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Well, the biggest trade show of the year is upon us. I don’t think I’ve ever been as calm before a show as I am now. There’s a few odds and ends I need to do, but there are no all-nighters in my near future.

At the show, we’re launching a new line of products called Route 99 – great product all designed to retail for just a dollar! We designed a new icon, Scooter Girl, to represent the feel of the collection. She’s hip, stylish and fun; and she races through her busy day on the most affordable wheels out there. We’re even giving a scooter away at the show. Can’t wait!

There’s been an energy around the office lately that has been indescribable…good energy…great energy. I’m not sure what it is – maybe we just feel ahead of the game for once. We all feel like this will be the most exciting CHA yet! So here’s a sneak peek at two of our new items – Clear Accents and Flat Paper Clips. There’s more to come in the next few days…

Did you know that dark chocolate is good for you? Well, my husband tells me it’s good for his blood pressure. Since I want to support him in his desire for good health, we often share a handful of Dove chocolates after dinner. I usually ignore the little messages inside the wrappers, but tonight I read them. Here’s what they said:

• Smile at yourself in the mirror (no thanks)
• There’s no excuse not to dream (agreed)
• Get your feet massaged (yeah, right)
• When two hearts race, both win (another agreed)
• Naughty can be nice (I’m scared)
• Hey, why not? (Why not what? Could prison be involved? That’s why not!)

What a weekend! I was in motorcycle training course all day Saturday and until 3 pm on Sunday. I’m absolutely exhausted from it. But it was fun and I passed both the tests so I can get my M class license.

Saturday night Ben and I were supposed to go to a comedy club in Ft. Worth but Ben didn’t feel well so we lamed out. I’m so glad b/c I don’t know that I could have done it. Since we already had the babysitter lined up, we decided to go out nearby. I never thought that Barnes & Nobles, Pei Wei and a trip to Walmart could equal a good date night but it was perfect! I picked up some real winners at the bookstore. [Kate – too bad you’re not coming to work tomorrow ’cause you are going to flip. Guess Emily will get to enjoy my finds:)] I came across a really cool book that I found very inspiring – Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women. Loved it! Makes me want to move my girls into a room together so I can have a work space at home. Selfish mother I am. Maybe in a year or so.

Tonight Ben and I had another date night but this time we took Nolen with us. It was Ben’s birthday on Friday and since I totally forgot his birthday last year, he deserved two nights of my undivided attention. We went to see Glory Road. What a cool movie! It was really important for me to have Nolen see it. I don’t want to hide from the injustices of the past even though it’s hard to stomach – especially since the movie takes place in Tx in ’65 – the same year my mother was a college Freshman. Nolen loved the movie. He was so funny. About half way through the movie he moved over one seat from me. I see that desire for independence coming out in him. Ben and I laughed that before long we’d be bringing him with a girl and they’d sit apart from us, just like his parents did when Ben and I were dating. But we’ll be sure to sit behind them – no funny business.

More about the movie. Great MLK Day movie. LOVE Josh Lucas. What a cute man!

Almost as cute as my husband.

About 2 1/2 years ago, Ben and I had the brilliant idea to paint our hall a nearly black, green. On top of that, we decided to paint the hall doors so that they looked like red stained wood. I called it “Hooker Hall” because it kind of had a red light district feel. (Just the kind of feelings you want to evoke as you enter each of your kids’ rooms) I knew it was awful when I did it – I blamed hormones from being pregnant, don’t know what Ben excuse was – but I haven’t been motivated to change it until now. Thank goodness for sweet friends! Laura came over tonight and helped me knock a bunch of it out. She likes to paint…bless her! The color I chose for the hall is a little extreme for my house, especially on the wall…Hooker Hall is now so white and bright that you have to squint to look at it and you hear a little “ahhhhhh” like you’re before the pearly gates…yes, it’s true…I used white on a wall! Tracy, you can stop laughing now.

Let’s put this little decorating mishap behind us and move on. Goodbye Hooker Hall. Can’t say I’ll miss you.

I’m so dang behind in my scrapbooking it’s ridiculous but I’m working diligently to catch up. I’m working on all of Nolen’s birthday parties…one year at a time. This was one of my favorite birthdays. It was his Kindergarten party. We had a “Mad Scientist” come to the Magic Scraps office and put on a fantastic show for the kids. The colors for the party were lime and silver.

I loved using the Birthday Clear Details on this layout. I can’t believe they’re discontinued. I love them so much. (Get them while you can!) I also loved using our Virtual Metal letter stickers. These are awesome – so intricately cut. I especially love the star shape and the asterisk. I also got to use some of our newest product from our Route 99 line – our cool dollar line that I’m really excited about. The green boomerang and the blue bubbles are from the new Clear Accents. These little sheets have 10 colored transparency shapes that pot out and include 6 fasteners. You can layer the pieces like on the bubbles or just use them by themselves like the boomerang. Best part? NINETY-NINE CENTS! Yahoo! It’s such an incredible value! Here are all of the designs that will be available – Stars, Gears, Retro, Trinkets, Flowers, Circles.