My Eclectic View

after post thought

2012-01-02T09:39:00.001-05:00

Looking at my blog............after I posted........I find that you will not find the atc unless you click on the archives for 2009.

2012

2012-01-02T09:25:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

This is a very poor photo of the Christmas card I made for 2011.

I have a new printer and scanner.......and software to go with it and it isn't as easy to use as the old one was...

It will take me a while to get used to it.

Hence the picture is crooked and I have not figured out how to straighten it.

The card stock is SU Cherry Cobbler, Shimmer White and

JA light blue.

On the card itself I used Delicate Doilies with Versa Mark and sprinkled on glitter embossing powder from Powder Keg (Red Rose) to give a shimmering red on red look.

The ribbon is from JA and the image is from Dover Publications.

And I see that this must be one of my more fav images from Dover because I have used it before in an ATC (if you scroll down you will find it).

2011-01-16T09:01:00.005-05:00

Well, I have been away from my blog so long I can't figure out how to add a picture. It may take some time to figure this out, since I am having trouble with Explorer right now.

I will try to come back in chrome and see if the page looks any different. I don't see an icon or bar to click on.

I have lots to show you and share with you. Hopefully I will get this figured out

Well I couldn't figure it out in Explorer............so I am on Chrome and my compose button has shown up and even

the icons with a publish button.

I'm all set for right now, but still have to

get the technicians to figure out what is going on in explorer........Hmmm??!!

I'm going to start with the cards I made for Christmas and we will go from there.

The first one is using bright red, black and white cs(I used shimery white from SU). The ds paper is light gray and has a muted design in white. I spritzed the paper with glimmer mist and then embossed with the larger folder from Sizzix summer waves collection. The embellishments are silver sticky buttons that come in 3 sizes on the same sheet (found at JA or M or just about anywhere) I used the large size for the corners and the med for the sides and the the small for the top and bottom.

The ornament is from the SU ornament punch with silver cording looped and tied through the hole punched in the center top. I used black glitter paper for the ornament. The greeting is a sticker, but as you will see on the next picture I did stamp some also. For these I used black half round jewels, self sticking and also came in 3 sizes. The stamp is from SU Seasons Greeting Collection.

ATC cards

2010-09-06T10:31:00.004-04:00

This is a dimensional card---one of my dining room plaques was the inspiration for this. It was a swap with a group of friends and I will post theirs as well.
I used mod podge colored with brown acrylic paint to create the background. I also used clear mod podge on the flowers after I scrunched them to give them a little firmness. Then I stamped the vase image on the card and stamped the image a second time on separate piece of card stock. These I cut out and used dimensional pop dots to lift them off the image. The seed beads are on a jump ring and are slipped over the neck of the vase and secured with a pop dot. I used twisted rafia for the corners and mini brads for the flowers.

Ah hem................yes, I'm still alive.

2010-09-06T10:07:00.006-04:00

I know everyone thought I dropped off the face of the earth..............but I am still here.
Time has flown by.........................even I can't believe how long it has been since my last post.
Let's blame work...................this has been a major stressor in my live this year. It has eased up lately, but I don't expect it to stay that way for long. Too many things are happening and I expect it to overload the system (more work than workers) eventually and come to rest in our office for us to complete. I know that is cryptic----but if I start listing it all---I would be here forever.
Instead let's focus on some fun things. I have been able to do some cards and atc's and even a layout here and there and I will post them.
I am looking forward to fall---the summer was too hot for me----my allergies have been worse this year than in the last 15 years and fall is one of my favorite seasons.

January Thaw

2010-01-16T09:42:00.003-05:00

We all wait for the January thaw and it has arrived.
I think that we have less to thaw this year than most years. However, that does depend on exactly where you live.
For my part of Michigan--it will be nice for the snow to melt into the ground and for the frigid temps to rise above freezing.
In a month it will be Valentines Day and I do have a card swap due Monday that I am actually ready for!! We chose Valentine's Day as the theme.
The card that I made--I scraplifted the idea from The Inking spot of Crains Creations and worked with what I had on hand. I made my scallop circle larger than I think it should have been, but went with it anyway.
The lighter pink cardstock is from Paper Company and is Rosebud Metallic, the darker pink is from JA's.
I use the Cricut to cut the scallop circle and the circle.
The heart was cut with the sizzix embosslit Double Heart.
The sample use small brads where I used Liquid Pearls. I don't know where I bought the ribbon from or the stamp. I smudged the white circle with Close to Cocoa (SU) and stamped the words with Chocolate Kiss, also SU.
Once I assembled the circles, the heart and let the liquid pearls dry and stamped the sentiment I sprayed it with Garnet Ritzy Ditzy Glitz from Paper Gardens.
The patterned paper is one of my favorite patterns from Basic Grey--Bittersweet Vanilla/Fudge.
If you want to see the original it is posted on Crain Creations Blog. If your interested email me at m1stowers@yahoo.com and I will find the link for you.

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T22:16:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year!! It is 2010!!! This is the first day of the new year.
I spent time with dh this morning and then reconnected with a long time friend and did some shopping.
I like the way this is going!!!
Great start to a new year.
I have been busy in the stamp cave also, but not today........... YET!

The card above on the left was cut out using the cricut Wild Card cartridge, stamped with a Stampin Up stamp from 2007 ( I don't know what set it went to) and then circles of different sizes with the top one cut from the Stampin Up Scallop Circle punch. The leaf stamp is a favorite of mine, but it is not from stampin up. Very simple design, but that isn't what I really want to show you.
When I was scanning it and cropping it to put in my computer file I accidentally hit the negative choice and the card on the top is what I saw. I kinda liked it so I saved it to use on my digital scrapbook pages.
Sometimes an oops becomes an oh yeah!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

2009-12-23T14:56:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a very blessed and happy holiday. I hope you are able to enjoy time with the ones who mean the most to you, share memories and make new memories together.
I'm not one to make new resolutions each year since most of the ones I did make are a ongoing kind of thing---like losing weight and keeping it off---being more patient with everyone---and being continuously grateful for the many blessings that I have already. Each new day I subconsciously or consciously keep those items on my mind.
Have most wonderful season--what ever it is that you are celebrating.

(Angel compliments of ScrapGirls)

2009-12-11T15:01:00.003-05:00

Well, we finally made it past fall and into winter. I have most of my Christmas shopping done and the tree is up. I still have to wrap gifts and finish decorating the house.
It seems really odd not to have the bubble lights on the tree this year. We bought a new tree and it is prelit and it does look nice--but I miss my bubble lights.
It is just like I told my son the other day--there are two constants in our lives. We all die eventually and the other is that things are always changing.
This tree was much easier to put up---and Bob and I are not getting younger--and realistically we should start thinking about making things easier for us--well me, Bob is not much for Christmas decorating. I guess if it's easier on me--I'm less grumpy--so it is easier on him.
But anyway, my carousel and bubble lights are not on the tree.
...............and I miss them.
OK enough of that--
We went to a party where my dad lives--most of the residents families were there---and there was a lot of excitement. Santa came and passed out presents to the residents--there was also a karioke singer there and he was singing Christmas songs (what else would he sing??LOL). Dad discovered all goodies on the counter and wanted to fill his pockets for later (this is a story for another time)--so he would have snacks. He just wanted the cookies and the candy--nothing healthy and he had already had 2-3 servings of those yummy snacks.
We decided that we should separate my dad and the temptations--we had no control over the temptations so we took my dad out for a ride to get something to eat. He was happy with that.
By the time we came back most of the families had gone and the caregivers had the "temptations" put away and they were being treated to McDonalds--which they all thoroughly enjoyed.
I think when we left dad was planning to sit down with them--cause he knows that dessert follows dinner--he might be just in time for that!
Funny what he remembers!
Incase I don't get back here before Christmas, I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday .
Merry Christmas!

The Second Card

2009-11-13T12:10:00.001-05:00

This one is so pretty and soft--I love the colors. The stamped image is one of my favorites.

Happy FALL

2009-11-13T11:52:00.004-05:00

Finally, it is slowing down for me at work........getting a little breathing space and catching up at work. However, my boss told me it won't be long that we will be getting new business and we will be working our bums off again.
I have lots of pictures to share with you but, the Meijers where I live has had their 1 hour photo "broken" every time I go to get my pictures developed. I am up to 4 rolls that have to be developed. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Yes, I am still doing picture taking the old fashioned way. AND..........yes I am going somewhere else (probably Walgreens) to get my pictures developed. Hopefully today.
Bob has the house finished next door and we are hoping to get it leased soon. It looks great.
I am working on my Christmas cards and Secret Gobbler gift.
Here are the cards that I received from my Secret Gobbler Sister.
The first one is a Cuttlebug embosser
and if anyone knows where I can go to get this one, please let me know--I have looked around my area at Michaels a nd JoAnns and have not seen it.

Keeping my hands busy

2009-10-04T10:39:00.005-04:00

No doubt, I have been a busy girl this summer--like most of you.
I had a chance to go to Crystal Mountain Resort with dh for a couple of days and I enjoyed it very much. It was nice to relax after the business of summer.
With work taking an increasing amount of time and dh and I spending more time apart--we wanted to spend more time together--
If I sat on the couch and watched TV with him in the evening after work, I would fall asleep.
If we busied ourselves on the computers, he would become very drowsy and end up going to bed early.
So, I thought if I kept my hands busy, while watching T.V. maybe I could stay awake. So I got out my cross stitching and started working on it. I had some small ones to work on and am now into the medium ones.
I will attach the ones I have scanned so you can see them.

2009-09-13T11:19:00.005-04:00

One thing I haven't shared is that I have always wanted to be an artist. Now, in reality, my skills in that area are limited--but I did manage to hand draw these little flowers and color them in with a mixture of copic and SU markers. These are Artist Trading Cards.

During the time I was off my computer crashed, well my internet was what was corrupted and I managed to keep almost everything but my digital software program. I am currently not able to do anything digitally. Here is some ATC's that I did while the program was un corrupted.

I'm Back--did u miss me?

2009-09-13T11:06:00.002-04:00

Hello,
It has been too long a time since I have updated this blog. I know-----I'm sorry.
Instead of listing all my excuses I will just say that my life has been busy and my time on the internet very limited.
However, I hope to be able to keep a fairly current post going.
I have been working on some cross stitch and my scrapbooking pages, so I don't have a bunch of cards to show you.
I will see what was the last posted project and be back to share something new with you.

Scrap your Blog Site!!!!!!

2009-06-07T12:39:00.002-04:00

This is so cool!! I apologize if you already know how to do this, but I just found out!! So it is really cool to me. I just scrapped my blog!!!!!
Found the instructions in Creating Keepsakes July '09 issue. It is really simple.
1-Create a new blank image in Photoshop Elements or Microsoft Word.
2-Launch your web browser and navigate to the web page you would like to capture. (your blog)
3-Press the ALT + PRINT SCREEN buttons on your keyboard, and then paste your screenshot into your new document.
4-Print the screenshot onto cardstock or photo paper, and use it just like you would a photo.
(Or publish it from Photoshop Elements)

Easee--peasee!!

2009-05-31T11:17:00.004-04:00

Memorial Weekend
Usually on this weekend dh and I plant our flowers for the summer season however, this year we decided to have a family get
together. We have so many events to celebrate in
May. Let's see there is Mother's Day, our 18 th
Anniversay, my oldest ds and dil's 15 th anniversary, grandson Donovan's 5 th birthday, grandaughter Tanisha's 14 th birthday, brother Franks !!th birthday, and Memorial Day. My biggest dielema was what to put on the cake?
I have tried to fit it all on one cake (and thank goodness for Meijers, they have such talented cake writers) but this year I made the cakes and I knew I couldn't write on a cake legebley. I had some candles that spelled Happy Birthday--but we were celebrating so much more---I ended up with Happy Day! It was indeed a happy day that we could all get together again. The grandchildren are getting older and a couple of more years they will be living there own lives and it will get harder and harder to have everyone together. We did have a good day, the weather was great, couldn't ask for a better cookout.
Our cookout did put our flower planting a week behind schedule, but it is done now, well almost.
DH and I went and bought the spring plants yesterday morning and spent the afternoon planting them--I did run out of potting soil--so will be at Meijers sometime today to pick that up and finish the planting. I love the flowers all the colors. I like the fragrance too, but most of the flowers kick up my allergies--which I can't get away from in the summer--so I want to enjoy their beauty in my yard.
Here are pictures of my purple Irises (given to me by my friend RuthAnn) and our Yucca plant(from son Chris) and a basket of impatiens and others that I plant every year in a pot that was a graduation (associates degree, some years ago) gift from one of my customers when I worked at Penney's.

Every year I take pictures of my flowers---and I scrapbook them every year. This year will be no exception--because I have new flowers to capture.

Happy Spring (before it becomes summer)

2009-05-20T08:09:00.002-04:00

I did make it back faster this time, although not as fast as I was anticipating!
Work should slow down just a little bit--at least so we can catch our breath!
I hope everyone gets some time off this weekend for Memorial Day.
We are having a family cook out on Sunday, so I will be getting the house ready and shopping when I have time and energy (lol), dh will help some, but his focus is on the yard--which has been mostly neglected this spring. We will be late with our flower planting ( we usually plant on Memorial Day weekend) because of the weather and the cookout but I think it is more important to have the get together..
We haven't had the family all together since Christmas---we have been visiting at the kids homes for birthdays, Easter, etc.
I will post the pic of my latest trapeze card and will try to get some other pics up here soon.
SOON! I promise!

Mel Stampz

2009-04-19T10:46:00.001-04:00

http://melstampz.blogspot.com/
Here is a link to her blogspot--lots of crafty ideas and projects.

Apology, My Week and My Dad

2009-04-19T10:03:00.005-04:00

I have been a very bad blogger!! So sorry!

Work has become center stage lately and has taken almost all of my energy.

Also I was getting ready for the March SCS Michigan Mingle, had out of town company, birthdays and holidays---but mostly the 10 to 12 hour days just exhaust me.

Granted those long days are not all work--TUESDAYS it is--driving to Livonia and back.

We are all (at work) trying to keep two locations going--stressful for everyone.

WEDNESDAYS: after work--I beeline it to my dad's and take him out for a ride-we go to Tim Hortons and get him some cookies and diet coke. He likes to sit there and watch people and cars go by and of course we spend time together. Then we go for a ride downtown (Lapeer) because it reminds him of the many downtowns in his past and I think it does bring back memories for him. I don't know how long those memories last or how vivid they are (he has alzheimers) and then we stop and get gas and depending on his energy we might go check out Big Lots. ( I just go to the scrapbooking section--to see if anything new came in.) Then back to Bolton Brook in Metamora. Usually it is about 7:30 pm by then and he is ready for bed, but with the longer summer days approaching he might wonder what he is going to do until he see's me again.

He used to live with us and sometimes his memory stops at that point and he wonders why he isn't coming home with me or why I'm not staying there with him.

It is hard on both of us, sometimes.

The picture above was taken by my cousin Bob who stopped by to visit on his way back to Minnesota after vacationing in the Carolinas. We went out to lunch and as you can see my dad was very animated that day.

THURSDAYS: This is my WW day and I don't get home until 7:30 later if I stop at the stores.

FRIDAYS: Is usually the bank and shopping--again a late night getting home.

MONDAYS: This is the only night I have free and it gets filled up with Misc. but necessary and sometimes fun things to do.

SATURDAY---Every other Sat I have a 9 am appointment--so I am up and going early that day, the alternating Sat I like to veg until noon and then take the day seriously ( whether it is scrapbooking, card making, spending time with dh, more shopping, cleaning, washing clothes---you know all those necessary things.

SUNDAY--- Is usually when we schedule family events and always include my dad. If there is no event going on--we take my dad out for dinner--we go to the Nugget in Oxford--because they serve broiled haddock---something he likes and doesn't get very often at Bolton Brook because they serve the group--and fish is not a group favorite!!

Well--I did ramble, didn't I?

I will have to get on sooner and share some pic's of Easter dinner, March Mingle, and my new Trapeze card I am working on now.

If you get a chance check out Mels Stampz--she has a great newsletter and blog. I will see if I can get a link posted for you all.

Valentine ATC below

2009-02-15T08:05:00.003-05:00

The Valentine picture is a digital ATC that was created using Paint Shop Pro. The girl in the picture is a vintage photograph, probably from Dover publishing and the scroll work is either from Scrap Girls, Maria LaFrance (Digital Freebies) or RAKscraps. These are the places where I get my digital freebies from. These sites are wonderfull about sharing. They have challenges too.
This Valentine ATC was done for a Valentine Challenge.

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-15T07:26:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know I am late for Valentine's wishes, but just imagine that I made it on time and it brightened your day! LOL

Honestly, I do hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, doing whatever made you happiest.

My wish for Valentines Day was to have the day to myself and then be able to share together time with DH.

I had a few things that were left over from my week that needed to get done, so the daytime was still my time but not exactly what I had planned on doing. DH and I did manage to go out for dinner and movie. We ate Mexican (locally) and then saw the Pink Panther 2. If you are a Steve Martin fan or a Henry Mancini fan or just curious, it is a funny movie! If we are going to spend Saturday night prices for a movie--I want to be entertained and we were. Actually laughed out loud with the rest of the audience. The theater was packed with all ages! Families as well as young couples, mature couples as well as dads taking the kids out so mom could have some time to herself.

I'm doing a flashback here---DH had pneumonia 2 weeks ago and was just getting back to work this last week--so his energy level was completely taxed by the time he got home from work. To compound this, I came down with the runniest nose and sneezing that I have ever had. It was like the spring thaw started with my sinuses. Scratchy throat, piercing headaches,etc. You get the picture, I'm sure. So neither one of us knew for sure if we would be up to celebrating Valentines Day.

Flash back over now---come back to after the movie. We stopped for some ice cream at McD's and came home to enjoy it---DH had started a runny nose during dinner and now was getting cold chills. After the ice cream we snuggled on the couch, where I fell asleep and didn't wake up until 11:30---romantically, he still had his arm around me.

I asked is it time for bed? He laughed and said " it is for me, but I don't know about you".

(Usually, when I fall asleep like that--before bedtime--I am awake for hours after.)

We both went to bed and were asleep in minutes, even me!

It is sad, but we keep a container of clorox wipes by the computer and wipe off everything after we use the computer--so we aren't picking up germs there and we are using a little bleach in the dish water when we wash dishes to make sure the germs are killed there----Also use wipes at work--both of us. Everywhere, we go people are sick, coming down with something or getting over something. Whatever is going around is collecting alot of the population, over and over again.

I am ready for SPRING---Birds singing, gentle breezes, a little rain--soft rain, grass starting to green, crocus starting to bud, fresh air and SUNSHINE!!!!!

What about YOU?

Happy New Year Musing

2009-01-01T21:29:00.003-05:00

My dad always liked this picture of me, depicting a studious Mary as he called it. I think I was in 5th or 6th grade. The beads were probably from Hawaii or something I made my self. I remember the jacket to the dress I was wearing being a minty green. Now we look back on the clothes we wore and the hairstyles and we are amazed that it ever existed.
The time that I grew up in was so different than those of my grandchildren. No one ever heard of Goth, New Wave, IPOD, Utube, Belly button jewelry, nose piercings, Rap, digital, Virtual, cell phones, etc. However, there are alot of similarities children still think they are smarter than their parents, parents still love their children even though they misbehave, girls still shriek and go crazy over their idols, boys still love sports and cars.
There are many more challenges facing my grandchildren and many more opportunities are open for them to pursue.
I hope the dear Lord sees fit to let me see them become adults and perhaps let me become a great grandma. I would love to be a part of that.
I am grateful that my dad is still alive at 90, I miss my mother. I am grateful that I have a wonderful husband and and four sons/stepsons that I admire and love immensely and two daughter in laws that are an inspiration to their children and are a source of strength for their families and whom also I love immensely. I have 10 grandchildren, some I get to see fairly frequently and some not so frequently, but they all add to the richness of my life.
A new year is here and I am not making any resolutions but keeping some goals that I have had for some time. I want to enjoy my friends and my family and make each day count. In order to do this, I have to take care of myself. Happy 2009!!!!!

2008-12-29T20:23:00.000-05:00

http://www.slide.com/r/8ngw9Mr46z9cqtCeBavyaqIUiJAWQ4cf?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Trying to make a slide show

2008-12-29T20:17:00.000-05:00

http://www.slide.com/r/nlBgLrF24j9l714tvtHCLSy_IIkQ2Any?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

hopefully this will take you to my new slide show.

Store Closing List

2008-11-26T08:28:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to snopes to clear up any hype regarding this list.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/busin...reclosings.asp

2008-11-23T13:34:00.001-05:00

Don't have source to verify the list below, but this was sent to me from a friend.
All these stores are closing or have some closing. Be careful where you buy your Gift Cards!!!
Subject: FW: Stores Closing Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 7:37 PM
Thought I should pass this one around.

Wanted to give everyone a heads up that if you tend to give gift cards around the holidays , you need to be careful that the cards will not be honored after the holidays. Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling the cards through the holidays even though the cards will be worthless January 1. There is no law preventing them from doing this. On the contrary , it is referred to as 'Bankruptcy Planning).

Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be cautious about.

Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug , and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots) Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Loews to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores

ELVIS IS ALIVE!!!!!!!!

2008-10-26T13:26:00.002-04:00

While spending time with my grandaughter, Tori, this summer we went to Lapeer Days and guess who I saw!! Yes, Elvis!-------Dispelling all rumors---he is alive!!

Well............ at least this imitator is.

It brought back memories of when I was a teenager and the music was enough to stop me in my tracks and take a picture of "The King" which he will always be to us fans.

My grandaughter looked at me with a big smile and somewhat confused that I would get all excited over this singer--but she was a good sport and allowed me to listen awhile even though what she wanted was to get to the rides.

We had a great day and it is always fun to be with her no matter what we do-----but ,sorry Tori, this was the highlight of Grandma,s day!!!!!

2008-10-05T08:45:00.003-04:00

Sorry to have been away so long---I am multi-tasking my life right now--trying to balance

helping our kids and spending time with my dad--getting ready for the SCS Mini Mingle----finishing my scrapping projects and spend time with dh and work a 40 hour week and OH Yeah! try to get some sleep.

Today is my oldest gd's 14th birthday. I am going to call her on "her" cell phone and chat about "nothing" with her--except wish her a great day--usually her parents allow her to have a couple of friends over night to celebrate her birthday---and she is preoccupied with them. We will get together another weekend to give her a gift.

The picture above is me in ninth grade, I am on the left. It is freshman initiation--we had to wear our dad's shirt and pants, put all our hair up in little pig tails, wear no makeup at all and meet at school in our homerooms. Each freshman homeroom had to crawl single file on hands and knees to the gym where the rest of the students and teachers were seated on the bleachers. Nowadays, this might raise some eye brows and signal signal some kind of abuse--but in those days it was all in good natured fun!

This was one time when I was really grateful that I am the oldest sibling--the freshmen that had older brother or sisters attending the school were called down to the gym floor, seated on folding chairs with their brother or sister standing behind them. Then the elder sibling put make up on "their" freshman sibling.

A List of 10 Metabolism-Boosting Foods

2008-09-14T06:50:00.002-04:00

I found this article while surfing on the web--as we are going into Winter, keeping my weight off and possibly losing more is high on my mind.
My program? Definitely exercise, my commitment is 5 days a week--weekends off. I try to stick to WW points program as much as possible because this keeps me aware of what I eat and also reminds me to get the GOOD things I need to eat everyday in my diet.
I have provided a link so you can catch the entire article.

http://augustafreepress.com/2008/07/31/top-10-metabolism-boosting-foods/

Here then is a list of 10 Metabolism-Boosting Foods:
1. Some Like It Hot. Chilis, cayenne pepper, salsa — just add some picante to your meals and watch your metabolism climb, perhaps as much as 20 percent!
2. Berry Interesting. With their high fiber content, berries have the distinction of giving you less calories than you eat! Add to that their natural sugar content that nicely satisfies a sweet tooth, berries need to be on everyone’s shopping lists!
3. Fishing for Compliments. Once again, wild salmon makes the list with its abundant omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids not only increases your metabolism, but they increase energy levels, too, and makes your skin positively glow!
4. A High Celery. Celery is one veggie that uses more energy to digest and absorb it then the calories you get from eating it.
5. Pucker Up. By adding a tablespoon of lemon juice to a glass of water every morning, you’ll slow digestion down a bit, aiding to your body’s ability to metabolize and thus speeding everything up! No sugar, though … this is lemon-aid in its purest form!
6. Ice, Ice Baby. Regular water consumption is good for one’s metabolism by helping your body with digestion and detoxification and can help raise metabolism rate by 30 percent. Bring down the temperature a bit on your trusty bottle of water (40 degrees Fahrenheit), and you’ll burn even more, according to a report in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
7. Float Your Oats. Oatmeal’s slow release of glucose and fiber to fill you up makes this a metabolism favorite of those in the know for years! Even if your memories of childhood porridge are less than fond, try a bowl of steel cut oats (and blueberries for a double whammy!)
8. Cabbage Patch. Actually anything in the brassica family will do the trick. All of these cabbage patch kids — from broccoli, to cabbage to cauliflower and anything in between, improve the function of a gal’s (or guy’s) metabolism.
9. Soup’s On. A study at Baylord College of Medicine, found that people who ate a bowl of soup before meals lost more weight than those who didn’t. The soup is about three-fourths water, giving you the benefit of #6 and possibly #8, too. Make sure you’re eating veggie-filled, broth-based soups, though — cream soups will just add to your girth!
10. An Apple a Day. Or make that an apple per meal! Research from the State University of Rio de Janeiro discovered three small apples a day will satiate (from the pectin and natural fruit sugar) and help people eat less at each meal with the result being a boost in metabolism. Can’t beat that!
There you go … now go add this stuff to your grocery list and get your metabolism PUMPED!

Summer company

2008-09-11T22:14:00.002-04:00

As you can see by the photo to the right my granddaughter brings out the child in me.
Each year starting the end of July or the beginning of August--I have one of 5 granddaughters spend the weekend with grandpa and me. The girls have a day out shopping, sightseeing, and going to one special event that they choose. The only rules are that it not be more than 1 hour away, that it not be overly extravagant and that it not be illegal ( this one just so they think grandma is a little crazy!) The next day, since we live next to the township park--it is out our backyard gate, and it has a lake with swimming--they get to go to the beach and swim in the lake and then we get cleaned up and take great grandpa out for dinner, help him do his shoppping and take him back home.
This year was a little different--we had the privilege of one of our granddaughters spending the summer weeks with us and then had commitments that took her home on the weekends. So most weekends we were dropping off Paisley and picking up another granddaughter. This was worked out so that Paisley got to spend one night with one of her cousins each week before we took her home. DH had to be involved in this plan--he was the one that picked up the girls and took them home---so actually each granddaughter spent 3 days with us--with the exception of Paisley.
I love doing it--and it is wonderful to see each girls personality as they develop. They range from 10 to 14. They have alot to teach me about new music, new styles, new celebs,
etc. And I hope they take something home with them that they will use as reference--even if it is just that we love them to pieces.

Another Trapeze Card

2008-09-11T21:48:00.002-04:00

I am still working on my trapeze techniques. I know you have seen this pattern before--the difference with this is the trapeze is done in two different colors and with alternating points. I also made a small spirelli and put it in the center atop a paper flower. I used a sunburst punch for the spirelli and a smaller one for the corners to create contrast. A little stitching on the face paper to bring more of the green out on the paper. What do you think??

Something for fun!!

2008-08-24T10:15:00.003-04:00

http://www.memorymakersmagazine.com/blog/While+Youre+Waiting++Style+Quiz.aspx

Click on the link above to take a interesting style quiz----What's your style? I'm Classic Chic!!!

New Fall Trapeze Card

2008-08-24T09:58:00.004-04:00

I made this for a local swap. The theme was a fall card that was more masculine than feminine.

You can use any firm card stock, I used Bazill for the background and a flocked paper for the darker green designs.

The thread I purchased at JoAnns. It is a multi-colored polyester thread--color is called Sunshine.

The stitch is what I call a looped chain stitch--I don't know what it really is called.

I used my maple leaf punch to add to the corners and the leaves in the center are stickers from Stickerpotomus.

The center on the inside is stitched with the chain stitch also.

The center trapeze stitching is one of the simpler patterns and was easy to follow.

How old is your brain????? mine is 31

2008-08-09T08:59:00.000-04:00

This is interesting !!! See if your brain is as old as your body ~ or ~ (perish the thought) ~ OLDER !! Procedure of Flash Fabrica Game: 1. Touch 'start' 2. Wait for 3, 2, 1. 3. Memorize the numbers' positions on the screen, then click the circle from the smallest number to the biggest number. 4. At the end of game, computer will tell you how old your brain. Good luck !! http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

nail polish technique options

2008-07-27T08:07:00.002-04:00

In a follow up email on one of the groups I belong to, I found this addition to the nail polish technique---thought I would add this for some options.
---------------Mary

This technique is similar to using liquid oil paints to get a patterned surface on cardstock.I simply use luke warm water, drop a few drops of liquid oil paint onto the surface of the water, it can all be one color, or one color inside the other to get a different effect. Then simply lay your piece of cardstock on the surface for only a couple of seconds, pull straight up to remove and turn over immediately, let air dry. I have used this technique for years with children's craft classes.
Linda Lee

Finger Nail Polish Technique on ATC Cards

2008-07-27T07:56:00.004-04:00

Here is the link to find out how to create a project using finger nail polish.
I have not tried this, but am anxious to try it out real soon.
If you try this technique before I publish my results, please add your comments to this blog.

http://purplefaeriepc.blogspot.com/2008/05/purple-faerie-atc-theme-swap-technique.html

Newest technique

2008-07-24T20:42:00.003-04:00

This is my latest creation--which I have done for a swap--the technique that I used is called Lace`

It involves a template that you cut around with a craft knife--I also added a little stitching with a sparkle thread and a 3-D tag with a wire bow .

Here is the link to find out how to do this--there are many more templates available than the one I used for this card.

http://www.craftideas.info/html/incere.html

ATC LINKS

2008-07-08T20:24:00.003-04:00

Wow!! There are lots of sites here for us to check out---my favorite so far is the
Typo Background Generator. You will find it listed under the freebie section--this is amazing---type in a word--any word and keep clicking and get a different background every time. Go to my links below and click on the ATC link.

Freebies just for signing up!!

2008-07-07T22:15:00.003-04:00

There are some good places to get freebies:
If your interested in paper piecing there is a group called www.Paperpiecing.com sign up to get the newsletter and each publication there will be a freebie.
Also for digital freebies check out www.Scrapwow.com and again---sign up for the newsletter and enjoy.

I'm Back!!

2008-07-05T20:53:00.002-04:00

We had a great time with my sil's and bil--we went to Frankenmuth for a day, picnicked and shopped in Port Huron--watched the freighters go through the channel. (I love being by the water). We saw Hancock--great movie for those who like Will Smith--I think he did a fantastic job, as always. My only criticism is that it was a short movie. The run time is 1 hr. 35 min.--If you go see it-stay for the trailer.
We went to a local tourist site--Cantebury Village and toured the Christmas Store and Shops and had a great lunch at the Castle Grille.
For the 4th of July we had a mini family reunion--about 30 people--my dh's brother and wife live close by, but their sisters live in N. C. so every one wanted to get together and we have so many July birthdays in the family that we decided to do it all on the fourth.
My company has left to return to N.C. and maybe we will go visit them next summer. I really like N.C.
I have been resting today and have a few things to accomplish but they will wait until tomorrow.
Thanks to all who have been checking in--I appreciate your comments.
Mary.

Taking time off!

2008-06-28T14:03:00.001-04:00

I will be having company for a week--so will not be available to post for awhile---Everyone have a great 4th of July and I will post again later.

Dad's 90th Birthday party.

2008-06-26T20:26:00.000-04:00

Well we managed through my dad's 90th birthday party! Not that it was all that hard or time consuming--we had a great turnout.
It took him awhile to realize that it was his birthday party---partially because his birthday isn't for a couple of weeks yet and because of his dimentia.
However once he did realize it, he had a great time, but was embarrassed that it took him so long to figure things out.

Slide Show

2008-06-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

I love sunsets and sunrises---I hope you enjoy the slideshow.
Below is a Spirelli card that I learned to make, I am into trapeze cards, spirelli, and embroidery on my cards right now. Will add more pics at a later date.
Mary