All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten

My entry in Jodie's Circle Journal.






Thanks for looking,
Crystle

Magistical Memories Design Team

Sarah Heroman




My name is Sarah, and I'm a scrapaholic. My addiction to
scrap booking began seven years ago when I was pregnant
with my first child. I love scrapping. I do it at every
opportunity. I have found that this creative process has
enriched my life, my sense of the moment, my awareness of
simple wonders. I have no desire to kick the habit! :) I am
married to Bill, am the mother of two children - Bo and
Emma, and I work part-time as a home health nurse. I am
so grateful for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful
team!


Cheryl Mezzetti




Hello my name is Cheryl i'm the mother of four boys and I
call Weymouth, Massachusetts home.I thoroughly enjoy
spending time with my her family and creating altered art
projects. I have designs published in PaperART/
CorrespondenceART, Today's Creative Home Art, Paper
Trends, Scrapbook Trends, Memory Makers and Paper
Creations magazines. My work has also appeared in
Creative Imaginations 25 Days of Christmas and Glamour
Shots, Basic Grey Designer Gallery,and Bare Books Online
Gallery. I am a contributing editor for PaperART
magazine, and design team member for Creative
Imaginations, Marah Johnson and PaperHouse Productions
as well as one of the guest teachers this September for
Simply Southern Scrapbook Convention in Nashville TN. I am excited to be working with Magistical Memories


Kim Moreno




My name is Kim Moreno and I am a stay at home mom to
five wonderful children, including a set of boy/girl twins. I
have been married for 12 years to my Air Force husband and
we are currently stationed in Tucson, Arizona. I have been
scrapbooking for around 7 years now. I love that this hobby
allows me to be creative and express myself and capture
memories for my children to enjoy as they grow. I have been
published in Creating Keepsakes, Paperkuts, Scrapbook
Trends, and upcoming in Cards, Cantata, and Memory Makers
Books. I am SO excited to get started and to be apart of this
awesome team!!! .


Janelle Richmond




My name is Janelle and I live in Georgia with my wonderful
husband, Christopher. We have 3 fabulous kids-Meghan-6,
Matthew-2 and Brenden-1 . I have been scrapping about 6
years now, and I have finally found my groove! I love to ink
anything and everything! and have a huge fondess for white
space. I like to call my style layered, but simple.
I thoroughly enjoy scrapbooking, being the family historian,
and preserving all our memories for many generations to
come. I have had the honor to have been published in
Memory Makers, Scrapbook Trends, Paper Art and
Scrapbooking Keepsakes. I love trying new things, products,
and techniques. I hope to inspire my fellow scrappers! I am
thrilled to be a part of Magistical Memories.


Jill Geraghty - Groves




My name is Jill Geraghty-Groves and I am a SAHM of 3 boys
Zane (12), Levi and Jonah (both almost 4). My twin boys
have just started kindy in March so I am a free woman (for 5
hours) for three whole days a week! One of these I have
devoted to keeping the house sparkling and the homefires
burning...the other two, I have now devoted to scrapping!
My scrapbooking has taken up pride of place in our formal
loungeroom and so is contantly getting worked on. I scrap
every day.


I have only been scrapbooking for 7 months but am
completely addicted. I have had 8 layouts accepted for
publication in Scrapbook Creations and Scrapbooking
Memories - the first is due out next month (very exciting for
me!).


I absolutely love the freedom that scrapbooking provides me
a way to express my experience of life and how I see those
who are in my life. Before scrapbooking I have always
dabbled in something "arty farty" be it painting, drawing,
sewing, etc., etc. I have always loved photography and now
I have something to do with all those photos!


My very favorite scrapping obsessions at the moment is
chipboard, ribbons and sewing, both machine and hand
stitching.


I guess being self taught, adds new dimension to the many
products already available. I try not to restrict myself to the
way products should be used. I tend to like to shape things
how I want them, not limit their use to exactly what they
look like when I buy them.


I am sooooo exciting to be working with such a wonderful DT
and can't wait to get my hands on some of these amazing US
products! I hope I can bring a little piece of Australia to the
DT!


Susan Rodriguez




Hi, I�m Susan.

I live in the San Fernando Valley; I am one of the original
valley girls � like for sure! :-) I am a programmer by day
and scrapbooker by night. I have two boys, three if you count
my boyfriend of 9 years. I started scrapbooking in 1996. My
son�s 1st grade teacher invited me to a CM party. I was
hooked from that point on.

I love life.
I love being me.
I love my nickname (bucket :-) )
I love reeses peanut butter cups.
I love raspberry ice tea.

I am so thrilled Crystle asked me to be on her design team. I
can�t wait to share my life with you.


Crystle Torvinen




My name is Crystle and I am co-owner of Magistical Memories. I was born and raised in Connecticut and moved to California in 1999. I really miss the leaves changing in the fall, but I just love it here. (Mostly because I don�t have to shovel snow.) I am a devoted wife to Michael, we�ve been married for 14 wonderful years. We have two children, Justin and Adam. I have been truly blessed with a happy, healthy & loving family. I love driving my convertible to the beach, as a family we enjoy hiking, although we don�t do it as often as we would like. My true passion and my creative outlet is scrapbooking. I like that I am leaving a legacy behind for my family.



Stephanie Guerrero
July Featured Guest Designer





Hi! My name is Stephanie Guerrero and I live in Atwater,
California. I am a 34 year old mom of three. My oldest son
Jake is 6 1/2 and my twins Zack & Nikki will be 5 in August.
I have been married to my husband James for 8 years. I
have been scrapping for about 6 years and up until a few
months ago I was more of a "collector" than a scrapper. I
am just finishing up my new scrap studio and I can't wait to
start creating in it. I only started submitting in January and I
am in the current issue of Paper Trends and will be in the
September issue of Cards. Being asked to be Magistical
Memories Featured Designer for July is so exciting and I am
so honored to have been chosen. I can't wait to start
creating!


Sara Dickey
August Featured Guest Designer




I'm Sara Dickey, a Southern girl, born and raised
in Virginia, who uses the word y'all a lot, even
though I was an elementary school teacher for 9 years
and know better. I'm currently the Household Manager
for my husband of almost 8 years, my 4 yr old son and
my 18 month old daughter. I started scrapbooking about
3 years ago to record my son's first year, but really
became hooked after attending a CK convention this
past August. It opened my eyes to a whole new world of
scrapbooking. I like to call my scrapbook style "clean
lined, with junk". I love embellishments,(especially
cute chipboard shapes) but need the grounding of clean
lines. I mainly scrapbook my family & friend's
everyday moments and funny stories. I think the small
everyday routines are what make us who we are, and are
so important to document. I scrap all sizes, depending
on my photos and the embellishments I am using. I have
been fortunate to have my work published in Simple
Scrapbooks, Scrapbook Trends, Paper Trends, &
Correspondence Art. I'm addicted to coffee, popcorn
and sweet tea- my scrapbook fuel. I'm so excited to be
the Featured Designer for August!


Shannon Bastian
September Featured Guest Designer




Hi! My name is Shannon. I have been married to my best
friend, Keith, for almost 9 years now. I am also a sahm to
our 7 year old son, Jarrett. I started scrapbooking shortly
after he was born and was instantly hooked. I have been
lucky enough to be published several times. Other than
scrapbooking I enjoy reading, shopping for purses,
photography, and shopping for purses. Oh and did I mention
I like shopping for purses? I'm almost as addicted to purses
as I am scrapbooking! And I am so excited to be the
Featured Designer for September!

Wow the amazing work that came in for the DT call!!

Looking thru all the Design Team entries was awesome, having to choose was hard!! We can't wait to share with you who we have chosen. Check back on June 20th to see the FIVE new faces of the Magistical Memories Design Team.

Found this Photo Slide Program

And I am checking it out here!!

A Circle Journal of ideas........

Check out my Circle journal that I am doing with my yahoo group. Our books shipped today, here is mine!!! My theme is all about Magistical Memories, I added a package of product to each persons page. They will be creating a page about children using Magitical Memories Products. I can't wait to get my journal back. See the paisley on the rules page, sneak peak of new products to come.... Check the site often to see what we have come up with. I think you will like our new creations coming in a few weeks.

Don't forget about our Design Team call, we would love to see your creations. Magistical Memories Design Team Call

We are looking for a creative team, that can help us showcase our chipboard products.

Deadline for submission of entries is at midnight June 15, 2006

Submit:

*Two recent layouts (single or double)
*LINKS to any online galleries or blog galleries

Email your entries (jpeg files only up to max of 100K for each file) to info@magisticalmemories.com with your full name, mailing address, email address and if applicable blog address and details of any other manufacturer or store DT’s you may be on.

Your work may include Magistical Memories Product but this is not a requirement for submission. Work submitted must be recent and can be previously published or displayed on blogs or online galleries.

DT members will be expected to: Create a minimum of 2 layouts/projects per month to be featured in the Magistical Memories DT gallery. Each Month you will receive Magistical Memories products as well as paper and embellishments. Promote Magistical Memories by posting the above layouts and projects on other online galleries and blogs and by submitting work for publication.

Successful applicants will be selected by the current DT, scrapbooking friends and myself and announced by June 20, 2006.

Mothers Day!!

What a wonderful day!! I have to admit at first I was bummed the boys spent the night at their friend Valen's house, this is nothing new, but on Mother's Day Eve. I have always awakened to my boys on Mother's Day, so to say the least I was a little sad, but I got over that fast. So I wake up at about 9:45 to a quiet house. I get up and make my way out to the living room and Michael is sitting at my scrap desk, well I try to sneak back and not disturb him, but no luck, so I just ignore that he is there and I go to the computer and check my email. I just ignore that he is behind me, we don't talk or anything. About an hour later he comes over to me and says this is for you, it took me 2 hours to do, I could never be a scrapbooker. I love it!!! He made something for me from his heart and with the things that bring me the most joy, beside him and the kids. How special is that.

Then while I was in the shower Michael went to get the boys, The boys came in with these beautiful flowers that this lady let them pick from her garden. We thn went to Ralph's and got sandwiches for a picnic and we headed to Descanso Garden's, it is so beautiful there. I really enjoy being in nature it just refreshes my soul. I have not been feeling well for about a month now, so we just took it easy. Walked a little bit and sat and just enjoyed the area. It was so beautiful and sunny out, a perfect day to spend in the shade, which is where we spent most of our time.


Some of the things we saw on our little trip around the grounds!

Flowers that I took photos of:



The Lilac's oh they are my all time favorite flower, they tease us with spring with the heavenly sent. I miss my Lilacs back in Connecticut, so much that seeing these was such a treat. They were almost all gone, but we just to experience a few that were still in the shade and in bloom.




Justin's Photo's, he did such a great job and he didn't want to give me back my camera, but I got it back!!!


Mothers Day to me is a day to reflect on the joys I get form being a Mother. I feel deep feelings for my children, more than I had ever imagined!



Mothers Day also bring me joy because I am a wife, a wife that loves and admires a man who truly loves me!!



A gift from my Mother-in-law



Who could ask for a better day!!! I love you guys very much Thank you!!

38 Pages in 4 days YES you heard me right!!!

I went away for the weekend to Oxnard we left Thursday am and cam home on Sunday afernoon. What a great time great friends awesome food and lots of scrap time...here are 36 of my 38 pages. the other 2 haven't made there way into the computer yet!!!

Flash Slideshow

ME at The Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills

ME at The Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills

My Recent Layouts

Loving the grocery game!!!

I haven’t used this in a long time; I have been paying the $15.00 every three months and have just kind of forgot how great it felt to save money. I went to Vons first yesterday and my total bill was $177.54 and I PAID $ 82.71 WOW!!!! Then I went over to Ralph's and you are not going to believe this, my bill came to $470.14 and I PAID $ 201.02 I saved $363.95 between both stores. Now normally you wouldn't be spending this amount of money, but I was out of everything. The way the list works is the sales cycle every 12 weeks so if you only get the items that are on the list you will have a full stock after the first 12 weeks...you can read all about it here.
www.thegrocerygame.com the best thing is you can try it out for a month...check it out!!!

My first 10K

3/4/06 SATURDAY The Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills at Agoura High School Stadium. I was really nervous about this run, I'm not sure why as we have been doing more mileage during training. We got up at 5:15am and we were out of the house before 6am. It was very cold outside. When we got there we got in line and got my packet, my goodie bag and my t-shirt. Then to my surprise I saw April with Bucket. OMG I felt so much better when I saw them. We put our chips onto our shoes; the chips are used to time your race. Michael helped me put my number on my jersey. We then hung out at the Team in Training booth for a while. April signed up for Team in Training, I'm so proud of her. We hung out and had some fruit and took some pictures. Bucket has been trying to go by her real name Susan when we are TNT but April kind a let the name slip out of the bucket so to say!!! Tim started introducing her to everyone as Bucket...April was sorry, but I guess Bucket is just going to stick.... We headed up to the start line and I had butterflies in my stomach. We stretched out and had a little team rally. We listened to the Star Spangled banner that gave me goose bumps. I hear runners set and I can't remember if a gun went off or if a horn sounded, the next thing I know is we are running.... OMG I am running.... yup I'm crazy.... we started down hill so that was a little nice. As we are running it is silent except for sound of sneakers hitting the pavement it was such an amazing sound. It was so awesome to see people outside of their houses cheering us on, cars were beeping their horns at us you would have thought a wedding was taking place on the corner, Starbucks employees were outside supporting us. The first mile wasn't that bad, I did have to pull back and find my pace witch meant being out there by myself which is ok because I can't talk while I run. I tried to do the 3R2W but I didn't have a timer. I was feeling really good at the 2-mile mark. There was a photographer at the 2-mile mark, can't wait t see that photo! From the 2 to 3 mile mark we went up behind the stadium and I called Michael at 9:07 to tell him I was back there so he could get photos but he didn't answer his phone. I left him a message, which was great because I got to listen to myself out of breath running up a hill. After the 3 mile I called Michael "I'm half way" he says what "I'm half way love you bye" mark it was so beautiful out there it was wonderful being in the country. Running along side a brook, the water clear as day. Reminded me of my grandparent’s creek back home in Connecticut. The houses out here are so beautiful. Running across the one lane bridge and the support staff reminding me to smile, do they know I just ran 3 miles and I am closing in on mile 4? Ok so I smiled, for a second, back to concentrating and running. There is the most beautiful tree, it was so huge and I just wanted to sit there and enjoy the nature around me but as we all know that is not why I was out here. The horses and the farms, the sounds of a peaceful environment oh man I sure miss the country! My heart longs for being in the country more often. Approaching mile 4 and my legs are like Jell-O, time to walk so a very brisk walk I forge on. Hills who thought of hills now!!! Well the hill wasn't that bad, but try going down hill with J E L L O Legs!!! Not fun, so I think well if I run I can get down faster, not really you use a lot of energy trying to not go to fast. At the bottom back to running, nope back to walking I am cooked. Coming around a bend I think I will go to the inside shorter right yes, but my feet were at a bad incline and I really hurt my arch on my right foot, so I decided to go back to the other side of the street. Round another bend and there is a support member last mile, oh I can hear the music in the stadium. I call Michael, I can here music oh and I can see the stadium. I want to run again, but the trail is dirt and muddy, never ran on this before, maybe today’s not a good day to start, so I err on caution and walk really fast, yes using my arms. Michael spots me on the hill and he takes a photo of me. I see them they wave I wave, I wave again. I am so happy to see them and so glad this is almost over. As I get to the bottom of the hill I hear my wedding song on the speakers and I get goose bumps everywhere. The ones who love me are waiting and they are proud of me. Thanks Adam for requesting the DJ to play my wedding song. I round the corner and I see Michael, he is taking pictures of me. I see the boys they are waving to me. Adam runs beside me on the track and I tell him come on run with me so Adam runs the track lap with me we see Bucket and April and they cheer me on. Adam steps off the track just before the time mats. I DID IT!!!!! I ran my first 10K!!!!!! I go the fence were Michael is standing and this is surreal. I'm thirsty, tired, and sweaty. Every time I try to stand still I almost fall over my body doesn't want to stop, it takes a while be for I can just stay in one spot. Michael tells me he is so proud of me. I'm proud of me!!!!







MY STATS 3/4/2006 Agoura CA

The Great Race of Agoura - Old Agoura 10K

Bib: 3570

Name: Crystle Torvinen

Gender: F

Age: 34

Hometown: Burbank CA

Place Overall: 623 out of 650

Women: 344 out of 365

F 30-34: 58 out of 59

AgeGrade: 30.92% Place: 630

FINISH: 1:36:13 pace: 15:29

Chip Time: 1:36:13

Gun Time: 1:36:33

Please check out my Team In Training Page

I am so proud of myself, I have pushed my body to limits this past week that I would have never thought possible, it is only Thursday and I moved my body 11 miles.....11 miles....not all of them have been running but I got this body moving!!! I have a huge smile on my face and I feel fantastic....

Please join me in making a difference

Running to Save Lives...one Mile at a time!!!



Below is what is on my Team in Training website, if you click the link above you will go right to my site.....


Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's face it: I've gone nuts, that’s the slogan some are using but I think I have actually gone CRAZY!!!.

Yes I must be out of my mind to run 26.2 miles, but it’s for a good cause and I am always up to help a good cause. I started training on February 11, 2006 and I am looking forward to the hard work it is going to take to cross the finish line. I joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training program. Team in Training is a fundraising and a marathon-training program that will prepare me, along with my teammates, for the challenges of running a marathon while fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

I've decided to take on this challenge for numerous reasons. Simply stated, I want to make a difference. Then of course there is the physical challenge of running 26.2 miles, and most importantly I am doing this in honor of a very special person: Monica Trent, my Team in Training honored teammate. Monica is 12 years old and in remission from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Monica was diagnosed with ALL one month after her eighth birthday, she finished a two-year course of chemotherapy in April of 2004. She is currently in remission and doing well. With the help of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, new treatments are being researched and developed to help others just like Monica My training will be tough, but nowhere near as tough as the doctors' visits, the months of chemotherapy, and the endless poking, prodding's and needle sticking that Monica has gone through. It will be nothing compared to the treatments that thousands of leukemia patients go through every day. I'm in for a long race, but theirs is longer. Every bit helps bring us closer to the finish line, and we'll get there with your help.

I invite you to support me as I fundraise for the Team in Training program and train for the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego on June 4th. I have made a personal commitment to raise $2,100. Your tax-deductible donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will further this great cause. I am asking for your support in making a difference. A full 75% of all donations go directly to the cause, so I'm asking you to be as generous as possible. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society prides itself in having an expense ratio of no more than 25%, and was rated by Money magazine as one of the top ten charities for having the highest percentage of funds raised directly benefiting research and patient services.

Please contribute to the “She's Gone NUTS” ”CRAZY” campaign in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I thank you for your support and look forward to sharing with you my experience with such an amazing organization

With many Thanks,

Crystle

How's that for a Valentine's Day Kiss!!!

My friend Toni sent it to me and I love it, here's laying a big fat wet one on you!!!!


What you want another one!!!!

OH how I do LOVE LA!!!!!

I can not believe how much snow they got on the east coast over the weekend...

Here's some pictures of my house on the East Coast....It's just Crazy...


This is the deck on the back of the house!!!


This is the table on the deck.....can you see how much snow is on that table???

This is the car in the driveway!!!

Man this makes be homesick for all of 2 minutes....especially when I think I would have to be out there clearing this all off....no thanks, I'll take my nice sunny warm day here in LA....