WOW all the responses have been SOOOOO helpful. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! SERIOSULY!

I asked you all for opinions on the card I should choose for my SIL bridal shower invites and I was so happy to get your feedback.

Looks like most of the recommendations are for #2. The one with patterned paper. So, I went to the craft store, and ya know what NO PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im now wondering if I got it at a stamp expo! OH gosh whats a girl to do.

OMG! I was a Rage-ing maniac! TYRING to find a place to order it. I have no clue. Its by American Crafts Ala Carte collection in Baguette. Im so upset.

So Now I will have no choice but to go with #1. I love that one so its ok. I just got the idea set that I would use #2! I am however going to add their initials behind the love sentiment. Everyone seems to agree its awesome! AND I think I found an amazing ribbon too.

I also hope to soon share in favors for the shower and whatnot. AND my center piece ideas (dont ask cause I dont know yet) The favors I am doing chocolate flower molds and stamping clear boxes with the flower on the card in the carribean color with the love sentiment and their initals on the tags tied around the clear boxes. So each box with have several colored chocolate flowers. I think they will look really pretty.

We still arent sure WHERE its being held! I left a message at our town community center and need to hear back-so I cant do anything till the place is booked. WHY? Because they cardstock goes through the printer FIRST! EEEK! Time is ticking.

PLUS I dont even have the invitation list yet.

OH man wedding nightmares here I come. Im not in the wedding and this is totally stressin me.

 MORE HELP NEEDED!

OK People you are invaluable to me. I am donating my time at the Relay for Life in our area on June 23rd from 7pm-10pm (if you live in the area and want to help call me!). This is a huge event for Cancer research/support for everyone affected.

Anyway-I was asked to do a stamping project with people who attend. Who ever participates.

When I did the Walk for Breast Cancer I did book markers and people could choose a variety of stamps all that worked well with the same colors (pink and greens) anyway…….

 WHAT ON EARTH SHOULD I DO?

It has to be something that people dont need much direction for and can do quickly.

I think Im too into WOW factor stuff to think simple. Ya know like the first time you saw embossing, then you forget about it for a while!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking, Hershey candy bar wrapper (that could get ugly though) Luggage name tags, um that it! LOL! I really do not know!

So if YOU were attending an event what would be a cool thing to do using stamps as a keepsake?

Oh Another thought how about a wishing stone/magnet/ They could stamp a word or image, then stick it under a flat marble and attach a magnet? Is that LAME?????

OK I am really thinking out loud here.

If you are still reading-thanks! Im boring myself.

Well Check in tomorrow Im featuring 3 cards using Hue’s of Blue. They are LOVELY. And yes-its all using Lizzie Anne sets-I just cant help it, and it hasnt been a week yet! 2 more days of Lizzie Anne (at least! LOL!) I really love the new sets. Can ya tell?

Have a good night.

Can you guess?

Well Look at Amber’s arms! She spotted! She has a very strange circular rash on JUST her arms. It started tonight.

Does it not look like someone did the reinker technique where you put in dye ink (in this case red), and dish liquid, then blew bubbles and let it pop on her arm?

THAT is how I described this to the Doctor over the phone. HE is not a stamper, but I think he got my drift.

Its called a TARGET rash. Im surprised I dont break out in this every weekend when I need my shopping fix! LOL!

In all seriousness this is freakin me out. This is what they THINK she had. Its a response to a virus or a allergic reaction. “I” have never seen this before. On anyone. Ive worked in some crazy places and seen some crazy things (such as a man who ripped his indwelling urinary catheter out, and his penis ripped WIDE open : like a hot dog that splits down the middle when cooked too long. AND it healed that way! OMG! Let me tell you I did almost pass out when that happened. Everytime I took care of him it made me cringe seeing it) but never a rash like this.

So now we wait.

I just had to share the photo with you all.

BTW I offered to email the photos to the DR but they declined. HMMMMM.

Let hope it goes away tonight.

She so cute even with spots isnt she?

 Is this photo not PRICELESS?

I will share my story of Noah’s first game. After a comment I briefly made about it alot of people were wondering “WHAT” happened. Here is the “story” of our tourturious game!

Here is my boy! This is Noah at hist FIRST T-Ball game. He is on the Angels, and is number 11.

He was SO EXCITED to go to his first game. He got up an hour earlier than normal, and got all dressed in his uniform.

As we approach the field he says” No I want to go home. I don’t want to play!” We were like “What?”

Anyway, we get onto the field and Noah does NOT want to be there. He begins to scream and cry. It was quite mortifying. This photo above is him in the field. He was between first and second base.

He did eventually “get into it” but he did alot of this! He didn’t WANT to have fun. He is very sweet and outgoing so we do not understand why he was acting out so much.

First time at bat-coach Rob

 sets Noah up,                       Noah  swings,                            then runs for home!

See that BIG smile? You’d never know he had an ALL OUT crying tantrum about batting before this photo! Everyone was cheering him on! He needs SO much reinforcement.

After another bout on the field he wouldn’t get off the field. He would not walk so I had to literally carry him off. He was warned, but insisted he wasn’t leaving or playing. He ended up kicking me with his Cleats and hitting me numerous times with his glove! It was awful! I could NOT believe he would act like this! This is where my embarrassment had taken an all time high! At that moment I would gladly have been in labor in place of his first t-ball game anyday! What an awful time we had encouraging him. Jason is a phenomenal father! Noah is SO lucky to have a dad like him. My brother and I would have killed for what he has. Jason was so patient and even ran the bases with him. It was so fun when he let himself “go”. Someday when he’s famous these  photos will sell for millions.

 Noah after running home-giving Daddy hi-5!

So here is yet another REAL MOM moment. No fudging stories or cutesy tales. This was the truth. Someday it will be amusing. SOMEDAY!

                 Well, obviously Cancer research is dear to my heart, as my own daughter Alexa (now 7), has been directly affected. The photo’s above- The one on the right was Christmas 05-less than 2 months before we found out she had Leukemia. She was already “sick” then but we didn’t know just how bad things were. I HATE this photo. Its one that reminds you how you never know what’s around the corner. What tomorrow brings! Oh, also hate it because her hair was just so beautiful. I used to always do something cool with it. She hated when I messed with it. I miss her hair sometimes. Her treatment started Feb. 06, and she has another 1 1/2 years left, provided all goes well. Treatment is about 2 1/2 years long. Boys have 3 years due to the fact that cancer cells hide in the testicles. There have been MANY bumps in the road. But she is doing well. I cannot complain. She is here and for that I am thankful.

The one on the left is Alexa a few weeks ago at Disney. She had so much fun. I love this one because she looks good. Healthy and happy again. Still o hair, but her weight is back up to her pre-cancer weight. At one point during treatment Alexa lost almost 1/2 her body weight, and weighed LESS than her 2 yo sister. That was hard. Now she is back to MY ALEXA here.

Knowledge is power! And it leads to a CURE! I truly believe that one day, NO ONE will ever die from Cancer again! I hope I am around to see that day. They have made great stride’s over the years. As little as 10 years ago, Alexa most likely would have had a death sentence handed to us, with her diagnosis. Now there is HOPE! Hope for a CURE.

She has an excellent prognosis to beat this, and have it NOT return. Her type of cancer Pre-B Cell Leukemia is one of the highest curable forms of cancer there is (thank god). But we are always scared of the WHAT IF factor. There are also contributing factors that make up her prognosis, that YOU hopefully never have to know about.

Age is a huge factor. Adults don’t do as well as children with Leukemia. The fact of the matter is Cancer KILLS. Many people still die from this. BUT now many people BEAT IT! And they move on and LIVE their life. AMAZING!

Back to knowledge is power. Well yet another fact, knowledge is obtained through research. Alexa is on a chemo regimen that is under research. Her protocol is in the “works” of being tested. Many kids/people are under these programs to see “what” works. What happened during this phase and that. Some of that research helped save Alexa’s life in the early stages of treatment. They found certain treatments in kids ONLY with Down Syndrome would KILL them. Sorry, Im not trying to be harsh, this is reality. And this reality KILLS me to have to write about. I don’t want to be a “number”, a statistic of one who LOST anyone, especially my baby to this horrible disease! SO this is reality. This is what we live every day. The statisic! Will we be on the favored end? I sure as hell hope so! I BELIEVE so! I HAVE to!

But I don’t just sit and hope other people will make it happen! I try to do MY part to help. Not just by having Alexa in this trial, but my supporting research! Research cost money. Another cold hard fact. But you can help. The smallest amount adds up! Think how much you spend on coffee a day or some other luxury. If every person even gave $1! Think how much that would be! I know I sound like a telemarketer or something,  But its not going into my wallet, its going into resources that are used to saving peoples LIVES. That is priceless! Especially if it were your child, mother, husband, friend-anyone you love. Don’t say it won’t affect me or my family. You never know. TRUST ME on that.

Anyway, there are so many ways you can help!

My friend Tracey is walking for a cure. This is her Relay For Life. PLEASE check it out. She just lost her uncle William “Bill” Mahoney Jr. to Lung cancer April 21st. She also decided to walk in honor of my daughter Alexa’s fight!

I am personally donating my time to our town’s Relay for Life in June 23rd in Concord New Hampshire. I will be doing a project with attendee’s from 7pm-10pm. They are going ALL night to raise money! I am doing my part to give back.

Also in case you didn’t know Missy B Designs, designed a stamp set for Alexa!

ALL procedes from the sale of this set go to pediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma research!

Alexa decided what she wanted for images (groovy girls of course), and even has a stamp with her “signature” in it!

Check it out!                                                         

www.missybdesigns.com

Thanks so much for reading my rambles.  If you can remember Alexa in your prayers.          

Hi Everyone!

Life was crazy today! Had some samples to make, and cleaned /organized my stamping area. I ahve over 90 stamp sets to PURGE!!! (insert shocked face)

I will most likely post a page of them here over the next few days….so Ill let ya know.

Wanted to share a few birthday things with you first.

This is Jason. Standing next to my pile of birthday presents.

Can you see that they are wrapped in Christmas paper? Look closely and you can see the lovely Christmas wrapping. Jason “forgot” wrapping paper. Even though we were in the gift isle at Target the night before!

He also forgot candles for my cake.

And “I” had to go pick up my birthday dinner, cause he “ran out of time”.

What can I say. This was the most forgetful he’s ever been. And usually he’s SO ROMANTIC with his cards. OMG! This year I have no idea what happened but he gave me a creepy “JOKE” card that I will NOT share. It had quite the photo on the front, and inside it said something about it being a photo of my parents the night I was CONCEIVED! Um good one honey- I was so grossed out.

Anyway I did get an 2 hour backrub while we watched Grey’s Anatomy!

I got a TV for my stamp room. WOW I never realized how deprived I was till that was put in! I had tpo clean to make room. I have way too much CRAP! If its alterable I OWN 20! LOL!

I got an MP3 player. Cool pink color too. Shopping $$. Although I must say after reorgainzing the LAST thing I need is more stuff-(till tomorrow).

Lots of gift certificates. Some to eP! Cash and checks-always fun! And my Prisma markers. Cool colors but I need LOTSA practice with these.

AmyR and I were chatting and I was totally freakin out by my lack of abilities with them. PRACTICE! Thats what I need.

Now I got the most amazing thing in a Pizza box! I never met anyone who has ever mailed a Pizza Box! And it was the most delicious scrap page layout from my friend Staci!!!! (aka misermom) for our meeting at House of Blues! She loves me!!!!! She also sent a cd with the photos so I can put my favorites on the page! Thanks Staci!

I also got AMAZING cards form some of my bestest PSF’s!

Here they are!

BIG thank you to all of you! Aren’t they just fab-u-lous! Am I lucky or what?

I love them all. Thanks so much!!!! Your words and creations mean the world to me.

Hard to believe my special day is OVER!

Well there is always Mother’s day right?

I feel so lucky to have all my Pretend Stamping Friends! You are all so wonderful and dear to my heart. Each one of you brightens my days. I so enjoy our “chatting” and all the PM’s and emails I receive. Especially when you take the time to send me a card you made. I just melt!

I am also excited to gather with some of you over the next few weeks. Who would think stamping could bind so many people together? AMAZING I tell you. Im always shocked by the people I have met.

I have alot of catching up to do, and time isn’t really on my side these days! I know I keep saying I have deadlines, but its true! I really do!

I promise to post some eye candy tomorrow. Lot of stamping going on over here! Just unable to post most of it! Trust me it kills me not to share it.

In the meantime…..

Here is Alexa with her happy mail

“Basketmom” sent this to Alexa! She loved it. Thanks so much!! She got right to work when she opened it. It was hard to get her to stop and strike a pose!

I got a very sweet card from Dawn Mercedes-thank you!

Then I got a SUPER SURPRISE in my mail- ready to freak out?

Nicole sent me this ribbon storage unitafter seeing my craft room! LOL! Isn’t it amazing! I got rid of 3 tupperware bins of “hidden” ribbon! I didn’t realize what I had cause I couldn’t see it! LOL! This also saved space.

THANK YOU so much Nicole!! You rock!

OK back to stamping for a while (if the kids aren’t getting antsy!)-

What is better than chocolate? Well this surprise box showed up on my door today, and would be hard to beat!

SIX of the most amazing MONDO size, chocolate covered strawberries, and SIX chocolate covered apples! Can you believe it?! I couldn’t.

So again what’s better than chocolate? MY FRIENDS!!!!

My friend Tracey from SCS (cuccicoo1002) sent this to me.Well I guess for the whole family, but I feel like its all mine!

Here I am diving in! I already had 3 pieces! YIKES! I think Tracey wants me to gain all her pregnancy weight for her. I’m starting vacation early, and all my clothes won’t fit if this keeps up!

Don’t worry I did share!

 Here is Jay shoving the whole thing in his mouth! What a waste! You are suppose to SAVOUR it!

While we were getting silly for the camera look who dove in

 See the look! If I dont look at them maybe they won’t notice! LOL! I think Alexa has claimed the rest of the Strawberries!

Tracey you are just SO SWEET! Sweeter than these delicious chocolate pieces for heaven. Im so happy we have become friends. You are just amazing to me, and I am so not deserving of all this! And you did without even seeing the amazing thing Im making for your sweet little bundle of (boy) I mean baby! LOL! Now I don’t know if I can wait to send it to you!!!

I have met SO many wonderful people through SCS! You wouldn’t even believe it! I have so many of you who feel like my family. You’ve all adopted me & my family, and I can never give enough thanks to you all.

While Im sharing here is a nice blurry photo of the kids after receiving some goodies from my friend Sarah (aka sarahstampart)

 Here is Alexa with Caroline’s Card! Caroline is only 10 and drew an amazing Cinderella and Snow White on the card for Alexa. Inside yet, another amazing drawing of Mickey & Minnie mouse! Alexa about fell she was jumping up & down.

Here are the kids holding the goodies- They were so excited. Sarah even included some AWESOME BIG primas! How do you all do it? You all have so much going on but take the time to do so much for me. I am in awe. I am just so thankful to have all of the people I have come to know in my life. Big cyber hugs. What I am going to do without you all for a week!!! OMG! I dont even know. Stay tuned cause 6pm is the announcement for MYTIME MAIL. Tracey’s gift inspired a card. So I must get in one before I leave-

Love ya all!!!

Here is my mom!

We are at her house celebrating Easter and her birthday. The kids had alot of fun on the egg hunt.

She loved her cake :D. Yeah! Mission accomplished. It tasted good too. We really need to have more family gatherings I think.

Here it is! This is what took me most of yesterday! 

This morning we are going to my mother’s to celebrate Easter & her birthday. When I took cake decorating classes a few months ago her question was “Will you be able to make a Pansy cake?” I said I don’t know we will see. Now she has forgotten her request (or at least hasn’t mentioned it) so I hope to surprise her.

Why yellow frosting?

Well that is a question I am asking myself! LOL! I saw a cake like this in a book, and it had the yellow frosting. This is my CASE attempt. While Im not crazy about the yellow frosting on the cake I really think I did a good job considering I self taught myself the leaves and pansy’s (missed the last class!). This is only my second cake after taking classes!

I think my mom would love it reguardless. As mother’s don’t we love every “masterpiece” our child creates?

TOMORROW

Stay tuned tomorrow! I have something cool to share that Jason’t friend Sean came up with for winding ribbon! You aren’t going to believe what a bunch of guy were doing last night! LOL!

Great for all you who participate in ribbon shares or buy by the yard. SERIOUSLY AMAZING STUFF!

WOW! All I can say is The Make A Wish Foundation is just AMAZING! Seriously!

I am speechless after seeing all that they provide. To think they add such a bright spot at such a dark time for families. All they kept saying was- its time that all the tears and hard work be rewarded. We can only give you a week, but we hope that will make this fight worth it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! WORTH IT? Its amazing!

This has really given Alexa something to look forward to. Since we found out everyday all she talks about is meeting Cinderella and going to the Castle. Its such a simple thing but something we could not give her-not right now anyway.

The people at MAW are all so wonderful. They showed up with a bag full of Disney goodies for all 3 kids!

How do you thank an organization like that enough? Really?

I will share a card I made for them, as a small Thank You.

I wanted something DREAMY for this card. That signified the “WISH”. What does a wish look like?

To me it looks like this. Simple. clean, swirly, and sparkly!

For this I used my Cuttlebug swirls folder, & 2×2 folder-its a birthday sentiment. I covered it with the circle punch. Rubbed silver ink over the raised sentiment (perfect!). Traced the circle with my sakura glitter pen-love that thing! Punched a star from a metal sheet. The swirl is by Autum Leaves-flourish set. LOVE IT! Its embossed with irredescent ice. Very pretty IRL! I hope they like my card-I poured my hear tout in it! LOL!

All they ask is that we share photos of our trip. Now it all is becoming real! YIKES only like 9 days left!!! I haven’t planned anything cause I don’t want to get too excited just to have any one of us get Alexa sick-KWIM?

Anyway-just thought Id share my thoughts.

When something like this happens in your life you realize how important “time” is. I am SO volunteering once my life settles (kids go to school). And I am so THANKFUL for TODAY. Everyday is a gift.

Kiss your kids, call your loved one, cuddle on the couch, and enjoy today. Cause today you are here, together. Today you are alive, and healthy (even if its not perfectly healthy, it could be worse). Today is your memory tomorrow. SO make it count.