Oooohhh Crunch time!

My daughter's wedding is just weeks away!.... it' seems just like yesterday.. (actually it was 18 months ago) that she got engaged.

I'm sure no one is reading this tired, old, never updated blog... so maybe I'm just writing for me.

We had Allison and Andy's shower, on June 26th. It was a big success.

I designed the shower invites. And Allison's 2 sisters, best friend and I had an invite stuffing nite.. as well as making Bathsalts for shower gifts.

I made fun "Table Tents" with various pictures of the happy couple.

I also made Allison's corsage as well as one for each bridesmaid, mothers, grandmother and flower girl..... I've NEVER made a corsage before!... so they didn't look too bad for a first time.

I painted a "happily ever after" painting, as well as a wedding date collage and took black n white photographs of the place they met, and they loved it.

I designed the Wedding invites and hosted an Invite stuffing nite. We were joined by Andy's mom Judy, his sister Julie, Allison's sisters and a couple friends.... wow.. what a project. But I think they turned out great, and above all Allison and Andy really loved them.

I also FINALLY found my Mother of the Bride outfit... so not what I thought I'd end up with... but happy that I have SOMETHING and wont have to appear naked at the church.. : D.

So now..... it's little things like printing the church programs. And waiting.

Next up, The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner given by Andy's parents.

I'm sooo looking forward to the big day.... and I'm soooo looking forward to the day after...

fewwhhhhhhhh!

IT'S SPRING!

IT'S SPRING!

And I haven't posted in a long time!

We're almost done with the snow... I hope... March is almost over, but we're "not out of the woods" yet. I've seen it snow in late April.. and even witnessed a few flakes on a rare day in May.

The Snowy scene above.. was just a few weeks ago. It was a White-knuckle drive to work.. but wet roads and Sun on the way home that day.

Anyway.... I reallly admire those of you, who manage to keep a wonderful Blog. Full of life and information. ....and keep it current! HOW DO YOU DO IT???

I've been away from art, but did get to make some jewelry. While I was at the Salon, my hair stylist Dawn, asked about the bracelet I was wearing. When I told her that I had made it, She got excited telling me how much the girls loved jewelry and she suggested that I bring some in to sell. I took her up on the offer and the first batch was quickly snatched up by the stylists. I was really excited that they liked it so much and requested I make more! I just delivered the third batch. I have a hair appointment tomorrow and I'm anxious to see what sold..

My daughter Allison's wedding is just 4 months away!

I've been busy designing Shower invites and well as her wedding invitations. I'll be designing the jewelry for her girls..... as well as her necklace too.. which just thrills me!

So much to do! and the time is really flying by and the wedding day will be here in no time at all!

I'm also trying to figure out what the heck to wear! Trying to find something that's "ME"... and not typical "Mother of the Bride" looking outfit. It's an outdoor reception... so I need to be cool and comfortable!

I'm thrilled that the days are longer, even if not warmer....yet. But I know the real Spring is on it's way. I'm also looking forward to those wonderful April showers.. and a thunderstorm or two?

We had a really cool Thunderstorm in February! It was strange seeing the Lightning, hearing Thunder... all while there was 4 inches of snow on the ground! It was exciting none the less.

Soooo... a lot has been happening!

I really want to get back to my art. But I think these (exciting) distractions are keeping me from focusing on sitting and creating for creating sake. The good news is... new ideas have been popping in my head. I make sure to write the ideas down for when I'm ready to get back. I really thought I had lost my "Mo Jo"....!.. we'll see.

Another Monday is just on the horizon.

Have a great week. I hope to be back again soon!

I had a wonderful Christmas!
My family and I, always celebrate on Christmas Eve.
This year was no different. My kids and best friend were here and we feasted on my family's traditional Christmas foods. Breaded Pork Cutlets, Homemade Pizza "Farone style" Potato salad,
Penne Pasta, Ham and of course Cresent cookies, because it would just not be Christmas without them!

It's been a long time!.....but I'm back!


I know I've been bad about posting on a regular basis. Life gets in the way.


Looking back on the last few months, I've been busy!


September....
my PSMWG buddies.... plus "I" & "E" ....
(I=Irene= Winnie's mom. E=Evelyn=Sheila's mom.) spent the weekend at the cottage at Madison-on-the-Lake! We were the "PSMWGIE's"..... it's the first time we ever let any other "letters" in our group!


The cottage, is one of the group of cottages, where we hold our annual YA YA. The cottage was a little smaller, and only had one bathroom, but we made do. It was so much fun doing NOTHING for 2 days! It was great having the moms with us. We wore our: "WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE GIRLFRIENDS, STAYS WITH THE GIRLFRIENDS" T-shirts, that Winnie got us. Sheila gave us "customized" necklines! We sat and watched the lake, that was only a few yards from our Cottage, A LOT.

I found really cool little frosted glasses at the thrift store and decided to decorated them to use for candle holders. I hand stamped them, with coffee cups, phrases like "cherish friends" and embellished them with tiny crystals. I added each PSMWG's name and dropped in a candle. They really liked them.


For the moms, I made them an "initial" necklace, complete with lots of glitter and bling!


I also passed out matching PJ's that I got from my work, for just a penny a pair!! what a deal!
Even the moms got cozy flannel loungers.
We played Jacks.. yes Jacks!.. and the moms kicked our butts!!!
We ate a lot, laughed a lot...it was such a great time and I can't wait till we do it again!

Just one month later, I was back again, for YA

YA! It was our 8Th annual. And as always it was
great to be together.


It was a beautiful Sunny day. Warm enough for the "Petites" to play on the beach.
The "little Petites" are really growing up. They love YA YA!









I made a little learning game for them, where I printed 5x7 photos of our (dearly departed) relatives. Each child picked a relative and had to go to each of the "Elders" (aka: my sisters, cousins and I) and "interview" them. Each elder would write a little something about the person in the picture, while telling the petite about them.
When they were done, They each got to tell everyone what they learned. Then, they got to hang (fun tack) the picture on the "YaYa wall of fame! It was a great learning experience for them.
They also worked on a cool "Dream Pillow" craft my sister Susan brought. Rita made the most awesome family calendars. It took her months to assemble.

Each page features family members photos on their birthday. As well as a collage for the month.

This year, sister Deb had a great idea to take our annual photo outdoors! we all piled on a picnic table lol..... but it held up.. thank Goodness!

We had our gift exchange. And feasted on our Traditional Tostada's and tons of other food, including Jamies Stromboli, and cute little Halloween baby cupcakes!

We discovered we had "neighbors" 2 guys staying in the other cottages. They were living there, while on the job at the Perry Nuclear Power plant nearby. One guy "Tom" had is amazing Silver "Viper" parked in the lot, that made my younger cousin drool! I'm not much into cars, but this was pretty impressive!

Tom's friend and co-worker "Greg" was also staying in one of the cottages. The were toting wood to the beach, and invited us (several times) to join them for a bonfire. When the sun was setting, I looked over and saw this gorgeous fire just a few yards from the lake. It was too hard to resist!

Several of us, decided to join them and they couldn't have been nicer. They were friendly and pleasant and engaging... OK.. and Greg was adorably cute. (oh!) And he thought our YA YA was the coolest thing, and thought it was funny that "no male of walking age" was allowed to attend! lol

Tom, took my "drooling" cousin to Kmart ... yes... in the amazing Viper. They picked up every kind of Marshmallows you could imagine. Big ones, small, flavored & coconut. He even bought us fancy-shmancy retractable marshmallow forks.

It was sooo wonderfully relaxing, just watching the fire, listening to the waves... and staring at the cute guy .. :D

We said thanks, with cupcakes and Tostada's.

And as hard as it was, I pulled my self away to go back to my YA YA party.

Finally, a couple weeks ago...

Patti, her sister Cindy, Winnie and I got to have lunch with our former Jr. high school English teacher/Cheer leading advisor, Mrs. Badger..

Patti coordinated the lunch, and it was so awesome to see her again.

Mrs. Badger is the teacher that everyone loved and always remembered.

She looked great! Her long dark "that Girl" hair, was now short, pure white and gorgeous.

She still had that twinkle.. (ya.. she really had a twinkle) in her eyes, and that charming way about her.
We poured over old years books, caught up on the past 38 years. We sat for 3 hours reminiscing, about those days.

It was such a great opportunity, to see her again.

Sooo..

All these pictures I posted, move as I type, and try as I may, I'm sure when I publish this, they'll still have huge gaps in between. I need to go to "Blog 101"... or learn more about HTML.

Oh well..

So.... now we're back to Standard time. And today it was dark when I left work. You know how I hate that!

This weekend, is another Sister birthday weekend. This time it's Susan's birthday we'll be celebrating. I can't believe Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away! It's been said a ba-zillion times before... but time really does fly by. I'm already on Spring countdown!

the Saturday, I'll be (reluctantly) going to my 35th... High school reunion. I really have nooo desire to go... and I'm being dragged against my will. After our boring 20th, I swore I'd never go to another one. Seeing people I don't remember or care to. I know that sounds really bad. I love

seeing old friends, but at the 20th. These people who, were "hippie types" and oh so cool, had become "old" even telling the DJ to turn the music down!!!.......WHAT??.......

The people I love I already see.

Oh well... I guess I'll just suck it up and go.

So that's it, the highlights of my last 3 months

... you can resume your life, now that your caught up with mine :D

Have a great Thanksgiving, and I'll try to

post more often. I know how much you miss me..

... hello?... anyone out there?......... Twyla?... Lindsey?..

anybody??.

...hahahahahah!!! ............

ENJOY THE REST OF THE PICTURES BELOW