.
I will share more of my journey with you through out the year as well.... stay tuned.
Want to check out the kit? Click HERE
{kim}
03/11/2012
A few ideas using the March Moments kit...
Each and every month when I give the designers their kit, I anxiously await for them to send me their ideas. I can honestly say that I have NEVER been disappointed with their creations! I have the most talented designers. They are so creative. The make my job easier and I consider myself blessed!
Take a peak at just a few of this months designs...
ETM design team member Nancy Keller is the QUEEN of card making. She creates so many cards using the kit each month. Each card is so unique!
This months kit includes an entire package of journaling spots by Jenni Bowlin. These spots are perfect for card making. I love how Nancy added one to this card and simply added alphabets to complete the sentiment.
Who says cards have to be the traditional size? This flower card is too cute!
Not only is Nancy creating cards each month, she is also creating a 8x8 layout each month. These pages are quick and easy to duplicate. At the end of the year, you will have an entire album you could give as a gift or keep for yourself!
Nancy creates cards using the kit and Amanda creates layouts! Amanda is amazing. I think what impresses me about her each month is her ability to create layouts featuring the every day, simple moments in life. She tells her story. Her everyday story and I LOVE that.
I love the color combinations of this kit! The kit can be used for so many photos. In the above layout, Amanda took a picture of her grandparents home. Documenting her memory of this home and creating a lasting memory.
Don't forget to take a picture of your home too!
The kit also includes these adorable fan flowers by American Crafts. They just might be our favorite embellishment in the kit!
We will show you MORE ideas using the kit later this week, so stay tuned.
Interested in a kit? Be sure to visit the ETM online store for this kit and other great kits!
Keep up the great work Nancy and Amanda!
{kim}
03/01/2012
Tell me about your VALUE KITS...
After we closed our retail store, I spent a lot of time trying to decide what approach I wanted to take with our new online store. I invested in having the site completely redigned, we researched what products to carry, and so forth.
The advantage of having my store, being in business before the store and now still after is I have 12 years of getting to know YOU my customer. I feel like I understand what you are looking for. I KNOW that there are still so many of you that are passionate about preserving your memories even though the industry has changed so much the past 2 years.
I understand that we are all on a budget and we are looking for quality products that don't cost a small fortune. You are looking for new ideas and LOVE anything that will simplify the creating process.
SOOOOO... we decided to focus on VALUE KITS! What are VALUE KITS? Let me explain...
The industry demands that companies constantly design and release new products. Twice a year there is a HUGE industry show where most companies release anywhere from 5 -10 new product lines. When a new line is designed, they pre-print thousands of products in hope that they will sell.
The problem is usually they end up with so much overstock depending on the demand on the new lines. I have been a customer of these companies for so long that I receive emails and updates about when new products are being released and what products are being reduced. I personally don't care if a paper is 6 months old or not. If I like it, I like it and I know you would agree!
So... I take advantage of the lower cost products and pass along the savings to you!
We look for kits that are already assembled. Coordinating product kits. We find ideas using the kit and ALWAYS suggest that you refer to the companies blogs and websites to view their galleries for additional inspiration.
We look for product and build our own kits. Similiar to our club kits, we do the work for you and coordinate pattern paper, cardstock and embellishements. We show you the suggested retail value then our price saving you over 50%!
Bottom line... we save you money! Nothing better then that, right?
I hope that answers a few questions you might be having about these kits. I know you have lost sleep over it. Ha! Ha!
Check our site often.. these kits SELL QUICKLY! Once a kit is out of stock, we do not restock.
Take a peak at our current kits HERE
{kim}
02/23/2012
a few more ideas...
using this months scrapbooking kit! i loved all these papers! i made a mini book, {using heidi swapp's file folder idea} 4 cards, one 12x12 layout, and then i loved amanda's pages that she did with this same kit, i had to scraplift those too! i made another page to go with one of them, for a double spread. and...i still have good sized scraps, stickers and rubons left over for more! i did sew on every single project...i love the little detail it adds!
Cards:
Scrapbook pages:
There are still a few FEBRUARY 2012 Moments kit in stock. Take a peak at this amazing kit.
You will LOVE it!
{alicia}
