Life is what happens ..... Cards I've recived this week

I have to share a couple of cards I received yesterday. Both are using Stampin' Up's Priceless stampset. This is a great stamp set and I can't believe I don't own it!! My daughter has it and I have borrowed it on occasion!! May have to again REAL SOON (ya reading this, Ashley??) The first card is from my Monday Mailer friend, Carol. She used Certainly Celery with our "In Color", Purely Pomegrante (I'm sure going to miss this color when it retires!) and the green polka dot Designer Paper. The two flowers are cut out individually with silver brads through the center.


The next card has to be my all time favorite card! I'm not prejudiced but it was made by my daughter, Ashley. It is better than any Hallmark card, believe me. She used the saying from the stamp set, Full of Life, since it was for our anniversary.This stampset can be seen on the last page of Stampin' Up's mini catalog (click link to see catalog). There are some really good sayings in this stamp set - I think I may just have to buy it!! What sold it for Ashley is the saying "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" by her all time favorite Beatle, John Lennon. But, isn't that saying just the truth??

If you decide you can't live without either of these stamp sets - or maybe one of the others in the catalog, give me a holler!! Stampin' Up now accepts credit cards!!! Yay!!

Sharon

The Power of Positive Thinking

My day started rather slow - woke up with a headache - but things sure got better! Today was my day to read to my first graders. Once a month, I visit South Elementary in Mooresville and read a new book to them. The Newcomer's Club that I am involved with has a Literacy Group that I belong to. The club buys books for all the first grade classes at South and we volunteers read the book to the children and then leave it for them in their library. Since I don't get to see my grandchildren as much as I'd like and do the fun things with them that most grandparents do, this sorta makes up for it, even though it is only for an hour each month. Today's book is called "A Frog Thing" and it is so cute! I love frogs anyway, but ...this book was just delightful. It is about a frog (named Fred!!) who wants to fly but everyone tells him frogs just can't fly. He is determined though and won't give up. After he rescues a baby bird that falls into the pond, its mother is so grateful of Frank's swimming skills that she takes him for the ride of his life. Frank clings to a twig as the bird and one of her friends lift it and him into the air to fly. When he returns to the ground, the young frog tells his parents that he realizes he should be proud of his own special talents. The book delivers a powerful message about how you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter who or in this case "what" you are. I think we can all learn something from Fred, the frog! I think that I taught my children those lessons as they were growing up. They both strived for great things and did not give up. My son wanted to go to West Point - that was his dream and he worked hard for it. He graduated from West Point in 2001!! My daughter wanted to be a doctor and knew how expensive medical school was (not to mention the grades you needed to get in). So, after graduating from Trinity University with high honors, she joined the Army and they payed her way through medical school. She graduated from University of Texas Medical School in 2003!

After I read the book to the children, they were excited to share something with me. In their classroom, they had one of those collapsible mesh laundry baskets hanging from the ceiling full of cocoons and butterflies that had hatched! It was incredible and such a great idea. Not all the butterflies have hatched yet but when they do, there will be one for everyone. They will set the butterlies free sometime this month. I don't know about you, but way back in the dark ages when I was in first grade, we sure didn't do anything as cool as that!!

Here's a picture of the children with me. You can see the butterflies hanging above our heads!

Sharon

Staying Refreshed while we fight the War

In my quest to lose weight, I try to drink lots of water. I usually don't drink my water "straight" but flavor it up with lemondade. My favorite has been the little individual packets from Crystal Light. But, I have recently discovered another flavoring. If you like just a touch of flavor in your water, try True Lemon, Lime or Orange. It's refreshing!! I discovered this flavoring through an e-mail advertising free samples. If you know me, I'm always on the look-out for FREE!! But also, this company is doing a good thing for our country. They are donating 10 packets to Operation Gratitude for every new registration for their free samples. They have almost reached their goal of donating 1,000,000 packets for their Patriot Drive in May. (Operation Gratitude is sending 50,000 care packages to our troops serving Iraq and Afghanistan.) If you would like to receive free packets of True Lemon and find out more about it, click HERE. Stay hydrated this summer!!

The war in Iraq is on my mind a lot lately. I am not going to get political on you - that's another story!!! But, my daughter is a pediatrician in the Army and I am trying to get prepared for her phone call that she is being deployed. Just about everyone she did her residency with and the interns in the classes below and above her, have gotten the "call". She stays busy sending "care packages" to her friends and fellow classmates. (She has a secret cookie that she loves to send them to keep up their spirits.) So far, she has been safe since she is now doing a Fellowship in DC. But, her good friend in Fellowship (who will finish this June) has already gotten her orders to go to Iraq in August. Ashley keeps trying to prepare me that this is a reality. But, I tend to think like Scarlett - and will worry about it tomorrow. I hope tomorrow never comes. My son served in the Army also after his graduation from West Point. He has always been a very lucky guy. The good luck bucket follows him around! When he got his orders to go to Iraq, he had just gotten married. That was a bummer for him and his new wife and family. But, what could he do? Off he went. His luck came when his "office" in Baghdad happened to be one of Sadam's castles. He jokingly told us that he would wait to do his "morning constitutionals" on Sadam's porcelain throne!! Plus, to make things better, he ended up only having to serve there about 6 months. So we were fortunate to have him back safe and sound and hopefully, without too many bad memories. He came home and started his married life and has become a remarkable husband and father. (Can you tell, I am a proud mama????)

Exercise at the mall

Happy Sunday to all! Hope it was a good day. It was for me. After breakfast I asked my hubbie what was on the agenda. His plans were for us to go to the "Y" and exercise. I've been pretty good about doing that since we joined in January, but today just wasn't one of those days! I tempted him instead with a trip to Concord Mills Mall. Now, I know you are thinking, "my husband would NOT want to go to the mall!" Well, mine is not a mall person either - and forget about shopping!! BUT, Concord Mills has a Bass Pro Shop!! Ah Ha!! And, he has been wanting to get some new shoes AND a fummer hunting vest. So, off we went. Our first stop was the Bass Outlet (clothes store - not Bass Pro!). What a sale they were having - everything was on sale and in addition to that you took another 40% off! Of course, I didn't find anything (surprise, surprise!!). But, hubbie found some nice shoes at a great price! We walked all the way around the mall - going in tons of stores. I was looking for some summer shorts. Most of them were either too short, too expensive or the waistband was not at my waist! Seems like most clothes these days are made for the younger generation - not those of us who wear "granny panties"!!! Hubbie was getting to be an expert on scoping out the shorts. I'd pick up a pair and he'd say, "the zipper is too short" knowing if that was the case, they were low risers! Finally, after making it almost all the way around, I found Burlington Coat Factory (why do they still call it that? I didn't see any coats!!). But, their selection was great. Plus, by then, we were close to the Bass Pro Shop so hubbie could go there and I could shop and touch and feel to my hearts content! I ended up with 3 pairs of bermuda shorts and one capri set (with top and capri's) for a total of $65!! Pretty good, huh???!!!

Then, when we got home, I cleaned out my closet, putting away my winter sweaters and jeans and getting out my summer clothes. I had to try most of my summer stuff on since I've lost weight and am down 2 dress sizes!! Yippee!!! So all in all, it was a very productive day!

Enjoy this card I received this week from my Monday Mailer friend, Carol. She does beautiful work.

Being a Grown Up???

I guess being a grown up means you have to do the stuff you don't want to do before you do the good stuff! I started out the day by doing some chores I have been putting off. Like, dividing my African Violets. My violets have just been gorgeous this year. Don't know what I am doing different (well, maybe it's the violet pot and the fertilizer) but they have just taken off and have been blooming like crazy. My mother is the one who has the green thumb in the family (actually, I think she has 6 green thumbs because she can grow anything!!) I love plants but just don't always take the time to care for them properly. Sometimes they have to ask me for water. You know, when the leaves are laying on the floor, panting. I know my daughter knows what I am talking about because her plants have to beg her for water!! But, today, I divided one of my violets into 2 more plants. And since the weather has turned so nice, I moved all my house plants outside for the summer.

My next dreaded chore was to clean. I just hate to clean and usually the house has to beg me for attention!! But I got out that dust cloth and Windex and went to town. Of course, as usual, I got sidetracked in the meantime. A very good friend called (thanks, Sharon!) and I was able to sit in my rocker and visit with her for a while. Then, when I got to the dining room to clean, I realized I had pictures to hang. So, I got out my trusty hammer and nails and pounded a few holes. Then, it was lunch time!! Gotta stop and eat so I can keep up my strenth, right?? Finally, there were no more excuses and I dusted, Windex-ed the windows and even .... mopped the floor!! Now, I dare anyone to spill anything - you listening, Sonny? Tomorrow, guess I'll tackle upstairs.

After finishing my chores, I found time to play. I am working on some kid's cards. Cards for adults to give to cards. I am going to do a class on kids cards at Stampers Alley this summer. Since my kiddos are grown, this is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be. I'm used to doing cards with flowers. But I did a few that I am pleased with using clear stamps from My Favorite Things. What do you think?

What's happening with American Idol??

Wow! That's all I can say. I wish American Idol hadn't become just a popularity contest, but that's what it seems. I guess Simon was right when he said his praise of her was the "kiss of death"! My sister, my daughter and myself were debating earlier (before seeing the show) as to who would get the boot. I really thought it would be between Brooke and Jason (didn't we all??). My sister called it though. She thought it would be Carly. I know a lot of people are turned off by her tattoos (let's not even look at her husband!!), but come on, it's a singing competition - vote for their voice not their looks!! Unfortunately, I didn't get to see it last night so couldn't vote (my vote would have been for Sayesha and David Cook). Wonder if my votes would have kept Sayesha from the bottom two??? I think it will come down to the two Davids and David Cook has my vote. The younger David needs to mature some more in my opinion. Of course, I also thought the final three would include Carly - what do I know??? Neil Diamond is next week. Wouldn't Carly have done a great Cracklin' Rosie or Glory Road?? We'll never know.


I want to share a card that I am working on for a swap. Signing off for now - Embrace Life!

Stamping Fun today

Today was a lazy feeling day for me! It was overcast all day & Sonny was gone to the shooting range, so I was just lazy!! I made a few cards that I want to share with you.

The first one is for my Monday Mailer (using decorative paper). It is a gift card holder and is part of the Splitcoast Technique Challenge that was posted on Monday. It was fun to make and only took me two tries!! I used the Tart and Tangy set from SU's mini catalog with the Summer Picnic designer paper.




The second card also uses designer paper from the mini catalog called Afternoon Tea. It is gorgeous paper - really elegant. I used a flower from the Pretties kit and stamped on it and I stamped the sentiment "best friends listen to what you don't say" on vellum! Doesn't that saying say it all??!! I really like how it turned out.

Enjoy!

Sharon

Welcome to Spring!

I woke up yesterday and looked out the window at the beautiful yellow finches having breakfast in our back yard. Sonny & I love to feed the birds - as you can tell from the picture! But, we get really irritated at the squirrels who try to eat all the bird's food and destroy our feeders. So, we have tried to outwit them! Sonny strung wire between the trees and hung the feeders on the wire. The squirrels still manage to jump on some of the feeders but we have also bought "squirrel proof" feeders. When they land on the perch, it shuts the feeder so they can't get any of the food out!! When that doesn't work, Sonny keeps a BB Gun by the backdoor and has fun shooting the little fellas! We have really been having a lot of finches, woodpeckers and cardinals this week.

Another springtime view in our area are the beautiful dogwoods that are in bloom as well as the other fruit trees. I pulled off the road yesterday to get a shot of this beautiful tree near our house. We have so much shade in our yard, we don't have any dogwoods. I told Sonny I wanted him to go in the woods & dig up a dogwood for me. Of course, that is not possible because it is against the law here - the dogwood is our state tree!! So, I'll just enjoy them from afar.

Howdy!!

I've been busy today getting my stamps ready for Stampers Alley's big Used Stamp Sale May 3rd. This is will be the second year that I have participated in the sale and also the second year I have been MIA!!! Last year, I was at a NC SU regional meeting and this year, I will be in .... HAWAII!!! Can't wait!! Anyhoo ... I will have about 50 stamp sets (mostly Stampin' Up) in the sale. Hoping to make some money so I can purchase some new ones. It's all about the stamps, baby!!


I did have time to do a card today for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I used My Favorite Things Cowgirl stamp for the first time and some Basic Grey paper I have had for a while. I think it turned out real cute!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Sharon

What was I saying??? Test your memory!

Well, yesterday found me trying something new. I joined a Mahjong group to learn how to play the game. Lucily, all 12 of us except for 4 had never played before. So the 4 "experts" had the job of teaching us. If you aren't familiar with this game, Mahjong is a game for four players that originated in China. It involves skill, strategy , and calculation, as well as a certain degree of chance. In the game, you are given thirteen tiles for a hand (depending on the variation being played). When your turn comes, you draw a tile and discard one. Your goal is to create a Mahjong which is too hard to explain!! One of the gals who was teaching us said that as she aged, she was starting to lose her short term memory. Her doctor recommended she learn Mahjong to stretch her mind. Hopefully, it will have that effect of me because my memory is .... what was I saying???? Here's a good article on memory tricks - give it a read! http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/09/healthmag.memory.tricks/index.html

After playing Mahjong all day, I had a quick 2 hours at home before going to Stampers Alley for a PrintWorks card class. We made some really cute cards and I got to visit with friends and my sister, Marianne. I'm so glad she is enjoying card making and has joined me at many of the classes! Plus, we got a rubber stamp for the price of the class!! Here is a picture of the cards I made last night.

Enjoy your day!!

Sharon