Circle Journal - Secret Obsession

This is for Roxie's circle journal. My secret obsession would be to be a great photographer, maybe even a FAMOUS photographer one day. How fun would that be???

22 stampers + a 4 day weekend = FUN

I had a fabulous weekend in Angola, Indiana with 21 other stamping friends. We came from Utah, Virginia, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Maryland and North Carolina. (Did I forget anyone?) I put together a slide show of our fun.

We did alot of stamping, talking, laughing, eating ... what more can one ask for?

My new watermark

I have had a few people asking me how I added the watermark to my photos. First, I went to this blog and paid Karen $2 for each watermark. I bought 2. I have a different one for each blog. I do not have Photoshop Elements so I had to download a free photo editing program called Gimp and I found that here. It took me some playing around but I finally got it to work!! I also have Picasa 3.0 and Infanview photo editing programs which I downloaded free from the internet but I could not get the watermark to download with those. Karen is super nice to work with and she answers emails pretty fast. Thanks Karen! You're the best!!

Circle Journal - Childhood Memories

When I first heard this was going to be Cheryl's circle journal, I hit the panic button. What childhood memories (click on each photo to see it larger) would I have that I can "stamp" about? Well, once I started writing things down, I was shocked to see everything I remembered. These are my two pages. Aren't I cute? ha ha

The easiest gift card holder ever ...

I saw this awesome gift card holder on Splitcoast and had to try it. Its out of an empty paper towel holder and took me all but 5 minutes to make it. Gotta love that!!!


Start off with an empty paper towel holder


Then flatten it using a bone folder. Cut it in thirds


Tape the inside of the bottom using sticky strip tape. Decorate with cute paper and voila! Super easy!!

The new Octogon nestabilities

I took Nicholas to the dermatologist today and on the way back, we just happened to go right past Stamper's Alley. Right in front of the store, there they were .. almost all of the new nestabilities. All shapes and sizes. I got the Octogon ones and I love them. I made 2 cards, one with octogons and one with the Labels One nesties which I already had. I also used my Martha Stewart picket fence that Susan sent me. Love it Susan!! What do you think?

Did everyone have a happy Easter?

We did here. I made a big dinner for the 4 of us. We went to Katherine's house Saturday night for an Easter dinner there and that was really good too. Charlie got his stitches out today so that's done. He will go back to see the surgeon in 2 1/2 weeks. He will continue his physical therapy twice a week and each session, they work his arm a little more. Its been 10 days since the surgery so now he is to do a few exercises at home too. He continues to wear the splint WITH the pillow for at least 5 more weeks, he's hoping less. He is allowed to take it off during the day when he is home but it hurts more that way so he's keeping the sling on.

I was helping Nicholas take out the trash today and I tripped over my shoe and down I went. I landed on both knees in the grass but my hands I caught myself with IN THE GRAVEL IN THE ROAD so my left hand (which is the one I just had the surgery on) is KILLING me. It is hurting just to type this so I will cut this short..

My friend Angie got married in Vegas

yesterday. Her mom called me at 11:15 pm, woke me up to tell me (she was so happy she wanted to tell someone! HA) and then I couldn't go back to sleep! I finally did of course, after wanting to text all my Shackie friends but I stayed in bed and eventually did go back to sleep. LOL

CONGRATS TO ANGIE AND KERRY!! BTW, Angie ... what's your new last name?

Saw my first hummingbird of the season today

I took this photo from inside so the glass is between the hummingbird and me but it still came out pretty good.

A freak hail storm this afternoon

Around 5:00, we heard these loud noises hitting the house and this is what was happening. Our power was out for about 20 minutes or so.

In front of the fence or behind it?

I made this ATC for a "fence swap" I am in and I don't know whether the girl should go in front of the fence or behind the fence.





Charlie had his 2nd physical therapy this morning. They really gave him a "work out" today, made his arm go all around and he continues to not have much pain which is great news!! They told him he may be able to take that cushion off the sling in 2 weeks so that will be alot better. He goes back for more therapy on Monday morning.

It was 26 degrees this morning when we woke up. Is it Spring? This should be our LAST cold spell, I hope!!

Is this really Spring?

Its 42 degrees. I gotta drag out the coat again!! Tonight its going to be in the 20's (I think) and Emily has a home soccer game. Brrrrrr!!

Button-up shirts work great for those who have shoulder surgery

and they are easy to put on your arm. But when one wants to wear a tshirt, why not make it easy for them? I saw this idea on a you tube video and he had cut a tshirt all the way down one side and added velcro, that way, you just glide in and out of the tshirt. Nice and easy!! I did 3, all in different colors, gray, blue and green. Charlie loves them!!



Charlie had his first physical therapy today and all went great. He will go twice a week for the first 2 weeks then they will consider having him come once a week, if he continues doing what he is supposed to do. Each session lasts 45 minutes long so I just took some images with me to color. Lots of people were in there with the same brace on their shoulder and each would ask how long they had been in theirs. Its nice to see there is hope in several more weeks, as in 8-9 more weeks!!! He can not use that arm at all yet at home so I wonder if the exercises will start next week at home. He goes back Wednesday morning at 11.

Charlie's arm

This is what his arm looks like wearing that sling 24/7. He can only take it off to shower and do his physical therapy. He has to wear it for 4-6 WEEKS! He has sleep in it too. His arm had this huge bandage on and when we took it off, look at the teeny tiny stitches he has in his arm. 4 little places. That's it.

Its going to be 75 degrees today!!

WOO HOO. I think I will have to get outside and get me some much needed sun. I am so white. Too white!!

Charlie continues to do pretty good. He is not having much pain at all so he has stopped all pain meds. Yesterday he only took 2 Motrins all day and he was sleeping off and on all day. Today he gets to take off his huge bandage (it covers his whole right shoulder) and he can get it wet in the shower. He has his first physical therapy session tomorrow at 9 am so I will take him to that since he still is not supposed to drive.

I continue to get my strength back in my left hand. Its been almost 5 weeks since my surgery and although I have a dull ache alot of days, its not that bad. I still can't hold a gallon of milk with that hand, open a jar with that hand, or grasp anything too heavy. Each week I can do a little more with it.

Nicholas' first soccer game was yesterday at noon but he was invited to a birthday party at the Nascar Speedpark. He went to the party in a hummer limo so he wasn't going to miss that opportunity. He had alot of fun and was gone from 9 am - 7 pm.

I am going to go enjoy this pretty warm weather we're having today as tomorrow a cold front is coming in and its only going to be in the 50's the rest of the week with lows in the 30's at night. I wonder if this will be our last cold front of the season?!

My 10 Wishes Circle Journal

is finally finished!! A circle journal, for those of you who don't know what it is, is a journal that is passed around to several people. Each journal usually has a theme and you have 3 weeks to complete your pages and send it on the next person. The hostess for ALL circle journals that I do is Angie. She is always the perfect hostess. This circle journal is called 10 Wishes and we all had to make 2 pages about what our 10 wishes would be. Its been done since December but I hadn't finished my cover yet and I finally found some large chipboard numbers at Hobby Lobby so I finally finished my journal today. And a special thank you to Pascale who made the word "wishes" on her Cricut for me. Thanks Pascale!!!

The people in the swap were: Me, Joanne, Ellie, Angie, Terry, Chris, Roxie, and Gaerria. Here are the pages if you want to see how great they all are.

So long ER

In its 15th season, ER is over. I love this show and I've watched it from the very beginning. I am going to be sad its over. Check out this clip I found on utube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3r_OOqSVho.

So long ER!!

Charlie's surgery went well

We woke up at 4:30 am to get there by 5:45. Surgery was at 7:15. He had a block put in his arm which means it will be numb for 12-24 hours. They repaired 2 tears in his shoulder and had to add anchors to the bone (ouch!). Surgery was over by 8:30 and we were home by 10:00 am. Stopped to get him pain meds on the way home and he is sleeping soundly in the recliner. He has to wear this HUGE BRACE for 4-6 weeks. The brace has a pillow on it so his arm doesn't lay against his body so it should be interesting for sleeping. (he seems to be fine in the recliner right now).

Who's watching the last show of ER tonight? I'm very sad its ending!!!

I have some birthdays coming up in May .. need to get busy!!

Stamps by: Gorjuss girls, Stampendous

Paper by: Me & My Big Ideas

Punch: Swiss Cheese (EK Success)

Nestie: Labels Four

Charm: Ladybug charm in hair from stash

Technique: Paper pieced dress

Copic markers and Stampin Up markers

Charlie has rotator cuff surgery today

Getting ready to take Charlie to the outpatient surgery center to get his torn rotator cuff all fixed up. Surgery is at 7:30 but we have to be there at 6 am. I am going to come back home to get Nicholas to school at 8:30 and then run back so I'm there when he wakes up. They say we should be home by noon. Wish us luck!!!

We had an exciting soccer game last night ...

We won against Kannapolis 2-1. Guess who scored BOTH goals on our team!! Ms Emily herself!! WOO HOOOOOOO.....

WOW, I can't believe its April already!!

Do you play april fool's jokes on anyone? I have never been one to do that. I remember one year at Nicholas' school, he was in 1st grade. His teacher and another kindergarten teacher were twins. Everyone had a hard time telling them apart. On April Fool's Day, the teachers traded places and each one taught the other one's class for the whole day. Nicholas noticed it right away, I noticed it right away and he told the whole class. No one believed him and then when the kids left to go home, both teachers admitted it. They couldn't believe Nicholas was the only one who noticed! LOL