The ornament swap

The rest of the photos are forthcoming! Does this count as an update??

This year I decided to host an ornament swap with all my friends. I sent out an email and invited everyone to participate. It was a 5 for 5 swap - which means you send me 5 ornaments that you create and I send you back 5 different ornaments from other people (this math has confused a LOT of people don't ask me why it works it just does!) Luckily only 10 people said yes and this was a truly awesome swap - I loved each one and of course I adore everyone that participated. First was my girl Kristin from Staten Island - I love talkin' NY wit her. She made the 3D stars. SEE

Then my wonderful and talented friend Amy (you know she owns Inspireco) and we were so lucky to have her join the swap. Do you see how great the packaging is on those babies?

My dear friend Trish - she and I have been stampin and scrappin together for about 6-7 years - she joined us and made this lovely glittery angel.

Susan from NY sent this awesome ornament.

The sisters fabulous - Coree and Babs - sewed the cutest gingerbread man - love him with the quilted fabric - and this filled tussie mussie - is that thing gorgeous or what.

Becca dressed up some snowflakes with chenille and glitter.

Sunny - what a fantasic idea - made little mini books - I can't wait to put pictures in mine and put picttures in them.

Magnolias

I received this story in my email this morning and I love it! It has really made me think. How many times has God given me the opportunity to be someone else's angel? Am I using my abundances as an opportunity for my own ministry? A lot to think about on this snowy Friday.

MAGNOLIAS
By Edna Ellison
I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away. As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle . . . so many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!
To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against th e rich dark wood inside the church.After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancee Tim, walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical stormduring the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding
Tim turned to me. "Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements."I mumbled, "Sure," as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. "Lord," I prayed, "please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!" I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house . . . no dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good . . no shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, "I'd be happy to!"
He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, "Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.""No, Ma'am," he said. "You don't understand what's happening here.""What?" I asked."You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. "On Wednesday I buried her." He looked away. "On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left.I nodded."This morning," he continued, "I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Wh o needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!' I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, "Sir, I need you."
I stood with my mouth open. He asked, "Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room . ."I assured him I was no angel.He smiled. "Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?""No.""
I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!"I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, would have said, "Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today."
But God found a way. Through dead flowers.

Am I the last person in the craft world to see this?

So my friend Amy emails me and mentions this shopping site Bayberry Cove. So I check it out and fall madly in love with it and want to buy at least one of everything. Then while checking out blogs this week, EVERYONE mentions I bought this at Bayberry Cove and I bought this at Bayberry Cove and I have to think where on earth was I the day they announced that Bayberry Cove was the place to shop?!?!?! But now I know.

In other news, I now have wireless at my house. I know big deal so does everyone in the free world. But I am so happy to lie in bed and check emails and I am already thinking about laying out next summer and surfin the net.

Christmas shopping - tonight I am heading to The Mall in Columbia to get a few things crossed off my list. So excited for the Laurel House Tour with Natalie and Adam on Saturday. It is always so cool to see how real people decorate their homes for the holidays. I always get a cool new idea.

Stumbled upon...

This blog. And the insiration and etsy's links and just yummy goodness. I love it - now why didn't anyone tell me about it sooner.

Creative Escape

After planning for a year, Creative Escape was awesome!! We arrived in Phoenix on Saturday September 1 - almost 35 minutes early - thanks to Southwest Airlines which I personally think ROCKS! Saturday we hit costco, walmart etc planning for our week and stocking up on essentials like rum for mojitos! Sunday we went to the spa at Nordstrom Scottsdale. Erin did treatments for all of us including a vichy shower which was awesome.

Tuesday we did a luxury shopping tour (highly recommend Extreme Limousine ) have Lisa be your driver - she is awesome awesome! We visited Melrose Vintage (a super great store that I could have spent at least another day in), Diane's Ribbon and Notions, Scrap Happy Sisters, Scrapbooks ETC, Swoozies and finished off the day having dinner at Pink Taco. There was 20 of us in the group and it was so much fun!!

Wednesday, we were able to tour Bazzill paper company and stock up on paper and other fun stuff at bargain prices.

One of the biggest accomplishments of the trip was the charm swapp that I hosted. I will admit it was a ton of work - but the end result was phenomenal. Maybe you saw it on Heidi Swapp's blog - my arm is famous - hee hee.

Thursday was registration and the technique boutique. Friday and Saturday were classes all day - I was a rose along with Mel and well about all my other good friends too. My all time favorite class was Soldering with Chris Randall - I loved learning something new and relaly plan to make some Charms and Christmas ornaments with this awesome new tool. My all time favorite teacher was Leslie Safford, and her card class. Being a SU demonstrator for the last five years, I thought there is nothing that I could possibly learn about cards - nope Leslie had cool ideas and they were easy! And she and her hubby and her booth at the Trunk Show - all just delicious. Plus she is a riot - I really love the teachers that are part stand up commediene - they make the class so much easier to listen to. Her "jakie shut your pie hole story" is still funny a month later!

So yeah I have been home a month and just yesterday I finally finished up some of the projects. Still have about 6 out of 8 to complete. Sorry no pics - my camera broke about a week before CE so I just shared snapfish with all my friends.

A Whole Birthday Month

The whole month of July was one big birthday celebration for me! It started by having Fran put flowers on my desk on July 1st. The fourth was quiet - the 7th horrible but I have chosen not to dwell (I'll save it for another post) and then the 14th - my actual birthday was tons of fun! This is a shot of me at the shower, with one of the awesome presents that I received.

We threw a surprise baby shower for my wonderful friend Gaby, her hubby Greg and their new little buddle Samuel.

Then the end of the month, Mel came from Seattle for a visit and to attend CKC in Valley Forge. We managed to hook up with a bunch a friends from Jersey and Long Island and never laughed so hard. Barbie and Susan are hilarious. "Would you like a piece of gum? (for that dragon breath of yours?) We also managed to check out Sunday in the Country and promptly fell more in love with Trace Adkins. We both downloaded a bunch of his songs to our Ipods.

All in all, a great birthday month!!!!!!!!

Where have I been? Where have you been?

Really that is just my funny way of saying I have nothing interesting to report.

Have you seen this adorable button tree - I would love to credit the person - but honestly I have no idea where I found it. Probably one of the 15 blogs that I frequent every day. Really I just wanted to figure out how to add pics to my blog. So well now I can.

Now that I don't have cable at the house, I have been reading a lot. I just finished the Cape Ann by Faith Sullivan. I really liked it and I am usually not into anything historical but it was good, a quick read. Try it and tell me what you think.

Speaking of reading have you all checked out www.paperbackbookswap.com I love it - if you happen to sign up say I referred you - then I could win a big prize like money or a car or probably a book!

That all I can drum up for today.

Why am I glad?

I have so much to be glad for...

Glad I live in a time when a girl like me can have a career (can't spell it but I can have it)

and buy my own house and have good credit so I can have cute shoes and purses

and so glad that I work for a company where we treat people like family!

and so glad that I work with other girls who are nice, and care about each other

so glad that I have friends who make me laugh out loud, and surprise me with little gifts and read my blog and comment (shameless plug)

so glad that the internet and cell phones keep me in touch with people all over the world

and amazingly glad that my mom is my best friend.

and amazingly glad that there are people who get me and all my wackiness.

My heart is broken!

The CW has announced that gilmore girls will not return for a 8th season! My friend Natalie texted me last night to tell me the horrible news. Just because I was mad at them didn't mean I didn't want stolen peaks into their lives. Just because Chris and Lor broke up, and she was heading towards Luke and I didn't approve didn't mean just knowing they were out there was enough.

I'll never get to see Rory get married. I'll never get to see Steve and Kwan grow up. I was so sure that Zack would go on tour for two months and that would turn into something huge for him and Lane. What about Sookie's third child? All these things cannot be wrapped up in two one hour episodes. It worse than someone dying - a whole town is dying. (Again aware of the fact that these characters are fictional and that I could write out their life anyway I want!)

Please CW reconsider - throw some money at this situation - whatever it takes!

Of note!

So this you tube thing - it is great! Today I watched Tuesday nights gilmore girls episode. Now I know that I gave up cable because I did not like the direction that they were going with that show. But still I am drawn to those girls - they are like family to me. (I am very aware as to how pathetic this all sounds!) So back to the episode. LOGAN is going to ask RORY to marry him! And Loralei will always love Luke - wow who figured that out - NASA?

OK so I have some questions - 1. Whatever happened to Lane's dad? 2. What about Emily - was she hatched or something, where is her family, brothers, sisters, a mother?

Oh and another thing, the queen is visiting VA this week? so when someone asks you why you are doing something (special or crazy or whatever) tell them its cause the Queen is in town? How often can you say that?

Super fun shopping weekend!

This past weekend was so much shopping! We started Saturday morning by driving to Leesburg VA to the Paris Flea Market where I got to meet Amy , my creative super hero. OH my her booth had so much fun stuff that I had to have, a beautiful apron, some french rubber stamps, the roll of wishes (I really needed those, how many times have you just needed one wish), a magic wand cause sometimes wishes don't come true and then you need magic, a travel size of glitter, cause into each day a little glitter must fall, and one of the flower girls kits. What a great event! I loved everyone there! Then we hit some of the other stores in leesburg (lou lou,) where I got lucchese boots and they are so beautiful. Then went to Tusky's for dinner and mojitos (my favorite!) - delish!! Finished off the night at the super cool leesburg outlets.

Sunday was the Scrapbook Flea Market, got lots of goodies and then finished out the day by going to a Southern Living party.

Now I just got to work all week to pay for it!

Who cares?

Yes it has been 7 weeks since I last hit the publish button - so long that I had to reset my password because darn if I could remember it. But who really cares? If you do, post a comment and then maybe it will be incentive for me to post more.

Vancouver, Artistry and time with Mel was awesome! Mel's daughter Gracie is the most adorable child - she can seriously run with the big girls. She is always first one in the car because she does not want to miss a thing! We hit the hot tourist spots, the scrapbook stores and costco - all very important places. My class with Claudine was very outside my box but learning the new techniques was cool. Ali was amazing, I plan to add the pictures to her book this weekend and both of the projects with Donna were great!

Easter I am headed to my mom's in Jersey. Hopefully I'll get a peep. Hopefully you do too!

Happy Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day! It is just flowers (Roses from Mel - thanks girl! They are the best.) and candy and jewelry and pink and red and white with hearts all over. Unfortunately the maryland area has been blanketed with a little snow (but it is the heavy icy kind - ughhh!) so there are very few people to share my merriment with! So I fought (that tangled web of changing over to new blogger was a pain!) the Google Blogger world to be able to post with all you my little love bugs!

I hope today is super fun and sweet and lovey dovey pooh for all of you who read this!

My holiday newsletter!

Hello Friends!

Cut to last December 22nd, 8:00 am, I decide that I do not want to stick around Maryland/New Jersey for Christmas so mom and I decide to go visit her good friends Pat and Rick in Florida. Mom and I drove down on the 24th. With only two days notice, Pat created a wonderful Christmas. Her home is beautiful, her cooking better than any restaurant, and lots of very thoughtful presents. It was a great trip! We have even decided to go back down this year!

Then in March, I found out about a scrapbooking retreat in Phoenix, Arizona sponsored by my most favorite designer Heidi Swapp! It was expensive so I worked all summer to pay for it. I went from September 6-12th. I made a lot of great new friends including Mel who by the way won free tuition for next year’s event for her and a friend. Guess who the lucky friend is???

Then for Thanksgiving, Mom and I went to New York City. I have not been there in years and it was fabulous!! We saw three shows, hit two holiday craft fairs/boutiques – one in Bryant Park (you know Project Runway?), went to Tavern on the Green for dinner. We only shopped a little – yeah we were surprised too!

2007 holds more travel, and working to pay for it, and sending lots of love and laughter to all of you – my dear friends! Email me mgerrity_01@yahoo.com,

Toys for Tots

I got an email today that Toys for Tots is in need of more money this year to give toys to the needy. Join me in supporting this worthwhile cause. Go here and give. Then post a comment on my blog about how much better you feel!!!

PS I plan to be a better blogger and post more often.

My God three weeks!

How could I let three weeks go by without posting? That is so annoying.

You will never believe what I did this weekend - set up my Christmas tree! I know CRAZY. I told my mom there is some guy standing on his balcony looking across the little patch of trees thinking "Is that an effing Christmas tree?" But the thing of it is, that if I didn't do it now, I wouldn't have time to put one up this year. I have a lot of travel to get ready for this year.

Well I started the post above on November 13th and here it is December 2nd and I am just getting back to posting it. So what has been keeping me busy?

I went to NYC for 5 days over Thanksgiving. It was terrific. I saw three shows, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Producers, and a Chorus Line. I went to dinner at Tavern on the Green, where the funniest thing of the whole five days happened. (ok aside note - my mom is hilarious - she can just be so honest and asks the question that everyone else is thinking.) So we get to TOTG and they say half hour wait and that is fine, so we wonder around a little, then we are called and we follow the hostess to a table in the middle of the room, and I say my do you want to sit here or around the other side of the table and my mom says "Where? With these people?" It was hilarious. Her reaction was so funny. Literally we were sitting at a table with another couple. We sat down kind of looked at each other and smiled politely and tried to ignore the elephant in the room. Mom told them not to discuss business. Finally I said she we just address the elephant and introduce ourselves. So we got to talking and there were delightful and guess what - they love the Gilmore Girls too! It was the tie that bind us! We discussed the Rory, Logan, Luke, Loralei, Christopher story for awhile. It was very fun!

Then last week it was back to the grind, plus I babysat every night after work.

This morning I started posted stuff on eBay. I thought it might be a good way to clean out the house and make a few bucks for Christmas shopping. My ebay name is mgerrity_01 if you want to check out my junk oops I mean treasure.

Can you believe...

That it has been TWO whole months since many of us were flying in for CE. Two months - did that just fly or what! The two months prior to CE did not go by that fast. I starting working on a little album with me CE pics in it yesterday. I am just trying to get background paper and photos and a few simple embellies down - I figure I can add the glitz and glamour for the next 60 years - but it would be nice to share these memories while it is still fresh. I still get giddy thinking about how much fun I had, and how awesome it was to finally get to meet Heidi and for me to meet donna downey was so awesome too! My paper boy was Wow - what a great guy! He could not have been nicer and more accomodating to all of the women there! And what a cutie - those blue eyes - adorable!

Trick or Treat Tally!

7:04 est 3 trick or treaters so far - 2 - 8 year olds with unidentifiable costumes - 1 non speaking say 2.5 year old as an autumnal fairy! 0 candy for me!
7:16 est my neighbor knocked just to be annoying - and then I had to push her away for Bat Girl age 8 ish to knock!
7:26est A BOY! - very scary but no mask and a little pocahantas girl! SO CUTE!

So what have I been up to! Well last Friday was the annual EA event. We had amazing speakers including Willie Jolley who if you ever have the chance to hear him, I highly recommend! Which brings me to motivational speakers - I LOVE THEM! I love being reminded that I have the power within myself to make a difference in the world. I love being reminded to aim higher, try harder, I love hearing stories of people who despite all the odds succeed, or change the world, or just don't coast through life. His one resounding message was that no matter what you do for a living, make it your honor to do your work. This job of yours is your life work. Make it the very best that you can. I need to be reminded of that - every day!

Saturday I love power due to the wind storms in the Northeast! Guess what power is pretty important. I literally went to bed at 6:15 at night cause there was nothing else to do! Power came back on around 10:45 pm. Three hours - it felt like a LIFETIME! a lifetime!

Then Sunday time became this very obscure losing and gaining hours depending on where I was and what clock I checked. I used my extra hour to do some laundry. Then I headed out to the Scrapbook Yardsale which was awesome. I got some great stuff - cheap prices.

Then I headed to a decorator showhouse which was awesome. I love decorator showhouses not for the ideas so much (cause usually my whole house could fit in their three car garage) but more because I love to see the unique ideas, I love the bathrooms! That is the very best part - a living room is a living room but show me a cool bathroom and I am jealous!

Then I had dinner at CPK and headed home! Sunday was very productive and very fun! I love falling back. It makes getting up earlier easier for a couple of days.

Still 0 candy for me!

Black Tie Affair

Well now I understand how people can go five days without updating their blogs! I mean these are people with husbands, children etc. But I have a good reason! Thursday I went to an awards dinner which was black tie - sorry no photos. I went with a good friend Luann and it ended up that we dressed alike - sort of. Tealish tops and Black bottoms. It was held at the Ritz and the food was FABULOUS!!

Friday I volunteered at church. I watch the kids during the friday night program. I had four little girls ages 3-5. I love starting off the weekend this way. Little kids remind you of what is important. When I remind them to share - it reminds me to share. When I remind them to be nice - it reminds me to be nice.

And yesterday I ran around all day getting ready for the Imagination Stage Gala. I ended up changing my ensemble at the last minute cause I found the cutest skirt at Last Call. There was a photographer there so I'll post pics when I get them. The show was amazing - the kids are so cute and talented. I love spending time at that place. So glad that this years Gala was part of my life. And their gift shop has the cutest stuff! If you are ever in the Bethesda area, I urge you to catch a show.

So you see that was two black tie events in three days! I think that is a pretty good excuse.

Project Runway FINALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So after what seems to be the longest running show - I swear season 3 started about 4 years ago - is coming to an end tonight. Just in case you are not a Bravo junkie - I'll give you a brief update. There are 4 contestants left in the fashion designer reality (and I use the term reality lightly). First is Jeffrey whom I lovingly referred to as Tattoo Neck. Now in the beginning he was just not my favorite - but one episode showed him with his kid - and it really made him much more likable. Next is Laura who is a very classic talbot woman who pops out a lot of kids and pulls off some serious necklines (like J Los green dress necklines). Next is Uli whose specialty is flowing and prints and I really think her items are items that are wearable. Finally is Micheal who in the beginning I thought yeah he is okay - but he really proved himself. And the best part is he is a really really likable guy. Honestly I am rooting for any one of them. OOH OOH ten o clock EST - gotta go watch the finale!!!!!!!!!!! Can you feel the excitement in the air??