I Have To Admit...

Those photos are old. Pat the builder guy really put all the sub-contractors into high gear and the place is beautiful! The painters were following the tapers, Ron was sanding under their feet and the sprinkler guys were overhead with the electricians! I'll get pictures tomorrow when I go talk to the sign guy tomorrow.
I just can't believe the transformation. Ron laughed and said we'll be standing out front Friday morning saying "move that bus"!!! It really does seem like an extreme makeover store edition! Now after I get the inside done, then comes the outside. Those ugly pine trees have to go, I'm sorry!

Only 6 Days Left!

Someone pinch me, I can't believe we are going to open in 4days! Boy do I have a lot of work ahead of me! Here are some photos for a sneak peek.

I've Been Working On My Website...

I have a list of amenities for the new retreat center on the website. I'm still working on the what to do in Pine City, my brain has quit for the night so I'll finish it another day!
The store is sheet rocked! Wow, I have to say it really does look like a store. The slat wall and bead board is up. Ron is making great progress on the floor. I haven't seen much of him in over a week! This morning he was commenting on how he feels his arms have gotten longer! That sander is tough on his body. I forgot my camera the last two days. I'll run up tomorrow and take a couple of shots to share with you.
I've been busy working on booking retreats. Make sure if you want a weekend book now, I have 8 weekends on hold right now for people I'm just waiting on payment.
The website has all the rates, policies, amenities. If you have more questions feel free to email me.

Things Are Coming Along!

Wow, the store is really taking shape. Ron's hard work on the floor is really paying off. Today I was just told that we can not use the pink toilet because the bowl in not elongated so it doesn't fit code. You couldn't have told me about that little detail before I made my husband drive to Minneapolis to get it??? These little rules and regulations that keep popping up are about driving me crazy! You sometimes feel that the city would rather make so many hoops to jump through you won't open a new business. I realize that these rules are in place because of a reason, but... So many rules were broken previously that I feel we are being held up and above what most are held. Could just be me, but why make mountains out of mole hills? Okay, now I feel better that I vented!
On a lighter note... The sprinkling system guy will be starting his job on Friday, the counter will be going in on Sunday, Ron will be polying the floor on Friday and Saturday night. The electric will be inspected on Monday, and the sheet rock and slat wall will be going up this week sometime so the painter can come in! Yikes it will be a busy week! I will just continue to check in product and get ready so when I get my 1 day to put the store together it will look fantastic for you guys! When I ask Pat the builder guy when the store will open, he just keeps saying I am trying my best to get it open on the 1st of February. All I can say to that is: Are you done yet?

Another Little Sign From Above

I believe in the ever after as I call it. I believe that our loved ones send us signs in different ways and as long as you are open to it you'll get the signs from above that you need. Some of you know that I lost my Dad almost 3 long years ago. We were very close, he was my first love. No, he wasn't a perfect Dad but I still respected him and loved him because he was who he was. I still miss him everyday. Before my Dad died he would kid my Mom and I about believing in the otherside. I told him when he died that if he could send me a sign send me a cardinal. I had never had a cardinal in my yard before. I really didn't have the right conditions to have cardinals in my feeders. One day not long after he had passed a male cardinal came to my yard when I was at a low point. I took that as my sign. Since then I've had more odd signs of cardinals. One not so long ago in my new backyard. I was again at a low point, feeling lost and alone and I looked outside and I had 10 cardinals in my backyard. I'm thinking I'm not so alone! So anyway on to the story I began to tell you! The other day Ron called home and said you're not going to believe this, but on the display unit (that came with the building and has been in the building from the start) has your Dad's name on it. I brought my Mother up to the new store today to show her, and sure enough there was my Dad's name with their old phone number 473 ring 4. My Mom told me that the Mercantile was a favorite hang out of my Dad's, who knew! Another funny thing is that just a day or two before I was in the building wondering how the fire started in there and I said: I would ask my Dad, but he decided to bail out on me early. How wrong I was he's still here, I just wish I could hug him.

New updated building layout

Here is an updated print of the building.

New Remodel Pictures

Anyone know about the fire? Seems there was a fire in here many years ago. That was an interesting find! I love the door, watch for it in a display!

My Little Valentines

Love the new flair Valentines paper. The Creative Imagination Heart stickers threw me off a little, then I just went with the mammoth size and I love the look!

I used for Lauren's layout:
Colormates Cardstock
Flair Valentines paper
Noteworthy paper by Making Memories
Hem tape
Foam tape (I lifted all the hearts and photo)
Creative Imaginations heart stickers by Karen Russell

For Ella's Layout I used:
Colormates Cardstock
Flair Valentines paper
Creative Imaginations heart stickers by Karen Russell
Cream colored acrylic paint
Alexx Kesh flowers and sequins
Heidi Swapp jewels (for centers)
A little tulle
Foam tape
I love pink, and these are definitely pink!

I Scraplifted This Layout

I just loved the idea of this layout. I originally saw it in a 8 1/2 x 11" fromat and changed it to 12x12.
I used:
Jenni Bowlin pattern paper
The new coffee line by Creative Imaginations
Ribbon by Creative Impressions
Buttons by Foof-a-la
I rounded a couple corners and ta da! So simple and I even used two pictures imagine that!

I Scraplifted This Layout Too!

I found this layout in one of the magazines and I had to order the paper packs so I could make it. Now that is just sick and wrong!

I used:

Colormates cardstock

Cosmo Cricket Little Girls Biography Line

Noteworthy Audrey Pink Floral (I used the flip side with the polka dots)

K&Co Smitten adhesive rhinestone heart

That's it! I didn't just stop at the layout, I did my new coffee mug by Tradition Studio too!

This paper just reminded me of Ella, I had to use it.

A Little Divine Memories Advertising

Hey make sure you guys check out the sale. Marge and I were cleaning again today and I clearanced a bunch of stuff. It's been selling like crazy. That makes me happy because it means I can order more new stuff for the new store!

Newsflash

I've got my website going, kinda! It is going to take a bunch of fine tuning from my web guy, but it is a start. My blog site is much easier for me to navigate, but the website will be easier for you guys. I'm not giving up my blog. I like the relaxed atmosphere of the blog. I think websites are stuffy! So I guess what I'm rambling on about is that the blog will probably change more than the website. So if you're booking a room, check the website. If you're looking for my ramblings, check here!
www.thepinecityscrapbookingcoinc.citymax.com
Make sure you leave me a note in the guest book when you stop by. I love to read them!

This Is The Cool New Punch

This is that giant punch I was telling you about in a previous post. The punch on the bottom is one piece and you just bend the arms so they look like a flower. The punch on the top you punch out 6 petals fold them and put them together to look like a flower. They are so awesome!

Piles Of Ribbon

The May Arts ribbon order came in. I think I took a yard of each!

Oh, I'm Nervous

I met with Pat The Builder Guy today. He was trying to tell me gently that the project might have to be pushed back a week or two. What? I can't hear you! Now that just can't happen. So I gave him some words of encouragement and told him we've got to get it open, I'm going to CHA and that means the project will get pushed back two weeks! Have you ever had one of those days that you felt you should have just stayed in bed? Yeah, me too, today as a matter of fact.
They have gotten a lot torn out of the old building. I really have to use my imagination when I look around in there. Yikes!
Ron and Lauren went down to Minneapolis to pick up a PINK toilet he got on an online auction. I'm going to put it in one of the retreats bathrooms.
Product is arriving daily. Five boxes from UPS today and yesterday. As I'm getting in the boxes I'm making samples for the store. It keeps my mind from going crazy.

New Punches

Now I'm not one to get excited about a punch but I have to say this one rocks! It is a Punch Magic Fold-It punch. If you can get over it's size and try it you will love it! It comes in three different styles double daisy, waves and boomerang. The end result is beautiful! From that same company I also ordered: The large swirls that come in 8 different styles, small swirls, and Delicato punches. I don't have time right now to post pictures of the end result of the punches, but I will later.

Click On The Pics If You Want A Larger Image

Building Pictures

Here they are just as I promised, building pictures. Okay now you really have to use your imagination here, but I have a vision! I know it will be super cool, I just have a few hurdles to climb to get to where I want to go. And in the end I will forget about all the hurdles and live happily ever after. But for now I'll get by on a few restless hours of sleep and chocolate chip cookie dough!

Lack Of Sleep Makes Me Goofy!

Okay so I haven't had much sleep the last couple days so you have to bear with me! Ron and I went down to the Scrapbook Shop in St Paul to help Rhonda out with inventory on Sunday. Yikes, we didn't get home until after 4:00 in the morning. Then last night I was going to go to bed at 10:00 but you know how that goes! I think I finally drifted off about 2:30! So tonight I will be going to bed at 10:00, I need my beauty rest!
Ron and I are heading up to the new store to pull up carpet. Well, I'm just going to take pics! So maybe today I will actually get some posted.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!