I won Blog Candy!

Kittie747 is one of my favorite people to case - I think her work is AMAZING! I love her scenes- to me they are works of art. I drop in at her blog and yesterday she was offering Tuesday Treasure Hunt Rubbernecker Bucks for blog candy. To win you had to leave a comment on her blog telling her what craft tool you couldn't live without. For her....it would be a watercolor brush. A number of people talked about their cutting systems... and no kidding... it is a life saver. I can't cut a straight line so I don't think I would make cards without my rotary cutting system by Fiskars.
Okay, time for a ramble..... Last night I read the children's book the dot by Peter Reynolds. It is a great book with a wonderful message about encouraging art. There is a little girl, Vashti, who thinks that she can't draw anything. So her art teacher told her to "just make a mark and see where it takes you." So the little girl grabs a marker and stabs the paper with it. (I have been there!) The teacher looks at it and then has Vashti sign it. The next time she walks into art class her picture is framed in "swirly gold" and hung above the teacher's desk. And Vashti thinks to herself that she can make a better one. And off she goes to explore the dot with all kinds of art materials. She creates numerous compositions based on her original dot and is the hit of the art show. There is a little boy there admiring her work and in awe of Vashti. But he says that can't draw a straight line with a ruler. So she asks him to show her. And then she asks him to sign it.
Now how cool is that book? It is one to buy and have on the shelf for both my kids and myself. I encourage you to check it out at your library or local book store! End of ramble....
But everyone talked about their cutter so I thought about what I reach for in my craft cupboard (wish it were a door knob!) when I am going to make a project. I reach for my Tomboy tape thingy - another essential item when making cards, so quick and easy. But before I even do those things I usually am on the computer. Maybe it is a card sketch or a color challenge (waiting waiting waiting with baited breath for Kristina to upload her latest!) or I have a specific project in mind and I know that there are fantastic cards made for inspiration in some one's gallery, someone like Kittie747.
Anywho, I am off to go spend my Rubbernecker bucks... Yahoo!

A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron

This novel was inspired by a Katherine Mansfield short story, A Cup of Tea. I think I will check it out from the library to see how it differs. It was a quick read, each chapter being only a couple of pages long, at most.

It would have been perfect for my car book. I keep one there so that if both kids fall asleep I am not stuck in the car waiting for them to wake up. I can't move them either because most likely they will have power-napped and be awake when I don't want them to be. I take advantage of these moments and turn them into Me Time. That means a trip through drive-thru Starbucks, drive somewhere nice or home and settle in with my car book.

Can you change some one's life by doing something nice for them? Can your act of kindness set the course of their life in a completely different direction? Did you think that by doing so your life would not be touched other than to be able to say that you did something nice for another person? How many people's lives are touched by your actions, even if they are not the direct recipient?

This is that story. Yet there are pieces missing, on purpose that make you wonder who the characters really are... what happened to shape them into who they are.

I read it fairly quickly, as I enjoyed it. I will tell you that, as the back of the book reads..."there is a shocking conclusion." Okay, not exactly earth shattering like Night Fall by Nelson DeMille (holy crap!!!! the way ND wove real life and fiction together!!! a favorite of mine) or absolutely angering (for me) at the horrible tragedy of Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks ~ I was so bitter about the ending of that one that I swore I would never read it again and nearly made up my mind not to read another one of his stories. I got over it enough to read other books by him.

The thing I liked about A Cup of Tea was that what I predicted what was going to happen, didn't. And it didn't end like I thought it was going to once I figured out that my prediction was wrong. It is a bit of a dark tale. A good winter book, under a blanket on a comfy couch on a rainy day, sweetened by a cup of hot chocolate.
(Did you think I was going to say tea?)

No more snackin' more me!

I have recently discovered that I no longer wish to eat snacks if the bag is open in the house. My new weight loss secret stategy? The power of observation. There is a teenage boy in the house who likes snacks too. He also likes to keep his hand in his pants while sitting at the computer or watching tv. Not much of a hand washer.

Inspiring Story (and yes, I teared up over it!)

Opponents carry injured home-run hitter around bases
Someone commented on how this was a win in life.... so true.

When I post there are a little over 1200 comments regarding this story. Some people get it and others just don't.

LSC166 - Spotlight on circles

The limited supply challenge in sc was as follows:

This week, you're limit is on tools. Not only are the tools limited, but you can only use one type of punch.... CIRCLES!

Stamps: any
Paper & Ink: any
Embellishments: any
Tools: circle punches, circle die cut shapes, circle cutting systems

I made this little sour cream container because my friend and SU! demonstrator Toni usually gives one away as a door prize and I think they are adorable. My other friend Wendy and her DH (I have more than 2 friends!) are going away to Mexico for 2 weeks. As a little going away gift I got them some SPF 30 lip balms so I packaged them up in this, using the LSC for the week as my theme. It is also in my gallery for all the nitty gritty details on products, mostly SU! The only change I made was the placement of the third strip of tacky tape - it's on the other long side of the paper.

Thanks for looking!

Oh the things kids say...

Mommy! I have to go poop!
Okay, just give me a minute. (I'm putting food on plates.)
I'm nervous.
Why?
The poop is making me nervous!
Okay, we'll go right now!

Hide-and-go-seek! ( 3 Year Old Version)

Wendy, you close your eyes and I'll hide, 'kay?
Okay! Ready? I'll close my eyes. One... two...
Ryan scampers off to hide, giggling loudly the whole way.
three.... four....
scrambling inside the box, almost shrieking with delight
five... six...
Tee hee hee seven... eight...
nine... ten... Ready, or not, here I come! Now where is Ryan?
Over here!
Is she under the table?
No!
Is she under the easel?
No, I'm in the box! By the door!
Did I hear something? Was it Ryan?
Yes it was!
giggle giggle
I think I'll look in the box!
laughter from within
Oh! There you are!
How did you ever find me?