It's been awhile since I've been in my stamping routine.  In previous posts I've mentioned a little of what has been going on.  My son left at 5:45AM this morning to spend the next 7 weeks in China.  He's taking an intensive language course in Mandarin in addition to spending time in various villages, learning to cook Chinese food and many site seeing tours.  This is all arranged through his university in Boston.  He was very excited to go and I have no doubt that he will come back a changed young man.  I'm so stinkin' proud of him.

So, "normalcy" hit me pretty hard this morning.  No visitors to entertain, my daughter's prom is over, my son has come and gone...it's been nice to have a change in my normal routine, but alas, my routine is back.  It's not all bad though.  I have missed stamping and look forward to having time to create again.

I knew I would have to rely on a sketch to help me get started - my creative juices have been stifled for too long.  Julee always has great sketches so I turned to Mojo Monday Week 84 for help.

I knew I needed to make a "happy card".  I don't know what that means really, but I wanted to stay away from dark colors.  I pulled out a set I have never used - Crazy for Cupcakes.  I thought this image lended nicely to the sketch and it also forced me to open my package of Tea party designer paper.  I even added Dazzling Diamond glitter to each cupcake, although it's hard to tell in the photo.  All of those things make me happy, so I guess I succeeded in making a "happy card".  Over all, I'm pretty pleased with my first attempt to "realign myself with the stamping stars".  Baby steps...

Perhaps next time I can actually create a Mojo Monday sketch on Monday rather than Thursday...

Have a great day.

This has been one of those weeks of extreme emotions.  The beginning of the week had me saying good bye to one of my friends after an awesome 5 day visit.  By Tuesday, my daughter and I were ramping up for Prom and getting all the last minute essentials in place.  Simultaneously, we were getting excited about my son coming home from college for a few days before he heads to China for 2 months.  The week ended yesterday with the news that my best friend had to put her dog to sleep.  By the time I finally went to bed last night, I was completely exhausted.

For some people, hearing about the loss of a pet isn't a big deal.  I'm not one of those people, but I have come to learn that a lot of people simply don't share the emotional attachment to animals like I do.  I recognize that there are some people who consider me "over-the-top" when it comes to what I will do for my dog.  I don't care.  I love her.  She is an integral part of my life.  (Don't even get me started about the whole Michael Vic story - I had a much better plan for him than a few months in jail.  But, I digress.)  So, when my friend told me of her dog's illness a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but feel her pain.  We talked every day and I received updates of hope and then setbacks.  She's 1300 miles away from me and I wanted more than anything just to be by her side.  Yesterday was the hardest day of her life when she had to say good bye to her constant companion, and oddly enough, I cried as if I had lost my own pet.  

I never know what to say to someone who is in the midst of grief.  My intentions are good, but I always fumble for words.  But then I realize there really isn't a lot people can say to make things better.  It's just something that people have to go through - it's a process - and a long one at that.  The hardest part about grieving is that we have to face the hard reality that the world doesn't stop to grieve with us.  It's almost cruel to know that the rest of the world keeps going even when we beg for things to stop - even for a moment.  I made a card for my friend today.  I have no idea what I'm going to say in it, but I know it will mean a lot to her just knowing that someone is acknowledging her grief.

I certainly didn't intend this post to be this long and I realize this is a stretch for a stamping blog, but at the moment it's a close to a diary that I have.  It's cathartic and I needed an outlet.

So as not to end on a down note, I wanted to share some of the joy in my life too...

Today is my daughter's Senior Prom.  She looked so beautiful and so happy.  I can't believe she is graduating in 4 weeks! 

Thank you for spending some of your time with me today. 

Mary Ann

  ...gator huntin'!  Yep, its true - we went lookin' for gators over the weekend and did we ever find them!

Maybe I should explain...every year about this time my husband and I get very popular.  I like to think that it has to do with our dynamic and fun-loving personalities but the truth is, it has more to do with our location and our Orlando address.  Being from the North, we have lots of friends and family that are at their wits end with Winter.  Just about this time each year we get calls and emails from people who we assumed had fallen off the face of the Earth, but all of a sudden they are eager to see us and to "reconnect".  It's all good - we don't mind.  We love spending time with our guests and offering the reprieve they so desparately need.  This year we had back-to-back guests so I've been out of my stamping routine for almost two weeks.  My last guest leaves tomorrow so I hope to be stamping later that day, but in the meantime I thought it would be fun to share our adventure with the alligators.  We took my friend to an alligator sanctuary about 10 miles from my house.  We took an airboat ride along the St. John's River and captured some great pictures of some of the alligators.  It's just about mating season, so they were everywhere!

I hope you enjoy the pictures.  Click on the photos for some great close-ups.  I'll be back to my "regularly scheduled program" as soon as I can.

This first picture is of me and my daughter, Rachel, on the airboat.  Headsets are a necessity due to the noise of the fans.

This picture is of the St. John's River as we make our way down to find some gators and other wildlife.

We spotted a bald eagle on our tour.  What an awesome bird.

How's this for a gator?  We were told he's about 8 feet long.

Lots 'o gators.  They were getting a little ticked with us for disrupting their sunbathing.  We counted over 31 gators along this bank.  Click the photo for a better view.

Close-up

At the end of the trip, everyone is allowed to hold "Hollywood"  - a 2-year old gator.  Here we are a little wind-blown but relieved not to have been a gator snack!

It was a great day.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek.

Mary Ann

I made it.  I made it through Spring Break, I made it through another year of marriage, and I made it through a party of 10 hormonal teenagers on the brink of graduation.  The marriage part wasn't that hard, and honestly, the party wasn't that bad either, but I won't deny that I'm glad it's over (the party that is, not the marriage).  What I always seem to forget is that it is MY responsibility to clean up after my daughter and her friends.  Who am I to think that they would clean up their mess?  Sheesh...what was I thinking?

In addition to the "teenager party", I went to my BFF's bridal shower yesterday too.  I couldn't mention it in previous posts because it was a surprise party and she appeases me every now and then by reading this blog.  The surprise went off without a hitch and it was a great time (thanks Vicki!).  Of course, I had my trusty Nikon camera with me and snapped a few photos.  The result?  A new profile picture of yours truly.  Bid deal, right?  Well, I thought it was time to update it.  My last picture was almost 2 years old and the truth is I've changed a bit...by about 20 pounds.  UGH!  Let's not go there...Instead of making this a post of self-affirmation, let's just say I've become more...voluptuous.  Isn't that a great word?  It even sounds sexy.  So, that's what I'm going with...voluptuous. 

Enough non-stamping babble.  Today's card is a card I made prior to all of the week's events.  Posting it became an issue because I can't get the lighting right, but I'm hoping you get the idea.  This is what I call a swing card.

The card uses some of the new products from the new Occasions mini catalog.  This catalog runs from April 1 through June 30.  If you haven't taken a look at it yet, you should!  There are some fantastic new products including stamps, a new Big Shot die and new designer series paper to name a few.  And, of course, if you would like to place an order for any of these fabulous products, I'm your girl.  Simply click the 24 hour shopping tab on the top right column of my blog.  I'm happy to help you.

It's good to be back blogging again.  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:

Stamps: Oval All

Paper: Basic Gray, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Corduroy button, Scallop Oval Punch, large and small oval punches, I" circle punch

I just realized that my scheduled post for Monday never appeared - bummer.  Now that the week is almost over, I'll still tell you that I'm taking a short break from blogging this week.  Between Spring Break, my wedding anniversary, a party for a dozen teenagers and preparing for out of town guests, I've got to set aside the stamps for a few days.  I'll be back on Monday - as long as these teenagers don't put me in an early grave.

See you then!

Mary Ann