What a holiday! I much prefer Turkey and Stuffing for Thanksgiving instead of the strep I was diagnosed with the day before the holiday....so yes, most of the long holiday weekend for me, was spent in bed and alot of our plans were rescheduled, postponed or canceled.
Thursday, Thanksgiving Day was spent with just Fred and Connor. Fred ran up to Hy-Vee before they closed and bought us steaks that he grilled and served with baked potatoes and salad. That was our Thanksgiving dinner and it was pretty good, even if I couldn't really taste anything.
Friday, my sister and the kids came over and she and Fred put together a traditional Turkey dinner for all of us. I was feeling a bit better that day and helped as much as I could, but mostly I just hung out with the kids. Later than evening, Chloe and Connor decorated the Christmas tree while Karrie, Gunner, Fred and I supervised.
Saturday was the day of the Olde Town Altoona Christmas celebration that I've been signed up to be a vendor at the craft fair. Well, the weather DID NOT cooperate and it was very cold. I had committed to do it and had worked hard to get all of my journaling sets done so I braved the cold and went. Well, to make a long story short....I wasn't there very long. It was way to cold for me to be outside for the 6-7 hours we needed to be, so I packed up and left without selling anything. None of the other vendors were selling anything either, so I didn't feel bad that it was just my stuff.....it was just too damn cold!
Unfortunately, just the short time I was outside made me feel like shit and the rest of the day and evening, I felt awful. I didn't sleep well Saturday night and finally fell into some type of deep sleep around 5:00am. When I woke up at 10:00am, there was a note on my nightstand next to my cell phone that read:
"Call me on cell when you walke up and we will bring you the paper & whatever else you want" - Love, Fred and Connor.
My guys are the best. They MADE me stay in bed today and waited on my hand and foot. It was great not having to worry about anything. They got the laundry done and did some housecleaning also.
I'm so thankful that tomorrow is my flex day. Fred also has the day off and our plans originally were to get our Christmas shopping done, go out to lunch and just spend the day together. I'm hoping I feel well enough......I think I will.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
It's been awhile
Haven't updated this baby lately, I see, but I guess if I don't have anything to say, why update?
Scrapbook wise, I haven't done much lately. I've been working on getting all of the journaling set completed as the Old Towne Christmas craft fair is next Saturday. The only thing left to do is laminate the bookmarks and get the ribbon tied on them. Hope I make some money.
I did do a digital layout last night as we were sitting here watching "National Treasure". A scrapping friend Rosalie has been posting challenges and this challenge was to scrap something you are thankful for, so I chose my guys since I didn't have any photos of the our dishwasher...LOL
I used a digital kit called Harvest Gold by Melissa Bennett to create the page.
Well, we have to move my sister and her kids today.....again.....third time in 5 months..sigh....I sure hope she more organized this time than she has been in the past, but I suppose that's asking too much. Can't wait til it's DONE. Wish us luck!
Scrapbook wise, I haven't done much lately. I've been working on getting all of the journaling set completed as the Old Towne Christmas craft fair is next Saturday. The only thing left to do is laminate the bookmarks and get the ribbon tied on them. Hope I make some money.
I did do a digital layout last night as we were sitting here watching "National Treasure". A scrapping friend Rosalie has been posting challenges and this challenge was to scrap something you are thankful for, so I chose my guys since I didn't have any photos of the our dishwasher...LOL
I used a digital kit called Harvest Gold by Melissa Bennett to create the page.
Well, we have to move my sister and her kids today.....again.....third time in 5 months..sigh....I sure hope she more organized this time than she has been in the past, but I suppose that's asking too much. Can't wait til it's DONE. Wish us luck!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Weekend Update
I really need to learn more about the functions this blog site as to offer. I noticed that I much as I tried to design my last post with photos, it leave much to be desired. My post sure didn't look like that in the "preview" mode. Oh well....
Didn't feel worth a shit today. I got a flu shot yesterday and I think I had a reaction. I had a very upset stomach and horrible headache all day and felt like doing nothing but sleeping or reading.
Thank goodness my boys pitched in today and got the household chores done and they did them without complaint....something must be afoot...
I hoping to be up and active tomorrow as I really need to put the inside and outside Halloween decoration away. I'll leave everything that looks like Thanksgiving but all the ghost and goblins must be put back into storage until next time next year.
I did get a scrapbook page done the other night. It a good thing, because the whole month of October, I did one page...yep, just one. I think that's some kind of record for me.
I've been concentrating on getting the journaling sets that I'm going to sell at the small craft fair in Olde Town Altoona in a few weeks. I'm shooting to have 35 sets with me at the fair and if I can sell them all, I'll make $525 minus expenses. Wish me Luck!
Didn't feel worth a shit today. I got a flu shot yesterday and I think I had a reaction. I had a very upset stomach and horrible headache all day and felt like doing nothing but sleeping or reading.
Thank goodness my boys pitched in today and got the household chores done and they did them without complaint....something must be afoot...
I hoping to be up and active tomorrow as I really need to put the inside and outside Halloween decoration away. I'll leave everything that looks like Thanksgiving but all the ghost and goblins must be put back into storage until next time next year.
I did get a scrapbook page done the other night. It a good thing, because the whole month of October, I did one page...yep, just one. I think that's some kind of record for me.
I've been concentrating on getting the journaling sets that I'm going to sell at the small craft fair in Olde Town Altoona in a few weeks. I'm shooting to have 35 sets with me at the fair and if I can sell them all, I'll make $525 minus expenses. Wish me Luck!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Falls Projects
We have worked on some fun projects over the last few weeks. The school portfolios are from a project that I saw on the Simple Scrapbooks
There a fun project to make. This portfolio for Connor was made with paper that I puchased at this awesome online paper source Paper Mojo, but the portfolios I made for Chloe, Gunner and Journey (my step-niece) I made from the most perfect wrapping paper that I found.
Connor and I also made a pumpkin topiary this year. We try and do some type of holiday craft and this year it's Halloween. I saw this project on Better, Homes and Gardens web site but we changed the design a bit. We just loved the way it turned out!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
This letter makes me very happy.
PRESS RELEASE
Hall of Fame 2007 Announcement
Dear Creating Keepsakes readers and Scrapbookers:
We would like to thank you for your loyal dedication and continued commitment to scrapbooking and our Creating Keepsakes (CK) magazine. Without the support of our loyal readers and scrapbooking partners we would not be where we are today. In the spirit of continuing our editorial mission and fulfilling our commitment to you, we want to address the recent incident related to our Hall of Fame (HOF) contest.
We have been reading your comments and dialogue on the Creating Keepsakes message board and we internally investigated the error that has caused us all great concern: awarding Hall of Fame recognition to someone who submitted work that was not solely their own.
Our review has found the primary cause of our error. Staff changes on the CK and Hall of Fame editorial team occurred at a critical juncture in the production of the HOF book and the new team was not fully briefed on this assignment. The specific breakdown came just as the HOF book was going to press. One of our staff was called by a winner who requested a photo credit be given to another photographer for one of the winner’s photo entries. Given that the rules of the contest dictate contestants submit their own work, we should have disqualified this person’s entry accordingly. Unfortunately, our staff person did not understand the ramifications of the winner’s request and simply added the other photographer’s credit to the HOF book after the publication had already been proofed for printing.
We acknowledge and take full responsibility of our mistake and we assure you that it was not done with any bad intent. We deeply value the trust of our readers. We have read your messages and want to explain our action plan outlined below to help rectify the situation and assure you it will not happen again:
1. We appreciate the winner’s forthrightness in notifying us that the photo credit should be given to another photographer. Unfortunately, as a matter of fairness to our other contestants, this winner has been disqualified.
2. As part of the contest rules, all potential winning entrants must sign an affidavit confirming that their entries are solely their own work. Although we received signed affidavits from all such ntrants, we now have evidence that such a measure failed to protect us against all errors. In order to satisfy both our and our readers’ concerns that no other errors occurred during the HOF contest, we are now resubmitting this affidavit to the other 24 winners for final verification thereby underscoring its importance to the integrity of the HOF contest.
3. One week after receiving the newly signed affidavits, we will announce the 26th place ‘winner’ (Honorable Mention) and add him/her to the 2007 Hall of Fame. The winner will receive the prizes and cash award granted to the other 24 winners.
4. Upon receiving their second affidavit should other 2007 winners come forward and acknowledge that their work is not solely their own or fail to return the second affidavit, we will disqualify them and add the next-in-line Honorable Mention(s) to the 2007 Hall of Fame, providing the prizes and cash award accordingly.
5. We will print a special The Scrapbook Hall of Fame, Volume 9 supplement to honor the new winner(s) and re-acknowledge those winners. This special printing will be poly-bagged with Creating Keepsakes’ February 2008 issue, which will deliver into subscribers’ homes and onto newsstands late December 2007
6. We will move forward with our 2008 Hall of Fame contest, but revised rules that will be published on our web site by November 1, 2007 and in the January 2008 issue of Creating Keepsakes. To avoid such errors in future contests, all relevant staff members have been appropriately informed and educated on contest rules.
Certainly this has been a challenging situation for us all. We are painfully aware that our error has deeply upset many of you, our cherished readers and scrapbooking partners. We value you and your trust that you have placed in us and we will continue to do everything we can to maintain your faith in Creating Keepsakes. We hope our response to our error is seen as a step towards maintaining your trust.
We deeply appreciate your support and hope you continue to enjoy our magazine, scrapbooking events and book products for many years to come. If you have any questions to comments, please contact Lin Sorenson at lsorenson@ckmedia.com.
With our sincerest apologies,
Dave O’Neil
Chief Executive Officer
Lin Sorenson
Editorial Director
Brian Tippetts
CK Editor-in-Chief
I've entered the Hall of Fame contest for the past 2 years. It was always something I thought would be fun to do but never got around to it until two years ago.
I work very hard on my entries and follow all of the rules closely. I don't expect to win but it's always fun to hope. The prize packages is pretty awesome. Cash and prizes.
I was planning on entering again this year, although I'm not happy that there will only be 10 winners and no honorable mentions. Then the whole controversy errupted, and I was so mad that CK had allowed someone to cheat, I had decided in good conscience that I wouldn't be able to do the assignments.
Now I can in spend some time this winter getting my assignments completed. I'm anxiously awaiting the revised and official rules of the contest.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
PRESS RELEASE
Hall of Fame 2007 Announcement
Dear Creating Keepsakes readers and Scrapbookers:
We would like to thank you for your loyal dedication and continued commitment to scrapbooking and our Creating Keepsakes (CK) magazine. Without the support of our loyal readers and scrapbooking partners we would not be where we are today. In the spirit of continuing our editorial mission and fulfilling our commitment to you, we want to address the recent incident related to our Hall of Fame (HOF) contest.
We have been reading your comments and dialogue on the Creating Keepsakes message board and we internally investigated the error that has caused us all great concern: awarding Hall of Fame recognition to someone who submitted work that was not solely their own.
Our review has found the primary cause of our error. Staff changes on the CK and Hall of Fame editorial team occurred at a critical juncture in the production of the HOF book and the new team was not fully briefed on this assignment. The specific breakdown came just as the HOF book was going to press. One of our staff was called by a winner who requested a photo credit be given to another photographer for one of the winner’s photo entries. Given that the rules of the contest dictate contestants submit their own work, we should have disqualified this person’s entry accordingly. Unfortunately, our staff person did not understand the ramifications of the winner’s request and simply added the other photographer’s credit to the HOF book after the publication had already been proofed for printing.
We acknowledge and take full responsibility of our mistake and we assure you that it was not done with any bad intent. We deeply value the trust of our readers. We have read your messages and want to explain our action plan outlined below to help rectify the situation and assure you it will not happen again:
1. We appreciate the winner’s forthrightness in notifying us that the photo credit should be given to another photographer. Unfortunately, as a matter of fairness to our other contestants, this winner has been disqualified.
2. As part of the contest rules, all potential winning entrants must sign an affidavit confirming that their entries are solely their own work. Although we received signed affidavits from all such ntrants, we now have evidence that such a measure failed to protect us against all errors. In order to satisfy both our and our readers’ concerns that no other errors occurred during the HOF contest, we are now resubmitting this affidavit to the other 24 winners for final verification thereby underscoring its importance to the integrity of the HOF contest.
3. One week after receiving the newly signed affidavits, we will announce the 26th place ‘winner’ (Honorable Mention) and add him/her to the 2007 Hall of Fame. The winner will receive the prizes and cash award granted to the other 24 winners.
4. Upon receiving their second affidavit should other 2007 winners come forward and acknowledge that their work is not solely their own or fail to return the second affidavit, we will disqualify them and add the next-in-line Honorable Mention(s) to the 2007 Hall of Fame, providing the prizes and cash award accordingly.
5. We will print a special The Scrapbook Hall of Fame, Volume 9 supplement to honor the new winner(s) and re-acknowledge those winners. This special printing will be poly-bagged with Creating Keepsakes’ February 2008 issue, which will deliver into subscribers’ homes and onto newsstands late December 2007
6. We will move forward with our 2008 Hall of Fame contest, but revised rules that will be published on our web site by November 1, 2007 and in the January 2008 issue of Creating Keepsakes. To avoid such errors in future contests, all relevant staff members have been appropriately informed and educated on contest rules.
Certainly this has been a challenging situation for us all. We are painfully aware that our error has deeply upset many of you, our cherished readers and scrapbooking partners. We value you and your trust that you have placed in us and we will continue to do everything we can to maintain your faith in Creating Keepsakes. We hope our response to our error is seen as a step towards maintaining your trust.
We deeply appreciate your support and hope you continue to enjoy our magazine, scrapbooking events and book products for many years to come. If you have any questions to comments, please contact Lin Sorenson at lsorenson@ckmedia.com.
With our sincerest apologies,
Dave O’Neil
Chief Executive Officer
Lin Sorenson
Editorial Director
Brian Tippetts
CK Editor-in-Chief
I've entered the Hall of Fame contest for the past 2 years. It was always something I thought would be fun to do but never got around to it until two years ago.
I work very hard on my entries and follow all of the rules closely. I don't expect to win but it's always fun to hope. The prize packages is pretty awesome. Cash and prizes.
I was planning on entering again this year, although I'm not happy that there will only be 10 winners and no honorable mentions. Then the whole controversy errupted, and I was so mad that CK had allowed someone to cheat, I had decided in good conscience that I wouldn't be able to do the assignments.
Now I can in spend some time this winter getting my assignments completed. I'm anxiously awaiting the revised and official rules of the contest.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Friday, October 12, 2007
4 Things
Four jobs I have had in my life:
Bartender
FedEx Courier
Administrative Assistant
Database Analyst
Four movies I could watch over and over again:
The Usual Suspects
Erin Brockovich
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
The Green Mile
Four Places I have lived:
Iowa
Arizona
California
Mississippi
Four TV Shows I watch:
Project Runway
Survivor
CSI Las Vegas
LA Ink
Four Places I have visited:
Japan
Jamaica
The Azores
Washington DC
Four places I visit daily:
The Bathroom
The breakroom at work
My Scraproom
My bed
Four of my favorite foods (Not in order):
Pizza
Milk
Artichokes
Ice Cream
Four Places I would rather be right now:
In a bitchin suite at some fabulous hotel/casino in Las Vegas
On a beach in Hawaii
On an all-expenses paid shopping trip to New York City
Snuggled on the couch with Fred and Connor
Bartender
FedEx Courier
Administrative Assistant
Database Analyst
Four movies I could watch over and over again:
The Usual Suspects
Erin Brockovich
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
The Green Mile
Four Places I have lived:
Iowa
Arizona
California
Mississippi
Four TV Shows I watch:
Project Runway
Survivor
CSI Las Vegas
LA Ink
Four Places I have visited:
Japan
Jamaica
The Azores
Washington DC
Four places I visit daily:
The Bathroom
The breakroom at work
My Scraproom
My bed
Four of my favorite foods (Not in order):
Pizza
Milk
Artichokes
Ice Cream
Four Places I would rather be right now:
In a bitchin suite at some fabulous hotel/casino in Las Vegas
On a beach in Hawaii
On an all-expenses paid shopping trip to New York City
Snuggled on the couch with Fred and Connor
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
For Fun.......
Saw this on my friend Janalee's blog http://kalipso74.blogspot.com/ and thought it would be fun to answer.
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),
Natasha Focus
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),Chocolate Mint Oatmeal Butterscotch
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),K-Bot
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),Blue Cat
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),Sue Des Moines
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),Bot-Kr
7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),The Lavendar Pina Colada
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),Richard Andrew
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),Goldleaf Chocolate
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names ),Ann Dean
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),Shackel San Francisco
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower), Christmas Rose
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now + "ie" or "y")Apple Gymshorty
4. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),Toast Pear
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + "Tour"),The Scrapbooking Sunny Tour
That was fun......
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),
Natasha Focus
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),Chocolate Mint Oatmeal Butterscotch
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),K-Bot
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),Blue Cat
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),Sue Des Moines
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),Bot-Kr
7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),The Lavendar Pina Colada
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),Richard Andrew
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),Goldleaf Chocolate
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names ),Ann Dean
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),Shackel San Francisco
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower), Christmas Rose
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now + "ie" or "y")Apple Gymshorty
4. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),Toast Pear
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + "Tour"),The Scrapbooking Sunny Tour
That was fun......
Monday, September 17, 2007
This is what I concentrated on this weekend.......
My closet!! Yes, it that time of the year where even though I have a HUGE walk in closet, I still have to "switch" out my seasonal clothes.
This is my half of the closet (Fred has the other side...well, he has the upper part of the other side)
I sorted and pitched and saved until I was through all of my clothes, shoes & purses. I took a bunch of the stuff to Younkers, Saturday night for the Goodwill Sale. You get 20% off coupons to use and things and brands that are normally excluded from any coupons, aren't during the Goodwill Sale. I actually found a really cute black summer purse marked down from $48.00 and after the coupon, I got it for a whopping $6.38.....I put it away and it will be fun next summer when I pull all my summer purses out and I'll find this baby....
I was pleasantly surprised to receive a birthday card with $50 smackeroos in it from my Aunt Susie and Uncle Jim and with it, I purchased a new pair of sleep pants (with kitty cats on them) and a really really cute jacket from Christopher & Banks.
My closet only took me about 3 hours start to finish to get re-organized and I'm glad I spent the time on it.
Sunday was a great day! We celebrated my birthday on Sunday, since Tuesday is a work day. The boys made bisquits and sausage gravy for breakfast (we even used the Jimmy Dean 50% less fat sausage - it was great!) and then they took me out to Jordan Creek Mall. I haven't been inside that mall in a long time and I wanted to see the new http://sephora.com store that I knew had opened last spring.
Of course when I was there, I found something that I just had to try. A new cream blush by http://www.lauramercier.com . It's called "Blaze" and I loved the way it went on my cheeks. The boys bought me a beautiful necklace from www.brighton.com that goes with a couple pair of earrings I already own.
We also made a stop at www.barnesandnoble.com and we all bought books. James Patterson's new one "You've been Warned" and Bill Bryson's "A Walk In The Woods" for me, a book on computer code for Fred and "The Magical Guide to Monsters" for Connor. Little does Connor know, but I also purchased "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" for him for a Christmas gift and snuck it right under his nose.....LOL...
We came after our trip and Fred made us steak, baked potatoes, acorn squash and salad with Root Beer floats for dessert. It was a great day!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Bad Bad Blogger....
Well, my computer ate my entire post and I'm too lazy to redo it, so here's the condensed version...
Connor's back in school, 6th grade, new school, he seems to have transitioned very well into the new environment.
I was lamenting about my upcoming 50th birthday. I simply CAN NOT believe that I'm going to be 50 years old in a short 9 days.
Here's the kid.
Does anyone know anyone who is interested in purchasing a almost brand new top mount refrigerator? If so, LMK.
Connor's back in school, 6th grade, new school, he seems to have transitioned very well into the new environment.
I was lamenting about my upcoming 50th birthday. I simply CAN NOT believe that I'm going to be 50 years old in a short 9 days.
Here's the kid.
Does anyone know anyone who is interested in purchasing a almost brand new top mount refrigerator? If so, LMK.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Score!
Found a gorgeous Martha Stewart white farmhouse table on clearance at Kmart for $40 bucks, yes, folks, $40 smackeroos. This table is originally $199.00 and I have the sticker to prove it. I must thank a thread on the general scrapbooking message board at 2Peas for this find.
I love it! I've already touched up the banged up legs and have it moved into my room. It's a tad shorter than the plastic banquet table I'd been using but it's much wider.
I'd post s picture, but I'm getting ready to paint the room and I want to wait until it's completed done.
It's gonna be sooooo cute!
I love it! I've already touched up the banged up legs and have it moved into my room. It's a tad shorter than the plastic banquet table I'd been using but it's much wider.
I'd post s picture, but I'm getting ready to paint the room and I want to wait until it's completed done.
It's gonna be sooooo cute!
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