Babsarella's Pocketful of Sunshine: Holiday Happenings

Archives

July 2008

More blogs I like to check out...

Flickr

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Flickr badge

www.flickr.com

This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from babsarella. Make your own badge here.

Movies I've seen...

College Road Trip
Lots of fun and lots of laughs. Great for the family. Albert the pig just about steals the show.
Eastern Promises
Lots of blood and gruesome killings. Not great, not bad.
Veronica Guerin
Excellent film about drug trafficing in Ireland. Stars Cate Blanchett.
The Great Debaters
Excellent and inspiring!!
Into The Wild
Enjoyable, but sometimes sad and disturbing. Lots of flashbacks. Guy just graduates from college and decides to embark on an adventure with no money or possessions, winding up in the Alaskian wilderness.
The Groomsmen
Not bad, not great. Guy is about to be married and hangs with his buddies...each of the guys is dealing with some issue that requires working out.
The Jane Austen Book Club
Loved it!! (chick flick)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
French film about a playboy that has a stroke and now has 'locked in syndrome'. Moving and interesting, but not for everyone.
Gone Baby Gone
Well done with interesting twists and turns.
Vantage Point
It was an interesting premise and very high energy.
The Kite Runner
Wonderful film, but at times quite hard to watch.
In The Valley of Elah
Excellent film, but sad in so many ways.
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Not bad, but not very interesting.
Death at a Funeral
Typical British Comedy with all sorts of hijinx going on during a funeral.
Smart People
Most fun, especially Thomas Hayden Church.
Lars and the Real Girl
Not for everyone, but cute and quirky little comedy.
Music Within
Interesting story about the man who created the American's With Disabilities Act.
Sex in the City Movie
Squeeeel...the shoes, the clothes, it was most magical.
Baby Mama
FUNNY!!! Loved it!!
p.s. I Love You
Very nice and sweet film.
The Bucket List
A fun watch on a somewhat dark subject. Enjoyable.
The Savages
Interesting film about a brother and sister who must deal with a father they don't care for through his final days. Excellent acting.
The Other Boleyn Girl
A paired down version of the book. Enjoyable.
The Astronaut Farmer
Nice movie with good lessons about perserverance and believing in your dreams.
Jumper
Not so hot. Story is week and all the jumping around gets tiresome.
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!

Books I want to get...

Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl
Love the story and all the deviousness of Anne. (*****)
Sam Martin: How to Mow the Lawn: The Lost Art of Being a Man
OK, so I have an alterior motive, I like the pages for collage, but they would be terrific for a manly card! Plus, Mark might get a kick out of this book and I might even learn something interesting! (****)
Autumn Leaves (publisher): Designing With Type

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Happy Easter

Wishing you a most happy and blessed Easter.

Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Monday, December 31, 2007

Guess who is 4?...and other various stuff...

Yep, Miss 4-legged B turned the big 4 on Saturday!!! WOO HOO!!! It was a pretty subdued celebration, because we had a bunch of running around to do. Even got Mark to the mall to exchange the belt I purchased that turned out to be too big (based on the info I got from the guy at the store). We even dragged him to Victoria's Secret and let me tell you he was not real pleased to be in the frenzy of their big sale!!! Anyhow, Miss B and I went out after that to hit the 3 Dog Bakery so we could purchase a special treat for the birthday girl. Imagine our surprise when we got there and found it was gone!!! We ended up going to the grocery and picking up a pack of Frosty Paws doggie ice cream, which was a big hit...so the birthday girl was quite happy.

Yup...a nice long walk and a tasty treat are the perfect presents for me (cuz I got quite a lot of toys and snacks for Christmas).

Sorry I have been so absent lately, but we seem to be constantly on the move. Seems there is always somewhere to go...using gift cards, dr appointments, after holiday sales, etc. Speaking of dr appts...I waited 1 1/2 hours on Friday and still had not gotten in to see the eye dr. I ended up having to reschedule since it would have messed up other plans. Grrrrr.

So far, we have been able to see 3 movies. First was Juno. What a cute movie!!! The acting and writing were excellent. I took Miss B and her friend, and we all enjoyed it very much. Next was Sweeny Todd. If you like the darker movies of Tim Burton, and don't mind squirting blood, you will enjoy this. I thought Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were both excellent, and the sets and costumes were just perfect for this dark and sad story. Finally, we saw Charlie Wilson's War last evening. Another enjoyable film that I would recommend. Quite an interesting story!!! There are quite a few other films I hope to catch if time permits.

After the rush rush rush of getting so many cards made, I have been taking a bit of a break from creating. (I am actually leisurely working on some ornaments I had hoped to complete before Christmas). I had heard so much buzz about the book Eat, Pray, Love, that I requested it for Christmas. Well, I did receive it and have already finished it. It was such an interesting story, and I really enjoyed it. Anyhow, there were some cards that I made which never got posted, so I will share them with you now...a bit late... (hey, better late than never)...

We had a most lovely Christmas and are looking forward to a quite New Year's Eve at home. Maybe watching a movie or something. We are heading to New York bright and early on Wednesday, so we will also be getting our things together on New Year's Day. We will be seeing the play Young Frankenstein, and most likely Legally Blonde as well. We are also planning to hit some museums, see some decorations, visit Ground Zero, and many other fun things. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will be good. I probably won't be posting again until after we return.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and safe new year....See ya in 2008!!!

p.s. Thank you everyone who leaves comments...I greatly appreciate you stopping by!!!

Posted on Monday, December 31, 2007 at 09:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Monday, December 24, 2007

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Christmas...

Got my camera software back working again (super YEAH)...The Smith family wishes everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! P.S. This family photo was just taken yesterday, so that is why we did not send out photo cards this year.

Somehow, everything got done...NOW THAT is a Christmas Miracle!!! I think I deserve a little rest!

Posted on Monday, December 24, 2007 at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Friday, December 21, 2007

Getting out of the tornado...

Seems like life has been going at tornado speed lately, but I think things are finally starting to slow down a bit. All the cards for coworkers are complete and out the door. The electrical work in the house is complete (and most wonderful...it is so nice to have light in the bedroom, living room, and family room). The painting inside the house is complete. Miss B is finished with her exams and school is out til January 7th. Dance classes are out til January 7th. I start vaca once I leave work today. I will be off all of next week, go in on 12/31 for a few hours, then off all the rest of that week. Shopping is pretty-much done. All that is left to do is a bit of decorating and gift wrapping. Hope to start in on that tonight. Once those things are done, I can revisit the pc issues. I am so happy that tomorrow I can just stay home until the evening when we have a get-together with friends. Sunday will be a holiday brunch with family in Miami, then dessert and drinks with friends in the evening. I am looking forward to all these events. I still have all the Christmas card-makin stuff out, and my game plan is to make at least a few more before packing it away. I have decided that I really must make my holiday cards before December next year so that I am able to take time to enjoy the season.

We are planning a nice little vaca to the BIG APPLE from Jan 2-5, so we will be making lists of all the fun things we want to see and do. At the TOP of my list is to go to Tinsel Trading. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will have time to work it in. Since this is technically Miss B's trip (her 8th grade graduation present), her choices must take priority. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will be nice (e.g. no blizzards) and the flights will go smoothly. While we are gone, Miss 4-legged B will be enjoying a fun time at the doggy spa! When I called to make reservations (only last week) they told me there was a 9 page waiting list. Well, lucky me (and Mom who would be dog-sitting), they called yesterday and I got a reservation...WOO HOO!!!

I hope you have a delightful weekend, enjoying all the season has to offer!!!

Posted on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

No time to waste...

I just keep pluggin along and sooner or later I'll be done (or I won't be done) and Christmas will be here. I finished the outside of the last card I HAD to make. Now I am working on a few extras (just in case there was someone that was forgotten), and I have to do the insides. But that is just one stamp on white paper, cut with decorative scissors, and slapped on the inside. No time for anything fancy on the inside (and I am really tired). Here is another card I had photographed and transferred before my pc issue started. The focal stamp is from Stampers Anonymous, and is from the Tim Holtz line. I already had this image stamped and colored from last year. The triangles on the top are from Purple Onion Designs. They are actually diamonds that were cut in half. Papers are from the Basic Grey Figgy Pudding line. I have been using a lot of that line in my holiday cards (in case you haven't noticed). I am always saving the scraps (cuz I can't bear to toss them out), and have even made some cards using the scraps. I am trying to photograph each card (since they are all unique) and once I get the camera issue corrected I will post them. I spent last evening working on cards for family and friends...addressing boxed cards that were purchased. No time to make another 50-something cards. And creating a family highlights letter to stick inside. I was actually on the fence about sending cards this year. We hadn't taken a family photo (I usually do photo cards). But, I was in Target the other day and found the cutest cards with dancing bulldogs, so I had to get them. I did stamp little bulldogs on the envelopes, as well as the same little dog and some pawprints on the inside of the cards, so at least there was a bit of a personal touch. All the cards and gift wrapping for coworkers must be completed by tomorrow evening, so I will be kickin it into high gear.

The electricians came today, and spent the day putting lighting in the bedroom. It took longer than we thought, so they will be back again at 7am to start on the living room. I didn't have time to decorate anyhow, so it is not really a problem that they didn't do the living room first. I have to say that I am really happy with the lighting in the bedroom, and we didn't even have enough bulbs to put in all the lights. It will be so nice to be able to read in bed!!!

Miss B is taking semester finals this week. She has completed 4 and has her last 2 tomorrow. Of course, the last ones are math and science. She says she is more concerned about science than math. I think she will be glad to have some down time. Her last dance class is tomorrow evening too, then she can just chill and catch up on some sleep (and I can sleep in...YEAH)!

Well, you are about caught up...Hope you are finding some time to enjoy the season!!!

Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving...

I got lucky and had Wednesday off (which was terrific since I was running all day long). My jury duty is in recess until Monday. I was able to do a few errands and start preparing food.

I have a lot to catch up on...posting photos and projects to this blog and visiting many other blogs. Sorry if I have been a bit absent, but time has been really scarce lately.

No plans for Black Friday yet, but I may do a bit of shopping if there are good sales and I am brave enough to deal with the crowds. I am NOT planning on staying up all night to get a great deal on anything, though.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful, safe, and blessed holiday, filled with lots of great food and family fun.

Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Monday, November 12, 2007

Preparing for Thanksgiving and other various stuff...

We are starting to prepare for the big day. I really love Thanksgiving...getting together with family, having a great meal with lots of things you only have once a year, watching the Macy's parade, watching the dog show, and of course, eating leftovers. After putting away the Halloween things, I got a bit of decorating done. This first photo shows the 2 newest additions to our Thanksgiving decorations...I thought they were just the cutest!!!

Here is a little better view of the mantle. I decided it needed a little something extra, so I added the 'JOY JOY JOY' that I had purchased for Christmas. I figured it fit for Thanksgiving too!

And here we have the full effect.

Created a flower arrangement for the dining room table.

Miss B and I practiced our pie making skills and created a pumpkin pie which came out mighty tasty. Used the cute little fall cookie cutters I purchased at Williams-Sonoma while we took our pie making techinque class. Of course, I have a battle scar to show for it...a nice burn on my arm I got while adjusting the foil I used to keep the crust from burning.

So there you have it...

Now I need to get my act together and figure out exactly what we will be making. There will be about 11 hungry people to feed.

I also took a few photos of Miss 4-legged B...

Love the look on her face in this one...

and that face....

and this one...

OK...also wanted to mention that we saw Bee Movie last night. Quite cute...we all enjoyed it quite a bit. Did not have nearly the time I wanted to create over the weekend, but I did manage to finish 1 card and start another. Hope to post them later this week. I have quite a few projects I need to get moving on, so they are next on my list.

I am super jazzed that Project Runway will be starting this week!!!

Last, but not least, I start jury duty tomorrow. Not looking forward to driving to and from downtown Ft. Lauderdale in all the traffic. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get selected for a jury. The last time I was on a jury, I had a terrible time staying awake in the afternoon sessions.

Hope you had a nice veteran's day (I had to work).

Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 at 09:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Holiday Highlights...

Just thought I'd share some of the photos I took yesterday...

Beula caught up on some sleep

Studying hard or hardly studying??? You decide!

Visited Michael's the day before and found some of the Martha Stewart 4th of July items had been marked down. COOL!!! Scored a nice decoration for the mantle....

Another view...

We were invited to our friend's house for a BBQ, so Blair and I made some home made lemonade (Martha Stewart classic lemonade recipe) and I put it in this pretty jar I got (for a great price) at Target. Added a few decorations to make it festive. Our hostess loved the jar and the lemonade. Speaking of lemonade, this recipe called for super fine sugar. I seem to remember long ago that Dixie Crystals made this stuff and it came in a box and was sold in regular grocery stores. Well, not any more. I hunted high and low, and the only super fine sugar I found was at the Fresh Market at $4 a pound. I don't think so! So, I just took some regular sugar and disolved it in water at a low heat, and that worked mighty fine for ensuring the sugar was nicely dispersed.

And look at who was there to greet us...Oliver

Quote...

Recent Posts