Friday's Feast One Hundred Fifty Eight

Appetizer
Who is the easiest person for you to talk to? This would be my best friend who lives in GA. We haven't seen each other in a few years but we are in contact daily on email.

Soup
If you could live in any ancient city during the height of the quality of its society and culture, which one would you choose? I have no idea. I guess I would pick some beautiful city in Greece.

Salad
What is the most exciting event you’ve ever witnessed? Oooh, another toughy. All I can come up with right now is a hot air balloon rally in Michigan. There were about 500 balloons going up at once. Very cool.

The other would be a stunt pilot doing tricks. My husband was in the plane with him the day before doing stunts (Art Scholl who sadly passed away while flying).

Main Course
If you were a celebrity, what would you do for a publicity stunt? Not sure. I know I wouldn't get drunk and embarrass myself! I'd never make it as a celeb. I'd be hiding from all of the cameras.

Dessert
What do you consider the ideal age to have a first child? Hmmm...probably 30? I had my first at 27 and that was fine too. My second was born when I was 31.

Tagged by Jodi - Face behind the blog

I was tagged by Jodi.

Face Behind the Blog. Here are the rules:

1st step - Post a short blog article that includes a photograph (or a series of photos) showing the face behind your blog. If you already show a photo somewhere on your site (such as in your about page), then make your post more interesting and choose a photo that’s not currently online.

I don't have many photos of me either! I found a couple just for Jodi ;-) My dh recently took this while I was reading in my pjs during vacation. I almost killed him and then looked at it and it wasn't SO bad. So here you go:













And this one is obviously with the boys during Christmas last year.













If you'd like to play along, just make sure you let me know! I'd love to see your photos.

Someday I need to post and tag for a baby photo and a teen photo. It's been on my mind for a while but I don't have any electronic versions of old photos yet.

Talk about using your stash......

I saw a tag in one of my magazines (Paper something-or-other, just a trial copy) using Sizzix candles. I know I have a huge stash of die cuts getting dusty so I thought I'd pull them out and use them. I came up with a girls and boys version and still have a big bag of them to use!

a creative weekend....

Not only did I make a gazillion cards as usual, I scrapped four pages!!! Yippeeee. Oh yeah, and I finished another book, "The Glass Castle". EXCELLENT book but it rips your heart out!!

Here are a couple of cards. They are all Stampin' Up images, paper & ink but the sentiments are Studio G.

World Cardmaking Day

I didn't know this existed! It's October 6th and I'll definitely participate!

Check it out!

Tagged by Mamapajama

Love that name, by the way!! I am so green at blogging that I don't even know how to put the link for the tagger!!

But here goes anyway:

Tagged!!

Eight Random Things About Me:

OMG - I feel like I should say ditto. I, too, have a huge head (not stuck up, just big size-wise LOL). I finally bought a baseball cap in Aruba because my dh and boys talked me into it. When I put it on, they laugh hysterically. I am just not a hat person.

One of my favorite things to do is make cards (stamp) or scrapbook, or shop for those supplies. Is there anything else?!

I was a dancer when I was younger. I went to dancing school for 13 yrs. - tap, jazz, ballet. I quit for a while and went back as an adult for a year. I was 3 mos. pregnant during my last recital! Oh yeah, and I had perfect attendance for 10 yrs. (I have a trophy).

I am so picky about everything, I cannot stand myself sometimes!!! I re-do things in projects if they're just a hair off.

I'm a horrible photographer (as you can see here on my blog).

I would do just about anything for my boys.

I used to be skinny and could not gain weight. I ate like a piggy, it just wouldn't happen. People used to call me Stretch in high school. I was tall and lanky. Then I got married....

I was a child bride. I got married two weeks after my 18th bday. I had my first child at 27.


I won't tag anyone but feel free to play along! Let me know if you do!!

Friday's Feast One Hundred Fifty Seven

Appetizer
Say there’s a book written about your life. Who would you want to narrate the audio version? All I can think of is Kathleen Turner. She narrated one of my son's books and it was great. Maybe she'd make it sound interesting?!!

Soup
Take the letters from your favorite kind of nut and write a sentence. (Example: Perhaps every avenue needs understanding today.)
Perhaps everyone could analyze nuts. (sorry, I'm in a rush here!! LOL)

Salad
If you could go back in time and spend one week in another decade, which decade would you choose? The nineties. I had a lot of fun back then.

Main Course
Name a song that brings back memories for you. I can think of a few and they're all so differeent. One is "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls? I used to go out dancing with work friends every now and then (in the 90's) and it was a blast. The other is a whole set of Beach Boys music that dh and I used to listen on the way to the cottage on Cape Cod when we were dating. The last one (I'm not a Bette Midler fan) is Wind Beneath my Wings. My oldest son's DARE graduation had a slide show to this song and I think every parent was crying at the end.

Dessert
Do you prefer to wash your hands in cold water or warm water?
It depends, but usually cold. I tend to run hot these days. In the winter, it's warm for me.

Wow, what a day!

It's been crazy in here. I haven't had more than a few minutes all day! This is what my life will be like until and IF my old boss comes back.

I think I have a card that I can post since there's nothing great to talk about. Let me see......






I made this for a blue/green challenge but the green looks kind of yellowy, like Chartreuse. I made another last night but I'm not sure if I like it or not. More later!

Just a little photo....

Don't we make a cute couple?!! LOL (I look old enough to be his mom!!) Seriously, I cut my friend out because I'm not sure that she'd want to be posted. He is the NICEST guy! He's so patient and inspiring. Don'tcha just love this woman who poked her head in the photo?

Ugh....back to work!

I had a bazillion emails even though I've been weeding them out each day. This is the thing I hate about vacations.

Had my Industrial class with Tim Holtz last night and it was great! We made chipboard into pieces of jewelery or to use in sb projects. He is the BEST! He's adorable and SO nice. It amazes me how all of the women (all ages) fall all over him! So adorable (did I say that already?!).

My friend took photos and will email them to me. Here's the sheet we got with our materials, just to give you an idea of what they looked like.




I'm so exhausted today. I got home at 11 p.m. and could not sleep all night. I saw 12 p.m., 2 a.m., 4 a.m., 5, etc. I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight!

OOOOH, I forgot to tell you about my free tshirt from the lss that hosted Tim. The tee says, "Tim Holtz and I did Absolutely Everything (and it was very distressing)." The name of their store is Absolutely Everything. How cute!!

More scenes....

Just got back from a family cookout at my aunt's. I feel like this week flew by. Tomorrow is my class with Tim Holtz and I can't wait! So here are a few photos of scenes from the coast. My dh and I took a ride up the MA coast through Rockport, Gloucester, Ipswich, Essex, etc. It was so pretty! I've been there a ton of times but my dh knew some back roads we had never traveled. Unfortunately my camera battery died before we saw some really pretty sights.

We stopped and had a delicious clam plate at Woodman's. They're famous for their fried seafood and their clambakes. Yum....I followed my diet until then. And later on when we got home we decide to go to Kimball's Farm in my town. They have the BEST homemade ice cream. I had coconut almond chip. We took my son and his friend. I ate a lot today too. One last day to cheat!

Quick update...

I'm back from Maine. We had fun on Tues. It was beautiful out so we played bocci in the sun. What a great game. It was my first time and I really enjoyed it. Wed. was lousy out so we headed home after a bit.

Had my CTMH card class last night and that was fun too.

Today we took my son up for a new skateboard and had lunch. All of his boards are broken and I want him to keep active. That's the only thing he really does now.

Anyway, we saw this cool bug that looks like a stick so I took photos for my son. I'm also posting a couple of yard shots. Their yard is so pretty. She loves to garden (I hate it) and it shows.

Vacation interruption...

Thought I'd just update today since I won't have time the next two.

Today I may take my ds to the Butterfly Place. It's a big greenhouse that has beautiful exotic butterflies. He loves photography and wants to get some good shots.

Tomorrow morning we're heading to Maine. We're staying overnight and will head back Wed. afternoon so I can go to my card class.

Unfortunately my dh was told that he can't swim in a lake, pond, hot tub, for another 6 weeks. Ugh....we do hope to get out on our friend's boat but I guess he'll have to stay dry.

Finished another book last night (Big Bad Wolf/Patterson) and started "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town"(not sure of author). I had nothing else here to read. I should have brought a few books home from work. Later!

Friday's Feast One Hundred Sixty

Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of pie?

Ooh, too hard to choose! Key Lime pie if I must choose one!!

Soup
Name something that made you smile this week.

I received a nice RAK package from my SBA friend, Kimi!!!

Salad
What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid?

Stay in the air conditioned house and scrap or stamp (unless I can be at the beach).

Main Course
You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up?

Since I've already redecorated most of my house, I'd have to say I would spend it on custom built ins for my scrap room. I'm tired of the mess from my overflowing stash.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: My ________ says __________, but I __________.
My mind says finish your work, but I am in vacation mode already!!!

Heavenly...

I got a package from a great SBA friend yesterday. It included a bunch of pretty primas that I didn't already have, a Bling "Q" for my last name, some big flower brads, photo hangers (LOVe these things), scrap rings, pins (use these a lot too!!!), square brads. I can't remember it all but it was a great package!!!

As I was putting the primas away, I decided that I'd like to sort mine by color instead of brand/collection. I had so much fun going through them and then lining them up on my shelf (missed photo op!!!).

My dh came in and asked what I was doing. I told him and he said, "You are way too obsessed!" LOL He's right.

So I never got anything done. I still have a 2 pg. lo that I cannot seem to figure out (Christmas - my least favorite). I wanted to make a new home card for my cousin, wanted to start my Christmas cards too. Oh well...

At the end of today, I am officially........ON VACATION!!!!!!!!!! I have a funny feeling I won't be getting a bunch of me time in. My dh is so bored and lonely that I'll have to be with him 24/7. My ds is also bored and lonely. They should get together instead of counting on me to keep them busy!!

We may go to Maine for a day or two. Wed. night I have a card class, next Sun. I have my Tim Holtz industrial class. Cannot wait!!

Much better today...

It's funny how one day can seem so dismal and the next is bright.

First of all, I feel like a new woman. My migraine is totally gone (knock on wood). The air quality is great today so I think that helped. I'm starting to think it may have been allergy/sinus related but I also wonder if it was my new lamp, topped with stress, that brought it on. It's SO bright, my dh said he didn't understand how I could work with it!

Second, my ds told me he was going "home". I asked if he meant to the apt. and he said yes. He wasn't at my home this morning, so I have to assume it is working out with his sweet gf. I'm really happy but not counting my chickens yet.

My youngest has been hanging out with this adorable girl. I keep asking if they're going out, he says no. I asked again last night after picking him up at her house. He said not really. So he finally came out with the fact that she REALLY likes him but he's not sure he wants a relationship right now. Too funny! Any other boy/guy would be dying to go out with her!!! I just don't understand my "men".

And third, my dh is in a much better mood and that helped me a lot.

Migraines and misc.

Ok, it must be my week for headaches. I had a major migraine last night. I hooked up my new natural light lamp from Walgreen's and was ready to scrap when it came on. I couldn't see. I thought it was the light so I sat on the couch in the dark. It didn't go away. I finally went to bed after taking several meds. I went up at 9:30 and didn't come back down. I'm still in pain but at least I could see when I woke up. I think it was caused by stress but still not sure. I took meds as soon as I got up so that I don't get another. I'm hanging in at work.

Anyway, my mom always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". So I'll just post my cousin's 30th bday card I made with Junkitz paper. The photo is terrible as always.

Something fun for a change....

Made this for a watercolor challenge. I had so much fun with the watercolor, I kept painting images!

When it rains, it pours....

Ok, so my son ended up going out last night and said he wasn't sure if he'd be staying over or not. My youngest had a friend sleep over who didn't get there until 11:00. So I woke at 1:15 and the lights were on. I went down to shut them off but saw that the boys were not in the basement. I went back up to bed and saw that they shut them off at 1:30. I woke up a few more times during the night.

This morning there were two cars out front so I knew I had three boys in my house. I think my oldest was in my youngest's room instead of his old one that looks too clean, I'm sure. The other two slept in the basement.

I seriously hope this won't continue each night. When my oldest is at home, I get worried when he's not there at a decent hour. Don't know what the difference is. When he lives away from home, I guess I just don't know and can't worry about it.

I wonder if he'll go back with his gf or not. I feel really bad for her. She's so sweet and we really like her. The other issue is his cat, Lola. He's attached and she's not coming to my house. I hate to be mean but we need to keep our house looking good until we sell in the spring. I just don't know what will happen.

On another subject, my dh is doing great. He's almost walking without crutches already and said he won't hesitate to have the other knee scoped.

The Power of Schmooze award

Jodi at My Life as Mama Jodi was kind enough to award me this. Thank you so much, Jodi! I really appreciate it!

I wish I knew how to link with your names, Ladies, but I don't!

I nominate CMChristine and Danielle in UT for this award.

Creative Blogger Award

I'm so excited to be nominated by Stacy http://hambones.org/blogs/stacy/?p=1808, one of my favorite bloggers!!! This is my very first award and I'm not sure that I'm deserving this one but will accept anyway!


Thanks so much, Stacy and Jodi (see post above) for making my week!

I nominate Maia at Iannesphere and Becky K at My Ramblings (see SBA ring list for these links - Sorry!)

Whew, what a day....

At least my headache is gone. Got to the hospital at 10:30 for 12:30 surgery (Dh's knee). The didn't take him down to OR until 1:50. I ran home to get food (I was ready to pass out!!!). Sat here pacing the floors until 4:10 when the dr. called to say he's fine. He did have a nice tear and also arthritis but he'll be fine. They gave us a Dunkin' Donuts gift card for the wait!! hehe, too funny but I didn't refuse.

So I'm trying to relax now before I head back in an hour (he's in recovery for 1 1/2 hrs.). I didn't get much reading done since I was trying to keep him busy. He had a horrible headache and hadn't eaten since last night AND was nervous.

One more thing - I made those monogrammed cards for my cousin's 30th. Just got an email that she doesn't want to have her 30th at the cookout. She's kind of shy and there will be a lot more than just our family. I'll give them to her privately, I guess! She's such a sweetie and we never see her because she lives in OR.

Hope I can get some time to scrap or create. I have to make a watercolor card for a swap. Later!

Ugh....what a headache...

I was told to go home yesterday afternoon. It took me about 20 minutes but I finally caved.

I went out at lunch and read on a bench in the shade. When I went to go back into the building, the signs were blurry. I kept walking up to the 5th fl. and back to my desk. Everyone's faces were blurry as if I were reading with no glasses on. Weird. So I grabbed some Advil right away. The pain came shortly after. So...got home around 5 and laid in bed for 1/2 hr. and my youngest came in to ask if he and his friend could "jam".....Ugh....I said sure. I put ear plugs on, rested more and then my oldest son came for band practice. I gave up, went downstairs and stayed on the couch the rest of the night.

I've never experienced the blurriness before. I've had the squiggles but not this. So this morning I left for work feeling pretty good. Got here and I have the pain back. My vision is clear though. I took some migraine meds and feel a little better but it's still in the back of my eyes. I have to be better for tomorrow. I'm off because my dh is having knee surgery. I hope I can read my book!!

I started The Highest Tide (forget the author right now). It's pretty good so far. Takes place in Puget Sound and it's all about the ocean, told by a 13 yr. old insomniac/braniac. Later!

Life and Times of a single mom: TV Giveaway!#links

Life and Times of a single mom: TV Giveaway!#links



Check this out! I saw it on Angie's blog. I seriously would love to win a new tv! You could win too.

Finished a great book last night too!!

I was reading, "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. It was excellent! It was about a man in his nineties recalling his life in the circus. I don't want to spoil it in case you want to read. It was sad but at times funny.

The Amazon link to the rave reviews is above.

My question of the day is: When you search something in Amazon and see "customers who bought this also bought....." , do you check the items out? I'm thinking of checking out some of the books listed with this book. And I have checked out music that others bought.

Finished the monogrammed cards for my cousin...

They're pretty simple but I'm done!!!