Update

Well - sorry I haven't been around...things around here were crazy enough and then just got crazier. Needless to say, I am ecstatically awaiting the coming of 2010. Anyway, just a quick update on my disappearance and then we focus on card making! The end of August was hectic as I finished my doctoral studies - FINALLY!! And I defended September 1st in Florida - all by myself - and then came home, decided to rest a bit before I started on the paperwork follow-up that has to occur. Then all hell broke loose. September 11 my dad needed emergency surgery for internal bleeding, and I can thankfully say he is doing pretty good compared to what he was, although he is pretty frail. Because that was HIS second surgery since July. Then, my daughter-in-law's 18 year old son was in Myrtle Beach and was involved in a violent attack on he and his friends - where his one friend was killed and which ended up causing him to have emergency surgery for stab wounds and a deflated lung. So trying to help with the 8 year old twins who just started a new school and to get my daughter-in-law down to SC from PA was hellish. Being out of work actually helped me to be be of service to my family. Thankfully, our grandson is doing well physically, however I believe the non-physical scars will be with him for a long time. Then, my DH needed surgery again (after the fourth trip to the emergency room). The recovery for his original surgery was much longer than we ever anticipated - since the first surgery was in July and has been fraught with difficulties. Man, I abhor cancer. Then my big surprise. In amongst interviewing for jobs (been continually sending out resumes), I found I needed surgery. So - took care of that. Thankfully, mine was a piece of cake compared to the trials my dad and my husband have been going through. But - to maintain my sanity, I have stamped and created, and met with friends who buoy the spirit and lift the soul. Faith and Laughter are great healers that I fully believe in. So - believe it or not, still a smile on my face, gratitude for any and all good things in my heart, and laughter on my lips. So I hope to get fully back in the swing of things starting 2010. But who knows, look for a posting in the next several weeks - ya never know. So just in case I don't get back here in time - Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year!!!

So give me to May 2nd...

So I promised that I would have candy - and I have been lax in getting cards posted, however, again - please "bear" with me - while I wind down the last 2 1/2 weeks of a 13 year doctoral degree...hey...13 is a lucky number for me...no wonder I am finishing now!!! LOL Anyway - I had several stop outs - the biggest after Bob's second round of cancer - and I just worked around and through the other two bouts (yes - my dear DH has had FOUR primary cancers and YES he is a wonder to mankind) and then my three surgeries (bad but nothing compared to the big C), four house moves and your normal family issues...so,needless to say, the celebration will last at least for a whole year I imagine...but I can hear the clock ticking, and I got my shades on since the light at the end of this tunnel is so bright...but you just gotta stay with me here for few more weeks...and then LOOK OUT WORLD!!! LOL

I know, I know...candy is a'comin'!!!!!

I know I promised you candy and candy you shall have...its just been a bit crazy (when not?)- I thought I had until May to defend my doctoral dissertation - in person - in Florida - and guess what? NOPE! I have to do it BEFORE April 23rd, when the semester ends...AHHHHH!! Anyway...I am coping...two meetings a week with my chairperson until its done...but I have been collecting...its just that some of the good stuff I want to add to the candy is "in a safe place"...kwim? Gonna take me a bit to find it...but I promise, pinky-swear - the candy will be up by this weekend!!! And you will LOVE IT! LOL

OK, I'm back!!!

Sorry about the unexpected Hiatus! Life was just a little too hectic for me prior to and following the holidays, and I am just now getting "ma groove" back. Still working on my doctorate, but in addition, after catching Oprah yesterday, I have some personal research to do for myself as well...hmmm....more to follow later on in the "About Us" page when I get my findings...

One bright spot during this time was Stephanie's Pinning Ceremony. Yes, she successfully finished her AAS in Nursing!! Woo hoo!!! I have added some pictures of the ceremony and family here.

Anyway - thanks for sticking with me here...I have some great things coming up to share with y'all...tonight's GNO has 3 great cards I will have displayed...Good to be back! I missed you all!!

I'm back...

I cannot believe how sick I have been...I had to leave school early on Wednesday, the 26th (and we had a 1/2 day to boot, dang it!)...and I was sick all through Thanksgiving, and the subsequent shopping days...and I had to take off sick days from school through Wednesday December 3rd...and I was STILL sick when I went back Thursday...ey yi yi!!! So then you have to fight back that lethargy that comes from being wiped out with illness...I would get home and go right back to bed...and I slept a lot this past weekend...and I have SO many things to do...I really didn't need to be sick right now...not that any time is good, but this was really really bad timing...AND I totally missed Thanksgiving dinner with my family (and by the time I could eat - I missed ALL the dinner - really bites, 'scuse my french)....not something to make me feel any better about the holidays, I must say.....so, anyway - I am finally back....and trying to get a bazillion things done all at once...but believe me....I am so GLAD to be back!

Guess what my Christmas card is going to consist of this year!!!???!!!

Check out this former Christmas card I sent - way back like '97 to '99 ... At that time I didn't have Scruffy's ears cut close, so all the hair was too heavy for his delicate ears to have them pop up like a normal Yorkie....and look at him...he is always saying, "Mom - get this crazy stuff off me!!" Why? Cuz he has coats, boots, costumes, shirts, sweaters....I think you get a little MORE nutty when you go from BIG dogs to SMALL dogs....Anyway....NEXT check out the stamp I just found in Michael's.....How PERFECT is THAT??!?!?!?!?!?!?

WAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY too cute!! ROFLMAO

Now - this is all you get until those Christmas cards are done....but how stinkin' cute, eh? I mean, now, really!!!!???

Two cards not used in September SAS

The following two cards were originally planned for the October Stamp-a-stack...however, I always show my DH my cards, and he always gives me the "great!" comment...and then I go on my merry way, since I LOVE positive feedback (who doesn't?)....and he saw these two and said, "....Oh...." "whaddya mean, '...oh'?" "...well - they're not like what you usually do..." "Like how?" "I don't know...not as fancy or something...." "GREAT!!! SAS is tomorrow night!!!!!! And you don't think these are good!!??! whaaa!!!" "No, no they're good, but...." "Don't but me mister!!! Harrumph.....Thanks a lot!!!" (yes I am often sarcastic!!) So - I was freaked out and self-doubting - and so Friday I came home from work and made two more cards and THEN cut all the paper for the event....Thankfully - I got it all done by 6:30 - but holy smokes, man! But - now that I look at the cards (and after the girls yelled at me because they liked them!!) - I realized the cards just aren't my normal STYLE...not that they were BAD....kwim? And unfortunately, my DH the silent one (for good reason!!! LOL), couldn't express quite what he meant...at least, I guess, I should be happy he could tell that I HAVE a certain style....

So this first card was CASEd from two cards I saw and mixed together...one was from Michelle Zindorf and one from Lee Conrey....

This next cutey, patootie was cased from Jen Peel, but I changed up the colors...

So enjoy the cards....and yes - NOW I know they were fine!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! (yessss...a Shirley Temple quote!)

Sorry I have been MIA...

I am sorry I have been missing in action these days...but the dissertation is taking way more out of me than I thought, and I can't give up...so close but sooooooooo far!!! Anyway...I have made some posts ahead of time that are pre-timed, so I have some other things to show you....I miss you all and to my SBS9 sistahs, I will be back again soon!!! Just not enough time in a day...kwim? If only we didn't have to sleep......{sigh}......

ok - TTFN
(ta ta for now!!)
LOL - yes its still me!! crazy as always!! LOL

Candy A'Comin!!!

Sorry - its been crazy here for me - the rental issue disaster - my mom's transfer to the new Alzheimer's facility - getting her new clothes that fit and are easy on and off - working on my doctorate (my time clock is ticking DOWN!) - plus regular life - then my poor Scruffy got sick last night and was up four times from midnite to 5am (when I get up)...and Back to School night tonight - and I am here until 9:30 pm....with a trip up to mom in the middle....

ok - I really am NOT whining....just " 'splaining, Lucy"....BUT- I will post that candy when I get home before I DROP into bed!!! ohhhhhhh, the week is SO long when we have evening school events...doesn't help that I live an hour away either!! {sigh}....ok - gotta go finish my bulletin board!! TTFN (ta ta for now!)

Small delay in posting...

Sorry I haven't been around...things as usual go crazy from time to time...and this was a week of one of those times!! I started school on Wednesday the 3rd and that has its own issues, what with making sure I have all my supplies and getting ready for the kiddos, etc etc....And I get really tired after teaching all day and the long commute I have to readjust to.....but I really missed my kids (when people ask how many kids I have, I have taken to replying "hundreds!") and lucky for me they missed me back! I am fortunate that I have my students from two to four years...and we all grow together....but I digress....

Then a "rental" emergency that lasted several days - involved plumbing....nuff said on THAT icky sitch.....AND who planned THAT expense! Dang house was supposed to have been sold by now, anyway.... ah, but the best laid plans.....

And last but not least...we were busy with happy family stuff...AND I have been diligently putting in my time on my doctoral work...I am in the home stretch now and while its killing me, its almost over!! Thank you, Jesus!! Then throw in that my mother was moved this past weekend from the Psychiatric Hospital to a nursing home/Alzheimer's place...(my sister and I are going tomorrow to visit).... and so....I have not had an opportunity nor the energy to post!! But I have thought about it!! ;-) But I am back!! Thanks for hanging around....and don't forget...I got some blog candy coming up....almost at that 5K mark! Feels like a marathon!!! LOL TTYL!

I found my SBS9 sistah!! YIPPEE!!

OK - so there are like 7,000 demo's at convention and I needed to find my SBS9 sister Alex. Thank God Alex isn't the "miss-ish" type, cuz I was blatantly and shamelessly looking for her at convention....because you KNOW I forgot to get her contact information to bring with me to Salt Lake! Ugh! Anyway - Stephanie was pretty much mortified the whole day - "MOTHERRRRRR!!!" and "you're so weird" - she even hated me talking to strangers, just making everyday pleasantries....do you do that, or am I really weird? Anyway - back to the story at hand! I carried this sign all day long on Saturday, knowing it was our last day....and for the last 4 days I had been eye-ing EVERYONE!!!! I found four other people that I was looking for from pictures from the web - and I got to meet them , like the new advisory board member Patty Bennett, but no Alex anywhere for my sore eyes. Hence - "the sign". SO - now its mid afternoon and right before our last General Session at convention - so I knew this would be it....so I held that darn sign as high over my head as I could and walked the whole dang floor!!! Someone suggested that I go up front by the stage for the cameraman - and off I went....did I ever mention how shy I am.....NOT!!! LOL SO - I get myself in front of the cameraman and wallah!! I am on the big screen with my sign!! For like 15-20 seconds!! (ah fame!) People were coming up to me - "I saw her" "She was just on line at xyz with me" etc etc...but I didn't see her....So I was walking - with sign - in the middle section going towards the back - when I see a small, wee cyclone a'coming through the crowd!!!! YES IT WAS MY SBS9 SISTER ALEX!!!!! We hugged and hugged and laughed and laughed....I got to meet her!!!! I was so dang excited! She even wanted "the Sign"....my poor excuse for a sign...but a sister's gotta do what a sister's gotta do.....with what ya got on hand....and that poor sign was it! Found her, didn't I?!?!?! I just knew that I couldn't be out from PA and her out from CA in SLC without meeting because who KNOWS when we may have the chance again!!! She must think I'm nuts! There is actually more to the story (like me sneaking into the SU survey computer room and emailing her - and going on our yahoo database and getting her home # and calling her DH!!!) but you don't want to hear about that! Anyway - here are two happy sistahs!!!!

Still caught in the whirlwind of SU!

Stephanie and I just got back from the Stampin' Up! convention in Salt Lake City, Utah...and HOLY SMOKES MAN!! Just wait until you all see the new catalog! We are all in trouble! Its all good....And there are new additions to SU! We are now going into Phase 2 of our home decorating vinyl called Decor Elements...just check out my SU! website which is linked on the side there...We also are partnering with Sizzix to offer you an SU! BIG SHOT - a die cut and embossing machine...and it has a bangin' bag to go with it...which means that there will be some Stampin' Up! exclusive die cuts and embossing folders....AND there will be a new personal Shelli signature line (Shelli is our Queen....I mean our CEO and cofounder of SU!) I have so much more fun stuff to share and post that I am a little overwhelmed...just to choose what I should share first!!! I met friends from on-line and most importantly one of my SBS9 sisters! YIPPEE! That is its own whole story....oh - did I mention that this entire week long trip was a total adventure?!!?!?!? Yeah....only me!!! Wait til you hear it all!! LOL It was a total blast....if I weren't a demonstrator - I would totally just sign up to go to convention! Of course, our discount is mighty nice too...heh heh heh.....and of course we are going to have a demo sign up promotion for $99 - so come on and join the fun sister stampers!!! (and brothers too if you're out there!!!)

ok ok....so first thing is I am going to show you my swap card....it has components to it that I have used before and is a favorite color combo of mine....certainly celery and not quite navy...so tell me....would you have swapped with me?

Stamps: Boho Backgrounds, Pretty Petals BG, WOW Flowers (NEW)

Ink: Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy, Versa Mark

Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy

Access: punches; scallop, scallop edge (NEW), 1 1/4 circle, 1" circle, photo corner; white EP, poker, white grosgrain, spritzer

Bob's Fathers Day Card from Scruffy...LOL

So by now you must realize that I ADORE, LOVE, CRAVE the use of this set. Crazy I know - for some reason it just cracks me up!!! So - this was my version of Scruffy's card to his Daddy for Father's Day. I just hope y'all get WHAT the lil dots are for - "Lucy" had to 'splain to "Ricky" the card - LOL Took some of the hoot out of it - but all my gal pals totally got it!! Course, they are creative geniuses!!!! LOL No really they are!! I had the convention song playing "Dream Big" (doncha just love that!) - so, since I had no dream big stamp I had to use "Wish Big" - I shoulda put it more into the center but it was DOWN as I thought that.... Inside it says "... A Dream Come True" - get it? "My Dear Dad"..a Dream Come True"? Then I threw in "So glad you're my Dad" - The only other little teeny tiny glitch, if you want to call is such, is that when I put the mustache on the "Daddy thought" - he looked like Hitler! AHHHHHH!!!! I had to go with it though, because Scruffy's Daddy has had that mustache Scruffy's whole entire 12 1/2 year life!!! So - by now, you know I am absolutely crazy. I just hope y'all still love me!!! LOL Enjoy the card - makes me laugh every time I look at it ('cuz you know I took it right back - well after a week anyway on the mantel!!! LOL)

Sorry I haven't been on in a bit...We had off last week for our Spring Break and of course, I got sick!! I have been so good about NOT getting what all the students have - being vigilant about my and the student's hand washing - and about cleaning my keyboard and phone at the beginning of the day...so I was totally bummed...I did periodically work on stuff in the studio, but have been in a fog or asleep for the most part....oh well....stuff happens! I have been to work Mon and off today...don;t know how the rest of the week will play out...I HATE BEING SICK!

Just a plain 'ol note...

So....I had been doing so great of late on posting and then WHAM! That four letter word called "work" steps in to screw up everything! LOL On Tuesday I went in to school, normal teaching day, and my supervisor called me down to talk about my career program being created into an Academy program...which is very exciting...however, comma, I did not realize we were going to discuss applying for an opportunity that had presented itself very recently - and this opportunity had a deadline of February 1st - yes - like this very minute!! At any rate, I was granted professional development leave time to write up this proposal to participate in this great opportunity - and being the perfectionist that I am - I can't just fluff something up - besides, we would be number 101 in participants for 20 spots....NO PRESSURE HERE! Needless to say I did not sleep for the last several nights...my mind would NOT shut off! I hate when that happens! At any rate, I do what I love best when I am totally stressed - and that is STAMP! Told you - it's my therapy! So last night I had a lovley dose of stampin' with a great group of gals as I did a workshop/party for a group I had met last year or so ago...they are definitely fun!! I mean, how can life get better than to hang with other "professional supply collectors" and stampers...let me tell you - it was great and just what the doctor ordered! So today - albeit tired - I am able to focus on finishing up all the touches to this proposal so that we can have it postmarked by today. {Big sigh here} So - this is just a plain 'ol 'lil note to tell you that I will have more to post over the weekend...my "baby" is going to be home when I get there (barring unforseen weather interuptions - I don't mind snow but hate ICE!)...and I am sure we will be stamping in the fabulous craft room.

By the way - thank you to all of you who left me lovely and funny e-mails and comments about the room. And Yes-sir-ee Bob, I know that I am a lucky woman (I love saying that since my DH is BOB!) - and no he does not have a free brother or clone - and no - no couch, but a chaise lounge that my hubby has no problem sleeping on so you can stay if you like, LOL, and yes you are all invited to come and play - consider it an open invitation - I NEVER turn down a chance to stamp with friends. And I am sorry about the bruise on your chin Katie! LOL - you guys are the best!

OK - gotta go give the final proof before heading to the Post Office! Whew! I need a nap - but would prefer to stamp! TTYL!!

OK - so I have a good excuse this time!

I know - you're thinking how much I love/hate the end of the school year....well that is true, however, I have not been on-line recently due to ....oh yeah! the end of the school year AND....are you ready?!?!? Emergency surgery! How's that for taking the cake!?!?! Yup - school was out for the kids Wednesday June 20th - teachers done at noon on Thursday the 21st! Of course, I still had a ton of crap to do in the classroom so I did not leave until 8:30 pm - I did NOT want to go back on Friday - good thing too - cuz Friday I started feeling funky, and slept a lot - had that dang back ache....and then the BAD decision....I ate the Stouffer's mac and cheese - way YUMMY- but bad for my tummy! I realized I was having that gall bladder pain - and decided to go to bed and sleep it off - yeah right! So went to bed at 11 pm woke up at 1 am -ish...called my daughter to see if she was working the ER (she is a tech - soon to be nurse) - she wasn't but was awake and came to get me and took me to the ER she works at in NJ - and at 3 am I was admitted - had a battery of tests - and bland icky food - lovely treatment though by the nurses...and after the test Monday that made me radioactive for 3 days (no really - I got a card for homeland security should I be stopped - HOLY SMOKES!) - I had surgery on Tuesday and home Wednesday evening. Totally blew all the plans I had - I was supposed to leave for Kansas City for the SkillsUSA National competition (like vocational Olympics) - and I missed it! Now if I can just stop coughing - MAN DOES THAT HURT! - I would be pretty good - oh and laughing hurts too - but not like coughing....ok - nuff whining....gotta get back in the swing of things! So - hope to be on again this weekend with some card updates! Ta ta for now!

Oops I forgot....

I also wanted to run this by you....what do you think of the name "GramCrafter Cafe" with a slogan of "Fun and so much S'Maur!!!" I really want to put "I want S'Maur Stampin' Up!©" but I think its against policy....wonder how I check this out.....cuz I think its pretty darn cute....the graphic arts teacher at my school said her seniors could develop something for me...other than the lame thing I came up with....check this out....and then the print shop MAY make me some t-shirts....wooo hooo! And ok - so I don't really think this is lame, I like it....am I sick or what!!! LOL