Another Christmas under our belts....

Wow, is that hard to believe! Yet another Christmas has come and gone, where do the years go and why do they seem to go by faster the older I get? I always feel a bit blue when Christmas has gone, all the planning and anticipating and it's suddenly over in a flash! Just makes me kinda sad. Oh well, guess I just need to start thinking about next years!! :)

Santa was very good to me and my family this year, for that I am very happy. We were blessed, yet again, with good health and good fortune, being able to spend it together, that's the real gift indeed. Mandi made out like a bandit this year, finding various cd's, dvd's, video games, board games, clothing, jewelry and cash under her tree. Santa also brought Roger some new dvd's, clothing, drums to add to his new drum kit and miscellaneous musical toys he had wanted. I found under the tree some dvd's, jewelry, a new bathrobe, gift certificates to the scrap store, handmade ornaments from both Finland and Hong Kong and a new flat screen t.v./dvd player for my scrap studio!! Yippee!!! I joked with Roger, telling him that all I needed now was a small fridge and I'd never really need to leave my studio! ...well, maybe not never but you get the idea. So, I sit here now, listening to my Joy Williams music, typing on my blog and reliving in my mind Christmas 2006....
Until next time,

Blessings....

Winter Dance

It finally happened! My little girl isn't so little anymore...humpf! Last night she attended her first school dance, complete with a sparkly dress, sparkly shoes, hair done up and perfume spritzed on!! I about fell over when I saw her all gussied up for the first time!! Mandi has always been somewhat of a tomboy, preferring jeans and t-shirts to skirts and dresses and heaven forbid if anything pink entered her wardrobe, it was promptly removed or never to be worn!! Her favorite color is blue and most days you will find her casually dressed in jeans and a navy or black shirt or sweatshirt, that is...except for...last night!! Yes, the dress is black, but oh so girly, what with it's halter style and sparkly, glittery accents...pair that with her sequined shoes and I saw the most beautiful young lady appear before my very eyes!! I can't explain to you how very taken aback I was to see my little girl looking so very grown up...made my stomach turn to butterflies. I want to share with you some pics I took last night before Mandi went to her Winter Dance.

Until next time...
Blessings,
Cricket

For Becca...

Hey Becca honey...this ones for you! You inspired me so much the other day with your Christmas trees that I added another to my home..this one in my upstairs loft! I love it...keep it lit all night long! I got it for a steal at Target, it's my Poinsetta tree, done in gold and red ornies with big Poinsettas here and there!

Thank you girlfriend!! Next year I'm adding another......

Until next time....

Blessings,

Cricket :)

Merry Christmas to me!!!!

Oh yeah, it's a very merry day for me! Just got myself an early Christmas prezzie..that's ok right? LOL! Anyways, those of you that really know me, know how totally and completley shocked I was when my hottie Chris was voted out of American Idol!! WHAT!!!! He should have been the winner, not that dang doofus Taylor Hicks..I mean, come on! I was so bummed that I decided not to watch the remaining episodes of American Idol...robbed, that's what I felt for Chris! Soooooo....here it is, his first cd and I ran, and I mean ran (you know, feet smoking speed) to the store and got me a copy and as I type this now, he is singing to me..yep, me! :)

So, thought I'd just share with you my very merry, wonderfully happy day I am having...ok, off to listen to more of my Chris...

Until next time...

Blessings,
Cricket

HO HO HO!

Okay, so I may be a bit early but here it is anyways..my FAVORITE Christmas song!! Now, don't get me wrong, I love the classics but this song, the new video I have here, is just so dang ROCKIN' cool...heard it for the first time today(not the first time ever, just first time this season LOL) and it has me in a totally awesome mood so I'm sharing..

Hard to believe that holidays are fast approaching, got a ton of pre-Thanksgiving stuff accomplished this week and now it's time to work on my many gifty things that need to be done...

so without further adieu, enjoy my all-time, rockin' good, Christmas song, hope it puts you in a happy holiday mood too!

Until next time,

Blessings!!

Sweet Treat!

Yumm...chocolate chip cookies..in Mandi's words "nothing is better than chocolate chip cookies and milk!" Today Mandi and I made some choc. chip cookies using a new recipe I found. This recipe won a cookie contest and I thought it sounded yummy and..I was right! Here are some pics of Mandi making cookies, the dough (yumm yumm) and the finished product (don't mind the majorily used looking Silpat sheet...I've had it forever it seems but it still works just fine!)...if you decide to try these, let me know what ya think!






Chocolate Chip Cookies:
2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 C. granulated sugar
3/4 C. firmly packed brown sugar
2 tsp. milk, room temperature
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 C. white chocolate chips
2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, brown sugar, milk, vanilla. Beat in eggs. Gradually add the flour mixture; mix well. Stir in both types of chips.

Drop spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets lined with parchment paper (I use Silpat lined cookie sheets). Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on wire rack


Until next time,

Chocolate Chip Cookie Blessings!!

Cricket :0)

Long Time...No Blog!

Well, here I am again...finally! I know, I know, it's been a LONG time since I've updated, no excuses, just haven't gotten around to it! But, in the meantime I've been able to finish making my annual Christmas card and finish up a circle journal entry that also finishes a round I've been in for over a year, and that feels WONDERFUL!! I love to do circle journals but am glad that this one is done with...I am going to be taking a much needed break from circle journals though. As much as I enjoy them and they provide arenas for me to scrapbook in that I might not normally think to, I spend so much of my time scrapping for others and not myself! Sounds kinda selfish, I know, but on the upshot, I've kept photos of all my layouts and am going to re-create them for my own books (some I think will also be framed and hung in my family room...I need some serious wall art there!).

So, without further adieu...here are pics of my card and my last cj layout! I also will try to be a better blogger...now that I am going to be working on my stuff, I hope to have more to share...oh yeah, will also share a photo of my Mandi on Halloween...such a cutie she was this year...check back for that!





Until next time...

Blessings,
Cricket :0)

My other love....

I love scrapbooking, so much so that for the past 4 years or so I've devoted most of my spare time to it, collecting supplies, pouring over magazines, joining countless yahoo groups, attending big blow out events geared towards it, have worked at my lss and even had the wonderful opportunity to work for an online scrapbooking and stamping magazine! I have a terrific room in my home dedicated to this passion of mine, it's a place I love to just go and hang out, even if I'm not scrapping, but, I have to be honest with you, my first, true love is needlework! Yep, I learned to needlepoint at the young age of 7 or 8 from my grandmother. I can even remember the first design I stitched, it was a rabbit! I think I even have it packed away among my grandmothers things that I received when she passed 5 years ago. I've stitched countless pictures, stockings, baby bibs, bread cloths and fingertip towels in my 25 years plus of stitching but when stamping and scrapbooking entered my life, I put my needlework down and didn't really look back. A short while ago, I made some much needed changes to my life, really healthy, look-out for yourself changes and one of them was to pick my stitching back up! I can't tell you how good it feels to have this back into my life, I derive so much soulfull pleasure out of my stitching, I had forgotten what it felt like! God has blessed me with my decisions as well, He placed into my life a new stitching friend Carol, who in turn introduced me to a group of stitchers online, many of whom are local to me and I never knew it! I had a chance last weekend to attend a stitching get together (much like a crop!) and it was so nice! I started my latest finish, this little pumpkin tuck pillow, a kit from Pine Mountain Designs! This was a very quick and easy project, and now holds a little spot on a shelf in my entry way! I seriously need to make some more of these I think!


Another new adventure I am undertaking is quilting! My stitching friend Carol also enabled me to a wonderful quilting/stitching shop in Racine..."Calico,Canvas, and Colors"..well, I originally went up to the shop to see what they had in the way of stitching projects, but, unfortunately, they are discontinuing their stitching (much for the same reasons as alot of independant scrap stores have such a hard time), while I was there though, I signed up for their beginner quilt class, picked out my fabrics and I am happy to say that I am well on my way to completing my first quilt!! This is also something I have always wanted to try my hand at..I love to sew and again, did much of it prior to my scrapbooking craziness LOL! It also feel so good to put my beautiful sewing machine to some real use!

I'll always scrapbook, it is one of my passions, something I really enjoy fully but I've learned to scale back my attentions to it in order to include some other hobbies I really enjoy! In fact, I see a scrap page on the horizon about my first stitching finish in quite some time!

Also, enjoy my new video...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Five for Fighting, and especially this song "The Riddle". I have both Five for Fighting's cd's, they both ROCK!! but, I've been listening to the new one over and over..I just can't get enough of this tune! Enjoy.....and,

Until next time.....

Blessings,
Cricket :0)

An apple a day...

What do you do with a basket full of beautiful apples?? Make a pie!! Yep, fall is here for me...made my first apple pie of the season! I just love apple pie and this recipe that I use is to die for! I got this recipe years ago from the women's group I was a member of. We would get together one night in the fall and make a bunch of these apple pies and then sell them at the local farmers market to raise money that we donated to needy families in the community, it is such an easy pie to make and I can honestly say that I've never had one turn out bad!! I like to use Macintosh apples and I think slicing them wafer thin is the key!! Here are a few pics of my apples and my finished pie..yumm!















and now I'll share the recipe!!

4-6 lg. apples, pealed and sliced thinly
1/2 C. Sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 C. Sugar
3/4 C. Flour
1/3 C. Butter
Pie Crust for a single crust pie...

Mix 1/2 C. Sugar with Cinnamon in a small dish and set aside. Place apple slices into a large bowl and add sugar/cinnamon mixture..stir until well coated. (I sometimes double the amount of sugar/cinnamon mixture depending on if I think they look coated enough..in this case, more is better!). Place the coated apples into a pastry lined pie pan (I use the pre-made Pillsbury crusts..sooo easy). Take 1/2 C. sugar, flour and mix together. Cut in the 1/3 C. butter until mixture becomes crumbly. Sprinkle over top of apples. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10 minutes then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 40 minutes more or until top browns nicely and apples are bubbly. Let cool.

I hope you try this pie and enjoy it as much as my family does! One more reason I just love the fall....

Until next time,

Blessings,
Cricket :)

It's Happened!!!!!

Yep, it's finally happened, I am now the mother of a....TEENAGER!!! ARGH!!! Where did time go? Didn't I just have this little girl yesterday? Well, most days it seems like it was just a minute ago but as with any pre-teen or teenager, then there are those days where you feel like it will never end LOL!

So, Mandi turned thirteen! We spent an awesome day hanging out at Navy Pier, as Mandi loves Navy Pier. This year her birthday happened to fall around Chicago's Air and Water Show and we were lucky enough to get to see the Blue Angels rehearsing all day for the show...how cool and LOUD they were! It was fun. We had lunch at Riva's, walked around the pier, had some Dippin' Dots (if you've never had these, you've gotta try them, waaay cool little freeze dried dots of ice cream..yummy)then we took a speedboat ride on Lake Michigan while they blasted rock and roll music (again, very cool), had dinner at Bubba Gumps and then did some shopping! We got home after dark and all of us hit the sack!








Seriously, it's very hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that I don't have a little girl anymore?? I never thought that my time would be going so fast with her, another blink of my eye and she will be all grown with a family of her own I imagine...I suppose it teaches us to cherish the moment, take care to relish in the now and enjoy it while you have it.

I enjoy my daughter....Happy Birthday Mandi!

Until next time....

Blessings,
Cricket

Damn Skippy!!

Yeah, that's right uh-huh, two posts in a row!! Whoa!! Actually, just working tonight on a project for my secret sister at Creative Escape, I think this is going to be the gift I give her in person at the reveal, that way I can share some photos of it when I'm done and not give myself away! I'm making her a planner for 2007 out of a mini Provo Craft lunch tin, I'm soooo loving these little tins, even more so than the larger version! I'm thinking I might have to make a couple of these little babies!!

On a really excited note, tomorrow Roger and I are heading into the city with Carol and her hubby Paul!! Gonna spend the weekend hanging out, drinking, eating, drinking, shopping, drinking...(you see the pattern here LOL)...I can't wait! The weather is supposed to be awesome too. We are hitting an awesome Martini bar in the city, Carol and I have already been drooling over the menu and I think we are going to start our night off with a Key Lime Martini! It sounds so yummy...lime vodka, some other lime stuff and cream and a fresh lime slice...oh my heavens I want it now!! I've been a little worried that we were not actually going to make it, what with the whole terrorist foil in London (of course Roger was in Europe at the time) but Roger made it home safe and sound tonight. Other than some long lines in security in Frankfurt he said it was same 'ol, same 'ol!! I truly just don't understand how some people can harbor such horrible hatred for others, how can these whack jobs think that killing massive amounts of innocent people gets a message across, other than they are total and complete whack jobs!! It saddens me so much..I suppose that is what sets me apart from them...

Well, that's all for this one. Wish I could share the little gifty I'm making but still need to put a few more finishing touches on it so ya'll are gonna hafta wait!

Until next time,

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Picture Shares....

Hey! I just finished downloading some pics to my puter from my weekend at CHA!! Thought I'd share a couple!! I had such a great time, I'm still giggling at all the crazy silliness that Carol, Tracy and I had. On Saturday night we met up with Shelley Frizelis, Mary Mitchell, Linda Shouldice and Joyce McBriarty at Gibson's for dinner, what a nice time that was, then afterwards, of course, we hit the bar at the Hyatt where more craziness ensued. A fun time was had by all and it was so nice to meet up with some of the CE gals that we will be joining in Arizona in September!!

Anyways, I've got a ton of layouts to share, just need to get them off my camera (that will be a project for tomorrow) so until then, here is Carol and I with Elvis, and the whole gang at dinner!





And as for my new Kelly Clarkson song...this one's for you Carol and Tracy!! LOL!!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Tagged by Rachel!

I've been tagged!! Okay, here goes:

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
I've had my purse searched by the cops.....

2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster?
On ones that go upside down I do, regular ol roller coasters I keep em open!

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
It's been about 5 years I think...wow, guess I need to go sledding this coming winter!

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
With Roger....

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
Kinda

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
Yeah, kinda creative...not as creative as some, more creative than others...

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
Hell Yes!

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very "now")
Jennifer Aniston, can't stand Angelina Jolie!

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
Not a dang thing!

10. Do you know how to play poker?
Nope

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
not quite 48 but over 37 hours...labor with Mandi!

12. What's your favorite commercial?
I really like the Citibank Identity Theft comercials and the Geico Gecko Insurance ones!

13. Who was your first love?
Doug Smith in first grade LOL

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light?
No

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Now if I said then it wouldn't be a secret anymore LOL!

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
Chicago Cubs!!!!!!!!

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
Oh yeah, in fact I was a competitive figure skater for many years!

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
I remember them fairly often

19. What's the one thing on your mind?
right now...I need a Dr. Pepper in a serious way!

20. Do you always wear your seat belt?
Yes

21. What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could sing

22. Do you like Sushi?
No, but I love seafood, just not raw!

23. What do you wear to bed?
most times a tank top and pj bottoms

24. Do you truly hate anyone?
No

25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
Heck, I'm not sure, don't know if there is anyone I would want to other than Roger.

26. Do you know anyone in jail?
Not currently....curious now huh? LOL

27. What food do you find disgusting?
Liver...Pork....Lamb (not a big meat eater either)

28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
Yes back in highschool (not proud of that!!)

29. Have you ever been punched in the face?
no

30. Do you believe in angels and demons?
yes

31. I now tag...anyone who is reading this!!

Quick post!

Yes, it's true, I'm posting a second day in a row! This one is just a quick one, changed my music video..so love Five for Fighting, his voice is incredible in a strange way LOL!! I just love this song, makes me think about my own life...heck, I met Roger when I was a teenager, we've been through our 20's, our 30's and now we are starting our 40's together..who would have thought that way back in 1982 I'd be set up on a blind date and meet the guy who would have my heart forever!! We've been through alot together Roger and me, seen some pretty big changes in both ourselves and the world and we've been blessed to share in the creation of our beautiful daughter Amanda! Had you told me all this, way back then, I'd have thought you crazy! There will never be anyone for me but Roger, I knew then and I know now that he is my one true thing, the one person that will always have my heart..I love you Roger!

Okay, that's it for tonight. Tired to find a picture of us then and now, gonna take some searching and I'm just not up for that tonight!

Until next time....

Blessings!

Bad Blogger and Summer Plans...

Okay, I admit it, I'm a bad blogger! I was gently reminded today by my girl Becca that I haven't updated my blog in forever!! I don't know what my problem is, I think about blogging, I want to blog, I like to blog but I just can't seem to get my act together long enough to blog! Okay, I'm going to try and make a promise to myself to blog at least once a week! I can't believe it's been as long as it has, seriously, I never even showed photos of my trip to the Dominican Republic! If it works, here are some pics of the beautiful private residence we stayed at. Thank you again Memmen's for so generously allowing us the use of your home while we visited.






Now for my sumemr plans, next week I will be attending CHA!! Can you say YAHOO!! I am so excited to be going to this trade show! I've never been before (had the opportunity last summer but couldn't make it) and I can't wait to see all the cool new scrappy stuff that will be coming out soon. I'm attending with my friends (and also bosses) who own the lss I work at, this is gonna be a blast! Plus there are some other friends who will be attending that I will hopefully be hooking up with! Then a few weeks after that Roger and I are heading into Chicago for a weekend away with another couple. We are hitting the Red Head Piano Bar for some martinis, going to dinner at Riva's on Navy Pier and just generally hanging out in Chi Town having fun! Then, a few weeks after that, I am jetting off to Phoenix with three of my friend, to meet up with some others (Kathy N. can't wait to see ya honey!) and we are all going to Heidi Swapps Creative Escape weekend!! WHOO HOOO!! I just know this is gonna be da bomb! A whole weekend with Heidi and company, at a beautiful, posh resort, what could be better..plus a few other friends will be there (Becca, can't wait!) and I'll also finally meet some of the wonderful ladies I've been chatting it up with for the past 6 months or so on the yahoo group for this weekend! Then, as if that's not enough, Roger and I are talking about me going to China with him in the fall (ok, not really summer plans but at this point we are into September already). If China doesn't work out (I so hope it does, I'm dying to see the Forbidden City), then I'll head back to Singapore (a city I LOVE) and Mayalasia with him. So, I've got my plans cut out for me for awhile! I am sooo thankful and blessed for all these opportunities, believe me, I know it! And, the bonus is that I will have alot of blog material to come (that is if I can keep my promise to blog more often...we'll see).

So, until next time...

Blessings!

Back to the USA!

okay, so I'm still a lame blogger but I do have an excuse, well sort of...I was on vacation! Roger and I went to the Dominican Republic for a week..it rocked! The weather was incredible..hot, humid, tropical but incredible! I took a ton of photos and will post some later..

I have been blessed to travel with Roger to some very exotic places, places I never thought I'd ever see, Singapore, Mayalasia, Finland, Estonia, Sweden and now the Dominican Republic! The house we stayed at was amazing. You'll be able to see in the photos but they don't do it justice! We even had our own maid/cook Martina and boy could she cook!! She fed us like there was no tomorrow, I even ate a PORK CHOP!! Now those of you who know me well, know that I DO NOT DO PORK!!! I rarely eat meat at all and NEVER eat pork!! Well, shut my mouth, Martina made these amazing pork chops for lunch one day (itty bitty little guys that just melted in your mouth) so I not only ate one, but yep...I ate TWO!!! I could go on and on about her cooking, loved her eggs in the morning, her chicken and veggies, and the best was her rice and beans!!!! OMGosh, I was in heaven, Roger too!! I also got quite the workout on my years of Spanish since Martina didn't speak a lick of English! I think I might even take a refresher course in Spanish, it was fun to try and communicate with the locals, and ya know what? I didn't do half bad either!

Most days were spent swimming, laying in the sun and drinking..I think Roger and I drank that country dry! It was da bomb to be standing in the beautiful Caribbean with a foofy drink in hand...alas, we got a bit much sun the last day but what the heck, ya only live once right! :)

I missed Mandi and called home every day to talk to her, this was the first year since she started school that I missed her last day! That was a bummer but my mom was here to take her out to celebrate (we go out to lunch every last day of school)..and her and I celebrated the day after I got home!

Now it's on to finishing up some circle journals, downloading pics to the web and stuff and back to work...life goes on! Roger is back in Europe as usual, Mandi is enjoying summer vacation best as she can seeing as her best friend moved a few days ago (yeah, Mandi is not a happy camper right now) and here I sit blogging.

In honor of coming home to the USA from the Dominican Republic and to the fact that July 4th will soon be here, I've changed my music video to one of my all time favorites!! Toby...man you kick butt!! Is he not the best??!!

Here is to my country and being home safe and sound.

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Finally..........

Okay, I really am a horrible blogger!! Wow, I just haven't had a minute to really sit down and update my blog and guess what? Don't really have the time now LOL! I just wanted to pop on and say hello and apologize to all those (not that there are many but I do cherish the few) who visit my blog and have seen NOTHING updated for weeks and weeks!!

Lets see, about a month or so ago my beloved puter died!! Yep, just decided that was it and stopped working for me :( I, thankfully, had moved all my photos to my external for safe keeping awhile back but had been putting off doing this with all my music (and can I just tell you, I had lots!)..well, I was totally bumming about this, all I could think of was, "there goes all my music and videos, not to mention my episodes of Lost!!" There is some good news though, Roger was able to have one of his i.t. guys look at my harddrive and he got all my music off of it an on to my external..bad news, the harddrive was totally shot!! So, being totally tied to my computer I had to go out immediately (within hours) and purchase a new one! Yippee!! I decided to go with a laptop this time and am loving it! I've got my music and videos back, all my photos are safe and I am, once again, a happy camper!

However, it has taken me some time to re-install all my printers and other software as well as find my bookmarked places and all that stuff, so I haven't had much time to do anything else, let alone blog!

I did also get a new scanner and just hooked that up last night so now I can share some more projects, of which I have tons to catch up on, with you!

Bear with me a little while longer and I promise, I'll be back to some regular blogging! Oh, and I'll update some new music too!

Until next time,

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Circle Journal Madness!

Edit: Ok, so I'm surfing 2peas (as I so frequently do) and I see the Saturday Blogger Challenge is to blog about music..here goes:

I love so many different kinds of music that it is hard for me to talk about any specific favorite at the moment. I suppose Green Day is holding my attention right now, love them sooooo much and Billy Joe is soooo cute! But instead of telling you what are my favorite songs or artists I think I'll tell you a favorite memory that is associated with music..well, really two memories. The first is my grandfather. Like I said before, I have always loved music. I could listen to my "transistor" radio for hours, enjoying every minute. I have a vivid memory of my grandpa telling me that I never stood still..that I never walked, that I was always dancing around to music! It has stuck with me til this day and will always, even now, as I sit here writing this, my foot wiggles to the music I listen to. It's funny, my girlfriend and I were shopping the other day and I was un-knowingly singing and jiggling around the aisles to the music that was playing..she commented to me about it..LOL!

The second memory is my dad. I think I get my love of music from him. He was a musician. Studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, majored in music at Tennessee Temple University, played with the Glenn Miller Band and always played or sung with the church. I can close my eyes and see my dad and I heading out to the library where you could "rent" record albums (yep, the days before cd's) and we would come home, put them onto the stereo and lay on the living room floor in the dark listening to wonderful music..mostly classical! I treasure that memory that I hold of my dad, it was a special time that we shared with each other and as I grew up, and we would butt heads because I was of course a teenage who knew it all (or thought I did), I knew that deep down, my dad and I would have something special that just we shared together. My dad is now gone but my love of music lives on, thank you dad for that!




OMGosh!!! Ok, so I've now got 3 circle journals pending in my craft room..do I say scrap room or studio?? humm...sorry, sidetracked by a 2peas post this week on what we call our "creative spaces"...ok, so I've got 3 circle journals in my craft room and although I am actively working today on one of them, I am feeling a bit of circle journal madness here! Sheesh..I LOVE (can I stress that enough..)LOVE doing circle journals, they are so enriching for me, I receive so much back from them and I am forced by doing them to look deep into areas of "me" that I might not otherwise think about all that often...but....when I procrastinate on doing my layouts for them, I get all be-fuddled and start to feel the madness close in on me!! ARGH!!!

One that I am working on right now is "Why I Enjoy Being A Girl"...it's for my post CKU-A circle journal group and I'm loving doing this, however, for the sake of honesty, I am using a layout I did in a 2peas journal but I so enjoyed the layout I did and the journaling I did (sorry..I know...shameless of me to brag!!) that I wanted it in a journal of my own. I'm using the new line of Chatterbox papers...love, love, love that Chatterbox! I'll post a pic when I finish it this weekend. Got all my journaling done, just need to complete some of the papers for the layout and it's good to go! The other two cj's have me scratching my head! One I know what I want to do, just need the time to actually do it, and the other..well..the topic is so foreign for me that it will be super hard to do. I'll do it, no worries, but I fear it's not going to be one of my better layouts or cj entries!

So that's my life right now...circle journal madness! Why do I do this to myself you ask...because in spite of my b**ching right now, it is the funnest(is that right?) thing to do and I love to do it!

Until next time (or until my madness ends..)

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Thursday Blogger...

Hey! Ok, so I've not updated in over a week, wanted to give some time to Diana. I'm ready to move onwards though so I'm going to do the Thursday Blogger Challenge from 2peas! Here we go:

1. My current favorite song: Easy..playing on my blog...Green Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams. There are sooo many songs I love right now though, this is just one that I really, really like all the time!

2. The last book I read: Humm...do scrap idea books count? LOL Actually, the last novel I read was a cute, fun little book called Little Bitty Lies by MaryKay Andrews..just good light reading, very enjoyable! I always want to read, love to do it but it seems by night I am so tired it just puts me out!

3. What I'm wearing right now: Ha! pajama pants and a tank top!

4. The last cd I bought: Well, I no longer buy them at a store, just download from iTunes and I just got Bruce Springsteen's newest one, so loving the folk song sound to it!

5. The last gift I bought for someone: I'm doing a secret sister swap on an off-shoot group from 2peas so that would technically be it. Otherwise I would have to say the gifts I gave Mandi for Easter!

That was fun! Ok, I'll be back later....so love to blog!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Aunt Diana

Thursday evening, around 6 p.m. our family lost Diana. Diana had been sick for years, developing a rare form of leukemia due to some radiation treatments she had done as a young girl for her thyroid. Diana fought this fight with such strength and determination that I've not seen anyone have. I don't know that if it was me that had been diagnosed with such a horrible disease, I could have had the courage she did. I spoke with Diana sometime after her illness began and remember her telling me that she had lived a good life, that she was able to see her boys grow up, see grandchildren come into the world, have a career she loved, a good marriage and a beautiful home, that she was ready for whatever was dealt her now and that she was not afraid of dying. I remember the scared feeling in the pit of my stomach as I listened to her speak these words, thinking to myself "would I feel the same?" I hope I never have to find these things out about myself. So, like I said before, Diana lost her battle on April 13th, 2006. Knowing that this would eventually come to pass still does not prepare you for the actual event. I worried about Roger, so far away from anyone, what would he do if he got this news and was all alone, a fact that happened unfortunately, and I worried about Amanda. Aunt Diana was so very special to her. Mandi had a very special love just for Aunt Diana. Aunt Diana never once forgot Amanda, even through all her illness and struggles. I am so thankful that Mandi got to know her and spend some time with her. These will be memories that she will now carry with her the rest of her life. My heart broke the other night, before Diana passed. She was in a coma and I was explaining to Mandi that Aunt Diana's brain was just so sick that she wasn't really thinking clearly and was having a hard time knowing who people were. Mandi said to me "Did Aunt Diana forget me?" I wanted to cry..I still want to cry when I think about this. I told Mandi "Heavens no, Aunt Diana will NEVER forget you. When Aunt Diana goes to heaven to be with God, she will be all healed and she will remember every single minute she spent with you". Having to go into Mandi's room and tell her of Diana's passing was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Mandi cried, she was so heartbroken at the loss of her beloved Aunt. My heart broke too. I want to thank Diana. I want to thank her for the love she gave to my daughter, for the memories she gave and for reminding me that life is so very precious. You just never know what the future will have in store for you. It is so important to hang onto those you love with both hands and not let go. We will miss you Diana.

The layout above is my favorite photo of Mandi and Diana. It was taken about 4 years ago.

Blessings,
Cricket

Thank you Rachel!

Just have to say a big thank you to my gal Rachel!! I have been wanting to put a video on my blog for sometime now and I saw that she had done it to hers so I wrote her to ask for her help. Well, it took some fiddling around with but Rachel got me there! I now have tunes on my blog!! Added some eye-candy and ear-candy to my blog today as you can tell if you are reading this! There is something strangely attractive to me about Mr. Billie Joe Armstrong! Green Day rocks...it's Mandi's favorite group and I have to say at this moment mine too! Anyways, thank you dear Rachel for making me one happy blogger, and thank you Billie Joe for the awesome tune! Enjoy everyone, and check back..now that I can do this, I'll be adding new tunes often!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

  

Back again, twice in one day, what a record! Ok, so today was beautiful! It truly felt like summer outside. Mandi had her early day today from school so I took her to get her haircut. Because it was so nice outside I decided that we should stop at Starbucks for a Frappucino! I decided that I wanted to try something totally new, so I got a Blackberry Green Tea Frap. It just looked so good and ya know what? It was! I think I'll be getting more of these drinks this summer!! Mandi is a creature of habit so she got her standard Caramel Frap (decaf of course). When we got home I took this picture of her on our front step, enjoying the last bit of her treat. I ask you, what can be better in the life of a 12 year old? Early school release day, summer like weather and a Caramel Frap!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Blogger Challenge...

Ok, so I've never done the Blogger Challenge from 2peas but I always seem to check them out, what can I say, like you (or you wouldn't be reading this..hee hee), I am addicted to blogs..so, I checked todays Blogger Challenge and decided that today is the day I take the plunge and do this..so here goes:

chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate all the way..like vanilla but I'm most definetly a chocoholic!!

sandals or barefoot? Barefoot!! Love the feeling of being barefoot.

basic grey or scenic route? This one is tough because I love both lines soooo much and for different reasons, but I suppose if I had to choose only one it would be Basic Grey!

primas or HS flowers? Primas. Just recently got some HS flowers and they rock but I love, love, primas.

computer journaling or handwritten? Computer for sure! It's not that I don't like my handwriting, I do use it to journal sometimes but I love to type and with computer journaling I can get funky with letters, sizes etc..

Madonna or Gwen Stefani? Gwen, she is awesome!!

Leno or Conan? Never ever watch either...can't say! Not much for late night talk shows..I'd rather watch a movie!!

Koolaid or Crystal Lite? Hey Kool-Aid!!! Black Cherry is da bomb!!

American Idol or Amazing Race? American Idol. Sure hope Chris Daughtry wins..he is soooo awesome!

catlover or doglover? Dogs. I've had cats too, but am allergic now and nothing beats the love of a dog!


Ok, that was fun. Now I can officially post a reply on the thread at 2peas saying "I Blogged"!! Check back later for some pics I took today!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Heidi!!

Ok, so I did it...I signed up for Heidi Swapp's Creative Escape Arizona event in September! I CAN'T WAIT!! What am I doing? LOL I'll tell you what, I'm enjoying my life and doing things I want to. I think this will be such a great event, something new and different than CKU. Now, wait just a minute, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE me my CKU's but I am in need of something different too, and I think this is just the ticket. Cool part is that there are 5 of my gal pals going with me!! Whoo Hooo..can you say too much freakin fun?! I'm seriously trying to get Becca to come along to, won't be the same without my dear Becca!! Anyways, it's being held at a really beautiful resort in Phoenix so we are all flying in on the Wednesday before and going shopping at the cool Arizona scrap stores, then bunking or should I say slumber partying at my sister's house Wednesday night (don't think I'll get too much sleep that night huh?) and then heading out Thursday morning for the big event! I've joined the yahoo group for this as well, helping to moderate it and am already meeting some wonderful ladies there!

Other news, on a sadder note, my sister in law, who has been battling a horrible form of leukemia for years is now in her final stages. It's so sad to see life end and at such a young age. It is teaching me more than ever to appreciate every moment I have and all those in my life. Remember those that you love tonight, tell them if you can for you never know what is around the next corner.

Until next time,

Blessings,
Cricket

Tagged!!

Ok, so Tracey tagged me the other day and I'm just now getting to it...sheesh, where does my time go?? LOL

I'll try to post some more CKU pics later today..wait, did I just say later today?? Does that mean I might post TWICE in one day?? Wow!!

Ok, here goes:

5 snacks I enjoy:

popcorn
chocolate
chips and salsa
cheese (is that a snack?)
doritos

5 songs to which I know all the lyrics:

Star Spangled Banner
Happy Birthday
Eensy Weensy Spider
After All (Cher/Peter Cetera..my wedding song)
I Think I Love You (huge crush on David Cassidy LOL)

5 bad habits:

Cuticle picking (not good for a nail tech huh?)
foot swinging (like when you are sitting and swinging you foot)
leave lights on in rooms I'm not in anymore
leaving clothes in dryer until they are sooo wrinkled they need to be re-washed
leaving leftovers shoved into the back of the fridge

5 things I like doing:

Scrapbooking
Stamping
Cross-stitching
Playing online
Watching movies

5 things I would never buy or get new again:

A bikini...just waay past that stage of my life
A blade runner...what was I thinking there?
Lipstick..I'm more a lipgloss kinda gal!
An ice cream making maching..too much work, rather hit Baskin and Robbins!
CD's from a store..so much easier to download from itunes!

5 favorite toys:

My iPod!!
My computer!!
My Canon Digital Rebel XT
My Tivo
Stamps and ink

5 people to tag:

Becca
Jennie
Diana
Hollye
Rachel

See ya later....

Blessings,
Cricket :)

CKU is over...bummer!

Wow, hard to believe that a week ago today I was sitting in the informal crop at CKU meeting terrific ladies that I had been chatting with for the previous 7 months or so on the yahoo group. Time sure does fly! I'm sad. I'm like that though, after all the planning and waiting and anticipation, it's over in the blink of an eye and it just makes me blue. I have some wonderful memories and pictures though and believe me, I've been creating layouts in my head already for them! We arrived on Wednesday and basically that day was just spent with girls checking into the hotel, nothing to really do with CKU yet. I did take a mini class and made a great mini album and used my favorite Daisy D's papers so that was way cool! We had a few burps I'm afraid in our CKU experience (shari and me), our mom got sick the night before we were to leave for CKU and that threw a major fly into the ointment! My mom was to be staying with my daughter Mandi while I attended CKU and now couldn't..what to do!!!!! With the help of some great neighbors and some fancy rearranging, Shari and I were able to attend most of CKU. Thursday was kick off day! I took Mandi along and she had a blast! She got to do make and takes and meet the scrapbooking celebrities that she has heard me talk about so often. In fact, she pointed out Heidi Swapp to me!! She loved that make and take and especially loved the pink Heidi Swapp gumball she got! Thursday night was the tailgate party and I don't think Mandi imagined how crazy nuts a bunch of ladies could get, but she was right there with us, standing on chairs, waving our pom poms and dancing along! It's such a blast! Our dorm, The Chicago Scrap Sox, had an extra hat so we made Mandi an official member too! One gal in our group, Bunnie, won a raffle and that also meant our table won too, including Mandi. She got some markers and glitter glue and thought that was too cool! I think the highlight of the evening was when I took Mandi over to meet Cathy Z. Cathy Z's favorite band is Green Day and so is Mandi's! I took a picture of the two of them showing off their Green Day bracelets, this, even though the lighting is kinda icky, is my favorite picture of the weekend!
We ended the night with my circle journal group getting together and exchanging our journals. The ladies in my group, Sue, Kathy W., Kathy N., and Karen G., did such an amazing job in my journal, I will truly treasure it forever! Thanks ladies!

Okay, I'll post some more pics tomorrow, plus I've been tagged by Tracey so I'll do that tomorrow too! I'm listening to some Green Day and trying to put away some of this stuff I came back with from CKU. Until next time...

Blessings,
Cricket

Excitement!

Wow, it's been awhile since I blogged huh? Been super busy getting stuff ready for CKU-A Chicago, and here we are, the night before I leave to attend!! I am really excited. I've been waiting for this for almost 8 months now and I can remember exactly how I felt when I heard that CKU was coming to Chicago last August! I booked my hotel room that very day and joined the Yahoo group. It was a week or so later that Tracey asked me to join her as a moderator of the group and my life has never been the same or better!! What a blessing this group has been to me, I have made so many new friends and have had such fun. I am saddened to think that in under a week it will be all over...then what? I know that I will keep in contact with the girls that I have become so close to but I will truly miss the daily chat and laughter that the group has provided for me over these months.

I am looking forward to my album track with Anita and all my classes. What a cool experience to have, learning scrapbooking and paper crafting techniques from the brightest and bestest in the industry! I will most definetely share all the pics I take from my weekend. Got my camera battery charging!!

Ok, that's about it. Check back for an update and photos from CKU-A Chicago!! Whoo Hooo, here I come.............

Blessings,
Cricket

I'm advancing!!

Wow, I am so proud of myself!! I taught myself to make my own banner for my blog using my Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and I am so excited that I can hardly stand myself right now LOL!! I know, for those of you that do digital scrapbooking you are probably thinking to yourself..big deal! Well, this is my FIRST attempt at anything digital with photos. I have been so intimidated by the thought of learning Photoshop that quite honestly I had just about given up hope of ever learning. Well, tonight after dinner, while Mandi is playing her video games and Roger is playing his guitar I decided that I had had enough, it was time to take the plunge and try my hand at this..I mean, what is the worst that could happen? Seems that I am not as technologically impaired as I had thought..I am now advancing!! Just wanted to share that with you all.

Other news..humm...been super busy getting ready for CKU-A Chicago, which is the end of this month! I can't hardly believe that when I say it...this month! I remember in August reading that CK had announced Chicago as one of it's cities for its educational event, Creating Keepsakes University..I immediatley booked my hotel room and joined the yahoo group. Seemed like it would be YEARS before I would actually attend and here we are, just 3 weeks out. I am so excited and have spent the better part of the past 5 months preparing for it. Funny, I'm already stressing over it being done and through..I know, I'm crazy!! LOL

Finally loaded my NYC pics to my puter so I will try to post a few of those in the next couple days. Didn't take as many as I had thought but got a few good ones!

Also have photos of some of my circle journal entries which I will also post, oh yeah, and my tags for the tag swap..hee hee...

Well, while I'm still on my digital cloud nine, think I'll go take another look at my banner. By the way, it's a photo Roger took (he is such a wonderful photographer by the way) of the beach we had while we were on vacation in Maylasia. It was the most amazing place. We had a little cabana type house all to ourselves and this view was what we looked at off our private patio..such a calm and beautiful place, I would go back there in a heartbeat!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

NYC and Tagged!!

Whew...back from NYC!! Mother Nature decided that we shouldn't leave as early as we had planned so she dumped about 29 inches of snow on the city and extended our stay there for a couple extra days! I have to say, there are worse places to be stuck than in Manhattan!! The snow pretty much halted the city but we ventured out anyways, bundled up and raring to go. Got some great shopping in (bought myself a new Burberry purse..gotta love my Burberry, it's just so dang classic!), had the typical New York foods, you know, hotdogs from a sidewalk vender, a slice of pizza in the village, cheesecake, deli (yumm..pastrami sandwiches) and of course a couple glasses of champaign while sitting at the hotel bar! Mandi had a blast, we took her to see all the sights, Ground Zero (which she was truly amazed by), Statue of Liberty, Park and Fifth Avenue (my fav's lol), the village and Soho, The Brooklyn Bridge, and we saw Wicked on Broadway!!!!!!! I had amazing seats for us too, we were fourth row, center from stage..I swear we were so close we could almost touch the actors. The music rocks too! I bought the cd and have it downloaded on my ipod already. Got some terrific pics and will post those later on. All in all, a wonderful long weekend we shared!

Okay, so my scrap pal Becca has decided to tag me...here we go! I'm excited, I've not been tagged before..how fun is this!?

WHAT SCRAPBOOK LINES/PRODUCT ETC. DO YOU DISLIKE? Well, I don't dislike much but I'm not a huge fan of stickers. I use alpha stickers but that is about it...

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING YOU EVER HAD TO SCRAP? I made a scrapbook for a seventh grade boy who took a class trip to Virginia. Now, I'm a mom to a girl, didn't grow up with brothers so scrapping for a young man was difficult and definetly outta my box! Also, this was the first time I scrapped for someone else, and it was someone I don't even know, making it that much more difficult. The end result turned out nice and both Mom and son were pleased.

WHAT TECHNIQUE DO YOU USE MORE THAN ANYTHING? I tear paper and ink like mad!! You will find torn paper and inked edges on every stinkin' thing I create!! LOVE IT!!

WHAT'S THE SMALLEST SCRAP OF PAPER YOU SAVE? I don't save scraps that are smaller then a quarter sheet of paper. I used to save nearly ever friggin piece of leftover paper but never used it...I needed to free myself of that clutter and threw it all out!! Now, I don't save unless I can really get some big use out of it!

EVER HAD ANY SCRAPBOOKING RELATED INJURIES? The only thing I've done is slice my finger with my paper trimmer...ouch!

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: "IF I WASN'T A SCRAPBOOKER/STAMPER, I WOULD SPEND MY MONEY ON..." shoes!!! without a doubt, shoes!!

GIVE US YOUR BEST STORAGE OR ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA: I love my cropper hopper vertical paper storage system. I also have these really cool wooden drawer boxes from Ikea that I keep my schtuff in!! Love Ikea!!

YOU JUST WON A WEEK LONG SCRAPBOOKING CRUISE FOR 5, WHO IS GOING WITH YOU? Well, I would take my sister, my friend Kathy Willits, my friend Carol Klem, Donna Downey and Ali Edwards (can I stow Heidi Swapp in there too? LOL)

AFTER YOU HAVE ANSWERED, TAG FOUR OF YOUR BUDDIES: Well, not many of my buddies have blogs, only a couple I can think of: Tracey
Diana
Hollye


Ok, that was fun! Gotta go finish some much needed laundry and stuff...I'll post pics of NYC later on!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Busy Couple Days...

Whew...I have been crazy busy these past couple days. Mandi has been home sick with strep and I've been working my butt off to complete some projects! Good news is that I've got my CKU Circle Journal done and on it's way to the next girl in the circle. I am so excited to be doing a circle journal with these five girls..can't wait to see what they do in mine! I've taken pics and uploaded them to 2peas and now I'm going to try and see if I can get them into my little blog!

My theme for this journal is Gratitude. What are you grateful for in your life? It can be anything from a big, life altering event to the smallest thing such as a favorite color or food..whatever it is that you are thankful and appreciative of. My entry consisted of two things, my dog Ozzi and my scrap room. Hey, I am so very grateful for all the wonderful blessings I have in my life, my daughter, my husband, my home, my health but these are two other things that I also have the highest appreciation for, for different reasons. My scrap room is "my place" a little world of my own in my world and my dog Ozzi, well, he is just a love and has been a great source of comfort and companionship to me these past couple years! Anyways, that is what it is about...

Ok, I'll try and add the pics...tell me what ya think!

Blessings,
Cricket :)

Mandi has strep...shucks....poor kid, I feel so bad for her. She has been struggling with illness since Christmas Eve!! She will get better for a day or so and then, bang, she is knocked back down with something. Tonight was a bummer for her, she's just not well, but I am praying that the new meds the doc gave her today will be the ticket for her. Say a few extra prayers if ya can, she needs them right now.

Well, this past Saturday, I had the chance to attend a crop at my lss with a bunch of ladies who will be attending CKU-A Chicago this March! It was so much fun to meet some of the ladies I have been chatting with these past few months online. We had a great time!! I made a big dent in the tags I am creating for the tag swap. I know, I know, sounds like I didn't do too much, heck 14 hours of cropping and all I accomplished was some lousy tags you say?? Well, after I finally got my groove going I did get a bunch done!! Anyways, for me crops are alot social and a bit productive so in that sense it was a good day for me! I had alot of social!!

I'm got something brewing too!! Sssh...not gonna say anything just yet. A few of my closest buds have the clue but until I get the final details worked out and schtuff it's still mums the word! I can tell you that I feel so happy about this, for once I am seeing a purpose to my life! I'm a bit nervous but it's a good kind of nervous. Wish me luck! I promise, as soon as I can, I'll dish on it!

Well, I'm home these next few days with Mandi and I've made it a priority to figure out how to post a pic to my blog. I think I'll share my CKU tag with ya'll....be ready!

Until next time..

Blessings,
Cricket :)

New Favorite!

Ok, I now have a new favorite Starbucks drink...a decaf (yes I know, decaf...sorry lol)soy mocha...totally yummy!! Ok, I've always loved my Starbucks. I've gone from my Hazelnut Lattes (always a good choice in my opinion), to Skim Caramel Mochas, to Skim Mochas to Soy Mochas...always decaf though, always been! They are sooo yummy. Now, I've been a soy drinker for a few years now but just never thought to get them at Starbucks, well with the new year and my plan to eat healthier, I was thinking I'd give it a try and WOW..they ROCK!! I almost have to have one every day..I don't but wish I could! Try one, I guarantee you, it's the best!!

Ok, so I've been doing good with my whole eating better plan..but heck, it's hard! LOL I admit it, I love junk food..my entire life (up until about 3 years ago) I was able to chow on anything I wanted and not gain a pound (hush now, just good genes I suppose) but no more I tell ya, it seems everything I put into my mouth wants to migrate to my middle section..ugh! I HATE (can I stress that enough lol), I HATE to exercise, just not in my bones and so what's a girl to do???? Sheesh....I suppose I'm going to just have to force this body to get onto a treadmill or hey, here's a novel idea, use the Bowflex we have sitting in the basement collecting dust (hee hee)

This will be a short one tonight, I'm still winding those dang ribbons but I have to say I'm almost done..yippee...what a freakin' chore this has been, but it feels so good to see the mess getting cleared up. Once I can figure out how to upload some photos to my blog then I can start to share some of my scrappy stuff...and maybe my ribbon boxes!

Blessings,
Cricket

Organizing...

Ok, so it seems that the new year is off to it's start and I'm STILL behind on this blogging thing...oh well...I've been busy trying to organize, yet again, my scrap space..this is the never ending saga that I seem to find myself always in! Now it's my ribbons, I swear I am putting myself on a ribbon freeze, I'll be winding darn ribbons till the cows come home. I had them all in little baggies and in Ikea jars by color and I admit they looked beautiful sitting on my shelf but the space they took up was incredible! I decided that I needed to free up some space so I am in the process of winding the dang things around these little plastic floss bobbins and am storing them in floss boxes. This will keep the space to a miniumum but the task is...well...overwhelming!! I also can't decide if I want to keep them by color family or by style, ya know like, ginghams, dots, stripes, solids, yada yada yada! I think I've also decided that for my birthday this year I'm going to tell Roger that I NEED to re-do the scrap room..I need more counter space, more cabinet space and less clutter. I can't do clutter, it really un-nerves me!

Ok, so you are probably really bored reading about my ribbon woes but until I get my room organized I'm not going to feel productive in here.

On a really happy note...I got a Creative Cutter Mini!! Whoo Hoo!! Now, if I can find the time to learn to use it..hee hee...actually, I'm learning to use the retailers version at the store so it shouldn't be that different. How cool is it going to be to be able to cut any die-cut I want...goodbye QuicKutz, goodbye Sizzix!!

Well, I suppose I need to get off the computer and continue on the endless ribbon battle...wish me luck...I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel...I can't wait to reach it!

Blessings,
Cricket