2009 Christmas Windup part 2

So Christmas Day was ROUGH! I had only gone to sleep at 1am and my Kayla is used to being let out in the morning by at least 6:30 and I'm not even sure what time it was when she woke me up. I groggily stumbled to the nearest door to let her out. Then I flopped back down on the bed for more zzzzzz's. A called me then to wish me a Merry Christmas and to tell me to be careful driving home in the evening. I didn't talk much because my head was POUNDING and I was feeling OLD! I heard Mom, Jerry and Kane opening up gifts, but my head hurt and I just went back to sleep. I woke up a few hours later (still feeling rough) and discovered that Santa had left a stocking for me! It has been forever since I have been good enough to get goodies from Santa but there they were...new makeup brushes (I can NEVER have too many of those!!), a beautiful marcasite snowflake pin, a Christmas scarf, cashews and some body scrub and lotion. It was so special to get my goodies from Santa.

I took some medicine for my head and slowly began to feel better and better. Watched Christmas movies with Mama, Kayla, and Al (Kane had Christmas toys to play with!!)

Then that afternoon Kane and I went to Daddy's. I love my Daddy so much (love my Mama too!) I just wish he and Linda would stop buying all the presents. We all agreed years ago that the kids were the only ones to get Christmas presents...I guess I just need to resign myself that even though they agree, they are probably not going to stick to it LOL! I got the prettiest cross necklace. It is silver and there's a dove on the front. It is very, very tiny which is AWESOME because I had been wanting a tiny necklace of some kind (this is unusual because I usually like big chunky jewels...LOL). A got a wallet, which was awesome because he actually needed a new one! I'll try not to wash this one in the washing machine.

I got back to Memphis on 12/25 at 11:20pm. Tired but so happy A was at home and awake. I also discovered that the present my friend Mary E had given me a couple of weeks ago and told me not to open until Christmas has apparently been hidden by one of the cats (ok, so I know this has to be Starbuck, she has just started carting off anything she can carry to "hide"). I've looked in the easy places, but I think maybe it is hiding upstairs in my craft room and that will take me a while to go through...lots of hidey places there...(that's why I haven't thanked you for it yet Mary E).

I loved seeing my brother and my sisters. I was so glad to get to tell Danelle how much this year's Christmas devotional touched me. Don't get me wrong, I have always enjoyed them...but this one was extra special and meaningful. I was amused to hear that she was a little unsure about sending it out and thought it was morbid... and happy to hear that loads of people had felt the same way I did about it.

Everyone was in pretty good health and the kids were all ecstatic about their Santa gifts. We missed having Stefanie, Sydney, McKenzie and Celie but I hear they are so happy and better off living in Florida so I'm glad for them.

I hope everyone's holiday was as nice as mine.

I also hope to go through and get some pics and projects up this week. I do work every day (January 1 is my first holiday to work for 2010) but I'm hoping to get lots done this week. The house HAS to be clean for New Year's...that's my big NY tradition LOL!

Hugs,

Charity

2009 Christmas Windup

Ok so I woke up at 2:30 to finish some elven duties and wash a load of clothes so I could take my favorite Christmas sweater to wear for Christmas. Apparently I forgot to turn the dryer on when I loaded it so at 4am when I was ready to pull out and pack my sweater (ok, yes I waited until the last minute this year and will try not to do that again) and that's when I noticed that apparently I had never turned the dryer on. I was not ready to leave my house by 5am, but did leave a little before 6 so that was good :)!

I stopped in Tupelo to deliver Monica and Bella's gifts (on time for once!). I also swung by Starbucks there for a lovely venti peppermint mocha (made with 1/2 syrup). (This is my alltime fav drink!!!) It was so good to see Monica and update her a little on why I haven't been calling anyone much lately. Kayla tried to eat packing peanuts at the UPS store and was SO happy to get to see her Monica. (or her half-Monica as she has lost so much weight this year.)

Then we made a big old elf stop in Fulton and visited with the Brandon and Lana...who were so much fun and so EXCITED for Christmas (they told me yesterday that they got exactly what they wanted and more for Christmas). Lana wanted me to stay or wanted to go with me to my Mama's but we convinced her it would be easier for Santa to find her if she stayed put.

Then I got to my Mama's house and shortly afterwards found out she wasn't getting off work as early as she had planned...here's where the fun started.

She called and said that she may be working until 4pm or later and that Jerry and I would need to start dinner. The dressing (yes real cornbread dressing) was thawing on the counter, she had pre mixed the ingredients and frozen it well in advance and that would need to go in the oven about an hour before we wanted to eat it but we had to make: sweet potato crunch, mashed potatos, dumplings (chicken and), english peas, and green bean cassarole. I peeled, Jerry made the mashed potatos all by himself. I peeled the sweet potatos and we kind of made that together while I also put together the green bean cassarole (I don't really like green bean cassarole but others do and that's what Mama wanted...it was almost all eaten). Mama told me the green bean cassarole recipe was on the side of the French's onions. She also said that she had plenty of ingredients for it. I put together what was on the can and AFTER I had it all mixed and ready to put in the oven thought "this isn't a lot for the amount of people that are coming, should I have doubled this?" but went on with the sweet potato crunch which was at a standstill (Kane was stirring everything while we dumped it in his bowl.) because Jerry couldn't find the Nutmeg. I told Jerry just to dump in the pumpkin pie spice in place of the individual spices but he said that Mama had said to follow the recipe and we had already put in some extra sweet potato because we cooked more than needed(LOL men!). We then pulled all the spices out of the cabinets (there was NO nutmeg). When Jerry turned around I dumped in some pumpkin pie spice and told him I was now in charge of that dish and it would be fine and no one would know the difference (I think he was still worried, he kept asking me how I knew it would be allright and didn't I need measuring spoons).

The dumplings were easy, except my mom likes to use those pre frozen already rolled and cut ones and I don't, these were frozen in a block for some reason and we had to use a knife to seperate them LOL. But the best thing EVER was the dressing.

Remember I said it had been assembled and frozen beforehand?

Well it was on the counter, all thawed and ready to go in the oven, so I uncovered these huge pans of dressing and they were like shallow lakes. All the chicken stock was floating over the cornbread portion. I had Jerry help me slide these in the oven when the green beans and potato crunch came out. and we almost lost one pan...chicken stock everywhere over the bottom of the NEW OVEN (lol...they did get a self-cleaner). I was just guessing that it would soak in while it cooked (I had never cooked frozen dressing). Mama gets home and I tell her about all the stock and she said "It had that much even after you stirred it up?"

Then I said "Stirred it up? I didn't stir it, I didn't know I was supposed to do that."

Needless to say, everyone had a big laugh and I think this is just as funny right now as when it happened.

Then she said she didn't teach me to cook as well as she thought she had. I told her I didn't even remember her making dressing as I was growing up.

Then she said "I didn't make it then, Big Mama did" so it wasn't her fault after all LOL!

I love traditional holiday food at Mama's. I love when everyone comes in and starts really piling on their favorite things. I love that I will always get: dumplings, dressing, red velvet cake. I love that we always have turkey and ham for Christmas. I love that the cranberry sauce is always sliced but molded into the can shape.

I love the kids, the screaming, the squeals, the laughing and the hugs.

More on Christmas tomorrow.

Hugs,

Charity

Merry Christmas!

I had every intention of blogging while in Alabama, but decided that for once (or really twice) that I would just spend time with my rl family instead. I have some funnies to relate and will do that later today, just wanted to go ahead and say Merry Christmas (one day late) and thanks for all the support you have given me this year.

Love,

Charity

Design Team Call!!!

Ok, I have gone and done it!!! I decided to try out to be a Tulip Girl at Label Tulip. These ladies have some AWESOME creations and the kits are ultra-fab since the club is under new ownership!! Wish me luck! I had the hardest time deciding what to submit, or what I think is DT worthy, but I came up with my personal favs and hope they love them too! Happy Holidays everyone. I will be posting some more photos of projects before Christmas (it has become a personal goal of mine now...). I have been a bit depressed as of late and need the creativity to keep me going.

In Full Swing!

So I have made the following this week:

Chef Hat with Matching Apron (yes, I sewed, can you believe it???)

Two Altered Journals (moleskins to be precise)

I also made an A-L-A-N-A banner...will try to post pics tomorrow because I have to work this weekend, and it's getting late.

Almost done with my Christmas scrappies and got a great new card idea today.

If I finish my other projects this weekend I may give it a go for ya!

Happy Weekend everyone!!!

My first real Digital Layout!

So today along with the blog banner...I decided to try an actual Layout:

Do you think I'll make it as a digital scrapper. It's ten o'clock people, this took FOREVER!!! But I did it and all by myself :)

This was using the following FREE digital kits from twopeas:

Bright Smiles by Michelle Underwood

Eloquent Autumn by Betsey Tuma

Indie Pops: Celebrates by Tia Bennett

Be sure and leave me some comments...I need the encourage/discouragement LOL!

Going Digi...

Ok, so I made my last banner by taking a class. This one (for Christmas 2009) I made myself!!! From Fantastic Digi kits (free digikits!!!) from twopeas. You do not have to have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to use their kits (can't use the brushes unless you have them, so don't waste money kids!). They have a remarkable amount of FREE resources including digital scrapbook kits, fonts, and how to (see the education section). If you've never been to twopeasinabucket check them out! They have a huge communty and btw...my handle there is Aeify. Hope to see you soon and let me know if you digi...I think I'm gonna like it!

Holiday Happies.

...(lots of private emotional things that just never would come out right so pretend there are actually lots of words here...) Thanks for listening :). Anyway I have been working REALLY REALLY hard to make something especially nice for Nana and usually when I try to work on something for the in-law side of the family, I get so nervous that they won't like it, it won't be good enough...blah blah blah...

I made something I am SO proud of!!!

Here it is. A chipboard purse by Maya Road that was gifted to me by my very first Fiskateer Secret sister...all dolled up with a few other things but mostly Making Memories Vintage findings...Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint and Glimmer Mist!

The outside paper I got in a grab bag from Eclectica I also got my Vintage Findings paper and embellishment packs there...The letter "ribbon" is from the School Collection...the rickrack and ribbons are from my stash and there is distressing on the edges and the lace with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. The top paper also has peeled paint Stickles painted over it.

This flower on top started live as a pair of DH's old black jeans. I salvaged them for my scrap pile :). The alternate pages are from an old dictionary that I got at a thrift store here and they are hosed down with Olive Glimmer Mist and then the edges are kissed with Copper Perfect Pearls

The original thought was that the book would be held closed by those awesome Basic Grey Magnets, but it won't stay closed with just those so I took some stretchy brown ribbon and made a little garter to hold it shut. It stands up by itself just fine.

The title page...all photos are of Nana and Papa's Great Grandchildren :).

The boys are the oldest, so they get the first pages. By themselves and then together.

I've been creating...

Ok, so remember when I said my goal was to get my Christmas cards ready before Thanksgiving?

Even if you don't, I got most all of them ready, except I was a couple short. I used some shimmerz...LOVE THEM and glimmermist in Candy Cane, Graphite and Marshmallow. There are two photos of the envie here ...trying to show you the shine.

So this photo is darker, but maybe you can tell it's shiny here. I really pared down my list this year and I have mostly just mailed to family...have a few friends left to go.

And here's the card!! I've been trying so hard to improve my card making skills. Thanks to Kristina Werner (click her name to go to her blog). I've become a faithful follower...via youtube. She makes cardmaking look so simple and fantastic!! Not to mention she introduced me to the Corner Chomper (link goes to my fav lss...they carry the Corner Chomper by We R Memory Keepers)!

Do you believe this is Halloween Paper? It is...American Crafts Halloween. The backside of the polka dots is orange LOL got this on sale (of course) after Halloween. The ribbon is by Making Memories...Paperie Collection. The Fluer (they didn't all get a fluer, some got crosses and some got doves) came as black, blue, an gray foam. They are by American Crafts and I got a little tube of them last year at Big Lots. I have LOVED the shapes but didn't use very many until now. There is also a label shape. I painted the foam with gray acrylic paint as a primer (gray worked better than black or white...go fig) and then used Shimmerz for the color! I used an almost dry brush dipped in shimmerz to highlight around the polkadot area too. The card is distressed with a little Vintage Photo Distress Ink and the sentiment is from a holiday collection by Hero Arts and stamped in Fired Brick Distress Ink. I was not brave enough to try and make my own card bases (I know this is not hard, just didn't wanna have to struggle with envelopes.) so I just went with a package of card bases/envies that I had gotten at Michaels. In the meantime, I got some at Hobby Lobby...HL quality is SO MUCH nicer IMHO. But these cards looked great. There is no sentiment inside (most of them anyway) just holiday wishes.

Sorry I've been so neglectful of late but in a seperate post, you'll see why.

Twitter

Ok, I did it...now I'm a tweeter. I am sure this will be more fun when I get a smartphone, but the chance to win Ranger products did the trick.

If you want to follow me, my twitter (name?) is of course scrapfaire (I'm liking this almost as much as my previous online alias LOL). I don't know how much I'll be tweeting, but you are welcome to follow there.

I'd like to say THANK YOU to Sudie Alexander for being my first follower, I'm honored!!!

12 tags of Christmas Day 1

Can't believe I'm going to try to play along every day...what an inspirational morning!!! In case you haven't heard Tim Holtz is working on his 12 tags of Christmas. Every day there's going to be a new tag/tutorial to inspire the masses and prizes galore just for commenting. I decided to play along and am pumped.

Long time no post....giveaway

Well the winner of my Marshmallow GM post never responded so how about another giveaway...same product. You have until 9pm today to respond and win! US only please...since I'd like you to get this before xmas. Just comment on the post to win.

Hugs!

Alyson,

You're the winner. Please email your addy to scrapfaire@gmail.com

Thanks for playing everyone!!

Did you see the link to Scrapbook Royalty?

I hope that you did...here's a link to one of the raffles they are helping to promote.

Click here to go straight to this blog or just go over to SBR (Scrapbook Royalty's site).

The prize is awesome, but even better than that is the chance to help change lives!

Thanks!

Oh the things I'm learning.

I love that our LSS (local scrapbook store) raises money and community awareness for different charities (hehe plural of my name hehe). I know that this happens in lots of places but never really knew there was an actual organizational site for scrappers who want to help. I just grabbed their blinky: Scrapbook Royalty.

These girls are up to lots of good. If you want to help or be involved in helping others in any way, just click the blinky or the link here they also have an Auction Blog where you can just go purchase tickets with every charity laid out so you know where your money is going. Learned all about them last night at unKit Live!

This "show" with live chat is every Monday at 8:30pm CST now at livestream! Here's a link to their bloggy. It's loads of fun and I try really hard to make it their every week! I'm also joined the group of "liftateers" at Fiskateers to try and get my page making mojo going. I have been making things, but mostly for secret sisters and got nervous about publishing those pics, so I just turned them in LOL. My Halloween ATC swap is supposed to be waiting for me at Eclectica so I can't wait to see them. I will def share those.

Hugs!!

Winner of Marshmallow Glimmer Mist is ...

Linn! Congratulations! Please email your mailing info to :

scrapfaire@gmail.com

You are going to LOVE this stuff!!!

Happy Halloween!!

Hi everyone! Happy Halloween! How about a giveaway? I won the coolest thing and since I already had some, I'm gonna share!! Do you LOVE Glimmer Mist? Well one of the limited edition colors is Marshmallow and it is WHITE!! If you already love Glimmer Mist then you NEED this color in your collection. If you've never tried it, this is a FAB color to get started with.

In order to win, just comment on this post. I will choose a winner on November 1.

Thanks so much!!

Witch's Cupboard Charm Swap

In case you haven't noticed, I have had a little badge over to the right there for a charm swap I was participating in. No, I haven't made charms before, but it sounded right up my alley so I decided to give it a go. I was very happy with the charms I made and SUPER happy with the ones made by everyone else. The rules were to make a charm you'd like to receive so I did...and Michelle (who hosted the swap) had FAB photos of the charms you can view by clicking here I actually have a lot going on this weekend. A wedding shower as well as a horsing even I promised to help with (I'm actually exited about this!! Sunshine, fresh air and HORSES!!!)

Check out this new site!

Just thought I'd let you know about this new website. I used to visit her blog and now she's got a dotcom! There's a new badge on the sidebar for Above Rubies Studio. Fellow Fiskateer that loves her Cricut and uses SureCutsALot software along with cartridges. She's doing massive giveaways right now so go on over and check it out!! Oh yes, and for the first prize...check out this link if you've ever been interested in a kit club...It's Scraptacular has probably the best kits for the money out there...they also have some on sale right now so you can try them out....WHAT A DEAL!!!

Bad News and Good News!

Wow!! What a week. Last week was uber busy and so great! I got to go to my friend Pam's house to scrapbook with a few others on Saturday after work and WOOT! She had the greatest setup. You picked your halloween hat and scrap table (yes she had individual tables set up for us) and then she had her marvelous niece Lauren draw "hats" for goodie bags and they were fab!! We each got stickers, alphas, alterable items and some cute halloweeny foam frames as well as a little album and a daisyd's xmas paper pad!! How awesome is she!!! There was also FOOD...yummy, fun halloweeny food and cupcakes and she made dirty rice for dinner and it was SCRUMTIOUS!!! Lauren also took orders for whatever we wanted cut out of Pam's Cricut. Now I have to say that last fall I did a lot of looking into what cutter I wanted before I chose the Slice. I love my Slice, but I think now I have Cricut envy!!! LOL!! Then of course before we left Theresa and I played with the Cricut ourselves. I think T is going to buy herself one this week LOL! Anywhoo, all was great Saturday and then SUNDAY came and I woke up with whatever icky virus DH had last week. UGH. I have actually been awake almost all day today and that in itself is a miracle. I went to the Dr. yesterday who told me nothing of use except to confirm that I have "some kind" of virus and that I apparently know enough to keep myself from getting dehydrated. DUH! (sorry, just felt like I wasted a trip to the dr.) Oh well, I obviously feel better today, I have even kept a little food down...YAY! I want you all to check out Pinky's post here prizes are available to you, me and her. Have fun everyone...and if you think you got sick because of me... I'm really sorry.

Hugs!!

This week....in retrospect.

This has been a really, really busy week. Worked Monday-Thursday 7am-6pm. Took care of DH who was SO SICK...poor man!!! He finally regained wakfulness and the ability to eat solid food back on Thursday and then needed relief from cabin fever yesterday so I was supposed to wake him by 8am so we could spend the day together. Sometimes this doesn't work out as well as is planned though. I woke up to let Kayla out at 5am like normal and then laid down on the couch. Usually when I do this I then sleep one to two hours max...well at 11am I woke up to A asking me what was wrong...yes I slept until 11am. I haven't done that in forever...oh well, he got me hooked on Fringe is all I can say and I'm trying to watch all available episodes as quickly as possible...he saw 10 while he was sick and so far I've watched nine LOL! Anyway I woke up and then we went out...saw Zombieland.

For anyone who hasn't seen it....I love this movie.

It is hilarious.

Not AS funny as Sean of the Dead but funny none the less. Not everyone likes so much humor with their zombies but I lOVE IT!!

Going to work 7-2 today and then off to Pam's for some scrappy fun...

RAK WINNER!!!

Ok, so Random.org generated #7...so counting down from the top... Congrats to Lesa!!! Your stamps will leave Memphis on Saturday!!!

Columbus Updates...

My grand total donation to St. Jude through Eclectica was: $50.00. Thank you so much fellow contributors, it should make you feel awesome to know you contributed to the health of so many sick children!!! Also I didn't get home before dark yesterday (I went to exercise...aren't you proud of me?) so no pics of my ATCs. This brings me to a simultaneously sad and funny thing...apparently I dropped my Legend ATC into someone else's envelope. Kaytee sent in a couple extra and since I was trying to be totally fair...I turned all of the ATC's face down and then dealt them out like cards, picked them up and looked through them to make sure there was a card from everyone. Dropped the extra ATC (we were supposed to have seven swappers but one dropped out) in the envelope of the maker, and sealed them. Mine were in a pile on the dining room table for my DH to admire (I had been keeping them in their respective envelopes for safety LOL). Anyway when I got home from work last night, DH was telling me how cool they were (except mine were not as cool...really apparently if I "host" a swap I lose my mojo or the thing I try to create doesn't come out as well as if I participate....kind of like when I try to cook for my in-laws). So we're looking at them and talking about how awesome they are and I ask him where the Legend card is...he says he hasn't seen one. So you may have an extra Legend card in your envelope. If you do, could you let me know. Really, these are the ones had trouble with. They were all so creative and I liked different ones for different reasons and there were extra so I was tempted to beg Kaytee for an additional one LOL! The one that wound up in my pile was the one she made using the movie poster...but I wanted one of the fairies too because that's my own personal thing. And I loved the Tim Curry Devil one because I LOVE TIM CURRY! (not in the sense that I would marry him or anything, just that he gets my motor running LOL) I hope that if you didn't have to work, or even if you did that you had a nice Columbus Day. DH has turned out to be really sick and I'm worried about him, but I did go get lots of meds and we already had soup and 7-up in the house from when I was ill a couple of weeks ago. I'm not surprised because he works in a basement computer room downtown and sickness including H1N1 (see I didn't say Swine Flu HAHA) has been rampant in the building and there's no way to get around using keyboards/phones that have germs...don't get me started on the germs...I'll start getting freaky!

If you were waiting...

Ok, Sci-Fi/Fantasy ATC swappers, I have finally gotten everything sealed in it's envelope (sorry, I didn't get the last ones until late and then, life was happening). Anyway, they go in the mail TOMORROW 10/12. I have lots of stuff to get in the mail tomorrow. I can't wait for you to see what everyone did. If we get some sun, or I can somehow get good pics tomorrow I will try to post them...I should have taken pics today, it didn't rain today. Anyway, I'm gonna get them in the mail. They are AMAZING!!! I don't know how other people swap out, but I guessed the only fair way to do it (some of them aren't identical) was to turn them face down and deal them out. We had one member forget to do hers so you're all getting an extra back. ( note to Kaytee, I kept putting an additional one in my pile and deciding it wasn't fair to just keep the one I dealt myself LOL!...did you know you did two extra?) Anyway THANK YOU so much for playing...I wanna do this again.

My first RAK!!!

So I've been very fortunate the last few months, and won lots of stuff from entering on various blogs and message boards. I found this stamp set at Michaels today and grabbed it thinking...it could be a RAK!! Yep...just for you. Make a comment and I'll do the drawing on Thursday, October 15th. That way you can get it (hopefully) in time for any last minute treatbag stamping, use it on your Halloweeny LO's or make a card in time to treat someone special. I'm not gonna make you become a follower, thanks just for coming by. I'd love it if you came back more often. I do not have this particular stamp set myself, but I do have two others that I found earlier this year and I've already used them to make ATC's and I LOVE these stamps!! So good luck everyone!!! If you are a fiskateer, post your fiskateer number with your post! TFL!!

Reminder about St. Jude

Just to remind you all that this weekend is the YEARLY EVENT at my fav lss Eclectica which is the Crop for St. Jude. I am currently accepting donations that will go along with other funds people are taking to Eclectica to go to St. Jude. The size of the donation does not matter, go count the change in your car's cupholder and click on the link. Thank you so much!!!

Sci Fi ATC Swap Update

Hi All! I finally received everyone's ATCs and will try to post them on Monday. Would have done them this weekend but was down with a horrible virus...(literally spent a whole day lying in the floor next to the toilet because that was as far as I dared get...how pitiful HUH?).

Anyways you gals did a FANTASTIC job...can't wait for you all to see them!!

Hugs,

Charity

Friday Faves 10/02/09

Okay, so I've been a slacker on the Friday Faves thing...shoot me. Life has been really, really busy here lately and well, there's been a shortage of folks showing up to work so those of us who have been are so tired, we are getting run down and in danger of illness.

Went cropping at Eclectica last Saturday for Scrap Pink and LOVED IT! My faves this week are:

1. Making Memories Spook Alley: I love LOVE love this line!! I won the mini book kit and haven't actually put it together yet, but I also got the embellishment package and the decorative pins that match. I need a couple more sheets of paper to go in the book and then I'll be all set. The book is for THIS year's spooky activities.

2. My Glue Glider Pro. I finally broke down and got this puppy and am SO happy!! It's as easy to use as my Kuyoko was and so cute to boot!

3. Being part of a Circle Journal. I love the journal I sent out in the group with Gauche Alchemy and am really proud of the page I contributed to Stephanie's.

I can't wait to get the next one. I hear it should be at my house in a couple of days.

This is the page I did for Stephanie's Travel Themed Circle Journal.

This is what I did for my Fairy (of course!) themed Circle Jornal. I'd show you the cover, but I didn't decorate it because I was afraid that after being tossed around by postmen that it would be coming apart. I won't get my journal back until next year. ( there are eleven of us participating and we each have the jornal for a month.)

.

4. Winning. I have to admit with all that has gone wrong lately, it has been FABULOUS to win some RAKs and challenges at the Fiskateer crops. I got a HUGE prize package in the mail today from the C&T publishing blog. I have calmed down on the entering as I need to get together a RAK myself. I have been feeling uber special lately and I think it's time to share the love.

5. Secret Sisters...I have two. One at Eclectica (and my sister has been so talented and GENEROUS so far) and one at Fiskateers. Both of these are new...my first fiskasister package went in the mail today (this one is just for Oct/Nov). I so hope they both like what I made/sent them!!!

Catching up

Just a quick note. I went to Eclectica's Scrap Pink on Saturday 09/26 and had a BLAST. Got done the page for the Circle Journal that is visiting my house right now. Got my Halloween ATC's done for the Meeting of the Muses swap. Completed a paper doll for the contest as well as a LO from a sketch they gave us as a contest as well. When Eclectica gets the photos posted, I'm gonna do a RAK. Neither my paper doll nor my LO won, but I'm proud of them anyway. Oh and... I did win a door drawing prize. It was the Making Memories Spook Alley Mini book kit...SO CUTE!!! When she brought it out to show I said..."you can just give that to me" and then she drew my name...they said I screamed like I was on the Price is Right. LOL!! Only waiting on one set of Sci-fi Atc's to show up before I get them swapped out. They should be here anyday. I have heard from the swapper twice now. LOVE these cards ladies...best I have ever seen!!

Hugs to you all.

Friday Faves 09/11/09

This has been the weirdest week...starting off with a holiday and all...I got a wisdom tooth pulled (yes, not cut out and I was awake for the whole process and very, very, very nervous), had to run errands and forgot what I was supposed to pick up. Worked...so here are my favorite things from this week.

1. My dh held me for no reason at all as we watched hulu.

2. The dentist and his assistant promised me that I would only feel "pressure" and not pain while they were pulling my tooth and that is exactly what I felt.

3. Not having much experience with pain meds, I turned into a pain free drooling monkey when I took the pain meds from my dentist. Needed them every four hours on Wednesday.

4. Don't seem to need pain meds today.

5. When I was running errands at Wal-Mart yesterday, a gentleman made a point of stopping a complete stranger (decked out in military garb) to thank him profusely for the job he was doing. This really touched me and I was amazed at myself, that it made me so emotional. I was so proud and happy to have witnessed this event. The soldier seemed embarrassed and hurried away quickly. I didn't even see him before I heard him being thanked. I'm sure the man who thanked him never noticed me look around. It was a really special moment.

Friday Faves 09/04/09

This one is going to be all about watching tv online. I'm gonna share with you the five shows I'm watching now. Five shows may not be unusual to you, but we haven't had any form of "tv" in over a year now and only watch stuff online which is great when you take online classes and just generally gives you more time for more crafty/ home /eachother time.

1. Defying Gravity...this is an ABC show. You can catch the first six episodes on hulu right now and let me tell you, have some tissues ready. Little sci-fi, big on relationships. Stars Ron Livingston (you may remember him from Office Space, and I don't wanna give too much away here). Looks like it's going to be one HECK of a show!!

2. True Blood...this is and HBO show. You can watch it from here and well, this second season hasn't really been as good as the first in my opinion. The books this series is based on are a quick and easy read. I HIGHLY reccommend them...shouldn't take you more than a week (that's how long it took me to read all nine). I am still liking it, but just not as much as the first...they have one more season to redeem themselves to me but I am reccommending them anyway.(I just love vampires).

3. The Colony...as I was just reminded by DH I haven't watched the current one yet...but I have the weekend for this. It's by the discovery channel and can be linked to from hulu. The premise is people that have "survived" some horrible destruction of civilization...real people who are in an abandoned city type situation (Mad Max comes to mind, but I've never seen more than the TBS ads for this movie) but these are real people...smart people who make stuff to "survive".

4. Mary Tyler Moore...I LOVE this show and am SO GLAD that hulu lets me watch it again!

5. The Dick Van Dyke Show... I love picking out Jerry Paris' laughs...

Hope you enjoyed...Gonna try to post some scrappy stuff before the weekend's out. I think I finally figured out Picasa.

What goes around, comes around...

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me, especially for you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make but I hope you will.

2- What I create will be just for you.

3-They say I have a year to get it to you. But I promise it will NOT take that long.

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It’s a surprise to both of us at this point.

The catch?
You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

So the first five people who post, and are willing to pass it along,will get a handmade gift in the mail from me.

When you get it, make sure you post a pic on your blog!

--Aeify

The hills are alive...with Nazi's

If you know me well enough, or if you're reading this: I love Julie Andrews. I think I've seen almost everything she's done (including Victor/Victoria a couple of times). I know I've seen all her Disney stuff (except maybe the Princess Diaries two...is she in that???) Anyway not that Julie Andrews was in this, but last Sunday afternoon I went to see the Theatre Memphis' production of The Sound of Music. It was quite good. Some parts better than others. The lead had a very good voice and did a fantastic job of belting out the tunes. I would have to say though that the nuns, were my favorite voices. The guy playing the Captain was a very good singer, but alas he didn't make my heart pitter patter the way it does when I watch the movie. Oh and the songs in the live performance that weren't in the movie version...not Rogers and Hammerstein's best...I know why they were left out. Anyway I had a FANTASTIC time but I did get amused at the fact that just a couple of weeks ago I was also watching Nazi's run around in an audience. Oh and when the Nazi troops were referred to as storm troopers...ok I cracked up. This apparently offended some little old lady behind me who admonished me in front of EVERYONE when the show was over (I was actually SPEECHLESS for once in my life... did she really think I was laughing at people running from Nazis... I don't think I even look like a skinhead...) oh and she was sure to point me out to more people on her way out the door. Whatever. I hope that she realizes that surely that's not what I was laughing at... I read the Diary of Anne Frank for goodness sake. I saw the movie too. I know Nazi's aren't funny (unless you see Inglourious Basterds anyways...). Stormtroopers now, they can be FUNNY!!!

Down the Rabbit Hole

Like a good blogger, Callista updates her blog all the time. Check out her post from August 22, you won't be sorry!!!

Friday Faves 08/28/09

This is going to be a quick list of faves...got lots to do and am so very tired tonight. I injured my left wrist at work today and will tell that story tomorrow. It is a little hard to type with two hands right now.

1. Having so much fun over at the fiskateers website/mb. If you are interesting in meeting lots of crafty folks and having LOTS of fun, check out my link on the right (no purchase of anything is required, just come on in, join and chat and play away!!!)

2. Swaps. I have now hosted my First swap with the Fiskateers, am hosting an ATC swap from my blog and am having so much fun creating for and with others... not to mention my secret sister groups...one here in Memphis at Eclectica and one through Fiskateers.

3. Getting projects done. This is another good thing about being involved in swaps with others...working towards a common goal helps me get there.

4. Crops. I love cropping with others. At home, at a friend's house or at my LSS. Went to a GREAT crop at Eclectica last weekend and have another booked for September. Ang and I were supposed to crop this weekend but she's sick and I hurt my wrist so...

5. Family support. My DH is so supportive of my craftiness. My other family members are too. My sister Carla is so supportive, she drafted me for a project that I'm going to be posting tomorrow, so check back in.

Love all...

St. Jude Crop

Hi everyone! Our lss here in Memphis has an AWESOME 24 hour crop for St. Jude in October. It is an expensive crop, but almost all the money goes to St. Jude. I couldn't make it last year because of scheduling conflicts, but I'd love to go this year and be able to add an additional donation from SCRAPFAIRE to go to St. Jude. If you'd like to contribute, the button is to the right. Thanks so much everyone!! (Just so you know, the October calendar isn't up for Eclectica yet, but it's a yearly event and they announced it this weekend at their birthday crop)

Friday Faves 08/21/09

This summer has been so very hard...but here are my five fav things that have been going on.

1. Sweet kittens in our home. We finally found a home for Dorian Gray (ok, so this didn't happen this week, but I love this photo!!)

1. My "Star Tours" ATC's went out (EARLY) for my swap at fiskateers! They are so cool, wish I could get a better photo of them but the base is acrylic and does not photo well. I'll try for more photos when I get them all back!

3. We got Starbuck Spayed...and decided to keep her. Her surgery went well and she didn't have all the problems Sayuri had with hers (thank goodness).

4. The above photo won a prize for me in a NO-SEW tutu making contests hosted by lead Fiskateer Angela...thanks to Tabitha her daughter loving this pic so...THANKS!!!

5. Inglourious Bastards click the link to watch the trailer...made me LAUGH out loud...but it is a bit violent. You should only see this if you are already a Tarentino fan, and it may be offensive if you're a Nazi.

Tomorrow is the big 12 hour birthday crop at Eclectica and I still haven't decided what project I'm gonna be working on but I've been looking forward to it forever. It's the first crop I'll be going to all by myself, but that's ok too. I know all the staff at Eclectica and am sure I'll at least know some of the ladies attending. I am usually the one who takes a seat next to someone I don't know at a crop anyway. I like meeting new scrappy peeps.

Love to all and TFL!!!

Looking for some players!!

Ok, come on folks. I know it's Tuesday but I wanna know some of you out there want to swap ATC's with me!!! Email me asap. There will only be a total of twelve in this swap and that is including yours truly here. Also, if you wanna do something else different, why not click on the button to your right and go on over to Gauche Alchemy to sign up to do a circle journal with us. There are 5 spots left. Basically you will be responsible for one page per month in somone's book and then mailing it on to the next person.

Hugs!!

BTW you don't have to be a bumpy scrapbooker to do an ATC. You don't have to be into anything, just willing to cut a card...you can even alter a playing card to fit the theme. I know some of you out there paint...and knit...and etc...

Sci-Fi/Fantasy ATC's anyone???

I just finished making some really cool atc's for a swap and would like to have my own...pick your fav sci-fi movie (can also be Fantasy as some are cross overs). Shoot me an email at scrapfaire@gmail.com if you want to play...I will take the first 11 who want to play. Deadline to sign up is 08/27 and the ATC's will be due on 09/15. Please send a self-addressed pre stamped envelope.

Thanks!

BTW... I'm doing Star Wars, but you can do whatever you want...even the same thing I'd love to see someone else's take on these atc's!

Saturday...Crafty DAY!!

So I finally got some more scrappy-stuff in the works!! Joined several swaps and one of them is Make-A-Wish RAK and these are the cards I made to fill part of someone's wish. She wanted some just to say "hi" cards and I thought maybe I could at least do that. I don't think of myself as a very good card maker (yet anyway) so this is what I came up with. I'm very happy with them! I have also been working on my Star Tours ATC cards for a swap over at Fiskateers...wanna have fun with me? Just click on the link to the right over there and become a happy orange fiskateer with me!!!

Speaking of good things...

Head on over to Gauche Alchemy to sound off on a little poll they're having!!!

(you or I may even win a prize:))

Fav Friday Faves 08/14/09

So among all the bad things that have gone on this summer, I took our godson to Alabama Adventure. We were all supposed to go to Six Flaggs, but with everything that was going on, I'm glad we decided to go and I just wish it hadn't been pre-planned for the week A had his dental surgery... Oh well. Brandon and I drove to Birmingham and spent the night with Mom.

The next day Kane, Brandon, Mom, Carla and I all went to Alabama Adventure. I never thought I could relax and have fun at a water park, but I enjoyed it as much as the rides.

Here are my fav pics from the trip:

Photos, finally

Here is a pic of Brandon and I the day we went to Alabama Adventure...look how happy we are!!

This is some fabric that was given to me and I was told to make something...I have started my project, but as it didn't have a due date, it's taking a back seat to the projects that do!

This is a color kit "banana hammock" that I won from Gauche Alchemy. I love blog giveaways!!

This was my July haul from my Fiska-Secret-Sister!!! Wasn't she good to me!!!

Home but not back to normal...

For those of you who aren't also my facebook friends, Grandmother passed last Friday. I won't go into a long thing because I am just tired and really want to get my life back to the norm. Really back to the norm. I made some inches for a swap that are due in the mail today, but I made extras and I am REALLY going to post some pics this weekend. I miss my blog and my scrap room, but I have gotten in there and done some stuff and I am ready to be Charity again.

On a lighter note, we went to see Harry Potter today. It was ok, but I'm not sure anyone who hasn't read the series could even keep up and I don't think the director even made an attempt to read the book to find out about the most important stuff in the book. It also seemed like it would be scary to the kids, so parents keep that in mind.

All that aside I truly enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix and of course I love Alan Rickman!!!!

hugs

Back to the Scrappy side...or Down the Rabbit Hole

Here's a fab giveaway and cool blog to check out! She has some cool projects and her DH is a member of the 501st!! (yes I am a Star Wars NERD) Special thanks to everyone for checking on A and myself lately... I feel more like myself today than I have since we found out about Grandmother. Keep us in your prayers please and hey...

LET'S GET SCRAPPY!! I'm dying over here to be creative!!

Back Again.

So I took our godson to Alabama Adventure last week. A an I have been planning the trip for months, but after his root canal (which went really well and it turns out they only had to do one YAY) he did NOT feel like going. So Wednesday night after work I drove over to MS and picked up the Bear (Brandon's nickname) and we went to my Mom's to spend the night. Thursday morning we got up and went to pick up my middle sister Carla from work (the park doesn't open until 10am so she went in to make up a few hours) and then over to Alabama Adventure. It was so much fun!! B was a little hesitant to ride at first. But after strongly encouraging (ok I told him he really needed to ride and didn't really give him much of a choice in the first two) him to ride the swings and the ferris wheel, he got really brave and after the Avalanche and the scrambler, he and Kane decided it was more fun to ride things without me! My feelings weren't hurt though. I rode their big wooden coaster and have to say it's AWESOME!! That was my fun time. Friday I had to take my Mom in for oral surgery and so that wasn't fun, but she's ok.

After her surgery I took her home, got her prescriptions filled, took the boys to lunch, picked up some groceries and then made some home made pimento cheese (not the orange cottage cheese looking stuff from the grocery store) and a shepherd's pie for Mom and her family to have while she was recuperating and only supposed to eat soft food. Then we began our long (well not usually too long) trip back home.

When we got around Jasper, I was getting of the interstate to get some gas when... we had a BLOWOUT!! :(

This really nice soldier put on my spare for us and then we headed up the road (after several frantic phone calls to my stepdad Jerry... I don't usually panic, oh well) to see about getting a new tire.

We stopped at the Wal-Mart in Jasper where the tire center was supposed to have been "closed" for ten minutes already, but the sweet manager was there and he agreed to put a new tire on my car and so we were on our way once again.

This put us a good bit behind on our time table but we were safe and that's what matters.

Grandmother is not doing better and so we are a bit worried and sad about that but otherwise I hope this week will get back to normal. I am so ready to just have my routine back. I have a lot of projects half started and REALLY need to start finishing them!! I only have two more weeks of classes (I think) and so then I'll have a break before the next one begins.

I will try to get some pics up this week, I have taken lots.

C-YA

We're O.K.

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm feeling more like myself again. We drove over to Birmingham yesterday to just spend time with Grandmother. She's supposed to get out of the hospital this Saturday.

Saturday she will be 89.

She looked much better than expected, but we wore her out with our visit... didn't mean to but it sure felt good to see and talk to her. Thanks for the emails and comments everyone. I am feeling SO much better today.

:)

When it rains...

I don't normally get super-personal and emotional. I like my blog to have a happy, crafty feel. But sometimes you just need to get it all out. I know I mentioned my DH's root canals. He is feeling better and his work is scheduled for Tuesday the 21st. My BFF is having eye trouble, of the type that may cost all of her vision in one of her eyes and there may be no way to save it! This has me worried about her. That and the fact that Josh is getting better but S-L-O-W-L-Y and there's not really anything we can do to help, except fuss at him about correct meds and tell him to exercise like his therapist wants him to even when he doesn't feel like it. The point is to get his physical body moving and stimulated so is mind can further heal itself.

Grandmother is sick. She had a stroke over the weekend and they discovered "spots" on her liver and pancreas. They have told us that the cancer has spread to the bile ducts and there's NOTHING they can do for her. Nothing.

I don't even know how to say how sad and dejected this makes me feel. I know DH feels awful. I don't know what to do. We are both off work tomorrow (and both have to work on Friday) so we're going to drive over to B'ham and see her. I pray this is not our last chance, but don't want to risk not going. She is very depressed and upset. That is one thing I can understand. Some time before we got married she had breast cancer and a mastectomy. Ten years later, it showed up in the second breast and she had another. Just two(has it been that long???) years ago she had a soccerball sized mass removed from her abdomen.

I just don't understand how it keeps coming back.

She lost her youngest son a couple of years ago as well. My fear is that this is contributing to her depression.

She hasn't been answering the phone. This worries me too because I'd really like to talk to her and cheer her up. I lost all my grandparents a long, long time ago. One of my grandmother's died many years before I was born. Then my Big Daddy (my mother's dad). He died when I was in the sixth grade.

He had colon cancer. I watched him go from never being sick a day in his life to withering away so fast it was unreal. I remember the day he had surgery and the dr. walked into the waiting room to apologize because when they opened him up, there was nothing they could do. It was everywhere and before that they had told us they were going to take it all out and he would be fine.

It was supposed to be fine, it wasn't and thinking about it today hurts justas much as the day it all happened.

I lost my father's father the day we got back from our honeymoon... he had been having mini strokes and didn't really even know me before I got married.

My grandmother I lost in 2000. Right after we got Kayla. She was sick for months. But it was still hard to let go of her.

It feels like everything is falling apart right now. I can't do anything but sit here and watch it fall. I really really just want everyone to be ok.

I would say that even more than the dark or rape or torture, cancer is my biggest fear.

I admire anyone who can fight it. Grandmother has fought it so many times and come out ahead. Please just pray for Grandmother and her family. Pray that she is in no pain and finds peace however God wills it. Please pray for my friend's eye and her DH and their family because they are having such a rough time right now. Please pray for us, the root canals and the ability to deal with everything that is going on. That we may do the right things at the right times. To take care of our families and each other.

Thanks for listening to me go off. I really am feeling a little better now.

Blogs as a way to get emotion out...who knew?

Friday Faves 07/10/09

Well, happy Friday everyone. I certainly hope that it's better than yesterday. My poor DH! We found out yesterday that he has to have dental surgery and WOW!! I just hate he's in so much pain and I didn't know. For this week, I have decided to share five of my favorite things people say when they visit the Animal Hospital where I work...

1. Labradoodles are a hypoallergenic dog.

2. Labs don't shed.

3. I want to shave my lab/husky/samoyed/german shepherd to stop shedding and so he'll be cooler.

4. Can you believe I found a Turkish Van (this is a cat) wandering around in an alley.

5. My cat is a tabby.

If you do not find these funny, then I will try to explain why I do.

1. Labradoodles are mutts, and they have hair, like all dogs, and if you are allergic to dog HAIR, you will be allergic to this too, and they do shed...see #2.

2. Labs shed more than any other dog. I sweep the lobby more after labs come in WAY MORE than any other dog regardless of the length of the pets hair.

3. You can ruin your dog's coat by shaving, the hair is never quite the same, and the undercoat is designed to help cool them down. If your breed standard shows the coat shaved in areas then ignore my earlier comment, this would be an exception.

4. Turkish Van is an unusual coloration of alley cat...doesn't breed true and yes, they are BEAUTIFUL!

5. Tabby, calico, tortiseshell...these are colors, not breeds.

Hope no one is offended...was not my intention.

Love,

C

Scrappy Anniversay

Oh what a good day yesterday was. I got some cool stuff for my Fiskateers Secret Sister that I hope as much as I like the stuff I got from mine. I got a great set of stuff from my Eclectica Secret Sister this month, and I signed up for a Disney Attraction ATC swap and I'm doing..........................................................................................................................................................................................

Star Tours (would you have guessed)

So happy about this as last week I dropped more than I should have on the new Star Wars paper at Eclectica without actually knowing what I was going to do with it, but Allen was right in that I'd never forgive myself if it sold out and I didn't have it (is that sad...DH telling me to go buy paper??) Will post some pics later of my stuff, but am a little upset that our Mac's don't seem to like our hard drive and my photos are there... need them to do my PSE homework. (yesterday was my 1 year scrappy anniversary...YAY)

Love to all....

Friday Faves 07/03/09

Ok, so I'm really late this week... sorry, but now for the entertainment.

My top five fav youtube vids by PES:

1: For your 4th of July pleasure:

2. Time for the Spicy:

3. For the other board game fanatics out there:

4. For the old-school gamers:

5. Let's all eat cake:

As I sit here posting this, it has begun to rain. That would be the answer to my prayers right about now. I even watered my little flower area out back to encourage the rain to come one down. So sorry to anyone who didn't want it to rain but YAY!! Have a nice holiday everyone!