Cropping for a Broken Heart...
Friday July 24th from 5pm-12am (or later :) ) we will be having a benefit crop to raise money to help Stacy, Curtis, Hadleigh, and Faylynn with living expenses while Hadleigh is in Milwaukee, WI waiting for her new heart. Who knew there was a cost to use Ronald McDonald House??!!?? More details will come so keep checking!
wendy

T-Ball 2009...and a card for Less..

Riles played t-ball this summer and we had tons of fun! Here are some of the pictures we took at the last game.

Enjoy!

(card made snoopy snails font cut with SCAL on cricut, and bottom punched with EK Success swiss chees border punch, and decorated with hand dyed skittles! yay!)

Happy Birthday Less Carpimer!
Today is my niece's FIFTEENTH birthday. WOW. I remember her sitting at the table at my mom and dad's when mike and brandy first got married (or something like that..they were together anyway) and you would ask her to say her name and it came out Less carpimer. We still call her that. So i wanted to shout out to her HAPPY BIRTHDAY and i hope you enjoy your seafood lasagne.

On another note, mom had a CAT scan done on Monday and all is clear. Looks good.
whimp

Just a drive by to say HI...
and to post one of my most favorite quotes. This quote is laminated and used to hang on my desk when I worked as a library clerk in a high school. It now hangs beside my scrapbooking desk.

Watch your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Watch your words, for your words become your actions.
Watch your actions, for your actions become your character.
Watch your character, for your character becomes your destiny.

I have tball pictures I will be posting soon.
whimp

Howdy...
I had a great time at the crop this weekend with my cropping buds fickel and mindora. Did some shopping (haul included a new punch by EK success, "skittles", alcohol inks to dye said skittles, paper stack, and i forgot what else i bought), ate entirely too much, and only got 3 layouts done...lol..
I wanted to let everyone know I will be MIA for awhile. I got some stuff going on. If you need me, you know how to reach me. Before I "unplug", I just want to shout out have a safe trip for brammy and mike this weekend as they travel to welcome zachariah home. Please give him a big hug for me.
Peace, love, and happiness,
whimp

Cards...

Here are some cards I have made lately. I made the ice cream cone card for my niece stacy's daughters (my great nieces) Faylynn and Hadleigh. I cannot even beging to tell you how much fun I have with these 2 girls. Hadleigh is like a bright light. When she smiles the whole room feels it. Fay is very spicy. She is another spirited soul just like my riles.

The card in the middle with the worm on it is for one of danny's 6th grade teachers (i am bad..just now getting it sent off). She went over and beyond to help danny this year. She was simply amazing.

The cupcake card is for stacy. The last few weeks have been so very hard for her, I thought she needed a smile.

enjoy

whimp

Squirt..you're it..

Kenna came and spent the night last week. We made an impromptu visit to the dollar store to buy some new water guns. Here are some pictures of the fun.

whimp

Layout For Haddie...

I went scrapping yesterday and made this layout for miss haddie. I will put a picture of her laughing, with her hair all done pretty, at stacy and turtis' wedding on it. I have decided this will go on my picture wall in a 12x12 frame. I have one of fay in my mind..just got to create it. It will be go there as well. If I keep this up of my nieces and nephews, I will need a bigger house! lol..

praying for the griffins

whimp

Pray for Haddie..

Stacy posted an update on Haddie this morning. There really hasn't been much change since yesterday here is her post..

-No change really. She is still on the vent, her heart is now relying on her pacemaker so they are pretty sure they will have to put a permanet one in. Can't maintain blood pressure very well but she's "stable"-

I cannot begin to tell you how very much this little girl and her family mean to me. The relationships she has fostered in just her birth and being on this earth is astronomical. People her parents would never had met who are supporting them during this very difficult time would not have happpened if not for her. Hadleigh is (usually) a happy girl. She loves her daddy, momma, and big sister Faylynn(Fay) very much. I was there visiting her last Friday. Haddie woke up looking for Fay(we were reading a duckling book, which Fay LOVED)because she heard her voice. When Fay went to the bed and Stacy lifted her up, all I saw was this chubby little arm waving hi to Fay from the bed. It was so cute to witness that. Stacy and Curtis are amazing parents. The love they have for each other and their children is evident in everything they do. Please pray for them. Even if you are not the praying kind, please pass on this info to someone who will. PLEASE. We need everyone's prayers for this strong, brave girl.

There has been a group started on Facebook. Praying for Miss Hadleigh. Please join us. There is a profile picture available on the cause's page if you would like to make it yours.

Thank you for taking the time to think about our girl and her family.

wendy

Monday madness and an email..
Yesterday Riles and I went shopping. I had a 40% off coupon and an exchange card from Hobby Lobby I wanted to use to buy a cuttlebug machine to use for embossing on my cards and scapbook layouts. So I went to the CB store to buy the machine and of course you have to ask a someone to bring it to you, and it takes about 5 light years to do so. Riles was being pretty good, and I heard the cashier asking for the assistant store manager to bring it up to the register. Well, she gets there and it is the same manager who would not return a cricut cart because it didn't have a HL price tag on it (nor did I have a receipt..different story for a different day) and proceeded to sell me TWO more carts WITHOUT price tags on them..anyway, i will stay focused.
She tells me I cannot use my coupon on the cuttlebug because Cricut products are excluded. I had to explain to her Cuttlebug is produced by the makers of Cricut, it is NOT a Cricut product. Cricut is an electronic die cuttin machine, cartridges, paper, blades, tools etc to use of that machine. Cuttlebug is an entirely different system. So, I ask to speak to the General Manager..who happens to be standing right there. He calls another HL store and asks them what they do, after that call he turns to me and says, "I will honor it this one time." WTH?? Anyway, I proceed to explain to him the same thing I tell the Asst. I was so frustrated as the day went on , I decided to take the advice of Karen and email the company. So I did and here is my email and their response:
Today I was in your Council Bluffs, Iowa store and attempted to use a coupon on the Cuttlebug machine. The assistant store manager, Diane, told the cashier I would not be able to use the coupon because it was a Cricut product. I talked to the store manager, Ben, and he said he would allow it "this one time." I also explained to both managers Cuttlebug is NOT a Cricut product. It is produced by ProvoCraft (who also produces the Cricut machine) but it is not classified as Cricut..it is an entirely different die cutting machine. I am frustrated with Diane from many different instances in the past. I had trouble exchanging a cricut cartridge because I did not have my receipt nor did it have a HL price tag on it. Well, I returned the cartridge at a different location (15 miles away) and returned to the Council Bluffs location to purchase 2 other cricut cartridges. When she handed me the cartridges, neither cartridge had a HL price tag on it. When I asked her to tag them, she was very rude and informed me she had other things to accomplish. I am frustrated with this store and have considered to stop shopping there, preferring to go 15 miles out of my way and shop at Michael's in Nebraska. My request is for someone with authority to let the managers know which products fall under the Cricut category and cannot have a coupon used on them. I would also like to have someone with authority (I have talked to the General Manager about her rudeness) talk to Diane about her "bedside manner."
Thank you for your time.
wendy blackman

Hi Wendy,
Thank you for your e-mail.
I am sorry that this happened to you and this has been addressed with Ben, the store manager at this location. This is not the impression we want anyone to have of Hobby Lobby and our customer service. Please ask to speak with the store manager if you have any questions or concerns while shopping in any of our stores.

I talked this morning with Ben, the store manager, about your situation at the store on Monday. He said he is aware that our coupon can be used for Cuttlebug since this is not a Cricut item. Ben said he will take the appropriate action with Diane and his staff so hopefully this does not happen again to you or anyone else in the future. Again, I apologize.

Your feedback on the performance of our stores is very important. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experiences with our store and giving us the opportunity to improve our service for you.

Thank you for shopping at Hobby Lobby. I hope that all of your future visits are pleasant and productive.

Wayne Huffling
Hobby Lobby Customer Service Manager

So, I have printed this response out and am keeping it in my purse for future shopping trips.
I hope everyone has a great day
wendy

Maui Days..

We went to Maui in M today. The kids had a lot of fun and i enjoyed spending the day with my sister, niece, and nephews. We started the day with a pancake breakfast, "punch card activity", and then hit the games. Here are some pics of the day..danny and riles posing on the old firetruck. We used to get firetruck rides on this engine when I was in elementary school, the volunteer fire dept gave free fire truck rides during the day. We didn't get to go :( Other pics are bounce house, train ride, C&M's and of course tractors.

Riley's favorite part of the day was the bounce house, the train barrel ride, and of course the john deere tractors! Danny loved being able to just walk around town, putt putt golf, and climbing around on all the tractors.

have a great sunday!

whimp

Funny little peeps..
this is how the conversation went with danny and riley...
Danny: who are you??
Riley: I am a riley..
Danny: what is a riley?
Riley: It is a girl who talks like a human (insert hand gestures here..not bad ones! lol.. like she is trying to use sign language ones..).. roflol!
wendy

Found this post on the Cricut board
it is from the Dr. Laura website...we are making cards tomorrow and mailing them as soon as they are done..

Subject:
Send a Note of "Thank You For Your Service and Happy Birthday" to Sgt. Thornhill
Date:
2009-06-03
Send a Note of "Thank You For Your Service and Happy Birthday" to Sgt. Thornhill. Sgt. Daniel Thornhill was seriously injured in Afghanistan two years ago by a suicide bomber. This soldier has lost both legs, is paralyzed from the waist down and has suffered severe burns over his arms, hands and body. He has been rehabbing at the Fisher House in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. (WOAI.com article: Veteran loses limbs in battle, but not hope) His parents have reached out for support -- not financially, but they are asking for as many service members, veterans, and others as possible to please send him a birthday card. His birthday is this coming week and it would be nice if a lot of us send him a note to show him how much we love him for what he has sacrificed for his country. And if you're in the in the San Antonio area, stop by and visit not only this troop but others who may be in the same situation and Sgt. Thornhill and his family. Please brighten the day of a hero.
Mailing address:Sgt. Daniel Thornhill
Fort Sam Houston Fisher House
3623 George C. Beach Rd
Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234

My "New" Scrap space..

I revamped my scap space the past couple of weeks. I had a huge 6 ft banquet table in this space and it really took up too much room..plus it was a huge dumping ground. Well..thanks to my good friends (who helped me use 3 mike's coupons at once..lol..thanks girls) I bought 5 jetmax cubes from mikes and made my new space. I need one more, but want one that has 2 shelves in it..waiting for mikes to get them in...preferrably this week as I have a 50% off coupon.

Anyway, the tabletop is 4ft long by 28 inches wide ( i think..premade shelf from menards). The top shelf is albums 2 of them are completed, the rest are empty, the bottom shelf is for something..just haven't figured out what yet.

This is going to be my "cutting space". I plan on putting the other cube right on top of the other one, and placing another premade shelf on top of those. I will then sit my expression on top so it has it's own "home."

It isn't much, but man I am so organized now. I have a more efficient space to scrap when I am at home. (the turkey is one danny made when he was in pre-k..isn't it cute?)

whimp

Cheap, Easy, and tasty..I got this idea from shell and dianne. One of shell's favorite meals the kiddos like is ground beef mixed in a box of Rice a Roni's broccoli augratin rice mix. YUMMO! Seriously. Totally easy. Dianne's version is ground beef, stewed tomatos, and the spanish rice mix. Well, i had a pound of ground sausage, the spanish rice mix, and tomatos...YUMMO! I added some sour cream to mine and OMG! it was good.
This is for one of those nights you just don't want to cook..and want something easy. It is good for lunches too!
You will need

1 box of Rice a Roni Spanish Rice mix (or broccoli augratin)
1 pound of ground beef or sausage
1 can stewed tomatoes(if using broccoli augratin, do not add tomatoes, unless you want to)
Make the rice according to the package, once rice is done add meat. Enjoy!

(There is also a fried rice mix, I am going to try that next week with some chicken chunks, broccoli, carrots for a lunch for the kiddos).
whimp