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  • Positive Thoughts...
    People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom? Thich Nhat Hahn

May 2008

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Movies I've seen...

  • Eagle vs Shark
    Foreign film from down under. Cute love story about 2 nerdy people.
  • Charlie Bartlett
    Cute comedy a la Ferris Bueller. Loved the characters and the writing.
  • There Will Be Blood
    Gritty oilman is only interested in trying to acquire and create a bit oil empire for himself. Excellent acting, very well done.
  • A Love Song for Bobby Long
    Character study of people lacking direction, who wind up forming a family after living in a house together. Good, but not great.
  • La Vie En Rose
    Movie about the tragic life of Edith Piaf. Jumps around a bit, but the acting is wonderful and I enjoyed learning about this wonderful French singer.
  • Elizabeth the Golden Age
    If you liked the first one, this is just as good. Awesome costumes and acting. Cate is incredible. Loved it.
  • Atonement
    Wonderful story, interesting ending. Beautiful costumes and scenery.
  • 27 Dresses
    Cute and Sweet, laugh out loud funny!!! LOVED IT!!
  • Reign Over Me
    Not great, not bad. Kinda depressing at times.
  • No Country For Old Men
    Excellent acting and suspenseful, but I did not care for the ending and really had to think about what it meant. Lots of senseless killing and death. Not really my kind of film.
  • Ratatouille
    Cute cartoon movie about a rat that likes to cook.
  • National Treasure (second one)
    Lots of fun and action, in a light hearted way. Certainly not Oscar material, but it was a most enjoyable way to spend a Saturday evening.
  • Sweeny Todd
    Very Tim Burton, kinda dark and mysterious. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were excellent. Lots of squirting blood, and a bit gorey.
  • Juno
    Totally cute and fun movie. Ellen Page is fantastic, and the supporting cast was exceptional too. Very endearing story.
  • I Am Legend
    Very good and suspensful, but scary. Will Smith did a great job!
  • American Gangster
    Excellent film.
  • We Own the Night
    Enjoyable, leaves you on the edge of your seat.
  • Dan in Real Life
    I really loved this movie, and I am not a Steve Carell fan. Great story and I love the story line of big families getting together. Great house too!
  • Bee Movie
    Very cute.
  • The Kingdom
    Enjoyable, but lots of violence.
  • Live Free or Die Hard
    Action packed Bruce Willis film...we loved it.
  • The Last Mimzy
    Not great, not bad.
  • The Nativity Story
    Nice family film.
  • The Good German
    Done in black and white...very Perry Mason-like feel. Stars George Clooney (looking mighty fine in a uniform). Interesting.
  • Hollywoodland
    Not that great.
  • Running With Scissors
    YUCK. Too many dysfunctional people.
  • Apocalypto
    Wasn't sure I was up for this, but it was very well done and even though it was all subtitled, it draws you in right away. Excellent suspense movie!
  • Bourne Ultimatum
    If you like the series, this is for you. Lots of action.
  • Factory Girl
    So so...Movie about the life of Edie Sedgewick when she hung around Andy Warhol. People with too much money getting into trouble..
  • The Painted Veil
    Wonderful film...very Merchant-Ivory. Set in China in the 1920s.
  • No Reservations
    Loved it!!! Such a nice story...light and happy!
  • Mostly Martha
    Foreign version of No Reservations. I really liked this. Some parts were totally the same, others slightly different.
  • The Illusionist
    Enjoyable, but not great.
  • The World's Fastest Indian
    Wonderful....Stars Anthony Hopkins as an older gentleman who wants to break the worlds land speed record.
  • Friends With Money
    YUCK. Rich people with problems.
  • Perfect Stranger
    Stars Bruce Willis and Halle Berry...not bad, unexpected ending.
  • The Ultimate Gift
    Loved it...great family movie and great message.
  • Wild Hogs
    Cute, but not really my style. Middle-aged men on a motorcycle adventure.
  • The Nanny Diaries
    Stars Laura Linney and Scarlet Johansen. Similar to the book, but a bit different. Not bad, but not great.
  • Becoming Jane
    Loved it...Stars Anne Hathaway as Jane Austin.
  • Georgia Rule
    Not bad, but mature subject matter. Stars Jane Fonda and Linsey Lohan.
  • The Shooter
    Wonderful action film starring Mark Wahlberg.
  • Blood Diamond
    Excellent, but sometimes hard to watch due to the brutality.
  • Driving Lessons
    This movie stars Laura Linney, Rupert Grint (Ron Weasly from Harry Potter), and Julie Walters. The story centers around a young man, Ben, who starts working for an aging actress (Julie Walters). She takes him on an adventure, and his mother (Laura Linney), an evangelical Christian, is not too happy. Slow paced, but interesting. Not for everyone, but if you like British films, you will probably enjoy this one.
  • Radio
    Recently rented this because I had not seen it in the theater. Loved the story and the interaction of the people in the story. Really positive and uplifting. If you have not seen it, I would definitely rent it. Great family movie!
  • Infamous
    Story about Truman Capote during the time he wrote In Cold Blood. Exceptional acting and interesting watch.
  • Nancy Drew
    Blair and I went to see this with one of her friends, and we LOVED it. Cute story, love the outfits, great message about staying true to who you are.
  • Spiderman 3
    If you like the Spiderman series, you will most likely enjoy this film. Not much new, but a fun watch.
  • Miss Potter
    LOVED IT!!! This was the story of Beatrix Potter and was just the movie for me. Light and beautiful. Wonderful characters, costumes, scenery, and cute animated drawings. Probably not for everyone (I think Blair was bored), but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
  • Keeping Mum
    British dark comedy about a housekeeper who comes to live with a vicar and his family. The family is falling apart, but somehow she manages to start pulling them back together and anyone who is causing them problems seems to be missing. If you like British comedy, this is a good watch.
  • The Last King of Scotland
    Fictional movie about a Scottish doctor who becomes the personal physician to Ide Amin. The acting was excellent, but the story was quite hard to watch in places. I can appreciate the movie for all of its excellent qualities, but not really my kind of movie.
  • Vera Drake
    Movie set in the early 1950's in London about a woman who is a wife, mother, housekeeper, and helps girls who are in an unfortunate situation. Excellent acting, but I wanted more at the end. Subject matter not recommended for younger kids.
  • Breach
    Movie about the spy Robert Hanssen. What an intesting film and what a strange man Robert Hanssen was! I really enjoyed it and thought Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillipe were excellent. Recommended.
  • Real Women Have Curves
    Cute movie about a young high school graduate who wants to go to college, but her family wants her to work in her sister's dressmaking shop. Recommended.
  • Pan's Labyrinth
    WOW! What an interesting movie. A bit gory and cruel in parts, but certainly worth seeing. The movie is in Spanish with subtitles, but it draws you in so fast that you don't even realize it til the movie is over. It kind of reminds me of a Harry Potter for adults with fantasy characters and a young girl who has to be brave and perform some tasks that none of us would ever thing of doing (like going in the muck and bugs to find a mega huge toad in the middle of a large oak tree, ewww). Mark loved this movie too. It definitely deserves to recieve some awards!!! Hope you find some time to check it out!!!
  • Dreamgirls
    PHENOMENAL!!! We LOVED this movie, and Jennifer Hudson is AMAZING!!!
  • The Pursuit of Happyness
    Yet another excellent film. Super story and I love the perserverance and attitude of the Dad (Will Smith). Great lessons and love the ending. We all walked out of the theater with a smile, I like that.
  • Night at the Museum
    Excellent movie, lots of fun!! We saw it at the IMAX for extra impact and had a great time! Lots of recognizable faces in this movie too!!
  • Casino Royale
    A new James Bond and a new feel to the movie. Seemed a bit less flashy than the past Bond movies. Still a good action flick and we all enjoyed it.
  • Happy Feet
    Great movie. Lots of fun and excellent message. Good for adults and the kiddos.
  • The Holiday
    Excellent girlie film. Blair and I loved it.
  • You, Me, and Dupree
    A cute film when you want something that is light and funny.
  • Joyeux Noel
    This movie is a foreign film which takes place during WWI on the frontlines with soldiers from Scotland, France, and Germany. They decide to call a truce for Christmas Eve. It is probably not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.
  • The Departed
    Hmmm. Well Mark REALLY wanted to see this and he is a big Jack Nicholson fan, so he loved it. I, on the otherhand really did not care if I saw it or not. I don't particulary care for ganster type movies. The acting was good and the story ok, but lots of bloody gore. Not really my type of movie.
  • Monster House
    This animated feature had some pretty funny clips, so we decided to rent it. Cute, but I would not recommend it for really young kids beause it might be a tad scary. Interesting idea, but I would not rush out to see it.
  • Hoot
    Blair and I really enjoyed this movie about some kids to want to stop a pancake house from being built on some land where owls live. Great story!!!
  • The Sentinel
    Decent suspense movie, but not great.
  • The Insider
    This is an excellent drama about the 60 minutes expose on the tobacco industry. Excellent acting and really interesting, yet scary story. Mark was mezmerized and gave it a 2 thumbs up.
  • Vanity Fair
    Rented this one from Blockbuster recently and it was enjoyable. This is a period piece about a girl who tries to better her life through the people she meets and enchants. It was enjoyable, but Blair did not care for it. She had a hard time keeping up with the plot (but she was on the computer at the same time, so not really paying attention closely).
  • RV
    I love almost anything that Robin Williams does, so this was a must see for me. Blair and I laughed A LOT and were sometimes grossed out too (when he had to dump the waste from the RV). I liked that it had a nice ending too.
  • Good Night and Good Luck
    Set in the McCarthy era it is an interesting look at what those times must have been like. The black and white film really adds to the feel of the era for this film.
  • John Tucker Must Die
    Mark and I went with Blair and her friend (who had already seen it). We laughed and thought it was quite fun. The girls and I thought it kinda reminded us of Mean Girls. Not Oscar material, but an enjoyable, fun movie!
  • Matchpoint
    Not your typical Woody Allen movie. Interesting ending, but some parts seemed a bit slow.
  • Shopgirl
    Interesting story. Not one of my favorites, but it was worth watching.
  • Save The Last Dance
    Enjoyable and loved the dancing.
  • Little Man
    Went to see this with Blair and her friend. We all liked it and laughed quite a bit. Just to see the little guy in his onsie with the bunny ears is enough to make me laugh. Obviously not oscar material, but if you are looking for light comedy, this is a good one.
  • Rumor Has It
    Rented this one and finally got to see it on Friday night since Mark worked later than we hoped. Glad I didn't pay big money to see it at the movies. I actually ended up falling asleep, but Blair told me the ending. Not one I'd highly recommend.
  • The White Countess
    The last collaboration between Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. A lovely film set in Shanghi prior to the Japanese invasion of the late 1930's. The main characters are a blind American diplomat and a Russian Aristocrat who is working as a dance hall girl to earn a living. Great characters and story.
  • A History of Violence
    Rented this the other night and although it was well acted, I just didn't like it. It had several scenes which were QUITE steamy and so not appropriate for teens (it is rated R for good reason). It also had some violence (like you didn't know that) which as not pretty. I guess the ending was just not what I was hoping for or expecting.
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
    Yeah!! Finally got a chance to see this tonight and WE LOVED IT!!! Great effects and lots of fun. I would not take small children, because some parts could be scary for them. If you liked the first movie, you will like this too!
  • Best in Show
    This is one of those ensemble movies about several sets of people who own pets and like to go to dog shows to compete. I had been wanting to see this for ages. It was such a hoot and so much fun to watch. Probably not for everyone, but Blair and I found it most enjoyable.
  • The Greatest Game Ever Played
    This movie is about a young man who dreams of being a great golfer and is very talented, but gets discouraged by his father and the snooty rich golfers of the day. I had planned to see it in the theater, but missed out, so we rented from Blockbuster. I really loved the story, and it was good for all ages. I especially loved the relationship between the golfer and his caddy (a 10 year old boy). I highly recommend this as a great family film!
  • The Lake House
    Blair and I saw this and really enjoyed it. The concept is a little tough (for me anyway), trying to figure out who is ahead in time and who is behind. I really liked the characters and I'm glad we got a chance to see this!
  • Garden State
    Just caught this last night on HBO. Had been wanting to see it, but never got around to renting it. It was a bit strange at first, trying to figure out what was going on, but the more I watched, the better I liked it. Blair liked it too, althought she came in after it had be on for a while, and there was one part where she had to cover her eyes and ears (thus the R rating). The gist of the story is that a man living in LA, (trying to make it as an actor, but works in a restaurant) that has to come home to New Jersey for his mother's funeral. He has a bunch of quirky friends that he has not seen since he was about 16 and a bad relationship with his father. Then he meets this girl in a doctor's office. He and this girl and his friends hang out and have a little adventure, while he starts to find out what he wants in life. Overall, I thought it was worth watching.
  • The Devil Wears Prada
    LOVED IT, in fact all 3 of us loved it! Great story and the characters were fun to watch. I am a big fan of Anne Hathaway (from the Princess Diaries), so I new it would be something I'd like to see. Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci were terrific as well!!!
  • The Breakup
    Blair and I saw this and it was good, but not the ending I expected. Had some funny moments, but I don't think I'd rush out to see it.
  • Poseidon
    This was a real nail-bitter. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. All three of us saw this and we liked it.
  • The DaVinci Code
    Very Good, and suspensful, but make sure you watch and listen closely. I am not sure how much Blair liked this one. Mark had not finished the book yet, but he at least had an idea of what was happening. I think the actors did a great job, and overall I give it a thumbs up, but it is not for everyone.
  • Akeelah and the Bee
    FANTASTIC!!! Blair and I loved this movie. It is such a positive movie and really shows how perserverance and postive attitude can make things happen. You will definitely walk out feeling good! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED****
  • Mission Impossible 3
    Very suspenseful and good plot. Interesting twists. We all enjoyed it a lot.
  • Stick It
    Really good teenage girl movie. Blair loved it, and I enjoyed it as well.
  • Inside Man
    Very good, and I highly recommend it. Mark and I both liked it a lot. Interesting story and nice twist.
  • Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
    I enjoyed this!
  • Capote
    Interesting and well acted, but not one of my favorites.
  • She's the Man
    Cute teenagey movie.
  • The 40 Year Old Virgin
    Actually I did not watch it, but Mark did. He thought it was ok, but nothing great.
  • Crash
    Rented it this weekend, and I did not really care for it. In fact, I feel asleep about 45 minutes into it. Mark liked it and thought it was very well done. I think the subject was too disturbing and depressing, and I was just not in the right frame of mind to watch it.
  • Eight Below
    *** EXCELLENT!!! All three of us loved this movie!
  • Firewall
    LOVED IT!!! On the edge of my seat the whole time. Harrison Ford still rocks!
  • Rent
    I actually liked the movie better than the play. It was much easier to tell what was going on, and easier for me to follow. I liked the music more than I remembered. Just kind of sad to see all the problems the people were dealing with.
  • Elizabethtown
    It was interesting, but not one of my favorites.
  • The Pink Panther
    Blair and I really liked this movie. I was kind of silly and had LOTS of physical comedy, but it made me laugh. A lot. Mark was not so crazy about it.
  • Skeleton Key
    Finally got a chance to see this. Blair had seen it at the movies and wanted to watch it again with us. LOTS of suspense, but why does she keep going in scary places?? Interesting ending too. If you like suspense, this one is for you.
  • Junebug
    This is kind of an arty character study film. It is about a couple who own an art gallery and go to North Carolina to visit a folk artist that they want to sign with their gallery. He lives in the same town as the husband of the couple, so they stay with his peculiar family. It was OK, but nothing to get excited about. I rented it because one of the actresses was nominated in the best supporting role. Also, I thought it might be OK for Blair to watch. NOPE. It is PG13, but there are a few scenes that are just not appropriate.
  • Tristian and Isolde
    **** I took Blair and her friend Gina. We all gave it a THUMBS UP!!! Boy, people were so cruel and vicious in the dark ages! We were so glad the nasty lookin dude Isolde was supposed to marry got killed in a battle. I also say kudos to Lord Marke for some of his decisions.
  • Memoirs of a Geisha
    *** As good as I expected. Although it did not get good ratings, Blair and I enjoyed it SO VERY MUCH! I had read the book a while ago, so I was really looking forward to it, and I was not disappointed.
  • Glory Road
    **** WONDERFUL!!! What an incredible story and fantastic movie. We all LOVED IT!!!!
  • Last Holiday
    I really liked it. Queen Latifa is great and if you like her other movies, you will like this. I took Blair and her friend and they liked it as well.
  • King Kong
    *** All three of us saw this last night and really enjoyed it. Great story and lots of suspense. Lots of really nasty creatures too!!!! YUCK. Also, I had a hard time at the end of the movie with the scenes on top of the empire state building. Just thinking about being up that high scares the beejeebers out of me!!!
  • Cheaper by the Dozen 2
    Great kids movie! I laughed out loud (which Blair did not like). She enjoyed it too.
  • The Family Stone
    I liked it LOTS, but it had an unexpected twist that I was not prepared for. * You may need tissues.
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
    ** Excellent (as always)! I'll be purchasing this one for sure! If you like the other Harry Potter movies, you will really like this too!
  • Walk the Line
    *** Excellent!!! Makes me want to go get a Johnny Cash CD!

What I'm reading...

Books I want to get...

Dallas 2007

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    Photos taken during our trip to Dallas in August 2007.

smith411 photos

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    Hope you enjoy the photos...family and art...what could be better!!!

Things That Make Me Smile

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    A group of quirky little photos of things that make me smile. Maybe they will make you smile too.

GPP

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Celebrating 100 Years

100_1439_tweaked_2 Can you imagine being able to celebrate your 100th birthday? Well, Karla's Aunt Caroline is due to celebrate her 100th birthday next month in Mt. Dora, FL and they are having a big bash!!

Karla mentioned on her blog that Aunt Caroline loves crafting and appreciates all the work and creativity that goes into making those special  projects. 

As unique birthday gift, she wanted to present her with 100 handmade cards and asked fellow bloggers if they would be interested in participating. Well, how can you pass up an opportunity to brighten the life of someone turning 100?!!! Not me...so last night I played around with a fun new image and some papers to make this card. I hope she will enjoy it and all the other 100+ cards she will receive.

100_1441 Hope you are having a great week!!!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day

100_1389_with_frame Sending Happy Mother's Day wishes to all the Mom's out there. Hope your day is as extra special as you are!!! Since this Sunday's Show and tell is all about Mother's Day, I thought I'd share a few of the cards and gifts I made this year for the special moms in my life (My Mom, My Mother-in-law, My Aunt Bev, My Aunt Grace, and My SIL Mary)...

First up are a few cards. (I'm not gonna say who gets what since a certain someone reads this blog and I want her to have a suprise).

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100_1406 This collage is for my Sister-in-law and it has photos of my MIL and FIL as children and as young adults.

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This is a full view of the piece. In case you were wondering, the frame came from a vintage photo book.

100_1414 Here is one I made for my Aunts. The photos are of my grandparents, and they were dated 1930.

100_1413 Here you can get the full view.

100_1419  Here is the same collage, but with some different colors.

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Back to a few more cards...

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Closer view of the above card (with a bit of tweaking around the edges).

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Yep, I have been quite busy with all these projects, but I wanted everyone I love to feel extra special on this day.

This is the last week of dance classes before the recital, so my next project is to create few teacher thank you cards. 

I've had the pot roast in the crockpot since early this morning. Just got to pop in the potatoes and carrots, make a few rolls, and we should be good to go for dinner. Dessert is a yummy chocolate mousse cake we got at the Fresh Market this morning. Hope to have a nice relaxing day with family.

Hope you have a most wonderful rest of the weekend!!!

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Gettin crafty again and other stuff...

100_1262 Wanted to share  the gift I wrapped for the first communion last weekend. I was not real happy with the clarity of the photos I printed on the first run, but didn't want to just toss them, so I used them to create a gift tag matching the card.

100_1355 I took quite a few photos during the dress rehersal, but I don't like to use a flash and with all the movement, I had very few that turned out even halfway good. This is one of the better ones, and you can see Miss B front and center.

100_1356 Yeah I know it's the back of the girls, but I really liked this photo and wanted to include it in the post.

100_1359 And one last photo of her smiling face!! Glad she remembered to do that (sometimes she forgets). I almost didn't have any photos to share. We went to dinner after the dress rehersal and I brought my camera into the restaurant to take photos (which I didn't) and forgot it. I realized it once I got home and immediately went into panic mode. I called Mark, who was still up there, and he ran over to the restaurant, but they had not found it yet. I called them and left my number and all the details. I was so upset. I couldn't sleep and was just so angry that I did that. My camera is like my right arm. And, even though I want to get a digital SLR, I still want to keep and use this camera because it does a really great job. Anyhow, I had to bring Miss B up to the auditorium on Sunday am and so I stopped in and they had found it. To say I was ELATED was an understatement. Felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Next time, I am gonna tie the straps to my purse handles or shove it inside my bag.

After retrieving the camera, I met my friends for golf. We decided to walk for the exercise, but I had never played 18 holes before. I was exhausted after playing for 4 hours (we are slow and it was crowded) and my shoes are not a comfy as I need for that amount of walking. Plus, it was HOT and I got some sunburn (I missed a few places when I put on the sunscreen). It is a good thing I got the camera, because I would have been really bummed about my golf skills. I have been away too long and everything I learned in my classes has been forgotten. I decided that it was just best to work on my swing and not keep score. So sad, really. I am determined not to give up, but I may need to invest in a ball retriever (and some cute SpongeBob golfballs).

Finally got a chance to finish the mother's day cards last night. Now I am trying to see if I have time create a few special mother's day projects. Could be tight. After that, I need to create dance teacher cards. I am so glad I don't have to worry about school teachers...I could be in real trouble with time. Oh, and speaking of school, I went in on Monday (because Mark had to get in to work early) to find out about the scheduling fiasco. I was quite diplomatic (really I was) and after digging around (and working with another councellor) they found all her paperwork and also found they had cashed our check. Seems the papers had been misfiled. Hmmmm. I expressed my concerns (without a tirade) and explained all the issues we have had and they apologized, and hoped we could start fresh from here. Sure. What else can I do? Let's just say that it would be a miracle if things go smoothly next year, but I will keep my fingers crossed and say some prayers.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Friday, May 02, 2008

Balancing activities...

Life_is_a_balancing_act_50_enhancedI frequently feel like the little guy in this collage...tons of stuff going on and trying to balance it all and make everyone happy. Not always an easy thing to do. Miss B had asked me last weekend about participating in a walk-a-thon tonight. I told her it would be OK if she could get a ride there since it was not far from my office, and I would just stay in the area and bring her home. BIG MISTAKE. Didn't bother to look at the calendar. We have theater tickets tonight (to see Twelve Angry Men), so she would need a ride there and back. Unfortunately, she couldn't find one. Lesson learned...don't say yes before looking at the calendar on the fridge...THE OFFICIAL FAMILY CALENDAR (if it's not on there, then it ain't happenin).

This is also dress rehersal weekend for Miss B. Since she has team dances, as well as class dances, she will need to participate in all 4 (yes 4) recitals. That prettymuch means her whole weekend will be at the auditorium. 10 am-6:30ish pm both Saturday and Sunday. I think someone is gonna be pretty tired by Sunday evening. Of course since this is only dress rehersal, we will have to rinse and repeat again in 2 weeks...but I am only gonna focus on this weekend for now.

While Miss B is a-dancin, Mark and I have to go to a wake on Saturday afternoon for the father of some close friends. (Mark and Skippy grew up just a few houses apart). Vahan (Skippy's dad) was such a wonderful man and terrific host, and we enjoyed spending many Christmas Eves and Easter Saturdays with him and his family. He was quite active once he retired, even playing tennis with Mark during his later years, but Parkinson's grabbed hold of him and brought so many challenges, especially this last year. He will be greatly missed, but we know he is in a better place and no longer suffering.

On Sunday, after dropping Miss B off at the auditorium, I have a golf date with 2 friends. I shall be keeping my fingers crossed that I don't loose too many balls, and my swing is better than the last time.

100_1212 Due to the dancin stuff, we are unable to make it up to Port St. Lucie for a birthday/communion celebration at my cousin's house. Sending best wishes to Miss C (birthday) and Miss K (birthday and communion). We love you and wish we were there to share in the fun. Hope to catch ya next weekend at Miss S's communion (a bit closer to home).

Almost forgot...remember the rant in the last post about the school loosing paperwork? Miss B gets all the signatures again and goes to turn it in and it turns out that they have lost 2 other papers that also need to be filled out and signed (they couldn't have told her this before?) AND the check I wrote. They told Miss B to check and verify that I wrote one and if I did, I will need to rewrite one. Can you believe it? I am FUMING and so NOT HAPPY. Maybe hitting some golfballs will help me with my frustrations regarding their incompetance. I am gonna have Mark go in on Monday cuz they don't want to see me! I know this is not upbeat and sunshiney (like I want this blog to be), but darn it, I just don't understand how this kinda stuff goes on. Rant over.

Anyhoo, have a most wonderful weekend and hope you find time for some crafty fun!!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Random Tidbits...

100_1247_tweaked Hello Peeps! (love that word). Just wanted to pop in and let you know what's been going on...

* Creating cards for family and making good progress. Still have a few more to go.

* Trying to catch up on reading all the magazines that have been piling up. Finally finished Somerset Digital Studio, which I enjoyed and I am looking forward to trying some new things. Finished the latest Stampers Sampler, and am now reading Somerset Life.

* Saw a few movies over the weekend...Smart People was enjoyable. Made me laugh and that Thomas Hayden Church was such a hoot. Also rented Death at a Funeral, which was your typical British comedy. Did have one really nasty part where Miss B and I both were a bit grossed out (think poop). The other movie I rented was Girl With A Pearl Earring, which was not awful, but left me feeling like there was just not much to it.

100_1256_tweaked * Got this duck (whom we've named Gregory) that likes to hang in our yard. For a while he had some girlfriends, but lately he has been all by himself. Little miss 4-legged B has been tolerating him.

100_1229_tweaked_with_frame * Something else that is going on in the backyard...the gardenia is blooming like crazy and the smell is wonderful! When we lived in our old house, I would always try to grow gardenias with no success. I was thrilled to see this bush when we moved to our current home, and it loves where it is planted because when it blooms there are tons of flowers.

100_1237_posterize_greyscale * And while I am in the backyard, the ever watchful eye of a certain someone is there to make sure everything is OK. Here is a photo I took yesterday and then played with in Photoshop (inspired by the Digital Studio magazine).

100_1047_tweaked * A certain other someone had their dance photos taken (and she doesn't like any of them...surprise surprise), has passed the drug and alcohol class she must take prior to getting a learners permit, is signed up to take driver's ed during the summer (yikes), and was most annoyed yesterday to find out the guidance office lost her schedule paperwork for next year (the paper where she had to get all the teacher signatures...grrrr...how can that school be consistently so incompetent?).

Sooooo...now you are all caught up!

Friday, April 25, 2008

The Future is Yours....

The_future_is_yours_character_const I wish! My future would involve staying home and being creative, but unfortunately, it is gonna be another weekend of running around. At least on Saturday. Got a list of errands to do during the day (dance practice at the far away studio, full body leotard shopping, clothing shopping for Miss B), then Miss B has a party in the evening at Dave and Buster's. The good thing is that even though D&B's is a bit of a drive, there is a movie theater in the same complex, so Mark and I can catch a flick rather than go home and come back. I am thinking Smart People (my preference) or Deception (Mark may like that better). Got a few flicks from Blockbuster that I am hoping to watch as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will find some time to be creative on Sunday.

Oh, I've been meaning to ask...anyone know the status of the Martha Stewart line at Michaels? They don't seem to be getting in new stuff, and I thought the amount of items they got in for Easter was pretty small. I did a little digging around online, but did not find anything. Hmmmm....

Well, hope you have a beautiful sunny and happy weekend!!!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Happiness...

Happiness_character_constructions Hi there! Hope your week is going well.

I am feeling quite productive since I made serious headway on my theater project last evening. It is now COMPLETE (unless I change my mind and tweak a bit more)! YEAH! Now I just need some good lighting so I can photograph it. If I have time, I would like to make a second one (because I have supplies and ideas for another), but I have a few other things to do first. After I finished the theater, I started working on some cards I need for upcoming events. I have quite a few of them to make (because you know Mother's day is just around the corner), so I think that is going to keep me pretty busy for a while!!

I have also been researching what it takes to get a passport. Talk about challenges! Mark and I both had one , but since we haven't traveled out of the country in a very long time, we let them expire. Plus, Miss B never had one, so that is a whole other can o' worms. Looks like I might just have to take a day off to accomplish that task. Makes me wonder if I even want to bother with travel abroad (but an Alaska cruise does sound really nice). One thing is for sure...we won't be makin any vaca plans which require a passport until we have them in our grubby little hands.

100_0938Little Miss 4-legged B went to visit the vet last week for her checkup and passed with flying colors!!! Good Girl, now stay off the couch!

Okey Dokey, I think you are now all caught up!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Swappin with Maija...

100_1140 I mentioned a few posts back that I was in a one for one swap with one of my blogging friends, Maija. Well, I received her package the other day and wanted to share the wonderful things she sent my way....First off, check out the photo of the wrapping! OK, so I actually unwrapped the pincushion (on the left) before I realized I really needed to take a photo, but lookie how beautiful the wrapping is and the adorable card! I love the cool decorative flower she made, and want to try making something similar because it really adds that extra special touch to a wrapped gift!

100_1141 Here you can get a little closer view of the flower and the pretty pin cushion. WOW...look at the detail that went into these!

100_1144 But what was all wrapped up so pretty????

Why this of course! Isn't it the coolest??!! I had seen it on her blog and was hoping that she might make me something similar, so I was thrilled to receive the one she actually posted. Again with the wonderful details...sweet vintage doll photo, beautiful vintage cabinet card page with so many pretty designs. She adds a bit of glitter, a bejeweled crepe paper flower, more crepe paper on the bottom, a cute little brass deer, vintage flowers and wallpaper, buttons, ribbons...just perfect!!!

100_1150 Here is a closer peek at the bottom...

100_1149 This is a closer peek at the buttons and heart danglie...

100_1148 And a closer view of the image and the crepe paper flower....

I was so thrilled with my goodies...thank you again Ms Maija, and if you ever want to swap again, you know where to find me!!!

In other news...the weekend blew by in a flash (like every weekend). No kickin back and takin it easy in my house. I was hoping to accomplish a lot, but it is hard to get anything done in 2 hour intervals. Seems like every time I was getting started with something, it was time to leave and play taxi service. We did manage to watch Lions for Lambs on Friday evening. It was OK, but I wasn't overly thrilled. I think I need to rent something more upbeat next time. Seems like all the movies we have rented lately have been a bit depressing. I do believe a comedy is in order next time. We finally got together with our friends who live down by the zoo (which is about 45 minutes south of us). Now that the girls are older (they have a daughter the same age as Miss B, as well as a younger son) it is hard to coordinate a weekend. We have been trying since about October! Anyhow, it was a fun time and we got to catch up on all the fun stuff, and comparing notes on how the girls are faring in high school (their daughter goes to an all girls Catholic school). We also were invited (kinda last minute) to a farewell party on Sunday evening for the son of some other friends who is going to Air Force boot camp today. Miss B had school work to finish and tests to study for, so she was unable to attend. Anyhow, as you can see, I had only minuscule amounts of time to get creative. Still working on my mini theater, and keeping my fingers crossed that I can complete it (and a bunch of other stuff) by the end of the month.

Hope you had a great weekend...catch ya again soon...

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Show and Tell Sunday - Vintage Bling!!!

100_1157 This week's topic on Show and Tell Sunday is VINTAGE BLING!!! You know...all those cool rhinestones and pieces that are just perfect for adding a little extra touch to a vintage inspired project. I have started collecting bits and pieces when I go to antique stores or shows, and occasionally I will find something on Ebay too. The thing is, I am cheap thrifty, so I am generally looking for the $1 sale bin. It is often amazing what treasures you can find for $1. You just have to be patient and take your time sorting through all the stuff you don't want to find that perfect piece. So let me show you a bit of the ole bling....The first photo is just a grouping of my stash.

100_1158 Here is a little closer view. In case you can not tell, I am really partial to rhinestones. I especially like the ones that are a bit discolored and/or imperfect. I think that adds to their charm.

100_1154

This is how I store them...I found these pretty glass containers at the church carnival white elephant booth and thought they would look really pretty filled with all the pretty bits and pieces. I have segregated them so that the smaller one is for rhinestones and the larger one holds everything else. There is just one problem...they are filled up and there is almost no more room for new bling...what to do...what to to??? Oh, and I normally keep them on my desk, but the lighting is much better for photos in the guest bedroom, so that is what you are seeing the background (and my desk has way to much other stuff on it to make a pretty photo).