Working Mothers
Saturday, July 2, 2011

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:

• Cute Stuff
• You Speak Out
• ScrapSimple Club
• Just Because It's Fun
• Designer Freebie
• What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
• Ongoing Opportunities for YOU

Customer Muse

Do you work or are you at home?

Somehow, I have always found the "Do you work or are you at home?" a difficult question to answer. The answer is yes. Yes, I do work. Yes, I am at home. There is an awkward silence followed by the "I wish I was lucky enough to be at home," or equally awkward, "I don't know if I could stand being at home all day." I'm not sure how to answer those comments either. There seems to be an under-the-surface battle between the work-ers and the at-home-ers. It's fought with subtle comments and internal struggle - at least for some of us.

Since I am at home, I can't fully speak to the work-ers. What I do know is there are many reasons a mom goes to work. The two I am aware of are financial and fulfillment. It's a tough economic world, and bills need to be paid. Many households need two incomes. The other reason for mom going to work is a sense of fulfillment. What does one do with that college education - or other training - except benefit the world with those mad skills. There is something wonderful about being able to know and do something and get paid for it. Not everyone is working because they just love it. Usually there is a myriad of reasons. We are complicated creatures.

So, I speak as one who is at home. My reasons are equally complicated. I have a college education and have marketable skills. It is both a sacrifice and a gift to be at home.

But regardless of my reasons, there is a part of me that feels a bit apologetic about my at-home status. Like I need to ramp it up to make it sound more impressive. I do know that what I am doing is important - even if others don't see it. The main issue is many people don't know what at-home-ers do. So, I think I have found my solution by labeling my activities as my job the next time someone asks me what I do for a living. Every effort I make reduces the amount of money we shell out, so it's a reverse sort of payout. Hugs, kisses, and magic memories count, too, but as wonderful as they may be, they don't pay the rent. The following are some important definitions to consider. While most of them are definition 1, I cannot fool myself into thinking I am getting paid. The first two are not occupations but are foundational to understand, from my perspective, how I can honestly state I have those jobs. (My thanks to dictionary.com for the definitions.)

oc·cu·pa·tion noun
1. a person's usual or principal work or business, especially as a means of earning a living; vocation: Her occupation was dentistry.
2. any activity in which a person is engaged.

pro·fes·sion·al adjective
1. extremely competent in a job, etc.
2. (of a piece of work or anything performed) produced with competence or skill

Here are some of my recent jobs:

hair·dress·er noun
a person who arranges or cuts hair.

chef noun
1. the chief cook, especially in a restaurant or hotel, usually responsible for planning menus, ordering foodstuffs, overseeing food preparation, and supervising the kitchen staff.
2. any cook.

bak·er noun
a person who bakes.

seam·stress noun
a woman whose occupation is sewing.

writ·er noun
a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist.

I thought about adding waste management professional, which is defined according to Wikipedia as "the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal, and monitoring of waste materials." Any mother - and every equally engaged dad - knows more than one would like to know about collecting, transporting, and disposing of waste materials. It's just not a job most people want to talk about further.

It's taken me about a week to get these words out. It speaks a little about my job - which takes me on a new road with twists and turns every day.

Cheryl Simpson

Muse: To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation. Not intended to solve the world's problems, another person's problems, or to cover topics completely. One does not have to agree with musings to enjoy them, just as one does not have to be the same as someone else to appreciate who they are.

Would you like to earn a $20 Gift Certificate? Send your own muse to [email protected]. If it is selected for publication in the Scrap Girls newsletter, you'll get to have fun shopping!

		Join the ScrapSimple Monthly Club and you can enjoy the newest ScrapSimple looks while saving! (A $13.95 value for $6.99 or less!) The new ScrapSimple Club contents are released on the 15th day of the month (or the closest business day to the 15th). A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple Club is also available here. With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive: 1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set 1 ScrapSimple Embellishment Template 1 Brush Set 2 Designer's Choice Item CLUB EXCLUSIVE! Nano Collection CLUB EXCLUSIVE! Designer's Choice Item CLUB EXCLUSIVE! 2 Tutorials June's ScrapSimple Club has been created for you by Brandy Murry and Syndee Nuckles Club Exclusive! Nano Collection Club Exclusive! Designer's Gift
Layout by Ashleigh Bronner using June's ScrapSimple Club larger view	Layout by Brandy Murry using June's ScrapSimple Club larger view	Layout by Armi Custodio using June's ScrapSimple Club larger view

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by BetC
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Commercial license versions of Old Friends Collection Biggie are also available.

Layout by mmimmi
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders are also available.

Want to see your layouts make an appearance in the Scrap Girls newsletter?

Simply post your digital or paper layouts that use Scrap Girls products in our online Gallery, and if we choose your layout to be featured in the Saturday Newsletter, you'll win a prize! To be considered, don't forget to list the Scrap Girls products that you used in your layout.

Congratulations to this week's selectees. Please email [email protected] to receive your gift!

Want to see past winners of the Weekly Layout Contest? Visit the Weekly Layout Winners Gallery on our Message Board!

Member of the Month: July 2011

Congratulations Isabel (Belle)! The Scrap Girls Team has chosen Isabel as the Member of the Month for July!

Isabel has been a faithful member of Scrap Girls since joining in March 2010! She is very active in challenges and swaps. Isabel can be found in the games forum and leaving lots of love in the gallery. She even sets her alarm to get up in the middle of the night for chats! Now that's dedication! Isabel is a huge asset and Scrap Girls just wouldn't be the same without her!

Isabel will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique and has the honor of wearing the Member of the Month blinkie!

When you have a few minutes, Isabel, please tell us a little about yourself and share a link to your favorite layout! Thank you for making Scrap Girls a wonderful, friendly place! Congratulations!!

Layout by Elisha Barnett
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Designer Freebie by Elisha Barnett coordinates with her Homebody Collection Biggie

Today's freebie designed by Elisha Barnett

* There is a "free download" button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, July 5th - 3:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) in the chat room on July 5th at 3pm MT for another Life Moments Chat and Crop. These chats are focused on building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time. This week we will be focusing on Summertime Memories. What were your favorite things to do in the summer? Did your family go on long vacations each year? Did you go to camp? Did you spend your days on the beach or at a lake or were your days filled with hard work? Go ahead, dig through your files, write down your memories, and be sure to join us in the chat room!

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Tuesday, July 5th - 5:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) on Tuesday, July 5th at 5pm MT for a chat and challenge using this month's ScrapSimple Club. Did you know that every time you create a layout with the ScrapSimple Club and upload it into the ScrapSimple Club Gallery that you could be chosen to be featured in the Newsletter and receive a prize? Well, join us for the chat so we can encourage and inspire you and help with any questions that you may have. Let's get those ScrapSimple Club layouts done and uploaded!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, July 5th - 6:00PM MT

Do you use your digital supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card you can save money and have fun making cards with your digi stash! Make a note of any cards you might need for the upcoming month and join April (April Showers) and Theresa (tiza126) for the once-a-month Card Chat on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 6th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 10am MT for the East Coast High Noon Crop. All coasts and time zones are welcome! These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes simply giving participants a one hour goal and a fun, new challenge each week. On July 6th, we'll do a white space challenge! Create a layout using white space. This "negative" or blank space guides the eye to the important areas of your page. Remember, it certainly doesn't have to be the color white! Create your layout and upload it to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you! Hope to see you in the chat room!

ATC Swap Crop & Chat
Wednesday, July 6th - 6:00PM MT

Please join Lei (Bride) and Elisha (elibar) in the chatroom for our ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm MT. Come see what everyone has created and we'll talk about next month's topic. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

July Message Board Game: Summer Scavenger Hunt!

Dust off those thinking caps and hunting boots! We're having a Summer Scavenger Hunt, and you're invited! Join us for the July Message Board Game, where each Monday through Saturday during the month of July, a member of the Welcoming Committee will post a clue in the official game thread. The clue will describe a product from the Scrap Girls Boutique. To participate, search the Boutique for the product and post a link to the product page in the official game thread.

But wait, there's more! In a new twist to the scavenger hunt game, on certain days you will be sent to the Scrap Girls Gallery to look for layouts using specific products or collections, and then post a link to your layout comment in the official game thread.

Three winners will be drawn from all the members who correctly identify a product or find Gallery layouts throughout the month. Each winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Good luck in your search!

For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Forum.

July Monthly Layout Contest: As the United States celebrates its independence this month, we'd love to see some examples of how you've gained independence! For July's Monthly Layout Contest, show us your layouts featuring someone displaying independence! It could be a toddler learning independence or a young person out on their own for the first time. You could even scrap about a time you displayed some independence! Be sure to include some journaling to support your photos. Post your layouts in the July Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MT on July 31st. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. If your layout is one of the two chosen winners, you will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Club Concepts Layout Contest: Post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls Club or the ScrapSimple Club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members Gallery or the ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used. If your layout is chosen, it will be showcased as a Club Concepts layout winner, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Mountain Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-Utah-Salt Lake City' as the location for the Mountain time zone.)

Haven't received your prize as a contest winner? Please send an email to [email protected] and we'll get it out to you right away!

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