Sophia's World: April 2010

Welcome to our first KIKI ART Design Team Blog Hop... however, we'd like to call it a BLOG HOPSCOTCH!

• When? During National Scrapbook Day weekend.
It will run from Thursday, April 29th until Monday, May 3rd.

• How to play?
You can start wherever you want, however, make sure to visit the blogs of our talented design team members. Also, please make sure to visit the Kiki Art blogs (English, French, and Spanish) to be eligible to win.

Each design team member was asked to select an organization that commits to helping others. Then, they created a project based on their organization featuring Kiki Art products. Make sure to take note of each organization/good cause each DT member has selected.

When you hop from blog to blog, hopefully you will get inspired by all of the beautiful Kiki Art work. We also hope that you are inspired to do good by getting involved in an effort to create a better world through these organizations.

• How to get a prize from the Kiki Art blog?
For your chance to win, you need to leave a comment on the Kiki Art blog letting us know which one(s) was/were your favorite blog(s) during our blog hop and what organization was displayed on that blog. (Don't limit yourself! You can choose as many blogs as you want!)

• How to get a prize from a Kiki Art design team member blog?
Many members of our design team have decided to give away a project that is related to the good cause they believe in. Leave a comment on their blog hop posts, and they will pick a random winner.

On Tuesday, May 4th, all winners will be announced!

Let the BLOG HOPSCOTCH begin!!! Get inspired and enjoy!

Here's the list of names and blog addresses for all three Kiki Art blogs (English, French, and Spanish):

English/Anglais/Ingles

Fleur Smith – BC, CANADA - http://fleursbydesign.blogspot.com/

Jillian Anger – ON, CANADA - http://www.sleepisnotrequired.blogspot.com/

Linda Shewchuk – SK, CANADA - http://awesomememories.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Hart – NS, CANADA - http://www.stephanie-hart.blogspot.com/

Tammy Lever – AB, CANADA - http://tampatha.wordpress.com/

Virginia Wong – AB, CANADA - http://virginiawongmichiels.blogspot.com/

Ann-Katrin – NORWAY - http://papirhobby.no/

Annika Bergquist – SWEDEN - http://annikasblandning.blogspot.com/

Carole Stirrat – WA, USA- http://www.carolestirrat.blogspot.com/

Einat Kessler – ISRAEL - http://scrapinit.blogspot.com/

Ellen Sosnoski – PA, USA - http://closeyourears.blogspot.com/

Katrina Hunt – MO, USA - http://www.paperscissorsandglue.blogspot.com/

Keely Yowler – KY, USA - http://www.keelyy.blogspot.com/

Lynda Lindley – WA, USA - http://positive-force.blogspot.com/

Meghan Epperly – FL, USA http://igiveacrop.wordpress.com/

Nicole Rixon – CA, USA - http://www.onesweetromance.com/

Ria Mojica – PHILIPPINES - http://www.cakesnscraps.blogspot.com/

Sarah de Guzman – CA, USA http://redoaklines.com/

Sophia Allison – SOUTH AFRICA http://sallison.blogspot.com/

Vivi Rahman – BRUNEI http://vivs.typepad.com/tyroscrapper

KIKI - Arantza Izurrategui - QC, CANADA - http://www.bykiki.ca/

Spanish/Espagnol/Español

Carolyn – USA & Panamá - http://carolynscrap.blogspot.com/

Christine – USA - http://scrappygal-scrapthat.blogspot.com/

Dessy – MEXICO - http://scrapenlasmontanias.blogspot.com/

Lida – MEXICO - http://rainbowcrafter.blogspot.com/

Olgacle – COLOMBIA - http://olgascrap.blogspot.com/

Patty – MEXICO - http://mynameisscrappy.blogspot.com/

Rebeca – ESPAÑA - http://mirinconscrap.blogspot.com/

Rosa – ESPAÑA - http://scraprosarr2.blogspot.com/

Tere – USA & Mexico - http://www.terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

Kiki Canada & Argentina - http://www.bykiki.ca/

French/Francaise/Frances

Annie – Québec, Canada - http://annie10-unjourlafois.blogspot.com/

Kimmieprout – Québec, Canada - http://kimmieprout.blogspot.com/

Ladybird – Québec, Canada - http://www.blogladybird.blogspot.com/

Loustic – Québec, Canada - http://uneviedeloustic.blogspot.com/

Zamaline – Québec, Canada - http://janealiasjanik.blogspot.com/

Marie France - Québec, Canada - http://www.kikiartist.com/mariefrance

Karine - Québec, Canada - http://karl-scrap.blogspot.com/

Kiki - Arantza Izurrategui - Québec, Canada - http://bykiki.ca/

The cause I have chosen is Mastocystosis (Mast Cell Disease), because my daughter Chloe was diagnosed with it at 6 months old with a small biopsy. Lucky for her, she does not have it that bad and should hopefully outgrow it by the age of 5 years.

What are mast cells?

Mast cells are a kind of cell made by your bone marrow. They're part of your immune system, which helps you fight off infections. There are more of these cells in the skin, the lungs and the intestines than in other parts of your body. Mast cells make a chemical called histamine. Normally, this chemical serves as a kind of alarm to let the immune system know that an infection is attacking part of the body. Histamine can cause swelling, itching and redness when your body reacts to something like an insect bite or a bee sting (called an allergic reaction).

What are the symptoms of mastocytosis?

The symptoms are different, depending on where the extra mast cells are. If there are too many mast cells in your skin, you might have a red and itchy rash. You could get hives or have a rash that looks like freckles. If you rub the rash, it may get red and swollen. Sometimes the mast cells collect at one spot in your skin and cause one large lump.

If the mast cells are in your stomach and intestines, you might have diarrhea and stomach pain. However, this is a more rare form of mastocytosis.

In some people, the extra mast cells cause a serious reaction, similar to a bad allergy reaction. Their blood pressure may suddenly drop to a low level, causing them to faint. They may have trouble breathing. This reaction can cause death if treatment isn't started right away. This kind of serious reaction is also very rare.

Here is my little project I created for one lucky blog reader who comments to win on the blog hopscotch...

It is a heart decoration to hang in your studio, why I chose this is, because it is good to Dream Big and believe that all things are possible and I do believe that my little Chloe will be clear of the disease in the next few years.

Thanks for stopping by, I really hope you have learnt about something new and interesting as it was to us when we first found out about it.

Enjoy the rest of the hopscotch...

Amy lost her 1st tooth today.

It has been on the wobbly side for a while now, and today she decided it was time obviously that it had to come out...

She kindly asked her teacher..."can you please pull my tooth out?" which she did. Of course she could not wait to tell us the story and show us the evidence...my proud little girl.

Needless to say I did not get a pic of the actual tooth, but one of the toothless mouth.

When it came time to the Toothfairy to do her thing, she lucked out on the coins and had to have a note rolled up and tied with a pretty PINK bow, placed in the box, where she left a note stating her name, so that the Tootfairy knew it was her...too sweet. Of course also had to sprinkle some pretty sparkly fairy dust...

So, I leave you with this photo of TOOTHLESS Amy...