Life has been kind of crazy lately.  With CHA just a few days away.  I’ve been busy finishing up samples and bits and pieces for presentation boards.  Some of you know that I’ve taken on a new adventure this year.  Last week, I was up north of Chicago filming 4 how to video’s for MC Gill.  This was such a new thing for me, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out well.   We’re hoping the video’s will be done in time for the trade show.  After the trade show, I should be able to post them on the website so that you’ll be able to see what I’m working on.  I’ll also be able to show you pictures of the samples I’ve been making.  Who knows, maybe I’ll remember to take my camera with me so that I can get some pictures to share.

     If CHA and filming weren’t enough, I decided to try to fit in some family fun.  Since, neither my husband or I had the time to take a whole week off.  We decided to travel to the good state of Wisconsin and stay at a resort on Lake Michigan.  I closed my eyes and listened to the waves and pretended I was on the ocean.  The resort had a three story waterpark and I even let my hair down and got wet.  We all had a good time.  A needed break from all the craziness.

     I’ll be keeping you posted, more in another week.

Till then, keep enjoying the sunshine!

Sue

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     As I sit here thinking about all the picnics and get together’s for the upcoming week-end, my thought went to my Grandma B.  Grandma B. was a very sweet lady will lots of love, but hard to buy for.  Whenever anyone would ask her what she’d want for a birthday or Christmas, she exclaim “just get me the world with a white picket fence around it.”  So one year for Christmas, my creative and somewhat onery dad decided to give her just that for Christmas.  He took a block of green foam, glued a small globe to the center and carefully constructed a white picket fence around it made of toothpicks.  It was quite the hit and I believe she kept it in her curio up until she died.  What a wonderful thought she had.  So this year, my wish is a World with a white picket fence around it.  (I wish I knew what happened to that globe)

Happy 4th everyone!!! 

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     I decided over the week-end that I needed to take some time off.  Saturday, I slept into 9:30, messed around on my laptop for a little while and then joined Jim in the pool by 11:30.  The day was perfect, perfect lounging weather.  The sun was hot and I actually got in the pool which made Justin happy.  Jim made burgers on the grill and some killer Pina Coladas.  When we were in Hawaii a few years ago, we got hooked on a drink called the Lava Flow.  It tastes like a mix of Strawberry Daiquiri and Pina Coladas.  Jim decided to get creative and threw in some frozen strawberries and a banana as well.  (Excellent job!!!)

     My son Nick and his wife Bonnie came over and joined us in the pool.  We ended the day with BLT’s and another baseball game.  Justin’s team ended up losing the game by one.  But Justin did well, he caught a line drive while playing second and then was able to throw another guy out on another hit.  That I call a perfect summer day.  (yeah, summer!)

(picture credit unknown)

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sometimes I get to the end of the week and wonder why I didn’t get more accomplished. 

this is what I did the this week:

• my hair appt., cut and highlighted
• mom’s hair appt., cut, colored and styled
• rain storm
• Peoria Chiefs vs. Quad City River Bandits  (Cub vs. Cardinal Rivalry Night)
• clean house for Sunday’s Party
• shop for Sunday’s Party
• Kids over to swim
• laundry, lots of towels
• mom’s birthday (yeah 72!!!)
• Mom’s birthday Dinner at Texas Roadhouse with a loud Texas “Yah Hoo”  (haven’t seen the video yet)
• Girl’s Movie Night “Letters to Juliet” w/ Mom (second time, good as the first)
• Father’s Day- Two Birthday’s BBQ- Pool Party (24 people)
• few minutes to stick feet into pool
• laundry-more towels
• phone conferences
• shopping for Baby presents
• Stephanie’s Birthday (Yeah 22!!!)
• birthday lunch with Stephanie and shopping (mall and Target)
• Toy Story 3-D  (renewed love for Justin)
• Rain Storms and more Rain Storms
• Hand Shots for instruction booklet
• Justin’s Baseball Game
• game delay and mad dash for the car
• more storms
• Stephanie got a Wii
• kids over swimming and playing Wii
• watch Justin’s friends all day while Mom worked
• lil’ ceasar’s pizza at Kmart with Justin (good times)
• did I mention laundry?  more towels!
• more phone conferences
• Cha planning

What a week!  Glad tomorrow’s Saturday.  Looking forward to some Pina Colada’s while floating in the pool.

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     Yesterday was an adventure.  My niece has been up visiting from San Antonio.  Always fun seeing her, time goes so fast.  I promised my sister that I would drive up to Chicago with them to take her to the airport.  We left town around noon, ate lunch on the way, had a good trip with lots of laughs and conversation.  Ran into traffic as soon as we got close to the city, not too bad though.  My niece didn’t want to take any chances so we took her straight to the airport around 3:30 for a 7:15 flight.  After hugs and good-byes, my sister and I headed back towards home.  We were only a few minutes off the interstate so getting back on wasn’t too bad.  I must tell you, both my sister and I are not big city girls, a little naive, and not very brave.  So we sighed a big sigh of relief when merging onto traffic was no big deal.  We immediately was in traffic going at a snail’s pace.  When we finally got out of traffic and was clearly on our way back home, (about an hour) we decided to stop at a town that I used to live in many years ago.  Both of us needed a quick pit stop.  Since there is an IKEA in this town, we decided to shop for about an hour.  (Would you believe my sister’s never been to IKEA.) A little over half way into our shopping, my daughter who had just picked up her little brother at his friends, told me he had been hit in the eye with a nerf gun and they think his eye is scratched.  I’m still a good couple of hours away.  We finished up our purchases and headed towards home.  It had started raining more, so we we’re glad to be on our way.  A few minutes after we got back on the interstate, the wiper blade arm on the driver’s side decided to come off and start flopping on the window.  Luckily, there was another exit about a mile away.  We stopped at the Shell station and I was able to get the arm to go back on.  (of course, while standing in a puddle)  Imagine, Lucy and Ethel takes a road trip.  I won’t tell you which one I am.  (o.k., I’m Lucy)  Anyway, we get back on the interstate, go a few miles, and it does it again.  By this time we’ve passed a few State Trooper’s sitting at speed traps, wondering if we should get them to help.  We finally find another exit and pull over.  As Luck seemed to have it, there was another trooper going into the gas station.  My sister, says “What if God has sent us three State Trooper’s and we choose to ignore him.”  So, I tell her to go in and ask him for help.  He’s no better than me, and I get the blade back on.  Of course, he says he thinks we’ll be fine and that the weather is supposed to be letting up.  So, we head back onto the interstate.  By this time, we’re babying the wiper blade, only turning it off and on as little as possible.  All of a sudden, I remember that my oldest son should be heading home from the city.  I give him a call on his cell phone, no answer.  He should be almost home by this time.  He calls me right back.  I ask him if he’s home or still on the road.  He says “I’m not sure exactly where I’m at but I think it’s close to Gardner.”  “Gardner???”  The exit sign right next to me just said Gardner.  “What’s your mile marker?”  He says 227, I say we’re at 224.  “Your just a few miles behind us.”  My sister, say’s “Thank you, Jesus!”  And we explain to him the problem, we meet him at the next exit and he looks it over and finally gets it to snap into place.  As soon as we’re done, the sun comes out and there’s this huge rainbow in sky.  We fed him some dinner and then we’re both on our way.  I do believe in small miracles.  We finally arrive home around 10:00 p.m.  My youngest, who had been holding a wash rag on his eye for the last 5 hours was in pain and tears.  I went over to the store, picked up some eye drops, talked him into letting me use it, and with a few minutes he was feeling a lot better.  What a day!!!  At least today was a beautiful, sunny, pleasant window opening kind of day.  I cleaned my garage (which still has remnants from my daughter’s move back home), went grocery shopping and got totally caught up on laundry.  It feels good. 

     

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     Tomorrow, Stephanie and I head up to Chicago to pack up all her stuff and move her temporarily back home.   Her dad will be coming the following day to drive the van and load up.  We’re hoping packing won’t take too long so that we can take some time to wander, shop and eat.  (Not too much shopping, no place to put it.)  I’m just hoping everything fits into the cargo van and cars. 

     Don’t you just love this picture???    It reminds of a time many years ago when my dad made me a picnic table.  After making the table, there was no way for me to get it home.  He just put it on the top of his old work car and drove it on over.  The kids said he looked like a reindeer coming down the road.  Good times, Good times.

   I’m hoping the weather cools just a little for the holiday week-end.  We’re currently without air conditioning in our upper level.  (that’s where my office is)  All my paper (and hair) is curling with all the humidity.  It’s hard to work when everything feels moist and sticky.  I better get used to it.  I’m on my way to Dallas next week for a couple of days and they say it’s supposed to be 95 on Thursday.  All this hoping for Summer and I think it’s here.  (time to open up the pool!!!)

     I have a good group of people for next Saturday’s class at Scrapadoodle, but, there’s still room for a couple more.  If you like Pop-Up cards, I’d love to have you join us.  Call Scrapadoodle 309-691-5152 for more information or to sign up.  You can scroll down and check out the samples from an earlier post.

     With all this craziness around me I may not be back to wish you a Happy Memorial Day.  (so I’m doing it now)

Have a Great Week-end. 

Sue

5-26-10

    

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     My daughter, Stephanie, graduated from College Friday with a degree in Fashion Merchandising.  It doesn’t seem that long ago that we we’re talking to her advisor, making the decision whether to send her there or not.  She worked very hard, going to school full time, working at the College, working a job at the Gap and doing an internship at Anthropologie.  All in all, the experience living on her own, being totally responsible for her living expenses and the college experience has been so good for her.  She’s even more confident than she was before.  We are soooo proud of her.  I now have her back for a little while until she’s ready to go off on her next adventure.     We had a nice week-end going to her graduation.  We brought up her Grandparents, cousin and my daughter-in-law, along with Jim, Justin and me.  A total of seven riding up in the car.  Then we met my son and her boyfriend and the nine of us we’re able to sit together for the Graduation.  Then, we closed up Famous Dave’s (her pick) adding another couple of cousin’s with 12 in all for dinner.  It was quite the celebration.  I even talked the waiter into standing on a bench to take a group picture.

   The party continued a little longer after dropping Justin and I and a few others back at the hotel.  Then we were back home on Saturday evening just in time to get ready for a family dinner on Sunday.  (I think about 20)  Everything turned out well, with no stress (Yeah!!!)

     I’ve now got her back from Chicago and now my son Nick and his wife are moving up to Chicago.  My son has taken a job as a web designer in the City.  Although, I hate the thought of them moving away, I am very proud of him and what he’s accomplishing.  He’s another hard working guy.  I wish them all the best.  (Hopefully, next week, we’ll be able to find out what the baby is.)

     One more full week left until school is out, I’m soooo looking forward to it.  Opening the pool, sleeping in, kids around, lots of sun and hopefully another family vacation.  This summer is going to be a busy one.  Between Baseball games and getting ready for CHA, I think I’m pretty booked until August.   But as Martha says “It’s a good thing!”

      

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     I will be at Scrapadoodle in Peoria, IL on Saturday, June 5th teaching a class on Pop -Ups cards.  We will be using stickers and papers from Basic Green’s line “Green at Heart”.  Samples are on display at the store or on the stores blog at www.scrapadoodle.com.  Cost is $24 for the two hour class.  Call the store at 309-691-5152 to sign up.

     Today is the day that my daughter Stephanie has been working towards for the last few years.  Stephanie will graduate tonight will a degree in Fashion Merchandising.  We are so proud of her and can’t wait to go to the graduation.  I will try and post pictures in the next few days.  Sunday will be her graduation party, so I’m off to the party store and clean, clean, clean the house.

     Next week, I’m getting ready for the Neighborhood Garage Sale.  I need one soooo bad.  Hopefully, I’ll get inspired to clean out my studio and make some much needed room.  I’ll let you know if I find any really good stuff that I can let go of.  :)  

     Till then, have a great week-end.  Wish me lots of sunshine!

    

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     It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a week since we all got together.  What a wonderful day we had.  It was a smaller than usual group, but that didn’t really matter.  It was a whole lot more relaxed, everyone worked so well together.   We had a lot of laughs and made some new friends on the way.  The projects all turned out so beautiful and everyone was happy.   Everyone also agreed that a smaller group was a lot more fun.  I thank everyone who attended for such a good day!!!  I’m getting ready to do it all again this Saturday in Springfield.  Still plenty of room if you’d like to join us.  I love to see you there. 

     I went out today and picked up the first of my flowers.  My husband would love to think it’s the only trip, but, we both know better.  I like to go several times and get only enough for what I can plant right away.  This Saturday while I’m away, my husband will dutifully plant all that I leave behind.  That’s his gift to me for Mother’s Day.  He does all the weeding and the gets the beds ready to be planted.  Then I lay out the plants and he puts them in and does the mulch.  It works for me. 

     Have a great week!!!

Sue

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   For those of you that emailed me because for one reason or another you weren’t able to attend the Washington Workshop.  My dear friends at Prairie Art Stamps in Springfield, IL has convinced me to hold a special Workshop just for them.  It’s slightly different, but still loads of creative goodness and fun.  I will be at Prairie Art Stamps on Saturday, May 8th from 10-3.  Contact the store at 217-679-0148.  Or check out their website www.prairieartstamps.com

     I will also be teaching a Basic Grey Pop-Up class using the “Green at Heart” line from Basic Grey at Scrapadoodle in Peoria, IL.  The class will be Saturday, June 5th, time: TBA.  If you enjoy pop-up cards or want to learn how, then this is the class for you.  Contact Scrapadoodle at 691-5152  or check out their website at www.scrapadoodle.com  The class is so new they may not even have it listed yet, be the first to sign up.

     A lot of new and exciting things are happening in my little part of the world.  Lots of ups and downs and finally Ups!!!  I wish I could tell you what I’m up too, but, I’ll have to tease you for now.  BIG things coming later this summer, stayed tuned.

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