Here are a couple of things that I have worked on in the last few days. My living room has all kinds of card stock and crafting paraphernalia around it. I am working of Christmas gifts (still need to send out the Christmas Cards....ugh). There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. My friend Amy and I made some Puppy Chow on Wednesday. Talk about some yummy sweet goodness!

Well I packaged some of it up to give to my boss for Christmas and Faith (my youngest) wanted to give some along with a card to a teacher who will be leaving today. Her science teacher went out on maternity leave and I think she rather prefers the sub to the actual teacher. I had that happen to me during the 5th grade,. Ms Cook, she was an awesome teacher!! I digress, here are a couple of pics of what I have done.

I know the picture isn't the greatest, I took it with my camera phone, can't seem to locate my digital camera (thank goodness my oldest daughter is getting one for Christmas! :)

Details:

Stamps: PTI- Signature Christmas

Patterned Paper: Memory Box, PTI-Bitty Boxes

Ink: PTI Scarlet Jewel

This next one is the card and bag ensamble for the teacher.

This came together pretty easily for me. I love the colors together (it looks better is real life)

I guess you could say that we aren't the only ones who like the Puppy Chow, just found the empty bag of what was left over on the floor! Thank goodness the gift bag was where the dog couldn't get to it, however, I still don't know how the dog got up on the table! UGH!!! All that yummy sweetness is gone....might have to make some more! :)

Details:

Cardstock-PTI

Inki-PTI Smokey Shadow

Patterned Paper-Memory Box

Stamps-PTI Wish Big

Flash Back

I have seen a few people post pictures from the "olden" days, so I thought I would hop on the band wagon. This picture is from my freshman year of high school. This was my sisters shirt, and I just loved it!

Merry Christmas!

Well we woke up at 7:30 am this morning. I had made Monkey bread last night and put it in the fridge, so when the girls woke up all they had to do was put it in the oven. So we made coffee and started to open presents. The girls were excited about what we got them. We bought the Wii and the game Rock Band II with the money that my mom and dad sent. They were very surprised. Sarah said she would never expected it. And that was my goal. I wanted them to be surprised.

We went to my sister in law's house and had Christmas up there and had a great meal. (Pretty much any meal I don't have to cook is great, LOL) then opened presents, hung out for a while and then came home. The girls immediately started to play Rock Band so it seems to have been a good present to get. I am soooo glad, I was really worried about Faith being disappointed that she didn't get her Uggs.

I bought Craig a nice comfy rob and a shirt, he was complaining that the only shirts he had were Pepsi t-shirts.

OOOH, didn't realize how much bed head he had. HEEHEE

Counceling

Last night Craig and I went to our first session with our pastor concerning the state of our marriage. Things have not been well with us for quite some time. It seems to me that we would get to such a bad place that I could no longer stand it and when I would finally say something we would try to be better and we would for a little while. Lately however, I have found that I am tired of this tiresome cycle that we go through. Vince has been doing a 6 week series about the Sermon on the Mount and I have to say that they have really touched a cord deep within me.

Anyway, Vince asked us what we imagined marriage being about when we got married. I kept my mouth shut (on purpose I might add) because I really wanted Craig to begin. I don't have a problem talking but it just seems like I always take the lead. He started off good but then got into some of the things that I apparently do that disappoint him, and Vince stopped him.

In the end, Vince said that we were both broken. This I knew, but he wants us to look for the broken places so that we can work on those. I have to say that I didn't expect Vince to talk as much as he did, and I have no idea as to what will happen in these sessions, but I hope that we will come out of it in a better place then we are now.

A busy weekend

We had a busy weekend but lots of fun was had!! Sat. morning I had to get Faith to pictures for her soccer team then to her game. They tied, it was a good game; Faith assisted on a goal but it didn't count (still not sure of all the soccer rules). Anyway, like I said they tied, at least they didn't loose, and the team they played had some good players on it. Thankfully, Faith's earrings have gone back in after the game. This last time was real easy. Then we came home and I made a birthday card for a friend of ours.

His name is Rob and he is Craig's BFF (LOL). We were going over there later for dinner. It was his birthday so we brought his favorites! Cheesecake and Breyer's Vanilla Fudge Swirl. We got to his house about 5 pm, had some fun and got home around 10:30. Then we had to get up on Sunday to get to practice at church by 8 am. Went to church and then came home, studied for a couple of hours and then went to the neighborhood block party! Here are some pics....

This isn't the best quality photo, but come on she was jumping on a pogo stick!

Connor, Amy's son was a volunteer magician! He's not afraid of being in front of people! He was really cute. Later on they had a talent show. Sarah was the first one to sign up. She sang a Hannah Montana song, if I head my head on straight I would have remembered that I can do video too! I could had a little piece to show you. I was really proud of her, she got up there and belted it out and sound good! And I don't just say that because she is my daughter. LOL!

I finally met, Rocco and Michael. They are the gentleman that bought our friends house down the street from us. They moved it a year ago in August and I have never met them. Isn't that horrible!! Anyways, they were very nice and I have to say that I am dying to see what they have done with the house. They have a cute little dog...her name is Pepper. Rocco wants more dogs, but Michael thinks that one is enough! But isn't she a cutie??

Gabby came with us to the block party, we brought her home from church. She said she needed to be home by 5 pm. I called Katinka and told her I would bring her home between 5 & 6 pm. Well shortly before 6 pm I gathered up Amy and Gab. The girls wanted to come with us, but I didn't have enough room in the car. Little did I know that Gab wanted to be home by 5 pm because I was the guest of honor at a Surprise Party! I felt bad then for not bringing the girls, I know they wanted to see my face! It was so beautifully decorated with my favorite colors and they all wore these beaded necklaces also in my favorite colors (blue & green). And they would take their necklace off and when they put it around my head, they said something nice to me. My one disappointment with it was that Craig was not there and did not participate in my celebration planning. Otherwise it was a very busy weekend and I didn't get hardly any studying done. So that is what I am going to do now. I will try and post the card I made for Rob a little later.

It is September, school has started

School has started for the girls and tomorrow I have my first class. Microbiology! Hopefully it will be more like Biology then Anatomy & Physiology! I did much better in Bio then A&P. One step closer to my goal. Sarah was excited about school starting, Faith not so much. But I think both of them are ready for a change. There is only so much not doing anything a person can stand.

I don't know what happened to this post, I never posted it, so I will continue on! School HAS started for me I like the teacher, not so much my Lab Assistant Maria! When I was taking biology, she took over for my lab assistant to found a different job. Wasn't crazy about her then, and not crazy about her now!!

The girls are getting into the groove of school. Faith of course hates homework and so does Sarah at times. I guess we all did!!! Doing homework with them sometimes is painful! I was helping Faith with her homework last night as well as trying to study myself but it just seemed like every 3 min. she would ask me a question. So around 8 pm when she asked me another question I just closed my books and helped her. I don't really like studding past 9 pm if I can help it. It just doesn't seem like anything sticks, 9 PM is the witching hour for me. Plus, I get to watch my shows, LOL!! A girls has to have some down time!!!!!!!

Faith is learning how to play the trumpet, she wanted to clarinet, but there were none left at school for her to borrow, so she is doing the trumpet with a friend. Here's a video of her the day she brought it home!

Alright peeps, finally got the video uploaded to Blogger! Leave me a comment, let me know that someone is out there!! LOL

Vacaton and other stuff

Tomorrow my mom and dad come in from Texas!!! I am so excited; Saturday we will leave and go to Beach Lake, PA to Dellwood Acres. I have been there a few times before, but Craig makes the trip a couple of times a year. It is a very family orientated place, it has a pool, tennis courts, horseshoe pit, a little miniature bowling alley, ping pong table, paddle boats and a bigger lake that Craig puts his little boat into, to fish. I anticipate alot of relaxing and laughing!!

School starts for all of us soon! Sarah will begin 6th grade and Faith is going to 5th. I can't believe it! They are growing up soooo fast. Where did my little toddler girls go? Now I get to deal with the attitude of adolescence. JOY!!! Maybe I will ship them off to grandma and grandpa!! LOL.

Here's Sarah on the hammock with Lucy and Dale around her! This was at the beginning of the summer can you believe that summer is already coming to an end???

I don't know what the heck Faith was doing, but I do know that we were coming back from the pool. I love the look on Sarah's face in the background!

Italian Festival

I know it has been so long since I have blogged!!! Sorry, I have just been getting into making cards, it is my new creative outlet. I figured however that all I was doing is posting cards that I had made on here and some of you may not be that interested so I started another blog strictly for my creations. If you are interested in looking at them you can find them HERE. Anyway on to the Italian Festival.

Last month Craig and I both did the clown thing at the Monmouth County Fair (there aren't any pictures of us, just wanted you guys to get an idea). Anyway we told the girls that we would take them to the fair on Sunday after we did the show with Vince. Well that go rained out, so we told them we would go to the Italian Festival. So Craig and I made sure to save $50 from each of our checks. Now if you know me, that is hard!! When I have money, I can think of all kinds of things I want to spend it on. Anyway, we went last night. And do you have any idea how fast we blew through $100??? We bought a kabob & Lemonade for Faith, a cheesteak for me (wasn't that good) and $20 worth of tickets so they could go on the rides and had like $40 bucks left! I was blown away.

Anyway when we go there they were doing 50/50's which they did every hour. I told Craig to play because he is one lucky S. 0. B. If you know what I mean. He said he didn't feel lucky and didn't want to play well when I was on line for my not so good cheesesteak, I guess he got the lucky feeling because he bought $5 worth of tickets. We were over by the rides when Craig looks at his watch because they were drawing the ticket at 8:00 and tells me he is going to go over to hear the number. They call out the number and I say to myself, I bet you he won. He comes back to where we are all smiles and tells me that sure enough he did win. He won $350!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!! I told you he was lucky. I said to him, "We are going to split that right?!" And he said, "No I bought the tickets." To which I responded "yes out of the money we pooled." So we had a great time at the fair, not having to worry about running out of money which was nice for once. And after we came home I had $150!!

SSHHHHH, don't tell the girls

A couple of weeks ago, we inherited a hamster from our neighbor who was moving back to California. We had watched Hammy for a couple of weeks when they would go on vacation and knowing how much the girls loved Hammy they wanted to know if we wanted him. Of course the girls begged us and after agreeing that they would clean the cage once a week and take turns doing it we said okay.

All was going well, although they sure didn't play with him as much as they did when we were just hamster-sitting but we knew that would happen. Anyway today we had a couple of the girls friends come over and play and of course the hamster was taken out and played with, it peed on Faith's bed, and crapped on Sarah's hand! LOL!! Lucy also loves the hamster. She takes every chance she can to say hello up close and personal.

Well tonight Craig is going to bed so I am on my way back to our bedroom to change in to my jammies and I see something on the floor. YEP, you guessed it, HAMMY. I am assuming the girls didn't close the cage all the way and he got out and Lucy finally go to say "hello to her little friend!" Now she didn't hurt it, there were no puncture wounds or blood, I think she just scared it to death. I was definitely in her mouth, but again no wounds. So I called Craig and made him get rid of it before the girls saw it. I feel sooooo bad! We have decided to tell the girls that Hammy has gotten out and we need to keep a look out for him, and when they never find him they will think he got away. Needless to say we will be having no more hamsters.

I just hope Kaitlyn doesn't call and ask about him!!!

Another Card

I got a call from work yesterday (I work for a Pedi. Surgeon) telling me that we would be down another person on Thursday. We see patients only one day a week so it is a heck of a day. Anyway, my co-worker may not be there because her mother (who is 92) is very ill. She has had cancer and has taken a turn for the worse, so I figured I would make another sympathy card. I have to say I really like the way it came out.

Details:
Image: Flower is SU (I don't know the name, I used a stamp from my SU demo as I don't have any yet), Sentiment is Inkadinkado
Copics: R32, R30, R05, G24
Ink: Brillance Black Ink
Card Stock: Bazill

Summer Life!

Not much is going on here besides the normal everyday, summer stuff. I am going to take the girls to the pool today (I don't really want to go!) but this way I can take tomorrow off from the pool and say that I took them on Sunday. There is a method to my madness. What I really want to do is stay home and make some cards.

Yesterday I went over to my SU demonstrator's house and she let me use some of her stamps because I needed to make a Sympathy card for a women in our church. Her MIL died, I don't know here really well but she does so much. I don't think I have ever met her husband, but I can't even think of how I would feel if my mother died! KWIM! I know that I am getting older as people around me are having family members die, I DON'T LIKE THAT!!! Anyway here is the card I made for them.

We finally got Lucy groomed, we had been trying for 3 weeks. The first week, the groomer called at 8 am to tell us she was canceling because she was up all night sick. I can understand that but I had just given Lucy the last sedative that we had! She was pretty stoned and I must say quiet all day long. I wonder if it is bad to give her a sedative every day LOL! The next week we took her to PetCo, because the first groomer never called us back to reschedule like she said she would. I took Lucy in at 11 (when our appointment was) and they said to me, "You were supposed to be here at 10am." I told them, "Well, my appointment card says 11 am." They took her and then called me at 3 pm saying they had been trying to call me all day, because they weren't able to get her out of the cage, so they didn't groom her! URGH! When I went in I noticed they had copied the wrong phone number from the vet paper which showed she had all her shots and told them that it was wrong and gave them my cell to call. All I want is for this dog to be shaved for the summer so she will be cooler! They asked me to come and get her because they close at 3:30, so off I go to get this ungroomed dog! We make an appointment for the following week as an immediate appointment (which costs more money!) so she won't be traumatized by being put in the cage, she is such a prima dona!!! LOL, so here is a before and after pic!

Before

After

Isn't she cute! She looks like a completely different dog! I do think she likes this hairstyle better for the summer. I think she looks NAKED! Dale likes it alot too, he just can't seem to leave Lucy alone! She snips at him when he gets to be to much.

Blog Candy

Artfully Ila is giving away some blog candy from High Hopes Rubber Stamps. She also has an example you can look at and what a great job she has done. I can see me using these alot!!! Go HERE to check them out!!!

Sorry it's been so long!.

Well, I have been on the computer, but I have just been looking at other peoples blogs seeing all their beautiful work. I found an SU demonstrator and she gave me the catalog and she has a club that meet every other month. Now when you come she teaches you a new technique and you are obligated to buy $25 worth of product and each time you meet one of the ladies in the group will be entitled for hostess benefits. So I figured I would give it a shot. I have to say that I wasn't extremely impressed with her cards, they are nothing to fancy, but she was very nice and I like the idea of the hostess benefits.




Although as I have been looking at other blogs I have seen all kinds of stamp companies out there and a lot of them I like. So I don't think I will be strictly SU. I am dying to get some stuff though.





Here's a card I made for a friend of mine that I have just recently seen after 8 years. She and her daughter stayed with us for a couple of months. Then they moved to Florida. She had a hard time, but things have turned around for her. She is now married and lives in South Caroline and 6 months ago had another child. So I thought that this would be nice to send her. This card also was a sketch challenge for Spitcoast Stampers (I tried to link it here but it isn't working) Anywhoo here's my card! SC182

Recipe:

Card stock the base of the card is Bazill and the green squares and the purple card stock is Creative Memories

Patterned Paper is Creative Memories

Image is G Studios.

The base of the card measures 4 1/2 inches, I punched the green squares and the polka dot squares using my creative memories square punches using the 1 1/4 and 1 in punch. I stamped the image 3 times and colored it in using my Copic markers. Hope you enjoy!

New Blogs of Note!

Check out this crafty person she really adds a lot of detail and soft colors in her cards. Oh to be so talented!! Plus she is giving away blog candy, how sweet is that????

Cardmaking

I have found that any free time that I have, I spend it looking at other blogs of people who stamp! I am just dying to get some extra money so I can invest is some of that kind of rubber!!! I have always loved what you can do with stamps. I can't draw and make things look nice in that way, but with stamps there is just so many different ways you can put them together. I did spend a little money a month ago and bought some clear stamps at Wal-Mart, but seeing these blogs......I want MORE!!!! LOL

What got me going again were Copic Markers these things alone are quite expensive, but I bought a few after seeing what you can do with them. They allow you to shade and build layers of color. I did see on one of my wanderings, someone (sorry I don't remember who) who had made flowers out of punches that were really pretty. So since I have used my limited supply of stamps I decided to try my hand with these flowers and markers. I really like the way it came out. I will post a picture later. But here are some of the cards that I have made.

This card I made for Craig for Father's Day, I know it isn't very "fatherly" and I have seen some awesome Father's day cards, but you work with what you get. It was also a challenge "Get Knotty" over at Splitcoast Stampers. It is funny how you start with an image in your head how the card will be, but end up with something totally different. KWIM??

I am thinking that maybe I should start another blog just for my card making, what do you think???

I will post the other card that I have as well as the flowers that I made as soon as I take pictures, now I need to go and make a Birthday Card for Hubby as today is his birthday.

My first card

Here's a close up of the velum

Here is my first card that I have made. I colored the flowers with Copic Pens on vellum. It don't know if vellum is the best to use, but trial and error.

I used Autumn Leaves Clear Stamps and stamped the word love with VersaMark and kind of accented it with a whice pen. Used some pink eyelets that I have had and added a little jewel that the kids used to decorate their cells with for the center of one of the flowers. I have to say I really enjoyed being creative again.

Two more card I made

Well, I kinda like making cards. I get to use up some of my scraps and it is creative! Plus I get to use and learn about stamps which I have always wanted to use but forced myself not to get into them as I had spent so much money one scrapbooking supplies. But I don't think I can hold myself back anymore. Plus, now I have seen these Copic markers and what you can do with them so I am wanting to try and learn how to use them better.

I have had this stamp for years!!! When I got the Copic markers on Friday night I took them to Chucke Cheese (I had already made plans to meet a friend there) and played with them a little. I bought 6 pens and had to improvise on making green (it wasn't a color that I bought) but I don't think I did to bad. I am dying to learn more and practice shading. Here is the other card that I did, I wasn't able to use the Copics on this one but I do like the way it came out.

Slideshow

here we are

I will NOT be a school nurse!

I have to say that the school nurses that I have come in contact with at my girls schools are irritating! I sometimes wonder if they are school nurses because they can't cut it in a hospital. My experience with them has not been a good one. Let me explain.

I can not tell you how many times I have gotten a call from the nurse from either school asking me to come and get one of the girls because they have a temperature of 99.1, now I know I don't have the initial of R.N. after my name but even I know that isn't really considered a fever. But whatever I will go and pick them up, but what really burns me up is when you call me to pick up my child because they are sick but when I get there, 10 min. later, you have already sent them back to class. Now to me they can't be that sick if you are sending them back to class so they can infect all the other kids. Are you feelin' what I'm sayin' here????

Now this same nurse that sent my child back to class, stayed on the phone for 10 min talking to another mother about different churches that they have been to. Now I don't care that she is talking about church, but what I do care about is that it is pouring down rain outside and I have parked where the basses pick the kids up and I am afraid that they will be there before I can get out. After she concludes here personal phone call she proceeds to tell me, if front of two other students that the teachers have voiced some concern over my daughter's hygiene. Now I am just furious! My kid comes to the nurses office and we leave.

About a month later I have a meeting with some of her teachers to talk about how we can best help my child and they bring this same conversation up. I thanked them for reminding me and I told them of the exchange between the nurse and myself. They agreed that she should not have said something in front of other students.

A couple of weeks later I get a call from the school nurse telling me that my daughter has come to school in clothes that are too small for her and she asked if I could bring her a change of clothing. I told her that I could not do that right then and that it would take me a while and asked if there was anything there that she could wear in the mean time. She said yes, but continued to go on and on about the small clothing that she had on. Now mind you, I was embarrassed to begin with. I had caught my daughter a couple of times wearing small clothing and I hadn't yet gone through her drawers. But I was in the middle of my work day and we were seeing a ton of patients and the doctor that I work for is walking around me and I am sure he is going to start yelling at me about being on the phone. So I cut her off and asked her once again if there was something there that she could wear and she said yes. That was on a Thursday. On Friday I pull up in front of the house looking forward to having the next week off and there was a van parked in front of my house. Two women get out of the van and I knew right then where these women were from, DYFUS (Division of Youth and Family Services).

They asked to come in and told me that "someone" had called them with some concerns about the girls. They went on to say that there was some concern as to how they were dressed. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who it was. I had to sign a release for them to contact the girls doctors and dentist. I soooo wanted to give that school nurse a piece of my mind.

Then today I get a call from the nurse saying Faith has a rash with pustules. Now I know for a fact that Faith doesn't have a rash, she was out in the woods by a lake and what she has are insect bites. The nurse makes me come and pick her up. After I pick Faith up I call the school nurse and tell her that Faith doesn't have a rash and I go on to explain to her how I am somewhat annoyed that I get called for things that turn out to be nothing. I have gotten called for what the nurse tells me is ringworm and when I go to the doctor it is eczema. Not only does it take time from work, but it is 20 bucks a shot every time, not to mention taking the time of the doctor for something that is nothing. But I make an appointment at 4:30 pm. In the mean time the school is trying to call me to tell me to come pick up her bike. They don't want it left there over night, but I don't want to talk to them. Anyway I take her to the doctor and guess what she has????

That's right, insect bites!

I made sure that I got a note, but I so badly want to put "I told you so" on the note and then attach a bill for $20! That is when I decided I would never be a school nurse!

Heart and Miles

Why do some take family for granted? I have lived the majority of my life away from my family. In my teen years I chose to run away for months at a time because I didn't feel like my family understood me or didn't really care. As I have gotten older I realize that I really enjoy being around my family and I want them to know that they are an important part of my life.

Just recently my niece visited New Jersey for her friends wedding and we got to hang out for a couple of hours. Now we had been estranged for about a year and a half over a misunderstanding and it was nice to see her again. I do have to say that it was a little awkward which is a shame since we were so close for so long. We had a special kind of relationship as we both were growing up and as she got older I wanted to help in anyway I could. She has always held a special place in my heart. There have been times that I have cried because we laugh so hard when we are together. I miss that!! Here's a picture of the two of us when she was last out.

Jasmine has a great personality and she is one of the most beautiful people I know. However, I am jealous of her and her mother living so close to my mom and dad and not appreciating that fact. For whatever reason, my sister seems to not want a relationship with my mother and father but it has been them who have helped her so much along the way. I was told that she didn't even want to spend Mother's Day with my mom! That burns me up!!! As I get older, so do my parents and the reality of their mortality hits me more and more and I can't understand why my family in Texas doesn't want to spend more time with their loved ones. I believe there will be many regrets for them.

I know that we, as human beings tend to take for granted those things that are with us all the time, but I feel like I have a different perspective on family then most. I long for that sense of family here and I look for it in those that are in my church, but I have yet to find it. That alone saddens me. I was brought up in the church and the church that I attend now talks of wanting to live out the Acts 2 church, but we don't. Many people here have been born here or grown up here and have family so their need is not as great as mine and it is hard to find people that both Craig and I can be close too. So I keep searching with the hope that one day, I will be close to my family not only in heart but in miles as well.