just a silly little post

I usually spend New Year's Eve at home. This year, I have plans to go to a party with some friends. Here's hoping that I don't do something to totally humiliate myself... I'll let you know how it goes. ;)

I have the *best* friends!

I have always known that I have some of the best friends ever. I just wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone else know it, too! =) Last weekend, some of my dear, wonderful friends pulled-off the nearly impossible - they completely surprised me. Mind you, I'm usually a very perceptive person. Really. But, on Saturday...not so much, I guess. Ladies, "Thank you!" for an absolutely lovely evening and for making me feel so very special. And, I can't believe how many "Happy Birthday!" messages I've gotten in the last 24 hours. You are the absolute best! I love you all and look forward to many, many, many more years together! =)

Happy Saturday to Me!

My parents came up to see me today, for my birthday. The "big" day's not until the 16th, but they have something going on next weekend, so we picked today. It's always a long day for them when they come up here, because they don't spend the night. So, it's usually 5-6 hours on the road in addition to the time they spend with me. I feel really bad that the weather decided to be so crappy today. They are actually on their way home as I type. They left about 2 hours ago, and I'm hoping that the roads are clear enough that they're at least to Columbia City by now. Anyway, they got here around noon. We went to Famous Dave's for lunch, and then to Michael's. Mom was wanting to pick-up some Christmas picks (fruit/berries on a stick) for a couple of arrangements she's working on. I picked up some more DMC floss and felt for a project I'm working on. After Michael's, we went to the mall. I have to admit that it wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I got the rest of Ian's Christmas presents at the Disney Store. (I think I'm all done with the little ones now - woohoo!) I picked-up a couple of ornaments at Gingerbread Cottage for our ornament exchange on my mom's side of the family. We left the mall, and Dad asked what else I wanted to do. I honestly didn't have any idea. I mentioned that we could go see Twilight. They reminded me that I've already seen it 3 times. They really couldn't get past the "it's a movie about vampires" thing. Well, we did end up going to see it, and my parents really liked it. I asked my mom if she now understood what I meant when I'd said "It's not a vampire movie - it's a movie about a boy and a girl, and the boy happens to be a vampire." She said that she did. My dad was asking all kinds of questions at dinner (at DQ) about the movie and the books. He was honestly interested. Maybe I'll get him "a book" for Christmas... Well, after dinner, we came back to my apartment, and I got on Facebook to show them pictures of my new "nephew," Buster, Eric & Anna's new puppy. He's a real cutie - light rust in color and looks to possibly be part German Shepherd. So, that's been my day so far. I'm going to start rereading New Moon now. Post more later!

A New Road

After a long, gut-wrenching debate (and many, many tears), I have given my notice at Pages In Time. It has been a wonderful 5 years, and I love all of my sisters there. But, this was something that I needed to do for me. There are several things that I am wanting to pursue right now, and I need to take this time to focus on me and my goals. (Afterall, I'm not getting any younger! ;) I'll still be there from time-to-time to crop, and I'm still planning on teaching 1 or 2 classes every month. I'll still be part of the design team, too. So, I'll still be part of the store in those ways. I just wanted to let everyone hear it from me.

Twilight...

Here it is, as promised. My "official" review of Twilight. Now, the first and most important thing to remember when choosing to attend any movie that is based on a book is that there is absolutely no way that a 2-hour movie can include everything from the book. (Which, in this case, is a 498-page novel.) Even Gone With The Wind veered dramatically from Margaret Mitchell's text - but that certainly didn't make it a bad movie. I absolutely love the entire Twilight saga (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and the partial internet release of Midnight Sun). Even so, I chose to go into the movie with an open mind and an understanding that there was no way that it would be exactly the same.

Are there scenes in the movie that aren't in the book? Yes. Are there parts of the book that were omitted from the movie? Yes. Are there parts that I wish had been included? Or that I would have done differently? Certainly. Overall, I think that both the writer (Melissa Rosenberg) and director (Catherine Hardwicke) did a very good job of adapting the book for the big screen. The scenes in the movie that weren't in the book helped to quickly add background to the storyline, within the movie's time constraints. Because the story had to be condensed, some of the dialogue in the movie did not match the scene it appears in in the book. But, honestly, if I hadn't recently started rereading the book, I doubt that I would have even noticed. There were some awkward moments in the movie - points where Rob's facial expressions seemed a little over-the-top. But, there were also times where those same facial expressions absolutely made the scene - especially Edward and Bella's first biology class together. The scene could have been incredibly dark. I'm actually glad that the writer chose to approach it a bit differently. And, there were times where Kristen's approach to the dialogue wasn't exactly how I had "heard" it when I read the text. There were scenes from the book that were omitted completely from the movie - but are integral to the storyline in New Moon. One example is the scene where Edward takes Bella on a tour of his house. In the book, Edward takes Bella to Carlisle's study where they look at all of the paintings, and Edward shares his families' history with Bella. That was completely omitted from the movie (at least in the final cut). The Volturi weren't mentioned at all. If you've read New Moon, you know what an integral part they play in the second book. Also, I wish there would have been more of a focus on Bella and Alice's relationship. And, except for Edward, the Cullen family only plays a small, supportive roll in the movie. I wish they had been included more in the screenplay.

In a perfect world where there are no time constraints and unlimited budgets, I'm sure that both the writer and the director would have chosen to stay completely true to the text. However, that's just not reality. Overall, I think the movie was done very well and recommend going to see it. I'll even confess that I've already seen it twice. (And I know I'm not alone. ;) You might call me a fanatic. I'm okay with that.

Another thing that I'd like to mention is the soundtrack. It is incredible! It's all I've been listening to at work/in the car for the last 2 weeks. If you get a chance, click here to listen to samples of the songs. As most of you know, I usually listen primarily to country music. But I absolutely love the edgy, alternative feel of this soundtrack - especially the songs by Perry Ferral and Muse.

I think that about sums it up. I give Twilight the movie two thumbs up! Just keep an open mind, and I think you will, too. =)

Well, I think I'd better start thinking about getting some sleep now...see you later!

holy maccaroni!

Well, the long-awaited event has come and gone...and the movie was incredible! Both the writer who adapted the novel for the bigscreen and the director did absolutely wonderful jobs! I will post more tomorrow.

I'm finally starting to wind down - hoping to be able to fall asleep soon...

3 hours and counting...

Heather will be here soon. Then we'll finish getting ready and head to Showplace16 for the Twilight premier!! Of course, the temperature has dropped 20 degrees in the last couple of days, the wind has picked up, and it's supposed to snow. But, you know what? I DON'T CARE!!! Now, if you know me well, you know that I hate the cold - specifically the wind. THAT's how much I'm looking forward to this movie! Gotta go wash my hair so that I can finish getting ready - and all sparkly! ;) hehehe... Updates to come...

Some feedback, please...

My darling friend Tobi has inspired me once again. Over the last couple of years, I've had many people ask if I'd ever considered selling my cards/card kits online. I've always been hesitant to pursue anything like that. What if I invest "all this money" into making everthing and nobody buys them? Of course, it never dawned on me to start small. I didn't even think that was an option. And, I knew that ebay wasn't the forum for me. Just too much stuff to choose from. Then, someone introduced me to etsy. Finally, the crafters version of ebay!

Well, Tobi's opening of MidnightRooster has convinced me to seriously consider opening a store of my own. Now, this is where you, my friends, come in. I would like some honest feedback. What do you think? Is it something that would be worth pursuing?

Hope to hear from you soon! =)

just a quick update...

The weather has been so incredibly fickle lately. One day, it was nearly 80 degrees. A few days later, it snowed. And, it has rained for most of today. It's only 39 degrees out right now - and still raining. Blech! Where did fall go? Seriously. Isn't each season supposed to be 3 months long?

But enough about the yucky weather. I have some exciting news! Now, if you follow my friend Tobi's blog, you've probably already heard. But, just in case you haven't, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce a new addition to Etsy - MidnightRooster! You just have to check out her flowers! I've seen them in person, and they are so cute! Definitely worth the moolah. Best of luck, Tob! (Not that you'll need it! ;)

Oh, and before I sign-off for today, I just have to add: ONLY 12 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE TWILIGHT PREMIER!!! hehehe

When it rains, it pours.

No, I'm not referring to the weather. I had to take my car to the doctor yesterday (Thursday). It wasn't good. It was making sounds that no mechanical object should ever make. I had to treat my poor baby like a stick and shift into neutral at every light, keep my foot on the gas, then shift back into drive once the light turned green. It was more than a little nerve-racking. And, it reminded me that there is a reason why I don't drive a stick - my legs are just too darn short. Anyway, I started to imagine the worst - mostly because of the horrific sound the engine was making - a blown gasket, a cracked head, or even the transmission. Since I don't have any credit cards, I kinda started to freak out. And, except for a couple of recalls and the regular oil change, I've never had anyone but my ASE certified auto/diesel mechanic brother touch my baby. Since Eric lives over 3 hours away, I didn't have a local mechanic to take her to. However, I remembered that one of my college roommates, Lonnilei, and her family used to take their Volvos to a local shop, Rick's Auto on Jefferson in Mishawaka. So, I gave them a call and was able to take her in Thursday afternoon. Luckily, they also have $10/day loaners. That was another reason for my anxiety. How on earth was I going to get to work, get to PIT to prep for my class, etc.? (Please don't get me wrong. I love my life here in South Bend, but sometimes it really sucks to be so far away from my family.) Long story short, there were 3 codes that came up during the diagnostic. The one thing that had to be fixed was the bad injection coil. It was the reason why the car was not running properly. The other 2 things can wait for now. They are "just" sensors that need to be replaced. My new mechanic, Jeremy, fixed my baby girl. I was more than happy to return their loaner. Though the car ran great, it certainly wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever driven. It was/is an early 80's Dodge Spirit. 'Nough said. Poor thing doesn't even have a radio. :( Anyway, I got my baby back Friday afternoon - $450 later. I'm planning to spend some quality time with her on Sunday - giving her a thorough wash, wax, and interior cleaning. Here's to a better weekend! =)

I think I might need a 12-step program...

Is there a 12-step program for Twilight addiction? Not that I really want to be in recovery. And, I guess that would be a problem. For those of you without the affliction, it's probably hard to understand how full-grown women can be so "gaga" over a book or movie. I could try to explain, but I don't think that I really can. For me, it's much more than just being in love with the story and the characters themselves. Stephenie Meyer has the rare ability to truly bring the characters to life. She does such an incredible job of weaving the story that you feel like you know the characters. Maybe it's that they are so easy to relate to. There are definitely parts of Bella that mirror me and my own life. (More than just my innate ability to trip over flat surfaces. ;) I could get all deep and philosophical, but it's a Monday, and I haven't had nearly enough sugar or caffeine for that. Anyway, it's only 24 days until the premiere...and I CAN'T WAIT!!! Okay, that's all for now.

Not much new here...

...to report. Compared to most of my friends, I feel like my life is pretty boring. Maybe "uneventful" would be a better word. Monday through Friday my typical routine is: get up, go to the office, go to PIT (Pages In Time), go home, watch TV for a couple hours, go to bed. There's some variation from time-to-time (sometimes I even go straight home after work! ;) but not too much. So, when my posts get a little sparse, it's usually because there's not much to say. But, sometimes it's because I'm super busy. It's sporadic. I usually have a list of projects to work on (upcoming classes, design team assignments, gifts, etc.) and try to plug away on those on a consistent basis. I'm already starting to think of December and January class ideas. Including the ever-dreaded Valentine's cards...blech! (I'll talk more about that later.) So, again, there's not much new here. Just looking forward to Twilight on the 21st...28 days and counting!! Yay!!!!!!

just a quick note...

I just wanted to make a quick post to let you know that you can now view the Twilight trailer in HD at http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44287812. This version also has a much larger screen for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!! =)

More Twilight...

Summit Entertainment has just released the official movie trailer for Twilight. (You can view the trailer using the widget in my previous post.) I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I watched the trailer 4...okay, maybe 5...times in a row. Now, before you think that I need to be committed for my slight infatuation with a fictional character, please let me explain. I was merely trying to take in all of the details so that I could figure out which part of the book each clip was taken from. The fact that my heart started to beat a little faster was a mere coincidence. Right? Either way, it was great to get a bigger glimse into the final cut of the movie. Now I really can't wait to see it! (Boy, they're good!) The soundtrack is absolutely incredible, too. I'm sure that I'll have it memorized before the movie even opens. (Assuming that they market the soundtrack before releasing the movie.) I can just tell that the next 6 weeks are gonna drag on and on and on and on... Ugh! At least I know that I won't be suffering alone. Right, Tobi? (wink wink)

Twilight...my favorite time of day!

For those of you who have not seen or spoken to me in the last couple of weeks, let me take this moment to share my latest obsession with you. Obsession. There really isn't any other way to put it. My friend, Tobi, told me about this book by Stephenie Meyer called Twilight. She said that the series has been referred to as "the new Harry Potter." So, I borrowed her copy and read it. In less than 48 hours. Now, that may not sound like a big deal. I guess I should mention that the book is 496 pages long. (And, no, there aren't any pictures... ;) Twilight is the first book in the Twilight Saga. Each of the books (including New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn) gets progressively longer, with Breaking Dawn being a little over 700 pages long. I read the entire series in 9 days. It's just that good. If you haven't already read the books, I highly recommend them. Even if you're not an avid reader, I can guarantee that you'll get hooked.

The first novel, Twilight, has been made into a movie and is set to open in theatres on 11-21-08. A lot of my girlfriends and I are planning on being there for the openning. Waiting the next 8 weeks is going to be torture! There's a link to the movie's site at the top of this post. Enjoy! =)

back to normal...

For those of you that I haven't talked to or seen in a while, I have had a pretty crazy couple of weeks. I was in San Francisco, CA for a week for work (more about that later) and got home at 2AM last Friday morning. On Friday, I went to the office to drop off my travel reimbursement packet and drove to Berne for my brother's wedding rehearsal. Saturday was the wedding and reception. Congrats, Eric & Anna! Sunday morning, I drove all of the tuxes back to Men's Warehouse in Fort Wayne and then "raced home" for our family reunion. I had planned ahead and took Monday off to recouperate. Thank heavens!

Last week, I went back to work at the office. My body insisted on staying on westcoast time, but I was finally able to adjust my sleep pattern back to normal, or at least what is normal for me, by the end of the week. Last week was also the monthly deadline for my card class - had to turn everything in to our coordinator by the 15th. Yesterday, I went to Pages In Time to work on my design team projects for the month. I got one done but am waiting on pics to finish the other two. Today, I worked at PIT. I usually work on Saturdays, not Sundays, so that was a little strange. I'm hopeful that things will finally be back to "normal" this week. Hallelujah!

More about the conference in San Francisco...It was held at the San Francisco Marriott Downtown. That is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. And, it has its own Starbucks - another plus! It was also just a few blocks from Chinatown. But, back to the conference. The conference was held by NCSEA (National Child Support Enforcement Association), and I had the opportunity to attend several sessions on interstate/international child support enforcement. (These are the areas that I am currently focused on in our office.) I am so glad that I had the opportunity to attend this conference. The training was priceless - much more indepth than any training that the State currently offers. We were in sessions until 5 everyday, so there wasn't a lot of time to explore the city at night. However, I was able to do a little sightseeing on Sunday. See some of my pics of Alcatraz, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, and Chinatown here: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31145&l=efe7d&id=682969821. I had a wonderful time but was a little surprised at how cool and breezy it is there. Luckily I had taken my hoodie to wear in the conference rooms. (Conferences are infamous for being rather frigid.) I just never imagined that I would need to wear it out-and-about! =)

a new discovery

Lifetime re-aired a movie last night titled Lovesong. It stars actor Christian Kane and r&b artist Monica. The movie is well-done and addresses issues like interracial relationships and finding the courage to follow your passion. If you get a chance to watch it, do. The acting was good, but I was especially impressed by the vocal talents of Christian Kane. As it turns out, he actually has his own band which is aptly named "Kane," and they have an album coming out this fall. For a sample of their music, click here: http://www.myspace.com/christiankane. Hope you enjoy it! =)

My New Favorite Thing

Now, I'm not one to buy into those late-night infomercials. Honest. But, with my current 3-week-long bout of insomnia, I've been watching more and more of them. I have to admit that I have become intrigued by one in particular - the Ped Egg. If you haven't seen the informercial, this little gadget is shaped like an egg (hence the name) and is designed to lightly and gently shave away the rough spots on your feet. I have been "weeding" (a "weed" is a want/need) a pedicure for the longest but haven't been willing to spend the time or money to get one. And, with my carpal tunnel, most of the buffers and pumice stones on the market are hard to hold on to. So, when I saw the infomercial for this little device, I was intrigued. But, I wasn't willing to pay the shipping/handling. Yeah, I know. I'm cheap. Anyway, while running in to CVS to pick-up some allergy meds, I noticed that they had the Ped Egg and that it was on sale for $9.99 - hmm... Well, you guessed it. I bought one. And I love it! That little thing has been the saving grace for my poor little feet. It is an absolute dream! Consider this my official endorsement.

Where did the weekend go?

Why is it that the weekend never seems to be long enough? I wasn't scheduled to work at PIT this weekend. But, I started to get a migraine late Friday night - one of the worst I've ever had - so I was out of commission for most of it. Between the headache and my neighbors shooting off fireworks at all hours of the night, it was a less-than-enjoyable weekend. Anyway, it's getting late, so I'm going to sign-off for now. Promise to post more later.

Has it really been that long?

One of my friends reminded me that I haven't updated my blog for well over a month. I got to thinking, "Has is really been that long?" So, I checked. She was right. I have the weekend off, so I promise to make another post or two by the end of the month. Stay tuned... ;)

Where has the last week gone?

Oh my goodness! The last week is just a blur. As usual, I left for my parents' later than I'd planned. That meant that the laundry didn't get done until late. (Hey, I'm not proud. You do what ya gotta do sometimes.) Mom and I stayed up talking until 1:30-ish. We got up and were out the door by 6:45 to go to the Vera sale. We had loads of fun. It wasn't elbow to shoulder by any means, but it was pretty busy. Everyone was very polite, though. Mom got most of her Christmas shopping done. After we left the sale, we went to Red Robin for lunch. That was the first time I had eaten at one. I had the Santa Fe burger - Wow! was that a good burger!! At my request, we stopped at Archiver's. They were out of their exclusive QuicKutz dies. Bummer! That was really the only thing I was looking for that we don't have at Pages In Time. I guess we're pretty spoiled. Anyway, we left Glenbrook and went across the parking lot to the new Super Target to shop for my goddaughter's birthday present. From there, Mom left for Berne, and I left for home. What a busy morning!

The lack of sleep started to take its toll on the drive back. It took every last ounce of energy to stay awake. On my way to pick up Heather for our weekend crop, I had to make a detour through Meijer to get a venti at Starbucks. That really hit the spot! We loaded up my car and headed off to Nappanee.

We got to the b&b, The Olde Buffalo Inn, and were greeted by Freida, Brenda, and Janelle. Tobi and Heidi got there a few hours later, and Jeri and Fran arrived Friday afternoon. We had a blast! Janelle is absolutely incredible! She made toosh cooshes for our chairs, and there were 13x13 storage bins on each of our beds. They were tied with a bunch of ribbons - and full of goodies! She also planned two classes for us. One was an altered recipe box, and the other was a summer-themed acrylic book. They were amazing! At every meal, she had a "little" giveaway session. Everyone won a prize. She also gave away little goodies at several meals - an altered clipboard, a little water bottle with embellishments in it, and an altered placemat that she made into a purse. I feel like I'm forgetting something. It was all a little overwhelming. Unfortunately, I was battling migraines all weekend, so some of the details are a bit of a blur. Sunday afternoon came, and we had to pack and leave. The weekend didn't seem nearly long enough.

I dropped Heather off, and then it was on to Paige's birthday party. I can't believe that she's already three. I know that I've said it before, but where has the time gone? She has gotten so incredibly independent. She wants to do everything for herself. Right before dinner, the girls went outside to play. The next thing we knew, Paige was making mudpies in the backyard! hehehe! Of course, I had to take pictures. (Perfect excuse to play with the settings on my new camera, right?) She was having a grand ole time - much to her mother's chagrin. (Lisa doesn't particularly care for dirt.) So little Paigie had to jump in the tub before dinner, which she didn't mind in the least. Tony made ribs and bbq chicken on the grill. With that, we had Lisa's homemade potato salad (mmm!), corn on the cob, and baked beans. Yummo!!

All-in-all, it was an absolutely superb weekend. I got to spend time with most of my favorite people in the world. What could be better than that? =)

So much to do, so little time...

It occured to me last night that I have tonight and tomorrow to plan and pack for my scrapbook retreat next weekend. Why? Well...this Sunday I have a crop/jewelry party at the store (and I have to prep for my monthly card class), Monday night is the card class, Tuesday night is the photography class that I'm taking, and Wednesday night I drive down to my parents' so that Mom and I can go to the Vera Bradley sale early Thursday morning...then, I'm driving back here to pick-up Heather and go to our retreat in Nappanee. Super-busy week, but I can't wait!!

Monday, Monday (insert la-la's here)

Woke up with a screaming headache - so bad that I couldn't tell whether it was a migraine or the worst sinus/tension combo-headache known to mankind. Thought I grabbed the Tylenol sinus on my way out the door this morning. Guess not - must have missed my purse when I tossed the box. Crud. No meds in my desk at work. No meds (except Prilosec) in my purse. Luckily, I was able to track down some ibuprofen. (Thanks a million, Connie!!) That took the edge off. I slept at my desk through lunch - with my sweater over my head to block out the light. Felt a little better after the nap. I came home after work, ate, and took another "nap." (Basically, this means that I fell asleep and woke up about 3-4 hours later, around 10PM...That's why I'm still awake now.)

When I woke up, I remembered that I still needed to make prints for my photography class tomorrow night. Downloaded to SAM's - check. Below are a couple of pictures that I took Sunday evening (around 7:30). This tree is near the entrance of my apartment complex. Isn't it gorgeous? I'm still learning to play with the settings on my camera. This first picture was taken in AV with a 5.6 f-stop. Not bad, but...The one below was taken in the same setting, only I adusted the white balance for sunlight. What a difference!


It's getting late, so I'm going to try to go "back" to sleep. Later, gators!

I'm baaack!

My goodness, it's been a long time since my last post. Sorry about that. I'm going to try to be better, honest!

Let's see...What's new? Not much, really. Still working a lot. Still scrapping and crafting whenever possible. I recently bought the A&E/BBC production of Pride & Prejudice. It's 5 hours long, but worth every minute. One of my favorite actors, Colin Firth, stars as Mr. Darcy. I've watched it 3 times already! My other favorite purchase is my new digital Rebel. Yep, that's right. Until a couple of weeks ago, I was still shooting with a 35mm. Everyone, welcome me to the 21st century! I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to not have to shoot an entire roll of film to get a few pictures for a project! And, I really love being able to see if my pictures have "turned out" when I take them rather than when I pick them up at SAM's photo lab. Below are some pictures I took of Ian with my new digi. I'm still playing with it and learning how to set all of the bells & whistles, but I'm loving every minute of it! =)

Have a super weekend!

Sneek Peeks

I'm so excited about my upcoming February classes at Pages In Time. Here are some sneek peeks of both my Special Edition! Valentine's Card Creations on Saturday, February 9th and my monthly February Card Creations on Monday, February 25th.

I can't wait for this weekend. Not only do I have the entire weekend off, but it's a 3-day weekend! Heather and I are also attending the Power Crop at the store this weekend. Imagine...13 hours of uninterupted cropping time! Yippee!! Only 4 days to go...