Simply Staceymarie

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Super blog hop for Saturday! :)

Surfin' Saturdays: Week 24 Blog Hop!

I love meeting new friends and that is what these blog hops are all about so relax and make some friends!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A conversation with Heather from New York owner of Scrapping Your Way!

How long have you lived in the area?

I have lived in New York City for over 20 years.

How much family history do you have in the area?

Both my parents were born and raised in New York City. However, I am the only one living in New York City these days.

What is your favorite thing about the area?

I love the energy of the city. The simple fact that when you open your door and step out into the city there are these amazing opportunities out there for anyone to grab. There really is no one favorite thing about the City that I love.

What would you change if you could about the area?

Nothing

What made you start your own business?

I started to not like what I was doing anymore. I realized that my job was taking up a tremendous amount of my personal time. The fact is, I did not have anytime to do what I loved which was to craft.

Hence, I began to take steps to make what I wanted to do, as reality. I still had my day job while working on the outer shell which would be the business itself.

I was working in a Publishing job that made me restless. I started to not like what I was doing anymore. I realized that my job was taking up a tremendous amount of my personal time. The fact is, I did not have anytime to do what I loved which was to craft.

While I was working in Publishing I came up with an idea to create scrapbooks for people. Not to make the actual books, but to create a scrapbook using people’s photos. I had the idea, but I then had to see if there was a market for my idea. I did some research and discovered that people did create scrapbooks, but not as a service.

What is the hardest part of having your own business?

Since I work from home, it is hard to “shut down” and have down time.

Where would you like our town to be in over the next five years?

I would love to be see the same customers I work with now, in five years. I would love to continue to do what I do, and that is craft.

What is your favorite thing to do in our town?

One of my favorite things to do is run in Central Park. Central Park itself is so beautiful. It is a tourist attraction with so much to do.

What is your favorite Store in town?

I do not have a favorite store at this time.

Do you give to any local charities you work with?

I do not work with any local charities at the present time.

What is your business motto?

There is not one business motto I go by. When I create a product I do tell people the following:

“We only promote a product that we would personally use when creating all handmade products.”

I tell customers this whether it be a scrapbook, handmade cards, paper die cuts, scrapbook kits.

It is important for me to put the best product out there I can. If I am not happy with the end product, I will not sell the item to anyone.

Tell me anything you would love to share about your business.

When I came up with the idea of creating scrapbooks for people using their photos, I thought all I would be doing is strictly working on albums.

However, the business is more than creating albums for people, it has morphed into creating handmade cards, scrapbook kits, and die cuts for people.

What a great girl to review and do ad space for! She inspires me to the fullest. Her ideas are amazing. Heather you are adorable and I am glad that my blogging made it so we could meet up. Check her link out on my Right side of my blog with the other ads

Here is her Link; scrappingyourway and her etsy shop or her fan page on facebook

Monday, December 13, 2010

Enter to win a giveaway for Diapers by the Slice.

Here is how you can enter to win a diaper by the slice giveaway:

If you are looking for a baby shower gift that's a bit on the fun side, a great gift to be the one at the shower that will be the envy for the best gift! How fun will that be! :)

One lucky reader will win a diaper cake by doing the following.

Get one additional entry for each of the following you do.

*Follow Kingstongirl’s blog.

*Follow Kingstongirl on twitter

* Follow Kingstongirl on Facebook.

*Subscribe to Kingstongirl for Email Updates.

*Like Diaper by the slice at Facebook

* Suggest Diapers by the Slice to your friends on facebook.

* Go to Diapers by the slice and tell me what you would like to win?!

* Win the diaper by the slice by tweeting this link.

*Send and e-mail to your friend(s) about this contest and CC me.

kingstongirlnews@gmail.com

*Write a unique blog post linking to this post and leave me the url to find it.

Goodluck!!!!!!!

Also thank you to Amanda the owner of Diapers by the Slice for buying ad space!!!

Owner of Diapers by the Slice Amanda Duke Hoffer.

I am so lucky to have the pleasure to review the wonderful owner of
Diapers by the Slice.

Amanda Duke Hoffer moved to kingston in 1989 when she was just nine years old. Moving away in 1998 when she was 19. Now Amanda and her family live in Yelm, Washington. Her husband is active duty military at Fort Lewis. Her heart will always be in Kingston.

Amanda’s family history starts with her grandparents. They moved to kingston in 1974 Amanda’s step dad and the rest of their family. They bought and owned the Kingston Inn from 1976 until they sold it in 2000. So my family was known to Kingston for owning the Kingston Inn. A true staple for the North End History. Sadly that heart of Kingston burnt down a few years back and hasn’t been re-built. leaving an empty spot in the landscape of Kingston.

“I love the beauty and the memories as a child growing up in a small town and having a restaurant family.” Amanda said.

Amanda would love to see more things geared to kids & teens, in the Kingston community. Maybe a bit more kid friendly. She started her own business because being a stay at home mom of three she wanted to be with them during their crucial years growing up. The freedom of working from home being free to come and go. Allowing herself to work as much or little as she wants with the hours she wants to choose. Amanda can still go to all family activities, They are a very busy family with school ,dance and soccer with all three kids that Amanda takes on the job as coach. Like she needs to ad more to that plate of hers but to be a work at home mom is allowing her the flexibility & is why she does what she does!

To see her business sky rocket with a lot of happy customers and mommies, to make her company unlike any of the same kind. So far Amanda has yet to find anything that is really to hard about having my her own business. Amanda would also love to see Kingston blossom into a town which is geared for all ages and activities for all. Maybe like some more kids/teens oriented places and maybe more of a variety of restaurants. Lucky for all of the Boy’s and Girl’s club in Kingston has just that in mind for our teens and children in the area.

So many favorite thing to do in Kingston is to take her kids to the beach and to the Point no Point lighthouse in Hansville. Her favorite store in Kiingston is probably the County pet shope its the local pet store. My kids love to go in there and see all the new creatures.

Working with charities is the heart of Amanda’s business and she enjoys giving to the charity that is called (COTA) Children's Organ Transplant Association . I know a family in Olympia whose daughter Jessica Cross is waiting for a Kidney transplant. Right now I give 1.00 for every Diaper and Wedding Cakes I make to her family. That shows you what kind of heart Amanda has and what kind of heart her business has.

Diapers by the Slice business motto is.. Take the time to make that perfect unique/Custom gift!!! When Amanda started her business it started off by just making one Diaper cake for a friend. Then she decided that this the perfect way to make that boring baby shower gift into a custom fun gift for the mommy to be. They make great center pieces and everything on the Cakes or diaper creations you can use for the baby. The name of her business was from Amanda’s thirteen year old little sister, Diapers By the Slice!!

Please check them out at Diapers by the Slice. or facebook at Facebook Diapers by the slice page!

Day three of the 12 days of Christmas.

12 days of Christmas Giveaway...Day 4... Express Espresso!!!

On the 4th Day of Christmas Express Espresso Gave to me... (which we all really need on this dreadful Monday)

Winner will receive 13 FREE COFFEE DRINKS or a Coffee Gift Basket!!! This is a $40 value!!!

To ENTER in this giveaway, 1. please visit Express Espresso Fan page. "Click Like"
Then, show her some "love" by writing on her wall, tell her the 12 days of Christmas Giveaway sent you!

2. Come BACK to this blog and leave a comment below (please dont be "anonymous" or I wont know who you are) that you completed each task! Only comments left on this blog will be counted in the drawing to win 13 FREE COFFEES (valued at $40!!) or a Coffee Gift Basket,

Want to win extra entries?

You have an opportunity to have 5 extra entries!!!!

You can leave an ADDITIONAL comment on this blog (which counts as an extra entry) if you:

1. Go get coffee from either of their locations today, please provide the name of the Barista that helped you.

THEN,
2. Write a review on their fan page about their coffee, and services. Me personally, I think they make the BEST Spiced Chai Latte in town!!!

3. Post this giveaway on your facebook page (Especially tell all your coffee drinking Kitsap County friends)

4. Tweet about this giveaway - please provide link in your comment

5. Buy gift cards today and post a picture of them!

(To be fair, we will check on each extra submission)

Winner will be selected by Random.org at 9:00 p.m. PST

Thank you and Good Luck!!

Happy Holidays!!!

Additional Vendors participating in the 12 days of Christmas are:

Catie's Creations - Winner Selected

Jack Crockett, Truemark Photography - Winner Selected

Kingston Girl News - Winner Selected

Clips by Kara and Nicole

DC Carpet

Mad Mouse Creations

Haute Salon

Two Sisters Candy Bouquet

Mary Kay Cosmetics - Julian Kohlbrand

Perfect Place Party Planning

American Rose Bridal

Elaine Turso Photography

Cookie Lee Jewelry - by Sarah Alvarez

Sorry, we are full and are no longer taking additional vendors at this time.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Roving players Christmas Carol play.

Walking into what most long time North End residents know as the Port Gamble post office, was like stepping back in time. Most people didn't know until this holiday season that there is a hidden treasure just sitting up all alone being unused and that is the Old Historic Theater that is up stairs. When I was little my mom use to clean for Pope and Tablet. I was able to do what most kids couldn't and that was being able to play and ride my bike upstairs. A private wonderhood growing up, a place to be able to sneak into and play the day away. I was lucky like my mom and her sisters were. When she was little the theater was their wonderland. The town of Port Gamble was where my mom was brought home from the hospital. Living there most of her childhood. Her father was born in the Hospital that use to be on the hill there, He even attend the small school that was once in the perfect lawn at the end of town. My Great grandparents ran the store and until the shell museum was added, they would play in all the things that were stored up there, like Hospital beds, bar shop chairs and so much more. A great place to explore as a child. I have such an amazing family history in the North end and this makes me feel so proud. I love that have roots in a town as special as Port Gamble.

The Roving Players was formed as a loosely organized group in 1987 producing mostly Shakespearean and original scripts. What began as a two show season expanded to include dinner theater, and several full length productions a year. After their incorporation in 1994 they decided to add Children's Creative Dramatics Workshop, founded Poulsbo's Renaissance Nights in the Park, formed an improv group, and started touring our productions to several neighboring communities.

Then in August of 1996 they applied for and received their 501 (c) 3 status allowing them to receive tax deductible contributions. At that time they developed a newsletter which is published several times a year then it is distributed to approximately 800 households with information about auditions, upcoming performances, and opportunities for participation in our company.

They are continuing with regular theatrical season, have expanded the Children's Workshop to three sessions and now feature local youth in one production a year. Also they have a collection of short plays available for special occasions or events.

The Players did their first production in the historic Port Gamble Theater when they trot out a three-weekend run of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” I loved being part of the history when I was able to be part of the Opening night on December 3rd.

It’s such a fun place to be able to watch this production It’s been used for a few things over the years, it’s still set up for a movie theater, but I was told that it’s the first full run of a play that’s been in there since before the late 1950's. My mom and aunts took dance lessons there when they were growing up there in the same room at the movie theater.

If you don't know what the Christmas Carol is about you have been living under a big rock and you need to get out much more. This is what the story is about. I love watching it truly makes me feel like it is the kick off to the holiday season and now holiday season would make it feel complete with out seeing it and being a part of this great story.

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.

The play is running through next weekend. The Actors were great especially the Children. My favorite was of course Scrooge! Played by the amazing actor Scott Snively. All the places that you were to laugh out you laughed, every place you were to feel angry or cry you did. It was a wonderful start to my holiday season. I know we are all so busy but this is a play to not miss out on this holiday season.

On a side note, it was wonderful to be asked to come see this show. I look forward to being in the crowd at many other opening nights. Most of the pictures I borrowed from the talented Brand Camp.
I'm sure that all the shows that they put on will be just as wonderful. I am proud to say that the Roving Players are from my town! We have so many talented people in our neighborhoods! I know I say this pretty often but we are all so lucky to be a part of this amazing North End!

I am excited and feel so blessed to have been part of a Historic event like this and I am grateful that I was part of it. I owe a lot to the Roving Players.

Day three of the 12 days of Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! ( It's me!!)

On the 3rd day of Christmas Kingston Girl News gave to me...

Winner will receive FREE AD SPACE on KINGSTON GIRL NEWS BLOG for ONE YEAR!!! This is a $90 value!!! (Dont own a business? Maybe your employer would like to win FREE ad space? Maybe you have a friend who owns a business...you can enter for them and refer this to them so they can enter too!) What a nice gift this could be to give to someone who is a business owner!
To ENTER in this giveaway, 1. please visit Kingston Girl News Facebook Friend Page. Request to add her as your friend! Then, show her some "love" by writing on her wall, tell her the 12 days of Christmas Giveaway sent you!
Then...2. head over to see her Blog!!! She writes reviews for local businesses and events in Kitsap!
3. Come BACK to this blog and leave a comment below (please dont be "anonymous" or I wont know who you are) that you completed each task! Only comments left on this blog will be counted in the drawing to win FREE AD SPACE for your BUSINESS!