Snowstorms and cookies

We've been getting hit hard around here, snowstorm after snowstorm. It's all good though, I love snow, especially for Christmas.
And what have I been doing while all this snow keeps falling? Well baking Christmas cookies of course! I swear I sometimes feel like an elf in Mrs. Claus's bakery. Cookies, cookies, everywhere.
How about some Fudgy Brownie Cups?


Brown Sugar Shortbread?


Italian Chocolate Meatballs?

I have lots to make yet.
How many of you are baking your little hearts out? Am I the only baking elf? Happy baking!

2 months

My last post was on October 14, 2008, it is now December 14, 2008. Where have I been for the past two months? I have NO CLUE. Seriously. October is always loaded with lots of birthdays for us, then Halloween came, then Thanksgiving and before I knew it, I was swept away by the usual hustle & bustle of the holidays. (I guess here would be a good place to mention that there was a solid 2 weeks when I jumped on the Twilight bandwagon and spent every spare minute of my days reading the 4 novels. See, at least I can account for 2 weeks out of my mising 2 months! LOL
I haven't been blogging or even reading my usual favorite blogs, but I'm going to try to get myself back in the swing of things. Thanks for your concern Jen, I'm glad to know someone missed me at least :)
We had a snow day on Friday so I actually got some scrapping time in. Imagine that...time to scrap and actually wanting to scrap!
I hope that you are all enjoying the anticipation of the holidays and I also hope that you all have your shopping done. Santa should never procrastinate you know. I'll post again soon.

The end of a decade

So this is it, my final day, or shall I say final hours as a thirty something. Tomorrow I shall embark on a new decade. Heaven help me! Forty is old. (oooh what a nasty word that I just typed there! However I find it better to type forty rather than type the actual numeric symbols. Makes me feel better!) How did this happen? When did this happen? I'm not ready. I am officially going to become one of those people who refuse to tell their age from tomorrow on out. I'll just keep 'em guessing.
Meanwhile, John turned 40 yesterday. Being relatively new to the decade himself, he has no sound advice for me. Although he doesn't seem to be struggling with it at all. He wasn't too pleased with my having to take a picture of him, but I told him he has to sit because it's a big birthday and the start of a new era.

I hope he doesn't try that logic on me tomorrow because I am taking my 40 year old legs and running from the camera! Heehee

The big 7

Seven years ago today, this little guy was born...my 4 lb. 5 oz. preemie...who is so not a preemie anymore! Johnny is a great source of joy to all of us. He has a fabulous sense of humor, is happy-go-lucky, sweet and kind, and who could resist that face? (cheesy grin and all)
I made him dinner of his choice tonight(lasagna) and we had a cake just for my mom and sisters. (His big party is Friday night, followed by a pool party for his friends (at a hotel) on Monday, but of course I couldn't let his actual birthday go by without cake!)
I have to share what he did tonight, but first I must tell a long Nintendo DS story. Two Christmases ago, a boy asked for a Nintendo DS. We thought said boy was probably too young and nixed the idea. Well, as it drew closer to Christmas the boy's true desire was that DS.
Realizing this, Santa decided it was absolutely necessary to get him that DS. I mean, come on, that's what the boy REALLY wanted the most! So, of course, it's less than a week to Christmas and no DS could be found for purchase anywhere...in stores or online. SO, Santa decided to check ebay. Oh yes, the jolly old elf could get a DS...for $180.00! (not to mention the $20.00 to have it shipped overnight) Fine, Santa decides whatever the cost, it must be done. He refuses to disappoint. Certainly Christmas morning was joyous for the boy. Never was a gift so loved as that DS. He definitely got his use out of it and played it and played it and played it.
Then one day early this year, it was determined that the DS was no longer working. This was brought to the attention of the parents by the sister. Funny how the boy had no idea what happened to it. Suspicious? Oh yeah. Angry parents? Sure. Upset, crying boy? You bet. After much deliberation by the parents, it was decided that they would send the DS away for repair for a mere $80 bucks. Oh yeah, that's eight-zero. The DS is returned to us, repaired and looking like new. Happiness ensues. A month or 2 later, it is apparent that the boy is just not playing the DS as much as usual. Upon examination by the mother, it is found that the DS has some strange black lines across the screen, making it difficult to see. Hmmm, time to question the boy. He has no idea what happened. After much speculation between the parents, the sister, and the conveniently absent boy, it is determined he had to have done something to it. Time for the Spanish Inquisition. It is then made clear by the boy, rather timidly, that he couldn't find the pen (stylus thingy) and decided to use a real pen. Ok, the mother realizes she could just wipe the pen marks off the glass screen. Oh yeah, sure. Somehow using a pen must mess up something within the DS. So, here we are again, a boy with a broken DS. The parents are unlikely to ever purchase another DS for the boy. Many tears follow and life goes on sadly for the boy without a DS.
Many months pass and the boys birthday is approaching. That darn mother convinces the father to purchase another DS for the boy's 7th birthday. There is much conversation. The father thinks the mother has lost her mind. The mother wins the battle and a new DS is purchased. Forward to tonight. The parents give the boy his birthday gift. Never in a million years could the parents have imagined the reaction!

This is the not-so-great picture taken by the mother. After this picture, the mother could take no more pictures. The boy ran over to her, buried his head in her stomach and cried! Cried and cried and cried! Tears of joy, tears of disbelief, tears of fear as to never break it again. Unbelievable! The mother began crying, the Grandma was crying, the sister was crying, and the Aunt was crying. Amazing! The parents never expected this. It was truly a gift worth giving and a memory never to forget!
So my baby, with that, enjoy your DS and your 7th birthday! We love you! (and please be careful with that thing this time!)

Mother Nature can be cruel

The pictures you are looking at show the very old tree in our backyard that fell sometime Sunday night. We had some pretty strong winds and when the tree fell, it smashed our swingset. (Indeed that is a swingset underneath it all) Can you imagine? We were shocked to find it like this on Monday morning. I kept waking up throughout the night because the winds were so strong and loud, but I had no idea this had happened. Olivia, who one would think is a little too old for the swingset now at 10 years old, cried. Alot. This is a kid who never cries. Seriously. You could push her down a flight of stairs and she wouldn't cry. But over the swingset? Bawling. Go figure. I guess she has many pleasant memories on that swingset and I have lots of pictures to prove it too. (I don't even want to mention the fondness she had for that tree!)
Putting things into perspective: if that's all we have to suffer is the loss of a swingset compared to what those poor people in Texas have lost, I'd say "the swingset is yours Mother Nature. Take it and enjoy."

Back into the swing

Looks like we are headed back into the swing of things. I've returned to work, the kids to school, and soccer is being played on Sunday as per usual. It appears the usual routine is finally starting to settle in. (Unfortuately, I didn't realize until this morning that this is my last day of the weekend and I should have cleaned the house yesterday so I could relax today. Oh well, so much for the swing of things!)

Our very old little pear tree has provided us with a bushel full of the sweetest pears I have ever tasted. Truthfully. The sweetest. As a matter of fact, I made a pear pie last night and the pears were literally sliding out of my hands when I was peeling them because they were so slippery from being so juicy. So Delicious! I've never had pears this tasty. And to think that a few years ago, our very old little pear tree was hit during a bad thunderstorm and much of it was split apart. I made John salvage what was left although he really wanted to chop it all down. I guess I made a good call. Maybe these exceptionally tasty pears are the trees way of thanking me from saving it.


I hope you are all settling back into your routines as well. Hope it's a good week ahead for all.

Note to self

I really don't like the NYS Fair, I know this, but for some reason I seem to "forget" this fact from year to year. My sister-in-law, niece, my kids & I all spent the day at the fair today.

We park. I'm not annoyed that I have to take a shuttle bus to the gate, really I'm not. It doesn't warm my heart, but I'm not annoyed. We enter the gate. I'm even somewhat cheerful at this point. I have brought my camera and think to myself, perhaps, just perhaps, this will be fun.

We walk on. I try to conceal my disgust as I look at the cows. Geez, they're freakin' huge! And oh yes, they stink. Oh yes, thank goodness I had the sense to wear sneakers for once in my life instead of some inappropriate yet completely stylish sandal. The thought of my bare foot in a sandal next to whatever is on the ground makes me cringe. Score one for me! Ok, breathing fresh air now, away from the cows.

We walk on. Oh the chickens! Makes me wish I didn't have chicken last night for dinner. At least they are in cages and don't completely stink.

We walk on. Sister-in-law insists we share a Belgian waffle in the Dairy Building. Waffles with strawberries and whipped cream for all. They're pretty good and it happily erased all the stench that I feel followed us from seeing the cows.

We walk on. Kids are adamant about the rides. They must ride now! Fine. To the rides we go. Tilt a Whirl, Swings, Scrambler, Himalayan, etc. etc. etc. This is getting old really fast. After 2 hours and 50 minutes of pure amusement riding, we are finally able to extract these 3 children from the area. By the grace of God, I tell you! If it weren't for that bag of kettle corn, fresh squeezed lemonade and funnel cake that sister-in-law and I downed, this 2 hours and 50 minutes could have been more torturous. This is where I realize my breaking point has officially begun. I hate the fair and I need a shower.

We walk on. Kids are hungry. Let's eat. Dear niece, fussiest child in the world, wants what? Oh yes, Little Caesar's pizza. Here we are, at the fair, home of foods the world (state?) around and she wants Little Caesars. Fine. Sister-in-law & I, along with my kids, down some cheesy bread with her. Then we moved on to the mother load of homemade potato chips smothered with cheese and bacon. Oh yeah! Ignore all thoughts of health, we're on a bender here people! Followed by burgers and hot dogs, we're feeling fine.

We walk on. Pig building next. Oh wow! This smell might far outweigh the cow building. Is this possible? Ugh, right after we ate lunch too! Trying hard not to think of the bacon on those golden homemade potato chips. Trying hard not to figure out if I can physically see the shape of a pork chop anywhere on the pigs anatomy. Gasping, gasping, gasping for fresh air....aaahh, finally. Really needing a shower now.

We walk on. Of couse, we now visit a myriad of marketable goods. What child can resist the temptation of crap for sale? They each pick assorted items...baseball hats, Webkinz cards, Beanie Babies...and I'm free. I got off fairly easy this time considering what a disaster this could have been.

We walk on. Sister-in-law says it's time for ice cream. We have to find the Dairy Building again. Perry's Ice Cream. Olivia wants Birthday Bash, Johnny wants Peanut Butter Cup, and a delicious Southern Apple Pie for me. Mmmm. Here is when it really goes downhill for me. I realize that I cannot move from the amount of food I have consumed at the fair. I'm cranky & miserable and now we have to go through all the increasing crowds of people to get out. Ugh!

We walk on. We find the gate. It's not like we can just walk to the car now. No, we have to get on the @#%*& shuttle bus first to be taken to the car. Thankfully, it was a quick process.

So, I think my dislike of the fair got the better of me because I didn't take one picture. Not one. In the car, safely on our way back home, I declared that I really hate the fair and am not going ever again. Let this be a note to self. And please, dear friends, remind me of this next year should I have any thoughts of going.

Strong Museum

We took a little trip to Rochester Monday & Tuesday. We brought the kids to the Strong Museum. What a completely wonderful museum! We hadn't been there in a few years and we thought it was fantastic at that time. Who would have thought they could improve it? But they did. It just has so much to offer. Johnny who is a notorious "toucher" was thrilled. He went through & touched everything, leaving no stone unturned. Even Olivia (who at 10 is maybe getting a little old for a children's museum) enjoyed it. On Tuesday's trip home we stopped at the outlets in Waterloo for some back to school shopping. (still not finished on that front though...it's a neverending, grueling process!)

Hot and humid lazy day

Not much going on here. It's a little hot and humid today, I really hate it when it's humid. Geez, my blog posts are becoming so boring lately!
My niece is playing nicely with my kiddos, they're all occupied, there's a big Scooby Doo fest on Cartoon Network. Let's see how long that can hold their attention. Dh is getting ready for work, which leaves me ready for some scrapping time! I scrapped for awhile last night and I'm really enjoying it again. See?

I really need to get some photos downloaded and prints ordered for future scrapping. I better get to that now! Have a good week! This is my last full week of summer vacation and it's action packed.

A little fun

I don't know where I've been lately, I guess trying to cram so much into whatever bit of summer vacation we have left. We took the kids to The Enchanted Forest Water Safari on Tuesday. It was a little chilly but the water rides are heated so they could care less if they had to shiver when they came out of the water! They really had a fun time.

The rain is in my way!

It has been raining here all day. I am so sick of rain, thunderstorms, showers, light drizzle, golf ball sized hail...I could go on and on! This weather really sucks and if that's not bad enough, if you do get a day where it doesn't rain, it's cloudy and threatens to rain! You just can't win.
So why is this rain in my way you say? (Are you getting ready for the earth-shattering reason?) Because I need to go to the grocery store! There, I said it! I hate nothing more than having to go to the grocery store when it's raining. I can tolerate it in the snow, but the rain is a whole different story for me. Pushing the cart through the parking lot, getting my feet wet(I hate when my feet are wet), loading the trunk, unloading the trunk at home, all this while getting soaked makes for one miserable girl.
Yesterday, I sat down with all my recipe clippings. You know, the ones I've ripped from magazines and stock piled because I'm sure I'm going to make them "one day". (emphasis on the "one day") I decided with just a few weeks of summer vacation left and the weather less than desirable lately, "one day" has finally arrived. I'm going to cook and bake and bake and cook. I am armed with my lengthy list for the store but I will not trudge my way through the rain! I've got a mission here and the rain is in my way!
Well, maybe I'm being unreasonable. I don't know. Maybe it's just the darn rain that's ruining my spirit. Ugh!
Bright sunny skies to all of you!

Beijing Olympics

Did you watch the opening ceremonies for the Olympics last night? Wow! I mean, WOW! Some years I find that I'm more into the Olympics than other years, but last night's ceremonies were amazing! Truly amazing! I admit to being quite mesmerized by much of it. Even Bob Costas remarked about having to retire the award for opening ceremonies because nothing could top this. These are some of my favorite images so enjoy!

Home Alone

Well friends I am home alone today! My kiddos are at my brother & sister-in-law's house playing with my niece. John is playing in a golf tournament. This leaves me unattended to. My first thought was to run wild and shop 'til I dropped. However, being that I had a fun money-spending day on Friday, I figured I had better ignore the urge to shop today. On Friday, we drove out to Albany to The Pottery Place. It was the first time my kids experienced this (me too) and they absolutely LOVED it! I can't wait to see the finished pieces.


Anyway, (I know I've gone off topic) in lieu of shopping, I decided to stay home and do nothing! That's a novel idea if I've ever heard one. I've been scrapping my little heart out for most of the morning/early afternoon. As I type this, it's pouring rain outside. What is up with the weather anyway? It rains every day! (again, off topic) I have decided to continue this "Day of Nothing Fest" and move right onto the couch for some movie watching. (The rain has brought on this turn of events, so I guess my musing on the weather weren't completely off topic) Haven't decided what I'm going to watch yet,, but I hope you are having a happy, lazy, "Day of nothing fest " too.
TTFN!

Busy weekend

It has been such a busy weekend around here!
On Thursday, dh finally got some long overdue brass:

He was promoted to Sergeant on Thursday. We are all so proud of him! It was well deserved and like I said, so long overdue. (That pic is so blurry (as were many taken that day) but let's not even go there! Also, I'm sure he's going to be thrilled I shared this pic with the world considering he hates that hat!)
Well with Thursday night being his PBA golf league and his having a retirement party to go to in Rochester on Friday night, I was finally able to throw him a surprise party to celebrate his promotion last night. I made sure to have all his favorite foods catered by his favorite local restaurants and it really was a surprise. I thought we'd never be able to surprise him.
Then this morning, we hosted a breakfast in honor of the Boilermaker road race.
I just finished cleaning the house and I have to admit, I'm beat. I'm going to sit down and do absolutely nothing for a little while. That is, until I have to go to the grocery store!

A good day

Yesterday was a good day, a special day. You know, one of those days that make you wish that everyday could be like it. But then again, if everyday was like it, it wouldn't be special anymore. (Didya get that? LOL)
We started out the day by going to breakfast.
Then we did a little shopping.
Then we bought this:

A 2008 Mercury Milan. This car has all those features that make you talk to your car...like "call John on cell" and "play artist Alicia Keys"...stuff that is way advanced for me, yet really cool at the same time. Now at least when someone catches me talking to myself (which always happens) I can always lie and say I'm just talking to the car!
Then we hung out for awhile.
Then we went out to dinner.
Then we ended the day at my sister's house with all my family.
See? A good day!
I hope all of you had a good day too.

Thanks Melonie!

I just received this adorable painting from the ever-talented Melonie. How cute is this little octopus? Mel's etsy shop has some of the cutest paintings and such. Take a look here. I love everything and could seriously buy one of each. Mr. Octopus is now hanging in the kids' bathroom and he looks awesome! (Olivia was angry because she thought it was going to hang in her room!) Thanks again Melonie for sharing your talent with me! (and the extra goodies as well)

Three cheers for the red, white & blue!

Looks like we are in for one great day today! The weather is beautiful...pleasant. We're going to my sister's house for a huge cookout and then to see the fireworks later tonight. The above photo is just one of the desserts I made to bring to my sister. Who doesn't love a cupcake? Especially a huge, patriotic one! Our whole weekend is just jammed with parties, so I'm looking forward to that.
Hope you all have a fun and sun filled 4th (be safe too)!

Monday Monday

So here we are, Monday. Kinda funny actually. Yesterday, I was running around like a crazy person trying to fit every last "thing" I had to do, into the weekend. Then it suddenly dawned on me, "hey dummy, you don't have to go to work tomorrow...or for the next 2 months, so relax!" Have to admit, that was a sweet revelation. I'm just so used to spending weekends getting everything done, I had forgotten about summer vacation.
I must say that I've been scrapping quite a bit lately. Really enjoying the process. Here is just one of the many LOs I've created in the past several days:

I really love Making Memories. Always have.
We're taking the kids to Syracuse tonight to catch a Chiefs baseball game. Should be fun (I think). Ciao!

Bring on summer vacation!

As of 3:00 pm yesterday afternoon, I am officially on summer vacation! Let's hear the sigh of relief.....Aaaah! I don't have to wake up early, jump in the shower immediately or even leave the house for days at a time if I don't want to. My niece is here right now and she & my kids having been playing peacefully (believe it or not) all morning. I've not heard one single "Mommmmmy" yet! If this is any indication of how summer is going to go, I'm in 100 percent! Hee hee I am hoping to find some amusing things for us to do together this summer so I don't have to hear "I'm bored!" Nothing makes me cringe like "I'm bored!" (well, maybe a Gyn exam but let's not even go there! LOL) I have gotten so much accomplished today, I'm just on a roll and if I pull myself from this here puter, I am seriously going to scrap away the afternoon. Happy scrappin' friends!

A good weekend

I have to say that it was a really good weekend. Dh had the weekend off--which in the police world doesn't happen that often. The weather was wonderful, not too hot, not too cold and mostly sunny. There was shopping involved, lots of good food, lots of family...just the way a weekend should be. Gotta love that.
I made these cookies for ds to bring to school today:
Can you say Mmmmmmmm? Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Mmmmmmm? Believe me, I do apologize if I have just blown any thoughts of a good week of dieting for any of you. Sorry:(
Guess that's all for now. Let's hope for a wonderful week ahead for all. C'ya!

Busy

I don't know what I've been doing lately, that's all I know is that I've been too busy to blog or scrap or even, dare I say, cook?
I guess it's just this time of year. There's only a week and a half of school left and there are so many activities winding down around here, like soccer and Tball and baseball. I'm so anxious for this week and half to be over with because then my life should return to normal. At least I hope anyway.
I've been doing lots of decorating and rearranging of furniture. Doesn't it aggravate the heck out of you when you have ideas and you can't find what you're looking for in the retail world? Or am I the only one with these problems? No matter what the item, no matter what the color, it seems as though I'm always ahead of the times or something. After I go to all ends of the Earth to find an item, 6 months later I find said item everywhere I look!
Which reminds me...if any of my legions of blog readers (said sarcastically of course) should come across any cute art work of an octopus or crab that I could hang in my childrens' bathroom, please let me know. I've been through art.com and etsy, but I haven't found that ideal piece yet. (Melonie, if you're reading this, I even checked out your etsy gallery hoping to find that you've been reading my mind and painting cute octopuses (octopi?)!)
So, I'm going to try to start blogging regularly. If I should disappear again, it should only be for a week and half. Then I can be a blogging fool all summer long!

"Last ditch effort"

Well, it's no surprise really. I've been saying it for some time...my will to scrap has really waned over the past year. There just seems to be so many other things I'd rather do. I never, ever, ever, thought I'd feel this way. Maybe 10 years is long enough? I used to live & breathe scrapbooking...hyperventilate with excitement upon entering a scrapbook store...experience euphoria everytime I picked up patterned paper...stalk the mailman for my magazines & packages and now...nothing. No excitement at all.
It is so upsetting to me, truly. I can't imagine this. I kept thinking that this is all just a normal phase, but I'm beginning to think that maybe, just maybe it isn't a phase. Maybe, just maybe, I'm done with it. You know, time to hang up the adhesive and call it an album.
However, I have decided to launch a "last ditch effort" campaign. I have signed up for the 3 month subscription over at Bad Girls. I have always loved the kits that Wendy puts together and figured now was the time to throw all caution to the wind and give them a try. I'm thinking that if these kits can't turn me around, nothing will. I'm hoping that between the kits and summer vacation on the horizon with no work, I may experience a scrapping rebirth. However, if I still have this same "blah" feeling toward scrapbooking by the Fall 2008, then I hate to say it, but I'll be packing it in for good. Look for a big sale on ebay!
But first, wish me luck as I begin the "last ditch effort"!

What's that I see?

Yes! It's a layout! I don't know what happened today. We are off all week for spring break (did I ever mention how working in the schools was the best thing ever?). I've been cleaning like a crazy woman since Friday. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I have this creative mojo pulsing through my veins, just dying to get out. Boy, that hasn't happened in a long time! So, I actually decided to get down off the ladder, put away my dust cloth, sit down and actually create something. Wow, did that ever feel good! I scrapped 3 of my most favorite things right now...Baci chocolates, Buffy and Charmed on DVD, and Philosophy Shower Gel. Now if the rest of the week continues on like this, it may be one very fruitful (does anyone even use that word, "fruitful" anymore?) spring break. That and if I ever get my kitchen cleaned to perfection. Ha!

Where have I been?

Has it really been over a month since I last blogged? Oh my goodness, where have I been? We were having some crazy computer troubles for awhile, so I guess between that and plain old life, the last thing on my mind was the good old blog.

Not really much to report lately other than we are finally beginning to experience spring! The temperatures have been in the high 50s to mid 60s and there is nothing like pleasant spring weather and a shining sun after the dreary winter to send my need to spring clean into overdrive! I deep cleaned the living room over the weekend and am ready to roll along to the rest of the house this weekend. It's a sickness I tell ya!

Happy Spring!

Amazing

I'm not sure if there are any other American Idol fans out there, but I have to share something that I found amazing today. Let me first go back to last night:

Last night on Idol, Jason Castro sang a song named "Hallelujah". I have to admit that the song intrigued me a bit. The judges loved it, even Simon. They mentioned that their favorite version of the song was sung by Jeff Buckley. Having never heard the song before last night, I decided that the next time I was hanging around the itunes, I would have to look up this Jeff Buckley version of the song. I mean they spoke so highly of it, I had to hear it for myself. Right?

Imagine my surprise when I found that "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley was listed as the #4 most popular song on itunes. Can you believe it? This song was recorded in something like 1994 and it's #4 on itunes today, some 14 years later? Apparently I wasn't the only one intrigued by it! Did I download it? You bet your 99 cents I did!

I can't help but think, how amazing is the power of American Idol coupled with a really great song! Honestly, I'm amazed.

Just another snowy day

We got quite a good amount of snow yesterday and overnight, enough to close the schools today. Gotta love a good ol' snow day. I feel like I packed so much into this day, yet at the same time, I feel as though I got nothing done at all. Very strange. It's almost hard to believe that on Monday, we had hardly any snow and now we have this:


and this:


oh yes, and this:


and did I mention this:


Fooled you that time didn't I? You were expecting another boring snow photo. In order to remind myself of spring, I bought that little "box of love", as I've decided to name it, last week. What could be happier than buttons, paper blossoms and felt flowers all in one little box? I don't even need to mention that this set contains my three most favorite colors in the world--orange, pink and red. Love it! I am also loving the Garden Party chipboard shapes that I bought. (couldn't get a good picture of them, so you'll have to use your imagination if you haven't seen them yet) That set screams spring and is my only consolation when I look outside my window and see that it is snowing heavily, yet again! Here's hoping that winter is over real soon.

Separation

Yesterday, I received my March issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. I haven't really combed through it with any intensity, but just by flipping through, I have to say (and I really hate to say it) but I am so not inspired by any of it. (my apologies if you have a LO published in this issue) It's not this issue alone that has turned me, I haven't been inspired by any CK issue in a long time. There was a time when I would run from the mailbox when a new CK issue arrived and try to hide from my kids long enough so I could read it cover to cover. This is so not the case anymore. I have my very first issue of CK still (for sentimental reasons, I guess). It's the May/June 1998 issue. It's taken 10 years to get me to this point but when my subscription is up in September, I will most likely not be renewing it. I find I can get much more inspiration in other places... online galleries & blogs and just in the everyday stuff...and not in Creating Keepsakes magazine, that's for sure.
There is a part of me that wonders whether this separation from CK is because I've been scrapping for 10 years, I've finally become comfortable enough to just "do my own thing" even if it's not cutting edge and not worry if the masses like it. Then I realize that I still do enjoy BHG Scrapbooks Etc. magazine, so that can't be the case. It's just a separation between CK & I. Period. What's that silly phrase that everyone says nowadays? Oh yeah. It is what it is.

Mid Winter Recess

As a kid, was there anything better than a week off from school? Funny, I'm still feeling that vibe after all these years. It is Mid Winter Recess here, and my kids & I are starting our week off from school/work. (I'm thinking that my switching jobs in October was one of the best things I ever did...who has better working hours than teachers & staff?) I'm really hoping to get some scrapping done this week, but for now, we are off to see a very talented local magician perform at the library. Have a good one friends!

Tagged!

Sweet Melonie tagged me, so here goes:

You must post the rules before you give your answers.*You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name.*After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers.*At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name.(Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details.

A--attractive. Hold it here, believe me, I'm not calling myself attractive as in a "Oh I'm so beautiful, look at me" way. I mean attractive in that I always attract people in general, in public, from all walks of life to carry on conversations with me. My sisters, my friends have always gotten a kick out of this. What is it about me that perfect strangers feel they need to talk to me?
N--neat freak. Sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. The littlest things out of place drive me nuts!
N--nice. Well I realize that it's kind of a generic word, but I think that in general I am nice or at least I try to be nice at all times. (Hey, maybe that's my problem, see letter A above! LOL)

I will be tagging, in the hopes that they don't want to kill me:
JenCoen
Nicole
Janie

It got me again!

I don't know what is going on around here but I feel like I have been sick since Christmas! I started with a slight fever on Tuesday, along with body aches & a sinus headache that wouldn't quit. It just kept getting progressively worse & worse as the week drew on. Here it is Friday, and although I feel somewhat better, I'm still in misery. (Thank goodness we had a snow day today so I could get some extra rest). Something needs to be done. What could be causing all this sickness? As soon as I am feeling better I am marching myself right into the health store. I have got to get loaded up with some immune system boosting "stuff". I can't take it anymore! Could it be that I'm working at the high school now and I also take the students to a local nursing home for a job study program every morning that's causing all this? SCHOOL GERMS + NURSING HOME GERMS = ONE VERY SICK ME? Believe me when I say I am a diligent hand washer, like crazy even, but it doesn't seem to matter. I hate to be a complainer and have such a down post, but being sick is really get old at this point!

Strike three, you're out!

I haven't really given a lot of thought to this writer's strike overall. Back in December, with the holidays, the strike was somewhat of a welcome relief....no need to worry about catching my shows when there was so much shopping, baking, and wrapping to tend to. However, it is now the end of January, we are in cold and snowy Central New York, and truthfully, there is nothing else to do around here but watch tv! (and eat, but let's not even go there) I am finding that this writer's strike is starting to get on my nerves. I need Desparate Housewives, I need Grey's Anatomy, I need Ugly Betty! And the award shows! How is one to dream without seeing all the glamour of the red carpet? What is wrong with these people? Don't they realize my needs? What's that you say? My needs don't matter? OK. Fine. Be that way.

Since my needs are highly unlikely to send either side rushing to the bargaining table shouting on high and waving a white flag, I have decided that I am going to spend my idle time watching movies. There are so many movies that I have always wanted to see (especially old ones) and this is the perfect opportunity for me to see them, full speed ahead. So here is somewhat of a list of what I'll be watching while the picketing continues:

African Queen, Cabaret, A Star is Born, Moulin Rouge, The King & I, My Fair Lady, Gigi, Roman Holiday, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, The Graduate, Hairspray, Napolean Dynamite, Superbad, Memoirs of a Geisha, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Way We Were, Spinal Tap, From Here to Eternity, The Color Purple, The Lord of the Rings, Doctor Zhivago, It Happened One Night, An American in Paris...

What do you think? Is that enough to get me through this strike? If not, I'll have to start of list of movies I've only seen once and would like to see again. (desparate much?) If you have any recommendations, I'm all ears.

A Lorna kinda day

I am finally visiting my long lost blog. What is it with me? I either have too much to say or nothing to say at all.
It's really cold here, the kinda day were you just want to curl up on the couch with a good book or better yet, under a warm blanket and watch a really fabulous movie. But, since having to work is always a factor, I guess I'll have to settle for a steaming hot cup of tea and a crisp Lorna Doone cookie. Am I the only lover of the Lorna Doone? I swear I would rather have this plain Jane of a cookie than an ooey gooey chocolate chip any day, hands down. There is something so comforting in the "plainess" of the Lorna Doone cookie. Paired with a cup of tea, it makes for a very pleasant, very Lorna kinda day.
Stay warm!

The late arrival

So this most wonderful item arrived at my doorstep yesterday in all its glory! It was one of my Christmas gifts from dh, but on backorder since early December. It finally arrived and do I love it?? You bet! As a matter of fact, I haven't put it in the cupboard yet because I like to see it sitting on the stove whenever I enter the kitchen. (Is it normal to be in love with a pot?) This thing weighs a ton too, I struggled with it when washing it!

I can't wait to cook in it!! Chili, anyone?

Wonders never cease

It really is a wonder. I was able to sit & scrap and the mojo was flowing, as were the itunes, and I actually created a layout! (Sorry the scan isn't the greatest, I guess I got carried away with all those lumpy bumpy goodies!)

The best part? I actually enjoyed scrapping once again! Here's hoping I can keep it up!

Happy New Year

Here it is, a new year! I'm the only one awake here this morning and the peace and quiet is a welcome change after all the excitement of the past week or so.

This year, I decided that I'm not going to make New Year's resolutions, just some gentle persuasions or thoughts if you will. (Does that make sense?) I keep saying that maybe, just maybe, 2008 will be our year.
--Being a SAHM for so many years, has taken a toll on us financially. I'm hoping that with my new job things will finally start to turn around for us.
--Dh & I were once do-it-yourselfers, before do-it-yourselfing was even popular. We really need to start focusing on little projects around the house that we can tackle. I always loved a good project!
--Adopt a healthy lifestyle. (Notice I'm not saying "lose weight" which I've come to find, for me, is synonomous with the "kiss of death" or maybe it's the "kiss of failure", not sure which?)
--Find the joy in scrapping again. I've really lost that spark and I so need that spark again. Truly, I don't understand what happened.
I think that's about it. I'll have to edit this if I think of anything else.

Looking out my window right now, it's snowing pretty heavily. I guess Mother Nature has her own resolutions. We're going to brunch with dh's family later this morning, should be fun. I truly hope that each & every one of you has a very wonderful, very blessed 2008!