"Thanks y'all" (NSBR BLOG!!!!)

Amy and Emily (the Indigo Girls) rocked the house last night in Mankato. Their shows are always an amazing time, and I've never left a show without a renewed spirit and call to action.

I've been a big IG (Indigo girls, not italian greyhound--although they are cute little buggers, I just like my full-size greyhound better...anyway, I digress) since the early 90's--I suppose around 91 or 92. With every song, every album, every lyric I read, I know it's more than their amazing melodies and acoustic strumming that I love, it's what they stand for.
If I wasn't living scenes from Office Space on a daily basis and scrapbooking, I think I'd go on the road with the Indigo Girls, (that of course in a fantasy world where I'm cool enough to hang out with them), be surrounded by their beautiful music and fight against social injustices with them......seriously, they rock, big time.
IG remind us that we're human, that we make mistakes--but they also remind us that we have to make up for a lot of mistakes that other people have made, and we can't just sit around if we want to the world to be a better place. Complacency is not an option. Remember, if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.


SO WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR??????




THIS IS WHAT I STAND FOR..................................





I didn't tell you this to make friends, and I didn't tell you this to make enemies--I told you this because we shouldn't live our lives behind walls, afraid of what people might think if they know who we are and what we believe in...........I'm more afraid of what you might think of me if I didn't stand up for what and who I believe in.

I have a gay brother. 3 of my best friends in the world are gay. 2 of my greatest heroes and influences on my life are gay.............and I know that God loves them just as much as every other creature that he created....because he created them that way, to love and honor him. Everyone should have the same right to love another person, to marry another person, to raise children with another person, to share insurance with another person, to be protected under the law with another person.....no matter what their sex. Had gay marriage been the issue it is today when I got married, I would have seriously discussed not getting married with my husband---because I would not shop in a store that discriminated against people, why would I marry in a country that discriminates against people.........I support a total US marriage boycott until the laws are changed. I don't deserve any benefits that those I love cannot receive.

When I was 17 I got my first tattoo on my ankle--one I stand proudly with today, a large purple women's symbol....stand together, stand strong......there are a lot of young women today who take for granted that which our mothers and grandmothers struggled for, and what we must continue to fight for, not only for ourselves, but our daughters............and our sisters in other countries who haven't yet realized our dream.

Last year, over 12,000 greyhounds were killed simply because they weren't "good enough"----they were too slow, or fell on the track, or god forbid wanted to play. I belong to an amazing greyhound organization, and along with other organizations over 14,000 dogs were adopted and saved last year---but adoption isn't enough--we need to stop the over-breeding, stop the culling, stop the racing, stop the kennel abuse.

Child abuse is preventable. You can do something about it. Help a child, Help a family, Help the Future.

I want to know what you stand for, and why you stand for them--I want to know what you're doing about it--are you writing and speaking to your lawmakers, and at the very least voting for lawmakers? Are you involved in your community, your world around you? Are you standing for something, or falling for anything?

giddy up

that's right--this city slicker looks good on a horse too! lol....It's one of my inlaws horses (they have 6--2 clydesdales, an apaloosa, a couple quarter horses, and a little colt). It was their annual hayride party this weekend, so I got my boots on and headed out to the farm. Giddy-up!

a day with someone you've lost

Nancy Jones added this challenge at STM

I can't pick just one--I don't follow rules well. :)

My brother Mike and my grandmother Rita. Two amazing people who left holes in my heart when they left but fill up my soul when I think of them.

Mike: He was the James Dean of the 80's---atleast in our neighborhood. I'll set the scene for you; It's a hot summer day on the south side of chicago in 1985...the kind of hot where you're barefoot and motown naturally plays in the background. 92nd and Oakley is filled with children and activity...girls assembled under a tree attempting to stick candles in a charleston chew for their cabbage patch birthday party, boys burning ants on the side walk with magnifying glasses....and then there's "Ungi". I don't even know where that knickname for Mike came from--but as long as I can remember, to every kid on the block he was Ungi Murphy, the cool guy, the rebel, the hero, and I was his kid sister. Ungi's had it with the heat, and more so he wants to put a big smile on my face and make me the envy of the neighborhood youth because I have THE RADDEST BIG BROTHER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. So, out comes the monkey wrench and we head to the fire hydrant to flood the street with a relief from the heat.
Another day on the south side--it's early fall of 1986 and I have forgotten my lunch at home. I call home, luckily Mike answers............(it only strikes me odd now 20 years later that he wasn't at school himself, hmmm)...15 minutes later there is a ruckus in the hallway at Christ the King School..."Michael G. Murphy, you take those contraptions of your feet in this school right now!" Sister Campion, i.e. "thunder thighs" , our principal is screaming. I am smiling ear to ear. Before anyone knew what rollerblades were, Mike had them--they were called "off-season trainers" at the time and he ordered them from a special hockey catalog--he loved hockey. He had skated to my school, lunch in tow, up the stairs, straight past thunder thigh's office (hence the screaming), and into my classroom. He plopped my lunch on my desk infront of me, kissed me on top of the head and said, "eat up kid" He skated away, and my 3rd grade peers looked at me in awe. G-d, I loved him.
Mike died in 1990, A car accident on the Dan Ryan expressway. I was still a kid when he died--really, so was he--he had just turned 20. He's frozen in my mind and heart at that age, and when I look at his picture now, my older brother is now younger than me, and it breaks my heart. He wasn't there to meet my husband, and he won't be there to meet my kids someday. He's not there when I need him when I cry about shared memories of crappy times growing up. Sometimes I'm still mad at him for dying--sometimes I'm still mad at G-d for taking him. I'd give anything to simply sit and share a 6 pack of beers and a pack of smokes with him, shoot the shit, play some darts, and tell him that I love him.


I'll be back in a bit to tell you about Rita, I'm a little drained right now.

Toot for me!

Although I never did really like the term toot, as small children use it to discribe their flatulants, but that's another story--the point is I have good news!

email from Iain at Scrapbook Mag. in the UK:

Hi Chelsea
We like the layouts!
We are in the process of introducing a new feature for issue 22 called 'Your Layouts'
This will be half pages with a layout and a bit of story and technique behind it.
How would you like to be the first person pencilled in?
Best wishes
Iain

oooh, I'm international now! LOL

Tag! I'M IT!!!!

Didi "tagged" me on her blog so now I HAVE TO do my part to continue the game.
So, it's 5 things involving the #5, and then 5 weird things about me.

1. I have 5 post-it notes stuck to my monitor right now
2. There are 5 pictures of my wedding in my office
3. I could probably survive on 5 foods for the rest of my life (vanilla yogurt, avocados, giordano's pizza, sushi and cinnamon toast crunch)
4. My friend Al's favorite # is 5
5. sadly, I think that I only have $5 in cash in my wallet

5 weird things

1. I can't handle "mouth noises" like people eating or licking their lips
2. I hate the feeling of breath of my skin
3. I love the beach, but I hate sand
4. I hate cats, but I've had one for 8 years
5. I hate energy drinks

Bad Blogger! Bad Blogger!

I know I know, but cut me some slack--memory trends totally wiped every ounce of energy I had!
Lucky for me my best friend Erik drove in from California to see me at the show....of course I scrapped a pic of us from vegas. :)


here's a few more extracaricular pics from the show

all ready to go out!

me and Diana Lyn McGraw (Stemma Design Team member, and all around rockstar)

Diana and Erik

Chelsea, why are you making that face? Um, because Wes decided to say "personal violation!" and stick his finger in my ear right before the picture was snapped. I forgive him though because he's a great guy and we decided to form our own scrapbooking society of harley riding tatooed scrappers. (it's going to be quite exclusive) LOL. Wes is the director/film maker/guru/what have you of "Scrapped"(The Movie) If you've been living in a scrapping box under a rock and don't know what I'm talking about, check it out.

Who's THAT girl? I AM!!!!

No, I'm not talking about the Madonna song. (although a great one at that, hmmm, need to find the music for that and upload it!)
I'm sitting in my cube right now, blushing, with a happy little smirk on my face. Much to my surprise, I was honored to find out that I've been named THAT GIRL of the month on STM!
I've been a member of STM/scrappychick for, well gosh--how long has it been now Lynette? 2 years? 3 years? I literally stumbled onto the site from a link on a manufacturers site (how ironic), and found myself in the company of some of the most amazing women I've ever known. Smart, talented, funny, warming scrappers.........and without further ado, my acceptance speech:

I'd like to thank Lynette Daniel for providing a home for so many wonderful scrappers and crafters, no matter how bad of a day I've had, I can always count on one place to provide some love and inspiration, STM! I'd also like to thank lynette for all the "coffee talk" we've had the last few years, you're a treasured friend and I love you.

Tanya Morrow--Yaya, soul sister.......you are close even though we are a thousand miles apart, our friendship knows no distance. Thanks for the laughter and the inspiration. I look at a picture of you and I in my cube everyday and remind myself how lucky I am to have a friend like you.

Big smiles to Malena Andersson........looking at pages of you and your children have always filled me with warmth and inspiration. I love your colors and designs. You and your family are beautiful.

I know I can always come away with a smile after talking to Juli Redwine. She and I became fast friends and if we can survive a night of drunk golfcarting together, we can survive anything! If you're ever in Oklahoma and need some exercise, Juli would be glad to let a very fast pommeranianout of the house and let you chase it high heels for an hour or so. :)

Flavia, you're a doll! Unbelievably thoughtful and sweet...and with an adorable kid to boot! The best birthday phone call ever was Lucas singing to me. Thank You for that!

Cara Bresette-Yates, girl you know you're one of my idols, and that's all I need to say about that. Your a rockstar who needs no band.

...........oh speaking of bands--they're starting to play and want to kick me off the stage.........hey, I'm not done with my speech!!!
okay, really quick then before they cut my Mic........I love all you girls--Nancy, Rita, Sandi, Jozz, Athene, Kara, Jennifer, Nicole, Dierdra, Suzanne, Robin, Mary, Cathy, Kath, Toni, Lisa, Cari, Di, Heather...........and everyone else I love you all hardcore!

10 years come and gone

So, I survived the high school reunion this weekend. It was actually a great time.........seeing what people are up to, what they've done since high school, how they've changed, etc. I'm very glad I went...and am extending my tongue out at those who chose not to, lol. :)

Here's some pictures, since I know you're dying to see!