It's here!

Yippee, Skippy! Yeah, I really just said that. Shoot. But it's here and I'm excited! All the glorious RECYCLED kraft paper for my new line of cards. Simple Spiel is going all out in the charity department. Look for more details soon!

Blessed.

I have amazing friends, seriously legit friends who I am blessed by left and right. It's cool how sometimes friendships just click. My time in Mac has not been long yet I have found friends who I feel like I've known forever. It was great to spend my birthday this year with Trac, Caitlin and Nicole. Nicole and I share the same birthday and I was so excited to celebrate with her! Trac and Caitlin planned an amazing day for us complete with hours of shopping and a wonderful happy hour at Portland City Grill with great food, yummy drinks and a rad view of the city! Thank you ladies for a wonderful "golden birthday"!


*A big woot-woot to Trac who is officially our photographer...she rocks the house!

If you have kids, like kids, or once was a kid!

Here's a last minute way to help some kiddos. Kids Lake is on it's last day of fund raising for AHope!

Here's what my friend Brandi (Kids Lake director) says about their organization:
Kids LAKE is a campaign to help kids all "pitch in" to make a difference in our world! The challenge for kids is to raise, earn or save money every month to be able to send to kids around the world so they may know God's Love. Every month, we'll feature a different organization that we'll be raising money for. This way, kids can not only make a difference through their donations, but also through their prayers! Every month we'll give you lots of details and stories of the country, kids and organization we are raising money for so you can use it as an educational tool!

So this month they are working with AHope to help kiddos in Africa who have or have been affected by HIV and AIDS, how cool is that? Their goal is $1300 and so far they have raised $947...awesome...and oh so close! Please think and pray (quick) about being a part!

As an added bonus they had great shirts (in all sizes) and sweet bracelets made up for all who donate, to thank you, raise awareness and help us remember to pray. Check, check 'em out here.

Head over to the Kids Lake blog to read more about their mission and how you can get involved!

28 and one day.

The big day has come and gone. I had an amazing weekend of events. Stay tuned for more on all the celebration.

But first, a huge thank you to all who gave clean water for my birthday. You all are amazing! I got an e-mail today from the founder of Charity:Water. Through the Born in September campaign they were able to build 215 wells in Ethiopia which will provide clean water to 86,000 peeps...unbelievable!



Special thank you to Cece & UB, Cheryl and Sis (and bro-in-law, Bre, Tay, Ness, Kenna, Vanna, Trev & little man) who gave on my day o' birth. You all bless me so much. Thanks for the love!

I've got a problem.

A problem with my laughter. See, I love to laugh. My day is not complete without it. I love to laugh with people. I love collecting laughter in my mind. That sounds strange but I think it is just wonderful the way that no ones laugh sounds quite identical to anyone else. It is my favorite to recognize a friend by the sound of their laughter. All of this is not a problem. Laughing with peeps is a grand thing. It's the laughing at people that is not so grand, and I admit I do it all the time.

I laugh at other's misfortune. Not serious misfortune, I have a heart, geez. But sometimes it is hard for me to keep it in when it comes to little things and random strangers. Some times I wish that you all knew just how often I laugh out loud to myself throughout the day, it may be completely abnormal. I have a perfect example from my lunch break today.

I went to the bank to deposit a check. I pull out of the drive and up to a stop light where I will be turning left onto the highway. Across the highway is a McDonald's (the devil's place). Facing me, across the highway, also stopped at the light is a SUV with an older man driving, let's say late 60's.

The light changes, gramps is going straight. I pull into the intersection, positioning myself to take my left yielding turn. Here's the thing, gramps is on a bit of a hill, he's also a slow starter and there is a fairly big dip onto the highway (they really should fix that).

That's when I saw it.

The ice cream cone.

Gramps and his passenger are both highly involved in their McDonald's cones. He didn't see the bump, he had no idea.

He leaned in for a bite. Then the bump.

And ice cream.

Up gramp's nose as he drove through the intersection.

I.KID.YOU.NOT.

It totally made my day. I busted up. The poor guy. As I headed down the highway I saw a kid biff it on his skateboard. Laugh number two. I know, I'm bad. Told you I have problems...

For Friday.

I love this song. Reminds me of living in Cali and my ever talented cousin Jenna who created an old school slide show (you know like the clicky kind with the millions of little slides all in a perfect ring) set to this song. Rad. Just thought you might enjoy. Happy Weekend!

Mama Glaze & Don too! Thanks for giving for my birthday. You two are super rad cats! Can't wait to hopefully see you in November!!

Love.

Schenck...nearly 28 years down.

Today at work I had a great case of the "Schenck Spell". For the past 27 (nearly 28) years I've had this last name and let me tell you it has provided it's share of stories. I've gotten into a routine. When asked my last name I've noticed that I don't even say the darned thing. This is the drill...

Random person: And the last name?

Me: Let me spell it for you, it's S-C-H-E-N-C-K.

Sometimes, just sometimes, they ask how it's pronounced and then I go into the obligatory line of comparing it to something that sounds the same.

Random person: Ok, and how do you pronounce that? It looks German (extra points for them for knowing the country of origin)

Me: Schenck, like a shank of lamb.

Let me just say here that I happen to have no real concrete idea of what a "shank of lamb" is. I'm assuming that it is a body part, and that it may be edible, I may have seen it on a menu a time or two. The fact is that I've heard my mom say this line for years and so it just comes out without even a second thought. It was Madre's automatic response and she has passed it down. Poor lady, she married into the "Schenck Spell". She willingly took on the curse of never having a well known, easily spellable name. She denied herself of a life of luxury as a Jones, Smith, Brown, Green or Miller. I'm sure this is where she would argue that my dad is well worth the small sacrifice. But really, did she think about me in this? Oh, my sweet Madre.

I've noticed lately that I don't even write my full name. This is where today at work comes in. A new UPS guy comes in with a package. I know the old guy, I like the old guy. We have the same friendly banter every day, you know, about the weather mostly. So new guy comes strutting in complete with an extra short pair of brown shorts and let me just tell you he was working the outfit. He even was exposing a little chest hair with the first few buttons of his uniform shirt unbuttoned. Pure nast. Upon seeing him I do a mental eye roll. Yes, I was raised properly, we do not roll our eyes. But I've got my own little secret. I do it mentally all day. It's the equivalent of a "psh" out loud when something is ridiculous. Maybe even ridiculously awesome.

So, he walks up to my desk and announces that he has a package. Obviously. (More internal eye rolling). He hands me the handy-dandy electronic do-dat to sign for my package. I sign my name...ok, my signature which consists of only M and then three letters that may or may not resemble a S, C and fancy K. So, I've gotten lazy, I realize that. It's just so many letters and no one can pronounce it anyway...what's the point. And then I wait for the question, cause he has to ask, I know he can't read my signature.

Over-the-top UPS man: And what's the last name?

Me: It's Schenck, like a shank of lamb.

Over-the-top UPS man: Oh, like I'm gonna shank ya? (Said with a wink)
Yes, with a wink. I didn't even know how to respond to this. I had no words. This doesn't happen to me often, the no words thing. I've watched entirely too much Law and Order and CSI.

Sure, I've heard this before. I know (although I've never been to prison) what a shank is. But I don't like to think of myself as a "crude homemade weapon" like something you would see on Shawshank Redemption. Isn't that a coincidence. There was just something about his creeping, chest hair and over sized crisp white tube socks proudly worn above his boots that made the comment even more creepy.

What exactly does he know about shanks?
Does he have one right now?
What happened to the old UPS guy?
Is he dead in the back of the truck?
Is this package filled with anthrax?

I start thinking that if I die, if he really does "Shank" me, only my brother will be left to carry on the family name. Sure, someday I may get married and take my husband's name but there is always the option to hyphenate and keep the Schencks alive. I am suddenly fond of Schenck. I think of all the conversations it has started. The awkward times when I have met someone and they ask if I am related to so and so (only to find out that so and so spells Schenck like it sounds). Those were good times, times that a Jones or Smith or Brown or Green or even a Miller may never have. Suddenly I find myself spelling my name in a "sing-songy" little voice, 1. because I can and 2. because it does rhyme well.

M-E-L-I-S-S-A....S-C-H-E-N-C-K

What I've failed to noticed during all my internal monologue and self reflection is that the UPS guy is still sanding there. And he heard my little song. He give me that look, you know the one your dog gives you. Head cocked a bit to the side, mouth open, eyes a bit squinty like "What the?????". He keeps the look on his face and does a slow pivot turn and is out the door. Lucky for me I'm pretty sure his conscience got the best of him...you can't shank a crazy girl.

Miss Sarah,
I stole your boyfriend in high school and you still love me...man you are just the best! :) Thank you for the birthday gift!

Love, love, love you!

The end of summer as I know it.

Just a bit of an update on where the summer has gone. I spent the weekend in Seattle with Caitlin and Erin at Coffee Fest 2008. I was on cloud niner. You can only imagine the amazing aroma and massive population of bearded baristas (my fav)!



The summer has flown by, consumed with work.
play.
paint.
design.
dream.
write.
work.

One of my favorite times was the "Girls Weekend '08". Madre, Mandy, Bre, Ness, Kenna, and Vanna came to spend time with me here in Mac. It was a great time filled with walks, ice cream, shopping and more shopping, food, painting pottery, drinking coffee and just being sarcastic in general (as is our style).

Speaking of clean water...

My GTG (Go-To-Girl, don't ask) Tracy is on the clean water train too! It has been wonderful to get to know Tracy (and Tyson & Kai!). Not only is she my neighbor and co-worker but also a great friend. We are at completely different spots but it is awesome how we seem to be going through some of the same things. I have no doubt that the Lord has this time planned for us and I know he must love watching our friendship grow. Tracy is like-minded when it comes to the causes I've been learning about. She listens to me go on and on...what a friend! Her mom-in-law is working towards providing clean water to those in need. Jump over to Trac's blog to check out how you can get involved.

Give like it's goin' out of style!
Cheers!

Miss Kelli! Thank you for the gift...you are such an inspiration to me!

Love.

BIG B!

Thank you, thank you for the birthday gift! You really are one of my favs!

Love you!

My sweet Glaze,

Love you! Thank you for the birthday gift...you rock the casbah. Clean water, woot-woot!

Yea!

Dad, Mom, Lanet and Marc...

Thank you so much for the birthday gifts! You all are such blessings to me, but more importantly to those who will now have clean water because of your generosity!

Love.

Happy Birthday....To Me!

The September Campaign Trailer - www.borninseptember.org from charity: water on Vimeo.

This morning my alarm went off at 7 a.m. Warm and cozy in my bed I had no desire to get up, get ready and go to work. I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, took a shower, and brewed my morning coffee. Noticed that the laundry didn’t get done this weekend, started a load. Filled my mug, grabbed a water bottle and headed out the door.

How blessed am I that I get to do any of this. I hate the morning, yet my routine is rich compared to so many. More than a billion people in our world don’t have clean water, water that makes my world work right, water that I don’t even think about in my hurried day.

This year I am turning 28. This has been a year of changes for me. I’ve been so overwhelmed with what I can do to make a change with how I give to others. Please help me, and instead of giving me a birthday gift, give the gift of clean water to those who desperately need it in Ethiopia. And if you don’t usually give me a gift…good, keep it up, give it away!

Check out my site here.

To Write...

Look what I found today!


I may be the last on the "Wreck This Journal" train but I love it! Kari Smith...I must say, amazing. As if I don't have enough journals going right now. Random writer girl currently has four different journals. Yeah, you read that right. Just turns out that as random as I am like to organize my writing a little bit. Anyway, if you get a chance check out Kari's super creative book and blog. There's nothing like a little inspiration.

Cheers!

I interrupt this epic day of multiple postings (due to the fact that I am no longer on the couch) to bring you this bit of informational goodness...

After a brief moment of Googling, here is what one random website had to say about the history of the expression "Sicker than a dog":

There are several expressions of the form sick as a ..., that date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Sick as a dog is actually the oldest of them, recorded from 1705; it is probably no more than an attempt to give force to a strongly worded statement of physical unhappiness. It was attached to a dog, I would guess, because dogs often seem to have been linked to things considered unpleasant or undesirable; down the years they have had an incredibly bad press, linguistically speaking (think of dog tired, dog in the manger, dog’s breakfast, go to the dogs, dog Latin — big dictionaries have long entries about all the ways that dog has been used in a negative sense).

So, who knows. I think it needs to be changed. But the jury is still out on what exactly is something that we are able to legitimately be sicker than or at least as sick as.

If this bitty post makes no sense to you get caught up already...I've been writing all day! :)

Cheers!

Daisy K Design! Woot-woot!

My sweet friend Kelli is one of the most creative people I know. Kelli and I met on my very first day at NNU & hit it off instantly. She is that friend that I can not see for the longest time but when we get together it seems that no time has passed. I'll never forget when she came home and told us that she had met Josh and the times that I got to spend with the two of them while they were dating. Kelli also had great faith in me and asked me to be a candle lighter in their wedding. Bad idea. I wouldn't say I ruined the day but I sure ruined the candle lighting portion. That's another story for another day.

Kelli has never been one to sit around. We are like minded in needing to stay busy and always having a million projects going. I wish we lived closer so we could work on a few together! So, although she has her hands full with two boys (and Josh!) she somehow finds the time to create these amazing bottle cap goodies!




Her stuff is great, magnets, clocks, jewelry, etc. I love it all and I know you will too!

Check, check out Daisy K!

She's on ETSY too! Click here.

Love you Kel!

It was touch & go.

I've been sick. Real sick. I told a friend yesterday that I was sicker than a dog. As soon as I said it I wanted to take it back. What the heck? Sicker than a dog, really? What does that mean exactly? And where did it come from. I think I need to go ahead a refrain from using old school expressions that I have no idea where they came from or what they really mean. So, one more thing to Google. I'll get back to you on that one.

While I laid on the couch for three days (in and out of consciousness), not even wanting to read (which is really weird for me)I watched a whole lot of TV. I'm cheap and refuse to get cable so the couple free, fuzzy channels I do get don't exactly provide hours of amazing entertainment. But I did find myself transported back to the good old days with a couple of shows.





Yep, that's right...Bob Ross and his "happy little clouds" and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper. "COOPER, COOPER!"

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Of course most of my TV watching was commercials. I've discovered that a majority of day time commercials are for colleges and trade schools. Did you know that you can graduate in less than a year and have an great career in the medical field, computers or business? It truly is amazing. I'm wondering how many people watching the Tyra show at 1p.m. on a week day actually see that commercial and think "whoa, me, a massage therapist in just 9 months?! That's it, today is the day, I'm putting down my plate of Totino's Pizza Rolls (another great commercial) getting off my butt and going back to school!"

So, my life the last three days has been consumed with commercials and I thought I would bring a couple to my blog today. I think these are a bit more worthy of your viewing time. I have a couple friends involved in some rad stuff so I'm going to be sending info your way. Brought to you by the letter M and the color green. Don't change the channel...we'll be right back.

Happy Friday!