Ozzie

I took this picture a few days ago of one of my dogs Ozzie. He is the sweetest boy ever. He is a rescue dog my son got from a shelter in Iowa back in 2005. He has some health issues, with his back legs, but he is such a lovey. I love the way his face looks in the picture. One of me looking down and his sweet eyes looking up. This is the gentle hopeful look I get everytime I see him and he just makes me happy. I like having my toes sneak in the picture because it reminds me to appreciate those smaller moments that make me smile.

Winner

How cool - I was picked a winner to receive one of these beautiful necklaces from Kelly Rae Roberts. The first time I ever won something from posting on a blog - YIIIPPPPEEEEEE. I can;t wait to see which one I get. Thank you Kelly Rae

(Picture was copied from Kelly Rae's blog post http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/

giveaway winners are.

moe made wins the necklace.
barbara lewis wins a print by pixie.
michelle also wins a print by pixie.
lulusparkles wins the necklace by beth quinn.

Cards

This is a set of note cards using DCWV note card, scrap green card stock layered with scrap white card stock. Edged with distress shabby shutters ink, Unity Stamp co scroll, giggle and bird stamp, scrap kraft circle raised with pop dot. Images stamped with brown chalk ink and the bird is colored with sharpie marker.



This is a get well card I made for a friend - using curry card from Paper source, scrap paper, cupcake stamp is from Unity Stamp Co -
http://www.unitystampco.com/stamps/1992-US1018W_1234_Thousand_Cupcake_Calories - The other stamp "Maybe a cupcake will help?" is from Inkadinkado. I colored the cupcakes with prism colored pencils.

SURPRISE

I came home to this on my doorstep. What a wonderful surprise. My fantastic son Brian bought this for me for Mother's day. Just thinking of Boo makes me happy. He lives so far away in San Diego and I miss him lots. I know he is happy and safe living in California, so that brings some comfort, but still tough for me that he is that far away. He has the biggest heart and is so generous. I love him to pieces. Thanks again Boo, every time I use it I will smile and think of you !!

Mini Birthday Banner

I have to get in the habit of posting more often. I made this mini birthday banner and listed it on in Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26189154. I scalloped punch 3" circles from patterned cardstock and used Heidi Swap chipboard letters. The cupcake stamp is from Unity Stamp Co. (Love that place). I think it turned out really sweet.

Catch up 5/20/09

So it has been a bit of time since posting. I attended a great event in North Carolina - Donna Downey's Inspired 2009. It was so cool. I took mini classes that I made - An acrylic album, three pages to go in the acrylic album, a mini water color book/album, an art ring, a house shaped collage, a Theresa Collins acrylic album, a painted canvas bag and carved my own rubber stamps. Friday the main classes started with a really cool travel folio, then we worked with metal embossing and ended with an actual painted self portrait on canvas. The Saturday main classes started with a fabric journal, then we created polymer clay beads to create a watch and then the last one a really cool collage with different elements. It was so cool to meet Donna and the other teachers, I feel like she is a rock star. We had a great table group that went form main class to the next. The event was like speed crafting, I can't believe how quickly it went by. But it was SO COOL. I will definitely go back again. It was very renewing. Met some really fun people and got to do what I totally enjoy doing - creating !! Wow , I wish I could do this full time - some day. Words can't explain how meaningful this event was to me !!!

Here is a shot of the Group B table ladies at dinner on Saturday night. (top left to right - Roberta, Anna, Barb - seated - Heather, Nancy and Maureen)

Easter Weekend

Did a road trip to ISU this Saturday. Barb, Melissa, Red and I went to go see our cousin Pat Brynes in his last play at ISU. He was Peron in Evita. He was FANTASTIC !!! He has so much talent and I can not wait to see him grow and succeed. I will also be a big fan and stalk him when he becomes famous !!! We took him to lunch at Flat Tops and did a little shopping before the show. The four of us had a few cocktails after the show. Easter morning we woke up to a knock at the door and the Easter Bunny (aka Barb) left us a bag full of goodies. How sweet was that !! Driving home, my engine light came on about 1/2 hour from home, it made me nervous. So tomorrow I have to make arrangements to get that looked at. I hate car trouble. am glad that the car did not break down on the road.

Successful Play date for Tank

So I took Tank over to play with Gab, my brother's dog. He and Gabe played very nice together. I am really glad, because this is his first meet and greet with another dog since I have had him. So I am happy to see he gets along well with other dogs. I am hoping this poops him out for a bit. The picture shows how pooped he is after the play date. It also gives Ozzie a break !!!

Sad news but its good to have Friends

Today I attended the service of a friend's of mine father who passed away. Miss Daph-O-Knee. It was a very lovely service. It was so touching to hear friends, coworkers and family speak about Ivan Fair. So kind, a funny man, great co-worker. How nice to hear those these as I hope it gave Daphne some comfort. Daphne also spoke. It was emotional for her, but very touching and she got through it. I am so proud of her. She is so strong. I know she will be hurting for awhile and I hope I can make her smile sometimes during her down days. We went to Grace O'Malleys after the service. It was nice to spend some time with friends -Tracy and John Hill, Michelle and Tim Highland, Daphne and Jerry Leary - they are good people. I am very lucky to have them in my life. God Bless Ivan Fair - thank you for having such a wonderful daughter.

CATCHING UP

OK - I am wayyyyyyy behind and there is a lot of stuff that has gone on that I wished blogged about so I am going to do a quick catch up.


3/28/09 I need to go pick up the packet for the Shamrock Shuffle 5K walk that is tomorrow. I ear that we might get snow tomorrow, up to 5 inches - WHAT. It is the end of March. I am so over the cold weather. Bring on Spring.
3/27/09 - Henz dinner at Flatops on Washington. I had never been there before. It was good. It was a build your own stir fry. Had some good food and even better conversation with Michelle, Tracy, Daphne and myself.
3/24/09 - The South Side Irish parade on Western ave. has been shut down. They are saying the committee has chosen to end it because it is getting to big. Boy, I have had a lot of good memories on many parade days.
3/21/09 - Haircut and highlights - the new blonder color and cut gave some life to my hair -so the body wave is at the point I wanted it to be.
3/12/09 thru 3/15/09 - Scrap event at Lake Geneva. Eileen, Laura, Maryann and myself. We stayed at the Best western across from the lake. Did some shopping, eating, drinking and scrapping. another wonderful weekend with the girls.

2/28/09 - Breakfast with Nancy, Eileen and MaryAnn then headed to the Elmhurst Scrapbook and stamping consignment sale. I was selling stuff andpicked up some good bargains
2/21/09 - Got a body wave - am I digressing? I was looking for some nice soft curls. Didn't turn out like I thought but time will tell.
2/15/09 - Brunch with the gaggle and then onto see Elaine Harris' play Amadeus in Oak Park. She is very talented and it was a great show!
2/14/09 - Was gratefully invited to dinner by Jackie and Mitchell at Il Mulino - It was an excellent meal and even better company
2/9/09 thru 2/12/09 - NYMEX - trained the users on Netplus
2/7/09 - Scrapmania at Archivers

1/30/09 - Dinner with Colleen, Lynn and Jack Ryan - Went to LaFiesta and then back to Jack's. Had a very enjoyable evening.
1/22/09 - Happy 1st Birthday Tank
1/17/09 - Haircut and color - got some red, a little different - trying to get used to it. Went to another scrapmania at Archivers - very fun


12/27/08 - Archivers 12 hour scrap- was supposed to be Gurnee, but the weather was bad, so I went to Orland instead. Scrapping makes me happy.
12/20/08 - Ferriter /ODonnell Christmas party at my house - Another nice event
12/14/08 - Archivers with the scrappin Ho's - Eileen, Laura, Nancy and Mary Ann
12/4/08 - Gaggle night out - at POPS - the place for Champagne - it was a sly delayed birthday outing for me. I LOVE champagne. It was a fun night.

11/27/08 - Happy Thanksgiving - I ran the Running for Kicks 4 mile Turkey Trot. It was a little tougher than I thought because of the hills. I walked in a couple places, but overall still did well. It was cool to do that the morning of Thanksgiving
11/25/08 - Happy Birthday to Brian - 23
11/15/08 - Ran in the Wonder Girl 5K - not a good run, had to walk in places. but it was a cool event for young girls.
11/4/08 - Election day - I was an election judge at South East School - What an event because we elected the first African American president, who I also voted for. A very special day to bring the county back to a positive place.
11/2/08 - Ran the Hot Chocolate 5K at Montorse Harbor - 33:18 - my best time - got to have some chocolate after - very yummy !!!!

10/30/08 - Went to SXU to listen to Mary Matalin and James Carville speak. That was another good hour spent listening to two good speakers
10/26/08 - Ran the Trick or Treat Trot at Montrose Harbor - 35:35 - my time got better. it was pretty chilly out that day.
10/20/08 - Happy Birthday to me - 43
10/18/08 - Ran the Pumpkins in the Park 5K by Lincoln Park Zoo - 38:22 - not the best time, but again I did it !!
10/16/08 - Went and saw Kathy Griffin at the Chicago Theatre with Tracy Hill. That was my first comedy show. It was really funny.
10/9/08 thru 10/12/09 - Croppin Cottage - Always a great weekend scrapping with the girls !!
10/4/08 - RAN MY FIRST 5K - ran the whole thing, non stop. WHOO -HOOOO. Then went for drinks at Kathy Bant's condo and then went to dinner. Kathy, Nancy, Jon, Janet, Jackie, Mitchell, Elaine, Julie, Chip, Meg and Maura.
10/3/08 - Tank's vet appointment at Hilltop
10/2/08 - Went and saw Alanais Morrisette at the Chicago Theatre - great concert

9/27/08 - Susan G Komen 5K walk in Grant Park - with Colleen and Lynn - had lunch at Kitty O Shea's - very humbling day as Lauren was not with us. I also went to pick up a new addition to the family. I brought Ozzie with to me "Drake" - things went well and we brought him home with us. I changed his name to Tank, because that fits him. He still is driving Ozzie buts, because he just wants to play. He is a Great Dane / American Bull Dog mix - they think - he is a rescue dog. He is 8 months old - born 1/22/09. He actually has a very sweet personality. I am glad he is coming home with me. On the way home he shewed thru his leash and ended up in the front seat with me half way home. I picked him up from Indiana so this was a little difficult to drive with him trying to get onto my lap, since he is by no means a lap dog.
9/26/08 - Henz dinner at Cafe Iberico - Daph, Nizzi and myself - Always the best time
9/25/08 - Went to listen to to Elie Weisel speak at SXU - very intriguing hour
9/22/08 - ran 36 minutes non stop - WOW - ON the treadmill in NY
9/21/08 - Had to say goodbye to Boo - very sad - Headed off to NY for work
9/20/08 - Had the family over to visit with Boo - great time - wish he was home for good
9/17/08 - Boo came home for a visit from Sand Diego - YEAH