I Have a Major Crush

I am madly in love with this camera. Have been for the past two years really. It's no secret that I am not a fan of digital photography or at least I thought I wasn't. Then I saw this little guy, actually his older brother and the quality of the photos blew my socks off!
For a couple months I kept talking myself out of it. Kept telling myself that the second I buy it, there will be something bigger and better. Plus, the price tag convinced me that I would never be able to own this type of camera unless I sell a major organ.
But, I knew I had to have one.
Over the weekend, we went to the Best Buy to begin culminating our Christmas list (even the thought of Christmas causes me to shudder) and I saw him.
This little guy!
Brand new.
10 megapixels.
So handsome.
So sexy black.
I held it and looked through the viewfinder.
My heart began to race, I was in love.
I wanted it so badly.
I started envisioning all the Halloween and pumpkin farm shots, all the perfect Holiday photos...perfection because of this little guy.
But alas, the price tag brought me back to reality like a ton of bricks.
As I left the store, I could've cried. I swear I could hear the camera still calling to me, begging me to take him home, yelling out, "don't you love me?"

Haven't stopped thinking about that camera since I saw him Sunday.
I have a major crush.
Tonight as I shoot the Fall Festival with my film camera, who is still my little baby, I will still keep thinking ....
If only I had the digi....if only....

Was it something I ate?

For the last few weeks I have been having an odd sleep cycle. I have never been a person who had trouble with sleep at all. In fact it is one of my three favorite things to do, but for some reason I have not only been having this strange insomnia (fall asleep and then wide awake at 2am) but I have been having non-stop dreams.
I am generally a person that dreams pretty often, but I have been dreaming every night and sometimes several dreams a night!
My mom used to tell us as children that if we ate before bed we would get nightmares. I'm not sure about that theory, personally I think it was just made up, but there has to be something going on that has changed to make me an olympic dreamer.
And the dreams are generally strange and don't make any sense to me.

Last night I dreamt I worked at McDonald's. It was more of a nightmare. And everything smelled like french fries. I couldn't figure out how to work the register. Odd.

And Saturday night before going to bed, I saw Michael Buble on Great Performances. I didn't even know who he was but he sounded pretty nice. Well, that night I had a dream I was dating him and we were going to Vegas! It was an excellent dream, very steamy too. Now, I am in love with him. That makes sense that I would dream about what I had just saw and Vegas, because who doesn't love Vegas?

Then last night, and this is the second time in a month this has happened. I dreamt about an ex. Both times, odd dreams not romantic in the least bit. Last night's dream involved me helping him pick out clothes in a store. Strange, I know.

Does anyone else dream like crazy?
I kinda hope the dreams will stop a bit because I almost feel more tired in the morning after all that is going on in my sleep. But then again, if I had that dream about Michael Buble and Vegas every night....I would be a happy woman. Now, only if it came true.
Anyone got a cure for dreams? Or know what it means if you dream about an Emu farm?

** NEW SWAP ALERT **

The Birthday cards are all done and swapped, so a new round begins. As usual, I am the most easy going, non-stressful swap hostess in the history of swapping and with the impending holidays approaching (unfortunately, bah humbug) this swap will be no different.
I thought it would be fun to use a scrapbooking theme and create something functional. I love when my craft projects are pretty and functional...double bonus.
So without further ado.....The new Swap...

6 x 6 Recipe Pages

Sign Ups: Everyone must sign up by November 15th

Due Date: After the Holidays!!! February 1, 2007 (plenty of time!!!)

What you will need to create: Using all your favorite supplies, you will be creating a 6 x 6 size recipe card/page. This can be a jazzed up little page with a recipe card on it, it can be a card in and of itself. That is up to you! Feature one of your favorite recipes that you absolutely love. It can be an appetizer, entree, dessert, cocktail...whatever your tummy loves.
There are no requirements on supplies at all, just make sure you are creating pages you, yourself would love to receive. Also, for all you digi gals (April), I welcome and encourage some digitally created pages, that would totally rock!
Total number of pages will be announced and emailed to all participants after November 15th!

What you will get: In the end, all these pages will be a whole recipe book of great recipes. And bonus, it will be totally cute!

What to do: Send me an email or call to sign up. Then create your pages and send them to me. (address to follow in seperate email) Also, include a return envelope and postage if I am sending them back.

****************************************************************************

Ok, so now some of you are thinking, "I don't cook" "I'm not that good a scrapbooker" I don't know any recipes" These are all valid points but feeble excuses. Everyone has something that they know how to make or their mothers cook for them that is fabulous, so get that! If don't cook, well someone in yuor house must and you will appreciate the new dishes. We don't need museum quality artwork either, just some kickass recipes.
So join us and shoot me an email or call and let me know you are in!

I am looking forward to some new recipes to get me out of my spaghetti rut!

Karma Police out for Donuts

Everyone's heard of that book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. What about when Good Things Happen to Bad People?
Don't you get the feeling sometimes that the universe is slightly off whack sometimes and that the karma police are sleeping on the job?
Usually, it all comes back around and nips those people in the butt as it should and you can sit back and say quietly to yourself, "Told ya so" or "He got his". Then you know that in life everything balances out, the good and the evil.
I have strong faith in karma. Some people call it superstitious. For example, I let some people cut in front of me in traffic, knowing that I may need the favor soon and never let that moron who saw the merge sign 6 blocks back and still rode in that lane up til the last possible second cut in. I never spit gum out the car window, if I did I would be destined to step in it.
In the grand scheme of things, I rely on karma to make me feel like the world is a good place. But for a couple weeks now, I have felt that it is just not right and I am waiting for the earth's gravitational spin to readjust and make everything right again.
And in the meantime, I have learned that certain people really are the biggest 'A' in the hole wide world. Karma has a raincheck on that individual I am certain of it.
And small children with big mouths and tempers who pick on other children will get their dose of karma, you just hope it isn't too late for them.

Ok, enough ranting. I leave you with this cartoon for the day, got it last week from my craft fair partner, Connie and I laughed my ass off. Blogger finally let me upload it, wonder what I did to make blogger so mad? Is he mad at anyone else?

Craft Fair #1

I survived #1, only 2 more left this year.
This craft fair was way slow, not many people at all. I may have seen 100 paying customers the whole day. I actually think there were more vendor people than actual customers.
According to their information provided on Craftlister, they had a way higher attendance last year so either way less people came this year or they lied. Because it was at a church, I opt to believe they miscaluculated.
I walked away ahead but really barely sold anything. I always say going into these things, as long as I make back the money I spent on the table, I'm happy. So, I was happy. Plus, I gave away my business cards to every person that came along, although it was not many. And the day was really a pleasant day sitting around gabbing with my friend Connie, who I rarely see these days because of her school schedule, so that was really payment enough. As a bonus, Connie showed me how to crochet and has promised to help me learn to actual sew something, a real project not just paper. I should have gotten that in writing.
Connie did pretty well with her handmade cards, so for my craft show without her, I am going to make up just a few packs and see how it goes. Worst case, I have cards. I am also making more onesies and burpee cloths for the next one, I am convinced these will sell, it was just not the right crowd and not enough people. (I only sold one)
I posted just a few photos from the Craft Show HERE. Hope it helps all you girls looking for ideas for gifts and your upcoming gigs!

Going Postal!

I seriously am in more ways than one!!
All swaps are going postal today as soon as I get my butt out of here. Promise, no fingers crossed or anything. I was going to take them yesterday but couldn't find packing tape to save my life. I am adding that to the list of things I have lost after the move, right below my mind.
One box will make it's way to Washington for Miss Mimi filled with tons of goodies from CHA which was like a year ago, sorry Mimi. Plus, there is a book in there for Cedric. I bought it for Max because the lady at Barnes and Noble told me all the kids were coming in looking for it because it was so good and the boy refused to even try to read it. Then, being me, I didn't return it in the alloted time. So it is being re-gifted because it is new. Hope he likes it.
Another box is going to Greta and Elizabeth in Mississippi, pray it gets there faster than the Cricket did! There is a ton of stuff in this little box, it is way heavy. Most of it is for you, Greta, all kinds of cool business stuff and ideas, along with a 50 page training manual designed by yours truly. Also, there are books in your box as well for all the kiddos. The pirate one is intended for Mikey but other than that, decide what your kids like best and please pass them on. I wanted to make up cute cards and stuff...but that just didn't happen. Max also wanted Mikey to get the Pokemon book, he thought Mikey would want it to be just like him...LOL.
Besides mail, I think I have lost my mind.
All this craziness has finally taken its toll.
I saw Justin Timberlake on a Letterman rerun last night singing Sexy Back and I liked it. See, I've lost it.

Ok, gotta finish my work and then let my boss know that I will be leaving early today because I've got 7 people coming tonight for Scrap night and my house isn't even remotely clean, Plus, I have a craft fair tomorrow and I haven't finished projects for that either!

Next week:
Pictures from the Craft Fair
NEW SWAP (don't worry not due til 2007)
I am sending a damn Halloween treat to crazy Gladys (still think it is stupid)
More projects!! (yes, there is more)

Have a lovely weekend, whatcha got planned???

Seinfeld Moment

Do ya ever have a moment in life when you could swear that it could be on a Seinfeld episode?
I have this feeling quite often actually but usually it is something I see or hear that is Seinfeldesque. This new relationship with my neighbor could seriously make up a whole episode! It makes me feel like I am going nuts.
Let me explain...
You see one neighbor introduced me to another so that we could carpool our kids, saving me from leaving work even earlier and losing pay. It really seemed like a win-win situation for both of us, but I really think I am being helped the most. This other mom, let's call her Gladys, just because I never hear Gladys these days, is a stay at home mom of 2 kids. Her oldest boy is in 4th grade and a kindergartener who only goes to school in the afternoon. So before we began our carpool scheme she was driving back and forth from the school 6 times a day. With our carpool plan, I pick up her 4th grader in the morning and she picks up all three kids in the afternoon. My Max goes home by himself and I get home about 20-30 minutes later. It seems to be working great.
Well, the morning after the carpool plan was devised which was sealed with an awkward hug (but that's a completely other Seinfeld story), she sent her son with a card and bouquet of flowers from her garden for me. In the card she profusely thanked me for driving the boy. It was nice. I thought a bit over the top, but nice. And I couldn't help but think, "Lady, you're helping me."
Since then, I have seen her a couple times in passing and then we chatted a little bit at the PTA meeting.
Well, Monday morning her son gets in the car and says, "I won't be at school tomorrow, here's a note." In the note it explained that her and her husband had to go to court as witnesses of an accident and that they were taking the kids out of school because of it. Weird? Ok, so I thought that it was odd. But the weirder part was at the end of the note.
PS. Hope you liked the flowers.
She sent me those flowers 6 weeks ago. When I saw her at the PTA thing, it had been a month since the flowers and I completely forgot about them. So, I never gave her a thank you for her thank you. Is that what she was expecting? When would the thank yous end then?
Max has a 1/2 day today and we worked it out so that his dad will pick him up and watch him til I get home. He mentioned the idea to Gladys yesterday on the way home. I was going to call her, but the second I got home we left for a hair appointment and then errands. We got home at 8:25p, Gladys called at 8:27p.

"Just a reminder tomorrow is a half day"
"Yep, I know, I was going to call you, Max's dad will pick him up tomorrow"
"Oh. Well, it would have been nice to know that."
"Well, we left right when I got home and literally just got home."
"Oh. Well, fine then."

She still has to pick up her two kids today. What was the big deal?
Something tells me, this is all about those damn flowers. Now, do I send her a damn thank you for her thank you? Or just follow my original thought....Whatever!
Can't piss off the afternoon carpool lady but, come on Gladys. Seriously.

Is this not Seinfeldesque?

Current Projects

Not only have I been busy making crafts for the fairs I am working and planning classes, but I have also been teaching classes. It is a nice break from the assembly line mentality I have been focused on lately.

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of teaching a Mother-Daughter Workshop and it couldn't have gone better. The girls were just the cutest and their mothers were so nice and friendly. It was just the break I needed. We made post it note holders from acrylic frames, with matching princess pens (which seems to be missing from my pictures for some reason) and bag to carry their projects home. They loved the princess theme and all the sparklies and pink. We used the Pretty Princess stamp set, perfect for any princess and beautiful Light Pink Organdy Ribbon. And at $4.95 for 25 yards, it is quite a deal.
The little girls wanted to do everything themselves which was just adorable. It was like witnessing a crafter being born!
Every month I am trying to offer a kids class. Next month, we will be making diaries complete with lock and key. I quickly purchased enough diaries to keep me well stocked because my "source" has been selling out since I opened my big mouth and shared the secret. I have already made up a sample project too, so I am sure a picture will be posted soon.

Last week, I saw these amazing projects with Etched Glass using stamps and I had to try. I had to go to two different Michaels to find the supplies but I was determined to do it and see just how easy it really was. All I have to say is that not only is it truly simple but the results are AMAZING! My new Frosty candle holder is too cute! You can see a picture HERE. Blogger does not let me upload pictures lately. And I made another with a beautiful rose and it looks even better. (my second attempt) All it needs is a green candle inside to complete it. Now I am trying decide if I should sell off little Frosty this weekend and see if people will buy him and what they would pay. This would be a nice "gift" idea and I think people sometimes look for gifts for those hard to please people or hostesses when they attend craft fairs. Or maybe that's just me.

I had a Halloween Treat Workshop last night and we made 5 different projects to dress up our candy and get it ready for all the little trickster that will be ringing our bells in a couple weeks. One of the projects will be this little nugget candy box. I just love how it is a complete project, cute little box and matching candies...perfect. The little tag is made with the great Tag Punch and the spider is from the Tags So Much hostess stamp set. Want that stamp set? Have a party and get it FREE.
I am also selling the little nugget candy boxes and these pencil pouches at the craft shows. I sold them at the last one I worked and they were a big hit. People are always looking for stocking stuffer ideas or little gifts for your kid's friends or neighbors. They are packed with Holiday or Halloween pencils and pixie stix. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find pixie stix! The cool mummy ribbon on the Halloween pouches is from the Target dollar spot, what a great find that was!
In between all these projects, classes and fairs, I still need to get a costume for the kid or at least get an idea. He is always good at coming up with cool ideas like last year, but I think this year he just wants to be something gross like all the other boys instead of ingenious. So, I am conceding...plus, I am way to tired to try to convince him otherwise.

The Swaps are In!!

The swap cards from Elizabeth and Greta made it here! Yay! Someone can explain how I sent a package to Mississippi priority mail and it took 2 weeks, Elizabeth sends it and it comes the next day?!?!?
So all swaps will be sorted and sent back on Monday. There were even little presents in the package and I love love love the flowers!! Max was tickled with the sudoku book, but I think what made him giddy (literally) was that "she remembers me". Now he is officially in love with Elizabeth. He's making you a card and everything! Can't stop talking about Elizabeth...good thing he doesn't have your number girl!
The goofy face is totally on purpose. He is sticking it to me about making him "practice" for the upcoming school photos. So now everytime I ask him to smile, they get goofier and goofier. He enjoys the torture of making me worry about getting another set of terrible school photos.

I have been working like a fiend on Craft Show projects. These little baby onesies may be the death of me. The damn transfer paper I bought sucks, so now I have resorted back to direct stamping. They are cute so far but it makes me a nervous wreck stamping directly onto the shirts, one smudge and they are no good. Plus, I haven't a clue how much people pay for stuff like this. It seems to be my problem right now...pricing. I want to make things affordable enough so that people buy it without underselling my own stuff. So look for many more projects next week and the question...How much would ya pay for this?

Here are the projects we made a couple weeks ago for the Love Your Heart Workshop. Just a peak. Again, a thousand thank yous to the fabulous ladies who came for a lovely afternoon.

I especially wanted to show the gum holder. It was such a big hit and I transformed it into a Halloween treat idea too! The word window punch perfectly fits a small crunch bar. Convenient. So, if you are looking for a cute way to give some treats to your ticksters this year, it is an adorably easy project. I WANTED to show close up pictures of the gum holder at the bottom of this photo, but Blogger sucks and it refuses to let me. What a jerk! So you will just have to check out this cool chicks version on Splitcoast. Curse you Blogger!!

It is still fffffreezing here. Luckly they came and turned on the heat in the apartment yesterday, although it is still a little chilly for me. I have no thermostat, so no way of controlling it because the heat is included with the rent. Which is good because my gas bills were off the charts last year. The only problem is I would turn it up just a bit if I could.

I will be freezing my ass off tomorrow morning 8am at a soccer game and then it is craft craft craft for the rest of the weekend. I have some little girlies coming tomorrow afternoon for a workshop. I will post pictures next week. (if blogger lets me) Have a fab weekend!

SNOW!

October 12th and we have snow.
Real snow.
Big Flakes.
Oh and did I mention that 30 degrees!
No heat in the apartment.
I don't even have a snow brush yet.

Jewel Case Gift Holder

This is a project from an upcoming class, November 18th.
All products are from Stampin' Up!.
It uses a CD case to create this cute way to give someone a gift card this holiday season. The case is embellished with the Holiday Thyme Double-sided Designer paper available in the Holiday Mini Catalog. The small tag in the front was created with one of my absolute favorite tools, the Word Window punch. And, although you can't see it in the picture, there is a really cool technique used on the word Happy on the front and the poinsetta inside using a Versamarker and embossing powder. The Stamp Set is Happy Everything and the solid Old Olive cardstock is stamped in Versamark with the Snow Flurries set also available in the mini catalog.
Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek!
More class projects coming!

Quick Post

I am alive. I know I haven't posted in a while, but man, I am busy!
I have been working like a mad woman to get all my classes planned and samples made for classes this month as well as through the rest of the year. With actual projects in hand, I am hoping people find more time to come to a class. I have 8 things on the calendar this month and 11 next month, I have overbooked in hopes of having tons of business. It made sense in my head last week, now it isn't sounding so sane.
Also, I have several craft shows coming up and I am trying like mad to make some projects and get ready. One of the shows is the 21st and I am trying to make some cute Halloween projects but not too many as the other two shows I am working are after Halloween.
School has been going smoothly so far. We get a lot more homework than our last school and with Max trying to learn to write in cursive, (we came from a school that didn't believe in the necessity of cursive) it has been tons of at home learning time. It really cuts into my crafting time!
It's a good thing that I don't have cable TV (I can hear all the jaws dropping from here) because I wouldn't have time to watch anything anyways. I have been keeping up with the Grey's Anatomy, although I really wish they would get back to more patients. And I caught the season premiere of Lost last week...soooo good!! It is really starting to frustrate poor little Max though, he is way too deep a thinker for that show. And I love love love The Office, by far the best show on television right now! And I could not be happier that What About Brian has come back. I thought it was gone for good, but it is back. YAY! I loved this show, suprisingly. If you haven't seen it, season premiere, tonight!

The Swaps are almost ready to go out. I am waiting for the 2 packages from Mississippi that went out last week and one package to make its way over to my house.
Monthly newsletter went out, I know there are a couple people that didn't get it, I always screw that up. I am sending you a copy this afternoon and fixing the outlook.
I have some posts of projects at home, if blogger decides to cooperate later. Until then, check out these awesome simply wonderful cards I found online. Why can't my simple cards look this amazing?