Confusion and Chaos

Hello

2011-08-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Wow, it sure has been a LLLLLOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGG time since I posted. I have been around and got caught up in the whole "Facebook scene". I have to admit it's addicting. Watching what everyone else is doing and playing those damn games! I got sucked into one after another after another. I finally quit all of them but one and about a month ago quit that one cold turkey. I miss it but it was a waste of time. I found myself always wanting to get to the next level and would play for hours and hours. YIKERS!!!! I have even stopped visiting Facebook on a daily basis because that too was taking time.

Well, you are probably wondering (or maybe not) what I have been doing with all this time regained by no longer playing on Facebook. Well, I have been CRAFTING!

I started making some jewlery. First for myself and now to sell since I often bought too many beads for the set that I was making for myself. I will attempt to sell this jewelry with my handmade cards this fall at the craft fairs for which I have enrolled.

I have also been making lists upon lists of things that need to get done around my house and very slowly I have been ticking items off of the many lists.

So tell me, are you addicted to Facebook?
Are you a list maker?
What's been going on in your world?

More Creatures in My Yard

2010-10-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have not seen the hawk but both my brother and neighbor have seen it. Yup, as if possums weren't enough for a small city yard, I now have a hawk. This creature according to my brother has a wing span larger than 3 feet. Apparently he/she has taken a liking to feeding on the small birds and squirrels who come to my yard for food. I have looked online and the best way to deter this bird of prey is to remove all bird feeders and squirrel feeders until the hawk has determined that it's food supply is gone and it will move on to greener pastures. Where was this large eating machine when the possums were around? Well, now that I think of it, I haven't seen a possum in about a month. Yikers, could this hawk really be feasting at my small yard's table on possums, birds and squirrels?

More than the safety of the small birds and squirrels, I have to make sure this hawk finds somewhere else to hunt because I don't want my two small dogs to become dinner for this hawk.

Who says that the country folk have all the fun?

I Have To Laugh

2010-10-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

I have to laugh because this year has been about getting healthier. Losing weight and eating better. But this past weekend a simple change in my routine left me sore and hurting.

I have been going to the gym and working with weights and doing cardio. In fact I have consistently been able to do fifteen minutes on the continuous stairs and not feel like I was going to die afterwards. I lift weights and can see some changes in my body.

So, this past weekend I decided to go to the forest with my dogs and while I was there I did a little bit of jogging along the path in addition to walking. Yesterday I raked the leaves after the trip to the forest and boy oh boy did I feel aches and pains last night. A simple change in muscle groups and the body lets you know that those muscles have been neglected.

The lesson that I learned: Not all physical activity needs to be at the gym and that a body will get used to the same old routine so you need to spice it up to get those seldom used muscles to wake up and get with the program.

Hope you had a good weekend.

Fall TV

2010-10-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

I love the fall.
The crisp cool weather, pulling out sweaters and socks.
Football, the leaves changing color...

One of my favorites is the new television schedule.

Which takes me to my point of this post.
I started watching the new Jimmy Smits show "Outlaw" and have watched the three or four episodes that have been aired. I just read this morning on Yahoo that the show has been cancelled. WHAT????? Only three or four episodes in?

I liked this show and it makes me sad to see that it has been cancelled already.

Has this cancellation affected your fall line-up?
Has this happened to you with another show?

ARGH!!!!

2010-10-11T06:46:00.001-07:00

I have an accounting degree. I don't eat and breathe accounting but it's the way that I make my living and I did the schooling and because of that I believe that I have a good idea of the right way to do something when it comes to my job.

I find it difficult that I have to argue my position when it comes to procedure with a co-worker who feels it would be "easier" to do it her way. Unfortunately, she has no working knowledge of accounting and just wants to do it "her way" because that is what she feels is the most simple or convenient way for her to do it.

Don't you just love Monday mornings?

An Early Christmas

2010-10-07T10:43:00.001-07:00

I Despise Those That Don't Read The Signs

2010-10-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

So, over the weekend I was at a local McDonald's going through the drive thru for my iced tea. This particular McDonald's has the drive through lane right next to a parking lane. There is a NO RIGHT TURN sign posted at the end of this lane of parking. The type with the right turn symbol with the large red circle with a slash through it. Nothing to read language wise. Well, like most everyone else I pass that lane and go down the next one and come around and get into the drive thru lane. Well, in the time it took me to go around and enter the drive thru lane properly, there was one driver that decided that "the sign" DID NOT apply to them. So, because people like this REALLY get under my skin I didn't allow the driver into the drive thru lane in front of me. So, because this lane is truly a one way they had their car sitting out sideways blocking traffic because they didn't want to take the time to "do it right". I was assailed with a barrage of "you are an effin' byotch, fat pig....". Having been raised to turn the other cheek I probably should have done that, but the older that I get the more that these type of things bother me. Today it's sneak in line the wrong way. Tomorrow it's cheat someone out of this, the next it's something else. What happened to common courtesy and following the rules?

What would you have done?
Stood your ground like I did or let the person cut in line?

Mini Reunion

2010-10-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend there was small school reunion. My sister Caryn's class and mine got together to reminisce along with another class. It was fun to see some people that I haven't seen in many years. Interesting to find out "what they became". I had a good time and really enjoy the "hunt" for those lost classmates that I haven't seen or heard from in years. I definitely have to dig out my old class picture and start the major hunt, something that should be made much easier with the internet. After all, there is less than 4 years until my 30th grammar school reunion and if it's going to happen I know that I will be a part of making it so.

Do you ever wonder what became of those people in your class that you haven't seen in awhile?

Do you remember who was your first kiss?
Have you ever wished that first kiss was with someone different?

I found out this weekend that I was the first kiss for one of my classmates. A piece of knowledge that I was not aware of at the time of that kiss. It was a nice feeling to think that after twenty something years that he still remembered that and that he shared that with me.

A confession: that person referred above was NOT my first kiss. LOL!!!

Nothing New

2010-09-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

I did make some more cards but haven't had a chance to take pictures.

Still no possum in our trap. Maybe the mere presence of it in the yard is keeping them away because I haven't seen any ol' possums lurking about.

Big neighborhood garage sale this Friday and Saturday and a great chance to purge, purge, purge. I took tomorrow and Friday off to get ready and then host the sale so hopefully the weather is good, people want to find bargains and a ton of stuff leaves my home to go live somewhere else.

The Trap Remains Empty

2010-09-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

I could never have lived in the pioneer days where trapping meant food and clothing.

We have attempted every day now for 5 days to trap a possum and we have had no luck. The closest we came was when the trap was sitting up above the ground and I saw from the second floor bathroom window a possum trying to figure out how to get up and get some of that peanut butter that it smelled. We were successful in trapping a squirrel and I felt so bad for the anguish that it suffered that I put out peanuts for it that afternoon. Maybe there is a smell left from the squirrel in the trap and that is what is keeping the possums away.

Here are the rest of the cards that I made before the craft fair. I did pretty well (I always consider breaking even well). The space was $80 and I made $87. Better than last year!

Busy Weekend

2010-09-13T12:11:00.001-07:00

This was a busy weekend for me.
Saturday was the JUG's picnic with a surprise birthday party for Sue. She was surprised and it was a very good time. I stayed later than I should have and paid for it the next morning when I wanted to stay in bed but had to get up and out to the craft fair where I had a booth. Since I came in late the night before I was scrambling around trying to get everything together and of course I forgot things but all in all it was good. I sold enough to pay for my space and make a $7.00 profit. It was a bit slow so I count this as a BIG plus.

I Did Some Crafting

2010-09-09T13:05:00.001-07:00

I did some crafting over the weekend in preparation for an upcoming craft fair. I have more pictures but not enough time to upload them right now.

So what is the plural of possum or opossum? Is it possums/opossums or YIKES!!!

Nothing exciting going on except that I have two possums that have decided that they like prowling my yard at dusk. Not happy about this new occurance and I have found out that the city no longer provides trapping. Which means, trapping myself and bringing the captured "friend (take another look at the photo above)" to the forest or paying someone to trap and remove. I am hoping to do the former and save some cash. Unless of course my "friends" decide to give me that lovely grin as seen in the above photo taken from the worldwide web and not a picture of the possums in my yard.

A Couple of Cards

2010-09-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad blogger of late. I have also been trying to craft for my upcoming craft show. I have made some cards that I forgot to take pictures. Here are two that I remembered before either mailing them off or packaging for sale. Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend. I will be spending mine cleaning and crafting.

Maybe Frugal is Good

2010-07-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it is Wednesday and I still have the $20.00 in my wallet. That means I have gone two full days (Monday & Tuesday) without spending money. Yeah!!!!

With Organization Comes Peace?

2010-07-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am hoping that is true.

The weekend was good and bad.

Friday night into Saturday morning it poured and poured. My backyard flooded in it's usual place and I had to walk through some standing water (2 or 3 steps) to get out to the garage to load it for the garage sale that was held at my cousin's house. I was VERY fortunate that my basement didn't flood (a friend had 2 feet of water in her basement). We had a little seepage but nothing a quick mop up couldn't fix.

The garage sale wasn't that great. I think the "professional" garage shoppers didn't come out because of the rain. Well, I went there with 3-1/2 Rubbermaid containers, 2-1/2 of which I didn't go through so as I was putting the items on the table I decided whether is was worth keeping, to sell or put right away into a container to go to the Salvation Army. I am happy to say that the things that I chose to keep fit into the 1/2 container and the remainder either went to the Salvation Army or stayed at my cousin's for this Saturday's 2nd attempt. I made $7.00 and since most of my stuff was priced to sell at less than a dollar I think I did okay. My goal is to get more out of the house and if I can make a few dollars then that's all the better.

I have been investigating ways to save money so that I don't have to get a second job. The first place was the cable/internet/phone combo that I have. I went online to see the different packages and to see what channels were in each package. Get this: they don't have an online listing. So I spent part of my lunch hour on the phone with the cable company. I spoke to Helen, a super nice person and she is sending me out a package list that shows what channels and the prices. I guess I'll be watching alot more network tv this fall and inviting myself to friends and family for the movies. I am also thinking about doing away with the land line or possibly keeping the bundle but modifying my cell phone. I was also very good at the grocery store being careful to purchase only those items on my list and to modify my purchases by what was on sale.

I have two items for sale on ebay and both have a few watchers so I hope to make a few bucks there.

My goal for the week. To have all or most of the $20 that is in my wallet by Saturday.

Wish me luck!!!

Trying To Gain Some Control

2010-07-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

I am VERY stressed and haven't been crafting but did do these cards awhile ago.

Between much too much to do at work and having to work overtime to try and stay afloat. Overtime for which I do not get paid and the fact that my household expenses are more than my income (they just raised my mortgage to get enough in escrow to cover the increase in the property taxes). I will be doing some VERY hard changes in the very near future. I don't want to get a second job but I think that is an option to create more income. The other one is to craft away and try and sell them but that solution is hard when my free time for crafting is spent working.

Enough of that!

I am participating in a group garage sale tomorrow and hopefully I can make a few bucks. I would be happy with enough to fill up my gas tank. $40.00 would be fantastic.

Wish me luck!

Just Call Me Farmer Connie

2010-07-20T09:47:00.001-07:00

So this is my first attempt at growing cucumbers.
Not only am I attempting to grow something other than flowers, I am doing it in a container/pot.
This is my first cucumber and it is completely organic.
No fertilizer, no bug spray, nothing but water and sunshine.
It was delicious!!!!

Blooms

2010-06-28T09:45:00.001-07:00

Just a few photos of what is blooming in my yard!
Have a great Monday.

Stocking Up

2010-06-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

I made this card using the patterned paper that I had out. I am beginning to make some inventory for the two craft fairs that I have coming up in the fall. I figured that I should begin with using the pieces of patterned paper that are out in my work area before cutting up new sheets.

I still need to take a picture of the quilled project that I did in the class last weekend. I will try to remember to do that tonight and post tomorrow.

Have a great Thursday!

Recap and A Card

2010-06-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

Just an update and some observations.

Do you remember the unity that we Americans shared after the tragedy of 9/11?
Do you remember that we all were respectful of our fellow man and didn't act like jerks to one another?
I have been noticing lately that people are acting like real buffoons while driving, while in line.
There are however those that are kind and considerate but they are becoming far and few between.
Do we really need a tragedy to act civil to each other?

Okay, I am off my soapbox.

Saturday I learned how to paper quill. What a fun thing to do with paper. Of course because I don't own the nifty guide that we used in class the items I made at home were not all uniform. But it was nice to make a project and learn the technique.

Sunday I went to a Cubs game and it was the best!
The Cubs won, the weather was fantastic, the seats were GREAT and I had my first experience taking the Skokie Swift and Red Line to the park. It made the travel part of it so much easier and so much cheaper.

I forgot my camera at home and hope the weather will clear (rain) so that I can take some pictures of the new flowers that are blooming in my yard. I also have another card to showcase so I will need to remember to put my camera in my briefcase.

In the interim here is a card that I made over the weekend.

Have a great Wednesday!

Mere Thanks Are Not Enough

2010-06-18T10:02:00.001-07:00

I saw Sex and the City 2 last night with my friends Rhonda and Bubbles. I made it to the theater just in time to visit the little chick's room and see one trailer and then the movie started. Afterwards we went out to eat and our friend Sue (Chops) joined us and we sat, ate and discussed the fashions in the movie. Some I would love to own and others made me think, Yikers! who the heck came up with that outfit? I didn't think it was as good as the first movie, but I love the characters and was happy to have a sequel.

I am taking a paper quilling class at a local stamp store tomorrow afternoon and then on Sunday will be going to cheer on my Cubs with my sister, brother-in-law and cousin.

What are your weekend plans?

I seem to be stuck in this type of card fold. It was something new and different for me and I am using it alot recently.

This card is for my friend Stacie who so graciously opened her home so that nine of the JUG's could have a vacation in Las Vegas to celebrate those of us turning 50 years old this year. It took me awhile but I have finally gotten around to making the card and getting a gift card so that her and her hubby can treat themselves to something as a reward for putting up with us.

Pomp and Circumstance

2010-06-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

Hello and happy Tuesday.
I hope that everyone had a great weekend.
I had a ton of fun.
Friday was our company outing to unveil the new company logo. I had to stay at the office to wait for the mail carrier to bring the mail and then make our bank deposit so I missed some of the fun.
After that party I went to the racetrack to help my friend Bubbles celebrate joining the 50 year old club. So nice to have another member.
Had some luck playing the ponies and had a really great time.

Saturday I went to the health club and worked out. It was both fun and a lot of hard work. It felt good to get sweaty and lift some weights. Oh how I wish I had a gym in my house because that would make it sooooo much easier. LOL!!! I probably would find an excuse not to go to my home gym too.

Sunday I spent doing chores and laundry and a little bit of organizing. I have another bag to go to the Salvation Army so I am making some purging progress.

Does anyone else like the show "Drop Dead Diva"? The second season just started up and I made the card below for my great nephew who graduated from 8th grade while watching that show. I know the card is a smidge late but I knew I had those embellishments it was just that I had to "find" them in the black hole of my crafting supplies. Each step I make to getting organized will help to eliminate the problem of "finding" things that I know I have.
OR
I could just be more organized in whole and I would have had the card made months before I needed it. OH, to be that good!!! If that ever happened I would have to change my name to Martha (as in Stewart) LOL!!!!!

Have a great day!!!

A Day of Fun

2010-06-11T05:51:00.001-07:00

What a great week.
The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.
Today is our company outing and I only have to work 1/2 day.
My childhood friend Bubbles turns 50 and we are celebrating at Arlington Park racecourse with the thoroughbred horses.
This weekend I am going to spend some time doing some crafting and having some fun.
Hope you have a great weekend!!

I Love the Colors

2010-06-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

The colors of the flowers in my yard are changing as some blooms die out and others open up their spectacular petals. Here are some recent photos of the flowers in bloom.

Hope you enjoy!

Here is a card that I made for a childhood friend that is turning 50 tomorrow.

New To Me

2010-06-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

I don't have a card to post today. Instead I spent last night at a class where we used a magazine as our paper and stamped an image in black ink and then embossed with black embossing powder. The different hues of the magazine image is what gave the flower that we stamped it's appeal. The paper by no means has the sturdiness of cardstock or even that of patterned paper but it was an interesting technique. I guess if you need it to be a bit more durable you could put a light coat of a water soluble glue that dries clear.

The other technique was to do the same thing on patterned paper. It really does add a special look to the stamped image.

Since I really did not do a good job on my embossing, in fact I was really a big spazz when it came to getting a good image I will have to refrain from posting my class projects. I will try the technique soon and post a worthy sample.

Have a great weekend!!!

Tis The Season

2010-06-03T11:10:00.001-07:00

Well it is that time of year when all those students who spent countless hours reading textbooks and studying for tests reap the benefits and get to wear that cap & gown and march to that lovely tune. For many that piece of paper is the opening to greater things. Whether it be moving on in the school process or getting that first full time job. Congratulations to you all for your hard work and dedication.

Here is a card that I made for a graduation party that I am attending this Saturday.

Kick off to Summer

2010-06-02T06:24:00.001-07:00

Well the Memorial Day weekend has passed and we can now officially where white (not that I believe that rule). I had a good weekend. Rode my bike to the local stamp store (about 1 mile each way) and attended their "garage sale". Got a couple of used stamps and the special during the hour when I was there was buy one 12x12 patterned paper sheet and get one free. I bought the patterned paper featured in the card below. How perfect that I had a stamp that matches it very well. Thank goodness that I took the time to catalogue all of my SU stamp sets because it was very easy to flip through my binder and find a good stamp to go with the paper.

Later on Saturday I spent the afternoon and early evening floating and chatting in my friend's pool. Nothing like relaxing in the sun with good friends. We were supposed to go see the new Sex In the City movie but chose staying in the pool instead. I figure I can always see the movie when the weather is bad.

Sunday I did a little purging (cleaned out a drawer and started a bag for Salvation Army) and some playing in the garden. Almost have everything planted and then it is on to other outside projects. The strawberries that we planted are beginning to get little strawberry buds on them. Sure do hope that we have a bumper crop, lol. As much of a crop that you can get from nine plants growing in a topsy turvy, lol!!!!

It rained on Monday so I spent 5 hours working and trying to make a dent in the workload that piled up while I was out on vacation (Vegas) and my surgery (gall bladder). Monday marked 3 weeks since the surgery and I hope to get to the gym this weekend as it will be just about 4 weeks. I feel great and everything on the outside has healed so it is time to get started on exercise and test out the insides. No weights but I need to do some cardio.

Should get back to work, just wanted to post the card and a small update.

Did you have a good weekend?

Thanks for the comment Ann on the previous post. I hope that you enjoyed the flower pictures and when the next group blooms I'll post more.

Have a great Wednesday!!!!

How does your garden grow?

2010-05-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

During my gall bladder surgery recovery I have been spending my time out in my yard, playing in the dirt. Of course since most of my garden is made up of perennials it doesn't take much work on my part. I have to thank my sister Cindy for doing most of the work cleaning out one of my raised beds. She cleaned out and reset the bricks in the back of the bed. (It's the one with the large black Mickey Mouse plant hanger with the new yellow tickweed). These are the pictures of the flowers that are blooming right now. Unfortunately I didn't get my camera out earlier to catch the blooming of the tulips and the dwarf irises. I will try to keep up to date as new flowers spread their beautiful petals.

This year there are two new attempts at food: strawberries and cucumbers. I'll note their progress as the season moves on.

Have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

Where Oh Where Did You Go?

2010-05-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

It must have been the combination of a relaxing vacation and the anesthesia but my crafty mojo has disappeared. What a horrible time to be absent when the only thing that I am able to do is work/read/craft. I cannot lift anything that weighs 10 lbs or more so that eliminates the projects that I want to do in the yard. I cannot exercise yet except for walking and it will take me awhile to build up some good stamina so that does not take up all of my free time. So, I figured that I would craft, craft and craft some more. But, my creative juices have just stopped flowing. So, in an attempt to jump start some crafty mojo I created an old stand by that at least had me cutting, folding and stamping paper which will (if you are listening crafty genes) wake them up!!!

When your crafty mojo has stalled how do you rev it up?

Very Quick Update

2010-05-17T13:42:00.001-07:00

A very quick update on what's shakin' in my world. Trip to Vegas was a blast and will update stories with photos when I get caught up with life.

Last Monday I had my gall bladder removed and have returned to driving and work even though I have not yet been released from the surgeon's care. I am off the pain meds and the outside is healing quite nicely. I was reminded yesterday when I reached a little to much that the inside is not healed yet. A lesson learned and hopefully not repeated.

Much thanks to everyone that came to see me, sent me cards, called and kept me in their prayers for a speedy recovery. All that love helped me hurdle this bump in life. I hope to be able to update soon with those Vegas stories (they may be edited due to the Vegas rule of: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas). I also hope to be able to play with some of the new stamps bought in Vegas. I will post any new creations when they are born.

Have a good Monday!

Viva Las Vegastamps

2010-05-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

On my recent trip to Las Vegas I went to the Mecca for rubber stampers. Tucked just a couple of miles from the strip in a very nondescript building is nirvana. You can bet that I was VERY happy that I had restraint in the casinos so that I could purchase the manna that feeds my soul, rubber stamps. Viva Las Vegastamps was a store that I could have spent hours in reading all the phrase stamps and just thinking about how I could use the stamp. It was literally wall to wall stamps. No paper, no inks, no markers, pens or scrapbooks. JUST STAMPS. Rows and rows of stamps. I had to be conservative because I had to be able to carry (didn't trust the baggage handlers)my purchase. Believe me I developed my arms walking around the airport the day I left, LOL. The only negative that I have about the store. There were adorable pets behind the counter (who wouldn't want to work where they could bring their adorable "children") but the store had a slight aroma of those adorable little ones. It was mostly the felines that made their presence known. Other than that, this was a great place to visit to top off my fantabulous vacation. They do have an online store and of course I have an inside connection, my friend Stacie (who shopped with me) lives in NV and can always make a trip for that one (or two or three....)stamp that I may have forgotten and must have. Enjoy the pictures and if you are ever in Las Vegas by all means CHECK OUT THIS STORE!

Check out the table full of unmounted rubber. Those were only $1.00 and on the opposite side of the table were used rubber stamps for just $2.00. You could have a field day just at the bargain table.

No More Sleeps!!!!

2010-04-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

Well today is THE day that I leave on my trip to "sin city" to see the bright lights!
I am off to celebrate the 25 anniversary of our 25 year for the majority of the JUG's (just us girls). The next 4 - 5 days will be filled with good times and will add to the vast amount of good memories that I have made with these lifelong friends. I will take pictures and will tell some stories but have to reserve the right that "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" for some of our antics.

I will also be going to the GIANT rubber stamp store and hope to find some good bargains.

Have a great weekend, see next week!!!

Bright light city gonna set my soul
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn,
So get those stakes up higher
There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there
And they're all livin' devil may care
And I'm just the devil with love to spare
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas

How I wish that there were more
Than the twenty-four hours in the day
'Cause even if there were forty more
I wouldn't sleep a minute away
Oh, there's black jack and poker and the roulette wheel
A fortune won and lost on every deal
All you need's a strong heart and a nerve of steel
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas

Viva Las Vegas with you neon flashin'
And your one armbandits crashin'
All those hopes down the drain
Viva Las Vegas turnin' day into nighttime
Turnin' night into daytime
If you see it once
You'll never be the same again

I'm gonna keep on the run
I'm gonna have me some fun
If it costs me my very last dime
If I wind up broke up well
I'll always remember that I had a swingin' time
I'm gonna give it everything I've got
Lady luck please let the dice stay hot
Let me shoot a seven with every shot
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas,Viva Las Vegas
Viva, Viva Las Vegas

One Down a Few More To Go

2010-04-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

Well, the countdown begins, only three more "sleeps" until VEGAS BABY!!!

Got some fantabulous news, there is a SUPER GIANT rubber stamp store in Vegas. Thanks so much to my friend Simone for giving me the scoop. They are only open M-F and Saturday would have fit in perfectly for me to spend hours in the store while the other JUG's did the whole pamper thing at the spa. But alas, that will not work. So instead I figured out how far away the store was from where I am staying and asked my good friend Stacie (who has graciously accepted to house the 9 of us JUG's on this trip) about the easiest and cheapest way to get to the store on Monday and she said that she would drive me!!! Yeah Stacie!!! You see, none of my JUG friends are into crafting so to get one to agree to take me to a craft store and stay and shop is wonderful. I would much rather spend my hard earned money on some good ol' rubber than to lose it playing games in a casino. (Don't get me wrong, the casinos will probably get a small sum of my money). But oh, that $10.00 that would have made it into the hands of say The Flamingo Hilton will now come home with me in the form of a rubber stamp. Yipee!!!!

I have charged my camera and packed the charger so one more item off of the "to pack" list. Just praying for good weather because this girl does NOT like to fly but endures the scariness because I know that it is the fastest way to get to places that I want to see and explore.

I have my appointment with the surgeon. At 9:15 on 5/5 I will meet the doctor who will hopefully rid me with this ache/pain and acid reflux and get the stone filled gall bladder out of my body so that I can go back to feeling normal. Not that I was ever really normal, LOL!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Counting Down the Days

2010-04-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Well, there are only 4 more "sleeps" until my Vegas trip with the JUG's (just us girls). I pulled out my suitcase, did my laundry and packed the majority of what I need/want for the trip. Just the last minute things that I will use the morning that I leave are left to pack. I am REALLY looking forward to this trip and seeing all that has changed in Vegas and just hanging with my peeps.

Here is a card that I have been working on. It is the May edition in my card a month to the JUG's new year's resolution. The front depicts the April Showers while inside is a packet of flower seeds for May flowers. On the back I wrote "April showers bring May flowers. Plant a bountiful bouquet of blooms. Happy spring"

All the stamps, ink and cardstock used are SU and the image was colored with colored pencils.

Have a great Monday.

Long Long Time

2010-04-23T09:31:00.001-07:00

It has been a long time since I posted (so much for that New Year's resolution) LOL!!!

I haven't been feeling well and finally went to the doctor and came out with an extra ailment that I wasn't even aware was wreaking havoc in my body.

So, the outcome was that I had a bladder infection and gall stones. After two rounds of anti-biotics the bladder infection is gone and when I return from my trip to Vegas on 5/5 I will need to schedule an appointment with the surgeon to remove my gall bladder. I was advised by my primary care doctor to cancel my trip but I told her "No Way". This is the JUG's 50th birthday year celebration and the fact that 10 of the 12 JUG's (just us girls) is going to Vegas is great and unless I am in the hospital will not miss this milestone in our lives.

I leave on 4/30 and return 5/5. I won't be able to drink or eat anything super rich and fun (boy do I CRAVE a hot dog with all the trimmings right now) but watching my food/drink intake will prevent me from a possible visit to a Vegas hospital.

I haven't really been doing any cards lately as my mojo has disappeared. I don't know if it's because I don't feel good or because I am just blocked. Maybe the trip will release new creativity into my blood.

The weather forecast this weekend is for rain so that rules out gardening. I did purchase a couple of tulip plants and got them in the ground last Saturday. I also got some of the pots that border the patio planted. I cleaned out the West-side raised bed and soon the irises will be blooming. I hope that there is some break in the weather as I need to get the East-side bed cleaned out so that the lilies and black eyed susans can begin to grow.

As always there are projects inside that are also on my "to do" list. Hopefully some of them will get crossed off the list this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend!!!

Belated Easter Greetings

2010-04-05T09:39:00.001-07:00

I hope that everyone had a great Easter.

Last week's weather was just fantastic and it really got me moving on the spring cleaning / purging. Over the weekend I packed up a few bags and will be making a stop at the Salvation Army. I still need to finish the linen closet organization but the linens that needed to be purged are already at the Salvation Army. I hope that someone finds good use for them. As for the rest of the "stuff" in the closet, well some will be tossed (old lotions and expired stuff), the rest will be grouped together and organization will abound. I cleaned off my tall dresser and was surprised at the amount of things that were stacked on top of that dresser. Most of it was shoes but there were also pictures, crafting supplies and some dust bunnies. The shoes are back on top until I can really delve into my closet and do a good purge inside there.

I finished reading "The DaVinci Code" and I am going to the library to see if they have the movie. I really want to see the movie now that I have finished the book.

Maggie got a new haircut for the summer. She looks so much like a little lamb. Gidget got her nails "done" and I did some cards. Enjoy this sunny Monday!

Weekly Recap

2010-03-26T08:25:00.001-07:00

Well getting ready for the weekend and tomorrow is a bit busy.

I have vowed that I will get to the health club at least one of the two days this weekend.

I have just been invited to take the place of my sister in a class on how to develop a website. My sister is out of town so I will take her place with her friend Sandy at the class held at a local library.

I am going to participate in my first crop at my local Archiver's store tomorrow night. I hope that it is fun and that I get a lot of crafting accomplished.

Have set up an appointment for Maggie to get groomed in our house. My brother's friend who grooms on site will be coming next week to "do" Maggie's hair. Coincidentally that is the same day that I too will be getting a haircut and dye.

Angels & Demons

2010-03-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

I highly recommend the book "Angels & Demons". I finished it last evening and just when I thought that I had it all figured out there was a twist and then another. Very good read. I now am going to rent the movie to see how they brought the book to life.

Cards

2010-03-24T07:49:00.001-07:00

The Biggest Loss

2010-03-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

No, I am not putting up double digits on the scale at my weekly Weight Watchers meeting. No, I am not putting in hours of exercise every day. In fact I haven't even been to the gym yet. But, last night I achieved the highest weight loss so far. I released 3.4 pounds and reached my 5% mark. To date I have released 12 pounds in 10weeks. Having surpassed that first 10 pounds has given me more motivation. My clothes are feeling looser and I have begun to feel much better about myself.

So for all those Biggest Losers on the TV program and those like me who are just plugging away to make a healthier life. Kudos to YOU! And remember if you stumble and have a bad day, pick yourself up, brush off the stumble and keep moving forward!

Just Some Cards

2010-03-23T07:49:00.001-07:00

Not much going on, getting deeper into the book that I am currently reading. Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons". I can't wait to finish (about 1/2 way through the book) so that I can rent the movie and see how they brought the book to life.

Back to Normal

2010-03-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

So last week here in Chicago it was very springlike, a prelude to the day when spring would officially roll in. Well, no one told spring and when Saturday (3/20) rolled around you would have thought that we were back in February. It was cold, snowy and windy. The snow seemed for the most part to stay off of the sidewalks because of their warmth but it did accumulate on the grass, bushes and trees. I did go out in the mess on Saturday and it was such a harsh change from the day before. Alas, today the sun is shining, the snow has melted and the 50's are expected temp wise.

I had to update my TV/cable/phone bundle as the special rate that I got when I bundled expired. In doing so I got a new cable box that has a dvr. Ooohhhh I am in love. No more icky VHS tapes to record my shows. I can watch one program and record another on a different channel, something that I was unable to do with my previous set-up. The downside, well besides the major dust bunnies hidden behind the TV cabinet and in the TV compartment that had to be cleaned out. The new cable box has a computer type fan in it and it needs air to breathe and stay cool, so that means no stacking the movies and such back next to the TV. Instead I will have to keep the area free and clear which is by all means a better look, but that means I must find new homes for the stuff that was stored next to the TV. Guess that bag for the Salvation Army will get more items into it.

I did my taxes this weekend and I will be getting a refund. Yeah!!! Now I know that a good idea would be to change my exemption and get more money each pay period and not get a refund but I am bad. I like to get this "surprise savings" each spring and I know that I shouldn't let the government keep my money since they don't always spend it the way that I want anyway, LOL but it's like getting a X-mas club payout in the spring, just in time for garden plants and projects around the house. Too bad that this is going toward credit card debt and not for something super fun. Oh well, maybe next year...

I saw the movie "The Bounty Hunter" over the weekend. The movie stars Jennifer Anniston and Gerard Butler. Wow, he is HOT! I liked this movie but I was told it wasn't getting good reviews. I don't care, I am a sucker for the romantic comedy and this one fit the bill. If you like this type of movie, by all means go see it or if you are frugal,I went to the matinee, you can do the same or wait until it comes out on dvd.

I also participated in my fantasy baseball draft. Out of the ten teams in our league, I believe that I am the only woman. I of course not knowing what I was doing I used my name in my team's name and it is a dead giveaway that I am a girl. Well, the draft went by very quickly because only 4 managers out of the 10 showed up for the draft. The others had "auto-pick" and they did not attend the draft so it went by very quickly. We were done in 1-1/4 hours. I am happy with my team and only made one major faux pas. I drafted someone who is currently injured and will not be playing when the season starts. The prognosis is that he will play this year but it will be a little bit into the season. I guess I drafted a nice bench warmer for the time being. This is my first attempt into any fantasy sport and I thank my nephew Jerry for assisting me before the draft and the morning of the draft. It will be hard now to ask for assistance since he is playing in my league and well, we are rivals so I will be asking my male friends who have played in fantasy leagues for their help.

I got a little bit of crafting done this weekend and will have to take some pictures. In the interim, here are a couple of cards I made a little while back.

AH Spring!

2010-03-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Is it just me but does the world seem larger?

I say this because as the snow melted the alleyways and streets seemed to get wider. The yard became bigger as the snow made way to patches of grass. I know that my dogs feel that there are so many more places to explore. They were very limited to the area that was shoveled for them when the snow was on the ground. They now have the whole yard and patio "to explore" all those smells that they couldn't get to just weeks ago.

I dropped off my first bag at the Salvation Army this morning. I have a 1/2 bag full in my bedroom and will add more to it tonight while watching The Biggest Loser. I have the topmost shelf in my linen closet empty. I can now bring the clean set of sheets that are sitting in a laundry basket in the basement to that nice clean shelf along with the clean mattress pad. Small steps but steps of progress.

Tonight is Weight Watchers and I feel good that I will have a loss, how much I can never accurately predict that number. I hope at least a pound, two would be fantastic.

Here are a couple of cards. Nothing like Spidey Man and the Man of Steel.

Tidbits

2010-03-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

I never left the house this weekend. Instead, I stayed home to get well and it worked. I slept and took care of myself and now my cold is gone.

I also finished a book and was both saddened and scared. Normally I love John Grisham's novels. He is one of my favorite authors and I have read just about everything that he has published. It wasn't the writing that I had a problem with it was the storyline. I know that it is only fiction but with the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and unions to have unlimited ability to make political contributions the whole thing scares me. The book was "The Appeal" and in brief it is about how big business bought a politician and a seat on a state supreme court to vote in favor of big business. Can you now see how even though this book was fiction that it could be something that could happen in real life?

I am now reading Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons". This book is very good and even though I only started it late yesterday afternoon, I am almost 75 pages into it. I have not seen either of the movies based on his books yet as I prefer to read the books before seeing the movie. I did that with all the Harry Potter books, all of the John Grisham books and like to make sure that I understand was is happening in the movie as they sometimes for time constraint reasons cut out background information that helps link the story.

I also stamped and cataloged more stamps and brought down more supplies into the craft cellar.

I started cleaning my linen closet. I realized that more than a year ago when I got my new mattress that many of my old sheets will not fit the new mattress. I am finally getting around to either discarding those sheet sets or donating them to the Salvation Army. I have also decided that I need to get rid of some shoes. I have filled one bag and have enough for at least one if not two more, and I have just started.

I will leave you with another card.

I'm Feeling Gray

2010-03-12T11:22:00.001-08:00

With this head cold I have been feeling kinda gray. This card however explores the contrasts of black and white.

Hope you have a great weekend. I have sleeping and crafting on my agenda. One that will hopefully make my body feel better and one to make my mind feel good.

Yeah, a picture of a card!

2010-03-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

I finally loaded the software into my new computer. It took forever to download the pictures from my camera (no wonder the card was full). I spent some time fixing some photos and placing an order for photos. Once they arrive I can delete them from the card in my camera.

In the middle of the worst part of the cold and really wish that I could fly home or have someone else drive me. I just want to go to sleep. Was in bed last night at 7:30and slept until 4:30. I needed that, felt pretty good at the beginning of the day but now my battery has run out of energy.

With the new movie out I thought that this picture would be perfect.

What Are The Odds?

2010-03-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, I by no means am a statistican, but what are the odds that I tried to win tickets to an Elton John concert sponsored by a radio station. I needed to be caller number 9 and I was number 1. Truly, what are the odds?

I guess I'll try again the next time.

It's Froggy Outside

2010-03-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, there aren't any frogs but I like to say it that way when it is foggy outside.

While driving to work in the dense fog I had a few thoughts.

How do the people is San Francisco and other places that are known for dense fog deal with it on a frequent basis? I really wouldn't want to deal with it very often.

Does the fog remind you of film noir? The dark dirty alleyway filled with fog and the dark figure walking toward you with the fedora hat. Gives me the heebie jeebies. Is it friend or foe?

Or, how about the horse and buggy travelling down the dirt road as it ascends up to the large castle where Dracula, or Frankenstein or some other spooky monster lives?.

Or, here's the frog part. A misty foggy bayou swamp filled with alligators. All you can hear is the sound of frogs croaking and your paddle as it hits the water propelling your canoe through the murky waters....

Those are the images that fog brings into my head. What images come to your mind when it's foggy outside?

Got It - Don't Want It

2010-03-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

I caught a cold, or I should say, the cold caught me! No one really attempts to catch an illness but that is always the way that it is expressed. Just like losing weight, do your REALLY want to find those pounds that you "lost"?

I have to laugh, my brother Rick who lives with me has had an upper respiratory/flu twice this past winter and has this same cold. I avoided being caught by the flu, but this simple not that horribly sounding cold found it's way through my immune system. I am at the beginning stage (sore throat) and could fall asleep right now at 11:30 am. I even slept through my alarm yesterday morning. An hour of music played and I dreamed right through it. When that happens I know that my body REALLY needed the rest.

Watched some of the Oscars and I am very happy to see that Sandra Bullock won. I didn't see any of the films nominated but I am a fan of Sandra and wanted her to win. I am very bad about seeing movies and often don't see them until they come to cable and sometimes not until they make it to regular TV. When I win the lotto I'll get the house with the big media room and then have "screenings" for all my family and friends. Ah, to dream of the ways to spend lotto money. I guess I have to play if I want to have those dreams. I guess that is one more thing to put on my to-do list.

Hope the germs haven't caught you and that your Monday is going well.

Report Card

2010-03-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

After seven weeks, with no exercise I have released 6.2 lbs.

Slow but steady will win the race is my new motto.

The List

2010-03-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

The list never seems to end.
Today I put down 24 things to get done.
I got 19 of them completed.

Tomorrow the list starts with 5 and I am sure that it will grow :-)

Hope you had a productive Tuesday.

Numbers I Can See

2010-03-01T06:34:00.000-08:00

The wonder of technology.

As stated in previous entries, I am participating in Weight Watchers. I am not always a patient person and have pulled the old (at least 20 years) bathroom scale from under my bed to see my progress before meeting day. Well, these more mature eyes have had some trouble with that scale. It has a clock type face with all the small little lines for each pound and between trying to "set" the arm/hand to zero every time I pull it out from it's dust bunny home and trying to read it without bending completely over at the waste told me that it was time for a new scale. I noticed that Kohl's was having a sale and decided that I would go take a look at the new technology in weight measurement.

I have to say that the scales that they had were on sale, YEAH!!!

I decided that I needed a digital read out. One large enough that those pounds would just illuminate and scream to me how much I weigh. I also wanted one with the tenth of a pound increments because that is how I am weighed at W.W.

Now the thing that I found funny was that most of the scales that were in my price range were all glass. I know that many advances have been made with glass but am I the only one that thinks putting a 200+ person on a piece of glass less that 1/4 inch thick could pose a problem? Most of the scales were all The Biggest Loser endorsed so I decided that it must be okay, this glass scale that looks like it could be a chopping board. I stepped on that thin piece of glass and there was no cracking, creaking or breakage. The number screamed up at me and they were much better than I had thought or could see on the old dinosaur scale that this new one replaced. I have set it up in a permanent area in my room and will not be pushing and pulling the new one from underneath my bed.

Does anyone know if I can recycle the old scale? I wonder if I should donate it to the Salvation Army or just toss it away. What are your thoughts?

Fun Stuff

2010-02-22T08:57:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I figured out how to use my Cricut. I realized that it wasn't too hard - ONCE YOU READ THE DIRECTIONS, LOL!

I made a small box, small from the aspect that probably only one Hershey kiss will fit into it. Large on the scale of it was the largest setting that my Cricut would take. When I bought this machine more than a year ago, I thought that I had the large machine, well it turns out I have the one that only accepts 6x12" paper. Therefore, my boxes will be one treat wonders.

I also made some more cards to add to the pile that was waiting to be photographed. I have photographed them all and just need to load the camera software onto the new computer and download. Hopefully I will get that done soon and I will post.

Snowed again last night. I am beginning to get tired of it. At least I don't live in DC.

Car is working wonderfully. One of the suggestions from the auto repair place was that I needed new tires. Boy was I surprised to see (I found the receipt) that I bought tires over 45,000 miles ago, which was just about 6 years ago. I guess I really do need tires, along with brakes and a litany of other fun things for the ole'girl. :-)

Have a good Monday!

Things Are Happy Again

2010-02-18T07:55:00.001-08:00

After more than two weeks of various car problems I finally drove to work this morning not afraid something was going to happen. I didn't have to keep my eyes glued to the temperature gauge or looking on the dash for that symbol to denote that I needed to add coolant. I am $400.00 lighter in the wallet but had two major problems fixed. The thermostat has been replaced along with my water pump. Of course there are other not so pressing things that need to be taken care of on my almost 14 year old car but for now it is running like a new baby.

On the work front, I am now the proud user of a "dual headed beast". I have been given a brand new, state of the art computer along with two screens, a new keyboard and laser mouse. To say that this new computer is speedy is an understatement. No more waiting forever for things to download or populate. They are open in mere moments. Couple of snags though, I have to reload my digital camera program so I don't have the ability yet to show the new cards that I have been making. My speakers need a special cable and so I am "deaf" to any funny YouTube entries.

Because of the car being in the shop I wasn't able to make it to my weigh in this week so I do not have an update.

It's almost the weekend, enjoy the day!

I Was Forewarned

2010-02-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

So, I was told by my sister that after a week with a bigger weight loss that the next week might be small.

I let that get into my head and it became true.

At last night's weigh in I only released .6 pounds.
It's a loss but a small one.
Guess having stuffed sausage pizza on SuperBowl night was a no-no.

New week, new chance at a larger number.

Total pounds released into the wild = 4.2 pounds

Catch Up not Ketchup

2010-02-03T08:19:00.001-08:00

Okay, let's see, I have not been a good blogger and my cards lately are lacking some freshness but I will continue to create just to get the stash full for craft fairs and post them here. I keep opening storage containers to find stuff that I forgot I had and it's just like going shopping, :-)

It looks like the J.U.G.'s trip to Vegas is really going to happen. Many of us have booked our flights and this past Saturday a handful of us met at Starbucks to firm up some other stuff. We have a schedule of who is coming and going when and their flight numbers. The rental van has been ordered. Our show tickets have been ordered. We collected some money to send down to Stacie (who lives in a suburb of Vegas) to stock the fridge for our arrival. Looks like out of the 12 of us (myself and Stacie included) we will have a gathering of at least 9. Trips to downtown, the strip, Hoover Dam and a spa are all on the agenda.

Completed my third week at Weight Watchers and last night I released (into the wild) 1.8 lbs. That added to my two previous weeks brings the total released to 3.8 lbs. I am setting a goal of 12 to 15 lbs. by the time the Vegas trip rolls around at the beginning of May.

Work is still a roller coaster. Some days I love working there and other days I really hate working there. I know that I am very fortunate to have a job so I will focus my attention on the good days and craft for happiness on the bad days.

I have been doing some purging and have two bags of clothes, an old computer monitor and some other items for the Salvation Army. Does anyone else have the problem of getting the items for donation out of the house, into the car and to the drop off box? I am such a lazy arse. I really need to do that this week. Not only will it help someone but it will make more room in my house. A precious commodity.

Here are the cards that I have recently created. I have more at home but the memory card in my camera is full and I need to purge some.

Not a good picture but I went into my box of stickers and found a sheet of birthday stickers and made a couple easy peeszy ones.

Ahhh, the man of steel

Take me to your leader

Found this cute paper and these stickers and did a simple lazy combo.

I just love this little monkey!

How Much is That Doggie In the Window?

2010-01-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

As promised I recreated the card that I made yesterday morning this morning before work.

Last night was my second weigh in at Weight Watchers and although I thought I had done better than my one pound weight release I guess any movement down the scale is an achievement.

I am guessing that my under-active thyroid is going to force me to amp up my activity level so that I can see larger releases each week. So my goal this week besides keeping my journal (which I have kept since day 1) is to go to the health club at least one time before my next weigh in.

Have a great Wednesday!

Sweet Teeth

2010-01-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

I made a card this morning but forgot to take a pic before I mailed it off. I will make another one and post soon.

So, here is just another rambling observation.

I have sweet teeth.

Not just a sweet tooth that needs some goodness to be happy. I have sweet TEETH. Well you can imagine that having this sweet addiction is not very condusive to weight loss. Unless...

Unless you find some sweet goodness that falls within your diet. Like the new Weight Watchers ice cream sandwich. Chocolate ice cream in between two chocolate cookie wafers. YUM, YUM, YUM!!!! Only 2 points. Well within the plan and enough to settle those sweet teeth.

Even if you are not on a diet these frozen yummies are worth the money.

The Expense of Thin

2010-01-25T07:53:00.000-08:00

I haven't made anything new so I will just put a random thought out into cyberspace.

It costs more money to be thin.

Or should I rephrase that to say that the road to getting thin is an expensive one.

If you use a diet aid program (in my case Weight Watchers) then you have the expense of that program. On top of that there is the healthier food that many if not all of the programs want you to eat. Whether it be their food or food you purchase at the grocery store, the healthier food at this time of year is more expensive in the city where I live. If you go the pre-packaged frozen route to dieting then you know there is an expense to that. Factor in that the weather is not that condusive to free exercise outdoors unless you like the cold weather you may have the cost of a gym membership or the gas to get you somewhere where you can excercise indoors. Or if you do your workouts at home it may be the cost of an exercise tape.

Even though I complain about costs now, the alternative is the high cost of fixing your health after something happens. So, I continue on in my quest to be lighter. Hopefully as the year progresses and fresh produce becomes cheaper it won't be so bad. I will also need less to fuel my thinner body.

If you are on the quest to a thinner new you, then hang in there. Thin tastes better than anything you may want to eat.

Have a great Monday!

Celbrate 50

2010-01-15T13:15:00.000-08:00

Today is the 50th birthday of my childhood friend Bobbi. Here is the card that I put together for her. Bobbi is just one of the J.U.G.'s that I have known for more than 40 years. Tonight we will celebrate Bobbi by surprising her at a restaurant. I hope to have pics to post.

A Simple Thank You

2010-01-14T07:32:00.001-08:00

Here is my prototype. I need to make a few of these and was going to do it last night until I ate dinner and then dozed off (getting old is a b-tch). I opted for dreamland and those 40 winks and got everything cut this morning before work and assembled the sample. Hopefully I'll get more energy as the diet goes on.

Weight Watchers Recap

2010-01-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

Yikers! It's one thing when you get on your scale at home and look at the number. It's another when you get on a scale and someone tells you what the number is. Hearing my weight hit harder than seeing it written down on a piece of paper. Right now I could easily be on The Biggest Loser as some of the women weigh around what I do and that is just NOT acceptable!

I did see one face that was familiar. A worker at the Archiver's that I visit was at the meeting along with a person that I am pretty sure that I sung in a choir with about 20 years ago. I was going to talk to her after the meeting but she bolted out of the room and I had to stay with all the other "newbies" and learn how the program works. There are a few changes since I last attended many many moons ago.

There was a married couple in the "newbie" group that I had to wonder, what are they doing at Weight Watchers? The woman was fit and toned and just a smidge of a thing and her husband had a mini gut but that was it! If she has to lose 10 lbs I'll be amazed, him, maybe 15 and that's it. It will be interesting to see their progress. A girl at the table where I was sitting reached her 10% goal and she got a key chain. All in all it was good and the meeting only lasted about 20 minutes. Start to finish with the weigh in, the meeting and the after meeting was about one hour.

I don't have any new cards so here are some pictures of a gift package that I created along with pictures of Christmas morning with my babies. Have a good Wednesday!

This is a gift package that I put together for my co-worker Sharon. I just love when I have the paper and the ribbon that match in my stash.

"I was a good girl, right?"

"Please, please can we open our presents from Santa-Dog?"

Maggie on Christmas morning after the "Santa-Dog" left her and Gidget some new toys.

50 + Flab = Frumpy

2010-01-12T06:49:00.001-08:00

So this new decade is bringing about the desire for me to make some changes. I want to begin to work to live and not live to work. I need to adjust my thinking that I need to do everything. That my worth is not measured in how many hours I spend working. My worth is measured by the people and good times that I can cherish, not in how many hours I spend working to make my boss happy. My happiness is more important than the bottom line. Having come to this conclusion in the last six months it is time for me to make changes and what better time than the new year. I can see and feel the bad changes that have taken place in my body. Too much stress, bad diet (looking for comfort food) and no excercise has made me physically ill. I need to make changes to a healthier lifestyle and 2010 is the year. I am going to go to a Weight Watchers meeting tonight and get the ball rolling.

Below are some cards that I made using some embellishments that I found while cleaning my room or some cards that were started and just needed the final touch. They aren't anything special but I just wanted to use the stuff instead of having to find a place to store it.

New Profile

2010-01-11T08:09:00.000-08:00

So, I had to change my profile since I left my forties officially on Saturday. I was surprised and amazed that I made it out of the DVM in less than a 1/2 hour when I went to renew my drivers license. I only had to take a vision test and the picture. I have to say that being fifty and the fact that I very rarely get carded, I was not at all concerned over what the picture looked like. It's a good thing that I don't care because it is not the best picture in the world. In fact the only people that get to see the picture are usually a cashier as I write a check for a purchase and I don't think that they care.

I spent the evening with my JUG's (Just Us Girls) at our holiday party which turned out to be a birthday party for the "matriarchs" of the group. My friend Patti, myself and Bobbi. Bobbi was unable to make it because of a migraine so it was up to Patti and I to keep the "young'ins" in check. It was the best way to celebrate a milestone.

I spent Sunday cleaning my room and trying to make some sense of all of my crafting supplies. I believe that I have things a bit more organized and I am able to see more of the floor which is always a good thing. I need to get more of these supplies down in the basement so that I can have a clutter free bedroom and all supplies in one place. I have made great strides but the project is still ongoing.

Enjoy your Monday!

Snow

2010-01-07T12:04:00.000-08:00

How awesome to be able to just chill and watch the snow.

Today is like living inside of a snowglobe and the owner keeps shaking up the snow.

Somethings That I Have Done

2010-01-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

Before I put away some of the Christmas papers I just wanted to get some simple cards done.

Resolution Already Broken

2010-01-04T09:24:00.001-08:00

Yikers, I couldn't even keep the resolution to update my blog on a daily basis and the new year has just started. It was too cold down in the craft celler (basement) to go down there and sit so I opted for staying upstairs in the warm house with the bright sun shining in the windows and craft instead.

As promised, here is the New Year card that I sent out. I will do my best to update daily. Have a good Monday!

New Year / New Me

2009-12-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am a VERY BAD blogger. Christmas this year just seemed to slam into me and left me on my butt wondering "what just hit me?". My blog suffered along with many other holiday things, but I am looking to the new year for a new start.

I am going to attempt something new this coming year of 2010. I am going to send out to my faithful JUG's (just us girls) the group of friends that I have had for more than 40 years these are the girls that I grew up with. Well, because we all hate to get nothing but bills in the mail, I am going to attempt to send out a card each month to the JUG's so that they have something fun to open instead of just another bill to pay. I already have my January cards made and I'll post the pic when I know that they are at their destinations.

I am also going to try to post every day in the new year. I may not have much to say but I'll try and touch base each day.

I also want to make a card a week. I would love to say one a day but I am trying to be realistic and keep these goals (I'm going to call them goals instead of resolutions) maybe a goal will be easier to achieve than a resolution is to keep. Time will tell.

I am also going to get a good birthday list and get my cards for a month done and ready to go so that I just have to drop them in the mail. If you would like to be on my birthday list please send me a note.

In addition to these things I hope to eat better (more healthful) and exercise more. Less stress will make me a happier person and I want to be happy this new year.

Do you have "goals" that you hope to achieve this new year?
Please share.

Turkey Day is Here

2009-11-26T09:58:00.001-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

YOU HAVE BLESSED MY LIFE AND HAVE MADE ME THE PERSON THAT I AM.

FOR THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE THANKFUL.

NOW GO AND GOBBLE TIL' YOU WOBBLE.

Milestone (pun intended)

2009-11-17T11:05:00.001-08:00

Today my car's odemeter rolled over to 100,000 miles.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

2009-11-12T08:55:00.001-08:00

Birthday Wishes

2009-11-11T05:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Fall

2009-11-10T05:21:00.001-08:00

When I Grow Up

2009-11-05T09:14:00.001-08:00

I stamped and colored these images awhile ago but needed to find the SU paper that I knew would work with them. Glad I waited until I sorted through my papers.

Cardstock, patterned paper and images are all Stampin' Up. The images were colored with Crayola colored pencils.

I HATE my new haircut!!!!

2009-11-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

Let me preface this with the statement that neither the stylist or my sister-in-law are to blame for me hating my hair. In fact, it was my sister-in-law's hairstyle that prompted me to ask where she got her hair done.

I needed to find a more economical place to get my hair done. The place I was going to is perfectly great, except that it no longer fits into my budget. I had been touching up my roots myself, but only in the areas that showed. It had gotten to the point that I needed to have something professionally done because I could only wear my hair in a bun (due to the outgrowth of color in the back).

The REAL reason that I hate my hair is because I chose a style that was so very drastically different from what I have been used to that I am not comfortable with it. I am WAY OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!!! The stylist created what I asked of her but it is so short and thinned out with a gazillion layers that I just don't like it. To me it looks like a hair helmet. I miss the feel of thick hair.

I know that it is only hair and that is one of the reasons why I haven't cried over my mistake or have the desire to make more dramatic changes to try and "fix it". It will grow out, I will find a better style that I will like and will look better. But in the interim I will just have to do the best with the little bit of hair I have left. On the bright side, at least I have a full head of hair and that is always a good thing.

Seeing Red

2009-11-03T05:18:00.000-08:00

Thankful

2009-10-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

My Mom is now at home recovering from a recent hospital stay. Thankfulness was on my mind when I did these two cards.

Switcheroo

2009-10-28T06:45:00.001-07:00

I changed out the happy birthday stamp to something a bit more feminine and played around with the patterned paper layers. Same card with some subtle changes.

Birthday in Blue

2009-10-23T06:07:00.001-07:00

As many crafters know you can't always find what you want when you want it. Or is that MY problem. I colored some images last weekend and have in my mind the perfect patterned paper to use with them. However, because some of my supplies are in my bedroom and some are in the craft cellar I haven't yet put my hands on them. I did find these wonderful SU patterned papers and made this card last night while watching Survivor. The paper is SU Bella Bleu, SU Very Vanilla, and a piece of navy cardstock from Archiver's. The stamp is from Archiver's and the ink is SU Night of Navy.

Have a great weekend!!!!

A Howling Good Birthday

2009-10-22T08:11:00.001-07:00

My niece and god-daughter celebrates her birthday on Halloween. I tried to combine a little bit of both on her card. The inside has a glitter cupcake sticker with a birthday sentiment.

Welcome Home

2009-10-19T12:52:00.001-07:00

Here is a card that I put in the mail today. I was expecting to take it with me to a housewarming but either I was a last minute deletion to the guest list or my invitation got lost in the mail. Either way, I waited awhile to hear something about the party and decided to just send the card with the gift via the mail.

I wish that I didn't have to work today because the weather is fantastic. Warmer, bright sunshine, a great relief to the cold rainy weather that we were having.

A Morning Quickie

2009-10-16T11:09:00.001-07:00

For those of you who let your minds go into the gutter with my title, let me give you a hand up out of the gutter.

Here is a very simple card that I made this morning before I left for work. Hence, made in the morning very quickly....LOL!

Hope everyone has a good weekend and with any luck I will have more crafty fun to post on Monday.

AAAHHHHH FALL

2009-10-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

Nature's beauty, right outside my bedroom window.

These colors just SCREAM fall.

I have so many punches! I want to try to use them more often in my projects.

I just love the patterned paper and the drinks ribbon.

Not Just A Job...

2009-10-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today I had a bit of an adventure. I had to go downtown to straighten out some business license stuff with the City of Chicago. This of course is not for my business but for the company for which I work. It was odd to not leave the house at my usual time and yet it had a completely different feel from a vacation or weekend day. I went downstairs when I woke up and logged into my computer here at work and did a few things before going back upstairs to get ready for work.

My brother dropped me off at the El station closest to my house so that I wouldn't have to walk the 2 miles. Not that I shouldn't have used this as a reason to get my rear in gear and exercise. I was lazy and it's kinda cold out so I went the way of convenience instead. It's been awhile since I rode the El and I was surprised that a one way trip/ride is $2.25. Still cheaper than driving down and parking. After some help from some nice fellow riders I used the vending machine for my ticket and with the help of a C.T.A. employee figured out how to insert it into the turn style. Why is it that I can so very easily do this procedure at Walt Disney World with no problems but felt like a complete dork today at the mass transit turn style? The ride was interesting to see the work that is being done on buildings and roads and the only thing that I should have brought with me was my iPod so that I could have listened to some tunes. Once downtown I felt a bit confused until I located Daley Plaza and then City Hall. The people (police officers and security) from whom I asked directions were very helpful and kind. Not that I thought that they wouldn't be but it was great to know that if I was a visitor that people in my city are nice and kind. After going to a few different departments and getting an escort by a very nice man (he called me young lady - I guess it paid off that I just dyed the gray out of my hair over the weekend, lol)that I met in the elevator I was finally able to resolve the business that sent me on my adventure. Back on the El, home and then out to the office in the suburbs. I can now say, that it's not just a job, but an adventure.

I will have a picture of the card I made this morning posted tomorrow. Have a good Tuesday!

Days Like This

2009-10-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

It's days like this that I wish I had become a school teacher or a banker. Alas, I work not in those fields and therefore cannot spend my Columbus Day at home. Instead I am catching up on work that often gets pushed to the side because I have to deal with the items that have arrived in the mail.

All of the baby shower invitations are finished and in the mail. All of the stamps used have been cleaned and put back into their SU plastic containers. Of course I haven't put those away in the "craft cellar" yet. That would be WAY TOO ORGANIZED! I have been eyeing my fall stamps and paper and throwing around ideas in my head for some seasonal cards. I have also been looking through some of my holiday paper and have been trying to come up with one or more designs for my Christmas cards. I think that I will be doing a few different versions of Christmas cards based on the supplies that I have. I have plenty of X-mas stacks of 12x12 paper and many many stamps that have never been stamped other than to catalog them for my binder so that I know what I have. I have also been thinking about a New Year's resolution which is to make and have all the birthday cards that I need for family and friends done so that all I have to do is place a stamp on the envelope and put it into the mail. I know that this means super organization but that is what I am striving for after all.

Have to put some effort into getting things done for the upcoming craft fair in November. I have a baby afghan that I want to finish along with a lap afghan, so I had better get a crackin'.

The tree out front is gorgeous. I need to take a picture of it before it is too late. The leaves outside my bedroom window are just fantastic.

So, if you are off and enjoying the holiday, well have fun because I am hard at work.
If you are not off but at work like me, well then I hope that you are able to be productive today.

Have a good Monday!

67 Down 13 To Go

2009-10-08T14:12:00.001-07:00

The challenge: To make a baby shower invitation for my niece that incorporated the colors of baby yellow (barely banana), baby green (certainly celery), and black. Use the images that she chose and make 80 of them in a span of two weeks from start to finish. (I exceeded the two week time frame - see title of this post).

This is what I came up with after talking my niece out of having a black card. I told her that it would just add another step of having to have a separate insert for the invitation data.

Almost!

2009-10-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

Gosh I feel so out of touch with everything. My blog, my blogging friends and their blogs. My friends and family. I have 20 invitations to finish and get in the mail and then I will have some breathing room. I'll post a pick when I am done.

Work has been crazy and I'm getting tired of the hours. It's hard for one person to do the work of three but that is what I am doing right now. I am fortunate to have a job and have begun to "train" the wife of one of the owners to do some acctg stuff so hopefully soon I will be able to lighten my load. My house and yard are a mess and I need to get my fat arse to the gym. Not just for the physical benefits but for the mental as well. Take some of these frustations out is definitely something I should be doing.

Don't give up on me cyber-world, I hope to be back to creating and blogging more regularly in the very near future.

Just Treading Water

2009-10-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pictures of what I have managed to finish and clear off of my plate. I was in charge of the invitations, party favors and thank you cards for my Mom's 80th birthday. Of course I never took a picture of the invite but it used the SU colors of pumpkin pie and purely pomagranite. To go with that theme the party favor boxes were made using pumpkin pie but this time I used the new "in" color razzleberry (?). They were filled with three Kit Kat mini bars. The thank you cards were made from a paper stack that I got at JoAnne Fabrics (some fall paper collection) and the cardstock is SU. The ink is SU the new razzleberry (I should probably be a better demostrator and know all these colors by heart but alas I am negligent in that area).

I am working on the baby shower invites for my niece Jennifer and although I have many of the components completed I have not yet completed a full card. They will however be out in the mail by Sunday so this here chick has many crafting hours between now and then to complete. I'll post a picture when I am done.

Pretty much the rest of my life is about the same. Working, eating, sleeping. Too much working, too much eating and definitely not enough sleeping.

I Think I See Daylight

2009-09-28T06:30:00.001-07:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I updated this blog. I have been busy making the invitations for my Mom's 80th birthday party, along with the party favors and her thank you cards. I will post those and some party pictures at a later date. I wanted to get the cards that were in my camera out onto my blog. Some of these have already been sold as I was in a craft fair earlier this month. I have about 80 baby shower invitations to finish this week and hope to be a better blogger and update more frequently as well as visit all my blogging buddies. Have a great Monday and I hope to be back very soon.

Cards

2009-08-28T05:23:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of cards that I made a little bit ago. I have been busy getting 70 invitations out the door for my Mom's 80th birthday. Have to make the party favor boxes and then design a baby shower invite for my niece. Plus there is a craft fair looming in September.

More Inventory

2009-08-12T05:34:00.001-07:00

Inside: Many Tanks

Inside: Many Tanks

Just Making Inventory

2009-08-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

More Cards

2009-08-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

Here are the remaining cards made with the "zoo" paper.

Nothing But Cards

2009-08-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

Good News / Bad News

2009-08-05T05:25:00.001-07:00

Yesterday at lunch my co-worker in the acctg department told me that she is quitting. Her last day will be Friday, August 28th. Of course I am very happy for her. She is going to work for the Chicago Public Schools for about the same amount of money she was making before we all had to take a pay cut. She will also get a pension and better benefits. She will also work the same schedule that the teachers work, so that means summers off and two weeks at Christmas...

I am a bit freaked out because I was supposed to take a week of vacation in September and it looks like I may have to cancel since no one else knows how to do any of the acctg work. On the upside for me, in exchange for the additional work that will be dumped on me, I am going to ask for more money. Wish me luck!!!

Little Red Corvette

2009-08-03T05:51:00.001-07:00

Well I did my first and probably last outdoor craft fair this past weekend. Saturday was miserable and it rained for most of the day. I think there was about 3 hours of no rain. Sunday was beautiful but the people just weren't buying. I didn't even make enough money to cover my space. The whole set up and take down was too much too since we couldn't bring our cars back into the area each night until after 10pm and I wasn't able to stay that late so I had to traipse my stuff in multiple trips. Right now I think I'll stick to the indoor fairs.

The Canna is Blooming

2009-07-31T05:42:00.000-07:00

Here are the first blooms on one of my canna plants. I love the color combo on this one.

This weekend is my first ever outdoor craft fair. I hope the weather is good, no rain, not too windy and not too hot.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Just Cards

2009-07-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

An Odd Sighting While Sitting In Traffic

2009-07-28T05:39:00.001-07:00

So, here in Chicago it's either winter and potholes or summer and road construction. I have to take a different way home from work so that I can go make the company's bank deposit. That route takes me approx. 3 miles out of my way so it's a smidge (15-30 minutes)longer than my morning route. Well, last night I found out that the one road that I travel is now under construction. EEEK, Uck, Blah!!!

My commute in construction is not my story. No instead, I pose the question:
Why do people attach things to the front grill of their vehicle? I understand wreaths during the holiday season but I couldn't quite understand yesterday's sighting.

I drive a Pontiac Sunfire, a compact car that sits lower to the ground. Not as cool and sleek and low to the ground as a corvette, but lower to the ground than a say mini van or SUV.

So I'm sitting in bumper to bumper traffic as the lanes are reduced from two to one. I'm playing with the radio looking for a good song when I look up at my rear view mirror. There, just beyond my bumper, even with my spoiler are two doll heads, one blond (dirty from being on the grill throughout all weather and traffic dirt) and one semi faded redhead. They are about the size of an American Girl doll but are NOT American Girl dolls. Now I am really curious because "WHO PUTS DOLL HEADS ON THE GRILL OF THEIR VEHICLE?" I cannot pull up far enough and put enough distance between his mini-van and my car to see if there are bodies attached to the head. I find this both amusing and weird that I have to call my co-worker to see if this strikes her as odd too. While talking to her on the phone I am able to put enough distance between our vehicles to see that there are no clothes on the torsos of these dolls. There is also something in between them but I cannot make it out. As we move further along and more distance is obtained I see that these are not unclothed baby dolls but they are mermaid dolls. They are not topless but have some sort of bikini or shell bra over there breasts very faded so it looks like they are topless (yup these dolls had breasts). The vehicle moves over to the left lane and at that time I am able to see the whole set up. Two mermaids, one blond, one a redhead. In between a stuffed elephant head, complete with tusks.

Okay, is this odd or am I just overreacting? I, like many others drivers out on the road have an antennae topper and I have Mickey Mouse seat covers but I have never thought to tie a stuffed Mickey Mouse to the front of my car.

Another oldie

P.S. I forgot! He had a bobbing head dog on his front dashboard!

A Movie Marathon

2009-07-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

So this Saturday I got my errands done and decided to go to the early (cheaper) showing of Harry Potter. I didn't make the 10:55am showing like I had wanted to but luckily for me the theater had the movie showing in more than one room. I made it to the 11:20am showing. I bought my $7.50 ticket and my $3.50 bottle of water and found the perfect seat. I almost had a private showing but just minutes before the movie 5 more people joined me. About 15 minutes into the movie strobe lights started flashing (I thought it was part of the movie, LOL!) and then a warning signal started to go off. Next came a prerecorded message that there was an emergency and to evacuate the theater, don't run, just exit quickly. The entire building emptied out and the fire trucks and police came. The fire-fighters went into the building with hoses and axes and full on gear. We waited outside for somewhere between 15-30 minutes and then all the fire-fighters came out, the manager issued free passes to anyone who showed there ticket stub and we went back to our theater. Of course my "perfect" seat was taken by someone else which only proves that it was the perfect seat, :-) I have read all the Harry Potter books so none of the movies are detailed enough, and this one is really setting the stage for the next two movies. This movie did not have a lot of action and was more of the story-telling leading up to the last book. The last book is so filled with action that it will take two movies to wrap up this series. After watching this movie I cashed in my free movie ticket and went to see "The Ugly Truth". A cute funny chick-flick. I liked this movie and found myself laughing out loud in more than one place.

Yesterday I found myself out in the garden and was astonished at how fast weeds grow. Spent about an hour weeding,transplanted some flowers from the West side of the yard to the East side, filled up the bird and squirrel feeders and then went inside to do my "chores". I finished the book I was reading "sTORI Telling" by Tori Spelling. Cute, fast and entertaining read. Thanks for the book Cindy!! Forgot to grab a book this morning to start so I will have to choose one tonight. Got a couple of cards done for this weekend's craft fair, got one done for a friend and started another for my brother to use for a friend of his. All in all a productive weekend.

Here are two cards that I made years ago that I recently found in a box.

Here is another card that I made years ago and even though it is very simple is still kind of cute.