Searching for spring...

Yesterday's warm weather (it was still 55 degrees out when I left work!) is making me long for spring.  So in an effort to get ready I did a little shopping.  Meet the new spring bag that will be arriving soon...

I had a gift certificate to Ann Taylor and they had a great sale code so really, I only paid $16 for this and a white t-shirt (the Loft has the best basic t-shirts).   Hopefully they'll be in soon!

Holy moley...I WON!!!

I actually won the Housewarming Prize from House of 3!!!  (I'm still jumping up and down!).   There is an amazing book project that I can't wait to make and some gorgeous papers to print.  And fabulous frames.  Gorgeous quotes and lovely swirly things all over all of it!  Thank you so much Heidi, Rhonna and Janet!   Be sure to check out their blogs (see my links) and their books they created for the housewarming.  I can't wait for the party to start tomorrow...I've got a printer full of ink, some great matte photo paper and all day off.  Perfect!

Dreaming...

Of this:
My tax refund came in today and I had promised myself that I'd order this the minute I got it. But I'm feeling a bit guilty after buying the iPod Touch...which I love more every day! My little pocket Canon isn't dead yet, although it has started acting a bit wonky at times. I think I've made my peace with putting the money away for this and waiting until I actually NEED to replace my camera. Until then, I plan on spending my time playing with the Photoshop Elements 6 upgrade I recently got and taking a digital class or two at http://www.jessicasprague.com/ (these were my Christmas presents to me!).

It's a beautiful day here in NE (almost 60 degrees!) and I never got outside! I hate when that happens. And, of course, we're right back to cold winter weather for the weekend. It's the perfect excuse to stay in my pajamas and play all day. :) Maybe I'll even get to upload some recent projects I've done!

Happy weekend!

Updating the look, checking in and wishing for Spring...

Loving the new freebie blog look from House of 3! And the fact that it could win me some goodies...even better!

Life has been really hectic and crazy and annoying and fun lately. Here's the quick and easy update done in lovely bullet form:

• John's car finally dies...60 miles from home...at the end of January. The "red devil" (his name for it, not mine!) has 190,000 miles on it and was definitely past its prime. This was the kick-off for the past few weeks and set the tone of dealing with/putting out of fires.


• I learn that my perfect man has an amazing flaw...car buying completely freaks him out! He was a wreck and had a real hard time finding the fun in the reality of "you have to get one, so enjoy the process". He is now the proud (and happy) owner of a beautiful 2008 black Chevy Trailblazer. Love it!


• Without giving TMI...I had a really, really bad monthly happening. Not loving this getting older and all the joys it can bring. It set me back a couple days of feeling lousy. And John proved his wonderfulness all over again.


• We had a accident/health scare with my dad that was just too scary. Thank goodness John was able to come get me and bring me to the hospital (a lovely 2 hour drive for him) and that it ended up not being too serious. He's getting old too and he isn't a healthy man overall. His medications got all screwed up, he thought he had a bad cold (turned out to be an issue with a medication that mimicked a cold), was chugging Nyquil to get some relief, not eating and generally just not paying attention to things and it all came to a head and he had an accident with his truck...luckily in his driveway and the neighbor saw it and was able to help him. Hopefully he's on the road back to feeling better after a long visit with his doctor and readjusting of his medications. Did I forget to mention the joy of dealing with siblings and all their lovely quirkiness throughout all of this???


• We noted the 20th anniversary of my mother's death. I can't believe it's been that long. And that it can still be so painful sometimes.


• Out of the blue...and I really, really, really mean out of the blue...I get a casual "Friend" request on Facebook from two people from my past who are best left there. One was an old roommate/good friend that I had a terrible experience with involving her second husband that resulted in the loss of the friendship and the other was...are you sitting down and ready...my biological father. Really. Couldn't make this up if I tried. Talk about opening up a whole, old, yucky can of worms and sending things spinning for me. I cannot even fathom the thought process for him that this was the way to contact me after almost 20 years. No email through Facebook, just a "Friend" request. I still haven't been able to respond to these and I'm not comfortable just ignoring them or rejecting them. Hopefully soon I'll find right words to send.


• John and I celebrated Friday the 13th and Valentine's Day by playing hooky from work on the 13th and going shopping and getting a nice lunch. Here's what we brough home:
One for each of us! This is our "Happy 2009" gift to each other. I don't think I've loved an electronic device half as much as this one! It's better than I thought it would be and John feels the same way. Love, love, love it!

• I have forgiven myself for falling off the Project 365 wagon this year. I did it all last year and I have come to the conclusion that my life is just NOT that interesting...even to me! LOL! Maybe I'll get recharged to start again when I get a new camera.

I think this post is long enough for now! Back soon with photos and hopefully an updated blog topper with fancy fonts!

Uh oh...Someone please talk me out of this...

Love, love, love this bag! This site is cool! Check it out: http://jilliwillie.com

So many bright, fun and colorful goodies! I think I've found a home for some of my tax refund!

MIA...blog loser...but boy I'm lovin' the new look!

Isn't this blog purty now??? Love, love, love this new set up I got from http://houseof3.com/. It's got some VERY cool goodies and 3 of my favorite, fabulous designers! I've already picked out my new blog spring look and 4-5 more I'd love to use.

(Anyone know how I can change the font/location of my title using html??? Help!)

Life has been somewhat crazy the past few weeks...teaching...cleaning...dealing with broken down cars far from home...buying a new one...

A more detailed update to follow soon!

More Project 365 pictures and a new addiction to share...

Another exciting post for all my fans! LOL! I think I really want to keep the pictures here, as well as in my album. I like the idea of being able to see the year this way too...

January 16 - This morning on my way to work riding down Route 12. And yes - that is a -7 showing for the temperature!

January 15 - We're being good and making the bed every day...one day my bedroom will look all put together. But for now it just looks warm and cozy!

January 14 - The new Vera Bradley Spring lines (such fun bright colors!) and a magazine cover that I find super inspiring. I LOVE that bouquet and the colors.

January 13 - The Project 365 kit arrived! Just as good as I expected and packed with all kinds of things to play with! I'll be posting my pages soon I hope!

Is anyone else addicted to the new show "Leverage"? I love it! Another great addition to TNT. I think I only watch them and USA now. The best shows are there. Especially for someone like me who really, really doesn't like reality TV.

Off to count the minutes away until I can go home and start the weekend. :)

I have to wonder why...

I got an interesting call from John yesterday when he got home. He said that the cable was working all wonky and that the phone was dead. Then he called back and said that the wires outside the house had been cut and that the wire was all nicely coiled up and near the pole across the street! What??? Yes...the bill was paid (I should own that company by now!) and No...I hadn't asked them to cancel service. So he called the police, had a nice visit with the local officer and then (because I begged him) he made the dreaded call to the cable company. And they confirmed everything (bill paid, service still in place) and set up an appointment for Thursday to come fix it. We think we know who did it (think bratty teenager), but really can't prove it. It's just annoying and stupid. And childish. And wrong. Somedays I just wonder what people are thinking when they do things like this. ARGGGGHHH. But it will all be fixed tomorrow and until then, the DVR is working perfectly and we can catch up on things.

On a happier note, my Project 365 kit came yesterday and it's just wonderful! Love the contents and I'm really looking forward to the long weekend and getting it started and organized.

May your cable stay attached to your house! ;)

Project 365...so far

Here are the pictures for 2009 so far (boring, but a slice of my life...):

January 1 - just a beautiful winter day. I love the shadows from the trees in my back yard.

January 2 - Practicing my word for 2oo9 - Simplify. I'm packing up old/unused scrapbooking supplies to be donated to the Boys and Girls Club.

January 3 - The lovely receipt for getting the dryer repaired...finally! I'd forgotten the absolute luxury of NOT going to the laundromat to dry my clothes.

January 4 - One of my favorite scrapbook/craft stores - Absolutely Everything! I volunteered here to help do inventory...and make a little spending money. See my post about the lovely, EXPENSIVE day I had! LOL!

January 5 - A fun order of new papers and ornaments to make for next year from my new favorite store! Look at that packaging! Check them out: http://www.emmaspaperie.com

January 6 - I've gotta get all that stuff out that WAY too big pocketbook and into the normal one I should be carrying!

January 7 - John hit the Paycheck Lottery (long story and not about a real lottery) and to celebrate he made this lovely dinner with stuffed pork chops...YUM!

January 8 - My monthly dose of happy and inspiration...my Studio Calico kit! Always fabulous and always fun! Check it out at http://www.studiocalico.com

January 9 - The ugliest building in America - Boston City Hall. Not so too bad with the pretty lights. It's across the street from where I work.

January 10 - Working on a calendar class for my local scrapbook store (Sturbridge Scrapping Corner - http://www.sturbridge-scrap.com/) while I'm at a crop in Southbridge. It came out cute...photo to come later. :)

January 11 - Critter tracks in the fresh snow this morning. Very creative little one - it traversed the yard going under the vehicles...and then back to the woods again.

January 12 - I love Fanueuil Hall. It's such a beautiful building. This is just next door to the office. It's been the site of lots of political doings and I've seen some interesting people there.

I had a fun time scrapbooking with friends at a hotel this weekend. Low key and productive with lots of laughs...perfect! I finished a couple projects which I'll share soon.

Ok...back to work for me. ;)

Looking for some reviews...

Does anyone have this printer? It's the HP Photosmart A826 Home Photo Center. I have an HP portable printer now, but it's life expectancy is almost up and I want to start researching it's replacement ahead of time. I'd love feedback on this (or any other portable printer you love).

Last night's commute was a BREEZE! I got home earlier than normal! It seems that everyone stayed home and only the people who love winter like me (and aren't afraid to drive in it) came to work. :)

I'm going to see if I can upload some of my pictures for Project 365 today. I was one of the lucky ones who actually got this:

It should arrive at my house this week. I love this kit and I can't wait to dig into all the little goodies! I did my own Project 365 last year and never finished the book I started for it (heck...I still have MONTHS of pictures to print!). One day soon I'm going to have to take a whole day and upload my photos to http://scrapbookpictures.com and place a huge order. At least then all the 2008 pictures will be handy to work on when I have a few minutes.

Is anyone else doing Project 365? I'd love to hear how you're documenting it!

I really love winter...

Really. Truly. I love snow and the cold and the quiet that happens this time of year. The only thing I don't love is the commute home and the short days. We've had plenty of snow here this winter so far, but today was our first "wintery mix". Not as much fun or as pretty as snow. And it tends to make my usual 1 hour commute something horrific. So please keep your fingers crossed that I'm home at some reasonable hour tonight.

And if you need a smile today, this article had me giggling at my desk:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/01/hungry_seal_hit.html

Very resourceful little critter! And too, too cute!