The Sign - Gratitude Campaign

Little bits here and there to share. Sorry I haven't posted much lately - I was all excited about the new year and then bam - hit a wall. It's only been two days and hopefully it will lift this weekend.

We had a great time with the Mouse. It was crowded but we had fantastic weather in the 80s all 4 days and it was of course, Disney-amazing. Rachel was an extra in the Indiana Jones show. The girls had a great time but it really can't be called a "vacation". Nancy and I went over to see the fireworks at Cinderella's castle. WOW oh wow - it was AWESOME. I love fireworks. When she saw the castle, she gave me a big hug with tears in her eyes and said, "thanks for bringing me here. I've always wanted to see this." I realized, it has always been my dream to do this for them. I took 719 photos.

While at the airport, we saw a couple of soldiers and I wish I had seen this video. The Gratitude Campaign. Way cool - I love the sign.

Take a look at this pup (it's a video) and tell me if he doesn't need a friend to play with... You know, that kind of snow is foreign to Texans - I don't know where Bailey lives but that is unbelievable!

I saw the Crop A Dile II on HSN last night and I had to marvel at the brilliance of the product. You design a tool that is revolutionary but limited in scope. Everyone gets hooked on it and then you redesign it so that it works with the industry standard (12 x 12 paper) and sell it again. Whether it was intended or not, it is brilliant. I am also amazed at the fervor at which women (and I am one of them) get about new scrapbooking supplies ... gotta have it... lemme at it... I want it! It really is remarkable.

"When someone asks you 'think about what Jesus would do', rememberthat a valid option is to freak out and turn over tables" -- Unknown

Granny Panty Chic_ (http://grannypantychic.blogspot.com/)

And if I get one more prayer email about passing it on or something terrible will befall me or my family, I WILL SCREAM! I can get inspired by well written words and even a tear or two but don't screw it up at the end by telling me I have to send it within 6.2 seconds or I'll die. Crazy. Here's to a great new year!

PS - Hello Brisbane! I was there 21 years ago and LOVED it!

Happy New Year

A quick goodbye before we don our Mouse Ears and head to Orlando... We're all very excited about it and can't believe the time is actually here. The weather is in the 60s for the lows and 80s for the highs so it should be fantastic. I did land a room at a Disney hotel - Coronado Springs. We've used a great website, All Ears which provides great information, including menus to all the restaurants. I'm ditching all the chocolate and sweets that we've accumuldated over the holidays and going back to South Beach style eating. I'm tired of the look, so I want to get busy and start making better choices. And I feel so much better when I eat a salad for lunch - I just have to find a nice salad that I can enjoy.

Be sure a take a look at Daily Puppy - it just a bright part of my day. Wait til you see the little bijon that they have today. So precious. I'm noticing that they have some great shots of these pups - terrific facial expressions. I picked up Allison Tyler Jones' Designing with Photos this week with my 40% Mikes coupon. I know I can learn alot from this book... Also enjoy reading Karen Russell's blog with her photography tips. If you look on the left side of the blog, you can go directly to the photography advice. I am soooo dying to do a banner like the one in the background. I have been thinking about doing a Welcome banner since Creative Escape.

Happy New Year. I am looking forward to another fun and fabulous year of learning and loving.

Monday Monday

Hands down, I have found the BEST internet website evah! Check this out... Can you not fall in love a million times over. Isn't it the best! I am going to have to go back in the archives, definitely... just too much fun.

For some crazy reason, the DVR on cable fried this weekend but before that I was taping Martha Stewart Crafts on DIY - I don't know what it was but watching Martha make stuff was just fascinating. You keep wondering if she'll screw up - I mean, there she is... crafting. And it doesn't always go as planned. Last week she made a very cool lattice tray, some lemon candles by scooping out the inside of a lemon and french milled soap. So cool. I have to get the recorder fixed, if only just to watch Martha.

I received my Secret Santa box today - Yipee! It rocks! I got the vintage label stamps from fontwerks. I love love love these labels - they make meeee happppeeeee! There was plenty other cool stuff in the box. White Funky Vintage alphabet and MM paper stack and cute cards. I am glad I mailed my package on Saturday. And if I didn't mention it, I am loving my stamps!

If anyone has suggestions about Disneyworld - pls leave a message and tell me where we MUST go! We're getting excited and I've decided to get the park hopper passes - just in case we want to go to Magic Kingdom.

Every week I get an email newsletter from Cheryl Richardson, author and life coach. I've learned alot from her books and her newsletters are thought provoking and inspiring. Last week she talked about a website called Tabletopics and threw out these questions:

1. What's the most beautiful drive you've ever taken?

2. If you only had 5 more years to live would you change anything about your life?

3. When you're down what do you do to feel better?

4. What's your proudest accomplishment?

5. What's the best and worst thing about being a man or a woman?

Aren't they great ... make you ponder for a bit? I think after Christmas I might order a set of these. Of course, I'm thinking of them in terms of a layout. Hope its a great week for you.

Hello Mickey!

It was a slow week last week. My nose is healing up nicely from the basal cell surgery and I skipped my balance therapy (for vertigo). Rachel's birthday is Christmas and she was not excited about it - she'll be 21. I suggested that she plan something fun so she'd have something to look forward to - that's what I do. I've been toying with the idea of taking the girls on a trip and I just wasn't feeling wintery and cold so I threw out the idea - Disneyworld. We're going the 27th for a long weekend - they've never been. Both of them are over the moon excited which makes me really excited and happy. Unfortunately, the Disney resort hotels are booked except for the grande one so we're not staying there. But we're going to have an excellent time - I'm so excited to see their reaction. Plus, it's been 10 years or so since I've been so it'll be terrific. I still have to tell them at work - I don't have the second day of vacation but what's one day - they can dock me for it. I want the girls to have good memories for this Christmas, not be mopey about losing their mother. Not to say, grieving isn't necessary - believe me, we are in it. but they can have good memories about the Christmas of 2007.

Not much else to report - Suziblu has a new video up. She's just amazing. I am always amazed at her talent - every time I see a new video. I scrapped a bit this weekend - finished a baby book for a friend. Staying positive...

Chinese Backstreet Boys

It was a great weekend - Hugo Chavez got his hat handed back to him. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I really hate Hugo Chavez and I wish more Americans understood how dangerous he is to our country. I also wish they understood that Citgo is owned by Chavez and the connection between the two. Anyway, I don't get political about much but for some reason this subject gets a flare from me.

I spent all of Saturday getting in a little Christmas shopping and alot of scrapping at Michelle's house, my Creative Memories connection. She totally rocks, and I always have a great time at her house - yummy food and lots of laughs. I finished a baby book for a friend.

Ali Edwards had these linked on her blog this morning. There are some great videos on there, but hands down, this is the BEST one. It is totally hilarious. It's Chinese Backstreet Boys singing That Way. And its been viewed almost 5 million times. Watch it and tell me if you aren't swaying by the end. The first one is also good - the wedding dance. Isn't You Tube amazing.

Oh, yeah, we have lots of Christmas lights on our house... it looks pretty! Good night.

Baker Company

I had two basal cell spots extracted from my face on Wednesday by Dr. Lilyette Wright. (she rocks!) I thought it wouldn't be a big deal. It ended up being a little bit more painful that I thought but I think I'm through the worst of it.

I got this email earlier this week and felt like sharing. I checked it out on snopes and its true. Instead of focusing on my minor stuff, I want to remember these guys - somebody important. Pretty cool.

The proud warriors of Baker Company wanted to do something to pay tribute to our fallen comrades. So since we are part of the only Marine Infantry Battalion left in Iraq the one way that we could think of doing that is By taking a picture of Baker Company saying the way we feel. It would be awesome if you could find a way to share this with our fellow countrymen. I was wondering if there was any way to get this into your papers to let the world know that "WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN" and are proud to serve our country.

Semper Fi

1stSgt Dave Jobe

I'm remembering today.

Suziblu

Oh me. I'm getting that weary, tired feeling again. I just hate it but there is nothing I can do but lay down and chill. His name is Grief and it just wears me out. I was fine up until today. I've been making some embossed cards for Christmas - embossing is definitely my favorite. Here, I'll take a pic. I was thinking the silver looked better but really the black is pretty nice. The jingle one is made with a brass stencil and paste. I really got into paste last year and haven't done any since. But I LOVE embossing.

I mentioned a few days ago missing a bid on Tracy Niehues clown on ebay. I'm fascinated with doing a project with a little round head and ruffled collar made from crate paper. I still haven't figured out how to do it but I will. Anyhoo, she mentioned this blog and so I took a peek. WOW. Suziblu. I don't know how to describe it other than inspiring and amazing. Look at her vlogs about starting an art journal. She is really adorable and it inspired me to start my very own art journal. You start off by writing all the reasons you can't or won't have one and then you cover it with gesso. I had to laugh because about 18 months ago I kept asking everybody - what is gesso, what do you do with it, what is it for... well, now I'm a gesso, matte medium kinda girl. Crazy. Back to Suziblu - this girl has definitely got "it" in charisma or spirit or - I don't know what but I am spending my time looking at her videos.

Nannie came back from New Orleans just now - I made some yummy turkey soup. It is good that she is home. Its funny because I'm not used to living in a quiet house - I'm glad she's home.

Joy is not in things it is in us.