I realy have a love hate relationship with this blog. I get super excited about it then i get bored or resent feeling like I HAVE to post.

So here is a quick recap of the last :gulp: 3 months.

The big thing is I went on a tour of the Pacific North West and fell head over heels in love with the place. If I could I would move to Portland tomorrow. (I also loved Seattle, and the coasts too). Something about this place just totally resonated with me.


And I didn't just randomly go. I went specifically to attend BlytheCon 2011. I had an absolutely amazing time and spent most of the trip hanging out with Melissa and having an absolute blast getting to know people I had only talked to online. And the dolls. the dolls, dolls, dolls!!! It was overwhelming and fun and exhausting all at the same time. I scored my first ET helmet and met Ruth who was an absolute delight. I met Roz who did one of the classiest things Ive ever seen and stepped back from bidding against me so I could buy my first Sammy Doe. I got to hang out with so many fun people in line before BC and during the event!


And I loved it so much Im planning the next one! Yep Im nuts. Luckily I have tons of help from Erica and Morgan. We are doing it in Dallas at the fabulous Gaylor Texan. It was a HUGE amount of work to get it up and running but we are doing really well and have close to 90 registrants and are just under a year out! Not too shabby! Oh and Lirije did the most amazing logo for us! Maybe if I get skinny enough I can wear a matching outfit!



Oh and I have been scrapping some. Not very much as things have been sort of weird and hectic. Here a re the last couple of layouts I have done:




Next on the horizon: A Blog hop this weekend, more crocheting, more dolling, and soon oh so very soon a trip to see my growing family!! (and maybe some more blogging)

Posted in blythe, CreativeSoup, family, scrapbooking, traveling

I love my mom so much. Our relationship has totally grown and evolved over the years and I just wanted to celebrate where we are now!






Happy Mother's Day mom. I love you with all my heart!

Posted in family, scrapbooking

I went to Bethlehem PA to celebrate my moms birthday and had the best vacation I have had in a long long time. It was the perfect trip at the perfect time (despite it being frigid!)

We went to the casino, visited downtown a little bit, had wonderful meals both dining out and dining in (Mom even made me Frikadelu soup a favorite from my choldhood. I think I ate 5 bowls over the course of the weekend). I even bought my exercise gear and went to the local YMCA. Which is in this fabulous HUGE older building where you can actually still rent rooms! I had one of the best Zumba classes ever.

I also discovered EVERYTHING is about 10 minutes from my moms house. Food, entertainment, the airport, shopping you name it- it's 10 minutes away!

I spent part of our trip helping my mom stuff bears that she does for the local hospital. They hand these out to kids who are staying there. I had such a fun time doing it even though I had a small allergic reaction to the poly fill. I finally had to stop at 12 stuffed bears.


I am already making plans to go back sometime this spring!

Posted in family, vacation

Ill post my daybook entry in a bit but I wanted to get to the update stuff first.

I have been on staycation which means 2 things:
1. Ive gotten a ton of scrapping done
and 2. I got to see my family!!!!!

I spent a glorious 5 days (wish it could have been longer) visiting with my mom, aunt, brother SIL and the nephews. I had an absolute blast seeing everyone. I am going to try to get up to visit them in Maine at least once more (though Id love to go 2x).

And so I have been totally slacking on the blogging thing. I missed posting several WTG entries and Ive got a ton of new stuff to share. PLUS I am honored to be the guest designer for ScrapFreak's May embellishment kit. I can't post my stuff yet but Ill post sneak peaks in a bit.

Ok so enough chatter. Here are some vacation pics (Ill do scrappy stuff later)

First up Kris. He got a crew cut so he could have "dot" hair like his daddy (who has a shaved head. Boy does he look grown up. No more little boy. He is totally a KID now. A really fun, slightly moody, very sensitive, aunt and gaga loving kid! (Though he certainly didn't mind me carrying all 40lbs of him for hours on end at the zoo!) He is in total HAM mode so it was super hard this trip to get a decent shot of him. I also spent more time enjoying time with the family instead of trying to get a thousand pictures


Next up my little bundle of happiness: Noah. He is usually such a happy little baby (and yes hes still a baby!) 16 months and not yet walking though he stands and will cruise and does this amazing scooting thing that just blew my mind. Whatever works right??? (the las t picture of Noah and I together was taken by Kris who has become quite the little photographer!





I had sooo much fun with the kiddos (and my mom and aunt too!) I can't wait to see them again!

Posted in family

We always sort of celebrated Groundhogs day because we had one in the family- My dad. He was born 2/2/39 and he embraced his inner groundhog. My grandmother made all sorts of groundhogs over the years as presents to him Skiing groundhogs, fishing groundhogs etc...

And so in memory of my dad Happy Groundhogs day! (I miss you dad!)

Posted in family

So I am back after spending a week in Maine with my family that went by waaaaaaay too quickly. I miss my adorable nephews already!

Here are just some quick SOOC shots

Posted in family, photography

Ok so somehow this years Valentines day turned into a 3 day celebration which was really nice.

Friday My DH totally shocked me by having roses delivered. Ive never gotten flowers at work and the sentiment inside was from one of my favorite ee cummings poems.

Then we went out to dinner. Nothing fancy just TGIFridays but the food was super good and the service amazing.

Saturday we exchanged cards and I made peach cobbler for desert. Not perfect but very tasty none the less. Oh and we totally upgraded several components on my PC. I got an extra gig of memory and a brand new video card. I can't believe what a difference it made!

And sunday we grilled steaks and lounged about and watched TV together. It was just the perfect weekend. Here are some pics of the flowers I got

Posted in family

Paul and I love taking spontaneous mini outings. We just decide to get up and go. Last night we went to Stone Mountain not realizing they were already on their off season hours so the attractions were closed. We took a nice little walk up part of the mountain and just stood and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

We then had fantastic Sicilian Pizza at Enzo's. We had never been before but I will certainly be going back! It's the only place I have seen in Atlanta where you can buy by the slice at dinner time. We sat on the porch eating and reading the news paper (such as it is in Atlanta). My only wish was that we could have been closer to the outdoor fireplace. It is definitely beginning to feel like fall is finally here!

Then home to snuggle up with my latest obsession- the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I finished #5 last night. At this pace I will be done with the series before Friday. lol

All in all just a perfect way to end the day.

Posted in family, photography

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I spent almost an entire week in New York visiting with my brother Aleks, SIL Tiffany and my ever delightful nephew Kristopher. It was Kris' 3rd birthday. I hate living so far with them so I just absolutely treasured every second I was there.

Kris is just an adorable little boy who loved to read (well he would drag out every book he owned and insist I read them to him -his favorite by far was Dr Suess' My Many Colored Days) and play on his new "computer" we bought him for his birthday. We got him the Leapfrog clickstart computer you hook to a TV since they only had a laptop and he is still a little too rough to play nice with it.
It was really amazing to watch him learn how to mouse- something we as adults just take for granted. It took him just a few hours of intermittent play to figure out that the cursor and his hand movements were connected and how to then click on what he wanted. He loved several of the built in games as well as the Nemo cartridge we got him.

I also got a chance to see a friend from High School who I had lost touch with over the years. She was several years behind me but we still became very close friends and she also shared a very close friendship with Aleks as well. It was amazing how much and yet how little we had all changed. It was an absolutely wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

I will post pics as soon as I get a chance to work on them. Oh and speaking of pictures- Kristopher LOVES to take photographs as well- and some of them are actually quite good. I will have to share those as well. It was a real trip to see the world through his eyes- what he thought was important- the different perspective of someone who is only 3' tall etc. I found it very eye opening. My mom actually bought him a small digital camera of his own to encourage him in his pursuits.

So now that I have come down from my trip and recovered a bit on housework and bills and such- I hope to get back to posting more regularly. Next Up - I HAVE to get ready for my Stamp Club meeting on Sept 20th, start gearing up for Christmas card season and last and most importantly- Not loose my mind waiting for my Disney Trip on 10/4!!!

Posted in family

As much as I love that we run our own IT service business it makes it VERY hard to plan to get away- even for a weekend. So when I got a call from Paul Friday at 4 asking if I felt adventurous I was elated!

We drove up to Helen, GA on Friday and spent the night. We have been a couple of times before but never at night. It was very pretty all lit up. It was also super crowded and seemed smaller than I remember it being. We had reserved the very last hotel room available and of course it was a smoking room. Luckily we bought along some Febreeze so it wasn't too bad, but we were glad to check out.

Saturday morning we headed up to Hiawasee for the Georgia Mountain Fair. I had no idea what to expect and while it was a little small there were some very interesting crafters there and tons of history. It has been running for 58 years! Unfortunately you weren't allowed to take photos of the craft items but you could take them in the permanent exhibit hall. There was a phenomenal camera collection someone had donated. They also had home made jams and jellys and relishes and we bought several. After the fair we drove to the Dillard House for lunch. This place is famous and people travel from all over to eat there. Its an all you can eat restaurant served family style. They set out tons of vegetables and meats and then you can just order more of what you like. Paul was in seventh heaven! The vegetables were great but the meat left something to be desired. I was super adventurous and even tried the peach relish which I actually really liked.

Feeling mighty stuffed we drove over to Tallulah Gorge and Falls to walk off some of our lunch. Unfortunately it was getting late and we had already had a long day so we just walked to the first overlook and then headed home.
It was so nice to get a mini vacation as we haven't been able to get away for months. I think it did both of us a world of good!

Posted in family

So I constantly complain to my mom that no one sends me pictures of my adorable nephew. She kindly reminded me that I hadn't sent pictures from his second birthday (Sept 07).

My problem is I take a gazillion and three photos- especially on that trip as it was my first time taking pictures with my DSLR, and just never got around to editing them.

I vowed to my mom to try to get through some so she could have pics. I hadn't realized since she told me that she didn't really take ANY since I was running around like a one woman paparazzi show.

So here are a few that I have gotten through. Please forgive the focus/sharpness problems. Like I said it was my first time using my camera.

Posted in family, photography

I see people complain all the time about various in-law trauma, and count my blessings that I wound up with a wonderful set of in-laws.

My Father-in-law has been so welcoming, generous and supportive that I immediately felt like part of the family right from the get go.

So I made this little birthday card for him.

Supplies: Stampin UP Voila stamp set, Stampin Up real red cardstock, and Paper Studio patterned paper. It doesn't read well in the photo but the white horizontal cardstock strip is scored to make it look like molding. And the tray and candle are colored in with Copic Spica glitter pens.

Posted in cards, family

Today I didn't get stamps, or embellishments or even more paper. Not even computer goodies.

Today I received the best mail a gal could get! Pictures of her adorable nephew!

Of course I think he is the cutest little boy in the world! He is wearing his first set of Mickey ears I bought in January 07. I figure the picture was taken not too long after that. And my mom even managed to get a little piece of herself in the photo!

Have I mentioned that getting to see pictures of my nephew is like pulling teeth?

I absolutley hate living so far from the rest of my family. I am missing my nephew's childhood. And now that my SIL is expecting again I am even more sad.

I wish I was a gazillionaire and could move them closer or fly to New York once a month. Right now I am lucky if I see them all once a year which just breaks my heart.

Still a good day and now I have his smiling little face sitting on my desk just brightening my day!

Posted in family

What is an artist?

Websters dictionary defines it as:
1 a obsolete : one skilled or versed in learned arts b archaic : physician c archaic : artisan

2 a: one who professes and practices an imaginative art b: a person skilled in one of the fine arts
3: a skilled performer; especially : artiste
4: one who is adept at something artist> artist>

To me an artist is someone like my grandmother. Actually she was an Artist. You could hear her add the Capital "A" when she said it. And she was right.

My grandmother is my hero. Possessing infinite strength and a faith and self confidence that seemed almost impossible. She knew exactly where she stood on every issue and she KNEW she was right because as she would remind you "I am an Artist!".

She also was an artistic genius and worked in many mediums. Sculpture, painting, drawing, she even sewed and did crochet (although for most of her life this was out of need rather than want). As she would quickly tell you when you admired her work- she was a straight blue ribbon prize winner. Winning first place in every exhibition and contest she ever entered. She was even approached by some museums to display some of her work.

From the time I was a little more than a baby, my brother and I had "art lessons" when we spent our summers with her. We painted and even got to do some ceramics at the senior center she worked at. Its from her I learned without being taught the importance of color, composition, balance, perspective etc... All the fundamentals for good art. At the time it seemed more like play than work and I think it was this early exposure that instilled a profound love of being creative that still is a tremendous passion of mine.

Every single time I sit down and do something creative I am reminded of her. I feel her hands carefully guiding mine the same way they did when I was 3 or 4. I wish I had told her just how much I appreciated this tremendous gift she bestowed upon me. All I can do now is dedicate my work to her as I still stand humbled in her artistic shadow.

Posted in family

Father's Day.

I spent most of the day feeling sad as I miss my dad something fierce. We didn't always get along (too much a like I think) but I always new how much he loved me and hopefully he knew how much I cherished him.

And so I just wanted to take a moment to publicly thank him for being a wonderful dad, and to say I miss you!

Posted in family