My kids went shopping---at Mama's stamp store!

So I'm trying to get organized for my open house this Sunday and I'm pricing my retired sets that will be for sale or Monica's Moolah. What's Monica's Moolah? A fancy way to say you get free stamps of equivelant price when you place an order at the open house.

Ok, so I'm pricing the sets.
Here's the conversation I had with my oldest:
R: Mama, what are you doing?
Me: Pricing sets for sale at my open house on Sunday.

R: Can I buy some?
Me: Do you have any money?

R: Sure, let me go get it.

She comes back with $30.00! Where in the world does a 71/2 old get $30.00?!

So she proceeds to go through all the sets, pricing some out; discarding some cause they are just words. Get this, she haggles with me!

I'm totally loving this as I love to get a good deal. Girl's learning fast and early!

Ok, so she has 5 sets that she'd like. I made her a good deal on several with the understanding that I can use them as needed in the future. She's cool with that and hands over her money. Yep, all $30.00!

Being the good mama I am and not wanting to crush her self-esteem or belief that she got a great deal, I took it and put it in my SU! bag----to buy more stamps.

She proceeds to show her siblings and here comes Baby girl with another set and $1.25.
Into the SU! bag the money goes and everyone is happy. The boy comes in and says he wants to buy his own stamps. Ok, no problem---you have any money?

He gets his money and chooses his set for $1.10. A lovely red rubber set with hearts. And he's beyond thrilled.

I'm thrilled too. They showed wonderful understanding that not everything is free. That I was planning on selling these sets for money, so they never questioned that they would get the sets for free. And they each haggled over the price! I'm so proud!

Of course I took a picture, but no cord to download so it will have to wait.

2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalog is here!

Wow!

I really like this catalog! New punches, new Sizzix stuff, new ribbon----makes a woman's heart flutter!

With Sale-a-bration right around the corner, it makes it even sweeter!

I'm working on my sample boards and club examples for my open house next week.

Registration is still open for the overnight retreat at Marmon Valley Farm in February. RSVP, $45.00 and your order for the goodie bag is due next week. Registration will remain open until Feb. 16, but your goodie bag wouldn't be available to use during the retreat unless the option of expediated shipping was used.

Feb. 20-21, 2009 Stamping/Scrapbooking Retreat

It's official! We are overnighting it!

I'm very excited about this retreat. I've always wanted to go on a scrapbooking weekend, but the price and coordinating my kids and husband for 2 1/2 days was just a bit too much. When a friend (Thanks, Shannon!) mentioned a scrapbooking overnight, I checked it out right away!

I worked out some details to offer a great get-away for a reasonable, affordable price.

Here are the details:

February 20-21, 2009

Marmon Valley Farms,
7754 State Route 292, Zanesfield, OH 43360
(just east of Bellefontaine, OH)
http://www.marmonvalley.com

$85.00 a person


Price includes:
* A $25.00 customized Stampin' Up! gift bag
* Demonstrations and make-n-takes
* Door prizes
* Use of my stamp sets, ink pads, punches and Big Shot and dies
* Chocolate and snacks
* Overnight cabin accommodations
* 3 farm-cooked meals by Marmon Valley staff
(dinner Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday)

$45.00 and SU! gift bag order due by January 26th.
Remainder due Feb. 16.

Checks sent to me. Contact me for my address.