Blog Candy WINNER & lots of PHOTOS

(RAK from Stephanie M. (aka Handmade Creations by Stephanie)
(from Stephanie aka Glitterbabe)

TERRI E.
of
...Just What I Do...

You are the
WINNER
of my
Birthday Blog Candy

Make sure to click on Terri's name above to visit her blog and congratulate her. I can't wait to see what she creates with her new products. Thank you so much everyone for all of the wonderful Birthday wishes. I will have to find another reason to do this again.
Thought I would share a couple photos from the Birthday Party that my friends threw for me along with some random acts of kindness that I have received (RAK). I was hoping that David would get a few snap shots of the RAK that he is receiving over in Afghanistan from some of the amazing gals in our Blog World. Unfortunately "work" is keeping him busy, and asked that I convey his thank you's and wanted you gals to know how blessed he feels. I have also read the comments that were written on his birthday post below and he loved hearing your sentiments of support.
Thank You
So what do you think of these psychedelic mushrooms that I created using one of the Unity images that Stephanie (her blog) sent to me. I think they represent the
year of my birth
1969

LOL, what on earth do you think he was telling me? (champagne in hand but looks like I put down the vino glass, was I double fisting it? Chuck was the recipient of the vino gift I created last week)
getting b-day tickles from my friend Gabby (I've known her since she was a baby, being military we aren't often afforded the luxury of being with friends for very long)

yes I got cake and I ate it too. I see more champagne and how many wine glasses was I drinking from?
(btw, click on any of the photos to get a larger view)

Livin the Simple Life & Photos

As I sit here trying to figure out what to post today, I have decided to share a couple of photos a few thoughts. I will warn you upfront that my thoughts can change rather quickly, but rather than labor over what to say, I have decided to just write. Since 1993 my little family and I have lived on one island or another, Oahu or Sicily. We have come to appreciate a slower lifestyle and the simple things that bring us pleasure. FRIENDS: become your family when there isn't one around. On Monday our EOD command lost one of our own. A young man far from home who chose to give his life for the freedom of his fellow American. A young man with a family that loves him, friends that will miss him and a close-knit team of comrades still out in the field trying to recover from their wounds and carry out their mission, while grieving. FAMILY: having your husband home for whatever amount of time is precious. In light of the current events, our time together will be cut short. As an EOD wife, I have never allowed myself to get too into thinking about what my husband "really" does when he is deployed, however, I am stricken with a fear that I have never felt before. FEAR: because he is heading out to replace the team that has suffered this tremendous tragedy. CHILDREN: I miss my daughters more everyday. Thankful that we still have Adam here at home. Remember that they only get one childhood, let's make it happy. VOLCANOES: I always seem to live on one. Having experienced 4 major eruptions, do I fear the next or admire it's majestic beauty? TRAVEL: Although our 20th wedding anniversary was in February and we spent it in separate countries, we will be heading to Tuscany next week. LANGUAGE: Happy that I speak Italian. Dave and I were giddy with excitement as we telephoned an Agritorismo earlier today and made our accommodations without the owners speaking a word of English. BIRDS CHIRPING: the only sound I hear with the occasional hum of a car as it passes along the autostrada. DRAGONFLIES: seemingly dancing around for my personal enjoyment, sitting, gazing at my glass of Vino perhaps wondering whether or not to try a sip? WEATHER: warm Sicilian Sunshine allowing me to sit outside at sunset. FOOD: Sunday gathering of friends to enjoy some of the unique flavors that only Sicily can offer. Non-processed, no preservatives, and never given the check unless specifically asked for one. VIEWS: No billboards, no high rises, nothing to obstruct the amazing views of a city sitting tranquil upon the mountaintop that envelopes our community within it's valley of orchards. ORCHARDS: something is always in season depending on the time of year. HARVESTING: olives, oranges, lemons, melons, apples, nespoli, fig, carrots, artichoke, peppers, eggplant, cherries, wheat, grapes, tomatoes, just to name a few of the things that are growing around me. TRAFFIC: there isn't any. TRAFFIC LIGHTS: there aren't any. DRIVING: fast when there's no place to go. Slow when you're trying to be mindful and cautious. My backyard is my oasis, the place where I enjoy my quiet moments to enjoy the simple things in my life..................

This is a photo of a RAK (random act of kindness) that I received this week. Stephanie a fellow card maker/blogger wanted me to be able to experience Unity Stamps. You can check out Stephanie on her blog or on the ABC Design Blog where she is being featured this week as our "Creative Customer of the Week".

REMINDERS:

TWISTED THURSDAY Sketch Challenge: Complete Details directly below this post. As of right now, we only 3 participants. Don't miss out on this chance to WIN a great PRIZE PACKAGE.
ABC Toys & Crafts: Everything is 15% off until July 18

STAMPIN' OUT ALZHEIMERS

My good friend, Jen Tapler teamed up with Paper Craft Planet, Verve Stamps and just about every other stamp company to create a One Week Stampin' Community to raise money and awareness for Alzheimers..... They have surpassed their goal of $5,000 (100% of the proceeds will be given to the Alzheimer's Association)

After making a minimum $5 donation you will be allowed to register within the private website, where I have been blown away with the EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAYS, EXCLUSIVE CHALLENGES, EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT CODES and PRIZES. I'm not talking about a one give away a day, I'm talkin', OVERWHELMING!!!!!!!!!!

Whether someone you know or love has been affected by Alzheimers, or you would just like to be part of raising awareness, I invite you to use the Pay Pal Widget, on the side bar, and make a small donation then CLICK HERE to register for the Private website.

REMINDERS:
Tomorrow is TWISTED THURSDAY

Check out ABC Toys & Crafts blog HERE Julie announced that she is looking for a DESIGN TEAM to Join ME. Get your Martha Stewart punches from ABC Toys & Crafts HERE

.................Supplies I used................
Stamps: GinaK Designs
Tag & Edge Punch: Martha Stewart from ABC Toys & Crafts
Designer Paper?
Copic Markers
Diamond Glaze from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design

Let's have some fun & get to know me mo better

OK, so I totally stole this from Jen Tapler's blog, but it was so much fun reading about all the "Jenninagans" (ha! get it?) she's gotten into in her life that I thought I'd share mine... The items in bold are things I've done in my life...with commentary...

1. Started your own blog (I think your reading it)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (obviously)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (my favorite bug)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (Our daughter Kayleigh was given up for adoption when she was 14 mos old, she came back to us 7 days before her 18th BIRTHday)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables(wouldn't really put it in plural form, tomatoes)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Totally the best way ever to travel, wish the airlines catch on and make those horrible chairs into bunk beds, especially since I never live anywhere that doesn't require 12-24 hours flying time)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (I thought those were free BEACH days)
24. Built a snow fort (back before my days as a Hawaii resident...when I was an Okie (LOL Jen, I was able to use your exact words)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (I swear that's why I wear glasses, it was in 4th grade and I looked at it even though the teacher's stressed that we were not to look directly at it but we made thise paper things with a hole in it which we were supposed to look through)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (sunsets on the beach are my favorite things to do)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (yeah, my ancestors are all from the same birthplace as me...I'm just the first one to escape that tiny little town!!! However, everyone swears that I am really SICILIAN)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Italian)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (this is not possible)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (surely buying homeless persons a meal and taking it to them counts)
44. Visited Africa (my husband is there right now though)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (the first time they had to strap me down to keep me from running, which is what I did in the ER, they came to my College barraks with the police and caught me) long story
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (hated it, there are freakin sharks right off the shore in Waikiki and I saw them-----Can ya see me walking on water)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (my parents videoed me taking a bath in a mud hole using my panties as a wash cloth. I had gone in the house to get a bar of soap. Great parenting, I was 2, outside unsupervised!!!!!!!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (that was the only way my parents could afford to take our whole brood to the movies which was before the $1 movies)
55. Been in a movie (my daughter and I have both been on the cover's of magazine, her's was Better homes and Garden's mine was a surfer girl magazine)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (a few)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (that is my favorite, hate when Hallmark has to tell someone to do it)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (actually I haven't because embarrassingly enough I don't weigh enough, but I would love to do this and would if I could)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (horrible Daukaugh (sp)
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (I never finished it but that is how my red granny taught me to sew, we cut a square out of a TV dinner box to use as our template)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (my back while sledding on Mt. Etna, I hate snow)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (we are a little motorcycle crazy around here, Italian sports bikes, NOT Harley's (I don't think those fat things can speed anyway)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (I am trying really hard to have my work published in a book)
81. Visited the Vatican (more than once)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (again more than once, last time was Mother's day 2004 Honolulu Advertiser, Kayleigh and I won a big Mother Daughter look alike contest just 3 mothns after we were REUNITED after 16 1/2 years)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I know, can you say Oklahoma Hillbillies, how embarrassing)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (several)
94. Had a baby (4)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I promise I'll be back in a day or two with a Crafty post of some sort!! Thanks for humoring me!!

A few snapshots

Since I subbed today and then got completely caught up in a wine tasting after work, I decided to share a couple of photos.

Can you see why I am so in love with where I live???  If you look closely into the valley, you will see a cluster of orange.  That is my neighborhood............ 

 The other landscape photo is the view looking towards the west.  Just thought it was a cool view of some of the orchards that surround us.

Kujo (my chihuapillon) was sunbathing while posing for this photo shoot.  Isn't he the cutiest??

We are heading back out to the motorcycle track super early in the morning so I will post again on Sunday.  Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend.

Kinda Boring

I hope that this card is only boring to me..... Sometimes we can be our worst critics and I guess I just don't do simplicity very well but I sure do like it when I see someone else pull it off..............

Yesterday was super exciting. We spent the day at the Motorcycle Race Track and got to meet one of our idols/heros "Troy Bayliss" World Champion of Super Bike....  I cannot find my camera so no photos of him or the amazing card that I completed today............  We were beyond tired when we got home last night so without unloading the car, I took a shower and went to bed with wet hair........ Yea!!!!! BED HEAD GALORE.........

Is it just me or did everyone know that today was MONDAY???? Had no clue that today was not Sunday until I called my friend Paul. Kept hearing the phones ring in the background and it wasn't until my old boss said "she just keeps getting better looking" did I realize that today was a workday for the rest of the world. Yes I saw the news regarding the stock market and didn't read it because I thought they were still reporting on Friday........... HMMMMMMMM (yes the vino is kicking in but this has been an all day thing)

BACK to the card!!! White card base with a scalloped edge, blue cuttlebugged layer. Another white cuttlebugged circle, stamped circle and DONE!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 MINUTES...... Simplicity at it's finest............Does it need a ribbon, rhinestones???? Let me know what you think..... In the mean time I will look for my camera and upload one of my favorite cards of ALL TIME..............

..............................................

paper: whisper white, bashful blue (SU)

ink: bashful blue

stamps: butterfly kisses (PTI)

Misc: cuttlebug, filigree embossing folder, marvy uchida scalloped punches

My "Craft Room/ Workshop"

Here it is, try not to be Jealous.  Isn't it amazing what you can do with a CLOSET ???  I would love to have some of sort of wall system so that I can get all of that STUFF off of my table.   Sure wish we had an Ikea.  

There are a couple of things that I felt were quit clever. First, the shower curtain rod that is hanging across the door way. (Yes the doors have room to close completely).  Some of the items are hung on shower curtain hooks and some with "O" rings that open and close. Second, the shoe bag that is hanging on the door holds my large punches and Stampin Wheels.  Since the doors are 10 feet tall, I had to use like a million yards of ribbon to lower it down where I could actually reach it.  Third, the curtain rod that is holding ribbon.  The idea is good but I haven't perfected a way to mount it yet.

Probably can't see that there are 3 sets of rolling drawers tucked under the "L" shaped table.  They contain small punches, embellishments, scrap paper, chalks, paints, inks and more ribbon......  My heat gun hangs on the side of the table using it's little foot that is meant to keep it from touching the table when hot.  I just keep it plugged in to the extension cord that powers the clip on table light.

The closet contains all of my stamp sets. Top shelf - current sets. Second shelf -retired sets, some papers and demonstrator paperwork. Third shelf  - cards that I have made, Alphabet stamp sets, extra clothes pins and a basket of loose stamps. Bottom holds my cross stitch floss, containers of fibers, Cuttlebug and hostess incentive stamp sets.

You can probably tell what the shelves across from my "Craft Room" hold. (Papers, Cricut, idea books. What you can't see is a tall shelf that also contains idea books and the linen closet which houses my "Alterable Items"............. 

So there ya have it, A glimpse into my little world where I spend most of my time.  I have been a busy girl so I plan on posting again this afternoon. Be sure and check out the boxed set that I uploaded last night. It is below this post. Ciao Ciao

Sea Glass Palm Tree

Just got home from the annual Khaki Ball so I am TIRED.  (it is a big gala that is held each year after then new Navy Chiefs have completed the 6 or 8 week long process of being taught how be real Chief's and not just an E7.  Very important because everyone know that Navy Chief's run the Navy.......! 

I really wish that I had a better photo of this card.  I am a die hard sea glass collector.  When we first moved back here and were waiting on all of our household goods to make it from Hawaii, I was dying to make cards but had only the supplies that I had purchased as we passed through the mainland United States, Which wasn't much. I didn't even have adhesive so I purchased double sided scotch tape and glue.  Amazing how creative you can get when you have no supplies.

Obviously it isn't the most beautiful card but I thought I would share one way of looking outside of the box.  I am all the time finding or thinking of things to alter or use as embellishments.  Wait until I upload the photos from this evening and you see the top that I wore. I remember saying to my husband that I couldn't wait to cut it up and use all the bling for cards. You'll get a kick out that comment when you see the photos.

Sorry nothing to wow myself or you with this evening. Hopefully I can make up for it tomorrow when I get time to upload lots of photos that I took this week. Enjoy your Saturday and thanks for stopping by.

Altered gifts

I have been so unbelievably tired lately. Not sure why. Night before last I was in bed, asleep by 7:45!!!!!  Having my husband home is sure helping out in the mornings though.  Which is why I am actually writing this blog BEFORE work! (Lucky for you, I won't be able to be long winded) I am so grateful for the times that he gets to be here with us.  He won't be deploying until the beginning of next summer, however, I know of 3 different trips that he will have to go on.  Although they are a month or two here and there, they certainly add up.  When we lived here in Sicily from 1999-2004, those little trips, along with the deployments added up to a total of 986 days ;(

The "Treasure Box" that I made contained his "Over the Hill Survival Pack" consisting of the following: A BALLSIERE, MEMORY MINTS, A 1968 CD, and GRECIAN HAIR FORMULA.  I have no clue where I came up with the Ballsiere but do read the tag that I created. Is it not the funniest??  Pretty sure you can't see all of the details but I purchased a pair of ladies knee high trouser socks, cut them down, re-sewed the toes, sewed them together on the top, inner side,  and attached the twill tape.  

Memory Mints is an old, altered Altoids box with 4 boxes of Tic Tacs inside.  I used Word Document to create the Tags for the Hearing Aids, Ballsiere, Memory Mints and the Top of the Treasure Box.  The CD was created with Itunes. I downloaded all of the top songs from 1968 and burned them to CD's.  

The blue CD cases were my party favors.  To create Dave's CD case I used the criss cross card technique on the inside.  The stamps were from PTI.  

All of the gag gifts came to me pretty easy. Trying to figure out what to get his for a real gift was much more difficult.  I decided to get him something that I knew he may want, but would never purchase for himself. The BOSE ear phones for his Ipod!!!!!!!!!!  Creating the "Hearing Aids" tag was a complete after thought and an a jab at the same time.  I am constantly repeating things to him and he is constantly  making excuses as to why he doesn't hear.  (head was turned away, distracted, interference etc.......) SOOOOOOO I tell him all the time that he needs hearing aids.  I even go into great details to explain to him that they now make them so that they are discreet and he could even turn them off when he doesn't want to listen to someone!!!!! LOL....... The best best part, is that he had to study them to make sure that I hadn't really purchased a set of Real Hearing Aids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So my not so long winded blog has become somewhat long winded.  I'll be back tomorrow to tell you about my last day of work (so it may be a day or so but you're used to that right?)

Hugs,

Checking In

This has been one of those transitional type weeks for me.  Apparently I am not very good with transitioning.  Transition is one of those terms that we use in the world of special education and probably in the world of children in general.  So I don't transition into new routines very well then add in that Administration has done a doozy within my entire department.  I was asked to begin working during my lunch hour in order to meet some social/peer interaction needs.  After a quick phone call to our district office, I discovered that my hours had been increased from 65 hours per pay period to 70........ I was not aware of this change nor did I agree to this change.  Obviously I cannot go into more specific details, but I will tell you that the letter of termination is sitting in the top drawer of my desk ;o(   Although I entertain the idea of quitting within myself, my husband has asked me to please please quit.  He isn't even here but can definitely see that the stress is having a negative impact on me.  The needs of my own children must obviously be put above the needs of the children I service at school............ I certainly hope that this weight will be lifted once I have handed that letter over.  As of right now, I am physically sick and deeply depressed. 

I have not even opened the doors to my "workshop" this week, therefore I apologize if I have already shared these cards with you previously.  This is another SU set that has been retired. My desire is to get in and create some wonderful cards and maybe another clipboard.  

Thank you for continuing to check my blog even though I can't seem to post on a consistent basis. 

6 minutes

This will be the shortest blog post ever. I am running on reserve battery power at the moment which is probably a good thing. I have to be up getting ready for work in like 5 hours. I will be back with a card to share tomorrow and hopefully all good things to say about returning to work. Hugs until tomorrow.

My View

I don't have a card to upload this evening but I thought it would be nice to show you some of the views taken from my house.  The two sunrise photos are my view each morning while I get ready for work.  With a sunrise like that how can you NOT throw the windows open and be in awe?  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and I do believe it to be true in this case.  There are no words to describe the majestic way in which the entire sky transforms as the sun creeps up over the mountains.

Although I don't have a photo, the sunsets are just as magical.    The sun slides behind another mountain range, on the opposite side of my house, and rewards me with just as splendid a sunset.  Each are worthy of taking your breath away. 

I added a couple of others to show some of the areas around my house.  The castle in the fog is the only one that was not actually taken from my residence.  It is about 2 miles down the road but is one of many facinating sights that I see each time I drive here in Sicily.  Of course I must throw in a shot of our glorious Volcano, Mt. Etna. If you look closely, you can see all of the towns scattered all around.  Mt. Etna is the most active volcano in Europe.  We have witnessed 3 major eruptions, the last of which was in 2002.  The town of Mineo, which sits right above us, was completely destroyed by an earthquake in the 1600's, caused by Mt. Etna. The town was rebuilt and is one of my favorite places to hang out.  You can see Mineo in the photo of the rainbow (I think).  The photo of the valley was also taken just after sunrise and shows all of the farm land and orchards that surround us. This valley leads up to Mineo.  

 The  2 photos taken of my backyard are my views from where I sit and enjoy my evening glass of wine. If you click on each photo, they will enlarge and you will get a much better look.

 I'll be back tomorrow to share a card that I am just in love with..........................