Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

So Thursday bright and early my mom and Torrie showed up at my doorstep to collect me and the girls for the weekend in Kennewick. We got loaded up and headed to the Spokane Valley mall... you see Torrie needed a bribe! I wasn't upset... any excuse to shop is fine by me. We had a lot of fun in the Down East Basics shop, and while we were there we overheard the girl talking about the store opening in the Kennewick Mall... SWEET!!! bout time! So now our favorite store! We had some lunch and than headed back. The girls slept most of the way and cuddled with me the rest of the way, (I was sitting in between them)

We dropped Torrie off at home and got out of the car at my moms and this is the first thing I saw... what a beautiful sight... and it was warm... not snowing... it was pure delight!

Me and the girls went out side to bask in the warmth and had a great time.

Thursday we hung out and than went and had dinner at McD's with my mom and got some snacks at Target. Than we put the girls to bed (or at least tried) and than started setting up for the event!

Friday was a busy busy day... we spent the day setting up and getting everything ready for our first night for the event... Daphne wasn't much help the only time I got anything done was when she was down for a nap. It rained the whole day so outside play was not going to happen. Rachel my dear dear friend and cousin picked up the girls at 4 and watched them for the night while I was at the event, it was great.

We ordered pizza for dinner and it was delicious!

Here are a few of the top sellers for the event!

My easter egg countdown!

My mom's "Old Glory" patriotic blocks!

Mothers Day and Fathers Day stuff!

These super cute recipe holders that my mom made!

Pray blocks!

Military plaques by Kim

And the Easter carrot that sold out so fast!

And of course enjoying Abigail... no she wasn't for sale... but she sure was cute to play with! Even when she pooped on my clothes!

After the event ended Saturday afternoon, we just kinda hung out at my parents house watching shows and relaxing and cleaning up after the event. Sunday we went to sacrament with my mom in the branch, than we came back and loaded up and headed home. We were home by around 3...

Just before church Sami was sitting at the kiddie table in the basement and I had just walked upstairs when I hear this hurt crying. I run down stairs thinking something simple when I noticed her caught between the chair and the table... I got her up stairs and discovered her nose was bleeding. After a lot of crying (poor girl) and getting to church we noticed that her nose was swollen and her upper lip was really puffy. After getting home I discovered her upper lip, by her gums is completely black and blue... poor girl... she was so sick! She slept the entire way back, and has kinda been out of sorts since!

I brought the event home with me... Oh and before I left Cheney for the event my friend Lin cut and styled my hair... I have cutie bangs now!

I bought this headband from my sister Torrie... it's super cute!

And of course I had to have some Easter Blocks!

Here is where it all went when I got home... I went with this and 2 boxes and came home with this and no boxes... success!

Now to get ready for Easter!

Catch up on laundry!

And spend my earnings....

since I have no car I wanted to get a bike trailer for my bike and use that to get around Cheney, this summer... but I don't know when that's going to start. We went to Walmart Monday and we went in the store and 20 min later came out and this is what we found...

A nice layer of snow everywhere!

I mean everywhere...

I think the girls got worn out this weekend.. because they sleep A LOT lately!

Tuesday though Daphne was feeling better and was having a great time teasing her sister. Sami was playing and Daphne would put her leg over the couch and Sami would get mad so she would move it than she'd do it again... it was funny! Daphne was obviously bored!

TEST RESULTS!

For those of you who I have told you, that you passed but are still curious about the answers, here they are!

1. When is Sara Mason's Birthday?

A. Sept 10, 1980, yes I really am that old!

2. How old will Sara Mason be this year?

B. 30... there will be a party... so please come!

3. How many kids does David and Sara Mason have?

C. 2... thought I would tease a couple of you and say the 1/2 so you would think I was prego... it worked a little but you should know by now... It would be the talk of the town... I guess unless it was unexpected.

4. What are David and Sara Mason's kids names?

A. Sami and Mrs. D.

We call Samantha, Sami all the time unless she is in trouble and Mrs D. is well if you have been around her you know that Daphne is not sufficient for her wonderfulness.

5. What does Sara Mason collect?

C. Pez Dispensers... yes they are awesome just picked up Woody and Buzz from Toy Story the other day. I brought all my other ones out that Sami knows and she plays with them like they are dolls, she loves them. I had over 200... I am limiting my selection by choice of the girls, from now on!

6. Where did Sara and David go on there honeymoon, they go back there every other year?

B. Oregon Coast...(Seaside). We went the year we got married 06, than in 08 with Sami, and we are going back there this summer so 2010... so every other year so far. we love it there we are so excited to go again this year with both girls, and get to see Daphne discover sand for the first time like Sami did when she was her age!

7. There youngest daughter was born with a extra something, what was that?

B. it was a thumb, and a thumb is not considered a finger... it was removed but it is apparently trying to grow back. It was a growth on the outside of her thumb on one hand and it had a finger nail but no bone or cartilage. It was my blessing because I was so worried when I was pregnant that she would be deformed and so I prayed she would come out with everything necessary and normal and so I got that and one extra. I was truly blessed!

8. Who is Sara Mason's favorite author, who has movies out for a few of there books?

C. Nicholas Sparks... I love how he writes, I won't read a few of his books because they are too sad, and some that I have read I won't read again because they were so sad, but I love how he writes. His movies out are, Dear John, Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe (my fav book), Last Song, and Message in a Bottle (which was the first one). The Notebook came out a few years ago and the other three kinda just came out at once, i am excited for more, but not for a couple of them, way to sad and scary. I do enjoy Jane Austen but have never read a JOhn Grisham, I don't do scary or suspenseful very well at all.

9. Where did Sara Mason go last summer on vacation?

B. Yellowstone. It was our Ransom reunion and so my parents the saints took fat prego me(8 mo along) and Sami and it was a blast, it was Sami's longest car ride but she handled it, thank goodness for portable DVD players! Dave couldn't get time off to go.

10. What is Sara Mason's favorite work out video?

C. 30 Day Shred.... I have honestly tried a lot of work outs out there (can't stand running on sidewalk, or machines) and this by far works the best. It is 3, 20 min work outs and so absolutely perfect for moms who's children don't give her a lot of free time (me) and I do it at night than shower (it saves me so much time, I have tried all different times). The first week I got it I lost 4 pounds in that week. It's the consistency that makes all the difference. You can't stop during the 20 min workout or it doesn't work as well, like for a break during for example the level 1. You have a period of 2 min where you do jumping jacks and jump rope... if you stop it doesn't work very well, your muscles relax to much, you will know what I mean when you try it, but try it... don't ask to borrow my copy because I use it almost every day! Just buy your own, $10 at Target... you won't be disappointed. You do have to use hand weights. I am still gaining my arm strength and so I just use peanut butter jars, and it works my arms still... It's incredible really! It is hard but just stick with Level 1 until you feel comfortable and than move on... you can always go back. When I am consistent I will work up gradually and so I have done all 3 levels but I stopped a month ago and did some other work outs, than came back and started down in level 1... it's great!

11. What is Sara Mason's Biggest fear?

C. Snakes... it's not like eww it's... hyperventilation, insanity, scared out of my mind, uncontrollable... I can't explain it and you would be shocked if you saw what happens to me when I see a snake even having to look at a picture... My husband is very patient with me. The first contact he came with me and snakes is on my birthday right after we were married we went to the Hoogle Zoo in SLC and there was a worker holding a long (ok just because I am talking about it I am going to have bad dreams tonight... ) well yeah and I clung to my husband and had to close my eyes while we took the longest route around it..... I become completely un glued. Want me to hate you... tease me with a snake... those nasty pictures going around about the longest dead snake found... you who have sent those... you are on my list.... sending my husband pictures... your on my list... IT's not funny! Ok sorry I just need to explain this fear of mine. I told a friend once how scared I was and than she teased me, with a headless rattle snake.. she didn't believe me... she learned! (love you, you know who you are)

12. Sara recently downloaded a song off of I tunes because she loves to dance to it. What is it?

C. Miley Cyrus, Party in the USA... of course... I nod my head like yeah, move my hips like yeah... it is the best dancing song right now... I have the other two as well... and know a dance to the Pump It song.... Shakira is my big fav... but Miley all the way right now!

Well hope you enjoyed...

Jenn got... 11/12... she did put B-finger but I counted the B....

Kim got... 10/12

Rachel got... all right!

Shelly got... 8/12

NaDell got.... (by the way I only had 3 kids for 4 days... ) 10/12

Mary got... 9/12

For those of you who haven't let me know your wrist size and color choice let me know... and I will get them to you as soon as I can. Most of yours are already done. So i will be calling to come stop by. I have 2 for most of you to choose from, one bigger than the other so you can choose what fits best, but thanks for participating and hey... you get a free bracelet from it so you won! Just make sure to come to our next event September 17& 18 so you can see more of what I have made in the Simply Sara Expressions line and I will have earrings and clasp bracelets as well. If you know of people who want something made send them my way, i will give them a good deal!

Ransom. Made Design Event

This last Saturday, November the 8th we had a Ransom. Made Design Event. We held it at my mom's house and we had a pretty good turn out for being our first annual Event. We had people constantly coming and going from 11-4 it was a success.

For those of you who don't know Ransom. Made Design is a business that was created by my mother Shirley Ransom and I am her Web Master/assistant. She loves to make crafts as you can tell by some of the below pictures and most of hers are sewing and wood crafts. I love to craft as well but mine consist mostly of paper items that I have created because I needed something for specific things and couldn't find it anywhere else so I created it. Also involved in Ransom. Made Design is my sister's Susan Doss, Torrie Mower and sis-in-law NaDell Ransom. Also involved is my mother's good friend basically an adopted family member Kimberly Stewart and my aunt Nancy McClellan. So my mom carries about 6 employees for her business so far. We are pretty localized and aren't looking to expand our business anytime soon, just trying to keep it under our control. We have a website where you can see our items it is

ransom-made.com and you can 'contact us' through there if you want to order items and we will get them too you. We did have pay pal set up but because we are new we don't want to do that route just yet if we can help it.

It is a pretty exciting thing. With the Event we sent out about 200 postcards to various family and friends of the 7 of us and had about 50 people come to the Event. Of course being Veteran's Day that did have something to do with it, on our post cards we had our web address and before that day we didn't have hardly any business but now it seems to have caught on, I am filling orders and so is my mother, (we have the most items out of everyone as of yet). I am loving it, I was pretty doubtful going into this not knowing what to think if anyone would like my designs but I guess I wasn't the only one and now I can't say that, it was certainly a confidence booster.

So check it out and see what we've got to offer, if anything send us feedback on the workings of the website, since I am the Web Master I certainly appreciate it I am constantly adding to it and organizing things in a way to make them easier for the shoppers. If you live out of town and want something, we could work something out.

Take Care

Below some of the items that were a hit at the Event!

This is my pregnancy journal that I have created, it is perfect for the expectant mother who wants to keep a memory of there pregnancy, comes with index cards, stickers for each month, dividers for each month, and empty decorative cards for pictures etc. This is my Mail holder, I was surprised at the success I had on this, I created it, because when you have a little one, you can't put too much stuff on the fridge (unless you want it lost or torn up). I keep coupons I get in the mail, receipts, phone number lists etc. I have also made one for in our office to hang next to the computer and I put all the bills in there so that my husband knows right where to look when he needs to pay them. This is my Child's Art Work Binder, which I love. It is just a 3 ring binder, about a 1/2 in and It had a clear sleeve on the front to slip the name art (as shown) in case you want a bigger binder. I have family that tells me how there children want them to keep every picture that they have ever drawn on the fridge and never throw away, so you get this binder with clear sleeves inside and I give 10 with it so when your child does draw a picture you date it and fill in the sleeves than if they fill the sleeves up you can rotate them out, to save the room, for the most enjoyed ones. This is my Keepsake Tin, I love it, I created it for my daughter. It comes with a journal (that I keep memories of her), photo album, and a present diary. And it comes in a paint can that is like a time capsule. I also have personalized it with name and added to the can bracelets from when she was born, her shirt etc.... it is so cute on her dresser. This is one of my mother's many creations. It is a Autumn Wall Hanging as you can see and it is very homey and warm, and you can either hang it by ribbon, put in in an easel or hang it by tooth hangers on the wall. These are my mother's snowmen. She loves making multiple sizes of anything and as you can tell, having one snowmen is boring, two is ok, but three is perfect.... You can sit them anywhere all during the winter, to keep the warmth of the holidays in your home.

Going with the Flow!

As most of you know my husband and me have another blog but it is connected to our mac book pro and so most of my family and friends use Blog spot and so I decided since it's free I would transition over.

Today was a good day it was the first "Ransom. Made design" Event. We held it at my mom's house and no one should complain because any friends of mine that are reading this should have gotten an invite. The night before I was finishing up a few things and my husband commented that he wouldn't be surprised if I didn't go to sleep until late anyways because I would be nervous about the "Event". To be quite honest I was nervous but my mom is constantly reading research on small businesses and she knew that it takes 5 years to get a company going well, so in 5 years hopefully I will be making bank. It actually went better than I thought it would go. I earned between $50 and 100 (I know exactly but I think that is private). So I feel pretty good about myself. It gave us (all 6 that were involved) the chance to see what kinds of things would sell and what people liked. We are not done, as I said give us 5 years. We will continue to update our web ransom-made.com to show you the latest items we are creating that are for sale and than in the spring we will host another Event and than continue to host them twice a year, to accommodate the seasons and holidays. So for those of you who missed this one no worries.

I would definitely like to thank all our friends and family that supported us in this endeavor it is really exciting to think my mom's wishes for the past 5 years or so are finally coming true.

( I gotta say that I really like this site already because I don't have to save it automatically does it for me).

Besides that.... since this blog is a lot different from our other one, these entries for now will be done by just me and David might start his own, because if any of you looked at our old blog his interests are very different in what he likes to discuss in his blog entries.

Sami is in bed it is about 8:00 pm she went to bed about 20 min or so ago. Thursday night she went to bed at her normal time (8) and woke up at 10 and decided it was time to play. Since I was up working on stuff and planned on staying up until 12 instead of going to bed at 11, I figured what the heck, she can keep me company. When I finished what I was doing I tried putting her down, yeah right. She was up until 2 am, and of course I kept her company not that my husband got any sleep. She had been showing signs of allergies and thanks to her daddy she gets those at least once a month, and so around 11 I gave her allergy medicine hoping it would help... well just the opposite.... it is non-drowsy and so it gave her all kinds of energy. She talked more that night between 10 and 2 than I have ever heard, it was crazy, she was saying all kinds of things.

So as you could probably guess the next day (Friday) we were both really tired, and so she misbehaved all day. We were over at my mom's getting ready for the event and she just wasn't happy with anything. Her cousin Dylan was over as well (he is 4) and he was playing outside and so I let her go out with him, she crawled through the leaves and had the time of her life, I really need to start carrying my camera with me to capture more of her good moments. She would throw the leaves up in the air and than laugh as they fell down all around her. So cute!

By the time I got her to come in her pants were brown. I striped her down and through her pants in the wash and she just played inside with all sorts of other things and she was happier.

After I got home from the Event we switched places and David went over to play video games with his brother at his brother's house. Sami and me ate macaroni and cheese and watched "FRIENDS". It was some good stuff. I have to organize my craft desk and put stuff away for later but of course I am doing this instead (more fun).

I hope the transition will be easy enough for us (me at least) and I figure it will be since most of the people we know have a blog spot. So Enjoy! And hope you are enjoying the Holiday season that is coming up sooner than we know it.

(We listened to Christmas music at the Event today and I got to listen to my Michael Buble and Mariah Carey Christmas CD.... ohhh love them wouldn't be Christmas without them)