Thursday, August 31, 2006

Today's happenings...

Here's my new favorite drink -the Mike-a-rita, baby, where have you been all my life??? Anyway, trying to bolster myself through setting up my new email address over the phone with my dad, which I set up with a wrong user name, which is a big faux pas...who knew? My dad is a genius at fixing this kind of stuff, so never fear...my new email will be emily@EmilyAdamsOnFire.com - it should be up & running later tonight!

Also it's my BFF's birthday today - happy birthday Angie!!! I miss you & need to hang out with you...much mindless gossip!

It's that time of year again...Matt's phone is ringing off the hook, we have "beer" as a category in the budget & his allergies are flaring up - it can only mean one thing - dove hunting season opens this weekend. {I married a bad-man-bird-murderer - can you tell I wasn't raised in a hunting family??} He leaves in the morning {with$80 worth of beer & a few packs of hot dogs} for his annual family hunting trip. They call it a hunting trip - usually a majority of them are too drunk to hunt, so they sit it out...let's put it this way - these Texas birds are pretty safe. He will return stinky & dirty & completely unable to breathe...fun times. Matt just informed me that his dad is on the road and will be here in less than an hour to spend the night, so I have some straightening to do! {Matt's never been really good at details like that, oh well.}

I have learned to take advantage of these weekends and will be sleeping over at my cousins' house tomorrow {"we can talk, like, all night long", um, like, us old folks like some sleep, so we'll see}. Then working at home Saturday & Saturday night. Lunch with my friend Martha Sunday & the PolkaDot Crop on Monday. Viva la Labor Day weekend!!!

Ashley & I had to run to Star Wholesale for silk flowers & ribbon for CKU Houston* today & Ashley's daughter Ella found the costume aisle...I couldn't resist a few quick snaps! {pictures to follow - temporary blogger issues!}

* I am in awe of how many students I'll have in Houston...I'll teach 6 times...390 total! Thank you for your support!!!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

TV, good reading & an invitation...

Those of you that know me know I'm really into generational studies. I was flipping channels on the ole' couch and caught this outrageous commercial. There was a little girl on a school stage giving a report, "The baby boomers are really great. They really knew how to stick it to the man." I almost fell off the couch. ROTFLOL. TV Land will be showing a four part series in September called "Generation Boom" about the baby boomers - their lifestyles, pop culture, relationship skills and their obsession with technology. Tune in.

I bought a fun book in Boston at their Museum of Science - They All Laughed, From Light Bulbs to Lasers:The Fascinating Stories Behind the Great Inventions That Have Changed Our Lives. It's really interesting. I didn't put it on my reading list, because I'm reading it an invention at a time {I don't think that counts}. I loved the story of the Xerox - nobody would buy the idea for over 20 years - people scoffed at it, actually - who would ever want to make more than one copy of anything??? Just trace it - carbon paper is so popular/affordable...sheesh. The resistance to technology coexisting with the thirst for it has always interested me.

Now, on to Monday. If you're in the DFW area I'm going to insist you come out to the Labor Day crop at the PDP Lounge - digital and traditional crafters welcome 9 am - 6 pm. ONLY $5 ALL DAY (not $25 as listed on the site - oopsie!) {that's my kind of crop - peppy & cheap!!!} Goody bag & pizza included...I'll be there working on a stack of covered books, coaster projects and maybe getting some much needed tutorial on laying out my new website...

Well, I want to get back to my depressing & brain-sucking 20/20 special on the end of the world, I just can't turn away...

BTW - this makes me very happy - CKU online is live!!!!!!

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Big stuff this week...

Well, exciting things are happening...one at a time. Tomorrow the CKU Home Study program kicks off. They will offer a few classes to introduce it, then roll out a full cirriculum shortly after that. I am thrilled to be involved with this project. The classes will be streaming video with lots of bonus materials and downloads - very interactive for online material. I also like that you can take one class at a time and watch it at your leisure. I will be building a community with my students to enhance the experience and am working on my own website now.
On Thursday, Aug 31, registration begins for Scrapbooker's BootCamp in St. Louis in October. I was in the right place at the right time for his one. I will be teaching four all new classes at this event and will be sponsored by Imagination Project. You can read about BootCamp here, check out my bio here, or read about my new classes: Fashion Statement, All Star, The Spice of Life and It's in the Bag: a Chartreuse Dream. If you're in the area or are able to go, I really recommend you check out this event!

Ashley is gearing up for a Labor Day Crop at the new PDP lounge {sign up here}. Goody bag, lunch and all-day digi demos included {that's my kind of party!}, traditional paper scrappers welcome (come sit by me). If you're in the DFW area sign up & join us...Speaking of PDP - Ashley has designed a GORGEOUS set of digital botanicals that is a free download if you buy over $10 worth of stuff AND she's throwing an end of summer sale, AND she's throwing a retirement sale AND she's added a boucoup of new exciting product to her site (yumm-o) {she's been a busy girl, and I can't forget a very, very busy Ben as well}.

Back to every day business...

Trying to get back in the swing of things post-trip. I've done laundry & dishes, went to the grocery store and really cooked and am starting to feel back in the routine somewhat. I had an amazing doctors appointment yesterday - I was going to get my pacemaker recalibrated, but it was working at such an optimal level, they didn't need to change anything. Getting this thing has really been the most life changing experience I've ever had. In the last six months I've gone from no energy to high energy almost overnight.

Blog housekeeping - I've refreshed my tunes section. If you've never clicked through there before, I recommend it. All the artist links go to youtube music videos. Well, I should get to work...have a great day!

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Sweet Thing & more...

Well, I finally finished these pages in the wee hours before I left for Boston. I didn't want to wait to get to work to scan them, so I just photographed them this evening...Hope you enjoy them!

Home from Boston...




Well, I'm home - I've uploaded all my pics to my flikr account, but it's not letting me organize them into an album right now. Check back on my sidebar for a new album to see all of the sights I saw in Boston. Here are a few of my favorite snaps...

Ashley & me in little Italy, close-up of the fountain at Boston Commons, with one of the Cow Parade cows, driving "the duck" on the Charles River, and my youngest scrapper at CKU Boston.

News to me, today's the 27th...

After 2 hours of sleep, I headed out to the airport at 4 AM and had a groggy nap on the plane. I landed, starving at DFW at 9AM, thinking of breakfast. Matt picked me up & we took my bags home and headed out to Amigo's for fajita omlets. I sleepily asked, it's the 26th right? - he said no...Oh good the 25th?...no...holy crap...
honey, did I just forget your birthday?
yup. Today's the 27th, all right.
crappity-crap.
So we had cake with our breakfast & then I slept all day...happy birthday honey! {and Rusty, too! - my husband's a twin, so technically, I forgot both their birthdays}

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Walking Boston...

Well, we made it to Boston. After 2, count 'em two hours of sleep {Ashley beat me, she didn't sleep at all}, we dragged ourselves to the airport this morning. Sometimes flights are feasts or famine, and to get here at a decent hour we had to leave at an indecent one. So to put it mildly, we had some time...so we walked. I'm going to have to do a whole flikr album for this trip, I know it.

Went to the tailgate and got to talk to some of fun scrapping friends - Tracy White, Donna Downey & Becky Higgins. Had some great lobster at a little dive called the No Name.

I start teaching in the morning. Tomorrow afternoon we're taking the Duck Tour - you must check it out {take the virtual tour- it's a riot!}

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Matt's message...

Matt asked me to post for him. As you know, I will be out of town for the next few days. He wants to take this opportunity to blatantly ask for any women to come by the house and bring him food. He says beer is is an acceptable substitute. "If I'm not here, you can leave it on the porch."

his words - not mine.

He cracks me up.

I'm off to Boston at dark-thirty, so I better finish packing so I can get my precious four hours of sleep!

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Getting a flipping education...

This single device causes more frustration in our house than anything else I can think of...

- Where is it?
- What did you do with/where are the batteries?
- He flips too fast. I flip too slow.
- I/he wanted to watch that...
- We always watch what you want to watch {used both ways}
- No I'm not mad. {huff, huff}
- By the time you finish flipping all the shows you wanted to check back on will be over.

Well, today, when I was told "I don't know how to flip", I had to laugh. My show of the day {Eureka} wasn't on for an hour so I asked him, "Please, o wise one, teach me how to flip properly" - and he did. I had a one hour lesson on how to "correctly" use my remote control. My. Remote. Control. Now when I say "correctly", I mean the way that will keep him quiet...

Ladies, I know you're dying for the secret of remote excellence, so here goes:
  • Develop a rhythm and execute a fast click review. Commercial? don't wait, click - can't tell? don't wait, click - if it's good, you'll catch it on the next round
  • Do a full channel round of clicking slightly slower, to see if any of the commercials from 30 seconds ago are off - you may stop briefly if there's major news, anything on fire, wrestling or any episode of COPS - just to see if there are any situations you need to monitor
  • Pick your specific top channels and enter them into the remote in sequence, giving each of your top channels a chance to impress you {12-44-37-43-15-45-46-29-52-51 - btw, I have too many top channels and am advised to cull it down to about 3 to fully utilize the "quick reverse" button on the remote}

I think his system is kinda cute...I had to laugh, and he laughed too. Just when I was finally getting the hang of it he said - now choose one and stay there. Where's the fun in that? All that flipping education and he's asleep on the couch before the next round of shows started...cute thing - he's so adorable when he's sleeping. I have a great husband, I really do. Changing my flipping etiquette is a small price to pay, and if I want to aggravate him apparently all I have to do is start flipping v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y...

Out on the town...

Went to the Grand Luxe again last night for a fun double birthday party for Kate & Ashley. We got to hear all about the 5th Annual "Dallas becomes Chicago" pub crawl the single girls went on last weekend & about the wedding Kandice went to {check their blogs for full details and great pictures}. Whenever we get together it's so much fun, each time we swear we won't wait til the next round of birthdays...I hope not. Party of six: Kate, Jen, Kandice, Pam, Ashley & {me} Emily.

Girls, remember I have the name "dibs" on couch & kitchen table, so no copying...

Sunday, August 20, 2006

A smoking Sunday...

Well, I've cleaned my studio and feel like I can actually work in here now. So I've been scrapping...I've scrapped through my Narnia DVD & am now running Bridget Jones {love those movies}.

Every once in a while Matt gets inspired to smoke all day. So last night we had a grocery store date and got ready for today - he's smoking 2 racks of bbq ribs, corn and a glazed ham - he did a big chunk of bologna earlier. I'll be leaving town later this week, and he thinks he should desperately try to cook ahead {but knowing him it could last only a few days}. The house smells amazing, heck the whole block smells amazing...anyway, just counting down to dinnertime.

Emily's ham glaze: orange marmalade, light brown sugar, whole grain mustard, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, tobasco. Cook down ingredients and use to baste ham hourly while smoking, also excellent for baked ham. Matt even likes it on sandwiches.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Picture at last!!!


sm em & marcia
Originally uploaded by emilykhadams.
I'm doing this backwards - posting from my flikr account, but here's the picture of Marcia & me last night...

This is kind of cool, I didn't know you could write blog entries on flikr and they could essentially "force" them through on blogger...
interesting...
the possibilities...
cool.
just cool.

Shopping adventures & an old friend...

I've been a busy bee. I've run a zillion errands over the last two days {OK - maybe 10, but I'm not a usually marathon shopper, except for groceries}. I'm too cheap to buy much, but I love looking and occassionally am suckered into buying some really cool stuff.

I was captivated by a display of sock monkies {and other critters} at World Market. I had one of these as a kid, very basic though...and I loved it. The more I research I do on the psychology behind each American generation, the better I understand how I shop - GEn-X'ers are very iconoclastic, feeling strong emotional bonds to things that trigger positive childhood memories - look around at the resurgence of 60's and 70's toys on the market and you can see that the toy company's target is the parent, not the child...OK, OK, enough of the deep thought... I went there with Ashley & her girls and was at the display when little Ella fell in love...

Also went to Hancocks & got all the fabrics for my classes in Boston next week. As well as discussing the psychology & politics of American design, we will be making snappy "trendwatching" journals and I'll teach them how to be a watcher. This class, the TrendWatcher, has taken on a life of it's own. I didn' realize when I developed it two years ago that it would become such a passion for me, that it would reshape what I read and what I think and how I look at the world around me...In Boston next week, it officially retires. But, never fear, I'll still be watching...and I'll keep you posted.

Went to my SuperTarget...for tortillas, green chile enchilada sauce & a perscription, but I left with 120 composition books {.50 a piece, people!}, really cute post-it notes with punctuation marks, a mini dymo labeler {keychain size} and these shoes. It's a curse. No, it's a plot. And I'll add, on the record, that I want to buy every single piece in their independent study lines. They're conspiring against me, I know it...

I got a call from my best friend from high school, Marcia. She lives in Seattle now with her husband and three beautiful children. She was in town visiting her parents and I got to go over & hang with the fam for a while then we went to dinner {yumm-o}. I got to hear all about her trip to Vietnam last year with a group from her church, touring conditions in hospitals & orphanages. They also were encouraged to tour the "Hanoi Hilton" which they thought was odd, until they saw all the government propaganda about how well the Americans who "stayed there" were treated...um, creepy. She took over 600 pictures and wasn't in one of them...I had to talk to her about that. Look through your pictures & make sure that when you tell your story that you're actually in your story - even if you think you need to lose a few pounds, or your hair is a mess - you're really beautiful - you're somebody's daughter, wife, mother or friend - you should cherish your own story, after all that's why we scrapbook...{all of a sudden blogger hates me - I had the picture of us up & accidentally deleted it from the post, but now blogger's acting up & not letting me add photos, so please check back}

OK, I should hop off the blog - I'm getting all deep today...have a great Saturday!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

See the movie...

All this Star Wars activity has made me want to rewatch the movie. If you don't have time, catch the 30-second bunny version here.

Yes, I am a sci-fi dork. :)

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Who are you???

OK, I'm an old school Star Wars fan & I found this fun quiz that will tell you which Star War character you are...

I took the quiz and OMG, Iam Lando Calrissian {which was my guess going in, since he was one of my favorites - I warned you in my profile I'm kind of obscure}. You remember, mayor of the Cloud City, sold out Han Solo to Jabba the Hut to cover his gambling debt, but still totally cool & all about being a good guy in spite of his little faux pas? Who are you? Take the quiz & comment with your results {I'd love to see the little descrption too} - have fun!

My results: You are Lando Calrissian
Tall, dark, and handsome. Not much seems to bother you. Maybe because you're so smooth. You truly belong with us here in the clouds.
Click here to take the "Which Star Wars character are you?" quiz...

Check out the great layout...

I just got an email from a fellow pea, "fredfreddy", Alana {a former CKU student of mine} and she shared a great layout she did this weekend. She said she was "inspired" by one of my layouts I posted on Saturday{the berry patch one, I reckon - note the scallops}. It's really special & Alana is super talented {great gallery} - please take a look at it here and give her some well deserved praise.

Alana, you made my day! I love hearing from my former students, please chime in & say hi whenever you can!

The Grocery Store curse...

Why is it that I always forget at least one item at the grocery store? I'm an obsessive list maker, I write it down, then I recopy it about three times, making my writing all pretty and putting my list in aisle order of the store {yes, I memorized it - I could draw you a map of my SuperTarget from memory} - if I make a mistake I start over - then I go & I shop & I feel good about everything. Then I get home and start putting things away...let the swearing begin...never fails. I consult the list - and there it is in my pretty handwriting - my confession: once I'm shopping I rarely look at my pretty list. What's that about? Not only do I need therapy, I also need a package of large flour tortillas and green chile enchilada sauce...

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

You know you're a Texan when...

...this is a highlight of your day! I was minding my own business, going to Sonic for the traditional afternoon beverage, and there they were:
Crispy Jalapeno Strips.
hubba, hubba, come to momma...

Of course I had to try them and wow. Supposedly there's a chipolte dipping sauce, but Ashley & I finished them plain in the car before we even got back to work. They're that good, people. Seek them out.

Make my morning, why don't you???

I checked my email this morning and found the early release of the next 30-second bunny parody of The Raiders of the Lost Ark. What can I say? Watch it, get on the mailing list & watch them all...

All the bunny movies are created single-handedly {usually voices & all} by Jennifer Shiman. A year ago she made a few of these short clips to pad her animation resume. She threw them on the internet & somehow the word got out. She's had over a million views and now does her bunny films for the Starz network. To create her mini masterpieces, she watches the films over & over with a notepad and takes note of the most memorable scenes/lines/details, etc. Then she distills the movie down to 30 seconds. What a job. I watch movies over & over and still haven't figured out how to get paid for it yet. You go girl!

Monday, August 14, 2006

Dazed and confused...

Ever have one of those days that just doesn't turn out like you'd planned? I'm having one now and everything seems so off... It all started with locking myself out of the house this morning. Technically, I'm still locked out - no office keys, no car keys, no way to get home 'til Matt gets off work. I had a list of places to go & things to do & get - nothing. Until now, the internet has been down at work, so no email/no communication with the outside world until now...

I've cleaned a lot & have started packing out the 200 prize kits for Lisa's Cruise. And what did I finally do when I was asked to try to get on the net & see if it works? I crank called Ashley*, of course. There is a fantastic new Samuel L Jackson phonebot that even fakes out the caller ID, I highly recommend it.

*upon review, I realized I failed to mention that it was Ashley who taught the brilliant digi class I took this weekend. In case you didn't know it, she is the bomb.com & her birthday is this Friday! HBD early & thanks for putting up with the call!!!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

4400 reasons to watch television...

I love smart entertainment & I really love a sharp, well thought out science fiction story. The 4400 is excellent. I've never missed an episode since its premier three years ago and now this season is drawing to a close {2 more episodes}. The story is unusual & intelligent, the acting & casting is inspired. I highly recommend checking out the first two seasons on DVD and catching up with season 3 in the off season {it runs Sunday nights at 8PM on the USA network}.

Billy Campbell rejoined the cast officially tonight recreating his Jordan Collier character {maybe you remember him from Dynasty?}. I forgot how much I like watching him - how he commands every space & scene that he's in. {Jordan Collier then & now at right} I also liked the introduction of the Ben character, I hope that whole scenario plays out.

Another thing I like is their attention to detail. Their site is phenomenal, video clips, character backstories, cast bios, character blogs, podcasts, mobile phone updates mid week with bonus material not on the show, charatcer diaries, a newsletter that sends story updates even in the off season, a message board, quizzes, hidden clues, the works. They really create a community for their watchers. I like that, I like it a lot.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

The Saturday Evening Post...

I couldn't help it. I had to blog again just for the title. Well, I've figured it out {for the most part}. With the exception of a new unexplained border line on my header, my blog is back to "normal". Thanks to photobucket & my new PSE skills I've added a new header & finally updated my photo. I'm going to relax now - happy Saturday night!

The Saturday afternoon update...

The class this morning was awesome! I am so glad I took it - I was making Photoshop Elements 4 way harder than it's supposed to be. I made a page. I'm not crazy about the colors (hindsight is 20/20), but the techniques I learned to create it are priceless. {my very first digital layout ever see left}

I knew it was going to be a great day - it's RAINING, which is amazing. I just went out to check on Matt & there he was, working on somebody's mower in the rain, happy as a clam. {check out husband in the rain on right}

I've been paper scrapping too, always one element short of finishing...I need the rise & shine mini chipboard tags, the printer at work & some inspiration to finish these two. That's OK, I love the work! I normally don't share my pages in progress, but here's what I've done so far {see layouts at left}.

Stay posted, I'm in the mood to keep blogging. BTW, have you been to the Bunny Theater Library lately? They've just added their 30 second parody of Office Space - it's a classic! {warning: some adult language directly quoted from the movie} Also click here for the voice outakes from it...

Yesterday's post & POST HERE FOR THE LIST...

I've been meaning to blog, but my schedule or sleep has conspired against me. So this is yesterday's post....

Let's see, I've been working on a slew of class ideas. In case you haven't noticed I've added Scrapbook BootCamp to my calendar. I will be teaching 4 new classes there. I am also developing several classes for CKU Online. In addition to that I will start teaching locally {finally} in October next door to the new & exciting PDP Lounge, so I'm developing about 15 classes at once. In my spare time I'm trying to rock out some layouts for the Imagination Project Design Team. This fall I'm going to start a newsletter with my teaching info, layout ideas, tips & quotes. If you want to be on the list add your email address as a comment on this thread.

I've been RAK'ed! Got a fabulous gift in the mail yesterday, Self-Centered and the Self-Centered Workbook by Pam Lambie & Jennifer Lynn Moody. It's one of the better idea books I've seen in a while and the workbook is worth its weight in gold. I burst out laughing when I read Pam's inscription, "Emily, It's all @ you! (You better talk @ this on your blog!) Smooches, Pam". Well, Miss Pam-Sandwich, you made my day! Thank you very much!

Last night found us heading off to Highlands Cafe {which is really wonderful} to meet my uncle, aunt & my cousins for dinner. The girls just got their schedules and it was B-lunch this and third period that, and there's a new boy-he pointed at me in line today-he's kinda cute-I mean he's OK...such a throw back to high school. Afterwards we went to their house to pick up our produce...they're in this awesome coop & when somebody's out of town we buy their share. So this week for $6 we got: 5 bananas, strawberries, a cantaloupe, 6 golden delicious apples, 3 cucumbers, 3 huge tomatoes, baby carrots & 4 bell peppers. I love the coop, I wish it was a regular gig. It's like playing grocery roulette. It really inspires me to cook different things & you can't beat the freshness or the price.

Oooh, I gotta sign off, I am taking my first digital scrapbooking class at the PDP lounge this morning! {and Matt's made me waffles & bacon - this is going to be a great day!}

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Sometimes you need to say it with food...

I had a "domestic moment" today and decided to go all out and cook {really cook} for Matt tonight. He works so hard and I just wanted to show him how much I appreciate him. I made glazed honey mustard chicken tenders, garlic smashed potatoes & green beans sauteed with ham & onions. I would've topped it off with a small slice of rum cake {a souvenir from my friend Angie's trip to the Caribbean} topped with pan fried pineapple in a maple syrup reduction - but he fell asleep before I could start dessert. Oh well...

I love cooking...I didn't learn it from my mom {bless her heart, she was an awful cook except for cube steaks, meringue "mushrooms" & her famous angel food cake}, instead I learned kind of out of necessity so we all could eat. I am mostly self-taught and am very lucky to have also learned from my Aunt Carol {a rocking comfort food cook} and my stepmother {a former caterer}.

That's kind of how I started scrapbook. When I was 8 I competed in the Junior Chef of Dallas competition {run by our local paper, The Dallas Morning News}, and part of the entry was to make a scrapbook of your cooking experiences. I found my 1979 cookbook entry {this is why we use acid free adhesives, btw} - it's really stylin' with my cutting edge polaroids & magazine cut outs of food. You can see that I was "loving my handwriting" from an early age. I won the scrapbook division each year I competed {keep in mind that I was only up against my own age group}. I never won first place, but my cookbooks got me the super-cool runner up Junior Chef apron.

Another family tradition was the red plate. I know it's supposed to be saved for birthdays and anniversaries, but ever since I got my own {as a wedding gift} I can't help getting it out whenever I want to say "you're special & I love you". It's funny that something as simple as a red plate can make you smile...

Emily's honey mustard glaze
Spray a skillet lightly with Pam {or other nonstick spray}. Add honey, whole grain mustard and a few dashes of red wine vinegar. Turn heat to low and stir in chopped fresh garlic and coarse ground black pepper. Heat until honey is melted and the consistency is thin. Use to marinate chicken or pork chops or to add zing to ham slices before pan searing.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Building the box village & sending it on its way...

Well, if you were in my CKU-A Atlanta High Society class, you'll be happy to know that your boxes went out today!!! Due to a packing mishap, I showed up in Atlanta to discover that my class kits {which are packed off site from where I am in Dallas} were filled with red, blue and brown embellishments {from our Polo line} and pink, orange & purple paper {from the girly collection}. It made for a very interesting hour to say the least! Ladies, your sense of humor during the situation did my heart good. Soon you will be receiving all the Polo paper & a full assortment of girly embellishments to complete the album we built in class as well as to build another album in its original, intended colors.

I had been hoping to get these out last week, but needed to break out my child labor {my visiting cousins}* to get them finished up today. We kitted, folded, stuffed, labeled & taped the day away - 118 doesn't sound like many kits - until you stack them up in your office. *if you read this: thank you Amy & Meg! So today all the UPS went & tomorrow I'm doing the USPS run {Canada, Brazil, South Africa, post office boxes, etc...}

While waiting for the product to arrive from the hotel {where it had arrived the Monday after we all had gone home}, I made all my students thank you/apology notes. They were really fun to make. I sat down with my ink pads & a big bag of random two-fold fasteners and whipped these up. Seeing all of them together was such a rainbow it made me smile. Feel free to take them apart & steal the fastener for a page or paper project. I just can't thank all of you enough for your good attitude & smiles...you guys rock!

Let me know when your boxes come - just comment on this thread. If you don't receive your box in a week, email me. There were two on my list with illegible addresses. Thanks again to all of you!!!

Sunday, August 06, 2006

A fun weekend...

This was the last weekend before school started that I could have my cousins over, so we took advantage of it. Amy will be a senior {sniff} this year & Meg a sophmore. While Matt was off playing golf with his buddies, Saturday morning we baked cookies & took them up to the Stamp Asylum for my friend Tim who was in town teaching there. Then we ran by Hancocks to pick up some lime green velveteen and black patent leather strapping to do up some back to school journals we were going to make with the mini calaveras fabric. Then we couched out and watched Sleeper {a classic} while I worked on their journals. Matt had to nap - the heat was extreme to be out all morning. Saturday night we headed over to Tracy & Al's for tacos and just to catch up. It was so nice to visit with Tracy - I've missed her so much. Not only is she Matt's sister, we used to work together and I got so accustomed to seeing her every day. She's a sister-in-law and a friend. She loves her new job, but works night shifts and is still settling into the schedule. I took a picture of her & Matt and another of all the girls - my cousins & nieces together... I need to get back to book making - little Amy needs some for school too!

Today we went to church - Amy & her friend Jake sang a lovely duet. I got goosebumps it was so good. BTW, I found out today that the movie they were extras in {as teenage zombies} has hit the Blockbuster shelves, so go rent After Sundown to check it out...she's the zombie wearing my stylin' 1989 prom dress {see, I knew it could get worn again...}

Friday, August 04, 2006

Don't drink & cut hair {learned the hard way}...

My dear, trusting husband...what a night we had. I knew after it was over it would be best to leave blogging til morning. I'm still a little surprised I had the presence of mind to grab my camera.

OK, everybody this is Matt. He thinks I can do anything. He's always complaining that he needs a haircut and finally harassed me into buying clippers, even though I was terrified to even try to cut his hair.

Well, we were hanging out on the couch after dinner - he had had a few beers and I had indulged with 2 margaritas {if you know me you know my tolerance level is 1/2 of one}. Well, he found the clippers I had bought and decided that it was the perfect time for a haircut.

So I took a picture of him pleading and laughing for a haircut - how could you deny that look? This is his, "I love you, I trust you, you can't possibly mess this up look". He set the clippers and told me to go ahead and, um, I did. I giggled through the first few passes and then started sobbing when I realized I had no idea what I was doing. Matt loves it. I miss the hair. It was super hard for me, because deep down I want him to grow it out like it was when we first met. Oh well...I took before & after shots of his head. At least it grows back.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

A day of phone calls...

Today was a day on the phone...OK, I crashed the Diva Craft Lounge radio program today. Ashley was being interviewed and I couldn't help calling in to say hi! Hear the show here.

Everybody happened to call me today...ended up making some weekend plans. My cousins are back from 3 weeks on the road {mission trip, camp & vacation with their parents} and will be coming over for the weekend. We'll head over to Tracy's to hang with her family, catch up with our nieces & check out how big the kittens are getting.

Talked to both my friends Kate & Kandice who have each just bought their first homes {Kandice signs in a week, Kate has been in for a week}. They reminded me how fun it was the first time you get into your own space - the painting, tile choices, etc...I've been drooling over the new IKEA catalog again, can you tell??? Makes me realize we never actually finished our hallway...I had planned to do a mosaic in our phone nook - hmmmmmmmmm, I'd say I'll put that on the top of my "spare time" list, but truth is that list is getting pretty long and I haven't had much spare time at all lately. {I'd probably have a week of my life back if I didn't blog all the time, but that's beside the point!}

What else is in the works??? Um, CKU Masters in Boston is coming up - pretty exciting. I'm pulling together all the stuff to go out to my High Society Atlanta students. I have some fabric that's so cute I'm just plain distracted that I haven't done anything with it yet & I'm itching to do some more layouts for the IPDT!

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Heartfelt grattitude...

I'm taking a grattitude moment today...I went to the cardiologist yesterday and was excited to get official confirmation on how well I'm doing. My doc says my recovery has been one of the most dramatic with this type of device out of all they've installed so far{I'm the youngest female recipient of this kind of gizmo - they even held a symposium about my results since my last appointment}. I've actually regenerated heart tissue, and my kidney & liver function is virtually normal. In a month I'll get imaged again so I might actually have pictures of my heart for the blog. What a difference 5 months makes. I feel incredible...invincible. All my docs say I'm doing better than ever. No more travel or lifting restrictions. Other than getting felt up in the airport, my life feels totally normal. And I can get used to that! Thank you modern medicine and thank you God, I have been truly blessed!!!!!

One more golden video from CKU Atlanta...you never know what those
wacky teachers will do next...see Kristi Sikora-Blankenship, Tim Holtz, Marji Romney-Anslet, Danelle Johnson, Cathy Zielske, Anita Oldham, Ali Edwards & Becky Higgins build a pyramid at CKU!