Secret Sister Always Card

I received the most gorgeous card ever from my Secret Sister today. It uses the stamp set "Always". I have seen so many pretty cards on Splitcoast using this stamp set. I really didn't think I needed it until I saw today's card!! Now .... just gotta have it! The card is actually made using a transparency sheet (like you buy at Staples). The Ruby Red piece is on the back of the acetate. The front of the card/acetate is sandwiched with the Vanilla and Chocolate Chip cardstock with the bird stamped and embossed in Ruby Red and cut out. Looks like she used White Staz-On ink to stamp the white flowers on the two corners. Isn't it wonderful?! I am so lucky - can't wait to find out who this talented North Carolina stamper is!!

Pause the iPods - Part 2

More excerpts from the Observer article.

"A bad boss will really make you miserable, even when you're not at work. Don't waste energy whining about it. Find a new one." I guess the worst boss I ever had was when I worked at the Coppell Library. I was secretary to the library director. Not only was she horrible, but she didn't use deodorant. She and her clothes reeked of B.O. We all would have to hold our breath when she was close to us!! I only lasted there a year.

"Practice patience. Sometimes March weather doesn't arrive until May." Well, I'll have to admit I do not have an overly amount of patience. My husband calls me (sarcastically) Miss Patience quite often. I want it done now - I don't want to wait! When we are at a restaurant, I am ready to leave when I finish eating. Saturday, we ate lunch at an Italian restaurant in town. I was so proud of myself .... I sat and waited until my husband asked if I was ready to go. It drives me crazy to have to sit and wait for others!!

"When I was your age, the fashion was checkered bell-bottom pants. Polyester. Wouldn't be caught dead in them now. Pause and ponder that before your next tattoo." Isn't that the truth? When I see people with these tattoos all over their body, I think to myself, what will they look like when they are 70 years old??? I had a friend when I lived in Texas who had his wife's name tattooed on his arm. After the rather sticky divorce, when he planned to remarry, he had to go through the expense to have his first wife's name removed from his arm. Remember that when you visit the tattoo parlor!

"Anybody who tells you they made money playing on-line poker is probably sizing you up for a loan."

"Your monetary worth to any organization is only calculated when you've got another offer"

"Tan now, wrinkle later" USE SUNSCREEN!!

"Like you, we were full of great ideas. We turned them into ozone. Here's your assignment: Fix the flippin' planet" Sooner rather than later please.

"Look up from the screen of your cell phone. That flash of color - that's a sunset." And they are God's gift to us. Enjoy!

"You know about Santa, you know about the Tooth Fairy. Now we can reveal the third and final secret of life: Bathrooms do not clean themselves." Or ... clothes hang themselves up by themselves; light switches turn off by themselves ....

And my favorite .... "I hate to tell you this, but that band you've been listening to - the Beatles ... We discovered them!

Fresh Cuts stamp

Just got this stamp set - a sneak preview of SU's catalog which will be released in August. I'm liking it a lot! I used some cardstock colors that I don't usually use, but thought I'd take a "walk on the wild side" and be different for a change! Hope you like it!!

Pause the iPods and listen

I recently read an article in the Charlotte Observer by Mark Washburn who was speaking to a graduation class. I really enjoyed his thoughts and comments and can relate to them. Here are excerpts from the "In My Opinion" article that I totally agree with! My comments are shown in blue.

"Your parents are officially as dumb as they will ever be. From this day forward, they will get smarter, just a little, day by day." Don't know that my kids would agree with this, especially my son!

"Always drive like there's a cop behind you" Lesson learned.... especially when driving through Virginia - it can be costly!!

"Pop the earphones out every so often and listen carefully. If you concentrate, you can still hear the original iPods. They're called birds!" I'm afraid one day all the young people of today are going to be deaf!

"Any worthwhile journey involves getting lost sometimes. Life is a worthwhile journey." My life continues to be a journey - never knowing what is around the bend. Sometimes good ....sometimes bad, but I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

"When lost, take time to poke around a little into the stuff you never would have seen otherwise. " I can't count the times I've been lost (just ask my children when they were younger!!) but there are shops and restaurants I've discovered when taking the other route that I wouldn't have know about if I hadn't been lost.

"You are what you drive. Keep it clean." Hope my husband doesn't read this. I keep my car anything but clean according to him. What can I say .... sometimes I'm a slob!

"Text and drive, you won't survive." Much less, talk on the cell phone and drive!! I'm guilty of this but I know I would not be able to text and drive!! Keep waiting for all states to have mandatory earphones for cars on the highway.

"After 30, skip the fries." But .... they're soooo good!! Especially at Poppa's Hot Dog Shop in Mooresville where I seen to gravitate to after attending my Weight Watchers meeting!!

"When you mess up, just "fess up. Astonishing fact: "I really screwed up" is actually a thing bosses like to hear. It means they don't need to point it out." I think that is one of the hardest things to do - to acknowledge when you've made a mistake. But more importantly, for the "injured party" to accept your apology and move on. Life is TOO SHORT to hold grudges!!

"Believe half of what you read on the Internet and a quarter of what you hear on Talk Radio. Do your own thinking." That goes for all these e-mails we continue to get that are "urban myths". Doesn't anyone ever check them out before mass sending them to everyone they know???

"Make a million mistakes, but get this one right: Marry the right person." Amen to this one! I have been married to the same wonderful man for 35 years. Yes, we've had our ups and downs, but we've always stood by each other and loved each other. Thank you, God, for helping me find this wonderful husband and father.


That's all for now. I will continue with this article tomorrow! Enjoy!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Glorious Summer Day!

Oh, what a glorious day it was today! My daylilies are starting to bloom and look beautiful...the weather is just perfect - in the low 80's... and we still haven't turned on our air conditioner!!! (gotta save that money for gas, ya know?) We open our windows at night and it is wonderful.

Today after taking our swim aerobics at the "Y", we visited a few nurseries in Mooresville and bought some plants. I am hoping to plant something on our small hill in front of the house that will take hold and spread. Last year, I planted a few things, but with the drought, nothing survived. Hopefully I will have better luck this year. After stopping for lunch at McAllister Deli (yum!), we headed home to work in the yard. I planted a few things on the hill and planted a few annuals in my wine barrel. When Ashley and I went to Napa Valley a few years ago, I brought back a half wine barrel. That was when I lived in Gig Harbor, Washington. When we moved to NC, the barrel made the trip with us! Sonny thinks we got it at one of the wineries we toured in California. Nope .... in reality, we were told that we could get them cheaper at the local WalMart but they were authentic barrels from the wineries!! Anyhoo .... it is out near the street in our front yard and now is planted with flowers.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day. Remember the brave men and women who are serving our country and who are putting their life on the line every day for our freedom. God Bless them!!

Note Pad Holder

I received the cutest Note Pad and Holder this week from my Secret Sister. Can't wait to find out who this talented gal is!! It is done in Bravo Burgundy cardstock. The front of it is stamped with Polka Dots & Paisleys stamp set in burgundy, Artichoke and Apricot inks. She says that she got the idea from Betsy Cypcar's Monday Mailer last year. The notepad that is on the inside matches our cardstock great!! It was purchased at A C Moore. I'll be checking these out next time I'm at A C Moore.

Thanks Secret Sister! You're "da bomb"!!

Sharon

And the winner is ...... DAVID COOK

David Cook wins! David Cook wins!

He’s truly overcome with emotion. Sweet!

“I started this season much to Simon’s chagrin as the ‘word nerd,’ ” he said. “I’m at a loss for words. Thank you guys. This is amazing.” Overall, it’s an emotionally satisfying ending with the top 12 standing on that stage behind the judge’s table with Cook. He has his arms around Archuleta. Class act, sharing the spotlight. And the brother who convinced him to audition joined him on stage earlier, too along with his mom. I loved that part! He allowed his Mom to be a part of this important event in his life.

I think for the show to continue to thrive, it needs more original, edgier contestants (though not to the extreme of, say, Sanjaya, thanks), and so I think the right guy -- in terms of the show's longterm benefits -- won. I also think that David C. is better-suited to handling the pressure that goes with winning, and David A. should have an easier time of it as runner-up, getting plenty of attention, a certain record deal, but a lower-pressure entree into showbiz and media attention. So, basically, everyone's a winner in this year's finale.

Some other notes on the final show .....Oh my goodness - does it get any worse than this? That guy who auditioned with his own song - the one who sang "You are my brother, best friends forever..." Remember him? Well they actually brought him to the stage - he's wearing the same outfit with the winged hat and everything - just beyond ridiculous. They even get USC's marching band to accompany him - seriously? He definately got his 5 minutes of fame.

I loved Brooke's singing with Graham Nash; David A's singing "Apologize"; ZZ Top with David C. (you know, that had to be a dream come true for him!); Carrie Underwood (looked gorgeous, by the way); George Michael (I'm still a big fan and obviously, so is Paula!!); Donna Summer singing "Last Dance" (didn't much care for her new one); and Michael Johns (still, my love!!). I could have done without the comedy routines - The Pips; Jimmy Kimmel; Jack Black, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr, etc. Also, didn't have a clue who that young boy band (Jonas Brothers) was!! (My daughter filled me in later.)

We were recording the show so we wouldn't have to sit through all the commercials (and ended up missing the Guitar Hero one done by David C - saw David A's though - pretty funny!) But, luckily, we caught up with the recording and ended up watching the last 30 minutes or so live. If not, we would have missed the end!! Can't believe after sitting through 2 hours, they wait until one minute before the end to announce the winner and then have to go over. My daughter called and she was TiVo'ing it. Her TiVo cut off as soon as Ryan said "the winner is David Cook". She didn't get to see his reaction or hear the song at the end. I would be pissed!!!

Well, now I'll just have to wait for Idol to come on again NEXT YEAR!!!

In the meantime, I'll be watching Nashville Stars when it starts in June. It's pretty good.

David vs David

Well, it's finally here - the final night to hear the two David's "duke" it out! It is obvious that David A is the judges choice to win...and they made it clear. Although, Simon was on Letterman Monday night and on Ellen Tuesday (I didn't see it - just read about it) and predicted David C. to win. The reality is that both Davids are great singers. I thought they both gave good performances. Cook's seemed a little more varied, but that is the type singer he appears to be. And I thought it showed something that he chose to sing three new songs unlike David A. who chose to go with Imagine which was already a winner with him this season. Talk about playing it safe! That's where Cook has it over Arch - he is not afraid to take chances and stretch himself. I thought Simon's remarks and even Randy's at the end of the night were a bit derogatory ("this round goes to David A."). Let America decide (after all we're the ones who are paying the for the CD's and downloads). I agree David A. is talented but he is sadly predictable. He needs some time to hone his skill and get to know how he wants to approach his career...otherwise he will face the same issues as Lohan, Spears...etc. This much fame is tough when you haven't found your own way yet.

I do love David A's voice, but do not see him as THE American Idol. Although in the event David Cook doesn't win, we can hope he will become just as successful as Daughtry. Losing didn't hurt him at all. Who woud have thought he would be touring with bon Jovi? Personally, I still prefer Cook but it’s hard to be upset if Archuleta takes it home. He has earned this. And we can always rationalize that, like Daughtry, Cook doesn’t need this win to succeed.

Here's what I've discovered about Wednesday's results show:

* Tomorrow’s finale will reprise that Celine/Dion live/dead duet with another live/dead combo.

* Each David got to pick their favorite out of the top 10 vote-getting songs in the songwriting contest. Good idea!

* Carrie Underwood will perform her latest single “Last Name”

Oh and that cute little kid from Tennessee who was living in his car ... Josiah Leming just missed the top 24 and has signed a record and publishing deal with Warner Brothers.

Well .... stay tune - until tomorrow night!!

Sharon

Watching hockey and doing challenges!

While watching the Pittsburgh Penguins tear up the ice .... and the Philly Flyers for the Stanley Cup (right now it is 5- zero!!) The Flyers should be embarrassed. Anyway, I have been working on some challenges.

Here's a new site, Stamp Something, I discovered that is giving away Blog Candy for their challenge. I needed a thank you card anyway plus I am doing this card for a swap. So I am killing two birds with one stone. (Yes, Ashley, I got that saying right!!) I used my favorite background stamp from Stampin' Up - Riot of Petals, this time just highlighting one of the flowers. I "coluzzeled 2 circles - one in Soft Sky and the other in Chocolate Chip. I stamped the flower on the Soft Sky (In Color) circle in Chocolate Chip ink. Then I rubbed Groovy Guava around the edges and matted it on the Choc. Chip circle. The card is made from Choc. Chip and layered with Groovy Guava textured cardstock. Then on top of that is another piece of Choc. Chip with a piece of designer paper from our mini catalog - Tea Garden. This paper is just gorgeous! I used my Corner Rounder to round the corners. I stamped "thank you" (from All Holidays) onto G.Guava and used my oval punch to punch it out and mat onto a Choc Chip piece punched out with the large oval punch. In the bottom corner I stamped "Love ... Laugh" (from our Hostess set - Make It Count) and matted it onto a Choc Chip circle. To finish it off, I doodled all the edges with a white gel pen.
Sharon

Challenge Card

I was surfing last night - no, not on the lake, but on the computer. Found Sharon Johnson's blog and with a name like Sharon, had to check it out. I have admired her work for a long time on Splitcoast Stampers. She is very talented. Anyway, she had a challenge this week to create a trio of panels on a card and to keep it simple. So here is my take on the challenge.

I used the simple flower from Embrace Life (SU) which I think is one my favorite floral stamp sets. I watercolored the flowers and matted them with Regal Rose. The card uses Pretty in Pink and is embossed with one of my new Cuttlebug folders. Then I just weaved a ribbon - lime organdy - behind and on top of the flowers. Pretty simple!