welcome and final thoughts

Welcome DigiShopTalk Insider readers! I'm so thrilled to be featured in the December newsletter. Back when I started digi scrapping over 2 years ago, I used to moan to my friend Emmy that there were no pure digiscrapping message boards. Yes, they were out there, but they had so many limitations on them. You couldn't say this or that, and you certainly couldn't talk about new products. I've never been so happy to find an internet home as I have been to be a member of the DST community. Thanks to Shannon and Erick for all they do to make it a welcoming place for everyone.

So if you're just popping by here for the first time, you should know that I'm wrapping up my Branson trip report. If you have the time, I'd love for you to journey to Branson for Thanksgiving along with my family. I'm going to link them up in the right order because if you just scroll down, you'll be reading them backwards and that will take away all the fun.

Day 1 is here.
My little confession about my schoolgirl crush is here.
Day 2 is here.
Day 3, part 1 is here.
Day 3, part 2 is  here.
Day 3, part 3 is here.
Day 4 is here.

Digital scrapbooking was my passion for almost 2 years and lately, it's become my creative outlet. I'm no longer possessed with the need to scrapbook every week, but I do scrap when the mood strikes me. This week, I received a new kit to use from the always amazing Shabby Princess, and what do you know, the mood struck. So I scrapped the best souvenir I've ever gotten from a vacation. I thought it would be a nice way to tie up my trip report and get back to what this blog is usually about.

You can pick up this kit for FREE when you buy $10 worth of goodies at The Shabby Shoppe. That shouldn't be difficult at all as the Shoppe is crammed full of amazing kits, including 2 new releases.

I'll get back to normal blog posts this weekend. I have so much to say -- we've been sick, I made reservations for our Disney dining, and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around our house. But first, I have to post these final thoughts that I originally typed on the night we got back from Branson.

Final thoughts:

* I am on a campaign to get more denim on stage in Branson. I told Dan a few weeks ago that one of the reasons I love the Haygoods is that they wear their jeans. I love jeans. I love to wear them. I love to see them, especially on men. I dislike some -- no, a lot -- of the costumes that are worn on Branson stages. I was thrilled when the Dutton men wore jeans for a big portion of the first half of their show. Now I just need to talk to the Haygoods about those white pantsuits. They apparently do not follow the "never wear white pants after Labor Day" rule. It was painful.
* One of my favorite moments of the trip was when I worked up the courage to introduce myself to Judith Dutton. (See, I really am a shy person. I just seem outgoing when I'm sitting behind my computer keyboard.) Judith runs the box office and is active on the Duttons website and I feel like I "know" her. When I said my name, she immediately said, "Miss Kim!" Really made my day. Then she told me she liked my pictures of the show. Made my week.
* Except the part of the week where Shawn Haygood posed for a picture with me. That made my year.
* Loved kicking off the Christmas season in one of my favorite places. Yes, traffic was a nightmare. Yet there's something about seeing lights everywhere, hearing Christmas music everywhere that just kicked it off right.
* It never even crossed my mind that anyone in the family would miss having Thanksgiving dinner. No one did, except the girls had a week long pout about not getting any pumpkin pie. So bless my parents for taking the girls to dinner Saturday night, and eating at a restaurant that served pumpkin pie. I hate for my kids to look back in 10 years and say, "Remember that Thanksgiving when mom forced us to go to Branson for Thanksgiving and we didn't get any pumpkin pie?"
* By the way, I don't even make pumpkin pie. But I can sure bake a Schwan's version.
* The weather was gorgeous. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Really a blessing not to have to wear coats, hats, etc. during the trip.
* Seriously, folks, I hope that amid the humor here, my joy in watching the Branson shows comes through. If you're ever anywhere close to Branson, you should definitely see the Haygoods and the Duttons. You won't regret either show. And if you go, tell them Kim says Hi. But let's keep this whole Haygoods blog stalker thing between me and you.
* Someone asked about hearing the music of these groups or ordering the CDs. You can watch the Duttons on You Tube . Boil 'Em Cabbage Down is their signature song, and it always makes me smile. I can also recommend their 2 disc collection, Making Music, which you can order at their website. Having just bought the Haygoods 3 CDs, I have to say that they are a bit dated. They're working on a new CD, and I'm sure once it's released, I won't have any problem telling you to spend your money on it. And also unfortunately, they're still working on getting some You Tube video up. If you're really dying to spend your money on them, I can more than recommend my favorite, a DVD of the live show. They have DVDs of their summer show, or you can even get their Christmas show. (And by the way, they are replacing my DVD with the freezing problem. I knew they would.) You can purchase their DVDs at their website.
* When we left Branson a few days ago, it was with a heavy heart. We have a big Disney vacation planned for 2007, followed closely by a family reunion in another state. It's not in the budget to go to Branson next year, and that just breaks my heart. All I need is a few days. Long enough to see a show or two, maybe do a teensy bit of shopping. I could at least walk around the Landing, right? Well, hopefully, I can. We've been offered the use of a condo for a few nights in March, so it looks like we might be Spring Breaking in Branson. Why don't you all join us? I'll plan it, we'll see a show or two, drink some margaritas or three, and have a great time. I promise!

One last thing! Here's two more layouts I did with some new kits from Kristie at The Shabby Shoppe. I love her Winter Chic Collection. I want to use it for every layout I do from our Thanksgiving trip, it's just so warm and cozy and fits so well. If you're contemplating a purchase to get you up to the $10 for a free kit, I'd buy this one.

Comments

[Gretchen]

Hi Kim! Your trip to Branson sounds great! I haven't been there since I was a teenager (now 32) and I'd love to go back. I moved to Texas so it isn't very close. Are you in KS or MO? I was born and raised in KS and even went to school with Dan Renzi, who you mentioned on your blog. :) I didn't know him very well but I knew "of" him - I think he was my brother's age. Anyway, I just thought maybe you were from the same area. :) Glad you had a good time on your trip! I enjoyed reading about it!