Good Morning America

While we were in New York, we went to a taping of GMA.  If you ever get the chance ..... don't bother!!  Our letter advised us to be in line by 6:15-6:30, so Ashley and I got up at 5 A.M (!!!) and left the hotel at 5:30.  It was still dark outside!!  We walked to Times Square and got in line.  Not bad - there were only about 15 people ahead of us.  We waited and waited and finally, about 6:45, they let us in.  After going through a metal detector, we were told where to stand (no seating available).  The show is on air from 7 - 9.  But, what they don't tell you is most of the show is done in another studio!  We stood around till after 8:00 when finally the weatherman, Sam Champion came down and did the "meet and greet" thing with us.  Several of the ladies in the crowd went "ga-ga" over him.  He was pretty fake looking and acting!  He did a weather segment and actually said "Happy 60th Mom" on air (Ashley had a sign!). 

The big guest on the show was Christina Applegate (tv show, Samantha Who).  They told us they always ask the guests to come in and see the crowd and you just never know if they will or not.  Well, she stuck her head in the door and waved and was there for about 2 seconds!  We were about 20-25 feet away so there was not a chance to really see her.  I'd hate to take up too much of her time!  Please!

Around 8:30, Diane Sawyer came down and talked to all of us.  She is beautiful and seemed really friendly (compared to the others!)  She's really thin too.  Then Robin Roberts came down and she was really down to earth.  She saw Ashley's sign and asked who was 60.  When I raised my hand, she told me I sure looked good for 60 and I shouldn't lie about my age.  Made my day, for sure!

We got to see one segment being filmed - about 8:40, they did a kitchen scene about how to make your food last longer.  After they were through filming, Robin, Diane and Bob Woodruff posed with each of us for pictures.  I thought that was pretty nice.

Academy of Country Music Awards .... and Easter cards

I just finished watching the Academy of Country Music Award show while making Easter cards.  It was very entertaining.  It was broadcast from Las Vegas.  Darn .... I was there last year this time!!

Here's a few of my thoughts on the show (if you care!)

• I loved seeing Heidi Newfield sing "Johnny and June" - love that song!  I didn't realize she was as old as she is ... figured she'd be another Taylor Swift. 
• Thought it was odd that Jamie Foxx was on a country awards show??  Guess it's just to make another point about Obama in office.  I like Jamie, don't get me wrong.  It's just odd.
• Cute Julianne Hough made Top New Artist.  She ripped her designer dress while going on stage!  Jack Ingram leaned over and tried to fix it!  I saw on some internet site some people discussing that she was still a virgin!  Where do people learn this stuff and why is it there business???
• Top Vocal Duo - Sugarland!  Yay!
• How much more mileage will Billy Ray be getting off Miley?  Think he'll still be introducing her as "my little girl" when she's 30?
• Top Female Vocalist - Carrie Underwood.  Yay!  Just love her.
• Trace Adkins sang "Til the Last Shot's Fired" with the West Point Glee Club.  WOW!   The performance is in support of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which is the charity selected by the ACM's charitable fund.  If you didn't get a tear in your eye watching the soldier who was missing both legs introduce Trace and Trace Adkins singing the song plus the West Point Glee Club performing, you aren't an American!
• Matthew McConaughey was a presenter.  That is one hot dude!  I could watch him all day.  He just seems so down to earth ... but sexy!   

                                       

 

 

 

 

 

Ok ... here are a couple of the cards I was working on tonight.  They both use the stamp set, A Good Egg.  This is my only Easter set so I use it a lot.  I used the designer paper from the Saleabration catalog and paper pieced the eggs.  I cut a slit to thread the ribbon through.

   

On this one, I cut the card 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" and cut the scalloped strip 3" x 4 1/4" and let it hang over the card.  I cut a slit for the ribbon.  I received a card that used this layout in a swap a while back and I've always like it.  This is the first time I've used it.

New York City View from the Top

We arrived in New York about 3 pm on Sunday. The bus ride was not bad. It was a little over 3 hours - comfy and we had internet connection. What more could you ask for! After we got checked into our hotel room (The Wellington - a block from Carnegie Hall), we walked over to the Empire State Building. The lobby is beautiful in itself. The interior is in a 1930's Art Deco style and there is a metal relief sculpture of the Empire State Building (see picture below). After buying our tickets (it's good to have a military person with you for those discounts!), we rode the elevator up to 86th floor. It was quite cold and windy out on the Observation Deck so we made a quick walk around, snapping pictures and trying to see the view through the crowd that was there. But, it was quite breath-taking and fun to figure out some of the other buildings in the view.

(remember - click on pictures to see the full view - then click back button to return to site)

Did you know? The Empire State Building took only one year and 45 days to build, or 7 million man hours. This is still a record for a skyscraper of such a height. The building is 1,453 feet, 8 9/16 inches or 443.2 meters to the top of the lightning rod.

This picture was taken in the lobby.

Next on our agenda was an visiting an Irish bar that we had passed along the way. I tell you, there is an Irish pub on every corner in New York!! We lucked out and found a "locals" hang out. Whenever we travel, we try to find placed where locals tend to go instead of just going to the tourist-y places. This one was a good one. Ashley struck up a conversation with a gentleman next to her who turned out to be an Acupuncture Doctor so they had quite a lively conversation about pediatrics, infectious diseases and the like. Plus, he gave us a list of a few bars and restaurants to try (although we never got to them).

After having a couple of drinks, we were both hungry for some dinner. I had read about a restaurant that was nearby that served French/Mediterranean cuisine. Since this is not a place I would get Sonny to go to, Ashley and I decided to try it out! I had Parisian Grilled Hanger Steak and it was excellent! The presentation of the food was just great. I don't remember what Ashley got but this is what is looked like! Isn't it cool??? Too pretty to eat!

Quilt Cards

Friday was my day to play Mah Jong ... at my house. So, Thursday was spent cleaning - a job I don't relish doing!! But, since it is spring, figured it was time!!

Marianne came over last night "to play." She had dinner with us and then she and I got creative! I had seen these quilt cards on Splitcoast and never made one before. I thought they were the perfect card for us since she is a quilter. Also, she is driving to Florida this weekend to spend spring break with her girlfriend, Sharon, who also is a quilter. I forgot to take a picture of her card before she left, but here are my two. One is a birthday card for a friend and the other is an anniversary card for my dear hubby. We will be celebrating 36 years on Tuesday!

These card are really easy to make. Using the 1 3/8" or 1 1/4" punch (we used 1 3/8") punch 12 squares. Glue them down to a piece of cardstock that is cut about 5 1/4" x 4 1/4" (using glue stick works best - then you can slide them around to get them tight to each other). Then you run them through the Sizzix or Cuttlebug with the Top Note Die. I then cut around the perforated edge and used a coordinating piece to layer them.

This one uses Manchester DSP, Always Artichoke and Kraft paper. I was trying to make it look masculine.

This card uses Not Quite Navy with a pack of patterned paper that was a hostess gift in the last catalog. The sentiment and the one used in the card above are from Hugs and Kisses.

Here is another card I made before Marianne got here. I just got this Butterfly Die and wanted to try it out. I used my Nestibilites to make the circles and the Dotted Swiss Cuttlebug folder on the So Saffron card. The Designer Paper and ribbon is from the Saleabration catalog with a piece of vellum for the small butterfly. The pearl is from the Pretties kit.

Get Connected with Stampin' Up!

During the month of April you can participate in Stampin' Up's special Get Connected promotion and earn free product for purchasing at least $40 worth of products from the Occasions Mini or hosting a $150 workshop.

Connect with those around you by creating homemade and heartfelt items to share with those you love.

Read about the promotion HERE.

Blog Candy

Blog candy HERE

Occasions Mini Catalog Available NOW

You can now order from the Occasions Mini Catalog!! Woo Hoo!! There are so many great things in this mini catalog, you won't be able to help yourself. I know I couldn't....LOL. Check it out HERE.

You can also now order the new pop-up dies from the mini. These dies are way too cool!! There is a Pop Up Three Tier Cake (item 116760 for $39.95). It folds flat for mailing but when it is opened, look out, a 3-D cake pops up!!

American Idol Results

We're going to see if Simon is right. He thinks the ones who will be in trouble tonight are Anoop, Megan and Matt. Hope it's not Matt!

Their Ford video shoot was really cool! Next we get a sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes life of the Idol contestants. These guys are living the life.

Here we go - 3 groups of 3 each. My guess is they will pick one out of each of these groups.

• Matt, Megan & Kris
• Lil, Danny & Allison
• Anoop, Scott & Adam

Bottom 3 - Megan, Allison (???) & Anoop

What's up with Allison being in the bottom 3? I think there's no doubt the judges would save her. Megan is about getting on my last nerve! She keeps waving to the crowd and acting silly, like this isn't a big deal. She reminds me of a little wind up kewpie doll - wind her up and she'll perform for you. I really think she wants to go home and be with her baby. Wonder what she will do when they go on tour.

David Cook performed. His debut album has gone platinum in just 3 months. He was great!

Lady GaGa performed too .... not quite in the same league as David! I guess I'm showing my age but I didn't get her performance. What would Simon say to her if she was one of the contestants???? I can only imagine.

Megan is the lowest vote getter. Finally!! So THANKFULLY Megan is on the chopping block, and Simon doesn’t even bother to lead her on. He informs her that she won’t be saved, but she puts us through the torture of her final song just the same.

Diva Challenge

I've been on a roll the past couple of days!  I missed a whole week of card making, so I'm making up for lost time now.  Monday and Tuesday I made 8 cards!!  I decided to make a few to submit to a magazine.  I've had 2 cards published before, but it's been a while.  So, I decided to get cracking and see if I can get published again. 

Today, I only got one card made.  I had other things to do today!  But, decided to do a card for the Diva Coffee Break Challenge.  Here's the sketch -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been going through some old stamps that I am going to put in the used stamp sale at Stampers Alley (May 2).  I brought a bunch of stamps back from Ashley's - mostly non-Stampin' Up stamps that I had given her when I started with Stampin' Up.  Now, she, like me, mostly uses Stampin' Up.  Of course, I had to go through the old stamps and pull out a few that I think are "keepers" and this is one of them.  The stamp is by Inky Antics and I think it is so cute.  I used my Copics to color her - note, I tried to make her  shoes a little scuffed and worn at the toes. 

 

American Idol Top 9 Perform

Tonight the top 9 are singing tunes from I-Tunes Top 100 Downloads. Guess the field is wide open for them tonight. Let's see how they do -

Anoop - Usher song - I hated the song! Randy like the vocals but didn't think it was the right song. Kara thought he played it safe and said she thinks some frat boys dared him to do Usher. Paula thinks he needs to work on stage presence. Simon nailed it when he said "it was a mess!"

Megan Joy - Bob Marley??? Maybe her voice is reggae?? It sure is strange. I think the judges are going to tear her up. And .... I'm right - Kara 's says she's in trouble!! Wrong song choice. Even Paula didn't like it or Simon or Randy. Think she's sang her last on Idol.

Danny - Rascal Flatts - What Hurts the Most - Finally - a good one! He was great. Paula's on her feet - a good sign. Simon says it's his BEST performance. All the judges agree!! Randy wants him to take the mike off the stand and rock it. Kara had goose bumps.

Allison - No Doubt - Don't Speak - Her hair and her outfit are something out of a science fiction movie or as Simon says, The Adams Family. Maybe a little Janis Joplin?? She doesn't need that. Randy agrees with me and wanted to know what in the world she was wearing. The judges thought her outfit was a little distracting and unnecessary. She played the guitar tonight and did a good job with the vocals too.

Scott - Billy Joel - Just the Way You Are - Great song but I wish he'd sing something a little more lively. He always does slow songs. And his hair??? Last week they dressed him up in pink pants and this week they "poufed" his hair up! Poor guy. Kara loved it all - the new look and the performance. Simon thinks it's his best performance - by a "country mile!" Randy says - one of the best of the night too.

Matt - Fray - You Found Me - He's keeping it current. I'm not familiar with the song, but I thought he was good. Paula doesn't agree with me - she thinks it wasn't a great performance. Simon thought it sounded uptight and wasn't a good commercial song. Again, the judges think it was the wrong song for him. Kara does not believe he deserves to go home. I AGREE! He should not have been in the bottom 3 last week.

Lil Rounds - Celine Dione - I Surrender - Wrong song choice - again! The judges don't usually like the contestants to do Celine. In my opinion, she was ok - not great. The song was too old fashioned for her and the judges agree. It didn't show her personality. Ryan interviewed her kids - how cute! The little girl was hugging on Randy!!

Adam - Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music - He's looking more & more like Elvis to me! Well, Paula likes it - she's on her feet and dancing. Too much screaming for me but everyone else seems to like it. True genius is what Paula tells him. Simon thinks it was original. Randy loved it - in the star zone, hands down. Isn't that nice (or kissing up?) - he thanked Ricky Minor and the band!

Kris - Ain't No Sunshine - Kara is clapping during the performance - she must like it! I thought he was great and made the song his own. Randy thinks it's one of the best of the night. Kara's three words - That Is Artistry! Simon said he showed confidence tonight and it was his best performance.

My fav's - Danny, Matt, Kris

Bottom Three? Anoop, Megan, and maybe Lil Rounds - I think it's time for Megan to GO!