A to Z Challenge - 2019 - X is for Expo

My oh my we are down to just 3 letters in this year's A to Z 10th Anniversary Challenge!  For X I am using EXPO as my word which comes in very handy since the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt is using a word with XP!   Thanks, Linda, for helping us keep on track with two challenges!

I've mentioned that I get ideas from magazines and kits, but another big source of inspiration and the place I get a lot of my supplies from is the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo.  There are three Expos a year within traveling distance although I usually only go to two of them.   It is a great time for me to spend a day with my niece, Donna, who is my scrapbook buddy.

We buy our tickets online and then pick them up at Will Call.  If we get there early enough - of course we do! - they give you a Golden Ticket that you can use to try to win a door prize.

There is a big table that has all the different prizes donated by the vendors at the show.  We take our time looking at each one and then when we decide what we want to try for, we put the ticket stub in the matching bin.  Of course we go for different things so there is a chance for each of us to win.  There are also workshops going on during the day and usually we take one of those too.  When you pay for a workshop, you get free admission to the showroom.   

The prize table

The workshop schedule

Inside the actual showroom there are anywhere from 30 to 50 or more different vendors showing off their products.  There are early bird specials if you get to the booths before a certain time.  We don't always care about those but sometimes there are good ones like buy one and get one free of certain things.   

My niece, Donna, ready to shop

They are just about to let us in.

There are also floor demonstrators.  They show you how to use the new products and let you do "make and takes" so you can try them for yourself and then keep what you make.

All through the day they call out door prizes.  There are a couple of ways to win.  One way is just by your name because you bought a ticket.  One is the "number game."  There are numbers on the floor and when they tell you they are going to pick a number, you try to find one and stand on it.  I was lucky #11 once.  I won a paper pack with some extra goodies in it.  Donna won one too at a different show.

Of course the most coveted prize is the one from the Golden Ticket.  Both my niece and I have been lucky enough to win one.  Mine was from the company called Scrap That and this is me with the manager of the company.  

It is a really fun day for my niece and I.  We always come away with some great bargains and some new ideas to try.  The next one is in June in Santa Clara and I'm looking forward to going! 

Happy Shoppers

Have you ever been to a Stamp and Scrapbook Expo?  Does it look like fun?  Tomorrow is a day of rest.  Come back Monday for the letter Y.  I'm going to try something really different.  Care to guess what?

Awe-Inspiring August 2018 - August Break and Stream of Consciousness Saturday

Rather than bombard you with posts today, I'll combine two of my challenges.  First is #AugustBreak2018 and the prompt is "Bookshelf." 

Here is one of my bookshelves.  It is in our hallway which is a source of some irritation to my husband, although what we would do with an extra 9-1/2 inches in that part of the hallway is beyond me.  This bookshelf is chuck full of books that I want to read or have read and want to keep.  The shelf with the paperbacks is two rows deep and there are two more shelves that you can't see.  I have some nicknacks on the shelves too which I may find some place else for since I definitely need more room there.

This is a bookshelf in my craft room full of magazines for me to go through and journals that I am working on.  Tons of inspiration there!

I have another bookshelf in my craft room but this one is full of paper!  I guess not all bookshelves have to have books on them, right?

Saturday's #SoCS gives us the word "Call."  Coincidentally I went to the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo today and had to pick up my ticket at the Express Will Call.  Usually I go with my niece, Donna, but she couldn't come today so I just attended the expo but didn't take any classes.  In addition to my entry ticket I got a "Golden Ticket" to be used to try to win a special prize.  Even those were different as they didn't say "Golden Ticket" on them anymore.  I asked about it and they said that some people were getting confused since it was the "Saturday Spectacular" so that's what the tickets said today and they weren't even gold!  Who gets confused by a Golden Ticket???  

While you are shopping around, you need to keep your eyes open for the numbers on the floor because every once in a while they will call out a number and if you are standing on it, you win a prize.  I didn't win today but we have won in the past. 

You have to listen as well because every once in a while they will call a name for a door prize!  I didn't win one of those either. 

Lastly, at 1:00 they have a drawing for the winner of the "Golden Ticket."  They have a display in the front of the room and you can put your golden ticket stub in the box of the prize you want to win.  I had a hard time deciding this time because - hard to say - none of the prizes looked that great. 

Here is the group listening to them call the winning numbers.  Sadly, still no winner for me in that category this time.     

Here is what the showroom looks like.   I was kinda disappointed because not only did I not have my niece with me or get my number or name called for a prize, there were a lot fewer vendors.   Of course, I managed to pick up a few items but it was mostly things I call staples in my crafting like adhesives and pop dots.  I did get a few new inks to try and some new card making supplies. 

These are some of the classes that you can take.  They do the classes both Friday and Saturday but not always the same classes on both days.  There were people standing in front of Saturday class list so I took this pic instead.

I went to the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in Pleasanton earlier this year and there were more vendors there.  They have another one coming up in Sacramento in October but that is a little farther away and unless they are having more vendors attend, I won't make the trip.  

I did like this quote about creativity:

I called my niece and told her that she didn't miss much and that it wouldn't have been worth it for her to drive the 1-1/2 hours it would take to get there except to be able to spend some time with her favorite aunt :)

How did you spend your Saturday?  Get called to win a prize? Read any good books?  Share!  If you want to participate in either the August Break or the Stream of Consciousness Saturday, click the link!  Always fun when more people join the games.

Just Jot January - 2018

Today's prompt in #JusJoJan is "contemplation" as suggested by Cheryl at The Bag Lady. 

The definition of contemplation is:   The action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time and deep reflective thought.  Today my contemplation was on the upcoming Stamp and Scrapbook Expo which is happening in March and which I faithfully attend with my niece, Donna.  We have a great time browsing and shopping and taking some classes.  We even win prizes!!  We've each won the Golden Ticket prize and the number on the floor prize. 

The object of my contemplation tonight was which class to take at the upcoming event in March in Pleasanton.  There is a class on lettering and illustration which would be new techniques to learn and may come in handy since I don't always like the way my handwriting looks.  There are also a couple to make mini-albums and cards, which we have done in the past.  We have some time to decide, so I may do some more contemplation, although the lettering one is capturing my attention.  

What do you think?  Lettering or mini-album?  They both cost the same and with the purchase of the class we get free entrance to the expo.  The lettering is at 1:00 and the mini-album is at 11:00.  Both are hour long classes.  Ahhh...decisions.  While I contemplate, please stop by the other #JusJoJan participants!

Amazing August

August 31 -- Wow, it's gone already.  It was an Amazing August to be sure.

It started with Adele, who put on a great performance at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.  Scoring those tickets ranks way up there on my lucky list!  Then I went to the Scrapbook Expo in Santa Clara with my niece, where we both won prizes.  Hers was the Golden Ticket drawing, which seems extra special with the passing of Gene Wilder (Willie Wonka) the other day.

Adele

My niece, Donna, the Golden Ticket winner!

  

I had to send my hubby to Oregon on an emergency visit to help his mom and while he was gone I participated in a vendor fair.  Not a huge success for me financially but every one I do gives me more confidence and experience.

My display at the Vendor Fair.

Bill got home in time for us to go to the Giant's game with our youngest and her boyfriend.  She had given her dad tickets for Father's Day.  We had a great time.

At the ballgame with Rachel and her boyfriend.

Melissa Etheridge

Then came a week with two concerts, Pat Benatar and Melissa Etheridge first and then Peter Frampton a few days later.  Our times at the Mountain Winery are always special, but even more so when we can share them with good friends.  We were lucky enough this season to go to two concerts with the Beltrami's.

At the winery with our friends, Paul and Amy.

Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar

Peter Frampton

Throughout the month I was participating in the August Break prompted by Susannah Conway.  It was a treat to post a picture a day based on a single word or phrase and to share those pictures with others taking part.  Always interesting to see other people's perspectives on the same word.  My last three pictures were these:

August 29:  Favorite mug:  I have three of them at the moment.

Disneyland and I both turned 60 in 2015 and my daughter got this for me to commemorate it.

I do believe that everything happens for a reason.  

This one was made for me by my youngest daughter.  

August 30 - Evening light

Since they elevated the train a few years ago, the trains that go by in the evening are fun to watch from our living room.

August 31 - August was...Amazing

In addition to these happenings, here is my full moon picture from August 18:

And my August selfie:

So that was a quick recap of my Amazing August.  I've linked some of the more detailed posts from the month in case you want to check them out.

For September, I'm going to be participating in Bailey Jean's Blog-tember as I did last year.  I'm also gonna try and incorporate some writing prompts from Mama Kat.  Hope I can manage it all.

How was your August?  Amazing or Awful?  Love to know!