crazy phoenix weather...

Hey all!

Sorry for the lack of post earlier today...we had a "wicked" (my New England slang coming out there), rain/wind/hail storm last night. When I woke up this morning, this is what I found...our big 15 ft cactus tumbled. I called a landscaper and was told, it could not be saved...kind of sad, because we really liked that prickly thing! I don't know how people will find our house now...we always say, we are the ones with the big cactus out front. Luckily, Ashley's car didn't get smashed! that was really a blessing! Because that could have done some serious damage! I guess when it rains it pours...literally! (ha! I crack myself up!).

The neighbors behind us also had a tree down...check this out.

It will be nice to get it all cleaned up, and best of all my busy hubby won't have to do it;D I am sure that will make him happy, although I do have some other jobs for him...several shade screens blew off the windows (we need those to help keep the a/c cost down here in Phoenix), and hopefully he is going to organize his little corner of my craft room...(notice I said "little" and "my", lol! he is a great guy...especially for putting up with me, but don't tell him that!).

Have a safe and fun LONG weekend!

pure poppy...

I had a few moments to stamp yesterday (and only a few), and my pure poppy paper was just wanting be made into a card. I realized I should have bought this stamp set, to go with this gorgeous poppy paper...I will probably break down and get it, lol! I pulled out my Oh So Lovely set and paper pieced this flower (which I think is a poppy). I added some stardust stickles to the flower for some sparkle. A pretty easy card...I think it took me 5 minutes to make, gotta love that!

I was so happy to get 3/4 of my to-do list completed yesterday morning...such a great feeling! I was thinking of some jobs I want to get completed over the long weekend...most of them require my hubby. I thought I would make a list for him...but then remembered...he doesn't appreciate lists like I do, but no worries...I have a mental list running in the front of my mind for him...I am sure he will appreciate that, lol!

Enjoy your Thursday! Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies used (SU! unless noted): Oh So Lovely/Floral Frenzy (PTI) stamp sets; Pure Poppy (PTI)/Basic Black/Whisper White cardstock; Basic Black ink; Black grosgrain ribbon (Michael's); Stardust Stickles (unknown)

busy, busy, busy!

Happy Wednesday!
I am so glad the week is half over! I almost forgot that we have a long weekend...yeah! I am really looking forward to catching up on stuff...do you ever feel so far behind that you can see your butt up ahead? LOL! That is how I have been feeling this week! I cannot seem to get things caught up...arghh!

I am so happy that I go into work later on Wednesdays...I have a load of laundry still in the dryer from Sunday...that is totally not like me! Plus I still need to vacuum! And several other wedding things HAVE to get done this week...okay...deep breath! I think I may need some stamp therapy today!

Here is a quick card I whipped up last weekend...I needed a sympathy card (don't enjoy making those), I decided to pull out one of my favorite old stamp sets, Easy Elegance, and of course I had to use my new PTI pure poppy ink...such a pretty color! Okay off to complete some unfinished chores!

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for visiting;D

Supplies used (SU! unless noted): Easy Elegance/Out on a limb (PTI); Soft Sage/Whisper White/Chocolate Chip cardstock; Pure Poppy (PTI)/Soft Sage/Chocolate Chip ink; Satin Brown Ribbon (Michael's)

rustic branches...

Hi peeps!

I hope your week is off to a great start...Here is another card using my new Rustic Branches stamp set...I used one of my favorite color combos (not quite navy/chocolate chip/old olive). This stamp set reminds me of living in Connecticut, my mom always made wreaths for the front door, for every season...grapevine, bittersweet, eucalyptus, evergreen (she has quite the green thumb), she could be a florist! I didn't get any of her talent with the green thumb thing, but I am a mean papercrafter, lol!

Yesterday we had to take our cat, kitty to the vet, she has had some inflammation on her third eyelid (gross, I know), well they couldn't find anything wrong with her eye, no scratches or infection, and believe me they poked around in her eye so much, I couldn't watch...she did great through it all;0) they gave us some antibacterial/steroid ointment to put in her eyes for two weeks (that is going to be Mike's job, lol!). I hope it clears it up. Poor kitty!

I hope you have a great day!

Supplies used (SU! unless noted): Rustic Branches (PTI); Not Quite Navy/Chocolate Chip/Kraft cardstock; Chocolate Chip/Old Olive/Not Quite Navy ink; Chocolate grosgrain ribbon; Stardust Stickles on berries

my new papertrey set...

I cannot believe the weekend is over...I say that every Monday don't I? lol!

I hope your weekend was great. On Friday, can you believe I spent the entire day just doing nothing? I edited some pictures of Ashley's dress fitting that I took on Thursday night (sorry cannot post them yet...just in case Nate checks out my blog), and did a lot of photography web surfing (so informative and time consuming, but I had fun). I found this great site and made one of these on Saturday, I even had all the supplies...way cool. I may need to buy some better lights for the sides but I think it will work out pretty great, and it was free (even better). On Saturday, Mike was at the church all day building a stage for the auditorium, so I had the whole day to myself...I got caught up on cleaning, organizing, laundry...almost got everything crossed off my list.

So I have been debating trading laptops with Ashley for some time now...I have an Apple Mac Book, and I have to say, I do not like it one bit. I have heard the saying "once you go Mac, you never go back," well I am going back!!!! We decided to trade and we are both in the process of deleting and saving our files to transfer to our new laptops. This is a better option for me, because I am just too old to learn new ways to work the computer! She is really happy with the trade off too, since she is getting a way better deal;D

I guess that has been enough random chit chat, huh? Now onto the card. I was happy to get an hour or so on Saturday to use my new set Rustic Branches by PTI. I made 2 cards with this set and another sympathy card for my BFF's sister (who lost her husband tragically last week). If you think of it...say a prayer for Marcia.

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!

Supplies used (SU! unless noted): Rustic Branches (PTI); Kraft/Chocolate Chip/Whisper White cardstock; Chocolate Chip/Always Artichoke/Pure Poppy (PTI) cardstock; Pure Poppy grosgrain ribbon (PTI)

here they are...finally!

All I can say is that I am glad it is Friday...I pretty much flew through my Thursday...worked until 5:30pm, hurried and ate a yummy dinner prepared by Ashley, went to David's Bridal for a fitting, then to Joann's for some reception decorations...then back home to help pick the wedding menu, whew, I was tired.
Wedding stuff is starting to really get stressful (as I knew it would). So that being said today is a quick post.

Here are some photos of Ashley's wedding invitations that were mailed last week (yeah! that was a great feeling).

Feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have any questions on how to make them...let me just say if you are making more than 100, it is A LOT of work and very time consuming, so start early.

I have to say, that I was very happy with the finished project...just glad they are finished.

Isn't the picture of Ashley cute...posing with the completed invites:D
Have a Terrific weekend!

I hope to get some stamping done, so I have some exciting things to post next week;D

yes, another floral frenzy....

Hi all,

It has been getting busy with wedding stuff, tonight Ashley has her first fitting, and I am going with her...she is going to make dinner, since I have to work late. That will be nice *smile* I love when someone else makes dinner!

Here is one of the Weight Watcher recipes I promised (I will post the other one tomorrow): They are super easy and yummy! Which means they will be repeated in our house;D

Orange Beef (3 points)

3 scallions, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger, minced

1 T orange zest3/4 lb boneless sirloin steak, trimmed and cut into thin strips

1 10-oz bag fresh sugar snap peas and baby carrots

2 T reduced sodium soy sauce

2 T orange juice

1 tsp cornstarch

1 T cold water

spray large wok or skillet with cooking spray, and set to high; add scallions, garlic, ginger and orange zest; stir fry until softened.

add beef and stir fry until browned (about 3 min); add the snap peas and carrots continue stir frying until crisp tender. stir in orange juice, bring to a simmer.

meanwhile, mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth. add to wok and cook stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened. serve with rice (add 3 points for 1 serving).

4 1 cup servings (I doubled the recipe for our family).

Enjoy!

Now onto the card...

Yup...another floral frenzy (with the cuttlebug flower die no less!). I really like this color combo, really soft and pretty. I am posting Ashley's wedding invitations tomorrow...since my mom finally got hers (gotta love that Connecticut mail service!)

Have a fantastic day!

Supplies used (SU! unless noted): Floral Frenzy (PTI) stamp set; Blush Blossom (PTI)/Bordering Blue/Whisper White cardstock; Blush Blossom (PTI)/Bordering Blue/Certainly Celery ink; Blush Blossom (PTI) grosgrain ribbon