Mom’s Birthday

We went to Mom’s last night for her birthday (#81) and had a great time just all being together.  The only sibling missing was our brother who was working and unable to come.  One grandson was there – Harrison.  I wish my two could have been there.  But, Ashley was on her way to Africa at the time!!  She has been trying to plan this research trip to Kenya for 3 years and it is finally happening.   She will spend the weekend in Nairobi but most of her time will be spent in Kisumu (on the shore of Lake Victoria and where Obama’s father was born.)  Please say a prayer for her safety. 

Jeffrey called his grandmother today to wish her a happy birthday and reported that Jayce was doing great.  He took Jayce to a pool last weekend and was getting Jayce to jump off the side so Jeff could catch him.  He said Jayce told him he wanted to go under the water!!  So, thankfully, there is no ill effects of his accident last week.  God is good!

Sonny & Greg cooked ribs out back on Mom’s grill and we girls sat on the front porch and visited acted silly!!  Here are a few of the pictures from our gathering:

I think Sonny was actually supervising!!

Me & Mom -  Marianne & Mom on her lap!

Mom with Angela -

Marianne got the worst of this one – I was sitting on her lap, Mom sitting on my lap & Angela sitting on Mom’s lap!!  That’s how many pounds on Marianne?   We won’t even go there!!

Mom has those red flowers in her hair because I made them for her for her birthday and I stuck both in her hair!  She has been asking me to make something for her to wear to her Red Hat get-togethers for the summer instead of having to wear her hat.  I found some of red  flowers and glued them to a barrette!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Saturday is my Mom’s 81st birthday!  Today my two sisters and myself took her downtown Charlotte.  It was a wonderful day and I think she really enjoyed herself.  I know we wore her out …. she was snoring on the way back home!!  We started out at the Levine Museum of the New South looking at the exhibits of Charlotte and the South the way it used to be back when farming and cotton were the main way to make a living.  After the museum, we walked over to Mert’s Heart and Soul Restaurant!  Yum, Yum!!  We had a great lunch!!  The people at Mert’s really know how to cook the southern way!  I had a vegetable plate  - green beans, mac & cheese, squash, okra & tomatoes and some of the best cornbread you’ve ever eaten!!  We sure wanted dessert, but unfortunately, there was no room in our stomachs. 

After lunch, we had to walk all that food off so we headed to Tryon Street and wandered up and down trying to remember where all the department stores used to be located.  When I was a young girl, I used to take the bus downtown on Saturdays and visit my grandmother and great aunt where they worked (Montaldo’s) and visit my grandfather at the men’s clothing store he worked at.  Then I would go to Woolworth’s to spend the money my grandfather had given me and perhaps to the movies.  It was a fun day.  Well, now Montaldo’s is the Mint Museum of Craft & Design and the men’s store my grandfather worked in is Hooters!!  It makes me sad that the city leaders thought it best to implode most of the old buildings downtown to put in new ones.  (The Mint Museum is still in the Montaldo’s building which is gorgeous.)  

It was a fun day and it was nice to be with my sisters and my mom.  Tomorrow we are going to cook ribs on the grill at Mom’s house and celebrate her birthday.

Here is the card I will be giving her tomorrow:

I used the SU Hostess set Wings of Friendship.

Card Shares

I haven’t shared many cards with you lately and for that, I am sorry.  So I will try to make up for that now!

This card I did for the Stamping 411 challenge last weekend and sent to my daughter.  She and I seem to share that shopping gene!  Her weakness is shoes … mine is probably purses & stamps!  So this card hits them all!

I used a clear stamp set from Stampendous.  The cardstock is Stampin’ Up.

This is the inside of the card!  It sure looks green but believe me, it was yellow!!

These are the Monday Mailers I have received so far from Jennifer.

This one uses the Top Note Die and it is crimped!  Isn’t the flower lovely?

I’m not sure what this card is called – but it swings open where the brad is on the side to reveal the message inside.

 

Pears -

Pears are one of the most powerfully cleansing foods around. They contain pectin, a soluble fiber that keeps the digestive tract healthy.

Did you know that pears are both a laxative and a diuretic and help keeps your colon in good health? Pears also have a high iodine content, which can aid thyroid function.

Having a "pear-only day" - when you just eat pears and drink eight large glasses of water - is an excellent way to detox and helps control cravings.

Pears are available all year round. The harder varieties are great with savory foods and the sweeter, juicier ones are perfect for juicing and desserts.

Nutrients: Vitamin C, beta-carotene, folate; calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc; pectin

Resource: ~~The Top 100 Diet Secrets by Anna Selby

Life is Precious

A few days ago, I posted about being thankful for life because it is so precious. Some of you knew the story that transpired last week but others didn't. I didn't want to post anything about the accident until my daughter-in-law did. The story in a nutshell is that last Thursday afternoon, my precious almost 3-year old grandson almost drowned. I suggested to my daughter in law that she should write about her experience. She is a very good mom and if this could happen to her, it could happen to anyone. I was glad to see that she took my advice and wrote a wonderful article about the accident. Please take the time to read her blog HERE and do your part to help keep children safe in the water. And give your child a special hug and let him/her know you love them.

Happy Anniversary

My sister’s anniversary was Saturday …. 28 years!  Where does the time go?  I remember when she got married in 1981.  Both my children and myself were in the wedding.  My son was the ring bearer (at 2 1/2 yrs. old).  He was just so cute in his little white outfit.  He could only stand still at the front of the church for so long before he started tossing the ring pillow up in the air!!  Luckily, my husband was nearby to rescue him.  My baby sister looked beautiful on her special day.  I remember a day or so before she got married I told her she was too young to be getting married!  She was just 21 at the time.  So many memories! 

This is the card I sent to her on Saturday.  I stamped the Lace Background (retired) on the Gable Green card.  I stamped the flowers from Pocket Silhouettes in White Craft Ink onto Vellum and backed it with a piece of Lovely Lilac.  The butterfly is done on vellum (Flight of the Butterfly).  It is a Two-Step Stamp which means I stamped the first stamp – the butterfly outline – in White Craft Ink and embossed it.  Then I stamped the “filler” butterfly in Lilac.  I just love two-step stamping!  The “congratulations” is from a retired set from Saleabration.

Deal of the Week #4

Deal of the Week #4: Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware

Stampin' Up!'s Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware adds class to any project. Get it for just $18.99 (over 30% off the regular price of $29.95)—only July 20-26!

Throughout July, be sure to check here every Monday for the week's new deal.

Thankful

This weekend started out pretty good.  Friday we went to Concord Mills and did some shopping for Jayce (grandson) who will be 3 in August!  He likes Thomas the Train so that is always fun for Sonny to pick them out.  Since we don’t get to see him much, we just have to imagine him playing with the trains.  After we returned home, things started going bad.  We received some disturbing news but weren’t so sure what it was all about.  Without going into a lot of details, it was a pretty big scare that turned out ok.  Everyone is fine but it sure makes you thankful for what you have.  And, it makes you realize that life can be taken away in a split second so you should be live each moment to the fullest!

I'm thankful for the mornings
and the bird song at first light.
I'm thankful for the heavens
with all its beauty in the night.
I'm thankful for my friends
who show me that they care.
I'm thankful for my family
for which I'm well aware.
I'm thankful for my faith
in a great God up above.
I'm thankful for my husband
who showers me with love.
I'm thankful for my children
as they have made me proud.
I'm thankful to those I've known
who stand out in a crowd.
Yes my life may be simple
and my means just as few.
But all this would mean nothing
if I never had friends like you.

Teaser

Now – as you know being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I get to see all the new stuff early – and I can't wait to share with you all the absolutely exciting new items coming to you this fall. I will however, will tease you a bit:

Stampin' Up! has a new line of jewelry. Jewelry, you ask? Well this is high quality jewelry that you can add your own artwork to. I can't wait to get my PAWS on these.

Speaking of PAWS… Stampin' Up! has teamed up with Build-A-Bear Workshop! Wait until you see this cute stuff! So many different things – not just stamps….. Stay tuned online for more information

Speaking of being online…Stampin' Up! is also going digital!! I am so excited about this one – this won't be available right away in September, but will be available this coming fall. There are endless possibilities with the Stampin' Up! Digital Studio!

Have I tickled your creativity bone?? I hope so! Now I bet you are thinking …."I need to host a workshop" and you do because you'll want to be one of the first to get your inky fingers on these great new products.

Contact me and I can help you out!!

More Monday Mailers

I went to see the new Harry Potter movie yesterday.  It was very good.  One more to go …. I think I’ll miss them when they are over.  I started out reading the books but only got through the first one.  I enjoy the movies better – just not my kind of read.  It’s been fun watching Harry and his buddies grow up.  Now I just hope he can lose his Harry Potter persona and find other acting jobs!

Here’s the rest of the Monday Mailers that Karen sent me.