Friday's Feast One Hundred Seventy

Appetizer
What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride?

I love roller coasters or that little mousetrap ride that whips you up and down and around!

Soup
How do you react in uncomfortable social situations?

Hmmm...not really sure what you're looking for here but I do blush easily and become very quiet.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics?

Well, I hate to argue so I never go the politics or religion route. I guess I would say around a 2.


Main Course
Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to?

No, I did not. I hate to even say these words because you know what happens....but no, I rarely get a flu.

Dessert
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television?

I'm not a tv person. I only watch 3 shows per week, if that (Private Practice, Greys Anatomy & ER), and about 10 min. of the news each night.

At last count....

After last night, I'm up to about 50-55 Christmas cards. I have to make at least 80. I'm out of paper for my main design and it's a specialty paper that the lss doesn't carry (well, they carry it but not that color). I ordered a pack of 50 from them and used every bit. So I need to come up with a simple design so that I can make up a quick 30.

Do you ever feel like things come in bunches? I know they say they come in threes but I recently had to make a bunch of baby cards. Now I'm on to sympathy!! I've sent out three so far and have one more to go. I want to move onto a new category!!

I'm having trouble posting any photos because I got a new camera and the card doesn't fit in my USB or my adapter. So I need to install the software and hook up with the USB cable and haven't had time. Maybe tonight after yoga.

My new friend....

It's hard to get used to but this is my new friend. It helps my wrist out but I can't type fast yet!

When it came, it was nice and cold. Ahhhhhh......

Piped music...

I heard an interesting question on my favorite station on the way in.

If you could pipe music into the White House for the world leaders to hear, what songs would you pick?

The DJ said one he would choose is Ben Harper's I Believe in a Better Way. Excellent choice!

The only one I could come up with at a moments notice is Waiting for the World to Change by John Mayer. This is from his Continuum album.

Very thought provoking! Do you have any suggestions?

Question for you....

I recently spoke to an online friend for the first time and I was just wondering....

You know how you have a picture of someone in your head and then you meet them and they look completely opposite? How about the voice? Do you have a voice in mind also? Do you hear the person talking online to you? Sounds strange, I know.

This is the second time I've spoken to someone that I only know online. Both times the voice was completely different than I thought it would be.

I wonder if my voice is different than they expected?

And, Kimi, if you're reading this, I'm thinking of you and hope things work out today. Big cyber hugs to you!

I'm so tired...

I guess I had too many days off. I feel like we flew through the weekend though. All of the preparation for Thanksgiving tired me out. Then Fri. I had a Lia S. open house (I baked for that). Sat. we went to a fun wine tasting party at my neighbors and I baked for that as well. Sun. I ended up going food shopping and when things finally settled down, I sat down and made another 15 or so cards. Well, they still need to be adhered but the pieces are made. I ran out of paper.

I hardly slept last night. My mind was racing. I'm not sure if it was from zooming through the cards or what! I have a wake to go to tonight and hope that I don't fall asleep on the ride home. I'm getting a ride with someone thankfully. I'm not a city driver and this is right in the heart of the city.

Ok, back to work!

Great news...

I just heard that my cousin is pregnant. They got married last year and then moved to Germany because her dh is a pro hockey player. I just hope they can get home before the baby is born!

Here's the card I made for her. Images, paper and ink are SU.

Banana bread....

I baked banana bread on Sunday. I haven't done this since before my Nana passed away. She loved my banana bread. I would go to the assisted living facility to visit her and I always had a loaf in my hand, just wrapped in foil. The ladies would watch me coming in and start whispering things like, "There's Esther's Granddaughter, you know, the one with the banana bread." It was pretty funny.

I started to show up with the bread in a bag instead, hoping to conceal it. They still recognized me.

My Nana used to keep it in the freezer and dole it out a slice at a time. And she only shared with the ladies she liked. This was her all time favorite thing to eat.

So I took a break for a while because I get sad when I think of it. The other day I decided to go for it and I was happy thinking about how it made her happy.

I think I'll do a layout in the future so I took some photos as I went along.




































I haven't lost my touch. The banana bread was gobbled up fast at work! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

5 Things Meme

Saw this on Stacy's blog Exceedingly Mundane

5 Things found in my room (this is my craft room I'm speaking of)

Bose Docking Station with Ipod ready to rock
Our captains chest filled with photos and negatives
Photos of my boys & my Nana so that I can look up and see them while working
Big comfy chair with ottoman & leather recliner
My scrapbook armoire filled with stamping & scrapping stuff

5 things I’ve always wanted to do:

Travel to Australia, California, Alaska, go back to Hawaii
Go on a cruise
Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Go on the Orient Express (train ride out west)

**Edited: I didn't realize I put four down!
Go on a just girls trip with my bff in MI (to a nice warm island)


5 things found in my bag

Wallet
Cellphone
Lipstick
Reading Glasses
pen

5 things in my wallet

Driver’s license
Debit & credit cards
Insurance Cards
Union card
small amount of cash

5 things I’m currently “in to”

Stamping
Scrapping
Reading
Blogging
Watching Grey's Anatomy & ER

I won’t tag anyone specifically, but feel free to play along. Please let me know if you do!

A little hairy....

We went up to Maine yesterday to visit our land. Sounds funny, I know. We met with our builder to talk about excavating to get a jump on it.

We took a trip to Evan's pass on the way home. It's part of the White Mountain National Forest. It was really pretty. They do not maintain the roads during winter. The gate wasn't closed so we thought we'd give it a shot. We've never been through before.

So....off we go. We ran into a little bit of snow, just a dusting really. Then it got to be very icy where the sun didn't hit the road. Then more snow. We had no place to turn around and it was getting scary. We were worried about having to go down or up a big hill with icy roads.

We stuck with it and it was fine. It was really steep at times but not so much the road, just the cliffs to the side of the road!

The sun was so bright, the photos didn't come out great. Here are a few anyway. I guess I can turn this into a thankful post. I'm so thankful we made it out alive! Can't wait to visit here in the fall or summer.

Friday's Feast One Hundred Sixty Nine

Appetizer
What was your first “real” job?

This is a great one. I got a part-time job in high school at Nature Foods warehouse. I started out as a packer and was promoted to assembler. What's funny is a friend of mine worked at the end of the line and I used to send him down pistachios and carob chips in my bins!! LOL

Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity? Either in my scrap/stamp room or to a class at my lss (local scrapbook store for you non scrappers!).

Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…

I walk into a room and everyone looks. I hate to be in front of a crowd. I like to blend in.

Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?

Always tell the truth. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything. And it CAN be done.

My mom's family motto is from the following poem:

It Couldn't Be Done
Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.


Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years.

Oooh, they've all made come backs recently! Low rise bell Bottom jeans, pheasant tops and wedge sandals.

Not much....

I didn't do much of anything last night. I made a quick card for our friend. I wasn't totally thrilled but it's a guys birthday card with a guitar on it.

I was too tired to do more. I watched Private Practice and struggled to stay awake for the 10:00 news.

Tonight's yoga-lates class ought to be interesting with this thing on my wrist! I'll just have to pass on the exercises that use hand/wrist strength. That's about half of it! LOL

I made this one last week for my card group. I was sent the image and had to make a card with it and send to my partner. I can't remember the paper manufacturer but the cs is SU. I used that cute little felt flower sent to me by my nice friend, Kimi!!

Ramblings...

Ok, first of all, you ladies are the best! Thanks for the nice comments. I always cringe after I hit that Publish button, thinking my things aren't so great and why publish when there are so many talented ladies out there. So thanks for making me feel ok about it.

Second, my wrist is hurting but just an annoying ache. I have an appt. with a hand specialist on Tuesday because I wanted to go to their office near my house. I'm sure it must be a ganglion (sp?). It looks and feels like bone. My ds' eyes popped out of his head when I showed him last night. He's the one who has been to that specialist's office several times for broken bones.

I'm really looking forward to next week. I only have to work Monday. Tuesday I have my dr. appt. and then I have to take my mom to the airport. She's going to her sister's for Turkey Day. I decided I'd take Wednesday as well. I have the vacation time and my dh won't get any this year with the new job. I plan on doing more Christmas cards, layouts and also getting ready for Thanksgiving. Can't wait!

p.s. I've added a new link to the side. I saw on someone else's blog that Tim Holtz has a new blog and you all know how much I love Tim Holtz!!

My weekend projects...

Just in case I don't have time to post in the a.m., I thought I'd share what I did this weekend. I stamped & bleach painted 25 images. Then I cut and mounted several of them, stamped the sentiments outside and in. I ended up with 18 finished cards. It's an Outlines stamp. I got the idea from their site and added my own little twist with a sentiment and brad.













I also did two 2 pg. layouts for my Hawaii album. I had a great time reminiscing. I want to go back with my dh some day.

I cut the edge of this one! It says Wailua Falls. I used Basic Grey paper and letters and the green paper is CTMH. I found the leaves from an old stash of Sizzix die cuts.









I used my new Fancy Pants stamps on this one. There was a corner scroll that looked like a sun so I stamped away. It's not the best but I had fun and learned for next time.

Babies.....

I've made a couple of baby girl cards because two coworkers have had them, one a first grandchild and another a second daughter. So they were pretty simple because I had to get them right out. I used the Mike's $1 stamps.




p.s. Not too sure I like the peek-a-boo photo of myself. It's showing my laugh lines!! Yikes, and I thought I didn't have a lot of wrinkles....

Friday's Feast One Hundred Sixty Eight

Appetizer
Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies?

Let me first say that I never go to the movies for one simple reason....I fall asleep. So the last movie I saw was The English Patient. When I used to go to th4e movies with my kids, I would always get popcorn. I always had a hand full of mini reese's cups or swedish fish in my pocket for dessert!

Soup
What year did you start using the internet? Oh boy, my memory is bad. I will guess at 1998? It could be a year earlier but I honestly don't remember.

Salad
What is your first name in Pig Latin? (Here’s how to speak it if you don’t already know!) Ichellemay, I think!

Main Course
Name something you are picky about.

This is a toughy. Let me first say that I am a Virgo and one of the pickiest people around. I am picky about how clean the house is or where something is placed, I'm picky about the messy office if someone has left a mess, etc. I'm also picky about how perfectly straight things need to be on my cards and layouts. I am picky about how my laundry is done. I could go on and on. Wait - I already did!!! Let's just say, I love things to be just perfect.

Dessert
Fill in the blanks: I did yoga-lates yesterday and I am sore today.

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to work...

I can't say it's good to be back. I'm pretty tired still and not feeling 100% but the sore throat and headache are gone.

DH's job seems to be going well so far. We haven't had a lot of time to chat about it but he's coming home smiling and has a lot of energy. I want the paychecks to come in!! hehe

After being out for 1 1/2 day you'd think I'd be full of energy!

I totally forgot to bring my camera card to post a card I made the other day. Tomorrow is another day....although we may have a wake to go to. I need to check the obits for my dh's uncle.

more later...

quick post...

I'm home sick today and my mom is too. She has a bug. I think mine is allergies but can't tell (sore throat, headache, tired). My mom is NEVER sick so I was worried until she came down today. She didn't get out of bed from 11 a.m. until this morning. I asked if she wanted anything to eat or drink but she said no. She is starting to feel a little better today.

Here's a get well I made for my uncle after his surgery. I hope I didn't already post this!

IS the rotten egg!!!

This morning my dh's alarm went off at 5. I thought it was early but I know he had to drive pretty far today. He's like a bull in a china shop. He's getting ready, tosses his belt on the bed, it bounces, sits down on the bed and it bounces, puts his shoes on, you get the picture.

So it's now 5:30 and he says, "Oh, I cannot believe what I did. I set my alarm an hour early!" I'm ready to strangle him at this point. So he left the room and I tried to sleep until my alarm went of at 6 but that didn't happen. Oh well...we will get it right one of these days! :-)

Last one out...

DH is off to work once again after a long 6 months. I finally get to be the last one out in the a.m. I thought it was nice....

I ended up having to empty the trash & take out dinner for tonight. So...I was finally heading out the door...you know how us women are, always multi-tasking. I grabbed my Macy's bag (return), work bag, lunch bag, purse, coffee, and the recyleables (sp?) to put out on the way through the garage. My hands and arms were completely full and my cell phone started playing, Love Me Do by the Beatles. This is my dh. I quickly tried to put my coffee mug down (spilled a little) and two bags so that I could search through my purse for the cell phone.

Finally answered and he asked me if I hit something with his car. NO, I told him. So apparently my ds hit something and didn't realize it or just kept it from us. He said it's a scrape below the driver's door which looks like it was from a curb. Grrrrrrrrrr.....this kid needs a car he can beat up, not my dh's one year old car which now has a scrape and a dent on the back fender (someone else did this in a parking lot).

I proceeded to pick up the recyleables and toss them, picked up my bags and purse and got in the car. I hope tomorrow morning is a better last one out!!! :-)

Friday's Feast One Hundred Sixty Seven

Appetizer
How much money do you plan to spend this upcoming holiday season? Not a whole lot! My dh was unemployed for 6 mos. and is starting a job next week. We are keeping it low key this year.

Soup
What was the last television show you watched, and was it good? ER - it was great! Love that show.

Salad
If you had to paint the walls of your living room tomorrow, what color would you choose? Hmmm...I really like what we have now so I guess I'd do it over. It's kind of a light khaki color. It looks olive-ish at night and buttery yellowish during the day.

Main Course
Name something clever or practical you have thought of that should be invented, but hasn’t yet. I'm at a loss here but I'd love a cell phone that shows a live video of what my son is doing when not at home! Then I wouldn't worry so much....or maybe I would!!

Dessert
List 3 things you would like to receive as gifts this upcoming holiday season. I need some stamping things so I was going to make a list of SU & CTMH and let dh contact my reps. He asked if they do gift cards. So...I may be getting gift cards and that's fine. I don't have much else on my list since we're keeping it low key.

So sad....

First about Halloween and my trick-or-treaters - I had 34 if I remembered to count all of them. I had some with manners, some without and some who were nasty! One kid talked about a "weinus" (his sword) if I didn't give him candy. His older brother was completely embarrassed to be with him. I told him it wasn't very nice and he ran off. Another two kids came up and sang the song (Trick-or-treat, smell my feet) with an ending of "I'll pull down your underwear". NOT nice.

Then I had two trick-or-givers or whatever you want to call them. They came to the door dressed as Santa, said, "Merry Christmas" and tossed some Dum Dum lollipops my candy basket. I said thanks and asked them if they wanted candy. They said no, it is better to give than receive. I thought it was really sweet but my paranoid dh looked at the Dum Dums and thought they were tampered with. I was going to toss them anyway, no one eats them at my house. So we tossed! Weird.

One more thought and I'll stop rambling. My dh reminded me that this will be our last Halloween in the house. It made me so sad. We live in a small neighborhood and I will really miss my neighbors and my house. I love where I live. So now each holiday will be "our last". On a positive note, it will also mean we will have a vacation home.

Happy Belated Halloween...

This is what I did while waiting for kids to come to the door. The photo is really blurry(updated with better photo). Oh well, you get the idea. I used the Splitcoaststampers color challenge (so saffron, tempting turquoise and real read. I like the combo.