What the...

Where has my spring weather gone? Last weekend we got the gazebo roof and curtains up, pulled out the new patio chairs, ottoman and table, said "hi" to some new flowers blooming, opened up windows to a fresh warm breeze and welcomed in the 70-degree weather. Next you know, a few days go by and it storms like crazy with tornado warnings all across the area Friday night, and this morning I wake up to a rain/snow mixture and I'm freezing my tail off at 38 degrees!! I WANT MY SPRING BACK! Waaaa!!! And the rest of this week doesn't look very promising either.... What a GIP!

Project Dayz

I've made a couple projects lately. I wish I had more time to scrap and craft, but that's just how life is, busy-busy-busy, always on the go. Actually, lately I've been really exhausted in the evening after work, but it's nice actually getting 8 hours of sleep for a change though. Especially after my 2 1/2 months off last year when I gradually changed into 2nd-shift-wife staying up late to see my husband come home, and sleeping in ever so quitely not to wake him with my dish cleaning and dusting about.

Oh, yeah back to my project dayz!! So my friend Erin celebrated her 30th birthday a few weeks ago, and her sisters Nic and Ryan set up a surprise party for her the following weekend. As Tom and I arrived to the location at the specified time, WE were the ones surprised! Erin's boyfriend brought her early in fear of her nagging ear infection would have her begging to stay home instead of going out, and thus never making it to her own party! haha! It was still a surprise for Erin, though, as she got to great each guest as they arrived with the same confused look on their face, checking their watch for the time... So I love to make cards for people, but instead of a card for Erin, I thought what a fun idea to make her a 12x12 page; not knowing if she even has an album, maybe this would get her started, or she could frame it as a wall deco for her home. Here's what I made..... Avid scrappers and Label Tulip lovers may recognize the materials used.

I enjoyed this page so much that I am planning to do a similar version for my own big 3-0 happening later this year.... Yeah, I'm not too much looking forward to it, other than accepting this new chapter in my life opening up new doors. In my mind, it's ok for other people to turn ages, but when it's actually ME, like how did I suddenly become 30?! (thankfully I'm not quite yet, but soon...) Anyways, I ENJOYED this page and so did Erin upon receiving it. She was quite elated.

On to my next project.... Last weekend, our friends J & Nikki came into town from up north in Dunbar. They came to celebrate their 4 year anniversary, and invited us out for dinner and a few drinks Sat night before retireing back to their King Whirlpool Suite at the Country Inn & Suites in Appleton. Sunday after check out, Nikki and I met at Archiver's in Appleton for a fun new class. The Acrylic Album class! This is all the new rage in scrap booking. The Acrylic Album is simply an acrylic cover and back, with the pages in between being regular papers (basic grey in this example... yum!) and using them intermittently at random sizes and positions to create a layered effect. In the first picture, you can see {Enjoy} and then 'Life' behind the scenes in the round grommet, with ruby-bling. The {} and ruby bling are on the acrylic cover, along with a beautiful stamp in the top right corner. The Enjoy and grommet are on page 1, which is a smaller size black paper.

The next page 2 is actually an envelope to put fun things in! Now you see the where the word "life" comes from behind? It's actually on page 4! Page 3 is a journalling page, and page 4 is a short piece of acetate film (transparency from old school dayz). I LOVE the stamp on the acetate film so much I bought it, yeah, along with a bunch of other finds!

The next pages are more journalling, and more picture pages, followed by a final pocket in the back labeled "Stuff". I'm not quite sure what pictures I will put in this book, but I do know they will be black and white, which I think will really pop against the black, red, and white matter of this whole rockin' book!

My next indulgence is to buy the Zutter. That is the machine that cuts the wholes in the edges and binds the book together. Then I can purchase acrylic and go to town making all kinds of fun little and big books. What a great project! And most of all, my friend Nikki and I had the BEST time! Two and a half hours of FUN, and an amazing project to adore! What a wonderful afternoon. I really hope Nikki and J can move back to town soon. We'll be signing up for all the projects we possibly can!

These projects also make me anxious to get going on my About Me book. I bought this 9,000 piece Cosmo Cricket set from QVC when Lisa Bearnson was on about 2 months ago. And I'm using Jamie's Me in 25 idea to do my About Me book so when I have kids and grandkids they will know all about me-- even the little things like my obession with ordering "water with a lemon, please" at restaurants. I just can't stand the taste of tap water! I love the whole 9,000 piece set, so I think what I'll do is take some me-time, pack up some supplies, and head over to Archiver's on a Friday night for their 4-11 crop night. We'll see.... it's so much easier to utilize my beautiful room that my hubby made for me...and stay in my p.j.s scrapping away listening to my iPod home theater. I just love jamming out and scrapping hard! tee hehee :)

Well, I hope you all are well, and you enjoyed my little projects. If you ever want to buzz over for some fun, just come on over! I love company ;) Tootle-loo folks!

It's about time!

Theo goes to the Groomer!!

After surgery in March, and a long winter, Theo has now shed his warm winter coat of furrry-furrr-fur. He was so furry, I started to call him my little bear-cub because that's what he looked like! While I enjoyed cuddling with my little bear-cub, he would sort of get stinky real easy and required a bath every weekend, and not to mention the knots in his fine Schnauzer fur.... oh does he ever hate that mean old comb! Since the weather in WI has been getting nice (like, we think Spring is really on the way, but then today it freaking snows! ugh!) But anyhow, it was time for Theo to go see his friends and favorite groomer.

Tiffany is our favorite groomer at Petsmart. She always does a wonderful job with Theodore, no matter how snarly and stinky he comes in. The girl checked us in, and tells me that his profile states, "this dog is perfect, stands like a statue, very well behaved." Awe! Now isn't that just the most wonderful thing any dog-mom could ever hear!!? So before I leave, I ask the question I've wanted to ask before with a 'please-don't-think-I'm-weird' look on my face. "Tiffany, can I hang out to take pictures of Theo's bath and grooming....? It's for his scrapbook." She really wanted to let me come back there, but her boss was in the store, and for liability, they can't let dog-mom's in the back. That's OK, I figured I'd just get the pics at home sometime.... but Tiffany had a bright idea! She happend to have her camera with her, so she put my memory card in her camera to take the pics! I came back from shopping a little early and caught the girls having way too much fun taking pictures of Theodore's every move!

Yes, from the scrub-a-dub-a-dub-we-got-Theo-in-the-tub (all-along-a-Wednesday-night), to the towel wrap, the blow drier (with him srunched up in the corner to stay as far away as possible), to the wonderous haircut! It was so adorable watching these girls have fun taking pictures of my baby-dog. Here are some of those shots....ENJOY!

(Sorry, I couldn't unprogram the incorrect date-code from Tiffany's camera as it was a different brand than mine, and I don't have photo editing software yet.)

And the HANDOME DOG EMERGES! The End :)

the cutest ever

I just have to share this. It is the cutest thing ever with a beautiful story.

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth. The mother tiger, after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only 'orphans' that could be found quickly were a litter of weanling pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops??

What's for dinner?

I am so excited for dinner tonight! yes, I enjoy cooking, but tonight I am meeting my friend Amanda at my all-time most favorite restaurant... THE OLIVE GARDEN!

YUMMY! Who can't resist those breadsticks and alfredo dipping sauce....Ooo my mouth is watering already! I'm browsing the new menu and I just can't decide.... go with my favorite or try something new? What ever will I do?! Guess I'll have to let you know tomorrow.

First Post

So this is my first post on my new BLOG! Yeah! I finally broke down and decided this really is the easist way to keep in touch with friends and family since we have so many loved ones all over the country!

Lucky for me, I have good news for my first Post! Well, most of you already know about Theo's bladder stone surgery March 6th. The good news is HE'S BACK! After two terrible weeks of recover, our precious little boy of love is back to himself. He just can't wait to get outside and play CHUCK-IT! he loves going to Grandma and Grand-paw's house everyday to watch and chase squirlies and go for lots of W's (walks). So last night Dr. Chris (the vet) called with the lab results of the stones... yes, they were calcium oxalate like they thought. These are the most hardy, worse kind of stones, and they can come back. Theo's new diet will consists of Hill's Prescription Diet u/d formal food. I'm going to pick some up for him tonight, and I think I'll spoil him and get some canned as well as the dry food. He's our special little boy, and he's totally worth it! Other than his special diet, his treatment will consist of monthly urinalysis and annual x-rays with Dr. Chris Barber at Animal Medical Center of Appleton. We're so happy to have our special little dog back. Next... it's to the groomers for Theodore!!

Thanks for reading my first blog. I can tell this is going to be fun. I don't know how often I will blog, so check back to see what's new!

Credits go to Jamie Payne and her mom Debra Rector for getting me addicted to blogs. Thanks ladies!