Picture Perfect

I love to watch the hummingbirds feeding at our feeders in the spring and summer.  This past year though we didn't have very many to visit us.  It is funny how territorial they are.  We have two feeders on our deck and when I am sitting outside they will dive bomb another bird if it comes to get a drink of the nectar.  So funny!

So, you can guess that I was excited to see the hummingbird image in one of the new stamps in the Occasions catalog!   And it's not just any old humming bird .... it is a 4 Step Stamping bird!!  This photopolymer stamp set has 4 separate stamps to complete the hummingbird, as well as 3 steps to complete the roses; for for the starfish and 3 for the leaves in the set.  The sentiments are pretty sweet too.  This was my favorite stamp set out of the catalog this time.

I will have to admit though that it is not the easiest set to use.  There is a bit of a learning curve.  I practiced with several birds, roses, and leaves before I got the ones I liked and got more adept at the technique.  The images are numbered 1-4 (or 1-3) so you know what order to stamp the images in.  Stampin' Up! recommends that you start with the stamp numbered 1 (in your lightest ink) and progress one-by-one to the fourth stamp.  I found that it was a little easier to stamp the bird backwards from 4 to 1 starting with the darkest color.  But I did them both ways with good results.  I played around with different colors and stamping off before positioning and stamping a couple of times.  Every stamp has a little tag on it that will help you line them up properly.  I also found it easier if I also used the bird's eye to line up with.

For the card above, I stamped the bird and sentiment directly on Very Vanilla cardstock.  But I stamped the flowers onto scrap Vanilla card stock, fussy cut them and popped them up with dimensionals.

 The color combos I used were:

Hummingbird - Pistachio Pudding (retired color) / Wild Wasabi / Mossy Meadow / Cherry Cobbler
Roses - #1  So Saffron - once full strength and once stamped off
#2 - Blackberry Bliss (full strength and stamped off)
#3 Rose Red  (full strength and stamped off)
Leaves - Pear Pizazz, Wild Wasabi, Mossy Meadow

Marianne and I are driving to Charlotte tomorrow for the NC Demos Quarterly meeting.  I have been busy getting my swaps ready for the event - 35 Occasions swaps; 24 Sale-a-Bration swaps; 35 Shoebox cards; and 8 Technique cards!  Whew!!  I will have lots to share.  We will return Saturday afternoon and gearing up for the Steelers play-off game Saturday night.  Got my fingers crossed!!

New Year's Resolutions

Are you thinking about New Year's resolutions?  Every year there is a lot of talk about setting resolutions and everyone is motivated and eager to improve.  I am not a good one for setting resolutions but I am going to try this year.  Do any of these feel familiar:

• Drop 20 pounds
• Get out of debt
• Start a business
• Declutter my house

If you have written out some resolutions, take a look at your list.  Are you feeling overwhelmed?  There are ways to make your resolutions feel less daunting.  For example, focus on one goal at a time; like one per month.  Or break down each goal into smaller baby steps.

Envision the end of 2016.  Envision YOU at the end of 2016.  What do you want to feel or look like in December 2016?  This is the principle of beginning with the end in mind.  Once you have a clear vision of what you desire for yourself, that is exactly what you need to guide you in setting goals or resolutions.  Defining the "end result" (we're just talking about the end of 2016 for now) means that you now have the compass you need to keep you focused on what kind of goas to set.  Having the big picture in your mind and in your heart means that you can steer yourself in a direction that will keep your smaller goals in line with whatever's most important to you.

Begin with the end in mind.  Allow the bigger picture to guide you and keep you focused so that instead of having an unrealistic list of 30 goals to tackle, you have a vision of the person you'll be 12 months from now.  If you've already written your list, now's a good time to check in twice and cross off anything that's not supportive of the bigger picture that you have in mind. 

I personally think having just one or two resolutions is more "doable."  I am going to set a goal to lose weight this year so that next year when I'm visiting Ashley and sitting on a beautiful Hawaiian beach, I won't be mistaken for a whale that has washed up!

My short term resolution is to made a new blog heading this week and remove this Christmas elf one!!

Countdown to Occasions 2016 Catalog and Sale-a-Bration!

The countdown is on .... and we are almost to the launch of the Stampin' Up! 2016 Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration promotion!!  I love this time of year when it's so easy to get FREE products!

Here is the scoop -

• Occasions 2016 Catalog:  first day for customer orders, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016
• Sale-a-Bration Promotion:  first day to receive FREE PRODUCTS with each $50 you order:  Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.

To clarify things, you do NOT need to purchase the suggested items shown in the Sale-a-Bration brochure to receive those free Sale-a-Bration products.  You will earn one (1) free Sale-a-Bration item with EACH $50 purchase from ANY Stampin' Up! Catalog OR any online store product OR Clearance Rack product purchase!

Another way to earn free Sale-a-Bration products is with a Paper Pumpkin 3-month Prepaid Subscription for $55.  Watch the video below to learn more.

Happy 2016!!

I haven't ushered in 2016 yet - got about 25 minutes here in Texas until 2016 arrives!  Sonny and I are on our own tonight.  Ashley's friends surprised her with a flight to DC where they are celebrating her 40th birthday in style.  They have been planning this surprise since July and it has been hard keeping quiet!  She has known for a few weeks that she was flying somewhere because she had to take leave for the days she will be gone.  One of her friends flew to DC yesterday from Texas and another gal came by this morning at 6:45 to give her the plane ticket and take her to the airport.  I don't know how she worked it but she flew to DC too.  I'm guessing she dropped Ashley at the door with Ashley not knowing she was going too while she parked and sneaked back in the airport.  But looks like they are having fun!

Sonny and I had an early dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then went to the movies.  I had been wanting to see Joy so Sonny agreed.  It was terrible!!  I really owe Sonny now for sitting through that horrible movie.  Don't waste your money!!  We came back to Ashley's and watched a movie on TV that was much better (Alex Cross) and are now watching the countdown on tv and waiting for midnight.  We fly home tomorrow and will be celebrating Christmas with my NC family on Saturday.

Have a safe and prosperous 2016!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Mine has been great so far.

 Bogart was looking for Santa😁

Christmas morning ....before

Texas Ramblings

It is so nice to be back in Texas although I should have brought my shorts and tees!!  It has been very warm here.  The temps have not gotten in the 80s (YET) but they have been in the high 70s!!  I don't think I ever pack right!!  It is not even noon and it is already 70 degrees today with the high expected to be 81!  Saturday the prediction is 84!  Yep, should have brought my bathing suit.  Sonny has stayed busy doing small "fixes" around the house.  That makes him happy.  Ashley has been working but able to come home around 2-3:00 each day.  I have been working on my swap cards for Quarterly in January, reading, playing games and just relaxing.  It has been really nice.  Her realtor is coming this afternoon to talk to her about putting her house on the market.  She will be moving to Hawaii in mid June.

We celebrated Ashley's birthday a few days early.  Several of her friends (and us) went out to dinner Saturday night and then went to Martini's Club.  Martini's was a favorite of Ashley's when she was in medical school.  It is an old school cocktail lounge.  The owner, Wayne, sings "Las Vegas style" and does great vocal impressions of the old singers we love - Neil Diamond, Barry Mantilow, Sinatra, etc.  It is really a fun place!

At Martini's

Yesterday was Ashley's 40th birthday!!  Hard to believe!  We picked her up from work around 2 and had lunch.  Then we took a tour of the Center for the Intrepid.  It is next door to the hospital where Ashley works.  The CFI provides rehabilitation for soldier who have sustained amputation burns, or functional limb loss.  They have state of the world technology for rehab, research, training and education.  It is an amazing place!  It is like a "one stop shop" where the wounded troops can undergo physical and occupational therapy; get their prosthetics designed, made and fitted right there in the CFI; and learn how to transition back into the world .... with many of them returning to active duty.  Some of the soldiers stay there as long as two years.  There is housing for them there as well as their families at no cost (Fisher House).  It was a very inspirational tour.

This is the front of the Fisher House

Merry Christmas

Dear Friends!!  I am so overwhelmed this holiday season as you may be able to tell from the lack of posts!!  Every day for the past couple of weeks it seems I have gone to some kind of event.  This week I decided enough was enough!  I was literally making myself sick.  I was making little gifts to take to my bridge, mahjong, etc., etc., groups and then forgetting them and leaving them at home!!  Monday night I was up until 1 a.m. getting ready for my Stamp Club on Tuesday (which as it turned out I only had two people show up!)  I was supposed to go to Southern Living Christmas party on Wednesday when I finally decided to just cancel.  There were going to be 24-25 people there and I didn't figure they would miss my little appetizer!  Then today I had three gals come to Stamp Club.  We had a great time making tags, gift cards and just visiting.  I was able to sit down and visit with them which is also what I did on Tuesday .... even making a few tags myself!  I don't know why I do this to myself every year.  A friend reminded me today that this rushing around and trying to get every thing done is not what Christmas is about.  I think we all need that reminder and remember why we celebrate Christmas.

With all that said, we are flying out in a few hours to spend Christmas with Ashley.  I look forward to some rest and relaxation and time to visit with my Texas family.  This may be the last time in a while that we will be going to Texas.  Ashley has been interviewing (still with the Army) for a new position and found out last weekend that she will be moving to Honolulu!!  She will be the Pediatric Residency Program Director.  It is a three year position but she could stay longer.  She will have a lot to do to get ready for the big move.  She will be putting her house on the market soon and looking into housing in Hawaii.  She is considering finding something on the base until she can figure out what to do there.  I don't think she will be leaving Texas until June-July so she has a little time.

I probably will not be posting for the next couple of weeks while we are gone.  So, please stay safe and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Year End Sale

DETAILS:

• Promotion Dates:  December 10 - January 4, 2016
• No minimum purchase required
• No refunds or exchanges on Year End Sale items.
• Items can be combined on orders with non Year End Sale items.
• Year End Sale orders are eligible for Stampin' Rewards with qualifying orders.
• Following the Year End Sale, some remaining items may stay in the Clearance Rack.  Other items may be removed from the Clearance Rack to be added at another undermined time.

SHOP HERE     When you shop on-line, please use my Hostess Code:  MESNY6FN

It's That Time of Year!

Are you feeling overwhelmed?  It's that time of year!  I am so behind this year!  Who am I kidding?  I am behind every year and doing things at the last minute on a regular basis!  Marianne and I were discussing this today.  Why don't we do these things in the summer or fall instead of waiting until last minute.  Although, I have to say, I have been working on my 6x6 calendars a little at a time for several months.  But I like to do 2-3 different calendars.  Today I spent most of the day working on the calendars that I give out this time of year.  I am going to have to send them to Office Depot to get printed though.  I tried printing them on my printer and got funny yellow lines going up and down - not pretty!  Don't have time to figure out the problem with my printer either. Tonight while watching TV, I worked on some little punch art reindeer tags that I am going to take to my Mahjong Christmas party on Friday.  When I finish those, I need to start on the gifts I want to make for the bridge party on Monday.  And then work on the projects for Stamp Club next week! We are going to do tags and gift cards and I will be using the Oh What Fun Tag Kit from the Holiday catalog.

Yesterday was the Duplicate Bridge Christmas party.  It was rather bittersweet.  We had a huge void with Sharon not being there this year.  She loved Christmas and we usually had our Christmas party in her home.  We all felt like she was with us this year in spirit; looking down on us.  We also welcomed two new members .... well, they aren't new since they have been subbing for us for the past year but now they will be regular members of the group.

Here's a picture of the group - minus Kathy since she was taking the picture.  We did a gift exchange and Kathy got a Selfie Stick but we couldn't figure out how to use it so we just took turns taking pictures.

At lunch, Diane had napkins on the table that were folded to look like a Christmas tree.  She gave us instructions on how to make them, but mine didn't turn out so good.  Here is the one Diane did:

Be aware that Stampin' Up will have more products on CLEARANCE for their Year End Sale starting December 10 - January 4, while supplies last.  They will be offering discounts up to 60 per cent on select products.  So make sure you check them out starting Thursday.

Also - more good news!!  Because of the popularity of the Woodland Embossing Folder, it will not be retiring!!  It will be available in the next annual catalog!!  I am so glad!

Here are the Weekly Deals - just in time for Christmas!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thanksgiving pics

Yay!!  I felt creative this afternoon and changed my blog header. Isn't that little elf the cutest?  Found him somewhere on the wide, wide web, saved him and, using My Digital Studio, made up my blog header and inserted the little guy as a picture!  Easy, peasy!

I had a relaxing massage today and could tell .... I really needed it!  Ashley and I were supposed to have one when she was visiting and I had even booked it a month in advance (which is very unusual for me) but before she even got here, they called to change her masseuse since the one she normally sees when she visits had left.  So we changed the masseuse and the day in order for both of us to go at the same time.  Well, on Friday (the day after she arrived), they called again to say that her masseuse had left and they were scheduling her for Wednesday and me for Monday.  Not what we wanted!!!  So, I ended up cancelling both of them and since they could not work us in at the same time, we had to do without.  Think I am going to look into finding a new place for massages.  I have been going to the same place (in a chiropractors office) for several years but lately, they seem to be having a lot of personnel changes.  Sonny usually gives me 6-8 gift certificates for Christmas and I end up hoarding them until the end of the year.  I have two left but luckily, they do not have expiration dates so I will be using them in 2016.

I finally got my Thanksgiving pictures downloaded to share.

It was a beautiful day!  Ashley and me with my Thanksgiving apron on!

Ashley and her dad

Ashley and Bogey .... it was a long day!

Beautiful flowers - and table runner - from Sharon and Bob.  She quilted the beautiful table runner.

Me and Marianne

Ashley and Grandma

Marianne and Girlfriend (aka Sharon)

Sonny, me, Jack

Table all ready!

Treats I made for everyone

We had to have a little table this year!

Bob, Derek, Greg and Sonny - frying the turkey

Wreath I made

My cousin, Candy, me and Ashley

Candy, me, Mom, Marianne, Sharon, Ashley, Angela

Derek entertaining the gals

Decorations for the Little Table!