Photo Expressions

Mt. Rushmore

Today we saw Mount Rushmore .

It is amazing how anyone could possibly conceive of attempting something so monumental.  It is quite an incredible part of American history.  One of the actual workers was there today answering questions and signing books.  He worked on the site for 3 years.  It was very interesting learning how the whole process happened.  90% of it was carved using dynamite.  Amazing.

We are now outside of Yellowstone National park.  Driving today it got up to 104 degrees!  We are hitting smack dab in the middle of a 3 day hot streak that is beating a 100 year old record.  Great!  Thank goodness for air conditioning. Last night we also drove through an incredible lightning storm that ended a 3 year dry spell here. We are hitting all the great weather.

My hubby today was talking about the scrapbook he wants to make of our trip.  I was so happy to hear that he wants to do this.  He even had me write down some things he wanted to record so that he wouldn't forget them.  I can't wait to see what he does from his perspective.  I totally think more men should scrapbook.  They have just as many stories to tell.

Michele

I have now seen it all...

I've been to the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota. Yes, there is a whole museum (16,500 sq ft!), dedicated to the "lunch meat" in the blue and yellow tin.  It is huge and includes a movie on Spam and it's history, a walking tour through the many years of Spam, displays of all the different types of Spam (who knew?!), an area where you too can dress like a Spam worker and "can" some play spam (the kids loved this), and a store where you can buy anything and everything Spam related.  What a hoot!

Here we are with Spammie.

The things you see when driving across America....

Michele

Cha update #5 and Ali Chat

We ordered so much cool new stuff today and want to show you some of the photos. Click here to see more great new products and to here our chat with Ali Edwards.

Another late night so signing off :)

Michele

Mommy Brag

Oh, and I have to do a little quick Bragging.

Remember my adorable puppy Jake .  Well, he went to his first dog show in Prince George, B.C. today.  He won the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy category.  Then he won the working Dog category against 7 other dogs.  Then he went on to compete against all the Best in category dogs (7 more dogs) and won Best in Show!! His first time in the show ring. 

We bought him as a pet for our family and don't really know anything about the show ring.  Our breeder Cathy from Noble Heart Kennels , is a fantastic breeder of the Bernese.  She is showing Jake and will stud him once, and then it will be up to us if we want to continue with that.  We just wanted a great pet, and Jake is that and more and it is cool that he did so well today.  Can't wait to see him again.

Michele

4th CHA update

Today was the first actual day on the show floor and we ordered lots more cool new products for you.  This will be quick as it is now 2am Chicago time and we have to be up at 7am.

Here is the link to the Day 4 CHA Update to see lots more cool new products and 2 great video clips that Kate did up. 

If you missed the first 3 updates, click here.

Hope you enjoy and we'd love to hear your feedback on the products.

Watch for another update tomorrow night.

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele

Ferris Bueller's Day

Today, Kate and I played hookie and went to a Chicago Cubs game just like Ferris Bueller.  We have never had a day off to be able to see some of the city we are in for the trade shows so it was a real treat today.  Woke up this morning and looked out the window to see pouring rain and thunder and lightning.  Not a good sign for an outdoor ball game.  When it rains here it rains hard but it doesn't last long.

Doug and my girls picked us up and off we drove through the pouring rain.  Could barely see the road.

Had breakfast at a cool diner by Wrigley Field and then went to the game.  Guess what today was?!  American Girl Day at Wrigley Field!  Our timing couldn't have been more perfect.  The girls each got an exclusive limited edition Cubs jacket and ball cap for their dolls. The rain ended up stopping in time for the game and the Cubs won 4-1.

After that, we took a drive along Lake Shore drive which is along Lake Michigan.  Talk about beautiful.  Chicago is very proactive in developing park lands and there are parks all over the place.  They continue to buy up land to create more green spaces also.  Went shopping on Michigan Avenue (also known as the magnificent mile)which had tons of cools stores (most over our price range but still fun to look at). 

Then it was off to Navy Pier, another great Chicago place to be.  Had dinner at a restaurant with jazz musicians playing.  My youngest loved the music so much, she was up dancing.  The view from Navy pier is beautiful. 

There was a circus there so they also had a performance on the street.  The acrobats were amazing (and scary to watch as they were over the cement with no wires!).  They also had 4 different "flame"performers.  This girl had a hula hoop with flame torches all around it.  She was amazing.

We finished off the evening by getting soaking wet playing in this very cool fountain (which they also have tons of in Chicago).  It shot big shoots of water in the air and then over the sides.  The girls and I took off our shoes and by the end were soaking wet.  We laughed so much...these are the little memories that mean so much. 

Tomorrow is back to work as the show floor for CHA summer is officially open.  Watch for more updates on what we will be ordering for PE.  If you missed the first 3 updates, click here to see .

At PE, we are sensitive to the amount of emails you get in your inbox, so if you'd like to see more of what we are bringing in to the store for you, check back here daily to see.

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele

American Girl Place

We spent a good portion of the day to today at American Girl Place Chicago. If you click and look closely, you can see us.

Wow, I wish they had something like this when I was a kid.  It is the Disneyland of dolls!  This place is amazing.  It is a 3 story building dedicated to dolls and girls.  (and of course mom and dad's wallet!)  My girls were introduced to the American Girls about 4 years ago, when my husband returned home from a business trip in Chicago with the dolls.  They are beautiful dolls, extremely well made and will be passed on to future generations.  You can buy a doll to look like you (pick the hair, eye and skin colour) and they also have dolls that are "historical" in nature covering different periods in American history.  You can buy clothes for your dolls and some outfits have matching outfits for the girls.  We have been ordering online ever since the dolls came home.

Today, we got to go to American Girl Place and have lunch with the dolls.  Each of my daughter's brought one of their dolls.  The restaurant has chairs that attach to the table so the dolls have lunch with you.  And then a 4 course meal was served (delicious!)

Then it was off to the hair salon, where the dolls get a new hair do.

Once everyone was beautiful it was over to the photo studio where they got their picture on a "magazine cover" with their doll.

Looking around and deciding what to buy.  The bottom floor is all the period dolls with their clothes, accessories etc.  The next floor is the book store area and the studio and the theatre (there wasn't a show today).  And the top floor is the restaurant and the American Girl Today lines where you can buy clothes for the girls and the dolls and all kinds of accessories, doll furniture etc.  The place is huge!

At this point you are probably thinking I'm nuts and yes, you already knew that!  But as long as my girls still want to play with dolls (and not grow up as fast as the world wants them to sometimes), I'm all for it! This was a day they won't forget.  The American girl philosophy sends out strong messages to girls about who they are and what they can be and I think it is great. 

Watch tomorrow as I start to give scrapbooking updates again.  Kate arrived tonight (and couldn't believe the heat!) We have some surprises for you hopefully tomorrow (actually today now as its late!)  Talk to you soon.

Michele

It is smokin' hot here!!

Of course when I am in Chicago, they decide to have a heat wave!  Now normally it is hot here, but today it was 102!!!!! And that isn't taking into account the 100% humidity factor which makes the heat index 110 they tell me!  Do you know how hot that is?  Thank goodness almost everywhere you go has air conditioning because when you step outside, it feels like you need to take a shower after about 2 minutes because you are so sweaty.  I took a picture of the heat thingy in our van today to show you I'm not kidding.   

We had a great day at American Girl Place (I'll post photos of that in a few minutes).  It is quite the experience.

If you haven't tried our online photofinishing, you really want to give it a try.  Every few nights since we've been away, I have downloaded our photos into my computer, put them through our software and ordered prints.  This frees up my digital card and also means that when I get home, I won't have 1000's of photos to download and get printed.  They will be ready and waiting for me :)  You can come into PE and pick up a FREE copy of the software, or we can even mail it to you.  (Let us know at [email protected] that you would like a free copy of the online software.) If you can't make it in to the store and can't wait for a disk, there is also a fotowire version on our website that you can download and use right away. 

It is so convenient to order prints from the comfort of your home (or your vacation!) and have super quality prints ready for you at Photo Express.  There really and truly is a difference in the quality of our prints and 99% of the other places you can get prints developed.  Try us and you won't be disappointed.  We can also mail your prints anywhere in Canada for a flat $5 fee.  And you can print scrapbook sized prints also (6x6, 8x8, 12x12).

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele

Here in Chicago

We arrived last night safe and sound in Chicago.  We will have a few days here with my husband's relatives before I get to attend the CHA summer show and order tons of cool new products for you!
Some random photos from day 2 and 3 (it took 32 hours to drive here!)

Corn palace in Mitchell  -all the decorative parts of the building are made of corn!

The Mississippi river (and yes I said M,i,s,s,i,s,s,i,p,p,i as I typed!)

somewhere in Montana

"pillow heads"  They would then head butt each other with the pillows on their heads.  It was hilarious and their laughter was priceless.

Our new friend at Wall Drug in South Dakota.  This place has to be seen to be believed.  Definition of American Tourist Trap and so much fun!

Hubby chatting up the ladies

Sunset to end the night.

Talk to you soon,

Michele

Day 1 safe and sound

Greetings from Bozemann, Montana.  This is day 1 of our cross country treck to Chicago and we have arrived safe and sound. 

The day started at 4:24am as we pulled out of the driveway.  (Actually, my day started the morning before, as I didn't have time to get some sleep before we left! lol)

My girls ready to go with all their "gear".

We had a great day travelling, and only hit a little bit of road construction.  We stopped a few times to eat and stretch and made it into Bozemann, where we had a swim and dinner.  Heading to bed now to get up at 5:30am and travel all day tomorrow.  The scenery has been beautiful and we are just enjoying being together.

Michele

Jake

Some of you have been asking how our puppy Jake is doing.  He is now 8 months old and is the most gorgeous dog.  He is the biggest mush mush and loves attention.  He is also very strong willed but is learning that I'm the alpha dog! lol

Michele

CK Typist is in!

CK Typist is in at PE.  This was an exclusive QVC font and a few are still available to select retailers.  You will find this font to be very versatile.  You get the upper case and lower case, 3 shapes AND a FREE navy zip around binder. The normal retail would be $149.99 While supplies last, you can buy this set at PE for only $119.99!!

(click for larger image)

Hurry in to add this to your QuicKutz fonts.

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele

Free Make and Take

You can come in Monday and Tuesday to make this free card.  Wed and thurs will have a different Free card to make and Fri and Saturday  will have a different free one also.

Here is Kim making this adorable free card.  Come in Tues and make one for yourself also.

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele

New Stamp images

A Muse a Palooza started today and the stamps are getting rave reviews.  A Muse stamps are so easy to use, they can look elegant or whimsical or funky and work great for making fast but impressive cards.

Here are some of the new images (click to make larger)

The Holly Jolly Christmas card classes still have some room in them also if you'd like to jumpstart your cards.  One set of 5 is offered this week and the other set, next week.  Call now 604-463-3654 to sign up.

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele

Why Scrapbook?

I was talking to someone today who wanted to scrapbook but she just felt too overwhelmed with all the photos she had to deal with, so basically was giving up before she started.  This breaks my heart.  It is so important to scrapbook and we all place way too many pressures on ourselves about how it "should" be scrapbooked. 

My advice is to remember why you scrapbook in the first place - to record memories for your family and those who will follow, to have fun, and to feel fulfilled in doing so.  Don't feel guilty about the time you spend scrapbooking.  It is very valuable and well spent time and your family and the next generation will be forever grateful to you. Better yet, involve your family when you scrapbook and it is time even better spent. They can do pages or give you hints for journalling -they will offer a unique perspective that may be different than yours.

You don't have to scrapbook every photo - just scrap the ones that matter most.  The rest can be filed in a photo box or regular photo album.  You don't have to scrapbook chronologically - scrap wherever the inspiration hits you.  I jump all over the place when I scrapbook.  If I didn't, my second two daughters wouldn't have any pages about them, and my first daughter would probably still be one in her scrapbooks!

And most importantly, your pages do not have to be a masterpiece worthy of the art gallery.  The important part is that you use safe materials and have your photos and journalling down on paper.  The rest doesn't matter.  I tend to do simple pages because I don't have hours to spend on each one.  But I like them and my family loves looking through them.  And that is what matters.

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele