Productive weekend

I had a busy, but productive weekend. Friday, the last 4 windows were installed at my house. This meant I had no more excuses to stall with window treatments (I've had SHEETS taped up to cover windows in my living room/ dinning room), and decorating for Christmas. I found some red shades and curtains at Tarzhay that I hoped would look okay. The only problem was the Target by me only had 2 of the shades. I found the other 2 in NLR. I hung 2 shades and the curtains on Saturday. I might have used some inappropriate language when I was trying to figure out how to get everything up, and have it be level... Sunday I hung the final 2 shades. Those went relatively quickly now that I had it down to a science. Gotta love the tape measure and level. Once I got the curtains up, I couldn't procrastinate with my Christmas decorations any more. Here are a couple views. I think I'm really liking the red curtains/ shades.


The added bonus with the red curtains/ shades is that maybe it won't look so bare when I take down my Christmas decorations.
Next project: Christmas cards---I don't even have a design thought up yet!
Hope all of you have a great week! Happy birthday to Lynnetta-butta-kid!

Challenges

For Christmas last year, YaYa Kimberly gave us all a paint bucket full of monthly crafting challenges. She included some rough instructions/ ideas of where to start and some embellishments/ supplies we could use each month if we wanted to. Then, once we had completed our project we were to mail it to one of the YaYas according to the mailing list she had made up. Up til last month I had done fairly well meeting my challenge goals. I can already feel that we're coming up to the time of year when the frenetic pace begins. There are always lots of events to get to, and things that must be done. Is it just me, or does it seem to start earlier each year???
Anyway, I finally did my October and November YaYa challenges and they are literally in the mail.
Here's my October card. (Janna, close your eyes if you haven't gotten yours yet). It was supposed to use a picture of a leaf/ leaves, but I used this pretty little stamp instead. The sentiment says "Happy fall Y'all".

Recipe: Fabriano Mediovalis card, PTI summer sunrise cardstock, Stamps Rubber Stampede, Just Rite alphabet, Ink PTI dark chocolate, summer sunrise, pure poppie, ripe avacado.

This next card uses the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge

Recipe: Cardstock PTI pure poppy, SU cool carribean, DP BasicGrey Figgy Pudding, Ribbon/Ink PTI pure poppy, oval hardware/ brads SU, sentiment from SU Cute and Curly.

So my challenge for you in this holiday season, dear reader, is to only take on those projects/ events which will truly enrich the lives of you and yours, and feeds your spirit-like crafting. If you're doing something just for the sake of doing, let that be the thing you say "no" to. Speaking of "feeding the spirit", tonight is my choir's Requiem Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. The program begins at 7pm, and is free. Come join us (if your spirit could use some feeding). It is a memorial service for our loved ones who have died, especially those who have died during the past year.

Have a great week, and happy crafting!

Road Trip!

I got a call last week from LaThonya (one of my dear college roommates from University of Dallas). She invited me to an impromptu gathering of a few old friends from college. The real occassion was to hear the Faure Requiem performed by a mixed group of UD choir alumni, and current UD choir members. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I've sung the Faure Requiem with my choir twice in the last ten years, and it's a favorite of mine. Of course, it was also a great excuse to see LaThonya, Angela, and Elisa. We were missing our other roomie, Lynnette. She had just visited Texas the previous week, and had to get back to NYC. On Saturday, LaThon and I met up and went directly to North Park Mall to do some power shopping and to have lunch at La Madeline. Yum! Their tomatoe basil soup is the best! LaThonya informed me of her wish for a picture perfect, Martha Stewart Thanks Giving at her house. This involved lots of shopping in kitchen stores to find all the accoutrement (table linens, and serving pieces). Then we had dinner at Uncle Julio's, one of our old favorites. Love those fajitas! Next we took a tour of all the old hot spots in Dallas. It's weird how so much has changed, and yet stayed the same. Late that night, we finally got to meet up with Elisa who had been rehearsing with the choir all day. It was so good to see her! Here are a few pics.

This is me and Elisa---otherwise known as Lisa2 (that's supposed to mean squared, I can't figure out how to do a super script 2).


LaThonya


Elisa


Sunday, LaThonya and I slept late, did a little more shopping, and then had brunch at the Mansion on Turtle Creek. It had been quite awhile since I'd been. They have a new chef so the menu had totally changed. The one thing that they did keep on the menu was the tortilla soup---thank goodness. That soup is the whole reason for eating at The Mansion! After gorging ourselves we did yet more shopping, and then headed to the Requiem Mass at Cistercian Monastary. At Cistercian we met up with Angela-another UD roommate, her mother Syvia, and JP-another UDer from back in the day. We were treated to a lovely service. The monastary had great accoustics! I had to hum along in my head, and restrain myself from singing along. Afterward, we all got to talk with Elisa (the star of the whole performance), and her sister Gloria. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures after the Mass. With Monday work looming we all then headed our separate ways. I made VERY good time getting home, and was blessed not to get any speeding tickets.
It was so great to see everyone. I love that we all picked up and drove/ flew from different areas to spend a bit of time together. I think I will have to make more road trips. I've missed my old roomies!

Tagged

I've just been tagged by fellow YaYa, Denise
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself. (See below)
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. (See further below...)
5. Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Random facts:
1. I've never had a cavity, or a broken bone (yet).
2. I'm a Jack of all trades, master of none. I speak (some) German, Italian, and Spanish, but am fluent in none. Someday, I want to be fluent in another language. I also play piano, baritone, and the bugle (none of these at a level that anyone could call "good"--think "easy big note").
3. I subscribe to over 50 blogs, most of them are crafting related.
4. My sister and I used to play "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl". This involved me riding in our pedal powered car (nick-named "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang") while my sister pushed so I could go really fast. I of course, was Electra Woman.
5. I love to sing when I'm alone in the car. It's hard to really get into it if I'm worried about other drivers seeing me so I do my best singing at night when no one can see me.
6. I have a punctuation addiction. As you may have noticed, I love elipses...(is that the proper plural form of elipse?). I have a hard time remembering all those punctuation rules, so I often throw in an extra comma, or twelve. (I'm also a big fan of parentheses).

All of my blogging friends have already been tagged so I won't pick on anyone. If anyone would like to play along, feel free to post in the comments section.

Have a great week!

Back in the groove

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! I've had a fun weekend. Friday night I went out with friends to celebrate YaYa Debbie's birthday. Happy birthday Debbie! Saturday, Kimberly and I did some crafting. The results can be seen below. Saturday night I went to an Oktoberfest party at Carol and Eric's house. My sister brought my nephew for a few minutes to show off his lederhosen that she bought when we were in Germany earlier this year. I taught him to say "guten tag"...too cute! I probably should have taught him guten abend, but oh well. Anyway, look at the cutest little nephew EVAH!

Now, on to the crafty stuff.... I don't think I'll ever tire of SU's Baroque Motifs. The color combo was from an SCS challenge that I jotted down a while back, and finally remembered to use.

Recipe: Cardstock- SU certainly celery, not quite navy, bashful blue, ink- not quite navy, stamps- baroque motifs, sentiment PTI.

Judging by these next few cards, you might think it's really cold here in Little Rock. Not so. We had gorgeous weather this weekend, and even did some driving around in Kimberly's convertible with the top down.
This card uses SCS sketch challenge 187 for the layout.

Recipe: Cardstock and ink PTI dark chocholate, vanilla, DP PTI chocolate remix, ribbon PTI.

These next cards use my new Papertrey Ink set Snowfall. I love the little mittens and snowflakes.

Recipe: Carstock/ Ink PTI Ocean tides and aqua mist, Ribbon PTI, Stamps PTI Snowfall- mittens are covered in Martha Stewart brownstone glitter.


Recipe: Carstock/ Ink PTI Ocean tides and aqua mist, Ribbon PTI, Stamps PTI Snowfall


Recipe: Cardstock PTI kraft, pure poppy, Ink PTI pure poppy, Pallette Noir, Ribbon PTI pure poppy, twine SU.

I just had a call from LaThonya, one of my old University of Dallas roommates. I may meet up with some of the girls for the weekend. The UD Collegium Cantorum is celebrating is 15th anniversary, and will be singing a Requiem Mass. That will be a nice excuse to get all of us together. Unfortunately, I think Lynnette will have just ended her Tejas visit, and will be back in NYC. My choir at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew will be having it's Requiem Mass November 10th at 7pm. It is free and open to the public.
Have a great week, and happy crafting!

Follower

Wow, I actually have a "follower", and it's someone I don't even know! I'm not sure I'm super comfortable with the term "follower" since that would make me a leader. How about we just walk along side by side? Click on the "follower" link in the top of the right side bar to join me in my "adventures".

One month

Wow, a whole month has gone by since I posted anything. How did that happen??? What have I accomplished in the last month? I did get my windows put in (except for the last 4). I saw The Pajama Game with my friend Lisa (not me, my friend Lisa). It was pretty cute. I really need to get back into the swing of being "Julie, cruise director" (remember from The Love Boat) and book some tickets to see Les Miserables at The Rep. I've heard it's awesome. I've seen it a couple of times at other venues, but I would love to see it again. Last weekend we had a YaYa day here at my house. We had a good time seeing each other, crafting, and eating. As always with the YaYas, the topic hit the gutter at some point in the day. I can't go into it here in "polite" company. ;-)
This weekend Kimberly, Pig, and I did a virtual YaYa day. Here are some of the cards I made. The first uses SCS sketch challenge 195. I am so loving this SU Urban Garden DP.

Recipe: Cardstock SU basic gray, going gray, and kiwi kiss, DP SU Urban Garden, Ink SU night of navy, Stamps PTI Floral Frenzy and SU Upsy Daisy.

This next card is a super simple one I did last weekend.

Recipe: Cardstock SU basic gray and kiwi kiss, DP SU Urban Garden, Stamp SU Upsy Daisy.

This card uses SCS sketch challenge 187. I like this layout. Seriously, did I mention that I love this Urban Garden DP???

Recipe: Cardstock SU kiwi kiss, basic gray and soft sky, DP SU Urban Garden, Rub-ons SU Bella Chateau.

This card uses that same SCS sketch 187.

Recipe: Cardstock SU Real Red and Cool Caribbean, DP BasicGrey Figgy Pudding, Stamp SU Cute and Curly with punch, ribbon Michael's, ink Pallette Noir.
Have a great week!

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