Need A Reason to Smile?

There are plenty of reasons to smile in July with the Reason to Smile set that is yours for just $5!!

Promotion Details:

• Dates:  July 1 - 31, 2012
• Spend $50 on any current Stampin' Up! products to get the exclusive Reason to Smile Set for just $5.
• Orders may be placed on any order type (customer, workshop guest or online)
• There is a limit of one (1) set per customer.
• You will not be automatically prompted to enter the $5 Item Number for a qualifying purchase.  You must use one of these item numbers after your order reaches $50 or more: 
  • Wood Mount 131274
  • Clear Mount 131275
• Valued up to $20.95
• The Reason to Smile Set is exclusive to this promotion and will not be available after July 31, 2012.
• Deadline:  Tuesday, July 31, 2012; 11:50 PM (MT) 

Great flower set plus two-step stamping

And here are a couple of projects made with the stamp set.  Click on the picture to enlarge.

Short Trip!

Well, I'm back!  Too bad - We left so full of hope and excitement of helping others to return pretty disillusioned with the whole process.  Saturday didn't start off any better than Friday had.  We were told when we all parted ways on Friday night that we were to report to Red Cross hdq. at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.  I texted our leader Friday night to tell her we would see her in the lobby of the motel at 8 for breakfast.  Well, I was awakened at 7 a.m. Saturday by her asking me where we were - the others were down in the lobby!  I told her I thought we were meeting up at 8.  Oh no, she told me she changed that during the night.  Hmmm - would have been nice to tell all the team members!  They were going to have a team meeting in the lobby and then head over to Red Cross.  We quickly dressed and joined the others for our meeting which was basically outlining that she was the supervisor of the group and did everyone understand that.  Luckily, there is one lady in our group (besides me) who doesn't mind speaking her mind which she did during the meeting, outlining a lot of the complaints we all had of the situation so far.  Sonny and I had breakfast and got our stuff packed and actually arrived at Red Cross before the other 2 cars did - they were lost once again!  We stood around at headquarters for about 1 1/2 hours and finally decided that we wanted to drive over to the damaged area just to say that we had seen something besides a mall!  So we did, leaving our supervisor at headquarters to sort out what we were supposed to do.  Here is most of what we saw:

This was Rising River Resort - think they had camping and cabins.  See the wrought iron gate - water was up to the middle of it.

This was an ABC store and bar that had sandbags at the doors but the water was up to the foundation.

Our team inspecting the damage!

A gas station flooded out.

Dee called us before we got to Lake City where there was an open shelter and wanted us to pull over so she could talk to all of us on speaker phone to make some team decisions.  She told us there was no need for us as a team in Florida, Colorado or Montana; it turns out that the team that arrived from California - AFTER we arrived, were sent out to a shelter (when we were told there was nothing); but if one of us (with experience) wanted to be a Food Supervisor, there was a need in Tallahassee.  No one wanted it!  So, flight reservations were made for us to return to NC on Sunday!  We returned to Gainesville and met Dee for lunch.  She said our team leader who had arrived the day before us had not told the staffing at headquarters that needed to know the info that we were even coming.  (I think there is a huge power struggle between these two.)  In the meantime, our team leader (Marge) had been promoted on site to Shelter Manager (probably thus not giving the attention that was needed to her team members, several who had never been on a deployment.)  So, she wanted us all to drive to where Marge was and confront her with our issues.  We did that but again, another waste of time!  It was basically a "he said, she said" situation.  Marge says she told people we were coming; that it was their fault. Sonny and one of the other guys actually walked out of the meeting.  I don't think they really wanted to hear from Sonny at that time!  Anyway, after all that, we all headed to Jacksonville (except for our supervisor as she was going to Tallahassee to take that other position until someone could relieve her.)  We at least had a fun time the little bit of time we were in Jacksonville.  I led us to a restaurant on Atlantic Beach - about 30 minutes away - and we had a good dinner and even took a short walk on the beach.  So, at least I got my toes in the sand!!

me, Sharon and Nan at Ragtime in Atlantic Beach

The girls on the beach!

Sonny and Jim on the beach.

To top it off, when we were at breakfast Sunday morning at the hotel before heading to the airport, there were 3-4 Red Cross workers there also.  They asked us where we were headed and we told them home since there was nothing to do.  They had just arrived and were headed to Gainesville to work in a shelter.  I'm sure when they got there, they were told to turn around and go home also.  But what a waste of money - plane tickets, car rentals, food, lodging, etc.

 So I am home!  While I was gone, I got a Stampin' Up delivery that I need to unpack and start creating with some of the goodies.  I have 4 new stamp sets that I am itching to use!  Stay tuned tomorrow for some new creations.

Our frustrating day

Let's hope tomorrow goes better than today!  We arrived at the Charlotte Red Cross office at 7 a.m. Friday  to meet up with the other 5 members of our team that we were deploying with.  Everyone had their airline confirmation info except Sonny and I!!  We finally received the info when we arrived at the airport.  We had a couple of hours before our flight so we all headed to get something to eat.  You know how it is when you have a group of people .... everyone can't agree on anything and no one wants to make a decision!  As it turned out, Sonny & I went in to a restaurant to have breakfast while the others headed to the Burger King at the airport.  I figured our next meal would be quite a while away and wanted to make sure I got some real food in my stomach.  Then we boarded the plane and there was a major discussion as to whether we switch our seats with each other so we were sitting with our spouses.  Come on .... it was only an hour flight!!  I was in Row 11 at the window and Sonny was behind me on an aisle.  I wasn't switching with anyone and wind up in a middle seat.  Plus our seats were Exit Rows ... double the reason not to switch!!  We ended up flying into Orlando; renting 3 cars and driving to Gainesville.  Sonny was the driver of one of the cars with me as his passenger.  Well, the other 2 cars pulled over on the turnpike/interstate a couple of times for the gal in charge of our team to complain that he wasn't putting his turn signal on when he changed lanes every time and they were having trouble keeping up with us plus she thought he was going to fast (earlier she had complained about the other driver going to fast so that guy dropped back behind us.)  We were going the speed limit but that was too fast for her!!  Two of the cars had GPS systems and we were only going a couple of hours down the road.  Why couldn't we all just meet up at the destination instead of having to piggy back with each other.  We stopped for lunch about half way and she told us we had to switch drivers.  She wanted me to drive our car and one of the other gals to drive the other car.  I told her I did not want to drive & Sonny was doing just fine.  Sonny was about to blow up!!   Anyway, we finally arrived at the Red Cross headquarters in Gainesville which is the staging area for all the shelters.  (We arrived there while the other two cars were lost and going in circles!  They finally called us to ask how to get there!)  As is the case most times with the Red Cross, it is a "hurry up and wait" situation.  They did not have accomodations for us for the night and claimed they didn't know we were coming which is not true since the other half of our team arrived yesterday.  Plus, we found out that there had been 11 shelters open in the area but they had closed all of them except 2!  Keep in mind that there are people coming in here from all over and we heard that there are 4 teams coming in this weekend from California!  The other part of our team who got here yesterday were sent to Lake City this afternoon but by the evening they were sent somewhere else because they were not needed in Lake City.  So, we found a local mall and walked around while they found a hotel for us nearby.  We are staying at the Days Inn tonight but who knows for tomorrow.  Sonny & I left the others at the mall while they were eating at yet another fast food restaurant.  (Keep in mind that we are given quite a bit of money from the Red Cross for our expenses so you don't have to do fast food.)  Anyway, after we checked in to the hotel, we found a local bar and grill in the university area and had a meal, a couple of adult beverages and chilled out!  It could be that we go back to the headquarters tomorrow and are told we are not needed and have to make arrangements to fly back to NC!  I have suggested to Sonny that if that is the case, we see if we are needed in Montana or Colorado and go there to help with the fires.  We're packed and have made arrangements for the next couple of weeks, so why not? 

Stay tuned for this evolving story!!  Thanks for letting me vent!

I'm Traveling .... Again!

My postings may be sporadic for the next couple of weeks.  Sonny and I are deploying Friday with the Red Cross to the flooded areas of Florida.  We will fly into Gainesville and I have no idea where we will go from there.  Since this is our first deployment, we really don't know what to expect.  And we don't know if we will be staying in a shelter or in a hotel .... my hope is for the hotel!!  One team from Charlotte left on Thursday and the second team, that Sonny & I are in, will leave on Friday.

Here is a link to our local news about our deployment.

Volunteers for local chapters of the American Red Cross always are needed to respond to natural disasters, near and far.  Residents must be 18 or older to volunteer and are required to complete some training. Volunteers who wish to be deployed also must get experience locally.   Whenever someone is displaced by natural disaster, most often a fire, the volunteers go in and meet with the people and  provide for their immediate relief as far as shelter, clothing and food.   We also try to link them with other community organizations for long-term help.

On another note, I took Mom to see the neurologist today.  He actually gave her a physical exam!  The reason this is so surprising is that the surgeon or the pain mgt. doctor never gave her an exam.  The most they did was feel her ankles and test her strength in the feet and legs.  Not once in all this time did they touch her back area where she was hurting when she was in their office.  I had gathered all her charts from the doctors but did not get the films (MRIs) from the hospital.  Of course, that is the one thing that he wanted!  He does not want to make a diagnosis without looking at the films.  So, Angela is going to get them and take them to him and Mom will return to see him next Thursday. 

Pinwheels

Newest MDS downloads

Every Tuesday, Stampin' Up releases new downloads for My Digital Studio.  These are the downloads from this week:

Afternoon Daytime Kit

Bon Voyage Photobook Template

Dahlias

Daydream Medallion Stampbrush Set

<>

Naturals Composition  Designer Template

Summer Love Designer Template

Sketch Challenge

I had a really lazy day today.  It's so nice once in a while.  We are planning a trip in August to the Outer Banks when Ashley comes to visit.  We want to stay a few days in the more touristy area and see the play, The Lost Colony in Roanoke.  Then take the ferry and stay a couple of nights in Okrakoke.  So, I've been comparing rates to get the best deal on motels and trying to make a decision.

I sure hope Sammie has 9 lives!  Today I was standing in the hall upstairs talking to Sonny and Sammie was trying to get my attention I guess.  She jumped up on the bannister railing and was trying to straddle it like she likes to do.  But this time, she was on the quilt that I have hanging on the railing and it started to slip.  Sammie kept clawing to try to catch herself and all I could do was watch in horror as she fell backwards.  She landed on her feet (I think!) on a table that I have in the foyer and then onto the floor.  She broke a little crystal do-dad that was on the table in a hundred pieces!  I think she is ok.  She's been pretty quiet since her fall.  I bet she doesn't jump up there any more!

We got a call this morning from the Red Cross that we could be deployed to the hurricane/tornado area in Florida.  As of now, we are on stand-by.  They think they may deploy two teams.  Since I need to take Mom to the doctor on Thursday, we are standing by for the second team - hoping it won't deploy until after Thursday.

The Stamping Queens Sketch is a fairly easy one this week involving tags.

I used My Digital Studio to make the card.  Elements used from MDS are:

Sunset Serenade DSP, Taffeta Trimmings ribbon,  Twitterpated buttons, Tea Time II tags, butterflies are from Flores Suaves, Live Your Dream and Touch of Nature and Scallop Punch.

Everything Eleanor

Another long day!  I left the house this morning at 9:30 and didn't return home until 6:30!  Luckily, Sonny grilled our dinner outside so I had a couple of glasses of wine and kept him company.  But it is so hot and humid here that it was not fun sitting outside tonight!  I played bridge today and had a pretty boring time.  I got a lot of really awful hands.  It it weren't for the fellowship with friends, I would have really been bummed.  After that, I picked up Mom for another doctor's appointment.  Marianne was working from home today so she met me at the doctor's office.  Mom was in really bad shape today.  She had a bad night and was in really bad pain all day.  When I got to her house, she asked me to get her the strongest pain meds that she had.  She has 3 different levels of hydrocodeine and has been taking the lowest dosage lately.  But today called for the "big dogs."  When I got her in to the doctor's office all she could do was cry.  It is heart breaking.  Dr. Allen is starting to believe that the cause of it all is her sciatica which I have been of the opinion from the start.  I have had debilitating sciatica pain twice and it is not something that I ever want to have again.  But I remember that the most pain I would have was trying to sit down or get up from a sitting position.  (It was hell trying to get on the toilet!) 

The common symptoms of sciatica include:

• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up

And these are all things Mom has been complaining about.  Dr. Allen said with the surgeries and the injections she has had, all the "mucking" around in her spine has caused it to be inflamed and if it is sciatica, it can't heal.  There's not a "fix" for it but she needs to get to the point that she can do some stretching exercises.  He gave her a prescription for a drug that is used to treat neuropathy to try and see if it will help.  On Thursday, I am taking her to see a neurologist in Huntersville.  After that, I am electing to find a good chiropractor to treat her.  That is who helped me both times I had my sciatica. 

OK - on to a couple of cards I created this weekend. 

I saw a card similar to this one on Pininterest and decided to CASE it.  I used one of the floral stamps from Everything Eleanor and Primrose Petals ink.  It's hard to tell but the card at the top is stamped with Pretty In Pink with a swirl stamp in the background.  The bottom card uses the swirl or flourish stamp but in Crumb Cake.  The saying on the bottom is from Heartfelt Creations. 

Hybrid Daring Adventure

It's Monday again.  This month has flown by!  We went to play Bingo Friday - Sonny, Mom, Angela, Marianne and I.  It was the fundraiser for Newcomers.  We raise money each year for our literacy program.  There was also items available for Silent Auction and at the end, there were prizes raffled off.  Marianne won a couple of meals at IHop; Angela won a calendar (made by me!); and I won a Pampered Chef package that contained a glass mixing bowl, pastry brush and a package to make Cucumber Mojitos!  It was a fun night and we were all glad Mom was able to come.  She was feeling pretty good all weekend until today.  I am taking her back to see Dr. Allen today.

I made a few cards this weekend.  This one is my favorite.  I just love the stamp set, Daring Adventure.  I wanted to use the "splat" stamp from Extreme Elements but unfortunately, I never bought that set.  That's when My Digital Studio came to my rescue.  I just printed the "splat" stamp in Summer Starfruit and Baja Blue on my cardstock and made the rest of the card with my stamps.  That's what is called a hybrid card.

June Club Cards

These are the cards we did this week in my clubs.  I really love the Greetings stamp set, From My Heart and used it on a couple of the cards.   The sayings are so good.


I think this is my favorite one.  i just love the color combo.

Supplies:
Paper:  Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Whisper White
Stamps:  Everything Eleanor, From My Heart
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Pool Party
Acces:  Itty Bitty Buttons, Itty Bitty Punches, Dimensionals

Supplies:
Paper:  Whisper White, (retired) In Color DSP Paper Stack,  Daffodil Delight
Ink:  Concord Grape, Pear Pizazz,
Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Words,  Pennant Parade
Access:  Pennant Punch, Itty Bitty Label Die, 3/4" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Punch, Bakers Twine

Supplies:
Paper:  Summer Starfruit, Whisper White
Ink:  Midnight Muse, Versamark, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green
Stamps:  Curly Cute, Papaya Collage
Access:  Jewels

Paper:  Rasperry Ripple, Gumball Green, Whisper White
Ink:  Gumball Green, Rasperry Ripple
Stamp:  From My Heart
Access:  Labels Framelits, Tulip Embossing Folder