Inkin'....

I have a couple cards today. The first is one that my friend Dave asked me to make for his wife for their 10th anniversary. I took the picture at work w/ my phone it is not the best picture! I was really inspired, for this card and pretty much every card:), by Kristina Werner. It is a 4 1/2 square card. I cut a piece of this Kaiser DP and slipped a scrap of black behind it. I borrowed my friend Pam's Just Rite Stamper Curls set for the #10. I couldn't figure out how to work in Happy Anniversary on the front as I don't have a stamp for that. My friend Dave can be brutally honest, something I appreciate, and for some reason am never offended when he is!! But he said he really liked it!!
Details-Paper-SU Pink Pirouette, Black, Whisper White and Kaiser DP; Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black; Stamps-Just Rite Curls Monogram set; Accessories-SU Black grosgrain, Punch (Fiskars I think), Corner Rounder punch

I love this Amuse sentiment that I also borrowed from Pam... Inkin' of You. I didn't really have anything in mind when I made this... just had the supplies in front of me!!

Details-Paper-SU Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, American Crafts DP; Stamps-Amuse and SU Polka Dot punches; Ink-Memento Cocoa

I have to run.... Marty will be here soon. We're going to go the grocery store to get stuff for dinner then a walk. I found a WW recipe for pasta primavera, looks pretty good!! I am planning on making a concerted effort... for the 1,455,445 time... to monitor my intake. It's very frustrating b/c I don't think what I eat is unhealthy... it's not what I eat but how much. I pulled out the measuring spoons today and meausred an actual TBSP of peanut butter to put on my rice cake and it was decidedly different from the amount I usually put on! Portion sizes and desserts are my downfall!! Off for more water... I'm starving!!;)

Spanner in the Works

This is a sad day... the wireless function on my laptop is not working. That means no internet at home... and no cable TV which means it is officially 1980 at my place!!

I called HP on Saturday night, hoping it would be something we could fix on the phone... but it wasn't. I have to send the computer in to HP to fix. The good thing is that it won't cost anything as "this is a known problem to these machines." I wish it was known to me before I bought it. It worked yesterday which was exciting but then last night, same deal!

So, I can post at work but no pictures. It's funny b/c I started to stamp last night but I didn't have it in me partly b/c I knew I couldn't post it anywhere... also the fact that it was 10:15p and I had worked all day plus worked out. That may have put a damper on things.

Will be back!!

Heirloom goodness!!

Yesterday my mom, friend Pam and I made the drive out to The Heirloom Productions Rubber Stamp and Paper Arts Exhibit in West Springfield. This is my 3rd year going and have noticed that the first year seemed to be much bigger. I'm not sure if there are less exhxibitors or if I was looking at the convention through the eyes of a first timer.

Anyway, here is what I got! This convention seems to focus on products that give the more artsy, vintage look. I'm not sure if that is the way to describe it nad there is a lot of talent in the room, it's just not me. So, I get out of there w/out spending too much money!! I picked up some new Spellbinders at Marco's Paper, cute stamps from Denami Design, embossing powder and glitter from Sparkle 'N Sprinkle, more cute stamps from Outlines Rubber Stamps and copics from... I can't remember but they were a great price!!!

I can't wait to play around w/ my new stuff!! First work today then gym when I get home!

Big Puddle of Mush

I had intentions to stamp tonight but that was before I met a little thing called... Boot Camp. Tuesday night my friend Bonnie and I went to a Body Combat class that, compared to this class, seemed like a stroll through a field filled w/ cupcakes. At one point I thought you want me to do what? So, I don't how many jumping jacks, push ups, lunges, squats, laps run.... I am spent!!

Off to bed early and I'm looking forward to a Friday off. Saturday heading to Springfield for the Heirloom Rubber Stamp Convention.

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday!! I am at work right now... but I get off at 3 and my plan is to stamp, stamp, stamp tonight!! Exciting life, huh!

There are a couple challenges out there that I am excited to tackle... Kristina Werner's color challenge is up and I have the perfect DP to go along w/ the great colors... the real challenge will be finding it amongst all my stuff!! Also, this week SCS Featured Stamper is Mercy Kerin... I discovered Mercy's blog a few weeks ago and it has quickly become one of my faves so I can't wait to CASE her work!! Also, I read about a challenge to benefit the Alzheimers Association... this is a cause close to my heart as I work in a gero-psych unit and see patients every day affected by this disease.

That's it for now... hoping to get to Wakefield Lake after work and then onto my stamping desk!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I made this card for my Mom's birthday. It is very simple... and it turns out that it also fits this week Limited Supplies Challenge over at SCS. The challenge was to use a circle and only one stamp set on the card. I made these circles w/ my trusty Marvy punches and the stamp set is Le Jardin from Lizzie Anne Designs. I put a Creative Imaginations gem in the flower center that I think adds a fun touch!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend!! Marty and I went to Wakefield Lake today and walked/jogged. It was the first time my legs have seen a pace faster than a trot in a while but it felt really good!! We had a barbecue for my mom at my sister's... it was good to see everyone and all the kiddoes!! Tomorrow is a work get together and hopefully stamping at night! Tonight Marty rented the movie "Australia" w/ Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman... didn't get great reviews but Hugh Jackman is in it so it has to be somewhat good:)

Details-Paper-SU Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Darling Doodles DP; Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black; Stamps-LeJardin by Lizzie Anne Designs; Accessories- Copics, Marvy punches, ribbon, Creative Imagination gem

Thanks for looking!!

Ahhh Sunday

I don't have any cards to post today b/c I am at work right now... though I don't think I have anything new to share anyway!

Last week was fairly busy and I didn't get time to stamp... I started taking an Irish Step dance class on Monday nights. It is alot of fun though a killer on my ankles! I'm planning on taking a 2nd class on Wednesdays w/ my friend Christine! That means my craft night w/ Pam will have to move to a different night... I'm hoping she is flexible!

Marty and I went to the Celtics game last Wed, the game went into double overtime against the Bobcats and Ray Allen shot a three pointer w/ less than 3 seconds left in the game! It was very fun!!

I used an AC Moore coupon this week to buy another storage unit... I love my stamping space! I have a wall in the dining room. My roommate has a side of the living room for her school stuff so it works out!!

Yesterday was Marty's birthday and his parents took us to dinner at Legal Seafood's. It was the first time I had eaten there... baked stuffed shrimp, mmm so good!! Today Marty and I went to his friends for the day and now I am at work until 11pm:(

The Places You'll Go

I saw this list on Shannan's blog... things in bold are things I've done... what about you??

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restauran
t44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
l71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Have to get moving on finishing all 100... though I really don't want to be involved in a lawsuit... or be on a speeding motorcycle... or eat caviar!

My Friend the Sister

I wanted to send some thoughts to my friend Salvatrice who ,today, became a Daughter of Charity. She leaves soon for seminary in Indiana for the next year and a half. I'm very sad that I could not make it down to Maryland this weekend for her induction and even more sad that our communication over the next couple of years will be very limited.

Salvatrice and I met our freshman year of college. In college, we were ALWAYS together... friends used to joke that we shared a lung. Salvatrice has helped me w/ my Stats homework, intrepreted Philsophy for me, put up w/ some poor choices in the guy area:), made me laugh til I fell over, made 24 hour trips to Boston for me, made crazy, random road trips w/ me, introduced me to yearbooks, made me crazy mad by refusing to do dishes and generally helped guide me through life. After college we went in different directions but picked up right where we left off when we saw each other... visiting each other in Arizona and Mexico, trips to South Bend and Chicago then Maryland and Boston, we have made an effort to stay close. Words really cannot express what she means to me.

I'm very happy for her, that she has found her calling and is on a path that is right for her. I'm more than a little sad for me, and the rest of her friends and family, that life will be a little different.

I know she will kill me for writing this... but now I can say, aren't sisters supposed to be nice?. Good luck, Sr. Salvatrice, you are loved more than you know!!

Welcome!!

I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost 2 months!! Time is flying!!

Work is so crazy today but I wanted to welcome Liam James into the world. My new nephew!! He is doing well as is my sister-in-law, Ana!! Congrats to my brother and family!

I can't wait to meet Liam today!

Excitement!!

I went to AC Moore today to buy glitter glue pens for one of my clients and I saw new packs of American Crafts paper... 60 sheets for $20. Paper I definitely do NOT need but I LOVE American Crafts paper, really all their products... and when I saw love they make my heart sing!! I wish I could take a picture but I'm at work right now.

I thought the summer would be a time to take it easy but I have been so busy and working alot! I have some ideas in my head though about crafty things.

Also, I rejoined Weight Watchers... for probably the 50th time... and I can tell a difference in how I feel... YAY!!!

Doesn't Pay to be Healthy

It is well documented that I do not like fruit... the texture, the wetness, the squishiness, the tartness, blech! (I do try to choke it down though to keep the doctor away and all that). Anywho, the one fruit that I do like is strawberries. However, last night I met up with a friend and we went for a lovely walk and then stopped at an ice cream parlor. Instead of getting ice cream I tried to be healthy and got a strawberry-banana smoothie... something I have drank many times.

Long story short, Kira and I are walking to our cars and I asked her "Does my lip look funny?" "It is a little swollen." I decided to stop by my parents to show my mom and she took me to the ER as I was having trouble breathing and was covered in hives. Anyway, obviously I am fine today but lying on the stretcher with my throat closing, heart racing and my vision starting to narrow was one of the scariest moments of my life. Thank God for IV Benadryl! and a great mom who is also a nurse and for Marty who dropped everything and rushed over to the ER.

I called the ice cream parlor to ask for the ingredients of the smoothie and it definitely was not as healthy as I thought it was! But it was really good!!! Was it worth an ER trip, I don't know! I go to my doctor next week for allergy testing and in the meantime I am going to avoid strawberries. But I will be ordering a cookies n cream ice cream with butterscotch... I have never heard of anyone being allergic to that!!

Where Do You Start?

You know when you;re supposed to call someone but you don't and then so much time goes by that you feel weird calling them... that's how I've felt with blogging!

So here's what I've been doing...

*counting down the days until summer vacation...19!!! who knew sitting with teenagers all day could be the most exhausting thing I've ever done!!

*some stamping but not enough!!

*buying tickets to NKOTB in September!! and feeling 13 again!

*being really bad at keeping in touch with long distance friends!

*hanging out with someone new who has definitely put a smile to my face:)

Featured Stamper

I haven't done an SCS challenge in a while and I knew I wanted to do this one. Laura from Scrapnextras was featured stamper a while back. I LOVE her blog and LOVE her style. I picked this card. I copied the layout but it's pretty self explanatory what was changed!

I am on April vacation this week so no teenagers for me... I am picking up hours at the hospital but I'm pretty happy for a break! The weather is amazing here and for a few reasons, life is pretty good:) Thanks for looking!!

Remember When...

A few short months ago I thought I was too cool for a flu shot. I figured I'm young, healthy, I'll deal... then there was a few days ago when I opened my eyes and found myself staring up at my ceiling. Hmmm... how did I get here? Last thing I remember I was making a dash for the bathroom before my stomach contents came to say good morning. Then I closed my eyes again, rolled over and thought that the carpet in my bedroom would be my last view of this lovely life.

I am eating my words, my friends. The flu is one nasty piece of work and no mistake. I have the bump on my head to prove it.

Word to the Wise

It is not a good idea to return from an international vacation, change jobs and move all within the same 9 day span. But I'm sure you would never do that because YOU'RE. SANE.

I'm using this weekend to get my head organized which I'm sure my co-workers are thankful as I've seen them give me looks tonight that suggest they are considering putting me on the other side of the locked doors.

Saludas

Saludas de Southern Hemisphere! Jen and I arrived safely in Argentina. We are in the city of Mendoza right now which is in the foothills of the Andes. Tomorrow we head back to Buenos Aires.

So far, a great time is being had. Argentina is a beautiful country... the people are so friendly, the food is great and the sunshine even better!! Yesterday we took a bus up into the Andes to the Chilean border. So breathtaking, literally with altitude sickness!!

It´s very exciting to have all these Spanish words come back to me. Thank God I am with a fluent speaker but those high school and college Spanish classes are coming in handy!!

Hasta Luego!!

HURRY UP!!!!

Okay for some reason I haven't been super excited about the upcoming trip... but now it is less than a week away and I am GIDDY with excitement!! I just want it to hurry up and get here!!

I'm embarassingly excited about using my passport again and adding a continent to the list!! MUST.BREATHE...

Seven More Days...

This stamp is from one of my new sets, Time Well Spent. I didn't have a card in mind but was dying to color this image!! Not seeing any flowers like this right now... I walked 5 minutes to my car tonight and I was physically in pain due to the cold. 17 degrees!!! BUT 86 degrees in Buenos Aires where I will be in just seven days!!

I'm feeling guilty about this vacation, I'm not sure why. It's going to be relatively inexpensive vacation but it feels very extravagant!! I am considering making a job change to working in the schools full time... it would be a HUGE pay cut but it is work that I LOVE!! I'm really torn...

I forgot to take a picture of the Valentines that I made. I only send them to my nephews and niece so I didn't make many.

Dignity

Apparently, I have none because I am about to share two things... first I just beat my highest Tetris score... I just scored 43,605 points and 208 lines.

Second, there have been rumors that NKOTB are planning a reunion tour... and I fully plan on being there. But, this just in, my brother-in-law is friends with one of the New Kids brothers (to which I say, Mike, where were you 18 years ago... and then I say HOLY.CRAP, that was 18 years ago!!!)...anyway, my sister reported to me today that she was talking to the brother who said he could help me out and GET.ME.BACKSTAGE. After talking to my sister, I promptly called my friend, Bonnie, who was as excited as I was about the whole thing as she would be at the concert with me.

I was watching some NKOTB vidoes on Youtube and they sure look and sound different, if you know what I mean, to my more mature ears and eyes. But if I was standing in front of Jordan Knight... I would be transformed back into the big haired, braces wearing kid who will one day be Mrs. Jordan Knight... and that my friends is... the right stuff!