Have you ever sat next to a conversation you NEVER wanted to listen to, but alas, there you were completely stuck. Tonight at the Long Beach airport (on my way to Salt Lake), I got stuck listening to a 20-something year-old conversation. It was like watching The Hills but in real life, and I hate The Hills. “Sarah from the airport” (as she referred to herself) managed to convince some guy that “Erica” had played him. It worked too. I slowly saw her convince him that he saw how “Erica” wasn’t a real person and had been a fake with him. “Sarah from the airport” could have written the book The scheming of womanhood. Her manipulation was so subtle and sly from the inside, while completely obvious from the outside(like watching a TV show). My analysis: “Sarah from the airport” liked the poor-manipulated boy and was jealous of “Erica.” Among “Erica’s” terrible traits: a drinker, a liar, and a player.

I’d like to meet this infamous Erica.

So there it is…the one thing I am FORCED to write about because I am STILL stuck listening to this ridiculous conversation about how “Sarah from the airport” hates drama, while she manages to create it. Classic.

Just be happy you are not currently stuck listening to this.

Hi everyone! I just made the move from my blogspot site to this site (carinagardner.com). A little more freedom of design! You’ll find several new improvements on this site including image previews of my digital scrapbooking products coming out at 2Peas a week before they premier there (special sneak peeks for you!) and recent cards from Card Nirvana. I’ll hopefully get a lovely list of my favorite things going too (not just for your benefit but really for MINE…love to keep track of those pretty things). I’m also hoping to add some fun content for scrapbookers and designers alike. Some design 101,design book reviews,  interviews with innovative designers…other fun things like that. Josh has taken over the family blogging (http://www.mormonmistermom.blogspot.com), but you’ll probably get posts from me every now and then about my family as well. I just know that Josh tends to have a more comical view of things:). Who can compete against that?

Anyway, I’ll keep you updated! Hopefully, many things on this site will be up and running within the week and I’ll be able to post on my Monterey trip soon!

It’s my very first printed paper line and when I saw it I let out a scream because I am so excited!!!! So here it is! Go check out my new paper line that will be premiering at CHA this January and in stores soon after! I am so excited I can barely sit still!!!!!Bella Bella! Go check it out because you’ll be able to click on the individual papers and see them much bigger.

I don’t really have time to post and hopefully Josh will blog about Siri’s b-day party yesterday….but I just had to post Siri’s random comment of the day:

Siri (very slowly and deliberately): “You know that EvilLyn is one of the minions on Snake Mountain.”

Can you tell she has a stay-at-home-dad?

I just started a new group called Run 100 in Facebook and to get people to join the Challenge on Nike Plus!
Go check it out! If you want to be part of the Nike Plus challenge you can leave your email to be invited in the comment section or email me at carina@diginirvana.com with your email and I will invite you!

And seriously, if you don’t feel like you can run 100 miles, but just want to walk or run a little and be motivated by everyone else doing it , join the facebook group and give us your miles or join the Nike Plus challenge anyway!

Facebook Group—Run 100

Nike Plus Website

Well, I feel as if I have already start the year off quite badly. I can’t find my Nike Plus so although I’ve spent the day in my work out clothes, I probably won’t go running! Great, huh? I’ll keep looking for it and report back!

I thought I would do a year in review and things to look forward to in 2009. This will probably be the most open about my personal life that I have ever been on my blog. I usually only report on business or what my kids are doing, so this may prove an interesting blog post for those that don’t know me that well. I must admit, 2008 was not a fun year for me. Lots of hard decisions and events happened this year including a move to a new state, the closing of Digi Nirvana, my husband took the bar, website troubles, family unemployment, disappointment in my own personal life with my parents & family, a decision to go back to work, and well, just finding balance with everything going on. Lots of good things happened in 2008 too—I opened Card Nirvana, moved to 2Peas, and signed a deal with My Minds Eye to start making paper lines. Siri has learned to write and draw and Felicity learned to walk and talk this year. And Josh passed the bar—another blessing (not sure if we could go through that again!)!

In 2009, I really hope that things are a little less stressful and that I can find my place in our new hometown. I am really excited for my new Bella Bella line coming out at the January CHA (I can’t wait for you all the see it! The moment is comes out I will post it) with My Minds Eye and will hit paper stores soon thereafter! I love being at 2Peas and you’ll continue to see new stuff every week from me including old stuff coming from Digi Nirvana (improved) and new lines including my up and coming Paris & Co. Collection (3 more weeks!). Card Nirvana has been exciting and fun. I love my day job as a Communications Director and am excited about our conventions, events, and site checks coming up! In 2009, Siri will go to KINDERGARTEN!!!! I’m so excited for her! I’ll be a little sad, but she is such a bright and social child, I know she will love it. Felicity will continue to be my baby this year (what a cuddlebug!). I know that 2009 will be better than 2008 and that excites me!

If you can’t tell, designing scrapbooking materials has become an essential part of my life. If you had asked my two years ago if this is what I’d be doing, I’d have said , NO! I had no idea how much I would love it, how giving the community is, and what a challenge it would be! Designing for scrapbookers has become more than a hobby for me, it’s become an obsession! I look forward to everything I get to design and scrap in 2009! Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

Here’s a few pictures from the last few days!
Christmas Eve Siri got a Hungry Hippo Game

Christmas Day: Siri got a My Little Ponyvilel Amusement Park, but guess who else was obsessed with it?

On her new trike.


Siri’s new game: Dr. Seuss something or other. Josh plays it very well.

The many art supplies we got for Chritmas is getting put to good use…everyday, on every wall, on every leg and arm in the house.

East High School Alumni Basketball Tournament—It brings families together.


Showing off their candy bracelets!

Happy New Year everyone!

Have I mentioned how much I look forward to Tuesdays now? I love going over to 2Ps in the morning and seeing my new products up. It’s so fun! I never really had the anticipation when I owned Digi Nirvana because I’d just put products up when I wanted. 

I have also been thinking about New Year’s Resolutions for a while and one of my resolutions is to get more in shape. I’ve been going running for a few months now but I am COMPLETELY inconsistent. I’d run for 3 miles one day and then not get around to it for two more weeks. So one of my new year’s resolutions is to go running at least 4 times a week…hopefully more than that. So I thought I’d start a Challenge at NikePlus and see if any of you want to join me. The goal is to run 100 miles by March 28th. If anyone wants to join in this challenge, it’s called the Card Nirvana Challenge and is by invite only. If you want to be part of this challenge (PLEASE DO!), you need to have a Nike Plus account. Just comment on this post with your NikePlus email so I can invite you. I’ll even throw in a $12 gift certificate (2 cards) to card nirvana to everyone who actually runs the 100 miles within the 90 days!

The advent calendar was finished today. Here’s Flissy looking longingly at it:). Merry Christmas everyone!

Sorry to everyone who is sick of this…this is for my family…yes, that is my grandmother-in-law and mother-in-law…heheee.