Show and Tell

Wanted to share a couple things with you that I recently received. Remember the flip flops I made for the Flip Flop Swap? Here are the ones I received. I have them hanging on a ribbon over a mirror in my dining room. Just a week left to enjoy their beauty, before all traces of summer are removed and Fall takes its place.

Last weekend I attended my ATC (artist trading card) club meeting. It was such fun! They always teach us a new technique. Most recently we learned about using gold foil, something I've never used before. We used the foil on the moon in this ATC that we made during the meeting.

There are 16 club members that each contributed a card for the month of August. Our theme was "Under the Sea". It's so interesting to see all the different perceptions. Aren't they beautiful?

I was the lucky recipient of "Pay It Forward", hosted by Deb, our Garage Sale Gal. She spoiled me with massive vintage goodies and two beautiful handmade cards. I have been having such a good time creating things this summer and these items are going to be such fun to put to use!!

Check back tomorrow for my "Pay It Forward" so I can bestow upon you some luscious treats just because!!

When in Sanibel recently, I found this print that I framed yesterday. I am going to hang it in my bedroom in the little spot I carved out for myself to create fun things. I just love the colors and the feeling it evokes.

We all have creative thoughts popping into our head daily. We just need to grasp those thoughts and run with them. There's no finish line so enjoy the journey!

Ducks

I have different ring tones on my cell phone so I can easily distinguish the caller when my phone rings. Of course my ring tones bear some significance to the caller and it's fun to pair the person to the appropriate ring tone. Rachel's ring is a quacking duck. I remember not too long ago reading about when our President was speaking and someone's quacking phone went off. The President found it quite amusing and wondered what would be next. I thought it was quite funny that it was the same ring tone as Rachel's.

My dear daughter befriends every critter in our neighborhood, with her favorite being the ducks. They are interesting creatures, the ducks. Each one has a name, lovingly bestowed upon them by Rachel. Do you realize how often ducks reproduce? I've always heard that rabbits take the lead in that area, but these ducks are either sitting on eggs or they are surrounded by ducklings.

I can't help but be drawn to them, to some extent. Imagine my dismay this morning as I was leaving for work, when by my car were nine two week old ducklings quacking their little heads off because their Mama was nowhere to be found. I mean, just where do these ducks get their mothering instincts from?

I figured this would be a good Kodak moment, so I try to snap a quick one. Guess I should've gotten a photo release or something because in a flash, Mama was back, herding up her babies away from the mean old lady with the camera.

Hmpf! Now she acts like the doting mother!!

ATC's

I finished my ATC's for the swap I'm in at my local scrapbooking store. There are 16 participants and our theme was "Under the Sea". It was lots of fun and I can't wait to see what next month's theme will be. This is only my second time making an ATC, and I just loved the whole process!

On our recent vacation to Sanibel, we brought home a bountiful of shells and a small container of sand as I wanted to give these ATC's an authentic look. Here are all 16. It was interesting to make 16 of the same thing, but once I had the first done, it was nice to sit and listen to Norah Jones while working on them.

Tomorrow I'll show you the ATC's I received. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!!

Back to School

School started here in south Florida on Tuesday. Rachel is in 10th grade this year. Time sure has flown by! Bags are packed, ready to go!

My nephew, Kyle, is starting high school. He made the football team which makes everything a lot more fun.
The cousins went to their first day with lots of positive anticipation and they were certainly off to a good start.

Here's to a good school year!! Hope everyone makes the most of it!!

A Day In The Life

It will be 19 years next month that I have been living in Florida. I love it here. I am vacationing this week on the west coast of Florida. One may think that Florida is Florida, but the north is so different than the south and the west coast is so different than the east coast. There are so many interesting things to see and do in each part of the State.

I had a rather startling revelation today. In the half century plus that my existence has graced the face of this earth, I have never gone to the beach by myself. There is something ethereal to spending time alone in such a peaceful place.



I chose not to go along on a three-hour boating and shelling cruise and opted to spend some time alone. I love time to myself and it was splendid today on the beach. It's a totally different experience to spend time at the beach alone. Have you ever read Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "A Gift From The Sea"? Add it to your "must read" list. You won't regret it.

We did some shopping this afternoon and I found the cutest little plate in one of the local antique shops.

Sounds like today it was all about me!!

I wonder what adventures are in store for tomorrow . . .

A Room With a View

We are loving Sanibel! This is our pathway to the beach. The condo we are staying at is behind me from where I am shooting this photo. Yep, we are right on the beach! The water is gorgeous, the shells are plentiful and the state of mind is peaceful and content.

Look at this pretty plant. I imagine it is a hibiscus as that is definitely a hibiscus bloom, but I've never seen one with pink leaves. I love this and must find it when I get home. This will look beautiful in my garden. I have a nice container just waiting to be filled so I may do something similar to this.

I always get so inspired and rejuvinated when I have time to sit and relax. Vacation is a beautiful thing.

Flip Flops Are Done

I finally finished the flip flops for the swap I'm in. Jennalee from Artrageous Afternoon is hosting this event and once I got into it, I had a lot of fun, but boy oh boy, I had a hard time with this one. My creations are below.

My one and only other swap I did with Jenn was the Easter Egg garland which was lots of fun. I don't know why I had such a hard time with the flip flops. I guess because it was hard to get past the fact that you wear flip flops so they couldn't have any texture to them because you certainly couldn't have texture under your feet! I had to keep telling myself that this was a creative enterprise and texture is good, but Easter Eggs were definitely easier for me to make!! We'll be making these flip flops into a garland also and I'm anxious to see the ones I get in return.

The next project I have to work on are ATC's for an ATC Club I recently joined at my local scrapbooking store. Our theme for this month is "Under the Sea" and I really love what I have planned. I'm going to be including some sand and shells from Sanibel and I am excited to get working on them.

Sanibel is beautiful. While these next two shots are not the best, I wanted to share the view from the living room of the condo we're staying at, as well as a picture of Rachel standing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Vacation time is such fun!!

Sights on Sanibel

School starts here in South Florida on Tuesday, August 18th so next week me and Rachel are getting our last dibs in on summer. We're leaving tomorrow for Sanibel Island on the west coast of Florida. We're going with friends and are anticipating a wonderful week of rest . . .

shell seeking . . .

and fun with friends . . .

See you soon!

A Pretty Little Rose Box

I bought the cutest little box at Home Goods last weekend. I love the roses on it. I love roses on anything!!

Guess what's inside this pretty little box . . .

It is perfect in my bedroom.

The steady tick, tick, tick lulls me to sleep each night. Sweet dreams . . .

A Day In The City

I grew up in the northern part of New Jersey. We lived probably just an hour out of New York City. I went periodically, but as with most things, anything too accessible is often taken for granted. I moved to Florida in 1990. I love it here. I do miss my home state, family and friends left behind and oh do I miss New York City!! It is truly the city that never sleeps. Anything is acceptable and there is an endless supply of things to do.

On our recent vacation to New Jersey, we spent a day in the city. It was a tremendous day. We went on a guided "Gossip Girl" tour. Have you ever seen that show on the CW? Rachel and I love it! Here are a couple pix from that tour of the upper east side.

I love the skyscrapers!

Where else but Park Avenue in NYC could you get fined for honking your horn? I wonder if that rule is enforced. . .

Believe it or not, it only took a couple minutes to get through this mess.

Times Square was great! The Mayor recently instituted this large area to be classified as a "resting" area because the people of New York need a place to sit, relax and enjoy their surroundings. It was great! Rachel loved everything about the city.

In the evening, we went on a Circle Line Harbor Lights cruise. For all the years I lived right there, I had never been on a Circle Line cruise on the Hudson River. It was phenomenal!

You can play golf in the screened-in area in this next picture. Why should you be deprived of playing golf just because you live in the city???

The financial district of New York City.

Skyscrapers by sea, um, well, by the Hudson River.

The sun sets behind the Empire State building. It was beautiful.


And our glorious Statue of Liberty!

It was a magnificent day as we toured the city twice - once by bus and once by boat. It was a wonderful vacation!

Amish Friendship Bread

Have you ever made Amish Friendship Bread? I recently finished my second go-round with it and am now out of starter bags and cannot continue. Boo hoo!! It is such fun and very tasty!!

I was given my first starter bag in early June and enjoyed the days of "mashing the bag". On day six you have to add a couple of ingredients, mash the bag for a few more days and then day ten is the best!!!

Additional ingredients get added to this thoroughly mashed bag, then divided up into bags to share with your friends (be sure to keep one for yourself so you can continue) and then you get to bake two loaves of this yummy bread.

I'm hoping that one of the recipients of my starter bags has one saved for me so I can continue this fun little ritual of mashing the bag, adding ingredients, mashing the bag, sharing the starters and enjoying this tasty cinnamony bread that disappears faster than time!! If anyone ever offers you a starter bag, grab it - you'll love it!!!

Oh Geeze, I Was Tagged and Have To Be Honest

My dear friend, Cheryl, from Gratitude Gal, tagged me. I have to list ten things about myself that you may not know, tag ten others and link back to Cheryl. Mmmm. What unknown entities do I wish to share . . .

1. I am the third of four siblings and was always the most social and outgoing, smartest, prettiest, etc., etc. (None of my siblings read this so I can say what I want)

2. I am claustrophobic and afraid of heights.

3. I have been Rachel's Girl Scout leader since she was in Kindergarten. She's now going into 10th grade.

4. I went to sleep away camp every year when I was a kid. I even won a free week at camp for bringing the most kids to Sunday School.

5. I love to do laundry, but hate to mop the floor. I do it, but I hate to.

6. My very first job was at Hot Sam, a pretzel shop at the Livingston Mall. At the end of the night, after everything was all cleaned up and put away, I had to mop the little floor in front of the shop. I hated it. That's probably why I hate to mop the floor now. I was able to bring leftover pretzels home at the end of the night. My dad loved that!!

7. My favorite number is seven. I was born in the seventh month. My dad passed away at 77. Whenever the temperature in my car reads 77, I think of my dad.

8. I really do not like to travel. The furthest I've ever been from home is Toronto and that was a recruiting trip for work. I've never been further west than Tennessee.

9. I used to have a plum tree in my backyard as a child and I planted 300 red tulip bulbs beneath it. It was just gorgeous when all were in bloom. I miss it every Spring.

10. While it really stinks to not be the youngest wherever I go anymore, I really like the person I've become.

Okay, now I'm supposed to tag ten, but I'm only going to tag seven because that's my favorite number. Only do this if you want to. I won't be insulted, but I'd like to read your list too!

1. Glenda - Many Fond Memories

2. KeKe - In My Sepia Studio

3. Deb - Garage Sale Gal

4. Cheryl - Mommy and Me

5. Michele - Country Vintage

6. Kay - Musings

7. Sherri - Sherri's Jubilee

I leave tomorrow for New Jersey. I haven't seen Rachel since June 22nd. I'm missing her quite a bit now so I hope she's ready for some cracked ribs - not really, but she will be getting a gigundo hug from me and kisses galore!!

And The Winner Is . . .

Thank you all for leaving your comments and sharing your talents. It's always nice to hear people give credit to themselves for something they're good at. To select the winner, I entrusted the help of my co-worker, Cynthia. She has worked with me for the last five years, helping to keep our office running smoothly. I am very proud of Cynthia because while she was working full time with me, she attended nursing school full time also and just graduated! Cynthia is now an RN and is getting ready to start her nursing career at a local hospital within the next couple of weeks. So after a couple of years of hard work learning how to be a nurse, Cynthia has more than doubled her salary and will soon be at a hospital near you. Hard work and perseverance does pay off.

Now for the giveaway winner . . .

My trust little handmade bag . . .

All of the commentors names in the bag . . .

Cynthia selecting a name . . .

And the winner is . . .



Oh wait. I can't see it. Let me put my glasses on . . .


Yeah!!!

Victoria Lynn of Sweet Victoria Antiques!!!

Your package is packed, ready to go and will be in the mail to you tomorrow! I hope you enjoy.


Had to share this picture of my Logan with Katelyn. We went out to dinner tonight and I thought this was a cute picture so had to share.


Katelyn was Logan's first girlfriend in 8th grade. They say they're just friends now, but they sure make a cute couple to me . . .