I'm Back!

I'm sorry that I have been among the missing for so long but someone had to do it! I'm just getting back from 17 days in sunny, peaceful (most days) Florida. I wish I had some stamping projects to share with you but unfortunately my stamping toys - along with my unpacked suitcases - will continue to be neglected ... until Saturday! I'm playing catch up with some work stuff and jumping in the car for some work travel. The good news is that DH is playing golf on Saturday so that I'll have some time to dust off my stamps, stamp pads, and Copics and spend some time re-introducing myself to the beloved hobby/addiction that I've missed so much!

For those of you who don't know - DH and I had planned 10 days at our house in Florida to celebrate his aunt moving into her new apartment. Not knowing that I had planned a FL vacation one of my VP's asked if I would take on a project in FL for a week in April. Of course I chose the last week of the month and it extended my time away by seven whole days! I spent the first weekend lounging by the pool, doing a little shopping, and spending an awesome day with my mom and step-father before they headed North for the summer. Monday I worked in our Orlando office - I have to say it was strange actually working in Florida - I've spent a lot of time in the Sunshine State but all of it was pretty much vacation time! It almost felt surreal! Tuesday and Wednesday I worked in the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete/Oldsmar area and Thursday I was lucky enough to work in Sarasota - only a half hour from our house. Late Thursday night I drove back to Tampa to pick DH up at the airport and with only a few conference calls and a couple of emails interrupting us we had a very relaxing, random vacation!

One of the things that Venice, Florida is famous for is it's beautiful sunsets. We tried to catch them most every night. As I have no stamping projects to share I thought I'd share a few of the sunsets with you. We tried to get a few sunrises but it seemed we shut the alarm off every morning so we never did get to watch the sunrise!

So - what's been going on in your world while I have been away?

Enjoy the views and I promise you I'll be back soon!

Blog Candy Winners ...

Wow - I'm having major internet withdrawal! The Stamp-Shack has been down and in addition our internet has been up and down and doing some funky stuff all weekend! I was worried that our main computer had bit the dust until I realized that every laptop in the house was acting up as well!

You'd think with all the computer 'down' time I would have a ton of projects to post but no such luck! I am also having stamping withdrawal! DH and I walked about 12 miles after work on Friday - the bike path from his office all the way to Hudson Falls and back. It felt great to walk and I need to do many many more of these walks to get in shape for September! Saturday Katie and I had manicures, pedicures, and a nice lunch out while Drew and Gary played their first round of golf for the season. By the time they guys got home I had sold Drew's car! The buyer is picking it up tomorrow night which means Drew needed to find a new set of wheels fairly quickly! He's been eyeing a hot red Volvo at our friend's car dealership. We ran up to the dealership just as they were closing to test drive it and it looks like he'll be driving it home tomorrow night! Spoiled kid :)

I need to finish up a few swaps before I head to Florida on Friday. I made this card for a monthly swap. I know the image, which is stamped with Palette Noir ink, looks familar - what can I say - I love this Gina K. set! The card stock and patterned paper are from Papertrey Ink. The bling and the brad are from K & Company. The sentiment is also Papertrey Ink and stamped with PTI ink.

Oh - I almost forgot - I was supposed to make an announcement here and let you know who won my blog candy! Thanks to all of you who participated. Some of the guesses really made me smile - I would be celebrating if Drew and Katie got engaged and I would be celebrating if I went to a Red Sox game and they won BUT ...

I am celebrating because - AUNT JOYCE IS NO LONGER LIVING WITH US!!! The move was pretty ugly and she isn't speaking to me but she is settled in her new apartment and I HAVE MY HOUSE BACK! It was a tough three months and a BIG thank you to all of you for listening to my vents and my rants. Those who know me know that I would give the shirt off my back to most anyone but this woman pushed buttons I never knew that I had! I hope she realizes what others have done and continue to do for her but that's doubtful!

I put all of the guesses in a bowl and Drew pulled out the winners. The first winner is Alison.
alison said ... I know your doing the moving dance!!and aj is in her new place!!!

The second winner is Lisa.
Lisa said ... I know.. I know.. Aunt Joyce is nice and comphy in her new 4 walls.. LOL ... Of course I subscribe.. :) Hugs,

Drew had no clue what he was doing when he drew the names but because I know both of these awesome ladies I decided that I would pull one more name.

The third winner is Lastel.
Lastel said ... My guess is that your house guest finally left !

All three of you ladies will be receiving a $10.00 gift certificate from The Stamping Cottage.

Thanks to all of you who played along and thanks to all of you for being there for me over the last few months. Your friendship means the world to me.

I will be out of town April 25th - May 11th and to celebrate my vacation and the fact that I surpassed 10,000 hits on my blog a few weeks ago, I will be doing up another blog candy offering while I am away!

Awesome new Gina K. set!

Most of you know that I love Gina K. stamps and that I'm always posting about her awesome customer service and most of you know that I am a regular over at the Stamp Shack. Well - this morning when I opened up my email I had an update for Gina K's blog. I'll admit ... I was a little sleepy as I hadn't had my first Diet Pepsi yet and I was a little confused. Here I was reading an update for 'A Day in the Life' (Gina K's blog) but there - staring me in the face - was a picture of my fellow Shackie - Erin! It took me a few minutes to digest what I was reading but as soon as it clicked I couldn't contain my excitement. Erin shared some ideas with Gina K. Gina K. listened and on Sunday night one of the new stamp sets being released is the one that started with Erin's idea and an email to Gina K! Now how cool is that! Check out Erin's blog to read more details and see the awesome cards she's created with the new set. After you see this set I'm sure you'll join in on Gina K's release party on Sunday night so that you can get your very own stamp set!

Before I forget - there's still some time to enter my blog candy give away. Check out this post for details and to leave your comment!

We're celebrating with Blog Candy!

Sorry - no new project to post today. We had a WONDERFUL weekend, even though I didn't get two minutes to play with any paper and ink. Normally I'd rant about it but today I'm not complaining at all! Instead I'm offering up some blog candy! All you have to do is leave me a comment - telling me what my family and I did this weekend to give us reason to celebrate! I will draw a random winner on Friday night, April 18th. I will also draw a second winner from all of the winning guesses. Both winners will win a $10.00 egift certificate from one of my favorite online stores - The Stamping Cottage. If you subscribe to my blog (or sign up to subscribe this week) you can post two guesses!

I'm headed out of town for a business trip tomorrow and Wednesday. I am hoping to finish up at least one project tonight. Even with all of this celebrating going on I am itching to do some stamping!

Have a great day!

You Know You're Old When ...

Wow - it's been a while since I've posted. I'm sorry to all of you faithful readers. It seems that my work and family obligations have overcome me! I'm constantly being pulled in a hundred directions and quite honestly nothing is getting done 100 percent. My house is in serious need of an indepth cleaning; the laundry pile never seems to get smaller; our meals are less than spectacular; our house guest is still with us - yes - after TEN freaking weeks - and this - in and of itself - has taken its toll! Add to the mix the fact that I am being pulled in so many different directions at work. I'm working on some great projects but they are consuming so much time and travel. I am able to squeeze in a little time each week to train for the September 3-Day but by the time I'm done walking at night I'm too tired to put paper to ink! I have been finishing up some swap obligations and made the decision to bow out of a montly swap, hosted by Heather, that I have enjoyed for the last year or so. I'm hoping that life will settle down soon and that I can rejoin the swap by the end of the summer. I know this pace can't continue forever and I'm hoping that once DH's golf league starts I'll be able to devote at least one night a week to stamping.

I'm sorry for the rant. I know we are all busy multi-tasking our lives. I do feel better getting it off my chest - thanks for reading :)



I signed up for a couple of ATC swaps over at the Shack. For this swap you needed to create an ATC using a funny senior stamp. I chose a stamp from one of my favorite Gina K sets. The image is stamped in Palette Noir black ink, on Papertrey white card stock and colored with Copic Markers, Bic permanent markers, & Sakura gel pens. The ATC base is Bazill card stock. I stamped the rest of the sentiment 'getting lucky means you found your car in the parking lot' on the back of the ATC. This was a fun swap - these images always put a smile on my face. I have to finish up another ATC swap this week - using Riley Moose images. I have some ideas but haven't put ink to paper just yet.

Quick update on my 3-Day Walk progress - I'm walking at least three times a week - which is more than I did this early in my training each of the last two years. I've convinced my best friend, Lisa Wood, (who also happens to be a nurse), to walk with me this year. I'm letting everyone on my 3-Day team know that after the fall I took last year I needed my own personal nurse in order to participate this year! (Check out my 3-Day link if you would like to view a picture of my face after last year's walk)! I am so happy that Lisa is joining me. Over the years we've created one fond memory after another and I'm sure this year's 3-Day will just add some memories to the pages of our scrapbooks! In addition to raising funds for myself I promised her that I'd help her raise the $$ she needs to walk. Do let me know if you have any creative fundraising ideas! We'll need them!

If you happen to follow Nate & Tricia's story please continue to pray for them. Tricia had a double lung transplant last week and Gwyneth continues to make great progress. My rants are nothing compared to what they have gone through.

Baskets for a Cure

Today I officially begin my 3-Day Walk training regime. (Actually I did a five mile walk yesterday after Easter dinner so I did get a headstart)! Over the next few weeks I will also jump start my fundraising efforts but over at the Stamp Shack one of my dear friends, Ethel Amutan, has already started some fundraising for me. Thanks Ethel :) Check out this link and if you love Longaberger baskets you may want to participate in the silent auction Ethel has so generously organized.

The Best Easter Ever!

Easter is very early this year and actually it falls on my mom's birthday. We call my mom Nain - which is Welsh for Grandma and for the last several years Nain & Papa have wintered in Florida so we don't normally get to celebrate her birthday with her. Last year she did get to fly home to surprise her sister, my Aunt Rose. Aunt Rose's birthday is the day after my mom's and last year there was a surprise party for Aunt Rose's 80th birthday. My mom is the baby of their family and is fifteen years younger than her sister. Anyhow - mom had a major health situation last May and we came pretty close - actually within minutes of loosing her. By some miracle she has recovered nicely and even though we can't be with her today we are celebrating her birthday. We're celebrating that we were able to shop for her birthday gift, make her a card, call her to wish her a happy birthday, and that we still have her in our lives. The fact that today is also Easter is an added bonus! Today we'll be gathering with our extended family for a large Easter dinner celebration at fire house community center where I grew up. We've always talked about doing this but until this year no one really took the time to organize it. This year, my Aunt Rose's two daughters got the ball rolling. There should be at least fifty of us eating dinner together this afternoon and Nain will call during our meal to wish us all a Happy Easter and we can all sing her Happy Birthday.

In honor of Mom's birthday I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pictures of her with you.


This is one of my most favorite pictures - Drew & Nain at Drew's Junior Prom.


Nain & Drew at Drew''s high school graduation.


Evan, Drew & Nain at Drew's high school graduation. Evan had to sneek out of his summer job to witness his brother walking across the stage - gotta love his ratty old 'Nova sweatshirt!


Nain & Papa in sunny Florida.


Nain and Jessica enjoying our pool during one of our family parties.