Thursday, February 19, 2009

Some Days are Better Than Others

I'm in my comfy chair with the footrest up. I have Precious between my lower legs. She's all snuggled in and sleeping soundly. She's been there most of the day as I have been - sitting in my comfy chair.

Some days are just better than others! I am so blessed. Things that affect me could be much more serious than they currently are. We went to the dentist yesterday. I got an A+. I love clean teeth. I also know that it's been said that if you keep your mouth very clean, the chances that your arteries are also very clean is very good. I hope that's true in my case!

I have glaucoma. I also have an auto immune disease that is attacking my eyes. Things have been so good, but last week, I noticed a blurring in both eyes. I can see better without my glasses, but not perfectly. I have floaters that look like jellyfish, black spots, and hair impeding my vision. I have a bag filled with eye glasses because I just never know which pair will work which day! I did find a pair that has helped with the up close vision. I need to make my appointment to get in to see the doctor. I wish my Las Vegas opthamologist had a branch office here. I miss him. He was the best in Las Vegas. I feel like I'm getting cataracts, but I've already had them removed and implants put in. The meds caused the cataracts. It's been such a struggle. Throughout all of this mess, I've really tried to stay positive. I am just in a slump right now, I guess. I worry that I'm going to lose my eyesight. That makes me want to scrap faster all the more.

I did a couple of layouts this weekend. They aren't very fancy. I had to work BIG! Not much detail on either one. It was just too difficult. Here they are:

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You Stole My Heart


It's hard to see, but under the black rhinestone key are small rhinestones that spell "heart." I also added pale orange rhinestones to the scalloped Crate paper edge. I am trying to use up the BG Ambrosia I bought. I bought soooooooooo much in addition to all the accompanying goodies - buttons, chipboard, stickers, stamp, brads...

This layout is of me. I've had the pink scalloped paper for years and decided to cut it up, LOL. That was really hard as I really love papers with the scalloped edge. The background cardstock is a beautiful pale green. The photo just didn't pick it up. It looks like an ugly gray green in the photo. I don't know why the camera didn't like the cardstock. I added some bling here and there and painted some wooden flourishes. It looks so much better IRL. LOL Note the sunglasses. They were a birthday, Mother's Day, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Christmas, be nice to Chris gift, all wrapped up in one. I have never had expensive sunglasses and my getting these was an accident! These are sunglasses that movie stars buy! My sweet husband was there when the gal told us the price. I tried not to choke. My sweet husband said, "That's fine. We'll take them." That was three years ago. They are still in perfect shape (but I think I'm afraid to wear them all the time). I should journal how I got them and add it to the layout.

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Love Yourself Wholeheartedly


Gosh, I feel happier after writing about the sunglasses purchase. That was so funny! I couldn't even find my voice when the gal asked me if I wanted them (after she said the price.) DAH! **choke, choke** Move over Paris Hilton!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I so love that you cared enough to visit. I'm almost to 5,000 hits!

Come back soon!

XO,

chris

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Love is in the Air

Before I start yammering too much, I would like to ask you to say a prayer or send a positive thought to those in Victoria, Australia who have lost so much in the recent, tragic fires. So many lives have been lost and so much devastation has been left in the fire's path. For those Aussies who read my blog, I have had you in my prayers. Stay safe!

Love is truly in the air. You can't get away from the Valentine's Day hype! We're going out to dinner and that's it! My next task is to make DH his card. I can't believe some of the things they are "hawking" on TV. Have you ever noticed that the Open Heart necklace that Jane Seymour is pitching for Kay Jewelers looks like a "Z" for Zales Jewelers? Ha! Look at the very end of the commercial. It looks like a fancy "Z!"

We had snow flurries yesterday (LOVE IT) and now it is quite cold and windy. I savor every day of cold temps because I know what is soon going to be here - temps over 100 for months!

I've done some love themed layouts. Here they are:

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I Give You My Heart


When I saw this paper, even though it was Christmas, I knew it would be a perfect Valentine paper! Those hearts were meant for Valentine's Day! There is a sheet from this line that has all those hearts printed on it. I decided to cut them out and turn them into a flower. Each heart has been elevated on a pop dot to give some dimension. The yellow heart and the butterfly are made of felt. The handsome man in the photo is my sweet DH.

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Once Upon a Time


This is DH and me on our wedding day. Look at how happy DH's face is! Love that mustache! You can't tell from the photo, but on the heart paper, all the white hearts are glittery as is the white cardstock on the flowers and the circle surrounding the photo. The LO just sparkles! I had this ribbon that I've used so sparingly in the past. It's almost gone, and I'll be heartbroken when I haven't any more, LOL. Also, there is a space between the bottom layer and the top layer of flowers which gives the LO much dimension. I love elevating things on pop dots. The papers are Doodlebug in case you were wondering.

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Two in Love


I wish you could see how pretty this layout is IRL. I used papers with glitter so there is sparkle on some of the squares. I also took the chipboard alphas and circle, covered them with red Stickles and then dumped a very fine red glitter on them while the Stickles were still wet. I let that dry overnight. I also did the same with the little white hearts which I have also elevated on pop dots. I cut each of the squares using my Nestabilities scalloped square set available through Happy Scrappin' Scrapbooking.

The best investment I have made is my Cuttlebug. With that little gadget, I can use the Nestie dies as well as all my Quickutz and Sizzix dies. If you don't have a Cuttlebug, you would be smart to get one. They are also available through Happy Scrappin' Scrapbooking

Here is the last LO with the Valentine theme.

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Young Love


My two sweeties look so young, don't they? This was only four years ago! The four of us had gone out to dinner at a local casino that has a fantastic Chinese restaurant. We had so much fun! Love you guys! XOXO

For this LO, I used some heart embossed cardstock. Then, I cut out parts of KI lace cardstock for the flowers. The patterned paper behind the photo has flocked hearts. The flower in the upper right is elevated and built up with layers of flowers, heart shaped stick pins, and doily. I cut the circle from my last sheet of this red and white striped paper. *sad face* I liked it because it doesn't compete with the rest of the design. I added red rhinestones to some of the flower centers and added buttons and smaller flowers to others. I love all sorts of textures on a LO.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you like what I've done!

XO
Chris

Monday, February 2, 2009

Peanut Butter Recall

OK, here is the greatest product around. It's called PB2 - and made by Bell Plantation. What is it? It's peanut butter powder (and it comes in chocolate peanut butter)! All you do is add water to make a paste to use. It has 85% less fat calories than regular peanut butter.

With the current peanut butter recall, I decided to contact the FDA as well as Bell Plantation to ask if their product was safe. Would you believe I actually got a response from the FDA giving PB2 the green light? I was stunned. I figured Bell Plantation would say their product was safe, but I never thought the FDA would take the time to answer.

Now, on another topic. There is some sort of number that Feedjit (the box on the right) applies to blogs. The title, "Today's Top Blogs in Washington County," ranks blogs by something I don't understand. Today, I went to the link and got to page 40 something and never saw my little blog. However, topics like "My Milky Orange Cabbage," "Things to do with Pudding," "Chicken Chimichangas," and "Suzie's Pretty Hair Bows" managed to be on pages before I gave up. What's with that?

So, please pass my blog on to the universe! LOL Maybe, then, I'll wind up on page 25 or 26! LOL.

I just had to whine.

Love ya,

Chris